* Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translation *
* Volume one: Kenshin . Himura Battousai *
* Bonus story: Rurouni Kenshin . The romances of a Meiji swordsman *
In the ending years of the turbulent Bakumatsu era, the shishi of 'Hitokiri
Battousai' appeared in the chaos centre Kyoto!
The mysterious male of whom assasinated in the shadows, ended his existence
with the concurrent end of the era.
In the twinkling of an eye, the arrival of the tenth year of Meiji...
Man: Stand there!
... in Tokyo -
(a girl is running away from two men)
Girl: Apologies, Mr sir there!
(the person being addressed turns around)
Person: Oro?
(girl jumps behind the person)
Girl: The matter is good! All of it I beseech you!
Person: Pardon?
Girl: What art thou doing standing there! A weaker vessel hath been pursued
by the murderers, thou art a man art thou not, draw thy sword and assist my
escape!
Person: ORO?
(the pursuers close in)
Man1: Which area do you claim!
Man2: Don't wish to eat my blade, then prove it with the handing over of the
little girl!
(they notice something)
Men: What!
Man1: T-That is a real sword!
Man2: You are defying the sword abolishing edict!
Person: Thou art grasping things which resembles knives too?
Man1: Stupid! Do not exert yourself too much, we are two persons!
Man2: Finish him off!
Person: An overview, Tokyo doth not prove it's highly status in total safety
when compared with other towns!
(puts a hand on the girl's shoulder)
Person: There art really no other solutions!
Men: Eh?
(a puff of smoke!!)
Man1: Ah - ! He hath escaped in our unnoticing times!
Man2: Run not! Come back for me! Thou lily-livered boy!
(Person has ran quite a distance with girl in arms)
Person: Hu - ! Mr sires canst really pursue! Road to road to the final
street.
Girl: When do you intend to put me down, big color wolf!
Person: (as he receives a punch from the girl) Ah!
(puts girl down and rubs his nose)
Person: Apologies, deepest apologies! Mine undeserving heart hath no
ulterior motive, prithee thou forgive this erring one!
Girl: Thou art possessing the charisma and air of a swordsman, never to
think though that the truth lies far away! An enemy at front, your limbs
move not in favor, but the escaping part comes really quick.
Person: A solution without troubling thine arts, 'tis truly the true top
grade movement.
Girl: Where art your emotions! Following your words then, the sword hung on
thy waist, would rust consume it before you do!
Person: This lowly one minds not. (gives an impish smile) The sword's
original purpose was not for blood. Moreover, my humble self here am not but
a mere rurouni, falling not under "he who lives for and lives with his
sword" 's caste.
Girl: (confused) Rurouni? Pirate?
* Footnote reads: In the Japanese language, 'ronin' and 'pirate' sounds
alike.
* My own footnote reads: In the Chinese language, 'lang ren' could translate
to 'wanderer', that is, 'ronin' or 'someone who lives by the waves', that
which could mean, 'pirate'.
Rurouni: The four corners of this worthy world dwells mine unworthy
existence as a wandering swordsman. *'Tis not a pirate!*
Girl: Oh! Methought that the swordsman had disappeared along with the coming
of the Meiji era!
Rurouni: Such silly situations. Thou hath earned thy due hopefully, mess not
with these sort of gentlemen even if thou shouldst want to play around!
Girl: Thou art saying - ? (very angry look)
(gives rurouni a lump on the head)
Rurouni: The previous happenings, was't not the fiery consequences of a
triangled love entanglement?
Girl: What kind of a girl do you paint me as! I but know those two fellows!
Those two ultimate color wolfs emerged suddenly and grabbed me!
(picture of the skies)
Rurouni: Then based on those words, those gentlemen do not relish your
true background or identity?
Girl: I am the only daughter in the Raikouji lineage currently, this matter,
all of whom besits nearer around knows!
(swings her purse)
Girl: Bring it not up! You hath rescued me, so let me rescue your stay here,
step into my home and allow me to formally thank you there! Follow me!
Rurouni: Oh - the need does not exist! My unworthy self...
Girl: Canst thou not be feet stuck in the mud! Follow me quick!
Rurouni: Ah! Fine then, fine then!
(a big house looms beneath the clouds)
Girl: Arrived! (looks at rurouni) What matters? A face of dumb expressions.
Rurouni: ...
(follows girl through the gates)
Rurouni: This erring one here hath noticed the air of difference thou art
possessing, however the difference appears more deep and significant than
what this clumsy one here thought!
Girl: There is nothing like that! I am not but the granddaughter of a goods
trader! If grandfather wert to catch your shadow we would be boiling in hot
soup, so let us march through the back door!
Rurouni: Boiling in... hot soup?
Girl: Thou art a swordsman be it no matter what we say, although the words
spoken are worth more than the words applied upon!
Grandfather: Chitsuru!
Heart attack!
Chitsuru: Grandfather...
Grandfather: This man here is who?
Chitsuru: Ah! The weird appearance belies the bountiful nice nature! This
swordsman pulled me out from the hands of some color wolfs -
(Rurouni scratches his head in embarrassment, flushing at the situation)
Grandfather: Begone!
(grandfather turns his head away)
Grandfather: He who bears the sword like thou art not someone from the
righteous path of road, leave yourself from this house quickly!
(grandfather walks away)
Chitsuru: 'Tis truly no way to go around.
Rurouni: His honorable being seems to detest this lowly one much!
Chitsuru: Do not be troubled, he seeks not you as a personal grudge. My
Grandfather bears with all samurai and swordsman a certain level of dislike!
Rurouni: Oro?
Chitsuru: His son and daughter-in-law... that is to say my parents - (the
wind blows Chitsuru's hair in her face) hath been relieved of their lives by
the very ones of samurai and swordsmen claim!
(the leaves start to shower down)
Chitsuru: In the turmoil of the Bakumatsu chaos, entangled with the affairs
of the Ishinshishi versus the Shogunate empire -
(big liquid and contemplative eyes)
Chitsuru: It hath passed more than a decade, yet Grandfather has refused to
give up the fight against his own will...
(rurouni pulls Chitsuru for a hug)
Rurouni: Oh thou poor fledgling! It is a wretched fate! Thou mayst pour out
all thy woes onto this unworthy shoulder of mine!
Chitsuru: I am but one who refuses to let go! (flies a punch at rurouni's
nose again)
Rurouni: Ouch!
Chitsuru: Use your brains! 'Twere not but a small, newly arrived infant
then, speak not of the one who refuses to let go, I cannot even remember the
facial features of them!
(rurouni rubs his face and listens on with a blank and blur look)
Chitsuru: Thereby, I cannot even gather my senses of remorse!
Rurouni: ...
Chitsuru: Thou must be feeling that I am a girl of void emotions! However, I
can do nothing but that! When one cannot recall, one cannot recall.
(Chitsuru looks at the ground with a face of mixed emotions, negative and
positive, but mostly, she is quite frustrated and dissatisfied)
Chitsuru: Even if I wish to woe over't, there is nothing to induce the woe -
(rurouni smiles at her understanding and handling of the circumstance. Is
that too the face of pity?)
Chitsuru: (suddenly getting violent) Do not inform me that you would feel
the slightest bit of disdain for the kin you hath no contact with? Would you
remnisce for your second cousin's first cousin's young uncle's old aunty's
hundredth generation's ancestor death?
Rurouni: Hey! Prithee keep thy calm!
(Chitsuru's angry and puffing face)
Rurouni: Good girl - Good girl -
Chitsuru: Eh? Anon! Why am I trifling over such strifes, the intention was
to formally thank you, yet this...
Rurouni: Oh! The intention is good but this erring one deserves it not! This
unworthy one did nothing but drew you away in a puff of smoke! Thy most high
courtesy draws me into the pit of disgrace instead!
(Chitsuru looks at him weirdly, then smiles)
Chitsuru: Thou art not the sheath for thy sword...
Rurouni: Thou sayeth?
Chitsuru: Nothing! I do sayeth that draw you draw me, I should at least draw
up a proper meal for you. Where do you stay put? I may bring you the box of
food after'd!
Rurouni: There really exists no need! Let that much appreciated idea be
lowered just as the worthy sun itself is lowering now! (desperately shakes
his hands)
Chitsuru: Anon! The sun rayed blush should not remain so! What others do to
you, accept as you would do to others! (giggling)
Rurouni: *Mine words hath entered through the left ear and leaked out
through the right...*
(picture of skies, river, grass and a bridge)
Rurouni remembering Chitsuru... *In the turmoil of the Bakumatsu chaos,
entangled with the affairs of the Ishinshishi versus the Shogunate empire -
hath been relieved of their lives by the very ones of samurai and swordsmen
claim - *
(rurouni closes his eyes, under the bridge and lifts his head up as if
remembering something which weighed him down much)
Rurouni: *Ishinshishi - * (aloud) Oh -
Chitsuru: Rurouni ~ (walking) Oh where can he be - ?
*Rurouni: Owing to this useless one's inability to foot the fee, I my lowly
self am troubling the area under the bridge to inhabit me for a while - *
Chitsuru: There art so many bridges, how should I find out which be which!
(footsteps behind her)
Chitsuru: Ru-
(the men previously chasing her grabs her)
Chitsuru: -ouni! Oh... (she faints as her ribbon drops to the ground)
Man1: Previously that weird little fellow ruined our business, and I thought
the profit for today were ruined along! Never never expect we, that luck
smiles and shines and favors us thoroughly!
(picture of the skies)
Man1: Too good! Package her up to boss immediately! I myself shall deliver
the letter of ransom to the old stinkhead!
Rurouni: (walking) Did she not mention the drawing of dinner unto mine self?
'Tis the road, have this erring one erred myself -
(notices something, a basket and a ribbon. He walks forward, picks up the
ribbon to examine it, then grasped onto it tightly)
Rurouni: ...
(at the police station)
Chief: Trader you - the pact of which with the foreign elements, a selfish,
personal desire, insulting the sacred elements of our holy Japan, this is
a sin unpardonable, while your blood relation, your granddaughter, owing to
your sin, is considered an accompliance, and is required to spill her drops.
But owing too to the holy mercy of The Shinshuu Konoe Samurai Forces of
Heaven, should you be willing to foot the bill of one thousand taels of gold
the sin can be temporarily adjourned. Come to the Hai Shrine in the foothill
of Mt. Yuukyuu after dawn alone, play no pranks! For if you do, the life of
your granddaughter cannot be confirmed.
The Shinshuu Konoe Samurai Forces of Heaven.
(Chief finishes the letter)
Chief: From the looks of't, 'tis indeed a deed by some swordsmen who do not
feel satisfaction with the new government.
Grandfather: It is them yet again! It has been ten years, yet they still do
not give up tormenting the people! (whams his fist on the table)
Chief: I come from a samurai family too. Thou words are that tad bit too
insulting is't not. Be it, I shall dispatch some men to survey the situation
first, then we draw out our blueprint.
Grandfather: I cannot wait that long! I shall go myself! Out of my way!
(two policemen try to stop him)
Grandfather: I do not care! Chitsuru's pulling through for my death, it does
not matter!
Rurouni: This matter then... the letter does not require your death for the
freedom of Chitsuru! Hmmm... The Shinshuu Konoe Samurai Forces of Heaven...
(rurouni seated on the desk of the police station reading the ransom note
while the two policemen at the side of the desks are comically shocked)
*Own mutterings, own utterings*
Policemen: AH!
Grandfather: When did you announce your arrival!
Rurouni: This clumsy one hath just!
Grandfather: From where did you!
Rurouni: There is a door is there not!
(releasing the grip of Grandfather)
Rurouni: Let us discuss something else. This lowly one here has a bit of
advice for Mr sire thou... do refrain from giving thy body to death!
(rurouni flips around)
Rurouni: Thou hath a unfortunate granddaughter who grew up with the loss of
both her honorable parents, but yet that lies not the true pain, but whereby
she had too little understanding to truly feel the joy of painful losing who
she really loves, therefore if thou shouldst leave her worthy madame as of
now, what would she emotionalize?
(jumps five meters into the air)
Rurouni: Not only would the feeling of excruciating loss forever clad her,
but her resting years shall be truly indeed spent in self relish. In this
lowly one's humble opinion, she doth not wish for such a event!
(lands lightly on the ground)
Rurouni: As it, the painful aging of loss in love, without reason nor
justification it does, thou gentleman wouldst not wish for history to repeat
itself on your granddaughter!
(Grandfather snaps a little)
Rurouni: So long and so fore! (walks through the door)
Grandfather: Ah! 'Tis not good! That man seems to be going to meet the
ransom noters himself! Stop him, Chief! If he canst but make it, then
Chitsuru would -
(Chief had not uttered a single word as his face spelt that of fear,
disbelief and absolute shock)
Grandfather: That man...
Chief: Although his sparkle in the eyes spells not the truth, but that
voice, that hair... and that cross scar on his left cheek -
(rurouni on the whatever mountains with The Shinshuu Konoe Samurai Forces of
Heaven in front of him. Chitsuru is tied up and gagged)
Chief: (voice over) Dare I say that he is - !
Men: ... this little fellow, is he not that evening's...
(reaching out for their swords)
Men: How do you know about this place! What is't thou actually wants!
Leader: Do not move in rash! He doth not bear a face of an official to me!
He must be that old stinkhead's employed swordsman!
Rurouni: Miss Chitsuru... thou art alright!
Chitsuru: MMM - ! (Run quick!) MMM - MMM - ! (You shall be slaughtered!)
Rurouni: Oh, do not worry, please do wait for this unworthy one for a little
while and we shall all go home in peace.
Chitsuru: MMM - ! (I did not mean that!)
Leader: Fellow! Do not tell me that you wish to fight your way through all
the bulls and cartloads of troubles and difficulties which awaits you! I may
make this proposal! If thou really hast thy power, I may consider your
application for admission.
(rurouni stares blankly and emotionlessly at the leader)
Leader: The new government we build shall rebuild the prestige Japan had!
Heaven would welcome a samurai's entrance indeed! In the era of Meiji, he
who walks with a sword in the streets do not end up in good fortunes, you
hath to be one of those unknowing samurais! All here were the out voted and
unjustifiably outspokenly outlawed samurais!
(leader brings out a hand)
Leader: Thou shouldst understand, that we all took and shall be taking the
same path! Thou art our partner! Care of each other shall be taken!
Rurouni: Come, come to thy senses while there art still remainings!
Leader: !!
Chitsuru: Rurouni... ?
Rurouni: Thou art the mask of righteousness and the face of deceit. Who who
claims the support of a backboned system, and does these detestable things
in return, for this one little immatured lady, you bothered the important
man, hath thou forgotten how to blush?
(rurouni walks into nearer grounds)
Rurouni: Thou art the fool of which canst not catch the winds and tides,
then when thou had eaten all the fruits of jealousy in other's success,
displaced the despicable items!
Men: YOU... This little fellow... !
Rurouni: Forces of Heaven? A pleasant book title! Should we remove the
jacket and apply the 'Forces of Devil' instead!
Leader: IDIOT! FOOL! Thou art seeking the blood of death! I myself hath
given you the benefit of three colors, and you set up your dye factory! You
shall repent over what you have uttered in hades!
(eyes of the rurouni not the big round eyes anymore...)
Rurouni: Shall we play it real? Oh please do not regret...
(unsheaths his sword at incoming four, and downs them all with one stroke.
They fly away. Turns his footage and appoints the other direction)
Rurouni: Heeeee-yaaaaaaaa!
Leader: !!!
Chitsuru: (previously turned her head away now turned it back)
Rest of the men: (sweating and flustered at his speed and powress)
(Rurouni leaps ten meters into the air)
Men: How- How is't possible with this fellow!
(Rurouni descends upon them as a snare)
Grandfather: Himura Battousai?
Chief: He was a Ishinshishi. I did shall meet himself during the Bakumatsu
in Kyoto... because he belonged to the shadows, the lights of true history
never did briefly mention his name, however, his speediest killer sword
could release countless souls with one stroke. He was indeed the samurai
of living Shoel!
(flashback, rurouni cutting up a few people)
Chief: Owing to his abnormally fast strokes and bloodied hands, he became
known as the Hitokiri Battousai! As long as his sword is brought down, no
one shall leak. All shall breath their last - !
(starts to shudder)
Chief: We live in the Meiji era. If without a scroll and without the edict,
no one man shall make his own laws! All stations alert! Towards the scene,
full speed!
(wind over the whatever mountains)
Chitsuru: ...
Leader: Little piece of paper...
Rurouni: (just glaring, nothing much going on)
Leader: May we pardon our grevious error in thinking you had no talent! All
of mine followers downed and gone in no more the passing of a wink...
(pulls his robes apart)
Leader: (shouting) HOWEVER - forever shall pass and you shall not slay me!
Rurouni: 'Tis black iron armour...
Leader: Thou hast eyes for mine accessory! This is a extinct armor whose
defence allows not even the penetration of sword nor spear, the use of the
finest sword shall not graze it one scratch...
(he flings the robe at the rurouni)
Leader: ... less say you even!
(robe covers the rurouni)
Leader: Begone to the West Heavens! (he pierces through the robe)
Chitsuru: (snapping at the results)
Leader: !
(Rurouni had disappeared and is now behind him)
Rurouni: (hair flowing all over his face) Thou art retarded.
Leader: You may have dodged but mine armour shall dodge the ultimate -
(rurouni doesn't wait for him to finish and draws his sword to wham it into
his armor at the solar crescent)
Chief: !! But we a step too late...
Leader: Oh... oh oh oh...
Rurouni: Before thou indulge in the self-created world of ample desirous
satisfaction, create first the image of thy enemy's world of attack!
(Rurouni's sword had not pierced through the armor, however it did shatter
it into quite a state)
Chief: S-Sakabadou?
Chitsuru: *The sword's original purpose was not for blood - *
(Leader falls to the ground face first as rurouni sheaths his sword and the
policemen rush to the fallen down to examine)
Policemen: Situational report! All are not dead! Though some mayst not move
for a certain period of time, yet their lives are well preserved!
Chief: ... Why hath the hand slipped... Hitokiri Battousai, why hath you...
(Rurouni/Battousai fully sheaths the sword and looks down)
Battousai: This worthless one hath touched the Hitokiri title once - yet
hath not touched the joy of wrenching lives away from others for pure joy of
evil... (walks away while Grandfather watches on)
Battousai: (loosening her ropes) Thou art all right, Chitsuru!
(pulls her in for a hug)
Battousai: Oh thou poor fledgling! It is a wretched fate! The fear hath
consumed the desire to shed tears!
(flying him a punch on the nose)
Chitsuru: Do not take advantage of me in the dark!
Battousai: Ay! 'Tis right! In the scared era of this Meiji period, we should
give top priority to the activities which see light! Pray that the new
government too shall principle themselves upon this whole fact.
(returns her ribbon to her. Chitsuru blushes)
Battousai: This matter done, this dishonorable one shall make his leave!
Chitsuru: Please wait! (runs towards him and loops the ribbon around his
flowing hair)
Battousai: Oro?
Chitsuru: The hair of which strand by strand tickles your face, it must feel
awful! This is for you, please do accept it! (ties his hair)
Battousai: Oh, the need is non-existent! The tickle on the face bothers not
more than the tickle on thine conscience!
Chitsuru: I hath reminded thou! What others do to you, accept as you would
do to others! Thou slave...
(points a finger at him)
Chitsuru: I put my words before the actual, if thou should wander nearer
again soon, thou must come to seek me! Doth thou dare not come, I shall not
spare you!
Battousai: Nay... foreby this useless one -
Grandfather: I shall hope from my heart that you do appear again... be the
chance allows, the proper serving shall be my honor and pleasure... !
(Chitsuru covers her mouth in disbelief as Battousai smiles)
Battousai: Let my unworthy self stand not as that of the emanating joy and
gratitude within...
*In the ending years of the turbulent Bakumatsu era, the shishi of 'Hitokiri
Battousai' appeared in the chaos centre Kyoto!*
Battousai stood amidst a colony of human corpses. With and without head,
with and without limbs.
*The mysterious male of whom assasinated in the shadows, ended his existence
with the concurrent end of the era.*
Somewhere, somehow, the eyes spelt of relinquishment. Of this sort of life,
of the life that would follow should he allow his stay...
In the twinkling of an eye, the arrival of the tenth year of Meiji...
Girls: He he! Ha ha!
... in Tokyo -
(Battousai stops thinking as he notices something)
- the 'rurouni' swordsman's appearance!
Girl1: What beseech thee! Why is he wearing a ribbon!
Girl2: Well it does go well with his face!
Battousai: Oro?
(A ribbon wears only on the girls, a baka knows that well even!)
* Flowing on with time and tide, roaming around freely - *
Grandfather: But... if that man was a shishi of the Bakumatsu, how many
years does that face hide? Should he be younger than young, he cannot be
older than 30!
Chitsuru: Thou speaks the truth! (having a blush of a time trying to figure
it out herself)
END TRANSLATION
(c) Nobuhiro Watsuki Translation: ruroken@geocities.com
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