* Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translation *
* Volume one: Kenshin. Himura Battousai *
* Chapter one: Kenshin . Himura Battousai *
About a hundred and forty years ago, foreign influence in Japan brought
about the chaotic internal strifes and the pernicious external infiltration.
Fogged and clouded in the midst of this, stood the warrior of Kyoto, known
to the world only as 'Hitokiri Battousai'.
In the days of the living hell, wielding his sword in the bloody wars of the
times, he walked in bloodshed and opened a clearing and a beaten track for
the new Meiji era through the myraid of chaos.
But following the the winding down and the ceasing of the violence and
confusion, the warrior of Kyoto disappeared behind the shadows of the crowd.
Following the flowing wager of time, the legend of the 'strongest warrior
in history', lived on.
And so it begins.
Let us backwards to the Tokyo of 1880.
Kaoru: Hitokiri Battousai!
(Man turns his head. He has long red hair tied loosely behind him, a cross
scar on his left cheek.)
Kaoru: Finally I have found you. (raises her bamboo sword) Murderous
killings in cold blood for two months past shall cease this night. En
guard!!
Stranger: (eyes popping out) Oro?
Kaoru: Halt thy dumb act, you! Forget the edict, draw thy sword and fight!
* Footnote reads: Meiji era: an edict to abolish the practice of carrying
swords around.
Kaoru: (swinging her bamboo sword) Kill!
(Stranger jumps)
Kaoru: Thou cream-faced...
(Stranger lands and collapses into a nearby fence.)
Stranger: Yeowch!
Kaoru: I have triumphed? 'Hitokiri Battousai' can he really be?
Stranger: Rurouni.
* My own footnote reads: A word invented by Watsuki to mean a samurai who
has, because of something, no more master to serve, therefore abandoned
himself to wandering around the land.
(Kaoru gets a little shocked)
Stranger: I my lowly self am a rurouni, of no destination nor aim, a kenkaku
of wandering woes. This lowly being just arrived here this day, wherefore
this sin of 'murderous' upon this unworthy one?
Kaoru: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~... T-then the sword by your waist? Where would
be your explanation for that? Kenkakus too should not wander the land with a
sword by (she draws his sword)! 'Tis... sakabatou... ?
* Footnote reads: a sword with the sharp and blunt sides reversed.
Rurouni: Does this sword fit thy expressive description of a murderer?
Kaoru: No! First off, a sign of bloodstain it does not brandish, like 'tis
but a used sword! You... really are the rurouni of claimed! Then herefore
would this never-be-used sword be carried along with you...
(police whistle)
Kaoru: The police whistle! This time be for real... (flings the sword away)
Rurouni: Oro (dives for sword)! Toad-skin be by... an unprecedented matter
be occuring and this uninformed self hath no knowledge of...
(a big guy chopping a group of policemen up)
Poor policeman: Arrrghghgg!!
Battousai so claimed: Useless! A bunch of good-for-nothings! A group of
useless beings!
Policeman: Impressive! Is he really... the legendary 'Hitokiri Battousai'!
(Kaoru leaps towards Battousai)
Kaoru: It ends here, Hitokiri Battousai! *Thwack* (she slides towards the
wall, her right hand a cut wound). No!
(Battousai slams the sword down. Rurouni rescues Kaoru)
Rurouni: Really. Thou art reckless.
Kaoru: Rurouni!
(stop in mid-air with exasperated and shocked expressions)
Rurouni: (hugging himself pathetically) Oro!
Kaoru: Can you not have chosen a slightly more appropriate time to...
Battousai: (catches the eye of rurouni) Hmph! I myself am the 'Hitokiri
Battousai'! Kamiya Kasshin dojo's swordsman. The legendary 'Hitokiri
Battousai'... am I!
Kaoru: Slow and stand there!
Rurouni: Slow and stand there thou shouldst!
(gets beaten up by her)
Rurouni: Thy worthy life in risk of sacrifice shouldst thou pursue one whose
skills surpasses thyself. Even so enhanced, the school name mister he
represents hath been mentioned. Panic at this moment comes as no need..
Kaoru: *I* am representing Kamiya Kasshin dojo! That beast murders in the
name of the Kamiya Kasshin dojo... do you know that! I must capture him!
Kaoru: *I* represent the Kamiya Kasshin Dojo! That beast murders in the name
of the Kamiya Kasshin Dojo... doth thou regard! More so his capture be of a
fact for me!
Rurouni: (pulls her ponytail) Do not pursue him further! THOU shalt not be
able to catch up should thou even attempt to follow him. Therefore, this
matter shall rest temporarily until the police draws up their blueprint
(carries her off).
Rurouni: (pulls her ponytail) Do not pursue further! An attempt to pursue
him thou should not be able catch up as of now. True then the matter shall
rest temporarily until the worthy police draws up their blueprint.
(he carries Kaoru off)
Kamiya Kasshin Dojo
(Rurouni stares at the board of wooden name plates)
Acting master in-charge
Kamiya Kaoru
Rurouni: ... and nothing else! (eyes pop out) ORO?
Kaoru: A small dojo it be although, but we didst have ten disciples all
striving hard towards the worthy goal of mastering the sword.
(Kihei helping her bandage her right upper arm wound)
Kaoru: However two months past, that fellow he has flashed his appearance,
slaughtering at will. By by and by... the 'Hitokiri' bagged more and more
fright within the hearts of many. Disciples of us all begged to break off.
Passersby too, stricken with extreme fear, dare not venture closer the dojo
too...
(Rurouni still staring at the board thoughtfully.)
Kaoru: Even in the Meiji era, the 'Hitokiri Battousai' compels the feeling
of fear.
Rurouni: Wherefore the name of 'Kamiya Kasshin dojo' to frame the honorable
dojo? Can him sire really be the 'Hitokiri Battousai'?
Kaoru: I know not. My only concern currently is to make this beast cease his
reckless acts.
Rurouni: The know be in mind... In this lowly one's humble opinion, thy
night watches had better stop for tonight.
Kaoru: Eh?
Rurouni: His sire's skills by far exceeds thee.
Kaoru: What!
Rurouni: A kenkaku must recognise the powress of oneself and of the enemy.
That way, one can ponder the predicament to easily handle the next battle.
The reputation of the dojo couldst never compare with thy precious life-
Kaoru: - The Kamiya Kasshin Dojo was what my father built and retained even
through the Meiji era. Ten years... the ideal of 'sword to defend, not to
offend' clung onto him as a swordsman. But half a year ago, he was
recruited because of his previous meritous deeds as a sword bearing
policeman. Betraying the purpose of his motto, he perished in the end.
(Rurouni listens with a straight face)
Kaoru: But this 'Hitokiri Battousai' robs the name of the Kamiya Kasshin
Dojo from it's true form, and uses it to commit slanderous crimes. This has
totally destroyed and tarnished my father's motto of 'sword to defend, not
to offend'.
(Kaoru looks on the brink of breaking down)
Kaoru: The tightly reined anger awaiting to burst... is not something a
lofty rurouni can understand!
(Long pause. Rurouni breaks into a giggle)
Rurouni: Heh. (points to her wound) No matter. Thy wound, wouldst only make
be forcible for thou to go on night prowling again. (starts walking away)
Just more caution should be paid. For thy 'sword to defend', the first and
foremost yet most important thing, (his hand on the door spine) is the
defence of thy worthy life. Thy honored father, if honorable sir himself
knew, would not have wished to stake his daughter's life as a gamble for a
dojo.
(The door swings shut)
Rurouni: So long and so fore!
Kihei: The bandages are done!
Kaoru: Thank you Kihei.
Kihei: Kaoru, you must not let down your guard. A rurouni is a rurouni after
all. You are different from the normal band of people!
Kaoru: (looking very thoughtful) I know. I- I know.
-The next day-
Kaoru: What? They seem to have caught someone.
Policeman: (shouting) STOP MOVING!
Policeman: (screaming) STAND STILL, YOU!!
(Prey steps through the crowd and falls to the ground.)
Rurouni: !!
Kaoru: Rurouni! You are still around?
Rurouni: ... Oh! Kaoru-dono! Thou feminine robes hides thy identity from
oneself!
Kaoru: (turning away) Then you are worthy of nothing but ignore.
Rurouni: Oro...
Kaoru: My my my... just what good deed has this man done?
Policeman: Can't you see? He's defying the sword abolishing edict. Hey...
are you not in charge of the dojo 'Hitokiri Battousai...
Kaoru: Slam your thoughtless accusations into your guts before you accuse
the innocent of something far from truth!
Policeman: What a big mouth you have! Is this the way you speak to an
officer?
Kaoru: Bah! Officer my FOOT! Not more are you than a bunch of cowards hiding
behind veiled authority!
Rurouni: ...
Kihei: Please stop this nonsense.
Policeman: Where do YOU come from?
Kaoru: Kihei!
Kihei: (takes the policeman's hand and shakes it) Let us stop this... peace
begets fortune! (he lets go to reveal a folded note in the policeman's hand)
Policeman: Hm... forget it! On this old man's account I shall spare you
once. Next time polish your eyes a little more brighter!
Policeman: And douse that fire, little girl!
Kaoru: (making a face) Get lost, you!
Rurouni: ... The police here can but be trusted.
Kaoru: Pardon?
Rurouni: Nay. Nothing.
Kaoru: Oh yes! Why do you still remain? Is there anything else you need to
accomplish?
Rurouni: Nay. Nothing of utmost significance. Ah! That previous matter...
what further developments has cropped up?
Kaoru: Oh? There is a clue. On the outskirts of the city, there exists a
'Kiheikan'.
Rurouni: 'Kiheikan'?
Kaoru: Yes. Previously of dojo fame, now converted to a gambling den where
restless gangsters and good-for-nothings congregate. Two months past, it was
influenced and acquired by a kenkaku of height six feet five inches tall.
Rurouni: Wow.
Kaoru: Coincidence would it? The 'Hitokiri' matter too began in a time frame
of such. The beast too art around six feet five, and that would be but a
common sight around would it not?
(Kaoru cracks her knuckles)
Kaoru: Although there exists no concrete evidence to capture that beast, one
of these days I will...
Kihei: Kaoru-chan, I need to go back to prepare dinner.
Kaoru: Oh! Please do!
Kihei: Then allow me to make my move.
Kaoru: I'm sure that beast lives in the 'Kiheikan'.
Rurouni: That certain Kihei... lives with and looks after thou... ?
Kaoru: He was after my dad's death. My fainting in front of the dojo saw him
taking care of myself, nursing me back to health. This be called karma then!
His worries revolves around mine holding swords, often with strong
discouragement to be off with the dojo for a quiet life instead.
Rurouni: Where did his worthy self come from?
Kaoru: I know not. I have but asked, and he has but mentioned.
Rurouni: KNOW NOT! Doth thou not care?
Kaoru: Nay! Everyone has a past they wish to bury. It be nothing unusual.
You too are you same! That the reason you became a rurouni... ?
(Rurouni looks pretty impressed)
Rurouni: Right.
Kaoru: Well, rurouni. Cash must surely be some sort of a problem for
wandering souls like youself. May I bother myself to lower your prestige and
stay in my dojo for tonight less you sleep without the inns?
Rurouni: My unworthy self's sincere thanks. There are matters this lowly one
must attend to.
Kaoru: Just then...
Rurouni: Oh! This forgetful one has forgotten to close our conversation.
Goodbye!
Kaoru: Please wait!
Rurouni: Is there something else?
Kaoru: Weeeell... the other time... I... you rescued me, yet instead of
thanking you, I named you a 'lofty rurouni'.
Rurouni: Oro?
Kaoru: I am... really sorry!
Rurouni: (touches her forehead) A fever struck thee?
Kaoru: My apologies originate from the heart! (flashes a good deal of blows
at him)
Rurouni: (ouch) Does one apologize from the heart like this?
(gives a silly smile)
Rurouni: In the life of a rurouni, such a little matter matters not greatly.
Let it not hang upon thy heavy heart already. Farewell!
Kaoru: Oh no! Totally disembered the sakabatou matter from my words. No
chance now! *He said he had matters to attend to... what matters could that
be?*
Rurouni: *Kiheikan... no wonder no news were brought in from loitering this
area.*
Night at the Kiheikan.
Rurouni: Anyone in! Anyone in! Anyone in! Anyone in! Anyone in! Anyone in!
Anyone in! Anyone-
Nishiwaki: What is't! What do you want, making so much noise!
Rurouni: The boss of this-
Nishiwaki: Hiruma-sensei's out. Come again next time!
Rurouni: (looking up at the big angry man) Oh, Hiruma you said?
Nishiwaki: Don't know and still here! Crazy nut.
Rurouni: No, this ill-informed one here knew. Although 'Hitokiri Battousai'
seems to be the name instead. *Kaoru-dono's suspicions are beginning to be
justified.*
Other men: What's the matter, brother? Who's this little cucumber? Oh! Just
a rat!
Nishiwaki: Brothers, finish him!
(A glass breaks)
Kaoru: ... Weird! How does a glass crack itself?
Kihei: Kaoru-chan!
Kaoru: You scare me out of heart and soul, Kihei! What may the matter be?
Kihei: It's regarding the sale of the dojo.
Kaoru: ? I did tell you I was not interested in ending the dojo.
Kihei: But, I have arranged all necessary documents.
Kaoru: Kihei... ?
Kihei: We only need your insignia, and this land and dojo is ours (Gohei
steps into the dojo with his men).
Gohei: Hi.
(Kaoru looks at Gohei and gets a shock.)
Kaoru: YOU...
Kihei: Boss of the 'Kiheikan', Hiruma Gohei, my brother.
(Kaoru bounces off the ground to snatch a bamboo sword off the wall rack)
Kaoru: !
Kihei: I had not wanted this either, my true intention being to get this
land through some legal ways. But my brother's false mask was about to be
unveiled by you, so I have but a choice. Under the guise of a good and
kindly old man, the infiltration of your area and winning your trust,
matters indeed going smoothly. But when it comes to kenjutsu, your stubborn
nature knows no bounds.
Kaoru: Kihei!
Kihei: So I used my kenjutsu expert younger brother to stir up a killing
spree, and wreck the reputation of the Kamiya Kasshin dojo. 'Hitokiri
Battousai's big name served it's purpose. Although his existence remains a
doubt and a legacy, his legends are plenty, and people's reaction to the
'strongest warrior in history' are without doubt. Because of your gullible
nature, we have acquired this stage in a couple of short months. This land's
value has increased five to six fold following the new era. A dojo is a
waste of space.
Kaoru: Kihei...
Gohei: Your 'sword to defend' motto has reached my ears by way of my
brother. Interesting! We shall preview how you defend yourself first!
Kaoru: ...
Gohei: Not coming over? Then I'll go over!
Kaoru: Thou hateful beast! (she jumps)
(Gohei blocks her blow)
Kaoru: !!
Gohei: Little girl, your kenjutsu is of no use! DIE!
(Gohei hits and gets her left shoulder)
Kaoru: AAAH!
(Gohei grabs her left side of the robe and pulls her upwards)
Gohei: Violence and murder! THIS, is the true kenjutsu!
(Kihei nicks Kaoru's thumb with a little knife)
Kaoru: Ouch...
(and presses it on a piece of paper)
Kihei: Done. All done. This land and this dojo is ours! Kamiya Kasshin dojo
is forever history!
(Nishiwaki stands in the doorway)
Gohei: What is wrong with you, Nishiwaki?
Nishiwaki: Too... Too... too strong...
(Nisiwaki falls to reveal the rurouni)
Everyone else: !?
Kaoru: Ru-rurouni... !
Rurouni: Sorry, my lowly self is late. This sire has revealed the light of
this matter.
Gohei: Little fry. Too just like this little girl, a cult believer of 'sword
to defend' dreams?
Rurouni: ... Nay.
(Kaoru snaps a little)
Rurouni: A sword be a weapon. Kenjutsu be a killing art. No matter how thou
seeks to cover it up, that, is the truth. They who hath never bloodied their
hands only qualify to utter Kaoru-dono's utterings. It is but not a childish
trait of thinking.
Kaoru: Rurouni...
(rurouni breaks into a silly smile)
Rurouni: But then again, when we compare it to the truth, my undeemed being
prefers Kaoru-dono's childish trait of thinking. If possible... this
unworthy one here hopes that this trait shall hereafter take over as the
truth.
Gohei: Brother, you would not mind if I killed this fry.
Kihei: As you wish. Kill him together if you want.
Gohei: Well, brothers... KIIIILLL!
Kaoru: Rurouni, run!
Rurouni: Fear be the innocent be implicated. Shouldst thou fear hurt, stand
aside now!
Everyone else: No injures... just your death!
(Rurouni leaps, gives a war cry, draws his sword, sheaths it and downs about
four to five guys in the meantime)
Everyone else: !? !?
(Rurouni thrusts sword up and downs another four)
(Rurouni moves, flies and downs some more)
Kihei: One draw of his sword downs four to five... is this witchery?
Kaoru: This is not witchery! This is sword speed!
(Rurouni downs the last four)
*Sword speed... using the force generated from one's own body, applied to
the incoming force and speed of the opponent, only the slightest movement
from one's own body gains the fastest speed distance, killing several at the
same time!*
Rurouni: Forgot to tell thee something.
(turns and stares at Gohei while leaning his sword against his shoulder)
Rurouni: Hitokiri Battousai's kenjutsu evolves not from the Kamiya Kasshin
Dojo, but from an ancient wartime kenjutsu which allows one against multiple
opponents. Known as 'Hiten Mitsurugi', 'tis instant slaughter suffered from
a deadly swift move without the sakabadou.
Kaoru and Kihei: !!! !!!
Kaoru: *He... He really is the Hitokiri Battousai!*
Gohei: Interesting! (throws Kaoru down) The last time we met I thought you
were merely chicken feed. Who would've thought, you still have a good few
moves? You were hiding your real abilities!
Battousai: This unworthy one differ much from thou art. This unworthy one do
not slight towards violence. However just as circumstances today differ from
the other's, a different technique applied be practical.
Gohei: Such self-assumptions! But... you over-rate your abilities!
(draws his sword and goes towards Battousai)
Gohei: This world can contain but two Hitokiri Battousais! This title solely
belongs to me!
(raises his sword. Battousai had disappeared)
Gohei: Strange!
(Battousai in the air. One swipe downwards, Gohei is half buried in the
wooden platform of the dojo.)
Battousai: Regrets for the nickname of Hitokiri Battousai. But to allow thou
an inheritance would bring about greater regret.
(swings sword towards Kihei)
Battousai: Thou art left.
(holds sword close in)
Battousai: You will not be so easily let off as the mastermind of all this.
I shall let you enjoy what the wonderful fragrance of a sakabadou's
slaughter...
Battousai: Thou shouldst not be so cleanly let off as the crux of this
matter be. Enjoy then, what the wonderful fragrance of a sakabatou's
slaughter...
(Kihei leans against the wall, aghast)
Battousai: (brings sword close to face) ... tastes like!
(Kihei faints and falls to the ground with a pool of urine. Battousai lets
out a wheeze and picks up the land transferring deed)
Battousai: A coward often conjours the most heroic plans.
(tears the deed up)
Battousai: Sincere apologies, Kaoru-dono. The intention was not to deceive.
But if there allows some space, the past was best buried.
(Kaoru looks understanding)
Battousai: Farewell and all the best.
Kaoru: Stand... stand... STAND THERE!
Battousai: Oro!
Kaoru: No matter how hard I strive, it is an immense task to undertake by
solely working on the dojo myself. Could you not like stayed and helped out?
I care not a freckle of your past!
Battousai: With an issue like Kihei's in place, suggestions be that thou
cared at least that little bit.
Kaoru: Oh really...
Battousai: No matter. Best be my unwanted self leave. It was no easy task
washing the rust off the name of the Kamiya Kasshin Dojo. Should the real
Battousai reside and dwell in this place, all would have been striving in
vanity.
Kaoru: Who was it who invited Battousai to stay? Could I not have been
requesting the presence of the rurouni...
(Kaoru covers her mouth with her hand, embarrassed at her words)
Kaoru: Let it be! You may leave! But... before you do, pray tell me your
proper name. Hitokiri was your nickname! Or can it be that... you have
buried even your proper name... ?
(sound of door sliding close. Kaoru bows her head in disappointment.)
Battousai: Kenshin.
(Kaoru turns around)
Kenshin: This lowly one is known as Himura Kenshin. Roaming the four corners
of the world has indeed worn me out.
*The beginning of a Meiji historical romance*
***** VERY IMPORTANT: For goodness sake, romance doesn't mean I-love-you-you
-love-me! It has more plot than that... usually when romance is referred to
in historic analects, it means 'fiction' or 'make-up story'.
Kenshin: A rurouni touches the four corners of the world but often more so
has neither fixed destination nor fixed time.
*In the eleventh year of the Meiji Era in Tokyo*
Kenshin: If there is a possibility, my unworthy self must disturb thou
temporarily.
*It all began with the appearance of Rurouni Kenshin*
Kaoru: Now please wait a minute... You claim you fought in the Bakumatsu?
Then what is your exact age?
Kenshin: Oro?
Kaoru: Oro yourself, my dear man! You don't look past 30!
Kenshin: This matter... oh dear, how old can mine age really be... (starts
counting with fingers)
Kaoru: Count your age accurately, you little...
END TRANSLATION
(c) Nobuhiro Watsuki Translation: ruroken@geocities.com
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