* Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translation *
* Volume two: Hitokiri vs. Hitokiri *
* Chapter thirteen: Origin of the name of the shishi *
Battousai: When words do not form upon me, you over there come over here,
then I myself shall slaughter you!
Kaoru: *Kenshin...*
Jin eh: "I myself shall slaughter you" et? Ho ho ho... pretty! (adjusts his
nose back to the right shape) These lines play the part of the Hitokiri
Battousai!
Kaoru: *Kenshin - !*
Jin eh: (as he flips his upper cloak away to reveal his bodysuit) The
Hitokiri of the Bakumatsu hath resurrected, the beginning of the real battle
shall commence as of now! COMETH - BATTOUSAI!
(he charges but runs away mid-route when he notices something)
Battousai: Now what?
Jin eh: He he... The legendary Hitokiri deserves it's legacy, the 'qi' for
death differs by poles.
Battousai: If you still hold the hope of preserving that life of yours,
disable the charm of it you have placed on Kaoru.
Jin eh: I can already do no such thing. This one that hath been placed on
her wouldst be so much different from what that pig Tani took. To burst
apart it's effects we may only take two paths. Self achievement... or the
death of he who has applied the charm.
(grins more evilly)
Jin eh: The former, shall be feared as impossible.
Battousai: Then of course, I myself shall perform that latter!
Jin eh: (as he holds his sword horizontally) That - too et impossible!
(Battousai notices what Jin eh is doing)
Jin eh: Humans may be superior in the mindset, but however are often more
not or so controlled by the thoughts, he who thinks that he is beset will
illness shall be in the realm of total discomfort... while he who thinks
that breathing shall be a difficulty, shall never be able to breath
properly.
(preparing to do something still in the previous stance)
Jin eh: This point of human as weakness hath been captured by the 'one-sided
heart', using superior 'kenqi' to subdue and suppress the opponent's freedom
of movement. But the real subduing would be oneself's own mindset! Of this
reason - I too cannot be spared of't!
(he releases power [?!?!] from his body)
Kaoru: !?
Battousai: (just staring emotionlessly. Nothing much going on)
Jin eh: WOooooooooooooooooooooo ah! I - AM - INVINCIBLE! (muscles start to
suddenly bulge out)
Battousai: So I see. To adjust the mind of your own self to think of it as
invincible, then gathering all this thinkings to light up all of your own's
abilities...
Jin eh: (not caring whether Battousai's talking or not) I - AM - MATCHLESS!
(the wind conjoured from Jin eh's powering up creates a hole in the ground)
Jin eh: (finishing) I - AM THE STRONGEST! (smiling cunningly) One sided
heart's "shadow technique" - (now here's a really corny translation)
"Strength borrowed from ghosts"!
(Battousai stares meaninglessly)
Jin eh: This stance hath never been employed since the abandoning of the
Shinsengumi 15 years ago.
(Battousai stares more meaninglessly)
(Jin eh hits a boulder with his sword. Then continues to break the surface
of the boulder apart)
Jin eh: May it be despicable, I still wish to practice it.
Battousai: Whatever you want! You may practice all your known techniques on
me. But... (sheaths his sword fully)
Jin eh and Kaoru: !
Battousai: (lapses into what looks like a front stance) Once I hath made my
death dart known where to throw, there shall be no misses!
Jin eh: This is... *The stance for Battou-jutsu!
* Footnote reads: Battou-jutsu
Sheathing of the sword/knife to pull it out with superb speed, using that
time of a split second to increase the impact by 2 ~ 3 times, to force the
opponent down before he has a chance to retaliate or attack - often termed
by many ryuus as iai.
Jin eh: *The Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu made it's name too for the deadly
quickness of the fatal stance Battou-jutsu - this one would be the fastest
amonst the fast!
Battousai: Come on! And the light shall dawn on how the shishi of
'Battousai' carved it's name upon!
Jin eh: *Do not be flustered... once I dodge I shall win! As the
Battou-jutsu belongs to the single-stroked attacking format, therefore the
attack do not merge with the defence, once the attack goes wrong, he shall
bring the killer's sword upon himself! A skill of the theory 'either you die
or I die'.
(Battousai in full concentration awaiting)
Jin eh: *... But can I dodge... ?*
(notices Battousai's sword)
Jin eh: *I can! A hundred percent yes!* (charging) COMETH! Pull your sword!
Himura Battousai!
Battousai, Jin eh and Kaoru: (staring with a look of 'come on', 'I am
coming' and 'oh no' respectively)
Jin eh: *Battousai, you hath omitted the gravely important weakness that
shall bring you down!*
(picture of Battousai's sword)
Jin eh: *And it would be - your sword! The sakabatou shall be very
disadvantageous to Battousai! The sharper side art stuffed on the internal
of the sheath instead of otherwise, therefore there would be that slight
decrease in speed during the pulling out of the sword!*
(Jin eh starts to bring his sword down)
Jin eh: *While this little decrease in speed shall be what elevates my
victory chances!* Woooo ooo ooo ah!
(Battousai pulls his sword out in the moment you take to turn a page)
Bright spark
Jin eh: *FAST!* Detestable! *But once this one is dodged...*
(Jin eh stops his rushing and tries to stop the force from throwing himself
forward. The sword passes only cutting some strands of his hair)
Kaoru: !!
Jin eh: *Victory!* I hath won! Battousai!
(Battousai slams his sword sheath into Jin eh's right elbow joint in the
other moment you take to turn a page)
Jin eh: (a very big) !?!
(Battousai forces the sheath further in)
Jin eh: What in the... *This is...*
(Battousai still staring emotionlessly)
Jin eh: *The usage of both sword and sheath...*
(Jin eh falls to the ground)
Jin eh: *Two parts Battou-jutsu - !?*
Kaoru: ...
Battousai: Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu Battou-jutsu - Souryuusen!
(the mist clears)
Battousai: The Battou-jutsu must be able to defeat the antagonist within the
wave of one stroke, did you really had that thought that I would be stupid
enough not to know my sakabatou do not prove advantageous! I myself have
mastered the Battou-jutsu without any let-out of details, that is also why
I have the name of 'Battousai'!
(stares incensedly at Jin eh who stares back funnily)
Battousai: The muscle on your arm has torn, and the career as a kenkaku for
you have ended.
(flips his sakabatou around)
Battousai: But now - let ME end your worthless life!
Kaoru: !!
Jin eh: He!
Battousai: (as he lifts his sword up) DIE YOU!
END TRANSLATION
(c) Nobuhiro Watsuki Translation: ruroken@geocities.com
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