* Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translation *
* Volume 14: Time to fulfill the promise *
* Chapter hundred and thirteen: Usui's heart-eye, Saitoh's heart-eye *
Yumi: Hey! Both of you are not allowed to do this! Once Usui wins both of
you will be next do you hear? HEY!
Sano: You speak for yourself! Just how long is it to the next position?
2nd Rurouni Kenshin Shonen Jump Poll Results:
Kenshin 21292 votes
Sanosuke 10433 votes
Aoshi5 4871 votes
Kaoru 3488 votes
Saitou 3418 votes
Soujirou 3224 votes
Yahiko 3181 votes
Misao 2759 votes
Hiko 2446 votes
Anji 1814 votes
Usui: What? You wish to kill me? Hmm...
(starts to 'listen' to Saitou's mind)
Usui: Could it be that you still bear a grudge against me for killing fifty
of your police officers in Kobe?
Saitou: (slightly shocked)
Usui: I cannot see, but my heart of eye tells me everything unsparingly. You
are now in a state of agression, and this cannot escape from my eyes. To
take revenge is a variation of what is righteous... very good... very
good... but do not be overly indulgent in this so as to lose your normal
state of balance!
Saitou: I see... so I wasn't wrong... your 'Heart of Eye' is neither
witchery nor black magic. (adjusts his hilt) It may judge the state of which
one person may feel but cannot for sure see what he truly is thinking about.
(picture of Shinsengumi and Meiji police)
Saitou: (voice over) The Meiji policemen are like the Shinsengumi of past,
and their duty is to merely maintain the peace and security of Japan. To
lose a few policemen in the course of fulfilling a duty is nothing, in fact,
it is expected. Only a person who is as calculating as Battousai when it
comes it life and death is abnormal.
(picture of the Shingetsu village)
Saitou: (voice over) Yes. To let the dead rest in peace we must go on and
fulfill our mission. But as for the way of seeking revenge, that I feel
nothing for.
(sword slowly dropping)
Saitou: If you cannot see this with your 'Heart of Eye' let me tell you: I
only feel agression for one thing and that is!
(Saitou into a gatotsu stance)
Saitou: To fulfill the righteous principle I live by in this that the EVIL
shall be SWIFTLY and surely EXECUTED!
Usui: Interesting! Previous Captain of the Shinsengumi Third Troupe Saitou
Hajime! You have earned the right to fight me.
(Saitou charges with his gatotsu, Usui blocks with the round ball by the end
of his spear-like weapon)
Saitou: !
Usui: Is this the gatotsu you are so famous for, Saitou Hajime? Too
pathetic!
(repels his sword)
Usui: MO KEN PO GYOKU, HYAKKA RYOU RAN!!
(Saitou leaps away, but gets cut on his left shoulder and right thigh)
Usui: Only a few scratches? That's really something.
(Saitou stares)
Usui: Hoh hoh. Look at that confused look on you. How come a blind man like
me can sharply pinpoint the position of your incoming gatotsu isn't it? Do
you wish to find out? Hmm...
(bends down, pretends to be examining Saitou for sincerity)
Usui: I see... so it is so... all right! Then let me tell you! You are
right! My 'Heart of Eye' is nothing near witchery or sorcery. It's true face
is here! (points to his ear)
(lifts his blindfold)
Usui: That day in Bakumatsu when I fought with Shishio and lost my eyesight,
was the day my life turned horrendous, for I was of no more use to the
Bakumatsu government and therefore rejected. Not even knowing where I was
from and am, I soon got lost in the mountains and lived on the brink of life
and death.
(Saitou stares)
Usui: Hunger is something tolerable, but extreme thirst and dehydration is
something you wouldn't be able to bear. That day...
(series of Usui's past)
Usui: (voice over) I ran and ran, towards the sound of the river. And by the
time I found the water source it was already deep in the night. Only then
did I discover, did I find out...
(back to the present)
Usui: That I had this 'ABNORMAL HEARING', to be able to track sounds from
such a long and vague distance.
(picture of human heart and hands)
Usui: Humans are now to me nothing more than mere sound groups, and with
this abnormal hearing power I may detect the state of the opposite party's
heart. And the moving of every muscle on the body is as clearly detailed as
everything else.
(swings his spear)
Usui: And this is my invincible 'Heart of Eye'! In front of this, your
gatotsu is nothing I say.
(Saitou... stares)
Usui: Woah! Your heartbeat has accelerated!
Saitou: Looks like your mind is perfectly described by the costumes you
wear.
Usui: What did you say?
Saitou: I advice you do not look down on my gatotsu.
(snaps his fingers. Usui's ball on the spear shatters as did the wall Usui's
turtle shell previous came in contact with due to the gatotsu impact)
Saitou: Thanks to your previous graphic narration of how your 'Heart of Eye'
came about, I shall now bestow you the honour of listening to the
dechiperings of MY 'Heart of Eye'.
(Usui stares... ugh... well, he looks like he's staring, but he's blind...)
Saitou: Relax! My such trade involves nothing called abnormal hearing. My
Heart of Eye was acquired through many battles with famed swordsmen, and
to simply state, it means 'the power of observation'.
Usui: Woah! Interesting! Then do highlight me on what this heart of eye may
be... ?
Saitou: Good question!
(raises his sword)
Saitou: My case study shall be on the point 'why you became a subordinate of
Shishio Makoto'.
(Usui snaps)
Saitou: As you were happily tracing back events of the past and talked about
how Shishio removed sight from you, such a supposedly painful event actually
brought slight upward twitches to your mouth. Immediately I know, 'Ah! This
guy has given up his hope of revenge'.
(continues pointing his sword at Usui)
Saitou: After gaining your 'Heart of eye' you thought you became much more
stronger, but another meeting with Shishio only proved to dash your hopes,
for his return trip from a fiery furnace and back improved his skills to
your higher. One more duel with him would only end in one more defeat. And
your hard walked life shall be in vain once more.
(Usui stares... sorta...)
Saitou: Thereby, using the excuse of 'once I have the chance I'll kill you'
you joined as his fledging under his invitation. Then, by pretending to want
to kill him every now and then you make other people less wary of your
defeat... How was it? Did I drive it straight home?
Usui: Hoh...
Usui and Saitou: Hoh hoh hoh hah hah hah...
(and then...)
Usui and Saitou: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAH!!!
USUI: WHAT'S SO FUNNY?!
(Saitou calms down)
Usui: (detaches the shattered ball, removes his turtle shell) Saitou Hajime.
Your Heart of Eye is impressive enough, but only one is enough to use the
powers of this trade! You shall die under my best abilities now!
Saitou: As a dog who readily admitted defeat before even trying the deed,
you have no right to utter such nonsense!
(slides into a gatotsu stance)
END TRANSLATION
(c) Watsuki Nobuhiro Translation: ruroken@geocities.com
(
geocities.com/athens/olympus) (
geocities.com/athens)