01x06 - Kurogasa

[bunniefuu]

Terrible.

This simply is terrible.

You better go take
some cooking lessons.

Do you want me to teach you?

How do you take this
day after day, Kenshin?

It’s not that bad!

Each time I eat Miss Kaoru's meals,
it has a different taste.

So it's like a delicacy.

If you don't like it, don't eat!

You come here to
eat for free anyway!

Since I stopped fighting,
I no longer have an income.

Don’t be so mad.

Sorry to interrupt.

But may I please speak to Mr. Himura?

Kenshin, the chief of police is here…

Ororo...

Mr. Himura, I need to ask you a favor…!

Oro?

Rurouni Kenshin

Episode 6 Kurogasa

What is it that you
have to ask of me?

This problem has to do
with the police's reputation.

We’ve kept this out of the newspapers,
so I beg you all to keep this secret.

I need you to help us get rid
of a certain criminal, Mr. Himura.

Criminal?

Known as Kurogasa,

he assassinated old Ishin Shishi still
around today in political positions

after sending a death threat.

For ten years, this highly skilled
swordsman has never failed.

Is he targeting old Inshin Shishi
because of a grudge against them,

or is he trying to accomplish something
for the good of the people?

That might be the case,

but Kurogasa enjoys k*lling.

Since he’s targeting Ishin Shishis
who hold an important position,

the police provide top-notch security,

and the targets themselves use
their power and money to hire bodyguards.

Yet Kurogasa breaks
through these defenses

and seems to enjoy k*lling
as many men as he can.

Two months ago,
when he appeared in Shizuoka,

the number of police and bodyguards k*lled
was 34, and 56 suffered heavy injuries.

Wait a minute.

There were police officers
with g*ns, right?

That didn't work?

Well…

For some reason, the unit was wiped out
before they could draw their g*ns.

According to one who
barely escaped with his life,

he couldn’t move, as if his
hands and legs were tied...

The Nikaidou Heihou,
the "One Side of Soul".

What?

This man, after so many murders,

is probably purely drawn by
the color and smell of blood…

Such a man exists even
ten years into the Meiji era…

Kenshin...

A help with guards?

No thanks!

It’s just one single criminal.

I won’t need the police to protect me.

Mr Tani, the one whom
you're facing is Kurogasa!

Watch your mouth!

I survived forests of swords and reigns of
b*ll*ts until the dawn of the Meiji era.

A mere police chief's
opinions are useless!

Then you should know

how fearful a true swordsmaster
with the intention to k*ll is.

That is why I’ve
assembled the very best

and strongest to be
my personal bodyguards.

Every possible fighter who
admires Juusanro Tani,

the best man in
the w*r department!

That’s right.

We’re devoted to Tani.

Why don’t you just go home, cop?

To begin with,

it wouldn’t be honorable to rely on
outsiders from God knows where…

Are you saying that this outsider is
stronger than all your men combined?

It hurts to say this, but yes.

What?

As I've heard, you seem to become
a very self-important person, Tani.

Like a different person
from the one I protected...

from the forests of swords and
reigns of b*ll*ts during Bakumatsu.

You call these guys the
“best and strongest"?

I remember beating every one
of them up at least once.

It must be very annoying to have
bodyguards from God knows where,

But please overlook it just for one night.

Of course!

The honor is more than I deserve.

You guys heard it.

Tonight, we’ll forget the old times
and be on the same side!

Just tonight, though.

Mr Tani, besides these two,
a unit of policemen is positioned outside.

Shut up!

Oro?

I mean, thank you very much!

It’s five minutes to challenge time…

I wonder if he really is going to come…

Well, if he doesn’t come,
then we are all better off.

I guess the little girl and
the kid are already asleep.

Yes,

Miss Kaoru said she would get up early to
prepare a bath and wait for our return.

But, Kenshin,

why did you take this job?

I thought you didn’t like being called on
for this kind of "Battosai" stuff.

Of course, I don't like it.

But I can't just live as if
I don't know about it.

If Kurogasa's evil act is not stopped,

there will be even more
people who will suffer.

Including Kurogasa himself…

On the other hand, why did
you decide to help, Sano?

Of course, I will!

I've never heard of
such an exciting fight!

It's not a fight…

Okay, I have another question for you…

What is it?

What is this Nikaidou Heihou "One Side
of Soul" thing you mentioned earlier?

Do you know the Kurogasa
guy from somewhere?

Actually, that’s two questions…

Stop being picky and answer me.

It's just a rumor…

Rumor?

Yes, a rumor I heard more
than ten years ago...

And I only heard a little about it, but...

What was that!?

It's from the outside!

He’s coming!

Sanosuke and I will take the front!

Everyone else, follow behind
and guard our backs!

Hurry!

Stop shivering, you pig!

Everyone knows you always
put your king in the middle!

It’s 1 o’clock…

He’s not coming...?

Ha, he fooled us.

There they are.

Careless little insects...

I can’t sleep…

What’s wrong with me?

Well, it is Kenshin after all,
so I’m sure he’ll be okay...

Sanosuke is with him too,
just in case…

You'll be fine...

Right, Kenshin…?

One, two, three…

Fourteen or fifteen of you?

Not as many as I thought...

So that’s Kurogasa...

Those eyes are pretty scary.

Sano.

I’ll deal with him.

So please look after Mr Tani.

What are you guys
just standing there for!?

Get him!

I’m paying you guys a lot for this job!

Get to work!

The one who kills him gets
five times what I’m paying now!

And I’ll get you a job as an
officer at the Department of w*r!

Five times!

An officer!

All right!

That job is mine!

No, I’ll take it!

Idiots!

You want to throw your
lives away for greed!?

Mmmmm, this feeling…

Love it.

He’s fast!

He doesn’t fly like Kenshin, but he’s
using some weird form of Kenjutsu!

Stay back!

You guys are no match for him!

Can't get away from me!

Wha... what was that…

I can’t move!

You can't run away.

Once you draw your sword,
you fight until someone dies.

Otherwise, it just wouldn’t be fun.

Why you…

What did you do!?

My body suddenly became so heavy!

Oh no…

There's someone who can still
move after my “One Side of Soul”.

One Side of Soul!

Nikaidou Heihou,
the “One Side of Soul",

also known as the "Art of Shrinking".

I didn't want to believe it,
but you were Kurogasa.

Himura!

During Bakumatsu, while I was in Kyoto,
I heard stories about a man.

A man who didn’t belong to any clan,
but took contracts to k*ll people.

Said to be a master
of Nikaidou Heihou.

The lonely Hitokiri,

Udo Jin-e.

Rurouni Kenshin

Heard of me...?

I too have heard rumors of you.

An Ishin Shishi from Choushuu,

using the old style of Kenjutsu
called the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu.

Hitokiri Himura Battosai!

Kenshin!

The "One Side of Soul" is no magic.

It's a battle of chi.

If you have an equal amount of chi,
you can counteract it.

Turn yourself in, Jin-e.

Or you'll be facing me.

You?

That's actually a treat for me, but...

I’ll fulfill my challenge first!

Damn!

Mr Tani, snap out of it!

Nonsense!

This rotten fat pig will not break free!

Sano!

Too soon for...

Checkmate!

You like that?

Jin-e!

I can move now!

This is interesting.

More interesting than anything
since the Bakumatsu.

I change my target!

The next prey is you.

Hitokiri Battosai!

I’ll appear again soon.

Until then, get ready
with a real sword!

Are you all right, Sano?

Yeah, this is nothing.

Mr. Himura!

Please hurry and get some
first aid for these men.

They might still make it.

Yes.

Though Mr. Himura, now you
have become the target.

It's all right.

If anything, it was fortunate
that this happened.

Kenshin…

You guessed it would turn out like
this from the start, didn't you...?

I was hoping to end the matter here,
but it turned out as one might expect.

Kurogasa Jin-e…

He’s not going to be
easy to deal with...

Six were badly injured and
three were lightly hurt.

There has never been an incident where
Kurogasa left with such low casualties.

There were still casualties.

You’re expecting too much.

At least nobody died.

By the way...

What is Udo Jin-e's
Nikaidou Heihou?

Nikaidou Heihou is a kenjutsu consisting
of 3 forms, One, Eight, and Ten.

When the sword is swung similarly
to the character of each number,

it creates the character "Hei",
therefore it's called Heihou.

It’s known for its strange and
terrible ultimate technique.

It is said that only the
originator was able to use it.

Sending an overwhelming amount
of chi to their opponent

and making them freeze.

I thought he would use
it as part of an attack,

but he uses it on those who
have lost the will to fight...

and are trying to run away
so that he can slay them.

How outrageous...

Indeed.

But we’ve got the strongest
of all on our side.

So, no need to worry!

Not really.

In these ten years since the new era
began, I took a vow to never k*ll again.

But he’s done just the
opposite and kept k*lling.

As a Hitokiri, the difference is great.

I don’t know when or where Jin-e
mastered the Nikaidou Heihou,

but when he first appeared in
Kyoto during the Bakumatsu,

he was the head of the Shinsengumi.

The Shinsengumi!?

The best of the Bakufu's swordsmen!?

So he’s an old enemy
of the Ishin Shishi!

Jin-e indeed k*lled
numerous Ishin Shishi.

Though he also committed
pointless murders,

in the end, he fled the Shinsengumi after
an internal conflict turned against him.

A few months later, he then appeared
as a Hitokiri for the Ishin Shishi.

So he doesn’t have a
principle that he follows.

Jin-e has only the desire to k*ll.

Since he is motivated only by this
desire, he is extremely dangerous.

And he uses the ultimate technique...

Perhaps this fight isn't for me.

His target is only me.

I’ll be his only opponent.

But there is something I want
you to do for me instead.

Sheesh…

She must be getting old,

sitting there drooling in her sleep.

I don’t think she slept
even a wink last night.

Oh yeah?

Hey, wake up.

Hey...

Wake up.

Welcome back.

Nice to see you too.

Wait.

Where is Kenshin?

Kenshin is not coming back.

So, this time, the k*ller is after him.

And while he’s gone,
he wants me to look out for you guys.

But where did he go?

He said he was going to the river bank.

A Bakumatsu Hitokiri had to be able
to attack and run away easily.

Many acted from a
base near a river bank.

If I am by the river,
Jin-e will find me.

That's what he said.

Hey, where are you going?

Of course, I’m going to
go look for Kenshin!

Idiot!

Jin-e is not your average opponent!

Can't you see from this!?

If you go after him you’ll just
get in the way and make trouble!

Waiting here quietly will
be better for everyone…

So then, what will you do
if after he fights Jin-e,

he doesn’t come back and
goes off wandering again?

Since I am a Rurouni, I never know where
I’ll be going or how long I'll stay.

My father died, Kihei betrayed me,
and if Kenshin leaves…

I’d rather meet the danger face-to-face
than be left alone again!

She can’t stand being
separated from Kenshin.

She really is a selfish girl.

Well, you can’t separate
selfishness from love…

By the way, she said “alone”.

You were completely forgotten.

There’s nothing I can do.

It's Kenshin,
the strongest man in Japan.

By the way, I’m the second best!

Got that?

So that makes me number three?

I’m going to take a bath and
get some sleep, so have fun.

Kenshin is counting on you.

You should be more responsible!

There must have been
heavy rain upstream,

the river is swollen.

If you fall in, it’ll be over...!

Here he is...

Kenshin...

I found you!

Oro...

She’s scarier than Jin-e...

I heard it from Sanosuke.

You’re not coming back to the dojo.

So, I’m not going back either.

I’m staying here with you.

Miss Kaoru.

Did you have a fight with Sanosuke?

Or with Yahiko?

That’s not it.

You heard about Jin-e, right?

I heard.

But I’m not going back.

If I have to protect
someone as I fight…

I cannot possibly beat Jin-e.

Miss Kaoru.

It’s my favorite ribbon, indigo blue...

I’m lending it to you.

I couldn’t possibly…

It’s all right, so take it!

Okay!

All right?

I’m only lending it to you.

Be sure to give it back.

After you fight Jin-e,

if you forget it and go off wandering,
I’ll never forgive you.

I understand.

I’ll be sure to come back to return this.

You can wait at the dojo without worry.

All right…

Miss Kaoru!

I saw it, I saw it, Battosai!

I see that this girl is your woman!

Jin-e, damn you!

Get angry, get angry!

Then you'll return to the way
you were ten years ago.

To the legendary strongest and
cold-hearted Hitokiri!

I'll be waiting there, Battosai!

Kenshin!

Jin-e...!

Next Episode Two Hitokiris