01x11 - Savage Han'nya – Honorable Shikijo

[bunniefuu]

A spy of Edo Castle's Oniwabanshū, Hanya.

As ordered by the Okashira,
I will guard this place to the death!

I would like to avoid
unnecessary fights if possible.

Will you stand aside?

The commands of the Okashira are absolute!

The b*stard's wearing metal guards
under his gloves.

So that's why Kenshin
couldn't hurt him the other day.

Then all we can do is fight.

I'm sorry, but I can show you no mercy.

The same goes for you.

Let's go!

{\an8}ORIGINAL STORY BY NOBUHIRO WATSUKI

A direct hit?!

Back fist!

Why are you just getting beat up?!

That's not like you!

Use the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū
reading technique you're so good at!

I already am.

I read his punch and the back fist.

I should have barely dodged it,

but his arms grew longer
right at the moment.

What's wrong, Battōsai?

You're supposed to be better than this.

If you can't even defeat
my special technique,

then you won't even last
a minute with the Okashira.

Special technique?!

When I decided to keep an eye on you,

a week ago, you had already
fallen prey to my special technique

without even noticing.

They must have begun.

Hanya is tough.

Besides his skill at Kempo,

he uses the k*ller technique
of Shinwan-no-jutsu.

Unless he realizes
what the technique really is,

Battōsai cannot win.

I see.

A special technique.

A bit tedious
but I must defeat that first.

Hey, what stance is that?

I don't know.

Of the five stances,
it's closest to the Seigan,

but it's still pretty different.

The Shinken stance!

From the Seigan,
both arms are raised horizontal,

pointing level with
the opponent's forehead.

One can adapt to changes
according to the opponent's movement.

One of the solid defensive stances
of old-style Kenjutsu.

However,

it's difficult to turn around and attack.
Meaning, it's committed to defense!

Is that all you've got, Battōsai?!

Answer me!

Is this...

This mere man is the legendary Hitokiri?!

I am a fool for overestimating you!

Someone like you should never have

the opportunity to face the Okashira,
Aoshi-sama!

I'll k*ll you here!

No matter what kind
of defenses you've got,

you can't defeat the Shinwan
if you don't even know what it is!

-He dodged!
-Did he figure it out?

He did it!

Did you figure it out?

{\an8}Yes.

{\an8}The truth behind his technique

{\an8}is the horizontal stripes
tattooed on his arms.

Stripes?

I get it! They fool the eye!

The horizontal stripe pattern makes things
appear shorter and fatter than they are.

So you miscalculated the distance.

His arms were a little longer
than they appeared.

So it felt like
his arms were growing longer.

That's why, when I thought I dodged it,
I took the full force of the blow.

So you...

You used the defensive
Shinken stance to correct your error!

Of course.

A swordsman would know the length of his
beloved blade like the back of his hand!

So he could use it like a ruler!

When I first saw you, I had doubts
about the strange costume.

Stripes on both arms are too striking
and are a disadvantage as a spy.

But they were an advantage as a Kempoist.

On top of that, the mask
hides your eyes and expression,

making your moves more difficult to read.

You're correct.

But this mask hides

so much more than that.

He's a demon.

A demon?

This face is convenient in its own way.

You...

You did that to yourself.

I am a spy.

My primary duty is to gather information.

To be able to disguise my face
in any way, I burned off my lips,

cut my ears and nose,
and smashed my cheekbones.

I don't know where you're from,

but in the region where I was born,
there are a lot of poor villages.

In villages like that,

even to this day,

parents sometimes k*ll their children
if they can't afford to feed them.

Where I come from,
it's called "Returning the Child".

So you were...

Even if you manage to live,
you can't "return" to your family.

From there, you could
only roam around like a dog,

k*ll or steal like a lone wolf.

However!

Kagitsume!

Aoshi-sama picked me up
when I was a lone wolf

and raised me to be the finest spy!

Now, I am one of
the Edo Castle's Oniwabanshū.

I was given these compatriots
as something to live for!

If it would help Aoshi-sama,

I would give up my face, my life!

Watch out, Kenshin! He's crazy!

He risks everything for the Okashira,
the Oniwabanshū.

He's a mad demon!

Answer me one thing, Hanya.

Do you know about Megumi's past?

Don't make me laugh!

There is nothing
an Oniwabanshū spy doesn't know!

It's no good.

You're nowhere near as good as Aoshi-sama.

He's finally down.

A tough guy.

Hanya.

Even though you of all people
should know the bitterness of being alone,

you couldn't think of Megumi.

Kenshin.

Megumi is waiting.

Let's hurry.

Megumi! Are you listening?

Megumi!

Shut up.

Why won't you unlock the door
and come in yourself?

Aoshi has the keys!

What do you want now?

I apologize. I'm sorry.

I'll find the key, so let's
get out of here together!

There is a hidden path that nobody knows!

Are you kidding?

What's the benefit
of running away with you?

We can do anything!

With your knowledge and skills

combined with my business talent,
we can create a new medicine!

We can save people
from suffering from diseases!

I am remorseful for what I did!

For what I've done to you and to society!

I want to start over with you,
carrying the same sin.

Go away, Kanryu.

I'm sick and tired
of your thoughtless words.

There is no way I can pay for my sins.

The only thing I can do now
is to stop the spread of the opium.

That's it.

Let's meet in Hell, Kanryu.

You b*stard!

The only one who is guilty
is you and only you!

It's your fault for creating the opium

and it's your fault
for not reproducing it!

I have nothing to do with it!

You filthy witch,
little girl, son of a b*tch!

Alright!

Just be there, feeling sorry for yourself!

Think of how
the people you k*lled would feel!

What a fool.

You okay?

The wounds are minor.

They've already stopped bleeding.

But...

Hanya idolized Shinomori Aoshi.

What kind of man could he be!

If you've come this far,
you must have beaten Hanya.

Well done!

Oniwabanshū,
keeper of the Castle gate, Shikijo!

Here's one more to

greet you guys!

Sano!

Leave this muscle freak to me and go on.

I'll take care of him

and we can go get that twisted girl!

Sano.

-Let's go, Yahiko!
-Yeah!

You were going to let
Kenshin past you from the start!

Yes.

It's standard practice
to give the best to the Okashira.

So, I'll have to put up with a third-rate.

The street fighter Zanza!

Surprised?

Hanya told me all about you.

You seem to be well-known
in the underworld.

Though now you're worthless
since you don't have the Zanbatō.

Make no mistake, you patchwork doll!

I indeed don't have the Zanbatō.

But I have these two hands
that swung the Zanbatō!

I'm the one putting up with a third-rate!

Hey, Kenshin.

Is Sanosuke going to be okay by himself?

That patchwork guy looked pretty strong.

Sano will be fine.

Besides, he probably wouldn't let me help.

We're breaking in.

Hold on!

So, you call the one who is the keeper
of the castle gate "third-rate"?

Why won't we use just our fists to fight?

A literal test of strength.

Bring it on!

Why you! You said only fists!

Don't panic.

It's only used like this.

Let's see who's the real third-rate.

We're done.

You were good
but just had the wrong opponent.

Not yet...

It's not finished until I say so.

What kind of fight was that?

You call that a real fistfight?

Don't make me laugh.

A real man doesn't use
any tricks like that to fight!

Stop playing with this stupid toy!

That's much better.

Now I can fight with full force.

-Fantastic!
-What?

Your big mouth, I like it!

You're definitely not a normal third-rate!

I'm not third-rate, you idiot!

Good...

But!

Oops. Sorry.

I couldn't stop to headbutt you.

As you can see from the scars,

my whole life has been fighting.

My body moves before I think.

You...

{\an8}Stop.

{\an8}I'm surprised
your skull hasn't been crushed,

{\an8}but you can't protect the inside.

The shock should have reached your brain

and you should be unable to move a muscle.

Though you did make my hand numb.

I like you, kid!

How about it?

Forget Battōsai and join us!

What?

We don't care about your background.

All that matters is that you're strong.

I was originally a spy from Satsuma,

on the side of the Ishin Shishi.

In the second year of Keiou,

I was sneaking into the Edo Castle
for information about the upcoming w*r.

I was crushed by the Okashira,
even though he was only 13 at the time.

To k*ll someone whose strength
is so extraordinary would be regrettable.

If you use our secret muscle-building
medicine, you will become even stronger.

Join us and you will be unbeatable.

Unbeatable?

And so I've gained my unbeatable strength!

You are the same.

You have the potential
to become even stronger.

If you use
the Oniwabanshū's secret medicine,

you might rival Hanya or me!

If everything you say is right,

Shinomori Aoshi must be a great warrior.

Of course!

If the Okashira had gone
to Kyoto to k*ll Ishin Shishis,

the legendary strongest of all
would not be Battōsai but the Okashira!

The Oniwabanshū is strong.

You, Beshimi,
and Hyottoko are also strong.

But...

That's it.

Shinomori Aoshi has gathered fighters
from far and wide, but that's all.

What are you trying to say?

Every single one of you
is strong and nothing else.

So, being strong and fighting
becomes the only purpose for you guys.

But Himura Kenshin is different.

The girl, Yahiko, even Takani Megumi.

He's surrounded by
all kinds of people who love him.

Hitokiri is a thing of the past
and he's a Rurouni now.

But there are still
constant fights around him.

And yet...

What are you trying to say, kid?!

Everyone knows

no matter how strong he is,
he doesn't swing his sword for himself.

Be quiet!

{\an8}AKU

{\an8}His Sakabatō is only used
to protect others.

The Oniwabanshū is addicted to strength
and has become a puppet of Takeda Kanryu!

Himura Kenshin is not like that!

Why you!

All those praises I gave you
made you a bit too c*ck!

You idiot!

Who is addicted to strength?!

I showed you kindness and now
you're taking advantage of it!

If you're going to talk big,

do it after you have defeated
the great Shikijo!

That's what I mean

when I say
that you're addicted to strength!

You idiot!

This is it, third-rate.

"Even if your skull hasn't been crushed,
you can't protect the inside,"

was what you said.

Shikijo.

If your paths cross, try fighting Kenshin.

{\an8}Then maybe you can find what you've lost.

Who knows how many
of the Oniwabanshūs are left.

If we keep on going like this, I'm...

going to...

We know each other, but this is
the first time we're meeting face-to-face.

Yes.

I will avoid
any unnecessary battle if I can.

Will you stand aside and tell me
where Kanryu and Megumi are?

When you said that to Hanya,
did he give the way?

I will not either.

You will ask where they are
with your Sakabatō...

and I will answer with this.

Next episode,
"Shinomori Aoshi, the Okashira".