01x10 - A Reason to Act

[bunniefuu]

He's selling candy!

Let's buy them!

One candy, please!

{\an8}ORIGINAL STORY BY NOBUHIRO WATSUKI

It's been a long time since I made Ohagi.

It's delicious!

Thank you.

But Ohagi tastes good,
no matter who makes them.

Not really.

Before, when Miss Kaoru made it,
they were more like mud ba*ls...

-Oro...
-Keep your mouth shut.

What a violent girl she is.

How about throwing her away
and switching to me?

Miss Megumi!

Don't you start that
just when my back is turned!

I told you,

I'll throw you out if you keep that up!

Oh, but all people have the right
to like whomever they want to.

You making those accusations

is just showing that you
don't have confidence in yourself.

You should try learning how to make
better Ohagi instead of complaining.

I can't say anything back.

I thought she was going to be more polite,

but she seems the same.

But she's a lot more cheerful
than she was.

It's a good sign.

No, it's not!

What's with the early morning comedy show?

Hey, Sano.

The old man had a look at it.

This is definitely the new form
of opium that's on the streets now.

I see.

Have you had breakfast yet?

No, thanks.

I'd rather eat the little girl's dish than
something made by that opium woman.

I haven't slept all night.

I'll be sleeping in one of the rooms, so
wake me up when the noon cannon goes off.

Wait a minute!

You can't let him get away
with saying things like that!

Calm down.

Miss Megumi, please don't mind him.

He knows you're the one behind the opium,

but at the same time,
he now knows about your past.

He wants to blame you, but he can't.

On top of that,

we haven't heard anything
from Kanryu for a week.

He's in a situation

where he has raised his fist
but doesn't know what to do with it.

I'm sure that's what's
going through his mind.

So, just give him some space.

Opium woman...

Hello.

How are you today?

Book-lender here.

I've got plenty of new books.

How about it?

I've seen you often around here lately.

Have you just moved in?

No, I'm just a houseguest.

Oh, I see.

How nice.

Quiet.

Any awkward struggle
and this could end up in the well.

Mercury!

Takeda Kanryu wants to talk with you.

Just to talk.
You don't have to go back with him.

What do you want?

You should already know
without me telling.

Are you ready to come back yet?

I'd rather die than go back to your place.

Is that so?

Well, if you're not coming back,

the Kamiya dojo
will be burned to the ground.

My soldiers, the Oniwabanshu,
and yakuza around here.


the perimeter of the dojo,

not even a rat can escape,
and we'll burn the place down.

"You k*ll a cuckoo if it doesn't sing."

Why don't you stop dreaming?

No matter what you say,

it's a fact that you made the opium
that k*lled so many people.

Even if you did meet your family again,

what would they say if they knew one of
the Takanis was producing opium?

So, you see, it's pointless to run away.

You, I, and the opium
all share the same faith.

From now until eternity.

Oh yes, I'll burn the dojo
at midnight tonight.

You don't have much time,
so think quickly and settle this.

Bye.

Do you think that woman will come back?

If she doesn't, there will be trouble.

The swordsman with the scar is
the legendary Hitokiri, Himura Battosai.

It's wiser to avoid any conflict with
that man than forcing things through.

Takani Megumi will come back
with her own will.

Then, Battosai will have no reason to act.

A reason...

I can't run...

from Kanryu...

from opium.

I won't be able to get away forever.

Opium woman.

Dear all.

Please forgive me for leaving
without saying anything.

Since Kanryu and his men seem to have
given up, it's time I returned to Aizu.

Thank you so much for taking care
of me these past ten days.

"Sincerely, Takani Megumi."

This is disappointing.

It's a fake!

Kenshin?

There's no one left waiting
for Miss Megumi in Aizu now!

Kanryu's men must have found her when
we weren't watching and threatened her!

Sano, you know where Kanryu's mansion is!

Let's go!

Go ahead.

I'm not doing a thing
for that opium woman.

Sanosuke?!

Since when did you start
being such a pathetic...

That's enough, Sano.

That's not like you.

My friend was a candy seller.

He liked gambling but also loved
the smiles of kids who came to buy candy.

But he died because of
the opium made by her.

Why the hell should I be helping her?

I am neither a Rurouni
nor as trusting as you are!

Sano, you should have seen
Miss Megumi's eyes.

Eyes?

She acts strong but for a moment,
her eyes showed loneliness.

You are...

Tell Kanryu

that Takani Megumi has returned.

She was looking for someone
she could trust like her family.

If there is a need for a reason
for a man to act,

this reason is good enough for me.

Kenshin, I'm going too.

Yahiko, wait!

You will only get in the way.

Shut up!

She saved my life!

So now, I have to help her!

If I can't do that, what's the point
of the "sword that protects life"?

I didn't notice, but this child
has turned into a true swordsman.

This will probably take all night.

Don't forget to have a bath ready
and breakfast for five.

Sanosuke!

I quit thinking too much.

I'm going to go on a rampage,
just like how I should be!

Good.

Let's go!

So, this is Kanryu's mansion.

Yeah.

So, how do you want to attack this place?

Speed is the essence
of a sneak attack with a small force.

We'll destroy the gate and rush through
the entrance at full speed.

So, a frontal as*ault.

Got it!

Sanosuke.

Make sure you keep up. Got it?

Let's go!

What's that?!

Welcome back, Megumi.

I thought you'd return.

After all, this is the only place
you can come back to.

By the way, our stock of Spider's Web
is about to run out.

Please make us some more.

This is troublesome.

You were always difficult to deal with.

I always thought you were pretty.

What you think is pretty
is the profit from the opium I make.

Yes.

And it makes you all the prettier.

Sure.

But unfortunately, I didn't
come here to make opium.

What?

Takeda Kanryu, I came here to k*ll you!

Don't worry.

You and I share the same fate.

I'll k*ll myself right after I k*ll you.

I have no will to live as I bear my sins.

We'll fall into Hell together.

As penance for the suffering
we've brought with our opium.

The sword!

It's here.

You...

b*stard!

Just because I treated you so kindly,

you took advantage of my kindness!

How dare you make a fool
of the great Kanryu!

Call my guards.

I'll t*rture her until she coughs up
the refining process!

The men are all outside.

What?

Listen.

That's the emergency whistle!

It's him.

He's here!

So fast! That speed!

Is he human?!

Hey...!

Don't get distracted.

You're going to get hurt!

Sanosuke!

I said keep up!

Is this stubborn brat still saying that?

Strong...

These two are too strong!

These three, you idiot!

We've settled most of the swordsmen
and the yakuzas.

Infantry unit!

Take aim!

Fi...!

He's not moving! Fire!

Sano! Yahiko!

-Yahiko!
-Yes!

Your turn!

Let's see some action!

You brat!

Looking for something?

Guess those pickpocketing skills
are coming in handy.

You never know what life brings.

Idiot.

Did you think I'd really fire?

I'm a swordsman!

I don't need to rely on g*ns!

You brat!

Don't be so confident!

AKU

Are you all right, Yahiko?

Of course I am!

I'm not leaving until you leave.

All right, that's the spirit!

Just make sure you keep up, Yahiko!

Shut up!

I'm not the one standing behind
and throwing people!

Hey, I let you have a chance.

You should be thanking me.

I don't understand.

Why?

For what reason would Himura Battosai...

What benefit does he gain
by coming so far for that woman?

If Hitokiri Battosai
cared about profit and loss,

he'd be an officer in the military by now.

A businessman like you won't understand.

But even though he and I were enemies,

Ishin Shishi were people
who would die for their beliefs.

In this world, where even
the past Ishin Shishi has rotten,

it's good to know that
such a man still lives.

After ten years,

we have bait to draw out
a great Ishin Shishi as our opponent!

He is our prey!

You're... You're joking!

It's too dangerous to make
the legendary Hitokiri our enemy!

Don't say that.

We want to fight him.

Kanryu!

Your time has come.

Come down with Miss Megumi!

What the!

Has he gone crazy?

Wonderful!

To have destroyed
all 50 of my soldiers so quickly!

Truly the work
of the legendary Himura Battosai!

That jerk! Kenshin's past.

The Oniwabanshu must have looked into it.

Bravo!

If you join the Oniwabanshu under me,

we truly will be the strongest!

I'll pay you the price
of 50 soldier's wages!

What do you say?
You could be my bodyguard!

Coming down or not.

Which is it?

How about 100?

Two hundred!

You don't understand.

You can't win him over with money.

I told you Himura Battosai
doesn't act for profit.

I see!

I understand. I've lost.

You win!

I'll hand over Takani Megumi.

But give me an hour!

There are some preparations
that must be made. Please!

Just wait here!

You thought we would believe in you!

Kenshin! Wait!

You can't be that trusting!

Good.

In an hour, Megumi will have coughed up

the secret of the Spider's Web
and I will have no further use of her.

She can't possibly hold out that long!

I'll come up there within one hour!

Be prepared, Kanryu!

Your makeshift plans
only added fuel to the fire.

This is practically a theater.

Okashira, ready the Oniwabanshu.

Already taken care of.

Two of my best men are deployed

at the hallway leading from the entrance

and at the stairs
at the end of the hallway.

I'll act as a rare guard in the ballroom.

All right.

But those two men better not be like
worthless trash Beshimi and Hyottoko!

I won't tolerate those who can't
live up to their high salaries!

What do you mean, "I won't tolerate"?

Make no mistake.

The leader of the Oniwabanshu is not you.

The Oniwabanshu is mine!

And I won't allow anyone
to speak badly of them!

Their target is Takani Megumi.

I'll have her confined in
the observation tower on the third floor.

Now, go count your money
and leave this to me.

You're awake.

This is the observation tower?

What on earth!

The men from the Kamiya dojo
have come to get you back.

You're lying.

Why would I lie?

They've already defeated the soldiers.

Fools.

Even though I ran off, they still...

Why?

They're fools, every one of them.

That's yours.

I'm returning it.

It's better not to get your hopes up.

They'll never make it up here.

In an hour you'll have nothing
to prevent Kanryu from torturing you.

A painful life or an easy death.

Choose your own path.

We aren't concerned with
Kanryu's drugs or money.

What we care about is the fight.

We came to fight
for this shady smuggling business,

but thanks to you,
we now have a worthy enemy.

This is my way of saying thanks.

I do have some sympathy
for what happened in your life.

But that is not my concern.

I'm surprised.

Your employer placed you first.

I did tell you.

"We will eventually fight,
so there's no need to rush."

Next episode, "Hanya of the Fierce,
Shikijo of the Wounds".