01x19 - Tsunan & Nishiki Paintings

[bunniefuu]

I wasn't thinking that I would meet you

on the day all the preparations
were completed.

Maybe the Captain
is guiding us from Heaven!

-Katsu?
-Sanosuke.

Do you want to create
the Sekihōtai once more with me?

We will destroy the government

and make the new era
Captain Sagara dreamed of a reality!

Sorry, guys.

I'd explain, but you wouldn't understand.

But deep down in my heart,
I'm still a part of the Sekihōtai.

Kenshin, the next time we meet,
I'll be a great criminal.

Then you can even
take me out with the Sakabatō.

It's about time. Let's go.

Man, it's cold!

It's already Spring but it's still cold!

The cold from Winter is still around.

I can't wait for it to be warm.

What was that?

A b*mb!

More explosions! They're still out there!

Call all guards to the gates!

You adjusted the length of the fuse
to make it go off at different times.

Good thinking.

If you get inside, we've got it!

The Department of the Interior
will be smashed to pieces!

ORIGINAL STORY BY NOBUHIRO WATSUKI

The grass is burning!

Put it out! Hurry!

The race is on to beat the guards here!

Get out of the garden now! Don't stop!

Now that I think about it,

before the Sekihōtai was formed,

I heard the Captain used arson
and theft against the Bakufu.

But...

What's wrong, Katsu?

What did you stop for...

Kenshin.

He beat us here.

Sanosuke, who is he?

Himura Battōsai.

Once the legendary Hitokiri.

I see.

The Hitokiri Battōsai we heard about.

You came to take Sanosuke back?

No.

That is for Sanosuke to choose.

There would be no sense in doing so.

I am here to stop your crimes.

Sakabatō.

So, the Ishin Shishi
stand in our way once again.

But...

this time, we will not lose!

Take this!

Damn patriot!

Yes. That's why

I cannot overlook
your foolish behavior in silence.

A mere Hitokiri with a big mouth!

How about this!

I got him!

You let your guard down, Ishin Shishi!

No.

He didn't let his guard down...

he dodged it.

That's enough.

-Sanosuke!
-It's pointless.

You can't beat him with this toy.

The guards will be back in a minute.

You're kidding me!

I haven't done anything yet!

I've invested ten years of my life!

I can't give up with such...

Sano...?

Don't think badly of me.

Well.

-How should we escape?
-Sano.

You already know.

Sorry I caused some trouble for you.

It's alright.

Hey.

If I'd gone along with him,

you'd have taken me out, too, right?

Yes.

Because I couldn't let
this halfhearted conspiracy go.

Forgive me.

Thanks!

My room.

If you're looking for the bombs,
Kenshin took them all.

He said he's going to find somewhere
that people won't see and bury them.

Damn him!

That government dog!

That's not it!

-You... You brought him here?!
-Yes.

You...

betrayed me?

-Listen to me, Katsu.
-Shut up!

I'm not going to rely on you anymore!

Katsu! What are you trying to do?!

-Harakiri!
-What?!

The guys working at the Department
of the Interior are also humans!

I will die in front of their eyes
while cutting my stomach open

and accuse the Meiji government
of wrongdoing!

What good is that going to do?!

My suspicious death
will surely remain in the public mind!

It will lead to the search for the truth

and become the seed of distrust
in the Meiji government.

I'm going to do it!

Quit this nonsense!

You know that's not going to work!

Sanosuke, goodbye.

Smoke screen?!

Katsu.

Katsu!

AKU

Not only are there normal bombs

but also smoke bombs and flash bombs.

He's a true craftsman.

-Sorry to cause you trouble.
-Don't worry.

There are a lot of ways
to get rid of these things.

But...

The rest is your job.

Yeah.

Hey! Where are you trying to go
this late at night?

I'm asking you a question!

Where are you trying to go?!

Where...

Where should I go?

What?

I passed him!

Katsu!

Dammit!

Stand up!

-Let me go!
-Shut up!

You're causing too much trouble!

-We're going home!
-Go home alone!

I have things that I need to finish!

Leave me alone, you traitor!

What?! How am I a traitor?!

You teamed up with that Ishin Shishi
and crushed my plan!

You idiot!

I didn't say a single thing
to anyone about your plan!

Then why was that b*stard there?!

I don't know!

He always tries to get into things!

I can't trust you!

Give me back my ten years!

Acting like a little thug!

Act like a Sekihōtai.

Katsu. You...

Don't misunderstand.

I only need my fists to defeat you.

Good.

For a second,
I thought your soul had rotten.

It's too early to relax.

You've never won me in a fight.

Shut up.

-I'm not feeling anything.
-Same here.

You can't beat me, Sanosuke!

What? You...

Stop.

You can't win me in a fight.

This... isn't a fight.

It's to settle the ten years of resentment

and regain the pride of the Sekihōtai!

That's why I won't lose. I can't lose!

Sanosuke! My ten years were not
like your spoiled ten years!

Sanosuke!

In the ten years after
Captain got humiliated

and the Sekihōtai got framed
by the Meiji government,

what were you doing?!

You were fighting day and night

and even became friends
with an ex-Ishin Shishi?!

What did you learn from
the Sekihōtai and our Captain?!

You idiot!

You've got nothing to be proud of either!

You were what?!

Locked up by yourself for ten years,
making bombs?!

There were so many other ways
to avenge Captain!

Besides, accusing the government
after ten years is too late!

What do you mean?

No matter what we've done
within the past ten years,

or even if the Meiji government
were to collapse,

people living this age are working hard
every day to create a new era!

You saw it with your own eyes!

That girl at the dōjō,

she's running around every day
to spread kenjutsu to more people!

Yahiko is from a samurai family,
but that means nothing today.

But he's still practicing
day and night with his shinai!

Megumi, the woman doctor,
got caught up in dirty work,

but she's back on her feet
and is treating patients in town!

Both Shu and Ginji

have never complained
about the current circumstances!

They're working hard every day

and yet they keep a smile on their faces!

All of them are going through something,

but last night, we all got together
and drank and ate.

Isn't that Captain's dream,

perfect equality for the four classes?!

Then...

what is it that I'm trying to do?

Nothing! Just trouble!

Nothing?

Katsu.

Even if you cut open your stomach,
the world is not going to change.

Everybody is living in the present.

Let's go home.

Sanosuke, where is Battōsai?

If he hands over my bombs
to the government...

I told you he's not that type of guy.

He's like us.

He doesn't think well
of the current government.

No. As one of the people
who built this government,

he probably is more frustrated than us.

What are you blabbering about?

What does a mere Hitokiri know?

He knows.

The Hitokiri began
the killings of the new era.

He did a lot of other dirty things.

That's why

he couldn't watch the Sekihōtai
do something dirty and stay silent.

You know, Katsu,

they say that Captain did dirty things
before he formed the Sekihōtai.

Though I'm sure
he did it against his will.

Sekihōtai claimed and lived for the idea
of equality for the four classes.

That's why, after all this time, we can't
do things that will stain its name.

This has nothing to do with
being dirty or clean!

It doesn't matter what the means are
as long as we achieve our ends.

Is that so?

Then the Sekihōtai really would
become a false government army.

Nobody buys this.

The drawing of the false government army.

If you say the government is dirty,
you can't sink to their level.

No matter how carefully, or deliberately,

I'm going to revive it in a way that
would make Captain smile from Heaven.

Captain.

What's happening?

They're fighting over whether
Sanosuke ate Katsuhiro's fish or not.

The usual fight.

I see.

Good job, Sanosuke!

Get him!

Katsu, don't give up!

You can't lose unless you quit!

Stop resisting! You can't beat me!

Shut up!

I'm not going to lose until
I get back what was taken!

You're so annoying!

What's wrong, Sanosuke?!

Katsuhiro! His legs!

Katsuhiro...

won.

Great job!

Ouch.

Good job.

From now on, fight your own way.

My way.

What did Tsukioka Tsunan do after that?

I don't know.

I hit him too many times.

It would be awkward to meet again.

Oh, if it isn't you again.

Glad to see you.

Sorry about the other day.

What is it?

Yeah, Mr. Tsukioka asked me
to give you this.

He said this would be his last Nishiki-e.

I don't know what he's thinking.

Suddenly, he tells me he's going to
start an illustrated newspaper

to protest against government wrongs.

I told him that you can
get caught easily, so don't do it.

It sure is a shame.
He is a very talented artist.

Yeah, too bad.

So, what was all the trouble
that happened the other day?

Well,

a couple of burnt areas
were made in the inner garden.

There was also damage on one of the walls,

but the facility
and the people are all safe.

No one claimed responsibility
for the crime,

and we are investigating
the matter as a malicious prank.

It's the beginning of Spring.

Crazy people start to come out.

Excuse me.

Can Shishio's faction
be responsible for this?

It can't be!

Them attacking
this Department of the Interior?!

It's impossible!

-Mr. Kawaji.
-Sir.

There have been no reports of sightings
of Shishio's faction in Tokyo.

There's no need to worry, Sir Okubo.

If it was done by them,
somebody would have been dead.

However, be on guard.

-Please keep searching.
-Sir!

Next episode, "Meiji Swordsman,
Romantic Story, Act Zero, Part 1."