01x23 - The Wolf's Fang

[bunniefuu]

KAMIYA KASSHIN-RYU

Business?

Kenshin does?

He said he might be late.

Really?

But that's strange.

Where would Kenshin
have business besides here?

-I've got it. It's a woman!
-What?

He's been here for three months,
and there's one or two...

Ouch!

How can you only have such terrible ideas!

You don't have to hit me!

Excuse me.

I was told that this was where
the Himura Battōsai lived.

Oh, my name is Fujita,
and I've just been assigned to this town.

The chief told me about Himura.

He works for the chief.

Unfortunately, Kenshin isn't here now.

Oh, is that so?

The truth is,
while it's still not confirmed,

we received word that Himura
was targeted by a g*ng of outlaws.

Would it be all right
if I waited here for him?

Certainly.

I'm afraid he might be late,
but if you don't mind...

Of course not.

Kenshin.

ORIGINAL STORY BY NOBUHIRO WATSUKI

Someone's after Kenshin?

Yes!

The same people who k*lled Sanosuke!

He's not dead...

yet.

Though if that is true,
they are ruthless people.

We should be careful.

Yes.

But Kenshin isn't here.

Even if Kenshin's alone,
we don't have to worry about him.

We can't go out looking for him
in the dark.

At least the officer
the chief sent is here,

so it's safer than outside.

That's true.

Hey.

I thought all police
carried Western sabers,

but you've got a Japanese katana.

Sabers are fragile and unreliable.

I obtained special permission
to carry this.

Japanese katanas are, after all, the best.

You dead yet?

Six times should be enough.

I promised to lay the truth on your grave.

Saitō and I are, just like Jin-e,
assassins hired by politicians.

So, I don't know the reason
for k*lling you.

Because of the Kurogasa case,

these guys found out where you were.

They probably wanted us
to keep you from telling anyone

about what went on during the Bakumatsu.

I see.

So, Saitō Hajime
is an assassin like Udō Jin-e.

If I remember correctly,

Saitō enforced
discipline in the Shinsengumi

and was responsible for k*lling traders
of the Shinsengumi.

He took all six hits?!

Even in this era, he's still
doing such foolish things.

Then I'll smash you
as many times as I need to k*ll you!!

sh**t!

I can't use both of my hands!

Kenshin!

-Miss Kaoru.
-Oh!

You're hurt.

Someone's indeed after you!

Miss Kaoru.

Where did you hear that?

The police.

The chief sent someone to tell you.

A member of the sword-bearing police,

Fujita Gorō.

From that condition of yours,

it seems like that weak Akamatsu
gave you some trouble.

You have indeed become weak!

The last time we fought was probably
at the Battle of Toba Fushimi.

So, it's been about ten years.

Ten years?

So, you are now known as Fujita Gorō?

Captain of the Shinsengumi third unit,

Saitō Hajime!

Shinsengumi?!

Then...

The one after Kenshin is him!

Ten years.

It's only two words,
but to live it is a long time.

Yes.

Long enough for a man to go bad.

Back then,

despite your viciousness,

you always fought
in a fair and honorable way.

You never did things like attacking
an enemy's friend to scare him

or setting your dog on him
and using that opening to take hostages.

You aren't the Saitō Hajime
that I knew as a samurai.

b*stard! What's so funny?

It's funny, boy.

I can't help laughing.

I knew your sword had dulled,

but I didn't expect your wits
to have dulled as well.

What?

Akamatsu, my dog?

Don't make me laugh.

What use could I have for such a weakling?

We, who fought with the Hitokiri Battōsai
more than anyone else,

know his strength most deeply.

But now, Akamatsu has given you trouble.

Being a Rurouni,
who does not k*ll, has made you weak.

Kenshin.

Weak?

Saitō, it doesn't matter
to me what you think.

All I need is the strength of a Rurouni

to protect those who are important to me.

I no longer need
the strength of a Hitokiri.

Kenshin.

The strength of a Rurouni.

Was it?

If you insist on saying such things,
then you fail even as a Rurouni.

While you were fighting
a desperate battle with Akamatsu,

I was here all along.

In other words,

if I wanted to, I could have
freely k*lled everyone here.

And it's not just
this time that you failed.

Those you said you would protect
fell into your enemy's hands.

And in the end,
because of the fool Raijūta,

one will be scarred for life.

The incident with Raijūta didn't
have anything to do with the police.

He's been watching Kenshin all along.

Having only a fragment of your strength
is like having nothing at all.

These words of a hypocrite make me sick.

Shut up! Ever since Kenshin came,

no one has ever died!

But that may not last.

Kenshin.

The Battōsai would have
understood this perfectly,

so I set Akamatsu on you.

But as you said, ten years
is enough for a man to go bad.

This Rurouni, who does not k*ll,

is drowning in the complacency
of so-called justice.

How can a Hitokiri Battōsai
protect without k*lling?

Have you forgotten?

Aku. Soku. Zan!

Slay evil immediately!

That was the one truth

we Shinsengumi shared with the Hitokiri.

If you have forgotten that code,

then I cannot stand
to see any more of this.

Saitō,

no matter what you say,
I will never k*ll again.

Really.

Come.

I'll show you just how wrong you are.

What's wrong?

Do you want the Gatotsu
to hit the girl and the boy?

Kaoru?

It's all right.

But...

Whatever it is, he's after me.

I can't prevent this fight.

But... I...

I have the strangest feeling.

That Kenshin won't be here anymore.

Come.

You're the challenger.

I see.

You're right.

Let's go!

The Hitenmitsurugi-ryū, Ryūtsuisen!

Who's weak?!

Kenshin's the strongest, after all!

You thought you dodged it
with that, Battōsai!

An anti-air Gatotsu?!

Kenshin!

Twisting your waist,
you at least avoided being impaled.

But... Still useless!

A dodged thrust can become
an attack from the side in an instant.

The "Hiratsuki",

devised by the tactics genius
and second in command of the Shinsengumi,

Hijikata Toshizō, has no weak points.

And with my "Gatotsu", it's invincible.

In real combat, it's extremely rare
to meet the same enemy twice.

Therefore, if there is one technique that
can bring an enemy down without a doubt,

all other small techniques become useless.

To polish one's specialized technique

until they become able
to bestow certain death.

The Shinsengumi's true strength

isn't actually fighting in groups,
but it is this.

He's using the sword-breaking technique!

Useless!

My sword has no name,

but it has served me well from
the time of the Bakumatsu until now.

I'm not going to let you break it now.

Kenshin! Ken...

Move, little girl.

You're in the way.

Here I go.

Kenshin.

The response to the second attack.

Trying to break the sword must have
been faster than the first one.

He's taken a deep wound to the chest

and yet...

Since he settled here,
he's fought countless enemies

and he must have learned to accept victory

by awakening the strength
of the Hitokiri that sleeps inside him.

Just as I thought.

When he picks up the sword,

though he doesn't know it,

gradually, he reverts
to the Hitokiri Battōsai.

He's faster than before!

He disappeared!

Below?!

What was that?

That exceeded my expectations by far.

He's breathing very hard.

His body can't keep up with
his own strength and speed?

-Can it be?
-Can it be?

By fighting with me,

has the sense of ten years ago
been revived and made him

the Battōsai once more?

Or is that just his rage?

To find out...

Only this will do.

The true form of Gatotsu.

No holding back.

What?! Up until now,
he's been holding back?!

He's fast!

But he's completely forgotten
about the side attack.

Must be just a rage after all.

Amazing!

Dodging and turning simultaneously,

along with the blow
full of centrifugal force!

After being shown
the Gatotsu four times in succession,

even a fool would think
of one or two counterattacks.

Get up, Saitō.

It would be disappointing to end
our battle like this after ten years.

Sure.

My plans have changed.

Now, I'll k*ll you.

Stop dreaming.

I'll be the one k*lling you.

Kaoru!

He's the same.

He's exactly the same
as the time with Jin-e.

If this goes on, "Kenshin"
won't be here anymore.

Somebody...

stop them.

Somebody stop them!

The next time something flies,
it will be your head.

Whoa!

Kenshin seems a little crazier today.

No!

That's not Kenshin!

That's Hitokiri Battōsai!

What?

Somebody has to stop them!

Or else, Hitokiri Battōsai...

It's not possible, Kaoru.

Sanosuke!

They're not in Meiji, Tokyo, anymore.

They're fighting in Kyoto
during the Bakumatsu.

Only someone who lived through the chaos

and tasted the destruction in Kyoto during
the Bakumatsu can stop this fight.

No matter how many times you call them,
your voice will never reach them.

Kawaji.

How long has Saitō been
at the Kamiya dōjō?

About... four and a half hours.

I see.

I hope we're not too late.

Tell the horseman to hurry.

Sir.

Men from the Shinsengumi
still don't know how to retreat.

The first principle
of Shinsengumi discipline,

never deviate from the samurai's path.

And a samurai does not know
how to flee from battle!

So, the Shinsengumi
chooses honor over life.

That's fine with me.

Bare hand?!

He would have an opening
if he used his sword.

The match is over!

-Belt?!
-When did he...?!

I have you now!

-Kenshin!
-He's in trouble!

It's...

over!

He's trying to strangle him!

He's not that merciful.

He's

trying to break his neck!

Give it up! You have lost!

This is truly

a fight from the Bakumatsu.

Neither of them has any strength left.

The next attack will be the last.

It'll be life or death

or will they both k*ll each other.

Ken... shin.

It's about time

we finish.

Yes.

Kaoru!

Kenshin.

Ken...

No!

Stop!

Come to your senses, Saitō!

Your mission was only
to test Battōsai's abilities!

I was enjoying myself.

It isn't your place to interfere.

I understand your pride
as a former Shinsengumi.

But

I cannot allow either you or Himura
to waste your lives here.

So...

You're the one pulling the strings here.

Ex-Ishin Shishi from Satsuma,

now the Director
of the Department of Internal Affairs.

Ōkubo Toshimichi.

Next episode, "Meiji 11, May 14."