02x01 - To Kyoto

[bunniefuu]

Who is that?

Wow, a sword!

Hey, be quiet!

He's got a sword...

He looks like trouble...

Doesn't he know about the edict?

Best not to get too close to him.

So you've finally made up
your mind about going to Kyoto.

Said your goodbyes to the Kamiya girl?

Sorry, a slip of the tongue.

From now on, we will be fighting together
against the Shishio faction,

so we will have to get along.

Fighting together?

Yes.

In the aftermath of Ōkubo's assassination,

Kawaji took on many more responsibilities.

And he put me in command
of the force in Kyoto.

What is that long face for?

Nothing!

Well, come on!

If we leave for Yokohama now, we will be
in time to catch the first ship to Osaka.

No!

I'm going by the Tōkai Way.

What?

No money?

The navy will...

That is not it!

As you saw in the
assassination of Governor Ōkubo.

Shishio's men could appear
when they are least expected.

They could attack suddenly on the ship.

There is nowhere to run on a ship,
and innocent people could become involved.

You still think like a Rurouni.

It would be better for you

if you returned to the Hitokiri
instead of this peace-loving fool.

Maybe I should fight you again here.

I will fight you whenever you like,

however...

I have no desire to become
Battōsai ever again.

I won't allow anyone to be involved.

That is why I chose to go alone.

As you wish.

Whatever road you take,
as long as you get to Kyoto.

It would take an ordinary person 10 days...

For you, five should be enough.

However, this is no pleasure trip.

Shishio has a net of informants
all over the country like a spider's web.

He should know of your every movement.

Do not forget.

The battle with Shishio has already begun.

Rurouni Kenshin

Rurouni Kenshin -Kyoto Disturbance-

"Kamiya Kasshin-ryu Kenjutsu Dojo"

Thank you for everything...

And farewell.

I couldn't chase him.

His words of goodbye...

Froze my body.

And that has not disappeared.

That scoundrel!

How dare he leave without
a word to anyone?!

Calm down...

Please don't break our stuff.

I'm scared...!

I'm going to Kyoto!

I won't be happy until I give him
at least one good punch!

So!

Don't go out wandering
without my permission!

Darn it!

He was awfully rough.

Yes,

and he left without paying again!

I thought he would stay
at Kaoru's for good.

Hey!

Yahiko!

Have you seen Sanosuke?

He was just here, kicking up a fuss.

Him too!?

My goodness...

And how is Kaoru?

Not good at all.

She still hasn't gotten out of bed.

It seems like she was told
goodbye face to face.

For the past two days,
she hasn't eaten anything.

No way...

"Akabeko Gyuunabe Bar & Restaurant"
Well, you two should come

"Akabeko Gyuunabe Bar & Restaurant"
and try to cheer her up.

All right.

"Tsukioka"

This should be enough to get you to Kyoto.

Sorry about this.

When I come home, I'll pay you back.

I'll be waiting.

Don't know how though.

My expectations are low.

Well, I'll be on my way.

Sanosuke, hold out your hand.

A goodbye present.

Take them.

You're still making these things?!

And they look upgraded too!

Be careful.

These days, Kyoto is much more
dangerous than you think.

You knew about Shishio?

Don't underestimate the
newspaper's information network.

Don't release any articles about it.

Getting copied is the least
that will happen to you.

I won't.

No one would believe it anyway.

Yep,

I agree.

Watch where you're bonking your head!

Shut up!

And you are just fooling around!

I've been looking all over for you!

Anyway, come see Kaoru!

I've been looking...

Yahiko...

You've been...

Followed.

Where do you think you're going?

Of course, Kyoto.

Got a problem?

Yes...

It would mean trouble if
a weakling like you followed us.

What was that?!

In battle, targeting an opponent's weak
points is the most basic of strategies.

If you go to Kyoto,
Shishio will be sure to target you.

But...

The current Battōsai is too weak
to protect you all from Shishio.

That's why he left alone.

To the Battōsai, the existence of
you guys is nothing but a weakness.

You don't have a role in this play.

Be good and stay back.

So Kenshin thinks I'm his weakness.

He left alone because
he couldn't protect me...

After hearing that,
now I really wanna give him that punch!

Stand aside, Saitō!

Back off or I'll make you, darn it!

Those are my sentiments exactly.

That's cheap!

His shoulder wounds...

As I said,

attacking your opponent's
weak spot is the most basic of tactics.

There's nothing "cheap" about it.

In Kyoto, there won't be any fair fights.

Instead, there will be a major bloodbath
where the victor is the one who survives.

A young boy like you should
not get involved with such things.

Be good and stay here.

No!

I see.

That didn't hurt.

That didn't hurt at all!

Being treated...

Being treated as Kenshin's weakness...

Hurts 10,000 times more!!

Don't try to stop me, Saitō!

I'm going to Kyoto no matter what!

I'll prove to you with these fists...

That I'm Kenshin's right hand man!

You should know your own limits.

You'll prove to me with your fists?

Yeah!

It's so you cannot use the excuse
that your opponent had a sword.

This time, I'll fight by your rules.

A match of fists!

Don't believe him, Sanosuke!

He's a cheater.

He will kick you when you're off guard!

Don't worry,

this will truly be only fists.

No matter how stupid this rooster-head is,

if he's destroyed in his own way
of fighting, he will understand...

What his own limits are,
whether he likes it or not.

Interesting.

Let's go!

Putting all strength into one blow,
a dumb move.

The fool is...

You!!

A reign of punches!

Darn, when did he learn that technique!

Your fighting style with fists
is to aim for the counterattack!

The complete opposite of your
Kenjutsu fighting style.

That's why you will
always be defending first!

So, I'm not going to give you a chance...

To counter back!!

He didn't take a single punch!

You said my fighting style
aims for counterattacks?

Don't make me laugh!

Darn it...!

The speed and strength of our
punches aren't that different,

but why are his connecting
while mine aren't...!?

Why!?

He's strong...

I hate to admit it, but...

This is the only guy who's ever
fought with Kenshin and ended with a draw.

Do you understand?

The Battōsai and I have the strength
and experience far beyond yours.

Compared to us, you're just
a loudmouth, a green novice.

Shut up!

So what!?

I'm going to Kyoto!

No matter what anyone says!

You...

Cannot go to Kyoto!

That is...

The Gatotsu stance!

Rurouni Kenshin -Kyoto Disturbance-

That is the Gatotsu stance
without a sword!

Dodge, Sanosuke!

If you take that
you will be in real trouble!

Give it up.

He can barely stay on his feet.

No matter how much you struggle...

You are nothing but an amateur!

So what!

Surprised huh?

You...

You've been calling me
an amateur all this time,

but what about you?

You and Kenshin may be strong,
but you didn't start out that way.

You fought during the Bakumatsu,
polishing your skills,

and that helped build the Meiji era!

Just because I'm an amateur
doesn't mean I'm weak!

You scoundrel...

It's over.

What!?

It's not worth my time and effort
to fight an opponent,

who is stupid
no matter what you do or say.

If you want to go, then go!

But, you will be k*lled
before you set foot in Kyoto.

What!?

A fool, who thinks he's strong,
and doesn't know how to defend himself...

Is never going to survive.

You've won, Sanosuke.

But we'd better do something
about that shoulder of yours.

Yeah...

What's wrong?

That scoundrel!

The punches he threw,
not one of them hit my shoulder...

He really was fighting by my rules!

So that is the wolf of Mibu.

That is the real strength of
the captain of Shinsengumi's third unit.

Darn it!

I've been wasting my time here,
I'm leaving!

But your shoulder...

I'll take care of it on the way.

Give me the medication!

My goodness...

Yahiko, I'm leaving Kaoru to you.

What?

Get her over to Kenshin, no matter what!

Got it.

I'll be stronger!

On my way to Kyoto,
I've got to get stronger!

Take care of yourself.

Yahiko?!

Megumi!

Didn't you go to Kyoto?

Or did they leave you at home alone?

What are you talking about?

Kaoru's still at the dōjō.

What...?

I understand how you feel,

but you can't stay like this forever.

It may not be good, but it's not
good for you if you don't eat.

No thanks.

Don't say that.

Tsubame worked hard to make this for you.

No thanks.

Kaoru!

You don't have to look after me.

Please just leave me alone.

Megumi!

Look, Megumi is here too
because she is worried about you!

What are you talking about?

What?

I came to laugh at the
raccoon-girl Kenshin rejected.

Megumi!

This medicine is a family treasure.

Kenshin told me before how well it worked.

It's something he needs,

so I'll ask Yahiko to take it to him.

Since it's useless to ask you.

Why don't you go to Kyoto yourself...

Instead of relying on others?

Catfight...

I'm scared...

Unfortunately, I don't have
a lot of free time, like you.

I have patients to take care of.

I can't go off on a journey.

You choose your patients over Kenshin?

In other words,
he's not that important to you.

Kaoru!

That's going a little too far!

I'm still the Shihandai of
Kamiya Kasshin-ryu...

Don't underestimate me.

You're the one who
shouldn't underestimate me.

I became a doctor so
I could save lives and atone for my sins.

All right?

This is my life's path.

And there is no one who could have shown
me how to live this path, but Kenshin.

So even if he's not here, I'll keep on
atoning for my sins, as a doctor.

This atonement is how I feel towards him.

So I don't need some cowardly girl
to tell me he's not important to me.

You don't understand, Megumi!

How it felt for me to hear him
saying goodbye to me, face to face...

You don't understand at all!

That is true.

But we're even.

You don't understand how it felt for me...

Not to hear him saying
goodbye to me at all.

Before you start going to extremes,
consider your own feelings once more.

Are you done?

Yes.

Don't worry.

I'll bring Kenshin back, no matter what.

So wait here and don't cry.

All right...

Megumi...

She really wanted to go to Kyoto...

I...

What are you sitting around for?

Get ready!

We are going to Kyoto!

But...

No buts and no excuses.

You're the only one
Kenshin said goodbye to.

Don't you get it?

It was the hardest for
him to part with you!

So listen up!

No matter what,

you're the one who's got the
best chance of making him come back!

Megumi said she'd look after the dōjō.

In return, you are taking this to Kenshin.

Answer me, Kaoru!

Don't you want to see Kenshin?

I...

I...

Kaoru!

Kaoru!

I want to see him...

I do...

I do want to see Kenshin!!

So it is settled then!

We will go to Kyoto.

To Kyoto, where Kenshin is...

Episode 25 - To Kyoto

Next Episode
On the Meiji Tōkaidō Way