01x22 - Resurrection of the Wolf

[bunniefuu]

I, the captain of the Shinsengumi,
third unit, Saitō Hajime...

Let's go.

Hitokiri Battōsai.

Kenshin!

Kenshin!

Practice is over.

Come on and stand up!

-Are you still asleep!?
-You dummy!

Do you know any other Kenshins?

Come on. We're going home.

ORIGINAL STORY BY NOBUHIRO WATSUKI

The Shinsengumi?

You usually sleep lightly,
but today, you're really out of it.

You were having dreams about the past.

It's been a while since
I dreamed of those days.

The Shinsengumi, as in
the famous rivals of the Ishin Shishi?

Yes. I crossed swords with them,

I don't know how many times.

IKEDAYA

The Shinsengumi was originally

a unit employed by
the Bakufu to defend Kyoto,

consisting of swordsmen
from the Edo-Tama region.

Ishin Shishi were still disorganized
and acting individually,

turning Kyoto into a demon city
of sword and blood.

They swung their swords
to protect the peace of Kyoto.

They rallied under their scarlet flag,
bearing the character for loyalty,

and dressed in light blue jackets
with a zigzag design.

‪MAKOTO

They were also known
as the Miburō for their

elite swordsmanship
and an absolute lack of fear of death.

They were defeated by modern weapons
and disappeared into the past,

but they were probably the greatest
fighting force in the history of Japan.

But I heard they fought best
in groups instead of one-on-one.

That's cowardly.

It's because their priority for
work was to maintain public peace.

Naturally,
they couldn't fight proper duels.

Of course,
their individual strengths varied.

However, the unit captains,

especially the captains of the 1st, 2nd,
and 3rd units, were unmistakably strong.

We had many one-on-one matches
but never reached a conclusion.

I've heard that most of them
have died by now.

It's too bad.

Why are you being so nice to them?

Weren't they your enemies?

Well...

Certainly, we were enemies,
but I bore them no personal hatred.

We were on different sides,
but that doesn't change the fact

that we took our swords
and risked our lives for our beliefs.

As a matter of fact,
I feel even closer to them

than some of the Ishin Shishi
who now hold government positions.

I guess it is kind of weird?

No, it's not that.

It's just a little unusual for you
to talk so much about the past.

Come on. Let's go home.

It's been a long time since
I dreamed about those days.

What are you just standing there for?
Kenshin!

Let's go.

I haven't been dreaming
about it lately at all.

So, why now?

Damn. All I wanted was some free food.

Where are those guys?

Good day!

Who are you?

How do you do?

I'm a peddler from Tama, and I've got some
unusual medicine called Ishida Powder.

My name is Fujita Gorō.

How about it?

Ishida Powder works on bruises,
even broken bones.

Hold it, hold it. I don't live here.

They're all out now. That's too bad.

-Hey, you.
-Yes?

What's with those slanted eyes?

I was born this way.

Is that so?

Then...

A medicine peddler can't be born
with these sword calluses.

Who are you?

You're very perceptive,

Sagara Sanosuke.

Battōsai's not home.

This guy knows about Kenshin's past.

In that case...

I'll have to leave him a gift.

You were hiding that thing.

That's what you came here for
from the start.

All right!

I'll take you on!

And ask who you really are with my fists!

I see.

You deserve the reputation
of being the number one fistfighter.

It had no effect?!

But these are rumors
from the peaceful Meiji era.

In Kyoto, during the Bakumatsu,
a punch like that

will get you k*lled.

Why are you walking so slowly, Kenshin?

If you keep dawdling, it'll get dark.

He doesn't look well.

I wonder if his stomach hurts.

Oh, then that's my cue.

Megumi! What are you doing here?

Why are you that surprised?

This is the main street.

Why would it be so strange
for me to be walking here?

Just kidding.

I have today and tomorrow off,
so I thought I'd come over.

No way! No vixen is allowed in my house!

Oh, and who treats someone
when they're injured?

And for free!?

Yahiko, what do you think?

I'll cook dinner.

Fine with me. Don't be so mean, Kaoru.

Traitor!

Kenshin, is it alright with you
if I come over?

Oh, you really don't look well.

Do you want me to have a look at you?

No, I'm fine. It's nothing.

I should stop fretting.

It'll only cause them to worry about me.

Even if I was dreaming of the old days,

there's no point
in thinking so much about it.

After all, I can't come up with an...

This! What on earth?!

The smell of blood!

Sano!

Well, first, have a drink, Fujita.

Or should I

call you Saitō here?

Call me as you like.

However, no drinks for me, please.

I didn't expect you to be a non-drinker.

No, it's not that.

I tend to want to k*ll people
excessively when I drink.

You are indeed very promising.

Then, let's get down to business.

-Himura Battōsai is now...
-At a place called Kamiya dōjō.

I went there earlier today.

But he wasn't home.

You're all I expected from
the captain of the Shinsengumi 3rd unit.

When I heard you'd been added
to our group, I was surprised.

But now, I'm relieved to find
this "job" in such capable hands.

I was surprised as well

to find that the man
behind the Black Hat case,

Udō Jin-e's boss, was Shibumi,
originally Secretary of the House.

Well, there are a lot of things going on
in the Meiji government right now.

Indeed,

but that has nothing to do with me
since my side lost the w*r.

If I can spend the remainder of my life
doing something interesting,

that's good enough.

k*lling is my specialty,

so this work
is all I could desire as a side job.

Especially if the job
is eliminating an old enemy.

Even so, one thing doesn't make sense.

Why would anyone want to assassinate him

when he has degraded
himself to a wandering Rurouni?

Who commissioned this job?!

-Hey!
-Apologies.

I talked too much.

No, as long as you understand.

Well, why don't we forget
about the job for now

and enjoy some entertainment?

I'd be happy to, but I should be
returning to my real job

before they grow suspicious.

So, I will excuse myself here.

Captain of the 3rd unit
of the Shinsengumi, Saitō Hajime.

After the new era,
he changed his name to Fujita Gorō

and served as a member

of the sword-bearing police
in the Seinan w*r.

Now, he's employed as a police officer.

Some say he was
the strongest of the Shinsengumi,

stronger than Okita Sōji.

Even Jin-e couldn't destroy Battōsai,
but that man...

I don't like him.

He smiles too much.

You're prejudiced, Akamatsu.

Make sure you guys get along.

If this "Battōsai assassination"
work goes well,

we can say goodbye to the dirty work.

And my success in this interesting matter

will be due to a man from
the Shinsengumi who threatened us

so mercilessly during the Bakumatsu.

They called the Shinsengumi the Miburō,

but in the Meiji era,
they are nothing but toothless lapdogs.

It's too dark. I can't see the wound!

Even candles will do. I need more light!

Yes!

Can it be...

THREE DAYS LATER

Megumi,

the bath is free.

I'll watch Sanosuke, so take your time.

Thanks. I'll do that.

-How is he?
-Same as before.

-Is Kenshin in the dōjō again?
-Yes.

Same as before.

He's thinking about something
with a scary look on his face.

No matter how I think of it,
it has to be his work.

Medicine boxes with a round seal
with a triangular cap

were used by Shinsengumi spies
to disguise themselves.

The point of the blade
was stabbed horizontally,

a characteristic of the unique
Shinsengumi technique called Hirazuki.

And this destructive force

can only be caused

by his special left-handed Hirazuki.

That is...

the Gatotsu.

The captain of the Shinsengumi's
third unit, Saitō Hajime.

Come to settle what we never finished?

Or does he have some other intention?

Either way, his skill with the sword
has not rusted at all.

With the Sakabatō,

with my vow not to k*ll,

will I be able to defeat him?

Here you go.

-Please enjoy your meal.
-Thank you.

Well, time to eat.

Just a plain bowl of soba?

Not much of a meal, is it, Saitō?

I like plain soba.

And I'm Fujita now.

Akamatsu, was it?

Do you want something?

I don't want anything.
It's just that you annoy me.

This job should have been mine,

but when Shibumi heard about you,
he gave it to the newcomer.

Listen. If you're going
to do it, then do it quickly.

And I hope you get k*lled.

What's so funny?!

Nothing. I'm sorry.

I understand.

Then why don't we work together?

What?

The other day, I left him some clues.

By now, Battōsai
should know that it was me.

If I sent him a letter,
he would be certain to fall for it.

So you'll send him a challenge.

And you'll bring him down.

What do you say?

Not bad.

But I still don't like it.

Battōsai's supposed to be
an old enemy of yours.

Why would you give him up so easily?

I called him my old enemy
in front of Shibumi.

But the truth is, by now,
it doesn't matter much to me.

As I said,

I only wish to spend the remainder
of my life doing something interesting.

Rather than danger and riches,
all aim for certainty and a small wage.

That's the kind of man Fujita Gorō is.

I like what I hear. Let's do this.

But remember one thing.

The top man
in the assassination group is me!

It's unfortunate,

but I have no interest
in being the best of the frogs

in the well who know
nothing of the great ocean.

Hey, Kenshin!

Kaoru says to run to town
and buy some tofu!

I'm sorry, Yahiko,
but I have some business to take care of.

I may be late,
so be sure to lock the doors.

But... The tofu...

Saitō!

Don't be modest. Show yourself!

You fed off my chain without difficulty.

As I expected from the Battōsai,
I've heard so much about.

Who are you?

Akamatsu Arundo.
The man who will take your life.

I'm familiar with being targeted.

But I have no intention
of giving my life without good cause.

First, tell me why you're here.

Good cause.

Don't worry.

I'll lay it on your grave!

I can see you! You're on my left, Battō...

What did you see?

Did you see my shadows or something?

I didn't move that fast.

Give up.

You cannot defeat me.

Answer me. Who are you?

What is your connection with Saitō?

I'm sorry! It was my fault!

Please forgive me!

I didn't want to do it!

But Saitō forced me to...

A mere small fry.

Such a weakling.

What is Saitō thinking?

I can't believe all you say,

but learn from this mistake
and wash your hands off this matter.

Yes!

Did you really think
I would give up so easily? You idiot!

Your action to protect
your throat was very neat,

but what will you do now?

Both of your hands are completely caught.

You can't move!

Darn it, Kenshin.

What business does he have
to take care of?

Next episode, "The Wolf's Fang."