02x23 - A Beautiful Night

[bunniefuu]

11TH YEAR OF MEIJI

"The duel is to be held tomorrow."

"The location is northeast,
Mount Hiei, halfway up the mountain

in a small shrine
with a six-storied torii."

"Our party consists of Makoto Shishio
and the Ten Swords."

"Your party consists of Himura Battosai,
Hajime Saito, and Sanosuke Sagara."

"No other companions allowed."

Bring it!

RUROUNI KENSHIN
-KYOTO DISTURBANCE-

EPISODE 47: A BEAUTIFUL NIGHT

That guy Saito
is dealing with the aftermath,

so he won't be free for half a day.

And so we'll leave tomorrow morning
for the duel against Shishio.

Too bad I'm in the mood to launch
an attack right now if I could.

Oh, dear. Himura, the battle
progressed that far while I was down?

Yes.

That said, nine of the Ten Swords
are still out there, that they are.

And one more thing.

You're here like you belong here,
but who are you, to begin with?

Yes, my question exactly.

You didn't tell them anything
about me, damn it?

I'm sorry. We were busy on our end.

Jeez. Yeah, all right.

{\an5}BAD

I'm Sanosuke Sagara.

Well, you can call me
one of Kenshin's buddies from Tokyo.

{\an5}DOUBT.

Trust me!

You say that, but...

You're kinda shady.

You have shifty eyes.

You have a bad attitude.

Argh! Megumi, damn you!

Why are you nonchalantly
joining up with them?

Oh? They believed me upon first sight
that I know Ken-san, you know?

Exactly. I knew
the instant I had woken up.

That the reason I still have my life

was thanks to Miss Megumi's
devoted treatment.

And compared to that...

what the hell are you?

In the first place, men who stick
their hair up are usually trouble!

I mean like Cho.

You sure are saying horrible things,
that you are.

But Sano is one of the men
I trust the most, that he is.

Nice to meet you, Sanosuke!

Shut up.

In any case, we have
so many of Himura's friends here.

Let's celebrate their send-off on this eve
of their departure and drink up!

Oh, sounds good!

You can't!

Your wounds haven't healed yet,
so no alcohol allowed!

I appreciate the sentiment, Mr. Okina,
but our day starts early tomorrow.

After we have dinner, I will go ahead
and rest early tonight, that I will.

"Absolute victory," you say?

Yes. An absolute victory.

For this one fight against the three
of Himura, Saito, and Sagara,

we will have ten
including you, Lord Shishio.

Both in numbers and in combat powers,
the difference is obvious.

Then that's fine.

Why are you so dissatisfied?

However, our enemies
are also among the most skilled.

If we clash as is, we will surely
lose any of the Ten Swords

who are about as skilled as
or perhaps less skilled than Cho.

Then we should field
only the elite as well.

We should narrow down their opponents

to Sojiro, Usui, and Anji,
the three strongest of the Ten Swords.

The remaining six members
of the Ten Swords...

RESTAURANT AOIYA

will execute the eradication
of those left behind at Aoiya!

I see.

During the failure
of the Great Kyoto Fire...

there was the Kyoto Oniwaban Group

that secretly operated
behind the police's line of defense.

It's not just this one incident.

To this day, from when Himura Battosai
arrived in Kyoto,

they have been serving
as crucial behind-the-scenes support,

using their abilities
to gather and relay intel.

Without them, we would have been able
to proceed much more smoothly.

That means that our neglecting
to quickly get rid of them

has been an element
of our failures thus far.

Knowing how keen Himura Battosai is,
he likely anticipates us

taking this opportunity
to as*ault Aoiya in his absence.

However, he is still a swordsman,
after all.

Since his opponent has called it a duel,

he wouldn't even dream the Ten Swords
themselves will head to Aoiya.

Even Lord Shishio, who thinks
in a very similar way to that man,

could only conceive of this
as a ten-on-three duel.

You should not forget, Lord Shishio!

Our final objective
is to gain supremacy of this nation.

And that is what is truly
Lord Shishio's absolute victory!

For that reason, it is best
to k*ll off Himura Battosai

and his entire group simultaneously!

Hoji...

when did you receive a rank
where you can give me an opinion?

Sneak attack, ambush, I don't care.

But I did say "duel" to Battosai.

Going against that is something
my pride as a swordsman can't bear.

There will be no change in the duel!
Stop whining!

Hurry up and summon the Ten Swords!

When I sensed the slaughterer's
determination in that fist,

I secretly made one certain resolution.

As the phrase "might is right" shows,

history and nations
are created by the winners.

In order to guide Lord Shishio
to become the absolute winner,

I will devote my heart and soul
to devising plans and executing them.

And to do that,
I don't care what role I must take on!

No matter how vile and unfair the means,

I will deliver an absolute victory
to Lord Shishio!

To do this,
even if I must be utterly loathed

by people, by allies, or even
by Lord Shishio, I care not at all!

Now that we have lost the Rengoku,

the Ten Swords
are the best weapons we have left.

No matter what happens,

I, Hoji, cannot agree to a foolish plan
that wastes them needlessly!

All enemies aside, this is the first time
my pet dog has opposed me this fiercely.

I've had enough.

Sojiro.

Yes.

You go ahead and call over the Ten Swords.

Lord Shishio, is this summons
the beginning of the next battle?

Yeah. But before that,

there's something I need to talk about
concerning the previous mission.

Right, right, that.

That's something I wanted to hear.

I heard that the Great Kyoto Fire
was actually a diversion.

No way!

Oh? So that's why Fuji and I had no backup
and had to come back on our own?

This treatment of us
is as good as sacrificial pawns.

What kind of intention did you have,
Lord Shishio?

Yeah, of course I do feel sorry about it.

In reality, I was originally planning

on having you all
aboard the Rengoku to head to Tokyo.

But thinking that the flashier
the diversion, the better, Hoji here...

acted of his own accord
to change the plans.

Isn't that right, Hoji?

Yes.

It is all my responsibility.

So, please...

I would like to beg forgiveness!

I see.

I totally thought Lord Shishio
abandoned me, and I was in shock.

I had a feeling that someone
was working in the shadows.

I see. So that's how it was.

Then Hoji obviously needs to be punished.

Tell the truth, Hoji.

No lies make it past my Shingan.

If you speak the truth,
you won't have to suffer any pain.

I have no idea what you're talking about—

Wow, that looks painful.

Lord Shishio...

Now do you feel like talking?

By your definition of talking...

I only speak the truth!

Betraying seven of the Ten Swords
was all done at my sole discretion.

I will atone for that.

And I'd also like the distrust
and doubt against Lord Shishio...

considered completely washed away
with this punishment of seven nails!

These are the orders for the next battle!

Sojiro, Usui, Anji
will be with me here tomorrow

to duel Battosai, Hajime Saito,
and Sanosuke Sagara!

Saizuchi, Fuji, Henya,
Kamatari, and Iwanbo

will head to Aoiya
and take the heads of everyone there!

Hoji, you stay here.

You won't be able to fight
to your satisfaction with those fingers.

Lord Shishio...

I have seen your determination.

From now on,
I will leave all the dirty work to you.

In return, I will always let you be first
and foremost in tasting victory...

right by my side.

Yes, sir!

Where is this Aoiya?

Who knows?

Let's ask later.

A strange twist of fate, so they say.

{\an5}RUROUNI KENSHIN
-KYOTO DISTURBANCE-

A duel, huh?

But three on ten?
You're at quite a disadvantage.

But still, it's a lot better

than roping in people
that have nothing to do with this.

Hmph.

So? Why are you back here?

You splurged quite a bit.

Pardon me.

But, you know, this isn't enough
for you to get an answer.

I can spout as much
authentic-sounding drivel as I want...

but will you be satisfied?

I am the successor of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu.

You are a rurouni.

My words of advice do you no good.

I don't worry about
the same things that make you worry.

So you have to get past the place
you've currently stopped at...

all by yourself.

You need to struggle and move forward.

That's what it means
to master the ultimate technique.

Yes.

You there.

You got snagged on a rock or a branch,
that you did.

For now, I will stop the bleeding,

but it's better if you go
and see a doctor, that it is.

- You should go down the mountain for now—
- I...

There's nowhere for me to go now...

no place to return to.

I even abandoned my friends.

I-I don't know what to do anymore.

I'm not sure of your circumstances...

but you won't find an answer
by running from it, that you won't.

No matter what's in your past,
you are ultimately the one

who will decide how you live your life,
that you are.

And to do that, you need to struggle.

You—

Done.

Pardon me.

I am a fellow lost soul.

That was just what my mentor taught me,
that it was.

Now, if you'll excuse me...

I shouldn't do things
that I'm not used to doing.

But the damage was minimized.

Brilliant work.

I didn't think you would compliment me.

I only made a fitting evaluation.

Now I have another thing
to consult you on.

I will head to the lair
of Shishio's clan tomorrow.

I have no idea
when I will return to headquarters.

A CERTAIN DISTURBANCE CASE
INVESTIGATION AND
SECURITY PLAN OUTLINE

In the meantime,
I'd like you to take command

of searching for stragglers
and upholding security within Kyoto.

Wait, wait, wait. I am—

I really must...

ask this of you.

Guess I have no choice.

Kenshin.

Miss Kaoru.

You said you were going to sleep early.

Is it okay to be staying awake?

I did get some sleep, that I did.
A few hours.

A few hours?
And you're okay with that?

More like,
what are you doing so late at night?

I woke up
because I had to go to the bathroom—

Wait, don't make me say that!

Oro!

Hey, Kenshin.

Hmm?

What you said this afternoon...

Yeah.

It all depends
on what's within your heart?

What does that mean?

I thought about it
but didn't really understand.

If you don't understand,
it's okay to not understand, that it is.

It's not okay!

I mean, it has to do
with your life, Kenshin.

I have mastered the ultimate technique
itself, that I have.

The Battojutsu of super divine speed
perfected to the utmost...

Amakakeru Ryuu no Hirameki.

However, even with a sakabato,
I almost took my master's life.

To be honest,
this attack is too dangerous.

If I lose myself like I did
in my battles against Saito and Cho,

this time for sure,
I will cause a man's death.

That said, if I fear doing so
and hold back my power too much,

it will also decrease in speed...

and this ultimate technique won't deserve
to be called an ultimate technique.

In the intense space of a deathmatch,

I must discern the paper-thin boundary
between life and death

in order to unleash
this ultimate technique.

When I can finally do that is when my own
Amakakeru Ryuu no Hirameki is complete.

So that's why
it's up to what's within your heart.

Kenshin...

take this.

I haven't been able to give it to you
all this time.

Miss Megumi entrusted it to me.
It's her wish for your safety.

It's not just me and Miss Megumi.

Everyone wishes for your safety.

So...

- Man, Kaoru!
- Oro?

Ow!

What is this all of a sudden?

Just get over here!

I've been watching quietly for a bit now.

You were getting into a great mood,
but what are you doing?

For a bit—

Oh, no! When have you
turned into a peeping Tom?

Bad news for Megumi,

but this is where you
land one of those k-k-k-kisses!

What is this boy saying now?

If you don't keep your lewdness in check,
I'll tell Tsubame about it!

- T-T-Tsubame has nothing to do with this!
- Ken-san.

Ken-san, I packed it
full of my feelings for you.

Think of it as me treating you
when you use it.

Hold on, Miss Megumi!
What are you doing?

See? It's because
you were dilly-dallying!

I don't know what's going on, but...

Yahiko, I'm trusting you
to watch over this place tomorrow.

Hold up.
You're not gonna take me with you?

Of course not, idiot.

If something happened to you guys,

who'll pay Tae
the huge tab I racked up over at Akabeko?

- You will!
- You will!

Tch, what a stingy master
and apprentice, huh?

What you're saying is absurd,
Sano, that it is.

I'm coming, too, Kenshin!

I've been training
every day since I came over here.

So I'm sure I’m much, much, much stronger
than you imagine!

I know that, that I do.

That's why I'm not telling you
to simply stay here.

Tomorrow, while we
are fighting the Ten Swords,

there is the possibility
that Aoiya will be attacked.

I have taken measures beforehand,

but if that time were to come,
a battle is inevitable.

So that's why I'd like as many people
to remain at Aoiya as possible, that I do...

as a significant force for protection
when push comes to shove.

It's fine!

Yours truly will defend Aoiya!

Leave it to me!

So I'd like to ask you in return...

well...

about Lord Aoshi.

Yeah.

You really are manipulative.

You were crying
like a little chick afternoon.

I'm not a little chick!

It's a play on words, idiot!

- You call me an idiot?
- Himura!

Is that a problem?

Just as Misao says,
don't worry about our end!

Go forth and eliminate Shishio's clan
to your heart's content!

An idiot is someone
who calls others idiots, idiot!

What? So everyone is awake after all?

Wha? You just said, "idiot,"
so you're the idiot!

We should have just had a send-off party.

The Arai family, who entrusted me
with Sakabato: Shinuchi.

Master Hiko, who taught me the ultimate
technique, Amakakeru Ryuu no Hirameki.

My valuable friends far away...

and my valuable friends gathered here.

Now it's just a matter of my own resolve.

There is nothing to fear.

Are you all ready?

Let's go.

Kenshin!

Let's all go back to Tokyo together.

Yeah.

Battosai...

is coming.