01x21 - Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story: Act Zero pt. 2

[bunniefuu]

He's the best swordsman we have.

It will cost you.

Can you afford him?

This is a pox virus.

Pox virus,

also known as smallpox,

is an infectious disease
caused by the pox virus.

It was feared to be

a highly infectious and deadly disease.

If I release this to the populace,

there will be no end to my patience
or how much I can make.

No matter how expensive,
there's no problem.

Well, fine.

I have one thing.

I know from my work experience
that low-quality medicines are useless.

Bodyguards are the same.

I am going to be paying you a lot.

Let's see how good he is.

You're just going to see
your bodyguard lose.

An interesting-shaped sword.

Look!

You thought that puny stick was going
to be able to beat my steel rod?!

I'll show you the reality!

What just happened?!

Eastern katana and Western sword.

Let's see which is stronger,
Hitokiri Battōsai!

ORIGINAL STORY BY NOBUHIRO WATSUKI

I didn't expect you to be
a woman disguised as a man.

This isn't necessarily limited to doctors,

but in the men's world,

women are rarely trusted,
regardless of their skills.

In fact, nurses and maids are much
more trusted than female doctors.

So it's the same in the West.

Yes.

That's why I wear elevated shoes,
a tall hat,

change my voice and mannerisms,
and put on a mask.

It's already surprising that you've
changed your appearance,

but changing your voice
is on another level.

I'm sure you've practiced a lot.

I was good at these things at a young age

and I used to do solo acts back home.

"Oh, Romeo!"

"Juliet."

"Why are you Romeo?"

But...

Mask?

A complete mystery.

Is he really a doctor?

It's probably not to get involved.

Things don't go as planned.

You've disguised yourself as a man,

but now you are being treated
as a suspicious person.

It's OK.

I chose this life.

Because beyond this mask,

there is a world where
everybody can live a healthy life.

It sounds a bit too grandiose, doesn't it?

No.

I didn't mean to pry.

I will leave now.

I cannot stay now that it has been
revealed that you are a lady.

-Elder.
-Yes?

Dankichi has a lot of faith in you.

And the mother and child
will be grateful for what you've done.

The choice you made
was probably not the wrong one.

Good night.

Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū.

I'd heard of it,

but I didn't believe it actually existed.

Have you k*lled anyone
with this Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū?

No.

Then, do you think you can?

If beyond this blood-soaked sword of mine
and the lives sacrificed

there exists a new age where
everybody can live safely.

Because beyond this mask,

there is a world where everybody
can live a healthy life.

Oro?

Doctor!

Dr. Elder!

What's the matter? Dankichi?

Didn't you get the message?

Oh well.

Please come with me.

An emergency?

No, they specified the time,
so I don't think it's an emergency.

Specified the time?

At the darkest hour before dawn?

This is odd.

It is odd.

There's a guy in the middle of the road!

Hey! Move!

What the heck is that?!

What's he doing?!

Move!

Destornillador Saber Estilo!

Tormenta Infierno!

You already know he's good.

What's the point of coming here?

I came to see if he was worth his price.

I don't trust anyone!

Not even you.

Twisting the body to its limit

and using that for maximum strength.

That is Destornillador Saber Estilo.

Doctor!

Where is that samurai?

What?

The samurai with a cross-shaped scar.

Let go.

The message that
I forgot to give to Elder.

It took time for the translation,
but it was a message to call out Elder.

Rurouni.

Indeed a cross-shaped scar.

Indeed a samurai.

We've both heightened
our sword skills to their limits.

I challenge you.

I want to know who is
the better swordsman.

The legendary samurai considered
to be the strongest!

Hitokiri Battōsai!

As an assassin, you have k*lled
many important figures,

and as a swordsman, you have fought
many fierce fighters during Bakumatsu!

You are without a doubt
one of the strongest samurai.

Hitokiri Battōsai!

That name was shed ten years ago.

Don't be ridiculous!

You've shed the name?!

Then what's that katana on your waist?!

Now unsheathe that katana!

Unsheathe and fight me!

If that's what you wish.

Excuse my roughness.

I know the sword is a samurai's soul.

Now, release your soul!

Before the era of the swords
goes completely extinct!

Tormenta Infierno!

That thrust!

Don't take that!

You're going to spin and be blown away!

Tempestar Infierno!

The saber was modified to be stronger
and with the techniques of Espirar,

for which he has even done
physical modification,

that man dodged all of it perfectly.

That man is indeed
the legendary Hitorkiri.

He's going to use the ultimate technique,
Destornillador Saber Estilo.

What is that?!

His body is twisted crazily!

You are the last samurai
and I'm the last swordsman.

Let's see who is standing at the end.

Let's begin!

You are the last samurai
and I'm the last swordsman.

Let's see who is standing at the end.

Let's begin!

Take this!

My strongest and fastest!
Ultimate technique!

Tornado Infierno!

Rurouni!

He did it!

How?

He took Espirar's ultimate technique
and added it to his attack back.

The last one standing is the samurai.

Well,

if getting k*lled by a man like you
is my destiny, that's also not bad.

Now, k*ll me.

Stop the nonsense.

Look closely.

This is the sword I now carry.

Sakabatō.

My Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū is a style
that takes lives with certainty.

Unless it's performed by a sword
designed not to take lives.

A katana is the soul of a samurai.

I see.

So that is the shape of your current soul.

He's in a different class!

Damit! Then suffer this!

Pox virus.

Whoa.

That's the pox virus! It's very dangerous!

Pox virus!

Ride the wind and spread
throughout Yokohama!

In the midst of chaos...

I'll escape!

The match is over.

Don't spread mud on my loss.

Ishizu! You b*stard!

I enjoyed the match.

You win.

You saved me?

The injured and the sick
are all equally patients.

I see.

Yes.

When the era of swords
was coming to an end,

I sought to be the strongest
in swordsmanship. But...

that was crushed by an Eastern samurai.

Even if my injuries are healed,
there's no point in me living.

Seeking to be the strongest when the era
of the swords is coming to an end,

it's something to be proud of.

However, when your goal is too big,
you tend to get lost.

You never see a tourist holding
a map of Japan

when they are only trying
to tour around Yokohama, right?

I was lost?

Maybe so.

Ishizu has been arrested.

The broker will be deported.

That's a relief.

In my eyes,
it doesn't seem like such a relief.

I'm glad I was able to have a match,

Battōsai.

No, you said you've abandoned that name.

I'm a Rurouni.

A wandering swordsman.

I'm Espirar.

A man who was feeling hopeless
about the era of the swords ending.

But Dr. Elder has made me realize that

using a map too zoomed out
can get you lost.

Instead of feeling hopeless about
things so big, like the change in era,

focusing and having hope
on the small things isn't bad.

Hope for small things?

As long as I am a swordsman,
the era of the swords will not end for me.

I've started to think like this.

So...

That sword.

Just like you changed
your katana to a Sakabatō,

I've changed my twisted sword
to a straight one

and decided to be a swordsman
to protect Dr. Elder.

I'm okay with being alone.

I'll at least be with you
to your next destination, America.

It seems like I can't change his decision.

I see.

Yesterday's enemy is a friend today.

Yes.

You guys are leaving Japan soon?

-Yes.
-Yes.

Take care.

I'm going to go through
the departure procedure.

I'm glad you are seeing me off.

It makes me feel like you'll be here
to greet me the next time I come.

It's not just me.

What?

Doctor!

Dr. Elder!

We heard from Dankichi

that you saved the settlement from Deian!

Come back soon!

Mom is all better now!

Thank you!

Thank you so much!

You'll have many
welcoming you back next time.

Thank you!

I wish you health!

She's beautiful!

Take care.

Please keep helping the hurt and the sick.

I will.

I'll do my best so everyone
can have a healthy life.

That big scar.

It looks like it's from
an old sword wound.

But it seems like it was
made just yesterday.

The body and mind are connected
stronger and more deeply than you think.

I don't know what happened in your past,
but if it's connected to your scar...

How would you feel about starting
a new life in a new world?

It's known as climatotherapy.

Leaving a familiar environment
for a new one.

It can be relaxing and therapeutic.

Thank you for your concern.

But my past was a choice.

I cannot let it go.

The past and this scar are who I am.

The least I can do

is protect as many people
as possible with this sword.

You're right.

If the sword is a samurai soul,

then that is a fitting life

for someone carrying a "no-k*ll" sword.

So that's the story.

Hey, Kenshin. How long ago was this?

About five days before
I came to the Kamiya dōjō.

-Five?!
-Five?!

It was that recent?

I thought it was much longer ago.

I never said that I was going
to be telling you an old story.

That is true.

Then I have one concern.

Oro?

Excuse me.

Kenshin, you said you could smell
the winter daphne in the garden

but couldn't smell the scent of the tea.

Yes, I did.

But today,
you said that this tea is very good.

That's right.

Then everything is okay.

One last thing.

My advice as a doctor.

Any scar or illness requires treatment
but it also requires rest.

You must settle in one place
and rest both your body and your mind.

If you meet anybody in your wanderings
who calls out for you,

please stop for them.

All right.

I'll keep that in mind.

Next episode, "Resurrection of the Wolf."