01x24 - Meiji 11, May 14th

[bunniefuu]

So...

You're the one pulling the strings here.

One of the Ishin Shishi from Satsuma,

now the Director of the Department
of Internal Affairs,

Ōkubo Toshimichi.

Who the hell is this geezer anyway?

Go read a newspaper for once in your life.

Along with Saigo Takamori
and Katsura Kogorō,

he is the last of the Ishin Sanketsu.

He has complete control over the country.

In other words,
he is the most powerful person in Japan.

I apologize for the rough treatment,

but we desperately needed to know
how strong you were.

I hope that you will hear
what I have to say.

Yes. Even if
I have to force it out of you.

This is big!

Why the hell is someone
as important as Ōkubo in the mess?!

This is way bigger
than the Battōsai issue.

He spoiled all of my fun.
Our conclusion will have to be postponed.

He saved you, you know.

That's my line.

Saitō!

Mission report!

Himura Kenshin is completely useless.

But Himura Battōsai has some potential.

Report ends!

Damn him.

He's one of the best cops in our agency,

but I can never figure out
what the hell he's thinking.

Himura. Come with us.

You must be dreaming.

I'm not the only one wrapped up in this.

Kenshin?

This matter does not involve just me.

All of us will hear what you have to say.

Kenshin.

I'm so glad you're back, Kenshin!

Oro.

-Governor Ōkubo.
-What are you doing?

We have no choice.

Right now, there is nothing
we need more than Himura's strength.

Oro.

ORIGINAL STORY BY NOBUHIRO WATSUKI

Himura, I'll get straight to the point.

Shishio is plotting a rebellion in Kyoto.

That's not straight to the point at all,
Ōkubo.

Who the heck is Shishio?

Watch your mouth!

Shishio Makoto.

After I was relieved
from secret assassination duties,

my former job as a Hitokiri

was given to another member
of the Ishin Shishi from Chōshū.

In other words,
the successor of Hitokiri Battōsai.

He hid himself so perfectly in the shadows
that only a few knew he even existed.

Even I have never seen him face-to-face.

However, something is missing.

I heard that he died ten years ago
in the Boshin w*r.

I see,

so Shishio wasn't k*lled in battle,
he was erased by his own people.

It would be safer to eliminate

the doer of dirty deeds than to let them
leak to the outside world.

Such a thing wasn't that unusual
during those wild times.

Shishio Makoto's skill with the sword
and wits were as good as yours,

but he was dangerously cunning and had
a longing for power beyond comprehension.

He accepted his role
as a k*ller in the shadows,

only to prove his strength
to the leaders of the Ishin Shishi.

If the public ever found out
about some of his assassinations,

it would shake the very foundations
of the Meiji government.

If we had entered
the new age with Shishio alive,

he could have used this as a weakness

to play Japan in the palm of his hand.

For that reason, he was k*lled
in the midst of the Boshin w*r.

Correct?

That's right, we k*lled him.

Oil was even poured over
his corpse and burned.

However, even with his entire body burned,

Shishio Makoto did not die.

Now, he has formed a great army
by gathering bloodthirsty fighters,

making his headquarters
in the underworld of Kyoto.

He is planning a w*r of revenge
against this country, splitting it in two.

All the troops we've sent to suppress him
have been destroyed.

Now, you're our last hope.

For the sake of the people of Japan,

Himura, please go once again to Kyoto.

So, in other words,

you're asking Kenshin
to assassinate Shishio Makoto.

That's right.

Of course, he'll be amply rewarded.

And on top of that, we will close our eyes
to certain transgressions.

For example,
the acquittal of Takani Megumi

on charges of opium smuggling.

Is that some kind of joke?

If you're using my dealings
with opium as a hold on Kenshin,

then I'd rather be ex*cuted.

It was your dirty work
that started this whole mess.

And now you want Kenshin
to cover your a*s?!

Stay out of this, you ignorant punk!

The very existence
of the Meiji government is in danger!

Screw the damn Meiji government!

All that matters is the peace
and safety of the general public.

Without the prosperity
of the Meiji government,

people wouldn't have peace!

That's what you'd like to think!

If you don't shut up,
I'll have you arrested!

Why don't you try it, baldy!?

Even though I'm just a kid,
there's one thing I do understand.

If Kenshin hadn't disappeared when he did,

you guys would've k*lled him too, right?

From then until now,

you guys have always k*lled people
for your own benefit.

That's pretty pathetic, if you ask me.

Governor Ōkubo,

I understand that you need
the Hitokiri Battōsai now,

but Kenshin is now
a Rurouni who does not k*ll.

We will never allow Kenshin
to go to Kyoto.

Fools!
You guys have no idea how important...

Enough, Kawaji.

Take a week to think about it.

I'll come back on May 14,

one week from today, to hear your answer.

Ōkubo,

you look wearier
than you did ten years ago.

It is far more difficult
to build a new era

than to destroy an old one.

That's what it means.

I'm hoping for a good answer.

AKU

Ōkubo Toshimichi?!

I'm going to go to Shanghai
and wait until things cool off!

Got it!?

I know a place safer than Shanghai.

It's called hell.

You, Ishin Shishi,

think that you were the only ones
who made this Meiji era,

but we who were on the Bakufu side

also have some responsibility
as the losers.

The reason I obey the government
as a secret agent

is to dispose of the ticks,

which is very similar to my duties
when I was part of the Shinsengumi.

Be it Ōkubo or anyone else,

anyone who drowns in his own desires
and harms his country,

I'll cut him down by my code
of "Aku, Soku, Zan"!

Wait! If you want money, I'll...

You tame a dog with food,

you tame a man with money, but...

there is nothing
that can tame the wolf of Mibu!

A wolf is a wolf,

the Shinsengumi is the Shinsengumi,

and a Hitokiri is a Hitokiri.

Isn't that right, Battōsai?



It's nice and white!

-Hey.
-Oro!

I thought I was going to die.

This is no time to do laundry!

What about your answer?!

You can't trust that Ōkubo guy!

All of them damn government officials

can only think about themselves!

It looks like you still have that hatred
towards the Meiji government.

-Yeah?! What's wrong with that?!
-Nothing...

But if Ōkubo was a corrupt politician
and had a mind only for his own profit,

then Saitō would have k*lled him
a long time ago.

That rotten cop?

Isn't he just a government dog?

No, Saitō did speak of justice
when we fought.

If he had downgraded himself
to a government dog,

he would never have been able
to speak such words.

He is still the fearsome wolf of Mibu.

Its fangs bear the words "Aku, Soku, Zan"
and strike from a darkness.

That's why he's not someone
you can get along with.

-Yeah!
-Got that right.

I hate him!

How gross, Fujita!

Excuse me.

Four times. It seems I am well hated.

Oh well,

the Shinsengumi is hated
no matter which era.

So...

what will it be,

Battōsai?

I'm going to see Governor Ōkubo.

Why?

He said he was going to come.

Governor Ōkubo is a very busy man.

-And...
-There you are.

Good morning, Kenshin.

Today's the day to answer, right?
I had to come to get some updates.

Sorry I got you worried.

-However, I'm on my way out.
-What?

But do you know where Ōkubo's mansion is?

No. But I heard he was going
to the cabinet in Akasaka.

If I go to Kioizaka,
I can probably meet up with him.

We will go with.

No. Things could get complicated,
so it's better if I go alone.

It's all right.

Kenshin wouldn't go to Kyoto
and leave you here.

Yahiko's right. Kenshin would never
take part in an assassination.

I won't let him go.

Kenshin...

Himura will probably do it...

No, he has to.

If Himura doesn't act,
the country will be destroyed.

A man who's about to die doesn't need
to worry about the future of this country.

I have a message from Shishio.

"It was a good idea
to send Himura Battōsai to assassinate me,

but in the end,
your efforts will be in vain.

This country will be mine!"

That's all.

I am the samurai,
Shimada Ichirō of Ishikawa Province!

I am Chō Tsurahide of the same!

Ōkubo, prepare yourself!

Ōkubo!

He's dead!

Someone got here before us!

We've already sent death threats
to the government and newspapers.

Keep everything you saw here a secret.

-Because we k*lled Ōkubo!
-Shimada?

There are no witnesses! We k*lled Ōkubo!

That's right!

The 11th year of Meiji, May 14th,

the incident at Kioizaka.

Japanese history states

that the most powerful man was k*lled
in broad daylight.

The assassins were discontented
Ishikawa samurai.

So, the existence of Shishio's faction
was never revealed.

Ōkubo.

If you don't want to die too,
it would be best not to defy Shishio.

Shishio Makoto.

This is how Shishio does things!

He won't ever show his face.

Little by little,

he'll weaken the Meiji government
until the day he rises up...

Governor Ōkubo...

Excuse me.

That's Yamayoshi,
governor of Fukushima prefecture.

He was the last man
to speak with Governor Ōkubo.

After a meeting in Tokyo,

I came to Ōkubo's mansion
to say hello early this morning.

It's been ten years
since the founding of the new era.

And it is shameful that we have made
so few real accomplishments.

However, things will change.

They say it takes 30 years
for a new country to strengthen itself.

If so, then these past ten years
have been a period of construction.

The next ten years
will be a period of growth.

We'll organize the government
and perfect the domestic administration.

These are the most important ten years.

While I am unworthy to do so,

I must accomplish these goals
at all costs.

The third period, fortification,
will be left in the hands of my successor.

Then we switch to a democratic government
with an assembly open to everyone.

Japan will be reborn as a nation-state,

and that will finally complete
the Meiji restoration.

A nation-state. A country

where the people decide their own fates

instead of having
their superiors decide it for them...

is too good to be true.

It could have been possible

if Governor Ōkubo had lived.

Extra!

Ōkubo assassinated! The latest scoop!

Extra!

We've lost the last of the Ishin-sanketsu,
as well as a great leader.

There aren't any skilled men left
in our government.

Starting today,
Japan will begin to fall into anarchy

and Shishio Makoto definitely
will not let this opportunity go to waste.

Those times have begun again...

Why is it on nights like these
that I have to do emergency surgeries?!

I'll take them to where the carriage is.

Okay. Be careful.

Kenshin. He's late.

Kenshin!

Where is Yahiko?

‪KAMIYA KASSHIN-RYU

He got tired of waiting for you
and fell asleep.

I see.

Kenshin?

Governor Ōkubo
was assassinated this morning.

I know. I saw the papers.

The real k*ller was one of Shishio's men.

Now that I know how Shishio does things,
I cannot leave him alone.

I'm going to Kyoto.

You're going to assassinate
Shishio Makoto?

No.

But I'm not sure.

During my stay here, my heart was at ease.

I thought I might be able to change
from a Hitokiri to an ordinary swordsman.

However, through my fight with Saitō,

it made me realize
that in my innermost heart,

there still lives a deadly Hitokiri.

But you always come back!

Even if you do become a Battōsai,
you still come back as Kenshin!

Both the time with Jin-ē
and the time with Saitō!

You'll be okay!

No.

With Jin-ē,

I became Battōsai in order to save you,

and your voice is what brought me back.

But with Saitō,

I became Battōsai
only for the sake of fighting.

During that fight, not even your voice
could have reached me.

There's a complete difference.

Those times have begun again.

When I first met you,

even though you knew
I was the Hitokiri Battōsai,

you kept me from leaving.

"I don't care about your past!"
You told me this.

I was very happy.

If I stay here any longer,

I might revert to the Battōsai

and put you and the others in danger.

To the government, to Shishio,

and to all the people who hold a grudge
against me from the past,

Battōsai is all I'll ever be.

For that reason, I cannot allow myself
to stay here.

Thank you for everything, and...

goodbye.

I'm a Rurouni.

Once again, I will wander.

Ken... shin,

Kenshin!

On the 11th year of Meiji, May 14th,

the man known as Himura Kenshin
once again became a Rurouni.

Alone, he disappeared
into the foreboding darkness.

Where did Battōsai go?

That Japanese sword, I'll strip it for you
in exchange for money!

You came back
after all these years of silence.

What do you want from me?

Shishio is waiting for you.

Please, this way.

You're...

Shishio Makoto.

Call me Shishio.

Rude predecessor.