* Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translation * * Volume 13: The perfect night * * Chapter hundred and eight: The difference in powress * A figure of the unmoving King of Light, with his furious expressions play the role of Emperor. Even facing opponents with a massive store of strength or evilness, punishes those fools who prove themselves difficult to rescue. Anji: Whatever I've taught you were the basics. (picture of large crevass in the wall) Anji: And the so-called 'perfection' should be this! Sano: ... *To reach the double limits with all four limbs... and to think he used his left elbow instead of a straightforward punch...* Kenshin: Sanosuke! Sano: (snaps, turns around) ! (ducks just in time as Anji's punch hits the wall beside him. He gets flung away) Sano: Woah... Saitou: (puffing his cigarette) Do you need to tag out? Sano: CUT THE CRAP! Anji: You can express your disatisfaction towards what I believe is saving the world, that I don't mind. But... I shall pull no stops in defeating all who is in my way! Sano: *That's right! Not to mention his limbs... if only he wanted, he could dish out the double limit move with his head even! While me... I only know of a straight punch with my right hand...* (he stares) Sano: *But how can I just beat a hasty retreat now?* Anji: (stares) I always thought you were of high intelligence. Saitou: (another puff of cigarette) You think too highly of him. Sano: YOU SHUT UP! Kenshin: Sanosuke! Don't be afraid! Even in swordsfighting territory, a double sword wielder might not necessarily win a single sword one! Sano: ! Kenshin: Who cares if your brains don't work! If you'd only think with all your heart, victory is surely in hand! (Sano bodyfaults) Sano: Darnation! Why does everyone think I'm some little shrimp... But. What you have demonstrated just now has just filled me with more confidence. Yumi: Oei, Himura! The battle's fixed at one on one, you're not to lend a helping hand to the opponent! Kenshin: I know! That's why I'm replacing my hand with my mouth! Saitou: *Still the stubborn old quack he is.* Kenshin: (whistles) Yumi: *That hateful man!* Anji: Just you alone? Don't be silly. You have naught percentage of triumph. Sano: Humph! Whether or not I have... (flies in for an attack) Sano: You'll know naturally after trying! Anji: (prepares with a punch) (they meet, Anji misses Sano and pulls back for another one) Sano: *NOW!* (he whips around) Anji: ! Sano: *Just as I expected! Anji, you may have forced your well-toned body to the limits by bulking it up for learning the Double Limit move, but also, those muscles hinder you by weighing much! You have gained the limit, but lost your speed. The Double Limit shall kill at one attack, even if I may only have my right hand, the winner is the one who first strikes!* HEYAH! (he hits Anji in his ribs) Kenshin: He's found the opening! (but Anji looks perfectly well) Saitou and Kenshin: ! Sano: How... (picture of Sano's punch on one side of Anji, Anji punching himself on the other side) Sano: How is it possible! Kenshin: *In order to maintain the equilibrum despite Sano's attack, he's deferred and given himself a similar punch in the opposite direction... which melts the powers and reduces whatever it was to a purely technical hit... !* Anji: Listen well. I'll tell you again. The so-called 'perfection', is a perfection like this! (he swings, Sano bounds back) Kenshin: Sanosuke! Sano: That was close... too close... Never thought there would be someway to jump clear of the Double Limit... (he stops) Sano: (starts spilling blood from his mouth) !! *He merely brushed by me so lightly... how... both are Double Limits, yet the difference is poles apart...* Anji: Get lost. I shall spare you, just this once. Sano: ... Saitou: Since the opposite party is so kind, you should just heed his advice. To fight on is not a joke. Yumi: Hold it, Monk Anji! Shishio-sama had wanted you to kill him! Anji: I don't need your advice. I have the freedom to kill or not. Sano: Freedom to kill or not? What was that? Do you mean to say that my life lies purely in your hands? King of Light indeed! How much you have elevated yourself to a demigod status. Tell you what. You had better stop granting privileges to yourself now. Anji: ... Sano: Your life and death is in the hands of Shishio. Then wouldn't that make him the 'ultimate' king? What a joke! Anji: Nobody controls me. I merely agreed to work hand in hand with him to break down the Meiji government. If this new world Shishio creates differs much from what I believe is 'saving the world', then I shall go against him then, to break him down as an enemy. Yumi: ! Sano: So you're going to continue your destruction based on that, forever? Let me tell you something. I hate the Meiji government, don't want to forgive it either, and even now, like you, at every peak and hour I have this irascible desire to bring it down. (raises a bloody fist) Sano: But you must know. Even in this Meiji era, there are still people working hard to survive and live on, fighting hard to believe in the future, a truly, beautiful, future! The choice is yours, whether or not you wish to feel dragged down by this era. But as long as someone feels that there is hope for the future in this world, I will not allow your 'freedom of life and death' to continue! (he snarls) Sano: I WILL NOT LOSE! I CAN DEFINITELY NOT LOSE! Anji: Then you listen up. Whatever happens after this, is not going to be a two way battle, but a one man show! Kenshin: 'I will not lose', the same script he used when I fought him last time. Except this time, his 'inability to lose' weighs far too much than before. (there is a bright flash, and Sano and Anji stares expectantly at each other) END TRANSLATION (c) Watsuki Nobuhiro Translation: ruroken@geocities.com