* Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translation *
* Volume 14: Time to fulfill the promise *
* Chapter One hundred and twelve: Forward *

(Sano whips his outer garment over his shoulder and walks towards Kenshin
and Saitou... only to fall in mid-step)

Kenshin: !

Saitou: (lets out a puff of air)

Kenshin: Are you all right?

Sano: It hurts like mad!

Saitou: You had it coming at you... for not listening to his advice on
keeping defensive, this is a highly deserving stage you're in. That goes to
say that we have ten Juppongatana against two of us now?

Sano: What did you say?

Saitou: Why how? Do you suppose you could join our attacking force with the
condition you're in now? Especially that right hand of yours. After being on
the receiving end of so many Double Limits, with the added effects of using
the Triple Limit, I can safely say the bones must be shattered by now.

(smokes his cigarette)

Saitou: Don't stand in our way as a patient. Retreat now!

Sano: Don't joke! (holds his right hand in a fist) Since I'm already here,
how can I leave without saying hi to Mr. Shishio first? OUCH!!

Kenshin: Sanosuke, your brains seem to have had leaks recently! (caps back
the medicine cover) I've helped you stop the blood on the body, but I think
you should bandage your right hand for firmness, just in case.

Sano: Lend me this.

(takes the medicine box)

Sano: Anji!

(who sits on the floor, unable to comprehend the outside world)

Kenshin: (puts a hand on Sano's shoulder) Even if it was Megumi-dono's
medicine, I doubt it would be of any use on him now. Sanosuke!

Sano: Anji! Your desire to save those unjusticely treated citizens was not
wrong in itself. You were wrong only in the way you strived to achieve it.
To be able to realize past mistakes and reform from there is a blessing.
Stop being the King of Light. Instead, revert back to the kindly monk you
were, and fulfill your wish to save the world.

(turns around)

Sano: The worldly people are not so friendly. They cannot be saved just by
mere words and doings.

(picture of Sagara Souzou's head on a public display)

Sano: And this... was what I already found out ten years ago... But... those
children represented by that tablet, to have received your kindness and be
grateful, this I am sure they are of.

(Anji remembers the happy family they had once been)

Sano: You can't just die here, for those kids.

Anji: ... Perhaps there is still time.

Sano: !

Anji: Return now.

Kenshin: Oro?

Anji: All that is left of the Juppongatana now are Soujirou, Usui and Hoji.
The rest have gone forth to Aoiya to attack those there.

Kenshin, Sano and Saitou: (a very big) !!

Kenshin: Shishio!!

Yumi: Can you please do not misunderstand? Hoji was the one to have planned
that, not Shishio-sama. Don't be wrongly mistaken!

Sano: Whoever it is is the same! Take us back, now!

Yumi: It's useless! On this path, I only know how to go forward, and not the
way to turn back. If you insist on return on your own, you will surely get
lost, and everybody dies together.

Sano: Chi! Kenshin...

Kenshin: We have to believe in everyone now and finish what's to be done
here. Rather than get lost in this maze, I would rather think the forward
way is faster. *Shishou...*

(thinks of Hiko)

Kenshin: *I beg you, Shishou, please let us be on time!*

(at the Aoiya)

Omasu: Disaster! We've been surrounded with nearly 150 people!

Okina: Just as Himura predicted.

Misao: The battle cries begin!

Kaoru: Our main aim is not to defeat the opponent but to protect ourselves.
Is everybody clear on that?

Misao: But of course! As long as I am still the Okashira, I shall not allow
one person to get hurt.

Yahiko: 150 people... less Okina, that means each one has to take out at
least twenty!

Voice: I say, young man, please do not be mistaken.

Kamatari: These people are merely here to stop you from escaping. Your true
opponents are us, so come quietly to your death now!

(back at Mount Hiei)

Yumi: Here we are! The second room. After the doors are opened, you can
forget about returning...

Kenshin: We shall stop all nonsense here.

(walks forward, kicks open the door)

Usui: Welcome! One, two, three... looks like Anji had a thorough failure.
Hoh hoh hoh... umm... good, very good...

Kenshin: (into a battoujutsu stance) Cut the nonsense and attack. Let's see
if you'll let us continue on our way or not.

Sano: Oei, Ken...

(Saitou gives Kenshin a punch on the head)

Sano: ... Shin...

Saitou: You may be flared up for all you want, but don't let it hinder your
clarity in battle, idiot. A flustered heart causes all logic to be marred
and thereby reduces the ability one has. Let me deal with this one! You
should all just proceed on now.

Kenshin: Saitou...

Saitou: Go!

Kenshin: Then I'm off.

Yumi: Wait a minute! You can't just...

Sano: You shut up and follow along!

Yumi: Let me go! Only Shishio-sama is fit to touch me!

Usui: Saitou Hajime... looks like your reputation has been swelled by those
in the trade.

Saitou: What about you? Your Heart of Eye can't be anything great either.

(pulls his blade)

Saitou: If that 'no-I-won't-kill-anyone' idiot is still in this room, he'll
just be hindering me...

(half blade pulled)

Saitou: Hindering me when I find pleasure in finishing you off!

END TRANSLATION

(c) Watsuki Nobuhiro		Translation: ruroken@geocities.com