* Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translation * * Volume two: Hitokiri vs. Hitokiri * * Chapter thirteen: Origin of the name of the shishi * Battousai: When words do not form upon me, you over there come over here, then I myself shall slaughter you! Kaoru: *Kenshin...* Jin eh: "I myself shall slaughter you" et? Ho ho ho... pretty! (adjusts his nose back to the right shape) These lines play the part of the Hitokiri Battousai! Kaoru: *Kenshin - !* Jin eh: (as he flips his upper cloak away to reveal his bodysuit) The Hitokiri of the Bakumatsu hath resurrected, the beginning of the real battle shall commence as of now! COMETH - BATTOUSAI! (he charges but runs away mid-route when he notices something) Battousai: Now what? Jin eh: He he... The legendary Hitokiri deserves it's legacy, the 'qi' for death differs by poles. Battousai: If you still hold the hope of preserving that life of yours, disable the charm of it you have placed on Kaoru. Jin eh: I can already do no such thing. This one that hath been placed on her wouldst be so much different from what that pig Tani took. To burst apart it's effects we may only take two paths. Self achievement... or the death of he who has applied the charm. (grins more evilly) Jin eh: The former, shall be feared as impossible. Battousai: Then of course, I myself shall perform that latter! Jin eh: (as he holds his sword horizontally) That - too et impossible! (Battousai notices what Jin eh is doing) Jin eh: Humans may be superior in the mindset, but however are often more not or so controlled by the thoughts, he who thinks that he is beset will illness shall be in the realm of total discomfort... while he who thinks that breathing shall be a difficulty, shall never be able to breath properly. (preparing to do something still in the previous stance) Jin eh: This point of human as weakness hath been captured by the 'one-sided heart', using superior 'kenqi' to subdue and suppress the opponent's freedom of movement. But the real subduing would be oneself's own mindset! Of this reason - I too cannot be spared of't! (he releases power [?!?!] from his body) Kaoru: !? Battousai: (just staring emotionlessly. Nothing much going on) Jin eh: WOooooooooooooooooooooo ah! I - AM - INVINCIBLE! (muscles start to suddenly bulge out) Battousai: So I see. To adjust the mind of your own self to think of it as invincible, then gathering all this thinkings to light up all of your own's abilities... Jin eh: (not caring whether Battousai's talking or not) I - AM - MATCHLESS! (the wind conjoured from Jin eh's powering up creates a hole in the ground) Jin eh: (finishing) I - AM THE STRONGEST! (smiling cunningly) One sided heart's "shadow technique" - (now here's a really corny translation) "Strength borrowed from ghosts"! (Battousai stares meaninglessly) Jin eh: This stance hath never been employed since the abandoning of the Shinsengumi 15 years ago. (Battousai stares more meaninglessly) (Jin eh hits a boulder with his sword. Then continues to break the surface of the boulder apart) Jin eh: May it be despicable, I still wish to practice it. Battousai: Whatever you want! You may practice all your known techniques on me. But... (sheaths his sword fully) Jin eh and Kaoru: ! Battousai: (lapses into what looks like a front stance) Once I hath made my death dart known where to throw, there shall be no misses! Jin eh: This is... *The stance for Battou-jutsu! * Footnote reads: Battou-jutsu Sheathing of the sword/knife to pull it out with superb speed, using that time of a split second to increase the impact by 2 ~ 3 times, to force the opponent down before he has a chance to retaliate or attack - often termed by many ryuus as iai. Jin eh: *The Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu made it's name too for the deadly quickness of the fatal stance Battou-jutsu - this one would be the fastest amonst the fast! Battousai: Come on! And the light shall dawn on how the shishi of 'Battousai' carved it's name upon! Jin eh: *Do not be flustered... once I dodge I shall win! As the Battou-jutsu belongs to the single-stroked attacking format, therefore the attack do not merge with the defence, once the attack goes wrong, he shall bring the killer's sword upon himself! A skill of the theory 'either you die or I die'. (Battousai in full concentration awaiting) Jin eh: *... But can I dodge... ?* (notices Battousai's sword) Jin eh: *I can! A hundred percent yes!* (charging) COMETH! Pull your sword! Himura Battousai! Battousai, Jin eh and Kaoru: (staring with a look of 'come on', 'I am coming' and 'oh no' respectively) Jin eh: *Battousai, you hath omitted the gravely important weakness that shall bring you down!* (picture of Battousai's sword) Jin eh: *And it would be - your sword! The sakabatou shall be very disadvantageous to Battousai! The sharper side art stuffed on the internal of the sheath instead of otherwise, therefore there would be that slight decrease in speed during the pulling out of the sword!* (Jin eh starts to bring his sword down) Jin eh: *While this little decrease in speed shall be what elevates my victory chances!* Woooo ooo ooo ah! (Battousai pulls his sword out in the moment you take to turn a page) Bright spark Jin eh: *FAST!* Detestable! *But once this one is dodged...* (Jin eh stops his rushing and tries to stop the force from throwing himself forward. The sword passes only cutting some strands of his hair) Kaoru: !! Jin eh: *Victory!* I hath won! Battousai! (Battousai slams his sword sheath into Jin eh's right elbow joint in the other moment you take to turn a page) Jin eh: (a very big) !?! (Battousai forces the sheath further in) Jin eh: What in the... *This is...* (Battousai still staring emotionlessly) Jin eh: *The usage of both sword and sheath...* (Jin eh falls to the ground) Jin eh: *Two parts Battou-jutsu - !?* Kaoru: ... Battousai: Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu Battou-jutsu - Souryuusen! (the mist clears) Battousai: The Battou-jutsu must be able to defeat the antagonist within the wave of one stroke, did you really had that thought that I would be stupid enough not to know my sakabatou do not prove advantageous! I myself have mastered the Battou-jutsu without any let-out of details, that is also why I have the name of 'Battousai'! (stares incensedly at Jin eh who stares back funnily) Battousai: The muscle on your arm has torn, and the career as a kenkaku for you have ended. (flips his sakabatou around) Battousai: But now - let ME end your worthless life! Kaoru: !! Jin eh: He! Battousai: (as he lifts his sword up) DIE YOU! END TRANSLATION (c) Nobuhiro Watsuki Translation: ruroken@geocities.com Please press your browser's back button to go back.