Rurouni Kenshin OVA Series Tsuioku Hen (The Flashbacks)
Chapter 4: Cross Scar
We've discovered the traitor...
It's Tomoe.
Her accomplices are on the mountain.
Tomoe is probably there too...
...so take care of her.
Sis...
Well...no need to stay here any longer. Better get moving.
See ya, Himura.
How long will we remain like this?
Why did you involve Enishi in this?
There was a boy who kept on asking about you in Kyoto, and the authorities asked us to deal with him.
Basically, it was the same situation as you.
Where are the others?
On the mountain, waiting for him.
Without my report?
Your report? Ah yes, the Hitokiri Battousai's weak point.
I don't need it anymore.
So then, I have...for what have I...?
Indeed. Even a coldblooded killer isn't impervious to love.
Now, his weak point...has become you.
And now, he's on his way here for you.
But his mind is in turmoil, having found out his lover was the spy.
Because of that, he cannot fight with his true power.
That was our true objective all along.
So from the beginning...I was....!
What are going to do about it now?
You love him. Women are like that.
But it doesn't matter, when love gets that passionate...
It is something that becomes uncontrollable.
There's a fine line between love and hate...
But, that is the way of all people.
Even a coldblooded Hitokiri isn't impervious to love.
You planned all of this...
Don't do that.
Biting your tongue open takes great strength.
And besides, your death would be wasted.
If you would like to die, then so be it.
But, you have not forgotten how this all began...
Why Kiyosato had to die.
What was between you and Kiyosato?
Was he special to you?
At least Kiyosato felt that you were special to him.
If it wasn't for his love for you, he wouldn't have gone into the chaos of Kyoto with his inferior sword skill.
He wanted to make you happy, even risking his life to do that.
But...if only he was close by me...
That is the way of men.
To make women happy, to protect their house, their village...
And the Tokugawa government.
Without peace in the world, you cannot be happy.
If there are any who threaten the security of the Tokugawa government, we must eliminate them.
This caution is why the Tokugawa has lasted for 300 years.
We are the ones who support this and this is our way...
And so we are the ones who protect the people with our very lives.
Do you see? Our group walks the same destiny.
We fulfill our destiny, and then die.
That is the way it has always been.
For the sake of Tokugawa and this world, we will defeat him!
The reason you came to love him is destiny.
No one, even you, can resist destiny.
Remember Kiyosato, the one you loved, Kiyosato!
Tomo...
To..mo..e.
To..mo...
Even after half a year, he can still bring about casualties...
But we understand this sacrifice... I will stop him myself.
And that is the only way to give Kiyosato's death and those who died for the government meaning.
And you must also bear witness to this.
That is how you can honor Kiyosato's death.
Kiyosato-sama...
Okami-san, I need a room quickly.
You Choshu are so busy lately. You want a woman after your latest kill now?
Nothing. It's not like she's my woman or anything.
No one believes that. You saved her once before, right?
Katsura-san! Thank goodness you're safe.
I should have died. We've lost everything now.
Let's go to Otsu...
Otsu...
Let us go...
...to Otsu!
Your condition...it seems you used every ounce of your strength simply to make it here.
Even for Battousai, having nothing to protect makes fighting a lot harder.
From the beginning, you had nothing to protect, unlike us.
By order of the government, as leader of the Yaminobu, I shall put an end to this here.
And I will also avenge my men.
That is the only way I can atone for their deaths...
...because I could not protect them!
I kill others for the sake of the weak...
But because of that, you lost all of your happiness.
I took away everything that was important to you.
Without knowing that...
I...you...
I'm not worthy to protect you...
And then...I...you...
Yes, it sold better than I thought, I'm happy...
No, it just looked like you were enjoying your food...
But, I feel terrible...
At dusk, I saw some dragonflies...
Tomoe...
I will...protect...you.
I don't understand...women...
TOMOE!!!!
T..Tomoe..?
I'm...sorry...
Darling...
Sis...
Tomoe...
After your death...I finally realize the depth of your suffering.
You had to suffer through all of this...
It must have been rough on you...
You must have hated me too...
But in the end, you protected me.
And now you don't have to feel pain anymore.
You never have to suffer again...
But now I must shoulder this burden and find a way to atone for my crimes.
For all the people who died protecting me, and those whom I have killed...
It may be painful, but I'll probably be okay.
I've been like this until now, and if I can remember the warmth of your love...
Then I probably can...
I have to part now...but...for a while...
Let's be together.
Tomoe...
Well now...before they find out, I'd better get outta here.
So now it's my turn, is it?
But after all, life is a gamble.
However the dice rolls, I'll deal with it!
Himura...
I investigated on what happened.
I'm sorry.
Katsura-san...
We took care of the spy. I had someone else attend to it.
Damn...right after New Years...
I have someone who will handle the assassinations from now on.
But, you cannot stop using your sword yet.
Kyoto is horrific these days. Under orders from the government, the Shinsen Gumi are hunting us down.
If we don't stand up to them, we will surely fail.
Is that so?
Himura.
Yes.
I asked Tomoe to do something...
I asked her to become your sheath.
Sheath?
Yes. Even now, she is still your sheath ...or that's what I'd like to believe.
Katsura-san.
What I can do now is fight with my sword..
I think that's why Tomoe wished to protect me.
I see.
But...when the new era has come...
You'll give up your katana?
I don't know. But, after that, I never want to kill again.
Never again...
Shinsaku...you were right all along.
My apologies...Hiten's sword wasn't meant to destroy the old era.
It should be used to protect the new era.
Forgive me, Himura.
Tomoe...
I'm leaving now.
Original Story: Nobuhiro Watsuki
Translation: Hiro (whom we cannot thank enough) Timing/Editing: Hiko Special Thanks: Mr. Applesauce Sakuragi Evord Kenshin IftaVedarx and Mr. Gray(the man!)
Look, over here!
Run.
What?!
If you run, I'll spare your lives.
If you don't...!
Red hair!
And the cross-scar on his left cheek!
So you're that Hitokiri.
Captain!
Okita-kun. Stand aside.
Saitou-san...
I can smell the blood of this one. And in the shape you're in, you won't be able to stop him.
Let's do it!
Himura Kenshin: Mayo Suzukaze
Yukishiro Tomoe: Iwao Junko
Bakumatsu-- In Kyoto there was a reformist named Hitokiri Battousai whose sword killed as if it was demonic. But after the new era "Meiji" came after the end of the chaos, he disappeared among the people...
Kid, what's your name?
Shinta...
That name is too nice for a swordsman.
From now on, your name is Kenshin.
Ken...shin?
Rurouni Kenshin Tsuioku Hen -- The End.