           Rurouni Kenshin OVA #1 (v 1.04)
		   Public Release Version
		   
Anime West
http://members.tripod.com/~AnimeWest
e-mail: anime-west@usa.net

Translated by: Yamabuki
Edited by: Kaoru-chan, Sana-chan, SD Eva, Wuken, Pika Chiu, 
           Den, Miya, Tylor, Sasami

title       Part One
title       A Man Who Kills

           - prologue -
Hiko       Everything is diseased...
Hiko       The times... and people's hearts too.
Hiko       These times where violence escalates daily,
Hiko       No matter how strong one may be,
Hiko       One cannot stop the flow of time.
            Please, spare him!
           Don't look!
            Please... at least this boy...
           Shinta... Shinta.
           Because you're young... Like us, you can't choose your life.
           So you can't die now. Please live.
           Live and find your path in life... for the sake of people who 
           died too.
           Shinta, live...
            Please live... Shinta
            For me...
Bandit     Who the hell are you?!
Hiko       There's no use in naming myself to someone who's going to die.
Hiko       It must be fate that we ran into each other. I've avenged their 
           death for you.
Hiko       No matter how much you curse or grieve, the dead will not come 
           back to life.
Hiko       You should be glad that you were able to survive.
Hiko       This kind of thing happens often.
Hiko       The lingering smell of blood and Hakubai-kou.
Hiko       It is hell to be killed like dogs by bandits.
Hiko       It is also hell to be a courtesan after being sold off.
Hiko       Yes. This kind of thing happens often.
Hiko       Up until now...And from now on.
Hiko       As it has been and as it will be...
Hiko       No matter how I wield the sword according to the teachings of 
           the Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryu,
Hiko       There are times when I can't save a single person.
Hiko       The only thing I can do for certain,
Hiko       is to bury the victims' bodies.
Hiko       You made graves not only for your parents, but for the bandits 
           too?
Shinta     They're not my parents. They're indentured servant traders.
Shinta     My parents died of cholera last year.
Shinta     But even if they were bandits or traders, once they die, 
           they're just corpses.
Hiko       What are those rocks for?
Shinta     Kasumi-san, Akane-san and Sakura-san.
Shinta     I've only known them for a day, but since I was the only boy...
Shinta     I thought I had to protect them even if I were to die.
Shinta     But they protected me instead. They said, "Please spare him."
Shinta     Because I'm a kid... That's why...
Shinta     I thought I should look for decent tombstones, but...
Shinta     These were all I could find. There are no flowers to offer 
           either.
Shinta     It's sad to think that they died without knowing the taste of 
           good sake.
Shinta     This is my offering to them.
Shinta     Thank you... um...
Hiko       I'm Hiko Seijuro. I'm sort of a swordsman.
Shinta     A sword...
Hiko       Kid, not only were you unable to protect those important to 
           you...
Hiko       You were given the lives of those three.
Hiko       Your small hands know the weight of the dead.
Hiko       But the weight of their lives don't even compare to that.
Hiko       You are forced to carry it on your back now.
Hiko       Gain the strength to support yourself, and to protect others.
Hiko       In order for you to survive... and to protect those important 
           to you.
Shinta     To protect?
Hiko       Kid, what's your name?
Shinta     Shinta.
Hiko       It sounds too kind to fit a swordsman.
Hiko       Call yourself "Kenshin" from now on.
           kenshin
Shinta      Ken
Shinta      shin.
Hiko       I'll give you my finest.

title      Rurouni Kenshin
title       Tsuioku Hen

           - Bakumatsu: streets of Kyoto -
            1864 (First Year of Genji)
Kiyosato   It's getting late. Let's hurry back.
Shigekura  I heard, Kiyosato.
Shigekura  That you're getting married next month.
Kiyosato   Yes.
Shigekura  You're taking that beautiful childhood friend as your bride, 
           huh?
Shigekura  You're a lucky man.
Kiyosato   Thank you. But I do feel guilty.
Shigekura  While the times are dissolute, I shouldn't be so fortunate.
Shigekura  What are you talking about? No matter how the world may be,
Shigekura  There is no reason to feel guilty about finding happiness.
Kiyosato   I think I can come back next spring.
Kiyosato   We'll have to be patient. I'll buy a houzuki on my way home.
Kenshin    Kyoto Shoshidai, Shigekura Jubei, I presume.
Kenshin    Now, I will deliver Tenchu.
Shigekura  An assassin?!
Shigekura  Do you think the world would change with a swing of the sword?
Vassel 1   Stay back.
Vassel 1   Name yourself!
Shigekura  You stay back. You cannot die now.
Kiyosato   Shigekura-san!
Kiyosato   I can't die. I don't want to die.
Battousai  Just give up.
Kiyosato   I cannot do that!
Kiyosato   I cannot die. I cannot die just yet.
Kiyosato   I don't want to die. I will not die.
Kiyosato   I will not die!
            I...don't want to die.
Kiyosato    I...
Kiyosato    don't want
Kiyosato    to die.
            Not...just yet.
Kiyosato    Not...
Kiyosato    just yet.
            I...don't want...to die.
Kiyosato    I...
Kiyosato    don't want...
Kiyosato    to die.
            To...mo...
Kiyosato    To...
Kiyosato    m-
Iizuka     Himura, you were hit?
Battousai  It's not a big deal.
Iizuka     I didn't think someone could wound you, Himura.
Iizuka     Was this guy very skilled?
Battousai  No.
Iizuka     Huh?
Battousai  Tenacious.
Iizuka     Eh?
Battousai  Iizuka-san, please take care of the rest.
Iizuka     H-Hey.

           - flashback to Hiko's moutain -
Hiko       Yeah, come at me. Faster!
Hiko       This kid will become strong.
Hiko       No matter how much talent a person has with swords...
Hiko       Unless he has the desire to be strong, he cannot be polished.
Hiko       He's thirsting for strength more than anyone...anything.
Hiko       Pure. Yes, so straightforwardly pure.

           - Kyoto -
Battousai  Despite the teachings of Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryu...
Battousai  The sword of the Mitsurugi... That is to say,
Battousai  "Swords should be wielded for the world. It should be to 
           protect the weak."

           - next day -
Katsura    Long time no see.
Katsura    Oh? There is someone who was able to hit you?
Battousai  It was my own carelessness.
Katsura    Who is the opponent?
Iizuka     Kyoto Shoshidai, Shigekura Jubei's vassel.
Iizuka     We don't know his name or anything.
Battousai  Do you need me for anything?
Katsura    There's going to be a secret meeting tonight.
Katsura    Toshimaru and Miyabe-san will be meeting too.
Katsura    It is an important meeting where we'll decide what stance our 
           domain will take.
Battousai  Do you need to be guarded?
Katsura    No, I was wondering if you'd like to be part of the meeting.
Iizuka     Oh? That's great.
Battousai  I'd rather not.
Katsura    Eh?
Battousai  I'm a hitokiri. I don't have any other skills besides that.
Battousai  If you don't have any other business for me, I'll excuse myself.
katagai    Hey, wait.
Iizuka     Oh, excuse us.
katagai    What's with his attitude?
katagai    When Katsura-san is just trying to show his acknowlegement...

           - flashback: Choshu, Kiheitai recruitment -
Katsura    Kihei-tai?
Takasugi   Yeah. This is gonna be a major fighting force.
Takasugi   For sure... These guys are gonna do it. They show a lot of 
           power at times.
Takasugi   These guys are the ones who are gonna take down the Bakufu.
Katsura    They're better than those soft samurai, but can they do it?
Takasugi   You worry too much about things.
Guy 1      Next!
Katsura    There are kids like that too?
Takasugi   The "ki" in Kihei means original.
Takasugi   Look, it ain't bad.
Katsura    Takasugi...
Takasugi   What's with you? Your eyes are as round as saucers.
Katsura    That boy...
Katsura    I'd like to have him in Kyoto.

           - flashback, fight w/ Hiko -
Hiko       I will not allow you to leave this mountain.
Kenshin    But Master! As we speak, there are many people who are dying in 
           the commotion.
Kenshin    This is the time to use this power...To use the Mitsurugi-Ryu 
           for the sake of others!
Hiko       You stupid student!
Hiko       What are you going to do in the commotion alone?
Hiko       If you want to change this violent world, the only strategy is 
           join some group.
Hiko       But that means... to be used for political power.
Hiko       I didn't teach you the Mitsurugi-Ryu for that.
Hiko       You shouldn't worry about the outside world. Just concentrate 
           on your training.
Kenshin    People before us are suffering... Many are miserable...
Kenshin    I can't just leave them alone!
Hiko       Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryu is definitely the strongest sword technique.
Hiko       If you were to compare the Black Ships-
Kenshin    That's why this is the time to use that power!
Kenshin    To protect people from the hardships of the times.
Kenshin    Isn't that the Mitsurugi-Ryu's...
Hiko       A sword is a deadly weapon! Kenjutsu is a murdering technique!
Hiko       No matter what pretty words are used, that is the truth.
Hiko       You kill to protect others.
Hiko       You kill to let others live. This is the truth of kenjutsu.
Hiko       Like the time I saved you, I have killed hundreds of evildoers.
Hiko       But they are also human.
Hiko       In these dissolute times, they were struggling to live.
Hiko       If you leave this mountain,
Hiko       what's waiting for you will be people killing each other in the 
           name of justice.
Hiko       Put yourself in that situation and Mitsurugi-Ryu will make you 
           a murderer.
Kenshin    Even so...
Kenshin    With this power, I want to protect those who suffer.
Kenshin    I want to protect as many people... as many lives... with these 
           hands.
Kenshin    For that...
Kenshin    Master!
Hiko       I don't care about an idiot like you anymore! Just go where you 
           want.
Kenshin    Thank you...
Kenshin    for everything.
Hiko       My stupid student chose his path at a young age, but...
Hiko       Even though his intentions are pure, this is a path that cannot 
           be avoided.

           - streets of Kyoto, at night -
Iizuka     It's bleeding again.

           - busy street in Kyoto -
Kyoto woma  It's hot today.
Kyoto woma  It sure is. It was snowing not that long ago.
Kid 1       Wait for me!
Kid 2       I wonder if it'll be sunny again tomorrow.
           That's true.. something like that might happen.
Okita      Saitoh-san, is anything wrong?
Saitoh     I thought I smelled blood.
Okita      Oh geez, Saitoh-san! Maybe you've been killing too much 
           recently!
Saitoh     Okita-kun...
Okita      Yes?
Saitoh     You should carefully gather your thoughts, then put it into 
           words.
Okita      Sure thing.
Iizuka     Look at them walk down the middle of the street as if they were 
           important.
Iizuka     Tonight, do this.
Iizuka     That's a good smell.
Battousai  Hakubai-kou.
Iizuka     Oh? I didn't think you were familiar with sexy scents.
Iizuka     It must be that woman.
Iizuka     Very nice.
Iizuka     Well, see you later.

           - pub -
Kyoto woma  Oh, I just saw the Mibu Wolves on the streets.
Kyoto woma  I was so scared, I got out of the way.
Kyoto woma  They've been killing rounin all over town. How scary.

           - flashback -
Hiko       The night sakura for spring... The stars for summer.
Hiko       The full moon for autumn... and snow for winter.
Hiko       That by itself makes sake taste good.
Hiko       If it still tastes bad, then that's proof that there's 
           something wrong within yourself.
Hiko       Someday you'll get to know the taste of sake.
Hiko       When that time comes, let's drink good sake together.

           - Kyoto, night -
Kyoto man   Don't bother with that woman.
Kyoto man   But I can't forget about her.
Iizuka     You've been amazing lately.
Battousai  What?
Iizuka     You don't even give the target time to scream.
Iizuka     Hey, it's doing it again.
Iizuka     I've heard of a superstition...
Iizuka     A sword wound by a person with malice won't disappear until 
           that desire is gone.
Battousai  A sword wound inflicted out of malice...
Iizuka     Yeah, I heard it doesn't disappear for a long time.

           - flashback -
Kenshin    Nee-chan.

           - Kohagi Inn -
Iizuka     You're still washing up?
Iizuka     By the way, I heard they had a lot of problems during the 
           meeting last time .
Battousai  What happened?
Iizuka     I heard that Katsura-san and Miyabe-san argued.
Iizuka     It seems that Miyabe-san and others are planning to do 
           something major in Kyoto.
Battousai  What about Katsura-san?
Iizuka     He said it's not time for that yet.
Iizuka     According to those there, he was so intense that he might have 
           struck him.
Battousai  How dangerous.
Iizuka     Really...

           - flashback, Choshu domain -
Katsura    Let me ask you directly.
Katsura    Can you kill?
Katsura    I'm not going to make it sound pretty. This is murder.
Katsura    But to create a new world, we must break down the old.
Katsura    It's a undesirable job, but it has to be done.
Katsura    You said you wanted to use your strength to protect others.
Katsura    Then, I'd like you to lend me your strength.
Katsura    For the sake of a new world... Can you kill?

           - flashback, Kyoto -
Iizuka     Hey you!
Battousai  Um...
Iizuka     I'm Iizuka, the person charged to witness.
Iizuka     This is your first time doing this job, right?
Iizuka     Get a hold of yourself.
Iizuka     Sometimes there are guys who faint, or they lose their appetite 
           and get sick.
Battousai  I'm all right. I feel better than I thought I would.
Iizuka     Then that's great. The motto of this job is "Swiftly, 
           Accurately, and Decisively."
Iizuka     There's no need to linger. Let's get out of here.

           - Kohagi -
Battousai  Beyond my impure blood-stained sword...
Battousai  And many lives who have fallen victim to it...
Battousai  If there is a new era where people can live in peace...
Battousai  Then I will...
Battousai  On behalf of the heavens,
Battousai  Kill.

           - flashback, Choshu lord's mansion -
Takasugi   How's the kid?
Katsura    I have no complaints.
Takasugi   In truth, he's quite a find for the motley Kihei-tai.
Takasugi   But since you're asking, I'll give him to you.
Takasugi   But I have one condition for you.
Katsura    What is it?
Takasugi   Since you're going to ruin that young kid's life,
Takasugi   You better keep yourself pure.
Takasugi   Don't you dare draw your sword from this day forth.
Katsura    I am the leader of the Choshu domain's Ishin Shishi.
Katsura    I have no plans of doing so.
Takasugi   You swear?
Katsura    I promise you. Today marks the death of Katsura Kogoro, the 
           swordsman.
Takasugi   And by that, you can become the mikoshi of the Choshu domain 
           for the Bakumatsu.
Takasugi   Leave the music to me.
Katsura    Thank you.
Katsura    "Even if my body decays on the fields of Musashi,
Katsura    I have no regrets because the Japanese spirit will live 
           forever."
Katsura    The Bakufu crushed my teacher to death.
Katsura    But his noble ideals still live now...
Katsura    "Kyo!"
Katsura    The perfect justice that will overcome chaos.
Katsura    That is the Choshu domain's... no, my driving force!
Takasugi   Go on now. He'll take good care of you.
Takasugi   I guess I don't have the time to be lying down in the morning.

           - Kyoto -
Iizuka     You're amazing, Hitokiri Battousai.
Iizuka     Even after killing that many, you haven't been stained with 
           blood.
Iizuka     Wanna go drink sake before we head home?
Battousai  No, I'll pass.
Iizuka     You sure? Well then, I guess I'll drink all alone.
Iizuka     See ya.

           - Kyoto, pleasure quarters -
Katsura    It's been a year...
Katsura    It may also be because he looks older... but he seems different 
           now.
Katsura    But his heart is still pure like before.
katagai    Then we have no worries.
Katsura    No. Because it's still pure...
Katsura    He's starting to feel a conflict with his current self.
Katsura    With the part of himself, which is a hitokiri.

           - streets of Kyoto -
Battousai  Is it the Shinsengumi?
Battousai  No, a man in the shadow like myself.

           - pleasure quarters -
katagai    I'll excuse myself for tonight.
Katsura    Thank you for your work.
katagai    I'll try to convince Miyabe-san and others for a little longer.
Katsura    Thanks. And keep reminding them to be cautious of the 
           Shinsengumi.
katagai    Yes sir.
Ikumatsu   Is everything done for tonight?
Katsura    Yeah, no more politics tonight.
Ikumatsu   Shall I call for seconds?
Katsura    No, it's okay. Sake doesn't taste good tonight.
Ikumatsu   Is something wrong?
Katsura    Of course. They want to put Kyoto in flames...

           - streets of Kyoto -
Tomoe      You...
Tomoe      really...
Tomoe      make it rain.
Tomoe       A rain
Tomoe       of blood.

           - ending song -

Original Story: Watsuki Nobuhiro (Shueisha, Weekly Shounen Jump)

Cast:  Himura Kenshin    SUZUKAZE Mayo 
       Yukishiro Tomoe   IWAO Junko
       Katsura Kogoro    SEKI Tomokazu 
       Takasugi Shinsaku TAKAGI Wataru 
       Iizuka            NAKANO Ryusei 
       Shinta            SUZUKI Masami
       Hiko Seijuro      IKEDA Shuuichi
       Katagai           HOSHINO Mitsuaki 
       Ikumatsu          ? Hiromi
       Kiyosato Akeyoshi IWANAGA Tetsuya 
       Saitoh Hajime     SUZUOKI Hirotaka 
       Okita Soushi      O? Yoko

       Presented By Anime West
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           - preview -
Narrator   The flowers of the blue spirits scatter.
Narrator   The red blood wave swells.
Narrator   A faint sigh, behind the shadows of the paper door.
Narrator   The memories of the held hands... That was an illusion.
Narrator   Ruroni Kenshin, Tsuoku Hen
title       Part Two
title       A Lost Cat