Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan

Oof.

The cotton wrap...

might be a bit loose.

Come on, what are you takin' your sweet little time—

Oro?

THAT MAN - RAIJUTA By NaShWaN AL-YeMeN 2023

You really show no mercy as always, that you don't.

What do you mean, "as always"?

Are you heading out for training, that you are?

Yeah, to the Maekawa Dojo that I always go to.

That's right! Why don't you come with me today, Kenshin?

Mr. Maekawa, their master, has been saying he would love to meet you once.

No, I will pass for now, that I will.

I have to chop some wood and draw a bath.

I see. Then can I ask you to go shopping?

We need miso, salt, rice, and soy sauce.

Oh, and vinegar, too.

I will go with you after all, that I will.

That's the spirit!

Then let's head over with some vigor!

Sir!

It took longer than expected, but I got the gist of it.

The most popular around here is the Chuetsu-ryu Maekawa Dojo.

Its master, Kunai Maekawa, is likely the most skilled in this area.

Hmph.

That, and the rurouni that has recently started living

in the Kamiya Kasshin-ryu Dojo has rumors that he is ridiculously strong,

but he's just a rurouni, so he's likely nothing much.

All right. Follow me.

Yes, sir!

CHUETSU-RYU MAEKAWA DOJO

Face!

Hello!

Oh!

Oho!

Hello, Miss Kaoru!

Hello.

We've been waiting for you.

Don't worry about me. Please continue your training.

It's just like Kaoru says.

Don't let this interrupt your training.

Mr. Maekawa!

I see. So you must be Kenshin that Kaoru often talks about.

Is that the rurouni rumored to be really strong?

Kenshin Himura.

The man Mr. Maekawa mentioned

he definitely wanted to challenge at some point.

If they do, it will be a really tough challenge.

The loser will not come out unscathed.

Mr. Maekawa never once mentioned that to me.

Huh?

Thank you for coming.

Please, if you could train everyone here...

No, I just came as an escort for Miss Kaoru, that I did.

So I see. Then you should lounge in the guest seat.

Thank you so much.

Sir...

I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I felt you'd never bring him if I told you.

Don't worry. I don't want to fight him anymore.

No, to be precise, I have lost even before fighting.

So I see. A young man with good eyes.

SIMPLE, STRONG SWORD

Come on! Don't panic each time someone gets really close!

Don't back away. You have to squarely look at your opponent's eyes first!

Got that?

Thank you very much.

Okay, next!

How is it, looking at our dojo?

Looks good, that it does.

You have a lot of students and a lot of energy.

Oh, I usually don't get even one third of this.

The rumored swordsmanship sweetheart comes to help train.

That seems to be charming entertainment for the young ones.

I'd say ten or less of them take swordsmanship seriously.

Sorry to say, this is what has become of the great dojo

said and proven to be best in town back in the Edo period.

That said, the most pathetic part is myself,

using the reminder of my sword-mate Koshijiro Kamiya to attract students.

No need to belittle yourself that much, that is.

It helps the Kamiya Dojo as well in many ways

with the lessons over here, that it does.

It's give-and-take, that it is.

However, what will become of swordsmanship in the future?

With the Meiji Revolution and enlightenment,

swordsmanship suddenly went out of fashion.

It definitely is heading down the path of weakening and extinction.

Having someone challenge the dojo virtually every day in the past

is so hard to believe.

H-Hey! Don't come into the sacred dojo with your shoes on!

Take those zori sandals off!

Get him!

Damn you!

I take it you are Kunai Maekawa, founder of the Chuetsu-ryu.

I would like to challenge you.

I am Raijuta Isurugi!

I am truly concerned about the future of swordsmanship!

Cloudy eyes that I cannot see deeply into...

but he is strong!

I would like to challenge you!

G-Go away! This dojo currently doesn't spar with other styles—

Hold it!

Raijuta, was it?

Fine, I will accept your challenge.

Following usual rules, we will do a best of three.

The first to take two points will be the winner.

Is that all right?

Mr. Maekawa.

I understand. This is no ordinary man.

That is why I am compelled to fight.

Though I have aged,

the name of Kunai Maekawa was once included in Edo's best dozen.

I will not go down that easily.

A bamboo sword, huh.

This is out of the question.

What?

Sir!

You're late, Yutaro.

There's nothing I could do.

Between you and me, the lengths of our strides are way too different.

I ran here as fast as I could, you know.

Anyways, the challenge, real sword or wooden, which is it?

Bamboo.

Huh?

Bamboo? A bamboo sword?

A challenge with such a toy?

So this was another dojo that was a dojo in name only.

Shut up!

What are you doing, kiddo?

No, you're the kiddo!

You are, too.

I'm the top student of the Kamiya Kasshin-ryu, Yahiko Myojin!

You better remember that!

The top student of Sir Raijuta, Yutaro Tsukayama!

That kick will cost you dearly!

Shut up.

Hah!

Unfortunately, I have no such things as bamboo swords.

I will borrow one.

It will be difficult for Mr. Maekawa in his current state to win.

It will likely end up at one win each, and Raijuta will win the final point.

Then, to keep it fair, Kaoru Kamiya will be the judge, as incompetent as I am,

as I am of a differing style.

Come. I will show you whether or not this is out of the question.

First match!

Wh-What fighting spirit.

You don't need to show me. I already know.

With a best-of-three match with bamboo swords,

you are already out of the question!

Oh, no!

I couldn't see him jumping in at all.

What speed, despite his giant frame.

Did that Face not count?

F-Face is valid! One point!

Amazing.

He missed, but that first swing down was an amazing attack.

He didn't miss with that one.

For a blow to the head, what you call Face,

the blade sometimes slips from the curve of the skull.

So if you want to get a kill by swinging down,

you always aim for the collar.

A fundamental aspect of ancient sword arts.

This isn't good!

You have a fractured shoulder bone!

- You need to hurry to a doctor! - Wait!

The match isn't over yet!

Th-The second match.

Second match!

So pitiful!

You are already dead from the first attack!

One point! Match over!

That's enough!

You fool who cannot even see your own defeat...

Hold it!

What the...

The match was already over when you were the first to two points.

Are you trying to kill, that you are?

Indeed so.

In the first place, every man only has one life.

And thus, every match only has one point.

Either you take or be taken.

Since the Edo period, swordsmanship indeed flourished

with the invention of the bamboo sword.

However, because of that,

the divine strengths seen in ancient sword arts have been lost,

and swordsmanship gets only weaker!

These are times to lament!

Fools who are rejoicing at bamboo swordsmanship

have no right to be wielding a sword!

RUROUNI KENSHIN

You don't belong to this dojo, do you?

For now, I am under the care of Kamiya Dojo, that I am.