Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan

Jine...

Stop looking at me like that, Battosai.

Your eyes looked so much better when you said you would kill me.

Your true nature is still that of a hitokiri.

A fellow hitokiri is telling you, so you can be sure of it.

A hitokiri is only that until he dies.

He can't become anything else.

I'll be watching from the edges of hell

on how long you can still spout off about being a rurouni.

Jine, you can at least watch from the edges of hell, that you can.

Even if my true nature is that of a hitokiri...

I will hold it back for the rest of my life.

Until I die, I am a rurouni who refuses to kill, that I am.

We're home.

That we are.

BEAUTY ON THE RUN By NaShWaN AL-YeMeN 2023

Stop right there!

I'm tellin' you to stop, damn broad!

Kenshin!

Hey, where are you?

Hey, come on!

Kenshin!

It can't be.

If you're looking for Kenshin, Sanosuke took him somewhere.

Really?

What good does it do me to lie?

I see. I really thought he wandered off on a journey for real this time.

I'm so glad.

You know, you're a bit of a worrywart.

Why don't you just put a collar on Kenshin or something?

A master and her pet Kenshin...

Woof, that is!

Oh, no!

Don't, "Oh, no," me!

So where did they run off to?

Some restaurant called Shueiya.

He said there's gonna be some gambling going on there today.

G-Gambling?

Now, now! It's in!

Bet on odds or evens!

- Odd! - Even!

Which is it?

Five and six for odd... I think.

Odd!

Game results!

Five and six! Odd!

As expected from Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu.

For reading dice, it's in a whole different class

I tagged along because you said there was a big problem, Sano.

Gambling is illegal, that it is.

What ya talkin' about?

Your sakabato is illegal, too.

It's against the Sword Abolishment Act.

Thinking of it... that it is.

No worries. These guys here are all my buddies.

This ain't like gambling as a job to trick people and con money outta them.

It's a game to enjoy with friends.

However—

We came all the way out here.

Let's have a good ol' time and stop being all mopey as of today.

Did you hear about Jine's final moments from Miss Kaoru, that you did?

Oh, I don't know anything.

They're going in!

Anyway, next one! Next!

So is it odd or even this time?

Snake eyes for even, that it is...

probably.

All right! Snake eyes for even!

Hey, Sano, you're doing really well today.

It's the first time in a while, so go easy on us, man!

That's a great joke.

I'll strip you to your underwear today, so brace yourselves.

Sano...

You sure gave us a hard time!

You thought you could escape by yourself, did ya?

Wha? You still plannin' on runnin' off?

RESTAURANT SHUEIYA

Hold it right there!

By the way, what's with Yoita, the candy seller today?

Surprised that gambling nut didn't show his face.

You didn't know, Mr. Sano?

Yoita... passed away earlier this month.

What the hell? Died from illness or an accident?

Opium.

He accidentally inhaled too much opium.

Opium is a narcotic created

by drying the milky sap that can be gathered from poppy seeds.

It creates absolutely terrible withdrawal symptoms,

so in this era, it was strictly prohibited

as an evil drug that could destroy an entire nation.

That idiot! Why did he dabble in opium?

But that is strange, that it is.

Opium is quite an expensive drug.

It shouldn't be something that an ordinary man can buy a hoard of.

Hmm?

Who the hell are you?

Please help me!

Oro?

Evil men are after me. Please, help me!

Uh...

God damn it, Megumi!

You can't get away now!

One after another. Who the hell are you guys?

Shut up! You stay outta this!

Hurry up, and hand that broad over!

If you don't—

I'm kinda irritated right now!

You better watch how you talk to me!

D-D-Damn you. You think you can get away with this?

We are Mr. Kanryu's private army!

The fact you're standing up against us

means that you're gonna make enemies with Mr. Kanryu!

Huh?

I told you to watch it, weakling!

Kanryu.

That's bad news.

He's talking about Kanryu Takeda.

Kanryu Takeda?

Who in the world is that man, that is?

He's a young entrepreneur living on the outskirts of town,

at least on the outside.

Who knows what he's doing behind the scenes, though?

He's suddenly gotten very wealthy in the past few years.

Nowadays, he's even got a giant private army.

A fishy guy, if you ask me.

Everyone in this town, from the yakuza to the politicians, avoid fighting him.

So if they're part of his private army,

are you Kanryu's girl?

I am not!

I really don't know anything.

Not about this Kanryu person, either.

Lying isn't good, Megumi Takani.

What the...

When the hell did he come inside?

Looks like you ran 'cause you thought only two guys were watching you.

But one of our leader's men is always watching you.

Hmph.

But it's true that I'm not Kanryu's girl!

Go home, and tell Kanryu that I will make sure to get away from him!

How cute.

Especially how you think you can get away.

Damn you!

Hurry up, and get out of here!

Tomo! Ginji!

Sengeki Rasenbyo.

That was just saying hello, but next time, Megumi...

I will shatter your feet.

It will double as your punishment.

A tatami flip?

But my tacks can—

I'm not quite understanding the circumstances.

I cannot quietly watch people getting hurt or killed, that I can't.

Like you know anything!

Damn you, how dare you do that to my buddies?

Huh?

This can't be good.

They knocked out three of Kanryu Takeda's personal army.

They're strong.

Especially the swordsman. He seems invincible.

How about it, boys? Can you protect me and let me escape from Kanryu's grasp?

I'll pay more than enough as a reward. How about it?

But before that, why don't you explain yourself?

Huh?

Ow!

Two of my buddies got hurt.

I won't be satisfied until I hear the reason behind it!

That hurts!

Don't grab me with ridiculous strength!

Oh...

That's opium!

That package was lying around in Yoita's place!

By reward, surely you can't mean this, that you can't?

RUROUNI KENSHIN

Kenshin and Sanosuke sure are late.

Guess it's quite a win or quite a loss, huh?

If they're on the losing end,

they probably lost their clothes and only got on underwear.

Huh?

No. I don't wanna see something like that.

We're back!

Kenshin! Welcome ba—

Quite a run-down house.

Is it a school for swordsmanship?

Oh, this is Miss Megumi Takani.

There was a bit of a tussle at the gambling house—

And the guys wouldn't pay up our winnings,

so we brought this girl home as payment instead.

Sorry, but she's gonna have to stay here for a bit.

I see. So it was a big win for you guys.

Sano...

If we tell her the truth,

opium is gonna be part of the chat, right?