Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan

Captain of the Third Unit of the Shinsengumi, Hajime Saito...

Here I come...

Hitokiri Battosai.

Kenshin!

Kenshin!

SIMPLE STRONG SWORD

I'm back from outside training.

Come on, stand up, already!

Oro?

Why are you so spaced out?

You! We're talkin' about you! Is there any other Kenshin?

- Now, let's hurry on home. - Oro...

RESURRECTION OF THE WOLF By NaShWaN AL-YeMeN 2023

Shinsengumi?

I noticed you were in a deeper sleep than usual,

but you were having a dream of the past?

It's been a while since I last had a dream of the Bakumatsu days, that it is.

By Shinsengumi, you mean the group famous for being the nemesis of the Imperialists?

Yes. Our archnemesis.

We crossed blades countless times.

IKEDAYA

The Shinsengumi was originally made up of swordsmen from the Tama area.

A squad retained as the Shogunate's Kyoto defense.

Back then, the Revolutionary warriors fought on their own.

As a result, Kyoto turned into a bloodbath,

a demonic capital where blades met blades.

They wielded their swords to protect the peace of Kyoto.

SINCERITY

Crimson flag with the word "sincerity."

Pale blue short jackets with jagged stripes.

With excellent swordsmanship and a fighting spirit that doesn't fear death,

the Wolves of Mibu made all of Kyoto tremble in fear.

Defeated by modern weaponry, they disappeared into the flow of time.

But they were the greatest, strongest,

and likely final group of swordsmen in Japanese history.

But I heard the Shinsengumi most excelled in group combat

where several members attack one person.

That kind of sounds unfair.

Their top priority was preserving peace in Kyoto, that it was.

Of course they couldn't just have a fight fair and square, that they couldn't.

And though people say they were strong, there were individual differences.

But the officer class, especially the ones engaging in actual combat...

the captains of the First, Second, and Third Units were powerful without a doubt.

I fought them one-on-one several times,

but I wasn't able to settle the score with any of them, that I wasn't.

I heard that most of those officers have already died...

and that is still heartbreaking.

It sounds like you really see them in a good light.

They were your enemies, right?

Well...

yeah.

They were indeed my enemies, that they were.

But I had no personal grudges.

We had different circumstances, but there is no difference

in us fighting with our lives and convictions on our blades.

Perhaps I feel closer to them

more so than the Revolutionary warriors currently in government posts.

Hmm...

Is it strange after all, is it?

Nope, that's not necessarily true. But...

it was just slightly unusual to see you speak so much about your past.

Well, let's head back.

It really has been a while since I last had a dream about back then, that it has.

Why are you in such a daze, Kenshin?

Let's hurry home.

I haven't had those dreams lately.

Why now?

Damn it! I was thinkin' I would get some free food here.

Where the hell did they all go?

Hello!

Huh? Who the hell are you?

Well... nice to meet you.

I'm a medicine vendor from Tama,

selling a wonder drug called Ishida Powdered Medicine.

My name is Goro Fujita.

Would you like some?

This Ishida Powdered Medicine is great for bruises and broken bones—

Wait. Hold up. None of the folks in this place are home.

Oh, is that so?

What a shame.

Hey, you.

Yes?

I really don't care, but you have very narrow eyes.

I was born with these eyes.

Is that so?

Then...

these calluses from holding bamboo swords

aren't fitting for medicine vendors at all.

You weren't born with these, right?

What in the hell are you?

You are quite a perceptive man, Sanosuke Sagara.

I see.

Battosai is not home.

This guy knows about Kenshin's identity.

If so...

I must leave a parting gift.

You were hiding something like that?

You came here fully intending on duking it out.

Well, that's fine.

I'll take you on!

I'll ask with my own fists who you really are!

I see.

You have good punches, fit for being rumored to be the best at street fights.

This guy...

But that is in the peaceful world of Meiji.

In Kyoto back in the Bakumatsu Era, this level of punching...

wouldn't be remarkable.

Why are you walking so slowly, Kenshin?

If you're dilly-dallying, the sun's gonna go down!

He really is acting mopey.

Does his stomach hurt?

Hmm? If that's so, it's my turn.

M-Miss Megumi! Why are you here?

Why are you surprised?

This road is open to everyone.

Is there any reason why I shouldn't walk here?

Just kidding.

Actually, I have time off from work today and tomorrow,

so I just wanted to hang out with you guys.

No way! No vixens allowed!

Oh? Who is it that treats your wounds every time something happens?

And for free, even?

Hey, you don't mind, right, Yahiko?

I can make dinner for you.

It's fine, Kaoru.

Don't be so petty.

Traitor!

Right, Ken-san? You wouldn't mind if I went to hang out at your place?

You really seem to be lacking spirit.

Shall I diagnose you, if you don't mind?

No, it's fine.

There's nothing wrong with me, that there isn't.

I shouldn't let it bother me.

I'm only making everyone around me worry.

Just because I had a dream about the past, there's no use thinking hard about it.

KAMIYA KASSHIN SCHOOL OF KENDO

There's no way I can come up with an answer...

What is this?

What in the world happened here?

The smell of blood...

Sano!

RUROUNI KENSHIN

RESTAURANT TSUKIWA

Now, now. Let's have a drink first, Fujita.

Though, should I be calling you Saito in this situation?

Use whichever name you want.

And I will decline on the sake.

Oh. You have low tolerance? That's unusual.

Oh, it's not anything like that.

I just get an excessive urge to slay people when I get drunk.

That is most reassuring.

Then I will cut to the chase.

Himura Battosai is currently—

He's at the place called Kamiya Dojo, right?

I went there this afternoon.

Oh!

Battosai wasn't there, though.

My hat's off to the previous Captain of the Third Unit of the Shinsengumi.

To be honest, I was surprised that you would join forces with us.

But, yes, you really are someone I can rely on to get my jobs done.