"Welcome back, Lord Shishio." "A rather noisy welcome, isn't it Houji?" "Lord Shishio!" "Lord Shishio!" "Lord Shishio!" "Lord Shishio!" "It does feel good to come back to Kyoto..." "This way, Himura." "Kyoto..." "For ten years since the revolution, I have wandered all over Japan." "However, I never thought that I would set foot in this place ever again." "Here, during the chaos of the revolution there was no day when white smoke wasn't seen a chaotic war zone, like a portrait of hell..." "That was Kyoto." "Himura!" "Why are you so spaced out!" "Here, we're back home!" "Our restaurant, Aoiya." "A restaurant?" "Yeah, we're rather famous here in Kyoto." "Hey, Gramps!" "Oh!" "Misao!" "Gramps!" "I'm home!" "Welcome home!" "I was worried about you because you took longer than usual!" "I'm sorry, there was a lot of stuff going on..." "Oh?" "O-O-Ow!" "This is punishment for being so late!" "Miss, welcome home!" "Little Misao!" "Miss!" "Welcome home!" "Oh, you've grown, you're taller!" "Just as always..." "Well, I'll be going now." "Wait, we haven't given you our thanks." "Please, make yourself at home Mr. Himura, the Battousai." "Even if you hide your cross-shaped wound, people who know, know." "Sir..." "I'll listen to the details inside." "Now, please..." "Then, I'm going to go take a bath first." "Yes, you go and do that." "Now..." "During your trip did she say she was involved with the spies of the Oniwaban group?" "Then..." "Just as you suspect... I, Nenji Kashiwazaki, used to be a member of the Oniwaban group." "My name when I was in charge of the Kyoto area was..." "Okina." "I opened this place, the Aoiya, to be our headquarters in Kyoto..." "But ironically, the main branch in the Edo government folded before us." "But, now we are a temporary hostel for comrades who have been unemployed since the Revolution." "I see..." "That's why Aoshi left Miss Misao here, that he did..." "You know Lord Aoshi?" "I should tell you the story, that I should..." "I see..." "Hannya and the others have died, and Lord Aoshi is missing..." "I would like you to keep it a secret from Miss Misao for a while longer." "Yes, I see that would be better." "In any case..." "Mr. Himura, as one who has not been in Kyoto once for the past ten years the reason why you came now..." "Could it have something to do with your successor, Makoto Shishio?" "I know most about both the light and the dark faces of Kyoto." "I did then, and I still do now." "When I heard rumors of a man, who was supposedly dead starting something suspicious in Kyoto, I couldn't believe it..." "But now that you've shown up, it's a completely different story..." "How about it?" "I guess I'll be a good comrade of yours!" "I like Kyoto the way it is now." "I can't forgive anyone who means to destroy it..." "To protect this city..." "This old soldier will stand up once again!" "W-Wait a minute, please wait..." "Oh, don't worry about the Aoiya!" "They all were part of the Oniwaban group..." "Everyone here can protect themselves and Misao." "However..." "It's useless to say you don't like it!" "Useless!" "I am the one who raised Misao after all!" "When you make up your mind, you stop listening, I take it..." "That's right!" "Then, I will take your gratitude, and ask for one thing..." "Oh, you can ask me anything..." "I want you to find some people for me." "Shakku Arai and Seijuro Hiko..." "I would like you to find the two of them as soon as possible..." "Wake up, Himura, it's morning!" "Oh, you're already up?" "I wanted to see your sleeping face!" "Miss Misao, that outfit?" "It's what I usually wear in Kyoto!" "There is something about running around my hometown in a ninja outfit..." "Good morning." "Okina..." "This..." "Gramps!" "Sir Okina, a good morning, that it is." "Himura, we've found the whereabouts of one of the two men you are looking for." "Or rather, we found that one no longer is alive." "The swordsmith who created the reverse-blade sword, Shakku Arai, has already passed away." "The swordsmith..." "He needs a replacement for the reverse-blade sword that snapped..." "But, if that swordsmith is already dead, then a reverse-blade sword will never..." "However, there still is hope." "Shakku has a son, whom he taught all of his skills." "How about it?" "Do you want to visit him now?" "However..." "It's dangerous to walk around with me in broad daylight." "Oh, you're facing that Shishio." "They'll find us sooner or later, even if we run and hide." "Let's go!" "Sir Okina!" "Himura you're fighting Shishio's group for the people of this country, right?" "Then, stand tall and keep your eyes forward!" "That is only proper for a man of justice!" "How's that?" "I say good things, don't I?" "Gramps may look like that but he once was the best candidate to be the leader of the Oniwaban group!" "But he said that from now on, it's an age where the young ones stand out and he suggested Lord Aoshi for the position." "He then became in charge of scouting out the Kyoto area." "Shakku Arai..." "A swordsmith whose name was well-known during the revolution..." "He begain with top-notch skills, but then he begain designing swords to kill well, rather than just to cut well so he became an outcast from the swordsmithing industry." "A swordsmith who designed swords to kill made a reverse blade sword that can't kill?" "I don't get it..." "At first glance, a man's life can be full of contradictions." "Right, Mr. Himura?" "Shakku's son, Seiku Arai was expected to be the swordsmith to carry that tradition into the new era but this is the Meiji." "Orders for swords decreased, and he couldn't make a living." "Now, he lives by making items such as kitchen knives and farm scythes." "Perhaps he will be able to create a new reverse-blade sword..." "Excuse me is Sir Seiku Arai around?" "Yeah..." "Seiku?" "What?" "Here, shak hanz, shak hanz." "Shak hanz?" "Shak hanz, shak hanz, shak hanz!" "What the..." "Shak hanz, shak hanz, shak hanz!" "Shake hands?" "Shak hanz, shak hanz, shak hanz!" "Shak hanz, shak hanz, shak hanz!" "I see, shake hands, that it is." "Here!" "Now, lori, don't mess around." "Mom!" "Oh, welcome." "What are you looking for?" "I would like one kitchen knife." "Himura?" "Would it be all right if I tried cutting something, that it is?" "Sure." "That it is!" "In that case..." "T-This is..." "It's stuck together again..." "Did it grow back?" "Modoshigiri..." "I've never seen it before." "To cut something without destroying any of the cell structures one is able to put it completely back together." "It's an advanced technique that requires a great sword and a skilled swordsman." "To be able to do this with a kitchen knife..." "Nothing less from the son of Shakku..." "Amazing, this is it!" "It's been decided, a new reverse-blade sword will be made by Seiku Arai!" "Ma'am, would it be possible for me to meet Sir Seiku?" "I would really like Sir Seiku to make me a sword..." "Yes, but..." "Well..." "Honey!" "Dad!" "Hello, I'm Seiku Arai." "You're Seiku?" "You sure don't look it..." "Everyone says that." "I heard your story there." "You want me to make a sword, is that it?" "I'm sorry, but I don't make swords anymore." "So, may I decline that request?" "W-What?" "l-I'm sorry." "Come on!" "What does all of that mean?" "You do know that my father Shakku was researching swords for killing, right?" "Father often said during the revolution..." "That swords he made will create a new era..." "Under such beliefs, many lives were taken by the swords my father created." "What part of creating a new era requires killing others?" "I never fully understood that concept." "Dad!" "Iori!" "There, you're all right." "I'm sorry, honey." "It's okay." "And, we're already in the Meiji era." "A time of peace that finally arrived." "The samurai have thrown their swords away." "So, I threw away swordsmithing as well and decided to live peacefully making everyday household items." "I see..." "You are a pacifist, the exact opposite of your father." "Well, I'm not exactly sure if it's a belief or not..." "But I do love peace." "Isn't everyone like that?" "You're too laid back!" "What peace are you talking about?" "There are people out there trying to destroy peace in this world, too!" "Sir Seiku, I apologize for asking the impossible." "Then, we will be leaving now..." "Hey, are you fine with this, Himura?" "That it is!" "What about the reverse-blade sword?" "Hey!" "Although the reverse-blade sword does not kill, it still is a tool of war." "I feel bad about having him work on such a thing." "The search for the reverse-blade sword goes back to square one." "Honey..." "I think he has a good reason for looking..." "Even if you didn't make it yourself..." "How about giving him the last sword that your father left you?" "No, this is the right thing to do..." "There!" "Swords are no longer needed in the peaceful Meiji era we live in." "Found the Battousai..." "Inform Lord Shishio immediately." "Roger." "He's too laid back!" "That guy is flimsy both in body and speech!" "I'm sure we coulda gotten something if you pushed hard for it!" "It's not good to disrupt Sir Seiku's peaceful life for my own purposes." "You're too laid back, too!" "Even if we forced him to make a sword it would be a worthless one, without a swordsman's spirit behind it." "Using such a sword against the one who broke the reverse-blade sword, let alone Shishio." "...and Himura's death would be assured." "We have no need for a reverse blade sword that exists only in shape." "The new reverse-blade sword must be better than the one that snapped!" "To not realize such a simple thing..." "You sure are a brainless girl, for someone I raised." "Then, what are you going to do?" "We have to go through every swordsmith in Kyoto!" "So, do you give up?" "T-Tobikunai!" "O-O-Ouch!" "Shak hanz, shak hanz." "It's for the best." "If Sir Seiku made reverse-blade sword, Shishio's group would not stay quiet." "I don't want that family living in Meiji era peace to be involved in all this." "I won't involve the Aoiya either..." "Even if they are seasoned veterans of the Oniwaban group..." "They cannot fight without casualties." "When I find the other person I am looking for, I will leave here." "Houji, did you do what I wanted while I was gone?" "Yes, all the artillery that was scheduled has been purchased." "By the way, Lord Shishio..." "Didn't you have Sojiro with you?" "I asked him to gather the Juppongatana from the eastern half of Japan." "There are many over there who are hard to find, like Anji..." "As for the ones in the western half, I sent them requests myself." "Then..." "Yeah..." "As soon as the Juppongatana are here, we'll start our takeover of this country!" "Did you hear that, my comrades?" "Finally, the time to stand up and fight is here!" "Each of you, don't slack in your preparations!" "Lord Shishio!" "Lord Shishio!" "Lord Shishio!" "Lord Shishio!" "Lord Shishio!" "Then, I will contact our minions all over the country..." "Wait, I still have more to say." "It will be a while before all of the Juppongatana gather..." "And I'm sure they're bloodthirsty as well..." "So, as a celebration before taking over the country the Juppongatana will slay Himura the Battousai, who was the enemy's trump card." "Lord Shishio!" "Please, wait!" "The Juppongatana is our special attack squad each member has important duties!" "To have them go against Battousai..." "What if there is an off chance..." "I was surprised at first too..." "But don't worry." "The Juppongatana aren't that weak." "Yeah..." "Just like Sister Yumi says." "We Juppongatana can't lose to one manslayer." "That was fast, Chou the Swordhunter." "Well yeah, I do live in Osaka." "But, first and foremost, I wanted to show off the lovely sword I recently got." "This great work by Masayuki Bizen..." "I killed a certain swordsman to get it." "What do you think?" "Although it has sucked the soul from many a man, it gleams so brightly..." "It is so beautiful it gives me the shivers." "Chou, you still turn into a different person when it comes to swords..." "Houji, what's the Battousai up to lately?" "We haven't determined his whereabouts yet." "However, it is certain that he contacted Seiku recently who is the son of Shakku Arai the swordsmith." "He is looking to replace the reverse blade sword destroyed by Sojiro." "And?" "Seiku refused to forge the sword." "There seems to be one last sword left by Shakku, but he didn't hand that one over, either." "Oh?" "The last sword made by Shakku Arai, master swordsmith of the revolution..." "I didn't know about that." "I want it!" "It's before an important battle..." "Don't mess things up, Chou." "Yeah..." "No matter what Himura or Gramps say..." "We really do have to get a sword as soon as possible!" "Round and round..." "Round and round..." "Broom!" "Broom!" "Broom?" "Are you talking about my head?" "You are one funny boy." "Boy, where's your dad?" "Dad, Dad!" "Oh, welcome?" "What are you looking for?" "Do you have the last sword Shakku made?" "The last sword my father made?" "Yeah..." "I heard a rumor about it." "The last sword created by the master swordsmith Shakku Arai..." "Can I take one look at it?" "Where did this man..." "W-What are you talking about?" "Most of my father's swords are missing in this day and age." "I don't have any of his works left here..." "What?" "I see..." "Then, it was my mistake." "Oh, I'm terribly sorry." "After all, because I love swords, I became a swordsman and learned to swing them around all sorts of ways." "W-What are you?" "Well, just watch." "Iori!" "There." "How was that?" "It's called Sakasa Kuchu Noutou." "There aren't that many guys that can do it." "But, I'm shocked that the last sword really isn't here." "I liked Shakku's swords more than any other." "I can't take it anymore!" "I'm in such a state that I might slip up the second time." "Iori!" "Honey!" "It's not often that I show someone the same attack twice." "It's a treat for your eyes, so you just sit and watch!" "Now..." "Please, wait!" "My father-in-law's sword is not here!" "Azusa!" "The last sword was already given to Hakuzan Shrine as a holy sword!" "Oh, so it does exist." "You guys sure are bad people." "I'll go take a look at it now, but you guys sure are bad people..." "Until I can see whether or not what you just said was true, I'll borrow this boy." "Iori!" "You just sit there and keep an eye out!" "I don't want to make a big deal out of this." "If you guys make a commotion..." "You know what will happen..." "I have to push that guy more so that he will make a reverse-blade sword..." "Why did you tell him?" "That one sword was created as a holy sword it was the only one my father made that has never been stained by blood!" "If that one becomes stained by blood..." "Father will be just a man who created weapons of murder, not a swordsmith!" "But, if I didn't tell him then..." "Your father's reputation is important, but now, lori's life is more..." "Didn't you see that guy's eyes?" "Those weren't eyes of someone who loves swords!" "Those were the eyes of someone who loves to slay people with swords!" "If someone like him gets a hold of my father's sword he won't feel at ease until he tries out the sword on someone nearby..." "Iori..." "Dammit, I stopped making swords..." "Why..." "Why did things end up like this?" "You're the girl from earlier..." "Tell me everything that happened!" "Why in..." "That doesn't matter, just hurry!" "Oh, little Misao, you're back in Kyoto now?" "Prepare an emergency message to Gramps, please!" "It's Ru number one from old Shige." "She is the key member for passing our information around." "What is this..." "It's from Misao..." "Seiku's son has been abducted by someone in Shishio's group." "Wait, Himura!" "Your reverse-blade sword is broken and it's useless!" "Even if you go, there's no way you can fight to your full potential!" "You will get nailed for sure, Himura!" "So, Shakku's last sword..." "I wonder what kind of a killer sword it is..." "That it is!" "It looks like you're not here to visit the shrine." "Who are ya?" "Let go of that child." "That cross-shaped scar..." "I see." "You're that famous Battousai the Manslayer..." "So you're here to get Shakku's last sword, too?" "Forget it." "No matter who it is who gets in the way of me and my collection..." "I'll kill them!"