Success!
What are you up to, that is?
Now... White!
White! White!
How peaceful...
So peaceful!
Peaceful?
Rabbit!
Now, now.
It's...
...too peaceful!
What?
Why...
...aren't...
...any of the students coming back?
That fake Battousai incident is over!
Normally you'd think 10, no 20, people would be rushing back!
Such a...
Such a cute assistant master is offering an arm and a leg to teach, too...
Or is it that they can't approach me because I'm too beautiful?
I'm so out of luck!
What is it?
N-Nothing...
Kenshin...
When will I be able to rebuild the Kamiya School?
Miss Kaoru, you don't have to rush.
And you too, Kenshin!
Why won't you let me practice with you?
I-I'm not one for wooden swords...
Kaoru, I'm hungry!
Me too!
Oh, Dr. Gensai, welcome.
Hi.
So what will it be today?
I know!
At times like this, we should be cheerful.
Cheerful?
Treat me to lunch?
What luck!
I was just here to pick up my granddaughters!
Kenshin said he just had to treat us.
I see... Beef hot-pot!
Beef hot-pot!
W-When did we decide to eat beef hot-pot...
Oh, that one!
Which one?
That one! That one!
I see.
You want that one?
You'll buy it for me?
Yay!
How much is it?
Huh?
H-Hey...
When did I drop that?
W-What are ya doing?
Nothing...
I just thought you were kind.
Kenshin!
Because you were spaced out, everyone else went ahead!
Sheesh, what was that?
Oh, that man is carrying a sword.
It's been two years since swords were banned.
I guess they can't eliminate the soul of a warrior, even in this Meiji era.
Hold it!
Kenshin, he's a pickpocket!
Your wallet.
Dammit!
Let go of me, ugly!
H-How rude!
I'm well-known around here as the Rose of Swordsmanship!
Shut up, ugly!
Now, now...
I can't help it if my pocket was picked.
Kid...
You know...
Don't get caught next time.
Now, let's go.
W-Wait, Kenshin!
I'm not a kid!
I'm Yahiko Myojin of a family of Tokyo samurai!
I haven't fallen far enough to be pitied by others!
And you patted me on the head!
I was just teasing you because you had that sword on your belt!
Don't get me wrong, loser!
Kid...
I'm telling you I'm not a kid!
You are still a child physically, but your heart is fully matured, that it is.
I'm sorry that I assumed less.
You should cherish that pride that you have.
What arrogance!
A descendant of samurai means he's the son of a former warrior.
That persistence is what they call a warrior's soul.
If the world hadn't changed...
...he would've been a fine samurai, he would...
You should cherish that pride that you have.
I know that...
Even I...
But...
Here he is.
We were looking for you, Yahiko.
Out with your earnings for the day.
Hurry up and put out!
I've got none.
How much more do I have to pay back to you?
Well, how much do you think?
10 years...
20 years...
You're going to return it with these fingers...
Miss, over here!
Two beef hot-pots!
What?
Then that pickpocket...
Yahiko, right?
I think his folks passed away when he was young...
...and he was adopted by the leader of the Shuei yakuza.
Shuei yakuza...
Rumors say his mother was ill before she died...
...and the leader had paid for her medical bills.
And they made it so Yahiko had borrowed the money.
So that kid is forced to pickpocket in order to return the debt...
How sad...
Hot!
Unforgivable!
That's just wrong!
Miss Kaoru!
Where...
To where that boy is!
I can't leave him!
Now wait a min...
Why are you stopping me?
Can you can let this happen?
I'm not saying...
Let go!
I didn't think you were so cold-hearted, Kenshin!
Ken!
Ready?
Well?
Double ones for "cho."
Those are well-made dice.
No matter how much you shake 'em, you get double ones.
We can make another fortune with this!
So here you are, Yahiko Myojin!
Who the hell are you?
So ya came here to play with us?
I have no business with you!
I'm here to say something to Yahiko!
You... no matter the reason, a pickpocket is a pickpocket!
You've got to escape this life, before your heart rots from inside.
D-Do you know where you are?
Missie, are you a friend of Yahiko's?
N-Not at all!
She's just a...
What are...
Yahiko owes us some money.
We'll be in trouble if he doesn't earn and return his share.
Or are ya gonna pay it all for him?
How much is his debt?
Hey.
What...
Wait...
How about you earn it?
With dice?
Come on.
All right, I'll accept your challenge!
However, only once!
Promise!
Promise me if I win, Yahiko will be free!
Hmm...
If you lose, you'll be a slave for the Shuei syndicate until you die.
Fine!
Y-You idiot!
All right, let's begin!
Ow!
Wait!
I didn't ask you for anything!
I don't want be indebted to you!
Kids should be quiet!
I can't forgive these people for taking advantage of you!
You got some guts...
If you lose...
There's no way I can lose.
I have incredibly strong luck!
My fortunes always say "greatest luck."
I won some rice in a raffle the other day, too.
That's enough!
If you've got nothing to do with this, stay outta the way!
Evens are "cho", and odds are "han."
Got that?
I know that!
All right.
Let's see...
Cho!
Han!
F-Five and six?
Han!
It's han!
I win!
Rokusuke, you...
That's strange...
Yahiko is free now!
This chick won!
Let her go!
Just let her go!
W-What are you saying?
You don't get it at all!
They had no intention of letting you out of this place alive!
I thought so!
Someone switched the dice!
S-Stop it!
Was it when...
Hey!
Whoa, whoa.
You make me laugh.
What do you mean by this, Yahiko?
You should cherish that pride that you have.
Hit me...
Hit me all you want!
I'm gonna cut all ties with yakuza like you!
As of today, I'm quitting shameful stuff like pickpocketing!
I'll return all the money I owe by earning it with real work!
Debt, huh?
You idiot!
There was no debt to begin with!
That was a lie to keep you as our pet.
With or without it, you're our little dog until you die!
Goddammit!
Stop kidding with us, ya hear?
Stop it!
Are you all right?
You're fighting me!
You bitch!
I see you know a few moves.
But can you defeat me, Gasuke the Manslayer?
If you wish.
Here goes.
Gotcha!
A trick staff?
Playtime is over.
Stop!
This is just between me and you...
Stop!
Wait, Gasuke the Manslayer.
I don't want to see a woman's blood during my meal.
Boss...
Bring Yahiko here!
Now apologize...
...to the boss!
Get with it!
Yahiko, how are you going to live if you quit picking pockets?
Even for descendants of samurai, the Meiji era is very materialistic.
No matter how much pride you have, it's not worth even one mon.
You have to learn how to live dirty.
If ya do, I can take care of ya for a long time as my servant.
Don't make me say it so many times.
I don't want to anymore!
How dare you talk like that to the boss!
Descendants of samurai?
Your dad was killed fighting the Imperialists during the Meiji revolution.
He was a fool!
As for your mother, the worthless...
Shut up!
Father joined the Shougitai and died an honorable death.
Mother sacrificed her own life to work and raise me.
They both were full of pride and led dignified lives!
I won't let anyone insult them!
Boss...
Someone let him know who really owns his life...
...Gasuke the Manslayer.
Got it.
No!
Please stop!
Shut up!
I made it in time.
W-Who the hell are ya?
What the hell do ya want?
An assailant!
Guys, get him!
They won't come even if you call.
They were rather reluctant to let me in...
...so I put all the others outside to sleep for a while.
W-What?
Who the hell are you?
Kenshin Himura, a wanderer.
I'm here to ask that you hand over the kid and Miss Kaoru.
So you're another descendant of a samurai...
I'll just kill all of you!
I'm not done yet.
Stay there for a while and be quiet.
How about it, Boss?
Why don't you show your generosity as boss...
...and sincerely let the two of them go, that is?
I think that would be much better than being embarrassed...
...by having all of your members defeated, that is.
A-All right.
Take 'em if ya want.
Thank you.
Sorry for the foolish request.
Sorry I'm late.
Really!
What were you doing?
Are you all right?
Who told you to save me?
I could've fought by myself!
I could've fought!
I see.
I underestimated you again, kid, that I did.
Then to make up for it, I'll treat those wounds, that I'll do.
Let's go, Miss Kaoru.
You're not getting away!
Quit it!
Don't mess with him!
He has a manslayer's eyes.
Not of one that works in a syndicate, but a real manslayer...
I didn't think anyone with such eyes was left in the Meiji era...
If he got serious, we wouldn't be dealing with unconscious guys.
I wouldn't have enough coffins...
We got off cheap if he only took one kid.
Dammit...
Are you that frustrated with your lack of strength, kid?
Dammit, I want to be strong...
So that I don't need your help again...
So that I can protect my parents' pride on my own...
I see.
Dammit!
Well, we're here.
W-What is this place?
You can learn swordsmanship here starting tomorrow, that you can.
Swordsmanship?
Become stronger, Yahiko.
Yeah.
I will even if you don't tell me to!
I'll become stronger than you!
We have a good instructor here, too.
Assistant master of the Kamiya Kasshin Style, Miss Kaoru Kamiya.
Something about me?
W-Wait a minute...
You want me to learn swordsmanship from that ugly woman?
Kenshin!
Are you by chance trying to make me his instructor?
Yup.
Kenshin!
I don't have any students, but that doesn't mean...
Same for me!
If she's gonna be teaching me, I think I'm better off learning from a tanooki!
What did you say?
Ugly! Ugly!
Tanooki!
Oh, sorry Kenshin!
Ugly!
Yahiko!
And so the Kamiya School gained a second boarder...
Yahiko Myojin, a descendant of Tokyo samurai.