Then, we'll be on our way...
Once you arrive in Kyoto, visit the Shirobeko.
It's where my family lives...
I already sent them a letter.
Thanks, Miss Tae.
The Shirobeko, right?
So it's related to the Akabeko...
But it sure is lonely.
To see everyone off...
I won't see you...
...for a while...
Yeah, but we'll be back.
I promise.
With Kenshin, too...
Stay well, Yahiko!
Yeah!
Sister Kaoru!
Yahiko!
Hey!
Ayame, Suzume!
Miss Megumi!
Doctor Gensai!
We just finished treating an emergency patient!
We just made it in the nick of time!
Come back safe!
Thank you, Miss Megumi!
If you hadn't cheered me up, I...
I...
You finally understood how thankful you should be?
Have a safe trip, silly girl!
Kaoru, you and Yahiko are representing all of us!
Take all of our feelings to Kenshin as well!
We're trusting you!
Yes!
Stay cheerful!
Cheerful!
Cheerful, cheerful!
Well, let's go, Yahiko...
...to where Kenshin is!
Yeah!
I'll become stronger...
So much stronger that Kenshin will regret not taking me!
I am not your weakness!
I'll prove it to you!
In Kyoto!
Wait for me there, Kenshin!
I didn't think I would walk this path ever again...
Hey, a sword!
Stay quiet.
Hey, it looks like a swordsman.
Maybe he doesn't know that swords are forbidden...
Dangerous, just dangerous.
Let sleeping dogs lie.
A sword, in this day and age?
It's better to stay away.
Have you said your farewells to that Kamiya girl?
Sorry, that was harsh...
From now on, we'll be fighting together against Shishio's group.
Let's be a little bit friendlier.
Fighting together?
Yes.
The assassination of Lord Okubo has left the police forces confused as well...
I'm in charge of leading the squad in Kyoto...
What is that unhappy expression of yours?
Nothing...
Just come with me.
If we leave now, we'll make the first boat to Osaka tomorrow.
We have things to discuss as well...
No, I will walk along the Tokaido.
What, are you broke?
The government will pay for the ship...
It's not that!
Shishio's group could show up at any time.
It's possible that they will attack on board the ship.
With a battle on a ship, with nowhere to escape...
It might involve people who don't know anything about the situation.
It seems you still think like a peace-drunk wanderer.
Then, do you want me to wake you up once more?
I'll answer your challenge at any time.
However, I intend to involve no one else in this situation!
That is why I have decided to come alone!
Well, do what you like...
That's the idea.
But, don't forget...
Shishio's information network is perfect...
I'm sure they have already seen through all of your actions...
The battle against Shishio has already started!
If I walk with my sword like this, people will be frighted and won't approach...
I won't have to involve anyone else...
Makoto Shishio...
...another survivor of the Revolution is calling me back to Kyoto...
What battles await down this road?
Hey!
Young man over there!
You have some nerve to break the sword prohibition right in front of me!
Wait, wait I say!
Wait, I say!
Wait!
Oh well...
So I am left behind in the end...
And I'm taking care of the place while they're gone...
What am I doing?
It's open?
I borrowed the key from them, so why...
Can it be?
Can it be that Dear Ken...
Dear Ken!
Aoshi...
Shinomori...
Where did the Battousai disappear to?
You're still after Dear Ken's life, aren't you?
Answer me...
E-Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you!
If you won't tell me...
I'll kill you.
The Battousai went to Kyoto...
You're...
Goro Fujita.
As you can see, I'm just a normal police officer.
Hajime Saito!
The old leader of Shinsengumi Squad Three, master of the Gatotsu.
And now, you're only a pet dog of the government...
Oh?
How amazing, the old Oniwaban group can still get information.
I came, because I heard a survivor from the Revolution appeared here in Tokyo.
I thought I'd fill you in, since you've been cooped up on that mountain.
Makoto Shishio...
The Battousai may be defeated by Shishio, and then he won't come back...
And so...
How about it?
Do you want to go to Kyoto, too?
There is no need for that.
I am the only one who can kill the Battousai...
What confidence...
But, it doesn't seem like just hot air, either.
Why did you tell him all that, you delinquent cop!
He's a dangerous man, thinking only about killing Dear Ken!
Hey now...
If I didn't talk, you would have been killed.
He's the man who became Commander of the Oniwaban at age fifteen.
I just thought we might use him, if we could...
Those sentiments...
...are mine exactly.
Aoshi Shinomori...
He indeed is someone we might make good use of.
Hey!
Wait!
Wait, I say!
He's persistent, that he is...
Wait! He's persistent, that he is...
Hey, wait! He's persistent, that he is...
I can't get myself involved with anyone right now, that I can not!
This isn't it...
This is just destroying the countryside.
It's not good training at all...
Which way is Kyoto?
Just wait...
I will defeat the Battousai...
...and adorn your graves with the flower of the title "strongest"...
I vow...
And so, those wenches...
Next time, lemme see 'em.
No way!
Here he is!
Oh, we got tired of waiting for you.
You must be Aoshi Shinomori.
What are you...
We are servants to the great Lord Shishio...
The Four Nyudos of Abukuma!
Rejoice!
Lord Shishio found you, and amazingly enough...
...he wants to meet you in person!
Even we get to see Lord Shishio only about once a year at most...
It's a great honor.
Now, come with us.
Lord Shishio is waiting for you.
Go back and tell him...
...if he wants to see me, he should come himself...
If you continue to tarnish these graves, it will not only be you...
...even this Shishio person...
...will die in retribution!
Just because you have a little skill, don't let that get to your head, kid!
I don't like how you threatened us, let alone Lord Shishio!
That deserves ten thousand deaths!
Those who insult Lord Shishio...
...will not be allowed to live!
A long sword!
Did he switch weapons because he lost to the Battousai?
No matter what he holds...
One sword cannot defend against our attack...
Yonmi Ittaigi!
In one sheath...
...twin kodachi.
This is...
Impossible!
This can't be...
Ridiculous...
It was...
...so simple...
Amazing.
You didn't let the Four Abukuma Nyudos...
...show you their favorite move, the quick Yonmi Ittaigi...
A twin kodachi style...
Are you another one who works for Shishio?
I am!
I'm Sojiro Seta, and I serve at Mr. Shishio's side.
To be expected from someone called a genius...
How about it?
Just come with me and listen to what we have to say...
Get lost.
I have no intention of pairing up with anyone.
Especially with someone so heartless...
...he uses his own men as disposable pawns to test the strength of someone.
Oh, so you knew?
But if you knew they were pawns, and you slew them without hesitation...
...that makes you plenty merciless as well.
Oh, well.
But if I remember correctly, your Oniwaban group...
...wasn't able to fight during the Meiji Revolution as it unfolded.
And, that remains in your heart as a frustrating disappointment.
The Revolution, and now...
If you were to face two great upheavals...
...and weren't able to fight either time...
...wouldn't it bring shame to the name of the of the Oniwaban group?
Well, if you change your mind, please come to Kyoto.
Commander...
Commander, we don't regret anything at all.
The fact that we lived as part of the Oniwaban group...
That's right!
I want to be reborn in the Revolution, and fight along with you, Lord Aoshi...
We all feel the same way as you do, Lord Aoshi...
The Revolution, and now...
If you were to face two great upheavals...
...and weren't able to fight either time...
...wouldn't it bring shame to the name of the of the Oniwaban group?
Kyoto...
If I want to adorn your graves...
...the sooner the better, I suppose...
How is he?
I like him...
Especially how he cuts through humans as if they were garbage.
But it seems like he won't stumble into our hands just yet.
In time, we will have a use for him....
I'll think of some way to use him.
Then, what should I do next?
For now, it would be nice to say hello to the manslayer who is my predecessor...
Predecessor?
That man called the Battousai?
Mr. Shishio?
Aren't you enjoying this?
I'm going to toy with the entire era!
Dammit!
I thought I was walking the central mountain path!
Then, why am I in the mountains again?
So north is this way, that means...
Kyoto is to the west, so it should be...
All right, Kyoto, here I come!
I wonder if Dear Ken is all right...
Just Shishio's group would be a problem...
Now he's got Aoshi Shinomori on top of it...
What?
I'm worried!
Megumi, what are you doing?
Hot, hot, hot! Megumi, what are you doing?
Look!
I wanna see her face!
She looked over here and smiled!
If you're spending the night, stay at Odaya!
Odaya!
Hey, you swordsman right there!
We're cheap!
How about it?
No, I'm in a hurry...
You're in a hurry?
If you leave now, the sun will set while you're in the mountains of Hakone...
I might cause even more trouble if I stayed at an inn...
So, you're broke!
Mr. Swordsman, where are you spending the night?
Mitchan, no good!
He's broke!
No money?
Around here, people talk to me even though I have a sword, that they do...
Now, I haven't slept outside in quite a while, that I have not...
I'm sure everyone is upset with me by now, that they are...
I can't help it if they hate me now...
They're not with Shishio...
Thieves or bandits?
I would like to avoid human contact as much as possible...
This wench...
What are you being shy about now?
You're the one that offered!
But, I am embarrassed...
I'm still innocent, you know!
It's too much, this sexy voice!
She led us all the way out here!
She will play with us all night, right?
Sure, but do you have money?
We do.
We just stole some from Odawara.
I see...
Then, that's good...
All right!
The play ends here!
Now, hand over all the money that you got!
W-What the hell?
She's still a kid!
I was wondering what kinda a babe she would be, dammit!
This late, a kid should just go home and go to bed!
Wait, hold on a minute!
Damn you!
What part of me is a kid, you knuckleheads?
Damn you!
I am 16 years old, you know!
Don't get carried away, kid!
We're still irritable, since we just made a getaway!
We don't mind a little killing!
Prepare yourself!
Just some guy's brute force...
...can't stop me!
Well, I guess that's about it!
Mimicking a sexy voice and leading them on catches 'em every time!
It's so easy!
This I'm surprised about...
It is a bandit, but it wasn't exactly what I thought!
A female bandit!
W-Who are you?
Just a wanderer, traveling in the area.
What?
Do you have something against women being bandits?
Oh, no, I didn't mean that...
You shouldn't be a bandit to begin with.
Oh, I see.
You're trying to talk back to me?
You're amusing.
I thought about taking something from you, too...
But, you...
...look so poor.
Could it be that you're broke?
Sheesh, anyone and everyone...
Well, it's all right.
No man has ever been able...
...to escape from me!
I'll strip you of everything you got, too!