PMK Chapter 20 111 Text: Chapter 20 Text: Choice 112 Sano: .....Hey. Sano: What are you doing....? Heisuke: Well... Heisuke: I'm leaving with Itou-san's group. 113 Heisuke: I quit the Shinsengumi. Heisuke: I'm joining the Goryoueji to protect Emperor Koumei. Heisuke: So I guess this is another goodbye. Sano: ...... Sano: ...... Sano: What are you talking about? Sano: C'mon, man... Sano: The punishment is seppuku - you wanna die that badly? What are you saying? Heisuke: I've already obtained official permission. 114 Heisuke: Itou-san was specially appointed to form the Goryoueji. Heisuke: He'll report directly to the magistrate, Toda Yamatonokami-san. Heisuke: Since Itou-san has such official backing, he's being allowed to break from the Shinsengumi. Heisuke: Kondou-san and Hijikata-san agreeded with no protest. Sano: ......!! SFX: *shock* Sano: ARE YOU INSANE!? Sano: Itou and his guys are up to no good!! Sano: Why the hell would you go with them!? Sano: Don't make crazy decisions like this!! Sano: Why do you feel like you have to leave the Shinsengumi!? SFX: *tch* Heisuke: ...Be quiet, Harada. 115 Heisuke: It's not worth getting all worked up about. Heisuke: We're not rebellign against the Shinsengumi or anything, we're just separating. Sano: "Just separating!?" Heisuke: We're not even leaving Kyoto. Shinpachi: ...... Heisuke: I mean... it's kind of like a business trip, right? Sano: But when will you come home? What will you eat? Where will you sleep? Heisuke: We're being stationed at the Zenritsu Temple in Gojou. Sano: Gojou... Sano: Damn it!! Who ordered you to do something so dumb!? Sano: Was it Kondou!? Hijikata!? Heisuke: It was my idea. Sano: WHAT!? Sano: What were you thinking!? I mean, you're one of us old-timers from Shieikan, right!? SFX: *gyaaa!!* Sano: You can't just leave!! SFX: *sigh* Heisuke: Come on, Harada... 116 Heisuke: I study Hokushin Ittou Ryuu sword style too, so I'm right at home in Itou's group. Heisuke: And the work isn't exactly death-defying - we're assigned to guarding the imperial tombs. It might even be a relaxing change of pace. SFX: *pull* SFX: *grab* Sano: ...So that's it? Heisuke: Is there some reason why I should hang around with you two all the time? (Note: The way he says this line is really rude and uncharacteristic of Heisuke.) SFX: *movement* Sano: Aren't we FRIENDS!? SFX: *loud dramatic noise* 117 Heisuke: Yeah... Heisuke: But the people I'm going with are my friends too. Shinpachi: Heisuke. Shinpachi: I'm not gonna try to stop you, 'kay? Shinpachi: But... Shinpachi: I just gotta ask, how many days did you really take to think about this? Heisuke: ...... Heisuke: Shinpattsan... 118 Heisuke: It's been years. SFX: *door closing* Sano: ...... Sano: Damn him... Sano: DON'T BE SUCH AN IDIOT, HEISUKE!! Sano: WE'RE ALWAYS HERE FOR YOU!! Pretty Boy Whose Name I Forgot: ...... Pretty Boy: ...So you really do have a foul mouth after all. SFX: *laugh* 119 Pretty Boy: Ahh, but it all seemed a little forced... Pretty Boy: You know? SFX: *laugh...* Pretty Boy: You've never pushed them away until now, have you? Heisuke: You're pissing me off too. Heisuke: What, were you spying on me? Pretty Boy: Haha, not at all. Pretty Boy: We just came to meet you. Pretty Boy: Because Itou-sensei is already at Jouan Temple. Pretty Boy: After all... Pretty Boy: You're one of us now. You're a friend. 120 Heisuke: [Friends...] Heisuke: [Comrades...] Heisuke: [This isn't seppuku.] 121 Heisuke: [I don't know what to do anymore...] SFX: *swish* [Name being crossed out: Toudou Heisuke] SFX: *click* Hijikata: ...... Hichikata: Tch. 122 Hijikata: Ichimura, throw this away. SFX: *rustle* Tetsu: .....Yes, sir. Hijikata: ......? Hijikata: ...That's odd. Hijikata: You're not even reacting. Tetsu: [...Somehow, I knew this would happen sooner or later.] Tetsu: [It's just...] 123 [Name crossed out: Saitou Hajime] Tetsu: ......huh!? SFX: *grab* Tetsu: WHY, DAMN IT!? Tetsu: Why would you... Tetsu: Why would you of all people join up with Itou!? 124 Saitou: ...... Saitou: Right now... Saitou: We all have to make some hard choices. Tetsu: "Choices"...? Saitou: Yes. Saitou: From now on, we must be prepared for anything. Saitou: People are deciding where they want to go in their lives... Saitou: They have to make the choice. Saitou: And find their own way... Tetsu: ...You're leaving us... Tetsu: And all you can talk about is this destiny crap...? 125 Tetsu: Damn it! SFX: *swipe* Tetsu: I should have know you wouldn't understand... Tetsu: What's going to happen to the Shinsengumi now? Tetsu: Why can't anybody see what's going to happen to us? Tetsu: You say you're choosing your own path or whatever, but you're just running away... Tetsu: Whatever... I guess you won't regret leaving the bad stuff behind... Saitou: ...... Tetsu: ...But that's all stuff we're "not supposed to talk about," right? SFX: *looking down* Saitou: ...It's all self-interest... Saitou: Hehe... Saitou: ...There is so much that you don't know. 126 Tetsu: ...... Saitou: ...Everyone's situation is different, and everyone's choices are different. Saitou: Soon there will come a time when you must choose your path. Tetsu: .....!? Ryouma: You should look to the south. SFX: *smooth movement* Tetsu: ...Hey, it's you...!! 127 Saitou: It's a very important decision. Saitou: You should follow your heart. Tetsu: ...... SFX: *step* Ryouma: That Saitou never changes, he's always weird! SFX: *running* Ryouma: But I, Ryouma-sama, the man of the people, will heed not those who try to arrest me! Tetsu: It really is you! Tetsu: How have you been? Tetsu: You haven't changed a bit! Ryouma: ...... SFX: *grab* 128 Tetsu: !? Tetsu: Huh!? SFX: *pull* Ryouma: I want to talk to you in private. Ryouma: Someplace where we won't be seen. Tetsu: ...Hey, old man! Tetsu: That hurts... Tetsu: Hey! Where are we going!? SFX: *yank* Tetsu: .....tch. SFX: *sound of air or something like that... I dunno* Ryouma: Ichimura Tetsunosuke. 129 Ryouma: I came to see you. Ryouma: I want to settle things. Tetsu: !? Huh!? What are you talking about... Ryouma: I'm no friend of the Shinsengumi. Ryouma: And Sakamoto Ryouma is public enemy #1 to the Shogunate. I just wanted you to know the truth. Tetsu: ... Tetsu: What!? No way!! SFX: *step* Ryouma: ...So now you know. Ryouma: Me and Nakaoka brought Saigou-san and Katsura-san together and formed the Satsuma-Choushuu Alliance. Ryouma: Now, the western regions are united in supporting the Emperor and can move as one to topple the Shogunate. 130 Ryouma: There's a man in my home province of Tosa, Yamauchi Youdou-kou, who feels the same way, and he's not the only one. Ryouma: It's just a question of "when" - the Shogunate is already on the verge of falling apart. Ryouma: And when that happens... you Shinsengumi will share its fate. Tetsu: Wait just a minute... Tetsu: I guess... Tetsu: I guess that's true... Ryouma: When people know they're going to die, they do whatever they can to keep themselves alive. Ryouma: Your commanding officers know they've already lost, but they can't back down. Ryouma: That's why you need to come with me. 131 Tetsu: Wh... what, old man...? Ryouma: Quit the Shinsengumi and come with me. Ryouma: For you and your brother to die meaninglessly for a pathetic government... it just isn't right. Ryouma: The world is crying under the weight of this dying country. Ryouma: But there are people out there who have vision... Ryouma: People like you... people who see a different world. Ryouma: Why don't you become a Peace Maker!? Tetsu: ...Peace... Tetsu: Maker... 132 Ryouma: ..... Ryouma: Because you're Ryuunosuke's sons... Ryouma: There are so many things you could do... Ryouma: Honestly... Ryouma: I don't know if I should involve you in all this... Ryouma: I just don't know... Ryouma: ...... Ryouma: ...But if you stay here... Ryouma: You'll die. Tetsu: Teach me. 133 Tetsu: I don't know anything... Tetsu: I don't know about this country, I don't know what a Peace Maker is... Ryouma: He was your father. Tetsu: Teach me all the things I don't know... so I can make my choice. Tetsu: I... TetsuL I don't... SFX: *wind* Tetsu: I don't know anything...! 134 Ryouma: ...Alright... Your father travelled to a foreign country. Ryouma: Even though he was relying on Shogunate support at the time... Tetsu: Wow... Tetsu: It's just so big... Tetsu: But why didn't Tatsu-nii ever tell me? Ryouma: ...Maybe he just wants you to have a safe, quiet life. Ryouma: When you go out into the world, you won't have the comforts of your home country. Ryouma: Dragon Boy is the only family you've got in this world. Ryouma: It's nice to have someplace to come home to. 135 Tetsu: Home... Ryouma: ...Yeah. Ryouma: Just think about what I said, okay? Ryouma: If you want to, you could come with me and get souveniers from every corner of the world. SFX: *wind* Ryouma: I'll wait for you. Tetsu: Tell me one more thing. 136 Tetsu: What's a "Peace Maker?" Ryouma: ...... Ryouma: "Peace" means *heiwa* (put japanese words in italics, I guess) Ryouma: "Maker" means *tsukuri hito* Tetsu: Someone... who makes peace... Ryouma: Well, that's not the real definition. Ryouma: [That man...] 137 Ryouma: [Deserves more than a few simple words...] SFX: *step* Ryouma: Next time we meet... Ryouma: I'll tell you what it really means. SFX: *wind rustling in trees* Tetsu: ...... Tetsu: Someone... Tetsu: Who makes peace... SFK: *slide* 138 Tetsu: "Peace Maker..."