Chapter 141: The Final Situation

(Shishio takes the full force of the explosion.)

Yumi: Lord Shishio!!

(Kenshin leaps into the air.)

Hiten Mitsurugi--

Houji (thinking): I have faith! No matter what Battousai tries, it can't finish Lord Shishio! It can't destroy him! (aloud) Lord Shishio!

Ryuutsui! Shousen!

(Kenshin strikes downwards and upwards in quick succession.)

Sanosuke: A double attack!

Saitou: Fool. He won't let this chance slip by.

Aoshi: He's still going.

Ryuukansen Kogarashi! Tsumuji! Arashi!

(He strikes across left, across right, and down, ending in a crouch.)

Sanosuke: A five-part attack!

Shishio (regaining his balance): Is that all you have?

(He ignites his sword and catches Kenshin across the chest.)

Houji: He got him! Homura Dama!

(Kenshin catches some of Shishio's dangling bandages.)

Houji: It didn't have any effect!

Yumi: Even the Homura Dama that burns at the same time...

Kenshin: The pain of wounds can be overcome with determination and preparation. For those who leave themselves to the fight, it is second nature. But the age you want, forcing pain on the weak who are doing their best to live--as long as there's breath in my body, I will not allow this to happen!

Hiten Mitsurugi Kuzuryuusen!

(The attack throws Shishio back into a corner of the battleground.)

Houji (thinking): It's not true that it had no effect. After taking blow after blow from Lord Shishio, he must be close to death. But to save the weak and powerless of his country, this man has borne the Homura Dama and returned the Guren Kaina. He knocked down the invincible Lord Shishio... Lord Shishio once compared defeating this man to taking over the country. That was no mistake. He didn't try to defeat Himura Battousai--no, Himura Kenshin--to take Japan. Defeating him and taking Japan is the same thing!

(An explosion seems to rock the grounds. The flames from the smokestacks roar and blaze.)

Sanosuke: What the hell?!

Houji: The flames--the flames are raging!

Aoshi: Shishio's sword-ki responds in kind to Battousai's...

Saitou: You think they're the same? These flames are far beyond a few leaves.

Shishio: So we've reached the end. Let's do it.

Yumi (looking hopeful): Lord Shi--

(Shishio rises up, a grim look on his face.)

Shishio: The final secret sword. Kagu Tsuchi.

(Kenshin, breathing hard and covered in sweat, returns his stare.)