Chapter 149: Kyoto Epilogue 5--An Early Summer Afternoon

(Kenshin splashes the marker with water, offers flowers and incense, and prays.)

Hiko: Visiting the grave after so long... You've neglected her for ten years. What brings you here now?

(Sanosuke and Yahiko are walking through the ruins of Shishio's hideout.)

Yahiko: When I was fighting that Ten Swords bat guy, it was like I was in a dream. I didn't understand anything. After the fight, I thought about it a lot. (he holds up a fist) I won! I'm the best! (letting it drop) But, were we the ones who were right? I guess I'm still pretty inexperienced. So it's natural that I get left out...

(Sanosuke kicks him.)

Sanosuke: Quit your whining.

Yahiko: That hurt!!

Sanosuke: Shut up a minute. I didn't come here to listen to you complain.

(They come to what's left of the bridge to the main battleground, which has collapsed.)

Yahiko: This was the final battleground... (thinking) This must be where Saitou died!

(Sanosuke stares down for a moment.)

Sanosuke: I can't believe that bastard is dead. But there's no way he could have gotten out of here alive... So in the end he won and ran out on our fight... or, by his logic, I'm the one who's still alive, so I'm the winner. Whatever. It all disappeared in the explosion. Guess the only thing I can do is be better.

Yahiko: Be better? You don't mean better than Saitou?

Sanosuke (walking out): Not just in strength. In everything.

Yahiko (watching him go, thinking) So that's it... Sanosuke didn't come here to see if Saitou was really dead. He came to settle the fight he lost with Saitou. This past month he never said a word about Saitou, but that doesn't mean it hasn't been bothering him. He's searching for the answer that will turn winning into growing stronger!