Chapter 38: Yutarou's Skill

(Raijuuta and Kenshin stare each other down on the bridge, Raijuuta with his sword drawn)

Sanosuke: They're not moving...

Kaoru: It looks as though they're watching each other.

Sanosuke: A careless move means you won't be a victor. Either Kenshin or this Raijuuta guy.

(Raijuuta strikes. In an instant, Kenshin has drawn his own blade and turns Raijuuta's stroke aside. They separate.)

Tsukayama (coming up with a tray): Oh, a match between master swordsmen! You can really see the skill, can't you! Well, don't mind me, please continue. I'll just leave the tea here.

(He leaves.)

Raijuuta: People will interfere. We'll leave our match for now, but don't forget. Join me, or be killed by me. You have two choices.

Kenshin: I'll have to refuse both.

Raijuuta: Feh...

(They part.)

Sanosuke: Well, I guess we're done here.

Kaoru: But I feel like we're forgetting something...

Yahiko: Yeah, something...

(The lightbulb goes on, and Yutarou bursts upon them.)

Yutarou: You bastards! I won't stand for this!!

Sanosuke (patting him on the head): Oh, right, right. That angry kid. (Arrow: Not sorry at all.)

Yutarou: Don't you pat me! I'll get you I swear--

Kenshin: You tied him to a tree?

Kaoru: Sanosuke did it.

Yahiko: Shut up!

Yutarou: What!

Yahiko: If you're strong enough to scream that loud, then come to the dojo alone! We'll have a fight where you can't hide or run away! (as they leave) But with shinais!!

Yutarou (thinking): That... that bastard!

Early next morning

(Yutarou stands in front of the dojo at the crack of dawn.)

Yutarou: All right, I'm here, you shrimp!!

(Everyone comes out in their pajamas.) Yahiko (squinting): You know what time it is?

Yutarou: You never said what time! So let's fight!

(facing off in the dojo)

Yutarou: We're going to settle this. Get ready!

Yahiko: Hey, Kaoru, judge for us.

Kaoru (clearly not a morning person): Nnn... first point...

Yahiko (smacking her with the shinai): You call that a yell! What kind of a fight is this--

Kaoru (smacking back): What do you think you're doing!!

Yahiko: Wake up you hag!!

Yutarou: Hey, fight me!!

Kaoru: First point! (And I'll deal with you later!)

Yutarou: Let's go!

Yahiko:!

Kaoru: Huh?

Kenshin: Oro?

Yahiko: You're holding the shinai wrong.

Kaoru: Usually you grip it with the two hands separated, with the left at the bottom and the right just below the hilt.

Yutarou: I... I only trained with real swords! So I don't know any shinai grips--

Kenshin: Actually, your grip on a real sword should be the same as on a shinai...

(A dark pause.)

Yahiko: So that was all talk. You don't really know how to fight? Don't tell me you tried to get up so early that you'd win before we figured it out.