|
|
Prince
Yahiko's Born? Debut on High Society.
|
|
|
You
sure this isn't Yahiko?
|
Yahiko
is left alone at the Kamiya Dojo doing chores and
cooking while Kenshin and Kaoru are out at a play.
On the way home, a carriage passes by the couple
and when it is out of sight, a crash is heard. The
carriage was tipped over. Kenshin runs over and
assists an old man encountered by three masked sword-wielding
thugs. Once Kenshin drives them away, the old man
checks up on the passenger he was with in the carriage,
a young prince that looks exactly like Yahiko.
|
|
The boy is brought back
home with Kenshin and Kaoru where he is treated by
Doctor Genzai. The old man calls himself Malkes Murakami.
Murakami explains that the boy he was with, Shin,
is the Prince of Jakarta. A while ago, Shin's father
had passed away, and all of the responsibility was
handed down to him. Murakami had served Shin since
he had taken the throne. Originally, Murakami's ancestors
lived in a town near Jakarta. Prince Shin had arrived
in Japan for some diplomatic meetings, but now that
he's sidelined from exhaustion, things will be disorganized.
In comes Yahiko, and to Murakami's delight, it was
perfect timing. Forcefully, Yahiko is changed into
Prince Shin's clothing. It's a bit baggy, but it'll
do good. Yahiko is selected as the number one candidate
to take the place of Shin. |
|
|
|
What
manners of a young prince... impersonator.
|
Murakami
first teaches Yahiko manners and etiquette. Along
with Kenshin, Kaoru, and Sano helping, Yahiko doesn't
improve much from his normal self. During Yahiko's
training, Yamagata arrives on the scene and meets
with Kenshin. In their meeting, Yamagata tells Kenshin
that the Prince of Jakarta is targeted for assassination.
Some European countries are trying to monopolize
Asia, and Jakarta is one of their targets. Killing
the prince will throw Jakarta's people into confusion,
and the European countries will take advantage by
colonizing it. The main suspect of the whole scheme
is a Japanese spy named Inagi Ukyou. Kenshin understands
Yamagata's plea for cooperation, but he tells his
old friend that the prince is in no risk of being
killed.
|
|
|
|
Murakami
takes the bullet for Yahiko.
|
That evening, at the
party, things aren't going so hot for Yahiko. Still,
he isn't acting much like a prince. When Yahiko leaves
the party to take a leak, he is surrounded by masked
swordsmen who think he's Prince Shin. Immediately,
Yahiko tries to talk his way out of the sticky situation,
but it does no good. The swordsmen all charge at him.
Yahiko runs for his life, being unarmed and all, but
trips. Kenshin arrives just in the nick of time. He
takes out a few of the swordsmen with his Sakabatou
and tosses a bokken to Yahiko. Kaoru, Sano, and Murakami
also arrive on the scene, once Murakami confessed
to Kaoru and Sano that Prince Shin is being targeted
for assassination. Kenshin, Yahiko, and Sano do fine
until the spy Ukyou gets involved. Ukyou, armed with
a rifle, fires at Yahiko. However, before the bullet
connects, Murakami jumps in the way to take it in
the left shoulder. Before Ukyou is able to fire another
shot, Kenshin knocks him back with a Do Ryu Sen. Following,
Sano takes his rifle, breaks it over his knee, and
socks Ukyou in the gut. By time the fight is over,
the police arrive. |
|
|
|
So
I guess this is good-bye.
|
Prince
Shin is fully recovered and is able to walk through
the streets freely without fears of anyone attempting
to assassinate him. Both Shin and Murakami are grateful
to Yahiko and everyone else. Shin thanks Yahiko
once again and is said good-bye by Ayame and Suzume
with the special greeting he had taught the two
girls before departing with Murakami. As the two
leave, Kaoru comments that Shin is actually kind
of cute. Yahiko doesn't think so; he believes that
he is cuter. Sano just sighs and allows Yahiko to
slide by today with what he calls a false statement.
|
|
|
