Zanza has been missing
for two weeks. The Hiruma Brothers grow impatient, but
the street fighter finally shows his face one day and
is finally ready to deal with Kenshin. Off to the Kamiya
Dojo he goes with a large wrapped object in hand, and
there he is greeted by Kenshin, Kaoru, and Yahiko. Zanza
had been in Kyoto for the time he wasn't present in Tokyo,
gathering all the information he could about the Hitokiri
Battousai's past. Zanza recites all he knows about Kenshin's
past, but admits he has no clue why a ruthless killer
turned into a wandering, masterless samurai. Kenshin feels
the same way as Zanza; he has no clue why one who hates
those who oppress the weak acts like a gangster and bears
the character for 'evil' on his back. Zanza begins to
speak, but stops in mid-sentence. He wants Kenshin to
learn his true hatred for the Ishin Shishi through their
fight.
Before the fight begins,
Kenshin asks if Zanza was asked to fight by the Hiruma
Brothers. Zanza sees that Kenshin is wise and can sense
ki, so he calls for Gohei and Kihei, who are hiding behind
a wall. The two brothers show their faces and Kihei is
forced to hand over a gun he purchased from the black
market in Yokohama to Zanza. Zanza takes the gun and obliterates
it by sandwiching it between his fists. The street fighter
reminds the Hiruma Brothers that when he accepted to fight
Kenshin, it became his fight, thus, he wants no interference
from anyone.
Because of the size of
the Kamiya Dojo, Zanza moves the fight to riverbanks.
On their way there, Kenshin asks Yahiko if he was surprised
when he had heard Zanza speaking of his past. Yahiko admits
that he was a bit surprised, but for some reason, he feels
no different.
At the riverbanks, Zanza
removes the cloth on the large object he has been carrying,
revealing a large sword known as the Zanbatou. The sword
is normally too heavy for people to wield, but for Zanza,
who, before the fight, introduces himself as Sagara Sanosuke,
it's no burden. Sanosuke rushes forward and takes a swing
down at Kenshin. Kenshin quickly evades and hits Sanosuke
in the side, but there is no effect. When Kenshin is swatted
away, Kaoru notices the little damage Kenshin had inflicted
upon his opponent. This battle will not be won by the
strongest of the two, but by the one who remains on his
feet in the end.
