Late in the evening,
Kenshin decides to catch his breath after storytelling
for over three hours. Tsubame goes to fetch some more
tea. Megumi accompanies her, while Sanosuke joins
to grab some snacks. Yahiko follows in suspicion,
wondering how Sanosuke knows where the snacks are.
Left behind are Kenshin and Kaoru, seated with their
heads bowed down on the porch in complete silence.
Elsewhere, Enishi steps
out of his rented mansion in a bathrobe to inform
Kujiranamai, Inui, and Otowa, all lounging around
outside of the mansion, about the fight that will
occur in ten days at the Kamiya Dojo. There are mixed
reactions amongst the three. Otowa feels a bit betrayed
because, if they are comrades, such a challenge should
have been confirmed amongst all of them beforehand.
Inui doesn't care when the fight takes place, just
as long as he gets a piece of the action. As for Kujiranami,
he is questionable towards why the battle isn't set
for a nearer date. A smile lights upon Enishi's face
when he thinks of Gein working in the basement, but
the silver-haired man doesn't explain that. Instead,
Enishi explains that they will have to fight Battousai
with their full strength, so he has ordered new, custom
made weapons for everyone from his organization in
Shanghai, which will take at least ten days to be
received. With everything sorted out, Enishi steps
back into the mansion. Kujiranami, Inui, and Otowa
all share the same thought - in ten days, Battousai's
head will be theirs.
As he walks through
a hallway in the mansion, Enishi stops and looks up
at a loose tile in the ceiling. He tells Mumyoui of
the battle in ten days at the Kamiya Dojo, but the
mysterious being that dwells in the ceiling doesn't
care about that. Instead, he is more concerned about
what Gein is doing in the basement, as there is no
ceiling for him to peak down from. Enishi promises
to tell his comrade, only if he comes down and speaks
with him face-to-face. Mumyoui declines such an offer
and moves along before warning Enishi not to interfere
when it's his turn to fight Battousai, the only man
to see his face and live.
Enishi takes a seat
and settles down in it. Staring out the window before
him, Enishi talks to himself, saying he doesn't need
any comrades, only his sister. Tears begin to fill
his eyes when he thinks about Tomoe. Enishi cannot
afford to hold them back after seeing his sister smiling
down on him.
With tea and snacks
ready, everyone regroups around Kenshin. Both Kenshin
and Kaoru are in the same position as when the story
had taken a brief intermission. Sanosuke tells Kenshin
to hurry up and go on with his story, but there is
no reaction. Finally, Kaoru raises her head and asks
that the rurouni continue. Kenshin opens his eyes
from deep thought and prepares everyone for the continuation
of his tale.
