Saitou connects with
his Gatotsu at point blank range. His sword goes through
Yatsume's left arm and gets stuck there. Even with the
great pain in his claw arm, Yatsume manages to disappear
from the scene without being noticed. In the Kamiya
Dojo, where he makes his stop at, are the weapons Enishi
gave him, Bandan Jiraihou, ceramic shells filled with
gunpowder that can be placed underground.
Yatsume reappears on
the battlefield, though he touches the ground with his
claw, creating an explosion of the earth. Saitou doesn't
worry, even though bombs are going off all around him;
he merely lights a cigarette and waits for the time
to act. Yatsume is never seen until a massive explosion
shakes the field. The bombs were used as a diversion
for Yatsume to strike Saitou from above, but the plan
had failed. Saitou had leapt up higher than Yatsume.
With his arms held back so that he cannot defend himself
from the impact, Yatsume is slammed down, face first,
into the ground by Saitou as they go spiraling down.
The impact knocks out
a few of Yatsume's teeth. Saitou removes his sword from
Yatsume's arm, causing the "monster" to scream
in pain. The former Shinsen Gumi captain positions his
sword, ready to kill Yatsume because he stated earlier
that he'd rather die than lose before fighting Battousai.
Kenshin holds Saitou back from doing anything rash,
reminding him that he doesn't want anyone, friend or
foe, to die. Saitou sheathes his sword without much
argument. Looking at the battered member of the Yatsume
Clan, Kenshin tells Mumyoui that he can fight him one-on-one,
if he would like to, without any interference when his
wounds recover.
Since all of his comrades
were defeated, Enishi has to come down as promised.
The true battle is only about to begin.
