Tenshou no Ryouma 1

*Only for use by Easy Going Scans.

2)
Tenshou no Ryouma (Soaring Ryouma)

(pic names in clockwise order)
Tokugawa Keiki
Fifteenth Shogun of the Tokugawa Government

Ueno Hikoma
A photographer

Sakamoto Ryouma
A loyalist (Activist)

Nakaoka Shintarou
Leader of the Rikuentai

Mutsu Younosuke
A warrior in the Kaentai

Gotou Shoujirou
Politician of the Tosa clan

Tanaka Kensuke
Member of the Tosa Rikuentai

Kondou Isami
Commander of the Shinsengumi

Hijikata Toshizou
Vice-Commander of the Shinsengumi

text:
The Oumiya Incident-
In 1867 (Keiou 3), on November 15, Sakamoto Ryouma and Nakaoka Shintarou were assassinated in the back room on the second floor of "Oumiya," an establishment in Kawaramachi, Kyoto. Assaulted by assassins naming themselves as "rural samurai from Totsugawa," Sakamoto and Nakaoka lost their lives. The real identities of the killers is still unknown.

3)
Iwakura Tomomi
Court Noble

Saigou Takamori
Warrior of the Satsuma Clan

Ookubo Toshimichi
Elite Official of the Satsuma Clan

Kido Kouin
A warrior of the Choushuu Clan

Okita Souji
1st Division Captain of the Shinsengumi

Table of Contents
Chapter One - Escape
Chapter Two - Okakura's Dream
Chapter Three - Photograph
Chapter Four - Revenge

4)
Early morning on November 16, 1867 (Keiou 3) --

5)
The day following the Oumiya (Sakamoto Ryouma Assassination) Incident
1: Stay...

6)
1: You telling me to...stay alive...?
Chapter 1 - Escape

7)
1: Shintaaa...

9)
1: 1853 (Kaei 6)--
2: Commodore Perry arrived to Japan with his Black Ships
3: and Japan was soon awakened from its long slumber.
4: One group, the "Toubatsuha," rose to topple the government, comprised of Satsuma and Choushuu, who planned to dissolve the Tokugawa dynasty, place the Emperor at the center of political affairs, and act as the pillars of a new government,
5: Another group, the "Sabakuha", rose to support the Tokugawa government. These two factions soon wrapped up all of Japan in what was inches from becoming an all-out war.
map(upper): Choushuu Clan
map(lower): Satsuma Clan

10)
1: However
2: On Oct. 14, 1867 (Keiou 3), the current shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu
3: proclaimed a "Taisei Houkan" (Restoration of Imperial Rule) that would return political power to the Emperor--
4: Meanwhile, Japan was on the verge of being saved by the hand of a single man.
5: Sakamoto Ryouma

11)
Nov. 5, 1867 (Keiou 3) - Ten days before the Oumiya Incident -
1(2b): glance
2: glance
3: Hey, Hikomaaa.

12)
1: Hey, you...
2: Hm?
3: Sakamoto Ryouma

14)
1: stare
2(2b): Wh...what...?
3: Don't tell me...I'm being followed...
4: glance
5: Hey, you!! What happened to that girl you left in Maruyama?!
6: You broke up, didn't you?! Tell me the details, man!!
7: jerk
8: Ry...Ryou-san...
9: You're being too loud!!
10: Think of your situation a little!!
11: Be careful of women, Hikoma! They're the scariest creatures in this world!

15)
1: Oh, let me guess, in exchange for making her cry she wanted not money, but you-know-what...?
2: Ryou-san!! Ssh, ssh!
3: This man Ryouma's speaking to is "Ueno Hikoma."
4: The man who opened the first photography studio in Japan.
5: Oh?
6-7: scratch
8(2b): Hey...Ryou-san...owwwww!
9: Hiiee...
10: Ry...Ryou-san!! Let's hide!!!
11: This is really bad!!!
12: Oh?
13: What is it?
14: There's no reason to be in such a rush...

16)
1: Hoh...
2: Those guys...
3: Uuu...it's the Shinsengumi...
4: Stupid! Don't let your eyes meet!

17)
1: They'll claim that you're a masterless samurai and cut you down...
2: Ohhh...scary...
3: ...We seem to be quite hated...
4: Well of course, Kondou-san.
5: Eh? But why, Souji...
6: Why? Well...

18)
1: Hijikataaaaaa!!
2: We are avenging our comrade!! Now die!!
3: Masterless samurai, huh...? What fools!!
4: chah

19)
sfx: suh...

20)
1: Come.
2: Vice-Commander of the Shinsengumi
Hijikata Toshizou

21)
1(2b): Woaaaaahhhhhh!! Prepare yoursellllf!!
2: Bastard!
3: Let's see you walk tall now!!
4: So...he really hasn't noticed.
5: Yeah.

22)
1: He's already been slashed.
2-3: psh
4: Eh?
5: Egh?
6: Uwaaaahhhh!!
7-8: Eh?

23)
1: splat
2: Hiieee!!
3: He fell down rather quickly...
4: The Wanderers of Mibu are so frightening... (*The Shinsengumi originally bore that name)
5: He kills men without a care in the middle of the day...
6: Even though that man was clearly in the wrong, this will still scare the commoners.
7: Hoo
8: Tch...
9: Ah...
10(2b): shiver
11: Ah...ahhh
12: Uwahhh, that guy's scary...eh, Ryou-san?
13: If you do something like that to the Shinsengumi, you're as good as dead...
14: Wait...where'd he go!!?

24)
1: Those who seek vengeance on us...must die.
2: Hiee...
3: Oh?

25)
1: Whoops...I missed.
2: This is a new pistol, so I'm not too used to it...
3-4: Wha...
5: Whaaaaaa!!?

26)
1(2b): H...he shot!! He shot!!!
2: Kyaaaaa!!
3: He shot a pistol at the Shinsengumi!!
4: Y...you bastaaaaaards!!
5: Oh...
6: What are your intentions?!
7: Hiiee
8(2b): I don't have any intentions...it's just that there are some "beasts" loose in town.
9: If they aren't caught, it will cause everyone trouble, won't it?
10: Enemies?!
11: Wha...
12: pff

27)
1(2b): Whether you're from the government, Satsuma, Choushuu, whatever....dumb beasts like you who go around killing people...won't be necessary in the next age, after all.
2: A Tosa accent...is he merely another idiot...?

28)
1(2b): Ry...Ryou-san!! What are you adding fuel to the fire for?! Let's hurry up and escape!!
2: grip
3: Oh?
4: But that's no fun.
5: This has never been fun!!
6: Chase him!!! Don't let him get away!!
7: Ahh!!
8: Dammit...!! Are you out of your mind?! Do you WANT to be killed?!
9: Gyahahah!!
10: When people die, they die! So enjoy your life while you have it!!

29)
1: There are even guys who slip and smash their nuts and kill themselves when they get out of the bath, you know?!
2: Please just focus on running!! Geez!!
3: Fu...fufu..."beasts," are we...? What an amusing thing to say. (cough)
4: ...what, Souji? You know that idiot?
5: (cough) Do I know him...?
6: That's the guy the Mimawarigumi and the Kishuu clan have gone crazy searching for:
7: Tosa's...Sakamoto Ryouma.
8: Wha...!!?
9: Th...
10: That's...Sakamoto Ryouma...?

30)
1: Tosa Clan Politician
Gotou Shoujirou
2: Well? Ryouma!! Hm? You about finished?
3: How many times have you asked me that?
4(2b): You're so impatient, Uncle Gotou. I'm almost there, just be quiet and wait!

31)
1: Only three days after the Taisei Houkan was put into place--
2: Ryouma's eyes were already set on creating a new nation.
3: He went to visit the Echizen clan immediately to ask about financial resources for a new government,
4: where he met with Mitsuoka Hachirou, a economist who had lost his standing and was put under house arrest toward the end of the Tokugawa dynasty, and was up talking all night.
5: Ryouma was inventive enough to take the opinions of these experts, interpret them in his own way, and then better them.
6: With this, his plans began to take shape -- and it was in getting things done that Ryouma truly shined.
7: Finished!!

32)
1: Ohh...
2: So this is the shape of the new "Japan!!"
3(2b): Yeah!! This is my Eight Point Program for a New Government!!
4: The Eight Point Program
5: was a blueprint for the future of Japan in order to give it rebirth as a modern nation.
6: It utilized human resources from all over the country, reformed unfair laws, added judicial regulations, created a national army, and created the first incarnation of the National Diet--
7(2b): Amazing...this is amazing!!
8: and was a ground-breaking picture of a new Japan.

33)
1: This way we can save the reputation of Tosa, too...
2: Right, right?
3: Master Youdou* will certainly agree to this!!
4: ...hm?
5: Hey, Ryouma...
6: Oh?
7: Why...is this part all white?
* line: Tosa's ex-clan leader, Yamauchi Toyoshige.
After he retired and became known as Youdou, he continued to greatly influence the clan affairs from a political standpoint.
8: Hmm...
9: suh
10: OK...how does that look?!
11: skritch
12-13: Eh?

34)
1: Wai...what the, that's so half-assed...this is something that the Emperor is going to look at, you know!!?
2: You'll understand eventually...relax.
3: In the slot where the new leader of the government's name was supposed to fall, Ryouma intentionally wrote three empty circles.
4: This was a very Ryouma-esque forethought to prevent candidates from needlessly fighting.
5: ...however,
6: I wonder if Choushuu and Satsuma will really agree to this...
7: Nah,
8(2b): rub
9: Rub
10: What Satsuma and Choushuu are set on

35)
1: is the destruction of the government...of the Tokugawa.
2: In other words, they don't want to merely topple it, but "eradicate" it.
3: They won't agree right away.
4: ...I wonder
5: how many more Japanese will have to kill each other before this all ends...?
6(2b): I've...seen many humans I love pass away...Hanbeita...Izou...Yoshimura...Kiyata...
7: I don't want to feel that pain again...I don't want anyone to...

36)
1: During the Emperor's loyalist political purge that stormed through Tosa...
2: I'm sorry...Ryouma...
3: As the executive overseer, Gotou had forced Takechi Hanbeita, the leader of the Tosa Pro-Emperor movement and Ryouma's unrivaled comrade to disembowel himself.
4: But now, he is running with Ryouma in hopes for a complete restoration of government...
5: In a single night, his position completely changed...and the same fate happened to many other men during the last days of the Tokugawa.
6: It ain't your fault, Uncle Gotou.
7(2b): Nah...it's no one's fault. That's just what had to be done...

37)
1: All this talk about clans and status...
2: Bullshit like that is what forces people to kill one another.
3: slurp...
4: kotoh
5: That's why...
6(2b): We're gonna have to give Japan...a good, hard, washing over!!
7: rub
8(2b): rub

38)
1: Ryo...
2: Ryouma...!!
3(2b): Let's change Japan together!! Ryouma!!
4: Yep...we will.
5: And then let's go into the bath and wash ourselves, too!!
6: Yep...we will.
7: Through Gotou, Ryouma got the consent of Tosa's Yamauchi Youdou,
8: and also got to talk with an elite vassal of the Tokugawa government, Nagai Naoyuki...
9: a man which Ryouma labeled "an ally" in a letter to a friend.

39)
1(2b): For the sake of a revolution towards peace...Ryouma did everything he could.
2: What...? The Shinsengumi?
3(2b): pat
4: Tosa clan
Nakaoka Shintarou
5: Yes, lately we've received reports that they have been hounding Sakamoto-sensei and Nakaoka-sensei...
6: Muu...
7: We feel it'd be better if they were relocated to the Tosa estate for their security...

40)
1: Will the remnants of the Wanderers of Mibu be crawling to my place trying to oil me up this time...
2: Or perhaps...
3: ...what will you do, Ryouma?
4: If Itou-san said it, then there's no mistaking it...
5: Mmmm...
6: Itou Kashitarou -- the man who was once the advisor for the Shinsengumi had seen the trends of the times and defected.
7: After switching over to the Pro-Emperor side, he had aimed for a chance to mingle with Ryouma's group.
8: I...
9: I don't like cramped places like that.
10(2b): Y...you mean you don't want to go...? Your life is being targeted!!

41)
1: When humans die, they die. It doesn't matter when it happens.
2: There's no reason to think so deeply about it...
3: pop
4: It'll make your hair fall out.
5: heh
6: pff
7: buh
8: Wha...
9: Kakakakah!! True, being there would only shorten your life in the end!!
10: S...Sakamoto-dono!! This is no laughing matter!!
11: But Sakamoto-san...
12: Oh?

42)
* line: In April of 1867, the "Irohamaru" vessel that belonged to the Kaientai, which Ryouma based his activities around, and the Kishuu clan's "Meikoumaru" crashed and sunk in the Japan sea.
1: With the Taisei Houkan in effect, the Shinsengumi, Mimawarigumi, and people of the government
2: as well as Kishuu clan, with the "Irohamaru*" incident in their minds, are all thirsty for blood...
3: If you don't want to go to the Tosa estate, then how about the Satsuma estate...?
4: Hmmm...
5: Nah.
6: Eh?
7: "If I were to go to the Two Pines Estate (the Satsuma estate) then I'd have to prepare myself for battle" (Interpretation)
8: It'll be a pain in the ass, so I'm fine just staying at an inn.
9: was what Ryouma wrote in a letter to Mochizuki Seihei.
10: Ryouma...?

43)
1: At this moment, seals from the Ise Shrine were flung down through the sky in the streets of Kyoto
2: inciting commoners to rebel just like the peasant revolts of yore, turning the streets of the city into frantic, lawless zones of madness.
3(2b): It was like the end of the world was coming. Was this commotion truly shouts from people hoping for a better world...? Or was it all part of an evil plot concocted to throw the city into chaos so that the government could be toppled?
4: And then--

44)
1: Nov. 15, 1867 (Keiou 3)--
2: ...fuwahh
3: Choooo!!

45)
1: Hey...Ryouma, you alright?
2: sniff...
3: Yeah.
4: (So cold!) You just sneezed, are you sure you're OK...?
5: ...so.
6(2b): rub
7: What was it you wanted, Shintaa?
8: ...like I said,
9(2b): as we sit here, the government is strengthening their military with new-model guns shipped in from France. The size of their fleet is also way larger than the Satsuma-Choushuu fleet!!
10: At this time, the two had shelved their swords far away from themselves.
11: This was so that if the discussion happened to get a little heated, they would not end up killing one another.
12(2b): While they were true best friends, Nakaoka, who was 100% for toppling the government, and Ryouma, who was looking for a peaceful revolution, were like fire and oil when it came to that subject.

46)
1(2b): So then...we'll just take land from the government.
2(2b): Even if Keiki tries to return Tokugawa land to the people, there's no way those bastards inside the governmental machine will agree!!
3: There can be no new country without dissolving the government!!
4: Shintaaa, listen to me.
5: Power created through force cannot keep controlling by force.
6: Do you intend on repeating this cycle forever?
7: Nuuu...
8: If it turns into a war, people will die, and money will be needed.
9: Then Japan will become even poorer...

47)
1: The only ones who will be happy if the Japanese spill more of their own blood is England, France, and America...
2: powerful nations who are all waiting vigilantly for the chance to turn this into colonized land.
3: Well?
4: Do you still want to fight despite that?
5: Kuhhh
6: Shintaaa...
7: What's your "dream?"
8: Dream?
9(2b): That was an unexpected question...obviously it's to make a new country!
10: OK...in that case...
11: Once the new country's made...what are you gonna do afterwards?

48)
1: W...
2: Well...
3: It wasn't only Nakaoka.
4: This was a time in which even a large pillar of the group who wanted to topple the government, Saigou Takamori believed that a new world was only a dream unless the government was completely obliterated.
5: Umm...
6: I, on the other hand, Shinta...
7: Oh...
8: I...

49)
1: want to fly through the sea!!!

50)
1: Gunu...
2(2b): Kukuku...I really can't beat you after all...the minute I see those straightforward eyes of yours, I can't think up any kind of retort.
3: Oh?
4: Kukuku...you truly are a strange man.
5: You can even convince a man like me, when I'm arguing completely against you.

51)
1: Hah...
2: I'm just stubborn.
3(2b): But Satsuma's...Saigou won't come as easily as I.
4-5: splish
6: Yeah, I know.
7: But it's got to be done...I'm sick of wars...
8(2b): Saigou is like you though, he has a strange charm...maybe you'll be the one who's convinced this time.
9: Yes, he's a "character."
10: He's a man who will carry Japan on his shoulders from this point on...
11: ...and
12: if I had had the chance to meet him in a peaceful world...
13: I'm sure we would have become the best of friends.

52)
1: Ryouma...
2: Ahh, excute me.
3: slip
4: What is it, Toukichi?
5: It looks like there's a man who wants to meet with sensei.
6(2b): Oh? Who is it? Show him to us.
7: A rural samurai from Totsugawa...? That doesn't ring any bells...
8: Well, whatever. Send him in, Toukichi.
9: Yessir.
10: Hey, are you sure, Ryouma? You're gonna let someone in that easily?
11: It's fine, it's fine.
12: It'll be a way to kill time until Minekichi comes back with those fighting cocks.

53)
1: Oh...
2: Ohhh!! Shinta!!! It's a cricket!!
3-4: waddle
5: It's so rare to see one in a season like this!!
6: I don't like bugs, squash it for me.
7: hyoi
8: You're horrible...it's doing its best in this cold...poor thing.
9: rattle
10: toss
11: Hmm...
12: That's better...
13: chirp...

54)
1-2: chiiiirp...

55)
1: chiiiirp...
2: Hoh...
3: What a nice blue color...

56)
1: thump
2: rattle
3: thump thump thump
4: rattle
5: thump thump thump
6: What's that loud noise...
7: Hey!! Toukichi!!
8: thump thump...
9: su...
10: ...excuse me.

57)
1: I...am a rural samurai from Totsugawa...
2: My name is Kikuchi...
3: ...oh.
4: Must have been tough coming out here in the cold.
5: gah

58)
1: I probably already know...
2: but what are you here for?
3: Wha...?!
4: What are you doing to your guest?!
5: Hey, Ryouma!!
6: Grab your sword, Shintaaa.
7: He may be our guest, but he's also...
8: an assassin.
9: Guhhhh...

59)
1: Y...
2: zah
2: you bastard!!
3: Guh!!

60)
1: Gwah
2: Who the hell...
3: are you people?!

61)
1: Kuh

62)
1: Oraaahhh!!
2: sha
3: Ryouma!!!
4: Ohhhhh
5: psh

64)
1: What are you doing, Ryoumaaaaa?!?!
2: Kill them properly!!
3: Oh?

65)
1: Ryoumaaaaaaa!!!
2: You idiot!!
3: This way!! Let's run!!

66)
1: You alright?!
2: This way!!
3-4: rattle
5: Af ter them!! They shouldn't be able to go far with those heavy wounds.
6: Do not let them escape. They must be killed!
7: Hah
8: Tch...
9: Still, though, they put up quite a fight...
10: against such tough adversaries...

67)
1(2b): If...I knew things would end up like this, I woulda gone to the Tosa estate...
2-3: zehhh
4: If I survive this...maybe I'll start listening to people's warnings...
5: What are you talking about? Have you gone mad?
6: Hey!! Ryouma!!
7-8: sway...
9: Get ahold of yourself!!
10: Nah...I've lost too much blood...
11: Shinta...just run away on your own...you should be able to make it if you're alone...

68)
1: Besides...it looks like they were after me...
2(2b): What are you saying?! It's too early to give up!! You're a necessary person for the future of Japan!!
3: Ryouma...I'm sorry...
4: zah
5: That's it, that's good. Now run...
6: gufuh
7: Sh...
8: Shin...ta...?

69)
1: Wh...
2: gah
3: y...
4: Because...
5: you're stubborn...
6: There they are!! Over there!!

70)
1: ...prepared yourself?
2: chikah
3: Sorry, but you must die here.
4: Yes...Ryouma HAS died...
5: suh
6: And I couldn't think of living on by myself.
7: But...
8: Wha...
9: I will not let you...
10: have your way with his head!!

71)
1: Farewell...
2: Ryouma...
3: Shin...taa...
4: Live on!!!
5: Shintarou--

72)
1: Now, enemies of Ryouma!!
2: C'mooooooooon!!

73)
1: Sakamoto Ryouma...Nakaoka Shintarou...
2: Both have been assassinated.

74)
1: stir...
2: Saigou-sama...