Chapter 208: Oibore: Man of Unknown Origins

(An old man walks down the road, carrying a fishing pole; a small flock of songbirds surround him.)

Old Man (singing): Oh, well, what the hell. Oh, well, what the hell. Oh, well--mm?

(He sees Misao and Yahiko ahead of him, entering Rakuminmura.)

Old Man: A couple of young ones. Come to join us? Doesn't look that way...

(Misao and Yahiko reach the gate.)

Yahiko: All right! From here on out we can't afford to slip up! Give this all you got!

Misao: Let's charge 'em!

(A group of Rakuminmura inhabitants decend on them.)

Men: Hold it right there! Where'd you come from? Don't take another step! It'd disgrace our honorif we let outsiders in whenever they wanted!

Yahiko: What are you talking about? You don't have any honor to lose.

Misao: Yeah, you bunch of bums.

Men: We won't go easy on you cause you're kids! Kick 'em out!

Yahiko: Let's do it, Misao!

Misao: I said, let's charge 'em!

(The fight begins.)

Men: What is this? They're not bad!

Misao: We don't have time to waste with bums!

Yahiko: We're taking revenge for Kaoru! We're gonna see Kenshin!

(A wave of men jump them. When the smoke clears, Yahiko and Misao are buried underneath them.)

Man: How was that? One of the 48 outcast techniques, Fallen Lives!

Yahiko: What is this?!

Misao: That is not funny!

Man: Shut up, you smart-mouthed kid!

Old Man: Looks like fun.

Man: Oibore!

Old Man: It's been three days since I saw y'all. I brought some shikemoku from town. Divide it up, now.

(The men swarm on the shikemoku, letting Yahiko and Misao up.)

Old Man: You all right, young'uns?

Yahiko: Who are you?

Old Man: It's been so long, I've forgotten my own name. Now they call me Oibore (old fool), the nicest old guy you'll ever meet.

Yahiko: The nicest old guy... ?

Misao: That sounds suspicious.

Oibore: Not at all! Look at this. (gestures at the birds around him) They say animals won't come near someone with a bad heart.

Yahiko & Misao: Plus, he's a little nuts.

Oibore: Now, young man, young lady, what brings you here?

Yahiko: We're here to see someone. Something wrong with that?

Oibore: To see someone? Not the one who just came in, the samurai with the chained-up sword?

Yahiko: Yeah, Kenshin. Thanks for your help. See ya around.

Man: Hey!!

(They walk off; Oibore looks thoughtful.)

(Back at the Oguni Clinic.)

Megumi: And that's everything. Other than what I saw and heard myself, if you ask the others they'll tell you about the same.

Aoshi: It doesn't make sense.

Megumi: What?

Aoshi: Is there anything else? No evidence left behind?