Hko, walking through the turbulent age, observes that there is more violence each day. But even the strongest person cannot stop the flow of time... A young boy walks along the side of a cart with a group of peole. They are suddenly stopped by bandits who brutally begin to kill everyone. The boy faces them, barely able to hold a sword, but one of the women who look after him knocks it out of his hands and holds him back. One begs for the boy's life. She is killed, while the others try to cover his eyes, which are wide with horror. The bandits kill the one holding the boy (Kasumi) by running their spear through her neck from behind. Before she dies, she tells the boy that he can't die like them and he must live for their sake. The bandits now turn to the boy who is the only one left. However they are stopped by Hiko who calmly slaughters them all. Hiko tells the boy, who is sitting among the dead, that he is lucky to be alive. He leaves heavy hearted because even though he wields his sword following the teachings of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu, in the end he could not save anyone. All he can do is bury the bodies... Hiko finds the boy standing amidst a field of handmade wooden crosses. He asks the boy if he made graves for the bandits as well as for his parents. He replies that they were not his parents. They were slave traders; his parents had died of cholera a year ago. But even slave traders and bandits are only bodies when they die... Hiko asks about the three rocks in front of him. The boy explains that they are for Kasumi, Akane, and Sakura, who he had met and become friends with that day. He thought he had to protect them even if he died because he was the only boy. However, they ended up protecting him instead. He wanted to find good tombstones for them and give them flowers but he could not find any. Hiko pours sake over the stones, remarking that he makes this offering to them because they had died without ever tasting good sake. He presents himself as Hiko Seijuurou, a swordsman. Hiko tells the boy that he has been given the lives of those three and he must become strong to support himself and to protect the people important to him. Hiko asks the boy for his name. Shinta, he says. Hiko decides that it is not appropriate for a swordsman. From now on, his anem will be Kenshin. Hiko tells Kenshin that he'll teach him all he knows. [Title: Rurouni Kenshin Tsuioku Hen] During the Bakumatsu, Kiyosato and Shigekura are walking the streets of Kyoto. They discuss how Kiyosato is going to be married the next month. Kiyosato says he does not deserve such happiness. Their conversation is stopped by Kenshin's appearance. Kenshin quickly slays the men. Kiyosato is frightened but determined not to die. He fights fiercely and manages to scratch Kenshin's face, but while he scratches Kenshin, he suffers much more severe injuries. Kiyosato, with tears in his eyes, groans that eh doesn't want to die yet. Kenshin twists his sword into Kiyosato's back. Kiyosato dies with Tomoe's name on his lips. Iizuka arrives on the scene. He is surprised that someone was able to touch Kenshin; he must have been very skilled. But Kenshin tells him it was only because of his stubborness to die. Kenshin leaves Iizuka to take care of the mess. Iizuka is surprised. Kenshin has put a flower on Kiyosato's body. Kenshin remembers training with Hiko. Hiko thinks that Kenshin will become very strong. He observes that Kenshin's heart is very pure. Kenshin, as he wlaks through the night, thinks that swords should be wielded for the world and to protect the weak. The next day Kenshin and Iizuka meet with Katsura, one of the great leaders of the Meiji Ishin. They remark about Kenshin's wound, which Kenshin dismisses as nothing. Then Katsura invites Kenshin to attend a secret meeting for the Ishin Shishi, but Kenshin refuses, saying that he is only a hitokiri, and leaves. Katsura rememberst the day he first met Kenshin... Katsura and Takasugi are looking over the recruitment for the Kiheitai, the Ishin Shishi's army. A boy appears for his turn. It is Kenshin. He easily slices the huge wooden post everyone has been trying out on. Katsura and Takasugi are awed. Katsura wants to bring Kenshin with him to Kyoto. Flashback to Kenshin's fight with Hiko. Hiko is angry at Kenshin, who says that many people are suffering and he must help them. Hiko will not allow Kenshin to go, reminding him that he won't be able to accomplish much by himself and if he joins a group, he will be used for political power. However, Kenshin argues that the power of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu is supposed to be used to protect the people who are weak. Hiko angrily tells him that a sword is a weapon, kenjutsu is a killing technique, and no matter how it is covered up with pretty words, that is the truth. He says that Kenshin will use Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu to become a murderer in the name of justice. Kenshin replies that even so, he wants to protect the people who are suffering. Hiko knows that he cannot stop him and angrily stomps off, calling Kenshin a stupid pupil. Kenshin leaves. In the streets of Kyoto at night, Kenshin's wound continues to bleed... The next day, Kenshin is on a busy street in Kyoto. Suddenly he hides himself. The Shinsen gumi are walking down the street. The crowd parts to let them pass. When he walks by Kenshin, Saitou pauses. Okita asks him if something is wrong, and Saitou says that he thought he smelled blood. Okita says that he must have been killing too much lately and laughs it off. After the Shinsen gumi are gone, Kenshin comes out onto the road. Iizuka is with him and comments about how the Shinsen gumi are proudly parading down the middle of the street. He slips Kenshin a note for that night's assassination. Suddenly Iizuka remarks that it smells good. It is the scent of white plums, Kenshin replies. The scent is coming from a woman on the other side. (It is Tomoe.) Kenshin looks at her and then turns away. After Iizuka is gone, Kenshin glances back to where the woman was standing, but she is not there. Kenshin remembers Hiko telling him that sake always tastes good and if it doesn't it means that there is something wrong within yourself. Kenshin thinks about this as he drinks. Tomoe is also there and she is drinking sake while people around her watch. Kenshin has finished another assassination. Iizuka comments that his targets do not even have time to scream. Kenshin's wound begins to bleed again. Iizuka says that there is a superstition that a sword wound out of malice does not disappear for along time... Kenshin remembers chopping wood as a child. His hands begin to bleed. He puts his hands in water and the blood swirls. Little Kenshin winces at the pain... Kenshin is washing his hands... Iizuka comes to talk to him. He tells him that Katsura and Miyabe were discussing to do something in Kyoto and got into an argument. Kenshin remembers when he became Battousai. Katsura asks him if he can kill. He says that it is for creating the new era, but it is still a dirty job. He wants Kenshin's answer. In Kyoto, after Kenshin's first assassination as hitokiri, Iizuka comes onto the scene and explains who he is. He tells Kenshin to hang in there; many men become sick or faint. Kenshin says that he feels better than he thought he would. They leave... Kenshin's assassinations as Hitokiri Battousai continue... Kenshin says that if there will be a new era of peace beyond his blood-stained sword, he will, in the name of heaven, kill... In Choshu, Katsura and Takasugi talk about Kenshin. Takasugi says that he is ruining the young boy's life. As the leader of the Choshu Ishin Shishi, Katsura vows never to draw his own sword again. Katsura shows much determination for his plans. He leaves for Kyoto. After bidding him goodbye, Takasugi falls to his knees and coughs violently. Kenshin has just finished yet another assassination. Iizuka offers to go for a drink, which Kenshin refuses. They part. Katsura says that it has been a year and Kenshin looks more mature. Somehow Kenshin seems different now... But he is still pure. Katagai asks if they should be relieved. Katsura explains that because of his heart is so pure, Kenshin is beginning to have a conflict with the part of himself which is the hitokiri. At night, in the streets of Kyoto, Kenshin is attacked. At first he wonders if it is a Shinsen gumi, but it is not. ...Meanwhile, Tomoe has left the pub and is walking in the street in the rain... The man throws chains around Kenshin and tries to attack, but Kenshin easily breaks off the chains and slices the man in half. Blood sprays.. onto an umbrella and a woman's kimono. It is Tomoe. Kenshin looks up with wide eyes. The wound begins to bleed again. Rain drips down his face. Tomoe observes, "You really make it rain... A rain of blood..." Kenshin
drops his sword.
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 My review As you have probably noticed,
the art is different from the TV series. But it is still beautiful, and
it gives it a different feel from the TV series. As for the story, this
episode has one of deepest moments in Rurouni Kenshin. No comic relief,
but the power carries itself through. I liked how the flashbacks were put
together. The part about Kenshin's first killing, which is not in the manga,
was a subtle yet touching addition. Now I can't wait to watch the next
volume! ^_^
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