Most of the RK fans would say that separating Kaoru and Kenshin is a sacrilege, and I wouldn't argue this point with anybody. It's a delicate issue, and right now, I'm not even entirely sure how to handle it. All in time, as some say. All in time.  

Does it mean that I hate Kenshin? No, not at all. He's a remarkable, deep, beautiful (the list of his good qualities can go on and on...)character and I like him a lot. I honestly think that him and Kaoru make a great, wonderful couple... But the fact is, I happen to like Enishi even more. And I want to give him a chance. At life. At redemption. Who knows? Maybe we'll get some rather... interestingly satisfying results. Am I one of these people who are invariably partial to the "bad" or "antagonistic" characters in a story? Not necessarily.  

So the question is, why Enishi?  

First of all, I can only agree that some of the things he's done can absolutely not be excused: selling weapons is reprehensible and killing that whole family because he hated to see other people happy is downright heinous and insane. There's only so many crimes you can atone for, and I believe that no matter where Enishi will end up later on in life, his soul will carry a stain that won't quite ever fade. Just like his grief, that was great enough to brand him inside and out, turning his hair from black to pure white...  

Yet I've often wondered what would have happened to him, had the circumstances of his youth been different. What if Tomoe hadn't died? That alone would have altered his entire future. No more obsessive plans of revenge against Battousai, for one. Maybe he would have grown into a roguish, hot headed, yet lovable youth; after all,  Tomoe did say herself that he was a "cute little brother" in spite of his temper tantrums, and some of the few flashbacks we see of his character before his sister's death reveal a sweet, wide eyed, almost innocent child. 
 

True, there is also a very unsettling, chilly quality about him from the start; whether this is a tell tale sign of psychotic tendencies, I'm not sure. But it's obvious that his is a strong personality of extremes, wild and unstable: he loves, and hates with a vengeance (no pun on jinchuu intended). Enishi was thus bound to jump off the tracks under emotional shock. 
 
 

Tankoubon #24 of the manga has just recently come out as I write these words, and the answer is, I honestly cannot fathom what Watsuki-sensei has in mind for Enishi. He's one of these ambiguous "bad" characters who happen to have feelings, and "moments" when these get past the mile thick shell. This is no Ted Bundy, no Adolf Hitler: you may not like him or the things he does, but if you carefully follow the story, you can't hate him. I know I can't. ^__^

What is he then? Not wanting to sound too new-agey or anything, I'll really have to say that his case screams "Problem Inner Child". To me he's just a little boy who's still shocked out of his wits by his sister's death even after all these years, a man who's emotionally still twelve years old. There is no hope of growth -or healing- for him until opens his eyes on what really happened between Tomoe and Kenshin, gets over it and finally lets go of Tomoe's ghost. Again, it's easier said than done. You can't let go of the only person you've ever loved without a struggle with yourself.  

In Enishi's case, Tomoe was not only a sister, but a mother figure as well. His love for her seemed boundless, and almost bordered on the incestuous: he was jealous of apparently every male who threatened to take her away from him (he didn't approve of her first fiancé, but accepted the latter only because that would make her happy), and when it all comes down to the bare facts, that's what Kenshin did -albeit unvoluntarily.  

My verdict? Enishi might not realize it, but he's in desperate need of a life! Meaning, he has to get back into the world of the living and abandon all these morbid fixations (having a perfect picture of your sibling in your mind is nice, obsessing over the picture's mood is creepy).  
 
 

Meaning, he has to find another (real, tangible, breathing) object of affection, preferably not blood-related to him. It might not be easy, because a real Human being, unlike a ghost, does talk back, and doesn't necessarily smile on command. Moreover, a normal, healthy and mature relationship is going to seem a bit overwhelming at first. But we've got to start somewhere.  

And right now, Kaoru does seem like a very good start. She's smart, brave, understanding and a fundamentally good person. She's neither completely terrified of him, nor is she likely to ever grovel at his feet as Yumi did with Shishio (admit it, that was terribly undignified). You could say that as their "companionship" develops on the island, Kaoru takes some liberties when adressing Enishi ("wash the dishes", to someone who's kidnapped you and has your life in his hands? If that's not brazen, I don't know what it is), and strange thing is, he doesn't seem to really mind. Kaoru sees him for what he is, knows what he's done, and she's a good balance in the equation, the force that could pull him back down to Earth-- and reality.  

Okay, that's all good and nice, some would say, but what does the poor girl get in exchange for this generous sacrifice? 
 

Oh, come on. It's not as as bad as it seems. Really. If Enishi could be that devoted to his sister, what wouldn't he do for the woman of his life? Plus he's excellent fighter and an extremely resourceful individual, she can rest assured that he'll be able to protect her not only physically, but materially if it's called for. And last, but not least... call me shallow, but did you take a good look at the man? 
 

Not too shabby, I'd say. But what about the rest then, the little things that build a relationship from the ground up? And all things said, why would Kaoru even consider falling for Enishi when she's got Kenshin?!?  Well... I think that's why this page exists. I'm going to speculate, ladies and gentlemen ^_^  

Speculate...