Please do not copy this narrative and pass it off as your own. I’ve worked so hard and spent hours of painstaking effort in order to come up with this, if the sheer length isn't enough of an indication already. I'm just an email away if you have any questions or comments. Enjoy reading! ^^

Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuioku Hen
Strange Reminiscenses

Act One: The Man Who Slays

Days after, the swordsman walks on, with a jug of sake dangling from his left hand. He ponders the consequences of his efforts in this diseased era. In the end, not all can be saved no matter how skilled he may be with his sword. The least he can do is bury the remains of those who perished. Emerging from the woods, he comes to a halt, surprised by what lay ahead. What used to be a barren land was now a graveyard with countless wooden crosses standing in the crimson glow of the afternoon sun. The young boy stands in front of three tombstones, his wounded and sullied hands hanging by his side. The swordsman approaches him, noticing that the boy not only made a grave for his parents, but for everyone as well, including the murderers responsible for the slaughter. The boy tells him that it doesn’t matter who they were. In the end, they’re all just corpses once they’re dead. He was traveling with indentured servant traders as his parents died from cholera the year before. The swordsman asks for who the tombstones were. It was the least he could do for the three women who protected him. He felt responsible for their deaths, and he felt sorry for not having found better stones and not even a single flower to offer. The man shares the boy’s grief and pours his sake over the tombstones as an offering. He introduces himself as Hiko Seijuro and asks the boy his name. “Shinta,” he replies. Hiko thinks it’s too gentle for a swordsman. He gives him a new name, telling him that he will be known as “Kenshin” from that moment on. He takes the child under his wing, and decides to give him something special.

Kenshin undergoes training under Hiko Seijuro in the years that follow. Hiko is confident in the boy’s abilities, seeing that his desire to be strong was pure, and greater than anything or anyone else. But after a few years, Kenshin decides to leave and go on his own. He couldn’t bear to continue training while countless people were dying as they speak. He didn’t want to take any more of the cruelty and oppression being forced upon the weak and helpless. He wanted to protect them with his sword more than anything.

After leaving his master, Kenshin joined the Kihei-tai, a group of fighters under Takasugi Shinsaku. It was a force that would one day overthrow the Bakufu. Kenshin catches the eye of Katsura Kogoro, leader of the Choshu faction of the Ishinshishi, as he demonstrates his skills on the training field one rainy day. Astounded by his talent, he bluntly asks Kenshin to go to Kyoto and kill in order to create a new world. At only fourteen, Kenshin agrees to go, thinking that he could achieve what he had set out to do.

It is the year 1864, the first year of Genji. It’s been a year since Kenshin accepted the job as the Ishinshishi’s Hitokiri. On behalf of the heavens, he delivered punishment, fulfilling assignment after assignment, slaying countless people for the sake of a new world. Kiyosato leads the group of Kyoto Shoshidai, Shigekura Jubei as they head back one evening. They are greeted by an assassin and a bloody confrontation ensues as Shigekura and his vassal helplessly defend themselves to no avail. Kiyosato charges defiantly, determined not to lose. He struggles to retaliate after each strike, refusing to surrender despite his injuries. Kenshin delivers the final blow and receives a cut on his cheek. Kiyosato falls to the ground mortally wounded, his hand reaching out as if to touch the face of the woman he was about to wed. Kenshin drives the sword into his neck just as he calls out her name.

Iizuka takes charge at the end of each operation, and notices that Kenshin only gets better with every mission, swiftly meting out death to his appointed target. But with each kill, blood trickles from the cut on his cheek, a wound that doesn’t seem to heal. Iizuka tells him about a superstition, that a wound inflicted out of malice will never disappear until the desire is gone.

It’s a rainy evening. Iizuka leaves Kenshin and runs off for a drink after the night’s operation. At a local tavern, a beautiful woman drinks sake alone then heads out for the night. On the way back, Kenshin faces an ambush by an unknown assailant waiting in the shadows. He finishes quickly and regains his stance only to find a vision of white spattered with blood. He finds the woman from the tavern before him, unfazed. “You really do make it rain.. a rain of blood,” she says. In shock, Kenshin drops his sword as the rain pours harder.

Act Two: Stray Cat

Kenshin joins the group as they partake of the meal. Iizuka sits beside him, teasing him about the woman and the fact that she spent the night in his room. Kenshin abruptly finishes his meal and stands up to leave. Later, he asks Tomoe to forget what she saw and return home. She tells him that she’s a stray cat, with nowhere to go. Kenshin talks to the proprietress and she decides to let Tomoe continue her work at the inn.

Katsura arrives and passes Tomoe in the hallway. He asks for her identity and Iizuka is quick to affirm her as Kenshin’s rumored paramour before Kenshin could stop him. Katsura has Iizuka check her background as a precaution. They discuss the events of the night before and presume that the Oniwabanshuu was to blame for the ambush. They were the only ones who knew about Kenshin, and the incident suggests the existence of a traitor among them. Katsura decides to conduct an investigation and advises them to be careful of the Shinsengumi. He hands Kenshin Tomoe’s dry umbrella and comments on the end of spring.

Katsura receives a letter from Takasugi, thinking that he hasn’t read a better one in years. Ikumatsu, his paramour asks about Takasugi’s health. Katsura tells her that he isn’t in good condition and has decided to distance himself from his lover, Uno for fear that his illness might affect her. They liken Shinsaku to a drawn blade who cannot change his way of life, and Uno as his sheath.

Late at night, the Shinsengumi gather round the dead members of their group, trying to figure out the technique used by the assassin. They haven’t found out the identity of the killer, but surmise that the attacker was someone who possessed exceptional skill. Kenshin flees from the scene of the ambush by the Shinsengumi as Iizuka falls back and heads to Katsura’s place to report. At the inn, Kenshin cleans up, surprised to see Tomoe still awake at that time of night. She hands her a towel, relating that she is unable to sleep once Kenshin goes out. He tells her not to mind him, and she bids him goodnight.

The next day, Iizuka declares Katsura’s orders to their faction, inciting the angry protests of men thirsty for the chance to retaliate against the Shinsengumi for their slain comrades. Iizuka announces the threat of a traitor among them and orders them to wait as they’ve been told.

Tomoe sees Kenshin leaning on a pile of books, peacefully asleep by the window, his face reflecting the calm and innocence of a child in deep slumber. She fetches her shawl, drapes it around him and reaches out to touch his face, but instantly finds the gleaming edge of his sword against her neck. The child had been replaced with an enraged animal poised to kill. Kenshin comes to his senses and quickly shoves her away, sending a pile of books flying in the process. Tomoe lands on the floor and slowly regains her composure from the unexpected attack. Kenshin apologizes and sheaths his sword, noticing the shawl on his arm. He helps her pick up the scattered books and finds his old top under the disarray. She conveys her thoughts about his way of life, a life of killing and constant peril, wondering until when he’ll be able to live like that. He returns the shawl, not wanting her possessions to be tainted with the scent of blood once more. Tomoe excuses herself for her intrusion and turns to walk away as he calls her back to say, “Thank you.”

Katsura seeks Tomoe one evening and speaks to her of Kenshin’s role in the pursuit of their philosophy, and the consequences of having a child carry out the murders as required. He tells her of a man named Takasugi, and the existence of a sheath, a woman called Uno, to tame the mad blade. He asks Tomoe if she can be a sheath to Himura, a sheath to reclaim a drawn blade and calm his inner madness.

The Shinsengumi discuss their strategy against the upheaval, having discovered that the leaders of the Choshu and Miyabe faction have gathered in Kyoto for a meeting that was scheduled that evening. They suspect that Choshu is planning their big move. They investigate and discuss their plans further, knowing that the value of the Shinsengumi as a military force is at stake.

It is the night of the festival and the townspeople are busy with the preparations. Iizuka walks with Kenshin and relays Miyabe’s instructions to leave Kyoto before the night ends. Iizuka asks Kenshin what he plans to do about Tomoe and tells him to think it over. Back at the Kohagi Inn, Kenshin goes up to find Tomoe cleaning his room. She invites him to accompany her in town as the owner has given her the night off. They go out for sake as the commander of the Shinsengumi serve instructions for their operation and proceed to move out to the Kawara District to eliminate the insurgents. Kenshin and Tomoe are in the middle of a discussion just as Iizuka barges in and orders them to leave immediately. It turns out that Miyabe has planned to set Kyoto on fire that very evening, against Katsura’s protests. What’s more is that the Shinsengumi is in on the plan. Iizuka goes ahead and tells Kenshin to go to the meeting place at the Ikeda Inn in the third ward of the Kawara District.

The Shinsengumi take their positions as they commence the ambush at the Ikeda Inn. Okita Soushi strikes first as the insurgent group under siege extinguish the lights. The Shinsengumi announce their arrival and begin their attack, the light of the fireflies casting a pale green glow on the sharpened blades as the carnage gets underway. On the street, Kenshin encounters a group of Shinsengumi and tells Tomoe to go back the way they came, but she refuses to leave, telling him that every sword needs a sheath. She decides to stay and watch over Kenshin, to see with her own eyes as he slays his enemies. Kenshin starts the attack against his unnamed foes as Tomoe watches his every move, unflinching.

Katagai brings new about the incident at the Ikeda Inn. Katsura prepares to leave the Kohagi Inn and instructs Ikumatsu to go in hiding for a while. Meanwhile, Kenshin sees another group of Shinsengumi near the Ikeda Inn. Tomoe prevents him from fighting them and instead drags him back to the Kohagi Inn. They arrive and are informed by the owner that Katsura is no longer there. She tells them to hurry and leave the place, having heard of what happened at the Ikeda Inn. Kenshin and Tomoe go out in the back and meet with Katsura. He has prepared a house in Otsu and wants them to live there as man and wife to avert suspicion while they wait for further instruction. Katsura turns to leave as both are taken aback by his orders. Tomoe could only stare at her belongings as Kenshin asks her if they should go.

A month after the ambush, the Kimon incident took place. The Shogun’s army and the Choshu army fought in Kyoto, leaving the city in flames.

On the way to Otsu, they come across the lady selling flowers. The lady asks about Tomoe and the man she’s with. Tomoe introduces Kenshin as her husband, and bids her goodbye as he tells her to hurry. She keeps her pace behind Kenshin, clutching the dagger hidden behind her obi.

Act Three: Evening Satoyama

Iizuka drops by one day, disguised as a medicine salesman while Kenshin and Tomoe work on their field. Tomoe serves tea and Iizuka makes a remark about the two of them looking like a real married couple. Tomoe stands up and gets back to work. Iizuka updates Kenshin on the current situation. They have no news from Katsura, leaving them no choice but to wait. He hands Kenshin some money from Katagai and leaves the box of medical supplies. He tells Kenshin to make a living by making and selling medicine so as not to rouse suspicion. Kenshin sees him off and Iizuka tells him that now is not the time for a hitokiri, specially since he has found peace. Iizuka leaves on a note that he’ll check on him again soon.

The sound of crickets resonates in the distance, offering an interlude to the swelling silence within the walls of the house. Kenshin gazes at the full moon, almost forgetting its likeness after so many years. Tomoe wonders how long they can live like this. He tells her that it will only be for a short while, then trails off afterwards.

Tomoe prepares for the day’s work of selling medicine to the villagers. She remembers the dagger under her belt and for a moment, gets lost in her memories. Kenshin’s voice brings her back and she decides to leave the dagger. They set out to conduct business and are pleased with the outcome, having sold more that what they had expected. Later that night, Tomoe writes in her diary. Kenshin is propped up against the wall, sleeping soundly with his sword by his side. She pulls a blanket over him and drapes her robe on his shoulders.

Kenshin gets another visit from Iizuka. He asks if Kenshin is weary of his newfound way of life, and Kenshin tells him that his life has been anything but dull in the past few months. Iizuka notices that his eyes have changed. He heads off, leaving a reminder to Kenshin not to let his skills go blunt.

It’s been raining for days and half of the field has been devastated by the weather. As they drink sake one evening, Tomoe realizes that Kenshin has never asked about her family or personal history. Kenshin explains how he feels obliged to apologize to her parents for forcing her to hide her own lineage in order live a normal life. Thus, in asking about her past, he feels unworthy of having any such right. Later that evening, Tomoe opens her diary and finds a petal from a cherry blossom tree. Her memories take her back to the time when she learns of her fiancé’s death, and receives a dagger as a memento from his family. Tears slide down her face as she bears her pain in silence. She drops her diary as she thinks of Kenshin, anguished by the thought of how kind he is when he’s not taking the life of another.

Katagai follows Iizuka one rainy evening and arrives at a cabin deep in the forest. Inside, Iizuka gives his report to an unidentified group of men regarding the lack of information on Katsura’s whereabouts as well as his own assessment of the diminishing threat posed by Battousai. This confirms Katagai’s assumptions. The group senses the presence of an intruder and quickly disposes of him. Iizuka then addresses a boy, telling him that his turn is up the moment the rain stops. He calls him by his name, Enishi. Yukishiro Enishi.

Tomoe hears a boy calling out as she does the laundry at a nearby stream. She turns to the direction of the call and stands motionless upon the sight of Enishi. She brings him in and introduces her younger brother to Kenshin, explaining the reason for his sudden visit. Kenshin leaves them to catch up and goes back to the field. Tomoe sees to the task of cooking as she talks to her brother. Enishi relates that he left Edo half a year ago, shortly after she left for Kyoto. He tells her that he knew about her whereabouts as he was in charge of communications. Tomoe drops the wooden utensil upon hearing this, frozen in place as Enishi is overcome with excitement for his sister, knowing full well that the time has come to bestow punishment on the man who wronged her. She holds him against her, telling him to return Edo at once, not wanting his brother to filthy his hands with such matters. Enishi argues, wanting more than anything to help his sister. She holds his head to hers and firmly repeats her instructions, willing him to understand as tears run down his cheeks. He breaks free from her and violently protests, unable to accept that his sister is protecting the one who stole her happiness. Tomoe sees him off, entrusting him to bring the umbrella to their father as her replacement. Enishi casts a look of pure hatred across Kenshin and walks off.

They reap the fruits of their labor and have a scrumptious meal that evening. Kenshin shares his thoughts with Tomoe, saying that in following the teachings of Hten Mitsurugi Ryuu to protect the weak, he has used his sword to create a new era. He realizes that it might have been his own conceit that led him to take on such a life, and that protecting the life as they knew now was the best that he could have done. He has never known happiness until that moment, and it is through the life he shared with Tomoe that he had finally been able to find such clarity in this truth. Tomoe speaks as well and tells Kenshin of her family and her home. Her father is a kind man, skilled in both the literary and military arts. Her mother passed away after her brother was born but they lived a modest and peaceful life in Edo. She was betrothed to her childhood friend, a hardworking son of a lower-grade retainer who went to Kyoto amidst the madness. But he was one who would not return. Unable to bear her loss, she heads to Kyoto and there, meets Kenshin. She says her apologies as the first bits of snow fall from the sky and the evening draws to an end.

Somewhere in the mountains, Iizuka brings Enishi’s hopes up with the prospect of returning to Edo with his sister the next day. He clutches the umbrella closer as Kenshin and Tomoe head back from selling medicine. The wind starts to pick up and Tomoe stumbles. Kenshin reaches out to help her. She looks up and he stares into her eyes, as he makes a promise to protect her.

That evening, Tomoe unravels at the thought that Kenshin would want to protect such a woman. She had lost the man she loved in a place she did not know, blaming herself for not holding on to the happiness that was right before her eyes. She wanted to hate something or someone so badly, and so she resolved to find a way to kill him. She reaches out and falls in his embrace. In the silence of the dancing snow, she lets the fire melt her resolve as she surrenders to the warmth of his arms, and the gentleness of his heart.

They rest by the fire as Kenshin recalls the day they met. He tells Tomoe of his plans of remaining as a hitokiri until the new era has been forged. Then he will no longer kill, but will look for ways to protect the happiness of each person as a means of atoning for his actions. As long as Tomoe is with him, he can cast his sword aside. He calls her name and vows to protect her happiness. And for the first time, Kenshin sees Tomoe’s smile.

As morning breaks, Tomoe closes her diary and prepares to go out while Kenshin lies asleep. She takes one last look at him and says goodbye to the man who took away her happiness, the same man who would give it to her anew. With the slightest hint of a smile, she closes the door on the second man who would love her.

Kenshin wakes and finds Tomoe’s shawl on their bed. Clutching it, he gets into his slippers to look for her just as Iizuka opens the door to announce that the traitor has been found. It was Tomoe. He tells him of Tomoe’s accomplices in the mountains, suggesting that they finish it once and for all. Kenshin is in utter disbelief. Iizuka points to the diary as proof of her betrayal. Kenshin goes to find it, as Iizuka uncovers a startling revelation. The man who had given Kenshin the scar that night was the same man who was supposed to make Tomoe his wife. Blood seeps from the wound once again as Kenshin is rendered motionless by the truth. The diary slips from his hands as the blood finds its resting place on the ground.

Act Four: Cross-shaped Scar

Tomoe goes into the temple and confronts the lone man sitting in the darkness, asking him why her brother had to be dragged into their plot. Tatsumi replies that Enishi was brought in by those from the upper ranks in their organization. She looks for the others only to find out that the operation has gone underway without them hearing of her news. The man tells her that her information is no longer necessary as they’ve already found out the answer concerning the enemy’s weak point. Tomoe was the answer. She was Battousai’s greatest weakness.

Everything has gone according to plan. Battousai is on his way to see Tomoe as they speak. The man explains how Battousai’s heart must be plunged in utter turmoil over the treachery of the woman he loves, thus preventing him from drawing from his inner strength. They take advantage of Battousai’s handicap to ensure their victory, this being their true objective.

Realizing that all her sacrifice has been for nothing, she slowly reaches for the dagger behind her as the first assassin begins his assault on Kenshin. He strikes from behind but Kenshin blocks it with his sword. The man steps back, shooting him with poisoned darts. He draws back for another attack as Kenshin painfully pulls out the spikes. Inside the shrine, Tomoe carefully removes the dagger from its sheath. Having read her intention, the man takes the knife and slaps her, sending her to the floor. She struggles to sit up as he speaks about man being powerless in the face of fate. Realizing how she had been used from the beginning, Tomoe tries to bite off her tongue as the man once again intervenes, thwarting her intent. He tells her that nothing will come out of her death, as Kenshin blocks another onslaught of darts and drives his sword into the enemy’s chest. Bleeding, the man trudges a few steps and falls to the ground. He pulls a rope with his last ounce of strength and an explosion occurs.

The man lets go of Tomoe as he hears the sound of the blast, leaving her to take her life if she so desires. He starts to walk away but stops to remind her about Kiyosato and the reason behind his death. He reminds her of how much Kiyosato cared for her, enough to plunge into the tumultuous capital. Having no confidence in his martial skills, he went to Kyoto to prove himself, risking his own life to make Tomoe happy. All Tomoe wanted was for him to stay beside her, to be near her. Such is the fate of man. He speaks of man’s responsibility, that for the sake of his woman’s happiness, he must secure his home, his village, and the world of the Tokugawa, for there can be no happiness without peace. For this reason, they have sustained and protected 300 years of peace under the Tokugawa regime, suppressing the slightest disturbance as they protect the people’s happiness with their very lives. Such is their destiny, as all are bound by an invisible thread, they live or die as predetermined by their fate.

Kenshin moves on, weakened by his first encounter, his ear bleeding from the sound of the explosion. He comes across the second assassin, wielding a huge blade. The impact of the attack drives him to a tree where the sharp claws of an unseen foe swoop down from above and bite into his flesh. He covers the wound with the shawl and whispers Tomoe’s name. The enemy moves in again and Kenshin reels backward from the blow as the claws scrape his back, sending him forward. He stands in the middle, both assassins closing in. He raises his sword and attacks both men at once, one sword penetrating the claws while another goes through the other’s neck. Recoiling from the attack, both men flee. One of them goes to pull a handle to detonate a bomb buried beneath the snow, sacrificing himself in the process. Kenshin looks up and sees the blast ensue as the enemy’s body is blown to pieces.

Tatsumi hears the explosion and vows to finish Battousai to honor the sacrifice of Kiyosato and the deaths of those who committed themselves to this cause. He tells Tomoe to watch it with her own eyes as such would do honor to the man who died protecting her happiness. He walks out as Tomoe whispers Kiyosato’s name.

Snow starts to fall as Kenshin continues forward, his left eye bleeding from the blinding explosion. He falls to the ground, his blood tainting a white bed of snow. Struggling to stand up with the aid of his sword, he looks ahead and sees a vision. A dark road lies before him, flanked by lanterns, red petals falling like snow. He walks on, leaning on his sword for support while recalling the events of the past months. He passes by a huge tree as he walks on a bed of pomegranate flowers. The image of Otsu flashing in his mind as Tomoe follows in his wake. The wind grows stronger and the vision fades. He is back in the forest, the thought of returning to Otsu reclaiming his consciousness.

Tatsumi waits outside as Kenshin comes into view, gasping for air and propped up on his sword. Tomoe senses his arrival and looks away as she sees him in his weakened state. Tatsumi remarks on his pitiful form, taunting him over the cruelty of having no one to protect. He, on the other hand, has a responsibility to carry out on behalf of the feudal government. He runs toward Kenshin to commence his assault. Kenshin falls on his knee and delivers a powerful strike, slicing the air. Tatsumi hits him on the face, throwing him off. Kenshin swings his sword about as his enemy dodges his attacks. Kenshin receives a blow, the sheer force of which sends him spinning into the ground. Tomoe covers her ears, unable to bear the sound of Kenshin’s suffering. Kiyosato’s bloody form manifests inside the temple. She turns to the specter, her expression full of remorse. Suddenly, he is gone, leaving a pomegranate flower. Outside, Kenshin receives multiple blows while his opponent effortlessly thwarts his efforts. He falls repeatedly, exhaustion and loss of blood taking its toll on his body.

Tatsumi takes out the small knife that he seized earlier from Tomoe. Kenshin lets out a scream as he braces for his next attack. He had used the sword to protect the happiness of people, but unknowingly took Tomoe’s happiness away. Amidst a vivid flashback of memories, he comes to a painful realization. He didn’t have the right to protect her. He never had. He raises his sword and uses both hands to deliver the fatal blow. Tomoe’s voice resonates in his head as he sees a vision of her covering his eyes. He looks back but she is gone. He turns and finds himself on a familiar graveyard, with Tomoe’s blue shawl tied around a wooden cross. He swings with all his might and a shower of blood ensues as his sword cuts through flesh. He opens his eyes to find Tomoe before him, trying to stop his enemy. Enishi could only watch his sister’s blood spill in horror as the blade rips her apart. Kenshin’s sword completely went through Tomoe’s body, slashing Tatsumi as well. He falls to his death as Tomoe collapses against Kenshin, with the knife in her hands. He cries out her name as her blood seeps into the snow-covered earth.

Kenshin holds her in his arms whispering her name as she painfully struggles to hold up the dagger in her hands. She places it against his face and cuts diagonally across his scar. She looks at him to apologize, and her hand drops to the ground as she succumbs to death. He cradles her in anguished silence under the falling snow.

Darkness falls in the stillness of the night, the sky an infinite expanse of cobalt blue. In the house in Otsu, Kenshin watches over Tomoe as she lies peacefully in her bed. He finally understands her pain, having to endure all those feelings the whole time. Yet she protected him even when she should’ve hated him, letting a man like him live. But she need not suffer any more. He makes a pledge as he caresses her face, a promise to bear her pain and find a path of repentance, to make amends for all he has slain and those who gave their lives to protect him. As long as he can remember what human warmth feels like, he can take on this difficult task. He sheds a tear, thinking of their parting. But for now, in the faint glow of a candle, they are together, man and wife in the gloom of a house that never felt as empty.

Iizuka encounters an assassin in a narrow alley and prepares to defend himself. Katsura arrives in Otsu and gives his apologies to Kenshin. The spy had been found and disposed of. Iizuka ends in a bloody heap, clutching the gold in his fist, thinking of how his luck had finally run out. They’ve found another swordsman to carry out the assassinations but still need Kenshin to wield his sword even more now so their efforts would not be in vain. Katsura recounts how he had asked Tomoe to be Kenshin’s sheath, noticing how she had played the part even in death. Kenshin tells him that wielding the sword is all he can do now, believing that was what Tomoe wanted. But come the new era, he will never kill again. Katsura leaves realizing his folly, thinking that it was just as Shinsaku predicted. The sword should not have been used to destroy the old era, but to protect the new. He asks for Himura’s forgiveness as he walks into the setting sun.

Kenshin lingers a while and bids Tomoe farewell. He leaves, setting the house ablaze at his wake. Back in Kyoto, the war rages. He intercepts the Shinsengumi and gives them the option to pull back so they can be spared. They raise a lantern to see a man with red hair and a cross-scar on his cheek. Okita recognizes him as the hitokiri and draws his sword to fight. They engage in battle until Okita coughs up blood. Saitoh orders him to stay back, seeing as he is unfit for a duel in his condition. The face off begins as Kenshin and Saitoh draw their swords and take part in a battle that would seal their fate.

The war continues as Kenshin carries out his duty, raging through the blood-soaked battlefields with Tomoe’s shawl around him. At the end, he looks out to sea, his face a mirror of untold sadness and pain as the wind enfolds him in its soft embrace.

In Kyoto, there was a man named Hitokiri Battousai. Like a demon, he slashed men and with his bloody sword he opened the gates to the new age of the Meiji Era. As the chaos subsided and came to an end, he vanished from the people’s sight.

Hiko walks past a familiar graveyard one afternoon and is surprised at what finds. There in the center of the field behind three tombstones, stands a wooden cross with blue shawl tied around it. He looks up at the crimson sky as the memory of that fateful meeting echo through the horizon.