Rurouni Kenshin: Seisou Hen

I never believed it would happen but it did. I actually found something better than tsuioko hen-- its sequel. The second ova is divided into two parts, the first being a brief recap of past events of the series and manga, and the latter being the story of Himura Kenshin's final end. Since the first part of seisou hen is something any one familiar with the series would know, I won't bother to go into its detail. Suffice to say that the important events and fights were briefly re-animated using this beautiful hybrid japanese-american style that lent a whole new dimension to RK's past episodes.

The second part of seisou hen gave the actual meat-- we saw Kenshin and Enishi's final battle animated for the first time, and progressed into what happened after Nobuhiro Watsuki closed the curtain on a brief and happy scene with Kaoru's picnic with their new baby (last manga story). A few years after Kenji (Kenshin and Kaoru's son) is born, Kenshin and Yahiko duel in the Kamiya Kashiin dojo for the last time. Kaoru officiates, and Kenshin strikes Yahiko (in the manga Yahiko is able to nick Kenshin in the sleeve.). Kenshin then gives Yahiko his precious sakabatou, saying that it is his genpuku present. (genpuku - a samurai is considered an adult at 15 and given a genpuku.)

Then he speaks to Kaoru and tells her that he has much to atone for-- giving up his sword after years of service is not enough. Kaoru understands what he is trying to say at once and tells him that he should do what he wants to. She will wait for him forever if necessary. Several years pass with Kenshin traveling around Japan trying to right wrongs without the sword, and here he encounters many hardships, suffering, and disease. He manages, however, to always make it home to his wife. On one of his trips, however, he contracts some sort of virus that spreads through his already-weakened body (due to years of abuse, fighting, and the utilization of the Hiten Mitsurugi technique).