Seigiro watches from the sidelines, and tells Yahiko that Hiten Mitsurugi will die with him. Their ideals are no longer needed nor welcome in modern day Japan, and one who holds so much power would only be faced with suffering. Yahiko smiles, and he and Kenji go home to Kaoru. A continent away, Kenshin has apparently lost his memory and is dangerously weak. Sanosuke finds him sitting atop a cliff in Mongolia, watching the sky. He is pained to see the friend who used to be so strong in such a pathetic state, and helps Kenshin into a hut nearby. It turns out to be his, and is in an even poorer state then Kenshin himself. At first he does not know who Sano is, but eventually it penetrates that this is his dear friend. Sano cooks some fish to help him get his strength back, and as it smoulders he tosses it to Kenshin, who fails to catch it.

Sano looks away, and remembers the fierce warrior who so easily submitted him so long ago. He nurses Kenshin back to health over a few weeks, and sends word to Megumi that he has found Kenshin. Kaoru smiles with hope, and recounts old memories with Yahiko and Kenji. In the meantime, Sano kills a tiger for its red meat (a strong medicinal cure in the orient) and Kenshin is finally strong enough to go to the docks. He sails over high seas and is terribly weakened in the process. Kaoru is getting sicker by the moment, and wishes for her husband with all her heart. Megumi treats her as best she can, and after several days, Kenshin weakly steps off the ship and begins the long walk from the docks to his home. Kaoru, through some sixth sense or sheer luck, leaves her futon and rushes down the path towards the docks.

It is a long walk from the docks for a tired man, and the once-proud man is stumbling as he walks. After a few torturous moments Kaoru finally gets within eyesight; she runs to greet him, and he collapses into her arms.

As he looks up into her eyes, he whispers "I'm Home", and she smiles through her tears and says "Welcome home... Shinta." Cherry blossoms start to fall, and we realize they are near the spot where he bid her goodbye on his way to Shishio so many years ago. They rest beneath the shade of one of the trees, and Kaoru smiles when she notices that his scar has finally disappeared. She strokes his cheek, and realizes that he has died in her arms. "Your journey has finally ended..." (the credits roll, and we are treated to a last look at Kenji walking under the sakura trees with a girl who looks remarkably like Kaoru. He smiles at her, and say that it is going to be a beautiful day.)