Rurouni Kenshin
The Story (Manga)



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*major spoilers ahead*

The Jinchuu Arc After a few chapters of reprieve, the Kenshin Gumi returns to Tokyo. Once there, the Akabeko (the restaurant they frequent the most), is bombed, and Yukishiro Enishi makes himself known. It is at this point that Kenshin reveals his past to his group, and his story spans three volumes of manga. He also confesses to Kaoru his true feelings for her, and that she is now 'home' to him. Enishi attacks that very same night, and after several explosive battles between his group and Kenshin's friends (Sano, Yahiko, and Saitou all fight), the fight finally comes down to Kenshin and Enishi. Enishi tells Kenshin that he cannot lose because his sister, Tomoe, is urging him on. He wants Kenshin to know the same sorrow that he has had to live with all his life.

After a fight that spans almost two volumes of manga, Enishi wins and goes after Kaoru. Kenshin is too beaten up to do anything against the monster/minion that has him pinned to the wall, and by the time his friends manage to free him, it's too late. They find Kaoru skewered through the heart to the wall of her dojo, an x-scar carved into her cheek. After this it's all down-hill for Kenshin. He won't talk, won't eat, and after the funeral he goes to a really disgusting area of the town that's reserved for low-lifes and bums. This regression period spans a whole volume, with Yahiko, Megumi, Aoshi, and Misao (just in from Kyoto to help, apparently), trying to find out what happened. We eventually learn that Kaoru was just a wire dummy, and that the real girl is alive and being held by Enishi in some distant isle off the coast of Japan.

Kenshin eventually rouses himself from his stupor and travels to the isle with Saitou, Aoshi, Misao, Sanosuke, and Yahiko. He faces off against Enishi once more and manages to best him, and spares his life. Kenshin and Kaoru eventually get married, and have a son of their own. Yahiko manages to make quite a name for himself as the Master of the Kamiya Kashiin school of Kenjutsu. Sanosuke's whereabouts are questionable-- the last letter they received was from China. Aoshi and Misao are still together and with the Oniwabanshu, and both have been traveling overseas. In the last chapter of the last volume, Kenshin and Yahiko have a single-pass bout. Yahiko manages to nick Kenshin, and Kenshin awards him his treasured sakabatou. Thus the curtain closes on Rurouni Kenshin-- with a happy ending and a summer picnic. ^_^