As if to Fly: Stop the Launch of the Battleship Purgatory! is the 45th episode of the Rurouni Kenshin anime series.
Synopsis[]
With a grand entrance, Kenshin arrives and reunites with Saitō and a surprise arrival by Sanosuke. Being filled in to the terrible plan that is the Kyōto Grand Fire Project, Kenshin figures out of another vicious twist of vengeful irony that Shishio Makoto has kept hidden even from his own troops. Dashing headlong by carriage, they only have until nighttime to not only protect Kyōto, but the entire nation itself! What is Shishio's hidden plan behind the Kyōto Grand Fire? Are Kenshin, Saitō and Sanosuke going to be able to stop that plan in time?
Plot[]
Kenshin taking to Saitō about Shishio's plan
Now that Kenshin has returned to Kyōto and joined Saitō at the police station, together the two try to figure out how to stop Shishio's plan. The Holocaust of Kyōto is simply burning the ancient capital down. Saitō has that situation covered, as he has already dispatched five thousand police officers to stand watch over the city. Kenshin, however, thinks that burning Kyōto is just part of Shishio's plan. Instantly, Kenshin begins thinking about Tokugawa and how he was betrayed by his people. Shishio wishes to mimic Tokugawa by entering Tokyo and bringing panic and fear by sea. By doing so, the people will be confused and terrified, so it'll be easy for Shishio to overthrow the Meiji Government at that point. With that in mind, Kenshin rushes out of the door but is greeted with a punch in the face from Sano.
The Kyōto Oniwabanshū ready for the action
By nighttime, Kenshin, Saitō, and Sano had all set off to Osaka Harbor to stop Shishio before he set sail. Sano had forced Kenshin and Saitō to bring him along, swearing that he won't be left behind again. At the eleven o'clock hour, Shishio's men try to set fire to Kyōto, but are unable to. Policemen, the army, and even the citizens of Kyōto all prevent the place from being burnt down. The citizens were all aware of the actions thanks to the Oniwabanshū, now back in full force because of a letter received by Kenshin warning them of the plans. When members of the Jūppongatana hear of the actions being prevented, some decide to do the work for themselves, while the others stay behind.
The Rengoku unravels its true appearance and power
Honjō Kamatari and Kariwa Henya begin fighting the police while Misao is confronted by Usui, the blind Hitokiri. Usui is just about to kill the new Oniwabanshū leader when suddenly, his weapon is broken by Anji's Futae no Kiwami. Just about that time, the carriage carrying Kenshin, Saitō, and Sano arrives at the harbor in Osaka. Shishio's ship is spotted quickly by Kenshin. Sano wishes to destroy Shishio's wooden ship with the upgraded bombs given to him by Katsu, but Saitō thinks it would be a foolish idea. Unexpectedly, a loud explosion occurs and smoke fills the harbor. The two things came from Shishio's ship. It was no detonation or cannon misfire, it was Shishio revealing the true form of his ship. The ship Shishio is sailing on is no ordinary wooden ship, but it is a large battleship known as the Rengoku
Characters in Order or Appearance[]
- Saitō Hajime
- Himura Kenshin
- Shishio Makoto
- Komagata Yumi
- Seta Sōjirō
- Sadojima Hōji
- Iwanbō
- Honjō Kamatari
- Yūkyūzan Anji
- Kariwa Henya
- Saizuchi
- Uonuma Usui
- Sagara Sanosuke
- Makimachi Misao
- Masukami
- Kamiya Kaoru
- Myōjin Yahiko
- Ōmime
- Kurojō
- Shirojō
Trivia[]
- The events that Kenshin mentions about the Great Kyōto Fire are actual historical events:
- In July 1853 Commodore Matthew C. Perry's four-ship squadron appeared in Edo Bay (Tokyo Bay), fully prepared for hostilities if his commercial negotiations with the Japanese failed, and threatened to open fire if the Japanese refused to negotiate exclusive trading accords. This threw the shogunate into total turmoil, and that was the single most important event that triggered the Bakumatsu.
- The Great Kyōto fire of 1864 began on August 20th, 1864 (Genji 1, 19th day of the 7th month), as an unintended consequence of the Kinmon Incident: a rebellion against the Tokugawa shogunate that took place on August 20th near the Imperial Palace in Kyōto.
Gallery[]
