The Kyōto Arc is the second arc of the Rurouni Kenshin manga. According to the dates set within, the entire arc takes place in the span of three months, beginning on May 5, 1878 and ending around the Kyōto Obon Festival, on August 15, 1878. This arc runs through one of the major repercussions of Himura Kenshin's actions, as a major antagonist is born, due to his exploits during the Bakumatsu, the successor of Hitokiri Battōsai: Shishio Makoto.
Preparation for the Battle[]
A Familiar Face Returns[]
The arc begins when Kenshin is confronted by his old adversary, Saitō Hajime, who is now a Lieutenant of the police force and appears before Kenshin as an enemy once again (though in reality, he is simply commanded to test Kenshin's abilities by police commissioner, Kawaji Toshiyoshi). Okubo Toshimichi, the leading politician in Japan, appears along with Kawaji in the Kamiya Dōjō where the battle is being held and at the final moment Kawaji's voice prevents Saitō and Kenshin from killing one-another (since they are so deeply absorbed in the battle, that they are unaware of their surroundings and can only hear the voices of those, who like themselves, have witnessed the horrors of the Bakumatsu).
Departure[]
Kenshin is asked by Okubo to head towards Kyōto and kill Shishio Makoto, the man who took over his duties as Hitokiri, in the shadows and is now planning to create a new Japan, where only the strongest survive, with himself as its absolute overlord. After no clear decision is made, Okubo asks to meet Kenshin on the 14th May, so that he can make his final decision. Okubo is later killed by Shishio's top henchman, Seta Sōjirō, just as Kenshin goes to meet him and this prompts Kenshin to go to Kyōto and thwart the plans of Shishio. He is thus forced to say goodbye to Kamiya Kaoru and renew his journey as a Rurouni. After moping and not eating for a few days, Kaoru is harshly reprimanded by Takani Megumi and Myōjin Yahiko influences her to travel to Kyōto along with him in the hopes of finding Kenshin and bringing him back to Tokyo.
Sagara Sanosuke, likewise heads towards Kyōto, although Saitō confronts him just as he is about to leave telling him that he is a weakness for Kenshin and that if he goes to Kyōto he'll only get in the way, because he is not strong enough to be battling Shishio and his henchmen. This infuriates Sano, who tries to attack Saitō, but is once again beaten up by him, even when Saitō plays Sano's game and fights in hand-to-hand combat, putting his sword aside. Sano still refuses to give up, saying that Saitō's attacks don't hurt nearly as much as him being treated by Kenshin as his weakness and so Saitō tells him that he can do whatever he wants and heads off. On his way to Kyōto, Sano keeps getting himself lost in the middle of nowhere, until he meets Yūkyūzan Anji, a fallen Buddhist monk. Upon seeing Anji using turning figures of solid stone into dust, by slamming his short sword into the ground, Sano asks that he train him, to which Anji eventually agrees. During the training he is visited by the spirit of his former mentor, the deceased Sagara Sōzō, and by the end of one week, he masters the technique of Futae no Kiwami, with his right hand, which deeply impresses Anji.
On the way to Kyōto, Kenshin meets a young tomboyish girl named Makimachi Misao and is surprised by her combative skills. He later learns that she is a member of the Oniwabanshū Ninja clan, who is searching for Shinomori Aoshi, the clan's leader and Kenshin's former adversary, whom he defeated in a hard-fought battle in Tokyo a while ago and his 4 students (Beshimi, Hyottoko, Shikijō and Han'nya). Kenshin hides the truth from Misao, knowing that news of the deaths of Aoshi's students (her former comrades, whom she looked up to as a child), would wound her deeply. They later head to Shingetsu village, controlled by Shishio, where Kenshin meets Saitō once again. Learning that Shishio is in the village at this time, Kenshin and Saitō pay Shishio a visit and are followed by Misao and a young orphan boy whom Kenshin rescued, named Mishima Eiji, who's family are the victims of a powerful henchman of Shishio, named Senkaku. Upon seeing that his predecessor is a Rurouni and no longer a Hitokiri, Shishio is disappointed and first has Senkaku battle him and after Senkaku loses, he leaves his fate up to Sōjirō, whom Kenshin battles to a stale mate (although the battle results in Kenshin's Sakabatō being broken). Saitō adopts Eiji and sends him away to his wife Tokio, while Kenshin and Misao head towards Kyōto.
In Kyōto[]
When in Kyōto, Kenshin meets Misao's caretaker, Kashiwazaki Nenji of the Aoiya (aka Okina), the truth about Aoshi and the others and knowing that Kenshin's cause is righteous, Okina seeks to aid his efforts, helping him find a sword smith (Arai Seikū) who can create for him, a new Sakabatō and later, his old master, Hiko Seijūrō, whom he wishes to meet in order to master Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū completely so that he is strong enough to face Sōjirō and Shishio. Seiku initially asks that Kenshin excuse him from making a sword, since he has abandoned his father's (Arai Shakku) tradition of making weapons of murder, but after his son Iori is kidnapped by one of Shishio top henchmen, Sawagejō Chō, Seiku gives Kenshin his father's final sword (white later turns out to be a Sakabatō), whereby he easily defeats Chō, despite earlier setbacks as a result of having to fight with a broken sword. Kenshin thus leaves the Aoiya, much to Misao's disappointment. When chasing after Kenshin, she unintentionally misses Aoshi who happens to be crossing by in the opposite direction and at the same time Kaoru and Yahiko, who are now in Kyōto, chase after Aoshi and unintentionally miss Kenshin. Misao bumps into Yahiko and she later learns that Kaoru and Yahiko are chasing after Kenshin. She then takes them to the Aoiya and Okina reluctantly tells them of Kenshin's whereabouts, whereby all three of them head to meet him.
Meanwhile, Aoshi is hunting Kenshin under the pretext that if he defeats him, he will earn the title of 'strongest', which he can adorn upon the graves of his fallen students. He thus forms an alliance with Shishio, who offers to provide him information on Kenshin's whereabouts, in return for Aoshi simply killing the latter.
Reunion with the Old Master[]
Kenshin meets his old master for the first time in 14 years, though Hiko is extremely displeased at him for having left him in the first place. He refuses Kenshin's request to learn the final techniques of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū. As he walks away, Kenshin grabs his leg and begs him to teach him. Hiko says that he is an idiot whom he should never have taught him in the first place. Yahiko and Misao overhear this (as the two of them along with Kaoru are now at Hiko's residence) and barge in angrily. Hiko realizes that they are Kenshin's friends and is surprised at the popularity of his "idiot apprentice". He then asks Kenshin to go get water, while he speaks with his friends, in order to learn what he's been up to from their perspective, rather than his. Knowing that Kenshin has finally adopted the true meaning of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū, i.e. to protect the people from the pains of the times, but not to be affiliated with any form of political power and thus agrees to teach him Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū's ultimate techniques (Kuzu Ryū Sen and Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki), which he eventually learns with great difficulty.
Shishio's spies infiltrate the Aoiya in hopes of capturing Okina, whom they desire to interrogate for Kenshin's whereabouts, but are easily defeated by the skilled Ninjas of the Oniwabanshū. Okina now knows of Aoshi's treachery and sends him a secret message, desiring to meet and challenge his old comrade. When the two battle, Okina learns that Aoshi's far surpassed his previous limits and even the old Okashira (leader) of the Oniwabanshū, but still continues fighting. He is eventually hacked up and left fatally wounded near death by Aoshi, just as Misao walks in and sees what has occurred. Misao is heart-broken at what Aoshi has done and after Okina is brought to the Aoiya to be taken care of, Misao is shown Okina's final will and testament by some of her comrades of the Oniwabanshū. In it, he asks Misao to stay away from harm and leave the battle with Shishio to Kenshin, but Misao is determined to help Kenshin defeat Shishio and Aoshi both and declares herself the new Okashira of the Oniwabanshū.
Sanosuke in Kyōto[]
Sano is currently in a Kyōto prison, having purposefully gotten involved in a scuffle with some police officers, in order to find any way to get in touch with Saitō, who could lead him to Kenshin one way or another. Saitō eventually finds him, but pretends not to know who he is, simply walking away. Sano then breaks through his prison cell using his newly learned Futae no Kiwami. Saitō realizes that Sano took has gotten stronger, but asks him if he's worked on defensive techniques as he had advised him to do. Sano then crudely tells him that he has his own method of fighting that doesn't involve defense. Chō is currently in prison and Saitō and Sano go inside to question him, regarding the identity of a dangerous killer, who was able to murder 50 skilled police officers in the space of one hour. Chō tells him that only two members of the Jūppongatana would have been able to do as such, namely Seta Sōjirō and Uonuma Usui. Chō tells Saitō that even though the latter's is highly skilled, he would be no match for Usui and Saitō expresses his interest at the prospect of fighting an opponent like him. Chō also tells Saitō about Shishio's plans to burn down Kyōto in order to take advantage of the chaotic situation and expand his power.
After mastering Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū's final techniques, Kenshin goes off to meet Saitō, but as soon as he enters the room that Saitō's in (in the Police Headquarters), he is punched in the face by Sano and after a short while collapses in his arms, as a result of the hard blow. Sano tells him that he should never have wandered away without informing him first and Kenshin simply smiles. Kenshin, Saitō and Sano then try to work out Shishio's plans, so that they can act to thwart them. Kenshin realizes that Shishio's real plan is to attack Tokyo directly and that the Kyōto fire is simply a diversion. He sends Misao and Okina a letter, informing them of the situation and telling them to be prepared to prevent the fires.
Battle on the Rengoku[]
Kenshin and Saitō attack Shishio's forces on the Rengoku ship, while Sano destroys the ship's interior from the outside, as per Kenshin's request, using bombs given to him by his good friend Tsukioka Katsuhiro while about to leave Tokyo for Kyōto. Shishio is surprised by the trio's successful endeavor and leaves them with a message: that they are to meet him and his henchmen for a final showdown in his temple several days later (although Sano is outside the ship at this time). Kenshin agrees, knowing that a showdown on the ship will injure too many bystanders, while Saitō questions the former's decision.
Battle VS. Jūppongatana[]
That night, Kaoru talks to Kenshin up on the roof of the Aoiya, and everyone gathers there to wish him good luck and express their support. The following morning, Kenshin, Sanosuke and Saitō depart for Shishio's hideout at mount Hiei.
Sanosuke Vs. Anji[]
The first fight in Shishio's hideout is Sanosuke vs. Anji. Anji exchanges disbelief, thinking that Sanosuke was merely a liar upon his words at Shimosuwa, and expresses his disappointment at the person whom he honored as an impressive man. In outburst, Sanosuke returns words, and desires to know what happened to that so called "salvation" he profusely preached, as he now stands on the side of Shishio and his plans to rule Japan through force and violence. Anji, now fierce in standing, tells him that the destruction ahead is in fact, the first step to his own plans of salvation for the world. Anji makes it known that he shall be the one to enact this divine punishment, akin to the wrathful gods of the Fudō Myōō, consumed in ferocity and anger that drive the evils of the world to their graves and support the pure and humane, and will be done in the act of reducing the impure world to nothingness, before resurrecting it into a place where pure hearts come to exist.
Sanosuke either way, is not impressed with Anji's words of salvation, and slams his fist onto a nearby support, crushing a crater into it with the Futae no Kiwami. Hoping to drive back Anji with the threat of the technique he had mastered from him, and in the sake of his esteemed mentor's safety, Anji looks on unimpressed and shouts ferociously to not be full of himself. To the support near him, Anji slams his foot down and charges into it with his shoulder, pulverizing a larger crater with the Futae no Kiwami.
Ready to face Anji, Sanosuke rebukes Anji's taunting doubts and begins the duel. Entering into Anji's perimeter, his presence goads the monk into punching at him, yet being light on his feet, he easily dodges Anji's attacks. Confident now in how Anji's muscles trade off speed for power, Sanosuke immediately rushes back into Anji's range, dodges a straight right, and uses the opening to pivot away from a sequenced straight left, and punch at Anji's ribs. However, in the face of what could have been a direct shot, Anji still stands unfazed. Having timed and anticipated Sanosuke's attack, his right fist is revealed to have executed a Kiwami Hazushi to send out a defensive vibration of the Futae no Kiwami back at Sanosuke's, fully nullifying the blow. Reprimanding his former student in his ignorance, Anji then swings another blow with a left backhand, pushing Sanosuke back with deafening force as he blocks against the attack.
Surprised and startled with the immense force Anji let loose, Sanosuke however reels at the mere graze at his stomach, his body expelling blood in response to the greater effect of internal damage Anji's Futae no Kiwami had inflicted. Calling out Anji for his claims to godhood by power through Shishio as if his leader were Buddha himself, Anji explains himself and corrects his claims, in that though he lends his power to Shishio to see the destruction of the Meiji Government, by his own judgement, should Shishio's visions of the world not fall in line with his path of salvation, even Shishio himself shall be subject to his wrath, and will continue his purification of the world through destruction. Telling him off that Anji's vendetta is of his own business and has no right to interfere with other people's lives, Sanosuke further establishes his ground that he in no mood to give up or lose- And that he will defeat Anji.
As Sanosuke charges at Anji and proceeds to constantly attack him, Saitō and Kenshin can only comment on the sidelines atop the balcony. Still to their eyes however, though they notice Anji focused on Sanosuke's right arm and Sano very aware of the fact as well, what Sano is doing remains unclear to either. With Yumi's impatience reaching its peak, she demands Anji to finish Sanosuke. Still standing and unimpressed, Anji laments disappointed of how he must rid of his only student, and the only one who could have mastered the Futae no Kiwami in only one week. Directing another punch of the Futae no Kiwami to Sano's midsection, the direct hit has Anji recite Sanosuke's last rites, but to his surprise, Sanosuke demands him to not say his prayers quite yet. Having learned on the spot of the Kiwami Hazushi, even Anji's Futae no Kiwami is neutralized. Left wide open, Sanosuke then directs an unrestrained Futae no Kiwami onto Anji's midsection, and instantly, the fallen monk is defeated.
With the rest of the group now able to make it down to the lower floor, Sanosuke counters back at Saitō's patronizing of how luck was merely on his side all along of his hard won victory. However, before even claiming victory in full, Anji gets back up. Regaining his senses and recovering what he can from Sano's Futae no Kiwami, he pulls out an Ihai from under his upper robe, cracked and stained with his blood from the resulting attack.
Anji explains his backstory: Ten years ago, upon the end of the turbulence of the Meiji Revolution, amongst the clutches of winter in a small village Anji, a small Buddhist caretaker monk, lived with five orphaned children, peacefully beyond the flames and bloodshed of war in calm and still peace. Day by day, the children played and learned, while the monk taught them and took care of them to raise them into good people. But, one day, the village elder and two of the strongest men came to their home. As they talked with the monk, they expressed that the temple they lived in will be torn down soon, as the new government did not like Buddhism for the acts they did in the past. For the sake of the orphaned children that he took care of, he defended their home, but the men also told him that the children came from families that fought the new government during the wars, and were also not liked in the village.
As the elder and the men left, the children, hearing everything that the men said to the monk, asked him if they were really going to make them leave their home. He comforted the children, and told him everything was going to be alright. Knowing that the small village was to be in the past, he told the children that they would all be moving soon, and they were all delighted to go to another city. In his heart, the monk prayed to Buddha and wished for the welfare and safety of the children, knowing of how much they had to go through.
At night, as the children fell asleep, the monk left for a final exercise, meditating under a waterfall. But when he was away, his home was covered in fire so bright, even he could see it in the distance. The monk ran as fast as he could to the burning temple, and shouted all of their names to know if they got out. As he got to the entrance of the temple, a large staff hit him hard on the head, and the monk fell to the ground, hurt and bleeding. In pain, and unable to do anything, the man prayed from the depths of his heart, for Buddha to save the children, trapped inside the burning temple. As he prayed and prayed, the man fell into a deep sleep.
The next day came, and the sun rose on that cold winter morning. As the monk got up, the temple was all burnt down, all black and charred, the fire having consumed all. Looking around, he could only look forward. The children, did not survive the fire, and they died, surrounding the statue of Buddha for his safety. In sadness and agony, the monk screamed with all of his pain in his heart. Angry and upset, the monk cried tears and punched Buddha in the face, having prayed with all of his heart. His faith in Buddha was gone. Staring at the ground, the monk felt the cold wind all around him. To Tsubaki's hand, he touched her with his fingers. The monk then wiped his eyes with her ashes. From that day on, the monk was consumed in vengeance and hatred.
Five years later, the monk grew immensely strong. On a full moon, the monk came back to the small village, learning of why the elder and his men set fire to his home and killed the children within. Walking to his house, the monk killed both of the village's strongest men by punching them as hard as he could. Before him, the monk made his way to the elder, cowering in fear and begging for his life, for his mercy, and said that he did not burn down the temple. The monk ignored him. He grabbed the elder by the head, and with all of his might, with both hands, he pushed harder and harder, staring at him with fury and wrath. In witness of his victim's demise, the fallen monk then gave him his mortuary prayers and last rites, reciting to him Namu Amida Butsu, to have the man be reincarnated in the Pure Land of the Buddha of the Western Paradise. The elder died, as his head was crushed into nothingness by the monk's raw strength. The monk, fallen from grace and consumed by wicked wrath, completed his act of vengeance, for the sake of the children.
Anji, before Sanosuke, Kenshin, Saitō, and Yumi, has finished his tale of his own life's dark turn and bereavement. Renouncing the world as a place scarcely deserving the deliverance of salvation, his fury rises to its peak, yelling further, that until the day that those children are reborn into the world once more to escape the cycle of Samsara, he will never lose a battle and never stop destroying, as Anji the Fudō Myōō. Seeing his mentor's vengeance possessing him into a fanatical rage, Sanosuke, frustrated beyond words and common expression, explicitly damns the world for the situation that now has come about. Throwing down his coat and with Anji ripping off his own vestments, they charge at each other, beginning only the first blows of a brutal battle.
Stepping in with a straight dash, Sanosuke lands another blow onto Anji in his midsection, but as he remains unfazed, Anji returns with a counter by slamming onto Sanosuke's back with a double clenched hammerfist. Sanosuke, feeling that huge impact, dismisses the pain and returns with a right hook, with Anji retaliating with a large left. Sent flying back, Sanosuke turns around and punches Anji in the chest. With his eyes staring up at his mentor, he asks him: Why is it like this? Muddled and in frenzy, Anji punches at Sanosuke in the face. As he is sent flying, Sanosuke flips in recovery and runs straight at Anji, with their blows descending further into wild swings and exchanges. Explaining to him and shouting at Anji, that he is only what Sanosuke used to be, that his anger overtook him where it blinded his heart, all in the deaths of those who they inspired and admired, Sanosuke purposely takes a punch, and halts it, telling Anji off that he is nothing but a sack of coal with a chip on his shoulder. Anji, lost in obsession and vindication, shouts back that he does not know about anything, but Sanosuke punches at his face, refusing to hear any excuses from his mentor.
After the final blow by Sanosuke, Anji jumps back, and pulls out his sword. Realizing only seconds too late, Anji then performs a Kiwami Touate (Distant Hit), sending a pulverizing shockwave that reverberates through Sanosuke and sends him flying. As he gets back up, Sanosuke then jumps to escape the next wave of the Kiwami Touate. But as Anji has read his motions, Sanosuke throws his right fist, clashing with Anji's left.
In a split second, time stops, the two absorbed in the duel between them. Communicating with their fists, Sanosuke tells Anji that he must let go of his hatred against the world, and that he must let his wounds begin to heal, but Anji states that he only has deep scars, and are the only things left to him in this world. Stating that pain means nothing to him, and that his dark quest of destructive rebirth as Anji the Fudō Myōō is what those children wish for, Sanosuke has had enough. Having pushed his limits and patience, Sanosuke immediately bursts his fist wide open, sequencing his attack into the Sanjō no Kiwami (Three Layers Mastery). Striking Anji with a threefold attack, he demands him to take a wide look at the Ihai that he carries with him, and that the children within cry tears, as they are covered in blood that he has shed.
Flashing back to his final moments with Tsubaki, Anji remembers her wishing for all of time to stop in the sake of everyone's happiness, and that, no matter what, Tsubaki would always be by his side. Anji, realizing the man that he has become, closes his eyes, shedding tears of blood, and alone, in the darkness all around, reflects upon the terrible things he has committed. Kneeling in shame, penance, and grievance, five souls that shine behind him, remind him that no matter what he has done, what sins he has committed, Buddha will always forgive him. As the souls depart, Anji turns around, and realizes who is talking to him- the children that looked up to him. Reminding him that they are a family, and that they will be together, no matter what, beyond even the boundaries of life and death, the children coalesce into a golden light into the distance. Shining brightly before him, the third eye of Buddha summons back Anji into the living world.
Rising up from his unconsciousness, Anji sees Sanosuke, worn and powerless, lying on the floor. As he approaches him, Sanosuke sees that he has changed, through his eyes, and that he now has a second chance at life. Though Anji wishes it were to be that simple, and that the world cannot be saved with kindness alone, Sanosuke tells him that the children he looked after were saved by his kindness, before passing on into the next life. For the sake of all of them, Sanosuke states that Anji cannot die. In realization of his ways, and enlightened to the truth, Anji, in bitter yet benevolent loss, confesses to his errors, having lost the will to fight. With the truth realized by Anji, Kenshin, Saitō, and Yumi descend to see if Sanosuke is alright. Congratulating him for his victory, Sanosuke is weary from the struggle, and asks for Kenshin to go on without him to let him rest. Pitted with the decision to return or to move ahead, Saitō agrees to push on forward, and with Yumi reminding them of the complex labyrinth with little room for error to make mistakes in, Kenshin decides to put his faith in the rest of the Kenshingumi and move on ahead.
Saitō Vs. Usui[]
Kenshin and Saitō arrive at Usui's room and then Sanosuke joins. He quickly leaves, carrying Yumi, following Kenshin. Saitō had requested the two to go on without him, and the battle starts. Once the two powers collide, Saitō uses his Gatotsu attack, but the blind Hitokiri Usui simply blocks Saitō's attack with his rochin and counters with his "Pōken Pō Gyoku Hya Ka Ryō Ran" special movement. Saitō is slightly wounded after the attack, but the iron base of Usui's spear is broken. Usui boasts that he knows how to counter the Gatotsu because of his Shingan, which he explains to Saitō how he got. Before the next round of attacks begins, Saitō offers to show off his own Shingan to Usui.
When Usui said he was going to kill Shishio for blinding him, there was a smile on his face. Usui claims he will kill Shishio, but really can't live up to his word because he knows Shishio will always be stronger than him no matter how good he gets. If Usui did die, he'd regret training his Shingan, for it'd be a waste. Once Saitō is finished talking, Usui laughs. Saitō joins in, but an embarrassed Usui (due to the fact that Saitō had seen his true intentions) gets into a stance, readying himself to kill Saitō for knowing too much. Saitō executes the Gatotsu once again. This time, his sword is blocked by Usui's turtle shell, causing him to get stabbed when left open. The same attack is used by Saitō, and the same defense is used by Usui. Saitō has taken more shots than Usui, but still, the two look in the same condition.
Usui is so close to Saitō that he cannot use his Gatotsu technique. However, Saitō proves the blind man wrong. Out of nowhere, Saitō stabs Usui in the middle of the chest so hard that it pins Usui high up on a wall in the room. The move executed was the Zero Gatotsu, a trick Saitō has been saving someday for Kenshin. Usui writhes in pain, angry because he's going to die in such a pitiful way. Saitō has no remorse for his actions, it's just the way he lives his life.
Kenshin Vs. Aoshi rematch[]
After leaving Usui's room where Saitō Hajime is confronting Usui, Kenshin makes his way to the third room with Sanosuke and Yumi, the room where Sōjirō awaits. As he passes by Hōji's room, Kenshin abruptly stops. A familiar person is waiting for Kenshin inside, Shinomori Aoshi.
Kenshin walks into Hōji's room, where Aoshi awaits, without his sword drawn. Aoshi and the rurouni exchange words, expressing their thoughts. Aoshi speaks of his hardships, giving up everything so he can became the strongest for his men, the Oniwabanshū. Kenshin, on the other hand, refuses to fight an evil Aoshi. For the sake of Misao, he promised to bring the good old Aoshi back home. By time the fight begins, Yumi had run off to telegraph Shishio messages concerning the fight and news. When Shishio receives the news that Anji had given up fighting and Usui was left against Saitō, a smile comes to his face, knowing that no one can walk away unhurt from two fighters like them.
The plan for Kenshin was to fight peacefully without drawing his sword. Kenshin had toppled over shelves of books to do this, but Aoshi had forced Kenshin to draw his blade when he had put the rurouni's life in danger. Aoshi tries to attack Kenshin when he turns his kodachis upside-down. Kenshin blocks and tries the Ryū Kan Sen (Dragon Coil Flash), but Aoshi blocks it and counters with an elbow to Kenshin's face. Following, Aoshi executes his Onmyō Hasshi (Yin-Yang Plectrum Halt), barely missing Kenshin, but follows up nicely with a kick to the face.
Aoshi taunts Kenshin, yelling at him to get up. Aoshi wants to face the Hitokiri Battōsai, not the rurouni, Himura Kenshin. After an exchange of words, in which Kenshin tells Aoshi he won't need to revert back to the Battōsai to beat him, the fight picks up. Aoshi tries the Gokō Jūji (Wugou/Wu Hook Cross), but Kenshin blocks with a Ryū Shō Sen (Dragon Soaring Flash) and follows up with a Ryū Tsui Sen (Dragon Hammer Flash), which Aoshi blocks. The force in which Kenshin put into the Ryū Tsui Sen is immense. Even though Aoshi had blocked it, Kenshin pushed his way to cut Aoshi a bit. Kenshin notes that he understands why Aoshi wants to give his men the title of the strongest, but doesn't understand why it's the only reason for Aoshi to throw away his life. Those words hit Aoshi with the shock, and Kenshin adds in that it is just disgracing the Oniwabanshū completely when Aoshi uses them as an excuse.
Kenshin continues telling Aoshi that he has become selfish and lost sight of his goal as the fight between the two has become a standstill. For continuing to speak however, Kenshin is beaten around a frustrated Aoshi. When Kenshin brings up Misao, telling Aoshi that he promised to bring him back to her, Aoshi hits Kenshin one last time. Kenshin can take no more beatings; he reviews everything he's said and shouts for Aoshi to wake up. The eyes of the former Oniwabanshū leader finally turn back to normal. No longer is Aoshi possessed, but he cannot walk away from the fight. Kenshin understands and accepts to continue. Both men get into their positions for the final strike.
Aoshi apologizes to his men, Han'nya, Shikijō, Hyottoko, and Beshimi, for disgracing them, but he promises he'll try his best to win. A stalemate is what Kenshin and Aoshi stand in. Both stand in place for over ten minutes, neither wants to start the fight. During the silence of it all, Sano overhears a clicking noise. Looking around, he spots Yumi sending messages to Shishio. Immediately, Sanosuke warns Kenshin not to use the Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki. As Kenshin's attention is slightly distracted, Aoshi charges forward. In an instant, Kenshin turns around to hit the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū succession technique.
Such a move could do so much. At last, Aoshi is down and his selfish ambition is faded. Sanosuke destroys the telegraph and runs off with Yumi, demanding that she show him and Kenshin the next room. Although Shishio did receive Yumi's message, there was no description of how the Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki (Flash of the Heavenly Flying Dragon) was executed due to the speed of it. Before Kenshin departs, Aoshi tells him he'll catch up sooner or later. With his eyes closed, Aoshi tells his men that he's tried his hardest, but lost. Aoshi has no regrets for losing to such a man like Kenshin, all he hopes for is that he'll be accepted by his own people after what he's done, especially to Okina.
Battle at the Aoiya[]
Meanwhile Honjō Kamatari, Kariwa Henya and Iwanbō (alongside around 150 soldiers from Shishio’s army) have arrived at the Aoiya, intending to kill everyone, just as Shishio ordered. So inside the Aoiya, plans are made for the battle. Kaoru and Yahiko will fight Henya, Misao will battle Kamatari, and all the rest will handle Iwanbō. The other hired thugs on the side of the Jūppongatana are just there to prevent anyone from running away.
So the Aoiya battle only begins with everyone jumping outside on the street. Iwanbō seems to have no trouble with the four Oniwabanshū members. His skin is so thick that he doesn't even need to attack, everything just bounces off of him. As for the others, they discover the Kamatari is actually a man after a long argument over who's hot and who's not. Both Kaoru and Yahiko were to take on Henya and Misao was to fight Kamatari by herself, but the order is shifted. Instead, Yahiko will battle Henya alone while Kaoru and Misao duel with Kamatari. Henya sighs at the outcome, explaining to Yahiko that he'd rather fight someone like Kenshin other than some kid. Yahiko plans to make the Jūppongatana member regret his words by fighting at his very best, however, Yahiko's best may not be good enough. Henya reveals his arsenal of explosives and his skill to soar in the air. With an aerial attack, not even the best swordsman in the world would have an easy time defeating Henya.
The battle between Yahiko and Henya begins. Henya is already high up in the sky dropping explosives down on the helpless Yahiko, knowing his opponent cannot counterattack when he's soaring above them. Even if Yahiko calls Henya's way of fighting cheap, the Jūppongatana member continues to beat on Kamiya Kasshin-ryū's top student. Knowing that there must be a way to beat Henya, Yahiko makes some quick thinking. As Henya drops an explosive near him, Yahiko leaps up to a rooftop as the smoke clears. The move shocked everyone, including Henya, but he is hit hard with Yahiko's own version of the Ryū Tsui Sen.
The impact from Yahiko's blow was so powerful that it defeated Henya and knocked out Yahiko in the process. The next fight begins, Kaoru and Misao versus Kamatari. The girls make a plan before they attack, Kaoru will dodge an attack of Kamatari's heavy scythe while Misao gets in a shot. The plan goes into execution, but to Misao's surprise, Kamatari is hard to be caught off guard. For her punishment, Misao is hit with the ball end of Kamatari's chain and scythe hybrid. With her partner out of action, Kaoru is left alone against Kamatari, who is spinning his scythe high above his head with great speed. It is Kamatari's Midare Benten, a technique which can both attack and defend at the same time.
In her unconscious state, Misao has visions of the past when she practiced with Aoshi and the Oniwabanshū. Out of the blue, Han'nya's voice tells Misao that Kenshin has fulfilled his promise; Aoshi will return to her soon. Misao's eyes slowly open and her spirit is filled with a new, revitalized energy. Even with her ribs broken, she still wishes to assist in the fight. Okina tosses her a new set of kunais. Making a quick glance at Kaoru, a plan is immediately made up. Misao throws her kunais at Kamatari's scythe, and at the same time, Kaoru hits it, breaking the Jūppongatana member's weapon. It took teamwork to break the great scythe, but still, Kamatari isn't done. Using the hooks at the end of his handle, Kamatari spins his chain and launches it at Kaoru. Quickly, Kaoru ducks under the chain and breaks her bokken across Kamatari's knee.
At last, the battle is over. Iwanbō was the only Jūppongatana member left, but due to his stupidity and escape from battle, he did not fight. The scene is clear of Shishio's men and it looks like the Aoiya gang has won. However, rumbling is heard in the not too far distance. A large shadow soon covers the Aoiya. The shadow is of the Jūppongatana's largest member, literally. Fuji and his "master", Saizuchi, stand before the Aoiya, prepared to do combat.
Fuji, Saizuchi's partner, begins tearing apart the area by the Aoiya with his large sword. The massive size of Fuji frightens all, bringing down their hopes of ever winning. Out of the bunch, Yahiko seems to be the one with the must faith. He knows Kenshin will return, so he stands before Fuji, almost as though he is sacrificing himself, calling out Kenshin's name. As Fuji raises his sword at Saizuchi's command and brings it down with much force, mysteriously, Yahiko had been saved. When the dust clears, Yahiko finds his savior, Hiko, blocking Fuji's attack with his own sword.
Hiko explains he would have come much earlier, but Kenshin gave him bad directions. For someone who just saved another from death, Hiko seems very arrogant and cocky. Kenshin's master tells everyone to stand back as he converses with Fuji. Hiko begins praising Fuji for mastering his weapon for his size and shortly after, starts telling Fuji that he's being manipulated by Saizuchi. For his entire life, Fuji was looked at as a monster, no one accepted him. For the first time in his life, he has been accepted by someone, Hiko. Saizuchi warns Fuji not to listen to Hiko because he was the one that saved him when he was dying. Even with those words spoken, Fuji breaks out of his armor at Hiko's request to fight.
Tears of joy run down Fuji's face as he reveals his face and puts down Saizuchi. With two arms clenched on his sword raised in the air, Fuji prepares for the duel in his stance. Hiko and Fuji size up each other for quite some time until Fuji breaks his sword down. The force from the impact is so great that it blows away most of the onlookers, but it never did touch Hiko. With Fuji left wide open, Hiko hits the large warrior with the Kuzu Ryū Sen (Nine-Head Dragon Flash), taking him out with that one technique. Lucky for Fuji, Hiko had reversed his sword so he would not kill his worthy opponent. With that, the members of the Aoiya declare victory, and start to treat everyone's injuries (including the Jūppongatana's members) while wait the return of Kenshi, Sanosuke and Saitō (with Misao waiting for Aoshi as well).
Kenshin Vs. Sōjirō[]
Kenshin, Sanosuke, and Yumi arrive in front of the final room that lies before Shishio himself. Behind it awaits Sōjirō. For some reason, Kenshin believes he has heard Kaoru's voice, so he takes it as a sign that everything at the Aoiya is fine. The doors of the room open up. Kenshin versus Sōjirō, the rematch from the Shingetsu Village is about to commence. For Kenshin, he must win this battle in order to reach Shishio and get some revenge for Okubo. For Sōjirō, it's a battle where only the strong survive and the weak just die.
Kenshin, Sanosuke and Yumi stand before the Room Without Space. Sanosuke becomes concerned when Kenshin tells him that Sōjirō was the one that split his previous Sakabatō, but Kenshin reassures him as he now has the principal true Sakabatō that Shakkū forged, and the Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki (Flash of the Heavenly Flying Dragon).
As both Kenshin and Sōjirō face each other, their stances are for a Battōjutsu speed contest. After a clash, Kenshin manages to make a crack in Sōjirō's Katana, giving Sanosuke a boost of confidence. However, this confidence would soon be shattered when Sōjirō demonstrates the speed of Shukuchi (Reduced Earth), and even more so when he explains that it was actually 3 steps from the true Shukuchi. When Sōjirō charges at 2 steps from the Shukuchi, Kenshin tries to attack with the Kuzu Ryū Sen (Nine-Head Dragon Flash). With his Shukuchi, Sōjirō was able to dodge the "undodgable" Kuzu Ryū Sen, and land a strike on Kenshin's back.
Though Sōjirō is clearly winning the duel so far, he is confused and seems almost disappointed that it is taking this long to defeat Kenshin. Sōjirō knows that something is not right, and reflects on Shishio’s philosophy that the strong live, and the weak die. He asks why Kenshin saved Senkaku’s life, and tells him it was a mistake to do so. Sōjirō charges at 1 step from the Shukuchi, but Kenshin quickly sees that Sōjirō's sword-speed is more inconsistent than before. When Kenshin inquiries about Sōjirō's troubled mind, the latter only continues to preach Shishio's philosophy. However, Kenshin is able to read through Sōjirō's mindset, and infers that Sōjirō truly does not wish to kill. This sparks flames of anger in Sōjirō, and he stays in denial. Though he charges at Kenshin again, he hesitates, and goes to repair his Waraji.
As Sanosuke is tending to Kenshin’s wounds, they both deduce that Sōjirō does not really lack emotions, and only keeps them buried in his heart. To help resolve his mind, Sōjirō begins to recall a story from the past. It is revealed that he was born as a result of an affair between his biological father and a prostitute. He lived with his older half-brother, step-sister in law and half-nephews and nieces, who would abuse him and literally use him as a slave, beating him as they pleased, treating him as a simple tool for their amusement and the advancement of their rice business. In the beginning, he would cry and get angry, which would simply cause them to beat him more and more and spout on about how he was being ungrateful to make him feel bad, so later on, his response was to laugh rather than cry.
Meanwhile, Shishio Makoto is on the run, being sought after by the Meiji Government, who betrayed him and tried to murder him after all the assassinations he had done just for them. Sōjirō one day sees Shishio, now bandaged and burned swordsman, hacking through two policemen. Shishio notices this and is about to kill Sōjirō, until he sees him laughing in the face of death. Bewildered by Sōjirō's unusual behavior, Shishio demands that he provide him food and new bandages and he'll be spared. The outlaw soon learns of Sōjirō's situation and tells him that the only reason he is abused is because he is weak and also tells him a key idea that would shape his life for years to come: "if you are strong, you live, if you are weak, you die".
After noticing a significant decrease in their stock of bandages and incorporating it with the fact that the outlaw they are after (one of Sōjirō's brother is a police officer), suffers severe burn-damage, his family realize rightfully come to conclude that Sōjirō has been hiding Shishio. They track down Sōjirō and are about to kill him, but Sōjirō has in his possession a Wakizashi, given to him as a gift for helping Shishio. Sōjirō uses it and is able to kill his oppressive tormentors once and for all. Shishio sees what Sōjirō has done and decides to adopt him as a brother, telling him that he will be his right-hand man and the strongest warrior of all, only second next to him.
In the present day, as Kenshin and Sōjirō ready themselves in their intermission, Kenshin digests and analyzes Sōjirō's mention of his philosophy, concurring that such a young man never had such an easy time growing up, or anyone to have shown love or care for him, and follows such a philosophy to cover up his weakness towards the idea of death and emotion. Sōjirō, having repaired his sandals, now stands at the ready. However, as the battle begins with one step short of the Shukuchi, Kenshin is able to sense emotion stemming from Sōjirō and block his all angle attack. Irritated, confused, and inquiring of Kenshin's philosophy of the strong protecting the weak, which he runs counters to, asks Kenshin the cryptic question, that if he was protecting the weak, why the rurouni was not there for him in own his time of pain. Realizing the emotions within Sōjirō now begin to manifest, Kenshin also desires to understand what pain Sōjirō has gone through, where the second half of the duel now only begins to start.
After missing one of his attacks, Sōjirō finds himself at the end of Kenshin's Sakabatō. From what Kenshin heard Sōjirō mention, he tells the boy that deep inside, there's a part of him that regrets what he's done in the past. What Kenshin suggests is that Sōjirō change his life and forget everything that has been done. Suddenly, emotions and thoughts run through Sōjirō, breaking him down. Sōjirō has snapped, and once he's finished through his fit, he looks with angry eyes at Kenshin, swearing to kill him with his next stroke.
Sōjirō tells Kenshin he will finish him off with a technique known as the Shun Ten Satsu (Blinking Heaven Kill), a technique where Sōjirō combines his Shukuchi and Battōjutsu. Kenshin prepares himself in a Battōjutsu stance. When Sōjirō accelerates, the hit that will decide the match has begun. However, in the blink of an eye, the battle is finished. Kenshin manages to hit Sōjirō with the Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki (Flash of the Heavenly Flying Dragon).
When Sōjirō wakes up, he is tended to by Yumi. At last, Sōjirō has seen the light; he knows what Kenshin means and takes his advice about atoning for his wrongs. However, there is no time to waste with Sōjirō; Kenshin and Sanosuke hurry off to Shishio's room. With the two gone, Sōjirō informs Yumi of a secret passage that'll take her directly to Shishio's room in no time. Yet, Sōjirō asks Yumi to tell and give Shishio something. Sōjirō reveals the power of Kenshin's Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki; the swing all depends on Kenshin's left leg, since that is the leg he leads with instead of the usual right when executing a Battōjutsu. Using what's left of his strength, Sōjirō trudges into another room and asks Yumi to give Shishio the sword he gave him ten years ago when he was weak. Both the information and sword are good-bye presents.
Kenshin Vs. Shishio[]
To be added
Post Battle Events[]
At the dawn of the next day, Kenshin, Sanosuke and Aoshi returned to the Aoiya. Kenshin was severely wounded and did not respond to Kaoru's callings. It took him nearly a month to recover, and Megumi Takani traveled to Kyōto to take care of Kenshin. Meanwhile the rest of the combatants were having parties every day at the Aoiya to celebrate the Kenshingumi's victory against the Jūppongatana.
Fate of the Remaining Jūppongatana[]
To be added
Farewell from Kyōto[]
To be added
Battles and Events[]
To be added
Trivia[]
- This is the biggest story arc in the Rurouni Kenshin story, both in the original manga (12 tankobon volumes) and in the 1996 anime (34 episodes).