|
(note: Names are in Japanese order, surname first & first name last. Also, some elements are from the original manga, so minor parts can deviate from those of the anime series) Our protagonist, Himura Kenshin, was originally an "Ishin-shishi" (Patriot of the Imperial Restoration), a warrior who helped establish the Meiji Era during the days of revolution against the Tokugawa "Bakufu" government. He was a political assassin who had killed many important Tokugawa authorities/politicians in turns helped winning many wars. Hence gaining the title of "Hitokiri Battousai", literally meaning "the assassin sword-drawing master", or more simply the "assassin Battousai". After the success of the revolution, Kenshin disappeared into the mist of Kyoto and was never seen again. As a result, the name "Hitokiri Battousai" became a legend among the people who live in Meiji Japan. Kenshin, in order to atone for his sins of killing many, became a "korosatsu rurouni", a non-killing vagabond. He vows not to kill ever again and instead uses his "Sakabatou", reverse blade, to protect others who are in need. The beginning of our story occurs in 1878, 11 years after the demise of the Tokugawa Dynasty and the establishment of the peaceful Meiji Era. One night, Kenshin happens to be wandering through the downtown of Tokyo. However he is surprisingly pursued by a girl called "Kamiya Kaoru" who accuses him of being the "Hitokiri Battousai" who defames her school's reputation by rampaging the town and taking countless innocent lives recently. |
|
Kenshin is puzzled, of course. Attempting to make things clear, he shows Kaoru his reverse blade and explains that it cannot be used to kill people. Kaoru, after judging from Kenshin's nerdy appearance and clumsy behavior, decides that Kenshin is not the reckless and cold-blooded killer "Battousai" afterall. Suddenly a big masked man is running through an alley and is pursued by multiple police officers. But the police are defenseless against the skilled masked swordsman. Having caught sight of the escaping culprit, Kaoru immediately confronts the masked man who, surprisingly, self-claims as the "Battousai". However, Kaoru is no match against him either. When the masked man is ready to make his last strike to finish off Kaoru, a shadow appears quickly and saves her from the fatal attack. The rescuer turns out to be the vagabond, Kenshin, whom she met a second ago. To show her appreciation of his heroic act, Kaoru offers Kenshin to stay in her dojo for the night. The bewildered Kenshin, who is concerned about Miss Kaoru's wound, reluctantly accepts. And now our "Romantic Tale of the Meiji Swordsman" (Rurouni Kenshin -- Meiji kenkaku romantan) continues... | 
|
