Original subtitles

This program is a work of fiction.

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Any original characters or characters in the history are fictional.

Due to Graphic Violence, Parental Discretion is advised.

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Act I: The Man of the Slashing Sword

They are afflicted, the times and the mind of man.

The world edges closer to destruction day by day.

Even if a man of incredible strength were to arise,

He would not be able to stop it.

Please, spare the child, I beg you!

Don't look!

Sister, at least protect him...

Shinta! Shinta! You are just a child.

You have not chosen your life, as we have been able to.

You cannot die now. You must live.

Live a full life for the sake of those who died here tonight.

Shinta, please live.

Live, Shinta.

Live for me.

Who the hell are you?

You are about to die, so knowing my name is useless to you.

I suppose it was fate that led me in this direction tonight.

You have been avenged.

Bearing a grudge against these men will not bring your loved ones back.

Revel in the fact that you survived.

It no longer surprises me.

The smell of blood and the smell of white plums...

It's a living hell where mankind is slaughtered by bandits.

And it's also a hell where they are sold into slavery.

Yes, it happens every day.

In the past, and in the future.

My sword is guided by the teachings of Hiten-Mitsurugi.

Yet, too often, I cannot use it to save even one person's life.

Not one living soul.

The only thing I can do is to bury the corpses.

I notice you've made graves for the bandits as well as your family.

They were slave traders, not my family.

I was sold to them after my parents died of cholera.

After they died, there were no bandits or slave traders.

Just dead bodies.

What are these stones for?

Kasumi, Akane, Sakura.

I only met them yesterday, but I wanted to protect them.

I was the only boy in the group,

But they tried to protect me. They said, "Please spare the child."

I was too young to help.

I wanted them to have special graves, so I wanted good stones.

Those are the only ones I could find. I don't even have flowers to put on them.

It is unfortunate to enter Nirvana without having tasted good Sake,

So this is my tribute to them.

Thank you, um...

I am Seijuro Hiko. A wandering swordsman.

Swordsman?

My boy, you failed to protect something very delicate.

You were entrusted with those three lives.

Your tiny hands will remember how heavy their bodies were,

But you will carry the far heavier weight of their lives with you forever.

You have already carried them.

Now, you must acquire the strength to support yourself, and protect others.

Then, you will be able to live your life, and defend cherished lives.

Defend cherished lives?

What's your name, boy?

Shinta.

Much too delicate a name for a swordsman.

From now on your name will be Kenshin.

Kenshin...

I am going to teach you, boy. Teach you my forte!

Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuioku-Hen

1864 (Genji I)

I'm sorry, we're running late. We should hurry up now.

-- I've heard the good news, Kiyosato. -- Oh?

You're to be married next month.

Yes...

Your lovely childhood sweetheart will soon be your wife.

You're a very lucky man.

Thank you. I feel badly about it, though.

If so many people are miserable, why should I be this happy?

What are you talking about?

The world is always in a terrible condition.

That shouldn't stop a man from being happy, should it?

I will return no later than next Spring.

We must try to be patient, both of us.

Let's buy a ground cherry on the way home.

You are Jubei Shigekura of the Kyoto Shoshidai, are you not?

I have come to mete the divine punishment you deserve, old man.

Assassin!

You think you can change the world with the cut of your sword?

Who are you?

Answer me!

Get away! You must not die now!

Master Shigekura!

I must not die. I do not want to die.

Surrender.

I will not!

I cannot die. I cannot die yet!

I do not want to die. I will not.

I refuse to die!

I do not want to die.

Not yet. Not now.

Do not let me die.

Tomoe...

Himura, are you hurt?

Not seriously.

I can't believe someone was actually able to mark you.

He must have had great skill.

No.

Just stubborn.

Iizuka, clean this up if you please.

Hey!

Now, attack me! Faster!

He will grow stronger.

No one can improve his skill with a sword

Without desiring to become stronger as well.

This boy desires nothing more than to increase his capacity.

He is pure.

Yes, he is so pure that I would almost call him a simpleton.

The principle of Hiten-Mitsurugi Ryu states:

"The sword of Mitsurugi should be wielded for the people of the world."

"For the protection of the weak."

It's been a long time.

Someone was actually able to hurt you, were they?

It was due to my carelessness.

Iizuka, who was this swordsman?

A bodyguard of Jubei Shigekura of the Kyoto Shoshidai.

I don't know his name, though.

Is something wrong?

No. Actually, I will be attending a meeting tonight.

Toshimaro and Miyabe will be there, too.

Important matters of our clans' policies will be discussed.

You want me as your bodyguard?

No, I want you to attend this meeting as my adjunct.

Oh, good for you.

-- No, I decline. -- Eh?

I am your assassin. That is the only way I can serve you.

If there is nothing else, I will excuse myself.

Come back here!

Excuse us, Sir!

What an obstinate attitude!

How dare he repay your kindness with that kind of response?

Kihei-tai?

Yes, these will be all the bullets we will need, Katsura.

They are the best. They often exhibit extreme power.

This is what we will use to smash the Shogunate at last.

Certainly more appealing than tired, old samurai, but can you be sure?

You're always so reticent.

Next!

What's that boy doing down there?

The "ki" in "kihei" is the same as "ki" in "kibatsu" (eccentric).

How about that? Not bad, eh?

Takasugi...

I know you saw him with those wide-open eyes of yours.

That boy...

I want him to come to Kyoto with me.

I cannot allow you to leave this mountain.

Master!

While we discuss philosophy,

Scores of people are being crushed by the disturbance each day.

We must use our power now!

Mitsurugi swordsmanship must be used to protect the innocent, right?

You contemptuous whelp!

What will you do after you lend your arm to this disturbance?

If you want to affect a change in the current crisis,

You will have to join one side or the other.

Therefore, you will also be used by those who hold the power down there.

I did not teach Mitsurugi swordsmanship to you

So you could tarnish it that way.

You should not pay any attention to these external distractions.

Concentrate on your training!

People are being oppressed all around us.

They are suffering.

I cannot just turn my back on them! I will not!

Mitsurugi is the most powerful form of sword technique.

It is the black ship of absolute power that sails the land.

That's why we should use it now!

To protect the people from these painful times!

That is the purpose of the Mitsurugi technique!

Swordsmanship is a method of murder, do you hear me?

You can decorate it with all sorts of pretty words, but that is what it is.

Kill some people in order to protect others.

Murder some to save all.

That is the final principle of all sword technique.

As you know, I have murdered hundreds of evil men,

But they were all human beings, too.

They were merely trying to live their lives

The only way they knew how.

If you leave this mountain, you will live a life of murder

Under the direction of men who write their own justice.

If you throw your lot in with them,

Mitsurugi swordsmanship will make you a mass murderer.

You may be right,

But I want to rescue with my own hands those who are suffering!

Countless lives, as many as I can!

I want to be their savior!

I must leave in order to do so!

Master!

I am wasting my breath on a simpleton like you!

Go! Go wherever you want to go!

Thank you for everything.

That half-witted pup!

He has decided to live according to his own principles.

Because he is so pure,

He has no other choice but to do this foolish thing.

Hey, you're bleeding.

It's so nice with the sun shining!

It is! The snow is starting to melt!

Wait!

I wonder if it will be nice tomorrow?

Well, I hope so.

Here they come.

Saitou, is something wrong?

I thought I smelled blood.

No, Saitou, it is only because you have cut down so many men recently!

-- Okita. -- Yes, Sir?

Before you speak you should taste your words

To make sure they are palatable.

Yes, yes!

Who do they think they are?

Walking down the street like they're emperors.

Tonight, okay?

I smell perfume.

It's white plum.

I'm surprised you are familiar with such a sensual scent.

Look at her!

Nice, eh?

Well, I'll see you later.

Oh, my! I saw the Mibu Wolves coming down the street today!

I was so scared I moved to the other side of the road!

I heard that they've been performing summary executions of patriots lately!

That scares me!

Cherry blossoms in the Spring, and starry skies in the Summer.

The Autumn brings the full moon. The Winter brings the snow.

These things make sake taste good.

If you don't like sake, then there is something wrong with you.

Someday you will come to appreciate it.

Then, we will enjoy it together.

That woman is bad news.

I know, but I can't forget about her.

You're good, but lately you've been absolutely incredible.

What do you mean?

You don't even give them a chance to scream anymore.

Hey, what's wrong?

There's a superstition that goes like this:

If a wound is made by the sword of someone with a strong hatred,

That wound will not heal until revenge has been exacted.

A wound? Strong hatred?

Exactly, it may never go away.

Sister...

Still cleaning up?

I heard that the meeting the other night went very badly.

What happened?

Well, Miyabe and Katsura got into a very intense argument.

Seems Miyabe and his group are planning a major disturbance here in Kyoto.

What does Katsura think?

He says we should wait and see what happens.

One of the envoys told me that the argument got so heated

Katsura almost drew his sword.

That doesn't sound good.

That's an understatement.

I am going to be straight with you.

Are you willing to kill people?

There is no point in mincing words. This is murder.

However, in order to create a new world, we must first destroy the old one.

It is not pleasant, but it needs to be done.

You told me you wanted to use your skills to protect people.

I am asking you if I can borrow those skills.

Will you kill in order to create a new world? Will you do it?

Hey, boy!

-- You are... -- I'm Iizuka, examiner of assassinations.

This is your first assignment, right? Hold yourself together.

There are some that become insane,

Or make themselves sick after their first job.

It's better than I thought it would be.

Good. You need to be quick, accurate and certain for this work.

No point in staying around after the work is done, so let's get the hell out.

If there is a new world that can be created by my sword,

a world where anyone can live peacefully and without fear...

If my arm can create that world,

I will...

I will serve as Heaven's justice.

I will kill.

What do you think of the boy?

He's perfect.

To be honest with you, he is the most prized member of my Kihei-tai.

But I will let you have him on one condition.

What is it?

The boy's soul will be ruined by this work, you know?

Therefore, you must keep your life clean and virtuous.

Promise me you will never again draw your sword.

As the leader of the Choshu clan, I have no intention of drawing my sword again.

Can I have your word on that?

You have my word.

My life as a swordsman ends tonight.

Good. Now, you can concentrate on leading the Choshu clan

In the dying days of the Tokugawa Shoguns.

I will handle everything else.

Thank you.

"Though I die and my body decays in the fields of Musashi,

My Japanese spirit will live on."

Master, the Shogunate had you put to death in the worst of fashions,

But your honorable ideas live in me.

Insanity!

Absolute justice may appear to be insanity at times!

That is what motivates the Choshu clan and myself, Master!

Go with him. He will take care of you.

If I sleep late, I may miss the rest of my life.

You are truly a born killer, my boy.

You killed all of those men, and didn't get one drop of blood on your clothes.

Let's go drink sake together.

No, thank you.

Suit yourself. I can easily drink alone.

I'll see you later.

He's been with us for a year.

He has grown, but he looks different in more ways than that.

His mind remains the same, without stain or regret.

So, we don't have to worry about him.

No, he has started to feel divided inside.

Part of him is his true self.

The other part is a ruthless murderer.

Shinsengumi?

No, he is like me, a hired assassin.

I'll leave now.

Yes, thanks for your work.

We will hold Miyabe's group back for the time being.

Thanks. And warn the men to be cautious about the Shinsengumi.

I will.

Are you finished for the night?

I am finished talking about the world for the night, yes.

Would you like another sake?

No, thank you. It does not taste good to me tonight.

Are you all right?

What a ridiculous idea! To burn Kyoto to the ground!

You...

You really do make it fall.

You made the bloody rain fall.

The blossom of the blue soul is falling.

The fruit of the red blood is ripe.

Behind a sliding door, a faint sigh.

The memory of hands holding your hand.

It is all an illusion.

Rurouni Kenshin: Remembrance Chapter

Act 2: The Lost Cat

Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuioku-hen

She saw me! Should I...

Kill her?

You're bleeding. You have to stop it.

That smell.

Act 2: The Lost Cat

Act 2: The Lost Cat Flowers for sale!

How about some beautiful flowers?

Flowers for sale!

How about some beautiful flowers?

Oh, is that you, Mr. Himura? Welcome home.

Madam, prepare a room for her please.

Choshu soldiers are so restless.

You kill all night, and now you've found yourself a woman.

Hurry and get a room ready.

There are no vacancies. Absolutely no vacancies.

This isn't a whorehouse, you know.

Why don't you take her to your room like a gentleman?

I'll bring you some hot water and fresh clothes.

Are you finished? Thank you very much.

I'm done, but... What do you want to do about this?

Hey!

Are you feeling better?

I'm sorry, I was drunk last night.

I know you took care of me. I should be more careful.

What is your name?

It's Tomoe. Tomoe Yukishiro.

She was drunk?

More?

You're new around here, right?

My name is Tomoe.

What a beautiful girl!

It's very nice to meet you.

Hey.

I hear you brought her home with you last night.

Where did you find a desirable woman like that?

I bet she has some stories to tell.

So, how did she taste?

What?

The landlady told me.

You had her in your room all night, didn't you, Himura?

Don't scare me like that! You made me swallow the plum pit.

I was just joking.

Well?

What is it?

Forget what you saw last night, and leave this place immediately.

Does my presence bother you?

Your family must be worried about you.

I'm a lost cat.

If I had a home, I wouldn't have been drinking sake late at night.

Has your wound stopped bleeding?

I hope so.

This is yours, isn't it?

Yes.

Kyoto is a dangerous place.

That will be useless to you in a place as wicked as this.

You should find another place to live,

A place where you will not need that at all.

A place where there are no assassins?

Is that what you mean?

A lost cat?

Yes. Are you going to hire her?

Do you have to ask?

You're the one who begged me to make a place for her here, aren't you?

That was last night. It was an emergency.

I appreciate that you and the other men are

such good customers for my inn,

But you Choshu boys keep us very busy and we are extremely shorthanded.

Do you know how much you all eat?

I've been watching her. She's a very good worker so far.

Everyone has things in their past that they would like to keep secret.

That's no reason for me to put her out.

Good, I found you!

What is it?

Katsura and Katagai have returned.

Perhaps this woman is bringing softness to his eyes.

Who is that woman?

Is she the one the men are snickering about?

That's her, all right.

Iizuka!

She smells of white plums.

Master Katsura!

I'm not casting aspersions on her.

Iizuka, check out her background just to be safe.

Yes, Sir.

-- Himura? -- Yes, Sir?

We are not here to talk about that woman.

You killed a man last night.

Yes, just as we planned.

After that, you were ambushed on the way here, weren't you?

It took me a long time to clean that mess up.

Hey, don't be mad at me.

I am supposed to keep an eye on you at all times when you are out.

Who do you think he was? Your opinion.

An assassin sent by the Shogunate.

Shinsengumi?

No. I've never seen a swordsman as brutal as he was.

I would guess that he...

...Belonged to the Niwabanshu.

Yes.

Only a few select members of our clan know about your existence.

I can't see how anyone would know to send an assassin after you.

There might be a traitor among us.

I think he's right.

This is a critical matter that requires my personal attention.

For now, concentrate on the Shinsengumi, and allow me to investigate this.

-- Understood? -- Yes, Sir.

-- Himura? -- Yes, Sir.

Spring will soon be over.

What?

The pomegranate trees are blossoming.

What have you discovered?

It's clear from her accent and manner that she isn't from Kyoto.

I'm certain that she was educated in a fine home.

She has beautiful handwriting.

I thought she might be from a Samurai family in the Kanto region.

However, I could find no record of her identity anywhere.

And the Yukishiro name does not appear in any of the Samurai family registries.

I asked around in the whorehouses about a woman who smells of white plums,

but no luck there.

She could have destroyed her records. If she were a spy.

Well, she hasn't been seen talking to anyone from the outside,

So it's unlikely that she's a spy.

My guess is that she was the daughter of an old, penniless samurai...

...And drifted here after she was reduced to prostitution.

That sort of thing happens every day.

I see. Can I trust you on that information?

Yes. I am certain of it.

Very well.

Be careful, Kogoro.

Politicians in our hometown are starting to become restless.

They are not sure if the Tokugawa Shogunate

Will move against the Choshu.

Matters are very unstable as it is. My sixth sense tells me something.

We need to keep an eye on Miyabe and his men.

For now, we need to be patient.

Is it bad news?

My letters haven't contained good news for many years.

Really? What about the ones I wrote you?

Those were different.

How is Takasugi?

He's in bad shape.

He can't have contact with women for fear of spreading his disease.

Even with his consort? I feel sorry for her.

Uno understands.

Does she?

Shinsaku is...

He is like a brandished sword.

No one can deter him from his way.

I see.

If Takasugi is like a brandished sword,

Then perhaps Uno could be a sheath for him.

A sheath?

Perhaps so.

His bones were cut through, weren't they?

Was it a Jigen Technique swordsman?

No, I don't think so.

We are appointed by the Shogun to guard Kyoto!

The assassin probably swept Sudou's first attack.

Hey, are you all right?

If he had received the blow from a Jigen swordsman,

he might have had his sword cut in two, but...

But the level of skill is much higher.

Remarkably so.

Had I known a swordsman of this caliber was involved,

I would have accompanied these men myself.

Who could have done this?

A ghastly man.

That much is certain.

Damn! Ambushed again! This time, by the Shinsengumi!

I'll take the news to Katsura myself!

There are spies among us for sure!

You should patch your wound before you clean your hands.

You are still awake?

We may be in separate rooms, but it doesn't matter.

I can't sleep when you are out.

Do not concern yourself with me!

Somehow, I feel that I am going to dream of the bloody rain tonight.

Good night.

What did Katsura say to you, then?

"You must remain calm, and refrain from action until I instruct you further."

That's all he said.

What does that mean?

We can't do anything?

Why?

The Shinsengumi are killing patriots in the clans every day!

Now is our chance!

We should attack them first, and stop them now!

He's right!

That's exactly what we should do!

Enough!

We know that there is a traitor in our clan!

We need to think twice before we make any further plans!

Striking out now would be exactly what the Mibu Wolves would want us to do.

The prudent thing to do now is wait.

Is it raining again?

Yes.

I'm sick and tired of the rain.

Thanks for bringing those.

The flower vendor said it would be the last one of the season.

The rain is depressing, so we should brighten the day by arranging irises.

What shall I do?

Peel some potatoes, please!

I will.

You resemble each other.

The iris. It gives off its strongest scent in the rain,

Not in the sun, you know?

A child...

Even a child can commit murder.

However...

I'm sorry.

It's very cold outside, and you sleep so close to the window.

I'm sorry.

Have you read all of these books?

Not even one of them.

It is comfortable to sleep against the stacks, that's all.

An assassin doesn't need anything else from books.

Will you kill people for the rest of your life?

Maybe it's you who cannot find a safe place. Not me.

You cannot sleep without holding a sword in your hand.

I have done that since I was a child.

I have seen so many people get killed.

And this is how you will live your life?

Considering the task that I was given, I don't think I will live for long.

And there is no reason why you should care anyway.

But...

I am a killer who brings the bloody rain.

You don't want any part of that.

You shouldn't cling to things that smell of blood.

I'm sorry that I made such impertinent remarks.

I accept the fact that I will never understand why you live to way you do.

I'm sorry I disturbed your sleep.

Tomoe?

Thank you.

Pardon me. I know it is very late.

Master Katsura?

No, don't wake anybody. I came to talk to you.

"Justice that seems like insanity"?

My teacher, Shoin Yoshida, taught me that principle.

Himura is the embodiment of that very difficult idea.

You would give a child a sword to preserve your philosophy?

I have a friend named Takasugi in my hometown.

He is a good man, but his methods are sometimes very extreme.

However, he has a sheath who stands with him,

And keeps him from slashing too wildly.

She is a woman named Uno.

A sheath.

Would you be his sheath?

Would you be the one to tame Himura's brandished sword?

Why me?

My role in his life is to drive his passions and make him kill.

A killer who is driven so can often cause tragedy unintentionally.

So he needs sheath to hold him in check.

I know none of this makes any sense to you.

Yoshida of the Choshu clan and Miyabe of the Higo clan are now in Kyoto.

According to the confession of Furutaka,

We should expect even more patriots to be here already.

The weapons we discovered at Masuya weren't enough for a large assault.

There must be another merchant who is supplying them.

I will arrange the inspection details, and mobilize them tonight.

According to Furutaka, they are planning a meeting for this evening.

I smell something.

I am certain that Choshu clan is planning something.

Something big.

The leader of Choshu clan is Kogoro Katsura, right?

Probably.

I will seek out Kondo and consult with him.

I didn't expect Hijikata to get so involved in our cause.

Hijikata is going to bet the Shinsengumi's fate in this matter.

Do you think the assassin will attend the meeting tonight?

I doubt it.

The man who does the dirty work is seldom invited to secret meetings.

As a swordsman trained in the Tennen Rishin technique,

What would you do if you saw him?

Exactly as I was taught.

I hope I do come face to face with that demon.

What would you do as a Mugai Swordsman, Sir?

Sorry, that was a stupid question.

The Gion Festival has begun. Kyoto is crowded with people.

This would their best opportunity to create a disturbance with true impact.

At this point, it will be very hard to stop the trouble from happening.

Was it a message from Miyabe?

Yes. If you have a special woman,

You should make sure she gets out of Kyoto before nightfall.

Is this related to the news we heard from the meeting?

What else could it be?

What does Master Katsura say about all of this?

Katsura has not shown up at the house of the clan for a while.

There are rumors that he and Miyabe have officially cut ties.

Cut ties?

I will investigate what's going on.

What will you do about Tomoe?

Nothing.

I don't care about her.

No one else thinks that.

You rescued her once, so why not do so tonight?

Think about it. I must go.

But why?

Don't think, just go. Where is your hometown?

Yamashina.

I see. Return to your parents immediately.

I will be finished soon.

Thank you for being so thoughtful.

The landlady ordered me to do this.

I see.

Is something wrong?

No.

Well...

Would you like to go out with me this evening?

Eh?

I have the night off.

I would like to have a relaxing night in the city.

But I don't know what to do alone.

I see.

What is it?

It's been a long time. The sake tastes good to me.

It's because of the festival.

Is that why?

Heisuke Todo, Okita and the other eight will go with the captain.

The rest will follow me.

Kondo?

We will be searching the inns of the Kawara-Machi district tonight.

This operation will be much like playing a game of Go or Shogi.

If we let any of them escape our careful detection,

We will be attacked at the next turn.

Therefore, they must all be arrested or killed tonight.

Let's go! Rise!

I am the opposite of you.

Lately, I don't enjoy sake as much as I used to.

It doesn't taste good to you?

No. I feel like I don't want to depend on sake anymore.

It's strange.

Depend on? I see.

Has the bleeding on your cheek stopped?

I totally forgot about it.

Then your wound has healed.

Well, it's stopped bleeding anyway.

Every time I look at your wound...

It makes me think of what your victims see before they die.

You say you kill people to make others happy, but...

What?

I don't think people can be happy by killing others.

People die from different causes every day.

I don't choose my targets at random.

In other words, you are deciding who deserves to live and die.

Or, rather, you've entrusted that decision to others

Whom you follow regardless of how you may feel.

Knowing more about the people that I kill would disrupt my concentration.

I do what I do to create a better world.

That's all I need to know.

Get out of here immediately!

What's wrong?

Katsura is in danger!

Later tonight, Miyabe's clan will burn Kyoto to the ground.

You're not serious!

Afterwards, they will move the Emperor to Hagi, and reinstate the government.

Katsura is opposed to the idea, of course,

And has tried to talk Miyabe out of it.

But their ties have been cut.

Worst of all, the Shinsengumi may have found out about this plan.

I need to rally the men,

And you need to get to the meeting right away!

Where is it being held?

At the Ikedaya in Kawara-Machi Sanjo!

Soji! Upstairs!

Who are you?

This isn't him!

What's going on?

Blow out the light!

We are the Shinsengumi.

There he is! That must be him!

Go back the way we came.

You know what? A brandished sword needs a good sheath.

What are you talking about?

I want to see you do your work, for as long as you keep killing people.

I want to see it with my own eyes.

Did you find Katsura?

I don't know. The assassin isn't here, though.

Chain vests?

You're in my way! Back down!

I am Shigesuke Heima. Trained in the technique of Hokushin Itto-Ryu!

I don't care!

Master Katsura!

What?

I've already told Miyabe that I will have nothing to do with this.

The Shinsengumi have attacked the men at Ikedaya.

Ikumatsu, you must get away from here, and hide yourself.

Understand?

Katsura isn't here.

Miyabe has committed hara-kiri in the rear vestibule.

I see.

What's the matter?

I thought I smelled the bloom of the plum tree.

But it's summer.

Yes, it might be blossoming out of season.

Is Master Katsura here?

No. I heard about the attack. It's dangerous for you to be here.

Hurry and escape through the back entrance.

Tomoe, do you remember?

The iris. It gives off its strongest scent in the rain.

Even if it is a rain of blood.

Himura?

Master Katsura, I'm so relieved that you are alive!

I wish I were dead.

Soldiers from the Kyoto Shoshidai have surrounded the house of Choshu clan.

I've lost everything.

For now, we must concentrate on leaving Kyoto quickly.

I'll have someone prepare a house for you in Otsu.

You will both live there as husband and wife.

No one will suspect who you are if you have a house and a wife.

Iizuka will be our messenger. Wait there for word from me.

Be careful, I'll see you soon.

Do you understand, Tomoe?

Should we go to Otsu?

As husband and wife?

A month later: On July 18th,

A riot breaks out at the Imperial Gate.

The armies of the Shogun and Choshu clash in Kyoto.

The city is lost in flames.

In Choshu, the clan's fortunes are reversed.

The conservatives gain power.

I wish Uno were here to cook for me.

You're Tomoe from the Kohagi-Ya house, aren't you?

You're the flower vendor!

Where are you going?

Kyoto is in ruins. You shouldn't return to that place.

We must hurry.

Who is that man?

He is my husband.

Next on Rurouni Kenshin, Act Three:

The Previous Night at the Mountain Home

Please look forward to it.

Act 3: The Previous Night at the Mountain Home

I'm sorry to have kept you waiting.

It's such a beautiful day.

The firewood will dry out well.

Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuioku-hen

I apologize.

I have no daikon radish to season the food.

I don't mind.

Without it, the food tastes flat.

We should plant some crops.

Eh?

I don't know about daikon radishes, but we could grow something.

I helped my father farm when I was a boy.

I should be able to do it myself.

Is that so?

Hey! You're pretty good at that!

What is it?

I think the two of you can really pass for an actual married couple.

I'm going to finish planting the remaining seedlings.

Did I say something offensive?

No. Do you have news?

Yes.

Our situation is looking bleak.

Because of the disaster in Kyoto,

Our compatriots are being purged from the capital in Hagi.

Purged?

Conservatives in the Choshu clan are trying to save face with the Tokugawa.

They're forcing the radicals to perform seppuku as a sign of good faith.

Ritual suicide is a daily occurrence in Hagi.

It's horrible.

However, we have prevented the Shogunate from declaring all out war on the clan.

Both sides have suffered great losses,

But the battle is far from over.

Anyway, we are currently trying to get Takasugi out of prison.

Hopefully, he will be able to revive the Kihei-tai.

If so, Hagi will soon turn into a battlefield.

How is Katsura?

We don't know where he is.

People in Hagi says he has turned coward, and run away.

That's impossible.

The world is a sad and surprising place.

All we can do for now is wait.

I have some money for you from Katagai.

That package is for you, also.

It's full of medicines to sell.

Sell medicines?

You need a visible source of income so you won't arouse suspicion.

But there's no one around here for miles.

You may find it necessary to travel some day.

This will provide you with a good cover to do so.

You are still only one day's walk from Kyoto,

But don't even think about going there yet.

The conservatives and the Shinsengumi are on the lookout for our men.

They have killed more men than even you were able to dispatch.

I'll check back to make sure you're all right

And take you back when it is time. Farewell, Tomoe.

I hope you enjoy being a druggist's wife.

I forgot how beautiful the harvest moon is.

I saw red dragonflies this evening.

I can't help wondering what will happen to us?

How long will we be able to stay here?

For a while. That's all I can say.

We need to get back here by sunset. Are you ready, yet?

Yes, I'm coming.

Medicine

The villagers seemed to believe that we are husband and wife.

Yes, and we sold more medicine than I expected. I'm relieved.

You didn't bring your knife today.

That's right.

Because the wife of a druggist doesn't need to be armed.

It's getting cold. Let's hurry up.

It tastes good.

Really?

I haven't tasted sake this good in a long time.

I suppose.

What's wrong?

It's nothing.

Here.

I understand.

Well, take care.

I hope you're not getting bored living the life of a peddler.

Not at all. I didn't kill people for amusement.

Besides, I don't get restless living here.

I've discovered many things here that make me happy and content.

Very good.

But I hope your skills don't whither out here. Farewell.

Good luck, boy.

I'm sorry, but I'm not good at dealing with that man.

Forgive me for not seeing him off.

Oh, no.

We worked so hard.

There's been too much rain lately.

It'll be fine. At least half of these will survive.

It's part of the risk of farming.

But...

But...

But...

You never ask me about my past.

About anything personal.

I should apologize to your father, because we are living like this

Even though I know it's only a ruse to hide our true identities.

I could ask you about your life,

But it would serve no purpose. So I don't.

You are...

Never mind.

Take this, Tomoe. His parents want you to have it as a keepsake.

Thank you. Thank you so much.

You know the only reason he went to Kyoto

Was because he wanted to be promoted and become a proper man for Tomoe.

He wanted to help the Shogunate, His ambition was great,

But because he became a bodyguard, he ended up like that.

Don't talk like that!

This calamity has wounded Tomoe more than anyone else!

Sister! What's wrong with you?

Talk to me! Sister!

What's wrong with you?

Sister...

Sister...

When you aren't killing people,

You are too gentle.

Katsura escaped, but the boy is still within our grasp.

The time will come, and he will be defenseless.

I should have guessed.

His energy has waned over the last few months.

More importantly, something in his eyes has changed dramatically.

He will be no match for your terrifying preparation.

Katagai.

It was only a matter of time, but we better get this job done quickly.

Hey, Enishi!

I'm sorry to keep you waiting.

The rain will soon cease, and it will then be your turn,

Enishi Yukishiro.

Sister!

Enishi?

I've finally found you!

This is my little brother. His name is Enishi.

Little brother?

Yes, I sent him some letters from Kyoto.

He tracked me down somehow.

I see. You probably have many things to talk about.

I'll go check on the crops.

I'm so surprised to see you. How is Father?

He's fine, I guess.

When did you leave Edo?

Right after you left six months ago.

Who has been taking care of you, and how did you know I was here?

It was easy. I'm an envoy for the Shogunate.

His fate is sealed.

You should be happy, Sister!

Finally! Finally, the time has come to punish Battosai!

That's what you wanted, isn't it?

That's why you set out from Edo all by yourself, right?

That's why you are in this lonely place, living with that man.

Go back to Edo right now.

What are you talking about?

You are the eldest male child of the Yukishiro family.

You shouldn't have left home to seek revenge.

I don't care about my family name!

I want to help you, Sister! That's why...

You must go back, Enishi.

Do you understand me?

What's wrong with you?

Why do you want to protect that terrible man?!

He deserves whatever he gets. Don't you think so, Sister?

He destroyed your happiness! He's your mortal enemy, isn't he?

Give this to Father, please.

Tell him to keep it as a remembrance of me.

Please? Do you understand?

Sister...

Do you?

I've told you where we will be waiting for you.

That bastard! If only he would disappear from this world.

I am glad that we gathered enough harvest before winter.

Yes.

I thought this was an impetuous idea with no chance of success,

But the crops grew faster than I expected.

Sorry. You look so happy when you eat.

Do I?

If your life had taken another route,

You could have been happy living like this.

Working your field. Eating the food you raised with your own hands.

I've been thinking since we arrived here.

I thought I was following the theory of Mitsurugi swordsmanship...

to protect powerless people and protect the happiness of as many people

As I could to create a new world.

But now I realize this was just my conceit.

All I could do is to protect a humble life here,

And this is the best I could manage.

I don't think I've ever known what a peaceful life is like.

But I've come to realize what it's like now.

Living with you in this village made me realize it so clearly.

And I found the answer to why I have fought and what I will fight for.

It's you. You are the one who showed me this new way to live.

May I tell you something?

Please.

My father is an employee of the Shogunate in Edo.

He is neither a skilled swordsman nor a statesman, but he is a kind man.

My mother died while she was giving birth to Enishi.

For him I am both his sister and his mother.

I love him dearly.

We were never wealthy, but we always lived happily.

I was engaged to be married.

I'd known my fiance since we were children,

And he was now an envoy for the Shogunate.

When we got engaged officially,

My brother was very jealous and unreasonable.

But everything else was fine,

And we were supposed to be married as scheduled.

But my fiance went to Kyoto and got involved in the disturbance there.

Right before the wedding day, he died and was never able to return to me.

After I learned the news, I could not help coming to Kyoto.

That's when I met you.

That is the kind of woman I am.

I am sorry.

I am so sorry. I've been deceiving you.

Enishi, tomorrow you will return to Edo with your sister.

I will. If Battosai is dead, she will want to come home.

Won't she?

Certainly. Everything will be complete.

The mission will be over for you and for me.

Oh, heavens. I'm risking my life on this gamble.

But I can't lose!

We're almost home.

Yes.

This is the last trip to the village this year.

Next trip will be after the snow melts.

I mean, only if we can keep living like this next year.

We should hurry. It's too cold to tarry.

I...

Will...

I will protect you.

I will protect you.

He died in an unfamiliar place, and my happiness vanished with him.

I could not even keep him close so that my happiness would never leave.

It was my fault.

It was my fault, because I never told him how much I loved him as he was.

If I'd only had the courage then... The more I thought about it...

The more I felt I had to hate someone anyone... or I would go insane.

So I plotted with others to bring about your destruction.

I am that kind of woman.

And yet, you say...

You say you will protect me.

He was the son of a Shogunate employee, and I had known him since we were little.

Just my father, he was neither a skilled swordsman,

nor a clever statesman. But he was such a kind man,

And he tried so hard at everything he did.

I loved that quality in him.

Then he asked me to marry him,

And I was so happy I thought my heart would burst.

But in my bliss, I could not speak the words that would keep him near me.

I couldn't let him know how happy I was.

Maybe it was my fate.

Maybe I am unworthy to be happy.

"You cause the bloody rain to fall."

You said that to me on the night we met.

Yes.

You also told me that I could never be happy

living an assassin's life.

living an assassin's life.

Yes, I did.

You were right.

However, I will keep killing...

Until the new world comes.

Once it has arrived,

I will seek ways to protect people that will not involve taking lives.

I will also look for a way to atone for the terrible things I have done.

If you are with me, I will be able to abandon the sword.

Tomoe?

Yes.

I will protect you, and make sure that you are happy.

Yes.

This man destroyed my happiness.

Then, he gave me a new happiness.

Farewell.

Farewell to you, my second love.

Tomoe!

Tomoe!

Iizuka?!

I found the spy.

It's Tomoe.

There is a cottage on the mountain.

She's meeting with her conspirators. Kill her!

She can't be.

I have evidence. Her journal.

Her journal?

Remember the man who cut you?

She knew him. He was her fiance.

"Right before the wedding day, he died and was never able to return to me."

Next Rurouni Kenshin, Act 4: The Cross-shaped Wound

Please look forward to it.

Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuioku-hen

Act 4: The Cross-shaped Wound

I found the spy.

It's Tomoe.

There is a cottage on the mountain.

She's meeting with her conspirators.

Kill her!

Sister!

Well now...

I better not waste any time. Let's get out of here.

Goodbye, Himura.

How long will we be able to stay here?

Why did you involve Enishi in this matter?

The boy was doggedly asking about his sister in Kyoto,

And an elder from the Shogunate sent him to me.

It was very much the same as when you were recruited.

Where are the others?

They're hiding along the road, waiting for him to arrive.

Why didn't you wait to hear from me?

What could you tell us? About his weaknesses?

We know those already.

Did you even need me?

Of course.

Even the cruelest murderer is easy prey for unexpected emotions.

That's why we needed you. You are his weakest point now.

He is coming here to see you.

He has found out that the woman he loves has betrayed him,

And his mind is in disarray.

This will prevent him from using his full abilities.

This is our real purpose. You understand?

You planned this all along.

You tricked me.

So, what will you do about it?

You've fallen in love with him, haven't you?

Woman is such a pathetic creature.

I understand what has happened, of course.

Human emotion is an unreliable, and shifting foundation.

The separation between love and hate is no thicker than a whisper.

This is the very nature of humans, you see.

A malignant assassin can appear as innocent as a newborn baby

In the eyes of the woman who loves him.

I didn't realize you thought so little of me.

Don't be a fool.

It requires strength and clearness of thought to bite through your own tongue.

Besides, nothing will change if you commit suicide at this point.

Kill yourself, if you wish.

But you remember the origin of your involvement with us, don't you?

Why did Kiyosato have to die?

What was Kiyosato to you?

Wasn't he the dearest being in the world to you?

I know at least that you were the one he loved most of all in this world.

If that were not true, he would never have gone to Kyoto.

He wanted to be a hero for you,

Even though he was ill equipped as a swordsman.

He should have stayed with me.

If only he had stayed with me, I would have been happy.

It is man's nature to strive to please

His lover by serving for his family and the all-powerful Shogunate.

Without a peaceful society,

People cannot achieve happiness as a person.

That is why we must eliminate any threat to the Shogunate,

Regardless of the severity of that menace.

It is this cautiousness that has kept the peace for three hundred years.

We are the keepers of this society,

And we are in harmony with our human nature.

We also put our lives at risk to protect the happiness of people.

Can you understand that? Every man is full of sin.

We live and die in sin.

It is our fate as human beings.

We will kill him to preserve the Tokugawa Shogunate

And the society as a whole.

Your feelings for him are sinful.

However, everyone is prone to make mistakes.

You must remember Kiyosato.

Remember your first love, the most important man to you.

Tomo...

Tomoe...

Tomo...

He's still strong even after six months, I see.

As I expected, I will have to be the one who finishes him off.

That is the way I will atone

For allowing so many of my followers to die at his hand.

I will avenge Kiyosato for you.

Feel free to watch his death.

It would be the least you could do for your Kiyosato,

Who died as he tried to make you happy.

Kiyosato...

Prepare a room for her, please.

Choshu soldiers are so restless.

You kill all night, and now you've found yourself a woman.

Nothing. I don't care about her.

No one else thinks that.

You rescued her once, so why not do so tonight?

Master Katsura, you're safe!

I wish I were dead.

I've lost everything.

Should we go to Otsu?

Should we go to Otsu?

Should we go to Otsu?

To Otsu...

Should we go to Otsu?!

Look at yourself.

You've used up your remaining strength just to arrive at this place.

Even for you, a fight is difficult when you have no one to protect.

Yet, from the beginning, you had nothing to preserve, unlike us.

Now by the order of the Shogunate,

I will settle things with you as the chief of its field operations

And at the same time I will have my revenge.

I will do so, because I could not protect my men from your sword, villain!

I killed many men in order to safeguard the well being of the common man.

But my idealism caused you to lose your love.

I stole an important life from you.

I did not know I had done it. I fell in love with you.

I made promises, but I am not fit to protect you.

Even though I...

Yes, and we sold more medicine than I expected.

You seem so happy right now.

Without it, the food tastes flat.

I saw red dragonflies this evening.

Tomoe.

I will protect you.

I don't understand what a woman is.

Tomoe!

Tomoe...

I am so sorry, my darling.

Sister...

Tomoe...

I've lost you.

Now I understand how much you suffered.

You were living with a pain like this.

It was so hard for you. You should have hated me.

But you protected me.

You allowed me to live.

But now you are free from your pain.

You will not suffer anymore.

I will continue to live with my broken heart.

It will serve as my atonement for what I did to you.

I must make reparations for the lives of those who protected me

And those who were killed by me.

It will be difficult, but I think I can do it.

I have lived a hard life any way.

As long as I remember the warmth of people's heart you taught me...

Hopefully, I will be all right.

I know I must say goodbye to you.

But now...

But now let me stay for a while.

We are together.

Tomoe.

I better get going before anyone finds me.

Prepare to set sail!

I will be the one who is inspected. What irony.

Well, they say " life is a gamble", don't they?

So all I can do is to keep making bets till the end.

Himura.

I heard about what happened here. I'm sorry.

Master Katsura.

I found the real spy.

I had a new assassin kill the spy.

Damn, right after New Year's and my luck's already bad.

This new guy will handle assassinations from now on.

Even so, we still require your skills.

The Shinsengumi and the Shogunate hunt patriots

With renewed determination.

If we cannot fight them off with greater ferocity,

Our cause will be lost, and we will be executed.

I see.

Himura.

Yes.

I once made a request to Tomoe.

I asked her to be a sheath for your ungovernable rage.

A sheath?

Yes, I believe that she can still serve that purpose for you.

I want to believe that.

Katsura?

All I can do now is to lend my sword to your cause.

Tomoe saved my life.

I think she knew I would have to fight once more. I believe that.

I see.

However, once the battle has been won...

You will withdraw from our clan?

I don't know.

But I will never kill again.

Ever.

Shinsaku, the world has turned out just as you said it would.

I was wrong to doubt you.

Hiten Swordsmanship should only be used to protect the new world.

It should never be used to destroy the old regime.

I'm so sorry, Himura.

Tomoe, I must leave you now.

-- I found them! Over here! -- Get the rebels!

Don't let them escape!

-- Leave them alone. -- What was that?

If you leave now, I will spare your life.

But if you don't...

He has red hair.

And a cross-shaped scar on his left cheek!

It is the assassin.

Sir?

Okita, stand back!

But Saitou...

I am very sensitive to the smell of blood.

You cannot defeat him in your current condition.

Let's go.

At the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate...

In Kyoto, there was once an Imperialist known as the Hitokiri (assassin) Battosai.

He was a man who killed like a demon

and cleared the way for the new Meiji era with his bloody sword,

But with the end of the upheaval, he disappeared without a trace.

What's your name, boy?

Shinta.

Much too delicate a name for a swordsman.

From now on your name will be Kenshin.

Kenshin.