Act One "The Man Who Slays"
This age as well as the souls of the people have fallen ill...
Heading towards this world killing day by day... Even though one may possesses an immense power, the tide of this era cannot be fettered.
Please. At least spare this child.
Don't look!
Onei-chan, at least save the boy.
Shinta!
Shinta! Shinta!
You're still young, so you can't choose the way you live your life yet.
So don't die... ...you have to live your life...
Choose your own life and live for the rest of us who have died...
Shinta live...
Live
Live Shinta
Live Shinta for my share of life.
Who the hell are you!?
I have no ears for the dead.
It is some sort of fate that we have crossed paths. I have taken your revenge.
You can hate or lament but the dead will not return.
You should be grateful that you even survived.
It isn't all that strange...
...for blood to rise nor the aroma of a white plum.
To be killed by bandits and die a dog's death; it is a hell.
To be sold off and become a prostitute; it is also a hell.
Yes... It isn't all that strange. This is how it has been and always will be.
Even though one obeys the teaching of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu and thrashes his sword.
In the end it might be that not a single person could be saved.
Could it be that the only absolute thing I can do is to venerate the immaculate soul?
Not only for your parents... You've made graves for the bandits as well?
They weren't my parents, they were slave traders. My parents died suddenly a year ago.
It doesn't matter if you are a slave trader or a bandit, in the end you bow out silently.
And who are those stones for?
Kasumi-san, Akane-san, Sakura-san.
Even though it has been only a day since I met them...
Because I was the only boy, I thought that I had to protect them even if it meant to throw away my own life.
But...
...they protected me and said, "At least spare this child.", since I am only a child...
...the least I could do was build them a good grave, but these are the only stones I could find and I haven't any flowers.
It is truly a shame to rest in peace without knowing the taste of good sake. This is an offering.
Thank you...
I'm Hiko Seijuurou. I practice a little swordsmanship.
Swordsmanship?
Kid, not only could you not protect something that was irreplaceable...
...but you have been entrusted with the lives of those three. Even your small hands understand the dead weight of a lifeless body.
The magnitude of the life that you have been confided with is incomparable. That is what you must bear.
To support yourself and to obtain the power to protect people.
So that you can survive... So that you can protect the people that are important to you.
Protect?
Kid... What is your name?
Shinta.
Too kind a name for a swordsman.
From this moment forward your name shall be Kenshin.
Ken
Kenshin...
To you... I will give something special.
Rurouni Kenshin The Romance of a Meiji Swordsman Reminiscence Edition
1864 ( Bakumatsu Period )
We're a little late. Let's hurry up a bit.
I've heard, Kyosato.
You are going to have a betrothal next month.
Yes.
So, you are going to marry your beautiful childhood friend. You're quite fortunate.
Thank you...
...but I feel bad, that I'm the only one to become happy. With the world being how it is...
What are you saying?
No matter how the world may be there's nothing wrong with each individual finding happiness.
I think that I can be back before the Spring of next year.
We'll have to be a little more patient. I'll buy a hozuki* on my way back. (*A winter ground cherry plant)
Shigekura Jubei of the Kyoto Shogunate. I've come to meet you.
You will now be delivered tenchu*. (*Heavenly punishment)
An assassin...
Do you think that we'll back off from one swordsman?
Stay back!
I said stay back!
No... You can't die now...
Shigekura-san!
I can't die.. I don't want to die.
Give up.
I can't do that!
I can't die...
I can't die right now!
I don't want to die... I can't die!
I won't die...
Never...
I don't
I don't want to
I don't want to die.
...not now...
...not yet...
I don't
I don't want to
I don't want to die...
To
Tomo
Tomo...
Himura... were you injured?
Nothing serious.
I can't believe there was a guy that could touch Himura... He must have been pretty skillful.
No...
Determination...
Izuka-san, please take care of the rest.
Alright... come at me! Faster...
He will become strong...
No matter how gifted you are at swordsmanship, if there is no will to become strong you will not be polished.
He is longing for strength... ...more than anything else... ...more than anyone else...
Yes... So purely... So sincerely...
In the teaching of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu...
...the sword of Mitsurugi...
In other words, one holds the sword for the welfare of others... ...to protect the weak.
It's been awhile.
Oh... You got a hit in.
It was my negligence.
Izuka, who was it?
One of Kyoto Shogunate, Shigekura Jubei's men.
I don't know as far as his name.
Is there something?
Actually we will be having a confidential gathering tonight. Toshimaru and Miyabe-san will be there.
It is an important meeting to decide the objectives of the organization.
Do you need protection?
No. I was wondering if you would like to take part in the meeting?
Wow, that's pretty impressive.
I decline.
I am a Hitokiri. I serve no other purpose other than being a Hitokiri.
If there is nothing else then you will have to excuse me.
Hey wait.
Excuse us.
What's with that attitude, when Katsura-san gave all this consideration to him.
Cavalry?
That's right... ...these guys will become powerful ammo... ...for sure...
These guys will do it... At times they exhibit unexpected strength.
Ultimately, these guys will be the ones to topple the Shogunate.
Even though they seem better than the cowardly samurai, are they alright?
Hmph... You are not aggressive enough.
Next!
There are children even that young?
As they say "The more peculiar they are, the more spectacular they are."
How about it? Isn't he something...
Takasugi...
What... Your stare is blank as a pigeon.
That boy...
...I want him.
Leaving the mountain is unforgivable!
Master...
As we speak, many people are being caught up in this confusion and dying.
Isn't it the time? To use this power... To use Mitsurugi-ryu to protect people...
What an idiotic pupil!
What can you do by going out into this chaos alone?
If you want to change this chaotic epoch then you will have no alternative but to consort with either side.
Which means you will be manipulated by political power.
I didn't teach you Mitsurugi-ryu for that reason.
Forget about the outside world and continue with your training.
People are suffering in front of my eyes. Numerous people are grieving.
I can not allow myself to neglect them.
Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu is unquestionably the sovereign style.
Isn't that the reason why we should use this power now?
To protect the people from the struggles of this era?! Isn't that what Mitsurugi-ryu's...
The sword is a weapon of murder. The art of the sword is an art of killing.
No matter what rhetoric or beautiful words you put through your mouth, that is the truth.
To protect people you must slay people. To let people live you must let people die. This is the true teaching of the sword.
Just as I saved you, I have slaughtered hundreds of villains. But they are human as well.
They were nothing more than people trying to live their lives to fullest in a decaying world.
From the moment you step off this mountain there is only pointless massacre that is manipulated by conflicting justice.
If you compel yourself to that then Mitsurugi-ryu will make you into a mass murderer.
Even so...
...I will...
...save people who are suffering with this power.
Even if it is one more life... One more soul...
I want to protect... ...with these hands.
For that reason...
Master...
I don't care about an idiot like you. Just go off to wherever you please.
Thank you
Thank you very much.
So my idiotic pupil has chosen his own idiotic way to live for himself.
Atop his innocence, the path is unavoidable.
Blood
Blood is coming out.
It truly is a nice weather.
It really is, it was snowing until a while ago.
Wait for me...
I wonder if it will be sunny again tomorrow?
I hope you're right.
...you're right, that is also possible.
What is wrong, Saitou-san?
I thought I just smelled blood.
Come on Saitou-san, maybe you've been slaughtering too many lately?
Okita-kun.
Yes?
Please consider your words before putting them into your mouth.
Alright. Alright.
So conceited... ...walking in the middle of the road like that.
I'm counting on you tonight.
Hmm... Something smells good.
White plum perfume.
What?! You know some pretty amorous aromas.
So that woman...
She's beautiful.
See you later.
Oh my. I met with a pack of Mibu wolves on the street just now and I was so scared that I moved aside.
As the rumor goes, the Shinsen-gumi slaughter without mercy.
How scary.
For Spring we have cherry blossoms at night For Summer we have the stars
For Autumn we have the full moon And for Winter we have the snow.
With that, sake is good enough.
If 'tis still unpleasant, 'tis evident there is some disquiet within you.
Someday you shall savor the taste of sake. When that day comes, we shall drink good sake.
You should give up on that woman.
Yeah, but I can't forget about her.
Lately you've been pretty amazing.
In what way?
You don't even give them a chance to scream.
Hey, again.
I've heard about a story like this before...
...when a katana wound is inflicted with a strong resentment, until the hatred is absolved the wound will never fade.
Katana wound filled with hatred?
That's right, I hear it doesn't fade away.
Onei-chan.
You still washing it?
Speaking of which, at the recent bulletin there seemed to have been some trouble.
What happened ?
Miyabe-san and Katsura-san got into an argument.
It seems that Miyabe-san and his supporters are planning to do something big.
And Katsura-san?
He seems to think it is not the time yet.
From what I've heard, the course of events was getting dangerous for Miyabe-san.
It's not very assuring.
Definitely.
Allow me to be candid with you...
...can you kill a person?
I'll be forthright, this is simply murder.
But to create a new world you must destroy the old.
It is a horrible duty, but someone has to do it.
You've said that you wanted to use your power to help people.
If that is so, I want you to allow me to borrow your power.
Can you kill a person for a new age?
Hey you.
And you?
I'm Izuka, I've come to see how you are doing.
This is your first job, right? Keep yourself together.
Sometimes there are people that lose their sanity, then there are others who faint from losing their appetite.
I'm alright; much better than I expected to be.
Then it's all right. In this job psychological and emotional strength are top priority.
There's no point standing around. We better get going.
Beyond my tainted blood and the lives that have been sacrificed...
Tenchu
If there is a new age where anyone can live peacefully...
I will...
On behalf of the heavens...
...I will kill...
How is that kid doing?
I don't need to say.
Truthfully, he's a valuable asset compared to the other soldiers.
But for you, I'm willing to hand him over. Though I do have one condition.
What is it?
Since you're going to waste that boy's life, I don't want you to get your hands dirty.
From this point on, you can never unsheathe your sword.
My current self is, Choshu faction, Ishinshishi's head. I've never had any other intention.
Is that true?
I'll make it a promise.
This is the swordsman, Katsura Kogoro's last day.
That's why you will become the main attraction in Choshu's Bakumatsu "festival".
Leave the music to me.
I'm counting on you.
Even if my body is left in the fields of Musashi, my patriotism will not change.
The Bakufu has murdered my mentor. But that distant ideal still lives on...
...MADNESS...
To obtain this justice, I have no apprehension to forfeit my sanity.
This is the current Choshu faction's... NO... This is my motivation...
Go on, he won't do any harm to you.
Now is not the time to be taking a nap.
Impressive Hitokiri Battousai...
...to kill that many without getting blood on you.
How about getting some sake on the way back?
No, I'm...
Ok, I'll just drink sake by myself. Later.
It's been a year since... It seems that "adopted child" has matured, his atmosphere has changed...
...but inside his heart he is exactly the same; not a single impurity.
Then I guess we can rest easy.
No... because he has none, he's feeling a dramatic discord.
For Hitokiri that is himself.
Shinsen-gumi?
No, it's an underworld assassin like me.
I better get going.
I appreciate your efforts.
I'll hold back Miyabe-san for a while.
Please do, and also be cautious of the Shinsen-gumi.
Yes sir.
Are you done for tonight?
Yes, we are finished for tonight.
Should I order more?
There is no need, the sake is unpleasant.
Is there anything wrong?
It's a horrible thing... ...to set fire to Kyoto.
You...
...really are...
...the one who makes it rain...
...the rain of blood.
Presented By Tsunami Fansubs Pre-Release Version
- Do Not Sell Or Rent -
Translation By Steve Ikeguchi
Special Thanks To Kotus for Sub Station Alpha
Timing By Tsunami
Editing By Steve Ikeguchi & Tsunami
Fine Tuning and Proofreading By Dan Milliken
A blue flower of the soul scatters
A crimson tide of blood ripens
A pallid sough A sliding screen abaft
Memories of a folded hand
That is a phantom.
Rurouni Kenshin Reminiscence Edition
Second Act "Stray Cat"
April 21st release
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Rurouni Kenshin OVA Reminiscence Edition Original Soundtrack
Dramatic Musical Score
Rurouni Kenshin OVA Reminiscence Edition Original Soundtrack
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Rurouni Kenshin OVA Reminiscence Edition Original Soundtrack
Music by : Iwasaki Taku
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