Because of Kenshin's
performance against the sword police, many rumors have
been spread around town. About a dozen or more people
show up at the front of the Kamiya Dojo, willing to
take lessons from Kenshin, but he declines any offer
to teach. Kaoru seems a bit displeased as she and Kenshin
cross the bridge over into town. Still, Kaoru is mad
because no one is returning or enlisting in the Kamiya
Dojo. Suddenly, Kenshin is hit from behind. A boy runs
away before both Kenshin's and Kaoru's eyes. Quickly,
Kaoru leaps on the boy and finds that he's nothing more
than a pickpocket who stole Kenshin's pouch. Kenshin
is given back his pouch, but the rather rude boy is
handed the stolen money back. All Kenshin does is warn
the boy not to get caught again. When Kenshin and Kaoru
continue their way, the boy throws the pouch of money
at Kenshin's head. The boy calls himself Myoujin Yahiko,
a son of Tokyo's best samurai. Instead of taking what
he stole, Yahiko feels as though he's being insulted.
Kenshin understands Yahiko to an extent. The rurouni
views the boy as an adult trapped in a child's body.
Kenshin apologizes for underestimating and reclaims
his pouch. Yahiko then turns tail and runs off.
Later, by the riverbanks,
two mean approach Yahiko, who is seated. One asks for
the month's payment. When Yahiko replies that he will
no longer pay because he isn't associated with the yakuza-like
thugs anymore, the other man, Gasuke, hits Yahiko with
his sheathed blade. Stealing is now a disgusting, pathetic
act to Yahiko, but Gasuke is hell-bent on showing Yahiko
just who is boss.
On her way home after
training hard, Kaoru spots Yahiko being carried away
to a place known as the Shuei Gumi Headquarters by Gasuke.
There, Yahiko is talked to by Tanishi, the head of the
gang. Tanishi wonders why exactly Yahiko wants to break
his ties from the Shuei Gumi. He feels as though that
in the Meiji Era, there is no such thing as pride. After
Tanishi gives some examples, Gasuke adds in that Yahiko
should show some respect to the man who gave Yahiko
shelter when his parents passed away. However, when
mentioning that, Gasuke refers to Yahiko's parents rudely,
calling his father foolish and his mother a whore. In
an angry rage, Yahiko bites between Gasuke's legs, sending
the Hitokiri of the Shuei Gumi to the ground in agony.
Yahiko makes it clear that his father did not want to
betray the Bakufu and joined the Shogi Tai to sacrifice
himself for justice and his mother tended to him day
and night until she was taken away by her illness
Gasuke gets up and draws
his sword slightly, ready to hurt Yahiko badly this
time, but he is knocked over as the door is kicked in.
Kenshin appears on the scene, surprising everyone. The
rurouni with the cross-shaped scar had already taken
out everyone that blocked his path in the headquarters.
Gasuke again gets back on his feet, but when he charges
for Kenshin with his sword drawn, Kenshin simply raises
the butt of his sword, sending Gasuke straight into
the ceiling. The rurouni demands Yahiko, otherwise the
Shuei Gumi will face humiliation because they would
be taken out by just one man. Tanishi doesn't take long
to hand over Yahiko to Kenshin.
Dragging the boy home,
all Kenshin hears from the injured Yahiko is cussing.
Yahiko wants to be strong so he can defend the name
and honor of his parents. Kenshin takes Yahiko to the
Kamiya Dojo where he introduces the Tokyo samurai's
son to his new master, Kaoru. Kenshin guarantees that
Yahiko will get as strong as he wants to be. Unfortunately,
however, both Kaoru and Yahiko don't want to work together.
Kaoru claims not to be that desperate for students,
especially if they're like the rude Yahiko she met earlier
on in the day, and Yahiko does not want to learn from
an "old hag" like Kaoru. Even if Yahiko is
covered with bruises and injuries, he still has the
energy to argue with Kaoru.
