Yahiko's injuries have
healed up quickly, but he and Kaoru and still on each
other's bad side. Kaoru tries to teach the basics
of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu first, but Yahiko just
doesn't want to learn them. Instead, Yahiko wants
to become strong, quickly. He demands the teachings
of Kenshin, rather than Kaoru, but Kenshin declines
the request.
On the second day of
Yahiko's training, Kaoru and Yahiko are encountered
by two former students of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu,
Hira and Sato. Both are running away from a horde
of weapon-wielding men chasing after them and have
saught refuge at the Kamiya Dojo. With her shinai,
Kaoru takes out the men after her former students,
impressing Yahiko in the process. Hira and Sato explain
that the men were causing trouble in town, so they
tried to calm them down, but were only chased for
their efforts. In a matter of seconds, more men arrive
on the scene. There's way too much, so Kaoru and the
others all run into the dojo.
The men are known as
the Hishi Manji Guren Tai. In a time like this, Kenshin
isn't around. While he's out shopping, the Kamiya
Dojo is surrounded by a bunch of criminals. Hira and
Sato ask for guidance from Kaoru, but Yahiko calls
the two fools. Yahiko can smell alocohol on Hira and
Sato and also comes to the conclusion that they were
the ones that started the fight. Before anything else
is said, the Kamiya Dojo's walls are blasted by a
wooden cannon, the Hishi Manji Guren Tai's special
weapon. Hachisuka, the leader of the group, calls
out to Hira and Sato, calling this their revenge for
when the two former Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu students unsheathed
their swords and broke one of their men's arms.
Kaoru is left in shock.
Two students that whom she and her father taught to
about the sword protecting life have totally betrayed
their teachings. Even so, when the cannon is again
fired into the Kamiya Dojo, Kaoru assumes full responsibility
of the situation. As she steps out by herself, Yahiko
joins her side, claiming not to be one of low-lifes
like Hira and Sato. Hachisuka is prepared to do some
damage amongst the two, but just in the nick of time,
Kenshin returns home.
The rurouni asks that
the Hishi Manji Guren Tai end their foolish raid.
Hachisuka, even though he is informed by one of his
men that Kenshin is the rurouni that took out the
sword police, orders the wooden cannon to be fired.
It is, but Kenshin draws his Sakabatou and cuts the
cannonball into two before it reaches him. The Hishi
Manji Guren Tai finally listens to Kenshin and leaves
after such an action.
Hira and Sato are asked
to leave once the Hishi Manji Guren Tai disappear.
Both former students do so, leaving Kaoru a bit down
on herself. Kenshin comforts her, but Yahiko dries
her tears when he says that he won't become like Hira
or Sato. Yahiko finally accepts the fact that he is
now a student of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu. He comes
to understand that he won't become strong like Kenshin
immediately, but wants to train hard in order to come
close. Finally, the Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu is on the
road to recovery.
