Kenshin meets with
Iizuka in the fields. Iizuka, disguised as a medicine
merchant, explains Choushuu's state of chaos, the
disappearance of Katsura, and bloody Tokyo. Nothing
good has really happened over the past five months,
except for Kenshin.
On his way home from
the brief meeting, Kenshin is greeted by all of
the country folk. He and Tomoe have been living
up in the farm home arranged by Katsura for five
months as a young couple. Kenshin is a medicine
merchant, famous for his medicine that treats sword
wounds, and Tomoe is a simple housewife. Out
of the two, Kenshin has gained the most notice due
to his kind personality. Once home, Kenshin is met
with the sight of his wife playing with a handful
of children. All of the children rush up to Kenshin
and literally mob him. They're all glad to see him
because they find Kenshin more fun to play with,
rather than Tomoe, who seems to be lacking enthusiasm.
It's a bit late in the afternoon, so Kenshin tells
all of the kids to head on home, promising to be
present all day the next day so he can play with
them. When the young sprouts all scatter from the
scene, Tomoe apologizes for not being as cheery
Kenshin has been lately. For all of his life, times
have been hard. Kenshin tells Tomoe of his rough
past and how hard it has been recently with the
Choushuu crisis and all. Yet, he admits that living
in the country for the past five months with her
has shown him that happiness can be attained by
even the powerless.
In the city, Katagai
is disguised as a poor commoner. While warming his
hands over a fire in the streets, he spots Iizuka
walking off to an undisclosed location. Iizuka had
told him that he was going to be staying with Kenshin
for the night. Suspicious of his actions, Katagai
follows Iizuka and is led to an old shack in the
woods. Katagai peeks into the door and finds Iizuka
talking to three Bakufu fighters. The traitor has
been revealed. Iizuka tells the men that it'd be
a perfect time to take out Battousai, since he's
lightened up over the past five months. Katagai
cannot believe it; he must warn Kenshin. However,
Katagai is stopped in his tracks before he can even
walk a few feet away from the shack when a hand
reaches down and grips his entire face. Mumyoui
lowers his head down from the roof, warning those
inside that they should stand better guard. The
Bakufu fighter known as Nakajou fires a chuuzen
he got from a friend directly through Katagai's
neck, killing him instantly.
Iizuka goes over
to Katagai's corpse and identifies him. Tatsumi,
the assumed leader of the bunch, doesn't care if
others learn of Katsura's advisor's death. All he
cares about is bringing down Battousai, the man
skilled enough to defeat Murakami and his chain-sword.
It's time to take action. After a year's preparation,
Tatsumi calls in young Enishi.
