Yahiko is
severely damaged from perhaps Otowa's most
obvious concealed weapon. He is thrown to
the ground like a piece of garbage. Kenshin
appears from out of the dojo to replace
Yahiko, but the boy gets to his feet. Yahiko
asks that Kenshin let him continue on, otherwise,
he will never get stronger if he cannot
finish his own battles.
Yahiko's
leg begins giving away. Kenshin looks at
the fire in Yahiko's eyes, however, and
sees his determination. He reminds Yahiko
that he is a rurouni who vowed to never
let anyone die before his eyes. If Yahiko
were to die on the battlefield, Kenshin
would be breaking his own promise, but for
just one time, Kenshin tells Yahiko to go
on and win. Kaoru thinks he's crazy to let
Yahiko continue in his condition, but Kenshin's
decision is final.
Otowa draws
a sword hoisted at his waist, the weapon
which he claims will finish off Yahiko.
Yahiko's will to live is strong. He repeats
to himself that he will someday be permanently
fighting at Kenshin's side in order to increase
his spirit. Otowa brings down his blade
upon Yahiko. To everyone's surprise, Yahiko
blocks the sword by executing step one of
the Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu's succession technique,
the Hadome. Yahiko catches Otowa's weapon
between his wrists in preparation for the
Hawatari. Otowa quickly sends forth his
Rokudouko before he is hit with the concluding
step, yet the look in Yahiko's eyes frighten
him. Before the six blades reach him, Yahiko
promptly slides the back of his hands up
Otowa's cold edge and hits the Human Weapon
with much force in the chin using the butt
of his shinai.
