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Rurouni Kenshin
takes place in year 1878, ten years into Japan's Meiji
Era. It is a story about a wandering swordsman named Himura
Kenshin and his many adventures. There are three major
arcs in the Rurouni Kenshin series: Tokyo, Kyoto, and
Revenge, as dubbed by fans. (Note: The following contains
spoilers.)
Tokyo Arc
A rurouni wanders
through Tokyo, beginning the series. The Tokyo Arc is
basically you're introduction arc. The main characters,
Kenshin, Kaoru, Yahiko, and Sanosuke
are met, and the more important of the side characters,
Megumi and Aoshi, are also introduced. There always seems
to be a villain after Kenshin, wanting to defeat him because
he was the legendary Hitokiri Battousai. Prime examples
are Zanza, Aoshi, Jin'e, and Raijuuta. Not only does Kenshin
prove to his friends that he is an expert swordsman, but
Yahiko proves that he is no ordinary ten-year old. There
is a side story that involves Yahiko defeating a yakuza-like
group in order to help his soon-to-be girlfriend Tsubame.
Sanosuke's past is also discovered further through the
side story with Katsuhiro and the revival of the Seikihou
Tai.
Kyoto Arc
Kenshin is encountered
by an old enemy from the Bakumatsu, the surviving Miburo,
Saitou Hajime. Saitou lures Kenshin into a fight, which
was just to see if Kenshin could take on Shishio Makoto.
Shishio, Battousai's replacement after Kenshin had left
the duty of being a shadow assassin, wanted to bring the
downfall of the Meiji Government. The government had burnt
Shishio because they were afraid he'd expose their dirty
secrets. Toshimichi Okubo pleads that Kenshin assist them.
Once Okubo is assassinated by Soujirou, there is not much
of a choice left. Kenshin begins wandering again with
his destination being Kyoto.
Everyone follows
Kenshin, even though he had left only because he could
not fight to his full extent when he has to worry about
others, especially ones close to him. Kaoru and Yahiko
head off separately from Sanosuke. On his way to Kyoto,
Kenshin meets with Misao, an Oniwa Banshu member, who
becomes a rather important character for this arc. There
are numerous events that take place in the Kyoto Arc,
including the Sakabatou being broken, Sanosuke acquiring
a new technique, and Kenshin's Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu training
being completed. This all leads up to two separate battles
that take place at the same time, one at Shishio's headquarters
and the other at the Aoiya restaurant. At both, Shishio
and his men are defeated.
Revenge
Arc
With Shishio
defeated, Kenshin can relax peacefully, but the past comes
back to haunt him. Yukishiro Enishi returns to Japan to
get revenge on the man that killed his sister. Assisting
him are five other comrades who all want to see the deaths
of the former hitokiri. Kenshin finally tells everyone
his dark past in this arc just before the big fight takes
place.
When the battle
at the Kamiya Dojo comes to an end, it is Kenshin who
loses. Kaoru has been killed and the rurouni falls into
a deep state of depression. Aoshi and Misao travel from
Kyoto to Tokyo with Tomoe's diary in possession. Tomoe's
diary is their only hope of ending the madness of Enishi.
During this time, Sanosuke travels to off to another town
where he meets up with the family he left behind.
It is learned
that Kaoru is not dead. The corpse of Kaoru was just a
dummy created by Gein. Once it is proved true, Kenshin
and the others, now all regrouped, head off to an island
where Kaoru is being held prisoner. The final battle between
Kenshin and Enishi takes place and this time, only one
can be declared the victor. Guess who it is?
Concluding
the series, everyone heads off their separate ways. Kenshin
and Kaoru get married and have a child named Kenji, Yahiko
becomes one of the most well-known swordsmen in Tokyo,
using the Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu and Kenshin's Sakabatou,
Sanosuke becomes a wander, travelling the entire world,
Megumi moves back to Aizu, and Saitou is repositioned
to Hokkaido.
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