Anime Rurouni Kenshin Episode 1 The Legendary Samurai! The Man Who Fights For Love Opening Ending Version watched Subtitled by Shinsen Gumi Summary by Kylara (E-mail) A map of Japan is on screen, while a teenage girl's voice explains that the setting is one hundred and forty years ago, which is about the end of the Edo era. At that time, a man known as the Hitokiri Battousai went and single-handedly brought upon the Meiji era for the people (presumably by killing all of the offending side). Afterwards, he vanished from everyone, leaving behind a fantastical legend legend. While she speaks, you see the man in question leave behind his sword and walk away from all the bloodshed. He has long, red hair tied back slightly, and two scars crisscrossing on his left cheek in the shape of a curvy 'X'.
[ Title screen : The Legendary Samurai! The Man Who Fights For Love]
In downtown Tokyo [the year 1878], a man is walking peacefully down the streets - the same one in the legend. He carries a sword, but it does not seem very obvious - nor does he seem like he wants to kill anyone with that sword. A young girl approaches him, yelling at him that he is the legendary Hitokiri Battousai, and then tries to slice him with her wooden sword. He jumps easily out of the way, but lands on an unstable porch - and he crashes down into a pile of broken wood. Confused, the girl asks herself if this really is the legendary Hitokiri Battousai - this man who seems too short and too easily confused.
When she asks him if he's the one who murdered three people the night before, he smiles and says that he's a rurouni - a wandering samurai. He asks her if he could really kill anyone with his sword, and hands it to her. As she unsheathes it, she realizes that the sharp edge of the sword is on the wrong side (meaning it couldn't kill a mouse). It also has no scratches on it, which would leave you to believe that he couldn't possibly have been in any fights. He explains that no, he didn't kill anyone, and that his sword is a 'Sakaba' sword. While he tries to walk away, the girl suddenly verbally attacks him, asking him all sorts of questions. She mentions that in the new Meiji era, carrying a sword is illegal - also, that he certainly looked suspicious, wandering around all alone in Tokyo... What's he doing? The rurouni looks very confused and nervous when they both suddenly hear a police whistle. The girl suddenly throws his sword back at him and dashes off, mentioning that this time, it must be him. He catches his sword very neatly in the sheath (very neat move) and looks positively dark for a moment there, much more serious than before.
A man with a mask on (he's huge) easily kills two policemen with his sword. While the third policeman is about to attack, the girl runs toward him and tries to attack - but not only does her sleeve get sliced, her sword is cut in two. Just as she's about to get the coup de grace, the rurouni from earlier grabs her out of harm's way. She's shocked, while he just smiles at her and mentions that her wooden sword isn't any good against that real one. The man is about to attack again, but another police whistle is blown and he runs off, yelling that he is the Hitokiri Battousai of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu (a sword technique). The girl is horrified, saying that she's the leader and master of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu techinque, and that she can't possibly let a serial killer ruin her family dojo's name, but faints. As he looks at her, he says that she has a strong spirit.
The sun is shining on the roof of the Kamiya Kashin Ryu Dojo, and the girl is sleeping. As she wakes up, she grimaces in pain - pulling down her sleeve, she realizes that she has been bandaged up. Thinking, she remembers that she was about to beat the Hitokiri Battousai (...) but instead, she was rescued by that rurouni. Sniffing the air, she then says aloud that the soup smells good.
Outside, the rurouni is tending a soup on the fire. [Note - the exact position he's in is the same one he sleeps in - sitting up with his sword.] Two little girls (both very young) walk forward, one holding a white radish and the other green onions. They smile at him and dump them into the soup (whole), despite his protests. The door slides upon to reveal the girl, who asks him what he's doing. He smiles and says that she's finally awake, and doesn't she have adorable little sisters. [Note - they're not actually her sisters.] They hug him and say that they're very good friends. He explains that he's making breakfast for everyone, and that she should join him. The older of the two little girls presents her older sister a leaf, with a bunch of rice animals on it decorated to look like little animals. She picks one up, bites it, and looks like she's going choke. He asks her if she doesn't like it (and he looks very distressed) while she looks angry, and says that his cooking is a little tastier than hers. (He falls over.)
Later, the rurouni has picked up the younger of the two girls and is carrying her around on his shoulders. Inside, the eldest girl (the main one, geez) is getting her bandage checked by an old man, who tells her it's only a superficial wound and that it'll get better soon. She asks him that doesn't he think that man's different from other samurai? He answers that the man is a top-notch baby-sitter, and laughs so hard he blows the powdery medicine he was using all over her head. She does not look pleased.
While the kids are playing with his head (stretching his mouth out, etc.), the rurouni asks the old man a question about the girls (which I couldn't understand, due to the girls). He explains that he's been a doctor in this particular neighborhood for thirty years, and that since Kaoru's parents died, he's taken care of Kaoru as if she was his daughter. The two girls are his real grandaughters. After Kaoru's bandage is wrapped up [Note - I can use her name now!], she tells the rurouni that he can stay as long as he wants, since he doesn't look like he can afford a place to sleep. She also says that they have sword fighting in common. He asks her if she's ok with a stranger staying with him, and she says that he must have his own reasons for being a Rurouni. Even if she knew them, what would the difference be? He looks very calm and at peace while she says that.
Later, you see the inside of the dojo. He calls her Kaoru-dono (respectful), and says that she's already a master of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu? Kaoru explains that her father founded that technique - the idea of getting better spiritually without inflicting pain or using harmful weapons. [Note - I don't understand that... she uses a wooden sword, and she fights.] She says that the Katsujin Ken embodies that idea [note - I assume she means either the sign they're looking at or a certain technique]. Thinking about the killer, she gets angry, saying that she can't believe the Battousai is using her family's good name and technique to kill (since it goes against the morals of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu). Then, the doctor comes in, telling Kaoru that her students are here. Smiling, she dashes off to the door, saying that she can't beat this man alone, but with her students, she certainly can.
Opening the door of the dojo, Kaoru tells the three teenagers that she's happy that they're there, so now they can defeat this Battousai, but the three boys explain that they have to quit. Because of the rumors going around about the killer being a student of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu, they are being forced to quit due to various other factors. They say that they're sorry, as her last students, but they have to go. They leave her standing sadly at the door.
Kaoru is now taking a bath, feeling sad that she can't protect her dojo. Outside, the rurouni and the older of the two little girls are putting fire underneath the bath to keep it hot. The little girl says that she thinks Kaoru-nee-chan [older sister Kaoru] is crying. Kaoru gets determined and says she needs to cheer up. She dunks her head underwater. Outside again, the rurouni asks if Kaoru is ok. Since there's no response, he starts yelling, "No! Don't do anything stupid! Kaoru-dono, it isn't worth it!" and runs into the bathroom... only to see a very alive Kaoru in the bath.
At night time, Kaoru is locking him up in a garage-type thing, telling him that this should teach him to knock before running in. He can sleep there. As she leaves, he asks her one last thing - did she know if any of the students she had were left-handed and had their right thumb dislocated? Kaoru doesn't understand, and he explains he's asking about the killer. She gets offended, saying that he thinks the killer learned sword here at the dojo? When the goal is never killing? She says the Hitokiri Battousai was born a killer, and that no matter what, she'll restore her dojo's honor, and protect her father's name. He replies that her father would want her to be happy, not die protecting his name. She gets angry, and says that he doesn't even know her! Kaoru then runs off.
Kaoru is sleeping, thinking about his words about how her father would just want her to be happy. Finally, she gets out of bed and goes to the garage door and speaks through the bars on it. She apologizes for being so rude. She asks him why he isn't answering; she knows he's awake! While she opens the door, it reveals an empty futon. He isn't in there. The wind blows as she stands outside the garage, and she thinks she should've asked the rurouni his name. [Note: I'd like to know how he got out without slicing any of the walls or doors.]
Outside the dojo, a man holding a sword says, "Wow, you're so strong, Boss Gohei... I mean Battousai-sensei." The killer now has his mask off. Some of the other men ask him if he's prepared for tonight. He unsheathes his sword, saying that he'll show them how strong his cursed thumb is. As he slices his sword down, it flashes back to another scene where he slices a man in a dojo (the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu dojo) and laughs, asking if anyone else wants to taste his new style. A very young Kaoru is standing outside, watching. A man passes by the door, telling her to go back inside. The other men smile upon seeing him, all saying "Master Kamiya! Kamiya-sensei!" Kamiya-sensei asks the man, Hiruma Gohei, why he must be so difficult, for what he does goes against the Kasshin Ryu. He replies that he wants nothing more to do with the dojo - swords are made for killing, and his wants blood - Kamiya's blood. He attacks, but Kamiya's sword slams down on his right hand, spewing blood as he falls to his knees. Kamiya says that he'll never use a sword with that hand again. He is a disgrace, and may never enter this dojo again. Gohei looks up from his position on the floor to see the child Kaoru standing outside the door (she didn't leave). He glares at her, laughing evilly (child Kaoru is terrified), while the adult Kaoru wakes up in her bed. She realizes there was someone whose right thumb was broken.
The men are walking down the street, while Kaoru is going over some old records. She finds the name "Hiruma Gohei", a man expelled eleven years ago. [Off-hand note - that would make the child Kaoru about six or seven.] The doors to the dojo suddenly open, and Gohei walks in. Gohei says that her father sent him to hell eleven years ago, and that since then, he's vowed to destroy the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu. Kaoru says that he wanted revenge by ruining their good name. Gohei replies that he appreciates what her father did, and wishes her father was here now, after the eleven years it took for him to perfect his killing technique with the other hand. She says that her father's technique won't be beaten by him, and grabs a wooden sword and slams into him. He catches the sword and slams her in the shoulder with the sheath of his, and picks her up by the collar of her shirt. Gohei says that after sending her to hell and trashing the dojo, his revenge would be complete - but before she died, should he let his students have a taste of her? His students reply yes. Kaoru weakly replies that a sword is meant to protect people. Gohei says that's interesting, and points her own wooden sword at her neck. Since her budo can't save her, what now?
The door to the dojo opens, revealing a man. Gohei asks him what's wrong, and he replies, "Strong!" and faints. Behind him is the rurouni. Gohei realizes that this is the man from yesterday, to which the rurouni replies that he should've beaten him then. Kaoru says that no, he's not that type of person! Gohei looks from Kaoru to him, and says that he must have the same sword discipline as this girl here...
The rurouni walks forward, and says no. A sword is meant to kill, sword techniques are inevitably used to kill, and that will never change. While he walks forward, images flash of the rurouni at another time, killing many people without a sign of remorse. The rurouni then says that this will never change, but dreamers like Kaoru may use their sword for something else, like protecting - and that he prefers what Kaoru believes over what is true. He says maybe someday, people will see exactly why her way is better. Gohei tells him, "What does he know?", and tells his students to kill this idiot. As they rush forward, Kaoru screams for him to run.
The rurouni pulls his sword an inch out of its sheath, and replies for them to back off - he doesn't want to hurt anyone. The students say that will not happen - and attack. The rurouni takes out his sword, and starts fighting - whoosh! With just a few strokes of his sword, he takes out five of the men immediately, moving at an unnatural speed. One of the men is scared, saying that this man must be a magician. Kaoru is shocked, but realizes that he's just reacting to what they'll do before they even move. He's simply anticipating what they'll do.
As Gohei watches him fight, he notices the man has red hair and two scars crisscrossing on his left cheek. The rurouni, resting his perfectly blood-free sword on his left shoulder, tells him one more thing. He says that the real Hitokiri Battousai's style isn't Kamiya Kasshin Ryu or whatever other style Gohei uses. "It's called the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu. If I wasn't using this special Sakaba sword, you would all be dead. It's the ultimate assassin's sword stance that uses god-like speed." Kaoru is shocked, and says that he's that Hitokiri..?
Gohei drops her on the ground. He says that there's can't be two Battousai in the world, and he's the one who really deserves the title. All Gohei has to do for the title is defeat the Battousai. [Note: I dunno if it's that easy...] The ruruoni replies that Gohei hadn't earned it, to which Gohei replies, "Die!" As he slices his sword down, he hears from above, "Up here!" and looks up to see the rurouni slicing his sword down - right on his left thumb. The rurouni says he never cared for the nickname Battousai, and that it's even more annoying when someone like him uses it. He also says that it's too bad he'll never use those fingers to hold a sword again. The only guy who was still conscious can't believe it - everyone is only unconscious, not dead. The ruruouni tells him to go get the police, and the man runs off screaming. The rurouni looks at Kaoru, and apologizes for not telling her who he was, but he didn't really want to tell her if he didn't have to. Turning back towards the door, he says goodbye. As he walks away, she yells, "IDIOT!" at him, and he freaks out. She stands up and motions at the bunch of people lying unconscious, saying that it's all his fault. Did he expect her to rebuild the Kasshin Ryu dojo all by herself? Kaoru says she didn't care who he used to be, and wouldn't he just stay and help her? He replies that it may bring trouble to you if the real Battousai stays with her, but she said she didn't want the Battousai, she wanted the rurouni! Finally, she sighed and said if he was going to leave, he could at least tell her his name. He replied, "Himura. Himura Kenshin." Closing the door, he then said he was tired of wandering - but he didn't know when he'd have to leave. She then punches him out.
It ends with Kaoru saying that there's another person at the Kamiya dojo now.