Between Life and Death is the ninety-sixth chapter of the Rurouni Kenshin manga.
Synopsis[]
It's time for Hiko's final lesson to Kenshin: if he does not learn the Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki he will die for sure. But Kenshin has not yet found the answer deep inside his heart to what to do in order to get the strenght to overcome Hiko's Kuzu Ryū Sen. Will Kenshin find the answer to survive and continue his fight against Shishio? What will happen to Hiko after this confrontation?
Summary[]
To be added
Characters[]
- Himura Kenshin
- Kamiya Kaoru
- Myōjin Yahiko
- Sagara Sanosuke
- Takani Megumi
- Shinomori Aoshi
- Makimachi Misao
- Saitō Hajime
- Han'nya
- Kashiwazaki Nenji
- Hiko Seijūrō XIII
- Udō Jin-e
- Ōkubo Toshimichi
Chapter Notes[]
This chapter has several differences with other portrayals of the events of the story in different iterations of the franchise:
Differences with the 1996 anime[]
- In the manga the events of Kenshin mastering the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū ōgi happen after the events of Sanosuke meeting Saitō Hajime in Kyōto. But the anime adapts these events in reverse order: Episode 44 covers Sanosuke meeting Saitō Hajime in Kyōto, and Episode 43 covers Kenshin mastering the Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki.
- The events leading to Kenshin mastering the Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki are played out differently in the anime:
- In the manga, Kenshin and Hiko haven't slept all night before the duel. Both point this out to each other and go wash their faces. This is omitted from the anime.
- In the manga, when Hiko is about to attack Kenshin with the Kuzu Ryū Sen for the last time, he takes off his white cloak and explains that the cloak is an heirloom of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū, and is comprised of several heavy materials that weigh down the wearer, as well as counter-springs in the shoulders. This is ommited from the anime.
- Original to the anime, Hiko notices Kenshin's eyes change to the yellow "Battōsai" eyes, prompting him to launch Kuzu Ryū Sen in frustration.
- In the manga, just before Hiko strikes, Kenshin remembers various things his friends and foes told him, making him realise that he can't die just yet, thus mastering Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki. In the anime, he instead remembers the past and how he was saved by his friends, who wished for him to stay alive. He then sees a brief flash of all the people he has recently met. Just before Hiko strikes, his eye color changes back to blue.
- In the manga, after Kenshin defeats Hiko with Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki, there is a delay to when all the strikes hit his body, making at first an impression he was unfazed. This delay is not seen in the anime and Hiko simply falls over after some time.
Differences with Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends[]
- The live action movie covers the events of this manga chapter in a very different way: An unconscious Kenshin is rescued from the ocean shore by Hiko Seijūrō, and after he recovers he pleas Hiko to teach him the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū ōgi, and he accepts.
Differences with Rurouni Kenshin: Shin Kyōto Hen[]
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Differences with the 2023 anime[]
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Trivia[]
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Gallery[]
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