The Ultimate Technique of the Hiten-Mitsurugi Style: Reunion with a Mentor, Seijūrō Hiko is the 41st episode of the Rurouni Kenshin anime series.
Synopsis[]
Having traveled far for the one she cherishes, the one she holds deep in his heart, as if by fate, Kamiya Kaoru and Myōjin Yahiko have encountered the one person who knows well of the only Kenshin Himura in all of Japan. As Kenshin has left the bustle of the city into the depths of the forests and heights of the mountains, to seek out the sagacity of the man in ascetic solitude known as Hiko Seijūrō, Okina and Misao of the Aoiya Oniwabanshū lead their way to the destination of his wandering. Before an inevitable war with insurmountable odds, as all things stir at this moment, and wishing to support their wanderer at his side, What does destiny have in store for them?
Plot[]
In the midday, Kenshin arrives at the home of a sculptor, located in the mountains. As the sculptor wearing a white cape sits quietly watching over his kiln, Kenshin draws his Sakabatō and takes a slice at him. Quickly, the sculptor evades, leaping high into the air. As he reveals, this is no ordinary sculptor- He is Kenshin's master, Hiko Seijūrō XIII.
Kaoru and Yahiko talking to Okina and Misao
Leading them back to the Aoiya off of the busy main street where they met, Misao and Okina have a brief meeting with Kaoru and Yahiko. As Okina is introduced with the Kenshingumi and details what has happened in the city recently with Kenshin, he also inquires out of concern of why they wish to know where Kenshin is in his secret war against Shishio, and Misao adds in with echoing Okina's earlier advice, warning them that the situation at hand is not a place for fickle sentiment and is leading to a much more dangerous scenario. As Kaoru lets her know of her determination to seek Kenshin no matter where, even to the ends of the earth, Misao is moved and completely confides with her, having returned only recently from her quest to find Aoshi with the same passion. With proof that they will manage in the face of what lies ahead, Misao into leads Kaoru and Yahiko in Kenshin's path with Okina's approval, agreeing that she would reunite them.
Aoshi and Okina meeting on the street
Shortly after, Okina gets a surprise message from a young girl infatuated by a tall, dark, and handsome man to be a second hand courier. Having been a long while, Okina meets Aoshi at a busy market where they discuss matters. The first thing brought up is that Misao will not get involved with anything. Quickly, the topic is changed, as Aoshi mentions he is looking for someone. Okina immediately assumes that it is Himura Kenshin, the Battōsai, and asks Aoshi if he is the one. Aoshi demands to know Himura's location, but Okina refuses to spit it out. Knowing well of the Takeda Kanryū Incident, he demands Aoshi must wake up from the evil building up inside of him. Aoshi doesn't want to listen to the old man ramble on, so he walks away. However, Okina reminds Aoshi that he was the one who decided to choose him as the Oniwabanshū leader, and that if he cannot turn away from his blind ambition that dares to consume him, Okina must kill Aoshi.
Sojiro talking to Aoshi about meeting with Shishio
In the back alleys, Aoshi walks past Sōjirō, Anji, and two other mysterious men. Sōjirō greets Aoshi with a smile, glad to see him in Kyōto. Aoshi felt as though someone was spying on him all along, but now his question is answered. Sōjirō apologizes for doing so and asks Aoshi if he would like to talk while he and the men are on their way to Shishio's place. Aoshi begins to walk away, but he turns back to follow Sōjirō when he mentions that they can help find Kenshin's location.
Young Kenshin and Hiko in an argument
Inside Hiko's house, the master demands his former student to make it quick with this surprise meeting. Kenshin asks his master if he could inherit the succession technique of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū, to complete his training after fifteen years. Hiko immediately refuses, and begins to walk back out the door to his work, but with humility and concern, Kenshin bows and grasps onto Hiko's cape, begging him to explain himself, showing the severity of the situation. As he is briefed on what has happened to his student after fifteen years, Hiko's refusal is immediately reinforced again. He reasons his refusal to do so is because Kenshin doesn't see things the way a true master of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū should. Recalling the last time he ever saw Kenshin before he left to join the Ishin Shishi, he reinforces the lesson that the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū style was meant to protect people from national conflict or public fear, and of the stern reality that swordsmanship, no matter how flourishing and majestic as a martial art, is ultimately nothing but murder when used, and in turn should only be a last resort by the user's own disciplined decision. Furthermore, Hiko feels that since Kenshin left him fifteen years ago and became the Battōsai, there should be no reason for Kenshin to become stronger without turning into a Hitokiri because he was the one who created Shishio Makoto in the first place.
Misao and Yahiko telling Hiko to continue training Kenshin
By time Misao, Kaoru, and Yahiko arrive at Hiko's home, they hear Kenshin's master yelling at the student, demanding him to get out. Feeling insulted, Misao and Yahiko kick down the door. Kenshin looks back at them, shocked to see Yahiko and mainly Kaoru. Hiko quickly breaks up the reunion, commanding that Kenshin go get some water. Kenshin questions his master why he needs to do such a meaningless task, but eventually goes off to fetch some. Kenshin did not look at Kaoru for a second when he passed by her. Misao and Yahiko begin to nag Kaoru, asking what she's going to do now since she's seen Kenshin. At the end of her fulfillment, and at loss of what to do now, Kaoru states what she wanted to do was actually see Kenshin once more. Hiko, now seeing a major turn of events before him, uses the opportunity to get another angle of the story behind his student.
Kaoru asking Kenshin if he is angry at her
When Kenshin returns to Hiko's home, Hiko has already learned of what Kenshin's done that impacted the lives of the three guests. Hiko finally agrees to teach Kenshin the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū succession technique after learning that his "stupid" pupil has become a rurouni atoning for the sins he committed as the Battōsai. That and because he does not want Shishio to have free reign. As Hiko and Kenshin depart, Kaoru stops the rurouni, asking if he's mad at her for venturing all the way to Kyōto. Kenshin answers truthfully as always, saying half of him is angry, while the other half is relieved.
Yahiko realizing that Misao is a member of the Oniwabanshū
Misao, Kaoru, and Yahiko depart Hiko's home back to Kyōto, knowing now that space and solitude must be given to Kenshin and Hiko for their last lesson of their martial art. Yahiko ponders what kind of technique the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū succession technique must be, thinking that it must be the strongest move in the world. With that mentioned, Yahiko feels as though he and Kaoru forgot to tell Kenshin something. Kaoru remembers immediately, they forgot to tell Kenshin about Aoshi being in Kyōto. Misao hears Aoshi's name and asks Kaoru if she knows him. Yahiko hears that Misao ends Aoshi's name with 'sama', so he draws his shinai and gets into a fighting stance, now knowing Misao is an Oniwabanshū member. The boy begins questioning Misao if Aoshi is after Kenshin, seeking revenge for what happened to Han'nya and the others. Misao looks confused, not knowing what Yahiko's talking about. Kaoru stops Yahiko before he gets ahead of himself, reminding him that Misao cannot be an enemy because she led them to Kenshin. Again, Misao asks Kaoru if she knows Aoshi and asks what happened. Kaoru puts a serious look on her face and tells Misao straight up that she will not like what she's about to hear.
Shishio practicing his kenjutsu with meat pieces
Elsewhere that night, the eastern division of Shishio's Jūppongatana has gathered. Delighted, before the vengeful demon of the the Meiji Era however, Shishio notices a new face he has been long awaiting to finally meet after all this time. To the lone rogue shinobi of the shadows of Tokyo, the disgraced Oniwabanshū leader Aoshi Shinomori, Shishio greets his surprise guest with earnest, and onto his entourage of chaos and carnage...
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
- Kamiya Kaoru
- Makimachi Misao
- Myōjin Yahiko
- Kashiwazaki Nenji
- Hiko Seijūrō XIII
- Masukami
- Shinomori Aoshi
- Yūkyūzan Anji
- Kariwa Henya
- Iwanbō
- Seta Sōjirō
- Shishio Makoto
- Sadojima Hōji
Anime Notes[]
- There are a couple of differences between the events of this anime episode with other depictions of the franchise:
- In this anime episode, in the flashback scene young Kenshin is depicted as having brown hair. Meanwhile in the Trust & Betrayal OVAs, scenes of young Kenshin depict him as having red hair (exactly as he has in the present time).
- In this anime episode when Sōjirō meets Shishio, he is practicing his "Ichi no Hiken: Homura Dama" (First Secret Sword: Blazing Soul) on pieces of beef meat hanging in hooks from the ceiling. In the original manga, Shishio uses the hanging dead corpse of one of his soldiers who (Shishio says) was caught stealing a sword.
Gallery[]
