Wake Up Now! Ignore Your Wounds and Fight to the Finish is the 51st episode of the Rurouni Kenshin anime series.
Synopsis[]
Hit with words and truths that cut deeper than any blow with blades or weapons, Aoshi lashes out against Kenshin upon hearing his reasoning, that the ghosts of the past have been twisted into evil demons blinded and tormented with bitterness and vindication born of vices and evils he has committed! But in the shadows of Hōji's study, an act of treachery is committed unaware for the gains of Shishio. As greater evil watches over the two in the darkness, Kenshin is wounded and his opponent still eyes with the opportunity of claiming his life. Kenshin must fulfill his promise, and quickly. What will be the conclusion of the fight between Aoshi and Kenshin? What is the status of the fight at the Aoiya?
Plot[]
Kenshin shouting at Aoshi trying to wake him up
Kenshin continues telling Aoshi that he has become selfish and lost sight of his goal as the fight between the two has become a standstill. For continuing to speak however, Kenshin is beaten around a frustrated Aoshi. When Kenshin brings up Misao, telling Aoshi that he promised to bring him back to her, Aoshi hits Kenshin one last time. Kenshin can take no more beatings; he reviews everything he's said and shouts for Aoshi to wake up. The eyes of the former Oniwabanshū leader finally turn back to normal. No longer is Aoshi possessed, but he cannot walk away from the fight. Kenshin understands and accepts to continue. Both men get into their positions for the final strike.
Kenshin about to be hit by Aoshi's Kaiten Kenbu Rokuren
Aoshi apologizes to his men, Han'nya, Shikijō, Hyottoko, and Beshimi, for disgracing them, but he promises he'll try his best to win. A stalemate is what Kenshin and Aoshi stand in. Both stand in place for over ten minutes, neither wants to start the fight. During the silence of it all, Sano overhears a clicking noise. Looking around, he spots Yumi sending messages to Shishio. Immediately, Sanosuke warns Kenshin not to use the Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki. As Kenshin's attention is slightly distracted, Aoshi charges forward. In an instant, Kenshin turns around to hit the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū succession technique.
Aoshi laying on the floor after being defeated
Such a move could do so much. At last, Aoshi is down and his selfish ambition is faded. Sanosuke destroys the telegraph and runs off with Yumi, demanding that she show him and Kenshin the next room. Although Shishio did receive Yumi's message, there was no description of how the Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki (Flash of the Heavenly Flying Dragon) was executed due to the speed of it. Before Kenshin departs, Aoshi tells him he'll catch up sooner or later. With his eyes closed, Aoshi tells his men that he's tried his hardest, but lost. Aoshi has no regrets for losing to such a man like Kenshin, all he hopes for is that he'll be accepted by his own people after what he's done, especially to Okina.
Kamatari ready to fight Misao and Kaoru at the same time
Meanwhile, at the Aoiya, Iwanbō seems to have no trouble with the four Oniwabanshū members. His skin is so thick that he doesn't even need to attack because everything just bounces off of him. Everyone at the Aoiya wonder where the police is, and there is a short scene of the Kyōto police chief and his men in trouble because of Saizuchi and something else who his setting the buildings of fire. As for Misao, Kaoru and Yahiko, they discover the Kamatari is actually a man dressing as a woman after a long argument over who's hot and who's not between them.
Henya deploying his wings to begin the fight
Both Kaoru and Yahiko were to take on Henya and Misao was to fight Kamatari by herself, but the order is shifted. Instead, Yahiko will battle Henya alone while Kaoru and Misao duel with Kamatari. Henya sighs at the outcome, explaining to Yahiko that he'd rather fight someone like Kenshin other than some kid. Yahiko plans to make the Jūppongatana member regret his words by fighting at his very best, however, Yahiko's best may not be good enough. Henya reveals his arsenal of explosives and his skill to soar in the air. With an aerial attack, not even the best swordsman in the world would have an easy time defeating Henya.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
- Seta Sōjirō
- Shishio Makoto
- Sadojima Hōji
- Shinomori Aoshi
- Sagara Sanosuke
- Himura Kenshin
- Beshimi
- Shikijō
- Hyottoko
- Han'nya
- Makimachi Misao
- Komagata Yumi
- Hiko Seijūrō XIII
- Kamiya Kaoru
- Iwanbō
- Ōmime
- Masukami
- Shirojō
- Kurojō
- Kashiwazaki Nenji
- Honjō Kamatari
- Fuji
- Saizuchi
- Myōjin Yahiko
- Kariwa Henya
Anime Notes[]
- There is one difference between the events of this episode and the original manga:
- In the original manga in the scene where Kamatari talks to Yahiko and tells him that he can become a sexy girl with some training, Kamatari reveals he is a man and he lifts his kimono to reveal a huge penis to Yahiko and Misao (even though it is pixelated in the manga to comply with japanese censorship laws).
- That scene was not included in the anime, being the strongest piece of censorship in the anime adapation.
Trivia[]
- In this episode, Himura Kenshin and Shinomori Aoshi call out Aoshi's comrades Beshimi, Shikijō, Hyottoko and Han'nya a total of 4 times.
Gallery[]
