Beauty on the Run is the fifteenth chapter of the Rurouni Kenshin manga.
Synopsis[]
Sanosuke takes Kenshin to a gambling hall to help him winning some money. While being there, they meet a woman who is on the run being threatened by thugs. Kenshin and Sanosuke help her, but some of Sano's friends get hurt in the process. When the woman asks for protection, some packets of illegal drugs fall from her. Who is actually this mysterious woman asking for help? What is her relation to the illegal drugs and to her pursuers?
Summary[]
In the Kamiya Dōjō, Kamiya Kaoru is looking for Kenshin, who she cannot find. Yahiko tells her that he went to a gambling hall with Sanosuke.
In the gambling hall, Kenshin and Sano are playing dice. Kenshin predicts accurately how the dice will turn up each round, yet, he feels uncomfortable in someplace illegal. Sanosuke reminds his rurouni friend that his sword is illegal as well. Elsewhere, a mysterious woman is being chased by thugs. Back at the gambling hall, Kenshin and Sanosuke, still playing dice, learn that one of Sano's friends, who used to frequent this place, recently died of an opium overdose.
Shortly after, the pursued woman comes in running and asks for help against the thugs who are after her. Two men who were chasing the woman follow her in, but are beaten up by Sanosuke, who isn't in the happiest of moods. Kenshin also takes care of a little dart-shooting man named Beshimi.
Two of Sanosuke's friends get hurt in the scuffle, but the woman pleas Kenshin and Sanosuke for protection, offering a reward later. Sano doesn't take too kindly her proposal, and noticing the woman's aloofness, he grabs her by the wrist, demanding that medical attention to his two friends is the most important thing at the time being. This makes opium packets fall out of her clothes. The packets are then grabbed by Kenshin who, just as Sanosuke, recognizes them for what they are.
Characters in order of Appearance[]
- Himura Kenshin
- Kamiya Kaoru
- Myōjin Yahiko
- Sagara Sanosuke
- Takani Megumi
- Takeda Kanryū
- Beshimi
- Tomo
- Ginji
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 original manga there is an initial scene at the Kamiya Dōjō where Kaoru is worried about where Kenshin is, and Yahiko tells her thay they went to bet. This was omitted in the anime.
- In the manga Kenshin's advice to Sanosuke results in him constantly winning gambles. This is in contrast to the anime, where it results in him constantly losing.
- In the manga Sanosuke and Kenshin quickly discover the opium packets that fall out from Megumi's clothes (while they are still on the gambling hall). This is in contrast with the anime where only Sanosuke discovers it later that night after the fight with the Oniwabanshū at the Kamiya Dōjō.
Differences with Rurouni Kenshin: Origins[]
- Megumi's origin story is totally different: She is first shown at Takeda Kanryū's mansion making opium. Later she escapes and goes to the police, but she is chased by Udō Jin-e. Eventually Megumi runs into Yahiko asking for protection, who takes her to the Kamiya Dōjō.
Differences with Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration[]
To be added
Differences with the 2023 anime[]
- There are practically no differences between the events of the anime episode and the manga.
Trivia[]
- This chapter marks the first time opium is mentioned in the manga.
Gallery[]
To be added