| Episode |
Deathmatch under the Moon! Protect the One You Love is the seventh episode of the Rurouni Kenshin anime anime series.
Synopsis[]
Now that Jin-e has kidnapped Kaoru in order to force Kenshin back into his murderous ways, he must duel Jin-e to save Kaoru. But Jin-e still has some tricks under his sleeve to force Kenshin to become the Hitokiri Battōsai once again. What is really at risk in this fight? Is Kenshin going to be able to defeat Jin-e without killing?
Plot[]
Jin-e waiting for Kenshin
Kamiya Kaoru has just been kidnapped by the sinister Udō Jin-e. Kaoru accuses Jin-e of cheating, saying that he is afraid to fight fairly and is holding her hostage in order to put Himura Kenshin at a disadvantage. Jin-e laughs at her ignorance, saying that as of now, he can easily defeat Battōsai before finishing a cigarette, but says that that would be no fun. Instead, he wishes to re-awaken the Hitokiri inside Kenshin by making the latter give into his anger. Kaoru tells him that he has no clue how powerful Kenshin really is and Jin-e corrects her, saying that it is she who is clueless about Battōsai's true power, as a Hitokiri who froze men's blood in fear during the Bakumatsu.
He then recounts how he was a member of the Shinsengumi in Kyōto, during the Bakumatsu, but his thirst for blood turned his former comrades against him. He expresses his desire for a death battle between two Hitokiris, himself and Battōsai. Kaoru tells him Kenshin is not like him and will never return to being a Hitokiri, to which Jin-e simply laughs.
Yahiko and Sanosuke reading Kenshin's letter
Meanwhile, Sagara Sanosuke and Myōjin Yahiko read a letter sent by Kenshin to the Kamiya Dōjō, where he states that Kaoru has been abducted and that he must battle Jin-e in order to rescue her. He then instructs them to seek the Police Chief's help in rescuing Kaoru, if he is unsuccessful. Sano says that because Kenshin is no longer a Hitokiri, he may lose the battle to Jin-e. Sano and Yahiko then run off to go find Kenshin, and they can help save Kaoru.
Kenshin arrives at the duel
Kenshin arrives just in time to face Jin-e, who notices and is pleased by the anger that is beginning to swell inside of the former Hitokiri. Kenshin states that he is indeed angry, at Jin-e for kidnapping Kaoru and himself for being unable to stop him from doing so. Kaoru notices a change in the tone of Kenshin's voice and realizes that he is not his usual self.
Kenshin gets hurt by Jin-e's attack
The two warriors begin to battle and it seems as though they are evenly matched. Jin-e then performs a series of moves, starting with a form of Hirazuki (a one-handed thrust) and ending with what appears to be a Karatake (i.e. downwards slash). However, instead of ending with Karatake, Jin-e sneakily switches hands from behind, and thrusts his sword towards Kenshin, wounding him in the shoulder.
Kaoru screams in worry as a pool of blood gushes from Kenshin's wounded shoulder. Meanwhile, Sano and Yahiko continue their search.
Jin-e says that his opponent is still far from the Hitokiri Battōsai of the Bakumatsu, since he still does not have the desire to kill. He says that he can still win the battle before finishing three cigarettes.
Kaoru can't breathe after Jin-e's trick
Still unsatisfied, Jin-e raises the stakes by performing a special and extra powerful version of Shin-no-Ippo on Kaoru, causing her lungs to paralyze and leaving her with 5 more minutes of life, at most, before she suffocates to death. He tells Kenshin that the only way for her to escape this fate is if she manages to break the Shin-no-Ippo, which he says is impossible since her Ken Ki (swordsmanship spirit) must be at least as good as his for this to occur, or if the user of the Shin-no-Ippo, i.e. Jin-e, dies.
The Legendary Hitokiri, Himura Battōsai, renewed
Thus it seems as though Kenshin is left with only two choices, to either kill Jin-e or watch Kaoru die a horrible death. Jin-e tells Kenshin to harden up and pick up his sword, with a desire to kill. Suddenly, Kenshin's speed amplifies and he strikes Jin-e with a fast and hard blow, dislocating the latter's nose and causes blood to gush out. Jin-e smiles in satisfaction, saying that not only was he unable to see the sword's path, he didn't even see his opponent's body move. He says that such skill is truly that of Hitokiri Battōsai.
Kenshin displaying his Ken Ki to Jin-e
For the first time in the series, Kenshin openly expresses his desire to kill Jin-e, which further worries the paralyzed Kaoru. Jin-e, on the other hand, can barely contain his excitement and puts his nose back in place. He charges towards Kenshin and just as he is doing so, Kenshin exhibits his Ken Ki to the latter, causing him to jump to the side and stop his attack. Jin-e realizes that he must be at his fullest now, in order to stand a match against Kenshin, so he uses Shin-no-Ippo on himself by using his blade as a mirror (the Hyōki technique, which he had not used since leaving the Shinsengumi 15 years prior). This causes his power to amplify.
Jin-e barely dodges Kenshin's attack
Kenshin tells Jin-e that no matter what techniques he uses, his fate is sealed. Kenshin then goes into the Battōjutsu stance, which causes Jin-e to worry, knowing that Battōsai is able to pull the blade from his sheath at "God-like speed" and use the stance to slay opponents instantaneously. After a little thought, Jin-e believes that since his opponent is using a Sakabatō (reverse blade sword), his sword-draw will be slower, allowing him to dodge and take advantage of the moment where he is left defenseless. Jin-E says "It is time for me to take this battle seriously, Battōsai. So that I can defeat the revolution’s strongest man!".
Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu: Sō Ryū Sen
When the encounter occurs, it happens just as Jin-e had hoped, however, Kenshin surprises him by using the sheath of the blade to attack and break his arm, during the moment Jin-e believed him to be defenseless. Jin-e realizes that Kenshin had used a double-Battōjutsu, incorporating the sword and the sheath together. The move used was "Sō Ryū Sen" (Twin Dragon Flash), a Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū Battōjutsu technique. Kenshin tells Jin-e that he knew of the disadvantages of using a Sakabatō for Battōjutsu, but that he perfected Battōjutsu in every way, which is why he was named Battōsai.
Kenshin about to finish Jin-e off
He then tells Jin-e that his life as a swordsman is over, since his elbow joint was crushed and his ligaments torn. He then says that now his life too will end by his hand. However, Kenshin still hesitates to finish his opponent. Jin-e smiles and tells Kenshin that the only way for him to lift the Shin-no-Ippo from Kaoru is to go through with the kill. Kenshin says that in order to protect Kaoru, he will once again become a Hitokiri. Jin-e laughs hysterically, saying that it is an honor for him to meet his end at the hands of the legendary Hitokiri.
Kenshin protects Kaoru from falling
Just as Kenshin is about to kill Jin-e, Kaoru begins to remember Kenshin's words - that he would prefer a world where the ideals of Katsujinken, i.e. the sword that gives life, would be a reality. She then breaks free of the Shin-no-Ippo hold on her and shouts desperately for Kenshin to stop. She tells him not to use Satsujinken, i.e. the sword that takes life. As she says this she falls down, but Kenshin grabs her and makes sure she is alright.
Kenshin and Kaoru watch Jin-e die
Jin-e is surprised that Kaoru was able to break free of his hold on her. He heads towards Kenshin and Kaoru and draws his sword. Kenshin tells him that there is nothing he can do with a broken arm and that he should peacefully be arrested, but Jin-e says that there is still one more thing left. He then stabs himself through the heart and says "this is a good feeling", before dropping to the ground.
Kenshin and Kaoru hear Jin-e's last words
Kenshin then stares at him with a sad look on his face and Jin-e tells him that he does not like that look on his face - he preferred the sinister look on his face, when he had the desire to kill. He tells Kenshin that he is truly a Hitokiri from inside and coming from one Hitokiri to the other, such a statement is no mistake. He also tells him that he a Hitokiri can never be anything else until he dies. His last words to Kenshin are that he will look on from the edge of hell and see how long Kenshin can stay as a Rurouni, without reverting back to his true nature.
Kenshin thanks Kaoru
Kenshin tells Kaoru to leave the rest for the police. Sano and Yahiko's voices are then heard nearby and the two go and see them. All four of them head back to the Dōjō, knowing that the incident is over, although Yahiko is displeased that he was not involved in any part of the action. Kaoru thanks Kenshin for saving her, but Kenshin says that he is the one who should be thanking her. He then thinks to himself that if Kaoru hadn't shouted to him back when he was about to kill Jin-e, he would've reverted back to his old self. He then gives back Kaoru's indigo ribbon to her, but it is all bloodied, due to Kenshin's shoulder injury during the battle. Kaoru is angered by this.
The episode ends with Kenshin saying that even if his true nature is that of a Hitokiri, he will never revert to being one and that he will remain a Rurouni forever, as long as he has these comrades (i.e. Kaoru, Yahiko and Sano).
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
Anime Notes[]
- There are several differences between the anime and the manga regarding the events of this episode:
- In the original manga Yahiko and Sanosuke stay at the Kamiya Dōjō, and Kenshin and Kaoru walk home after the fight. This is in contrast of the anime where Kenshin sends a letter to Sanosuke and Yahiko explaining the situation with Jin-e, and then Yahiko insists on going to find Kenshin and Kaoru and do find them after Kenshin's fight against Jin-e, and ultimately walk home together.
- In the original manga Kaoru just angrily holds the ribbon for accidentally ruining it with his blood. In the anime Kaoru angrily chases Kenshin on a bridge while Yahiko and Sanosuke follow joyfully.
- In the original manga Jin-e confesses that he was hired by a person in the government before dying. This dialogue was not included in the anime.
Trivia[]
- In several international airing of the anime, there is a piece of censorship in this episode: In the scene where Jin-e sneakily switches hands from behind and thrusts his sword towards Kenshin, a shot where Kenshin lays down bleeding is cut or altered to focus away from the actual bleeding.
- In the scene where Kenshin is about to finish off Jin-e, there is a play on words in his speech. When he refers to protect the ones he loves, in the original japanese, he may be referring to "the ones the loves" or also more directly "I love her".
Gallery[]
