Biography

1849	Himura Shinta is born into a peasant class family on June 20th.
1858	An epidemic sweeping through Shinta's village causes his parents to die of cholera.  After his parent's deaths, a group of slave traders somehow gain custody of Shinta.
1859	The slave traders who have Shinta are murdered by a group of bandits with whom they had crossed paths with while on a journey with a shipment of slaves to an unknown destination.  Luckily for Shinta, a swordsman passing by the scene of murders, defeats the bandits before they could kill Shinta too.  The swordsman's name was Hiko Seijuurou, the 13th inheritor of the Hiten Mitsurugi School of kenjutsu.  Before leaving, Hiko instructs Shinta to go to the nearest village to get help and to report the murders of whom Hiko thought to have been the boy's parents.  He continues to tell Shinta that tragedies similar to his are happening all over Japan due to the war.  He should just be happy that he is still alive.  Shinta does not look at or respond to Hiko.  He simply remains kneeling on the ground looking at the dead bodies which lay before him. Several days pass and Hiko inquires at a sake shop whether a boy has come to the village.  The store owner tells Hiko that no-one has come to the village.  Hiko leaves the store and arrives to a clearing where he sees a field of hand-crafted wooden crosses.  In the midst of the crosses, the young boy is standing in front of three graves marked with stones.  Hiko asks Shinta if he dug graves for the bandits who murdered his parents too. Shinta tells him they were not his parents but slave traders.  However, there is no difference once you die, therefore he dug the graves for them.  Hiko asks him who the three headstones belong to.  Shinta tells him that those headstones belong to Akane-san, Sakura-san and Kasumi-san, three sisters who were sold to pay off their family debt.  Even if it would have costed him his life, he wanted to protect them because he was the only boy amongst them. Admiring the boy's integrity, Hiko decided to take Shinta into his care, declaring Shinta to be his pupil and successor.  Since the name Shinta was too sweet for a swordsman, he changed Shinta's name to Kenshin (ken = sword; shin = heart), which was much more fitting for a warrior.  From that day forth Kenshin would begin his training of the Hiten Mitsurugi school.
1862	Kenshin seeks permission from his master Hiko Seijuurou to let him leave and use the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu he has learned to protect the innocent people suffering from the chaos of war.  Hiko tells him no, saying that Kenshin's training should be his only priority and that outside affairs are not to be his concern.  However, Kenshin remains firm to his belief and cannot understand his master's reasoning for not letting him leave. The two get into a heated dispute which was left unresolved as Kenshin decided to leave his master to pursue his own destiny. Not too long after his departure, Kenshin is discovered by Katsura Kogoro and Takasugi Shinsaku during the recruitment activities to form an anti-shogunate group of warriors called the Kiheitai.  After witnessing the power of Kenshin's 'Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuusoryuusen, Kogoro orders Shinsaku to bring the boy back to Kyoto with them. That very night, the two men arrange to meet with Kenshin.  Kogoro asks Kenshin if he has ever killed a human being using the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu.  Kenshin replies that he has never killed before.  Kogoro continues to ask him if he could kill a person.  Kenshin responds by saying if a new era could be born which will allow people to live in peace in return for him taking the lives that may fall victim to his blood-stained sword then he would do so.  Kogoro decides to designate Kenshin as a Hitokiri for the Ishin Shishi.  However, Shinsaku warns Kogoro that using such a young boy to fulfil the cruel duties of an assassin will surely destroy the boy's life.  Thus at the tender age of fourteen, that night marked the birth of Choushuu Ishin Shishi, Himura Battousai!
January 1864	Battousai receives an order to assassinate Kyoto administrator Shigekura Jubee.  Among the victims that night was a young Tokugawa Shogunate Samurai named Akira Kyosato, who was serving as a bodyguard for Shigekura.  Although Kyosato was not a very skilled warrior, his will to live was strengthened by his desire to return to his fiancée.  The stubbornness to live enabled him to give Battousai a sword slash along his left cheek running parallel to the jaw line in his final attack.  As the dying Kyosato lies on the ground using his final breath to speak his fiancée’s name, Battousai could only wish him happiness in the next life before leaving the scene of the carnage.
May 1864	It has been nearly six months since he obtained the scar on his left cheek, and during this time period Battousai has assassinated so many Shogunate members that the scent of blood cannot be erased from his senses.  He begins to realise that all this bloodshed has gotten neither him nor the era anywhere closer to the peace he so desires. Kogoro arrives at the Ishin Shishi headquarters in Kyoto in order to attend a secret meeting that evening.  He invites Battousai to attend the meeting as a participant rather than acting as his guard.  Battousai refuses, stating that a 'killer' must always remain in the shadows until the bitter end.  He has no interest in leaving his name in the books of history nor honour... the arrival of a peaceful era is all he desires. Later that evening Battousai is in a tavern drinking sake, thinking to himself that all he can taste is blood in whatever he drinks.  A beautiful young lady enters the tavern and sits at a table behind Battousai, ordering a cup of cold sake.  She attracts the attention of two drunkards who demand her to join them for a drink.  Battousai comes to the defence of the girl and ends the disturbance.  He pays his bill and leaves the tavern while the young lady remains silent at her table, staring straight ahead. Battousai is ambushed by a Shogunate assassin while returning to headquarters.  The battle between the two ends with Battousai the victor, standing in a pool of blood.  The sound of wooden sandals can be heard, as the girl from the tavern approaches the battleground.  She is covered with the fresh red blood that had just been shed.  The girl speaks and says that she had come to thank him for his assistance in the tavern but only to learn that he is the one causing the bloodshed. Battousai can only stare at the girl, not knowing what to say or do, since the existence of Battousai is not to be known.  The girl faints, and unable to leave and eye-witness at the scene of the battle, Battousai had no choice but to bring her back to headquarters at Ohagi Inn. Although Battousai attempts to be discreet upon returning to headquarters, he is surprised to see the inn owner Okami was still awake.  Battousai attempts to explain that she got involved in his business and that she fainted.  However, all Okami could smell was the scent of sake from the girl.  Okami tells Battousai that a fresh change of clothes and a bath should be prepared for the drunken lady.  As Battousai walks off, and Ishin Shishi named Iizuka is shocked to see Battousai has returned with a girl! When Battousai awakens the next morning he discovers that the girl from the night before was missing.  In panic he rushes downstairs only to find her helping Okami to prepare breakfast.  The girl tell Battousai that her name is Tomoe.  He requests to speak to Tomoe privately but she responds by saying that their talk would have to wait till she finished her chores.  As breakfast is being served, it is apparent that rumours about Battousai's relationship with Tomoe have already surfaced.  Iizuka teases Battousai about what he believes really happened last night with Tomoe... but he should have known better that to joke with a Hitokiri! After all the fuss about Battousai and Tomoe had subdued, a private meeting between Kogoro and Battousai was held.  Battousai tells Kogoro about the Shogunate assassin who was waiting to ambush him.  The existence of Battousai had been leaked out, which could only mean one thing - there was a traitor among the Ishin Shishi.  Battousai thinks to himself that if they do not discover who the traitor is now, then disaster would be headed towards their clan. As Tomoe sits eating, Battousai finally has the opportunity to speak to her.  He asks Tomoe to swear that she will forget about the incident she witnessed the night before and that she would leave immediately to return to her family.  Tomoe tells him that if she had a family to return to she would not have been out alone at night getting drunk on sake.  Unable to let his feelings sway, Battousai tells her he is not capable of taking care of her in his condition.  Tomoe looks at Battousai and asks him if he would deal with her like the dark samurai he was last night.  He tells her she may think whatever she wishes but the reason for his killing is to usher in a new era where the people may live in peace.  He does not kill people indiscriminately or for the sake of bloodshed.  He will only fight the armed Shogunate members who stand in the way of the new era.  He would never kill an unarmed person.  Tomoe asks him if she were to have a sword in her hand now, would he... there was a moment of silence as Tomoe does not finish her sentence.  She breaks the silence by picking up her bentou box to leave the room, finishing her statement by saying that if he can someday find the answer she will be waiting to hear it, implying she has no intention of leaving beforehand.
May 1864	Sitting by his window in his room, Battousai is deep in thought as he remembers the question Tomoe is still awaiting an answer for... if she were to have a sword in her hand would he... it has been two weeks since then.  The door to the room slides open and Tomoe stands at the entrance with a broom in her hand.  She asks Battousai to leave the room so that she could finish the cleaning Okami-san  had requested her to do.  Battousai leaves the room and as he is walking down the corridor he meets Iizuka.  A black envelope is given to Battousai from Iizuka with the instruction he is to take care of the matter tonight.  Each time a black envelope arrives, blood will be showered on the same night in Kyoto. The next day, Kogoro and Iizuka sit at a teashop speculating about Tomoe's background.  They reason she must be a descendant of a samurai family since she can read and write.  Her cooking is not how someone from Kyoto would cook but they are not sure where she is from.  Since she has little contact with anyone from the outside world, they believe it is highly unlikely that she is a Shogunate spy.  However, her presence has definitely shown some influence towards Battousai. That same evening, Kogoro speaks with Tomoe privately while Battousai is sent to complete another 'job'.  Kogoro tells Tomoe that by throwing the Tokugawa Shogunate into disorder, the era shall be overthrown and a new one will be constructed.  And in the midst of the chaos, Himura was chosen to fulfil the cruellest role of all, to serve as a guard for the code of disorder, the disorder needed to overturn a dynasty that has reigned for 300 years. As Tomoe finishes her chores the next day, she thinks about her conversation with Kogoro the night before.  She walks into the room only to see that Battousai has fallen asleep while sitting by the window.  She remembers Kogoro's words, 'a guard for the code of disorder'.  But looking at his sleeping face she could only see a teenage boy sitting before her.  She approaches Battousai to cover him with her shawl, but with a killer's instinct, Battousai awakens at once to defend himself from a supposed attacker.  He grabs the collar of Tomoe's kimono and draws his katana to her neck.  Rage is written all over his face and terror over hers. Once he realises that it is Tomoe he quickly releases her.  He grips the forearm of the hand which still holds his katana.  His breathing becomes heavy and he breaks out into a cold sweat as he tries to regain his composure from the act he had almost committed. He apologises to Tomoe, stating that although he once told her he would never use his sword against an unarmed person he does so now.  He wants her to leave him now or else he may someday harm her.  The expression of shock is now replaced with one of concern as Tomoe realises the wrath of the rage is enclosing on him.  She picks up her shawl and lays it over his lap, telling him he needs a sheath to suppress the madness so he should let her stay with him for now.  There is a moment of silence as Battousai is suppressed by her words.  As he holds on to the shawl laying over him he gives Tomoe the reply to the question she had asked him two weeks ago.  He would not kill her if she had a sword in her hand.  Under no circumstances would he ever kill her... not her... ever!
June 1864	It is June 5th, the day of the Gion Festival.  Battousai is asleep while Tomoe is quietly sewing.  However, the tranquillity is shattered with news of disaster!  While conducting a secret meeting at Ikeda Inn, the Ishin Shishi are attacked by the man they call 'Mibu's Wolf' and were among the few that could escape.  He rushes back to Ohagi Inn to report the news to Battousai and Iizuka.  He tells them that mostly everyone is dead and master Katsura Kogoro barely managed to escape but his whereabouts are unknown at the moment.  There is definitely a traitor among them who is leaking out the plans!  Overcoming with rage, Battousai starts to head out but Iizuka holds him back.  Trying to calm Battousai down, he tells him that it is already too late and 3000 Shogunate soldiers have been deployed.  Rushing out there would only make the Ishin's position much worse than they have already become. Later the same night, there are crowds of civilians along the streets as they watch the Shinsengumi procession of warriors.  Among the crowd, Battousai is carefully watching the group of men that became the Ishin Shishi's greatest obstacle.  A man in the procession senses Battousai's presence and turns to meet the icy stare.  Saitou Haijime and Battousai get their first glimpse of each other... two warriors destined to meet again on the battlefield! In that one night, hopes for a new era are severely restrained.  The report on the tragedy at the Ikeda Inn was filled with pretensions and falsified information.  As if chaos could have no boundaries, the Ishin Shishi pulled the trigger and deployed 3000 troops to Kyoto.  However, considering that the Shogunate army is of 20,000 men strong , the outcome of this hopeless battle could already be predetermined.
July 1864	July 18th, Genji 1st year, the Kimon Incident. Although Battousai and his many comrades fought a bold and courageous battle, the outcome of the battle could not be reversed.  In one day, the Choushuu Ishin Shishi army suffered the loss of nearly 400 soldiers while the Shogunates lose only 60.  the fires of war devoured 28,000 civilian homes, leaving many victims stranded with no refuge from the chaos. Battousai and Tomoe stand on a bridge, while Kogoro sits beneath.  Kogoro's appearance is extremely tattered and unkempt.  He leaves his last instructions to Battousai before he goes into hiding.  He tells Battousai since Ohagi Inn has burned to the ground he has prepared a peasant's house on the outskirts of Kyoto for him to live in.  Until he can decide on the next plan of action, Battousai is to remain hidden in the countryside and Iizuka will be sent to contact him when the time is appropriate.  Kogoro asks Tomoe to stay with Battousai if she has nowhere else to go.  A young married couple won't be as suspicious as a young single male.  Even if it's only for a cover up, he would like her to take care of Himura for him.  With that being said, Kogoro leaves and the two stand in a moment of silence. Tomoe looks over at Battousai and asks him what she should do. She has nowhere else to go.  In response Battousai states that it's not that you have absolutely nowhere to go, if money is needed for her journey it can be prepared.  Silence hits again but is broken by Battousai letting out a sigh.  He tells her that leaving the answer up to him is very clever of her and it seems that they will live together.  Looking over at Tomoe with heartfelt eyes, the continues to say that given the circumstances he does not know what extent the relationship will become... but if it is possible... he does not wish for it to be a cover-up only... the two of them, 'until death do us apart'. It is late summer and the year is 1864.  Battousai if fifteen years old.  In the midst of many violent revelations, the two are married and will begin in a new life together.  As the sun sets in the distance, the silhouette of Battousai and Tomoe will remain as an everlasting picture.
Early December 1864	It has been five months since the Kimon incident.  As winter approaches and the month changes to December, the year will soon come to and end.  Battousai has been living in tranquillity with Tomoe as the countryside is not consumed with the wrath of war that is engulfing Kyoto.  Living a simple life as a herbalist, these last couple of months have enlightened him tremendously.  The colour of his eyes have changed as the rage of the Hitokiri has been suppressed with a blanket of serenity. Iizuka travels to the outskirts to give Battousai a report on the latest events in Kyoto. Kogoro's whereabouts remain unknown and on the 15th of December, Takasugi will be leading the Kiheitai to initiate another comeback.  Kyoto has become Shinsengumi territory now and he warns Battousai to be careful.  However, Battousai is not concerned with the Shinsengumi finding him since their primary responsibility is to ensure peace and order in Kyoto.  His greatest enemies are the undercover Shogunate spies.  The traitor who leaked the Ikeda Inn meeting information was never found and the Shogunate could be deploying more agents to target him as they speak.  Disturbed by the direction the conversation is heading, Iizuka prepares to return to Kyoto.  Before leaving, Iizuka tells Battousai that he had thought he would be bored living in a serene life away from being a Hitokiri.  Battousai tells Iizuka that he is wrong.  Although he enjoys practicing sword arts, he has never enjoyed killing people. As Battousai returns home from his meeting with Iizuka, the children playing outside of his house are ecstatic to see him return home.  A little girl tells him that Tomoe is no fun to play with as she seems to be in her own dreamland all the time.  Smiling sweetly, Battousai tells the children that they may come by to play tomorrow since he will be home.  Happy to hear the news the children head home.  Tomoe apologises to Battousai for her 'coldness'.  Although she likes children, it is hard for her to smile but she has noticed he has been smiling a lot lately.  He noticed he has been too.  Before he moved to the countryside, there was never a exchange of smiles during conversations with others.  Being disciplined by the ideals taught by the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu, he fights and even kills to dawn a new era that will realise people's happiness.  But the truth is, he had never experienced what happiness was.  He smiles at Tomoe and continues to tell her that whatever he had fought for in the past, and what he will fight for now... living with her in the countryside for the last five months has clearly showed him.  Tomoe blushes at his words. In Kyoto that same night, Katakai spots Iizuka among the people walking in the street. He thinks to himself that Iizuka had said he was going to spend the night at Himura's place.  Why has he returned to Kyoto already?  Becoming suspicious of Iizuka, Katakai follows him to a secluded run-down shack.  As he peers through an opening he sees Iizuka sitting before a Tokugawa ninja clan known as 'The Yaminobu'.  Iizuka tells them that Katsura has escaped, but Battousai is still within their grasp.  The wrath of the Hitokiri is no longer reflected  in his eyes, making this the perfect opportunity of kill him.  Katakai realises that Iizuka is the traitor that they have been looking for.  Knowing that without Battousai the revival of the Choushuu would be impossible, Katakai turns to find Battousai immediately.  Unfortunately he is discovered by the men inside the shack.  A dart is shot from one of the ninjas, and Katakai dies instantly as the dart pierces through his throat.  The leader of the clan speaks.  They cannot stop until Battousai is dead.  He reveals to them their secret backup plan.  A boy named Enishi enters the room.  He is Tomoe's younger brother!
December 30 1864	Battousai is sword playing with the children in the field in front of his house, but they soon notice a spectator watching them from a distance.  It is Enishi.  From the door of her house, Tomoe is shocked to see her little brother.  Inside, Tomoe introduces Battousai to her little brother but Enishi just glares at Battousai with hatred.  Leaving the two alone so they may have time to catch up, Battousai returns outside where the children are playing.  Tomoe never mentioned to him that she had a little brother.  And how did Enishi know that he and Tomoe were hiding here, since only Kogoro and Iizuka know the location of the hideout. Inside the house Tomoe tells Enishi that he gave her quite a surprise, but she is glad to see him.  She asks him if their father is well.  Enishi tells her that he has no idea how their father is because he came here one year after Tomoe had left for Kyoto.  Surprised by her brother's response, Tomoe asks him how he found her, since she never disclosed her whereabouts to anyone.  Enishi tells Tomoe he was assigned to 'contact' her and that she should be overjoyed to learn that the time to punish that devil Battousai has finally arrived! Tomoe remembers the day she had met he clan leader of The Yaminobu.  Her mission was to get close to Battousai and seek out his weakness.  Once she did her revenge, the Yaminobu's victory was guaranteed.  Instead she tells Enishi to leave and return home. She will not allow the male successor of the Yukishiro family commit such a dirty act.  Enishi refusing to leave tells Tomoe that all he wants is to help his sister complete her revenge.  Again, Tomoe orders him to return home.  Tears start to fall down Enishi's cheeks as he demands to know the reason why she is defending Battousai.  Why is she defending her enemy, the one who had caused all her unhappiness! As Battousai returns home, he sees Enishi leaving.  Enraged, Enishi confronts him, telling him that he wished he had never appeared from the start, before running away.  Confused, Battousai just watches Enishi run off.  Tomoe begins a diary entry as Battousai enters the house.  Startled by his entrance, she quickly closes the diary.  He asks where Enishi is going.  Tomoe tells him that he is going back to Edo.  She realises that the two of them have never discussed her past before and suggests that perhaps now would be a good time for them to talk. Tomoe reveals to Battousai that she is a descendant of a Shogunate family.  Her mother died when she gave birth to Enishi.  From that point onwards, she raised him as a mother would have.  For this reason, Enishi regards Tomoe more as a mother than an older sister.  She was also engaged to a childhood friend who was to be the next successor in another Shogunate family.  However, Tomoe's inability to express her happiness with the engagement lead her fiancée to believe that she was not content with him.  To prove that he was a warrior worthy of her love, he decided to join the Tokugawa sword patrol and left for a turbulent Kyoto, from where he would never return to Tomoe again.  With the rumours that her fiancée was supposedly dead, her happiness disappeared with him.  However, she blames herself, blames her inability to reveal how she really felt... if she were to have cried to him to stay, she could have prevented him from leaving. As Tomoe begins to cry, Battousai takes her into his arms to console her.  She does not hold back her tears and cries freely in the security of his embrace. As the night wears on, Battousai reveals to Tomoe his inner feelings.  He had gotten into an argument with his master and decided to leave him, thinking that he was capable of ending people's suffering.  He believed that the new era could be accomplished through the sword of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu.  However, the reality was not so.  No matter how much blood was shed, the succession of the new era did not get any closer. He was just killing... killing... killing..., until the scent of blood started to haunt his guilty conscience. It was during the time when he met Tomoe.  Her questions turned the insanity to belief again.  The smell of blood has been replaced by the fragrance of white plums.  And living with her has shown him exactly what happiness means to the people he protects.  He realises that no matter how powerful Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu may be, he cannot accomplish the great task of bringing forth a new era alone.  Nor can he grant everyone's happiness, but he can protect people's happiness on an individual basis.  However, until the new era is built, he will continue his duty as a Hitokiri.  It may be naive of him to think so, but when that day arrives, he wants to find a way to protect people without killing.  In the meantime, he will seek way to atone for the sins he has committed to those who he had made unhappy.  Battousai looks at Tomoe and tells her that for all the happiness she had lost in the midst of the violence, from now on, he promises to protect it completely.  In response to Battousai's pledge to her, Tomoe blushes and reveals a smile on her face for the first time.
December 31 1864	Morning dawns and Tomoe completes her diary entry.  As she looks down at the sleeping Battousai she thinks to herself that he was the one who had denied her of her happiness.  He may still be a killer, but he will protect many more people than the ones he has slain.  She cannot allow him to die now.  Standing at the door, she smiles and whispers farewell to her second beloved. Deep within the 'Kekkai Forest', Tomoe arrives to the rendezvous point where The Yaminobu are waiting for her.  The leader demands to know what she has learned.  What is Battousai's weakness.  Hesitating, Tomoe thinks to herself that his imperfection as a killer is that his kindness was never suited for killing.  She replies, telling the leader that Battousai's vulnerability is being attacked while asleep.  Unimpressed, he continues his interrogation and asks Tomoe whether Battousai has fallen in love with her.  Tomoe does not understand the relevance to his question, so he explains what his true intentions were.  If Battousai truly loves Tomoe, he will come in search of her upon receiving their letter of challenge which Enishi has been sent to deliver.  Inside the 'Kekkai Forest' the advantage will belong to them!  Horrified, Tomoe realises that she has been used and now she is the bait that will lead Battousai straight into their trap.  She pulls out a concealed dagger and attempts to kill the leader.  Aware of her motives, the leader strikes Tomoe to the ground with his fist, knocking her unconscious.  He orders his men to prepare for their battle against Battousai and they will deal with the girl later. Standing in front of the house, an angry Battousai holds the letter in his hand.  The wrath of the Hitokiri has returned to his eyes.  Enraged, he crushes the letter and leaves to meet his challengers.  Enishi is hidden behind a tree while he waits for Battousai to leave, thinking that he and his sister are now free to return to their home in Edo together. Battousai arrives to the 'Kekkai Forest' and as he enters he senses something strange about the forest.  One of the ninjas, Nakajou, suddenly attacks him from behind, slashing Battousai along his back.  Nakajou reveals to Battousai that evil spirits within the forest have generated a barrier that will not allow him to use his sixth sense/instinct properly.  Battousai's snarls at him and executes an attack with lightning speed, slashing Nakajou along the chest.  Stomping on Nakajou's freshly wounded chest, Battousai tells him that he had just promised Tomoe yesterday that he will protect her happiness.  As if rage could have no limits, Battousai fiercely declares that he will kill anyone in the way for him fulfilling his promise to her!  He points his katana at Nakajou and gives his ultimatum:  take him to Tomoe or be prepared to die.  Nakajou manages to shoot a dart at Battousai, injuring his right shoulder.  Infuriated, Battousai pulls out the dart, tosses it back at Nakajou and executes another strike, this time slicing off Nakajou's right hand and left arm.  Desperately Nakajou turns to lead Battousai into a cave.  Standing at the cave entrance, Battousai throws the severed limbs to the ground, telling Nakajou he forgot his arms.  Battousai gives Nakajou the choice of a quick and painless death if he directs him to where Tomoe is.  Nakajou directs Battousai where to go but declares that there are still three Yaminobu left.  He pulls a rope with his foot that ignites a barrel of explosives in the cave.  Battousai escapes the blast but realises what the purpose of the explosion was for, to temporarily wipe out his sense of hearing. Meanwhile, Enishi discovers that Tomoe is not in the house.  Worried that his sister went to the forest, he goes back to find her.  Within the forest, Battousai is faced with his next duel against the two Yaminobu, Sumita and Mumyoi.  No longer a man who fights with a clear mind and thought out strategy, Battousai now fights for the one whom he loves with raging emotions and reckless actions.  The battle is a bloody one which ends with Battousai the victor.  However, Mumyoi's and Sumita's defeat are not in vain, since they were able to inflict several severe injuries on Battousai.  Mumyoi does manage to escape but Sumita sacrifices himself to set off the second barrel of explosives.  The blast causes Battousai to lose his sense of sight as his vision yields to him a blurry image of his surroundings.  Enishi hears the explosion and heads towards the direction of the blast. Battousai finds his way to the secluded shack where the final Yaminobu awaits him.  As the final battle against the leader of the clan commences, Tomoe regains consciousness from within the shack.  She picks up her dagger and tries to remember what she was doing here.  Hearing the sounds of fighting outside, she steps towards the entrance and peers out.  For a split second she sees her dead fiancée with a katana in his hand.  She rubs her eyes and looks again and she realises that it is Battousai.  He fiancée died because she did not stop him.  Looking at Battousai she thinks to herself that she will not let the one she loves to die again.  Smiling she decides to risk everything to save him. Battousai is clearly at a disadvantage with his injuries and imperfect senses.  Suffering from massive blood loss due to his injuries and the freezing cold temperature, he begins to lose his sense of touch too.  Realising that his chances of winning and surviving are slim, he decides that if he's going to die he will take his opponent with him to hell.  He will force his imperfect sense to work and concentrate his remaining energy into his final attack.  In his thoughts, he bids Tomoe to be happy in the new era and for her to forgive him for leaving his promise unfulfilled.  Yelling out a battle cry, Battousai charges at the Yaminobu's leader and raises his katana to strike.  Suddenly, he smells a familiar scent... it is the scent of white plums! Tomoe stands in between Battousai and his enemy to shield him with her dagger.  It was already too late when Battousai realises that Tomoe had come into his striking range.  He could not recover his attack in time.  His katana slices through Tomoe's back and cuts through her chest to give the last Yaminobu ninja a fatal wound to the heart.  The dagger Tomoe was holding flies back and slashes Battousai on his left cheek, forming the cross scar.  Enishi arrives to the battleground, shocked to see the fatal wound that Battousai had given his sister. Crying, Battousai holds the dying Tomoe in his arms, repeatedly asking her why... why... why.  Using her remaining energy, Tomoe reaches up to his cheek and places her hand by his cross scar.  She gives Battousai one last smile.  Too weak to speak her final words to Battousai, she wants to tell him that things are better this way and for him not to cry.  As a tear forms in the rim of her eyes, she closes them shut forever.  His cries echo through the silence as he thinks that if anyone should die, it should have been him, the one who is a Hitokiri... not Tomoe... it is not right for her to die.
Epilogue January 15, 1865	Two weeks have passed since the tragic accident.  It is January 15, 1865.  Battousai sits depressed in the house where he and Tomoe shared their happiness together.  The pages of Tomoe's diary turn as a cool breeze blows inside.  Battousai sees her diary and picks it up to read the first entry which is dated on the 4th of April.  From the diary he discovers that Tomoe's fiancé’s name was Akira Kyosato.  The name is familiar to him.  In a sudden recollection, he remembers that the name belongs to the young man whom he had killed in Kyoto and received the first half of the cross scar from.  He realises that Kyosato was trying to speak Tomoe's name before he had stabbed him through the heart.  Holding his hand to the scar on his cheek, Battousai is horrified to learn that HE was the one who had murdered Tomoe's fiancée.  HE was the one who had caused Tomoe's unhappiness from the beginning! Kogoro appears at the entrance of Battousai's house.  The traitor has been discovered and Shishio Makoto has already been ordered to assassinate him.  Battousai hears Shishio's name for the first time.  Kogoro continues to tell Battousai that Shishio will be taking over his role as Hitokiri.  Battousai is needed in Kyoto to protect the Ishin Shishi members that are in prosecution by the Shinsengumi.  The Ishin Shishi need him on the front lines of battle to lead the 'sword squad'.  Kogoro realises it is harsh to request this of him now but there is no one else he can rely on to fulfil the role.  He asks Battousai to put aside the feelings in his heart for now, so he may use the sword of Hiten to fight.  The neighbouring children gather at the door to invite Battousai out to play with them.  Battousai stands to walk outside and tells Kogoro he will go to Kyoto.  If he were to give up his sword now, then all the lives of the people he had taken before would be in vain.  He learned from Tomoe the happiness which people pursue, so he will continue to fight to build a new era.  However, when the new era arrives he never wants to kill again... ever!  Kogoro remembers Shinsaku's warning to him from that day he decided to use Battousai as a Hitokiri, 'It will ruin the boy's life...' Kogoro realises that he is at fault.  The sword of Hiten should have never been used to destroy the old era.  Its rightful use should have been to protect the new one.  He thinks to himself, 'Forgive me Himura'.  Outside, Battousai tells the children that he will play with them until the sun sets. Late in Kyoto, the Shinsengumi trap an Ishin Shishi in a dark alleyway.  From the shadows, Battousai steps out and warns the men to retreat and he will spare their lives.  The Shinsengumi members see the cross scar and red hair.  They realise that standing before them is Hitokiri Battousai!  From behind them, Saitou Haijime steps forth and draws his katana, preparing to meet Battousai's challenge.  Gatotsu verses Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu! In midst the turmoil during the demise of the Tokugawa Shogunate, there was a legendary patriot known as 'Hitokiri Battousai'.  His sword shedded the blood of countless lives but at the end of the uprising he would vanish as quietly as he had come. And the time now passes to the 11th year of the Meiji era.