To be sincere, I am undecided how lengthy it has been since I learn or watched the Kyoto Arc (though I am fairly certain “watched” is more moderen). It has been a whole lot of years, that is for certain. No less than a decade. However it’s a type of tales so important to my understanding of fiction that the main points emerge with shocking readability because the occasions unfold. I am undecided I can summon a shounen arc higher then Chimera Ant by itself. However I might say “Kyoto” is extra good. Structurally, thematically – it is an beautiful and chic construct with no actual flaws (which I am unable to actually say about Chimera Ant).
The dynamic between Kenshin and Shishio is in fact the core of this. And it is an extremely difficult subject. Moreover, Shishio is Kenshin’s successor because the hitokiri. They each fulfilled the identical soiled function for the Imperial facet within the Boshin Warfare, and it scarred them each in profound methods (extra actually with Shishio, in fact). They perceive one another in a approach that nobody else can, not even Saitou. Shishio mocks Kenshin for his rurouni aspirations, however the air of respect there’s unmistakable. Shishio is a ruthless man and respects nobody, however he treats his sempai with child gloves. He understands what it means to be a hitokiri.
That is why Shishio now refuses to struggle Ken. It could possibly be taken as disrespect to pressure him on Soijirou, however in actuality it is fairly the alternative. Shishio won’t tackle Kenshin till he reaches the total measure of himself – and till that measure features a return to the manslayer he was. For now, Kenshin is a person who even exhibits empathy for the likes of Senkaku, utilizing one of many lesser strikes within the Hiten Mitsurugi arsenal to finish their mismatched struggle. Not solely that, he later stops Eiji earlier than he will get an opportunity to kill the helpless Senkaku (a lot gentler than Saitou).
Soujirou is the odd one out in each approach. He smiles consistently and radiates no bloodlust or worry, making him proof against Kenshin’s makes an attempt to learn and affect him utilizing his personal coaching and sword aura. So he wordlessly challenges the younger swordsman to battoujutsu, a easy take a look at of their pace. As he gallops away with Yumi, Shishio declares that Kenshin can’t win such a contest in his present state. However he underestimates his predecessor. Ken might not win, however he does not lose both. His sakabatou is cut up in two, however in doing so he shatters the Nagasone Kotetsu (a real grasp swordsmith), one of many “31 Nice Swords” and priceless. Technically this battle is a draw, however since Kenshin did it with a sakabatou, I feel it is clear who the strongest swordsman is.
With that, Soujirou sprints off in pursuit of Shishio and Yumi and Kenshin turns his consideration to Eiji. There are moments the place the purity of Kenshin’s pathos actually will get to me, and that is considered one of them. Nobody might ever “stroll the stroll” extra authentically than this man. He has finished unspeakable issues, and he by no means asks forgiveness for them. All he tries to do is atonement, day after day after day, even because the world tries to tug him again into the darkness. By no means extra so than now, with an opponent ready for him who appears too robust to tackle Kenshin’s present state. At the same time as he walks the trail that could be the trail to his personal existential destruction, Kenshin by no means steps as much as assist these, like Eiji, he meets alongside the way in which.
When Shishio is offended in regards to the state of his priceless blade, he does not betray it. At a excessive worth, he has realized a useful lesson in regards to the measure of the person he is aware of he’ll finally encounter. He provides Soujirou a brand new task to… Juupongatana (Ten Swords) – listening to the title sends shivers of anticipation down my backbone – speeding to Kyoto. These are Shishio’s internal circle, the center of the risk he represents – and yet one more epic component of the Kyoto arc that rivals something in shounen.
As for Eiji, Saitou declares that he’ll give the boy to his spouse Tokyo to maintain – and the truth that Saitou has a spouse comes as fairly a shock to Kenshin and Misao. He urges Ken to return to his previous self as quickly as potential and go to Kyoto the identical approach. Misao stays by Kenshin’s facet and has not forgotten why she began following him within the first place. As for Sanosuke, he is misplaced within the mountains someplace with no thought what approach out there’s left (not to mention Kyoto), ready for destiny to intervene (which at all times results in epic outcomes on this arc).
