The hits simply maintain coming at this level. The Kyoto Arch is a vastly elaborate however exquisitely elegant and balanced construction, and every essential character is a pillar. Typically it looks like there is no such thing as a finish to the brand new faces, however they by no means merge. All of them do what they do for a purpose, and Watsuki all the time makes certain we perceive what that purpose is. It’s typically imitated and by no means matched for a purpose.
It isn’t with out purpose that it’s also known as the Kyoto Arch. And it is fairly a memorable second when Kenshin – and the collection – first arrive within the historic capital. Kenshin himself muses that this was the one place in Japan he thought he would by no means return to. Kyoto is a land of magnificence, science and spiritualism. Nevertheless it’s additionally chock stuffed with blood, rage and tragedy – to say it has a checkered historical past would not do the story justice. And at this level in that historical past, the odor of blood nonetheless hung within the air from the newest occasion that tore the town aside, and with it the nation.
However Ken’s first job is to return Miaso safely to her folks. She leads him – surprisingly – to a restaurant, the Aoiya. They’re met by an previous man named Kashiwazaki Nenji (Chiba Shigeruone of many reboot’s higher casting selections). It is instantly clear that he and Misao share a household bond, and Kashiwazaki – recognized to these round him as Okina – performs the humorous previous eccentric card convincingly. However he’s a person who could be very a lot part of Kyoto’s darkish historical past, and he acknowledges Kenshin instantly, regardless of the bandage he has utilized to his cheek.
It isn’t simply these two who’ve arrived in Kyoto. Yahiko and Kaoru have that too. The previous is sort of impressed at being in an odd metropolis with its unusual customs, however Kaoru is worried concerning the sensible obstacles they face find Kenshin. Tae has supplied using her household’s residence, which is adjoining to a beef hotpot restaurant known as Shirobeko. It – and her sister Sae – are lethal indicators for his or her Edo counterparts. However one other participant has arrived on the town: Aoshi. Kaoru has no thought who he’s, however in fact Yahiko is aware of very properly. And that provides the duty of discovering Ken a larger sense of urgency.
One absolute certainty of this arc is that the previous loyalties not matter. The Boshin Conflict is over – the imperialists have received. Kenshin’s new enemy fought for his or her trigger. Most people he now considers allies fought (fiercely) for the opposing social gathering. And that additionally applies to Okina and the Oniwabanshu. However Okina would not appear to be a person who holds grudges. In gratitude to Ken for escorting Misao residence safely, he formally (and jokingly) provides his companies to Kenshin. And he takes the previous man in nearly instantly, asking Okina to make use of his spy community to find two folks: Hiko Seijuurou and Arai Skakuu.
We can’t hear something extra concerning the first for some time. However nearly instantly, Okina’s males deliver him details about Arai. This leads him to cancel a proposed lunch in Shirobeko (and a potential shock reunion with Yahiko and Kaoru) with a purpose to take Kenshin to fulfill Arai Shakuu’s son. Shakku, a grasp swordsmith, has been useless for eight years, however his expertise have reportedly been handed on to his son Seiku (Hirose Yuuya). Nonetheless, Seiku has rejected his father’s thought to usher in a brand new period with homicide knives, focusing his abilities on making kitchen knives and agricultural instruments. Together with his spouse and younger son, Seiku expresses his want that the obvious peace of the Meiji period will endure – and refuses Kenshin’s request to forge a brand new sakabatou for him.
Okina has urged Kenshin to stroll the paths of Kyoto together with his head held excessive as he tries to do the nice work there. However in doing so, he offers Shishio’s males no problem to search out him, seemingly inflicting issues for Arai-san and his household. This was the brutal actuality of early Meiji: the peace heralded by the tip of the Boshin Conflict was fragile and topic to frequent loud and violent reversals into bloodshed. Shishio can afford to play the lengthy recreation (even when Yumi is dissatisfied with residing in a cave, even whether it is properly furnished), which places the onus on Kenshin and his compatriots to make the primary transfer.
