Rurouni Kenshin

Series Info

Author: Nobuhiro Watsuki
Publisher: Shueisha

Summary
A young woman named Kamiya Kaoru mistakes Kenshin for a murderer known as "Hitokiri Battōsai". However, when she notices Kenshin's reverse-bladed sword, or sakabatō, she comes to the conclusion that he could not be the murderer. Kenshin saves her from certain death in battle against the real murderer, who claims to be a practitioner of Kamiya Kasshin Ryū, Kaoru's own style, while using the name "Hitokiri Battōsai". Kenshin takes her back to her dojo and Kaoru tells him of recent events while a man named Hiruma Kihei patches up her arm. Later, it turns out that Kihei and the murderer, whose real name is Hiruma Gohei, were working together to compel Kaoru to sell the dojo. The brothers Hiruma take Kaoru hostage and send their henchmen to attack Kenshin, who takes them all on with his superior speed and sword skill. Before destroying Kaoru's dojo floor with Gohei's face, Kenshin tells everyone that "Hitokiri Battosai" doesn't use Kamiya Kasshin Ryū, but an ancient style of the Sengoku era that pits one against many: Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryū. If not for such a sword, the body count would increase tenfold" (Watsuki 46). Thus having revealed his identity, Kenshin makes ready to leave -- until Kaoru asks for his name and for him to stay