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Methos vs. Aoshi??

Poetry in Blue home

Aoshi’s “Character Profile”

There’s been a lot of profiles documented over the web that one more isn’t gonna make a difference. This roundup is more of an observation of his character through his interactions with other characters in the RK realm. It shouldn’t be considered canon truth, but a personal opinion. I’d expect mina-san to take it with a pinch of salt. ^_^

WHAT AOSHI ACTUALLY...

... IS ...

• loyal to a fault that swings both ways. He is devoted to the Oniwabanshu, particularly to his four comrades ('henchmen' seems degrading) enough to forego a career and live as a mercenary with the four. He gets obscured in his dedication when they got killed, and Aoshi just threw away everything. He sought revenge, covering it in a guise of bringing honor to his men.

• ruthless. We all know that, with what he did to Okina. He will do anything and everything just to get the task done. He is onmitsu; whatever honor a samurai is bounded to by bushido doesn't work for him. He's of a different breed, witha code of honor of his own.

• one calculating SOB. :) Why did he surround himself with such men? It's likely it served a double purpose to take those four with him on his journey. Based on the manga and the series, he was the one who recruited in Shikijo and Hannya. Nothing was mentioned how Hyottoko and Beshimi joined the group.

• purposeful. He just doesn't do things without a good reason (except, of course, those moments of madness of his ^_^;). He chooses his words, doesn't waste time on fruitless actions, always cutting to the chase.

• emotional. I know. You never hear 'emotional' and 'Aoshi' breathed in one sentence. But you'll be surprised to know that it's true. A friend pointed that out, and I slowly realized that it made sense. He does feel; only that he doesn't express it, or doesn't know how to. Acting out on emotions is detrimental to fighters. Just as Sherlock Holmes said, it biases judgment.

• he talks. He just doesn't waste time on bitching. When the occasion calls for it, he even volunteers information to anyone who cares to listen--as long as it's what he wants people to know.

• he so does know how smile! Give him a good reason to, and he will! Although he doesn't do it for the hell of it.

... IS NOT ...

• an entirely good guy. A lot of people are forgetting who he is/was and what he's done in the past. And I'm not just talking about his deeds during the Kyoto Hen. What was he doing in Kanryuu's employe in the first place? Who knows who else they worked for?

• a humorless block of wood. There's hardly a time for frivolity in his line of work that you couldn't tell if he does have a funny bone in his system. Intellectual people have a different view on what’s humorous, and it’s not the usual funny, ha-ha kind we mere mortals are tickled with.

• a guy who beats himself up for his wrongdoings. At first, it seemed that he was. Who wouldn’t be blown away by forgiveness? Bear in mind that along with the principles of being okashira is to never have regrets. What’s done is done. Take it back, and it’s a grave loss of face, not just for him.

• a converted peacemaker. I find that hard to believe. To me, his scenes in episode 62 doesn’t exist. A sword is a warrior’s soul, fer crying out loud! Even good ol’ Kenshin didn’t give up his blade completely. Although he’s a skilled kempoist, one just doesn’t lay down his sword like that. It’s just like smoking; you don’t quit so easily.

• completely ruthless. It might sound like I’m contradicting my own statement, but it’s true. He only almost killed Okina. He did take a life after the Kyoto Hen. But I suppose he did it on grounds that the person he killed was beyond redemption. The man, Gein, had no compassion, no humanity in him that Aoshi could see. So he acted as judge and executioner, finding himself a good judge of people considering he’d been on the other side. But he spared Suzaku who was “just a punk who wanted the glory of death” for losing out against him. Essentially, he doesn’t kill indiscriminately.

• moody. Moody Dork-sama—er, Aoshi hardly ever shows emotions, so how can you tell? He is not entirely influenced by his emotions, that’s why I find it contradictory.

• an insensitive prick. See the explanations on emotional and moody. ^_^