"Hitokiri Gentatsu, we fought all those years ago for one reason. We wanted to make sure no such battles ever took place again. I never wanted to feel this sadness again."
An assassin of the Choshu clan near the end of the Tokugawa era, Himura Kenshin has since given up his role as the Hitokiri Battousai after helping to end the Revolution. Now he only uses a reverse blade sword to protect himself and those he cares about. Kenshin is a master of the Hiten Mitsurugi style of fighting. After an accidental meeting with Shigure Takimi, he began having vivid memories of his past. He feels personally responsible for the death of Takimi's friend and seek to find a way to end the rebellion without hurting those he tries to protect and to finally put his past behind him.
"Those who died during the Bakumatsu cannot see how the Meiji government is rotten to the core. If they could see it, they would shed tears of anguish. No, maybe they would laugh at the irony. The sky I saw then was so blue."
Shigure Takimi was the leader of the Aizu clan and a mentor to Gentatsu. He was a master swordsman of the Kanuma style fighting often used for indoor fighting. However Takimi combines this sword style with an iron sheath. During the Meiji Revolution, he had watched his loved ones died fighting for their ideals and beliefs and he blamed himself for the violent death of his student, Gentatsu. Now in the Meiji era, he believed that only a new rebellion of the young will bring about a new government free from corruption.
"The blue sky must be high and clear, no matter how far away it is. The whole world should be like that."
Gentatsu Takatsuki or also known as Hitokiri Gentatsu (a manslayer like Kenshin) was a student of Shigure Takimi and was an important member of the Aizu clan. He was one of the few masters of the Kanuma sword technique. Gentatsu was killed suddenly during a raid at the Choshu and the Satsuma alliance in Suzu-Ya. A compassionate character, he had hoped to bring about a better Japan that is free from violence for his remaining loved one.
"You and Shigure are the same...at the end of the Tokugawa era, people were blinded by their passions...their confusions caused them to split between right and wrong, because there are no right and wrong. They fight for what they believe....I don't blame you for Gentatsu's death...."
Toki is a mysterious young woman whom Shigure Takimi takes care of at his residence, following the death of her brother. She helps Takimi run the school at his residence. Being a kind and caring character, she worries a lot about Takimi and starts to question his strange and secretive behaviour towards her all of the sudden. Toki possesses deep feelings for Takimi and asks Kenshin to uncover the reason for his strange behaviour, in order to help him.
"A person who believes in such things and tries to remain pure has no place in this world."
Baron Tamono works as a high ranking military officer for the Meiji army and commands his own troops. He is highly respected by his peers and other government officials and is often given the responsibility of leading his troops during a crisis. Overly ambitious and hungry for more power, Tamono will stop at nothing to get the reward he believes that he justly deserves.
"I want to ride the winning horse this time...."
Kajiki was a member of the Aizu clan during the Revolution and he continues to be Takimi's right hand man. He is an informant for the new rebel group and helps Takimi to gather weapons for the final rebellion. However Kajiki longs to gain power and position and is very willing to sacrifice loyalty in order to reach his goals.
"I was waiting. I chose the place you will die. So draw your sword as you will."
Saito Hajime or also known as the Wolf, continues to be a police officer for the new Meiji government. During the Revolution, he was the feared captain of the Shinsemgumi. Even now in the Meiji era, he still continues to live by his own code of honour: Kill Evil Swiftly. Of course this means that he does not hesitate to be judge, jury and executioner. Saito suspects that there is a new rebellion taking place and is acting as a spy for the government to uncover the secrets behind the rebellion.
All original images and information courtesy of ADV films.
