Purgatory Bursts Into Flames

It's coming!

Crash! The Lethal Punch, Futaenokiwami

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Reborn to Salvation

Anji plants a futae no kiwami on Sano believing he has won. However, Sano is NOT done and retaliates sending Anji down for the count. Seems Sano was saving up for just the right time. An ihai (memorial tablet) saved Anji from the full effect of the blow. The tablet was a precious keepsake Anji kept since a fateful fire. It represents the souls of those with pure hearts that remain unsaved. The monk sadly recaps the events of his tumultuous past:

It all began ten years ago when they started the Buddhist hunt. A young Anji was looking after several children who had lost their parents in the wars. Tsubaki was the eldest and dreamed of a future with Anji. Then one day men came to tear down the temple where they lived. It was because their father had sympathized with the shogunites that their town was not getting monetary aide from the Meiji government. Buddhism was to be abolished. Anji said they would move the next day so the men left. That evening, while the children were nestled in bed, Anji went to pray by a waterfall. Suddenly he could see bright lights from beyond the trees. The temple was in flames. He frantically ran to save the children but was knocked unconscious by one of the arsonists.

When Anji awoke, he found the temple was nothing more than a smoldering pile of debris. Tsubaki's charred hand is all that could be found of the innocent children. Anji's grief turned to rage...his fist striking the very Buddhist statue he had hoped would protect them. He sought revenge and killed those he believed responsible for the fire.

The scene switches back to the battle. Anji screams that until those children are reincarnated, he will never lose a battle. "Nothing can be solved by prayers and wishes alone!" he yells. The two remove their shirts (nicely bulging muscles...ooo, yeah!) and continue their gruesome battle. Sano is angry that it must be like this....a battle of revenge. He explains that he, too, once felt that way....bitter over the death of Captain Sagara. If he hadn't met Kenshin, he may still be running around like Anji, a man with a huge chip on his shoulder.

Blood splatters everywhere as the two duke it out. Their desire to win is keeping them on their feet. In a sudden twist, Anji grabs his sword and uses it as a tool to create a distance attack by sending the shock of the futae no kiwami through the ground. It hits Sano full force knocking him to the floor in pain, but that is not enough to keep him down. Anji attempts to use the same method, but Sano jumps in the air to avoid it. As gravity sends him downward, he prepares to use the futae no kiwami. However, Anji turns to see it coming and the two men's fists lock in a bone crushing display of power

Sano's thoughts run through Anji and for the first time in years the powerful man realizes that his killing is not what the children would have wanted. The large monk sees visions of the children and falls to his knees agonizing over his vengeful acts. That's when he resolved to stop. Yumi yells at him to finish Sano off, but he will not...their fight is over.

Kenshin walks over to his fallen friend. An exhausted and bloodied Sano tells Kenshin to go forward without him and he will catch up...but for now he must rest. Anji tells Kenshin that he must return to the Aoiya for their friends are in trouble. Yumi says it was Hoji's doing and not the will of Lord Shishio. Kenshin resolves to move forward hoping that his master will keep his promise to protect the Aoiya.

Meanwhile, Miss Kaoru, Yahiko, and the members of the Oniwaban are surrounded by the members of the Juppengottena and about 150 men. This is definitely not an even match.

Back at Shishio's lair Yumi takes Kenshin into the Room of Screams. Usui waits in darkness for his match. "Which one of you would prefer to see the afterlife first?" he asks with confidence.

The Wolf Destroys the Shinga

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The Promised Time Has Come

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