Kaoru Ecstatic!

The town is bustling, and Kaoru, Tae and Tsubame are in the thick of it. They stop at the window of a jewelry store and admire a beautiful sapphire ring. Tae explains the Western custom whereby a gentleman presents the ring when asking a women for her hand in marriage. Ms. Kaoru imagines that day (with Kenshin, of course) and faints in the street with a huge smile on her face (^_^). Seeing this, Tae takes it upon herself to get those two together and what better day then the holiday, "Tanabata".

It's Tanabata day, but Kenshin is clueless. He has no idea it is a holiday and goes fishing. Yahiko, on the other hand, is acting VERY friendly....and so is Sanosuke for that matter. Both are showering her with attention and cake. Too bad their motives weren't what Ms. Kaoru expected....seems Yahiko had broken her favorite vase and Sano needed money.

When Kenshin returns, Ms. Kaoru is hoping he brought something back for her. Instead...he happily displays a huge catfish that he had caught. While the others are eating, Kaoru sits dejected inside the dojo. Tae arrives just as Kenshin has bitten down on something hard within his fish.....wow...it turns out to be that gorgeous sapphire ring. Tae tells Kenshin he needs to put the ring on Ms. Kaoru's finger for this is a very special day for her. Amidst a bit of chaos, Kenshin eventually gets the ring where it belongs.....Ms. Kaoru is GLOWING.

Later that day, Sano sees a young man by the lake who is ready to commit suicide. Seems he was going to propose when he saw his girl with another man. He became angry and threw the ring into the lake....but then he found out the man was only a past friend. Now the ring is lost (Uh, oh!)....along with most of his savings. Sano says, "Wait right there!", and returns to the dojo.

Back at the dojo, Sano explains the situation to Kenshin and Yahiko. Tae overhears and sweat drops. She explains to Kenshin (who is unfamiliar with Western ways) the meaning of presenting that ring. Kenshin and the others are shocked....they felt the special day meant it was Kaoru's birthday????? Now...they have to figure out a way to get the ring back to it's rightful owner.

After trying and failing at various hilarious attempts to retrieve the ring, Sano hands Ms. Kaoru a huge mug of beer. She downs the beer and (obviously) becomes very drunk. Yahiko and Sano go to work trying to pry that ring off, but she gives them both a slug. After Sano tells Kenshin this whole thing is his fault, the once Battousai explains to Kaoru what had happened. Then Kenshin says the reason the ring is not coming off easily is because Ms. Kaoru's fingers are fatter than most women due to her kenjutsu training. Well, that doesn't go over too well, Kaoru hauls off and punches Kenshin. Luckily, with that punch, the ring slipped off.

In the end, we see the blissful newly engaged couple walking off while Ms. Kaoru sulks in the Akabeko. She brightens up, however, when Kenshin presents her with a beautiful bouquet of flowers as an apology. Yahiko presents a pretty bouquet to Tsubame as well. Sano strolls off thinking..."Well now...guess it'd be a good idea to have all my cuts and bruises looked at by a doctor." (Kawaii!!)

The Gleaming Blade of Legends

Kenshin receives a letter from Misao telling of the strange occurrences that are happening in Kyoto. The corpse of a government official is found floating down the river. What's more...he had strange symbols engraved on his back. Why was this man killed?

Back in Kyoto, another government official (Kasai) is begging Aoshi to protect him. The man has received an ominous letter similar to the ones received by other officials just before they are murdered. Aoshi refuses as he has no desire to pick up a sword.

At the Aoiyo, Misao shows Gramps (Okina) the letter. He studies it for a moment and then says that it looks European...possibly Dutch or Portuguese.

That evening Okina has discovered that the letter read: "Spanning 250 years, the time of revenge has come. First a river...then a full moon. When daylight dies and turns into darkness, the child of God will appear." Aoshi gets a bad feeling and asks where Misao is. When Okina is unsure, Aoshi heads towards the residence of Kasai.

At the Kasai home a shadowy figure with immeasurable speed takes down each body guard one by one. Even guns cannot stop this assassin. Misao (who's been hiding in the bushes) races to save Kasai, but she is too late. The young girl stares at the silhouette of a man who stands on the rooftop. Flashes of light render Misao unconscious....Aoshi arrives just in time to catch her.

A breathless Shirojo arrives at the Kamiya Dojo asking to speak with Kenshin. Aoshi requests that Kenshin come to Kyoto immediately.

Kenshin and the others arrive in Kyoto. They meet with Okina and Aoshi. Misao is recovering from what appears to be a Shin No Ippo type move where she was shot through the heart by a light reflecting from the assailant's sword. It seems the perpetrator uses swordsman's spirit to break the opponent's motion completely paralyzing them. The technique was used on all of the body guards thus only the Master of the Estate, Kasai, was killed in the attack. Aoshi felt this man had a godlike speed surpassing Kenshin himself. After hearing this, Kenshin goes off to meet with Seijuro Hiko.

Kenshin and Seijuro talk of the Christian swordsman (Hyoue) who was training under Seijuro Hiko the 12th, but Hyoue was thought to have fallen to a watery grave while learning the Ama Kakeru Ryu No Hirameki. The man was believed to be training so he could one day lead the oppressed Christians. That was 40 years ago. Present day, we find that Hyoue did not die but taught everything he knew to his nephew....Shougo Amakusa.

Cho, who now works for the Kyoto police, is determined to protect the threatened official. While sitting on the porch of the official's home, Cho is surprised to see the sky turn dark. An eclipse has occurred making it appear as if daylight is dying. On a nearby hilltop, a shadowy figure stares at the residence of his next victim.

The Medallion of Destiny

A solar eclipse casts Japan into darkness. Within the blackness, the Son of God works with lightning speed in order to dispose of his next target. Even Cho is unable to stop him. The deadly assassination was over quickly leaving Cho hospitalized in critical condition and Shirashi dead. Why was Shirashi targeted?....Seems He was one of the front men in the Tokugawa Era in charge of rooting out the Christians. Before the revolution, Christianity was taboo.

Kenshin visits Cho at the hospital. The injured man explains that Shougo just may be faster and more powerful than Kenshin....a force to be reckoned with. When Kenshin exits Cho's room, a very jittery Misao informs him that Hyoue has been found.

Meanwhile, Sano secretly follows a woman and children to a cavernous area hidden behind a waterfall. There, Magdaria is leading many Christians in prayer and blessing them with Holy water.

When returning home, Magdaria and her nicely muscled (^_~) bodyguard, Shozo encounter a few antagonistic soldiers. The uniformed men ridicule and demean Magdaria and rip off her medallion, but she insists that Shozo NOT resort to violence. Ironically, Sano arrives and defends the two Christians by kicking the soldier's a??'s.....erm, butts. Magdaria, however, is not amused. She slaps Sano and calls him a "brute". The two exchange insults, which infuriates Shozo. Sano throws Magdaria's medallion (which he retrieved from the soldiers) on a tree limb before he and Shozo face one another. Sano is taken aback briefly when he is cut by the force of Shozo's karyu. This gives Shozo time to jump to the limb to retrieve the medallion. "This fight isn't over!" declares Sano, and he TOO jumps on the limb. (You guessed it.) The limb breaks sending Sano into the drink with the medallion. Shozo, however, uses a whip-like rope which prevents him from falling.

Later that day, Kenshin has made his way to Sir Hyoue's home. The blind and elderly man confides in Kenshin. He was subjected to eternal darkness at the hand of his nephew during a disagreement over seeking revenge. Sir Hyoue begged Kenshin to stop Shougo before a revolution is started in Shimabara. Shortly after, the old man succumbs to age and illness.

That evening, Kenshin stands before the gravesite of Sir Hyoue. In the distance, the shadows of Shougo and Magdaria can be seen. "Kenshin Himura....I'll be waiting in Shimabara," Shougo echoes as the episode ends.

To the Battlefield of Shimabara

Not long after meeting with Seijiro and reaffirming his decision to put a stop to Shogo, Kenshin and the others arrive in Shimabara. Misao and Yahiko are in awe of this town and what it has to offer. In his excitement, Yahiko is almost run down by a carriage carrying someone quite familiar to Kenshin. It is Sir Elsten, a gentlemen that was assaulted by thugs and rescued by Kenshin over ten years ago. Back then Sir Elsten was an enthusiastic doctor, but now he is the head of the Dutch Consulate and a devout Christian.

Sir Elsten takes the group back to his lavish residence where they discuss Shimabara and consume tea. They also meet Mr. Santo, the Consulate's right-hand man. Sano, who is not into formalities, remained outside. He reflects on his encounter with Magdaria.

Meanwhile, aboard a small row boat, Shogo and Magdaria return to their Christian village in a blaze of glory. As the boat approaches the shores, Lord Kaio promotes a book of prophecies and uses trickery that look like miracles. The people squeal in delight claiming, "Lord Shogo will create the Land of God!"

Shortly after, inside his home, Shogo conveys his distaste in the use of false miracles saying they were impertinent. Then the men talk of their ultimate plan. Their pain remains even though the anti-Christian laws have been repealed. The time for revenge is now. One of Shogo's followers enters and announces, "Kenshin Himura has arrived." Kaio, of course, wants the once battousai killed.

Later that day, Kenshin and crew arrive on the rocky shores of Shimabara. Misao goes off to collect information (she makes a pretty good spy). Then Kenshin and Sano leave to investigate the caves, while Ms. Kaoru and Yahiko remain on the shores.

Once in the cave Kenshin and Sano are attacked by a pack of wild dogs led by one of Shogo's henchmen. Using a special whistle, the huge man orders the dogs to kill. Kenshin and Sano split up as they flee the vicious dogs. Poor Sano is repeatedly bitten and gnawed at...it doesn't look good. Kenshin is not faring much better as he is grabbed by the henchmen's whip. Partially immobilized and used as a chew toy, Kenshin falls from the ledge in agony.

Back on the beach, children have mistaken Yahiko and Ms. Kaoru as the bad guys. They push Ms. Kaoru and bite Yahiko, then run off. The Missy finds a medallion they dropped and tries to return it. In the process, she discovers the hidden cavernous tunnels. She becomes frightened when passing an area full of skulls. Somehow Ms. Kaoru has found her way to the Grand Cathedral, and what she sees stuns her. Shogo is standing before the alter vowing to sacrifice Kenshin Himura's life on that very spot. (The Christian people think of Kenshin as the devil.)

Have Kenshin and Sano become dog chow or will Kenshin become a human sacrifice? Find out in the next exciting episode.

Shock of the Rairyu-Sen

It's coming!