Tragedy strikes the traveling group of slave traders as they are brutally murdered one by one by a ruthless gang of bandit thugs. Three women beg for the life of young Shinta, but these men don't know the meaning of mercy. Just before the young boy is struck down, a handsome, strapping man appears and ends the bandits reign of terror....forever. Before leaving, the man (Sei-Juro Hiko) tells Shinta not to grieve for his family as their fates were decided.

The next morning Hiko is shocked to find the boy had buried ALL of the dead. Shinta (Kenshin) explained how they weren't his family....for his family had perished from Cholera and shortly after he was sold to these slave traders. Even so, the boy felt regret that he wasn't strong enough to protect them. It was then that Sei-Juro Hiko resolved to teach the boy the art of fine swordsmanship, but first he must change his name to "Kenshin" as Shinta was too soft for a swordsman.

Kenshin trained with his Master for many years, but the atrocities occurring in the outside world tugged on his heart. Against his Master's wishes, Kenshin left to protect the innocent.

1st principle of Hiten Mitsurugi -- A sword swung in my name shall be swung for the people of the world to prevent the shedding of innocent blood.

In 1864 Genji, Kenshin's talents were brought to the attention of Lord Katsura, who led the Choshu Clan. Members of the Choshu Clan fought against the Tokugawa Bakufu and the Shinsen Gumi.....considered the fiercest of aggregations. Kenshin became an assassin. Katsura's field chief, Isuka, would give him his assignments. Kenshin would lay waste to his targets swiftly....killing them and anyone else who got in the way of his mission. He was labeled "Hitokiri Battousai" or sword wielding killer.

In another part of Tokyo, a young man (Kiyosato) professes his love to his betrothed (Tomoe). He has one more job to do before they would marry. Little did he know that it would be his last. That evening he was to act as head bodyguard for Jubei Shigekura. Sadly, the prominent figure was Kenshin's next target. Kiyosato fought hard, but Kenshin carried out his bloody assignment. This time, however, Kiyosato left a long scar on the Battousai's cheek that refused to heal.

A bloody year had passed, and the scar would continue to bleed. Isuka claimed it was the bodyguard seeking revenge. Late one evening, the deceased Kiyosato's fiancé, Tomoe, drank liquor in a nearby pub. As she staggered her way home, she was splashed with the blood of Kenshin's next target. She looked at Kenshin innocently and said,
"You caused the rain to bleed."

End of Act I