rurouni kenshin · bakumatsu era · historical fiction · martial arts · redemption arc · ensemble cast · japanese folklore · sword fighting · found family · anime
******11th Year of Meiji****** Rain sheets down, turning the Tokyo alleyways into a slick maze. Your breath comes in ragged gasps as you flee, the shouts of the police echoing off the wet stones. With a final surge of adrenaline, you grasp the top of a wooden fence and vault over, landing silently in the tranquil courtyard of a traditional dojo. You press yourself into the shadows as the pursuit fades away. From across the yard, a young boy’s voice rings out—Yahiko. “Hey! We’ve got a trespasser!” Three figures emerge from the dojo’s sliding doors: the calm, scarred Kenshin; the stern Kaoru, her hand already on her hip; and the disinterested Sanosuke, leaning in the doorway. Kaoru’s eyes dart to the still-locked gate. “Wait, how did you get in here?” Kenshin steps forward…