List of Rurouni Kenshin episodes

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The following is a list of episodes from the anime Rurouni Kenshin. It aired in Japan on Fuji Television from September 2, 1996 – November 4, 1999. It started airing in the US on the Cartoon Network on March 17, 2003.

There were 95 episodes in Rurouni Kenshin's first run. There are also two Rurouni Kenshin OVA's which have respectively four and two episodes.

[edit] Episodes

Screenshot	Title	US airdate	#
	"Handsome Swordsman of Legend"	March 17, 2003	1
	After rumors of a man calling himself Hitokiri Battousai terrorizing the citizens of Tokyo begin, Kamiya Kaoru, the owner of a small dojo, takes it upon herself to catch him. After confroting a swordsman with a cross-shaped scar but dismissing him as a simple wanderer, she takes into her family's dojo. After a confrontation, the wanderer defeats the man posing as Battousai and after some prompting reveals his real name to be Himura Kenshin, as well as his identity as the true Battousai, once a well-known assassin during the Bakumatsu. Kaoru urges him to stay and declares that it is the wanderer she invites to stay at her place, not the assassin.
	"Kid Samurai"	March 18, 2003	2
	After nearly being pickpocketed by a young street urchin Myojin Yahiko Kenshin takes sympathy on the boy, who declares himself to be from a samurai family. After his mother's death, Yahiko has been forced into working for the yakuza to pay off his deceased mother's debt. Kaoru goes to rescue the boy but finds herself in a perilous situation until Kenshin appears and defeats the yakuza single-handedly. Kaoru then takes Yahiko as her student at Kenshin's prompting despite the reluctance of both of them.
	"Swordsman of Sorrow"	March 19, 2003	3
	Yahiko is discontent with the teachings of Kamiya-Kasshin Ryu, wanting to defeat his enemies over protecting the innocent.
	"Bad!"	March 20, 2003	4
	Hiruma Gohei, a man who Kenshin had previously defeated in episode 1 hires Sagara Sanosuke (aka Zanza after his signature weapon, a zanbato) to take Kenshin down. He accepts, but not for the money.
	"Reverse-Blade Sword vs. Horse Cutting Sword"	March 21, 2003	5
	Zanza returns to fight Kenshin, and reveals his reason for fighting and his past with the Sekihoutai, where his captain and teammates were used as scapegoats by the government. Kenshin defeats him and breaks the zanbato, and they become allies.
	"Appearance of Kurogasa"	March 24, 2003	6
	Government officials are being murdered. Jinei, a former hitokiri known for his ruthless attitude, is doing it and the government asks Kenshin for help. When Jinei sees Kenshin, he realizes he has a worthy opponent and kidnaps Kaoru, telling Kenshin to meet him later.
	"Deathmatch Under the Moon"	March 25, 2003	7
	Jinei has kidnapped Kaoru in order to force Kenshin back into his murderous ways. Kenshin almost kills Jinei, but Kaoru calls out, and he spares him. Jinei then takes his own life.
	"A New Battle"	March 26, 2003	8
	One of Sano's friends has died from opium when a mysterious woman (Takani Megumi) shows up and needs his and Kenshin's help. She is being pursued by the Oniwabanshuu onmitsu, an elite group of ninja that used to protect the Edo castle. They protect her, but Yahiko is poisoned.
	"Strongest Group of Ninjas"	March 27, 2003	9
	Takeda Kanryū forces Megumi to return by threatening the people at the dojo. Sano convinces her to return, but Megumi is captured by one of Kanryū's underlings.
	"Aoshi"	March 28, 2003	10
	The group goes to retrieve Megumi, but the Oniwaban group stands in their way. Kenshin narrowly defeats Hannya and then he and Sano confront commander Shinomori Aoshi. Aoshi takes out Sano with one blow, and then he and Kenshin begin to battle.
	"Farewell, the Strongest Men"	March 31, 2003	11
	Kenshin narrowly defeats Aoshi. Aoshi asks Kenshin to finish him off, and when Kenshin refuses, Aoshi vows revenge. Kanryū shows up with a gatling gun and kills the four members of the Oniwaban group, who die defending Aoshi. Megumi tries to kill herself for her past misdeeds, but they save her just in time. Aoshi buries his comrades and swears that he will defeat Kenshin for their sake.
	"Birth of a Boy Swordsman"	April 2, 2003	12
	Yahiko meets a cute girl named Tsubame, who works at the Akabeko. She's being forced into making a copy of the key to the Akabeko by a group of thugs, and Yahiko decides to help her by himself. He defeats the thugs, although with a little help from the group.
	"Striving For the Grand Championship"	April 3, 2003	13
	Kaoru takes in Toramaru, a sumo wrestler who has been kicked out of his sumo stable. The leading wrestler fears being overtaken, and uses his status to keep Toramaru down. Kaoru teaches Toramaru to be self confident, and he rejoins the sumo stable.
	"To Save a Small Life"	January 24, 2004	14
	Megumi treats a girl with a life threatening heart condition, but a faith healer enters town and begins to seeminly perform miracles to cure the sick at exhorbitant sums, while spreading rumors that Megumi is a quack. When the young girl is put in a life threatening situation because of her parents' desperation, the Kenshin-gumi rush to save her before it's too late.
	"Two Legendary Manslayers"	April 4, 2003	15
	The Jinpuu squad is performing vigilante assassinations. They try and force Sasaki, a local schoolteacher, to pick up his sword again, but Sano and Kenshin fight them off. Toma, the Jinpuu leader, vows to kill Kenshin.
	"A Promise From the Heart"	April 7, 2003	16
	Toma was a former student under Sasaki. Ultimately, the Jinpuu squad is taken down and Toma repents to his former master.
	"Fly to Your Dreams"	April 8, 2003	17
	The group goes to the circus and Yahiko takes a liking to the "Human Cannonball" girl Marimo. A circus boss tries to sabotage the show and make Marimo work for him, but the Kenshin-gumi entertain the crowd until Marimo can find the right mix of gunpowder and fly from the cannon.
	"Run, Yahiko!"	April 9, 2003	18
	Hiruma Gohei returns and hires the Onizaki brothers to kill Kenshin. Gohei tricks Yahiko into bringing him the reverse blade sword, and then he ties Yahiko up. Kenshin is outmatched by the Onizaki brothers, but Yahiko escapes and brings the sword, allowing Kenshin to win.
	"Raijuta's Ambition"	April 10, 2003	19
	The Kenshin-gumi go on vacation in Izu. There, a wealthy boy Yutaro falls under the influence of Raijuta, who intends to create a kingdom with his warriors. Kenshin battles Raijuta's men for the sake of Yutaro, but they gain the upper hand.
	"Revival of the Shinko Style"	April 11, 2003	20
	Kenshin leaves Raijuta's warriors to save Yutaro from drowning. Kaoru teaches Yutaro the Kamiya Kasshin style of swordsmanship, although he doesn't understand its moral aspects. The military attacks Raijuto and his gang.
	"Dissolution of a Nightmare"	April 14, 2003	21
	Kenshin stops the battle by challenging Raijuta to a one on one battle. He figures out the trick to Raijuta's vacuum cut, and defeats him. Yutaro is injured in the battle, and decides to move to Germany for better medical care.
	"Danger on a Runaway Locomotive"	April 15, 2003	22
	The Kenshin-gumi take a train trip to Yokohama for fun. A train robbery ensues, and they defeat the robbers. All the while, Sanosuke complains technology is the work of the devil.
	"Sanosuke's Betrayal"	April 16, 2003	23
	Sanosuke goes to a picture shop to buy a picture for Miss Tae at the Akabeko. While at the picture shop, he stumbles across a portrait of Captain Sagara, drawn by Tsunan Tsukioka, another surviving member of the Sekihoutai. Sano joins with Tsunan and defeats Tashiwachi Shindo, the man who framed Captain Sagara ten years earlier.
	"Midnight Battle"	April 17, 2003	24
	Sanosuke throws a party at the Kamiya Dojo for everyone. Little does everyone except Kenshin know, Sanosuke is really planning to leave the Kenshin group for good to revive the long lost Sekihoutai with his friend Katsuhiro. Kenshin goes to stop Sanosuke and Katsu from destroying the Internal Affairs Department with bombs. Kenshin stops Sano, and Sano rejoins Kenshin's group, and Katsu stops making bombs.
	"The Crimson Pirate"	April 18, 2003	25
	Kaoru goes on a boat cruise to get some money. Miraculously, Kenshin, Yahiko, and Sanosuke find the same boat cruise and get on it, not knowing that Kaoru is on the same ship as they are. Kenshin eventually finds out, and then the Kairyu, fearsome pirates who fight like demons, attack the boat. Kenshin is poisoned and captured in the process, leaving Kaoru, Sanosuke, and Yahiko behind.
	"Lightning Incarnate"	April 21, 2003	26
	Shura and the Kairyu land at Kairyu Island with Kenshin. Shura doesn't have the heart to kill Kenshin, and so Ginjo, one of the Kairyu who wants to be the new leader instead of Shura, makes up a plan to kill Shura and become leader in her place. Shura gets shot in the leg by Geki, another one of her followers who has now joined Ginjo.
	"Burn, Island of Terror!"	April 22, 2003	27
	Kenshin helps to nurse Shura back to health, then Shura finds out that Ginjo gave Old Iwa opium. Shura goes off to fight and defeat Ginjo. She is defeated by him, since he played a dirty trick on her. Kenshin then comes in and uses the Ryu Tsui Sen to end the fight. Geki then throws a bomb, destroying Kairyu Island and all its inhabitants, except for Kenshin and Shura.
	"Prelude to the Impending Fight"	April 23, 2003	28
	The Kenshin-gumi's brief period of peace is interrupted by the prescence of former Shinsengumi captain Saito Hajime - now using the name of Fujita Goro and working for the Tokyo police - stirs up some of Kenshin's bloodiest memories of the Bakumatsu. Saito arrives at the Kamiya dojo disguised as a medicine seller and fights Sanosuke, injuring him severely in the process.
	"Strongest Opponent From the Past"	June 9, 2003	29
	Sanosuke is beginning to recover from the wounds inflicted by Saito, but Kenshin's mind is greatly disturbed. Akamatsu, another assassin hired by the same man who is paying Saito fights Kenshin by drawing him out but loses to Kenshin while Saito arrives at the dojo using his status as a policeman to gain entrance. Kenshin and Saito begin to fight, despite Kaoru's attempt to stop them as she begs Kenshin not to revert to his Battousai persona.
	"A Devil of Vengeance"	June 10, 2003	30
	The battle between Kenshin and Saito continues after Kenshin is stabbed by Saito's Gatotsu Sanshiki. Kaoru is frightened to see Kenshin's Battousai persona begin to emerge and begins to lose hope that she will ever see the gentle Rurouni again. However, one of Saito's superiors appears and stops the fight just as it is reaching a climax and Kenshin returns to normal after punching himself in the face. Okubo explains to Kenshin that Shishio Makoto, the man who took over Kenshin's position as the Shadow Hitokiri for the Ishinshishi surived being burned alive and has begun gathering an army to overthrow the government, and hopes that Kenshin can defeat him, with the threat of Megumi being turned in for opium manufacture unless he complies. Megumi states she would rather die that be used as a pawn against Kenshin, and he is given a deadline upon which to decide.
	"A Wish Unrequited"	June 11, 2003	31
	As the deadline for Kenshin's decision on whether to go to Kyoto nears Kaoru becomes anxious at the possibility of his leaving. After Okubo's assassination by Seta Sojiro, Kenshin decides to go to Kyoto and bids an emotional goodbye to Kaoru, implying that it is likely they will never meet again.
	"Change Tears to Courage"	June 12, 2003	32
	Kaoru is deeply depressed and distressed since Kenshin left Tokyo. With the help of Tae, Yahiko, Tsubame, and especially Megumi, Kaoru regains her courage and decides to leave Tokyo to go to Kyoto and see Kenshin. Saito also gets into a fight with Sanosuke, telling him not to go to Kyoto. Sanosuke leaves on his own despite Saito's warning that he will be a liability to Kenshin.
	"For the Title of Strongest"	June 13, 2003	33
	Aoshi Shinomori has now chosen the path of chaos. He will do anything to defeat Kenshin, as he feels it will prove to the world that the Oniwaban Group were the strongest fighters of the Revolution. Aoshi defeats four monks working for Shishio, who were merely meant to test Aoshi's strength, but refuses to join Shishio after Sojiro tries to convince him.
	"The Girl Bandit"	June 16, 2003	34
	Misao Makimachi, the girl bandit, whom Kenshin meets in the forest, is a member of the Oniwaban Group. She wants very badly to see Aoshi and the other four Oniwaban Group members, though she is unaware of the fate of the four Oniwaban ninjas, and she doesn't yet know the whereabouts of Aoshi. Misao refuses to stop chasing Kenshin, as she believes that he can lead her to them.
	"Conquered Village"	June 17, 2003	35
	Along the way to Kyoto, Kenshin and Misao come across a nearly dead man with his little brother in his arms, Eiji Mishima. The man dies, and Eiji wants to avenge his brother's death by killing Senkaku, the man who slayed his elder brother. Kenshin, Eiji, and Misao travel to Shingetsu Village, Eiji's hometown, and fight some of Shishio's soldiers off. Saito and Kenshin leave Misao and Eiji behind, as they go to Shishio's mansion nearby.
	"Across the Boundary Between Edo and Meiji"	June 18, 2003	36
	Kenshin and Senkaku fight, and Kenshin wins with ease. Shishio is then challenged by Kenshin, but Shishio refuses to accept, saying that Kenshin is weak as a wanderer, and that even if there were 100 of him, Kenshin could not defeat Shishio as Kenshin is now. Shishio asks Sojiro, his right hand man, to fight Kenshin instead. Shishio and Yumi leave the mansion.
	"Shock! Reverse Blade Sword Broken"	June 19, 2003	37
	Sojiro and Kenshin both use the battojutsu technique. Kenshin's sword is broken in two, and Shishio's Nagasoni Kotetsu, which he gave to Sojiro to fight Kenshin with, is also severely damaged. Sojiro leaves the mansion, asking Kenshin to get a new sword.
	"Sanosuke's Secret Training"	June 20, 2003	38
	Sanosuke gets lost in a forest. He finds a monk there that goes by the name of Anji. Anji gives Sanosuke some food. Sanosuke ends up convincing Anji to teach him how to use the Futae no Kiwami, a very destructive punch (so destructive that it can completely pulverize huge boulders into dust with a single punch). Sanosuke has one week to learn it or Anji will kill him. Sanosuke finally learns it, and then leaves for Kyoto.
	"The Creation of the Reverse-Blade Sword"	June 23, 2003	39
	Kenshin and Misao make it to Kyoto. There, they meet Okina and four other members of the Oniwaban Group. Okina knows Kenshin is the legendary Battousai the Manslayer the moment he lays eyes on him. Kenshin goes to see Sekku Arai, Shakku Arai's son (Shakku was the one who made Kenshin's Reverse Blade Sword that broke) to get a new Reverse Blade Sword. Sekku refuses, saying that this is a time of peace, and that the samurai have all thrown their swords away. Later, Chou the Swordhunter of the Jupongottana abducts Iori, Sekku's baby son. Kenshin demands that Chou release Iori.
	"A Killer Without Mercy"	June 24, 2003	40
	Kenshin finds Sawagejo Cho has kidnapped the child of Shakku's son in order to obtain Shakku's final work for himself. Kenshin is forced to choose between keeping his vow not to kill and saving the baby, deciding to save the child and draw the sword he has been given. However, just when it seems he has broken his vow and killed Cho, it is revealed that the sword he is holding is Shakku's final work, Shinuchi, a sakabato, and Cho is merely stunned. Kenshin then leaves to find his master, Hiko Seijiro, in order to learn the final technique of Hiten Misturugi-Ryu.
	"The Ultimate Technique of the Hiten-Mitsurugi Style"	June 25, 2003	41
	Kenshin finds his master Hiko Seijuro living as a potter near Kyoto, but Hiko is initially unwilling to take Kenshin back due to his walking out to join the Revolution. Kenshin and Kaoru meet Misao in Kyoto after learning that she saw Kenshin leaving, and later leads the grateful pair to him after they meet Okina at the Aoi-Ya. Kenshin seems initially upset at the sight of Kaoru, but later replies he is only "half" angry. They leave Kenshin to train, and on the way Misao's affiliation with the Oniwabanshu is revealed as well as the fact that she does not know of the fate of Aoshi's group in Edo (see episode 11).
	"The Formation of an Alliance"	June 26, 2003	42
	Misao is in denial after hearing of the deaths of Aoshi's men, and feels despair as she recalls her country-wide search for Aoshi, which ended without success. Meanwhile, Aoshi sends a letter to Okina and they meet in a Kyoto market, where Okina tells Aoshi that his desire to kill Kenshin has turned him into a demon, and that as the leader of the Oniwabanshu Okina cannot allow this to continue. Seta Sojiro and several other Juppongatana meet Aoshi and convince him to join them, as they share the goal of destroying Kenshin. After Okina mysteriously leaves with his shinobi uniform Misao realizes that the two will have a confrontation at the temple and runs to stop it, but proves to be too late as Okina falls to Aoshi's Kaiten Kenbu Rokuren, and is told by Aoshi that the next time they meet he will kill her.
	"Between Life and Death"	June 27, 2003	43
	The episode starts off with Seijuro Hiko remembering the past about when he first met Kenshin and while they were continuing the training Kenshin finally proves himself worthy of learning the final technique, so Hiko begins to start by teaching him the Kuzu-ryusen, a technique where it will hit 9 targets of martial arts at one time. Then Hiko instructs Kenshin to try the attack kenshin uses the attack flawlessly but Hiko did one of his own and the end result is that Kenshin lost that skirmish. Then after learning this Hiko proclaims "you must defeat this technique with the ultimate attack". After much worry about his friends Kenshin finally looks within himself for what he was missing in life and learns the ultimate technique, the Amakakeru Ryu No Hirameki.
	"A Decisive Battle like Violent Waters"	June 30, 2003	44
	The Juppongottana have gathered in the temple of Shishio in Kyoto, and are ready to commence the Kyoto Grand Fire and be on their path to victory.
	"As If to Fly"	July 1, 2003	45
	Sanosuke, Saito, and Kenshin go to Osaka to find Shishio and his men onboard a ship. They find Shishio, and Shishio launches the Purgatory, a steel-plated battleship he paid a fortune to get. Shishio plans to use the Purgatory to launch an assault on Tokyo.
	"Purgatory Bursts into Flames"	July 2, 2003	46
	Sanosuke uses the Futae no Kiwami Anji taught him to use on a board to stop gattling gun bullets to hit him. He then throws the bombs Katsu gave him before he left Tokyo to go to Kyoto right onto the Purgatory, damaging the engine and left a whole in the ship. The Purgatory eventually sinks, but not until Saito, Kenshin, and Sanosuke get off it safe and sound. Shishio issues a challenge; Kenshin can only meet him at his base and get to him by completing one-on-one fights. Kyoto is spared from the Kyoto Grand Fire, as well thanks to intervention by the Oniwaban, now headed by Misao.
	"Crash! The Lethal Punch, Futae no Kiwami!"	July 3, 2003	47
	Sanosuke, Saito, and Kenshin journey to Mount Hiei at the Shrine of the Six Arches to settle the score with Shishio. The first challenger of the Juppongottana in the shrine is Anji the Destroyer, the man who taught Sanosuke the basics of the Futae no Kiwami. Anji and Sanosuke duel, and Sanosuke uses a Futae no Kiwami attack at full power, called the Kiwami Hazuchi, and knocks Anji down. Sanosuke thinks he is dead, until he gets back up more angry than ever.
	"Reborn to Salvation"	July 4, 2003	48
	Anji and Sanosuke continue their duel, and Anji is reborn to salvation after talking about his past and being convinced by Sanosuke and the memories from the people of his past that he was doing the wrong thing all these years by being a destroyer. Kenshin and Saito continue on ahead to fight Usui, the second challenger of the Jupongottana.
	"The Wolf Destroys the Shingan"	July 12, 2003	49
	Uonuma Usui confronts Saito while the others continue on through Shishio's manshion. Usui's claim to "True Vision" is put to the test by Saito, who sees it for what it really is - simply super enhanced hearing adopted by Usui to make up for his lack of sight. Saito realizes that Usui is in fact weak since his desire for revenge against Shishio has driven him to become a mere pawn in Shishio's game. An enraged Usui wounds Saito using the timbe, a tortoise-shell shield and blocks his vision, however, Usui is no match for Saito's Zeroshiki, a move Saito had been saving for a fight against Kenshin.
	"The Promised Time Has Come"	July 19, 2003	50
	Kenshin senses something coming from Houji's room, and then senses that it is Aoshi Shinomori. He enters the room, and is determined to keep his promise to Aoshi Shinomori, and to Misao Makimachi by fighting, and bringing back Aoshi to Aoiya. Upon entering the room, Aoshi greets him, and he says that he has thrown everything away, including his four comrades, just for the moment of the duel with him and Kenshin. Aoshi is determined to win the fight and kill the Battousai, to claim the title of the strongest.
	"Wake Up Now!"	July 26, 2003	51
	As the duel between Aoshi and Kenshin continues, Kenshin is being attacked by Aoshi while he tries to say words to Aoshi to try and wake him up; to make him become the man he used to be. Kenshin is determined to return Aoshi to what he used to be: a man of caring, and happiness, so that he can bring back the true Aoshi to Misao, and keep both promises he made to both of them. Aoshi realizes that what he has been doing was wrong all along, and they both used thier final attacks on each other. Ultimately Kenshin emerged victorius and Kenshin, Sanosuke Sagara and Yumi Komagota move on to the next battle.
	"To Make a Miracle"	August 2, 2003	52
	The battle at the Aoiya continues, as Iwanbo, Henya, and Kamatari fight against the Oniwaban Group and Yahiko and Kaoru. Yahiko manages to defeat Henya, after being almost killed by his Hikku Happa attack. After that, Kamatari, Kaoru, and Misao fight. Misao gets crushed ribs in the fight against Kamatari, and is unable to continue until she wakes up from a dream of Hannya, and she and Kaoru defeat Kamatari through a combined effort. Iwanbo manages to wound the four Oniwaban Group members with a scratch. Things are not looking good for those who remained at the Aoiya, despite Yahiko defeating Henya the Flighted.
	"The Giant Versus Superman"	August 16, 2003	53
	Just when all hope seems lost, Seijuro Hiko shows up and fights Fuji. He talkes to Fuji and makes he realize that he was being used and ask for a fair fight. He defeats Fuji with the Kuzu Ryu Sen. The Aoiya is safe from harm, but Kenshin still has to fight Sojiro in order to fight Shishio himself.
	"Hiten Versus Shukuchi"	August 23, 2003	54
	Sojiro and Kenshin have their second duel, since the one in Shingetsu Village was never finished. Sojiro shows Kenshin the Shukuchi attack, an attack that brings him to his opponent in an instant, because he uses powerful legwork. Kenshin manages to get himself pretty wounded in the fight, and Sojiro hasn't even gotten hit once. He even dodges the Kuzu Ryu Sen, an attack Hiko said was unblockable.
	"The Tragedy of a Stormy Night"	August 30, 2003	55
	While Sojiro is occupied by constantly re-tieing his shoe, he thinks of the moments of his past, and all of the bad stuff that happened in it. Sojiro's past is shown throughout the entire episode. Sojiro's family never loved him, and only wanted him so they could use him. They made him carry hundreds of buckets of rice, and when Sojiro returns a bucket of rice to his house, one of Sojiro's family members breaks the bucket on purpose. Then, another person who likes to cause Sojiro trouble and use him, named Yanosuke, calls out his father who is inside, blaming Sojiro for breaking the bucket. He then meets Makoto Shishio, whom spared his life. Shishio gave him a Wakizashi sword, and he murders his family with this sword. Then, Sojiro follows Shishio, as Shishio tells Sojiro that he will become strong.
	"A Duel With an Extreme Moment"	September 6, 2003	56
	Continuing from the last episode, Sojiro thinks about his past a little bit more, and thinks of Shishio's "survival of the fittest", and Kenshin's way of not killing people. Sojiro gets very confused, not knowing which person to believe, and he suddenly breaks down during the fight. He goes crazy, and tells Kenshin that he is only getting in his way, and that the very fact that he's in the room makes him ticked off. Sojiro then fights Kenshin at his full strength, using an attack he named the Shu Ten Satsu its a combination of the shukchi speed and the Battojutsu of the tenken. Then they both do a Battojutsu stance. Kenshin emerges victorious by using his ultimate attack, the Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki on him. Sojiro then tells Yumi to return his Wakizashi to Shishio, and also gives Yumi the details of Kenshin's ultimate attack, as a parting gift Sojiro leaves Shishio's side forever, and Kenshin and the others make their way to the final battle with Makoto Shishio!
	"Two Men at the End of an Era"	September 13, 2003	57
	As Kenshin, Sanosuke, and Yumi make their way to the top of the Inferno Arena, Kenshin thinks about his past, and what awaits him next, the entire way up to where Shishio himself is waiting. However, Kenshin is ready and prepared to the final battle with the manslayer known as Shishio. Upon reaching the door at the top, Yumi pulls the switch to open the door. Shishio is standing in the middle of the arena, and Houji is also there. After a few opening words with Kenshin and Shishio, Shishio promises Yumi that the battle will end quickly. He gives Yumi a kiss, walks off, and the fight between the two manslayers begins! Shishio shows off his first Secret Sword attack, the Homura Dama. He then bites a chunk off of Kenshin's shoulder!
	"The Age Chooses Shishio?"	September 20, 2003	58
	The fight between Kenshin and Shishio continues. Kenshin and Shishio then start talking about Shishio's greatest shura that he trained himself, Sojiro. Shishio doesn't believe that Kenshin understands the laws of nature, and then he tries to show it to Kenshin, by using the Homura Dama. However, after creating a circle of flames around Kenshin, he picks him up, and ignites the gunpowder tucked inside his gauntlet. This the second Secret Sword attack, known as the Guren Kaina. This knocks out Kenshin, nearly causing his death! However, not all hope is lost. Saito busts through the door, using his Gatotsu attack (the first style). Due to a metal protection on Shishio's forehead, this doesn't affect him. After trying all of the Gatotsu styles, Saito gets knocked out by Shishio. Sanosuke attempts to attack him, but fails. Suddenly, when all hope seems lost, Aoshi appears to engage in combat with Shishio.
	"Not Out of Luck!"	September 27, 2003	59
	After a short conversation between Aoshi and Shishio, they both engage in combat with each other. However, even with Aoshi's Kaiten Kenbu Rokuren, he cannot defeat Shishio. Suddenly, after buying enough time for Kenshin, Kenshin himself appears to be standing! Due to his swordsman spirit, he was able to survive the wounds caused by the Guren Kaina. Now round two commences. Just when Shishio is about to finish Kenshin off with another Guren Kaina, he remembers the promise he made to Kaoru to go back to Tokyo together. He then uses a five-hit combo on Shishio, and does the Ku Zu Ryu Sen, of the Hiten Mitsurugi Style. Shishio gets back up because of his swordsman spirit, and the final round is about to commence.
	"The Man Who is Chosen for Victory"	October 4, 2003	60
	After hurting Shishio a bit with the Ku Zu Ryu Sen attack, Shishio gets ready to use the final and ultimate Secret Sword attack, the Kaguzuchi. Upon trying to use it, Kenshin also tries his ultimate attack, the Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki. He makes Shishio's ultimate attack not execute, and hits him with his own ultimate attack. Shishio can still fight after that, however. Since he has fought more than fifteen minutes, his blood starts evaporating, and he begins screaming. In utter fear of Shishio's death, Yumi rushes over by Shishio, and begs Kenshin not to finish him off. However, Shishio stabs Kenshin through Yumi! He is determined to continue fighting, and Yumi dies, knowing she did something useful for once. As the battle continues, Shishio ends up being burned alive once again, just when he is about to kill Kenshin. Since Shishio is dead, Houji attempts to burn down the Inferno Arena, to take out Sanosuke, Kenshin, Saito, and Aoshi! Now the four must escape before they die along with the Inferno Arena!
	"The Choice for Life"	October 11, 2003	61
	Sano and Aoshi drag an unconscious Kenshin as they run from the burning Building. They evetually escape, but Saitou was left behind because his legs were to injured to jump the bridge/walkway that had collapsed. So Saitou is now presumed dead.
	"Kyoto, the Engraved Memory"	October 18, 2003	62
	Yahiko visits Mount Hiei, and Sanosuke shows him where that battle with Shishio took place. Meanwhile, Kenshin visits an unknown woman’s grave (this woman is actually Tomoe, his very first love in the OVAs that died by his own hand), and places flowers by it. Also at this time, Megumi explains to Kaoru the severity of Kenshin's wounds, and that it is important to keep him from doing anything that dangerous again. Finally, the gang gets on the train to Kyoto, with Misao waving to them and telling them to visit again. After the train departs Saitou is seen saying that he and Kenshin will meet again one day and settle the score that they have. When the gang reaches the road to the dojo, Kaoru extends her hand and welcomes Kenshin home. Kenshin smiles and says, "It's good to be home."
	"The Legend of the Fireflies"		63
	"The Birth of Prince Yahiko"		64
	A foreign prince is attacked by bandits. As Kenshin and Kaoru are returning from a play, they see this and Kenshin intervenes. During the attack the prince was injured, so Kenshin and Kaoru take them back to the dojo. As it turns out, Prince Shin looks exactly like Yahiko, and so Yahiko is put in his place to attend a banquet. At the banquet the bandits attack yet again, but our favorite samuai is there to protect Yahiko, along with Sanosuke.
	"Find the Lost Treasure!"		65
	When he finds himself under attack by the Kenwadan, a gang of masked men, a politician, Mr Takamori, throws the key to his safe into an alleyway. Unexpectedly, the key is promptly picked up by a dog, who then escapes with it into a river, despite the gang's frantic pursuit. While praying at the shrine for better luck at dice, Sanosuke comes across the dog, now half-dead, and carries it back to the Kamiya dojo to be looked at by Megumi. Cue comic adventures as the dog, which Sanosuke names Notaro, promptly tears the Kenshin Group's lives apart, eating their food, stealing and burying their possessions, and generally making a nuisance of himself. But it doesn't take the Kenwadan Gang long to track Notaro down. Will Kenshin and the others be able to fend them off and find the key before the gang do?

[edit] External links

• List of Rurouni Kenshin episodes at TV.com.