Thank you so much for writing this. As much as I enjoy the RK fandom the common misconception of Battousai as a remorseless killer (or worse, someone who *enjoys* killing) has always annoyed me. Excellent portrayal!

"This is the real Battousai. Not the demon of legend, but a boy who loved peace, yet walked a path of violence to ease the sufferings of the people"

That one line really captures the essence of Kenshin.

Katsura bears the burden of guilt for using such a boy's skills out of necessity, and you brought out that aspect, that mix of remorse and sad determination, very well.

I couldn't help being a bit saddened by the fact that the historical Katsura wasn't around long enough in the Meiji era to prevent the corruption that ensued.

This was a very well written and well reasoned one-shot.

I agree with you completely. I don't believe that Battousai was a bad person at all, and it was always a bit confusing to me when people treated them like two separate people with different personalities. It's true that he overwent major change during his wandering years, but that didn't change the essence of who he was. I like how you portrayed that in this story especially. Keep writing!

Good writing! I think most of us "get it" though. Your whole point about Battousai i mean. It just makes for good writing the he is written sometimes but your point on Kenshin does too, it just takes more practice and a good writer to pull him off.

Wow this was amazing. It was everything I felt during the Trust and Betrayal OVA and Rememberance Arc and things that I wouldn't let myself think on because I felt so sorry for Kenshin. We want to blame Katsura-san, but cannot because the deeds of the Ishin Shishi were for the good of the future generation, (like Kenshin said when fighting Chou) I think more or less along the same lines as you about Kenshin's reverting back to Battousai. I think he could accomplish much, but I believe that if he wasn't so pacifistic then he would betray his beliefs and ultimatley Tomoe. In the end I am satisfied with the series, it is one of my favorite stories that I've ever read; and you summarized its protagonists well.