Kenshin Leaves

Kenshin and Kaoru before he leaves for Kyoto.

From Rurouni Kenshin Episode 31, "A Wish Unrequited"

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Kenshin Himura is one of my all time favorite characters in any medium. I really identify with him and think about him as a real person.

One thing I like about this series and a lot of anime in general is the subtlety with which character development occurs. Kenshin and Kaoru are interested in each other almost from the beginning, but they both show tremendous self restraint. They allow things to develop very gradually, and don't fully express their feelings until the right time. Very little is said outright about their budding romance until towards the end of the series, after 70+ episodes.

This scene is very meaningful because it's the first obvious display of affection from Kenshin, and Kaoru is the only person he even says goodbye to before leaving for Kyoto, where he will probably die.

Contrast this with a common Hollywood device where the first hot girl the hero meets is obviously going to be his love interest. Not long after meeting they fall into bed, then immediately afterwards they are a committed couple for the rest of the movie. Snort, yawn.

Kenshin's Sake Lesson

"Spring brings cherry blossoms to comfort you, the summer stars, the harvest moon in fall, and the powdered snow in winter. All of these things, and the promise of them, is what makes sake taste so good."

"One day, you will understand this, and then I shall pour sake for the both of us."

-Hiko Seijūrō in Samurai X: Trust