Frank Carlson Library

Action, romance, and historical intrigue help make Nobuhiro Watsuki's Rurouni Kenshin, the tale of a wandering swordsman set against the backdrop of the Meiji Restoration, one of the most popular manga titles of all time. Isurugi Raijuta, a truly old-school swordsman, comes to Kenshin and requests his aid in reforming the state of swordsmanship schools in Japan. Although Kenshin is intrigued by Raijuta's ideals, Raijuta's plan to weed out the schools...

Although he is now one of the good guys, Kenshin is still haunted by the events in Kyoto, where, as Hitokiri Batt�osai, he once made the streets flow with blood. He wonders, if a scar remains as long as strong feelings are attached to a wound, where did the cross-shaped scar on his face come from?

Haunted as he is by his past sins, committed when he was a government-sactioned killer, Kenshin is finding it hard to escape the shadow of his past and fight for the here and now.

When a possible weakness in Shishio's body reveals itself to Kenshin when he is nearly out of strength, Kenshin wonders if he should just give up and let history decide who was right and who was wrong.

When Kujiranami escapes from prison and goes on a rampage with a frightening new weapon, only Yahiko has the courage to face the giant. Fearing that this could be his ward's greatest, and last, battle, Kenshin must quickly come to his aid.

"When former Shinsengumi captain Saitô Hajime arrives on the steps of Kamiya dojo, he challenges Kenshin to a duel that will force a reawakening of Kenshin's past. Then, Kenshin leaves for turbulent Kyoto, against the wishes of nearly everyone who knows him as the gentle rurouni. Is Kenshin headed to Kyoto for a duel--or for a death match?"--Back cover.

Kenshin has been wielding his sword for the "New Era" under Katsura Kogoro of Choshu. One night he defends himself against an assassin sent by the shogunate; but a woman he helped in a pub witnesses the scene.