Try this for a deep, dark secret: You know the mysterious rurouni, Himura Kenshin? He doesn't exist.  I invented him.  You see . . . I always admired my father's Kamiya Kasshin Ryu, so I studied, and I practiced, and put our school's name on a dojo.  But absolutely nobody knocked down my door.  A female kenjutsu instructor seemed so. . . . feminine.

So I invented a rurouni . . . a decidedly skilled rurouni.  Suddenly there were students everywhere, all hoping to get a glimpse of him in action.  It was working like a charm . . .

Until the day he walked in.  With his violet eyes and mysterious past . . . and before I knew it, he'd assumed Kenshin's identity.

It's a dangerous way to live, but as long as people believe it . . . I can teach my budo.

We never mix housework with pleasure . . . well, almost never.

I don't even know his real name!

Rurouni Kenshin

{Trailer for episode 1}

<Kenshin and Kaoru stand in the dojo.  Kaoru appears furiously angry, while Kenshin appears his calm, friendly self.>

Kenshin (pulling sakaba out of its sheath) It's a sakabatou . . . I've never heard of anyone using one of those.

Kaoru: So! He believes in the principles of Kamiya Kasshin Ryu! He wields a sakabatou in order never to kill again!

Kenshin: There aren't any nicks or marks on the blade, I don't think it's ever been used.

(Kaoru is silent, standing with fists clenched)

Kenshin: And none of your students have ever seen him.  You know what I think, Kaoru-dono? I think your rurouni doesn't exist.

<Kaoru talking to a prospective student>

I'm sorry, but Kenshin doesn't do any teaching.  He's vowed never to pass on his Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu.  He functions only in an advisory capacity.

<Kenshin, doing laundry, surrounded by a group of boys.  Kaoru stands in the distance, shut out of this blatant display of male admiration, trembling with anger.>

Boy 1: You're really him? Rurouni Kenshin? Sugoi!

Boy 2: Kakkoi! Were you really a hitokiri?

Boy 3: Of course he was! Kamiya-sensei said so! Besides, look at that scar - how else would he get it? It must have been a victim that fought back!

Kenshin: Ororooooo . . .

<Yahiko trying to convince Kaoru to let him stay>

Yahiko: Kaoru! He helped you against Gohei! You can't say he's dangerous!

Kaoru: Yahiko!! We don't know him! He hasn't even told us his name!

Kenshin: It's Kenshin.  Himura Kenshin.

Kaoru (whacking him upside the head with her shinai): Baka! Your real name!

Kenshin: Orooooooo . . . (eyes spiraling) Kenshin . . . Himura. . . . Kenshin . . .

Sekihara Tae
tae@sekihara.dreamhost.com
March 30, 1999