=============================================================== Episode Summaries by Lynne (tougei@hotmail.com) Note from Key 2 Anime: I got these summaries from the RK Archive (http://rka.crosspaths.net/index.html). All these summaries are done by Lynne. If you have any questions of would just like to thank her for her wonderful efforts please email her at tougei@hotmail.com Episodes #54-56 =============================================================== Episode #54 Hiten versus Shukuchi. Soujiro, God's Gift to Nature. Soujiro is soooo polite to Kenshin. He tells Kenshin to not worry about the Aoiya, since the Juppongatana have been defeated and arrested. Soujiro and Kenshin begin. Soujiro starts with a battou jutsu. It is not successful. Soujiro is surprised that Kenshin is much stronger than when they fought at the Shingetsu village. Kenshin is amazed at Soujiro's powerful legs and his incredible speed, shukuchi! Soujiro can attack going from a standstill to full speed because of his powerful legs. It is why Soujiro was able to kill Ookubo on a moving carriage. Additionally, Soujiro appears to have no emotions; Kenshin cannot 'read' Soujiro to anticipate his movements. Soujiro tells Kenshin that his last attack was not shukuchi, it was 3 steps short. The next attack will be faster. Soujiro attacks. Kenshin tries a Kuzu Ryu Sen. Soujiro not only evades, but slices Kenshin across the back. Kenshin is seriously wounded! Soujiro is puzzled, since he really did try to kill Kenshin, but was not successful. He starts to think about Shishio and Senkaku. Soujiro asks why Kenshin used the Ryu Sho Sen on Senkaku. Sano answers the question: because if Kenshin had not shown Shishio one of his moves, Shishio would have killed Senkaku. Soujiro attacks again, one step short of shukuchi. He talks to Kenshin as he fights. 'The strong live, the weak die.' Soujiro strikes! He hits Kenshin, but not a killing blow. Kenshin asks Soujiro what is holding him back. Kenshin has noticed that Soujiro's sword speed has decreased, and he can 'feel' Soujiro's inner conflict. Soujiro starts to show emotion, irritation! He attacks Kenshin again, but breaks a shoe lace, and asks to stop so he can fix it. Sano patches Kenshin's wounds and Kenshin compares the Hitokiri inside of him with the emotions inside of Soujiro.......... -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Episode #55 Tragedy in The Storm. Soujiro's Past. Yumi is talking to Soujiro while he fixes his waraji lace. Soujiro tells Yumi that Himura-san is stronger than Soujiro thought he would be, but it does not matter because a sword that protects the weak is useless. Soujiro was the bastard son of a rice merchant. The merchant died and left Soujiro the responsibility of Soujiro's half brothers and sisters. Soujiro was beaten and abused. He was forced to move 100 lb bags of rice every night and every day (hence the strong legs). One night little Soujiro investigates a noise and witnesses Shishio kill a man. Shishio intends to kill Soujiro, but notices that Soujiro is smiling, waiting to die. Shishio hides out in one of Soujiro's family's storage sheds. Soujiro gets food and bandages for Shishio, Shishio gives Soujiro a wakizashi (short sword). Soujiro knows that Shishio is a bad person, but a very strong bad person. Soujiro's family notices that all the bandages in the house are gone. They knew that an injured criminal had been seen in the area, and they surmise that Soujiro is hiding him. They beat Soujiro severely and plan to kill him. Soujiro runs, screaming, but no one comes to help. Soujiro kills all of his half brothers and sisters with the sword Shishio has given him. Shishio comes out of the shed when all is quiet and finds Soujiro standing over the dead bodies of his family. Soujiro has fixed his lace and the fight resumes. Yumi is worried. Soujiro tells Yumi that when he is fighting Kenshin, he feels so distracted! Soujiro attacks Kenshin using one step short of shukuchi. Soujiro is talking as he is moving. He tells Kenshin that even though Kenshin talks about non-killing and protecting the weak, Kenshin cannot be right because "Back then, you did not protect me! If you really believe in what you say, why did you not protect me...?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Episode #56 Fight To The Limit! Shun-Ten-Satsu Versus Ama Kakeru Ryu No Hirameki. Soujiro has broken! His emotions are pouring out! He tells Kenshin that Shishio cannot be wrong: the strong survive, the weak die. Kenshin easily anticipates Soujiro's moves now. He tells Soujiro that he cannot even imagine what Soujiro has been through, but that he can guess that deep down inside, Soujiro regrets what he has done. Soujiro never really wanted to be a killer. Kenshin says he can feel it. He says that Soujiro can still put that part of his life behind him and start over. Soujiro goes crazy, pulling his hair, pounding the floor. He tells Kenshin that he will kill him. Kenshin uses his ougi. Soujiro is defeated. Soujiro has his head in Yumi's lap pondering how could Kenshin, with such a non-killing attitude, have such a perfect counter. Soujiro tells Kenshin that the battle with Kenshin gave Soujiro his answer. Kenshin says Soujiro is wrong, the stronger man is not always right. Real life is not that simple. Soujiro is still young and he can find his answers and atone for his crimes. Soujiro calls Kenshin a harder taskmaster than Shishio. Kenshin and Sano are running down the hall again. Soujiro tells Yumi that the real power behind Kenshin's Ama Kakeru Ryu No Hirameki is the fact that Kenshin leads with his left leg. Therefore, if Shishio watches Kenshin's left foot, he will know before hand if Kenshin is going to use his ougi. Soujiro gives Yumi the wakizashi that Shishio gave to him 10 years ago, and asks Yumi to return the sword to Shishio. Soujiro says goodbye. Kenshin and Sano arrive at the next doorway and find Yumi waiting for them. Kenshin stops to catch his breath and drips blood all over the floor, causing Sano to worry about him. Yumi leads Kenshin and Sano to the Dai Shaku Netsu room where Kenshin will fight Shishio..........