=============================================================== 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 #57-60 =============================================================== Episode #57 Two Men Betting Their Lives On The End Of The Dynasty... Shishio Versus Kenshin... Final Battle! In the Dai Shaku Nestu no Ma, the Big Burning Room, Yumi, Kenshin and Sano cross a bridge with metal towers belching smoke and fire on each side. Petroleum! The three climb several flights of stairs and reach the arena where Shishio and Hoji wait. Kenshin approaches Shishio. The fight begins. Shishio uses his first hidden technique, the Homura Dama. Shishio swipes the tip of his sword across the ground, his sword flames and burns across Kenshin's chest. Kenshin deduces that the oil from all the people Shishio has killed has soaked into Shishio's very intricate, serrated sword, and the friction from swiping the ground causes a spark, then a flame. Shishio tells Kenshin that Arai Shatku made the sword, just like he made Kenshin's. Shishio's sword is Shatku's final satsujin sword. Kenshin tries a Ryu Sho Sen, but Shishio catches Kenshin's sword with his fingertips, then picks up Kenshin by his forehead and BITES a hole in Kenshin's shoulder........ -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Episode #58 Will The Era Inherit Shishio? Kenshin's Most Critical Moment! Shishio repeats to Kenshin the same words Soujiro did. "The world is a survival of the fittest. Natural selection. The strong live and feed off the weak." Shishio tells Kenshin that the Meiji government is weak and not fit to rule. Shishio is the natural ruler. Kenshin tells Shishio that the people Shishio calls food for the strong deserve a respite from war. Kenshin tells Shishio he will stop him! Kenshin bleeds, Shishio laughs. Kenshin finds out that Soujiro left Shishio, and tells Shishio he is glad. This irritates Shishio and he again swipes his sword tip on the ground, making it flame, picks up Kenshin, and ignites the glove he is wearing which is coated in gunpowder. The glove explodes against Kenshin and Kenshin falls, unconscious. Shishio and Hoji gloat. Shishio tells Hoji to clean up the mess when suddenly Saitou Hajime charges through the door, his sword aimed at Shishio's head. It makes contact! But Shishio has a metal band under the bandages on his head. Shishio battles Saitou and Shishio wins. Saitou is down and unconscious. Sano fights Shishio and Shishio shatters Sanosuke's hand. Kenshin, Saitou, and Sano are all unconscious. Yumi wants Shishio to hurry and kill everyone while they are unconscious. Shishio is still gloating when Aoshi's voice speaks from the sidelines: "The end has not been written, and the title of the strongest has not been bestowed." -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Episode #59 Luck Hasn't Run Out Yet! Ken-Ki (Warrior Spirit) Revived Again. Aoshi reaches the rooftop arena and surveys the fallen warriors. Shishio calls Aoshi a loser. Hoji tells Aoshi to leave before he gets hurt. Aoshi tells Hoji that the Battousai accepted Aoshi's challenge and was worn down as a result. Therefore, Aoshi has come to cover the Battousai's losses. Shishio puts on his gloves and agrees to fight Aoshi. Aoshi does a lot better then Kenshin did originally, defending himself successfully against Shishio. Yumi and Hoji wonder why Aoshi is doing this and where he is getting the strength. Shishio finally uses his Homura Dama against Aoshi and Aoshi is down but not out! Aoshi was stalling for time to allow Kenshin to regain conscious- ness. Shishio mocks Aoshi, but Aoshi tells Shishio that Shishio is not a match for the Battousai. Suddenly the wind starts blowing, leaves start exploding, and Kenshin stands up. He is still unconscious, but on his feet. His ken-ki is holding him up. A leaf explodes in front of Kenshin's face and his eyes focus. The wind whirls on the rooftop and Kenshin yells his battlecry! Leaves explode in front of Sanosuke and he regains consciousness. The same happens to Saitou. Everyone is awake now. Shishio is so excited he is orgasmic. Kenshin and Shishio begin to fight. Yumi is terrified; she tells Hoji that he must stop the fight. We learn that since Shishio cannot sweat like ordinary people, he cannot exert himself more than 15 minutes without hurting himself. Hoji tells her not to worry. Shishio has Kenshin by the throat with the infamous exploding glove. Kenshin thinks of Kaoru and escapes by setting off Shishio's glove himself. Kenshin pulls a five hit combo, then grabs Shishio by his hanging bandages and does a Kuzu Ryu Sen, sending Shishio crashing into the wall at the far end of the arena. Suddenly the metal towers all around the arena start belching flames. The leaves that were responding to Kenshins ken-ki burst into flames. Shishio stands at the far end of the arena; the flames are responding to his ken-ki. Shishio and Kenshin face each other again across the arena....... -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Episode #60 The One Who Permits Victory. Shishio Versus Kenshin... Last Stage! Kenshin can barely stand, but he sheaths his sword. Shishio tells Kenshin that it was good to fight again after such a long time, and that he hasn't had this much fun since the end of the dynasty. Kenshin tells Shishio that he did not enjoy this, but he admires Shishio's skill. They begin! Kenshin leads with his left foot. Ama Kakeru Ryu No Hirameki! Shishio blocks Kenshin's swing, but when Shishio tries to retaliate, he is drawn toward Kenshin as Kenshin spins in a circle. The Ama Kakeru Ryu No Hirameki created such a vacuum that Shishio is drawn into Kenshin's swing range as Kenshin's sakabatou makes solid contact against Shishio's side. Shishio is down. But he gets back up! He starts foaming at the mouth and tearing at his throat. Yumi runs across the arena and stands between Shishio and Kenshin. She begs Kenshin to stop making Shishio suffer like this. Kenshin acquiesces. Shishio calls Kenshin 'too kind' and stabs through Yumi into Kenshin's stomach. Yumi falls into Shishio's arms. Kenshin is wounded and horrified, Yumi dies happy. Kenshin is on the ground bleeding profusely, Shishio is holding Yumi and panting, Saitou, Sano, Aoshi, and Hoji are all waiting and watching. Red steam starts to rise from Shishio's body. His blood is boiling. Shishio gets up. Kenshin rolls over, seriously considering giving up, but then he remembers Kaoru and the fireflies. He blocks Shishio's blow, and Shishio starts to burn, literally! He self-combusts and dies laughing. Hoji is horrified and goes berserk. As he rushes out of the arena he bumps Kenshin, who falls unconscious into Sanosuke's arms. Aoshi, Saitou, and Sano (carrying Kenshin) head to the bridge leading out of the arena. The door is locked. Sano's hand is broken so he cannot use his Futae No Kiwami to open the door. Saitou charges the door with his Gatotsu and breaks it down. Suddenly the earth starts shaking and the flames start spewing. Hoji is in the depths of Shishio's headquarters breaking pipes! An explosion occurs under the bridge the four men are standing on........