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 Shonen Jump titles among fans to date. Himura Kenshin, once an assassin (or hitokiri ) of ferocious power, now fights to protect the honor of those in need. To defeat an enemy in combat is one thing. To destroy an enemy’s spirit by striking at what he holds dearest is another. Kenshin always felt that, so long as he wielded a sakabatô, those within his sight could be protected from harm, yet while he is incapacitated by the gargantuan Kujiranami of the “Six Comrades,” Enishi seizes upon the opportunity to cripple Kenshin’s resolve, and will to fight, for good. If Kaoru dies, will Kenshin’s dream of a new Japan die with her?