Morning at the Dojo
For once, the Kamiya Dojo wakes to a quiet morning. Megumi has prepared ohagi—sweet rice cakes—for breakfast, and the smell fills the air. Kenshin, Kaoru, and a now-recovered Yahiko gather around the table. The food is delicious, and even Kenshin admits it aloud. “Anyone can make ohagi,” Megumi says modestly. Kenshin smiles. “Not true—Kaoru-dono once tried.”
The table freezes. A second later, Kaoru’s wooden ladle crashes into Kenshin’s head. Megumi smirks, leaning closer to him. “Perhaps you just prefer a woman’s touch, Kenshin?” Kaoru’s glare could cut stone.
Their laughter is interrupted when Sanosuke arrives, looking weary. He confirms that the opium Megumi had is the same deadly variety spreading through the city. When Megumi offers him breakfast, he scowls. “I’d rather eat Kaoru’s cooking than the opium woman’s food.” His words slice deeper than any blade.
Kenshin watches him leave and turns to Megumi. “Don’t mind him,” he says softly. “His anger isn’t for you—it’s for the friend he lost to the poison you were forced to make.”
The Threat in the Shadows
Later that day, Megumi is washing dishes at the dojo’s well when a bookseller approaches with a friendly smile. But something about him feels wrong. Before she can react, he drops the disguise—it’s Han’nya, the masked ninja. He binds her wrists and leans close. “Don’t struggle,” he warns. “If you resist, I’ll pour mercury into your well.”
Megumi freezes. The Oniwabanshu’s methods are merciless. Han’nya tells her Kanryu only wants to “talk.” Moments later, she’s being led through the forest toward her captor.
There, Takeda Kanryu greets her with his usual cruelty. Surrounded by armed men, he smiles thinly. “Return to me, Megumi. Otherwise, the Kamiya Dojo will burn tonight.” He reminds her that she’s already killed countless people with her opium—her shame, he says, would even disgrace her dead family. As he leaves, his words linger like poison: “You were born to make opium. You’ll die making it.”
Megumi collapses to her knees once they’re gone. “There’s no escape,” she whispers. “No future… only this.”
A Reason to Act
That evening, Kenshin finds a letter. Megumi writes that she’s leaving for Aizu, thanking them for their kindness and saying Kanryu has stopped pursuing her. But Kenshin knows better. “There’s no one waiting for her in Aizu,” he says quietly. “Kanryu threatened her.”
Determined, he asks Sanosuke where Kanryu’s mansion is. Sano crosses his arms. “Go alone. I don’t have a reason to help that woman. She killed my friend.” Kenshin’s eyes soften. “When I looked into her eyes, I saw someone searching for a home—a place where she could belong. That’s reason enough for me.”
Yahiko jumps to his feet. “Then I’m going too!” Kaoru tries to stop him, but he meets her gaze. “If you’re not willing to risk your life for someone, then what’s the point of learning the Kamiya Kasshin-ryu—the style that protects life?” Kaoru’s anger fades into pride. “You’ll be a fine swordsman one day,” she admits.
Sanosuke smirks from the corner. “Make sure you’ve got breakfast and a bath ready for five,” he says, grabbing his weapon. “We’re bringing her back.”
And with that, Team Kenshin sets off toward Kanryu’s mansion, the moon rising behind them, their purpose clear: to save Megumi and the honor she thought she’d lost.
Final Thoughts
This chapter captures the heart of Rurouni Kenshin: quiet humor, moral conflict, and compassion stronger than violence. Megumi’s struggle against guilt mirrors Kenshin’s own redemption arc, while the team’s unity gives new meaning to the dojo’s creed—to protect life.
Kanryu’s manipulation reveals how corruption thrives not through strength, but through despair. Yet even in that darkness, Kenshin’s resolve shines: he doesn’t act for glory or vengeance, but for empathy. That’s his reason to fight—and to live.
All images are personal captures taken from my own physical copy of the manga.