This is, hands down, the most comprehensive, canon-compliant, Rurouni Kenshin story in all of . Thank you so much for your dedication in giving us such a great story to read and enjoy

Wow this is amazing!

Literally one of the best stories I have read. Thank you so much!

I'm in awe. I applause that you researched Bakumatsu era thoroughly. Archaic geographical names, impacts of Kenshin's foreign look to his psycho, origin of Battousai, his old-fashioned manner, Kenta the spirit, the existence of ki, and tragic romance between two lost souls, you created a very detailed world, various things were incorporated perfectly.

About the name of Himura, I come up with a little misunderstanding story. Kenshin came up with the name of Himura as a fire village, remembering the fiasco at the burnt down village, but Katsura mistook as a scarlet village, describing Kenshin's hometown which inhabitant's hair was red.

Your OCs are wonderful. I can't help wanting to read your take of Kenshin's Rurouni days before canon. Anyway, thank you for sharing this wonderful story.

Dear Author:

I feel that I am ill equipped to do justice to just how good a story this is. I have been reading all three parts of it non-stop for the last few days, losing sleep and neglecting all types of duties, and I can not find it in me to lament it. This is truly fantastic.

Let me try to explain at least a little of what awed me:

- Kenta. It is brilliant. At the beginning I was not sure about what I thought of the spirit. I could not make my mind whether it really was something external to Kenshin (it appeared to be so, especially when it seemed that it knew things that Kenshin did not), but later on, when Kenta was helping Kenshin to fight in the war, I settled for another interpretation: Kenta was, from the beginning, part of Kenshin (and part of Shinta). His sword spirit or maybe simply his ability to face the world of an adult? The symbolism of the wall that is taken down suddenly became to me the way we gradually leave behind our childhood, and so Kenta was no longer a potentially evil spirit taking over Kenshin's actions.
Related to this, your interpretation of ki is unique and absolutely brilliant too. Everything makes sense and I am pretty much going to borrow it when I feel the need to explain to people-not-obsessed-with-RK how Kenshin can move and jump in such an unnatural way.

- The storytelling. It is just plainly stunning. You have a gift. I could not stop reading. People looked at me strangely. Need I say more?

- The homage to the source material. I can not beging to tell you how inordinately happy finding those references made me: the fighting on bridges (Misao), the thumb popping (Shura), the ship battle (Renkoku)... I may be missing one or two more, because, you now, non-stop reading. These were fantastic and gave a sense of continuation into the canon series.

- The characterization. There is such depth to the characters, not just Kenshin, but every other one. The scenes with Kasumi early on were heart-breaking. Hiko, I think, was spot-on. Tomoe, even though you never directly took her point of view, was amazingly clear in her actions and words. The whole section about their stay in Otsu is fantastic. I adore how clearly her love for Kenshin comes through.
Speaking of characterization, your original characters are a delight. From the hateful old woman from Shinta's village, to Osumi, to Ito, to every single soldier you threw in there (I toyed with the idea that the monk might be Anji). Every one was well defined and round. I have a soft spot for the awkward duo though. They arrived when Kenshin really really needed some respite from tragedy. I could not get enough from them and they were a much needed source of joy and disinterested friendship for Kenshin. Now I want him to meet them again some years down the road, just so they can have a chat and enjoy one another's company without war looming over them.

Is this too long? It is too long. And I could keep writing and lauding your work, but I have an inkling that I have made my point.

Which is: I am annoying, but this story is fantastic.

Thank you for writing this, and thank you for sharing it with us.

I've enjoyed your story very much. I may be an occasional reviewer but I truly followed your story. I hope you write one about Kenshin's wandering adventures and about Kenji and Hiko. Kudos to you and looking forward to reading more of your fics.

I started your story this week and I had not commented yet, even though there is so much to dwell on. This is a fantastic story and that spirit inside Kenshin has me on my toes. I had a terrible feeling when Kenshin was making a hole through his good memories to let it out.

On a lighter note, Hiko using the doryusen to cut the logs in Chapter 6 reminded me of the episode where Kenshin does exactly this (the one with the train ride and the Hiten Mitsurugi horse riding skills).

Thank you for sharing this.

This wraps it all up nicely. The last chapters aren't getting the reviews they should, just because I had to keep reading! Couldn't stop to review each one, so please forgive me.

The idea of Kenshin realizing what friendship means and growing there toward the end, that was some amazing progress for him. From the odd kid with the spirit friend to the hated killer and then the slow progress toward the character we'd recognize as Kenshin. He still has a lot of forgiving to do before he gets to the man Kaoru beat up, though.

I really liked how you worked the scene from the movie into the end. That was really nice. They aren't exactly the same, the manga, the anime and the movie, but this story could fit in any of them. Also liked the glimpse of Enishi.

Just got an alert that you've started another story, so off we go! To paraphrase another anime, Gotta Read 'Em All!

Thank you for sharing your talent with us! You are truly a gift to the fandom.

so many thoughts... wow, just... wow. (it's late and i should be asleep and please, just consider this as a review full of praise and adulations. ;)
gin

Oh my God! I can't believe this! It's my favorite story and I just can't hold back the tears! Your Kenshin became for me a standard and I can't imagine another Kenshin. I think you perfectly outlined the character of this hero.
Thank you very much for your kind words, author! I have enjoyed translating your amazing story.

I can't wait for the next update, this is amazing!

it would be so very difficult to recreate battousai's style to make it believable but only someone who is totally familiar with the effect of hiten mitsurugi aftermath would know the difference (saitou's statement in the first movie). another is that the man that he saw greet ryoma at the door to the building he was staying but they probably killed him too... this whole problem sounds like it's nakamura's wet dream. surely kenshin's exonerated since he lives to meet kaoru and make baby red heads...
gin

scary thought about eliminating the hitokiri working for them, so after the war seems to be truly won he can leave. but the petty malice of his superior and with no recourse than to continue to endure is wearing and wonder if any of the other men who have katsura's ear could have said anything. seems like the man has no sense of self preservation as if he pulled that stuff with shishio, he would likely find himself at the wrong end of a sword.
sessha wonders if author dono will continue this after the war and to 11 meiji until the end of manga, degozaru ka?
i want to know too? ;p
gin

Whoa! Sakamoto's death getting pinned on Kenshin?! Freaking brilliant, since he was musing on the possibility of being killed once his usefulness disappears, except he was relying on Katsura's support. Now the enemy is using one assassination to hurt many others as well. Nicely done! Love that Kenshin is opening up to others and also developing his rurouni personality for later use. When you had him dodge that sake cup, I couldn't help thinking of Sano's comment on meeting him (in the manga) and how he'd clearly taken the thrown cup so Kaoru didn't get hit. Love your writing and glad to have another chapter of this strange, but wonderful take on Kenshin's younger years.

Looking forward to more!