First Half

When Kenji, Kaoru and Kenshin’s son, was still a little kid, General Yamagata asked Kenshin to fight for them if ever war was going to happen. The war was sure to break because tension was starting to heat up among nations, according to Yamagata. Though Kenshin refused at first, he was conviced. Kenshin said it would be his last fight since he was already dying of his sickness. And so he left.

Years passed and Kaoru kept coming back to the port everytime a ship arrives hoping that her husband would be back. Kenji has grown up and stayed at his father’s mentor, Hiko Seijuro, and learned the art of swordsmanship. Master Hiko asked him once if he wasn’t coming back to Tokyo to be with his mother. Kenji said that he has grown tired waiting for his father so he had no plans of coming back.

One day, Kaoru fainted. Yahiko saw her and tried to talk to her but she didn’t reply. While down on the floor, she was reminiscing the past from the time she first met Kenshin, all their adventures (found in the TV series), how they became a couple, and the time they encountered Tomoe Yukishiro’s brother, Enishi.

- One afternoon when they got home, they saw a note on the door that says “Jinchuu”. Kenshin left and when he came back, his head was bleeding. Kaoru asked him but Kenshin didn’t tell. The next morning, Kenshin told Kaoru the story of his past, about his dead ex-wife Tomoe, his crossed-shaped scar, and all (found in the 1st OAV).

That night, while Kaoru was walking thinking of what Kenshin had told her, Enishi Yukishiro came and kidnapped her.

Second Half

This is a part of Kaoru’s memory of the past:

- Kaoru woke up inside Enishi’s house by the sea. Enishi told her that Kenshin killed his sister, Tomoe, and then he would use Kaouru to avenge his sister’s death. That night Kaoru cried realizing that Kenshin’s wasn’t over that past yet and was still in-love with Tomoe. Every night, Kaoru had dreams seeing Kenshin and Tomoe together.

Days passed and finally, one day, Kenshin came to take Kaoru back. Kenshin fought Enishi infront of Kaoru. Kenshin defeated Enishi but right after knocking him down, Kenshin bowed infront of him asking for forgiveness. He said he would let Enishi take his life but as Enishi was about to finish him off, Kaoru used herself to protect Kenshin. Enishi saw his sister in Kaoru and decided to let them go. After that incident, Kenshin and Kaoru visited Tomoe’s grave.

After having their son Kenji, Kenshin became sick. And before Kenshin left for the war, slept with Kenshin letting herself get Kenshin’s disease because, as she told Yahiko, she wanted to share his husband’s pain. That time Kenshin told Kaoru that he want him to be called Shinta once he returned.

Megumi took care of Kaoru, because, she said, Kenshin asked her to before he left. Yahiko went to Master Hiko’s house to bring Kenji back to Kaoru. Kenji refused because he was mad at his father who left them. One day, Yahiko sparred against Kenji. Yahiko defeated Kenji with Kenshin’s sakabatou. After that he gave the sword to Kenji, then Kenji decided to go back to his sick mother.

The war’s over but Kenshin couldn’t return because he was very sick. Sanosuke was taking care of him who felt really sorry for his friend seeing him turn from a strong samurai to a very weak person. One day, Sano brought Kenshin to ship that will travel from Shanghai to Tokyo. From Tokyo’s port, Kenshin walked back to the Kamiya dojo. While on his way he saw Kaoru. They sat down and watched the sakura but Kenshin died while lying down Kaoru’s lap. Kaoru cried but she was happy to see that Kenshin’s crossed-shaped scar disappeared.