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Date: 2001
Type: oneshot
Length: 41 pages
Availability:
- French RK#28
- German RK#28
- US Shonen Jump
- Jap. Weekly Jump
- Jap. RK Kanzenban #22
Last updated:
2007 June 28
Author: Kaeli
Yahiko no Sakabatou
At the end of the Rurouni Kenshin manga, Kenshin passed on his sakabatou to Yahiko, symbolically leaving his ongoing fight to protect the innocent in the hands of the new generation. In Yahiko no Sakabatou, the focus is entirely on Yahiko and how he fulfills this duty - and even though he has Kenshin's weapon and follows the same rule of cherishing the lives of everybody, even his enemies, he does not become a mere copy of Kenshin, but has his own way of handling things.
Kenshin, Kaoru and Kenji only appear briefly, other Rurouni Kenshin characters are fully missing in this episode, which enhances the stand-alone quality of the story. There are still connections to past events, but it is distinct enough to count as a spin-off rather than an epilogue, albeit a short one.
Kaoru sends Yahiko to give lessons at another dojo. He only goes reluctantly, not being keen on teaching. But once he arrives at the dojo, he stumbles into a hostage situation: a criminal has escaped from prison and has captured the school's heir, a young girl named M, and a few frightened students. Yahiko puts his life in danger to try and find a peaceful solution, one where nobody has to die.
But not only the emotionally unstable prisoner is posing a problem, the police is also making things difficult to Yahiko, who nevertheless tries his hardest to avoid having to draw the sword that Kenshin has given to him.
Yahiko no Sakabatou stays in the tradition of Rurouni Kenshin: A protagonist who can muster understanding for his enemies and disdain for his allies. A villain who is defeated with words rather than violence. Hypocricy of the government officials. Virtue.
None of it is truly outstanding, but the episode serves to give you a good idea of how Yahiko would go about his own adventures. The characters fulfill their role, but little more. The villain of the piece, Mutou, is not particularly memorable, but plays his part well.
Midori Kikuhara, the heir of the school, is actually rather fun, thanks to her phlegmatic personality and the subtle humour drawn from this.
During the entire run of Ruouni Kenshin, Yahio had never been my favourite charactr, but this short story really shows that e grows into a cool character. Although I am not one of those who constantly demand a continuation of Rurouni Kenshin, and although I actually think that a long sequel starring Yahiko would be a bad idea, right after reading Yahiko no Sakabatou, even I could not help but think that it would be damn cool to read more stories with this character.
Yahiko no Sakatabou was released as a bonus chapter in the French and German versions of Rurouni Kenshin, but in Japan, the story had at first only been released in Weekly Jump, and had therefore been hard to come by. In 2007, it was finally made available in tankoubon form, in the final volume of the manga's rerelease, Rurouni Kenshin Kanzenban #22.
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August 17th, 2002 - 2007 by Kaeli (kaeli@gmx.de)
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