Megumi is still up on the third floor of the Kanryu mansion, considering whether she should kill herself or not, unaware that downstairs Kenshin and Aoshi have engaged in a deathmatch.
Aoshi tells Kenshin that he has no grudge against him, but because he was the strongest of the Ishin Shishi he must kill him in order to prove the Oniwabanshu's superiority over all warriors out there. After a short speech from Aoshi about how he's on the mission of gaining the ultimate strength, Kenshin realizes that he must put a stop to this man at all costs. They engage in combat, but Kenshin just can't touch Aoshi, who doesn't seem to be challenged at all, blocking all of Kenshin's attacks with his Kodachi and, just as he did before, uses his Kempo to fence Kenshin off. Kenshin stands up after being punched in the face, saying that he now knows how to avoid Aoshi's Kodachi... Instead of holding the sword by its hilt, he grips the the Sakabatou by the base of the blade, thus shortening the length of the blade and allowing himself to mimic the length of Aoshi's Kodachi. With a similar-sized sword, Kenshin has no problem landing a hit on Aoshi. Because he is very impressed by Kenshin's abilities and thinking, Aoshi decides to kill him with an attack worthy of such enemy... Aoshi begins circling around Kenshin in, what appears to be, a liquid-like flowing motion, this is Aoshi's ultimate move, Jissen Kenbu. Kenshin fights frantically in order to hit Aoshi, but he can't quite see where he is. Suddenly, Aoshi leaps in the air and strikes Kenshin with his finishing move- Kaiten Kenbu, he delivers three slashes to Kenshin's chest, which, at least in theory, should be enough to kill him.
Aoshi declares Kenshin as dead. Yahiko threatens to kill Aoshi for what he has done to Kenshin, but a very weak voice stops him. Kenshin stands up on his feet, saying that there is no reason why Yahiko should die here tonight, nor is there a reason why he himself should. Once again, Aoshi is amazed; during the moment when Aoshi attacked with his Kaiten Kenbu Kenshin raised his sheath so Aoshi's attack would be delivered on the sheath first, and only then will it reach his chest, that caused the attack's power to be reduced by at least half! But what will Kenshin do now? He has no sheath to save him from another Kaiten Kenbu and he is aching all over due to the last attack. Aoshi begins his sword's dance again, and, just like before, Kenshin can't hit him. However, just before Aoshi hits Kenshin with his Kaiten Kenbu, Kenshin grabs the Kodachi's blade with his bare hands! He tells Aoshi that he has no desire to carry the title of "the strongest" and that he has no problem giving it to him, shortly before directing the Kodachi's hilt towards Aoshi's neck, causing him to faint.
Beshimi, Hyottoko, Shikijo and Hannya walk through the door, only to find their Okashira on the floor. Aoshi stands up and asks Kenshin to finish him off now, if he won't Aoshi will continue to target him as many times as it takes until he will finally kill him. Kenshin refuses, saying that he is only a Rurouni and not a Hittokiri like he once was. However, Kenshin asks that he does not involve anyone else in their fights. Aoshi and Kenshin stare at each other for 2 seconds and suddenly another door opens. In comes Kanryu with a high-tech Gatling Gun, he threatens to shoot everyone in the room for their lack of respect towards him.
Kanryu's first target is Hannya, but before the bullets could reach the skull-masked man Aoshi jumps in front of him and lets the bullets hit his legs instead. Since Aoshi can't move now and because he was so rude to him earlier, Kanryu decides to shoot the Okashira in order to prove that he is, in fact, the strongest. Before any of the bullets could meet Aoshi's body, Shikijo leaps in front of him and uses his huge muscles as a shield to protect his leader from Kanryu's fiendish attack. Seeing what Kanryu did to his comrade, Hyottoko proceeds to attack Kanryu, but not surprisingly he gets shot before he could do anything. Beshimi now jumps up in the air from behind Hyottoko, where he was hiding. He shoots one of his darts at Kanryu, but misses. The only Oniwabanshu left standing is Hannya, he tells Kenshin where to find Megumi and requests that he pick up his Sakabatou (which is located in the other side of the room). Without hesitation, Hannya begins running towards Kanryu, prepared to meet his death. While he is running, Kenshin begins to run as well, in order to reach his sword on time. Hannya bids farewell to his leader while being shot ruthlessly. But things aren't completely hopeless: Kenshin is now standing at the other side of the room with his Sakabatou, ready to attack! Kenshin begins running towards Kanryu, dodging all bullets that are being shot at him, but how long can he last? Suddenly, Kanryu stops shooting... It appears Beshimi's dart is preventing the bullets from being shot! Kenshin jumps in the air and cuts the Gatling Gun's handle. Kanryu begs for mercy but it is of no use, Kenshin hits Kanryu's face and sends him flying to the ground.
Up in the third floor, Megumi is sitting with her dagger, prepared to kill herself. But before the dagger could touch Megumi, Sanosuke storms in the room and catches it with his bare hands. Kenshin tells Megumi that dying is not the answer... It is living and helping other people that truly repents for one's sins. "That is how Hittokiri Battousai lives everyday," he adds with a smile.
At the Kammiya Dojo, Megumi tells Kenshin and the group the good news: She is going to be Dr. Genzai's assistant and is going to live right next door to the dojo, so she could visit at any time. Things are looking good for Megumi, but one thing remains a mystery: Where is Aoshi? After the KenshinGumi left Kanryu's mansion the police didn't find the four bodies of the Oniwabanshu, nor did the find Aoshi... What is he up to now? Is he still after Kenshin?
In the middle of a forest, Aoshi stands in front of the four graves he had made for his comrades. He says that he can't put flowers on their graves just yet, but he will be sure to do just that, someday.
