A row of candles cast their flickering light across the empty room. The air is filled with the smell of the aged pine and oak that lines the walls and floors, and even the ceiling of the room, surrounding it and enfolding it in a moment of tranquility untouched by the outside world. A thin strand of smoke wafts silently up from the glowing tip of incense lying on a bed of grey sand, cupped gently in the Buddha's hands. Beneath the statue's gently gaze, he meditates.

Quietly, the ruby flames mark the immutable passage of time: molten drop by molten drop. Seated beneath the Buddha, he does not seem to notice, or care, as he continues his silent devotions. In the dimness of the room, his thoughts wander toward the future: the perfect world that he will create through the flames of destruction. Or perhaps he thinks of the past, and the pure souls who he was powerless to save. Or the present, and the one that has forced himself between him and his gaze, the one that he trained, the one that he will kill. Whatever it is that he thinks of in his meditation, there is one thing that it is not, and that is Salvation, for there is no salvation in this world where the weak are devoured by the strong, and power is held by the most corrupt. In this world, there can be no peace, no justice, no love. It will only be after everything is wiped clean, after the filth that covers the world has been burned away, that a new world can be born -- a world in which innocence and hope can have meaning.

In the darkness, a door creaks softly as it opens. It begins.

This is it, that which you've been waiting over a month and a half to see: the beginning of the final battle between Kenshin and his crew (the good guys) and Shishio and his Juppon Gatana. This week, it all begins with the explosive battle between Sagara Sanosuke and Myo-oh no Anji. Fists will clash and the true power of the ultimate destructive technique, Futae no Kiwami, will be shown. Two men who share different, but similar, pasts will meet, and in their meeting, a soul will be put to rest.

On a side note, this semester's showing of Rurouni Kenshin will be treated differently than before. Because of the sheer number of episodes and the way in which they go together, the show has been moved to a new timeslot immediately following the break. Likewise, episodes of Kenshin will not be shown every week. Instead, some weeks there will be two episodes, on others just one, and on a few rare occasions there will be no Kenshin at all. But trust me, it's all done for the maximum Kenshin experience.

It begins.