Intro
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"Himura Kenshin, known as the legendary Hitokiri of the Meiji Revolution, Himura Battōsai - now a traveling Rurouni looking to repent for his blood-stained past"
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Description
Physical Appearance:
Of small, slender build and with juvenile almost feminine features, Himura Kenshin cuts quite a different figure than one would be expected of the legendary Hitokiri Battōsai and his appearance belies his thirty-three years of age, making him look roughly ten years younger.
However he mostly is rather easily recognized by two stricking and to the public well known features: his long reddish hair tied in a thick ponytail and a cross-shaped scar on his left cheek.
Equipment
Kenshin generally dresses simply, wearing a plain light red or slate men's Kimono of cheap, worn cloth with a white or black Umanori Hakama, plaited, rice-straw Zori and white or black Tabi.
Instead of a normal Katana he carries a so called Sakabato, a Katana with a reversed blade (the sharp end on top) which makes it basically a non-lethal weapon and with that the manifestation of his vow to never take a human life again.
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Personality
Tormented by his past as a Hitokiri, Kenshin has developed an profound appreciation for life and vowed to never again kill on purpose but instead do everything within his power to help and protect people from being killed or harmed.
This vow is the defining characteristic of Kenshin's personality and the primary motivation for his transition into a Rurouni, a home- and masterless, wandering swordsman.
Soft-spoken, serene, reticent and humble, Himura Kenshin's usual demeanor suits his unimposing appearance perfectly.
He carries himself with utter self-effacing and amicable sobriety and is always willing to put others before himself, both in terms of well-being and social standing. Further he never hesitates to share his meager belongings with those in need or even to put himself in harms way to protect others, no matter whether known or unknown to him.
Before reverting to violence he always attempts to diffuse contentious situations with soft, calming words and even a somewhat clownish, blundering facade involving feigned clumsiness.
These traits lead those unfamiliar with him to view him as ineffectual and naive or even easily exploitable, yet more perceptive people become aware in short order that his gift for placatory eloquence and veiled redirection of disagreeable situations suggest a deep wisdom belied by his youthful, meek appearance.
Even with his prodigious skill as a prolific swordsman, Kenshin refrains from wielding his great combat strength light-mindedly, drawing his sword only when words fail to appease.
However, if and when forced to draw his sword against those who abuse their power and undervalue the lives of others, Kenshin's calm temperament gives way to a marked intensity capable of intimidating even other taller and equally well skilled swordsmen and can go so far as to become a powerful fury.
Compelled to defend himself or others against particularly threatening foes, when in need of extra strenght he abandons his serene humility, and his normally warm nature becomes calculating, cold and distant.
In such rare cases Kenshin's restraint falters and he allows his personality to revert to that of his days as the Hitokiri Battōsai - very reluctantly though as his greatest fear is that, one day, he won´t be able to regain his calm posture and relapses to his former past-self as a Hitokiri.
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Skills and Fighting Style
Kenshin is undoubtely best-known for being and exceedingly masterful swordsman.
Having inherited the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū sword style from his master, Hiko Seijūrō XIII, Kenshin's light frame allows him to use the style's "Godspeed techinques" to its fullest.
In the unlikely event his first strike misses his enemies Kenshin uses his sheath to attack his opponent, making it almost impossible to beat him once he takes up the Battojutsu stance. His own prowess with Battōjutsu earned him his infamous moniker.
Additionally to Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū, Kenshin has vast repertior of other, independent sword- master and hand-to-hand-combat techniques to dip into.
Other Skills and Abilites:
Besides his unparalleled fighting skills Kenshin is also a rather outstanding strategist and, belied by his normally rather taciturn nature, a pretty apt orator, capable of spinning eloquence or humor into an offhand comment without greater effort off the top of his head.
While maintaining his cool, he is rather adept at philosophical arguments, swiftly seeing the cracks in any opponent's logic without missing a beat in conversation.
