From: Tatsuko Hi all! I finally got this done! ~_~;; My sister had "borrowed" the CD and lent it to her friend, who then proceeded to lose it... So I had to buy a new one, and I had the hardest time finding it! I had to drive over two hours to find a store that had it! >.< Urg. I think it was worth it though, and I hope you all think so too. BTW, I tried to use as many actual shots from the anime as possible... I took a lot of shots directly from episodes 29 and 30 in particular; that's the Kenshin/Saitou fight. There's some from the OAVs too (oh, and there are spoilers if you don't know who Tomoe is and what happened to her). Um, unfortunately I really can't describe the music very well. -_-;; You really need to actually listen to the music to get a good feel for how it suits the video. (I wish I had an .mpg of it to share; it's the kind of song that grows on you.) To give you a general idea, this is definitely rock, with lots of strong guitar and drum. (For Rush fans, this is _classic_ Rush with all the great guitar-playing you'd expect. ^_^) Well then, I hope you all enjoy. As always, comments, criticism, suggestions, etc. are welcome and encouraged. (Grab some soda and snacks, folks, this is a long one...) Roll video! ********************************************************* Circumstances: A Rurouni Kenshin Vidclip (Draft) By Tatsuko (Tatsuko@xoommail.com) 6/29/99 ********************************************************* Disclaimer: All Rurouni Kenshin Characters belong to Nobuhiro Watsuki-sensei (all hail). Song lyrics by Neil Peart, Copyright 1978 by Core Music Publishing. Performed by Rush ("Circumstances" can be found on their "Hemispheres" CD) [ ] = Lyrics ( ) = Music / / = In French < > = Author's Note Note: The French lyrics, "Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose," can be translated/interpreted as "The more that things change, the more they stay the same" ***** (Strong guitar-and-drum intro: the musical phrases tend to echo each other) Various shots from Kenshin's life, running backwards in time from "present" to past. Although there are occasional smiles and humerous moments, there are frequent fight scenes throughout. And just as the musical phrases echo each other, the fight scenes seem to echo each other as well: although they are against different opponents, there is an eerie similarity to them. (For example, Kenshin might get into the same stance, have the same look in his eyes (in some cases, amber hitokiri eyes), or use the same technique in two different fights.) All the important fights and other moments from Kenshin's life are shown, as we see bits from Kyoto, Jin'e, his meeting with Kaoru, his years as a rurouni, his years as hitokiri, Tomoe, his training with Hiko. The last shot is of young Shinta, who smiles and spins the toy top he was given by one of the girls who were also slaves. The camera moves in to focus on only the spinning top. [A boy alone, and so far from home] The spinning top is picked up, and the shot widens to show Battousai, slouched by a window, as he idly catches the top's string and winds it again. [Endless rooftops from my window] A shot of Battousai's profile as he turns his head to gaze out the window at the Kyoto skyline. [I felt the gloom of empty rooms] The shot takes in the entire room; noone is there except Battousai. He tucks the top in his sleeve, his eyes tinged with a bit of sadness and lonliness as he rises to go [On rainy afternoons] A brief shot of Battousai (from the front) turning out of his room, towards the door to the building. Then it switches to a shot from behind, and you can see it's raining lightly outside. [Sometimes in confusion] A side-shot of Battousai walking down the Kyoto streets in the rain, looking somewhat thoughtful. This is overlaid in a "screen effect" by a shot of a younger Kenshin trying desperately to convince Hiko to let him leave to join the ishin. Confusion, frustration, and a bit of anger are written on his young face. [I felt so lost and disillusioned] Still overlaying the shot of Battousai. Hiko turns to face his baka deshi, a stern, angry look on his face as he warns him: "Ken wa kyouki, kenjutsu wa satsujin jutsu..." (A sword is a lethal weapon. Sword techniques are killing techniques...). Then a close-up of Kenshin's startled, wide-eyed expression in response to Hiko's words. [Innocence gave me confidence] Again overlaying the shot of Battousai. Young Kenshin shakes his head and his expression becomes one of determination. His hand tightens around his sword as he yells out that there are people suffering, and all he knows is that he can't just sit by and watch it happen. [To go up against reality] Still overlaying the shot of Battousai. Hiko turns his back to Kenshin and tells him to go. Kenshin bows and leaves, determined to change, in any way he can, the current reality of a time and place where political and social unrest is coming to a boiling point, and many people are caught in its wake. (Guitar-and-drum instrumental) The overlaying "screen effect" is dropped, leaving only the shot of Battousai walking in the rain. Battousai is suddenly snapped back into reality as a sword with a chain attached to it is hurled toward him. With a whirling of chains and flashing of swords, the fight ensues. It is over in mere moments as Battousai manages to cut the asassin in half, and blood pours down like rain. But Battousai isn't the only one getting rained on: he looks up to see a beautiful woman with sad dark eyes, her face, hands, and kimono splattered with blood. [All the same, we take our chances] A fast forward: Battousai glares at the letter of challenge delivered from the Yaminobu, who have kidnapped Tomoe. He crumples it up in his hand, throws it down, then grabs his sword and rushes off [Laughed at by time] A shot of Battousai, looking quite beaten up and enraged, facing up against the old man, the last of the yaminobu. Battousai forces his body to launch a last desperate attack [Tricked by circumstances] A shot of Battousai's eyes widening in horror as he smells something familiar - the scent of white plum. Then a shot showing all of what happened: Battousai's sword cutting into both Tomoe and the old man. Tomoe falls. (A few quick drum-beats) A shot of Battousai holding Tomoe and crying. [/Plus ca change/] Battousai, with a depressed look on his face, talks with Kogoro after Tomoe's death. Despite what has happened, Kogoro wants Battousai to stay with the ishin. [/Plus c'est la meme chose/] Battousai nods in agreement and picks up his sword again, thinking that if he gave up his sword then and there, then the lives of all the people he killed would be in vain. So he must continue to fight to build the new era. But when that new era comes... [The more that things change] Battousai flicks the blood off of his sword after fighting off some attackers, then resheathes it. There is a shot of battousai's sword swinging at his waist as he walks away, which dissolves into the next shot... [The more they stay the same] A shot of Kenshin's sakabatou swinging at his waist as he walks on his journey. [Now I've gained some understanding] [Of the only world that we see] A shot of Kenshin walking, the scenery shifting behind him to show various places in Japan. The last scene is of Tokyo. [Things that I once dreamed of] A close-up of Kenshin's face. He has a soft smile, and looks genuinely happy. [Have become reality] He turns to look at Kaoru and Yahiko walking beside him, against the backdrop of a pleasant, busy market scene with a couple of children running by. (a few fast drum beats) A quick shot of Kamiya Doujou's gate being opened as they head in [These walls that still surround me] A little later, Kenshin is happily doing laundry when the doujou gets a visit from Genzai-sensei and Ayame-chan and Suzume-chan. The two little girls immediately smile and run toward their "Ken-nii." [Still contain the same old me] Kenshin kneels and smiles broadly. As the two little girls beg Kenshin to play, there is an overlaying scene of Battousai playing with the village children when he was living with Tomoe. [Just one more who's searching for] Kenshin stands up and walks toward the doujou, looking for Kaoru [The world that ought to be] Kenshin looks in the doujou and sees Kaoru and Yahiko training, the words "Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu" on the wall in the background. There's a close-up of Kenshin's face as he stands in the doorway and smiles a little. (Short guitar-and-drum instrumental) First two beats: Kenshin's smile turns into a bit of concern as he worries about how his mere presence might someday put all of this in danger and ruin its ideal. The rest: The doujou walls getting smashed as Saitou pummels Sano. A close-up shot of Kenshin's startled face. Then a shot of Saitou waiting in the doujou, grinning maliciously as he taunts Kenshin by telling him he could have killed Kaoru and Yahiko. A shot of Kenshin's hand as it twitches in reaction. [All the same, we take our chances] A shot of Saitou from behind at an angle as he moves into fighting position, his sword giving off a lethal gleam as it is raised to be aimed at Kenshin's heart. [Laughed at by time] A shot of the clock on the wall, it's pendulum ticking away the seconds. That shot is overlaid by a close-up profile of Saitou, then Kenshin, as they both stand motionless, waiting. [Tricked by circumstances] A sudden burst of motion as Saitou charges and Kenshin tries to do Ryuu Tsui Sen. A brief close-up of Kenshin's startled, pained expression as he barely manages to get skewered by Saitou's upward-pointed Gatotsu. Then Kenshin is flung violently to the ground, and he crouches over on his hands and knees in obvious pain, panting. [/Plus ca change/] A close-up of part of Kenshin's face, showing growing ferocity in his eyes as he looks at Saitou. This is briefly replaced by a shot of Saitou (looking as he was as a shinsen gumi captain during the bakumatsu) in a gatotsu stance. After a brief return to the previous shot of Kenshin's face, it stays on the shot of the "shinsen gumi" Saitou [/Plus c'est la meme chose/] The "shinsen gumi" Saitou is replaced by the "current" Saitou in the same stance, and he attacks. [The more that things change] Doubled over in pain from Saitou's attack, clutching his side and panting heavily, Kenshin lifts his head and opens fierce amber eyes. He's completely changed to Battousai. [The more they stay the same] Kaoru gasps in shock and horror and falls to the floor. She's crying and murmuring "It's just like with Jin'e." Saitou gives a positively wolfish grin, satisfied that he can finish the fight from so many years ago. (Short guitar-and-drum instrumental) Kenshin and Saitou continue to fight in a whirlwind of flesh and steel. Then they abruptly stop when interrupted by Ookubo. This happens just as the music abruptly changes to a much softer, quieter interlude. (Quiet, slower instrumental interlude; keyboard or synthesizer) Kenshin stands on a bridge, looking out over the sunset. His eyes are a swirl of violet and amber as he contemplates wether or not to go to Kyoto. Kenshin makes his decision. Shots are shown from the farewell scene, ending with Kenshin's sudden embrace as the guitars and drums pick up again. (More awesome guitar-and-drum instrumental ^_^ Fairly long) Shots from various parts of the Kyoto arc: Meeting Misao & fighting the local yakuza, finding out she knows Aoshi, fighting Shishio's men in the village, fighting Sentaku then Soujiro in Shishio's base, fighting Chou, finding his master and seeing Kaoru again, training for the ougi, fighting Soujiro again then Aoshi and finally Shishio. [All the same, we take our chances] A shot of Aoshi and Sano, both injured, bringing an even more injured and half-dead Kenshin back from the fight with Shishi'O. [Laughed at by time] In a room at the Aoiya, an unconscious Kenshin is watched over by Kaoru. A tired, sad expression on her face, she notices scars both old and new. They are reminders of fights past and present, tokens of his role as builder then protector of the new era. [Tricked by circumstances] Kaoru reaches out her hand and gently strokes Kenshin's left cheek, then places her hand over the crossed scars there. Idly curious what he would look like without them, she wonders how he had gotten them. She thinks about how many twists of fate or circumstance he had had to have encountered in his life, and how many more he was destined for. Then she smiles a little; it doesn't really matter to her. Those circumstances of the past helped to define him and made him who he was. And she wanted to be there for him to help him through whatever fate had in store for him in the future. (a few drum beats) A shot of Kenshin's sleeping face, looking positively boyish. [/Plus ca change/] Little Shinta bravely holds a sword up in defense of the slave-girls who had been so kind to him [/Plus c'est la meme chose/] Kenshin, a little older now and in training with Hiko, holds the sword with more confidence and skill as he launches into a battou jutsu technique. In mid-technique, it changes to the next shot... [The more that things change] A shot of Battousai continuing the same move, cutting someone, then flicking the blood off his katana. [The more they stay the same] Battousai moves to re-sheathe his katana, and the shot turns into a close up of his sword as he does so. But before it's completely sheathed, the shot turns into a close-up of Kenshin's sakabatou instead. Kenshin sheathes his sakabatou and the music ends. ~Owari ***** Acknowledgments: Thanks go to Julie Anna for her idea about Battousai's and Kenshin's swords. Not only did I use it, it inspired the scenes that went along with the last four lines of lyrics. Thanks also go out to those of you who translated the French for me. Arigatou! Is it me or does this just scream "sequel"? Perhaps because I fairly ignored the jinchuu arc. The problem is, I don't know where to even begin to go with that idea... Wow, this turned out longer than I expected. If you're still here, thanks for reading all of it! ^_^;; Tatsuko Off to read Kokoro 7 now! Yeah! ^_^ --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- How has ONElist changed your life? Share your story with us at http://www.onelist.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------