Welcome to Gaia! ::

This is what I get for neglecting this guild too long. >.< My new Kenshin plushie reminded me that I haven't bugged you guys with my theories in a while. biggrin

Ankha: Thank you! whee I agree with your opinion. Personally I think Kenshin would have been just as kind and tender-hearted had he not witnessed the atrocities of war, but your point is more than valid. He would not have had the very strong motivation to protect the innocents. He would have been sympathetic, would have likely done what he could to help them, but he certainly wouldn't have had any dreams of being a hero. I actually sort of imagine that he would have enclosed himself in his picturesque farm life and not dealt with the outside world. Then again, even before Hiko we see that Kenshin was always very determined about protecting people who are suffering. So perhaps he would have been more involved than I thought.

Silverotter107: ... continuing from what I said to Ankha ^^ your point makes perfect sense. I can see him possibly seeking a government position. Who knows? Maybe he would have joined the regular army of his own volition and fought with guns. I guess now it spirals off into a question of whether or not fate exists. You could make the argument that Kenshin would inevitably have encountered some challenge that would send him wandering right into Kaoru's arms. Clearly multiple things would have been changed - perhaps he'd have never met Tomoe, perhaps he wouldn't be an infamous swordsman. But though the road would be different, the final destination would be the same.

And if we scew Japanese history to pretend Kenshin is a non-fictional character and really was the pivotal assassin who brought about the Ishin Shishi victory, we find even more amazing twists of fate. Without Kenshin, very possibly the Ishin Shishi would not have won. (There would be no one to beat Saitou and Okita, and even Kenshin had trouble with them.) There may never have been a Shishio. There may never have been Enishi the Psychopath. It's all interesting how so many ties would break with the loss of one life. It reminds me of the Jimmy Stewart movie, "It's a Wonderful Life." Who would be Kenshin's Clarence, do you think? My bet's on Kaoru. heart

Nah, Kenshin wouldn't be the same if he hadn't been a hitokiri. Sure, he would have still cared about the people that are suffering and be a good person but he wouldn't have the appreciation for life that he does. Because he killed so much, he realized exactly how valuable life is and what it takes to and how much its worth protecting.

I know I've posted in here before, but after reading all the posts I haven't read (mainly the ones posted after my first one (one of which I'm referenced in. That's kinda cool...)) I thought of something. We all have different opinions. Some of which are even at different extreme ends of one another. I think the big question that mush be considered to answer the original one is what made him Hitiokiri Battousai in the first place? Where does it all start, and what if it never happened?
Alot of 'what if's...

I never really thought about it before, but I would think that he would be a different person because he would not be haunted by his past and yes, i think he would be a little of both the Hitokiri and the Ruroni. Regardless, he would still be cute and cool!!! 3nodding