The girl's eyes showed no fear as she stood alone before the executioner who had just sliced a man in half.
In contrast, the boy's cheek was soaked in blood from a sword wound inflicted months ago by Kiyosato Akira.
Was it Akira's lingering resentment in the wound that flared up at the girl's appearance?
Or something else?
"You really do bring blood and chaos wherever you go."
For some reason, this line unexpectedly stirred something in An Min's heart. In this moment, with the backdrop of the scene, the girl in the white dress who spoke these words radiated a mysterious and irresistible charm.
A previous scene had shown the girl drinking, caught in cold wind and rain, stumbling upon the killing and fainting directly in front of the boy.
Kenshin and Yukishiro's first meeting was presented before An Min's eyes.
The reason Kenshin didn't kill Yukishiro to silence her? Because of the white plum fragrance she carried—identical to the scent worn by the three girls who had once protected him in his childhood.
Kenshin took Yukishiro back to their hideout. In a world in chaos, there was no standard for how things should be done.
Since Yukishiro had seen him kill and he didn't eliminate her, naturally, he couldn't let her return to her normal life either. She had no choice but to join Kenshin's revolutionary group.
The story continued, depicting the major factions and the everyday life between Yukishiro and 'Kenshin'.
One night, while Kenshin was asleep, Yukishiro took out a hidden dagger from her sleeve, her eyes clouded with confusion.
"Even a boy this young... is capable of killing. But…"
In the end, she didn't strike. Instead, she leaned forward and gently placed a blanket over the sleeping Kenshin by the window.
But in the next moment—the flash of a sword.
The blade at her neck and the killing intent bursting from Kenshin's eyes told the audience just how on edge he still was.
An Min didn't blink.
He finally understood why this film had such a high rating.
From the cinematography, soundtrack, acting, to pacing—there wasn't a single wasted second.
Why had Yukishiro drawn her blade at Kenshin only to change her mind and give him a blanket?
Was it because she knew she couldn't kill him, or because—seeing him as merely a boy—she couldn't bring herself to do it?
The film had, by now, woven together era, characters, and plot into something near perfect.
In the twilight of a decaying era, it portrayed those trying to save the nation and the fateful choices they had to make.
An Min had never seen a movie like this—there was no confusion at all.
But of course, 'Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal' wasn't just about the time period.
The narrative soon shifted to the growing bond between Yukishiro and Kenshin.
To evade pursuit by the authorities, the two fled the city and hid in the countryside, living as a married couple.
"She's so beautiful. This lead actress…"
"I've been wanting to say it—her presence is incredible."
"Kenshin is super handsome, too! But… she's probably a villain, right?"
"Is there even such a thing as a villain or hero? Is Kenshin a good guy? Or a bad one?"
With the heavy tone lifting a little, murmurs began to spread among the audience.
Amid the serene mountains and rivers, the boy and girl lived their peaceful "married" life. As time passed, they seemed to truly settle into the roles.
Spring passed, summer came, then autumn faded into winter.
Kenshin still couldn't sleep without his sword by his side, but Yukishiro's secrets slowly began to unravel.
At night, she wrote secret letters… and then quietly tucked a blanket over Kenshin once more.
In contrast to the earlier scene, Kenshin no longer kept his guard up against her.
He no longer leapt up at the slightest sound. At least toward Yukishiro—if she had wanted to stab him in his sleep, she would have easily succeeded. Whether he would die was uncertain, but she'd definitely land the blow.
Her fiancé was Kiyosato Akira, the swordsman Kenshin had killed without a second thought. Akira had gone to the capital to build a future, promising to return and marry her.
But he was cut down by Kenshin, who had only intended to assassinate a corrupt official.
As An Min watched, the peaceful interlude of the past ten minutes faded under the weight of truth.
Now he understood—that was the man whose grudge made the sword wound on Kenshin's cheek refuse to heal.
Yukishiro's younger brother made a brief appearance.
A traitor within the organization began to emerge.
Kenshin had grown used to the girl by his side.
Only toward her, this infamous assassin would allow himself to be approached in his sleep.
Only toward her, in the freezing winter, would he reach out to catch her when she stumbled—showing a gentle expression...
And then, in the most solemn voice of his life, he said:
"I…"
"Will…"
"Protect you."
This ruthless killer had never spoken the word "protect" before. Each word landed like a weight on the heart.
In that moment, a sigh echoed throughout the theater—especially from the female audience.
An Min felt a swelling emotion.
This is love.
His eyes reddened. Yukishiro had fallen. But really—hadn't the audience?
If An Min were in her place, he truly believed this gentle young man could bend him too.
The two came together on a winter night.
Inside Yukishiro's heart: love for Kenshin, hatred for his killing Akira, and guilt for acting as a spy just to help others take Kenshin down.
"I don't deserve happiness…"
She whispered in her heart.
But Kenshin embraced her and made his vow:
"When the new age comes, I will stop killing. I'll find a path to protect others, to protect everyone's happiness, and atone for my sins."
"As long as I have you, I can lay down my sword. I will protect your happiness."
From a cold-blooded assassin, Kenshin had been changed by Yukishiro—a transformation from youth to man.
Then, while Kenshin was sleeping, Yukishiro quietly left him.
To protect him, she could no longer stay by his side as a spy. And so...
If An Min could rate this movie again, he'd walk out of the theater and give 'Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal' a perfect 10.
But he didn't leave.
Another spy revealed the truth to Kenshin.
In reality, the organization behind Yukishiro never expected her to kill him.
But would the world's greatest swordsman still be the greatest... once he fell in love?
That was their true plan—to have her weaken him.
Kenshin didn't blame Yukishiro for her motives.
But in a daze, he walked straight into the enemy's trap.
Because they had Yukishiro.
He was the one who had killed her fiancé.
He was the one who destroyed the happiness she should have had.
An Min was completely stunned.
Kenshin rushed up the mountain, determined to rescue his wife from those people.
And that was exactly what they wanted.
A sorrowful score played again.
Blinded by a flashbang, deafened by the explosion, bleeding from multiple sword wounds—
Kenshin still staggered forward up the mountain.
He had taken everything from Yukishiro before he even knew her.
The least he could do before dying… was save her from them.
At this moment, the sorrow in the story began to rise.
"This is way too tragic!"
"I don't think I can keep watching! Kenshin won't die, right?"
"I've got a bad feeling about this…"
Whispers all around made An Min anxious.