Yukishiro Enishi ~ Rurouni Kenshin

Background

*Tsuioku Hen & Jinchuu Arc Spoilers*  Enishi is the younger brother of Yukishiro (later Himura) Tomoe.  When his sister went to Kyoto to find her fiancé's killer, he followed her.  He visits Kenshin and Tomoe once while they are living on their farm.  Due to the fact that Kenshin caused Tomoe such great pain, Enishi hates him very much.  He is eager to get on with their plan of killing Kenshin, so the two of them can return to Edo.  He doesn't understand when Tomoe tries to turn him away from this course of action.  Later, on that fateful snowy day, young Enishi arrives in the forest just in time to see Himura Battousai cut down his sister.  His short black hair is bleached white from the shock of watching his sister die.  Shortly after this, he leaves Japan and goes to live in Shanghai.  Enishi soon learns why it is often called the "Demon City of the East"; his life is very hard, and within a month, he is near death.  Then, a young Japanese couple finds him and takes him into their home.  Enishi later says he thanks God for sending him such easy prey.... He kills them. Why? He hated to see this family happy.  He then learns that the family had been wealthy.  Among their possessions, he finds books of Watoujutsu, which he studies alone.  With their money, he buys arms and sets up a mafia-like organization with a man named Wu Heishin.  With the power and supplies now at his command, Enishi turns his attention to Tokyo, where Himura Kenshin (Hitokiri Battousai) now resides.  He now has only one thing on his mind:  Jinchuu

Mentally...

Unlike most anime villains, I find Enishi almost impossible to hate.  Sure, he does some pretty bad stuff, but given his past, it's hard to blame him for it.  His desire to kill Kenshin is understandable...the entire reason that he desires his Jinchuu is because of what Kenshin did to his sister.  As a young boy for whom Tomoe was both a sister and a mother, it's no wonder he loved her so much.  So his despair at her death is to be expected, especially since he saw Kenshin cut her down with his own eyes.   Granted, he is at least a little insane (which explains why his methods are often so extreme), but considering how young he was when his old way of life was destroyed, it's perfectly understandable that he would not be mentally well.  But the fact is, he is not nearly as bad as he could have been.  *Jinchuu Arc Spoiler*   For one, he didn't kill Kaoru when he had the chance...he did save Kaoru from being shot (because she reminded him of his sister, as she threw herself between harm and Kenshin)...also, consider the fact that he does all this out of love for his sister...(granted, it isn't what she wants, but he doesn't know that)...you notice this more when you see his reaction to reading Tomoe's diary. *End of Spoiler*   Ever since I first saw Tsuioku Hen, I felt really sorry for Enishi...He has such horrible things happen to him, through no fault of his own...He was never a bad kid...he was just unfortunate enough to have his life get messed up like that...I just want to give him a big hug, and hold him close until he feels better ^_^

Physically...

I really like his face...his eyes, his hair, even his smile (insane or not ^_^)....his slim, slightly muscled build doesn't hurt either ^_^  Also, I like his sense of style....his usual clothing, and those cute little glasses are just perfect ^_^

Vocally...

Unfortunately, the Jinchuu Arc was never animated, so we don't get to here Enishi say very much =P  He does have a small speaking part in Tsuioku Hen, and from that I can say that I like his Japanese voice...his voice fits Enishi at that time of his life very nicely.

Quotes

"Tomoe...As long as my sister is smiling down on me, I'm stronger than anyone and anything.  Tell me, Battousai, the Tomoe inside yourself, is she smiling right now?" -- Enishi to Himura Kenshin