History TearJerker / RurouniKenshin

* Surpassed by Kenshin's backstory from the Rememberance arc (animated as the ''Tsuiokuhen''/''Trust and Betrayal'' OVA) in which Kenshin accidentally kills his wife Tomoe after being temporarily blinded, by a group of ninjas. She was trying to help him and to not lose her second chance at happiness, and then SLASH. The shock of this causes Kenshin to swear to never kill again, and Tomoe's brother Enishi to swear revenge and to turn Kenshin's life into a living hell. Screw that, the ''whole'' first OVA series is a big TearJerker.

!!Meta
* The horrendous news that the author was [[https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-11-21/rurouni-kenshin-creator-nobuhiro-watsuki-charged-with-child-pornography-possession/.124308 caught possessing child pornography, arrested, and apparently owned up to it.]] ''Rurouni Kenshin'' has been [[https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-11-21/rurouni-kenshin-hokkaido-arc-manga-goes-on-hiatus-due-to-creator-child-porn-charge/.124313 suspended indefinitely]] and a lot of fans are in [[BrokenPedestal conflict]] and finding themselves having to separate the work from the author to enjoy it with a clean conscience, especially with him continuing to write for the series not long after his arrest.

* Don't tell me you didn't die a little inside when Misao entered the place where [[spoiler:Okina and Aoshi]] fought just in time to see [[spoiler:her beloved Jiya]] [[DisneyDeath collapse]] before her eyes.

** To elaborate, Soujirou underwent [[spoiler: major abuse at the hands of his family due to being the bastard child of his father and his mother (who was his mistress). He also endured their scathing remarks about him being a bastard child and we learn that he was only allowed in the family for appearances sake. It isn't until Shishio turns up badly wounded that Soujirou eventually becomes his disciple and kills his entire family, resulting in a HeroicBSOD that he didn't realize had, until his fight with Kenshin]]. It really puts some perspective on that kinda stuff.

* The funeral for [[spoiler:Kaoru]] who [[DisneyDeath wasn't really dead at the time]] but, hey, we didn't know that!

** As for TheMovie itself? There are several: [[spoiler: Gentatsu's last moments and Shigure's reaction, Shigure's goodbye to Toki, Yahiko's huge HeroicBSOD when he finds his BigBrotherMentor Musashino's lifeless body among those of Shigure's followers, and especially Shigure's death in Kenshin's arms]].

** [[spoiler:Kenshin and Kaoru die]]. Yes, it's ultimately considered CanonDiscontinuity by Watsuki and many fans for good reason, but it doesn't take away from how heartbreaking it is to see [[spoiler:Kenshin and Kaoru using what little strength they have in their bodies to see each other one last time, ending with Kenshin dying peacefully on Kaoru's lap.]]
** The OVA ''did'' have genuinely sad moments, like [[spoiler:the last time Kaoru and Kenshin make love before he leaves and share a very sad pillow talk, Megumi trying to urge the deathly ill Kaoru to live a bit more so she can see Kenshin a last time, or Sanosuke doing the same to an amnesiac Kenshin in China]].
* In the series, there is [[spoiler:Yumi's death in Shishio's arms after he fatally stabs her with his own katana and then comforts her as she passes away, and Kenshin's first visit to Tomoe's grave in years]]. Both of them with the ''Adagio Cantabile'' of [[Music/LudwigVanBeethoven Beethoven's]] ''Pathetique Sonata'' as BackgroundMusic.
* The manga scene where [[spoiler:Kenshin finds Kaoru's (supposed) corpse and [[HeroicBSOD completely breaks down]] as he believes Enishi has finally gotten his revenge on him]].
* [[spoiler:Sayo]]'s death. God, poor [[spoiler:Sayo]]. The Shimabara arc was the last good part of the anime, and despite having a BittersweetEnding, [[spoiler:Sayo's fate]] remains a TearJerker.
** It's especially bad in regards to [[spoiler: the death scene itself. Sayo lays fatally wounded in the arms of her friend ([[ImpliedLoveInterest or more]]) Sanosuke as he's apologizing for not having been able to shield her... and then he realizes that ''he doesn't even know her name''! (He only knows her as Magdaria, her Christian name). He tearfully points it out, then Sayo calmly looks at him and whispers "Sayo... my name is Sayo... Sanosuke, I'm glad I met you..." and [[KillTheCutie perishes almost]] [[TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth immediately afterwards]]. The next seconds show [[HeroicBSOD the emotionally crushed]] Sanosuke [[DiedInYourArmsTonight cradling her lifeless body]], whispering "Sayo... I'm sorry, Sayo..."]]
** The flashback where [[spoiler:Shogo and Sayo watch their father die fighting the Shogun's forces, then told by their mortally-sick mother to leave her and "become strong as iron", shortly afterwards seeing her shot dead on the beach, and ''then'' sailing away with their uncle... past the crucified bodies of everyone in their village]]. And then [[spoiler:young Shogo]] made an oath to become "as strong as God!" and the source of his messianic complex was made painfully obvious.
** [[spoiler: Don't even get me started when Sanosuke]] visits her grave on the final episode of the arc. The way he weeps is easily one of the most tearful moments of the filler episode. Just seeing someone as strong and hardened from life as he is breaking down and yelling in regrets why [[spoiler: Sayo had to die]] just made me feel so bad and the fact [[spoiler: it took Shouzu taunting him into a brief duel in FRONT of Sayo's grave]] is a testament to how affected [[spoiler: Sanosuke]] was at her death.
* When [[spoiler:the Oniwabanshuu died protecting their leader]]. And God, the look on Aoshi's ''face''...!
** Another Aoshi-related one: [[spoiler:When Okina openly asks Kenshin to [[ShootTheDog kill Aoshi]] since he believes he's [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope gone beyond any chance of redemption]].]] Seeing [[spoiler:Misao]]'s absolute ''[[HeroicBSOD heartbreak]]'' at that makes it even ''worse''. Poor, poor child.
* And then her reaction when [[spoiler:Kenshin says Aoshi isn't beyond saving, and promises to bring him back to the Aoiya alive. Okina has a ''MyGodWhatHaveIdone'' as he realizes that his request would have hurt Misao more than anything.]]

* Surpassed by Kenshin's backstory from the Rememberance arc (animated as the ''Tsuiokuhen''/''Trust and Betrayal'' OVA) in which Kenshin [[spoiler:accidentally kills his wife Tomoe after being temporarily blinded, by a group of ninjas. She was trying to help him and to not lose her second chance at happiness, and then SLASH]]. The shock of this causes Kenshin to swear to never kill again, and [[spoiler: Tomoe's brother Enishi to swear revenge and to turn Kenshin's life into a living hell]]. Screw that, the ''whole'' first OVA series is a big TearJerker.
* It is absolutely heartbreaking when [[spoiler:Tomoe dies in Kenshin's arms. Forget the fact that it was he who accidentally killed her, and that she cuts the final scar on his cheek. Just the way she mutters "I'm sorry, my darling" before drifting away into a permanent sleep]] is enough to move anyone to tears.
* The end of the first ''Tsukiokuhen'' OVA, depicting how Kenshin and [[spoiler:Tomoe]] met.
* [[spoiler:Anji Yukyuzan]]'s horribly depressing backstory. My God, [[spoiler:Anji's screams of fury and pain when he sees the shrine burned down and his stepchildren dead, especially the teenage girl with a PrecociousCrush on him]]
** Even more when either [[spoiler:Anji uses the ashes he pulls from Tsubaki's corpse's burned hands that were reaching towards heaven, to paint on his own face, with a look of pure, unadulterated '''hatred''' in his eyes]] or when [[spoiler:Sanosuke [[WarriorTherapist calls out]] [[IKnowYouAreInThereSomewhereFight to Anji]] ([[WhatTheHellHero "Don't you see these kids crying over the blood you've spilled?!"]]), then he [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone realizes how far gone he has been for years]], sees the spirits of Tsubaki and the kids reminding him of his true purpose in life... and is defeated.]] Waaaah!

* One of the last images from the ''Trust and Betrayal'' OVA: Kenshin sits under a tree during a storm [[CradleOfLoneliness clutching the shawl]] of [[spoiler:Tomoe, who recently died]]. As he does that, [[spoiler:Tomoe's ghost wraps her arms around him to try to comfort him]].
* The scene between Enishi and Geezer at the end of the Revenge arc. [[spoiler: Enishi, after being defeated by Kenshin and left emotionally broken, ends up in the same village Kenshin went to after he (Kenshin) was left emotionally broken by the thought that Kaoru had died by Enishi's hands, and with the same broken look Kenshin had while sitting there. Then, he meets with Geezer, who is heavily implied to be his and Tomoe's father, but they only remember each other from when Enishi was a little kid. The two end up talking about how they "remember each other from a distant past", but without revealing their names or anything that could tell each other that they were indeed son and father. However, it's Geezer words that make it all the more special, with the old man saying that Enishi's place was not there, that he, like Kenshin, would one day recover and continue to live on, but that he should just rest in the meanwhile]].
* Kiyosato Akira. All he wanted to do was build a name for himself and become a man worthy of his fiancee. Unfortunately the samurai he is guarding [[spoiler: is targeted by Kenshin. The entire time during his very short duel with Kenshin he is frantically thinking "I don't want to die! I can't die here!" but he can't back down from the fight and ends up dying senselessly. The senseless part is more apparent in the first OVA, when the very samurai he is guarding actually ''shields him'' from a fatal blow while screaming "You can't die here!".]]
* The ''To Rule Flame'' prequel is from [[HeroOfAnotherStory Yumi Komagata's perspective]], and has more than one of these - specially [[spoiler: the cruel and completely undeserved murder of Yumi's best friend Hanabi at the hands of a SocialDarwinist BloodKnight who killed her [[DisproportionateRetribution for saying the wrong thing at the worst moment possible]] ]] and then [[spoiler: Yumi's ''[[HeroicBSOD absolute]]'' [[HeroicBSOD heartbreak]] [[CynicismCatalyst when she finds out]], in which she's shown screaming and crying as [[PietaPlagiarism she cradles poor Hanabi's bloodstained corpse]].]]
* Eiji's reaction to Kenshin refusing to let him join him and Saito against the Keikaku Heiki. Eiji is hurt, thinking that Kenshin thinks of Eiji as a weakling, but it turns out there's a good reason for Kenshin reluctance. Eiji soon finds out that [[spoiler:remnants of the Juppongatana]] are aiding Kenshin and Saito against the Kenkaku Heiki. Despite becoming more disciplined and mature since the Kyoto Arc, Eiji flips the moment he sees [[spoiler:Soujirou]], recognizing him from the invasion of Shingetsu Village, and turns his rifle on him. By the end of it all, Saito gives Eiji the decision to either join or leave and leaves the enraged boy behind.

** [[spoiler: Kiyosato Akira]], [[HeroicSecondWind getting back on his feet]] even as Kenshin carves him up, screaming and gurgling about [[ThePowerOfLove someone important to him]]. Even when he fell for the last time, he simply [[{{Determinator}} refused to die]], whispering it over and over and crawling across the ground, until he is given the coup de grâce. The next day, we're shown his fiancee, [[spoiler: most definitely Tomoe]], breaking down in front of his blood and rain-soaked corpse.
** This flashback itself was triggered by [[spoiler: Kenshin seeing the corpses of dead policemen Jin-e rampaged against in his outings as the fake Battousai]], ending with Kenshin's self-reproach (which shows how [[SurvivorGuilt unresolved his issues with his past are as of yet]]):

** Saito's subdued yet-no-less icy reproach to Kenshin [[spoiler: after looking on at the aforementioned dead cops, strewn together with the thugs Kenshin knocked out in Kaoru's dojo earlier in the film]], just shows how much he [[spoiler: [[AFatherToHisMen actually cares for his colleagues and subordinates]].]]
---> '''Saito:''' ''"If you killed just one of them, [[spoiler: my policemen would still be alive]]."''

* However odd this might sound, considering the backdrop above, we can find [[spoiler: Jin-e's life to be one the more you think about his background in this film. While he has always been thought of as a bloodthirsty bastard in the manga/anime, the film supposedly shows him to us in the prologue as someone who has been warped by the violence of the past era, who perpetuates his violent way of life because it's the only thing he knows]]. His use of the name ''"Battousai"'', in a way, becomes comprehensible, [[spoiler: if all the more tragic. He could have been what Kenshin have become had he not learned the value of people around him]].

* In the series, there is [[spoiler:Yumi's death in Shishio's arms after he fatally stabs her with his own katana and then comforts her as she passes away, and Kenshin's first visit to Tomoe's grave in years]]. Both of them with the ''Adagio Cantabile'' of [[Music/LudwigVanBeethoven Beethoven's]] ''Pathetique Sonata'' as background music.

** It's especially bad in regards to [[spoiler: the death scene itself. Sayo lays fatally wounded in the arms of her friend ([[ImpliedLoveInterest or more]]) Sanosuke as he's apologizing for not having been able to shield her... and then he realizes that ''he doesn't even know her name''! (He only knows her as Magdaria, her Christian name). He tearfully points it out, then Sayo calmly looks at him and whispers [[FamousLastWords "Sayo... my name is Sayo... Sanosuke, I'm glad I met you..."]] and [[KillTheCutie perishes almost]] [[TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth immediately afterwards]]. The next seconds show [[HeroicBSOD the emotionally crushed]] Sanosuke [[DiedInYourArmsTonight cradling her lifeless body]], whispering "Sayo... I'm sorry, Sayo..."]]

* When Eiji's reaction to Kenshin refusing to let him join him and Saito against the Keikaku Heiki. Eiji is hurt, thinking that Kenshin thinks of Eiji as a weakling, but it turns out there's a good reason for Kenshin reluctance. Eiji soon finds out that [[spoiler:remnants of the Juppongatana]] are aiding Kenshin and Saito against the Kenkaku Heiki. Despite becoming more disciplined and mature since the Kyoto Arc, Eiji flips the moment he sees [[spoiler:Soujirou]], recognizing him from the invasion of Shingetsu Village, and turns his rifle on him. By the end of it all, Saito gives Eiji the decision to either join or leave and leaves the enraged boy behind.