>>Gemini

Similarities I find in the two.

The Obvious | Trademark | Past "Love" |
A Will | Infection | Two Souls | Dangerous Foes | A Noisy Sidekick |
What? Meditation? | A Child's Friend

i. The Obvious

The most apparent feature similar between two is the peacemaker quality (hence the name of the site). Vash was tag down as being the worst disaster years ago. However, Vash has learned to deal with this and try to become a person that everyone appreciates. He uses his gun and skill to protect everyone. He takes to heart his oath of treasuring life as Rem taught him.

Kenshin is nearly a similar story. When he was 15 or so, he was known as Himura Battousai, a hitoriki, or assasin rather, who killed many people during the Revolution in Japan. However, he became a wanderer and protecting people by his sakabata, a sword with an invert blade. Kenshin is truely stuck on the vow of never to kill again, as seen during the Kyoto arc when he suffered the hardest in try to maintain being Himura Kenshin; he obviously defeated most of his enemies without killing them.

ii. Trademark

Both characters stand out more than the rest in their series due two physical features. In Kenshin's case, it is his bright red hair and cross - shaped cross. Vash's spikey hair and bright red coat make him seem so much more important than the background characters.

iii. Past "Love"

A loved one from the past comes up in the storyline as being one of great influence upon the present character's state. In one of the last episodes of the Kyoto Arc, Kenshin is seen visiting someone's grave - Tomoe's. Those who have watched the OVAs know she was Kenshin's first wife. She died in the process of protecting Kenshin. Many people that her sacrifice and the actual symbolism behind the last scar she placed on Kenshin is what really "saved" him from his hitokiri self.

Rem Saverem was Vash's love - mostly a relationship like son and mother. She is a constant reminder of "thou shalt not kill" and keeps his oath. In the manga and the anime, during the fight between Vash and Monev the Gale, Vash had the chance to kill this GunHo Gun if he truely wished; but then he thought, "If I killed you, she really would die." His oath to not kill is what keeps Rem's memory alive. Rem and the SeeDs crew that raised Knives and Vash were killed by Knives who disgruntled towards human and their selfishness. Rem, staying behind, sacrificed herself to keep both Knives and Vash alive.

iv. A Will

Probably the most wonderful characteristic about Vash and Kenshin is their will to move on and live. Vash is very much against suicide and never believes in giving up because he has to stop Knives. For Kenshin, this is apparent when battling against Aoshi the second time and when he meets Megumi the first time. He also mentions that he lives on to repent for his sins and that is the strongest will he has.

v. Infection

The friendliness and compassion that Kenshin and Vash show towards the people they meet is like a virus. At first they might be frightened - the humanoid typhoon and the infamous hitoriki from the revolution. However, with time and understanding, their kind hearts draw in the people around them - sometimes even unknowningly (as in the case with Meryl in Trigun and Sano in Rurouni Kenshin).

vi. Dangerous Foes

Probably the most noticeable similarity between Rurouni Kenshin and Trigun in the first real group Kenshin needs to fight in the first season - the Oniwanbashu. It is similar to Trigun because of the fact that there is a similar group out to get Vash called the Gunho Guns. Though they don't have similar traits, they are both a group untied under a leader that strikely looks the same - Legato Bluesummers in Trigun and Shinomori Aoshi in Kenshin. They very very much alike. Their personalities are a bit different, and Aoshi is really a bad guy (he's actually kinda sweet).

vii. Two Souls

There are two parts to Kenshin's and Vash's personality. In the anime and manga of Trigun/Trigun Maximum, changes in episodes show the differences. When Vash changes his name and appearance to Eriks we see one side of Vash that sometimes isn't visible in earlier episodes - a man in search for a sound, peaceful life; a man who will lay down his pride just to help those around him. Kenshin's side nature is one detailed with the changing on the eye color to yellow and the tone of voice; this is his hitoriki - self. The most noticeable of this is during the dojo battle against Saito (thinks of "Next time, your head will fly").

viii. A Noisy Sidekick

I think this is my favorite section because I love Sano/Nicholas as much as Kenshin/Vash. Anyway, Sano and Nicholas are very much a like. Firstly, they act completely different from their "partners." In Trigun, Vash constantly presses on Nicholas either "What kind of priest are you?!" and "Ever heard of 'Thou shalt not kill!'" because Nicholas acts as he doesn't hesitate to kill off his enemies. Nicholas knows he is different from Vash in many aspects; however, they are very much the same. They wish to help the weak as much as possible, especially children. Lastly, it was Nicholas was helped Vash at the last minute during his fight with Knives (ghostie Nicholas?). Nicholas also had a rough past as a child.

Sanosuke....hmmm. Well, he's VERY different from Kenshin. Unlike Kenshin he is brute, rash, and a pure ruffian. He also fights a lot with Kenshin because of how differently they act. But like Kenshin he believes in his close friends and trusts in them and also wishes to protect those who are in danger. Sano's past was always rocky with the death of his master when he was only eight.

ix. What? Meditation?

This is probably the funnest thing they have in common; they both can't stand meditating for more than 1 minute. This is seen in the Quick Draw episode in Trigun where Vash meditates on the virtues of "Love and Peace," and after two seconds, he stops. "To My Angel Misao," one of the episodes in the last arc of Rurouni Kenshin, Aoshi comes to pick up Misao, but then stays for tea and takes time out to visit Kenshin. Aoshi likes to meditate but Kenshin...kinda falls over after doing it for a minute (hehe).

x. A Child's Friend

One of the most beautiful things Vash and Kenshin share is their love of children and the way children respond in their presence; their gentle spirits allow them to have fun with children.