Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno/The Legend Ends (Sato, 2014)

Rurouni Kenshin

Kyoto Inferno

The Legend Ends

     The 2014 2nd and 3rd films of the Rurouni Kenshin live-action film trilogy make up a single massive story in two parts.  In this 4.5 hour epic, the former "manslayer", Kenshin, is called out of peaceful rural retirement in order to defend the "new age" against the nefarious plans of the betrayed assassin Shishio, and his army of mercenaries.  In the first part, "Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno" (るろうに剣心 京都大火編), Kenshin makes new friends in Kyoto, and has separate confrontations with Sojiro and Cho, two of Shishio's lethal swordsmen.  After a successful defense of the city of Kyoto, Kenshin nonetheless winds up defeated and washed up on a beach, with his friends in a bad spot.  In the final film, "Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends" (るろうに剣心 伝説の最期編), Kenshin reunites with his old teacher, discovers new insights about himself, and eventually finds new allies to help him defeat Shishio's plans for nationwide chaos.

Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno
     In the first Rurouni Kenshin film (2012), composer Naoki Sato featured the skillful use of ethnic instrumental soloists (oud, bansuri, fiddle) over ambient electronic textures.  For the sequels, many of the tracks from the first were retracked, and though these don't always function as character-specific "themes", they do serve to create a consistent sound-world across all 3 films.  Sato of course also composed many new cues, and these provide musically thematic material for the new characters and new locales.  Shishio gets an epic "Fate" theme, as well as a recurring texture for scenes at his battleship hideout ("Scene of Carnage").  New arrangements of themes from the first film also appear ("No Killing", Kenshin's theme, "Karaku's Dream").  Basically, familiar musical elements from the first film reappear in old and new guises, mixed with brand new themes and textures.  The featured ethnic instruments in "Kyoto Inferno" include the sho, koto and shehnai (harmonized), as well as some new electronic grooves and more electric guitar.

Trk	Dur	Title	Film Sequence/Music Elements
1	6:38	運命 ～ 迷界の鼓動 Overcoming Fate	0:00: Saito and his police force enter an abandoned building.  Men are picked off singly and in groups by Shishio's henchmen (also flashback of Shishio's betrayal and burning by the Emperor's men, and also: at the end when Sojiro kidnaps Kaoru after the battle, Kenshin realizes Shishio plans to attack Tokyo and then chases Sojiro). Held drones/ambient textures joined by sho, koto and male choir chant, rubbed strings, ambient howls, building choir elements. 3:26: Saito alone reaches Shishio's hellish stage, surrounded by chanting monks and with Saito's men held hostage over flames (also in flashback, a burnt up Shishio crawls out of the body pile; in the present Kenshin is informed that Shishio plans to overthrow the new government, also: at the end when Kenshin chases Sojiro on horseback in the rain and Shishio's battleship launches). Shishio's Fate theme in strings/anvil/low brass figure. 4:25: Shishio tries to convince Saito to join him (also: Kenshin boards Shishio's battleship and confronts Shishio a 2nd time, Shishio holds Kaoru as a threat).  No Killing theme variation in string figures with some swirling elements joined by low pulses. 5:19: When Saito refuses, Shishio signals for the hostages to be killed.  Saito tries to fight through to Shishio but a tower falls in between them and Shishio escapes (also: Shishio starts threatening Kaoru to make Kenshin fight seriously). Shishio's Fate theme in strings/anvil/low brass figure reprise, low end texture cadence.
2	2:27	新風 New Style	Montage of sunlit scenes of Kaoru teaching at her dojo and with Kenshin. No Killing theme variation on gentle strings, developed, then returning to opening figures.
3	2:40	狂信 Fanaticism	0:00: Aoshi appears before Sanosuke looking for the Battousai.  Low metallic ambient textures with impact/scraping accents. 0:52: They fight and Sano is defeated.  Aoshi threatens Megumi and then leaves. Layered drums with various delays in bursts of march rhythm, intercut/blended with high ambient textures.
4	3:14	凶夢 Kyoyume	At night, Kenshin and Misao come across the victim of a village attack by Shishio's men.  The man dies.  The next day, Kenshin and Misao enter the village. Low ambient textures joined by koto figures (often with some tremoli).
5	4:07	宿縁 Destiny	0:00: After Kenshin defeats Shishio's mercenaries at the village, Sojiro appears and invites him for an audience with Shishio.  Shishio kills a few men on his grounds to test out a sword. Low synth textures/ambient male choir (slowly rising)/low pulses and swells. 1:13: Kenshin arrives at Shishio's room.  Shishio taunts Kenshin, and then tells him that his injuries made him stronger and wiser.  Kenshin challenges Shishio, but Shishio asks Sojiro to handle him (and then leaves). Shishio's Fate theme in strings with low synth/strings/bass pulses, No Killing theme variation in strings with low accents, Shishio's Fate theme with strings/brass/timpani.
6	1:31	京都 Kyoto	Kenshin walks down a busy street in Kyoto.  Misao offers him a place to stay and drags him through the streets. Busy, optimistic string rhythms, female vocal and drums with cymbalom and low syncopated accents.
7	2:35	逆刃刀 ～ 追憶 Reverse Blade Sword/ Memories	Kenshin stands before the grave of the man he had needed to repair his shattered sword.  He has a flashback of Shakku Arai giving him the reverse blade sword.  He arrives at Shakku's son's home. Ambient textures/low strings/overtone male choir into variation of Karaku's Dream on wistful strings, joined by electric guitar swells.
8	3:58	新世 ～ 守るべき者 Shin Yo - Those Who Defend	0:00: Kenshin confronts Cho the Sword-Hunter and they fight. Sinister synth ostinato joined by drums/samples and low string tremoli accents. 0:56: Kaoru and Yahiko hear about the fight in the village.  They head over.  The fight continues. Subdued groove under concerned violins, intercut with modulated previous fight groove. 2:03: Kenshin and Cho talk about the past.  Kenshin vows to save the hostage child even if it costs him his life. Distorted rhythm with distant electric guitar solo/strings, becoming low synth rhythm and string figures, variation of No Killing theme on strings/brass with rhythmic accents.
9	2:51	修羅道 Scene of Carnage	0:00: At Shishio's hideout, Sojiro arrives with news of Kenshin's progress towards Kyoto.  Shishio plans a trap (also: Shishio tells Sojiro to gather the 10 Swords). Drums with overtone male choir layers, synth and taiko accents. 0:51: Shishio rallies his mercenary army for an attack on Kyoto at midnight. Repeating sinister rising brass figure with taiko accents, developing into ominous strings/drum accents.
10	4:10	逆刃刀真打 Reverse Blade Sword Master	0:00: After Kenshin defeats Cho, he finds out he had used a back-blade and didn't kill him.  The police take Cho away.  Kaoru and Yahiko address Kenshin but he staggers away. Cymbalom ostinato/held strings/piano ornaments, strings based on Karaku's Dream theme. 1:31: That night, Kenshin inspects the back-blade.  He flashes back to a conversation with Shakku's son who explains that this is the "true" back-blade.  Shakku's son lets Kenshin have the sword.  Kenshin reads the inscription. Karaku's Dream theme developed on strings/synth/electric guitar swells, leading to swells with timpani.
11	3:53	臨月天光 Heavenly Light	Shishio tells the 10 Swords to begin their attack on Kyoto.  Saito, Kenshin and the Hidden Watchers prepare for the attack.  Shishio's fireworks go off. Low drones with harmonized and delayed shenai.
12	3:15	飛天 ～京都大火 Hiten - Kyoto Inferno	The police and Shishio's mercenaries engage.  Kenchin and Saito calmly enter the fray.  Kaoru and Yahiko fights with wood staves.  The Hidden Watchers attack the mercenaries who try to set fires.  Sano arrives and enters the battle.   The ninja Elder Okina senses Aoshi. Distant Kenshin vocal wails leading to bass pulses, slams, Kenshin theme on strings/drums/vocals/electric guitar, electric guitar rhythm over drum rhythm, electric guitar solo over rhythm, Kenshin theme vocal/brass/strings resumes, joined by noble counter-figure, ending in low bass hum.
13	1:34	撹乱 Disturbance	Kenshin is attacked by a squad of Shishio look-alikes.  At the same time, Okina fights Aoshi in front of the inn. Rhythmic staccato string layers with brass chord accents and ambient elements, joined by vocal accents and swirling strings.
14	1:44	闇の現 Darkness Flows	Aoshi and Okina fight in an upstairs room.  The fight leads outside and Misao arrives.  Aoshi lethally wounds Okina. Ambient textures and breathy vocal chant.
15	2:16	雷光 Lightning	0:00: Okina falls under flashing skies.  Aoshi puts away his weapons and leaves before a stunned Misao.  Poignant, disturbed string figures. 1:16: Kenshin continues fighting the Shishio decoys.  Sano arrives and pushes a tower onto the decoys. Somber variation of Kenshin theme on held and swirling strings with ambient/choral synth.
16	0:57	煉獄の悪巧 Warutakumi’s Purgatory	On board Shishio's battleship, Kenshin fights more of Shishio's men in order to save Kaoru.  Kaoru is tossed overboard and Kenshin runs into Shishio.  Kenshin jumps overboard after Kaoru. Swashbuckling brass/timpani with string accents, rising cadence into falling brass/string figure, ending in a rising cadence.

Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends

     In this final installment, Sato concentrates more on heroic action grooves and textures than in the previous films' scores (though "The Legend Ends" does retrack some material from "Kyoto Inferno").  In some sense, this is also a somewhat more conservative score (not so many ethnic solo improvisations), but this approach better suits the epic nature of the story.  There also isn't much in the way of new character themes except for the "Master's theme" (an ostinato-driven, fateful string texture explored in the first part of the film), but considering that this film is the continuation of the previous entry, it wasn't really necessary to create much brand new character material.

Trk	Dur	Title	Film Sequence/Music Elements
1	2:57	降誕 Birth	0:00: A young boy buries his former slave trader owners and is confronted by the man who freed him. Low ambient textures joined by cymbalom improvisation. 1:55: The man gives the boy a new name: Kenshin, and offers to teach him the way of the sword (also when the Master spars with Kenshin in the rain with flashbacks to his childhood training; the Master tells Kenshin to bring back his childhood stubbornness). Master's theme in violins with celli ostinato and bass layer building and joined by cymbalom/anvil/choir.
2	3:10	奥義～ 飛天御剣流 The Secret of Hiten Mitsurugi	While tending to the unconscious Okina, Misao realizes Aoshi is now an enemy.  The Master asks Kenshin why he needs more training for killing.  They spar in the forest and the Master overpowers Kenshin. Master's theme in string/cymbalom ostinati figures with fateful soft synth/strings, becoming string layers with taiko accents, adding percussion/falling brass layers.
3	5:07	命 Life	0:00: The Master challenges Kenshin to a lethal duel in a bamboo forest. Ambient textures with a desolate, distant female chant. 1:45: Kenshin eventually realizes that he has lost the will to live due to guilt from his lethal past. Slow, concerned strings building in layers, becoming relieved. 3:20: The Master tells Kenshin that he has placed the welfare of others too far above his own happiness.  They re-engage. Held strings with return of desolate female chant/ambient textures, rising into the Master's theme with string/cymbalom ostinato/anvil/fateful strings/delayed electric bass.
4	3:18	冀望 Hope	0:00: Kaoru wakes up and walks in a grassy green field by the beach. Held string and synth with piano ornaments leading to relaxed piano figures. 0:56: Sano and Yahiko find her.  They decide to return to Tokyo to wait for Kenshin there. Poignant strings, becoming hopeful. 2:05: Artillery is prepared for use against Shishio's battleship.  Kenshin prepares to leave the Master. Foreboding low string ostinato with drums/anvil, joined by rising brass/Master's theme violin ostinato.
5	1:12	怒気の矛先 Force of Anger	After Misao is injured, the duel between Aoshi and Kenshin becomes more intense. Metallic textures into tribal drum/synth groove and fateful strings, accented string/brass rhythm figure into held strings.
6	1:14	再臨 Second Coming	Kenshin leaves Misao and Aoshi and travels back to Tokyo on foot and by boat. Master's theme variation as an energetic/heroic violin and percussion rhythm with bass figures and synth pulses, joined by drums/anvil/brass.
7	2:54	画策 Maneuvers	Kenshin tells Governor Ito that he can kill Shishio if he gets close enough.  Ito tells him that he will get a "legendary end".  Kenshin is marched out and then put on a horse heading towards an execution site.  Sano, Kaoru and Yahiko follow.  More artillery is prepared on the beach. Percussion rhythm joined by a variation of the Master's theme ostinato as falling "Mission" strings/rising violins/brass, tribal drum march with slow, rising string melody, joined by brass, at the end the falling Master/Mission string figure briefly returns.
8	3:19	悔恨の念 Remorse	0:00: On the beach, Hoji reads out the names of Kenshin's war victims.  Kenshin has a flashback to the young warrior he killed who gave him his first cheek scar. Poignant string layers, developed. 2:26: Kenshin's head is bowed for his execution.  The sword falls but Kenshin is unharmed. Alarmed string accent, fateful string figures/accents.
9	2:08	疾風怒濤 Sturm und Drang	0:00: Kenshin and Sano start fighting the deck warriors on Shishio's battleship. Synth/drums/brass/strings action groove. 0:34: On the beach, Saito confronts and kills Shishio's blind priest warrior. Falling string figure with drums/brass accents, rising figures. 1:13: Kenshin and the police enter the lower decks. Synth/drums/brass/strings action groove with tremolo accents/brass fanfare accents, ending in an rhythmic string accents.
10	1:36	刺客 Assassin	Sojiro appears and begins fighting Kenshin. Rising string gliss into drum/taiko/synth groove with samples/dissonant string cluster ornaments, leading to rising brass figure/fateful strings, string tremoli/synth pulses.
11	6:57	仇敵 Bitter Enemy	0:00: The beach artillery begins firing on Shishio's battleship. Lumbering drums/brass march. 0:47: Kenshin dodges Hoji's gatling gun fire.  Shishio appears and taunts Kenshin.  They begin dueling but Shishio gets the upper hand. Shishio's Fate texture: sho/koto/male choir chant/ambient textures, choir textures rise. 3:45: Shishio takes a bite out of Kenshin's shoulder and throws him into a pile of cargo boxes.  Saito appears and begins fighting Shishio.  Sano appears and starts fighting Shishio as well. Version of "Overcoming Fate": Shishio's Fate theme in strings/anvil/low brass figure.  No Killing theme variation in string figures with some swirling elements joined by low pulses.  Shishio's Fate theme in strings/anvil/low brass figure reprise, low end texture cadence.
12	1:52	狂瀾 Kyoran	In the final battle, Aoshi appears and engages Shishio.  Kenshin, Sano and Saito join in the fight but Shishio holds his own against all four heroes. Heroic string/brass figures with drums, string ostinati with noble brass, developing, fateful accent chords with low brass counter figures, high held strings.
13	2:20	刻限 Time	0:00: The fight continues, as time runs out for Shishio.  Shishio pauses and says he is getting hot. String gliss into tribal drums with synth/rhythmic brass accents/string glissandi, intercut with timpani rolls/string accents, then joined by noble brass/strings, ending in danger fanfare. 1:45: Yumi runs to Shishio but Shishio runs her through in order to strike a hit on Kenshin. Staccato string rhythm with suspense string/brass figure becoming tremoli.
14	3:55	終焉の炎 The End of the Flame	0:00: Kenshin says farewell to the flaming, laughing Shishio.  Sano helps the weakened Kenshin off the collapsing ship.  The survivors row back to shore.  The police round up Shishio's mercenaries on the beach. Held strings/male choir texture, joined by full choir/building strings, developed in rising choral figures, ending in reverent choral/string cadence. 2:15: Kaoru appears and happily greets Kenshin.  Misao greets Aoshi.  Shishio's battleship explodes and sinks. Poignant strings, becoming relaxed and joined by choir, brass, timpani rolls, ending in somber strings.
15	5:01	飛天～ 伝説の最期～ The Legend Ends	0:00: Kenshin's bonds snap and his beach executioner is revealed to be Saito.  Saito, Kenshin and the soldiers fight Shishio's men.  Sano and Kenshin reach a boat and head towards Shishio's battleship.  Saito continues fighting on the beach. Ambient texture/pulses with Kenshin theme vocal wails, Kenshin theme with vocal/drums/strings/male choir/electric guitar, electric guitar solo layers over drums, strings return as guitar solos continue. 2:35: (briefly used) Shishio's battleship begins shelling the beach. Ambient textures/pulses with distant bansuri improvisation, Kenshin theme with vocals and rhythm resumes, string/brass counter-figure joins, ending ambient drone/pulses. (Track edit also used for the end scene on the beach: Governor Ito proclaims that the Battousai is dead.  The soldiers salute the heroes.  The heroes depart for home).

Links
Naoki Sato Wiki Entry
Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno Wiki Entry
Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends Wiki Entry

Rurouni Kenshin (Sato, 2012)

Rurouni Kenshin

Kyoto Inferno

The Legend Ends

     The 2012 film "Rurouni Kenshin" (Japanese: るろうに剣心) is a live-action adaptation of a popular Japanese manga and anime series (also known as "Samurai X" in some markets), centering on a wandering former assassin in the late 19th Century during Japan's change-over from an insular society to a Western-influenced one.  After vowing to never kill again, he begins using a "reverse blade sword", in which the knife edge is the dull side.  Kenshin finds friendship in a small village, but when a local drug lord threatens his new friends, he is forced to confront the drug lord and his army in his lair.  After the drug lord has been dispatched, Kenshin is confronted by a survivor of the previous war and again almost forced to kill again.

     The film's composer, Naoki Sato (佐藤 直紀), is best-known for his anime soundtracks, but in more recent years he has done a few live-action features (many of which were adapted from manga or anime series).  His style is fairly eclectic, but often uses electric guitar or electronics with his orchestral elements.  In Rurouni Kenshin, many cues notably feature solo instrumental improvisations on violin, oud (lute), bansuri (wood flute) and shenai (ethnic double reed).  The violin especially has a virtuosic "gypsy-like" flavor, which nicely matches the concept of the wandering swordsman.  Besides the ethnic soloists, the other main elements are tribal drums, ambient electronics and electric guitar, sometimes supported by strings and brass.

• Violin: Keisuke Ohta
• Electric Guitar: Hidetoshi Suzuki
• Oud: Yuji Tsunemi (常味裕司)
• Bansuri: Taro Terahara (寺原太郎)

     Thematically, solo instruments are often used to represent characters or scenarios (gypsy violin appears during lethal swordplay moments, oud with Jin-e's attacks, electric guitar with other battle scenes, drums for raising a battle's intensity).  Melodically, main themes include the Kenshin theme (Main Title), and a more poignant "No Killing" theme often on strings and horns.

Trk	Dur	Title	Film Sequence, Music features
1	3:48	The Battle of Gyoan 暁闇の戦い	0:00: Soldiers fight with rifles, cannons and swords in a blue-filtered forest battle.  Saito Hajime searches for the Hitokiri Battosai (Kenshin).  Violin, bansuri, shehnai over ambient textures/low fast pulses, ambient swells. 2:01: Kenshin fights many warriors. Aggressive drums/percussion. 2:50: The warriors all lie dead.  Saito finally reaches Kenshin. Violin over ambient textures resumes.
2	3:58	(Rise of Jin-e)/ Towards a New Era (Main Title) 生生流転 ～新時代へ～	0:00: When Saito confronts the Battousai, Kenshin sticks his sword in the ground and shambles off.  Many half-buried bodies lie on the ground.  One survivor, Jin-e, rises.  . Bansuri over soft ambient textures. 1:29: Jin-e grabs Kensin's abandoned sword and hears screaming voices.  He realizes who it belonged to. Wailing solo voice with delay enters ambient texture (now with low bass pulses). 2:01: Main titles.  Kenshin rides a small boat.  A government official tells an assembled squad that the new government must survive. Drum accent into fateful Kenshin theme with strings/drums/voice/male choir/synth pulses, joined by brass swells, ending in low synth. (Entire track also used when Jin-e impales himself at the end of the final fight, followed by Kenshin carrying Kaoru away and a final conversation with Saito).
3	2:49	(Kanryu's Theme) 観柳帝国 ～我執の猛～	0:00: After having many workers killed at his estate, Kanryu lets Megumi live.  One  worker escapes out the window  (also, Kanryu feeds his slave army in front of Saito, then at the restaurant when he offers Kenshin money to work for him, when he receives his gatling gun, etc.). Wry Kanryu theme with strings/percussion/harpsichord/brass in a waltz rhythm, developed in various interludes.
4	3:02	(Confrontation) 狂血	0:00: Megumi asks the police for help.  Jin-e (pretending to be the lethal Battousai) attacks the police force and decimates them.  Megumi attempts to flee.  Jin-e uses his hypnotic stare to mesmerize a policeman.  He finds Megumi has escaped out a back window (also for when Kenshin confronts Jin-e in the forest, who has captured Kaoru). High tones/low synth pulses, joined by ambient textures, brass gliss into oud/distant male choir chant/low synth pulses.
5	1:52	Encounter 1 邂逅 (壱)	0:00: Kaoru encounters Jin-e and tries to fight him.  She is disarmed and about to be killed, but Kenshin appears and knocks her out of the way. Ambient noise/choral textures joined by string noises (oud), slams/drum accents/low synth pulses, ending in rising gliss accent. (followed by 12)
6	2:44	(Path of Karma) 業の道	0:00: During a rainstorm, Saito identifies Kenshin and takes him out of prison to see his old commander, Yamagata. Bansuri over ambient throbbing textures.
7	3:03	(Kenshin Fights Henchmen at Kaoru's Dojo) 人斬り抜刀斎 ～殺人剣～	0:00: Kenshin confronts Kanryu's gang of hooligans who disrupt Kaoru's dojo. Violin over ambient textures. 0:51: Fighting begins and Kenshin dispatches the gang using only his hands. Drums enter with harpsichord tremolo, intercut with bansuri and violin ornaments. 1:37: Fighting continues inside the dojo.  The gang eventually realize they are fighting the real Battousai. Drums developed with syncopated ethnic string figures, violin over ambient textures/pulses.
8	2:40	Reverse Blade Sword 逆刃刀	0:00: Saito mocks Kenshin's reverse-blade sword.  He attacks Kenshin to draw out the "old Battousai", but Kenshin maintains that he will not use his sword to kill.  Yamagata calls off the fight (also used when Megumi cures the sick people of the rat poison, and also a variation at the end of Kenshin's fight with the blonde fighter). Bells/synth string layers, joined by bansuri, building texture based on string ostinati with bansuri ornaments, ending in climactic accent with ambient ornaments.
9	1:49	Rurouni るろうに	0:00: Kaoru gives Kenshin a red outfit.  Kenshin feels optimistic (also at the end when Kaoru looks for Kenshin and finds him with a basket of food.  She welcomes him home). Peaceful ambient string-synth/guitar feedback textures based on No Killing theme, sustained melodic texture.
10	1:53	(Kenshin vs Sano) 喧嘩上等!	0:00: Outside the market, Sanosuke (Sano) chases Kenshin in order to impress Kanryu.  Kenshin eventually convinces Sano that Kanryu is not worth working for. Shamisen/ethnic percussion/bansuri action rhythm with bass pulses, becoming hesitant strings.
11	6:50	No Killing 1 不殺 (壱)	0:00: When seeing a woman mourn over of Jin-e's victims, Kenshin has a flashback to when he was assigned to assassinate a man for the greater good.  In the flashback, he kills a group of men in a dark alleyway. Violin over ambient textures. 1:58: One man refuses to die and manages to cut Kenshin's cheek (also when Kenshin cuts Jin-e's head near the end of the final fight). Soft, poignant strings over low ambient hum. 3:35: Kenshin delivers the killing blow and then staggers away, shaken. Violin over ambient textures. 4:34: The next day the dead are gathered in the rain.  Kenshin sees a woman mourn the final warrior.  Kenshin questions his orders.  In the present, Kenshin stands with his eyes closed in a bamboo forest (also at the end of the final fight: Kenshin breaks Jin-e's elbow, Kaoru stops Kenshin from killing Jin-e). Soft rising string figures, No Killing falling theme on strings.
12	4:31	Keraku's Dream けらくの夢	0:00: Kenshin notices Kaoru's dojo.  She tells him that she must fight Jin-e in order to defend the reputation of her father's style.  Kenshin tells her not to risk her life needlessly. Electric guitar feedback swells in a melody over low ambient texture, joined by slow falling/rising string synth figures, additional guitar feedback layers enter, developed with more strings.
13	5:03	Hiten 飛天	0:00: Kenshin and Sano fight Kanryu's army at the gate.  As they approach Kanryu's house, Kanryu throws money out the window to egg his men on. Vocal wails with delay over bass pulses, joined by ambient textures, leading to Kenshin theme on strings/drums/vocals/electric guitar, electric guitar solo layers over drum/synth rhythm, string theme re-enters. 2:36: Inside, Kanryu wonders why Kenshin fights.  He decides to make preparations. Bansuri over synth bass pulses. 3:28: The fight outside continues.  Kenshin and Sano break into the house. Kenshin theme resumes, joined by noble string counter-figure, ending in low bass hum.
14	4:23	1st Dungeon	0:00: Kenshin fights Kanryu's blonde, masked, armed henchman in a room of traps while Sano fights a Buddhist thug in a kitchen. Electric guitar/drum rhythm with electric organ arpeggios/vocal wails, developed on string figure/rhythm, accents, vocal figures, etc. 2:16: (alt mix) Sano and the Buddhist fighter have a snack break. Electric guitar solos in layers over rock rhythm. 3:30: Kenshin and the blonde fighter continue fighting with blades. Electric organ arpeggios/vocal wails return, ending in accents.
15	0:49	2nd Dungeon	0:00: Kenshin and Sano dodge Kanryu's gatling gun fire.  Kanryu is beaten with the help of Saito. Fast action rhythm with strings/low brass/drums, building with vocals into electric guitar layers.
16	2:11	Encounter 2 邂逅 (弐)	0:00: (alternate mix with oud solo) After Jin-e puts a breath-paralyzing spell on Kaoru, Kenshin fights harder. Oud over ambient/choral textures, joined by slams and bass synth pulse, drums, rising texture.
17	4:18	Critical 臨界	0:00: (partially used) Fighting becomes more intense. Bansuri (delayed), then violin over ambient howling textures, joined by bass synth pulses and isolated ambient swelling accents.
18	4:04	No Killing 2 不殺 (弐)	0:00: Kenshin confronts Megumi after she heals the sick people and she has a flashback to when she worked for Kanryu.  Thoughtful strings/brass figures. 1:08: Kenshin thinks about Megumi's story, and decides that he must confront Kanryu.  Sano joins him.  They discover that Megumi has left a note.  Megumi approaches and enters Kanryu's estate.  Kenshin tells Kaoru and Yahiko to wait at home. Soft rising string figures, No Killing falling theme on strings/synth with rising counter figure, developed on brass/strings, ending in held synth.

Links
Naoki Sato Wiki Entry
Rurouni Kenshin film Wiki Entry