Rurouni Kenshin/Fanfic Recs
Proof that the remaining 10% is worth dying for here:
These are recommendations made by Tropers for Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fics, all of which have to be signed to stay on the page. Feel free to add a fanfic of your own to the list, but remember to use the template found here.
Do warn when a fanfic may head into non-canon territory. Some people just don't like it, and as we all know, Shipping is Serious Business. You can also add to the current recommendations if you want. Refrain from posting Conversation in the Main Page though; that goes in the discussion page.
Authors and Websites
Pretty much everything by Vathara
- Recommended by Shisuikami and Tannim
- Stories to note are the Blades of Blood series. She also has an excellent crossover with Star Wars. She's the queen of the mega-crossover, too. Something here for everyone.
- Seconded by Singollo_Lomien with particular emphasis on Shadows in Starlight, a Star Wars/Rurouni Kenshin fusion.
- Recommended by: hille13
- Comment: This writer's Soujiro fanfiction is by far the best I have ever encountered. It is about the Tenken after the Kyoto-arc.
General Fics
Stories focused on the family and the friendly relationships of the cast. Plot-focused stories or light day-in-the-life stories. Pretty much anything that isn't focused on romance.
- Recommended by sablin27
- Synopsis: A Rurouni Kenshin/Highlander crossover. It's a story about love, and loss, and moving on, with Kenshin as an Immortal. And you get one guess what Kenshin's opinion of The Game is!
- Comments: The story doesn't require knowledge of Highlander, but it is set at a point where all the Rurouni Kenshin characters except Kenshin are long dead, so all the story's characters are dead or original characters. That said, the story gives an interesting look at Kenshin through a stranger's eyes and contains plenty of action without drawn-out descriptions of fights.
- There is a prequel, A Life Lived (a not-quite-complete account of Kenshin as an Immortal) and two sequels, Walk Not Alone (Thirteen years of no contact later, Kenshin wanders in whilst looking for a damsel in distress.) and A Rurouni Goes to College(An 160-year-old Immortal goes to college. You'd think he was old enough to know better.)
- Warnings: Violence level is about what you'd expect of Rurouni Kenshin. A couple of hetereo-normal relationships are seen, with the occurrence of smut implied.
- The other stories in the series are equally or less violent, but some contain non-graphic abusive/non-consensual relationships and pedophilia. There is also some frank sexual discussion and a homosexual couple among the cast, in case anyone is bothered by those being considered acceptable.
The Cat That Danced With Death by DB Sommer
- Recommended by Selryam
- Synopsis: Set sometime in the future; Kenshin, living peacefully with his wife and kids, must face the one foe he cannot best: Death.
- Comments: A neat, poignant story of Kenshin and Death and his life and his happiness.
SadBittersweet, but not depressing, and truly touching in a not gushingly sweet way. It's Kenshin at its finest.
Out of Time and all its related fics by Sirius Fan 13
- Recommended by Tensa-chan
- Synopsis: "During a trip to Kyoto with his friends, Himura Kenshin winds up in deep water... thirteen years in the past. How will Kenshin deal with the Revolution again? And how will his friends deal with Battousai, who has traded places with him?"- author's blurb
- Comments: A good read, with an interesting concept.
Kyuushutsu by Terry-Mc Elrath
- Recommended by A Troper
- Synopsis: Katsura Kogorou, leader of the Choshu Clan, is captured and under a death sentence! Can Kenshin find and rescue him before he is executed? Set during the Bakumatsu, after Tomoe's death.
- One of the best fanfics I've ever read for Ruro Ken, it features Battousai Kenshin as he was in Canon as opposed to the Fanon interpretation. The action is great, the fights are well written and word can't really describe it, the story is incomplete and hasn't been updated in years but the last chapter ends at a point that can theoretically be taken as an ending. The lengths at which Kenshin will go to save Katsura is touching and awesome.
Against a Sea of Troubles by Hakubaikou
- Recommended by A Troper
- Synopsis: A red-haired, amber-eyed stranger washes up on shore in a small, seaside village.
- It's a great fic with well written OCs that work really well with the story and no Mary-Sues whatsoever. It's an interesting concept/plot that I really wish would be used more often (or rather, used more often in a good way) and unfortunately the story is incomplete and will never be completed due to Hakubaikou's untimely death.
- Recommended by User:Ultra Sonic 007
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: The story of the life, and love, which grew between an unlikely couple. Follows Saitou and Tokio from the Genji era through and past the Rurouni Kenshin tale.
- Comments: As stated, this story follows the life of Saitou and Tokio, his wife in real life. Needless to say, things are somewhat more dramatic given that it's set in Rurouni Kenshin, but I don't want to spoil much. We do eventually get to see the Kenshin-gumi, but the cast of original characters are so well-developed that their presence is icing on the cake. Tokio is developed wonderfully, and Saitou's characterization is DEAD ON. You won't be disappointed.
The Choshu Chronicles by omasuoniwabanshi
- Recommended by Elenor
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: A realistic telling of the war after Tomoe's death.
- Comments: Like I said, a realistic telling. Deals with the war, people involved, old vs. new, Eastern vs. Western, just to name a few topics. Very good.
Light of the Snow Red Village by Akai Kitsune
- Recommended by Elenor
- Synopsis: What if Tomoe and Kenshin had a daughter? After Tomoe dies Kenshin takes to wandering with the light of his life.
- Comments: Currently incomplete. Mainly talking about life before the series beginning. Now we're in the actual series. Kenshin and his daughter are both lovable and realistic.
- Recommended by Elenor
- Synopsis: Dabbles about the relationship between Katsura and Kenshin.
- Comments: Very interesting. I particularly liked three, seven, and ten.
- Recommended by Zashiki-Warashi
- Synopsis: In high school, Kaoru Kamiya escaped from a demon. Five years later, she meets a man who looks awfully familiar...
- Comments: True, it's technically a High School AU, yet it's still one of the most engrossing fanfics I've read in a long time. It's so well-written that upon reading it again I could pick up new details I'd missed the first time. Half of one chapter is simply Kaoru, Misao and Megumi talking over lunch, and it's still not boring.
Hard Times by Nagia
- Recommended by Shisuikami
- Synopsis: "She's got a scar where he cut her; she bled where he touched her; she left that town and never went back. But Misao can't stop thinking, "If I..." and she can't stop wondering if what he did stains her."
- Comments: This one's a hard read, but ultimately worth it. She uses a light touch to drive her point in deep. Warning for rape aftermath.
Heart of a Sword by Knight-Dawn
- Recommended by knightdawn
- Synopsis: "The early adventures of one Himura Kenji. He really causes his parents a lot of trouble, oro. But everyone loves him anyway! Fluff abound, as usual when concerning little Kenji. Leads in to Path of Swords." Kenshin and Kaoru pairing, of course, with a few moments here and there between them. Set when Kenji's 5-6, after the end of the manga.
- Comments: I've checked out some of the other Gen Fics in this section, but it makes me a little sad that none of them revolve around Kenji... So here's one starring the little guy! It's not a pairing fic, though K&K get plenty of WAFF moments. It takes on some more serious matters toward the end, and leads into a very dark and serious fic called Path of Swords starring a fourteen year old Kenji.
Shipping Fics
Stories focused on the romantic relationships between the cast.
Keneko by Shirou Shinjin
- Recommended by Lady Nomad
- Pairings: Kenshin/Kaoru
- Synopsis: After Enishi's Jinchuu, Kenshin is scared of hurting Kaoru. He makes a wish, and unfortunately it gets granted... bit funny, bit WAF Fy, all silly.
- Comments: It is adorable and funny about how Kenshin and Kaoru interact in this strange twist of fate.
Merciful Dreams and Merciful Dreams Side Stories by Peacebunnie
- Recommended by Selryam
- Pairings: Kenshin/Tomoe
- Synopsis: "Kenshin wakes with full knowledge of Kiyosato and Tomoe before he ever sees them. The future has changed. Welcome to the war." -from FF.net summary
- Comments: Quite the "original story with a twist" type of fic here. Exciting and suspenseful from the beginning, with an interesting spin on the events we already know. The plot lines, characters, and background world are well thought-out and captivating; the author really draws you into Kenshin's mind and world. Fairly dark and violent, but not really worse than the original manga or OVAs.
- Definitely seconded by Elenor.
Size Matters by The Alchemists Daughter
- Recommended by bluerockerdragongirl
- Pairings: Mainly Sanosuke/Megumi with some Kenshin/Kaoru
- Synopsis: "No longer a one-shot! Sano is a hooker, who gets picked up by the richest, and the coldest, customer of his career. But he doesn't turn her down, of course!" - FF.net Summary
- Comments: A funny as hell twist of an AU Rurouni Kenshin fanfic. The premise is comedic gold, the characters are extremely well written and Aoshi is a pimp. Armed with a sword/pimp cane. Aside from Aoshi's pimp-ness, the story itself has a decent and interesting plot with fun little twists along the way. As this fic is rated M (and the premise gives it away) there is sex; but it doesn't take over the story, which is always good. I recommend it completely, for those able to deal with the mature content.