Application

Character Name: Himura Kenshin
Canon: Rurouni Kenshin
Reference picture and Wiki link: Wiki and Picture
Point in the time-line taken: Post Jinchuu arc, before 5 year timeskip.

Character History: Hitokiri Battousai was once a feared name during the Meiji War, an assassin rumored to have killed hundreds - maybe even thousands. Ten years later and now a wanderer, Himura Kenshin wanders Japan, protecting those in need with his reversed-blade sword and carrying a vow to never kill again. When he arrives in Tokyo his life changes after he meets and helps a young woman named Kaoru, and with the help of her and the other friends he makes along the way, Kenshin is slowly learning to forgive himself.

But the past is never truly forgotten. Time and again people are after Kenshin, for vengeance, a good fight, or even a bit of fame, and Kenshin must face them all with the weight of his sins and his vow to never kill again firmly in his mind. From a former fellow assassin to a Shinsengumi member turned police officer, to his predescesor, to even his brother-in-law, the trials Kenshin must go through are tough and bring him to the brink of death nearly every time, but it's because of his will to protect, especially his loved ones, that Kenshin overcomes them all and returns home to Tokyo, where Kaoru is waiting.

Canon Personality: As the "wanderer", Kenshin is a polite, friendly, and dependable, always willing to help those in need. He's also a bit of a pushover and easily topped, always uttering "Oro?" in some shape or form when he's confused or . . . well, being beaten with Kaoru's bokken. He enjoys doing simple things like cooking and laundry, playing with kids, and living as close to a normal life he can, considering what he used to be.

Though he has a huge guilt complex, worrying constantly that he's a danger to everyone important to him, and even going as far as to leave them behind at one point to keep them safe. Before learning the sucession technique from his master, Kenshin didn't value his own life, protecting others to the point where he didn't care whether or not he lived or die. But he's getting better! If you manage to bring out the Battousai . . . Kenshin turns into a dangerous swordsman, forgetting his vow to never kill and flipping his sword over with all intentions of killing those who threaten him and those he loves.

Blank Personality: As a blank, Kenshin won't have a reason to keep up his friendly mask, and will act and treat people more as equals, rather than higher than him. He'll be quieter and a bit of a loner, and act a bit more like the bitchy kid he was, rather than the wanderer. He'll be friendly too once he opens up and gets used to his team and people he becomes friends with.

But without memories of valuing his life he'll be reckless and more focused on winning and protecting others rather than himself during games and missions. He'll have a need to protect those who need it, though, especially those he becomes friends with and his teammates. And without a vow to never kill . . . any means to keep them protected isn't out of the question.

Writing Sample:

"I do this willingly . . ." He murmured, twirling the tube he'd found earlier between his fingers.

He'd woken up earlier with no memory of ever going to sleep, or himself, or where he was, or anything. And for some reason, he wasn't scared. If anything it was more troublesome than anything, and he simply rolled onto his back -- and onto the strange tube.

He'd fiddled with it then, turning it this way and that, shaking it. Finally brought it up to look through it and nearly dropped it when he saw a young man looking back at him. "Who --?"

He brought it back up again. The man was looking off to the side now, listening to something he couldn't hear and smiling in a way that wasn't a smile at all. But when he turned forward again - the first thing to catch his attention was the cross-scar etched onto one cheek, followed by the long hair, the - was that a weapon? - hanging from one hip, the man's hand resting on it.

The man smiled again, eyes blazing with something he couldn't figure out. "Do not forget your vow," He said, soft and polite, but his voice was firm, almost pleading before slipping into something more friendly, fond. "She's waiting for you." There was a pause, and the smile faded away as the man lowered his head. "I do this willingly."

The blank brought his free hand to his cheek, one finger feeling out the scar there - a cross scar, just like the man in the tube. His hand moved back, feeling out the long hair, then moved back to the scar again.

"Don't forget my vow, she's waiting for me . . . " Whoever she was, or whatever his vow was, he wouldn't find out just laying around. With a sigh he got to his feet, shoving the tube in a pocket and heading for the curtain.