Will Raoh's Ambitions Perish With His Fall?
The Heavens Are Still in Disarray!!

Raoh thinks Kenshiro has become the strongest man in the North Star divine fist's 2,000 year history, all by bearing sadness. Spirits of fallen warriors -Souther, Shin, Shu, Rei and Ryuga -all appear behind Kenshiro. Rihaku can see them -the blood shed by those chosen men, that now flows within Kenshiro. He believes that the sadness that Kenshiro absorbed from each battle has embedded their secret techniques into him. The deeper the sadness in Kenshiro's eyes, the stronger his fists will become.

As the spirits withdraw back into Kenshiro, he tells Raoh that Toki is waiting. Raoh laughs, and says Kenshiro could never be the strongest man in history. Even if the rest of the world acknowledges it, he never will! He stands back up, and says he'll read Kenshiro's requiem.

But he then notices something: his legs are shaking! He thinks this is impossible, for him to be shaking like this. Kenshiro tells him that this is called fear.

Rihaku thinks that, for the first time, Raoh has learned what fear is. Even if his heart doesn't feel it, his body is. Raoh says he feels no fear, but then sees the spirit of Toki above Kenshiro. He thinks Toki must believe he is in fear, and it reminds him of that one time...

Ryuken throws out a student called Kim. He tells him that he is too leave, as with his abilities, any further training would only be a waste. He doesn't have the potential to become the successor to the North Star divine fist. Kim begs for another chance, but Ryuken tells him to never enter here again. He walks back into the dojo, and closes the doors. Kim bangs on them screaming for another chance, but he is not let back in.

Kim starts to walk away, but falls down into the snow. He then sees Kenshiro, who has picked up his bag. Kenshiro tries to give the bag back to him, but Kim doesn't want any sympathy, and smacks him away.

Kenshiro picks the bag back up and tells Kim to take care of himself. Kim cries and asks why Kenshiro is giving him such a sad look. He screams out in despair, but then gets up and starts to walk away. He says this is embarrassing, but crying seems to have cleared his heart. He thanks Kenshiro...

...and walks away. Nearby, Toki and Raoh have been watching. Raoh sees that Kenshiro is feeling sympathy for others again, and thinks he's a fool. Sympathy only clouds your own fist. But Toki thinks Kenshiro may yet become the strongest -Ryuken told him that those who know sadness can turn it into their own power, and he believes it, too. Raoh laughs, and thinks his brother is an idiot. To live by the martial arts, and to be a ruler, means there is no room for sympathy. He says that the heavens will choose his way of life over Kenshiro's.

Back in the present, Raoh recalls objecting to Kenshiro's way of life, and had called him weak. But now, he fears him. He, Raoh, fears the youngest brother, Kenshiro! Rihaku thinks that he can see what caused Raoh's fear. It's the sorrow from the endless battles with all those men, and his love for Yuria. Raoh screams he won't accept this -fear is not something he feels, it's what he fills others with! He's the eldest brother of the North Star, and the ruler of the century's end -there is no retreat for him, only advancement! He says he'll crush Kenshiro's nil-through rebirth with his own fists, and uses a technique:

TENSHOU HONRETSU

(Heaven's Command Charge)

Kenshiro is hit by this attack, but other than destroying his jacket and shirt, it does nothing to him. Kenshiro says there's no backing down for him, either. He tells Raoh that it's time to end his ambition.. The North Star code... he will uphold it!

Elsewhere, Yuria is saddened, as she can sense Kenshiro and Raoh's auras. Up above, Raoh and Kenshiro's fighting spiritual energy engulfs the entire room. Raoh makes the first move and suddenly lunges forward, but Kenshiro backs away from his attack.

Kenshiro tells him it's useless, but Raoh goes to punch him. His fist goes right through Kenshiro, who strikes back...

...with a swipe that cuts Raoh's face. Kenshiro tells Raoh that's enough. Raoh says he is the Fist King, he can never be defeated.

His aura suddenly vanishes. Rihaku thinks that Raoh is going to throw away his life, and must be aiming for a mutual death. Raoh rips apart his armor and shirt.

Raoh tells Kenshiro to attack him, and releases his aura again. He tells Kenshiro even if he can do it, he will still see death. Kenshiro releases his own aura, and the room begins to crack apart.

Raoh and Kenshiro close in on each other. Raoh says it has come to an end. Kenshiro bids Raoh farewell, but as the two take another step forward, Raoh activates a hidden floor panel.

The room starts to shake, as Kenshiro and Raoh stop. Rihaku realizes that the final mechanism has been set off, and tells Kenshiro to get down. He tackles Kenshiro.

Suddenly, some explosions happen, causing part of the floor to give way. Raoh ends up falling down the castle, and crashes at the bottom of it.

Raoh survives, and starts cursing Rihaku, as he was just one step away from defeating Kenshiro, But he then notices something: Yuria! He's landed right next to her. He starts laughing.

He says luck is on his side, and the heavens have chosen him after all! He quickly shoves the guards aside, and looms over Yuria.

Moments later, as the castle continues to explode, Raoh and Yuria ride away on the Black King. The guards inside can only watch them leave.

They get up, and start making their way up the castle, screaming out for Rihaku and Kenshiro. There is no response at first, but as they head further up, they eventually find that both Kenshiro and Rihaku have survived.

Kenshiro asks them if they are Rihaku's men, but they explain they are Yuria's guards. They also say that Yuria has been taken away by Raoh. The then see that Kenshiro has been blinded, but he tells them to take care of Rihaku first. Rihaku asks Kenshiro to forgive him, as because he couldn't read his powers, Yuria has been taken, and his eyes have been wounded.

Kenshiro tells him not to worry, and starts to walk away. Rihaku asks him where he is going, and he says he will find Raoh. Rihaku tells him he can't see, but Kenshiro says it'll be alright. There was once a man who...

...kept fighting without his sight, and that man now lives within his heart. He then says that Raoh will be like a wounded lion. If he doesn't defeat him now, Raoh will crush everything he touches, and go on a rage. Kenshiro then walks to the bottom of the castle.

Kenshiro walls off into the sunset alone, saying just one thing: "Yuria...."

NEXT EPISODE PREVIEW

Raoh finally has Yuria in his hands! But he's indulged himself in fear, and makes a mysterious move! Next time, on Fist of the North Star: "Raoh, the Confused Giant! I Don't Believe in Love!!"

Kenshiro: The North Star code... I will uphold it.