Mushroom Samba

This is my entry for an Rurouni Kenshin fanart contest hosted by hakubaikou. The theme is "Memories and What Could Have Been" and centers on the lives of the RK characters and glimpses into their lives that weren't shown in the series or the manga. Also included are alternate endings, pairings and such.

After a bit of thought, I decided to do a picture about Kenshin and his master Hiko Seijuro. At first I was going to do something heavy, like if the older Kenshin lost control of himself and Hiko had to come for him. Inevitably though, I like drawing light stuff the best and I was reminded of a sadistic comment made by Hiko during Kenshin's final training, about embarassing memories of Kenshin as a kid... like wetting his bed at age 8 (it was a lovely autumn morning) and of Kenshin getting into waraitake or "laughing mushrooms" and nearly laughing himself to death.

I read up on the effects of the mushroom, which include hilarity, hallucinations, a feeling of connection with nature and the universe and I imagine Hiko's favorite, a deep connection to other people. I couldn't decide which pose to put Kenshin in, so let's just say he's moving relatively fast, afterall, who knows what effect something like that would have on a pupil of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu

Update: This picture has won "Most Humorous" in the contest. Well, it ought to. It's downright silly

Still, I love this comment from the judges, so I had to put it in

"I love this entry. All the baka-ness of the baka deshi and still Hiko gets a hug! The artwork is excellent, the concept is outstanding, and it made me laugh. Who can resist the mountainous Hiko surrounded by little Kenshins braiding his hair and generally being a silly little boy? This one deserves a prize!"