The Original Kenshin Gumi was made up of Kenshin, Kaoru, Yahiko, Sanosuke and Megumi, although it has grown to included so many others. The thing that I always found interesting about them is that all of them are orphans and yet Kenshin has brought them all together as a 'family' of sorts just by being himself. Each one of them has been changed in some way because of Kenshin's presence among them and without his influence they would all lead different lives. It's amazing the effects one character can have on the others!
"I'm not giving up no matter what happens. I promised Kenshin we would all return to Tokyo together and I'm determined to do just that."
It is the spirit of Kamiya Kaoru that puts an end to the ten years of wandering of Himura Kenshin and who becomes his reason to live. He saves her life, as he did the others, when he rescues her from Hiruma Gohei who was bent on her dojo's destruction and on killing her as well. She is the Assistant Master of the Kamiya Kassin Ryuu, which was founded by her father and is able to hold her own in the battles she finds herself in. Kenshin is very protective of her in the beginning but at some point he begins to fall in love with her. She is a spirited woman of the new era he fought to create and it is that spirit that first drew his attention to her. In her, Kenshin sees a second chance to live in peace and nearly everything he does is for her or to protect her.
"It's not over yet. Soon Kenshin will come back...back here. He will defeat Shishio's whole group and come back here. Until then, we can't give up."
Myojin Yahiko, the son of a samurai who fought on the side of the Shogunate, is the youngest member of the Kenshin-gumi. Kenshin rescues him from his life as a pickpocket for one of the local yakuzas. He idolizes Kenshin for his strength and his sword skills and his one wish is to become as strong as Kenshin is. He studies the Kamiya Kassin Ryuu with intense concentration in order to achieve this. He longs to prove himself in battle and to gain approval from Kenshin. He has seen most of Kenshin's battles and has begun to memorize and even mimic some of Kenshin's moves, most notably the Ryu Tsui Sen. This makes him stronger than most young apprentices his age. He has a strong sense of honor and justice and wants nothing more then to grow to become as strong as Kenshin
"I kept holding grudges until I couldn't hold any more, all because of the death of someone I looked up to. If I hadn't have met Kenshin I never would have figured things out. I would have just been a man full of hate..."
Sagara Sanosuke, a former streetfighter, once went by the name of Zanza in the Tokyo underground because of the Zanbatou he once carried into battle. A chance encounter with Kenshin changes his life, changing him from one whose heart was full of hate to someone who has reconciled his past self with his present one. Kenshin's friendship has placed Sano's life back on the correct path and helped him to regain that part of himself he lost when the Sekihoutai were branded as traitors and killed. He is fiercely loyal to Kenshin and the rest of his 'family' at the Kamiya Dojo and will defend them even if it costs him his life. There is no one better suited to aid Kenshin in his battles and his strength and the Futae no Kiwami more then make up for his lack of defensive abilities.
"No matter what happens, even if Ken-san is here no longer, I will go forward on my path to becoming a doctor
Megumi is the final member to join the Kenshin-gumi. Her family is well known as doctors in Aizu and she is the only survivor of her family who disappeared during the Aizu wars. Kenshin and the others save her life and rescue her from Kanryu, who was forcing her to make opium. Kenshin convinces her to become a doctor like her father was as a way to atone for the deaths she caused. Now she treats the rest of the group when they are injured in battle. She is very knowledgable in the medical field and has saved the lives of many people, including Kenshin, with her quick thinking and medical skills.