Previous Project
Naruto Shippuuden 6th ED: Broken Youth
Kenshin-gumi Photoshoot
I'm really happy we were finally able to have a proper photoshoot for Rurouni Kenshin! This won't be the last one, though - our friends will be joining us in the future as other characters. 
The weather has recently been unpredictable and often horrible, but we felt as though the sun shone just for us that day.
myself as Himura Kenshin
Miguel as Sagara Sanosuke
Kat as Kamiya Kaoru
Ysabel as Myojin Yahiko
Photography Team:
Sandee
Erving
Essa
Tracy
Kiks
Rayson
Support Ninjas:
Dom
EJ
Mascot:
Rurouni Kenshin will always have a special place in my heart. I have great admiration for the characters as individuals - especially Kenshin who greatly inspired me to strive to be a better person - but it's how they find strength and purpose through each other that makes them even more inspiring.
I've been re-reading the manga, watching my favorite parts of the anime and OVAs, and I really still love them as much as I did when I first started following RK all those years ago. I found myself getting teary-eyed a lot as I revisited the series, because now that certain people have come into my life, I could see bits of them and myself in the characters and how they relate to each other. They mean the world to me. If we lived in a less peaceful era, I know I'd rush off to risk my own life to save them if they were ever put in danger.
</cheese>
No record of a day with Tuxedo Team is complete with outtakes and stupid faces!
The day started out with a meetup at the usual cafe, where we get our happy dose of cake and milk. People there usually don't mind us even when we're in full costume, so I was completely bewildered when someone approached me asking if I was Jin, and about what we were doing there. Being the idiot that I am, my brain blanked out and I don't even remember how I replied. I also forgot to ask for her name. SOCIAL SKILLS FAIL. This must be why some people apparently choose to believe that I'm a snob or whatever. Gah. I just find it so unbelievable that people recognize me from, uh... the internet (okay that sounded really weird). When I get called Jin - which is my real name - I assume that they're someone I must have formally met before. So when they don't go, "Oh by the way, I'm Person McPerson" I get too scared to ask for their names because I might hurt their feelings even though that might have actually been the first time we had ever talked to each other but it's hard for me to tell because I have horrible, horrible memory and often fail at associating faces with names. Whew run-on sentences anyway I'M SORRY.
photo by Essa Cyfliq
IT'S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. I swear. Miguel
merkymerx is just drawing my cross scar on.
photo by Erving Huzafan
Yahiko is such a rebel. Parking the invisible tour bus in a no parking zone.
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
Yahiko also happens to be an expert at body imitation
no jutsu.
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
He can imitate figures that I can't even understand.
photo by Kiks kiksology
And now we shall commence with the wandering.
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
Palm trees. Hmm. Somehow I feel that this isn't the way to Kyoto...
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
SURPRISE B- ...elt adjustment.
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
ORO?
photo by Kiks kiksology
Still confused, that I am.
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
Wind started blowing, so we tried to work with it.
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
How YOU doin'?
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
photo by Kiks kiksology
Just when we start admiring how serene Kat
moonlightflight looks as Kaoru...
photo by Kiks kiksology
...she photobombs me.
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
She was particularly high on air that day.
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
Here she is demonstrating her granny face.
photo by Tracy 13idiotbox
Enter, Yahiko! Descendant of Tokyo Samurai!
photo by Kiks kiksology
Training with Sanosuke, so that his monstrous stamina can be put to use.
photo by Tracy 13idiotbox
Ah, the look of determination...
photo by Tracy 13idiotbox
...which had proved to be short-lived upon Yahiko's realization that Sano really is a rooster-head.
photo by Essa Cyfliq
Kenshin intervenes! ...To fix Sano's pants.
photo by Tracy 13idiotbox
Be nice to your master, Yahiko. She might make your dinner more inedible that usual.
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
So I herd you got photobombed by Sano.
photo by Erving Huzafan
L'Oréal
Because I'm worth itphoto + edit by Sandee littlesailboat
ETONG SAYOOOOOphoto by Sandee littlesailboat
This is Ninja Dom
Weakman. He enjoys piercing the heavens with random found objects.
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
Cheesy group shot, whoo! We look like... a toy display or something.
photo by Tracy 13idiotbox
Against a sea of green.
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
"Kaoru, let go of Kenshin! You have cooties! EEW!"
photos by Erving Huzafan
"WHY YOU UNGRATEFUL LITTLE-"
photo by Tracy 13idiotbox
Erving
Huzafan, looking kind of cool and being photobombed by Kat.
photo by Tracy 13idiotbox
I've grown a little tired of wandering.
photo by Tracy 13idiotbox
"LOOK AT ME WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU, KENSHIN"
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
Kamiya dojo family (including the resident freeloader)
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
HOW DOES WE POSED WITH KIKS
kiksologyphoto by Erving Huzafan
"It doesn't matter. Use whatever technique you like. However. Once I've said I'll kill you, your death is assured."
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
"...LOLWUT"
photo by Erving Huzafan
We are completely innocent and inconspicuous students walking through campus.
Please pay us no mind.
And now, for another tale of Jin the jumpy, socially-inept idiot! While the lot of us were walking around, we actually didn't have to deal with people badgering us with questions. Most of them just give us amused looks or would call out stuff like "Battousai!" or "Kenshiiiin!" and go on their own merry way. But when we passed by the film center, there was this group that we spotted from across the street because they were yelling and running towards our general direction. Having seen one too many zombie movies and conversations about Left 4 Dead, my instincts told me to, well... GET AWAY, FAST. And so I ran.
I found out later from Essa that they somehow recognized me and was asking if they could take a picture, but she told them that we were having a photoshoot, and they were nice enough to back off and give us our space. To be honest, I think it'd be nicer if people only ask that during conventions, and not take it against the cosplayers if they want a little respect for their personal and private time. In our case especially, these shoots have great sentimental value, and are supposed to be chances for us to spend time together since we don't exactly see each other everyday. Still, it would've been fine to spare a moment to take a picture with them had they not inadvertently caused me to panic and run off.
Now that I think about it, I think the same group found us again later on and were the ones who took a photo with us. After the picture was taken, I was wondering whether I should at least ask them for their names and how they knew of us, but no one was talking. I just gave them a little bow, and made my way to the parking lot with everyone. Our apologies to those people. We were all really tired and hungry by then. That's partly why asking for pictures is best limited to more appropriate times like cons. 
photo by Erving Huzafan
I KNOW I LOOK SHORT. That's partly due to the effect of the hakamas that are worn relatively high up the waist. I did a little research, and I'm actually just about the right height for Kenshin - if not a couple of inches taller. Hey, it's not a bad height to be.
photo by Rayson sinag-araw
HAX. Just one. By the Yaoi Enforcers' requests, dedicated to Charmie
yaoiangel14, who we all missed that day.
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
"It's okay, Kenshin. We'll call it a draw."
Gah, everyone's got better stamina than I do.
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
Flowers for Miss Kaoru's hair.
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
Kat's starting to go crazy again.
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
EJ
Dinkyass can be beautiful kawaii womanz too.
photo + edit by Sandee littlesailboat
Isn't he
SUPA SUPA KAWAII?
Now for a new game! Lyrical Charades with Kaoru and Yahiko!
(photos from this series are all by Sandee littlesailboat)
Pearly shells...
...from the ocean
Shining in the sun...
Covering the shore...
When I see them...
My heart tells me that I love you...
More than all the little...
...pearly shells
And now, another song!
I like big butts and I cannot lie
You other brothers can't deny
When a girl walks in with an itty-bitty waist...
...and a round thing in your face-
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
"OKAY THAT'S ENOUGH OF THAT"
Yes, Miss Kaoru.
photo by Kiks kiksology
It's SRS BZNS time.
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
Oh, Yves.
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
What is your request? A MANLY POSE? IT SHALL BE DONE.
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
I AM FIGHTING A NINJA CAN'T YOU SEE HIM
OH WAIT HE IS A NINJA AFTER ALL
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
"Sano... perhaps it would be best if you leave the sword-wielding to me."
photo by Kiks kiksology
Here comes the start of yet another parasol session.
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
Don't let the seriousness fool you...
photo by Tracy 13idiotbox
Such moments are very fleeting when it comes to us.
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
"Kenshiiiin~"
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA KAT'S PERV FACE KILLS ME EVERY TIME
Kiks
kiksology and his presidential shot
photo by Erving Huzafan
Hey guys, look! Sano's attempting to look smart!
....PFFFHAHAHAHAHAHA
photo by Rayson sinag-araw
We had such awesome blue skies.
"To the field!"
...Okay, Sano.
photo by Kiks kiksology
PIERCE THE HEAVENS
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
YAHIKO IS PIERCING THE HEAVENS WRONG
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
What an amazing little Yahiko. We are so proud.
photo by Essa Cyfliq
One of Ysabel's sandals broke (kind of like in episode 12), and NInja Dom
Weakman fixes it up somehow.
photo by Essa Cyfliq
Kenshin-gumi is now exhausted and starving.
photo by Essa Cyfliq
Oh, that EJ...
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
Me and Ka- HEY WATCH THAT HAND
Well, okay, I'll let it go today because it's your birthday.
And so we went o Kamameshi House to calm our raging stomachs. Amazing food was undeniably amazing, made even more wonderful with the best of company.
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
Kaoru steals a kiss from Kenshin (laundry man version with sleeves tied up)
photo by Tracy 13idiotbox
Kenshin and Sano, after having too much sake.
photo by Tracy 13idiotbox
Kenshin and Sano, a few minutes later. Kaoru approves.
photo by Tracy 13idiotbox
Kiks
kiksology, Rayson
sinag-araw, EJ
Dinkyass, Dom
Weakman, Jin
behindinfinity(Kenshin. With a cellphone.)
photo by Sandee littlesailboat
I was just... so... tired.
(And I'm starting to feel that way again now.)
photo + edit by Sandee littlesailboat
Off we go into the sunset
...except for Yahiko who felt like beating up a ninja.
Thank you all for the support you've been giving us, and for reassuring us that Rurouni Kenshin lives on in the hearts of many.
Through Yahiko's Eyes
Ysabel wrote her own account of the day, which you may read 
HERE I did my best to keep my composure as I read through her journal, but I lost it at the end. It eludes me how such a big heart and so much spirit can be contained in that 11 year-old body. I feel no need to ask for a Christmas gift this year, either.
