Because of some brilliant military deductions between Saito and Kenshin, they and Sanosuke arrived just in time to try and stop Shishio from sailing his ironclad, Rengoku, toward Tokyo. Kenshin and Saito, aboard the ship, look on in horror as the Gatling gun is trained on Sano, who is leaping across floating rubble to reach the ship. This shot is Kenshin's reaction after the gun is fired.

Years after first watching the series and the OVAs, I'm still impressed and touched by the unshakable and deep friendship that develops between these two men. Yes, there's profound respect for each other, but after a time it becomes difficult to imagine Kenshin without Sanosuke, and vice versa.