First performed by the talented T.M. Revolution a.k.a. Takanori Nishikawa in November 1996, Heart of Sword ~Yoake Mae~ (Before Dawn) was the 3rd ending theme song of Rurouni Kenshin - the anime/manga series that's sometimes dubbed as Samurai X in North America to my utmost horror.
Played from Episode 28 to 38, HoS made its spotlight just in time for everyone's favorite Kyoto Arc. Its surprise appearance from Episode 43 to 49 was a happy news to fans such as myself, which is why many of us still like to address HoS as the "Hidden 5th Ending". (Really, we should thank L'Arc~en~Ciel with flowers :P)
What's so special about Heart of Sword? First of all, this is the song that made T.M. Revolution one of the most recognized Japanese artists around the world. How many anime songs from the past had been able to sell over 360,000 copies in a year - just in Japan? To be sure, we shouldn't say Heart of Sword was a popular song - it is still well-loved by fans all around the world today. As a matter of fact, when T.M.R. called for a fan survey in 2005 for his request-based best album UNDER:Cover (which was released in New Year 2006), Heard of Sword outshined all other T.M.R. creations in complete triumph: the fans know exactly who they wanted for the best seat in their car.
I have always associated Heart of Sword with Rurouni Kenshin in one way or another. If the song wasn't used in RK at all, I would still have liked it; but for me to love the song so much that I'd listen to it for 128 consecutive times (crazy, I know), it has to be a part of RK first. To be more precise, Heart of Sword is what I perceive as the real image song of Kenshin Himura. His tragic past, his hidden passion in life, his optimistic AND pessimistic view of the future... somehow Heart of Sword was able to wrap them all up.
Rurouni Kenshin is a very, very special existence in my history of anime/manga worship. Yet one single song called Heart of Sword was able to grow on me for just as deeply over the years - sometimes even surpassing the series itself. It is the one song that can stir up the "fire" inside of me no matter how old I become, I believe.
You can enjoy a full sample of HoS plus its Beat Run Beat U-Mix version (covered by T.M.R.'s remix album in 2002) at my network radio, or watch its TV size music video at YouTube.
