I feel the cold wind racing around me. The sound of rain, beating down on the earth, hums along with its rhythm. I close my eyes and feel the water streaming down my face, mixing with my tears. I rub furiously at my eyes; I don't cry. My hair is plastered to my forehead, I brush it away.
The pain... When will it end? This hot eternal burn eats away at what's left of my soul, the one I never knew I had, the soul that Himura-san found buried by my smiles and underneath my sword. I wish I could cut it off sometimes, just to end the pain, but I know I can never bring myself to do that. It is what kept me sane, not Shishio-sama.
The rain is subsiding. I can see light, shining through the clouds. I am awed by the beauty of the clearing sky. A smile touches my lips, a real one this time. I shall continue my journey now. I must find my real purpose.