Chapter One: Elegance On The Riverbank
Five years... Five years since Soujiro Seta left behind the city of Kyoto. Five years since he began a journey to find the one absolute truth of the world. Five years since he lost an intense duel with Kenshin Himura, The Battousai. After five long years of wandering across Japan, unwilling to unsheath his sword,
Soujiro Seta has returned to Kyoto.
"So... How long do you plan on staying in town, kid?" questions a familiar face. One with long,
blonde spiked hair, a red and blue kimono, and a wide collection of swords on his person.
"I figure about five days, Soujiro replies, After that, I think I'm going to make a trip to Tokyo.
And while I'm there, who knows? I may even make a visit to Mr. Himura!"
"I'm not quite sure if that's possible, right now Soujiro, the man replies, Word is; The Battousai has got some kind of disease. Him and that woman of his. It might would be best to allow him to remain in peace."
"You've got me all wrong Mr. Cho, Soujiro responds with the same smile as always, I don't plan on going to fight him. I plan on sitting and maybe enjoying a nice cup of tea with him. He did after all make a huge change in my life. I feel as though it's time I listen to what he has to say, once again."
''Well if you want, Cho exclaims as he comes to his feet, I'm leaving for Tokyo tomorrow. I can drop off a message if you'd like, just to let him know you'll be making this visit."
"Yes, thank you, Mr. Cho! Tell him it's a promise," Soujiro marks as he returns to silence as Cho, the Swordhunter exits the inn.
The next day Soujiro decides to go out and visit the market place, where he hadn't been in so long. It's as busy as ever and it seems as though Kyoto is thriving even more than it was all those years ago. There were so many different kinds of food stands lined up along the road that were not even known five years ago. There was western food, imported food from China, and even newly discovered Australian foods. The shops selling clothes and other accessories had also grown in their diversity. You could tell just by looking around. It wasn't just a bunch of kimonos anymore. Women were wearing dresses, men were wearing straight legged pants. Some people had on simple T-shirts and Amercanized hats.
It was truly a much different place than it was five years ago. Another example being that it seemed the people were filled with happiness rather than grief or sadness left over from the Meji Restoration. -It truly is a different place... I like it,- Soujiro thinks to himself.
As he keeps walking along the market place he comes across an eye catching gaze. -What beauty this girl holds...- He thinks to himself. She has long black hair, a perfectly woven red kimono. Her sandles are obviously as finely made as they come. She looks as though she's the daughter of a wealthy politician or land owner. She has an appearence of utmost beauty, and Soujiro can see it plainly. As she walks out of the river market and heads towards the river bank, Soujiro's legs begin to follow her without him even realizing it. It appears as though he's just drawn to her. She makes a stop and sits on the ledge down by the river, she kicks off her sandals and sits her feet into the river water, which is as blue as ever. Soujiro boldly goes to sit beside her, repeating the same process and putting his feet into the river. After about five minutes he finally decides to speak to the beautiful woman. "You're very beautiful," he says, simply." She replies with a "Thank you"
and their conversation begins. Following introductions, they just sit and talk for hours on end. Not once letting eachother's pasts come up. The hours are mostly spent laughing and showing obvious adoration for eachother.
"Soujiro... The girl questions, do you remember what I told you my name was?"
Soujiro stops and gives her a slight grin, "I believe it was Obono Chizuru, right?"
"I knew you would remember, she giggles, her voice so gentle, you seem different from any other man I've ever met before. I know nothing aboutyou or who you are and yet I've remained here for hours on this riverbank talking to you without a care in the world, outside of my focus on your eyes. Your eyes... They tell me I'm safe. I'll tell you what, Soujiro! How about we meet here at noon every day? I'd love to spend many more days like this with you!"
Soujiro stops to think about his journey and remembers his promise to head to Tokyo in five days and then begins to speak back,
"Obono... I'd be more than happy to do this with you! But as for now, he said as he gets up and pats the dirt off his kimono, It seems as though it's getting late. Would you like me to walk you home?
"No, she replies, my father is just up the street. I'll be fine."
"Well farewell Obono, I will see you again tomorrow," Soujiro says as he walks away from her, for once with a smile that carries true emotion on his face.
The next three days they both get to the riverbank at noon and spend the entire days together, just talking under the sun, and eventually the moon light. By the third day, they've become enthralled with eachother, as she lays in his arms willingly without a care in the world. However the next day is when Soujiro promised to leave for Tokyo. He decides not to make Obono aware of this, and acts as if the third day is the same as any other day. The fourth day comes along and Soujiro decides he'll go to the riverbank at noon to tell Obono that me must leave, so that he can keep his secret to Kenshin Himura. As he gets to the riverbank he is shocked to not see her there, yet to see someone else instead. It's a strange man wearing baggy western styled pants and a baggy western styled long sleever shirt. Soujiro has a bad feeling about the stranger but decides to leave untilthe stranger decides to speak as he's walking away...
"Allow me to introduce myself, the stranger begins, My name is Toshima Hajikeda, and I'm with an organization that, no doubt, you're familiar with... The Yakuza. Normally I'm an assassin, but they have me here on much different business. Obono Chizuru.
Is this your woman Soujiro Seta, former right hand man of Makota Shishio, and the strongest of the Jupongatena?"
Instantly Soujiro has a stunned look on his face.
"Don't be so surprised... We know all about who you are, Toshima continues, Here's the deal Soujiro... We want you to work for the Yakuza for a minimum of five years as an assassin. When your time as our assassin is done, you will once again be reuinited with your woman. And if not... Well... I think you know what will happen to her. And of course we'll turn you into the police for the simple fact that you ARE a wanted criminal. And just to display that we do, for a fact, have the power to put you down so that we can turn you in, they sent me. Now prepare to fight. BECAUSE IT'S TIME FOR ME TO DEMONSTRATE THE TRUE POWER OF THE YAKUZA!"
Soujiro continues not to say a word and forms into the Batou Juitsu stance.
Toshima chargest at him without pulling a weapon.
"You're dead," Soujiro exclaims, as he waits for the right moment and unsheathes his sword with a powerful and lightning fast swing. But he doesn't believe what he sees! Toshima, who had no weapons blocked his attack with his arms!
"You think I'm foolish? I know you're a Batou Juitsu expert. I wouldn't be able to live if I had a sword on me, Toshima exclaims,
So I have these instead!" He shreds the sleeves of his shirt to reveal two long blades going down the outside of each forearm attatched to sleeves to go around his arms holding them up.
He then kicks Soujiro directly in the stomach, knocking Soujiro down. He puts the two blades to Soujiro's throat. "You have no choice Tenken! Either come with me, now and work as a Yakuza assassin for 5 years or I can kill you now AND we can kill that bitch of your's, Toshima roars!"
"I will go, Soujiro begins, but know this, I will need to see her regularly. If I ever see one scratch on her while on a visit with her, It will be your head that I will have, along with anyone who tries to suppress me. I'll take down every person in the entire Yakuza if I have to. And I promise I WILL be constantly looking for any way that I may get both me and her out of there, and I WILL kill anyone who gets in my way after I find a way. You've got your assassin. But five years is probably not gonna happen."
"We'll see about that, Tenken, Toshima remarks, Now... Lights out!"
Toshima delivers a quick blow to Soujiro to knock him out.