Author's Note: This is totally my first fanfic ever. EVER. Wow. A little about me. I am only part fangirl. I get most terms wrong. Sorry! I will put as much humor in this fic as I can, but this is mostly a waff ficcie. Please review. You have no idea how nervous I am. I am going to wet myself.

Disclaimer: I don't own RK. Just this fic. It's mine! Get away! Oh, and I own my very own limited edition complete RK box set. My parents support my interest in 'history' coughhackcough.

-Sixteenth Year of the Meiji, Kyoto Japan-

-Soujiro-

"You are nothing, Tenken. You are weak."

Aoshi Shinomori's ice blue eyes held no emotion, not even the slightest bit of arrogance. Though it was clear who had the upper hand.

"I am Soujiro now. I have not been called by that name for two years now. I answer to it no longer.

I smiled my little half smile, but my eyes had gone cold. It was amazing how my smile had changed. From what it had been before… for how little it had meant to me.

'If I hadn't known you from before…'

I could still hear her voice, even from so far away. Pushing myself to my feet with my nihontou, I wiped the blood pouring from my lip. Ugh. I'd feel that in the morning.

"I am not weak, Aoshi-san. My strength used to come from my sword, my godlike speed. I am not boastful, Aoshi-san. I knew I was good... ne? The strong survive, the weak, die? Do you really want to believe in this? I have found a new strength… "

I stopped. Aoshi's ki was strange. It felt like it was growing. Almost like he wasn't bothering to mask it. He was furious. I'd hit a nerve.

"Draw your sword, Seta Soujiro. I will not let you survive this. You have taken too much from me already. I cannot see Misao hurt the way she does. Her feelings make her weak."

"She is important to you?"

"You know the answer to that question."

Did I? I wasn't so sure anymore.

"Really, Aoshi-san?"

"I raised her. I know her better than anyone else. It is time you learned this, Tenken. I have warned you. You did not listen. Now you will pay retribution with your very life."

THREE MONTHS EARLIER…

I shook my head slightly to dry it.

"It's going to be another rainy day!" I said with a smile. But I'm always smiling, I guess. It doesn't matter anymore. I am only a rurouni now, looking for answers. I haven't found many yet. But hey, I'm not complaining or anything. I've helped a few people along the way, too. And I'm surprised at their kindness. I can look at people now and see something good. They used to be ants to me, mindless weak slaves who cower at the might of the strong. I was always told by Shishio-san that the weak were only food for the strong. I don't believe this anymore. Himura-san… he is so lucky. His journey is complete.

I tilted my head to the sky to receive the rain. The falling drops made a beautiful trickling sound falling through the forest. I had a lot of time to listen to the rain now. I closed my eyes, my smile frozen and impassive.

"Eyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Eeek!"

I opened my eyes to the falling rain. Rain wasn't the only thing falling today. Instinctively I braced myself to catch the young boy falling from the tree.

THUD.

Ouch.

"Here, let me help you up sir," I said. The boy was dressed very lightly for the cool spring weather. He had a thin blue… ninja shirt? A clumsy ninja, go figure… anyway his face was hidden by the worn thin mantle that had gotten tossed over him when he fell.

"What were you doing up in that tree? Be careful of those high places like that, you could have really gotten hurt-"

"EXCUSE ME! DO I LOOK LIKE A 'SIR' TO YOU! Anyway, you need to practice the art of catching beautiful maidens as they fall. It could be useful someday."

Ooookay. I guess this boy was a girl, then. A very energetic girl. Where was she hiding all that spunk?

"Maa, I am very sorry miss…"

"That's Makimachi Misao to you, mister!" said Makimachi Misao.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Misao-dono. I am Seta Soujiro, at your service!"

Misao-dono just stared at me.

And stared. And STARED! Boy it was taking all my self-control not to smack that girl's head on straight. It's not like it could come any looser.

"Ano… is there something on my face, Misao-dono?"

"Yeah! It's a huge bug! It's eating your face off! Aaah, it's gross!"

"Yaagg! Get it off! Oro!"

Holy crap, I did NOT just say Oro.

"Relax Tenken, I'm just teasin' ya."

I froze at my old name. My smile faded slightly.

"Who… I don't… where have I seen you before?"

"Come on, how could you forget a cute face like this?"

Misao-dono gave me a V sign and grinned. Hey, she was sort of cute. She had wide innocent eyes that had never seen death. What an adorable smile! And with the rain dripping down her petite form like that, her thin gi…

Ah! Sou no baka!

Something inside my head clicked. "You and the boy… Himura's friends?"

She grinned. "Exactamundo! Hey, are you some kind of homeless bum?" (A.N. Her exact words to Himura when they first met! Oh the irony of our sweet rurounis! Rurouni's? Rurounises? Whatever.)

Sou falls over anime style

"I am a rurouni now, thank you very much for your concern. I live with what the day brings. I wake in the morning and continue-"

Misao-dono broke in. "So you ARE a bum! I knew it!"

"Ano…"

"Anyway, what are you doing out here in Kyoto Forest?

"Kyoto forest…" I had not realized I'd made a full circle back to Kyoto. Was it fate…?

"HEY, WAKE UP YOU BUM!"

"Ah! Sorry Misao-dono." I scratched the back of my head. "I am only wandering to find answers. Himura he… he gave me a lot to think about."

Misao was uncharacteristically silent. For all of five seconds. "Have you found your answers yet, Seta?"

My smile softened. The young ninja girl made it sound all so easy.

Misao sat watching me with interest. We sat in silence like this for several minutes. It was a nice change from all the silent moments I'd had by myself. She was so different from me in every way. I would have to be careful. She was so pure… it was almost amazing.

"I hope to find my answers, Misao-dono. It may take me years. Look at Himura! He had ten years before he found Koaru-san."

Misao nodded and patted my shoulder carelessly. "Anyway, I have the afternoon off. I was hoping to practice my awesome ninja skills, but I suppose it's only natural for a member of the Oniwaban to help a poor lost soul in need. I guess I can sacrifice a little bit of my time for you!"

My unfaltering smile widened. Ah, youth.

"HEY, let's go introduce you to everyone at the Aoiya!" She grabbed my nose and pulled me through the trees.

"N-nani!"

She let go of my nose (thank Kami-sama!) and grabbed my hand. "Come on!"

She turned to me, laughter written all over her face and in her eyes. I couldn't help but stare at her face. I'd only know her for what… half an hour? But she was so cute… ara! I felt myself blushing. What was this feeling? My head hurts.

Something clunked in the pit of my stomach. Hey, wasn't Misao-

"You're that weasel girl!"

"KANSATSU TOBIKUNAI!"

flutter flutter

There goes my hair…

A.N. Review! I've already wet myself; don't make me soil myself, too! Oh, and I'd like to dedicate this chapter to xT-Zealot and his story 'Prisoner'. It was awesome! It was totally the inspiration for writing this. Your shoulder angels/devils are absolutely adorable!