Disclaimers: I DO NOT OWN any of the characters in Rurouni Kenshin.

Chapter 20: Reflections

"There were two men they walked the same road, but after ten years, they discovered completely opposite truths."

Seta Soujiro the Prodigy had lived by the simple credence (the strong lives, the weak dies) for as long as he first wielded the wakizashi. On that fateful day, he had sullied his innocent hands for the first time --- with the blood of those who dared challenged his right to exist. Had Soujiro been weak and not retaliated against the onslaught of his abusive family, his flesh would undeniably have been 'food for the strong'. It was not until his second clash with Himura Kenshin, did Soujiro begin to question this principle. Still though, it is important to bear in mind that even after departing from Kyoto, Soujiro never once doubted the veracity that What saved me back then is the wakizashi and Shishio, not Himura.

Thus, with no particular destination in mind, heading up North had seemed the most reasonable weather-permitting choice to Seta Soujiro, who had took to heart the advice from the former Battousai. Aimlessly drifting from one small town to another, in essence, Soujiro had allowed fate to run its course, to take him wherever it may lead; and perhaps, hoped Soujiro, that after ten years, he too may come to discover his own truth.

At the outset of his travels, Soujiro had sensibly began by choosing to live life, one day at a time, according to the sword that defends the weak rather than the former, which he had once adamantly believed to be the only natural way of existence. Despite his formidable days as the Tenken, Soujiro had never actively sought to slay nor even had the personal desire to do so (see A/N). Wielding the sword that protects and not kills was thereby an easy task for Seta Soujiro. Unfortunately, however, the path is not as clear-cut as simply protecting someone; there existed perplexing encounters where neither Shishio's nor Himura's truth rung absolute.

Without ever a fleeting doubt, Soujiro avowed that Shishio had made him strong --- that he was and is strong. Yet, since becoming a ruruoni, Soujiro had stumbled upon instances where others strikingly inferior in strength had foolishly gambled to prey upon on him. Though the former Juppon Gatana may have cloaked himself with the mantle that protects the weak; instinctively he would never have allowed himself to be short-changed in any situation. Lucky for those thugs, Soujiro was not forced to show his hand; and for this, Seta Soujiro was thankful to the nonchalant police officer, the first since Shishio, who had 'protected' him. Whether he had needed it or not, this reflection had made him exceedingly happy and noticeably had brightened his outlook for the future: His journey might be long, but in time he will prevail in his endeavor to weave out a simple answer from among life's complexities.

Never once had the thought of following Anji's approach cross his mind; Presently, it seemed that Seta Soujiro has fleetingly resolved upon this most simplistic answer – one that unexpectedly presented itself before him:

"Seta Soujiro. You are under arrest for the assassination of lord Okubo Toshimichi."

Without a moment's hesitation, Soujiro accepted it. Himura Kenshin's departing words had rung its loudest at that very instant: "The true answer comes not by fighting but by living your life as you atone for your sins." This, thought Soujiro, was a positive step in 'atoning' for a crime he did in fact commit, and who more fitting to do so than the noble Inspector Ayasaki Katsuya who had helped him several months prior.

---End Reflection---

Soujiro smiles as he treks northward through the sodden grass, content and at ease with his decision. After further wandering, Soujiro lands his feet within the perimeters of his targeted destination Tokyo, the former imperial capital of Edo. Now in this highly popularized city, Soujiro is but a single lost samurai among the many other inhabitants who have reformed their ways and accepted the Meiji Revolutionary ideals. Snacking on a serving of sweet strawberry strudel (it's from a high class restaurant yah know; they import!) from his O-buroshiki, Soujiro surreptitiously strolls along the spry shopping streets. His eyes flicker swiftly to and fro as he absorbs all that takes place about him. Quickly noting a familiar broom of hair, Soujiro continues to nonchalantly nibble down the last bits of his light meal carefree of what business his old comrade has in the area. Of course such a familiar face as the great right hand man cannot be missed, for a short moment later, a distant swish of hair can heard by the Tenken followed soon after by the sound of footsteps closing in on him and the resonance of an unsheathed sword. Soujiro casually dodges to right, avoiding the vicious edge of the katana that fills the empty space he has occupied moments before.

"Hello, Katana-hunter Chou-san. You give a rather rough greeting as usual," greets Soujiro familiarly as he slides away from another attack.

"Why hello to you too, Soujiro the prodigy. I see you haven't slowed down that much since we last met," returns Chou in a cynical tone as he continues to swing his sword in Soujiro's direction.

"Really, that's good to hear, but I must admit, I haven't been training as much. Ne Chou-san, what have been doing with your life since Shishio-san…left." Needless to say, the people in markets streets a few moments prior have all scattered from the area.

"Oh…traveling here…journeying there…you know…just making a living."

"Chou-san, can I ask you something?"

"What is it, Soujiro-chan?"

"Why…why did you choose to follow Shishio-san?"

Chou suddenly stops short in his advances to think of an answer. Soujiro, likewise ceases his movements.

"Well, Soujiro-chan, it's like this. Imagine a freaking looking man, like Shishio, who by the way looks like he's been halfway burned to hell, approaching you and saying, 'How would you like to take part in bringing about a new era?" Of course you'll be like, 'What's in it for me?' So I says to him, What's in it for me?' And so he says to me, 'I hear you like swords.' Then he takes out the awesome 'Ren-batou' and tosses it to me saying, that he can lead me to much more. What else can I say to such an offer but yes? Don't you agree Soujiro-chan?"

"I see…because you like swords…not because you wanted to be strong." Comments Soujiro contemplatively.

"Well, Soujiro-chan, looks like you got it all wrong. Following Shishio-san doesn't make you strong…well it does make you look tough, but…I was strong before I joined the Juppon Gatana. It's actually all about you. I am strong because I just am. Whether you are strong or not is all dependent on yourself."

"Whether I am strong or not, is dependent on myself…" mumbles Soujiro in thought.

Taking advantage of Soujiro's unguarded form, Chou stealthily inches closer to Soujiro, all while attempting to occupy his mind with some other words of distraction, "You see, Soujiro-chan, you are the only one who can make yourself strong. Shishio-san didn't make you strong. You made yourself strong."

"I made myself strong…" Visions of his family and nameless samurais whom he defeated flash within Soujiro's mind.

Having gotten close enough to the rather distracted Tenken, Chou, without further delay, swerves his sword from behind the Tenken aiming to capture him by the neck. "Heheh…Looks like Shishio-san made you weak-minded..ehehe."

Only catching the words "Shishio made you weak," familiar words, which have been etched within his memories since he first met with Shishio Makoto, habitually replay itself. "The strong will live, and the weak will die."

"You are mistaken, Chou-san."

Not as gullible as Chou has hoped, Soujiro easily shakes off the distraction just in time to notice Chou's sword bearing arm ready to slash at him from behind. Rather irritated by Chou's attempt to fool him, Soujiro instinctively spins around and swings his straw sandaled feet at Chou's oncoming arm knocking it off course.

"I am anything but weak."

Author's Notes:

Konichiwa minna-san!! Hope you liked the latest installment. Soujiro's back! I hoped you all liked this Soujiro-centric chappie! Though this fic is supposed to be angsty, I usually have this inclination towards humor…just can't help it…hehehe! Ah!!! MSN-CHAN, you are just asking for it…BIG HUG!! (eyes glitter with delight)…yay Kiriakis-dono!!! That I am (big grin)!!! Eto..Kiriakis?…dun know the meaning either…just got it from "the Days of our Lives" (a daytime soap I don't have time nor the will to watch anymore)…that's our secret ;)

Whoa, it looks there are some concern on my previous chapter. Alrighty, let me tackle them (rolls up sleeves and prepares to type a looong A/N).

First Off - Saito & Alcohol & Violence.

I do recall the scene about Saito refusing to drink an offered cup by some guy after (or before? hmm…oh well) he went around beating poor Sano. Anyway, from what I recall, how I interpreted Saito's behavior in that scene was that he was only feigning. I remember saying to myself when seeing him grovel to the geezer, "This can't be Saito?! What the heck? Oh man oh man that guy's gonna be dead!" But, just to be sure, let me go check again…(grabs Manga) Here we are, Volume 7 Chapter 49. In this chapter we see Saito smiling kindly and acting all agreeable, saying that he has abstained from drinking since the dawn of the Meiji Era. Later on you see him apologizing and bowing submissively to the geezer. This scene definitely has to taken with a grain of salt for that cannot be the true Saito the Miboru!! But I guess it's all up to interpretations.

My take on this is that I believe the whole "enactment" by the "very devious" Saito was to show that he, since the Meiji Era, was a changed man, who reformed his ways (abstaining from wine & trying to avoid violence), that he no longer was the ruthless Shinsen 3rd Captain; but of course, we all know that was not true. Like he says "A Wolf is a Wolf. A Shinsengumi is a Shinsengumi. Just as a Manslayer is a Manslayer. Am I wrong, Battousai?" and "You tame a dog with food. You tame a man with money. But there is nothing that can tame a Miburo." (Totemo omoshiiroi desu nee!) Saito said that himself! (So why would he grovel, except for deception purposes??) And historically, Saito Hajime was very fond of drinking even after the Meiji as he likes to hang out with his brother in law when he drinks…he didn't marry Tokio till the 7th year of the New Meiji Era; and I do doubt he would want get violent with his brother in law…Tokio would be so mad! Moreover, Saito Hajime is said to have died from severe gastric ulcer from overindulgence in wine at the age of 72 (I believe he was only 37 during the Kyoto Arc given that he was only 31 when he married Tokio in 1874). What I found cool about his death is that he retained a "Seiza" posture as he waited for his death, which comes to show how much discipline and control he has!!!! Kakkoii!!!!

As may you know already, regarding Saito's character in my fiction, I like to incorporate his character from various other sources, such as Peace Maker Kurogane (Saito is much of a mystic in this show. Heheh it will be fun to incorporate that, but it will only be minor for past memory parts), the "Shinsengumi" serial currently airing in Japan (they made Okita grotesque looking…no offense to the actor, but that bald hairstyle for our young Okita has got to go! Some of the other older members have a full set of hair for crying out loud!), and of course the historical Miboro himself, though I do like to add a tidbit of my own interpretations…it is my fiction after all.

Mmmmm…Sake is good stuff…eto…but remember "Sake wa kyosui"

Oh about the See A/N from above, my story is based more on the Manga than the anime; the part about Sohjiro killing Senkaku in the anime was non-existent in the Manga…last I checked....

Hmmm…that was a long one…hey, wake up and review!!!

Ja ne!

The Kiriakis-dono/sama