A New Life
by Lucathia
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin and am making no profit from writing this.
prologue: when people meet
The sun was bright. The birds were chirping. The blue sky was cloudless. Overall, it was a beautiful day. A man could be seen walking down the empty streets with a wide smile plastered on his face.
The man had long, brown hair tied in a little ponytail. His eyes were a glistening blue, unclouded by any worries. His attire also consisted of a nice, pretty blue. While he walked, he was whistling. He was whistling because he was happy that not many people in this area knew that his name was Seta Soujiro.
He walked slowly, not knowing where to go. When he sat down in the shade, he absently fingered some of his loose strands and his smile got even wider. I think I need a hair cut. He untied his hair and let it flow down his neck gracefully. I seriously need a new hair cut. Sighing, the man tied his hair up again and got up. Well, at least that gives me something to do...wandering can get so boring these days. I don't know how Himura-san was able wander for ten years...I don't know how Himura-san can stand having long hair! Soujiro kept smiling while he walked down the street.
He stopped by the barber shop, but it was still closed. Soujiro looked at the hanging sign on the door and smiled. Not open until noon. Might as well take a rest. He walked away from the barber shop, trying to think of something to do. I'm pretty hungry. I wonder if any of the restaurants are open? He lowered his bag and scrounged through it, looking for something to eat. No luck at all. He sighed with a smile on his face. I guess I really have to go to a restaurant or the marketplace.
After buying some bread with the leftover money he had, he filled his stomach and headed back to the barber shop. It was past noon and the shop was open now. Soujiro smiled and looked through his bundle for some money. Coming up with nothing, he sighed, but still he maintained his wide smile. I guess I'll have to cut my hair with a knife or something. Now, this is a time I wish I still had my sword. Shrugging, he entered the barber shop anyway, even though he obviously didn't know how to pay.
As he entered the shop, he was met with bustling activity. People scurried from one place to another, trying to find their right equipment. Soujiro smiled with a sweat drop. I don't think I can put faith into people who lose their stuff. What if they cut my head? Shaking his head, Soujiro decided to make himself noticeable. He walked up to the crammed counter and cleared his throat.
Immediately, the elderly woman looked up and started apologizing. "I'm sorry! I was too busy to notice..." She let her sentence drop as she stood up to look over Soujiro carefully. She frowned and said quietly, "Are you here for a hair cut?"
Soujiro nodded and smiled.
The woman's long, curly hair bounced as she shook her head. "Well, sorry ma'am, I don't want you to get all upset when you say I cut your hair too short. You know, girls look nice with long hair. You don't need a haircut."
Soujiro sweat dropped a second time that day, but still maintained his smile. He declared with his soft voice, "Well, ma'am, I can't say why YOU would call me ma'am. I'm a SIR." With that, he leaned forward to stare her down.
The woman's eyes widened while she raised her eyebrows. She chuckled. "I'm very sorry! Sorry for the mistake. You know your voice doesn't really help convince me that you're a guy."
Soujiro sweat dropped again and shrugged with a smile. "Think as much as you want. I just want a haircut."
The woman shook her head again.
Full of patience, Soujiro interrogated her again. "Why not?"
The woman gestured with her smooth hands towards the sign on the door. It read, "No money, no haircut." The woman stared Soujiro down with her livid red eyes and asked, "You think you have enough money to pay?"
Soujiro looked at himself and knew he didn't have any money to pay. He shrugged with a smile.
The woman sighed. "I knew you were one of those wanderers with no money with them. Sorry I don't cut people's hair for free. You know how long it takes to perfect a haircut."
Soujiro remained quiet and pondered on what she meant by "one of those wanderers."
The woman's eye gleamed and she spoke up again. She beckoned Soujiro to walk closer to her. "Here, let me take a look at your hair." Soujiro walked up to her, not knowing what she wanted from him. If he felt perplexed, he surely didn't show it with his unwavering smile.
"Hm...you have very fine quality hair here. So nice and soft, like silk." The woman murmured numerous comments about his hair as she ran her fingers through it. "Why don't we strike a deal?"
"A deal?" asked Soujiro, still smiling.
"Yes, a deal." She paused, letting the words sink in. "You go back and let your hair grow a bit longer and then come back. Then I'll cut it for you, for free."
Soujiro smiled. "But I want a haircut right now...And why do you want me to let my hair grow longer?"
The woman frowned and muttered. "I knew it wouldn't work. Just like last time that crazy red-haired guy with a scar on his left cheek just left without coming back...Darn...there goes more fine hair...With all this hair I can make such a fine wig!"
"Ara?" inquired Soujiro.
The woman glanced up quickly and sighed. "Might as well tell you since you won't do what I say." She paused again to see Soujiro's reaction. He just stood there with a smile. She shrugged. "About ten years ago, this red-haired man with a scar on his left cheek," she paused and drew a cross across her own cheek with her fingertips, "came and wanted a haircut. You know, his hair had such fine quality, I really wanted to make a wig at of it! And the beautiful color too!" She placed her hands on both sides of her cheek and sighed. Her fiery eyes glittered at the thought. Soujiro sweat dropped again. "I wanted to make a wig out of his hair even though I know not a lot of people would wear a red wig. But, so what? It's such beautiful hair." Then her eyes lit up dangerously. She swung around abruptly and glared at Soujiro. She pointed a menacing finger at him. "But, he just had to answer the same way you did! I just wanted him to go back and let his hair grow a bit longer so I can cut it at the right length. But NOOOOO! He said he wanted a hair cut right now because he was a wanderer and couldn't stay in one place for too long." She gasped for breath after her long speech and glared Soujiro down. "So, lad, what's your reason for wanting a haircut RIGHT NOW?" Her baggy sleeves rustled as she pointed her finger at him again.
"Maa, maa!" Soujiro smiled and placed both of his hands up. "Calm down..." Soujiro peered down at a discarded name card. "Calm down, Noryoku-san!"
She continued to glare. "So, lad, what is your reason of wanting a haircut right now?"
"Because I'm a wanderer and I can't stay in one place for too long."
Noryoku burst. "Don't you go giving me those stupid, freaking reasons!" She shook her hand violently and slammed the table.
Everyone in the room stopped their activity and stared at her.
Soujiro continued smiling.
Noryoku looked around and grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, everyone! It's no big deal! Go back to your work." She paused. "Wait a minute. I'm the boss. Why should I apologize?" So she turned around and yelled, "GO BACK TO YOUR WORK!" Everyone gaped and nodded quickly. Soujiro smiled and slipped out of the room. When Noryoku finally turned back, she found that he had already left. "Oh, darn. There goes such fine hair!"
Soujiro sighed as he twirled his ponytail. I guess I don't have good luck. Just look at all that commotion I got into. I wonder what made that woman so...eruptive? Soujiro giggled. "Saa, Himura-san is that red-haired guy with a scar. It's probably his fault that she's so mad." Soujiro smiled and walked down the road. I guess I'll just have to cut my hair when I have time. He glanced around with his eyebrows raised. I never knew I was this close to Hokkaido. Wooden signs were scattered all over the place, indicating he was nearing the Seikan tunnel that led to Hokkaido. Hm...might as well pay a visit to Hokkaido. Haven't ever visited that place in my five years worth of wandering. Hm...I haven't noticed that I'm half way through my journey already...oh well. And so, with that thought in mind, Soujiro walked to the tunnel and headed inside.
to be continued
(March 29th 2007: Since ffnet removed all dividers, I'm in the process of adding all of them back in with all of my old fics. This fic was started back in 2001. Wow. Well, I'll have to say, I have no intention of continuing this fic at the moment, and if I ever do, I'll start afresh. I suppose that means I should delete this fic? I hate deleting fics though. If anyone cares enough about this fic, let me know what you think.)
