Damaged Soul
a Soujiro-centric fic
by Lucathia
part 2
As I stood by the doorway, I heard them talk about some kind of reunion. Sagara-san and a doctor named Megumi were coming to visit. I smiled. More people to kill. I wonder why I suddenly want to harm so many people? It's like I'm addicted.
I turned to leave. There's basically nothing I want to hear from Himura-san's company. The more I hear, the wilder I get. They seem so full of happiness. Why don't I have any? I walked towards that restaurant I just went to.
I remained hidden in the shadows made from the roof. I stood outside of the restaurant. Why am I here anyway? I think it's because the hunt will start soon. And...and my first victim will be the waitress. Tsubame.
I saw her walk out of the restaurant. Apparently, her job's finished for the day. I pulled out my sword slowly. The hunt is about to begin. The hunt by this crazed hunter is about to begin.
She walked slowly into the alley. She's deep in thought. I advanced towards her. She does not sense me. I smiled. But she turned around...
"Are you a customer?" She smiled at me.
I was shocked. How could she have sensed me? My skills are too perfect to be sensed. But she knew I was here. I rose my hand to my forehead.
I am burning.
Burning...from what? A fever? No. No...I am burning with hatred. She sensed my hatred.
I rose my sword. I did not even say a word. I pointed it at her.
She looked at me with sad eyes. "You must be a wandering samurai. I see so much pain in your eyes."
Silly girl. Isn't she even afraid of death?
"I don't care if you harm me. Just don't harm my friends." She asked me with pleading eyes.
I never saw a girl like her before. She's just too weird. I don't understand her. She's facing Death right in the face and she's still not afraid. Silly girl. Still thinking of other people. You live your life for yourself, not for others.
I shook my head. I will harm her friends. She turned away from me and started running. She must be frightened out of her mind.
I flashed my sword and appeared right next to her with my inhuman speed. I thrust my sword out.
My thrust went through her shoulder.
She cried out in pain.
I smiled, but I did not kill her.
Let her suffer. Let her friends worry for her. Let my revenge be taken. I kept smiling. I saw her fall down onto the ground. A twig snapped behind me.
"Tenken no Soujiro, what are you doing in Tokyo?" A puff of smoke rose above my head.
I turned around and smiled. I knew who was behind me. Hajime-san, the police I saw with Himura-san before. I had to do a lot of research on him for Shishio-san. I wiped Tsubame's blood off my sword and stuck it back into its sheath.
"I saw your action, and I know all the crimes you've committed. You're a wanted man." Hajime-san narrowed his eyes and glared at me. He pulled out his sword and raised it with his left hand. His famous position--evil, sin, slay. Hah...he's going to use THAT on me?
Of course he'll have no time to use it on me. I blurred out of his view after shrugging. I appeared on top of the roof of the restaurant.
Hajime-san couldn't find me anywhere. He threw his cigarette on the ground and stepped on it. After putting away his sword, he knelt down and picked up Tsubame. Then he walked away from the alley.
I followed him. I wanted to see what he would do. He approached the Kamiya Dojo. I guess he's going to ask the people in there for help. I snuck under the shadows again. This time I won't let any emotions show up. They won't be able to sense me.
When he went in, the man named Yahiko immediately cried out. "Tsubame! What happened?" He tried to grab Hajime-san's blue shirt, but instead fell when Hajime-san moved out of his way.
"I found her in the alley." That was Hajime-san's reply.
I wonder if he's going to tell them that it was I who hurt her? If he does, it'll be fun to see their reactions. I grinned at the notion.
Hajime-san pulled out a poster. I couldn't see what was on it from my view, but I could see that everyone was shocked by the poster. I could see Himura-san, for one, gasping. The others were cringing away from the poster, as if it were deadly. Finally, Himura-san spoke up and I knew what they had been afraid of. I laughed internally. ME They're afraid of me!
"Wanted...Seta Soujiro." Himura-san said slowly. "Seta Soujiro...I thought he had plans to wander Japan..."
Yahiko burst. "Wandering? Yeah right! Look at that wanted poster! It says he's wanted for killing tons of people! And I bet he's the one who hurt Tsubame!" Yahiko turned to Hajime-san for an answer.
The young man's turning my way. I shrunk deeper into the shadows. This conversation is getting interesting.
Hajime-san nodded to Yahiko's words. Then he started speaking. "Aren't you guys going to treat this girl here? She's getting heavy."
"Oh my! Tsubame! You're hurt!" Yahiko rushed to her side.
The person known to me as Kaoru pushed the young man out of her way. "Out of my way, Yahiko! I'll cure her!"
Yahiko stumbled but did not fall. "Damn! This is certainly a time I wish Megumi was still here! She's certainly a better doctor than that Himura Kaoru!"
Kaoru. Wasn't she the woman who defeated Kamatari of the Juppongatana? I suppose she must be pretty powerful too. I smiled again. This is becoming more of a challenge.
"Don't you agree with me, Kenshin?" Yahiko turned around while carrying Tsubame. "Kenshin?" Kenshin had left the courtyard a while ago with no one noticing but me.
I saw him leave and followed him, sneaking from the shadows. He walked towards the side of the dojo where the laundry was. I jumped up on the sides of the fence and hid under the trees, watching his every move. He's talking to his son right now. His damn son! A son with so much happiness...he doesn't belong in this world of fighting at all.
"Kenji, I want you to live a life of the new era," Kenshin smiled and ruffled Kenji's hair. Then he sighed. "Why is there so much fighting anyway?" He raised his son up by his arms and rocked him about. Then he said softly to the air, "Soujiro...you deserve to live a carefree life, not a life of murdering. Why...why are you reverting back to your old ways even though Shishio is dead already? Why?" He closed his eyes and held his son close to him.
I smiled. Do I deserve to live a carefree life? Why am I reverting back to my old ways? No, I don't deserve to live a carefree life. I don't deserve to live a carefree life because of Himura-san! I haven't had my revenge on him yet! I can't live my life if I don't defeat him. And I'm not reverting back to my old ways at all. I've always been like this. This is the real me. I continued smiling.
I stood up from my crouching position and closed my eyes. I let my hatred seep through my emotional barrier. This is something new I learned. I can control what emotions I want other people to feel. It can be very useful. Such as in a time like now. Very useful.
Himura-san immediately snapped his head up. "Who's there?"
I smiled. I won't let him see me yet. I'll just play with his senses by letting him know that an enemy is nearby. What a great way to make him miserable. Letting him know I'm here yet not letting him see me. I felt like laughing. But I can't right now. Not right now. Not when my revenge is yet to be fulfilled.
And I got up slowly to search for my next victim.
to be continued
