Disclaimer: Me poor… me giddy… me no want lawsuit 'cause me no own Kenshin…
Author's Note: If the story gets too predictable, please tell me! I don't want to bore people to death. Honest! -_-' You can stop laughing at me…
A Lost Soul:
"I suppose I should find a place to sleep for the night," the young man said to no one in particular, looking at the setting sun. He returned his attention back to the sparse forest he was walking through. He sighed as he returned to his thoughts.
I'm completely directionless, Soujiro Seta thought to himself. I'm still as confused as ever.
"Well, at least I know one truth," he said aloud to the quiet around him. A swordsman must always be a swordsman, he confirmed as he shifted his new katana to allow him to climb into a particularly tall tree. Settling into a cradle of branches, he pulled his dinner from his sack. His thoughts wandered toward the current lives of significant manslayers…
Aoshi Shinomori, the leader of the Oniwabanshu who uses double kodachis. Soujiro frowned in confusion. There isn't much left about him, he thought. He once strove to gain the title of the strongest fighter as a final gift to the deceased members of the Oniwabanshu. Aoshi did absolutely anything to have his chance to obtain Himura-san's head. But in the end, he turned to support Mr. Himura. Why? Is it because he lost and subjected himself towards the victor? Or was it something else? Something Himura-san had shown him?
Hajime Saito, he was the leader of the Third Squad of the Shinsengumi. Often faced the Battousai and still lives to the philosophies of the Wolves of Mibu: 'Aku Suku Zan'. He currently works for the government, doing the more 'dirty work'. Soujiro shook his head, still smiling, I doubt that my path will follow his. I do not care for justice.
Kenshin Himura, the predecessor of Shishio-san. Hitokiri Battousai… the strongest imperialist of the Meiji Revolution… currently a rurouni with the strong attachment to the ideals of protecting the weak, saving lives, and not killing- Soujiro's mind immediately flashed to the night that changed the rest of his life…
It was pouring that night, and despite the fact he was smiling at the ground that was steeped in the blood of the family who took care of him, he knew in his heart that the truth was that he didn't want to kill… not killing… Soujiro slammed the back of his head against the branches to stop his train of thought. He didn't want to face it… the past… the beginning…
He forced himself to examine the man he served faithfully for nearly a decade… Makoto Shishio. He was the complete opposite of Himura-san. Now that he thought about it, Shishio-san was a man full of ambition and revenge, where as Himura-san settled for anything. He followed the belief of 'only the strong survive…' If you are strong, you live. If you are weak you die, that was what Shishio-san first taught Soujiro, and it was what saved him from that family that night. Many people died at his hands. Lives meant nothing to Shishio-san. It was only to be lost sooner or later. If you win the battle, then you are the one who is right, thought Soujiro, so then Himura-san is the one who is right…
Kenshin states that life is precious and must be preserved at all costs. He had completely sworn never to kill again… Soujiro also knew that Kenshin also believes that just because a samurai had won, doesn't mean he is correct. So that means I can still be right in my beliefs, or really Shishio, who I received my ethics from. Then lives are meaningless. Life is just one big game where only the strongest survive. The victor is the one right. So then Himura-san is the one who is right-
Soujiro paused his thoughts. He blinked when he realized that he was making a full circle. Frustrated, he slammed his head against the thick branches again. The sun was taking a last peek over the horizon, and Soujiro decided to end his day and sleep off the coming migraine. He dozed off as the sun left and the cloud blanketed the world.
Author's Notes: MWAHHAHAHAHA! ::continues evil laugh for about five minutes:: Now I can torture Soujiro with my insane storyline! Anyway, thank you Shojin Takaru ::evil grin:: [she helps so much!] and … I forgot… ::ten minute pause:: Oh yes, this chapter is so Soujiro can have his little moment to shine before I steal it! Read (er… you already did that huh?) and review! ^-^