Disclaimer: I disclaim Rurouni Kenshin... [I wonder if that makes sense…]
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.
A Past Revisited:
"Sumimasen (Excuse me)," Soujiro smiled, tapping a passerby on the shoulder. The cloaked figure was shorter than him and looked up at him expectantly. "I was hoping you could be so kind as to show me to some shelter from the rain?" He smiled again, unable to see into the dark hood.
The person nodded and motioned to follow. The shadow ran through the pounding rain relentlessly, but Soujiro followed easily. It ran into a courtyard and next to a storage building, notably not the main. Soujiro faltered at the entrance, the grounds' familiarity spooked him. But he smiled, ignoring everything his mind tried to tell him, and went up to the shrimp, but with slower and more deliberate steps as if his body unconsciously knew…
He paused outside the open door and questioned "In here?" The little head bobbed and waited patiently. Taking the initiative, Soujiro stepped inside, only to be flooded with memories. If you're strong, you live. If you're weak, you die… he remembered again... that night… Hitting his head, he woke to catch a glimpse the tip of the cloak disappears into a hole in the ceiling. He smiled, recalling how often he went there to treat his wounds when he was little. What irony, he thought. I'm back again.
A thick quilt tumbled out, surprising Soujiro into saying, "Ara?"
Well, wet clothes aren't good for your health, he reminded himself, as he took off his gi and hakama in a back corner. Deftly twisting his clothes to squeeze out the excess water, he heard, out in the rain, someone pounding the door of the main house. He caught the words "Killer… here…"
Soujiro smiled to himself, I didn't expect them to be so close on my tail. Unconsciously recalling the day he met Shishio, he then pressed the blanket to soak up the rest of the moisture on him and the clothes before putting them back on again, even though they were still a little damp.
"Yes?" he suddenly heard a small, quiet sweet voice. He looked up, seeing a big, gruff and drenched man stand in front of the closed door. The young voice he heard came from a little girl with long dark hair that had a giant, blue bow in it with a kimono to match. He noted the fact that she panted slightly, and her kimono was slightly loose. She must be the one who brought me here in a hurry, he concluded, stepping out to see what the fuss was about.
"There's a…" the hoarse voice began. He slowly realized that Soujiro, who was still straightening his gi, was also in the room.
Jumping to conclusions, he roared, "You little whore!" Enraged at her, he lashed out at the surprised and confused girl, striking her face with his backhand with such force that she was thrown to the ground and slid several feet.
"You!" the man growled as he lifted Soujiro by the front of his clothes, "What makes you think that you can invite yourself to her?!" sputtered the man.
Soujiro smiled again, "Gomen. (Sorry.) I'm only here to seek shelter from the storm sir," he explained as the clouds thundered outside for emphasis.
"Please, let him go. He didn't do anything. I swear! Let him stay for a while… I'll-I'll… I'll double my output per day while he's here! Just don't hurt him," she begged from the ground where she fell, curled up with her upper body bowed low. The man paused to think, then dropped Soujiro, who quickly began straightened his gi. The man whispered real low, "If you so much as touch her, I'll skin ya!"
Soujiro merely smiled and thanked him for his hospitality. The little girl in turn thanked the man, who left immediately. Soujiro watched as the girl got to her feet, rub the cheek that was hit, and walk over to a corner of barrels. He remained silently as she reappeared in a second, tying a small satchel to her waist, her cheek still red from her blow.
"He must really care about you," Soujiro said smiling at her as she walked toward him.
"No," she frowned, "he's just possessive," she replied as she sat facing him.
"Daijoubu? (Are you okay?)" Soujiro asked, unsure how to respond to a reply like that. She didn't answer immediately. She put a wrist on his forehead, and then pressed his chest with the same hand.
Sitting down on her legs again, she met his eyes with her bright sky blue ones. "Hai! (Yes!)" she finally answered, smiling a smile identical to his, but her bruise was starting to turn darker.
"Really?" Soujiro said skeptically, reaching out to touch her bruise. But she shirked away from him. His eyebrows wrinkled slightly in confusion, but he cupped the red check anyway.
"Ow," she moaned as she slapped his hand away. It stung him more than he expected. "It hurts when you touch it. Don't make it worse," she frowned.
"Gomenasai, (I'm sorry,)" he automatically answered with a smile. She smiled back shyly, but not as brightly as the one before.
"Well," he said breaking the silence as he stood, avoiding the confusion of the past. He saw how she tilted her head slightly, watching him in a serious mood. "My name is Soujiro Seta," he said offering her a hand.
She smiled again. "I'm Aiteru," she said brightly, grabbing his hand.
Soujiro smiled his famous smile, as he pulled her up. "I would like to know what you mean when you said 'doubling your output' earlier." He would keep his thoughts preoccupied… he has no wish at all to deal with the memories of these grounds.
She opened his hand when she was standing solidly, running her silky, soft hands over his calloused hand. "An experienced swordsman…" he heard her whisper. Then she blinked, as if woken from a trance, "Oh that," she said casually, slipping her hands out of his. "I make opium for the old fart."
Author's Note: Reviews are highly desirable! But you could also review when you're done with everything I have written. Advice is desirable to! I wanna improve!