Rurouni Kenshin belongs not to me.
Wandering to Answers: SiblingsPat…Pat…Pat echoes the steady footsteps. Pat…Pat…Pat the footsteps continued at a leisurely pace. The young man smiled at his sandaled feet as they continued their steady rhythm, thoroughly amused by the illusion that he was going somewhere. The meaning of his smile changed as he corrected himself. He was going somewhere, but he had no destination. He nodded contently to himself as he separated the two meanings.
Pat…Pat…Pat. It was night, but fatigue had not caught up with him yet. His feet continued but he didn't mind. It held a strangely calming tone. Pat…Pat…Pa—Shuffle. His dark blue eyes opened at the sudden difference. His gaze remained fixed at his feet, which had not in the least bit changed in pace. His mind became fully alert. Although it was a bit sleepy, it quickly pieced the pieces together. Pat…Pat…Pat. The young man clad in a light blue gi and a darker blue hakama now felt the ki of various six persons closing in around him.
Pat…Pat…Pat. He continued to walk, hoping with all his heart that they would not decide to pick on him.
Pat…Pat- "Hey kid!" The footsteps stopped.
The young man looked up as his dark hair bounced once before settling around his young face that held its eternal smile.
"He almost looks like a girl," the man muttered.
"Hand over your goods!" Another shouted as he climbed through the shrubs. Three more men came into the clearing during the young man's silence.
Their boisterous posture and the confidence in their eyes was a sure sign that they have assailed travelers many times before. The boy's hand held his katana tightly as he peered around the circle around him warily.
The second man's frowned deepened and his smirk disappeared as the boy only smiled and said nothing. Quickly becoming peeved, he began to charge at the boy, "Then we'll do this the hard way!"
"KECHI GERI!" The cry interrupted the thief's charge. A blue blur with a black braid fell from the trees as it nailed the man's head. The thief crashed into the dirt path face first. A teenage girl in a skimpy ninja outfit took a defensive stance next to the young man.
"Hey look! The kid needs a girl to defend him!" One of the men unwisely remarked.
The girl was immediately angered. "I, Makimachi Misao the okishira of the Oniwabanshuu, will make you dearly regret ever saying that!" She shouted.
"We'll have a great time getting to know each other, okishira," the first man said with a sick smile upon his face.
Misao turned red, and in moments, all five men were thoroughly beaten up and unconscious.
"That was an amazing display of martial arts," the young man praised with a smile.
"I learned from the best! From my Aoshi-sama!" she said gleefully, her hands clasped in joy.
"Shinomori-san?" the boy answered with a mildly quizzical expression.
"Did you know-" the girl began before she frowned. To this, the boy quickly smiled. "I know you!" the girl exclaimed. "I've seen you before!"
The boy's heart fell. "I thank you, Makimachi-san, very much for coming to my aid, but I am afraid I must leave," he said as he began to leave.
Misao quickly grabbed the back of his gi, and held her chin with the other in thought. "You broke Himura-san's sakabatou." The boy flinched at the name, but Misao took no notice.
"TENKEN!" she shouted in sudden realization, releasing him she clenched her fist in triumph. He quickly began to run away.
"Hey Tenken! Why don't you come with me?"
He stopped and blinked at her. "Come on! It'll be fun!" Misao said as she pulled on his hand.
"Aren't you mad at me?" he asked curiously, physically unmoved by her attempts.
"Nope. Himura-san says he forgives you, so I do too."
"Call me Soujiro," he smiled as he began to walk to with her. A flick of recognition flashed through Misao, but she turned away before Soujiro fully noticed it.
Misao marched ahead, taking the lead. "Alright Sou-chan, here's the mission!" She then turned and beat her chest proudly, "We're suppose to catch up with some of my friends before they reach Hokkaido!"
Soujiro, now walking by her side, simply nodded.
"Actually it was a bit of an afterthought," she said with a spirited bounce in her step. "I decided it was time for a change of scenery. And my best friend, Aiteru-chan left a few days before."
Soujiro stopped. Aiteru-lil sis? But Misao didn't notice and continued. "Chou-san made her go with him to visit Anji. So Aiteru-chan agreed, only if they'd go on foot." Soujiro began to walk again, but his smile was not present.
Misao suddenly leapt into the trees, peering around them. "I found them!" she said simply as she jumped through the trees. Down on the ground, Soujiro smiled as he walked behind her, into the forest.
Quickly, a flickering light appeared. Then Soujiro could see the fire and a figure with tremendously tall hair. Misao instantly jumped from her perch and land before the silluette, who was now recognizable as Chou.
"What is the world?!" he shouted as Misao laughed proudly.
"I'm a better ninja than ever before!"
"I heard ya comin'. I just didn't expect it to be ya," he muttered.
"He's just being a sour puss, Misao-chan!" a second voice chipped in.
Soujiro stood in the shadows of the trees watching them in the clearing.
"I can't believe you came all this way!" Soujiro could see the girl who spoke.
She wore a light blue kimono and sat by Misao and was conversing excitedly with her. Chou, looking disgruntled, remarked every now and then, which caused the girls to burst into giggles. It was well into the night before the girls fell asleep, Misao in the trees, and the other wrapped in a cloak by Chou's side.
Soujiro entered the fireside when it burned low. He sat by the girl, and watched her quietly. We meet again little sister, he thought as he brushed aside part of her bangs.
"About time you showed up," Chou said, his gaze fixed on the fire.
"Good evening Chou-san."
"Didn't expect to see you again," he grumbled before the crackling of the fire dominated. Soujiro remained silent, watching her serene face.
"You shouldn't have come back. You practically ruined her before." Chou muttered frowning, finally looking at Soujiro, who opened his mouth to reply. "I expect you gone by sunrise," Chou interrupted and turned away, and almost immediately his light snoring began. Soujiro smiled, it was enough time.
Author's Note:
What a drag, another 'Rurouni Soujiro' fic! ^_~ Please review and inform me of how I performed! Suggestions and criticisms are welcomed! I'm afraid I'm not very good at making complex/twisting/interesting plots, but for now, it's gonna be a love triangle (or is it a square?). Please click the button and make Star-chan happy please?
~Sailor LoneStar