CHAPTER 15- FREEDOM
And so, thanks to Kenshin's arrival and the courage of the Shiroki villagers, the Rebels were chased out of the land. Shiroki village had finally found the peace it had longed for.
A short time later, Kenshin left. Satomi and Soujiro, as well as the students of the Hanahara school, all crowded around to wish him well.
Soujiro came forward and shook his hand. His one arm hung limply in a sling and would for some time, but the doctors had predicted that he would recover.
"Where will you go now, Himura-san?" he asked.
Kenshin smiled. "Back home to Tokyo. My family awaits my return. Good luck to you all."
"Himura-san?"
He turned to see Satomi bow deeply before him. "Forgive me," she said. "I should have never attacked you." She looked up at him. "For you see, when Soujiro told me about his past, and how he too used the sword to kill, I told him that the past wasn't important. That should count with everyone, including you."
Kenshin bowed back. "Thank you, Hanahara-san. Farewell." With that, he headed down the wooded trail, his sakabatou hanging faithfully at his side.
Soujiro would never see Kenshin again. By the time news of the redhead assassin's death came, he had settled in a new house with Satomi, a larger house at the edge of a field of wildflowers and forest. And while they were often visited by those they had taught over the years, they had children of their own.
Soujiro's smile never reverted back to that of the Heavens' Sword. He still continued to smile constantly, but for an entirely different reason. After many years, he had found love. That was how his smile truly changed.
And so, thanks to Kenshin's arrival and the courage of the Shiroki villagers, the Rebels were chased out of the land. Shiroki village had finally found the peace it had longed for.
A short time later, Kenshin left. Satomi and Soujiro, as well as the students of the Hanahara school, all crowded around to wish him well.
Soujiro came forward and shook his hand. His one arm hung limply in a sling and would for some time, but the doctors had predicted that he would recover.
"Where will you go now, Himura-san?" he asked.
Kenshin smiled. "Back home to Tokyo. My family awaits my return. Good luck to you all."
"Himura-san?"
He turned to see Satomi bow deeply before him. "Forgive me," she said. "I should have never attacked you." She looked up at him. "For you see, when Soujiro told me about his past, and how he too used the sword to kill, I told him that the past wasn't important. That should count with everyone, including you."
Kenshin bowed back. "Thank you, Hanahara-san. Farewell." With that, he headed down the wooded trail, his sakabatou hanging faithfully at his side.
Soujiro would never see Kenshin again. By the time news of the redhead assassin's death came, he had settled in a new house with Satomi, a larger house at the edge of a field of wildflowers and forest. And while they were often visited by those they had taught over the years, they had children of their own.
Soujiro's smile never reverted back to that of the Heavens' Sword. He still continued to smile constantly, but for an entirely different reason. After many years, he had found love. That was how his smile truly changed.