Skin Deep
A/N: Thanks so much to those who reviewed! It was the first time people actually gave something close of a compliment. Since I get the impression that you like the story, I'll do my best to update as soon as I can, without making it rushed. You can expect a new chapter every 4-5 days, considering school has restarted for me.
Soujiro woke up dazed by the rays of the sun peaking in through the window. As he woke up, he could feel his smile etched into his face. It stayed with him while eating, bathing, and sleeping and eventually reached the point where it felt natural. He recalled the events of last night and remembered about his special mission today. It would be his first day of high school. His eyes rested upon Yumi's sleeping figure on the bed. She always was the type to sleep in, unless woken. He folded his futon away and silently slipped behind the door as to not wake her. When he got into the hallway, his stomach growled in anticipation for some food. With a small chuckle, he used his shukuchi to get to the breakfast table.
Shishio, who was sitting at the head of the table, was the first to notice Soujiro. He swallowed the food he was eating and addressed the Tenken. "Ah, Soujiro. Nice of you to join us."
Hoji looked Soujiro over and notice the ruffled hair and wrinkled clothes. "Just woke up I see. Hurry up and eat, or you'll be late for school."
The smiling boy nodded, used to being told what to do by Hoji, since he played the strict authority figure. As he looked for a seat, he noticed that all ten of the JupponGatana were present.
Anji the Destroyer was busy at the stove cooking sausages and eggs for the rest. Soujiro doubted very much that anyone else knew how to cook. 'Good thing I asked for lessons, or else things would really be inconvenient should we be without Anji.'
Usui the Blind was sitting at the table with his food in front of him. He decided it was best not to try eating, lest he'd embarrass himself. After all, a blind man trying to eat would be pretty funny to an audience consisting of immature and rude people. With that said, he was satisfied with just sitting there.
Kamatari the Scythe was busy flirting with Chou, who was sitting to the side of her.
Chou on the other hand was trying to push Kamatari as far away from himself as possible with one hand, all the while eating breakfast with the manners that would rival that of a 5 year old.
Henya the Flight was just enjoying the amusing sight before him, while occasionally eating a sausage. Personally, Soujiro thought Henya could use some more meat on his bones but then his only tactic, that of flying would become useless, since he'd be too heavy.
Iwanbo was merely grinning and chuckling stupidly. No big surprise there.
Saizuchi could be seen outside with Fuji roasting a deer over a campfire. Their sizes prevented them from eating at the table with the rest of the JupponGatana. Fuji was WAY too big to even fit in the room, let alone eat at the table, and Saizuchi came up a bit short... when sitting down that is. Chou suggested that he get a booster seat, but that was just too embarrassing for 'someone of his standards' as Saizuchi said.
Soujiro shrugged and took his place next to Chou. "Ohayoo gozaimasu, Chou- san."
Chou finished devouring his eggs and looked at Soujiro. "Heh, and where have you been?" He gave yet another push to Kamatari.
Soujiro answered truthfully. "I was sleeping in Yumi's room. I guess I must've been tired from last night because I slept in."
The broom-head froze right then and there and looked skeptically at Soujiro. "Think I might've misheard you there." He shook his head furiously, as if to wake himself up. "Ok now. Let's try that again shall we? "
The Tenken sighed. "I overslept in Yumi's room." He ate a sausage from the plate that Anji laid out in front of him.
Chou groaned not bothering to fend himself from Kamatari anymore. He was rendered speechless from the blunt truth he received from Soujiro and what it could mean. Little did he know, things didn't go exactly the way he imagined them to. After a few minutes, he regained his senses and his shocked expression turned into a giant grin. He gave Soujiro a giant pat on his back. "Congratulations! The Tenken finally managed to score!" He let out a laugh. "So was Yumi as good as the rumors say she was?"
Soujiro tilted his head to the side, smile forever on his face. "I have no idea what you're talking, Chou-san."
Chou chuckled. "Fine then keep it a secret. Just don't let Shishio-sama find out or he'll have your head." There was nothing else to say about it, so he continued fending himself from Kamatari.
Soujiro continued eating breakfast in slight confusion. Though he didn't understand all of it, he knew it couldn't be good or advised, considering Shishio's protectiveness over Yumi.
Speaking of Yumi, she had just come out of the hallway and joined Shishio at his right hand side. From the looks of things, she fixed herself up already for she looked nothing like Soujiro. Her hair was well groomed and she had just put on a new red kimono.
During breakfast, Anji had rejoined the breakfast table after serving Yumi, the last of the group. Now the table was silently eating, acting more behaved thanks to Yumi's nagging about manners.
Chou, now finished with his food, proceeded to get a refill on his milk. Unfortunately, it was at the other end of the table and in front of Usui. "Hey Usui! Mind passing the milk? It's right in front of you." All that he received was a sneer and was ignored. "Fine! I'll get it myself!" With that, he removed his shirt and pulled out his Hakujin no Tachi, the strange killing sword, that was wrapped around his waist. As he was about to use the sword to get his milk, he was interrupted by Yumi's voice.
"Chou... don't even think about it. If you want the milk, just get up and get it for yourself." Her was stern, telling him that she was dead serious.
He however didn't completely agree with the idea.
Seeing his disapproving look, she explained why. "There's a reason you're not allowed to do that at the table. Do you know why?" She didn't even wait for him to answer. "It's because last time you tried that you pierced right through the milk! Then you tried it again and wrapped around the milk so hard, it sprayed all over the place! Don't even get me started on when you offered to catch my bird when it flew away!" She was obviously still upset about the incident. She proceeded to rant on about the other times Chou tried to use his sword for other than killing.
Soujiro quickly finished up the rest of his breakfast, thanked Anji, and announced that he was going to take a shower. He slipped into his shower inside his room and removed his gi and hakama. He sighed as the warm water came down on his back. While he was inside, his thoughts wandered to last night. 'Why is it that no one I meet can answer my question? What's so great about living? That servant was certainly no help and Yumi told me it was because of love. I suppose that if I had emotions then I'd understand. What was it that Yumi said? Hope you meet a girl?' Soujiro chuckled to himself. 'Would it really help that much? I wonder...' His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of someone knocking at his door.
Hoji continued pounding his fist on Soujiro's door. "Hurry up in there! School starts in another 5 minutes!"
Soujiro blinked and stepped outside, quickly drying himself. He took a look at his digital clock on his nightstand. 'Ara, it's already 7:35!?' Not that he cared about being late to school, but this was a mission from Shishio. He always preformed his best whether it was fighting or anything else that was required of him. He quickly changed into another blue gi, grabbed a backpack that was previously prepared for him, and opened up the door.
Hoji was waiting there with an impatient look on his face. "Took you long enough! Now hurry up and get in the car!"
Quickly saying his goodbyes to Shishio and the JupponGatana, Soujiro got into the black limo that then sped off. 'Why can't I just use my shukuchi? It would be much quicker than any vehicle.' He gave up on any and all questions he had and decided to just look out the window. Unfortunately the questions still came to him. 'So many fools living out there. They continue to live on even though they are weak. Shishio said that it's them who hold down Japan from the glory it can achieve. Why live? Is it for power? Or is it wealth? Or could it be the love that Yumi talks of?' Soujiro sighed whatever the answer was, it was out of reach. His thoughts were stopped again, as the car came to a halt.
"Hurry up! You only have two minutes now!" Hoji looked almost frantic. He always demanded perfection and being prompt was right up there with it.
Soujiro got out of the car, politely listening to Hoji rambling. 'He's such a... what's the word Chou used? Ah, yes. He's a control freak.' "Arigato, Hoji-san. I'll be going now." He used shukuchi to disappear, leaving a confused Hoji behind. He opened the giant doors to the school and stopped in when he reached the hallway, realizing that he had no idea where to go. He continued walking, until he felt someone rush at him from behind and knock him down.
A petite girl picked herself up from the floor. "Hey! What's the big idea!?" She raises her fist, making her seem to be the type to act before they think. "Now you're going to make me late for class! I'll make you pay for that!" She clenched both her fists and almost magically kunais appeared between each finger. Right before she was about to throw them, she saw him slowly moving off the floor.
Soujiro, now a little dazed, picked himself up as well. When his head stopped spinning, he bowed to the girl. "Gomen ne, miss. I hope that you are not hurt in any way."
She was caught off guard with the gesture and the apology. Normally, anyone else would yell back at her. Then she'd yell back and it would end up in another fight. Yet this boy didn't seem to get angry in the least bit. Even more so, he was smiling like nothing had happened at all. She remained speechless till the boy started to walk away from her. Her confusion was quickly replaced by more hotheaded anger. "Where do you think you're going!?" She pointed her finger accusingly at him. "You think you can just walk away after that!?"
Now stopping, Soujiro looked over his shoulder. "I'd love to talk, but I'm in a bit of a rush. My class starts soon and I have no idea where to go." He looked at his schedule that he pulled from his backpack. He peered at it. "Right now, I have Health with Professor Genzai."
She snatched the schedule from his hand to see if he was telling the truth. Do dispel any doubt, there was the name Professor Genzai for his first class. She put the paper down and glared at him. "First you bump into me and now you follow me to class!?"
He just stood there scratching his head. "What do you mean, miss?"
She tossed him back his schedule. "Don't play dumb! Tell me why is it that you're following me to class! What sort of scheme are you planning?"
The Tenken merely smiled at the question. "Ara? How can I be planning a scheme when I just met you?"
She face faulted when she heard the blunt logic of his words.
Soujiro seemed to recall something. "Come to think about it, I don't even know your name."
She tossed her hair behind her back. To avoid any further embarrassment, she decided to act like nothing ever happened. "Fine. Let's just start over then. My name's Misao Makimachi. What's yours?" She extended her hand out.
He smiled and shook her hand. "Desu ka Seta Soujiro. It's a pleasure to meet you, Makimachi-san."
Misao, finally accepting the fact that Soujiro was a decent guy, smiled back at him. "Same here." She then took a look at his hand, still wrapped around hers. She instantly pulled it away and glared at him, even though she was blushing. "Just what was that!? What do you think you were trying to do?"
Still smiling he looked at her. "I was shaking your hand, Makimachi-san."
She tried to think of something to say, but only succeeded in saying a string of non-coherent words. With a glare, she rushed past him. "Hurry up and follow me, or else we'll be late."
Soujiro gladly followed her, not noticing her embarrassment at all.
From behind the corner, a pair of ice blue eyes was watching them. 'Seta Soujiro, huh? We'll see if you're really as innocent as you pretend to be.' With that, Aoshi silently walked away in the other direction.
---
Translations
JupponGatana: A group of fighters for Shishio. The name means 'ten swords', since there are ten members in total.
Ohayoo gozaimasu: A greeting. It means 'good morning'.
Kimono: A beautiful dress that women wear. It's can be described as a silk robe, tied together with a sash around the waist. It's usually very detailed with things such as flowers and can be quite expensive.
Hakujin no Tachi: Chou's special sword. It's as thin as a ribbon and very long. Used for hacking up opponents from a safe distance. It was made by the same man who created Kenshin's and Shishio's sword.
Gi: Clothing for the upper body of a man.
Hakama: Japanese style type pants that are made from light material. They're usually loose around the legs but secure on the waist.
Ara: It's just a silly expression used in moments of confusion.
Desu ka: Used for greeting people for the first time. It means 'I am'. All you have to do is insert your name after it.
Gumi: This suffix is added to a word to imply a group of people.
---
A/N: There it is! I finally completed Chapter 2! I hope the humor didn't completely take over the story. I want to keep a good mix between the two. I know you guys might have a few questions concerning the way Soujiro acted. Feel free to email me and I'll gladly answer any questions you might have. As for the reviews, never in my life have I felt so... I guess proud would be the word. I'm very glad you guys are enjoying the fic. If you have any other corrections you'd like to give, then don't hesitate to tell me. In the next chapter, Soujiro will finally meet the Kenshin-gumi! Please look forward to it and review! Ja ne!
A/N: Thanks so much to those who reviewed! It was the first time people actually gave something close of a compliment. Since I get the impression that you like the story, I'll do my best to update as soon as I can, without making it rushed. You can expect a new chapter every 4-5 days, considering school has restarted for me.
Soujiro woke up dazed by the rays of the sun peaking in through the window. As he woke up, he could feel his smile etched into his face. It stayed with him while eating, bathing, and sleeping and eventually reached the point where it felt natural. He recalled the events of last night and remembered about his special mission today. It would be his first day of high school. His eyes rested upon Yumi's sleeping figure on the bed. She always was the type to sleep in, unless woken. He folded his futon away and silently slipped behind the door as to not wake her. When he got into the hallway, his stomach growled in anticipation for some food. With a small chuckle, he used his shukuchi to get to the breakfast table.
Shishio, who was sitting at the head of the table, was the first to notice Soujiro. He swallowed the food he was eating and addressed the Tenken. "Ah, Soujiro. Nice of you to join us."
Hoji looked Soujiro over and notice the ruffled hair and wrinkled clothes. "Just woke up I see. Hurry up and eat, or you'll be late for school."
The smiling boy nodded, used to being told what to do by Hoji, since he played the strict authority figure. As he looked for a seat, he noticed that all ten of the JupponGatana were present.
Anji the Destroyer was busy at the stove cooking sausages and eggs for the rest. Soujiro doubted very much that anyone else knew how to cook. 'Good thing I asked for lessons, or else things would really be inconvenient should we be without Anji.'
Usui the Blind was sitting at the table with his food in front of him. He decided it was best not to try eating, lest he'd embarrass himself. After all, a blind man trying to eat would be pretty funny to an audience consisting of immature and rude people. With that said, he was satisfied with just sitting there.
Kamatari the Scythe was busy flirting with Chou, who was sitting to the side of her.
Chou on the other hand was trying to push Kamatari as far away from himself as possible with one hand, all the while eating breakfast with the manners that would rival that of a 5 year old.
Henya the Flight was just enjoying the amusing sight before him, while occasionally eating a sausage. Personally, Soujiro thought Henya could use some more meat on his bones but then his only tactic, that of flying would become useless, since he'd be too heavy.
Iwanbo was merely grinning and chuckling stupidly. No big surprise there.
Saizuchi could be seen outside with Fuji roasting a deer over a campfire. Their sizes prevented them from eating at the table with the rest of the JupponGatana. Fuji was WAY too big to even fit in the room, let alone eat at the table, and Saizuchi came up a bit short... when sitting down that is. Chou suggested that he get a booster seat, but that was just too embarrassing for 'someone of his standards' as Saizuchi said.
Soujiro shrugged and took his place next to Chou. "Ohayoo gozaimasu, Chou- san."
Chou finished devouring his eggs and looked at Soujiro. "Heh, and where have you been?" He gave yet another push to Kamatari.
Soujiro answered truthfully. "I was sleeping in Yumi's room. I guess I must've been tired from last night because I slept in."
The broom-head froze right then and there and looked skeptically at Soujiro. "Think I might've misheard you there." He shook his head furiously, as if to wake himself up. "Ok now. Let's try that again shall we? "
The Tenken sighed. "I overslept in Yumi's room." He ate a sausage from the plate that Anji laid out in front of him.
Chou groaned not bothering to fend himself from Kamatari anymore. He was rendered speechless from the blunt truth he received from Soujiro and what it could mean. Little did he know, things didn't go exactly the way he imagined them to. After a few minutes, he regained his senses and his shocked expression turned into a giant grin. He gave Soujiro a giant pat on his back. "Congratulations! The Tenken finally managed to score!" He let out a laugh. "So was Yumi as good as the rumors say she was?"
Soujiro tilted his head to the side, smile forever on his face. "I have no idea what you're talking, Chou-san."
Chou chuckled. "Fine then keep it a secret. Just don't let Shishio-sama find out or he'll have your head." There was nothing else to say about it, so he continued fending himself from Kamatari.
Soujiro continued eating breakfast in slight confusion. Though he didn't understand all of it, he knew it couldn't be good or advised, considering Shishio's protectiveness over Yumi.
Speaking of Yumi, she had just come out of the hallway and joined Shishio at his right hand side. From the looks of things, she fixed herself up already for she looked nothing like Soujiro. Her hair was well groomed and she had just put on a new red kimono.
During breakfast, Anji had rejoined the breakfast table after serving Yumi, the last of the group. Now the table was silently eating, acting more behaved thanks to Yumi's nagging about manners.
Chou, now finished with his food, proceeded to get a refill on his milk. Unfortunately, it was at the other end of the table and in front of Usui. "Hey Usui! Mind passing the milk? It's right in front of you." All that he received was a sneer and was ignored. "Fine! I'll get it myself!" With that, he removed his shirt and pulled out his Hakujin no Tachi, the strange killing sword, that was wrapped around his waist. As he was about to use the sword to get his milk, he was interrupted by Yumi's voice.
"Chou... don't even think about it. If you want the milk, just get up and get it for yourself." Her was stern, telling him that she was dead serious.
He however didn't completely agree with the idea.
Seeing his disapproving look, she explained why. "There's a reason you're not allowed to do that at the table. Do you know why?" She didn't even wait for him to answer. "It's because last time you tried that you pierced right through the milk! Then you tried it again and wrapped around the milk so hard, it sprayed all over the place! Don't even get me started on when you offered to catch my bird when it flew away!" She was obviously still upset about the incident. She proceeded to rant on about the other times Chou tried to use his sword for other than killing.
Soujiro quickly finished up the rest of his breakfast, thanked Anji, and announced that he was going to take a shower. He slipped into his shower inside his room and removed his gi and hakama. He sighed as the warm water came down on his back. While he was inside, his thoughts wandered to last night. 'Why is it that no one I meet can answer my question? What's so great about living? That servant was certainly no help and Yumi told me it was because of love. I suppose that if I had emotions then I'd understand. What was it that Yumi said? Hope you meet a girl?' Soujiro chuckled to himself. 'Would it really help that much? I wonder...' His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of someone knocking at his door.
Hoji continued pounding his fist on Soujiro's door. "Hurry up in there! School starts in another 5 minutes!"
Soujiro blinked and stepped outside, quickly drying himself. He took a look at his digital clock on his nightstand. 'Ara, it's already 7:35!?' Not that he cared about being late to school, but this was a mission from Shishio. He always preformed his best whether it was fighting or anything else that was required of him. He quickly changed into another blue gi, grabbed a backpack that was previously prepared for him, and opened up the door.
Hoji was waiting there with an impatient look on his face. "Took you long enough! Now hurry up and get in the car!"
Quickly saying his goodbyes to Shishio and the JupponGatana, Soujiro got into the black limo that then sped off. 'Why can't I just use my shukuchi? It would be much quicker than any vehicle.' He gave up on any and all questions he had and decided to just look out the window. Unfortunately the questions still came to him. 'So many fools living out there. They continue to live on even though they are weak. Shishio said that it's them who hold down Japan from the glory it can achieve. Why live? Is it for power? Or is it wealth? Or could it be the love that Yumi talks of?' Soujiro sighed whatever the answer was, it was out of reach. His thoughts were stopped again, as the car came to a halt.
"Hurry up! You only have two minutes now!" Hoji looked almost frantic. He always demanded perfection and being prompt was right up there with it.
Soujiro got out of the car, politely listening to Hoji rambling. 'He's such a... what's the word Chou used? Ah, yes. He's a control freak.' "Arigato, Hoji-san. I'll be going now." He used shukuchi to disappear, leaving a confused Hoji behind. He opened the giant doors to the school and stopped in when he reached the hallway, realizing that he had no idea where to go. He continued walking, until he felt someone rush at him from behind and knock him down.
A petite girl picked herself up from the floor. "Hey! What's the big idea!?" She raises her fist, making her seem to be the type to act before they think. "Now you're going to make me late for class! I'll make you pay for that!" She clenched both her fists and almost magically kunais appeared between each finger. Right before she was about to throw them, she saw him slowly moving off the floor.
Soujiro, now a little dazed, picked himself up as well. When his head stopped spinning, he bowed to the girl. "Gomen ne, miss. I hope that you are not hurt in any way."
She was caught off guard with the gesture and the apology. Normally, anyone else would yell back at her. Then she'd yell back and it would end up in another fight. Yet this boy didn't seem to get angry in the least bit. Even more so, he was smiling like nothing had happened at all. She remained speechless till the boy started to walk away from her. Her confusion was quickly replaced by more hotheaded anger. "Where do you think you're going!?" She pointed her finger accusingly at him. "You think you can just walk away after that!?"
Now stopping, Soujiro looked over his shoulder. "I'd love to talk, but I'm in a bit of a rush. My class starts soon and I have no idea where to go." He looked at his schedule that he pulled from his backpack. He peered at it. "Right now, I have Health with Professor Genzai."
She snatched the schedule from his hand to see if he was telling the truth. Do dispel any doubt, there was the name Professor Genzai for his first class. She put the paper down and glared at him. "First you bump into me and now you follow me to class!?"
He just stood there scratching his head. "What do you mean, miss?"
She tossed him back his schedule. "Don't play dumb! Tell me why is it that you're following me to class! What sort of scheme are you planning?"
The Tenken merely smiled at the question. "Ara? How can I be planning a scheme when I just met you?"
She face faulted when she heard the blunt logic of his words.
Soujiro seemed to recall something. "Come to think about it, I don't even know your name."
She tossed her hair behind her back. To avoid any further embarrassment, she decided to act like nothing ever happened. "Fine. Let's just start over then. My name's Misao Makimachi. What's yours?" She extended her hand out.
He smiled and shook her hand. "Desu ka Seta Soujiro. It's a pleasure to meet you, Makimachi-san."
Misao, finally accepting the fact that Soujiro was a decent guy, smiled back at him. "Same here." She then took a look at his hand, still wrapped around hers. She instantly pulled it away and glared at him, even though she was blushing. "Just what was that!? What do you think you were trying to do?"
Still smiling he looked at her. "I was shaking your hand, Makimachi-san."
She tried to think of something to say, but only succeeded in saying a string of non-coherent words. With a glare, she rushed past him. "Hurry up and follow me, or else we'll be late."
Soujiro gladly followed her, not noticing her embarrassment at all.
From behind the corner, a pair of ice blue eyes was watching them. 'Seta Soujiro, huh? We'll see if you're really as innocent as you pretend to be.' With that, Aoshi silently walked away in the other direction.
---
Translations
JupponGatana: A group of fighters for Shishio. The name means 'ten swords', since there are ten members in total.
Ohayoo gozaimasu: A greeting. It means 'good morning'.
Kimono: A beautiful dress that women wear. It's can be described as a silk robe, tied together with a sash around the waist. It's usually very detailed with things such as flowers and can be quite expensive.
Hakujin no Tachi: Chou's special sword. It's as thin as a ribbon and very long. Used for hacking up opponents from a safe distance. It was made by the same man who created Kenshin's and Shishio's sword.
Gi: Clothing for the upper body of a man.
Hakama: Japanese style type pants that are made from light material. They're usually loose around the legs but secure on the waist.
Ara: It's just a silly expression used in moments of confusion.
Desu ka: Used for greeting people for the first time. It means 'I am'. All you have to do is insert your name after it.
Gumi: This suffix is added to a word to imply a group of people.
---
A/N: There it is! I finally completed Chapter 2! I hope the humor didn't completely take over the story. I want to keep a good mix between the two. I know you guys might have a few questions concerning the way Soujiro acted. Feel free to email me and I'll gladly answer any questions you might have. As for the reviews, never in my life have I felt so... I guess proud would be the word. I'm very glad you guys are enjoying the fic. If you have any other corrections you'd like to give, then don't hesitate to tell me. In the next chapter, Soujiro will finally meet the Kenshin-gumi! Please look forward to it and review! Ja ne!