Don't be fooled by the title, this is not the reunion of Akio and Soujiro--they don't meet up again for several chapters. This refers to everyone's favorite character--RYU! *cheers* I love him, he's such an a-hole, lol. Anyway, this chapter is all about Soujiro! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: If you wish upon on a star, wish that Soujiro will become mine, okay? I'd keep him in my closest for sure!
Chapter 3: A Less Than Happy Reunion
Soujiro didn't sleep at all that night. All he did was walk along the road in the darkness. Sleep was far from him that night because how could he sleep without her beside him? He knew that if he dared to sleep, the moment he closed his eyes, the nightmares would seize him. All the peaceful nights he had enjoyed the past year would be gone, and he would fall back into the old pattern of his life. Without Akio to be his charm against evil, nothing would be like it should. It would only be like it was.
When dawn found him, Soujiro had moved on to another village. The residents had only begun to arise as he passed through. Children speckled the streets, laughing and playing until their mothers would call them in for breakfast. Men and women opened shops and restaurants and inns to the world. Soujiro watched them as he walked by, envious of their oblivious good fortune. He didn't stop, only kept moving. Someday he'd have that kind of life, he vowed to himself. One day he'd settle down and marry Akio--if she agreed that is. And then he could have that loving family that he had always secretly wanted.
Thoughts of a happy future. Hell, Soujiro felt he was just lucky to even 'have' a future. Let alone someone to share his future with. He counted himself lucky all right, and unworthy. But one doesn't question good fortune, or it's likely to disappear as if it's never been. And that would be tragic indeed. To Soujiro, life without Akio would be no life at all.
Just the thought of Akio made his heart beat faster and brought a genuine smile to his face. She was, by far, the strangest girl he had ever met. And she was the only girl he had ever loved--or would ever love. How he wished she was at his side! Akio had this presence, this air to her that made him feel calm and at ease. It was the little things she did, the subtle movements and gestures she did that would go unnoticed to anyone who didn't know her that well. It was how she was such a faster learner, and a talented swordswoman. Since they had begun their travels, Soujiro had taken it upon himself to teach Akio more advanced sword-play, and she was an apt pupil indeed. It was how she sensed his emotions, knowing when to give him space or to take his hand. It was the way her black hair would fall into her emerald eyes. Mostly it was her eyes. Huge and green and vivid with life. Bright whenever she smiled and expressive with whatever she felt. Her eyes were what gave him hope because she had always seen him, seen him for what he was and she had never asked him to change.
Soujiro day-dreamed of her for most of the day, but his feet never faltered from their path. He knew where he was going, and he knew not to stop. He knew not to go off course. His contact had given him specific information, and Seta Soujiro knew when to obey and when to rebel. This was not a matter to rebel against, it was something to be taken seriously.
"Go down the road up the coast for twenty miles," his contact had told him. They had met the day before, just before Soujiro bought Akio a train ticket to Tokyo. "There will be a village at the end of the road called Ikki. There is a road leading to the west, take it. It will lead you to a beach port. North from there will be where you want to go. The mansion housing one Mori Ryu, and a collection of his government associates."
Well, Soujiro was in Ikki Village, and he was heading west now. By nightfall, he would be at the hideout of Ryu, the hated man who had tried to kill him and Akio in her home village a year earlier. Maybe a head-on assault was not the brightest of plans, especially when he was alone, but he had to silence Ryu once and for all. He had to keep Akio and himself safe. It was a vow he had made to himself when he had let Akio come with him. He would keep her safe. That's why he sent her away from his side to a foreign city. That's why she was so far from him, when all he desperately wanted was for her to put her arms around him right then. He was beginning to seriously doubt his sanity.
"Get a hold of yourself Seta," he scolded aloud, gripping his bokken. The wooden sword's leather-clad hilt was perfectly worn. A gift from Akio, when they were in serious danger. It never left his side. Holding the sword in his hand made him feel a little better. Maybe the woman herself wasn't at his side, but he had that little piece for himself. It helped to firm his resolve.
Twilight came as Soujiro reached the shore side harbors. He looked north, along the beachfront and saw it. Leering against the setting sun was a huge mansion house, set into a large cliff on the coast. It seemed to be carved into the stone cliff itself. Lights burns around the mansion, and he could see people on the sandy beaches around it, even from the distance. He knew he'd have to call upon all his skills to get inside, but he would do it. He had to.
Creeping up the coastline, hugging the rock face, he was able to get close enough to the manor as darkness fell so that he could be relatively unseen in the darkness. The fires were stoked higher, shrinking the precious darkness that Soujiro depended on. He hid and crept, crept and hid, making sure he was unseen. Guards stood around, looking into every darkened corner and listening intently to every sound.
These were no mere band of thugs like the group that had intended to attack Renko Village. These were highly trained ninjas, and they would hone in on his presence if he didn't move quickly and quietly. It was a challenge, but Soujiro always did enjoy a good challenge. 'Now seems like as good a time as any to test out my shikuchi,' he thought with a grim smile. 'Let's see if I can still do it.'
There were three guards at the right of the door, four on the left. He'd have to bring them down in a quick sweep, before they could fight against him or call for reinforcements. Soujiro gripped the hilt of his sword and tapped his right foot rhythmically. Then he tapped the left one. Then he leapt slightly and took off. In the space of two eye-blinks, Soujiro had knocked all seven men unconscious, and strolled into the mansion hideout through the front door.
"Is this all you have Ryu?" Soujiro asked the empty hallways.
"Why no, it isn't," a voice answered him. Soujiro whirled, bokken poised for the attack. But there was no one behind him. There was no one in front of him. "This way, Tenken, this way," the voice called from in front of him now. Soujiro was hesitant to follow, instincts screaming 'trap'. In the end, he followed the voice.
It led him into a small room, where the huge wooden doors slammed behind him. It was a trap, of course, set by none other then Mori Ryu himself. The room Soujiro was trapped in looked like a training room of a dojo. The floors were hard-wood and weapons hung on the walls. There were lanterns lighting the entire room, and there was another door on the opposite side of the room. In the doorway stood Mori Ryu himself. He was dressed plainly, in a white kimono of good quality. He was thinner then Soujiro remembered him to be at Renko Village, and looked weaker. Hair hung limply around his face, his skin was a sickly pale color, his features were sunken, and he looked highly upset.
"You came alone I see, how unfortunate. I had hoped that Akio would be here to enjoy this..." His disappointment was clear in his voice. Soujiro clenched his fists and ground his teeth together.
"She's safe, away from you," he spat. "I doubt you'll get the privilege to see her again."
"Really now? How sad...I guess I'll just have to kill you later then." The matter-of-fact tone he used could be used by someone commenting on the weather or the tide. Ryu held up his hand and snapped his fingers. Out of the bleak shadows appeared two ninja that Soujiro hadn't noticed. "These are my two most loyal pets," Ryu explained smugly. "Boys," he addressed the ninjas. "Play all you want, but keep him alive." One his heel, Ryu turned and walked through the door. It slammed loudly behind him.
The two ninja broke apart to circle Soujiro. By now, Soujiro had moved away from the door, knowing that you should never corner yourself near a while when you're outnumbered in a fight. The wooden sword was in his hands, poised for the strike.
The ninja worked as if they were one person, simultaneously removing throwing stars from the pouches at their side and hurling them at Soujiro. He dodged, falling to the floor and rolling to safety, but was still cut on his leg, shoulder, and cheek. Soujiro recovered his footing quickly, and moved into a shikuchi stance. The first ninja rushed him, which Soujiro easily evaded, but the second ninja had disappeared back into the shadows.
Soujiro fought one-on-one with the ninja, who had pulled two daggers from thin air. It was a dance of sorts. Soujiro would attack with a few even strokes--easily blocked by the ninja. And his opponent would come back with a few slashes and stabs which Soujiro was fast enough to dodge without haste. Finally, fed up with the touch-and-go scenario, Soujiro struck hard and leapt back. It put enough distance between him and his opponent where he could use his most powerful technique.
But before he could complete the shikuchi ritual, Soujiro was jumped from behind by the second ninja. Momentarily forgotten, he had circled around, letting the other ninja back him into a corner. Twisting to face both opponents evenly, Soujiro was overtaken. The ninja with the daggers came from the left, forcing him on the defensive. The second ninja had a short katana, which he used to go at Soujiro's legs, making him jump up and back so often he couldn't hold ground. Fast as Soujiro was, skilled as Soujiro was, both ninja were as highly trained and as fast as he was. More over, there were two of them. Finally, Seta Soujiro was simply taken down.
The second ninja's sword seemed to vanish and he moved in closer, a few small needles in his hands. Soujiro didn't get a better look at them before the ninja made a few subtle movements, inserting the needles into vital points on Soujiro's neck. The sword fell from his hands and he crumpled to the floor, unable to move.
"He was a skilled one," the first ninja commented to the second.
"Oh yes, we should keep him," said the second.
"You know where to hit him. Once he forgets, then we can make him ours. To serve Master Ryu, of course."
"Of course."
Soujiro had a few choice words for that, but then there was a huge club to the back of his head. Pain exploded in his skull, from the roots of his hair to the tips of his toes. Blackness clouded his vision. The last conscious thought in his head was the realization that he may never wake up. He had failed her. Failed the only person who had ever needed him. 'I am sorry Akio...'
Then everything faded and Soujiro went limp. The two ninjas lifted him from the ground and carried him through the doorway Ryu had went though. Ryu waited behind the door, sitting in a large chair, his head in his hands. He looked up when they came in.
"He's subdued?" he asked.
"Yes Master Ryu," they replied together.
"Good," he said, a ghost of a smile on his face. "Take him to the dungeon."
"Master," one of the ninjas said hesitantly. "We took the liberty of erasing his memory. He is very skilled, this boy you called Tenken. He would make a good edition to our team."
Ryu looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "You erased his memory? How can you be sure?"
"It is part of our skills," the second ninja replied. "We know pressure points of the body, especially the brain. If a person is hit in the right place, it will block all human recollection, without taking away from physical performance. When he wakes up, he'll be a fighting machine."
Ryu's face broke into a frighteningly dark grin. "Excellent. I'll have a few jobs for him then. Inform me when he wakes."
"Yes Master," they said again, taking their charge to the dungeon, where he was locked away until he would wake.
Yes, I shall leave you all in suspense right here. The next chapter is about Akio, so don't expect to find out anything new on the Soujiro front for another chapter--muhahahaha! I want you all to get frustrated as to what's going on. I think I planned this fic out good! *hugs outline* Such a good outline! Okay, shout out time!!!
Dragons Maiden: *pockets the dime* I don't know nothing 'bout no dime. *cough* I'm glad you're so happy! I'm happy that you're happy….so everyone's happy! Thanks for the review--keep reading!
Pruningshears: Yes, she knows her father's name. You never really know anything about Captain Sagara other then his Sekihotai ties, you notice? He was just Sano's mentor, but you know nothing of the man himself. Therefore, I gave him a true love and a daughter he didn't even know, all in one fic. Damn I'm good. Akio does go to see Katsu--and meets Sano while she's there. Then we see her first interactions with the dojo peeps--especially a little situation between her and Kaoru, but I won't spoil the next chapter.
Luna: Continued--just for you! ^-^ Thanks for the review, please keep reading!
Crasyducky: I'm glad you liked this and my other fic. I do hope my stories are good since I put soo much time into them. Thanks for the review!
Thank you all for reading and reviewing--feel free to continue. *cheesy grin, revs the chainsaw*
~~Jesse the Wolf Demon~~
Disclaimer: If you wish upon on a star, wish that Soujiro will become mine, okay? I'd keep him in my closest for sure!
Chapter 3: A Less Than Happy Reunion
Soujiro didn't sleep at all that night. All he did was walk along the road in the darkness. Sleep was far from him that night because how could he sleep without her beside him? He knew that if he dared to sleep, the moment he closed his eyes, the nightmares would seize him. All the peaceful nights he had enjoyed the past year would be gone, and he would fall back into the old pattern of his life. Without Akio to be his charm against evil, nothing would be like it should. It would only be like it was.
When dawn found him, Soujiro had moved on to another village. The residents had only begun to arise as he passed through. Children speckled the streets, laughing and playing until their mothers would call them in for breakfast. Men and women opened shops and restaurants and inns to the world. Soujiro watched them as he walked by, envious of their oblivious good fortune. He didn't stop, only kept moving. Someday he'd have that kind of life, he vowed to himself. One day he'd settle down and marry Akio--if she agreed that is. And then he could have that loving family that he had always secretly wanted.
Thoughts of a happy future. Hell, Soujiro felt he was just lucky to even 'have' a future. Let alone someone to share his future with. He counted himself lucky all right, and unworthy. But one doesn't question good fortune, or it's likely to disappear as if it's never been. And that would be tragic indeed. To Soujiro, life without Akio would be no life at all.
Just the thought of Akio made his heart beat faster and brought a genuine smile to his face. She was, by far, the strangest girl he had ever met. And she was the only girl he had ever loved--or would ever love. How he wished she was at his side! Akio had this presence, this air to her that made him feel calm and at ease. It was the little things she did, the subtle movements and gestures she did that would go unnoticed to anyone who didn't know her that well. It was how she was such a faster learner, and a talented swordswoman. Since they had begun their travels, Soujiro had taken it upon himself to teach Akio more advanced sword-play, and she was an apt pupil indeed. It was how she sensed his emotions, knowing when to give him space or to take his hand. It was the way her black hair would fall into her emerald eyes. Mostly it was her eyes. Huge and green and vivid with life. Bright whenever she smiled and expressive with whatever she felt. Her eyes were what gave him hope because she had always seen him, seen him for what he was and she had never asked him to change.
Soujiro day-dreamed of her for most of the day, but his feet never faltered from their path. He knew where he was going, and he knew not to stop. He knew not to go off course. His contact had given him specific information, and Seta Soujiro knew when to obey and when to rebel. This was not a matter to rebel against, it was something to be taken seriously.
"Go down the road up the coast for twenty miles," his contact had told him. They had met the day before, just before Soujiro bought Akio a train ticket to Tokyo. "There will be a village at the end of the road called Ikki. There is a road leading to the west, take it. It will lead you to a beach port. North from there will be where you want to go. The mansion housing one Mori Ryu, and a collection of his government associates."
Well, Soujiro was in Ikki Village, and he was heading west now. By nightfall, he would be at the hideout of Ryu, the hated man who had tried to kill him and Akio in her home village a year earlier. Maybe a head-on assault was not the brightest of plans, especially when he was alone, but he had to silence Ryu once and for all. He had to keep Akio and himself safe. It was a vow he had made to himself when he had let Akio come with him. He would keep her safe. That's why he sent her away from his side to a foreign city. That's why she was so far from him, when all he desperately wanted was for her to put her arms around him right then. He was beginning to seriously doubt his sanity.
"Get a hold of yourself Seta," he scolded aloud, gripping his bokken. The wooden sword's leather-clad hilt was perfectly worn. A gift from Akio, when they were in serious danger. It never left his side. Holding the sword in his hand made him feel a little better. Maybe the woman herself wasn't at his side, but he had that little piece for himself. It helped to firm his resolve.
Twilight came as Soujiro reached the shore side harbors. He looked north, along the beachfront and saw it. Leering against the setting sun was a huge mansion house, set into a large cliff on the coast. It seemed to be carved into the stone cliff itself. Lights burns around the mansion, and he could see people on the sandy beaches around it, even from the distance. He knew he'd have to call upon all his skills to get inside, but he would do it. He had to.
Creeping up the coastline, hugging the rock face, he was able to get close enough to the manor as darkness fell so that he could be relatively unseen in the darkness. The fires were stoked higher, shrinking the precious darkness that Soujiro depended on. He hid and crept, crept and hid, making sure he was unseen. Guards stood around, looking into every darkened corner and listening intently to every sound.
These were no mere band of thugs like the group that had intended to attack Renko Village. These were highly trained ninjas, and they would hone in on his presence if he didn't move quickly and quietly. It was a challenge, but Soujiro always did enjoy a good challenge. 'Now seems like as good a time as any to test out my shikuchi,' he thought with a grim smile. 'Let's see if I can still do it.'
There were three guards at the right of the door, four on the left. He'd have to bring them down in a quick sweep, before they could fight against him or call for reinforcements. Soujiro gripped the hilt of his sword and tapped his right foot rhythmically. Then he tapped the left one. Then he leapt slightly and took off. In the space of two eye-blinks, Soujiro had knocked all seven men unconscious, and strolled into the mansion hideout through the front door.
"Is this all you have Ryu?" Soujiro asked the empty hallways.
"Why no, it isn't," a voice answered him. Soujiro whirled, bokken poised for the attack. But there was no one behind him. There was no one in front of him. "This way, Tenken, this way," the voice called from in front of him now. Soujiro was hesitant to follow, instincts screaming 'trap'. In the end, he followed the voice.
It led him into a small room, where the huge wooden doors slammed behind him. It was a trap, of course, set by none other then Mori Ryu himself. The room Soujiro was trapped in looked like a training room of a dojo. The floors were hard-wood and weapons hung on the walls. There were lanterns lighting the entire room, and there was another door on the opposite side of the room. In the doorway stood Mori Ryu himself. He was dressed plainly, in a white kimono of good quality. He was thinner then Soujiro remembered him to be at Renko Village, and looked weaker. Hair hung limply around his face, his skin was a sickly pale color, his features were sunken, and he looked highly upset.
"You came alone I see, how unfortunate. I had hoped that Akio would be here to enjoy this..." His disappointment was clear in his voice. Soujiro clenched his fists and ground his teeth together.
"She's safe, away from you," he spat. "I doubt you'll get the privilege to see her again."
"Really now? How sad...I guess I'll just have to kill you later then." The matter-of-fact tone he used could be used by someone commenting on the weather or the tide. Ryu held up his hand and snapped his fingers. Out of the bleak shadows appeared two ninja that Soujiro hadn't noticed. "These are my two most loyal pets," Ryu explained smugly. "Boys," he addressed the ninjas. "Play all you want, but keep him alive." One his heel, Ryu turned and walked through the door. It slammed loudly behind him.
The two ninja broke apart to circle Soujiro. By now, Soujiro had moved away from the door, knowing that you should never corner yourself near a while when you're outnumbered in a fight. The wooden sword was in his hands, poised for the strike.
The ninja worked as if they were one person, simultaneously removing throwing stars from the pouches at their side and hurling them at Soujiro. He dodged, falling to the floor and rolling to safety, but was still cut on his leg, shoulder, and cheek. Soujiro recovered his footing quickly, and moved into a shikuchi stance. The first ninja rushed him, which Soujiro easily evaded, but the second ninja had disappeared back into the shadows.
Soujiro fought one-on-one with the ninja, who had pulled two daggers from thin air. It was a dance of sorts. Soujiro would attack with a few even strokes--easily blocked by the ninja. And his opponent would come back with a few slashes and stabs which Soujiro was fast enough to dodge without haste. Finally, fed up with the touch-and-go scenario, Soujiro struck hard and leapt back. It put enough distance between him and his opponent where he could use his most powerful technique.
But before he could complete the shikuchi ritual, Soujiro was jumped from behind by the second ninja. Momentarily forgotten, he had circled around, letting the other ninja back him into a corner. Twisting to face both opponents evenly, Soujiro was overtaken. The ninja with the daggers came from the left, forcing him on the defensive. The second ninja had a short katana, which he used to go at Soujiro's legs, making him jump up and back so often he couldn't hold ground. Fast as Soujiro was, skilled as Soujiro was, both ninja were as highly trained and as fast as he was. More over, there were two of them. Finally, Seta Soujiro was simply taken down.
The second ninja's sword seemed to vanish and he moved in closer, a few small needles in his hands. Soujiro didn't get a better look at them before the ninja made a few subtle movements, inserting the needles into vital points on Soujiro's neck. The sword fell from his hands and he crumpled to the floor, unable to move.
"He was a skilled one," the first ninja commented to the second.
"Oh yes, we should keep him," said the second.
"You know where to hit him. Once he forgets, then we can make him ours. To serve Master Ryu, of course."
"Of course."
Soujiro had a few choice words for that, but then there was a huge club to the back of his head. Pain exploded in his skull, from the roots of his hair to the tips of his toes. Blackness clouded his vision. The last conscious thought in his head was the realization that he may never wake up. He had failed her. Failed the only person who had ever needed him. 'I am sorry Akio...'
Then everything faded and Soujiro went limp. The two ninjas lifted him from the ground and carried him through the doorway Ryu had went though. Ryu waited behind the door, sitting in a large chair, his head in his hands. He looked up when they came in.
"He's subdued?" he asked.
"Yes Master Ryu," they replied together.
"Good," he said, a ghost of a smile on his face. "Take him to the dungeon."
"Master," one of the ninjas said hesitantly. "We took the liberty of erasing his memory. He is very skilled, this boy you called Tenken. He would make a good edition to our team."
Ryu looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "You erased his memory? How can you be sure?"
"It is part of our skills," the second ninja replied. "We know pressure points of the body, especially the brain. If a person is hit in the right place, it will block all human recollection, without taking away from physical performance. When he wakes up, he'll be a fighting machine."
Ryu's face broke into a frighteningly dark grin. "Excellent. I'll have a few jobs for him then. Inform me when he wakes."
"Yes Master," they said again, taking their charge to the dungeon, where he was locked away until he would wake.
Yes, I shall leave you all in suspense right here. The next chapter is about Akio, so don't expect to find out anything new on the Soujiro front for another chapter--muhahahaha! I want you all to get frustrated as to what's going on. I think I planned this fic out good! *hugs outline* Such a good outline! Okay, shout out time!!!
Dragons Maiden: *pockets the dime* I don't know nothing 'bout no dime. *cough* I'm glad you're so happy! I'm happy that you're happy….so everyone's happy! Thanks for the review--keep reading!
Pruningshears: Yes, she knows her father's name. You never really know anything about Captain Sagara other then his Sekihotai ties, you notice? He was just Sano's mentor, but you know nothing of the man himself. Therefore, I gave him a true love and a daughter he didn't even know, all in one fic. Damn I'm good. Akio does go to see Katsu--and meets Sano while she's there. Then we see her first interactions with the dojo peeps--especially a little situation between her and Kaoru, but I won't spoil the next chapter.
Luna: Continued--just for you! ^-^ Thanks for the review, please keep reading!
Crasyducky: I'm glad you liked this and my other fic. I do hope my stories are good since I put soo much time into them. Thanks for the review!
Thank you all for reading and reviewing--feel free to continue. *cheesy grin, revs the chainsaw*
~~Jesse the Wolf Demon~~