Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin, so don't sue me. I don't own Shakespeare's As You Like it either (Too much time in English class ^.^;)!

AN—The long awaited chapter seven. (JOY!!!) Yes, it's been a (long) while since I last updated (the entire summer and then some). Mainly because of summer homework (evil teachers…) and Geometry (you try learning a year's worth of geometry in four weeks and get an A (What the heck are vectors? (evil pre-pre-calculus))) and being a CIT (hey, I need the volunteer hours to graduate), and going to China (to visit my relatives, and go on a shopping spree) and my eight extracurricular activities *sweatdrop*. That sentence wasn't exactly grammatically correct…I don't think I would be able to update faster now, thanks to the beginning of homework (and I'm supposed to tutor my next door neighbor…)

Chibi-Soujiro and Shishio seem very OCC in the flashback…not to mention I changed Mieko's past about ten times before this one…

As for Kamatari quoting Shakespeare…*sweatdrop*

Cantthinkofaname- Thank you for reviewing!

Ayu- Yes, poor Mieko. But don't worry! I wouldn't be so mean to keep them apart for more than a chapter!

Aimee Damita- You like my story? Thank you very much! (I really can't write romance at all…)

Wryd- deranged? If that's how you would like to think about it… though if you ask me, Misao's more deranged (it's the hyperness).

Lilac Fire Blossom

By Meii-chan

Chapter 7- Prelude to Destruction

"You will find as you look back upon your life, that the moments when you have truly lived, are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love" ~Henry Drummond

~March, the sixteenth year of the Meiji era~

            The morning sun shined brightly in the heavens, its radiance absorbed by the chilly mist of a pale spring. The path, stretching for miles in either direction, its barren proximity broken every few times by a lonely inn or tree, now passed by the mountain stronghold of Mount Hiei. The woods had long reclaimed the fortress; one could hardly tell that this was the site of the battle over the fate of Japan. On this particular day, a rurouni—Soujiro Seta, stood on the path overlooking the fortress and the forest in solitude, lost in his memories.

            "In this world, the flesh of the weak is the food of the strong."

 

            He was, once again, reminiscing over his second battle with Kenshin.

            "Back then, you didn't protect me. If what you say is right, why didn't you protect me?"

            The dialogue was playing repeatedly in his head, submerging him in the past.

            "Himura-san is a lot stronger than I thought, but he would never be a match for Shishio-san or me. Using a sword to protect…it's wrong."

            "The speed of your sword has gone down. Why are you hesitating? If a person can really kill without feeling, there would be no hesitation."

            "I really don't understand Himura-san at all…"

            "You really want to know, don't you Soujiro? Because there's something within you, and you need it."

            "Back then, the only thing that protected me was Shishio-san's truth; that, and his single short sword. I wasn't wrong, what's wrong is you!"

            "You said that I didn't protect you back then. No matter how hard I try, I can't think of what you're referring to. But I can guess. There's a part of you that regrets what you have done. You never really wanted to live the life of a killer, did you, Soujiro? But if it's not too late, couldn't you make a fresh start now?"

            "The strong live; the weak die. Shishio-san taught me those true words. But is it so wrong to be weak? I killed, but I never really wanted to kill them. Yes, in the rain, I smiled; but the truth is…"

            "Hey! Sou-kun! Snap out of it!"

            "Ara?"

            Blinking, he realized Kamatari was shaking him quite violently, attempting to wake him from his reverie.

            "For a second you scared me, Sou-kun."

            "Gomen nasai, Kamatari-san. I didn't expect anyone to be on this road." Looking up at the taller scythe-wielder, thousands of questions bubbled up inside his head. "Why?"

            Kamatari shrugged. "Probably for the same reason you decided to. The government let me back into Japan for a couple weeks before they send me off to France; I thought this would be a good opportunity to come see Shishio-sama's grave."

            "I see."

            The two allies stood together in silence for some time over the ruined citadel. Though destroyed, the stronghold still brought forth memories for the both of them. It was midday, and Soujiro had gathered the Juppongatana into the fortress. It was early in the afternoon, and Kamatari and Yumi were fighting over Shishio. It was dusk, and they were preparing to sail on the Rengoku. It was night, and Kyoto was supposed to go up in flames. And yet, they were standing on the same mountain, watching the familiar sunset once again.

            "Kamatari-san, there's something, I've been meaning to ask you."

            "Ask me?"

            "Why is it that, you decided to live even after you were defeated." Soujiro queried. "You seemed to be the type who would kill yourself rather than be separated from Shishio-san."

            "I am. But—" Kamatari looked up into the starless sky, "the Meiji government would never let Shishio-sama or his Kunitori to be recorded into history books. The only way people will know about any of us is to live. So, even if I can never be the favorite of Shishio-sama, I'll still live to keep his memory alive in my heart. Everyone can take their own life, Sou-chan, but it takes courage to live your life and open your heart to other people."

            Soujiro didn't reply.

            "I hope you aren't considering suicide, Sou-kun!"

            "Ara! Of course not!" Soujiro answered a bit too quickly. "I'm not that morbid!" but contrary to what he was saying, Soujiro's life had always revolved around death one way or another. He hastily changed the subject. "Kamatari-san, do you know what happened to the others?"

            "Hai. Shishio-sama, Usui, Yumi, they all died; you know that. Houji killed himself in jail; he never got to tell anyone about how the Meiji government should create Shishio-sama's policy of 'the strong live; the weak die.'" Kamatari paused to see the look of shock on Soujiro's face.

            "The strong live, the weak die." But it disproved by Himura-san twice. Didn't he see that a world where the strong lived and the weak died would be wrong? That kind of world will always be wrong; very wrong.

            "Anji-oshou decided to turn himself over to the police. He has to do twenty-five years in a jail in Hokkaido."

            "That's a long time."

            "Yes, it is. He probably needs that time to clear his mind and pursue more religious activities. Henya, Saizuchi, Fuji, and Chou have all accepted government jobs like me. Iwanbo…ah…"

            "What about him?" Needless to say, Soujiro never thought too highly of Iwanbo. Iwanbo was pretty much mentally challenged, with his only forte, if it was even considered a forte, being the thick skin that nothing could penetrate.

            "Apparently he was a mechanical puppet. Everyone found out what he really was when Battousai sliced it open about three-four years ago. The only ones left are you and Mieko-chan…Oh, dear, did she die?"

            "No, where did you get that absurd idea?"

            "Well, whenever I saw you, she would always be there, behind you. But now, she isn't. Mieko-chan loves you, and she isn't the kind of person to give up so easily!" Kamatari paused to see some shock on Soujiro's face; there was none.

            "Yes, I'm aware of that." He whispered. "But, my journey might become dangerous at any point with so many people wanting revenge on Shishio-san. Not many people know that Mieko-chan was Shishio-san's ally, but even if they think she's just an ordinary girl traveling with me, they would drag her into the whole affair. So, I had to leave her behind. I'm afraid that if she's with me, Mieko-chan wouldn't be able to live a normal life—"

            "Or…Are you afraid to find out what love is?"

            Soujiro wasn't prepared for that question. Kamatari-san thinks of the strangest things… "Ara?" he blushed.

            "Love is…" Kamatari began talking as if it was the most casual subject in the world.  "It's when you value someone else more than your own life."

            Soujiro sighed; Kamatari was beginning to sound like a newly-wed.

            "…and when you're in love, you'll always be happy…it's like a rainbow in the heart, if I were to use a metaphor…"

            Soujiro wasn't listening to Kamatari's almost Shakespearean rants about what love is. Kamatari's voice seemed distant as soon as the word "happy" was uttered.

            * * * * * *

             I was already a killer the first time I met Mieko-chan…I just turned ten…

Soujiro was traveling with Shishio, not knowing where the nonexistent path would take them. It was a particularly hot day for September. He was thankful for the cool shade of the gnarled trees of the forest. A bit farther from the edge of the forest was a clear, translucent pond. It was quite a contrast from the ruined and smoldering village they had passed earlier. Here, wildflowers flourished, with the majority of them being daisies.

            Kirei…

            Under the shade of the unusually large vegetation, the petals appeared to be an almost soft lavender color, while the middle was a lively, bright, amber which resembled a small flame.

            The flowers are weak and small, but, they're so pretty, it's almost a pity to kill them.

            He dwelled on that thought until he walked too close to a low overhanging branch…

            "Hi!"

Something popped out of the flora-obscured branch in front of him.

            Soujiro blinked. "Ara?"

            A little girl was dangling upside-down from the branch in front of him. Her thin black hair was tied in two ponytails on either side of her head, and she was clad in a green yukata with a white sash. But with her face being an inch away from Soujiro's, all he could tell was that her eyes were an odd shade of pink.

            "You know," she started to say; "you aren't very interesting to scare."

            Shishio spoke up, as Soujiro was at a loss for words. "You saw us, so now I'll have to kill you." He drew his sword to back up his words.

            "Why?"

            "Because then you can't tell anyone that we were here."

            The girl smiled. "That's okay; No one comes to the forest anymore so won't have anyone to tell."

She jumped down from the tree and landed on her feet. Soujiro could see that various cuts, scrapes, and bruises covered her skin.

"How strange." He mused out loud.

"Yeah, I know. People think this place is cursed."

            * * * * * *

            "Where's Mieko-chan?"

            "I don't know! Please, we must look some more!"

            "There's not enough time for that, we have to leave before they arrive!"

            "Please!"

            Suddenly, a crash is heard, followed by the screaming of a young girl.

            "Kira-chan!"

            "You'll all die here!"

            There were more screams; then all was quiet.

            Mieko shook her head and gazed upon the lush canopy of trees above her. She sighed. I'm dreaming about the past again… Next as she walked through the forest, she realized that she was alone. That's right, Soujiro's gone too…it's almost like we never met…

            * * * * * *

            "How strange."

"Yeah, I know. People think this place is cursed." A six-year-old Mieko replied. She giggled and continued. "Ever since everybody in my village died, people don't come anymore. I'm the only one left."

"So that ruined village we passed…"

"Yes, that was my village. It was burned because people kept getting sick and dying." Mieko concluded. But I don't really mind. I never loved them, and they never really loved me either. Even if it were another way, there's nothing I can do. I don't care if I die either. Okaa-chan, Otou-chan, Kirashi-nee-chan, they're all in death waiting for me. So…

"Are you angry?" the one covered in bandages asked.

"Why should I get angry over something I can't prevent? They'll all pass away sooner or later. "

The taller swordsman grinned maliciously to himself. This girl does not possess something Soujiro has: the fear of death. Even though she still has emotion, they are stifled by her indifference to living. A person that does not fear death will make a strong fighter indeed.   "Do you want to come with me?"

"Huh? I don't even know you."

"That's right. You don't. My name is Shishio Makoto." Noting the position of the sun in the sky, he added. "I guess I was a bit sudden in asking you that. Give me your answer tomorrow."

Mieko was still staring at him.

"Why are you still standing there? Go play with Soujiro like most kids your age!" Somehow, Mieko's presence had irritated Shishio greatly.

            "Soujiro?" Mieko looked around in confusion. Oh, he must mean that boy that came with him. He's a lot less scary that Shishio-san. She was glad for a reason to get away from Shishio-san. Even though he was one of the first people she has seen in months, there still was something nefarious about him that caused Mieko to shiver.

The ten-year-old Soujiro smiled. "That's me. I'm Soujiro Seta."

"Really? My name is Himemori Mieko."

Soujiro grabbed her left hand, pulling her farther into the forest, away from Shishio. They stopped under the shade of a scarlet maple tree. "Sorry, it seems that you have perturbed Shishio-san quite a bit. It would be dangerous for you to stay any longer."

"Ow…" Mieko murmured as she rubbed her left wrist.

"I'm sorry. Did I grab your wrist too hard?"

Mieko shook her head. "No…I landed on it the other day when I fell from one of the trees. It's how I usually how I get so many scrapes and bruises."

"Ara…then you must be very accident prone." Soujiro remarked as he took Mieko's wrist and bandaged it.

"You think?" Mieko smiled. And I thought philanthropy was dead...Soujiro's really nice and polite and cute… "Ah! Thank you Soujiro-chan!" Bubbling with energy, she climbed up the scarlet maple, Soujiro following her.

"Soujiro-'chan'?" He blinked in bewilderment. "Ara?"

"Don't you like it? It sounds cute."

"I like it a lot, but…"

"What?"

"Aren't only children called '-chan'?"

"Not necessarily. Why do you care?"

"Aren't children weak?"

"No."

"So would you consider me strong?"

Mieko thought for a while. "I don't know. Strength, weakness, it doesn't matter to me."

"Ah…"

The next day Shishio asked Mieko the same question. "Do you want to come with me?"

Mieko looked at the forest, with the swaying willows, crystal pond, scarlet maple, and the lilac daisies. Then she looked at Soujiro, who was looking at the same patch of flowers as she was.

"Of course." She replied, and in her heart echoed the tacit part of her answer.

I'll go, because Soujiro-chan is my favorite person in the world!

* * * * * *

In the present day, a nostalgic smile appeared on Mieko's face. She had made up her decision to find Soujiro, wherever he is.

"If I were Soujiro with no clue on what the truth is, where would I go?" she mused out loud. "I'll go to Himura-san to ask for directions. So…" Mieko set off on her own journey to find Soujiro.

~Mount Hiei~

The sun was about to set in the mountains of Kyoto. Already, the sunlight no longer reached the valley below Mount Hiei. In the fading sunlight there were two people sitting on a verdant hill.

"…it is to be made of fantasy, all made of passion and all made of wishes, all adoration, duty, and observance, all humbleness, all patience and impaitience, all purity, all trial, all obedience—Sou-kun! Are you listening to me?"

"Ara?" Soujiro came out of his reverie.

Kamatari sighed in exasperation. "You didn't hear a single word I said, did you?"

"I guess not. Sorry Kamatari-san."

"It's okay, it's nice to talk to someone once in a while." Kamatari stood up to leave. But then, he stopped, remembering something. "Oh, I almost forgot. You don't need to worry about the police anymore. They're not interested in finding you."

"Why?"

"Oh, there just hasn't been any mass slaughters of people anymore. So the government thinks that either you're dead, or you're not dangerous anymore." Kamatari grinned at Soujiro. "You don't need to worry about keeping Mieko-chan away from the government, Sou-kun. I'll be leaving now. Take care on your journey, and find the feelings for Mieko-chan that you buried in your heart. Ja matte ne."

Soujiro gazed at Mount Hiei. "I'll be saying goodbye all of you here too. But first, I'll have to thank you. Even if I did waste ten years of my life here, I wouldn't have met Mieko any other way. I'll visit later, Shishio-san, Yumi-san, everyone…"

I suppose I should ask Himura-san about the truth of life. So…I guess I'll go to Tokyo.

End Chapter 7. (Don't forget to review!)

Dakedo akirametaku wa nai – Even with a little courage—
Chippokena yuuki demo – I don't want to give up.
Itsuka honto no – Someday, if I become used to
Tsuyosa ni nareru naraba – My real strength…
Chiisana chou de sae – Even a small butterfly
Umi wo koeteyukeru – Can cross an ocean.
"Itsuka, kitto" sonna kotoba shika – "Someday, for sure," is all I can tell you,
Ienai jibun ga kuyashii kedo – But even that still frustrates me.