AN: Yeah, after reading PMK and the part with Yamanami dying was a tear jerker. Needless to say I have a new inspiration to start off this chapter. Now if you're a PMK fan lemme tell ya, I kinda stole this scene from the manga so do forgive me since it's not a RK thing.
Disclaimer: well, disclaimer.
...
Where Are You Now?
Chapter 18: Into the Soul
...
February 23, 1865
...
The day wasn't going as well as every one thought the fact that a dear friend had deserted the Shinsengumi was beyond belief. The winter's cold chilling his neck as he sat in his room, long black hair held up in a high ponytail. A haori for warmth was his only savor from the coldness of the air. Staring at the floor intensely Okita thought of the next course to take without something horrible happening. His hand reached for his sword as he carefully picked it up and pushed himself up onto his shaking feet. Tucking his sword into the side of the hakama's he opened his door and proceeded to the long awaiting room.
...
"Hey! Takara stop that! That's not yours!"
Kondo sighed as he glanced back at his elder daughter with tired eyes; it was the usual bickering of the child that usually reminded him of their late mother. Aiko grabbed hold of the string that her younger sister was currently trying to stretch out of a spark of curiosity. Pulling the white thread away from her sister Aiko did her best on putting it through the small sewing needle. Takara got her hands on it once more and with the needle, looked at it curiously. Aiko saw this and immediately seized the younger one's wrist on pulled it once away from her.
SMACK!
"Takara, when I say it ain't yours, it ain't yours alright!"
But in the process of telling the six year old 'no' Takara had broke into tears and was crying all that she could with her horrible screams. Kondo walked away from the shoji and grabbed hold of his daughter and sat her on his lap, Aiko watching him as he did so.
"Now, now Takara is still young, she does these things only because of how interested she is in the things you do."
Aiko's eyes wandered away at his comment as she poked the needle through a thin white fabric.
She hated being the oldest, always taking care of her younger sister and barely even able to be with anyone else besides her. Plus, her little sister was annoying, she wouldn't stop doing something after she clearly said no and if she did it was because she was about to burst into tears. Another reason, because everyone enjoys playing with Takara, what ever happened to playing hide and seek with Harada or Okita?
A few knocks came at the door until a very familiar face came into view, Kondo looked behind him to see the young man standing at his shoji with a grim looking expression. Setting Takara off his lap and back onto the floor he stood and walked over to where the man stood.
Closing the door behind him, only his shadow was now visible through the doorway. Aiko quickly stuffed all the sewing threads and equipment back into the box and walked silently over to the doorway. The closer she got she began to her the whispers of the men outside.
"Sis, what are ya doin?" Asked the child from the other side of the room. Aiko's finger rose to her lips and a forced "SHH!" was heard. Then she put her hand to her ear so she could her more closely to what they were saying.
"Aa, understood."
"Souji, are you sure about this?"
"Aa."
Seemed she had came in late due to the sound of footsteps walking away from the wall she was standing by. Aiko's hand pushed against the wall as she walked back from it noiselessly. Only one question was in her mind at that moment.
Where was Okita-san going?
...
He rode against the cold air, his bangs flying upward as the horse galloped down the road. His eyes searching, hoping to find someone that he desperately needed to see, to question. The mere fact that he had left had left a knot in the bottom of his stomach. He passed by millions of trees, no longer baring the leaves of summer and by only a couple of farmers. Okita glanced over his shoulder to look at the people slowly gathering along the river. Gripping the rope he pulled it back slightly to slow the animal down, now just hoofing his way down the road nearest to the river. Then a frame remained fixed onto his brain's eye as he saw the man he was seeking through the rest. Easily Okita found him and stopped right behind the man and leaped off his horse.
The soft sound of old grass crunching under his feet made the other man feeding his horse flinch before standing.
"How horrible, I can't even fight back now."
Okita's eyes narrowed as he sent a pained expression to the ground.
"To think they sent you after me."
"I came out here on my own Yamanami-san."
Again the man flinched and his eyes quickly rested on the pained Okita Souji before him. Standing there with hands in slight fists, his black hair not as clean as it usually was as it hid his eyes from him. Giving the younger man a stiff smile he just stared at the carefully controlled Okita. Taking a deep breath the younger man looked up to his Vice Chief, brown eyes clearly full of millions of emotions but none able to surface.
"Because I would always, no matter how far you would run, regardless of how many crowds you hide in I would definitely seek you out. Therefore, I was the one who came."
Yamanami stared at his friend before momentarily smiling and saying, "I see."
Then with a quick nod he grabbed his horse by the leash and began walking it away from the river. The smile on his face not disappearing as he carefully walked up toward Okita who had already covered his facial expressions once more.
"I am ready for my punishment."
The knot only seemed to grow larger as he turned around and lifted himself back onto the horse he had been only seconds ago riding. His hands once more gripping the rope connected to the animal's mouth.
"That's all right." Steadying the horse by petting its coarse brown hair he continued, "Let's just go home."
The stiff smile only turned full of grief as his hand grabbed Okita's, "Okita-kun, you and I both know what the result will be."
Suddenly the lingering knot that had been in his stomach went instantly into his throat and he revealing the tear filled eyes to his old friend. He hated this it just wasn't worth it, seppuku wasn't something for this matter, and it shouldn't be at all. The taste of his tears and the feeling of loss over swept him, and for the first time in so many years, Okita Souji once again cried.
"Why . . . Did you leave?"
Releasing his hand from the Okita's Yamanami's smile turned dark and his eyes went into small slits, "Why indeed."
...
Shirakawa 1850
...
"Nari-chan, where do I put these?" said the little boy with a rather large basket held in his arms full of vegetables. A young girl, probably no older then twelve took only a glance before laughing at her younger brother. She dropped the small instrument she had been using and stood up to her brother with her hands held out for the basket. The child blinked before handing over the basket to the girl with long black hair, her face speckled with small bits of dirt and water. She lifted the vegetables into her arms and began to walk away from the rows of green plants.
Looking back to the boy who had taken an interest in the nearest bug she spoke, "Soujiro, are you coming?"
Knocking himself out of his interest he stood and ran over to the girl, after a while deciding to run in front of her laughing.
"Na! Nari-chan, how fast can you run with those radishes in your hands."
Nariko smiled, "Not fast at all Soujiro."
Soujiro stopped and stared at her puzzled, his finger scratching his head in a thinking process.
"So, you're not going to try."
Nariko laughed, "Not at all."
"EH?! Well you're no fun!"
"Fun? Oh you want fun huh?"
Walking out onto the small porch a woman stared at her two children laughing innocently with each other. They surely don't miss a chance to wrestle now do they?
"No don't Nari-chan!"
"Get back here!"
Of course, in a mother's eyes, it was a re-ally good thing that they laughed instead of being extremely quiet.
"Oi, Nari-chan the vegetables, look what you did!"
"Opps, sorry."
"Sorry? I just picked those!"
Sighing, the mother sat down and brought up the piece of thread to her hair to tie it up. A ponytail seemed more then good to her right at the moment. Her black eyes stared out into nothingness, not paying all to much attention to the two kids arguing down at the crops.
"Nariko, Soujiro come on in now!"
The two children stopped after hearing the manly voice of their father who had just walked out onto the engawa with only a small bite to eat for himself. Releasing himself from his sister's hold Soujiro ran toward the small cramped home laughing.
"Oka-san, can Nari-chan and I go back out into the crops again after we eat. Ple-ase!"
She smiled and nodded, "You two most certainly can." Then laid her hand on top of his head and rubbed it gently. The little boy's smile grew tremendously before he took off his sandals and ran into the house. Slowly Nariko walked up, since in a kimono it was still rather hard for her to get up onto the engawa that stood at least one foot. So instead she sat down and slid herself backward then stood up and walked into the home. Both the father and mother didn't join this time, but smiles didn't dissipate while they were eating.
...
Tokyo, 1879 December
...
It was the second snow of the season, this time much more powdery and beautiful. Aiko couldn't help look up at the white sky to watch every piece fall gracefully to the ground. Small fragments speckled her black hair as she stood by the dead tree. Brown eyes observed as winter showed one of its proud creations. Wearing her green kimono with a white haori she almost looked like a plant trying to blossom in the harsh cold weather.
Behind her on the opposite side of the tree was the man that had been with her since March. His hands in his dark blue sleeves, eyes closed as he leaned next to the tree trunk. Today was a much easier day to breathe it seemed; though the cold was still biting his nose and ears. The voices in the background made it worth the while, laughter from children playing in the snow. Opening his soft brown eyes to the white world around him, he could see in the distance the blurry forms of children.
"It's rather beautiful isn't it?"
Okita's head went to his side as if the woman were standing right next to him but only saw the simple umbrella lying under a thin sheet of snow. No smile graced his face as he also watched the snow come down from the sky.
"It looks like it's going to snow for quite some time."
A gentle hum from Aiko came but the fact that it came so slowly made him push himself off the trunk and turn slightly to her. The crunch of the snow drove Aiko's attention away from the snowfall back in the direction of Okita.
"What is it Souji?"
Taking in a deep breath he kneeled down in the snow and laid his hands on top of the thick layer. This time his lips upturned as he landed on his knees. His long bangs covering much of his face and his eyes were no longer visible for Aiko to see as she stared at him. Bending down she reached for the white umbrella and brushed it off, then opening it and holding it over both her and Okita.
"It's been almost eight months now, hasn't it. To think that only nine months ago I was inside a rotting old hospital outside of Tokyo." Aiko's eyes softened to his quiet words as she tried her hardest to look away only to look upon him once more.
"Remembering all the painful times of my past, but some things . . . some things I just can't remember. There are so many cut out memories that maybe, I just don't want to remember."
Slouching his shoulders as one hand reached up for his face, feeling the coldness that the snow had caused. A burning sensation, yet a numbness attacked the skin of his face as he touched it. Then he instantly flinched when the feeling of warmness brought his hand down from his face and a sense that someone was watching him made him look that way. Aiko's greeted his eyes and something just occurred to him as he stared at her kneeling form. Okita's hand quickly went for her hair as he slowly pulled it back with his hand. A sad smile now came to him as he stared at the familiar form.
"You know, I had sister once." His hand now released her hair and drifted back into its original place.
"Her name was Harumasa Nariko, and even though she was my sister for two years she acted more like a mother to me."
Aiko regained her joy as she smiled at him; "Nariko must've been a very caring sister."
His facial expression went blank; "You look like her."
This time Aiko was the one who became shocked, her eyes widened to the suddenly comment. Never in her life has she looked like someone other then her mother, but having this come from Okita it probably meant a lot to him. She was speechless, not knowing how to react Aiko looked away and gazed down to her knees. How exactly was she supposed to react to that?
"I have one main vision of her, Nariko loved cherry blossoms and every year that they bloomed and fell she would be the first to be there. Dancing, laughing, enjoying herself as the pedals flew around her. But the last few moments of the vision there's a scream and suddenly everything goes red. I wasn't there . . ."
Okita's hands clenched his hakama's and he took another deep breath, "I wasn't there . . . when she was killed."
'Killed?'
The woman's head shot toward Okita's shaking body, and if she wasn't seeing things it appeared that the man sitting by her was doing his hardest not to cry. She could feel herself choke as she continued watching him, and her heart began to ache for him.
"Souji."
Suddenly the umbrella fell to the snow; barely making any noise at all as it hit the white floor. Arms suddenly wrapped around Okita, and the unexpected jerk of his body made his go stiff. Only to realize that Aiko was hugging him, trying to comfort him in his loss. With this his arms wrapped around her waist and his body relaxed.
"Souji . . . I'm sure that you've gone through so much in your previous life . . . but . . ."
'Can't you begin again?'
Everything that she had thought about Okita, thinking that he had a better life then she ever would was just an illusion by his smile. But even in the time of despair, Aiko learned that starting again made her happy. She had Okita with her to help her through her long journey, and their relationship had grown tremendously. Even still, something between them was still holding one away from the other and wasn't being broken.
"Aiko, arigato."
Okita's hold around her tightened as they both sat there, the snow gradually falling down only now slower. She smiled, her arms loosened as he felt him bury himself in her clothing. They sat there like that for quite a while, eventually Aiko held up the umbrella to protect them from the weather.
"Let's be together, always, alright Souji?"
Her voice tender and gentle just how it used to be when they had found each other again in the rain. He made no comment though, he just enjoyed the closeness she was giving him, and he was enjoying their moment together.
In truth he knew that in both of their hearts . . .
"Aiko, we will always be together."
...
"This is a surprise, usually it's me getting behind."
Takara looked back at Soujiro with a large grin, her hands rested on her hips as she stared at the boy just below her in the tree. Even since a month ago she had been out by herself but she always seemed to run into him again. She just couldn't get away from him and it was rather annoying to her. He looked up into the trees but saw nothing, even if the trees had no leaves she could still perfectly hide herself in them.
"Well, you are a ninja after all. I'm also surprised though."
The sound of someone landing on twigs came from his left side as looked over his shoulder to see her. But when he saw what she was wearing, he covered his mouth in his last attempt to keep himself from laughing. She hasn't gotten out of the black clothing, only now she wore a coat and scarf to keep her warm.
"You should be surprised, now I know I can sneak up on you anytime I want to."
"Wrong, I'm surprised because you keep following me."
Takara fell to the ground and then shot back up in fury, "What are you talking about? Why would 'I', Isami Takara need to follow a little jerk like you?"
Soujiro smiled, "You know we're back where we started."
Her fist went her the front of her face as she glared deeply at him, "Don't change the subject Seta! . . . What do you mean 'back where we started'?"
"Well, I'm just trying to say that we're almost to Tokyo yet again." Tapping his chin Soujiro looked up at the sky, "Funny, I must've taken a wrong turn."
Looking skeptical Takara raised an eyebrow, "Men like you need to stay home where they belong or else they'll just end up getting themselves killed."
Soujiro immediately shot back a glare, "THAT was uncalled for."
Takara grinned evilly, "Ah, did I strike a nerve? Besides it's true."
Turning her nose to the trees she laughed, and Soujiro well he stared at her blankly.
"Hey Birdie, I believe they call it ego."
ANIME DROP
Before another comment was made Soujiro walked off in the direction of the capital. As he did so though he could feel Takara beaming at him through her thick eyelashes. Momentarily he stopped and again looked over at the girl whom had her arms crossed; "I have a question Birdie."
"That's nice . . . SAVE IT for later!"
But as she was about to walk passed him she was stopped by an arm held out in front of her.
"Why was a ninja such as you in Tokyo?"
Rolling her eyes to the question she looked over at him once more, "Haven't I told you already, 'I' was the Okashira Phoenix."
Pushing his arm away she began to walk again when quite suddenly her arm was grabbed and yanked backward. Confused and angry at the same time she quickly threw Soujiro a glare.
"What? I told you the reason!"
"No you didn't."
Now, frozen from his comment she only stared at him.
"Why did you come back from China when you had a great life over there."
Yet again she was frozen to the ground, and her body wouldn't move as he held her tightly in his one hand.
'Damn, does he have that much power over me?'
Her eyes drifted down to the hand that had her in its grasp and clearly Takara almost wanted to the kill the guy but something was stopping her from doing so.
"Life . . . hardly. I ran away from China, I didn't belong there but my clan didn't want me to come back to Japan alone so they came with me."
Hoping that was all he wanted to listen to she was expecting him to let go of her arm but only realized that he wouldn't let go. Again she became stiff; his blue eyes piercing her flesh at she stood there.
"That's not the only reason is it?"
'What the HELL?! He doesn't know me so how could he know there was more to it then that?'
Then she thought of something, 'Can he read my emotions?'
"Tell me Takara, what's the other reason."
Did he just do what she thought he just did; did he just say her name? She stared wide-eyed at him but soon broke away from his eyes the minute she knew she'd have to tell him.
"In China the Okashira Phoenix was well known because he or she served the empress. But then, the empress I was serving killed herself because the emperor died in battle and she did not want to split with him. When a new emperor and empress came, they both decided to disown the Phoenix clan and make them the new enemies. So, as leader, I had to protect each and every one of the members in the clan. Hoping that one day the government would reclaim the clan.
In the end, they never did and I fought with them tooth and nail, but still they wouldn't let us work for them. We soon became the outlaws and every Chinese ninja was out for my head. I was Japanese, I didn't belong there, and it was their country and their dynasty. Any and every Japanese person from there on was hunted especially me so I took desperate measures. I used up the last of the funds that the clan had earned and used it to get a boat. From there on everyone followed me, and because they followed me to a place where they didn't belong, each and every one of them were . . . slaughtered."
Turning her face away she let her bangs fall into place and awaited Soujiro's next move. But the next move that came was something that relieved her; he finally let go of her upper arm. The footsteps of the boy passed her and continued away from her. Takara gasped and her head shot upward to the retreating form of Soujiro.
Everyone . . . the people that she knew were pushing her away every moment she talked about her past. Even Soujiro did the same, but why do this to a girl who was still a child when she witnessed death? No one pitied her and for that she was glad but then again something inside of her was crying out in rage. That something was trying to be noticed and she was covering it up so well.
"HEY! Don't ignore me! Here I am being kind enough to answer a question and look what you pull!" Her hands went into fists as she stomped forward behind the boy. "The LEAST you could do is tell me something about you since all I know about you is your NAME!"
Soujiro stopped, that's right, he hadn't told her anything about him yet. Then again, it might be better if he didn't. Passing a slight glance over to her, he smiled, "Well, what DO you want me to say? That I don't understand?"
Throwing a glare to her side, "At least you would've said something unlike her."
Soujiro blinked, "Who?"
Closing her eyes and breathing out she walked forward, "Who cares, just another person."
When she passed him an evil grin spread from ear to ear, now she had a question for him. Hopefully he would answer this time.
"So Seta, why are you constantly traveling? Why not settle down somewhere?"
Smiling he walked beside her, "It don't suit me to stay in one place for to long."
"Then why do you carry a sword?"
His smile growing, "As I told you, I'm only carrying this bag, there just happens to be a sword inside."
Again looking away she breathed out a simple "Pfft!" and threw her arms behind her head as they continued to walk. Then another question popped in her mind and she just had to hit herself.
'DUH!'
"So then, if you know it's in the bag, why do you carry it?"
Taken back by the question his gaze fell on her with a shocked expression in place. HA HA! She finally did it, she finally caught him, but she had to ask herself why didn't she ask this question before?
Soujiro thought about the question thoroughly before answering, "Who knows when I might need it, after all I could sell it for some money."
She caught him, "But people don't want swords anymore, what could they possibly do with them?"
Again the boy looked up to the sky and thought, she was asking trick questions, she wanted him to say something that she could go on. So instead of saying something he said nothing and shut himself up.
Takara began laughing, "I knew it, you're some kind of swordsman aren't 'cha?!"
'Shut yourself Soujiro, anything more and she'll use it sometime later against you. Besides she doesn't need to know what has happened in your past.'
Her laughter continued and didn't die, humiliating him in the process. Finally, annoyed by her making comments about it Soujiro stopped and did his best to look serious. Takara glanced back at him with a smile soon disappearing due to the expression.
Sighing he said, "Listen Birdie, I don't care if you like me or not but please try not to attract attention."
Shrugging her shoulders she continued on the path, "Whatever."
Looking up to the sky Soujiro saw the darkening clouds above them, "It's going to snow soon."
...
Back in Tokyo
...
He was finally asleep, dry and asleep in bed. Aiko stared down at him sleeping peacefully on the futon. She was happy what had happened earlier, now she knew that nothing was going to happen between them.
...
Kyoto
February 23 1865
...
Here they were, in front of the Vice-Chief and the Chief. The tension in the air almost choking him as he stood there staring into the two stricken faces. Yamanami sat on the ground, watching his two friend's try they're hardest not to feel the grief he had put them through. But he knew surely he did what the outcome of this was going to be, and he was prepared to go through with it.
"Why . . . Why Sannan? To leave the group WHAT? . . ."
"I wonder . . . what if I asked you both to listen to you're hearts for the source of this event."
Shocked Kondo looked at him, "What? What does that mean?! Are you . . . trying to tell us we were the ones who chased you out?!"
Smiling to looked to the ground, "Chased . . . well. If you can consider destroying those who stand in your way, then of course."
"Do you seriously believe that?"
His gaze shot up to the Vice-Chief who looked more grief-stricken then Kondo and the smile suddenly disappeared from his face.
"Do you truly believe that you are a hindrance?!"
"Thinking of such ridiculous things!"
He only stared at them, then shook his head fiercely before looking seriously at them once more. Then slightly bowing to them both and he yelled at the top of his lungs, "Please let everyone know as soon as possible! The punishment for Vice-Chief Yamanami Keisuke for leaving the Shinsengumi is nothing but seppuku!"
Shocked, Okita stared down at his friend, for the first time in a long time he couldn't breathe because of what was happening. His friend, Yamanami, was basically asking if he could kill himself. The two older men were also as shocked as Okita when the man announced the punishment. Hijikata face turned pale as he stared at him, and Yamanami stared back. Before Kondo could say anything, Hijikata had jumped down from the engawa and made his way toward the man sitting.
"Souji, lend him your wakizashi."
Okita's eyes widened as the hand on his katana went instead for the wakizashi, carefully pulling it from his side. Trying not to falter as he handed the blade to his dear friend Okita took a step away.
Yamanami sat there smiling at the piece of metal in his hand, "I really can't stop making you, from hating me more." He raised the wakizashi to his stomach and let it rest there, the smile not diminishing from his face.
"On this day many years ago, we prayed that something significant would be born."
The young man standing by him saw something changing in the mood as Yamanami held the short blade. Was he really going to commit seppuku? But instead of interfering he just waited for the outcome of the feeling, and continued to watch the man hesitate.
"Forgive me Hijikata-kun."
Without another moment of hesitation, the wakizashi quickly flew from his stomach into the air. But the moment that it came down it suddenly stopped, and a smile went across Yamanami's face once again.
"I wasn't even able to get near you, and see what has brought the marvelous feat."
The blade shuddered in his hands only inches from Hijikata's body and dropped to the ground. In Yamanami's side, a bloody sword stayed. Blood slightly spewing from the man's mouth as he stood. Behind him, a very bewildered boy stood there with absence of mind completely gone. Okita felt something in his stomach curling up in his throat as he stared that the area where his sword had punctured the man's clothing and skin. Taking in a shaky deep breath Okita pulled the sword out from Yamanami's side, crimson droplets following the path the sword made.
"Yamanami-san . . ." Okita choked on his words and just stood there seeing the man in pain fall to the ground. Hijikata also fell to the ground beside his old friend, shock covering up most of the feelings in him at the moment.
"You . . . might . . . have already forgotten . . . long ago on Hino's . . . ground . . . You . . . Told me . . . of your wish."
Grabbing onto Hijikata's gi, tears slowly welled up in his friends eyes as the blood came out of his body.
"I've . . . been so weak . . . uhh . . . I'm sorry . . . I'm sorry Hijikata-kun . . ."
Kondo covered his face with his hand, "That's enough Sannan. Be a . . . Please be a suicide assistant Souji."
No, he didn't want do go near Yamanami, he didn't want to be the one who sent him on his way to the afterlife. But, what could he do to ease the man's pain. He took in short breaths and tried to steady himself, Okita tried to hold back the tears that were threatening to come.
"Ple . . . ase Okita-kun . . . It . . . it hurts."
His hands clenched hard onto the sword in his one hand, he took a step forward and lowered the sword into position. Then with one last choke the sword went quickly into the air and just as quickly as it came up it had come down.
That day . . . Yamanami Keisuke committed seppuku.
But in Okita Souji's mind, confusion and pain both lingered. He knew he did something that helped a man, but . . . he had just lost a close friend.
...
In Shirakawa 1850
...
The smell of smoke and the sound of screams terrified him. He was inside the house curled up in a corner with his sister, both of them shaking with fear. The younger boy holding onto his sister's kimono tightly, staying close to her hoping that the men wouldn't come after them next. The house was a mess, food lay scattered across the floor and the table broken in half.
When the screams ceased and the only sound were of villagers trying their hardest to put out the fires, the two children stood cautiously walked to the door. The girl opened the shoji slightly and peeked outside, some of the houses were on fire across the field. Soujiro opened the door all the way to see what his sister had been seeing, fires out of control as it took down the old Japanese homes. But there was one thing he didn't see; he couldn't see in the darkness where his parents were. They were taken from some men, but now only the villagers remained.
He took a step outside the door and began walking down the porch, stepping into puddles of something. Nariko noticed him walking away and being concerned she walked over to him, "Soujiro wait, what are you doing?"
"Where's oka-san . . . and otoo-san?"
His pace quickened as he reached the end of the engawa and he jumped off it. Nariko following him in fast pursuit.
"Soujiro wait."
She also wanted to know, but she feared on what had happened. But to let her younger brother know and see would hurt him so much. Soujiro turned at the end of the house and disappeared, Nariko also turned the corner and saw that her brother had stopped. Nariko's eyes widened almost immediately as she grabbed her brother and tried to yank him away from the sight. The minute she grabbed him though he began to scream and struggle out of her arms.
"OKA-SAN!"
It was a blood bath from some villagers and their parents, all of the bodies sliced open and each one laying down on the cold each. Soujiro began screaming and crying now, the sight of their parent's dead terrifying him. Nariko felt the same way, but she held onto her brother to keep him away from the bodies that lay in front of them. Crying she turned Soujiro's head away from it and held him tightly in her grasp, and from there on they both sobbed.
...
A few years later a young woman would come and see the many graves set out. She would be accompanied by three young men, her name was Maemi Kirasaka. The three men were Kondo Isami, Hijikata Toshizou, and Yamanami Keisuke, that day . . . they met the young boy Harumasa Soujiro and his elder sister Nariko.
TBC . . .
...
Next Chapter
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Takara see's someone rather unexpected and greets him with open arms. Then does Aiko help Okita live through the painful memories once again? Find out in the next chapter of "Where Are You Now?"
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Reviews
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CeeCee: "Falls on floor crying yet laughing" Thanks to you I have 67 reviews, OH YOU'RE SO KIND! I saw my yahoo mail page and I litterally was baffled to death. Dang not only from you but by some other people I got reviews on my story's. 11 reviews in all. You know I think I'll quote something that incadove once said to me. AH HEM "id tell you to get a life, but if you did, then I wouldnt be here almost every night now reading a new chapter of yours. So in the long run...I hope you never get a life." LOL!
JadeGoddess: The series Rurouni Kenshin really confused me on dates. They were saying that the time the series was place on was the tenth year of Meiji . . . well, the Meiji era started in 1868 soo- MY story is based on the 11th year of Meiji a year after the Shishio event. So right now Soujiro is now wandering, so the answer to your question is . . . well . . . no?
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AN: If anyone is confused on the word Oka-san and otoo-san, it means mother and father.
Fanfic by ione