Chapter 6
By Crystal
Author's Notes: [Chibigreen Tanuki] That might be it, because I haven't read the manga or anything, there might be more information on there. I rewatched the anime and it didn't say anything about his parents except the way his 'family' treated him. So I decided to make up my own. Thanks for the information though, I'll keep that in mind next time I write another Soujiro story. ^^;;
*Screw the disclaimers ^^;;*
Even though it's been only the third morning today, Soujiro had already grown accustomed to waking up with a still sleeping Toshiko near him. He liked being near her. She was always smiling at him understandingly. He was going to leave this place that was once his hometown in an hour or so. Toshiko had shown him that she did not mind his past, and for the first time, he finally understood why Himura-san was protecting the weak and the ones he loved most. But he still needed some answers, maybe a visit to the Battousai would help...
Being weak was not wrong, at all, nor was being strong. He finally understood. Shishio-san's philosophy was wrong. He would now stop killing if he didn't have a reason. He would not make heads fly just because he was in a foul mood. He was going to protect Toshiko, the sleeping beauty beside him that made him see the truth. Soujiro has found the truth in an year, while the Legendary Battousai found his in ten. He considered himself lucky. For having found the truth in such a short time and for finding a friend that understood him and trusted him. Most importantly, someone he could depend on. He was thankful.
'Thank you, Kami-sama.' He had been saying that quite a few times since he told Toshiko of his past. He use to always blame him. But it was the first time that he had said 'Thank you.' It was also the very first time he had found life enjoyable. With Shishio-san, it wasn't too much fun, alone on the road, it was even less fun. There was no Yumi-san to talk to, no one was even angry at him anymore. He was alone.
So they would be arriving at Otsu tonight. There wasn't any inns there, and there probably wasn't any family willing to let them live in their house. They would just have to sleep outside for another night.
"...Ohayou, Soujiro." Toshiko has just woken up and was rubbing the sleep from her eyes with the back of her hands and suppressed a yawn. She looked at him strangely. "Soujiro, what are you thinking about?" She asked politely.
At the sound of her voice, he had stopped thinking, "Ohayou, Toshiko. I was just thinking about our trip to Otsu. You don't mind if we sleep outside tonight, do you?"
"Iie, but could we stay in Otsu for a few hours? II want to see and check everything out. After all, we ARE on a trip." She looked at him pleadingly.
"I don't mind, but if we do that, we're going to have to sleep another night outside, since we won't be arriving at night to Kyoto if we stay there."
"Sure!" She folded her futon up excitedly.
Soujiro smiled a real smile at Toshiko when he saw her getting so excited about staying in Otsu for a few hours. She looked cute and beautiful, then stopped, realizing what he had just thought. He scowled himself inwardly, 'Soujiro, now where in the world had THAT come from, you baka!'
Toshiko looked at him amusingly at his dark blue eyes turning a lighter blue and then back to its original dark blue ones. She stifled a giggle, "Having fun debating with yourself, Soujiro?" And burst out laughing at his confused face. "You are clueless, Soujiro. Your eyes are turning from dark blue to a lighter shade of blue, then back to a dark blue!"
He smiled sheepishly and scratched the back of his head, "Was my eyes really doing that?"
"Hai, hai! So what were you thinking of? Or should I say debating yourself at?" She asked curiously.
"Er...kaimu..." And a light pink blush, but certainly visible showed up on his face.
"Nani? Daijoubu, Soujiro? You're not having a flu, are you?" She looked worried sick right now.
"Aa...It's nothing, don't worry about it. I don't get sick so easily." Soujiro said.
Breakfast was nice, and they ate quickly, wanting to start sooner so they would arrive earlier. It was still seven in the morning. Good thing some restaurants opened up early, or else they would have to eat out of their provision bags, which didn't have much stuff left, and the stores weren't opened up yet. It had to last until Otsu. Many old people were already up and having coffee at the restaurants and the couple seemed to be the only two that was under the age of thirty, the others were all old.
Suddenly, an old lady came towards the both of them and turned her face towards Toshiko, "My dear, do you mind if I have a little conversation with this young man here?"
Toshiko was a bit surprised, but did what she was told, an old lady wouldn't harm Soujiro anyways, he could take care of himself quite well. "Hai, I'll be back in a few minutes." She looked back at Soujiro one last time before she walked towards the washroom.
The old lady studied him for a little moment, "Soujiro, is it?"
He was taken by surprise, "H-how...? Do you know my name?"
She took a deep breathe, "Sou-chan...So it is you. No wonder you looked so familiar. That childish face, and your smile..."
"Hai...you are?"
"Tagagi Aoma... The old lady living beside the Seta family."
He sat there, mouth opened wide, bewildered, "Aoma-san...?"
She nodded her head happily, "Hai...It's nice to see you again. And your wife..."
He blushed, "She isn't my wife..."
"Sure, sure. That's a nice young looking lady you got there. She moves with grace and speaks nicely. I'm sure she's a great wife." She tapped the table, in thoughts. And added, "Sou-chan, after your breakfast, come to my house, I want to give you something."
"She isn't my wife." He said stubbornly, "And I can't accept anything from you. You've made me smile whenever I was with you."
Aoma shook her head, "You smile whether or not I take you out for a few minutes, now you're going to come to my house after this, even if it means making me drag you over there, Sou-chan."
"Demo..."
"Don't 'demo' me, Sou-chan. Your wife's back."
He sighed, "She is not my wife."
Toshiko heard Soujiro sigh, "Soujiro, what's wrong?" She asked, a bit worried. He's been acting a little weird today.
"Nothing, Toshiko, Nothing." Soujiro replied.
Aoma gave Soujiro a quick smile, "What a fine lady, Toshiko, am I right?"
"Hai..."
"Tagagi Aoma. Sou-chan, you have great taste. She certainly is a fine woman for someone like you. Toshiko, take care of him, after all you are his wife."
"..." She did not know how to respond to her. Saying no would not be respectful, but saying yes would definitely be lying. She looked at Soujiro for help, but got a weak smile from him. So THAT'S what he was sighing about. "Hai...Tagagi-san."
"See, Sou-chan, Toshi-chan isn't as embarrassed as you are. And you're a man! Anyhow, I presume you've both finished your breakfast, yes?" Inwardly, she smiled triumphantly, she loved teasing Sou-chan, even when he was a kid. And she was having quite the fun of her life seeing both Sou-chan and his 'wife' blush furiously. They definitely had something for each other.
Soujiro finally replied, "H-hai...Aoma-san..."
"All right, come along then lovebirds." She said and walked over to her friend's table saying she had something important to do.
Soujiro would've picked up Toshiko in a second and used his Shukuchi to run out of here if he had not been so respectful. He sighed inwardly. 'I wonder what Aoma-san is up to... She teased him to no end when he was small.' And suddenly felt a hand on his right arm. He looked up at saw Toshiko's bright smile and couldn't help but smile back.
"Soujiro, let's go. Tagagi-san has already gone out." She pulled him softly and he held her hand.
"Hai, Toshiko." Walking there took a few minutes, and they went in, telling Aoma-san that they were in a hurry. They watched her rush to one of her rooms, and come back with a beautifully wrapped box.
"Toshi-chan. This is for you, open it whenever and wherever you want, except here. I can't stand watching people opening presents I gave them." She gave her a soft smile.
"Tagagi-san, I can't accept this."
"Young lady, the least you can do is accept this and take care of Sou-chan. I've never had a son, I have two daughters though, and I love Sou-chan as a son. Only that I couldn't get him away from the Seta family hurting him, or else I would have, a long time ago. Take care of him, and when you two have children, come back, I will want to see them. You are my daughter-in-law."
Soujiro was going to object being Toshiko's husband, but knew better than to say no, he know how stubborn this woman in front of him was. "Hai Aoma-san. Take care of yourself. And I will promise you, when we have children, we'll bring them to see you."
They tightly hugged each other and Aoma gave Toshiko the wrapped box and hugged her 'daughter-in-law'. "I wish you both good luck."
They walked out the door and Toshiko turned around and said when Soujiro was out of earshot, "Tagagi-san, thank you for the present, take care of yourself." She hesitated, she did not mind being Soujiro's wife at all. Not at all. "I would love to be your daughter-in-law..." And walked out the door and heard one last comment.
"I know you would. You love him, a lot. And he you."
Author's Notes: I was not planning on Soujiro meeting this old lady, but I had a little idea forming in my head and it ended up being a whole chapter long. =p Anyhow, I really hope you enjoy this story... Otsu next chapter...I think. Thank you for everyone that has been reviewing and reading. I give you all my regards! It is 12 now, so I think I will go to sleep and wake up at 7 to do my chapter 7 =). Oyasumi and Sayonara, minna-san!
Kami-sama - God
Ohayou - Good morning
Iie - No
Futon - Japanese mattress to sleep on
Baka - Stupid, idiot
Hai - Yes
Kaimu - Nothing
Nani - What
Daijoubu? - Are you okay?
Demo - But
By Crystal
Author's Notes: [Chibigreen Tanuki] That might be it, because I haven't read the manga or anything, there might be more information on there. I rewatched the anime and it didn't say anything about his parents except the way his 'family' treated him. So I decided to make up my own. Thanks for the information though, I'll keep that in mind next time I write another Soujiro story. ^^;;
*Screw the disclaimers ^^;;*
Even though it's been only the third morning today, Soujiro had already grown accustomed to waking up with a still sleeping Toshiko near him. He liked being near her. She was always smiling at him understandingly. He was going to leave this place that was once his hometown in an hour or so. Toshiko had shown him that she did not mind his past, and for the first time, he finally understood why Himura-san was protecting the weak and the ones he loved most. But he still needed some answers, maybe a visit to the Battousai would help...
Being weak was not wrong, at all, nor was being strong. He finally understood. Shishio-san's philosophy was wrong. He would now stop killing if he didn't have a reason. He would not make heads fly just because he was in a foul mood. He was going to protect Toshiko, the sleeping beauty beside him that made him see the truth. Soujiro has found the truth in an year, while the Legendary Battousai found his in ten. He considered himself lucky. For having found the truth in such a short time and for finding a friend that understood him and trusted him. Most importantly, someone he could depend on. He was thankful.
'Thank you, Kami-sama.' He had been saying that quite a few times since he told Toshiko of his past. He use to always blame him. But it was the first time that he had said 'Thank you.' It was also the very first time he had found life enjoyable. With Shishio-san, it wasn't too much fun, alone on the road, it was even less fun. There was no Yumi-san to talk to, no one was even angry at him anymore. He was alone.
So they would be arriving at Otsu tonight. There wasn't any inns there, and there probably wasn't any family willing to let them live in their house. They would just have to sleep outside for another night.
"...Ohayou, Soujiro." Toshiko has just woken up and was rubbing the sleep from her eyes with the back of her hands and suppressed a yawn. She looked at him strangely. "Soujiro, what are you thinking about?" She asked politely.
At the sound of her voice, he had stopped thinking, "Ohayou, Toshiko. I was just thinking about our trip to Otsu. You don't mind if we sleep outside tonight, do you?"
"Iie, but could we stay in Otsu for a few hours? II want to see and check everything out. After all, we ARE on a trip." She looked at him pleadingly.
"I don't mind, but if we do that, we're going to have to sleep another night outside, since we won't be arriving at night to Kyoto if we stay there."
"Sure!" She folded her futon up excitedly.
Soujiro smiled a real smile at Toshiko when he saw her getting so excited about staying in Otsu for a few hours. She looked cute and beautiful, then stopped, realizing what he had just thought. He scowled himself inwardly, 'Soujiro, now where in the world had THAT come from, you baka!'
Toshiko looked at him amusingly at his dark blue eyes turning a lighter blue and then back to its original dark blue ones. She stifled a giggle, "Having fun debating with yourself, Soujiro?" And burst out laughing at his confused face. "You are clueless, Soujiro. Your eyes are turning from dark blue to a lighter shade of blue, then back to a dark blue!"
He smiled sheepishly and scratched the back of his head, "Was my eyes really doing that?"
"Hai, hai! So what were you thinking of? Or should I say debating yourself at?" She asked curiously.
"Er...kaimu..." And a light pink blush, but certainly visible showed up on his face.
"Nani? Daijoubu, Soujiro? You're not having a flu, are you?" She looked worried sick right now.
"Aa...It's nothing, don't worry about it. I don't get sick so easily." Soujiro said.
Breakfast was nice, and they ate quickly, wanting to start sooner so they would arrive earlier. It was still seven in the morning. Good thing some restaurants opened up early, or else they would have to eat out of their provision bags, which didn't have much stuff left, and the stores weren't opened up yet. It had to last until Otsu. Many old people were already up and having coffee at the restaurants and the couple seemed to be the only two that was under the age of thirty, the others were all old.
Suddenly, an old lady came towards the both of them and turned her face towards Toshiko, "My dear, do you mind if I have a little conversation with this young man here?"
Toshiko was a bit surprised, but did what she was told, an old lady wouldn't harm Soujiro anyways, he could take care of himself quite well. "Hai, I'll be back in a few minutes." She looked back at Soujiro one last time before she walked towards the washroom.
The old lady studied him for a little moment, "Soujiro, is it?"
He was taken by surprise, "H-how...? Do you know my name?"
She took a deep breathe, "Sou-chan...So it is you. No wonder you looked so familiar. That childish face, and your smile..."
"Hai...you are?"
"Tagagi Aoma... The old lady living beside the Seta family."
He sat there, mouth opened wide, bewildered, "Aoma-san...?"
She nodded her head happily, "Hai...It's nice to see you again. And your wife..."
He blushed, "She isn't my wife..."
"Sure, sure. That's a nice young looking lady you got there. She moves with grace and speaks nicely. I'm sure she's a great wife." She tapped the table, in thoughts. And added, "Sou-chan, after your breakfast, come to my house, I want to give you something."
"She isn't my wife." He said stubbornly, "And I can't accept anything from you. You've made me smile whenever I was with you."
Aoma shook her head, "You smile whether or not I take you out for a few minutes, now you're going to come to my house after this, even if it means making me drag you over there, Sou-chan."
"Demo..."
"Don't 'demo' me, Sou-chan. Your wife's back."
He sighed, "She is not my wife."
Toshiko heard Soujiro sigh, "Soujiro, what's wrong?" She asked, a bit worried. He's been acting a little weird today.
"Nothing, Toshiko, Nothing." Soujiro replied.
Aoma gave Soujiro a quick smile, "What a fine lady, Toshiko, am I right?"
"Hai..."
"Tagagi Aoma. Sou-chan, you have great taste. She certainly is a fine woman for someone like you. Toshiko, take care of him, after all you are his wife."
"..." She did not know how to respond to her. Saying no would not be respectful, but saying yes would definitely be lying. She looked at Soujiro for help, but got a weak smile from him. So THAT'S what he was sighing about. "Hai...Tagagi-san."
"See, Sou-chan, Toshi-chan isn't as embarrassed as you are. And you're a man! Anyhow, I presume you've both finished your breakfast, yes?" Inwardly, she smiled triumphantly, she loved teasing Sou-chan, even when he was a kid. And she was having quite the fun of her life seeing both Sou-chan and his 'wife' blush furiously. They definitely had something for each other.
Soujiro finally replied, "H-hai...Aoma-san..."
"All right, come along then lovebirds." She said and walked over to her friend's table saying she had something important to do.
Soujiro would've picked up Toshiko in a second and used his Shukuchi to run out of here if he had not been so respectful. He sighed inwardly. 'I wonder what Aoma-san is up to... She teased him to no end when he was small.' And suddenly felt a hand on his right arm. He looked up at saw Toshiko's bright smile and couldn't help but smile back.
"Soujiro, let's go. Tagagi-san has already gone out." She pulled him softly and he held her hand.
"Hai, Toshiko." Walking there took a few minutes, and they went in, telling Aoma-san that they were in a hurry. They watched her rush to one of her rooms, and come back with a beautifully wrapped box.
"Toshi-chan. This is for you, open it whenever and wherever you want, except here. I can't stand watching people opening presents I gave them." She gave her a soft smile.
"Tagagi-san, I can't accept this."
"Young lady, the least you can do is accept this and take care of Sou-chan. I've never had a son, I have two daughters though, and I love Sou-chan as a son. Only that I couldn't get him away from the Seta family hurting him, or else I would have, a long time ago. Take care of him, and when you two have children, come back, I will want to see them. You are my daughter-in-law."
Soujiro was going to object being Toshiko's husband, but knew better than to say no, he know how stubborn this woman in front of him was. "Hai Aoma-san. Take care of yourself. And I will promise you, when we have children, we'll bring them to see you."
They tightly hugged each other and Aoma gave Toshiko the wrapped box and hugged her 'daughter-in-law'. "I wish you both good luck."
They walked out the door and Toshiko turned around and said when Soujiro was out of earshot, "Tagagi-san, thank you for the present, take care of yourself." She hesitated, she did not mind being Soujiro's wife at all. Not at all. "I would love to be your daughter-in-law..." And walked out the door and heard one last comment.
"I know you would. You love him, a lot. And he you."
Author's Notes: I was not planning on Soujiro meeting this old lady, but I had a little idea forming in my head and it ended up being a whole chapter long. =p Anyhow, I really hope you enjoy this story... Otsu next chapter...I think. Thank you for everyone that has been reviewing and reading. I give you all my regards! It is 12 now, so I think I will go to sleep and wake up at 7 to do my chapter 7 =). Oyasumi and Sayonara, minna-san!
Kami-sama - God
Ohayou - Good morning
Iie - No
Futon - Japanese mattress to sleep on
Baka - Stupid, idiot
Hai - Yes
Kaimu - Nothing
Nani - What
Daijoubu? - Are you okay?
Demo - But
