The Answer is Love
Chapter Two
Early in the morning, the next day…
Aoshi stared at the Aoiya, the place where his loved ones live. He was leaving for Hokkaido that day. Aoshi was going to face his "rival" for the first time in many years. He was going to risk his life for those he loved most: his family living and sleeping at the Aoiya. He turned his back on it and walked a few steps away. He eyed a big barrel and then he sighed. He looked back one last time and said, "Sayonara, for now. I'm sure I can trust everyone to keep their words." Aoshi turned and walked into the dark and quiet streets, on his way to the forest that will lead him to his destination.
"Great, the coast is clear!" said a mischievous little voice from the barrel. Misao slowly crept out of her hiding place and then she started stretching. She had been hiding in there since two in the morning, waiting for Aoshi to leave. The night before, she devised a plan which she dubbed as the' Sneak-to-Hokkaido-and-impress-and-help-Aoshi-sama-win-in-his-battle-against-the-idiotic-Okashira-wannabe' plan. As its name implies, Misao's plan is to beat Aoshi to Hokkaido, meet him there, show him that he is a true woman who loves him and launch Ryu Teshimine's sorry ass to hell. Misao grinned widely and turned to the road opposite the road that Aoshi had passed, carrying a bag with extra clothes, some money, some food and her Oniwabanshuu Ninja Survival Kit.
I'm sorry for disobeying you, Aoshi-sama but I really want you to know that I am a woman who is strong and brave. You'll appreciate my help later…
In a forest one kilometer from Kyoto…
"I must thank Shishio-san for teaching me Shukuchi. I can travel really quickly with it!" Soujiro grinned at the fact that he already reached two hours worth of traveling in just eleven minutes.
"If I am not mistaken, Kyoto is just a kilometer away from here." Soujiro said. He looked down at the ground. "Kyoto… That's where I began my journey. I wonder…" The ex-Tenken closed his eyes and began thinking again. I wonder if going back here would help me find the answers to my questions. He opened his eyes again and saw that the sun was rising.
"Ara! I'd better get going! It's much easier to get there early." Soujiro realized. He didn't have any food and he really needed to do something to get money. He decided that going to Kyoto meant a job, a job meant money and money meant food.
Soujiro dashed through the forest until he saw a thin old man who appeared to have a big back pack behind him. He looked like he was going to collapse under the weight of the thing. Soujiro approached him.
"Good morning sir! Do you have a problem?" Soujiro inquired politely, a smile upon his lips. The old man's eyes widened. He put down his bag and turned to Soujiro.
"Good morning to you also, young man. Yes, in fact, I have quite a problem here." The old man said. He was sweating and he looked like he was traveling all night.
"Is it with that enormous bag sir?"
"Why, yes it is. Sorry to interrupt you um, Mr.-"
"Ara! How rude me not to introduce myself!" Soujiro said, smiling widely and clutching the back of his hair. "My name is Soujiro, sir. Soujiro Seta." Soujiro bowed down in respect.
"Oh. My name is Isamu Yagami. I'm pleased to meet such a nice and polite young man like you, Soujiro-kun." Mr. Yagami bowed back. "It looks like you're in a hurry. Why don't you get going now?"
"I'm in no hurry, Yagami-san. Would you please tell me what your problem is?"
Mr. Yagami raised a thining eyebrow. "Why would you want to help a man like me? Oh well, if you insist. I'm from Tokyo but I need to go to Kyoto to visit my grandchildren but I seem to have suffered from a backache and I think that can't continue. I feel very weak and I want to rest here but I promised my grandchildren that I'd be there as soon as they wake up today."
"Oh, I see. So you suffer from backaches because of carrying heavy things?"
"Well, I get these kinds of pains when I do carry heavy things, like my bag." Mr. Yagami said. "But I also experience these whenever I do something strenuous, like a trip like this."
"Why didn't' you take the train?" Soujiro was getting curious.
"No money." The old man glanced guiltily at the ground.
"Then, why did you still go?" This is getting intriguing. Why did he still go? He would be risking his life just by going there.
"I promised to go. I love my grandchildren very much and I can't bear to break the promise I made to them. Also, they may not love me anymore if I betray them." Mr. Yagami answered simply. Soujiro's eyes widened.
He loves them… Love… Does it mean keeping a promise? How did it change a person? I'm still confused.
While Soujiro was lost in his thoughts, Mr. Yagami wiped his sweaty face with a towel and he slung the bag over his shoulder.
"Well, sorry to interrupt you, Seta-san. It would be best if I go now. I don't want to disappoint my grandchildren. Hope we meet again!" He turned and walked a few steps away.
"Wait! I want to help you! I'll carry that bag for you and I can bring you to Kyoto! I'm going there anyway! Please!" Soujiro said almost desperately. This man knew what love was; He could feel it and he gives it as well. The ex-Tenken wanted to know what it is. Plus, he remembered what Kenshin Himura had said; we must use our abilities to help the weak. Obviously enough, Mr. Yagami was weak with backaches.
Mr. Yagami's almost none-existent brows shot up. He then smiled and nodded.
Soujiro grinned wider as he took the backpack from Mr. Yagami's shoulders and put them over his own. Soujiro tied his own smaller bag to the belt of his blue hakama, beside his katana. After securing his bag, he picked up Mr. Yagami who looked quite baffled by what Soujiro had just done.
"Seta-san, I'm really quite intrigued. Why did you pick me up?"
Instead of answering the question, Soujiro just smiled and said, "Please hold on, Yagami-san. We wouldn't want you falling off on the way. I'm sure your grandchildren would be upset if you do."
With that, Soujiro zoomed through the forest, one step short of Shukuchi.
Somewhere in the big region of Kyoto…
"Excuse me, but do you know the quickest way to the forest that is Hokkaido bound?" Misao Makimachi, okashira of the most-feared Oniwabanshuu, asked almost pleadingly to a young man, who in turn stared at her wide-eyed and confused. It was around 6 AM in the morning and people were starting to get up. Add also the fact that Misao hasn't even gotten out of Kyoto.
Probably staring because of my stunning beauty. Or maybe he just doesn't understand.
Misao inquired again, the second time slower and clearer than the first time, just to make sure that the man understood. The man, once again, stood there and stared. Misao was getting really ticked off. She decided that it was time to show him what she was made of. He grabbed the unfortunate one's collar and shouted.
"Listen bub, it's either you tell me if you know the way or I send you off to next week!" Misao's eyes flared with cute anger as she yelled at the poor man. The man gasped and ran away as fast as he could, terrified by the wrath of the so-called weasel girl. Misao sighed. That was the sixth person she scared that morning. In addition to that, she had already gone around Kyoto looking for that sign that said "To Hokkaido". She frowned and looked down at the ground for the reason that she was very disappointed with herself.
Some Oniwabanshuu okashira I am… I can't even find that sign… Well, I've never been there anyway… how should I know!
Sighing, she decided that she should look for another "victim" to ask for directions. There's no point in stopping now.
In Mr. Yagami's big house in Kyoto…
"Tadaima!" Mr. Yagami called out to the house while Soujiro gaped at it. They had reached Kyoto in a record 5.5 minutes. Mr. Yagami's thin face smiled when he went into his home. All Soujiro could do was stare until the old man excitedly pulled him in his residence.
It turned out that our "penniless" Mr. Yagami had a mansion-like home in Kyoto. It was like one of Shishio's hideouts; big, spacious, wonderfully landscaped; its focal point's a huge pond with a nice sakura tree in the middle, atop a tiny island and small statue of Buddha beside it. That was just the outside. Inside, it looked like a Japanese home with a Western flair to it. The room where they received guests was just… unique. It had a small table in the middle surrounded by four soft-looking chairs. Instead of the typical Tatami mat, Mr. Yagami's guest room had a carpet with strange patterns that one would usually identify as Indian. The walls had beautiful paintings, both Japanese and foreign, and a wooden grandfather clock. On one side, there was a door leading to the kitchen and in the other was a shoji door leading to the nice garden.
"Father! You're here!" a woman came out of the kitchen door. She moved to where Mr. Yagami was standing and hugged the old man who hugged her back.
"A promise is a promise, Mariko!" Mr. Yagami said, still hugging his daughter. He let go of her and then he proceeded over to Soujiro.
"Mariko, this is Soujiro Seta. He helped me get here." Soujiro put down the big bag he was carrying and then he bowed down.
Mariko bowed down back. "Thank you for helping my father arrive here."
"It was my pleasure."
"So, are Aya and Taro awake?" Mr. Yagami asked sitting down on one of the chairs. Mariko shook her head. "Ara! I'd better make breakfast! The children would surely be happy once they see you! Please excuse me! It was nice meeting you Seta-san!" With that, she left.
"Well, Seta-san, is my house here nice?" Mr. Yagami asked, not meaning to boast but meaning to present. Soujiro snapped out of his stunned state to face Mr. Yagami.
"Yes sir, your house is indeed something. But I thought that you told me that you didn't have money to take the train?" The ex-Tenken's face looked very confused.
Mr. Yagami laughed loudly and then he grinned toothily. "Well, to tell you the truth, I actually have a lot of money because of my business. I export my hand-made art to other countries and they seem to be very popular. My daughter also invested in a rice-paddy up in the mountains."
Soujiro was still puzzled. "Sir, I don't mean to be rude but you didn't answer my question. Why didn't you take the train?"
Mr. Yagami grinned again and did the v-shaped peace sign. "I love exercise and hiking!"
"But what about your back?"
"Nothing in this world can hold me down, not even back aches and that nincompoop doctor who said that it was dangerous! Plus, I wanted to brag something to my two grandchildren! I made it didn't I? Hahahaha!" Mr. Yagami laughed heartily, both fingers in thumbs-up sign. Soujiro sighed and sat down, enjoying the softness of his seat, watching Mr. Yagami laugh and dance around the room triumphantly. In actuality, the old man wouldn't have made it without him but I didn't matter. He just smiled and looked around Mr. Yagami's guest room. When he saw the clock, his eyebrows went up and he instantly stood. 6:45 AM. He had to find a job already.
"I'm sorry, Yagami-san, but I can't stay for breakfast. I'm running late and I must go!" the boy said apologetically with an apologetic smile on his face.
Mr. Yagami stopped rejoicing immediately. "Oh, are you sure? Mariko's cooking is very good and my grandchildren would love to see you."
"I would surely enjoy eating with you and your family but you I really must leave. I wouldn't want to disturb the love you have here." Soujiro said, a little lonely but he still smiled. He had used the word love. Mr. Yagami obviously had his love from his family but Soujiro still didn't understand. He needed to go to find a job, but more importantly, he needed to go to continue his journey for answers, especially for this thing that they call love.
Mr. Yagami looked a little lonely but he said, "Sure, you may leave. But don't leave without this." Mr. Yagami reached for his enormous bag and he took out a small pouch which he gave to Soujiro. "Here's some money to show my gratitude to you for helping me get here. That's a total of five gold coins which could be traded for loads more." Soujiro wanted to say something but Mr. Yagami told him that it was OK to take the money. Reluctantly, Soujiro put the money in his bag and thanked the rich old man. They both went to the front gate where they bade farewell to each other.
"Goodbye Yagami-san. It was a pleasure meeting you. Thank you also for the money. I hope that we meet again." Soujiro said, with his everlasting smile.
"Goodbye to you too, Seta-san. Please come again. Wherever you're headed to, I hope you're successful. What're you doing anyway? A nice-looking young man like you should be looking for a wife." Mr. Yagami beamed cheekily.
Soujiro blushed at the fact that someone thought that he was a nice-looking young man and at the fact that Mr. Yagami suggested that he find a wife. But still, he answered. "Um, I'm on a journey to search for myself and find answers to questions that are always on my mind."
Mr. Yagami laughed. "That's not common now, is it? Good luck with that. Aside from the money, I, Isamu Yagami, volunteer to answer on of your questions. Lay one on me."
Soujiro felt indescribable. He wanted to ask so many questions but at the same time he wanted to be polite. He finally gave in to his curiosity and asked the question that had been troubling him since the night before. "Yagami-san, what is love?"
The rich man smiled and shook his head. "Soujiro-kun, you cannot simply ask what love is. You must feel it in order to understand it. But here's a clue: when you feel that you are willing to risk anything for it, you are close to love. Well, that's it I guess. You better be off now! Bye, Soujiro-kun!"
Soujiro didn't feel any better; in fact, he felt more confused. But he had to go now. "Goodbye, Yagami-san, may love be with you forever!"
'Whatever love is' he added to himself. Soujiro turned on his heel and walked away from the Yagami house and into the busy street. Thinking that he didn't need to work anymore because of the money, he was headed off to the forest to begin another one of his travels. Just then, he saw a very scared-looking man running opposite the way he was walking.
"What's the matter sir?" Soujiro asked inquisitively. The man's eyes were wide with fear and his face was just a few inches from Soujiro's. He grabbed the boy's collar and then started screaming.
"RUN FOR YOUR LIFE! A WOMAN ASKING FOR DIRECTIONS IS POSSESSED BY THE DEVIL! AAAAAGHHHHHH!" the man screamed. "If you want to live any longer, I suggest that you pass another way! It was hell, I tell you, and she had big green eyes with the ferocity of a wild animal! You are too young to die! Save yourself!" After that, the man ran away screaming "Demonic woman on the loose" repeatedly.
"That man looks really scared. Poor guy. Oh well, that can't stop me!" Soujiro smiled wider, shunning away the things that the man had said.
Whistling a little tune, he continued on, not noticing that he had come into direct contact with something that screamed, "What the hell was that for you jerk! I was just asking for directions damn it!" The thing fell back and glared daggers at Soujiro, who had nothing to do but examine the thing and smile.
The thing was a human. A human girl. A human girl who looked really pissed, with emerald green eyes, long black hair in a braid and a ninja outfit.
A/N: Well, that's the second chapter! Sorry it was late but I needed to do something. Anyway, this was a weird chapter that came out of nowhere. Sorry if there is no SouMi yet either. I just needed that old man there. He's like the guy who gives Sou valuable advice that he will realize later in the story. Hehe, bet you can predict the rest of the plot already. Are they OOC? Oh yeah, thanks for the reviews! For those who have just read, please review!
To Anithene-san: thanks for the review! It was very helpful. Well, I'm still trying to figure out how to make the sentences not that choppy. Yeah, my fic's cliché and I hate that! Oh well, I'll think of something to change that… anyway thanks and I'd like to say that I love your fics!
To naiLAUG-san: thanks too for the review! Inner beauty? Wow, you can see that? That's so flattering! glad you like the fic even if I have my doubts about it. anyway, here was the next pathetic chapter. Like it? Hate it? Oh well… (your stories rock!)
To Noname-san: ya, I'll check the grammar. Sometimes I'm just so careless… thanks for the review!
To Crystal Snowflakes-san: glad you liked it. Thanks for the review, and no, your stories are not crap at all.
To MSN-chan (aka Misao-chan)-san: thanks for the review! Dono…? Oro…?
To sou-chan+misao-chan-san: thanks for liking it and thanks for the review but I don't think that I'd be too confident about anything yet… anyway SouMi 4eva right!
To Mysterious Samurai-san, girlygirl-san, Cathy Mark-san and jamm-san: Thanks to y'all for the reviews!
See ya in the next chapter!
Moronicus
