Disclaimer: I don't own RK… -yawn-
A/N: Thanks for your kind input, reviewers!
StormHornet – Yes, I love Tomoe's character too; LOL.
Battosaichick – Heheh, yes, maybe later on… -wink-
Recap –
… "No, Father," I took a deep breath, "I am going to see Soujirou-kun."
Before The Dawn – Chapter 7
The room, which had been quiet before, grew deathly silent. Even my Father seemed surprised. "You- you are going to see Seta-san?"
"Hai." Seta Soujirou was a friend of my family's. They had been a big family. Until a while ago, the family was made up of Seta Shina-san, Soujirou's mother, Seta Jiro-san, his father, Seta Akina-chan, his sister, and Soujirou-kun himself. My mother, before she passed away, had a special relationship with Soujirou's mother. I loved her. She was like a mother to me when Mother died. But then … her daughter, Akina-chan, died when she was only five years old at the hands of an 'unknown murderer'. This happened about seven years ago, when I was 10. My mother was in heaven by then, and only knew Akina-chan for three years. It was a great loss. I remember Akina-chan as being a sweet girl. Her eyes would always be open wide with wonder and astonishment.
Things turned even worse for the Seta family then. Shina-san's husband, Jiro-san, he dedicated himself to finding the murderer. One night, five years ago, when I was 12, Jiro-san went out looking for the murderer, his family following. He went, despite the fact that it was two years after his daughter's death. The murderer, who revealed himself to being Shishio Makoto, killed him as his wife and son looked on. Shina was heartbroken, but was not about to leave her son, also 12 years old, all alone without any family. Crying, she led Soujirou away, back to their house, with Soujirou silent.
Shina knew she could not live through this heartbreak for too long. She had loved her husband so much, and to see him struck down as she watched was too much. Two years later, when Soujirou and I were 14, she said good-bye and left this world. Soujirou and I are very close. He has told me how when he returned from getting food one night, he found his mother's body, with a knife plunged in her chest and blood still dripping. How he dropped to the floor in sorrow and saw the note. How he picked it up and saw the two words inscribed on it: I'm sorry.
I made my way out of the mansion and over to Soujirou's house. It had been the family house, and it was humble and small. I hoped Soujirou would not be looking for Shishio again. Since it was Shishio who killed his sister and father and caused his mother to kill herself, he, like his father once did, goes out and searches for him. Soujirou is very talented with swords, and is the top swordsman in Serras.
"Soujirou-kun?" I called, knocking on the door. "Hello? Soujirou-kun? Are you home, Sou-chan?" No answer. "Soujirou-kun?" then a thought struck me. For the three years that Soujirou has been alone, they have sent people to look after him. The family is horrible and abuses him. Their names are the Aikos. They send him to do all the work and more. They are supposed to help, but instead they just hurt him. Perhaps they were making him work. "Soujirou-kun!" I called. "I'm letting myself in!"
I went to open the door, and found it locked. Growling in annoyance, I kicked the door open and smiled, though there was a nagging fear at the back of my mind. "Soujirou-kun!" I walked through the house and when I neared the back I thought I heard the slash of a sword. Gasping, I ran outside the back to see bodies littering the ground and the last of the Aikos fall. Soujirou's eyes were shadowed. "Soujirou!"
He turned to face me and smiled in his soft way. He was always smiling. "Sayonara, Kaoru," he whispered to me. Then he turned the sword upon himself.
"Soujirou, no!" I screamed, and propelled myself forward.
Soujirou had shut his eyes and prepared for death. It never came. Crying out his name, I had leaped in front of him and caught the blade in my hands. He stared down at me in shock. "Kaoru-chan…"
I let go of the sword; my hands covered in blood and stinging, and grabbed his hand. I fell upon the floor at his feet. I got up on my knees, still holding Soujirou's hand. "N-no, Soujirou…" I said, crying, "Shina-san would not have wanted it this way."
"Kaoru-chan…" he repeated. "My m-mother…?" then he fell down beside me and held onto me like the world was ending. "Kaoru-chan…"
"Soujirou-kun…" I loved Soujirou so much. I did not want him to die. "Soujirou-kun… you've killed the Aikos… you are a murderer now, Soujirou!"
Soujirou just smiled sadly. "I know."
I opened my mouth to speak, when Soujirou grabbed me and threw me away. I rolled and landed far from where I had been. I looked over at Soujirou to see him defending himself against Shishio Makoto's sword. "Soujirou!" I cried. If he had not thrown me sideways, I would be dead by now.
Soujirou was wincing; he could not hold back Shishio Makoto forever. "Run, Kaoru!" he shouted. "This is my battle!"
"Soujirou – I can't leave you alone!" I stood up and readied myself.
"Kaoru …" he looked at me for one long moment, "if you die, then I will truly be alone! Now run!"
Shishio spoke. "You are indeed powerful, boy. I see you have killed before. Join me, son of Seta Jiro." Shishio, who was wrapped in bandages like a mummy, grinned. "Join me, Seta Soujirou."
"Never!" Soujirou threw off another of Shishio's attacks. "Run, Kaoru!" Shishio looked at me and tossed Soujirou aside. He advanced toward me. Soujirou stretched out a hand. "Run, Kaoru! Please, run!"
"Who are you?" Shishio asked me.
"Your defeater!" I shouted, and took up Soujirou's sword, which had been flung aside. I ran toward him and was about to attack when suddenly –
"Stop this!" Saito Hajime stepped forward and Shishio cursed, then, in a puff of smoke, disappeared. "Find him!" Saito barked, and a dozen police officers that had been behind him ran off to find Shishio. Saito looked at me and spoke, "Kamiya-san. Konnichiwa. We have a murderer we must take to jail, so you can leave now. Give your father my regards." His narrow eyes swiveled to Soujirou. "Seta, you are under arrest for the murder of five people. You also have an appointment with the gallows at sunset for this crime."
Soujirou bowed his head. "Hai."
"No!" I shouted. "You cannot hang my friend!" I ran up and sheltered him.
Soujirou smiled sadly and tried to get me to go home. "Kaoru, by killing these people I have sealed my fate. I am sorry."
"Move." Saito spoke with anger.
I did not move a muscle. "Leave, Saito-san."
"You leave, Kamiya. I have to take this man to jail."
"You will not take Soujirou to jail."
"I will, and you will not stand in my way, Kamiya."
"Oh contraire, Saito-san," I said. "Leave this man. The people you see were abusing him. Its not his fault."
"Kamiya, Kamiya…" He narrowed his eyes. "You silly little girl."
I mimicked him childishly, and stuck my tongue out. "No, Saito-san. I will not."
"Kaoru, move," Soujirou said firmly. "I have sealed my fate. There is no reason for you to remain here. Go, Kaoru." Soujirou's brown hair shook with his frail form in tears. "I do not wish for you to get hurt."
I ignored him. "Saito-san! Leave, or you will have to take me to prison with Soujirou-kun!" I cried defiantly.
"Fine with me," Saito said, and grabbed my arm.
"Hey! Hey!" I shouted. "Let me go!"
Saito ignored me. He grabbed Soujirou's arm to and dragged us to his carriage. "I'm sorry, Kamiya." With that he put Soujirou and I in the carriage and – before I could breathe – he had knocked my head against the wall. I heard Soujirou's cry of protest and ironically thought, 'Well, now I guess I won't be able to make the date I have with Kenshin tonight.' And then – nothing.
TBC…A/N:
Oh, poor Sou-kun! I'm glad Kaoru was there. And I love Saito! Even
if he is a meany-face in this story!
So…
I'll update again soon! Please review and tell me what you think of
it!
