Remember, ALL OCs!

Chapter 4: Journey's Distraction

Wakasa Bay

The signs of life pondered around the Wakasa bay, mistaking water as water; nothing more than what the obvious offered. But he knew better, Soujirou knew this bay was more than what meets the eye. Water replenishes our souls and gives us life; to live and breathe with ease. The lesson given can only be taught if the learner yearns its meaning.

Hypocritical…Soujirou thought.

He had to learn the hard way, confused of his wills. But had he a will? Had he been given the choice in life? The boy was only pressured to surpass his unwanted emotions. If fate refuses to change, neither will the victim.

The answer was far from his reach, until justice came one day. A wanderer came into his life, and gave him a little faith, hoping that that small amount flourish beyond prospect. And now, Seta was put to the test, the challenge of gaining hope for himself and a chance for life.

He took on that challenge, deciding to wander for ten years, just like the Rurouni did.

A fresh start?

Hard, but most certainly possible.

Soujirou had almost missed the dark presence. Luckily he didn't, and he maneuvered aside as quickly as the strike. "Well, that's not very honest to smite an unaware civilian."

"Seta Soujirou." The man's cold voice called out, "Just assuring what was said about you was true."

Soujirou turned around to see the unidentified attacker, stiff as ever. Of course he didn't want any trouble, so Seta smiled and said to the man, "Gomen ne, I am but a wanderer. You must mean someone else." Light eyes flashed in disapproval, unwilling to believe his deceitful words. He said nothing back, but only readied his remote weapon with a woven handle attached to the sheath. Soujirou wondered what to do; not to cause harm for either of them, but defeating the man's purposed to offend him. "Onegai, I can do nothing of what you need, I have no skill of such."

"If what you say is true, then you won't fight back when I attack you with my tachi."

"I don't know about that, if I must defend myself I will, but not for your amusement, sir. What is it that you want from me?" His polite tone implied that he was not going to give in to this fight so easily.

The mysterious man shifted into a lower crouch, "You name is Seta Soujirou isn't it?" he received a simple nod. "Then you are the prodigy, the Tenken who nearly defeated Hitokiri battousai, Kenshin. Come fight me, and show your skills; it's not an offer."

Soujirou sighed shortly, placing a hand on the hilt of his Kikuichimonji-norimune, "I haven't drawn this blade for several months now, almost a year. I really don't want to use it."

"It's not an option, Seta."

The wind flowed westward, capturing a scent while I it did; the scent of Hamanashi koshin (Rugosa rose). Soujirou laid his eyes on the sun set's horizon, not wanting to face the keeper of such a distinctive smell. He did not want to turn back, not to the reminder of the past. Soujirou spent one year erasing each deficiency of his ways, his presence only gained Soujirou poor memories and unwanted affliction. "I never would've thought you would be the one to plot this attack against me. Come out, Honjou-san."

The shadowed young man stepped out into the clearing, smiling back at Soujirou, "Hello Soujirou-san. It's good to know you still have your senses."

Soujirou giggled humorously, "What's this all about? Are you still mad about me not paying you back for that rice cake I bought?"

The girl-boy chuckled, "No, not that, silly boy. Though it reminds me I still need the money, but that's beside the point." The levity on his face ended abruptly, "I need your help, Soujirou."

"How can I help? By fighting with this man?"

"No. Help me restore Shishio's name."

Soujirou mindlessly scratched his left arm, "I don't… Gomen nasai. I can't do what you're asking."

His expression grew hard, "I don't know what went on in the fight with Himura, but what ever he said has deluded you. Rejoin the group I've assembled, Soujirou. Come with me and reclaimed Japan's future. Help me make Shishio's dreams come true."

Soujirou dropped his arm loosely and turned away from his gaze, "You've assembled a group? How reserving, but this proposal is out of my league. I'm glad you remember our friendship and the memory of Shishio-san, but it's time we moved on towards the future, and leave the past. Even I can understand that, Honjou."

"I see… So you've become Himura as well. You believe him." Kamatari tightly wrapped five more fingers around the base of his Benten, in spite of his anger, "I hate him. I want to kill him."

The tall man wedged his blade to the ground, and used his free hands to adjust unfastened gloves. "You and I both, Kamatari. Don't forget our pact."

"For sure I won't."

"Now," the point of his tachi scraped against the sand, and lifted its deadly edge towards Soujirou, "Let's begin."

"Yamate- If Soujirou-san disagrees with me, let him be."

"I didn't come here just for you, Kamatari. I came here for a challenge."

Soujirou smiled again, "My, aren't you the arrogant one. Unfortunately for you, sir, I refuse to fight. It's not in my place, anymore."

"Anymore?" his expression hadn't shifted one bit, "What's been kept inside can be dragged out."

"That's similar to what Shishio-san said about Himura-san, and yet, he remains bound to his oath, unbreakable." Soujirou dropped his gaze, "I envy his unflinching will. And I guess…If I'm strong enough, I can do that too."

"Are you? Let's find out."

Sharp metal came at Soujirou fast, but unworthy to match his speed. It seemed slow for Soujirou, watching his opponent try to strike at him; he even had time to think a while. 'How should this end? Should I just tire him out? Then again, I don't want to waste my own energy…' Before an act of evasion was taken, a blur hopped in the impact's way and pressured the defender three inches into the dirt. Soujirou was taken aback that the intruder had dared intervened.

He withdrew his tachi and glared at the invader, "So, you've finally discovered which way to go."

"Yes. It was clever of you to manage to only pull me out and not interact with the others. I have proven you my wits. Now that I'm here, what do you want?"

"Wits?" Kamatari smirked, "You have wits Shinomori, but not enough." He received a glare at his way, "I'll explain, then. Taking you out here distracts you from the others. There aren't just two of us, but more. We realize that by taking Misao while you are unaware is perfect to make ourselves heard. And now that we have your attention, there isn't any left to save the rest of the oniwaban members."

"Wise, but do you think that by leading me away, would save you?" the pair of kodachi settled in front of him offensively, "Are you ready to face me?"

Kamatari stepped back protectively, "No, I guess I should've spent more time thinking of my timing. But oh well." He turned to his ally, "Will you?"

"I will," he sheathed his tachi, "but some other day, this match is uneven.You are unready my foe, you won't last a minute against me. I know, don't bothering hiding it, Aoshi…. Let's go, Kamatari." He motioned a hand toward the opposite direction.

"Hai." Honjou looked at Soujirou once more, "I wish you'd realize how much you've changed, Soujirou-san. Jaane."

Soujirou watched them go, and then turned to Aoshi, "Shinomori-san?"

"What?"

"Arigatou gozaimashita, I hadn't realized what big of a foe he was. Thank you for notifying me."

"You hadn't sensed his fighting-ki then. He hides it well."

"I suppose. But I sense your weakness just as that man did, you're barely hiding the pain." Aoshi spat out blood from his mouth while he began choking. "Will you be alright? How bad was the blow?"

"...He's…very strong."

"When we reach the others, inform them to bring Kaoru and the three new captives to Nagoya. Lead the youngest one, Misao,to Kawasaki."

Kamatarinodded in approval, "It shall be done."

A long period ofsilence commended. The unknown man turned his gaze to Honjou, "I want him to suffer."

"I do too." He replied.

"What you do won't be enough. I want to tear his soul out of his body. I want his heart to be crushed, just like he did to mine. They say he's become good-willed, but nothing can ever change. A manslayer will always remain a manslayer. His life isn't worth so much as a rat's. Even a hundred deaths won't satisfy my thirst for revenge. Himura has scared my past, and for that, I will make him live in suffrage till he dies."

Honjou smiled, "And I thought I hated him. Don't worry; by the end of this, we'll all be lavished with vengeance."

"That sounds promising."

The tall dude familiar yet? He should be.

HINT: It's a bit of a spoiler from series.