It was morning, the sun stood bright and beautiful, the breeze was perfect and the birds were singing their beautiful songs. It was such a beautiful morning.
Soujiro woke up and admired the beautiful view in front of him. He took his breakfast and started his journey.
Soujiro saw a village and decided to go there. "It seems that there's a festival here. There shure are a lot of preparations going on." Soujiro said while watching the people decorate their houses.
Soujiro went all over the village to enjoy the festival being held. He saw some children playing with water balloons, he went near them and watched them play. Soujiro also saw some beautiful young women who were staring at him. He smiled at them and the women blushed.
They went near Soujiro. The women introduced themselves. "Hi , what's your name ?" one of the girls asked. "My name?" Soujiro asked. "hai!" the girl replied. Soujiro suddenly stopped and he suddenly saw Shumi. She was wearing a beautiful purple kimono.
"I'm…I'm……… I… I have to go…gomen nasai." Soujiro said and left the women. He ran to Shumi happily. He saw Shumi looking at the beautiful masks that were for sale.
Soujiro ran, but when he got there, there was no sign of Shumi. "Was it Shumi or was it just an illusion?" Soujiro asked himself.
It was midnight, Soujiro was tired and exhausted. He went near the river to rest. He laid down his body and looked at the stars. "The stars are beautiful tonight………".
While staring at the stars he suddenly stopped and heard a voice singing, "What's that sound?" he heard a woman's voice, singing beautifully.
"It must be coming from those bushes" Soujiro said. He went near the bushes to check it out. When was near the bushes, he was shocked, he saw Shumi and she was the one who sings beautifully. Soujiro stopped by and watched Shumi sing.
Shumi noticed Soujiro watching her sing, "Soujiro……" Shumi said and silence broke in. "Why did you stop?" Soujiro asked, "huh?" "Please continue singing, sing again Shumi" Soujiro said. "Hai" Shumi replied and sang again. Her voice was very beautiful, she sang like an angel. Fireflies were starting to show up to listen to the beautiful song of Shumi.
While hearing Shumi's song, Soujiro felt relaxed and his heart was lifting up. Soujiro clapped his hands when Shumi ended her song. "Arigato, Arigato Gozaimasta for listening" Shumi said and bowed gracefully in front of Soujiro.
They stopped, stared and smiled at each other. Soujiro said " I'm glad to see you again Shumi." Shumi smiled back at Soujiro and replied " I'm also glad to see you again Soujiro-kun".
Suddenly, Soujiro sensed a person sneaking at them and he was hiding from the bushes. The man attacked, but Soujiro dodged it. He was carrying a big sword and wears a very long robe.
Soujiro thought that the man was after him, but the man's intention was to kidnap Shumi. When the man was about to take Shumi, Soujiro ran with his lightning speed and carried Shumi away from the man who was after her.
The man couldn't follow Soujiro and Shumi, since they both vanished with a blink of an eye. "What an interesting kid" he said laughing "hahahahahaha!" and then he vanished into the shadows.
Soujiro stopped and said " I guess we lost him". Soujiro looked at Shumi and asked "Are you alright?" "Hai, I'm just fine…" Shumi answered. "Do you know who that person is?" Soujiro asked. Shumi bowed her head and stood quiet, "If I tell him the truth, his life would be in peril" Shumi said in her mind. "Shumi…" Soujiro said, Shumi nodded and answered "ie, I don't know him."
Soujiro knows that Shumi was hiding something. "Shumi please tell me the truth, I want to help you…" Soujiro said. "But why?" Shumi asked. "Because we're friends and friends help each other especially in times of need." Soujiro answered (He learned the true meaning of friendship from Kenshin and wanted to have friends like Kenshin.). "I have no friends before and now I found a friend and I will help her no matter what. At first I didn't know what a friend is, I grew alone without having a friend. And now I promise that I will protect and cherish my friend for the rest of my life." Soujiro said.
Shumi smiled and changed her mind about keeping the truth from Soujiro. "I was forced by my family to marry a man that I don't love. I left and traveled away from home but my family sent some men to bring me back. I don't want to go home, I don't want to marry the man that I don't even love!" Shumi said. Soujiro was stunned, he smiled at Shumi and said "Don't worry I'll help you, since were friends I'll protect you." And Shumi decided to travel with Soujiro.