All right, this is my first Kenshin fanfic so please review!

Basically, this fanfic is about Soujiro Seta joining with Shougo Amakusa during the Shimabara Arc. Go ahead and review tough so I can get better!

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"Thank you very much," the jeweler said as he handed his customer a high quality sapphire ring. The customer smiled and drew out a sack of coins for payment. A second later, both the ring and the money disappeared, as if swept away by the wind. The door was flung open by an invisible hand and both men stood staring out the window as the thief made his getaway, unseen puffs of dirt marking his impossibly fast footsteps.

Only an hour later, Soujiro Seta sat in a restaurant eating a well earned lunch. Mr. Himura wouldn't approve of this, he thought idly. Well, nobody's perfect. It had been less than a year since he'd left Kyoto with nothing but pocket change, the clothes on his back, and the remains of his shattered sword. Paying to have it reforged had been a poor financial decision, but Soujiro had eventually succumbed to temptation and had it reforged only three weeks ago. The Kikuichimonji Norimune, with its pristine white cloth wrappings, golden tsuba, and its flawless blade, now lay in a nondescript canvas bundle which he carried over his shoulder on a strap.

Many people who saw Soujiro would see an innocent, happy-go-lucky child enjoying lunch on a beautiful afternoon. But they were not aware (and Soujiro was barely aware of it himself) of the former hitokiri's subconscious mind taking in and decoding bits of every sight and sound in the environment. This ability had been conditioned into his mind by Master Shishio's training and he had found it useful on several occasions. Like he did now.

"Have you heard about what's happening in Kyoto?" a man said.

"Yeah," said another. "Another guy got killed. Shiraishi."

"Yeah, and the assassin defeated Chou Sawagejou." Soujiro's ears perked up at the mention of his former ally.

"Good riddance," the other man snorted. "One less piece of Kansai filth in our world. I hear he used to be a criminal, chopping up babies and such."

"Don't celebrate just yet. I said 'defeated' not 'killed.'"

"Sawagejou's not dead?" the man said disappointedly.

"No. In fact, none of the bodyguards were killed, only Shiraishi himself. The others were all hit with the back of a sword or something. They say the killer moved too quickly to see."

Back of a sword? Is it Mr. Himura? thought Soujiro. No, it can't be. He doesn't kill. But that godlike speed. What else could it be besides Hiten Mitsurugi? Soujiro patted the bulging pouch of coins hidden in his gi and the ring he still hadn't sold. There was more than enough for a train ride to Kyoto.

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Only the best for Kyoto's finest, thought Soujiro. The police would only put their wounded officers in the finest hospitals, so it wasn't too hard for Soujiro to find out where Chou was. Leaving his katana in the room of his inn, he left to ask Chou what was happening.

A nurse led him to the room where his former comrade lay in bed wrapped in more bandages than their old boss.

"Well, I've been running into lots of old friends lately," Chou groaned. "What brings you here, little buddy?"

"The killings, of course," said Soujiro. "I can't really follow the news since I've been traveling so much. Tell me, Chou. Was it Mr. Himura?"

"Don't be more of a jackass than you already are! Of course it wasn't Battousai! He vowed to never kill again, that stupid shit. It was some fucked-up Christian swordsman who thinks he's the Child of God. He's acting out some prophecy in a book some missionary left behind."

"Who are the old friends that you've been seeing lately?"

"The Battousai himself," said Chou.

Soujiro's trademark smile faltered for a moment. "What was he doing here?"

"Same as you, asking about the killer. He uses Hiten Mitsurugi Style, just like Battousai. I've gotta hunch that the Battousai's gonna be lookin' for him."

"Where?"

"Well, the only major community of Christians in the whole country is Shimabara. Best start looking there, I guess."

"Thanks, Chou. Goodbye."

"One more thing," said Chou. Soujiro turned to him. "This guy ain't no pushover. I've fought them both and I can tell you that this guy's better than the Battousai."

That statement hang in the silent air as Soujiro stood anchored to the floor. Finally, he regained his smile. "Well, that doesn't mean he's better than me."

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Authors Notes:

Soujiro's age. I've heard it being 16, 18, and even 22 and I don't know which is right. I decided to make him 16 in the story because it best fits his childish personality. Besides, I can't imagine him being older than Kaoru.

Also, I hope to work in appearances from the rest of the Juppongatana.

That's all for now! Review!