Divine Commiseration

Chapter 4: To Serve is to Obey

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Rurouni Kenshin, including the very gorgeous, Sou-chan!

Author's Note:
Another chapter out! At the pace I'm going at, I should have the story finished very soon! I have another idea for a new story (I'm not telling!) but I think I'll save that until I'm almost done with this story. Like I've learned (too slow!) don't go off biting more than you can chew! All the same, I put this story out when I have three more stories that I should update, right?
Thank you, thank you, thank you ALL for all the nice reviews! You guys truly inspired me to write this new chapter, and some of you really helped me with facts about Soujiro that I've messed up. I will edit the story soon, and I'll try to change the facts that I've misused. Again, thank you all!
Well, enjoy the new chapter!

No surprise to her, Misao found the temple was very cold and damp. Shivering to herself, without the usual sympathizer to overlook her, Misao clutched her sleeping yukata to herself, cursing Soujiro once more for not letting her at least grab her mantle. She quickly looked around for a fireplace, then, when finding one, ran outside to grab some firewood. She prayed to herself that the wood wouldn't be damp, for if it was, it would produce too much smoke.

Thankfully, it was indeed dry, and finding two pieces of flint next to the fireplace, struck them together until it produced a spark, and started burning the dry grass she put on a log.

The fire growing stronger by the second, Misao stared into the flames and started to think of the smiling sword prodigy. The Tenken was a strange person indeed...

Imagine that. The first time she had ever set her eyes on him, he had been watching a battle between that monster and Himura, and smiled. Sure, it was an empty, freaky, scary, smile, but all the same, who would smile when some giant cone-headed moron was chasing after a much smaller guy with two giant blades shaped like pendulums? He had been strangely awed at Himura's tactics... What a strange, strange boy.

'Hardly a boy...' she reminded herself hesitantly. No, Tenken no Soujiro was definitely no boy, at least not with his... experience in life. Those empty blue eyes were nothing like one of a child's... Not even Aoshi- sama—no, Shinomori—even his eyes were as void. Not like the night. Not like the ocean blue. They were empty, endless in their wealth of the blue of the skies...

She sighed wistfully. How did anyone's eyes look so... soulless? How did anyone become just an empty shell? Humorously, trying to cheer herself up, she remembered yet another story Kaoru had told her, about a Sanosuke, who believed that a when a picture was taken, your soul was stolen. It had made her laugh when she first heard it, but now, it was somewhat bitter in her ears.

How did he survive without ever feeling emotions? She couldn't imagine one day, being the happy and violent girl she was, without blowing up at someone and smiling at them again the same day. He... He could only smile. It was impossible to even think.

However... strangely, he had saved her. Why had he helped her? She had done nothing to him before, nothing to help him. More or less, she had never even spoken to him. All she knew of him was that he was the Tenken, that he had god-like speed, and that he smiled in a very creepy way.

She would have expected him to be... a rather closed book. He seemed so confused when he battled with himself on whether or not to kill her.

But, she supposed, being cold, damp, shivering—alive— was better than to be dead in her bed, mantle at her side. A tingle of fear crept up her spine. How close was she to death?

She knew and had heard from Himura that the Tenken was a merciless killer. She remembered the quick assassination of Okubo Toshimichi, how he was found with just one wound—no doubt from a dagger plunged into his forehead. It was afterwards that multiple swords pierced his already cold body, work, Himura had assured her, was not the Tenken's. He was in a carriage at the time. The driver would have heard any screams or yells of pain, even if he was assassinated by rouge samurai.

Yes... Tenken no Soujiro was indeed a strange, strange killer. Most of those blood thirsty beasts, as she heard from Jiya, loved to hear pleads for their life, but it was different with the soulless slave of that madman, Makoto Shishio.

Why didn't he kill her? She'd like to think that her charming personality and gorgeous looks won him over, but he didn't seem the type. Misao racked her head for anything else she knew about the boy. Himura had told her only a few things, and the one that shouted at her the most was about his emotions.

'Misao-dono, he has no emotions at all, except for pleasure as he kills. That is what makes him a great swordsman, other than his speed. You cannot read his ki, therefore, you cannot read his next attack, if there is one at all.'

That was why, she suddenly remembered, Himura had to use a basic defensive technique the first time they fought. Because the boy was unreadable. Because the boy was absolutely... transparent. The Okashira of the Oniwa-Banshu moved closer to the fire and checked it to see if she had enough wood for the night.

Outside of a window, a cicada stopped chirping.

As if the life had been squeezed out of it. As if it had been killed.

With his usual smile on his lips, Soujiro walked into the room, where Shishio was expecting him. His dagger was once again hidden, his sword hanging at his side. No sign of her was on him. No sign that for the first time in his life, he had disobeyed Shishio Makoto, his savior and mentor.

"Shishio-san! I'm sorry I'm late!"

Shishio nodded, eyes boring straight into the smiling Tenken. "I'm sure the girl was no problem."

"No, Shishio-san!" He beamed, like he usually did after a killing.

Shishio did not seem suspicious. Indeed, why should he? The Tenken was impossible to read, and he had never failed him before. And he would not be able to have any emotional attachments to a girl he had only seen once, pretty or not.

"Good."

The refined-looking woman sitting next to him, her alabaster arms wrapped loosely around his neck and shoulders, looked up at the young man standing in front of them, giving them his trademark smile. "Ah, Soujiro! Did you get any blood on your clothes?" she asked, her voice hinting at exasperation. "If you did..." She raised a delicate-boned finger up to her neck, then moved it across her neck.

"Maa, maa!" Soujiro held up his arm and scratched the back of his head, still grinning. "No, I don't think so, Yumi-san. It was a lot quicker than usual, but I still had to bring her out into the woods because she kept trying to scream."

Yumi raised an eyebrow. "Well, that sounds interesting." She turned and caressed the bandaged cheek of Shishio. "I hope you slept. I don't want you falling asleep at breakfast again, especially when I'm about to serve it."

Soujiro kept beaming. "I already did, Yumi-san. A good three hours, I think. The trees are very relaxing." He paused slightly, any signs of falsehood as invisible as when he first entered. "And I'm sorry for falling asleep, Yumi-san, but I promise I'll never do it again!"

Yumi smiled warmly at the boy, who seemed almost like a child, her child. One she would always want and never have... Once again, she moved closer to Shishio, smiling tenderly.

Makoto Shishio, destined to be great and remembered, was sitting on fine silken pillows, a beautiful woman by his side. His bandages hung loose around his still muscular frame, just like they did ten years ago. "Good. Go do something useful. The rest of the Juppon Gatana are supposed to arrive soon. Any day now..." He looked around himself. "Any day now, the Meji will fall. Ten years of hell for me... Will finally be avenged! The weak will fall, and we, the strong, will live!" He looked to his disciple. Even though ten years had passed, his eyes still held the fires of hell, burning into any soul.

Except for Soujiro's... To even himself, he was soulless. What else did he possess other than god-speed and his talent in swordsmanship? There was nothing to be known of Seta Soujiro, Tenken no Soujiro, other than that he was... he is, and should be, the most feared of all the Juppon Gatana.

'But,' a sneaky voice whispered in his head. 'But, the merciless Tenken let one girl live... One that was supposed to be killed, murdered, and still... he knows naught why.'

Ending Note:

So many reviews! I can't believe! I'm absolutely flabbergasted (which, I have to say, is one of the funniest words ever. It's right up there will diddums and buttocks, don't ask!)! You guys are amazing! A special thanks to Shinji Ikari for all the critiques and the help with the history of the episodes of the Kyoto Arcs! You don't know how much you've cleared up everything (and helped me remember a lot of stuff I've forgotten!)!

Responses to Reviews:

(People that are signed in will be in bold, while anonymous reviewers will be underlined.)

xT-Zealot: Of course your fics are a disappointment! I love Devil Soujiro! He sounds so cute! As for Misao and Soujiro, they will get together... a bit later, though. That's because Misao is still confused about Soujiro and Soujiro doesn't quite know what love is. Thanks for the review! You're awesome!

Pyrotess: When I read the first sentence, I thought I'd gotten the first flame for this story, but as I continued on (talk about relief), I found that you actually like this story! I'm so glad I got a new reader for this story! I won't stop writing, of course! This story is too much fun!

JMeg: You should write soon! I'm so glad you loved the last chapter! I hope this one isn't a disappointment, either!

BlackHole Army CO: I'm glad chapter 2 wasn't as confusing, and thank you for correcting me about Soujiro being too open during the chapter. I did think it was a bit too... out of character, too, but I needed it to be... think-able? What I mean is that I needed Misao to be able to think about Soujiro without thinking he was just a freak. Yes, in most stories, I did see that Misao's weapons are kunai, but when I was watching the subtitled version of episode 35, and she says to Saitou, "Eat a Kansatsu!". That's the reason why I used Kansatsu, rather than kunai. I do believe that I'm going to change it to kunai soon, so it isn't as confusing. It's okay, you don't sound flamish at all, because you're actually explaining what I did wrong. A flame is just a whole bunch of R rated language and the occasional "CRAWL BACK TO THE HOLE YOU CAME FROM!"

Goddess: Thanks for thinking so!

Shinji Ikari: When I first saw you review, I almost fainted. I mean, gasping for breath amazed. When I actually read it, I was so thankful and amazed that I almost cried! Thank you so much for clearing up everything, and telling me where I can buy the Soujiro fights Kenshin episodes! I have all the Kenshin episodes, except (and this is ironic to a fault) for 51-60. I am trying to get them, though. I'm really sorry for all the timeline mistakes. I tried my best trying to remember what happened, because I have seen the episodes, but a year is a long time. Yes, Soujiro does grab Misao after Kenshin returns. I'm trying to put it so it is just right, so Kenshin is on his way back, but Misao is already targeted as a weakness for Shishio. Yes, Misao will return to the Aoiya to help Kaoru fight, so that problem should be resolved. Soujiro will still become a rurouni, but he will return to the Aoiya after... Well, I don't want to give everything away. Again, I can't believe I was stupid enough to put in the part of the Shuntensatsu! I think that instead, when I edit it, I'll substitute in his Shukuchi. I'm sure I can find most of the spelling/grammar mistakes when I edit, which will hopefully be soon. As soon as I finish a chapter with a little extra time for me to work, I will. Thanks again for all the facts! You don't know how much you've cleared everything up!

Twilight Sky: Ah, you flatter me! I'm not that good of a writer; I just try my best. I would have hoped Soujiro was in character, but I've already gotten a few comments on how he is a lot more closed up than I wrote him as. As for where we live, I believe we're only an hour or so apart! I'm going to Mission San Jose High, which is in Fremont (I just recently moved). Ramen is my god! It's simple, easy, and I've only burnt it once! I can't cook at all. I've burnt scrambled eggs, spaghetti, undercooked rice, cakes, etc. I'm hopeless! Here's the newest chapter, and I hope you enjoyed it!

Kawaii Thief Kitsune: Thanks for the website! It's really nice, and it definitely helped me a lot. Thanks for thinking this story is at least okay, and hope you enjoyed the newest chapter!

$$$$$$ (Money-Sama): I'm so sorry for the mistake! I've gotten that from several readers now, how Kenshin didn't know Soujiro's succession technique until they actually fight. Thanks for liking this story, and I'm really glad that I have another new reader!

Tenken's Lover: Yay! Another Soujiro/Misao fan! They are AWESOME together! Everything works out when they're together! I mean, they're both cute, and AWWW! Eeps, I'm sounding crazy, but I love ranting with other Soujiro/Misao fans! Thanks for the review!

MSN-Chan: Wicked-chan is fine! I'm glad you think of me as somewhat a friend! Yes, I believe that the spirit is a lot more important than the age, again, our example being Kenshin and Kaoru. Aoshi, though, is so mature (Okashira at age 15!), that he and Misao just wouldn't fit together! Misao and Soujiro, together forever, right? Hope you enjoy this update!

CoNfEsSiOnS: Wow! This is your favorite Misao/Soujiro fic? I'm so... FLATTERED! Thank you so much for thinking my story is good enough to be a favorite! Hope this update was fast enough for you!

Saku: Here's the quick update, and glad you enjoyed the last chapter! You, keep writing! Update, too!