AN: It took longer this round because I actually stopped for awhile to focus on an art trade I agreed to do on DeviantArt ^-^' and guess what!? It was an art trade for Soujiro. Long story short, I stumbled onto this fan made manga about him and this writer/artist continues Soujiro's story from the last moment you see of him in the show and I commented about it, explained I was writing a fan fiction too and it eventually led to an art trade! It was so much fun! Fanfiction doesn't let you post links but I'm if you look up Soujiro's Wander by Odamako you'll find the story.
It's still a work in progress as well but still worth the read!
Now back to an early topic about the live action movies: I feel bad now what I said about Chou. Sorry kaoruca! XD I do agree with you that scene where Kenshin thought he killed again was heartbreaking even though we all knew better and knew he didn't... you still felt his pain :(
And at ALWAlways: I looked up Kindly Calm Me Down by Meghan Trainor… and its now in my favourites ^-^' and hey we can always hope for a "mini live action series" where they can have more room to add the extra stuff XD
Thank you for the lovely reviews and faves everyone. Back to the story! ^-^
Since the start, Chou had every reason to be nervous about hunting down the former Tenken, but he was one to never turn down a challenge, especially if it meant getting out from Saito's thumb for the time being. Had Soujiro been in normal, perfect health, Chou would probably be feeling differently since he had never firsthand witnessed Soujiro fighting at his strongest. The dual was evenly matched. Even if Soujiro wasn't facing the disease, he was slowed by the amount of snow surrounding them. He wasn't able to perform the Shukuchi for that reason, let alone his signature attack the Shuntensatsu, which would have quickly ended the fight before it started. He still didn't doubt his abilities to defeat the weakest of the Juppongatana.
Chou thought otherwise, especially when he was able to block most of Soujiro's attacks. Each of Soujiro's attacks were weaker than the last and he was quickly wearing himself out to the point Chou was able to turn the attacks back on him while trying to corner him against a wall. Soujiro would not fall for it and used his smaller height to his advantage to maneuver around Chou before Chou would try to entrap him. Chou was barely able to turn to face Soujiro in time to block the sword meant to be driven through his back.
Soujiro's eyes widened incredulously that his attack was blocked so easily.
"Don't look so surprised. I may have never been good enough to be Shishio's right hand man, but the difference between you and me is I face my opponents head on. You have always been just an assassin. You're used to attacking in secret, when no one expects it. You have rarely ever engaged in a real duel!" He yelled and thrust Soujiro's swords off his own. The sword lended to him from Avaron flew from his hand when Chou thrust down both his blades against Soujiro. Soujiro raised the sword he was left with to block the two blades overhead and resisted the blades against the one he had.
As soon as Chou said it, Soujiro realized how true it was. The only way Soujiro had even laid a lethal strike against Kenshin was performing the Shukuchi and attacking him from behind, like any typical assassin would. When he finally did try to face Kenshin head on, he had lost once when he tried attacking with the true shukuchi, and had lost to Kenshin head on again when using his signature move Shuntensatsu. Soujiro's attacks aided him in performing swift assassinations, but were of little use when engaging in a real dual... especially now.
He's right. I've only ever been an assassin, he realized. Often, he didn't even need his sword to make his assassinations. He used smaller weapons to make his kills while the other hand worked to make sure his victims wouldn't scream. He didn't doubt his skill with his sword and it had been the primary weapon he was trained with, but Chou was right. Soujiro had less experience engaging other swordsmen head-on in a real dual. He was realizing too late he shouldn't have underestimated Chou and it had already cost him. Soujiro had already used up much of his strength.
"Do you think defeating me will change anything? I told you the longer you waited the worse it would be for you and the girl. And now you've dragged another down with you."
Soujiro's eyes bolted passed their tangled blades to Chou's confident gaze. He was referring and threatening Avaron again.
"You're not thinking this through! You could already be dying. You die this way, your new friends will still be taken into custody for questioning and your girlfriend tried for treason. You surrender peacefully, you could still strike a deal with the Meiji and have them leave the girl alone for your cooperation."
Those words must have instantly struck a nerve because Soujiro's strength gave out completely and he dropped his last sword to the ground. The defeated action barely left Chou any time to stop his blades from striking through Soujiro. Soujiro halfheartedly dodged the incoming attack and only attempted by turning away so that he felt the blade nick his ear and strands of his hair were sliced through before Chou managed to halt his attack just over his shoulder. Soujiro dropped to his knees while his fingers reached and grazed over the hilt of the sword he dropped. Chou quickly directed his blades to his throat and made him look up before Soujiro would reconsider fighting again.
"That finally brought you to your senses, did it?" he spat out in disbelief. "You care for them that much?" He had a hard time actually believing the heartless, emotionless, assassin he once knew came to care so strongly for others.
Soujiro remained quiet and his eyes lowered to the ground where he saw the blood from his ear dripping off his face into the snow. His fingers slid off the hilt as he came to terms with having to surrender. That was until Chou tapped the blade against his face to get his attention again. "Come on. Up, Souji-"
Soujiro clutched Chou's blade with his bare hand and stubbornly kept his gaze low. "Let me make one thing clear. I'm not a dog to be ordered around."
"You have better get used to it. You'll have to do whatever you're told just like the rest of us. It might not sound like the future you had in mind, but you'll have your life and your talents put to good use."
Soujiro slowly slid his fingers up the blade and directed the blade at a more vulnerable part of his throat, which started to unnerve Chou.
"You wish to die? Here? Now?" He is certainly as prideful as Shishio.
"I've already told myself I'd rather die than work for the Meiji." He closed his eyes wrapping his other hand around the naked blade and held the point to his throat. After a moment, Soujiro opened his eyes and narrowed his gaze before raising it to meet Chou's. "Answer me this first.….What's her name?"
The question was unexpected causing Chou to lower the other blade from Soujiro's throat. "What?"
"The girl from the train. Do you even know who she is?"
Chou only stared with a clench jaw.
Soujiro then smirked with a chuckle. "You don't know who she is. It changes everything." The moment Chou failed to speak up, Soujiro tightened his grip around the blade at his throat and grabbed the sword he had dropped on the ground. Chou was caught deciding whether to run the other blade through Soujiro while he could or continuing to try and force his surrender. Unfortunately for Chou, he couldn't decide between wanting the money that came with Soujiro's capture or taking the easy way out and eliminating the threat for good.
Chou's brief hesitance was more than enough time for Soujiro to act
He held the end of Chou's blade away and drove his sword down once and then twice before making a clean break through the blade. Chou released the broken sword and stepped back to block Soujiro's attack when he leapt from the ground at him. He knew now Soujiro had been playing him. Soujiro acted in defeat so Chou would let down his guard and confirm he was unaware of who Avaron was.
He caught Soujiro's blade against the one blade he still held. "Koharu will still be targeted and it won't take much longer to figure out who the other girl is." he tried to convince.
"I know Kenshin well enough he's not going to let any harm come upon Koharu," Soujiro said as he thrust Chou's blade off. He stepped back and raised his sword over his shoulder preparing to lunge at Chou again. Blood now coated Soujiro's palm and the hilt he held from how he had gripped Chou's sword before breaking it, but he pushed aside the burning pain to the back of his mind, remembering what was at stake if he couldn't defeat Chou. "Even if I'm dying, I'll die knowing Koharu will be safe and the one who saved my life left alone the moment I drive this sword into you heart." He then lunged to make his attack. He was sure of all that. Chou knew the most details about him and the people he cared about. Silencing him for good would keep the people Soujiro cared about safe.
Chou drew his last remaining sword to deflect Soujiro's attack and tried to use the other to run him through. Soujiro succeeded in parrying off both blades. "If that's the risk you want to take then that's fine by me! I've given you every opportunity to surrender willingly. I'll kill you and then those girls will suffer and regret ever acknowledging your presence!" He continued to fight off the stubborn Tenken.
At this point, Koharu was about ready to pound on any door she managed to find and pound on it until her cries for help were answered. She coerced her body into obeying her as she trudged onward in opposition to the blizzard winds. She could somewhat remember seeing the dojo just the other day. It had stood out from the surrounding businesses in that it had large protective walls surrounding the whole of the school. She was sure it had a sign, but all she could do was try to picture what exactly that sign had looked like due to her illiteracy. She knew she would recognize it once she saw it, she just had to find it. Tokyo was rather a large city, however, especially to a girl who had never ventured there before. She could still be going in the wrong direction, she couldn't be sure yet.
Before she was going to take such drastic measures and call for help until it was answer, she turned the street and was finally able to spot the dojo. She would not have been able to spot it from so far away if it weren't for the glass lanterns protecting the precious flame on the inside and illuminating the way for her. They hung high on the main entrance of the dojo where she recognized the characters on the sign from being able to gaze upon them at an earlier time. She didn't care to question how and why the lanterns were still lit at this hour. They were her beacon of hope. At the sight of them, she scrambled through the snow as she reached her arms out to be that much closer to her destination.
After what took too long to reach them, she had her fists raised and fell against the door as she slammed her fists against the massive door. "Help! Someone please!" Her cries started to come out as desperate sobs. "Answer me! Please, I need help!" He could be dead already and the people on the other side were no closer to hearing her. "Hel-" her voice broke at her strenuous efforts to be heard. When her voice already started giving out on her, she started thrusting her shoulder in the door to somehow push it open. The door wouldn't give. She let out a sob as her frozen tears fell upon the snow and her palms slide hopelessly down the door. "Please..." She cried softly as she managed to throw one last desperate punch into the door.
Knowing that she had failed, she regretted ever leaving his side. She had only left it because she thought she could save him. "I'm so sorry," she cried softly. She was angry that he had made her leave him like that. That he might even think she had left him to die to save herself. She felt like that's exactly what she had done. "Baka!" She hugged her arms as she fell over her knees at the mercy of the storm. At this point, her ebony hair had fallen completely from its braids they were usually in and her hair was now being whipped savagedly around her face.
Her forehead was against the wooden door when to her sudden surprise, it opened. More light was shone upon her, but she was still in such disbelief that her cries had actually been heard. She finally risked looking up and saw that it was a man with red hair and a scar on his left cheek that was to be her savior. He was holding out another lantern so to be able to gaze more clearly on the intruder. His apprehensive face was quickly replaced with one of sympathy at the sight of the petrified child before him. Despite the battle scar on his face, everything about his appearance seemed heartwarming and filled her heart with new hope.
He at once knelt down to her with the lantern held high enough to see her face riddled with her tears. "What are you doing at this hour? Where are you parents?" Even as he spoke with compassion, he took the wrap he had on and wrapped it around her shivering body. Koharu was still trying to grasp the concept that her cries for help had been heard. Immediately, when he took off his wrap, her eyes fell upon the sword he happened to be wearing. Maybe not all hope was loss. She raised her eyes to meet his kind, violet eyes sparkling from the lantern he carried. "Please! It's my brother. I think he's about to die unless he gets help!"
"Your brother?"
She nodded as she got back to her feet. "Bring your sword. There's no time to waste!" She reached for his arm and started to lead him back to Soujiro.
"Whoa! Hold on a minute." He made Koharu stop but didn't jerk her from his hold. She turned apprehensively to face him fearing he was already going to turn her away, but she turned to find his eyes still holding the same warmth and compassion as before. "Your brother, is he's Soujiro?"
Koharu started to nod without a doubt. She then smiled shyly while looking at his sword, then met his gaze again. "You must be Kenshin." She pulled away to offer a rushed, but confident bow to show her respect she already had of him. "Please, I beg of you. He needs help!" She cried out. She abruptly stood straight to face him. "He's not well and he's being forced to engage in a duel with-"
"Slow down," Kenshin said as he rested a hand on her shoulder. She was speaking too quickly and frantically for him to understand, especially with the blustering winds. "Where is he?"
Koharu pointed in the direction she had ran from. "It's near a dress shop." She hoped that it would be enough to narrow it down for him. "Please, he is already hurt and gravely ill on top of that. I can lead you-"
"You're not actually going to buy into that, are you Kenshin?" A familiar voice was heard before Koharu noticed the silhouette of a taller man with spiky hair exiting through the door left partially opened. "If you were actually his sister," Sanosuke spat as looked down his nose at her, "you would know he isn't as helpless as you're making him out to be. My guess is he just sent you here so you wouldn't get in his way...bastard." He was immediately struck in the face with a snowball. He barely blinked even as the snowball crumbled off his face and continued to glower at her. That's quickly going to get old.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Koharu wrathfully spat out with a fist in front of her. "You've done enough damage!"
Sanosuke crossed his arms and smirked. "If I know of a possible fight happening, you can always bet I'm going to stick around to be the one to end it," he said as he punched his fist into his palm.
Koharu started to sneer at the man until Kenshin risked stepping in between them. "Sano actually has a point. We want to help Soujiro, but the fact that you were sent here alone is a clear message he doesn't want us getting involved." Kenshin then frowned.
Koharu was already becoming devastated at hearing that. She stepped away in disbelief. " So you're not going to help him?"
Kenshin's shoulders dropped as he sighed. Then he said: "No, of course we'll still go after him.…" He met her gaze with a smile. "I'm just sure now it's going to require a struggle I had hoped to avoid," he said while clutching at the hilt of his sword. He knew he was risking Soujiro's wrath by going after him. He had hoped it be Soujiro coming to knock on the door. It would have meant Soujiro being willing to accept the help he so desperately needed. Kenshin knew he should have known better. He was no different. Even now, Kenshin always did what he could to keep the people he cared about out of danger, especially danger that would spring up as a result of his days as the Battousai.
Koharu stepped forward clasping her hands hopefully. "No. I'll make sure he doesn't give you a hard time."
"I appreciate that," Kenshin said. "But you need to stay here. Megumi and others are waiting inside already. She'll let you in. Let us handle this. Soujiro will only be angrier if we bring you back with us."
"No-"
"Just do as your told," Sanosuke spat impatiently. "We'll take it from here. We are already going to get enough fuss from him by getting involved. The least you can do is be an obediently little sister and stay here." He said it rather mockingly. He then trudged on ahead of Kenshin into the path of the storm. "Let's go Kenshin. That kid could barely stand last I saw him.
Koharu found herself quickly becoming exasperated. Both Kenshin and Sanosuke acted like they knew Soujiro better than her. She already knew Soujiro would be angry to see she hadn't taken shelter as she was ordered to. But she felt that if Soujiro wasn't going to listen to Kenshin right away, he would listen to her. Soujiro had also mentioned he might become unhinged if he saw Kenshin again and even after all he had related to her, she couldn't be sure if it was a risk still. She still didn't understand what he had meant, but even at this moment, she was sure Soujiro's wrath was at its peak and seeing his former adversary could bring upon those old feelings of anger and intensify his wrath. She knew Kenshin could save him, but if Soujiro were to somehow become unhinged because of Kenshin, Koharu wanted to be there to knock the sense back into him
"Don't worry," Kenshin said as he passed the lantern to her. "We'll make sure to return with Soujiro. I'm sure by then he will need your care and comfort. Let's go, Sano."
Koharu started to follow anyway but came to a quick halt. Soujiro knew when he was being followed so she quickly assumed that Kenshin would be able to sense someone following him too. To make Kenshin stop again was going to further delay the help she knew Soujiro needed. She continued to stare anxiously, however, into the dark abyss of the storm before her. Kenshin and Sanosuke were already lost to it even with the lantern she held.
"Kishi?" Koharu heard a familiar voice.
Koharu looked over her shoulder and immediately recognized Megumi from the clinic. Following her was another woman in a simple robe and pants with a braid she wore over her shoulder. Her face looked about as anxious as Koharu's while there was a more calmness to Megumi's face. They had been standing from the porch while Kenshin had gone to open and answer the door. When they left and Koharu took too long to enter inside the safe walls of the dojo, they were quick to come get her.
"I'm guessing that's not your real name either?" She smiled kindly.
"It's Koharu.…. What are you doing here?"
Megumi placed her hands on her knees to lower herself to Koharu's height. "I'm here to take care of you and brother. Last I saw him, it looked like he was falling ill."
Koharu remembered Soujiro had saying they had been offered refuged here. She figured Soujiro must have bumped into Megumi again, which had led to such a gracious offer. One Koharu wished, more then ever, he had taken up right away.
Koharu lowered her head as her eyes filled with tears. She shook her head. "It's worse than that. He's coughing blood.…"
She briefly saw the calmness leave Megumi's eyes and the woman beside her widen her already anxious gaze.
"Is it tubercul-"
Megumi raised her hand to silence the woman. "You can trust Kenshin. He'll drag Soujiro back here if he has to. Soujiro won't have a choice."
"I'm trusting Kenshin.…" Koharu started. "It's Soujiro I don't trust…."
"What?" The other woman barked angrily. "You don't even trust this guy?"
"Kaoru!" Megumi barked angrily.
"No! I was opposed to this from the start. He's part of the reason Kenshin was down for a month. Why are we saving this guy from facing justice?" Kaoru argued.
"Shut it!" Koharu yelled angrily towards Kaoru. Both the women looked down at her, Kaoru particularly appalled at how the girl lashed out at her. "Soujiro is a good person!" Koharu wanted to make clear. "He sent me here so Kenshin could protect me and that's all, so it wouldn't make sense for Soujiro to want to hurt him. He just wants me safe but I care just as much for his well-being." She looked back in the direction Kenshin and Sanosuke left in. "I just don't trust him to allow Kenshin to help him."
"Forgive Kaoru." Megumi spoke up again. "We all became worried about Kenshin when it was explained to us who your brother was. But your brother has already proven to me and Sanosuke he's not looking for any trouble with Kenshin. As soon as Kenshin heard of Soujiro's troubles, he wanted to help. He even tried to locate Soujiro on his own today and found what was left behind at the inn you two stayed in."
Koharu wasn't sure what she meant by that. Soujiro had not allowed her to stay and watch him deal with the police officers that had attacked her. She was sure he wouldn't have killed them. But Kenshin must have gathered on his own that Soujiro was only protecting Koharu. Officers of the same force had been about to put Yahiko and an innocent family to death once before Kenshin intervened in their behalf. Kenshin would have easily figured out why Soujiro dealt with them the way he did.
"Hey, where did Kenshin and Sano go?"
The two women parted to reveal a tired looking preteen who was still rubbing one of his eyes as he questioned them. He had his shinai on his back, obviously had been expecting some sort of fight or conflict happening, but had fallen asleep. Koharu recognized him instantly, but barely gave him any acknowledgement and looked back out anxiously towards the storm instead.
"Where do you think, Yahiko? Kaoru spat. "They weren't going to come back in to get you. You shouldn't have fallen asleep!"
"Hey, Ugly! There was no guarantee this guy was even going to show up! Why should I waste any sleep over it?"
"I'm just telling you why they aren't here! There's no need to be rude!"
"You haven't said at all why they left!"
"Cut it out you two!" Megumi interjected. "We have the simple task of remaining here until they come back and watching over Koharu. Let's just head back inside where it's warm -"
"Koharu? Who's that?" Yahiko questioned.
"Who do you think? She's been stranding here-" Kaoru and the others turned their attention around to find it was just the three of them. Sitting in the snow before them was the lantern Koharu had been holding just moments earlier. They raised their eyes towards the storm in time to see Koharu stumble against the wind as she clutched at Kenshin's wrap around her. She caught her footing and darted head on after the others and disappeared into the fog of the storm.
Megumi's eyes widened in horror as she stepped forward. She cupped her hands over her mouth and yelled: "Koharu, no! Come back! It's too dangerous!" Her voice was quickly drowned out by the storm.
Immediately after she called out to her, Yahiko darted past Megumi in a effort not to lose sight of Koharu.
"Yahiko!" Kaoru called out with authority and ran a few steps after him. She then gave up and dropped her head into her palm. "He's such a fool! He gets like this with any young girl that's in distress."
"He's the only one of us that can catch her before she reaches the others," Megumi remarked. "We can trust Yahiko to look out for her."
"For everyone's sake, I hope you're right," Kaoru said as she gazed anxiously back out in the storm.
As Megumi easily predicted, it didn't take Yahiko long at all to catch up Koharu. Koharu had thought she had lost them for good and thought she was well on her way to doing her part in saving Soujiro. ….That was before two arms wrapped around he waist and she was hurled forward into the snow.
"Ow! Get off me!"
As soon as Yahiko heard those familiar words, he remembered her before she even turned around to shove him off.
Without another word, Koharu was already getting to her feet in her rush to catch up to the others.
"Hey!" Yahiko clutched her arm. "I remember you! You took my sword!"
"You got it back! Let me go!"
It was not exactly a grudge he was holding against her. He just now knew exactly who the others were trying to get to. Soujiro was the one who returned the sword to Yahiko and apologized for Koharu. He had apparently been searching for a sword from what Yahiko gathered at that time and it must have been for good reason. "Your brother was Shishio's right hand man?" He knew the most important details from what all that Kenshin and Sanosuke revealed about him just the day before. He had imagined someone very different, especially for someone faster than Kenshin. From what he could remember of last seeing Soujiro was that he seemed more frail than even Kenshin. It was not just his frame was small, but even his face was about as white as the snow around them. The image Yahiko now had was someone frail and sick. What perturbed Yahiko even more was how friendly Soujiro was. Everything about him made it hard to believe he was one of the most loyal to such an evil being as Shishio. For a moment, it left his head spinning.
"Yes! He did! But he's completely changed and deserves another chance and you're not going to stop me from helping him get it!" She tried to pull away to run but Yahiko wouldn't let her go.
"I'm not judging him! But you need to let Kenshin handle it. You're just going to get in everyone's way!"
"You don't understand!" She beseeched. "Soujiro still has unresolved issues with Kenshin. I need to be there in case he doesn't listen to Kenshin. He'll listen to me. I know he will! Please let me go!"
Yahiko was still reluctant and still held her firmly by the wrist. "I can't just let you run into a fight by yourself in the middle of the storm. You could get hurt before you even arrive!" he yelled over the blustering winds.
"Fine! You can come, but just let me go!" She finally yanked her arm free and twisted around on her heel to run.
"I wasn't asking." Yahiko made clear as he stayed on her heel and drew his sword to be ready to protect her.
Soujiro's strong will to protect those he cared about kept him focused and determined. The fight was evenly matched because of his weakened state so he worked to parry off Chou's attacks and conserve energy. He would let Chou's confidence build until Soujiro saw an opening and swiftly make his move to silence Chou for good. He knew his failing would come at a cost to Avaron and it was a cost he never wanted her to pay. He knew she had been insistent on helping him and it had been difficult to refuse her aid. It wasn't just because he needed it, but the moment he let his guard down to let her in, he loved how she made him feel. His weakened state had caused him to cherish her affection for him even more so that he held onto her until the last moment... he regretted every bit of it. It was because of these feelings he felt and letting his guard down, he was in the situation he was in now. Had he just refused Avaron from the beginning, this fight, this disease wouldn't be happening and he and Koharu would be far from Tokyo. He was settled now it had not been worth him suffering for and placing Avaron in such danger. She was already looked down by her family and this would bring added shame to both her and her family, and Avaron would take the brunt of it all.
Soujiro was forced back and even stumbled with the blizzard winds blowing into him. He still swiftly raised his blade ready to block Chou's incoming attack. It never came. Chou remained standing where he first was when Soujiro stumbled back and seemed to be allowing him to have breather. He needed it. He was wheezing now and when he saw he had been allowed to recover, he lowered his sword for a moment to try and catch his breath and released series of coughs.
"Tuberculosis," Chou confirmed for himself. "I would have thought you been more careful in Kofu."
He would have, had it not been for Avaron. Because of how she made him feel and then brought his past out in the open and flooded his mind with them, he was caught of guard when that woman attacked him. It wasn't just that his thoughts were distracted or that he simply underestimated her. He had never known women to viciously take advantage of men like that. Usually, it was done the other way around. Even when it happen, he had naturally reacted by grabbing at a sword that was no longer at his side. From there, he had been helpless for a moment. He had never had to physically grab and attack at a woman to defend himself but finally did what needed to be done to defend himself before she would completely have her way with him. He had just reacted too late and became infected with her disease.
He shuddered inwardly recalling that experience to mind. It had been more humiliating than that of what his family ever did to him. He didn't blame Avaron, but he still wished he never said yes and entered that hotel with her.
"Soujiro!" Chou called out to get his attention.
Soujiro raised his weary eyes from the ground to meet Chou's. It was a mistake to be allowed to rest. His exhaustion was catching up to him all over again and it was any wonder how he stood at all against the fierce winds.
"This is a disease not even the strongest survive! Every second fighting me, remaining in this storm lowers your chances of living. Drop the sword and surrender and I promise you'll receive the best care the Meiji can provide and those girls will be left alone." he tried to persuade. He almost seemed to be pitying the young fighter before him. "How can you possibly think your way will have a better outcome?"
Soujiro only grounded his stance and raised his sword back up to fight. "Shishio was living proof that they can't be trusted. Even Kenshin is proof. Had Kenshin not disappear, they would have done the same to him. Either way, it's a death sentence for me. My last strength will be for the people I care about, not for Meiji!" He raised his sword and foolishly leapt to make the first attack.
Chou raised his two blades in time to block the attack, which proved to be a powerful strike as he skidded back into the snow. However, once he absorbed the powerful strike, he easily thrust Soujiro's blade off with the same force, which left Soujiro completely open. A second later, a swift strike was thrust down against his torso and Soujiro was driven to the ground with a soft cry. He was quickly drawn back to that rainy right before he slaughtered his family. Those feelings of helplessness, being alone and knowing there was no way out. Those feelings he felt right before he sealed his emotions and did what had to be done.
He clutched his bloody fist around the sword as his icy eyes snapped wide. He swung his blade upwards as he rose to his feet and did so with such speed, snow from the ground and air was pulled in the current the blade created.
Chou narrowly managed to block the attack in time, and even when he did, he was met with the piercing rush of snow and wind and was blinded by it. One sword was tossed from his grip when Soujiro's blade made contact with it. Chou was forced to open his eyes and defend himself in any hope of dodging the next attack. When their blades clashed, he was the one looking through the tangled blades now to see Soujiro's smirk and the blood creeping out the side of it. "I'll see you in hell," Soujiro uttered and used all his weight and strength to thrust the blade off his own. He followed through with a back kick and struck with such force to throw Chou to the ground. Soujiro rushed forward and kicked the last sword from Chou's grip.
"You're making a mistake!" Chou tried to persuade for the last time.
"I stand by my decision." Soujiro raised the blade to deal the death blow. Just before he was going to follow through on the death blow, he heard a familiar cry being carried on the winds.
"No, Soujiro! Don't!"
He briefly looked over his shoulder to see Koharu burst through the fog of the storm with another by her side. "Koharu -"
A click was heard before Soujiro directed his eyes back at Chou only to be staring at the barrel of a gun that had last been used against him. "Sorry kid." Chou uttered and fired.
Koharu watched the trigger being pulled and the shot echoed through the air as she watched Soujiro drop to the ground. Her eyes immediately blurred with tears as she screamed: "No, Soujiro!" She immediately started to rush by his side but was halted when Yahiko circled his arm in front of her to stop her.
"We can't get any closer! It's too dangerous!"
"Soujiro!" She wailed, but he didn't even flinch at her voice calling to him. "I don't understand! Where's Kenshin? He was supposed to save him!"
Chou slowly stood as he kept the gun on Soujiro's motionless form. Even he was doubtful that the one shot had killed him. Then again, it seemed obvious that Soujiro was on his last leg. He remained motionless except for his ebony hair being whipped around his face from the fierce winds. He lowered the gun and risked a closer look to see if there was any fresh blood tainting the snow. Instead, his eyes were directed to the sword lying beside Soujiro, and the shattered handguard.
Chou cursed out loud as he put the distance back between them and raised the gun.
Soujiro had just barely managed to direct the sword in the path of the bullet. His head shifted towards Chou as his eyes slowly opened up only to be staring up at the barrel of the gun again. He sat up on his elbows but froze in place when the gun clicked in place to shoot again.
"You could have just surrendered from the beginning and avoided all this heartache! You've only proven to the Meiji you're too dangerous to be kept alive."
"No!" Koharu screamed at Chou as she continued to resist Yahiko's hold over her. "You've won! Please spare him!" She would say or admit anything if it meant that Soujiro could live. Yahiko struggled to restrain her before she might act recklessly. "Get out of there, Sou!" He seemed to be giving up all over again.
Soujiro only turned his gaze to meet her weeping and pleading eyes that begged him to fight in some way. He only managed to smile for her. He rathered be seen that way than feebly fighting for his life. Little could be done when a gun was pointed at him.
She made the heartache worth it.
Koharu only saw his smile briefly before Yahiko got in front of her and forced her to turned her away. "Don't look -"
The shot was fired and it immediately caused Koharu to break down in Yahiko's arms.
Soujiro's eyes closed and he grunted softly from anticipating the shot when it fired. Instead, it was the snow beside him that erupted into the air. No shots came after that one. He had expected to be shot repeatedly like Shishio had been so to guarantee his death.
"Like she said, you've won. There's no need to continue this fight."
Soujiro's eyes opened and he directed his eyes upwards to see a certain reverse blade sword now hovering between him and Chou. He suddenly gasped after realizing he had been holding his breath and realizing who had intervened on his behalf. Holding the blade was no other than Himura Kenshin. He had struck the blade down against Chou's wrists to redirected the bullet and force the gun out of his grip so he could no longer use it. Kenshin then quickly inserted himself in front of Soujiro keeping his reverse blade up.
Soujiro sat up on his palms, but froze in place again with his mouth agape. "… Kenshin," he uttered out in disbelief.
Chou was cursing out loud while clutching at his wrists from how hard Kenshin had to strike them to redirect the path of the bullet in time.
"All right, Kenshin!" Yahiko cheered. He then looked at Koharu who was almost being completely supported in his arms from the grief already overtaking her. She was staring with as much disbelief as Soujiro. "See? Kenshin never lets anyone down." He had to let her go as she would faint from relief instead. She still clutched at her heavy heart as she fell to her knees. She realized this is what Soujiro had desperately needed as a child. It was Chou having to stand alone now.
"What are you doing?" Chou spat out. Of all people, he thought Kenshin would have the wisdom to not interfere. "This is business of the Meiji. I'm just following orders! Interfering will give you nothing but trouble."
"You think we care what the Meiji thinks?" Sanosuke trudged from behind Chou making him jump aside. Sanosuke continued towards Soujiro.
"Get him and the others back to the dojo," Kenshin directed.
"Yeah, yeah," Sanosuke said and promptly knelt down beside Soujiro. Soujiro immediately shouldered away from Sanosuke. "Easy, kid. Against our better judgement, we're here to help you."
Kenshin was closing his eyes already anticipating Soujiro's response to their aid. Koharu slowly stood as she watched Soujiro closely. He was starting to act as she expected he would.
"He's right. You shouldn't have interfered," Soujiro turned away. " Koharu was the one that needed protection."
"Are you kidding me?" Sanosuke spat out. "You were the one about to be shot!"
"Soujiro means to kill me," Chou stated clearly. "What you've done is just given him that opportunity. He's threatened the Meiji by threatening to reveal classified information Shishio alone should have known. He's a threat in every way. Are you sure he's the one you want to be protecting?"
"No one is killing anyone," Kenshin made clear and lowered his sword. He turned his back to Chou to face Soujiro. He knew Chou wouldn't dare try to strike him from behind. "You're in no condition to fight. Let us take you back to the dojo and you'll receive to medical attention you are in critically need of. If you can't even do it for yourself, do it for her." He directed his blade towards Koharu. Soujiro shifted his gaze to be met with Koharu's glistening eyes and saw the tears she still cried from when she thought she had lost him forever. Soujiro's hardened face softened at the sight. He turned away.
Koharu risked a step forward. "Soujiro, please," her voice shook.
Soujiro kept still and his head stubbornly turned away.
Sanosuke risked stepping down again to his former adversary, doubtful that Soujiro would openly admit they were right and that he needed to give up. At first, Soujiro allowed Sanosuke to bring his arm back around, mainly because Soujiro was distracted as he coughed into his sleeve. When Sanosuke got him to his feet and Soujiro lowered his arm, he saw the blood Soujiro coughed onto his sleeve. "Are you coughing bl- you're sick too?" Sanosuke asked in shock. He looked at Kenshin with concern. "It's worse than we thought-"
He didn't get to finish when Soujiro withdrew his arm off Sanosuke and turned while thrusting his other palm upwards into Sanosuke's face.
"Ah! Damn it!" Sanosuke hollered and cupped his nose as it started to bleed.
Soujiro was already on the move and ran passed Sanosuke. It seemed like he was running away until he suddenly fell on his side besides a fallen sword and scooped it up into his grasp. He twisted around on his knees with the sword raised and stood back up.
"No-" Koharu started to protest and started to take a step forward until Yahiko urged her back again.
"Soujiro!" Kenshin yelled and lowered his sword to show he didn't want to fight. "There's no point and continuing this fight! For your own sake and your sister's, stop this right now!" He tried to reach Soujiro by referring to Koharu as his real sister.
"It's not going to stop here!" Soujiro was convinced. "I have more to gain from his death than surrendering." He still had Avaron to protect. Accepting Kenshin's help also meant surrendering. Kenshin could not stop the Meiji from marching through the doors of the dojo and reprimanding him. He would be snatched away from Koharu anyway. He felt this was his only option. "You want to do me a favor, step aside!"
Kenshin only raised his sword back up.
Soujiro was flabbergasted that Kenshin was actually standing his ground to protect Chou. He didn't see it as Kenshin trying to stop him from making a mistake.
"You're delusional if you think you can fight Kenshin in your current state! You couldn't defeat him at your best!" Sanosuke yelled, still cupping his nose to slow the bleeding.
"Because I had nothing to lose back then," he said as he turned his gaze towards Koharu. He couldn't brings himself to actually meet her glistening eyes, however. Back in his Tenken days, he had only fought to prove his strength and his right to live. He had long found there was new strength in fighting for the people he loved and was now ready to put that strength to the test. "Will you back off and let me do what needs to be done?" he asked Kenshin. "Please."
Kenshin gazed with such sympathy towards Soujiro. He understood Soujiro's thoughts and feelings more than anyone. He also knew nothing was going to dissuade Soujiro from following through on what he thought was best for him and Koharu. Because of his own conscience, his own truths, Kenshin had to stand his ground against Soujiro.
"So be it," Soujiro uttered, and started to tap his foot.
Yahiko darted his eyes at Koharu when she gasped in horror. He nearly lost his hold on her when she lunged towards Soujiro in some desperate effort to stop him. "Stop it, Soujiro! It isn't worth it! None of it is worth your life!" He's not even hearing me anymore! "It isn't worth it!"
Yahiko was particularly surprised when Sanosuke backed far out of range from the two swordsmen. He backed away until he was now standing next to Yahiko and Koharu. "What's with you two?" Rarely did Sanosuke ever get as scared.
"You'll see."
Soujiro felt confident he could perform the shukuchi now. The time spent fighting Chou had somewhat cleared an array of paths on the street. If he could get pass Kenshin, he could perform his signature move, the Shuntensatsu, and kill the threat over Avaron for good. It could be over in a few seconds.
Chou hesitated a few steps back, especially when that familiar smile broke across Soujiro's face. "Say hi to Shishio for me," he said and leapt off his foot and vanished into thin air.
"Whoa!" Yahiko exclaimed. "He's gone!"
Kenshin's gaze remained focus as he whirled around towards Chou. Soujiro appeared for only a second with his feet planted against the wall of a building just across from Chou. He smirked when it was just Chou in view and thrust his foot off the wall to make his signature strike.
Yahiko's mouth couldn't have dropped any wider. He was witnessing moves he had never seen Kenshin perform.
The moment Soujiro made his move to attack, Kenshin made his before Soujiro foot fully left the wall. He disappeared right before Soujiro did to be able to act in time. Half a breath later, Kenshin was seen driving Soujiro's blade down to the ground the very moment it would have struck Chou. Soujiro fell to one knee still clutching at his sword. By the time he raised his gaze, he was faced with the point of Kenshin's sword to his face. Chou backed far off realizing how close Kenshin timed it before stopping Soujiro's blade from running him through.
"I can read your moves now," Kenshin reminded him. "You can't win today. Focus on the now. You're not well and you're not thinking straight. Fight another time and let us help you now!"
"Get out of my way Kenshin!" Soujiro used his sword to strike Kenshin's sword from his face and leapt back to his feet. Kenshin stepped back as he parried off Soujiro's relentless attacks. It wasn't Soujiro's goal to defeat Kenshin, but to get pass him to Chou. However, Kenshin was still fresh to the fight and managed to keep Soujiro at a fair distance from Chou. Kenshin had no choice but to turn the attacks on Soujiro and keep hin away from Chou until he tired himself out.
Soujiro must have realized at some point he lost completely. His strikes became more and more half hearted until Kenshin finally struck him when Soujiro left his back open. Soujiro's sword fell from his grasp when he collapsed over his hands and knees. He balled his fists angrily into the clumps of snow beneath him as he turned a wrathful gaze up at Kenshin. "People I care about are going to get hurt if I don't kill him! You must have close to compromising your vow not to kill just to protect the people you care 's all I'm trying to do!"
Kenshin sheathed his reverse blade knowing their fight was at its end. He then knelt down on one knee before Soujiro and attempted to reach a compassionate hand towards him, but Soujiro was quick to turn a cold shoulder to it. "Come with us. And I promise I won't let anything happen to them."
"You can't promise that."
"No," Chou started in. " He can't. You shouldn't make promises you know you can't keep, Kenshin."
"Shut the hell up!" Sanosuke raised a threatening fist towards Chou. "They'll listen to Kenshin over you any time."
"Go ahead and take the kid!" Chou lashed out. "But know this," he said as he turned his gaze down at Soujiro, "the Meiji will know where to find you and you can bet they'll drag your ass out of that dojo along with your precious little pet," he gestured towards Koharu, "before sunrise. Any attempts to escape on your own will come at a cost to these people."
Those words stabbed Soujiro all over. He was made to feel he couldn't have any connection with the world without it costing him and the others he came to know. Chou had just threatened the others who had played a part in caring for him since first coming to Tokyo. A soft growl emitted from his throat as he tightened his hold back around his fallen sword.
"Soujiro-" Kenshin caught him at his shoulders as he rose to charge and shoved him a good distance back. "This doesn't have to be your fight alone! You can trust-"
"It is my fight! And you're going to let me through -" Soujiro raised his sword to strike Kenshin now that he had put away his own weapon.
"No, stay back!" Kenshin suddenly cried out and extended his arm out.
"Stop it!" Koharu lunged from around to grab at Soujiro's arm to halt the attack but only ended up clawing after his sleeve and getting in the path of the strike meant for Kenshin. The blade was struck downward from Koharu's earnest tug at his sleeve and she was struck down instead. She was driven to the ground with a heartwrenching scream.…
"Kohar-"he barely got her name passed his lips as he watched her body fall and strike the cold ground. She remained motionless. "Koharu, no!" The sword tainted with her blood slipped through his fingers as he collapsed back to his hands and knees next to her. Soujiro realized now Kenshin was trying to yell for Koharu to stay back, not him. He knew what Soujiro would end up doing.
Yahiko skidded to a stop from behind after trying to go after Koharu when she finally slipped through his grasp. "Oh no.…is she…."
Everyone thought they were seeing the heartless monster they had first come to know and gazed with contempt towards Soujiro, all except Kenshin. He remained standing with eyes widened and mouth dropped like everyone else, but held such a softhearted gaze towards Soujiro. He was immediately pulled into Soujiro's grief and sorrow.
"No, no! What have I done!" Soujiro cried as he crawled towards her. He placed his hand on her shoulder and gently nudged her. "Koharu." She wasn't responding. "Koharu? Koharu no!" He carefully rolled her on her back to find her obi completely sliced through and blood staining her kimono and skin and the snow that had been beneath her. "No! You stupid girl!" He quickly pulled her upright against him to keep her covered. She remained limp and cold within his hold. "Koharu, wake up." He clasped his hand against her face and directed it towards him. "Wake up!" Soujiro ended up dropping his head against hers as he closed his eyes. He cried softly: "Please... please don't do this.…" The first tear started to roll down his cheek as he touched his hand against her face. "Please don't be… dead..."