Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Dawning Emotions ❯ In the forest ( Chapter 1 )

Chapter One

Soujirou Seta swayed, stepped forward on one foot as he did so. Shakily bring a trembling hand to his forehead, he wiped away some sweat. He took a large breath and felt his head spin.

It seemed that his wounds from fighting with the Battousai were hindering him. He should have rested. But some things had seemed more important at the time.

The trees around him were moving. This was strange. Leaning against a tree he felt his legs weaken. He should rest. When was the last time he has slept? It was so long ago? Was it? So much had happened. So much…

The Battousai. No. He shook his head. Kenshin Himura. Was different from other people. He was good. He believed in people.

The moon shone serenely above him. One no two moons? He blinked. He felt dizzy. The world around him was moving peculiarly. Was it supposed to tilt and twirl like that? Soujirou shook his head bringing more waves of dizziness.

Was everything supposed to be turning so dark? Were the trees really falling like that? The shadows…

Today had been strange, Soujirou decided. So maybe all of this was happening.

The last thing he thought before he slipped into the waiting darkness. The hair was like blood. Will there be more blood shed by my hands?

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A flash of red and he was instantly awake.

Soujirou felt warm. He could faintly hear a tinkling of water. He was lying down. There was a person near him. He perceived this in an instant. He wasn't an assassin for nothing.

Soujirou was aware of the person's eyes on him. The person shifted slightly and Soujirou heard the rustling of a kimono. A faint fragrance was in the air. All he could tell was that it was flowery. But what flower… One he didn't recognize.

Through the few perfumes he could recognize were related to his former vocation. He didn't have much knowledge with women's perfumes, except that one time when he spilled Yumi's perfume. Perfume… the person was a she or similar to Kamatari then.

Soujirou opened his eyes. His vision was blurry. The light hurt his eyes. He could see a shadow figure. Blinking a couple of times, it all came clear.

A young firm female face looked down on him. She was wearing a dark blue kimono with a teal and cream obi. Her black hair was pulled back into a strict bun. Cool eyes stared at him.

"I see you are awake," she reached out, unclasping her hands from her lap and rested a hand on his forehead; her hand swept his hair away from his eyes. "Your fever has broken too. I won't need to call Doctor Endo. You seem to be getting better," the girl smiled slightly. "That is good." She stood up, "Are you hungry? Doctor Endo said you shouldn't eat solids yet. Something about your system or the like. But you can have some miso soup. Would you like some miso sou - Excuse me, I have been rude. My name is Chieko Ryusaki. Might I inquire about yours?" Her cool eyes stared at him more, deeply.

"Um… yes," he nervously answered.

"And?" she questioned, looking at him in a rather bemused fashion.

"My name is Soujirou Seta."

"It's nice to meet you Soujirou Seta. Would you like some miso soup?"

"Um… yes."

"Good!" she stood up and quietly left the room.

Soujirou slowly closed his eyes. He was wondering where he was and why he hadn't asked. It was a good thing he had agreed to miso soup, he was felling hungry. The last time he has eaten was… What day was it? What was he doing here?

And why did he feel so weak?

Things were so confusing…

In one day he had gone from being Shishio's right hand man. Then he had been defeated. By the legendary Battousai Kenshin Himura. He peered around the room. It was tidy and clean. It smelt faintly of pine. The futon he was laying upon had crispness to it.

Freshness, he supposed.

In the distance he heard footsteps. They were approaching this room. The room Soujirou was in.

The footsteps paused and the shoji door slid open. The girl was there. Balancing a tray with one hand, the other resting on the door. She turned slightly and closed the door. She returned the hand to the tray.

The girl, Chieko Ryusaki, smiled slightly before returning to her former blandness. Chieko Ryusaki walked the couple of steps to the futon he was laying on and knelt beside him, resting the tray next to him.

"You are still hungry?" she asked questionably. He nodded. "Good!" she then looked puzzled for a moment; "Maybe you should sit up to eat? That would make it easier, I think," she gestured for him to do so and he did. The miso soup smelt delicious.

It was then that he realized that he wasn't wearing any clothes. Soujirou yelped near silently and ducked under the covers.

Chieko Ryusaki stared at him, a puzzled look in her eyes. He was sure as she glance down his pink face and tightly clenched hands holding onto the covers with some force she came to a conclusion on his behavior

Soujirou really didn't know why he was acting this way. Some attempt at modesty, maybe? He had never had those problems in the past. It was probably too late any how.

"Well, I will leave you here to eat in peace. I will come back later for the try. Soon I guess. Goodbye now. Make sure you eat up Doctor Endo said you should gain some weight," she stood up quickly and left the room just as fast.

Soujirou was left alone with a rather appetizing miso soup.

He eagerly dug in, consuming the soup with great relish to the last drop. It really was quite was quite nice! Through some of his contentment and his appreciation to the miso soup could be attributed to the fact that he has, no, had been hungry.

The footsteps were once again approaching. Coming closer. Soujirou gently put down the tray with its empty dish of miso soup.

There was a soft knock. "I'm coming in," was said, then a brief pause before the girl, Chieko Ryusaki entered. She closed the door behind her.

She smiled at the empty dish, "I see you have finished. That is good," she then picked up the tray and turned to leave.

"Miss? Miss Chieko? How did I get here? I don't mean to be rude but," Soujirou asked quietly and politely with some hesitation

"I suppose you have the right to know that. I'll answer all the questions to the best of my abilities. Just as soon as I return this tray. I will be back in a moment. Is that all right?" she compromised.

"Yes…"

The girl left the room after opening and closing the door after herself. The footsteps receded.

Soujirou Seta lay back down on the futon and waited for Chieko Ryusaki to return.

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Disclaimer: No I don't own it. Surprised?

AN: I have planned this story so why it seems it might not have a plot it does. This isn't a romance; it will never turn into a romance. This fic is about Soujirou beginning to find himself. It takes place from when he leaves Houji and Anji until he meets up with that old woman that he talks to.

R/R!