Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Dawning Emotions ❯ Ever Present Smile ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter Two

The futon was actually quite comfortable, Soujirou realized. He shifted against the futon. Nice and thick.

He was feeling full and warm. He sniffed. Maybe not so clean. He really should bathe sometimes soon. Soujirou felt unclean. Dirty even. The garments he was wearing felt a bit too small.

He blushed internally at the thought of his behavior earlier. He hadn't been his best mannered, especially when the people had been very nice. Helping him and feeding him.

Those thoughts were new. He hadn't ever really felt this way before. It was all so strange. What did all these feelings mean? They made him react differently than normal. He felt… anxious? Nervous? He really didn't know.

All these thoughts about people had been arriving since he had fought with Bat- Kenshin Himura. What did they all mean? They confused him to such an extent that his head began to ache, Soujirou didn't particularly like headaches, so he groaned and turned his head down, hiding the room from his sight and entering cool darkness.

The pain abated as quickly as it came. And Soujirou peeked out of his warm cocoon into the fading sunlight, darkness coming of the room he was staying in. Soujirou yawned and briefly closed his eyes. He was feeling tired. It wouldn't matter if he just closed his eyes for a moment,

were his rather incoherent thoughts.

Just before he drifted off he heard distant footsteps. Or not so distant footsteps really. The shoji door opened and revealed the girl Chieko Ryusaki.

She stared at him silently, taking in his bleary eyes and tired face. "Soujirou Seta, I think it would be better if you went to sleep. You can ask the questions in the morning. You seem quite tired. It would be for the best if we left the questions until the morning. I think you were just about to fall asleep when I came in here. I do apologize for that. Is it all right for you if we wait until morning?" she asked, a hint of concern in her voice, but her face stayed calm.

Soujirou simply stared at her for a moment, tired mind unable to comprehend this quickly. But when he did, he nodded, "That is fine. I am feeling tired," he said slowly.

Chieko bowed her head in agreement and smiled slightly, "Good. Well good night then," she turned and left the room.

Before she did he so, Soujirou murmured, "Good night," back to her.

Soujirou settled back into the futon. It was warm and full. He also felt quite tired. The questions now that they had been mentioned had surfaced. They were rather persistent.

Digging deeper he ignored them. Just wanting to drift away into the warmth that surrounded him. And the quietness of the dream world.

Soujirou Seta fell asleep

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He was smiling

A quick slash and the body sank to the ground. Crimson liquid shadowed by the dark of the night lest the body.

He was smiling.

The rain was falling around him. On him. On the bodies. On Shishio.

He was smiling.

Tears were falling down his cheeks but he ignored them.

He was smiling.

He woke up suddenly his face twisted into a smile. Tears falling down his face. One hand stretched forwards, gripping the air. He brought that hand slowly to his lap. The tears fell unchecked onto his hands. He tilted his head down and watched them fall. Soujirou took a deep shaking breath and then took another. He began breathing calmer. His nerves were under his tight control again.

A gentle light was entering the room. Yellow and mild. It brought the walls and floor to a shine. The faint sound of water soothed him. He felt calmer. He wiped away his tears leaving his face a light pink. Soujirou sniffed. He was feeling rather thirsty.

Soujirou took another deep breath. He was calm. But he couldn't get rid of those images in his head. His family… They just wouldn't go away! Why wouldn't they go away? Deep breaths. Calmness is good. Calm calm calm calm. All he had to do was be calm and everything would be all right. The images wouldn't go away!

Everything would be fine as long as the images went away. But how did that happen? Maybe Kenshin Himura would have the answers. But he might add another ten years to his wanderings. Soujirou thought that ten years was quite enough.

Maybe in ten years the images would be gone? The wandering must make the images go away. That must be the reason why Kenshin Himura wanders. Soujirou nodded his head. That must be the reason why he wandered for so long. For the memories of his times as a manslayer. He wandered for ten years. Soujirou frowned. Was there a connection? So many years of killings per year you wandered? Or was it how many you killed per year you wandered?

Soujirou sighed. This was all so confusing. Kenshin Himura had shaken up his thoughts. He didn't know which way or what he should be doing. Was it meant to be so confusing? Soujirou didn't think that Kenshin Himura had meant for this to be confusing - but it was!

So caught up in thoughts about whether or not it was how many years of killing of people per year of wandering or if it was how many people you killed per year of wandering, he didn't notice the door open and shut. Or Chieko sitting next to him and her patient if confused stare. But finally he came to attention when a hand was waved in front of his face quickly.

Soujirou blinked and looked at Chieko with bewilderment. She simply raised an eyebrow.

"I've brought some tea. Would you like some?" she asked. Soujirou nodded. Chieko poured some tea into a cup and handed the cup to him. He accepted with another nod and a quite, "Thank you."

Chieko poured herself some tea and they quietly sat there sipping tea for a calm and peaceful moment. Chieko put down her and looked at him expectantly.

Soujirou was put off by this slightly and asked, "What?" he really didn't have a clue why she was way. Everything was so confusing lately.

She made an amused sound then said, "Questions? You wanted some answers I assume." She shook her head and smiled slightly, her eyes distant.

"Oh! Yes… some explanations would be confirming," understanding had come quickly to Soujirou.

"Good. You want some answers? Just ask away!"

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Disclaimer: nope

AN: This chapter wasn't supposed to be here. I had this chapter where they had the questioning time but then I had to explain things and this chapter appeared. I could have made it longer but in this story the chapters will only be around a thousand words or a bit over, most are over. I have chapter three written out but just have to type it up and four is halfway done. Expect three with in the next two weeks. Thank you to the people who reviewed!