Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Dawning Emotions ❯ Threats ( Chapter 5 )

Chapter Five

Soujirou was coming to terms with his emotions. Then in one rather embarrassing way, but he was still coming to terms. Actually he had thought that coming to terms would be good. Until this moment.

Chieko's wide eyes trailed down his body and a warm blush raged profusely. Soujirou wasn't sure if this was good but he suspected not.

Her mouth opened slightly and she tries to say something but she doesn't succeed that well. All that was emitted was muffled by her hand, which had been brought to her mouth.

Doctor Endo was laughing. Soujirou wasn't all that pleased at him, not the least. And the strange looks he was giving Soujiou were not helping things. Until he figured them out. They turned out to be very helpful indeed.

This was when he began to realize he should have covered himself by now. So using his speed to the fullest advantage, he ducked under the futon's covers. Hiding his face with the still smile on.

But they saw.

The smile was not actually the best thing to do. Doctor Endo and Chieko both felt oddly about it. It wasn't normal behavior. Doctor Endo thought the boy was insane. But he generally thought any one insane on principle alone. Most actually were. It was slightly surprising how many there were. But then again… It was not. And that kid, with that smile would push insanity further.

Doctor Endo was a fan of sake and often his thoughts and actions were often irregular because of it. Irregular being the kind word.

"I… I'll leave now," her face and body disappeared to Soujirou's relief. When the wood connected it made a sharp noise and banged slightly. Footsteps hurried away. Scampered nearly.

Soujirou jumped with fright. A hand had grasped his shoulder. He turned his and looked into the smiling eyes of Doctor Endo. "So mind if I have a look?" Soujirou merely nodded. He thought it best not to say anything at all.

Shrugging off the covers, he stood up. A small smile on his face to hide his embarrassment. It was working rather well. Doctor Endo peered at the slightly swollen pinkish wound. Nodding sharply he turned around and bent over. He could hear some clinking.

Doctor Endo spun around, a light blue glass bottle in his left hand. Motioning for Soujirou to lie down, he pulled out a swab and ever so gently turned the bottle over slightly. A nasty odor wafted from the bottle and instantly Soujirou recoiled, bringing a hand to his nose and screwing his mouth shut.

Because of this he couldn't breathe, as for breathing through his nostrils would be far worse than death itself. Eventually when he was turning blue, he took a huge gulp of air. He began breathing again. Which was good.

"Hmmm… it seems to be doing quite nicely. Indeed. I don't think I need to do anything at all. Always a good thing. You heal quick, boy-o," Soujirou winces. "Very quick indeed." His voice had trailed off as if he was in great thought.

Doctor Endo looked at Soujirou shrewdly and smiled. It didn't make Soujirou very happy but still he smiled ever so slightly back. Sometimes a smile can get you anywhere. This was not one of those times.

"You are a swordsman. Don't deny it. I can tell by the calluses you have. But you are young. Too young to have fought in many battles. With swords at least. I also doubt that you re a policeman. So. Who are you? Chieko tells me your name is Soujirou Seta. Which means nothing to me, I know no Seta's. Who taught you?" Doctor Endo's battle sharp eyes probed Soujirou's smiling, happy eyes. But from his grunt of disappointment, he hadn't found what he was looking for.

"Plus that smile of yours gives me the creeps. And I don't scare easily." Why, Soujirou wondered, did every one have something against his smile? Was it really that bad? So with much effort he reduced his smile to the uplifting of his lips.

This didn't appear to help Doctor Endo's opinion of his smile. In fact it might have worsened it. It might have something to do with the fact that his corners were constantly shifting causing his eyes to react strangely. Things were steadily going downhill for Soujirou.

So he smiled. Just as he always done.

Doctor Endo sighed and shook his head. He had quite a lot of experience with stupid people and ignorant people but this was just plain and simply didn't know any thing at all. He seemed to have no social experience at all and was completely unversed in social manners. He hadn't properly introduced himself! Once again he shook his head. Young people these days, he mused, were so ill mannered to their elders. When I was a boy…

Doctor Endo had retreated into what most young people despise. An adult. He had promised himself that he would never become this. But in the end… It happens to the best of us. Quite sad really.

Soujirou was quite surprised when the man leaned forward putting one hand on his shoulder and in a rather menacing manner squeezed it. His eyes were flashing dangerously. And when he spoke it was a growl, "Listen. I have been hearing that up near that secret shrine there has been a large amount of gatherings and activity during the last five years, especially during the last three. Are you part of this boy? `Cause if you are…" the threat was clear.

Soujirou took no heed. "No I'm not part of," Doctor Endo's eyes narrowed. "I'm not. I promise you." This was the truth. He wasn't part of any activity up at the shrine. At least not now. People can be so forgetful about past and present speech.

"Good," he stood up collecting his supplies, "I hope I never have to see you again." It was the truth. The whole truth. If rather nastily said. The man was rather blunt. "Goodbye." He straightened, walking stiffly to the door and with one last mighty SLAM of the door, he was gone.

Soujirou thought that the past time that he spent with Doctor Endo had been very… enlightening. It was a good word. One that was more proper than some of the words Chou would have used and Yumi would have disapproved of which would have invoked more words for Yumi to disapprove of. It was a horrible cycle that Soujirou had witnessed more than once. More than twice, far more.

But however entertaining these thoughts were they were no competition for the hunger of his ravenous stomach. A teenage boy's one too. Quite tragic.

Was that the smell of food Soujirou smelt? He though (and hoped) so.

Disclaimer: no… I don't own it or are making large amounts of cash. Sorry…

AN: As before…