Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Soujiro's story ❯ The Dream and The Redhead ( Chapter 1 )

Soujiro’s Story

By Firedemon86

Chapter 1

The Dream and The Redhead  

Disclaimer: I do not own Soujiro or any other characters from Rurouni Kenshin. However, I do own Selena and any characters related to her, she’s a product of my own imagination and I’m planning to have her star in her own book, which at this time is a WIP.

Author’s Note: I’m trying to rewrite and edit this story. I’m still looking for a beta if anyone is interested, please don’t hesitate to email me. Thank you all for reading. One last thing Please review it helps me greatly.

Specking “…”

Thoughts <….>

The first few rays of light were breaking into the dark night sky, as the new day was preparing to begin. The world seemed calm and quiet, as if holding its breath. However, in a usually quiet forest in the middle of Japan this pre-dawn breath holding was abruptly interrupted. A scream pierced the forest, had any humans been close enough to hear they’d probably think someone had just meet a horribly death. But, since the closest human was about 5 miles away the scream managed to do was send a few small forest animals running from their homes.

In the middle of a clearing, a few hundred yards from a road lay a man; his clothes were torn and dirty. He lay on the cold ground with only a paper-thin blanket to keep out the night air. He tossed and turned for a few more moment the occasional strangled cry escaping from his lips, before he shot up into a sitting position. His breath was coming in heaves and gasps, as he tried to reassure himself that he was awake and not still trapped in that hellish dream. If anyone who knew this young man, six years ago were to see him now they’d never know. For this was once the killer, Soujiro Seta the Tenken master. Shaking his head Soujiro tried not to think about the horrifying dream he’d had all too frequently as of late, but it did little to stop the memories.

(The Dream) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the darkness voices ring out arguing, fighting, hateful, voices. These voices were not alone, among them a soft, pain filled, scared voice cried out clawing for attention. Then in the middle of the darkness and the voices, standing like a statue was a young man. A man once called the Tenken master, second under Shishio, and now just called Soujiro.

"Only the strong survive in this world. The weak will die."

"The strong should protect the weak."

"Himura is a fool and our enemy he must be killed. Kill him for us Soujiro."

"Soujiro would have been a very different person, I think if just one person had shed tears for him." The two voices continued, speaking loudly trying to get Soujiro to listen only to their words, their point of view. The owners of these voices could not have been mistaken they were the voices of Shishio and Kenshin.

However, then the dream shifted and both voice faded into the background. The dream scope changed to from the darkness so thick and empty to a washed out gray land with thunder and lighting clapping and flashing in the distance. Then a new voice rang out, making the voices of Kenshin and Shishio seem nothing more then whispers, this new voice was that of a small boy, and with in moments the boy who once owned that voice appeared before Soujiro. The boy was unkempt, dirt, covered in burses and wearing little more then rags; but this, was a little boy Soujiro knew. This was himself from all those years ago.

"Stop it… Stop it … All of you Shut Up … I don't need any of you… Just be quite I don't want to hurt anyone… I just want to go home." The young boy cried out his pain and sadness almost tangible in his tone.

"But you don't have a home, do you boy? Why? Because you killed your family!" Now the voice of a woman joins in, the voice of the woman who raised him or tortured him depending on how you look at it. The voices of Soujiro's two half-brothers join in just as younger Soujiro tries to defend himself. "No… No! I didn't want to! You were all going to kill me. I had no choice but to defend myself." "Why shouldn't we have killed you? You were nothing but a bastard child anyway."

"That's right you should have thanked us for taking you in at all."

All the confusing, yelling and auguring continued as the younger Soujiro tried to defend himself from his families' attacks. The older Soujiro, who could not move a muscle throughout the dream, suddenly finds he is able to move. Then another new twist is add to the dream a new voice, he couldn't place it but something about it moved him deeply and he started moving toward it.

"Soujiro… Soujiro… Come to me Soujiro, I'm waiting… Soujiro…”It was a quiet, female voice that seemed so in need.

When he started running faster he also noticed the washed out gray background becoming brighter and brighter the storm in the distance disappearing. However, it seemed as fast as he went the voice just faded more, something inside him called out. Something about her voice made him want her, to know her, talk to her. It was a kind of warmth that he’d never felt before and he knew, just knew, he didn’t want to be without any more. Then with out even realizing it he found his voice and called out to her. "Who are you? Come back! Where are you waiting? Please say something!"

(Dream Ends) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Raising his hands, he ran them over his face then through his hair. He laid back on the ground for a few minute trying to collect his thoughts then slowly raised his hand to shield his eyes from the sun. His mind racing as a million question formed in his mind the biggest ones playing over and over in his head. <Why? What was that voice? I had almost gotten used to that dream with the voices. But now… who's voice was that?>

Slowly Soujiro got up from the ground; gathering what little possessions, he had. Making sure his fire from the pervious night was out. Then walking the short distance to the road he'd been traveling the day before. He had been walking for six years and in that time he had crossed Japan several times over. Always avoiding big cities, Kyoto above all else. No one he passed on the road seemed to know or care that he was a wanted man.

Although six years later, he didn't exactly look the way he did back then, no longer the young man of seventeen now a man, 23 years of age. His hair alone was now longer, but no were near that mane of Kenshin's, just out of preference he kept it timed enough to never need a tie, it also look dirty and unkempt not that that bug him. His cloths had been mended several times over and even now looked frayed and old. His cloths also more closely resembled Kenshin's cloths now as he had used what once was his under shirt to patch up his haori. He had also noticed that, somewhere along the way, he had lost his boyish face had gained a tired and sorrowful look.

However, the one thing his face didn't show was his inner turmoil. Even after six year, he had no ideas who was right and which path he should follow, so he just kept walking. With a sigh Soujiro thought of what he should do he was getting close to a town, perhaps he could do some work and earn some money. Then just as quickly, as the thoughts of money and work had rising in his mind they left.

Reaching the top of a hill and looking down he saw the most beautiful women he had ever saw. His heart felt like it stopped mid beat and breath seemed to leave his lungs. As he looked on, he could tell from here was she wore a red kimono that accented the curves of her young body her red hair was long slightly curled. Then as if someone had flipped a switch he realized this most perfect women was been hassled by two men about twice her size. He’d began to move down the hill to help her, when he notice she didn't look scared and worried as the men circled her occasionally grabbing her kimono. Curiosity and wonder was only momentary as the whole sight was making him sick and making his blood boil with anger and hate, as it hadn't in six years.

He started pushing his body to move faster not as fast as he moved in battle; he still didn't know exactly what he was dealing with. Then as he got about half way down he heard one of then man say something. "Come on cutie what are you going to give us to pass on our road?" His blood burned in his veins his old emotionless smile fell back into place and he started moving at the same speed as he had in the battle with Kenshin, god-like. In a flash, he was down the hill and just as the man reached out to grab the woman's kimono again; Soujiro grabbed his hand and twisted it behind his back. Then in a cold voice that could have rivaled Saito's he said. "How about, I give you your life."

"Why you, bastard! How dare you talk like that, to us." The other man shouted as he started to come around the woman to help his partner, but he didn't make it.

He was tripped half way around by the red head, he caught himself then span around as if to yell in the woman's face. The words never left his mouth for she turned and raised and knee up quickly to hit him square in the family jewels. Then raising her hand she grabbed his nose and twisted until a resounding crack filled the air. The man bellowed in pain but, this girl wasn't done yet she raised her hand again palm flat to his forehead and in one swift motion hit him sending him fly at lest five feet.

She turned to look at Soujiro and the man he still held by the arm, Soujiro’s mouth slightly a gap he’d never seen a woman fight like that. Trying to recover quickly Soujiro release the man's arm, and as the bandit turned to punch, Soujiro pulled his sword out of his belt and hit the man in the stomach hard. Perhaps a little too hard but something inside Soujiro took great pleasure in watching his pervert clutch his stomach and fall to the ground. Turning to look at the redhead woman again, he didn't see her and looking down the road, he saw her walking away. Something deep inside, the same thing that had taken pleasure in hitting that man, now cried out to follow her, to not let her get away. At the same time Soujiro as feel staying away from her was a good move, as another part of himself told him to walk in the opposite direction. This war inside him ended quickly as Soujiro’s feet moved and he compelled by this inner voice followed her. As he was coming up behind her he called out to her. "Hey stop! Can we talk?" Still she didn’t not slow down; he quickened his pace again and came up beside her.

She looked over at him without turning her head and said. "Can I help you?"

"Are you alright?" Soujiro asked while trying to keep his voice steady, which was surprisingly hard. He shrugged it off for later thought and just turned to smile at her.

"I'm fine. You can leave now." She answered coldly.

"I'm going the same way as you are. I'll walk with you just incase those thugs come back." He offered, in what he hoped sounded like and nonchalant tone.

"What? Are you blind? I can take care of myself. I don't need your help." Her irritation was plain in her tone and Soujiro saw her eyes narrow, even I her head still didn’t turn.

"Who said anything about helping you? Heheheh. Just thought it detour those guys if they saw you‘re not alone." Soujiro laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his head, his famous emotionless smile firmly in place. He also spoke with an innocent to his voice that was almost believable.

The redhead finally turned her head to look at him, and her eyes gave Soujiro the impression that she was, trying to see through him, trying to see the truth in his words. In the end, she just shrugged her shoulders and kept walking.

"Hey does that mean you don't mind?" Soujiro asked hopefully.

"You, following me for a couple of miles shouldn’t be that bad. But if you try Anything you'll regret it." Her tone was bored at best, but the way her eyes flash with her threat, made Soujiro shiver a little.

A few moments later a comfortable silence had fallen between them and Soujiro’s fake smile in place, he finally took the chance to look at this woman completely. She had fire red hair that had a natural curl to it, lengthwise it come to about the middle point of her back. Her hair was in a low ponytail, tied not in a bow but just in a tie, the ribbon was just about every color in the rainbow, portraying a beautiful scene of birds and flowers. The ends of the tie hung down about 6 inches past the end of her hair. A few curly hairs escaped the tie and fell to frame her face. She wore a red kimono with silver birds on it. Her eyes from what he had seen earlier were the most beautiful blue, deep ocean-blue at the rims then fading to a crystal-blue in the center. Her skin was flawless and nicely tanned her hands showed no sign of dirt; while he was sure she was strong, he saw no signs of working. Could it be she was from a wealth family, if so why was she out walking these roads alone?

Then he notice the smallest thing had he not been pain attention, and had he not know what to look for he probably would have missed it. Her figures and knuckles show just slight signs of roughness, could it be she practiced swordsmanship. Soujiro was brought out of his thoughts abruptly when she spoke up. "Will you please stop staring at me, your making me nervous." Her tone was annoyed and made Soujiro wonder how long she’d known he was looking at her.

Soujiro's head snapped up to see she had turned her head to glare at him over one shoulder. Laughing nervously, rubbing the back of his head, and his emotionless smile in place Soujiro was about to respond when she cut him off.

"And, another thing, will you stop smiling like that all the time you're starting to give me the creeps." Even though her voice was louder then it had even been since meeting her she didn’t sound angry or even annoyed.

Soujiro's head dropped, but the smile didn't, then said. " I'm sorry if I scared you I didn't mean to"

With a sigh, the woman stopped walking and turned to face him. "Sorry I didn't mean to snap at you. What is your name anyway?"

Something inside was just overjoyed that she finally asked and now had the chance to tell her his name, and even though he tried, he could not keep the happiness out of his tone as he answered. "Soujiro, Seta Soujiro."

"Alright Soujiro, my name is Selena." For the first time she smiled, a very beautiful smile, as she spoke.

"You have a beautiful name Miss Selena." Soujiro said with a small chuckle.

"Thank you, so where are you heading?" Selena smiled as she turned to look at him, and for a moment Soujiro forgot how to breathe, it took him another minute to even gather his thoughts enough to answer her question. Even then, it was a stammering mess of an answer. "N-N No-o w-where really…ah… I'm a wa-wander Miss Selena." With a smirk on her face, Selena turned slightly away from Soujiro, looking into the sky as she spoke. "Oh… What’s wrong? Family problems, or woman problems, cause if how you act around me is how you act around all women then you certainly do have a problem." That is when it happened for the first time in nearly 20 odd years Soujiro smile, a real true smile, and even laughed a little.

"Ha-ha! Now that is a smile." Selena’s smile was one of triumph as if she’s just bet the world’s strongest man in arm wrestling. As she spoke, her tone was a laughing one.

After a few moments, Soujiro asked Selena the question that had been playing in his mind since meeting her. "Where are you heading all alone, Miss Selena?"

Selena got quite all the sudden and it seem she wasn't going to answer, Soujiro automatically started to apologize and trying to smooth things over. "I'm sorry, Miss Selena. You don't have to answer; it wasn't my place to ask."

With a sigh Selena finally turned to look at Soujiro and answer his question "It's ok, it's been awhile and, believe me being alone doesn't get to me anymore. I am trying to get away, as far away as I can. Can we leave it at that for now? I’d like to tell you more but I’m afraid it might put you in danger. Just know I’m far away from home and I can’t go back home.”

Soujiro digested that in silence and for a few minute, each of them walked along the road not really seeing anything around them, just lost in their own thoughts. Then Selena asked a question. “Soujiro if you don’t mind me asking for real, why are you wandering?”

"I'm not running I'm just looking for something, the truth." Soujiro answered his voice serious and deadly calm.

"`The Truth' to what?" Selena’s eyebrow arch high on her forehead as she tried to understand just what Soujiro was saying.

"Oh nothing, you shouldn't worry about it, Miss Selena." Soujiro said with a sigh.

Selena's eyes were questioning but she just shrugged it off. The two kept walking in silence, but for the first time it was a comfortable silence. After a few, more hills, the two traveling companions came to a fork in the road. One road led into a city and the other lead around it. It seemed the question had finally come, would the two part ways here or would this story continue.

Will the other questions be answered? Would Selena and Soujiro give this newly form friendship a chance and if they do, could the friendship become more? What are the shadows that haunt Selena’s past, and are endangering her future? And could Selena hold the answer Soujiro has been searching for?