Meiji Wanderers

~ accompanied by the song "Journey"

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin © Nobuhiro Watsuki, Jump Comics, Shueisha, Fuji TV and Sony Entertainment. The song "Journey" was sung by Hidaka Noriko, Seta Soujirou’s seiyuu. I’m borrowing the translation from the Rurouni Kenshin Archive. Standard disclaimers apply.

Author’s Note: Ahh . . . our favorite rurounis together in one song fic. Seems like a dream come true, eh? Well, since Sou-chan’s on top of my list of favorite characters, I decided to write a song fic about him and Kenshin. But please bear in mind that this fic is neither yaoi or lemon, oki-doki?

Anyway, hope you enjoy, and God bless you!

ddddd

A single golden ray peeks out from behind the mountains. Dawn—the sign of yet another new day. The dark sky slowly lightens, streaks of pink and gold bringing life into the precious new sunrise.

Gazing at the sunrise is a young wanderer. The wind ruffles through his short dark hair. His dark blue eyes earnestly search the plains before him.

[Music starts]

Elsewhere, several years before, violet eyes dart around the place. Long red hair flutters behind him. A sakabatou hangs at his waist.

Not too long ago, those violet eyes had a golden flash of light known as the trademark of the famous killer. Yet now, all traces of that killer are gone, and those eyes only retain a look of sadness and questioning. The once proud step has now become a humble, quiet shuffle, the sound carried away by the howling of the wind.

I am going to a place of my own

Even though nothing can yet be seen

The mist clears away, and young Seta Soujirou slowly advances. He looks around curiously, yet without the masklike smile that once brought about his downfall. His hands are free, and no sword hangs at his waist that may pull him down into further depression. His steps are easy and light. His eyes, before drawn and clouded despite his customary smile, are now clear.

I will definitely not

Be afraid of shedding tears anymore

Himura Kenshin pauses and turns around. The wind carries his hair into a lively flutter as he stares at the city that had once been his home—and killing ground. The place that would forever be stained by the blood he’d shed. Kyoto.

He was bidding it farewell for now. He had accomplished enough. No doubt, the Meiji era would push through, with the Ishinshishis as its head. But fate didn’t have it so he would remain. Too many memories. Too many cries echoing in his ears. Long and cold sleepless nights. His soul would never be at peace if he remained.

With nothing but the answer that that person gave me

I cannot be my true self

Soujirou looks down and notices that his sandals are untied. As he bends down to retie them, Shishio’s words echo in his ears . . .

"The strong live, the weak die. The flesh of the weak is food for the strong."

{Those are Shishio-san’s beliefs. But will they work for me? I am not him—the answers he has may not work for me.}

He slowly stands up.

{Maybe there is a different destiny in store for me—and maybe the only way to find out is not to rely on other people’s answers but on my own.}

I wonder what I will discover

Kenshin’s eyes flash as, for the first time, he unsheaths his sakabatou. His sword slices right through an opponent.

I wonder what I will not be able to find

A ball rolls down the road, and Soujirou picks it up.

The pieces of me

Hidden in my heart

Kenshin’s heart beats quickly as he watches his opponent fall. To his surprise, he finds the man still breathing.

The wind blows through the leaves.

Kenshin stares in awe and wonder at the naked blade of the sakabatou in his hands.

Simply to the place where the wind leads

Soujirou looks up and smiles at the little girl rushing toward him. He tosses her the ball, and she gives him a grateful grin before walking away to continue her game.

I will go, walking alone

Kenshin returns Shakku’s sakabatou to his sheath, then walks on.

If perhaps, somewhere, I will meet

My true self whom I do not know

Soujirou walks slowly, basking in the golden warmth of the newly risen sun. He gazes at the lush, green countryside before him, inhales the sweet fragrance of the flowers and relishes the soft coolness of the gentle breeze. He feels a strange peace settle over him.

Running a little too fast

I feel like I have not been able to see anything at all

In the corner of his mind’s eye, Kenshin sees himself during his battle with Kiyosato, the fiancee of the woman who eventually became his wife. The sting of the first scar across his cheek is one never to be forgotten. He still feels the shock and anger that rushed through his system during that moment. He remembers the feel of drawing his katana and slicing right through the man.

{I’m sorry . . .}

Yet it’s already too late.

Yes . . . even the mistakes

Are definitely answers

In the corner of his mind’s eye, Soujirou sees his younger self holding the wakizashi in his slippery hands during that day in the rain. He remembers what it felt like, drawing the sword for the first time, and cutting down his tormentors one by one.

A young Soujirou gazes up at the rainy skies, his tears mingling with the rain streaming down his cheeks.

{I’m sorry . . .}

Once again with time belonging to only myself

I will become ‘me’, who is unlike anyone else

Kenshin walks into the nearest village, while Soujirou stands frozen in his tracks as he is unaware that the same ball he picked up is bound to hit him again . . .

Kenshin steps inside a restaurant where he sees a group of drunkards taking in horrendous amounts of more and more sake. Soujirou hits the ground as the ball hits him on the head. A very SD Kenshin walks out of the restaurant.

I wonder who I shall meet

Soujirou slowly pulls himself to his feet and turns around to see the little girl and her lovely older sister run toward him. He starts to smile, thinking they’re there to help him up, but they go for the ball. Blushing, he gets up on his own and walks away.

I wonder who I would inevitably hurt

A grave-faced Kenshin walks out of the mansion, a young woman staring after him in tears.

Because the heart cannot be cut off

Simply the way I want it to be cut off

The young woman calls out Kenshin’s name. Kenshin turns around, and sighs softly as he hears her quiet pleas for him to stay. Soujirou turns as he feels the older sister’s gentle touch on his shoulder. She smiles sweetly and apologizes.

Where the path takes me, gathering pieces along the way

Kenshin walks off into the night, a mist blurring the young woman’s view of him.

Going without carrying a blade

Soujirou accepts the girl’s apology, then walks away, heading into the countryside.

In order to grasp the pieces with both of my hands

A shadow falls over the day, and the sun is out. Kenshin stands at Tomoe’s grave, with white roses in his hands. Soujirou hesitantly approaches the nearest village, tired and hungry.

I wonder what I will discover

Ten years after his journey begins, Kenshin walks the streets of Tokyo.

I wonder what I will not be able to find

Soujirou winces as a restaurant owner throws him out of a restaurant for not having enough money to pay for what he ate.

The pieces of me

A voice from behind calls Kenshin’s name, and he turns around.

Hidden in my heart

Soujirou stumbles upon a small woods, and when he looks up, he notices a middle-aged man practicing his sword moves. His eyes widen, seeing how good the man is. His foot causes a twig to snap, and the man turns.

Simply to where the wind leads

Kenshin’s violet eyes widen upon seeing an enraged Kamiya Kaoru before him.

I will go, walking alone

The man smiles warmly at Soujirou, and invites him to come over and join him. Reluctantly, Soujirou agrees and walks over to him.

Because I want to meet with, somewhere,

Not long after, Kenshin smiles as he walks into the Kamiya Dojo, to be welcomed by the merrymakings of his new family. Elsewhere, Soujirou gratefully accepts a Japanese flute, and a newly made sakabatou from the former samurai he met in the woods.

My true self whom I do not know

Kenshin looks into Kaoru’s loving eyes, and takes her hand. Kaoru’s cheeks turn pink, and she falls into his strong embrace. Farther away, a young wanderer walks the face of Japan, sakabatou at his waist, a serene, earnest look in his eyes.

Former killers, now wanderers. Men who used to kill with katanas, now use reverse blades to protect the weak. Twisted principles now set straight by the convictions of another.

dddddd

Ten years later, Soujirou walks into the city of Tokyo. It’s a bright, beautiful morning, with the promise of a good day. The rays of the morning sun reflect clearly in his blue eyes.

His wanderings are almost at an end. And the answers to his questions, after searching for so long, have now been found. And now, it was time to get up and truly live.

[Music slowly fades to an end]

END

08/03/99

My sixth fanfic, and second song fic. Well, who knew writing song fics could be such fun? And at last, I was able to write about my favorite RK character! ^-^ I hope you enjoyed it! Take care and God bless you guys!

By: Angela-chan

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