genessia | Action, around the Amatsu

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Action, around the Amatsu

[Tomoe was usually the picture of calm and control. Unless someone knew her very well one would think she never changed from the neutral baseline she generally showed the world--never overly happy, never overly upset, always just kind of... there.]

[Today is a little different. Her movements are jerky and clipped, her words are shorter than normal with a bit of an edge to them. Something is definitely wrong, though she isn't the sort to advertise the fact. Still, when she is not actively working on something pressing and immediate for the Amatsu she is actively hunting for something. She checks drawers, turns over papers, looks beneath furniture, even turns over rugs in some instances. Whatever she's lost, it is apparently something important, at least to her, and the longer it goes without being found the more harried she seems to get.]

[ooc; one, Okita Souji, swiped her journal and she is freaking out beause there are very personal and damning things written in it.]

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[Part of Kenshin is still reeling. Tomoe, alive, here. Another, just for having been brought to this strange place.

He's rather glad to have something to do with his hands, even if it is sweeping. He'll get to the laundry later, or maybe- the hail has him pause, straightening with a wordless sound of confusion as he turns.]

Are you looking for this one, sir?

[ 'This one'... This man uses the rōnin speech, which surprises him entirely. Back into the moment, he stands before the newcomer with an apologetic smile. ]

Yes! I've heard there was a new assistant so they told me how to know who you were. [ He bows politely. ] Welcome to Amatsu!

[One hand stays on the broom's handle, but he bows politely to the other man with
a matching smile. His sword is in the room Tomoe told him he could share with her- there's no need of a sword while doing chores!]

Thank you, that's very kind of you, that it is! [He tries for harmless, as always, despite the hint of bandages around his chest under his kimono, and his arms peeking from under tied sleeves.]

This one is called Kenshin Himura.

[ Just when he's about to introduce himself, the name hits hard inside his head like a hammer... or like a blade, as the bushi he is.

He feels a sudden beat and leaps backwards in a defensive position. Not having his daishō with him, he draws a kozuka from inside his kimono, all the features of his face giving a menacing look. ]

Himura-san from the Ishin Shishi under Kogoro Katsura from Chōshū? The Hitokiri Battousai...

[EEP

Kenshin immediately leaps back in answer, broom handle shifting to a defensive position. He frowns, focused.]

That is who I was. [His tone has changed to match, serious and focused.]

I am not here to fight, that I am not. [For one thing, Megumi would kill him if she arrived and found out he was fighting again. For another...He's just plain tired of fighting.]

What is your name?

[ He feels tired of being kept in the shadows, of not being trusted despite he tries hard to not act as a member of the Shinsengumi but only as Souji... of knowing more than necessary about the destiny of his own class only because he was prying enough instead of restraining himself from reading Tomoe's journal.

What an idiot he was. ]

How would I believe you!? [ Still on the defensive. ] I'm Souji Okita, First Captain of the Shinsengumi.

[...

What.

He frowns, but doesn't move from his own defensive pose.]

I have met and fought against Souji Okita of the Shinsengumi many times. You are not the man I knew.

[But then Kenshin pauses, and takes a centering breath before cautiously straightening. He let's the bristles of the broom rest on the floor, removing one hand from it.]

I have not killed anyone in over ten years. I have no intention of changing that now.

[ Excuse me!? Wow, he's offen-- WHAT!?

He exhales heavily through his nose to calm himself a little. ]

Maybe in my world the Hitokiri Battousai doesn't exist as far as I know, still, that doesn't leave the fact you were once an assassin from Chōshū.

[ Kenshin was-- is Tomoe's husband here. He straightens and lowers his kozuka, face still dead serious. ]

Only for Tomoe-san's sake, I'll not fight nor harm you in any way. However, I want to hear your reasons for not killing anymore. [ Not reading them on paper. ]

That it does not. [But the fact this Okita has mirrored his pose gives him some hope this won't end in bloodshed.

Kenshin takes another breath before letting out in a quiet sigh.]

Neither will this one harm you.

[He's tempted not to tell this many anything though. But...For Tomoe.]

It's because of what I was, what I did during the revolution. This one will only fight now to protect those who cannot defend themselves. The sword this one uses is a reverse-blade sword that cannot kill anyone.

[ If only because he has seen, or read, many things he's pretty impulsive right now. He certainly was behaving like Kamiya on a bad day Hijikata would have smacked him harshly for doing things without thinking. Tucking the kozuka back inside, Souji listens to Kenshin attentively, until the latter mentions the reverse-blade sword -- and it clicks in his mind what Tomoe mentioned on her journal.

'Still… I cannot help but think of how lonely this life must have been. To have no one. No home. Nothing but that ever-present remorse. He tries to hide it, but I can see it. Perhaps it fools others, but I see through it. Even as he smiles his eyes are haunted. Even this isn’t so different. When we first met he hid it behind a scowl and now he deflects… '

For the first time since he became a Wolf of Mibu, he feels sympathy for a bushi from the enemy faction, and it shows in his eyes. ]

A sakabatō... but to use it means to renounce your life as bushi. To become a wanderer.

[The more he says, the more he watches Okita stand down. It helps. Maybe Kenshin is still ready to defend himself, but it's much less obvious now.

It's enough.

The frown fades to a wry little smile and he shrugs, a gesture almost casual. Even his voice's tone grows light and casual.

Hiding behind the mask of a wanderer.]

...This one has been convinced not to wander again without permission, that I have. Good friends, who know what this one has done but do not care, have gone to great lengths to make it so.

It's a pleasant life, that it is. Even without wandering, this one uses that sword to protect.

[ And he recognizes that Kenshin's not like the other bushi from Chōshū. He has integrity and value for life.

His words bring an almost trustful smile, only with a stern gaze. ]

I'm glad you found a way to protect the innocent, but the lives you have taken must be repaid for a greater good.

[No one is like Kenshin. :| Which is probably a good thing.

His smile brightens at Okita's smile, becoming a bit more real.]

It is not my duty to save everyone, for this one is only one man. I will no longer be a pawn for a government, that I will not.

[ Stop it! You will make him like you B| ] I understand. You can still try saving as many people as you can. [ The last part makes his eyes more wide. ]

You're telling me you were used more than doing your duty by free will?

[He's...sorry? He doesn't do mean very well!] That I do.

[And there's the grimace, guilt tipping his head down as the smile vanishes.]

Confirming that would be taking the easy way out. [Kenshin doesn't really do easy, does he?]

I take full responsibility for all of my actions. It does not matter, in the end, why I acted as I did. All I can do now is move forward. Use my skills to protect as many innocents I can.

[ Kenshin is nicer than him, sob. He might adore him. If given the opportunity and setting loyalties aside, a friendship could be possible between them.

Few who manage to meet the First Captain of the Shinsengumi up close and personal, are those who will see his true determination behind the face of someone completely opposite. ]

I... I'll spare your life. Until my superiors come, I as Captain will put you under test. Is that clear? And Tomoe-san deserves having you by her side.

[He doesn't understand why all these people who come after him to kill him end up sticking around after he beats them, more often than not. WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Kenshin's head jerks up, surprise written across his face before he visibly accepts the decision and bows.]

I understand.

[Back to being under watch. Sigh.]

[ Saito, Aoshi, Sanosuke... now Souji. He really has a thing for having former enemies as friends (wait... Saito can be considered a friend!? His Saito definitely is!).

He reacts to that face with a lined one. ]

You have to understand my position. [ Translation: you better make my decision worthy against my duty as bushi. Also under watched like Misao. ]

[Don't forget how Kaoru first attacked him~ And Saito totally counts as a friend, though neither will admit it!

He firmly resists the tired sigh.]

This one understands completely, that I do. I will try not to make your task too difficult.

[ Any Saito version has a tendency to deny their friendships with their Okitas. Like... why!?

He composes himself, mostly because there are some things that worry him more than anything else... ]

Two more things: have you ever crossed swords with a man named Seizaburo Kamiya? Or crossed paths with a girl named Sei Tominaga?

Finally, Tomoe-san... she hasn't been... herself as of late. I thought you should know that.

[ Tomoe once said about meeting an older Kenshin just like the one before him. If there's a version of Kamiya in Kenshin's actual world he wants to know how she is. Besides, those suicidal thoughts she mentioned on her journal are leaving him troubled. ]

[Saito is Saito is Saito.

Kenshin tries to think of any other relative of Kaoru's before slowly shaking his head.]

I know two Kamiyas, but neither have used that name. And I know no Tominaga.

[He nods this time, accepting and agreeing with the warning.] We have spoken. [And that's probably all he'll say. The rest is kinda private.]

[ Certainly they are, sob. ] [ Him mentioning two Kamiyas catches his attention. ]

Who are those Kamiyas?

[ Souji nods as well. Private no more, he already knows more than necessary of this marriage, only he won't tell Kenshin of course. ]

Koshijiro-san and his daughter, Kaoru-san.

[He's rather proud of how even his voice stays when he mentions them. Especially Kaoru. But...he can't quite help the faint wistful look in his eye.]

Good people, that they are.

[ He is able to sense a hint of pride in Kenshin's tone, which can sympathize with his own Kamiya. Also... he recalls something he read in Tomoe's journal about the Kamiya Dojo...

Actually, it is not for Souji to say something unless Kenshin decides to do so. ]

Seizaburo Kamiya is my subordinate. I hoped you would know him in your world. Good people they are, indeed!

[Pride, and he misses Kaoru already, as much as he's trying very hard not to dwell on. He would gladly take Tomoe over Kaoru. ~~Self-sacrificing idiot that he is~~]

This one is glad to know those who share the name remain good people across our worlds.

Action, around the Amatsu

oro man reporting for duty!

yeeeeeesh!

^w^

:3< also i'm so sorry! ;;

NEVER BE SORRY this is beautiful XD

awww ;; I LOVE THIS SO MUCH

YESGOOD

<3

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Icon is his internal expression XD

HAHA i spit on my drink! XD

I feel like I should apologize for that but I'm not that sorry XD

you shouldn't! it was the best thing! ;p

/crawls back here/ XD excellent

pfffft! X3

XD

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/claws back to this