Written In The Stars :: A SOUMI Shrine

This is where you'll find my (Anithene) reasons as to why Soujiro/Misao is possible. You can also find two more articles relating to Soujiro and Misao at the following links.

A Crush?

Psychopathic?

Why?

Why not Soujiro/Misao? In the RK fandom, there is a rather sad lack of Sou/Mi websites and such, but there are a vast number of good fanfictions about them spread all over.

One reason I’d like to point out is that their personalities are compatible, unlike a rather monotonous, inactive Aoshi and a jovial, energetic Misao. Many people seem to think that Aoshi needs a huge, romantic relationship with Misao to “save” him, while it’s clearly shown more than once in the Anime and Manga that Aoshi is both strong physically and mentally.

One example of his mentality strength is in the Anime Okina wishes Kenshin to kill Aoshi, saying that Aoshi has completely lost all sane reason and is unable to come back. But Kenshin detected that if Aoshi had, in fact, loss all sane reason Okina himself would not be alive; because if Aoshi HAD lost his mind there’s no doubt that he would have killed Okina right then and there.

That’s obvious proof that Aoshi can take care of himself, that even if he had lost slight control he wouldn’t loose it completely. And we all know how strong physically Aoshi is, the man nearly beat Kenshin himself. Now on to another thing I’d like to observe.

What about Soujiro? Is he so mentally and physically strong? Well, yes, he’s obviously a match for Kenshin in strength and ability, but what of mentally? He’s lacking in mental strength, not in the sense that he’s dumb, far from that, if Shishio himself sent the boy off to do his dirty work alone, why would he be dull witted?

But he’s easily breakable, as seen in his last fight with Kenshin; the poor boy had a mental breakdown right in front of him, just because Kenshin said a few words to him and nothing more. Aoshi, however, did not have a breakdown from a few words and speeches our red-haired friend threw at him.

Even before that, when Soujiro was a child he was easily manipulated: He was, a child after all, and I should know that children will hang on your every word, being an aunt to several nieces and a dozen nephews. Soujiro literally hung to his idol, Shishio’s motto for ten years of his life; “The strong live, and the weak must die”.

But all those ten years of living by that rule, were shattered by a few phrases and syllables, nothing more and nothing less. Soujiro can’t take full care of himself, physically, definitely, but mentally? An apparent no.

Misao, in fact isn’t so mentally capable either. Not that she’d have a breakdown or such, but the likeness that her maturity isn’t so well developed. She is mature in her own way, taking the title of Okishira (leader) to the whole Kyoto Oniwaban, setting off by herself in search of Aoshi and NOT being strongly hurt. But I’m talking about maturity as in she can’t seem to control herself like Aoshi can, she looses her temper far to often and effortlessly, unlike Aoshi who could probably keep a straight face during a hurricane.

She’s lively, she likes to run around and see people and places, I seriously can’t see her sitting down to meditate for more than five seconds without having the urge to run down the street and let her energy out. Aoshi, however can sit in one spot like a living statue and not move a muscle for long, overlapping periods of time, not having an excited urge to get up and start running all over the place.

For those reasons and much more I can hardly picture them (Aoshi and Misao) having a long, happy relationship with each other without wanting to do the others’ exact opposite form of entertainment. In fact, it’s scientifically proven that couples with much in common both emotionally and likings have a much, much better chance of getting together and staying that way than that of those who don’t.

Now I’d like to state the clichéd phrase that many fans of Aoshi/Misao use: “Opposites attract” now, when we use that phrase the word “atom” probably doesn’t even enter our minds. But actually, that phrase was originally used to address atoms themselves, (Ionic atoms, to be exact) the phrase wasn’t even relatively used for people until some genius decided to start applying it to people. Yes, I was being sarcastic about the genius part, in reality people aren’t attracted to their polar opposite, can you imagine having a romantic relationship with someone who was anti-anime? Or what of another close interest or personality trait that you have?

I’ll tell you, it’s slim to none. (That being only my opinion of course). Now what of Misao’s compatibility with someone like Soujiro? He visibly doesn’t sit in temples and stares at a wall all day, being a personal messenger and assassin (or ex assassin) with someone as busy as Shishio has got to get the boy active and outside. Actually, it’s seen that he rather enjoys being active and outside, stalling in giving Shishio his message to burn Kyoto, (by three days) he was obviously taking his time to enjoy it.

Misao too, seems to like going out there and doing something, she’s hardly seen inside, the only times I’ve seen her (in both anime and manga) inside a building was when Okina was ill or bad weather. The rest of the time she was seen outside doing something, (usually having banters with Yahiko J) or running an errand or just out there to enjoy the sunshine.

They would quite clearly blend and befriend each other quickly (aside from the fact that they were former enemies) and stay friends for a long time afterwards (or something more). Sharing the same interests (weapons perhaps?) and overall just having fun around each other.

Which is something else I’ve noticed, whenever Misao is around Aoshi she seems to mellow down, depressed even to an extent that I hardly hear one of her jokes or see one of her smiles. At some points she was all fun and smiles, but half the time she seems so out of herself that if I hadn’t seen her prior, I’d be going “huh? Is that the same girl?” when she acts like herself again.

Not only that much, both Soujiro and Misao have a somewhat similar past Misao loosing her parents, Soujiro loosing his, both had an adoptive family, although we all know that Soujiro’s could hardly be defined as “family”. But he later on moved to a slightly better environment, the Juppon-gattana respected him, they didn’t beat him or cause physical damage (other than training or such).

Misao too, was respected amongst her adoptive family, note how in her flashback with her fight with Kamatari, Hannya addresses her as “Lady Misao” and treats her like a sister or daughter.

People with similar experiences are naturally drawn to each other, sometimes without even knowing of the others’ experience(s) until far after they’ve become close friends or more. It’s in human nature to want to relate to someone, share it and let it go, whom would Misao tell all this to? Kaoru? Yes, Kaoru is mature in her own sense, she too has lost her family, BUT I doubt she’d know what to do other than give Misao a hug and a few words that would probably help a little, but not much.

She wouldn’t tell Aoshi, most likely the girl would stutter a few incomprehensible words and storm out the door blushing like an overripe apple. Soujiro clearly has no one to turn to, the Juppon could care less about his well being, besides that he wouldn’t know what he was “feeling” or how to go about it in the first place.

Another thing I’d like to address is that many people doubt Soujiro would ever run into Misao on his journey. Have you ever heard of “it’s a small world?” because it is, to the human mind it seems humongous, but the human mind exaggerates things plainly throughout history. Now compare the entire world to Japan. Japan is a very, very small island, compared to other ones on the globe like Antarctica.

Who’s to say he won’t run into Misao on such a small island barely a few hundred miles wide. Actually, if Soujiro WERE to travel for ten years across Japan, he would go to Kyoto at least once, and Kyoto back then wasn’t big as it is today, certainly not. Did you know that it took a man walking on foot from South Africa all the way to Canada only SEVEN years to travel about 780,431,298 miles? (Yes, this is an actual fact) Imagine how likely it’ll be for someone like Soujiro to travel Japan and have a run in with Misao?

It’s very, very likely.

Not only do the two (Misao/Soujiro) complete each other personality wise, but they look good together as well. Misao sets off energy in many of her pictures, so does Soujiro, he’s always seen with either his sword slung over his shoulder or doing something with motion. Misao is almost always seen with her kunai out and ready, or in the middle of doing something, when the two are seen together in pictures, they don’t override each other, they blend.

While when Misao is seen with Aoshi, she looks more like his child or sister than anything else. What’s more, when they’re seen close to each other the girl comes up to the mans’ waist (yes, girl and man) Poor Aoshi would have to get on his knees in order to be eyelevel with her. Can you imagine the difficulty in trying to kiss?

Soujiro, however, is a perfect size for Misao. She’s only, what, three or four inches shorter than him? Not only that, Aoshi seems too muscular for someone as petite as Misao, but Soujiro, while strong, wouldn’t crush her when he would hug her.

Aoshi seems to care for Misao as a brother or father would, trust me, I live with more than SIX older brothers, I think I can spot brotherly concern in place of romantic interest.

All in all, that’s not even the half of why I think Misao and Soujiro go so well together, but for now I hope you can settle with what I’ve got.