It was a generic statement that held true, no matter how it was directed.
The world was an uneasy place to be. It was unpredictable those days, dangerous in broad daylight and deadly at night. It was frightening, with the prospects of the future colored in a way no one could picture with any clarity. And yet they hadn’t a choice but to keep going.
That didn’t mean they were without need.
Even the brave needed pause on occasion.
The people under the rule of those in power were always the ones to suffer the most. It didn’t matter what the subject of the war was all about, they were shuffled away with no real right to speak.
When would they have their moment to unleash the well of raw emotion clawing up from the inside? It was better to purge feelings then allow for them to remain contained, festering deep inside until they were reduced to bitter, old shriveled remnants of who they might wish to be instead.
Once the heart was broken, there was no way to gather all the pieces back together again. A hole would exist always where once there was warmth. Some days would be harder than others.
They got along the best they could.
One might not realize how they suffered with the way things moved, how simple it all seemed. How utterly normal.
People bartered for fair prices. They talked in hushed whispers and hurried about their daily business. There was no real way to tell the struggles they endured. And perhaps that’s what the people needed most. A place to simply be themselves. To live.
There was a group of three sitting nearby playing what appeared to be a game.
Sanosuke, Kenshin, Yahiko.
“You know----” The largest of the bunch, he leaned back, arms behind his head. “I actually have no bloody idea how to play this card game.” Came Sanosuke’s admission, slapping a card down on the pile between him and the littlest one of the group - Yahiko. “Makes it even more hilarious that I’m defeating the shit out of you.” He grinned, scratching at his nose with a middle finger. Oh yeah. That middle finger was totally intentional, buddy.
“Hey, do you have a problem?” Was there some little punk staring at him? He gestured that winning hand toward the small figure ahead. “Why don’t you come here and say that to my face??”
