Shishio Makoto & Soujirou

In his second appearance in the manga, Soujirou introduces himself using a line that summarizes his entire relationship with Shishio Makoto.

Seta Soujirou. Few are as close to the master as I. [ch61]

This can be interpreted several ways. The first and most obvious meaning would be that he is Shishio’s right-hand man and at the top of the hierarchy of Shishio’s army.The second meaning can be found by looking into the much deeper connection between the two warriors.

The beginnings of this bond began to form when Shishio stepped into Soujirou’s life ten years prior to the story of the Kyoto Arc. Soujirou was then an eight year old child – abused and mistreated by his family.

He was first saved from death when Shishio decided against killing him, despite the fact that Soujirou had witnessed his murder of three men sent by the government. One thing that may have been a factor was that Soujirou was smiling at the moment Shishio was to take his life as it certainly caused Shishio to pause before striking. Perhaps Shishio was curious of Soujirou’s character – he is later seen asking details about Soujirou’s life such as the reason why he smiled.

He had known nothing beyond that life of his until Shishio taught him that only the strongest would survive and gave him a wakizashi.

I’m weak… but that’s just how I am. [Soujirou, ch132]

At first, he had decided to return the sword. He chose to remain as he was. However, that was the same night that he was forced to make a decision – one which was greatly influenced by the words Shishio had told him only minutes before. In the moment where Soujirou faced death at the hands of his family, he chose the path that Shishio had opened up. A path where a child was forced to kill.

Soujirou himself never blamed Shishio for what happened that night and even acknowledged that he owes Shishio his very life.

But the fact is it was Shishio who bore witness to Soujirou’s traumatic past as a child and helped bring him into the life where only the strongest would survive.

The results of this event led to what can only be described as a somewhat twisted relationship between the two characters. In the next ten years, Shishio played a number of roles in Soujirou’s life.

First and foremost, he was Soujirou’s master. It was through Shishio that Soujirou learned how to kill, how to develop Shukuchi and how to use his natural gifts as a swordsman. Shishio never cared for anyone who appeared weak and this applied to Soujirou as well.

It’s your own fault for being weak. [Shishio, ch134]

And yet, Shishio is not without feeling as he was also, in a sense, the closest thing Soujiro could have had as a father. In one scene from the manga, he seems to show a sign of pride in Soujirou’s abilities prior to the second match between Soujirou and Kenshin.

Thus has the boy, Seta Soujirou, come into his own under my tutelage. Let’s see if you can defeat him, Battousai. Let’s just see what you can do. [Shishio, ch128]

Shishio may have been a harsh mentor who brought Soujirou into the life of a killer and never really cared for his feelings – even desiring to oppress them in order to make him a better fighter – but he was the boy’s savior.

I cannot say that he was wrong. Shishio-san and his blade saved me from death. That will never change. [Soujirou, ch135]