The red sun sank below the horizon, slowly calling up the dark.
Why won't the sun set already, she thought glaring at the bleeding sky.
He knelt down beside her on the roof, "You don't have to do this. There is still time to call it off."
She turned to look at him, her gaze steady, "No, I have to go. It is the only way I'll ever have peace."
"Aka-,"
"Don't," She stopped him, "Don't, I've made my choice."
He reached up and brushed the side of her face with the back of his hand. Closing his eyes he pulled his hand back to his side and let out a breath of frustration. He looked up at her and gave a short nod, "Then we will fight beside you to the end."
She stared up at the darkening sky, "It's time."
"Akane! Akane! Guess what?" Hijikata hollered as he raced toward her up the street.
Akane looked to her mother for permission then raced to meet him.
"My dad is finally letting me start at the dojo today!" Hijikata beamed.
"Aw, no fair!" Akane whined, "I wish I could go."
"Women don't fight, Akane, you know that."
"Yeah, I know. But that doesn't mean I have to like it."
Hijikata shrugged.
"Well, good luck. Let me know how it goes, okay Hijikata?"
He nodded, "See you later, Akane."
Akane waved as she watched Hijikata's short ponytail bounce away into the crowd.
"Akane!" She heard her mother's sharp cry.
"Coming, Mama. Sorry."
Akane was distracted the rest of the day. She spilled a fresh batch of tea, overfilled the wash basin and nearly burnt the bathhouse down. She was too busy dreaming about what Hijikata must have been doing at the dojo, and was anxious to know what had happened.
When all of her chores were done she raced to the bridge where she could see him when he left the dojo. She waited for a few minutes when she saw his tiny form coming over the bridge.
"Hijikata!" She yelled jumping and waving.
He responded and hurried over to her.
Akane couldn't wait till they were at their favorite spot by the river. As soon as he was there she bombarded him with questions.
"So, how was it? What did the dojo look like? Who was your sensei? What did he look like? How many other boys were there? Did you see anyone we know? What did you learn? Did you get to hold a katana?"
Hijikata grinned and laughed, "Hold on, I don't talk as fast as you do."
They made it to their spot by the river. It was a small patch of grass under a huge cherry tree that over hung the river. The roots of the tree were curled up in a perfect shape to sit in. Akane took her seat on the roots of the old tree and listened in awe as Hijikata recounted his first day at the dojo.
"Well, the dojo was huge. It was this big hall that was open on one side. The back wall had tons of katanas and bokken and portraits of some of the most famous samurai. We didn't start with bokken or swords at all today. We learned to laws of the samurai, the bushido. Then we got to watch two of our sensei's spar with bokken. It was amazing. They moved like serpents, they were so fast. One of our sensei's was tall and thin with a short ponytail and the other was fat with a big round face. I saw Okita and Saitou there today, but no one else we know."
Akane was enchanted, and wanted more than ever to learn the way of the warrior.
For weeks that was how they continued. Akane stayed at home helping her mom and trying not to destroy something from her lack of focus. Then she would wait for Hijikata at the end of the bridge. They would go to their spot by the river and he would tell her about what happened at the dojo.
Finally Akane couldn't take it anymore.
"I have to learn to fight! Please, Hijikata, teach me what you know! Please! Please! Please!" She begged.
"Akane, you know I can't do that."
"Why not?"
"It's forbidden."
"So, no one has to know. Come on we could do it at night in secret. Plus is would give you some one to practice with. Please, Hijikata," She pleaded.
Hijikata thought about it for a minute and sighed, "As long as we don't get caught."
Akane threw her arms around him a big hug, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
"Hey, cut it out. You're messing up my hakama."
The next day Akane was vibrating with energy from the moment she woke up. She was more awake and alert than she had ever been, but it was all she could do to get through the day.
Once she made it to the bridge it seemed like an eternity before she saw Hijikata bobbing through the crowd.
"What took you so long?" She asked with scarcely hidden anticipation.
"I always get out at this time."
"It felt eons longer than normal."
"Well, come on. We can't go to our usual spot."
"So, where are we going?" She asked as Hijikata sped back over the bridge. Racing to catch up, she asked him again.
"We're going to my dad's dojo."
"Why? I can't go in there."
"Everyone should be gone. We'll go in through the back entrance so no one sees you."
"But we're still going in the dojo. Why are we going in the dojo?" Akane was starting to get scared. If anyone found them she would be in a lot of trouble.
Hijikata motioned for her to be quiet as the rounded the corner of the dojo. They slipped silently down a side street to the back door. Akane thought she was going to have heart attack, but once they were inside she calmed a little.
"We aren't going in the dojo. We can stay back here between the buildings. I'll go get us some bokken. If anyone comes, duck behind the bushes."
Akane stood nervously between the storage buildings waiting for Hijikata to return. She was so freaked out she jumped when he came around the corner.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I'm just nervous."
"Okay then, here," He said and handed her a bokken.
Akane couldn't believe it. She was really holding a bokken. It wasn't a real sword but it didn't matter, it felt like it belonged in her hands. She instantly relaxed and was ready to learn.
He taught her how to properly stand so that she would not fall over, how to hold the bokken, and some basic forms.
Akane tried to put it all together, but her stance was wrong. She went tumbling into Hijikata and they both hit the ground.
He landed on his back and she was draped forward across his stomach. She leaned up to look at him. They both busted out laughing.