Author's Notes: Chapter two of my story.I hope you guys enjoy it so far even though the idea is pretty I did do a whole lot of ^^
"I-is it because I am a woman?" She asked.
"N-no, it's not that, but…" He stopped there and turned away, but faced Fuyumi.
"Kondo- san, I thought humans were created equal, not just because of their gender. Sure women around here don't join the Shinsengumi because they'd rather not die or get injured, correct?"
"Well, I suppose. Please continue," He asked.
"Indeed, I was trained under my father who too was a samurai, until he passed away three years ago. He taught me everything ever since I was eleven. My father was a very wise man. H-he taught me how to wield a sword b-because he wanted me to become a strong woman, and that's what I am!" She explained and tried to wipe small beads of tears away from her eyes, "Before he died, my father told me t-that he was glad that he taught me everything he knows. He even gave me his katana…" Fuyumi said slowly.
Kondo nodded his head and looked at Fuyumi with a stern smile,"Alright, dear, show me what you've got!" The man chuckled and stood up with one eyebrow cocked up, "This will be interesting…" Kondo thought in his head, "This way my dear." He started to walk towards the training hall where all the other men were training.
"T-thank you very much, Kondo-san!" Fuyumi thanked and followed Kondo with the box in her arms.
"So what will you be cooking tonight?" He asked and chuckled.
"Oh! That's a secret," Fuyumi said winking, "Is there a place where I may change?" She asked, "I actually brought my stuff with me."
"Right over there," He pointed towards the back room, "See you in a bit!" He said and walked off to the training hall.
"Thank you," Fuyumi exclaimed and quickly changed into her training hakama, along with slipping on a chest plate under her white training kimono. She folded her kimono and obi in the box and looked at her father's katana, "Wish me luck," Fuyumi whispered to herself and smiled.
The young woman walked out and soon found herself at one of the entrance to the training hall.
The men were sparing with each other. Hearing "hya!" and "take this!" all over. She couldn't help, but to smile and saw Tetsunosuke who was sparing too. "Tetsu!" She cried out as all the men in the training hall stopped and stared at the young woman. The members all gave each other looks and whispering into each others ears. The hall was quiet, nothing but whispers.
"Attention!" Kondo yelled out, "I would like to see what this young lady got," He said, "Now is there anyone who would like to spar against this young woman?"
There weren't any answers. No replies. Nothing.
Fuyumi couldn't help, but to frown, "Listen!" She screamed out, "Just because I'm a woman doesn't mean you have to go easy on me! I can fight like a man too!"
"I'll spar against you, Fuyumi!" Tetsu volunteered.
"Oh~ 'Puppy boy,' you know her?" Todou Heisuke asked.
"Yeah, I brought her here, but I didn't know she would be a recruit…" He said nervously and slipped on some protectors.
Fuyumi didn't really need any; all she has is her chest plate.
"Don't ruin such a pretty face!" One member shouted out.
"Yeah!" Others started to agree.
"Ugh, men…" Fuyumi thought in her head.
Tetsu and Fuyumi both looked at each other. Harada Sanosuke, Nagakura Shinpachi, Todou Heisuke, Yamanami, Okita, Hijikata, and Kondo were all sitting with each other, prepared to watch the small boy and young woman spar against each other.
"GO!" Kondo yelled out.
Obviously, Tetsu had his wooden sword in the air hoping to strike the young woman from above, Fuyumi quickly dodged Tetsu's strike and hits Tetsu from behind. The crimson haired boy coughed and fell on his stomach. The men were shocked what just happened now. Their jaws dropped.
Fuyumi watched Tetsu as he tries to get up, "Don't underestimate me…!" He yelled running towards Fuyumi.
"Don't underestimate me either!" The young woman yelled and ran towards him too.
The wooden swords clashed against each other. Splinters flying all over the placed. A smile formed on Fuyumi's face as she starts pushing the wooden sword towards Tetsu. She can feel him struggling to push back, but he couldn't.
"Sorry, Tetsu…" Fuyumi apologized and quickly moved to the right and quickly strikes Tetsu's left side. The small boy flew about four feet across from her. He fell flat on his bottom and released a deep sigh.
The comedic trio looked at each other, "I like her," Shinpachi said with a grin.
"I wonder if her cooking is good…" Sano started.
"What does that mean?!" Nagakura asked angrily.
"Is all food you can really think about?!" Todou asked.
Sano quietly laughed and looked at Shinpachi, "Ummm…" He stopped there and watched as Tetsu tried to get up.
Fuyumi looked at Tetsu with pity and walked towards the young boy, "I'm sorry, I think you've had enough?"
"No, I'm not done yet!" Tetsu yelled out jumping on his two feet and runs to Fuyumi with high speed. Fuyumi quickly dodge, but felt a sharp pain on her left side, the members gasped. She grasped the wooden sword tighter and strikes Tetsu from behind again.
The young boy flew across the other side of the room like a dart. Tetsu try to roll up, but his ankle was bruised. He gazed at his ankle for a while. Fuyumi walked up to Tetsu and had the wooden sword pointed in front of Tetsu's face, "No more, alright?"
Tatsu walked by discovering his younger brother on the ground, he quickly dropped all the books and rushed towards Tetsu, "T-Tetsu, what happened?" He asked.
"It's nothing, Tatsu- nee, I'm fine," He said laughing. Fuyumi looked at the two brothers and joined Tetsu.
"Very well then, I think we're settled! Why won't you continue while Hijikata, Yamanami, and I have a small discussion. Very well done Tachibana, Ichimura," Kondo said happily and moved into the other room with Hijikata and Yamanami.
After the three men left, Fuyumi kneeled down and took a look at Tetsu's ankle, "It's bruised…" She said.
"Don't worry, it doesn't hurt!"
"I'm sorry… " She apologized, " You shouldn't be running around too much, okay?"
Tetsu nodded his head as Fuyumi help him up and like Yamanami, she held him in the air like a child, "Y-you're so cute!" She squealed.
Everybody in the training hall started to laugh together as Fuyumi sets Tetsu down, "I'm sorry about that," She apologized again and sits next to Tetsu.
"Apology excepted!"
"Alrighty!" She said smiling, "I should be cooking dinner soon …"
"Yeah, so why did you want to join?" Tetsu asked.
All the men didn't really continue training, they wanted to listen to why a young woman would join the Shinsengumi. It was pretty unorthodox.
"I-I want to prove myself that I am a strong woman. I don't think anyone should be judge not only by their height, but age and gender. It's the quality that person has. Sure they're short, but their speed is incredible. You get what I mean?" She asked.
The men nodded continued to listen to how everything started out.