Chapter 2: Something in her eyes

It has been already 2 weeks since Abigail arrived at the Shinsengumi's headquarters. Up an running about, Abigail fully recovered from her injuries from the accident. At least… the physical injuries.

Kino… she thought as she looked at her necklace. A thin silver chain with an hourglass with red sand as a charm Kino…! Her thoughts desperately screamed for her now dead boyfriend, tears forming in her eyes as she cried silently. Three years together… about to live together and get married… why did this happen?

Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a knock on her door. She quickly put a long thin robe over her, for she was wearing a white baby doll. She refused to use the clothes she was offered, for she had already more than enough clothes on her own, over that it was summer, the heat was just gonna get to her with this time's clothing.

"Abigail, may I come in?" it was Harada.

"Yes, come on in." she replied, and he opened the door, walking inside. At the sight of her, he gasped and looked away, cheeks bright pink. She was just finished closing the robe over her, but that didn't stop him from getting a peek of her sleeping dress.

"Everything ok, Harada-san?" she asked curiously.

"Y-yes… d-don't worry about me." He stuttered. "Hijikata-san called for you, he wants everyone to meet you."

Abigail's eyes widened slightly, her cheeks turning a pale pink. She looked down at her bare feet.

"Are you still not feeling alright? I can tell him you are still tired." Harada said, but got interrupted.

"I-it's alright, just let me get changed ok?" she said hastily, ushering him out of the room "I will be there shortly." she said, closing the door quickly. He looked at the door with surprised eyes, then turned around, looking up at the sky She's a strange one alright. He thought, smiling gently.

It took her around ten minutes to change, she was wearing short blue jeans, a white Victorian blouse with a black corset over it and dark grey ankle high boots. Tying up her long, silver hair in a tight ponytail, she was ready to head out. She opened the sliding door, greeted by Harada, whose face was completely red.

"U-uh… Abigail…" he started.

"Yes?" she looked at him as if nothing was wrong with her attire.

"N-nevermind, let's go." He turned around quickly walking ahead and leading the way.

She looked at him curiously, but decided to brush it off and follow him. They arrived at the meeting room, Harada opening the door before them. Everyone was inside, Hijikata, Kondou and Sannan sitting at the front of the room. Abigail sat at the middle of the room with all the men around her. She looked around, recognizing every single male in the room. She was suddenly interrupted by Hijikata, who cleared his throat to catch her attention "You know… you could at least cover up a bit more…" he said lowly.

At his words, she immediately recalled from the anime show he was like a naggy grandma Oh boy… sorry, but not with me Hijikata-san. She thought, answering "With all due respect Hijikata-san, the heat is a bit too intense for me, if I were to use one of the kimonos or any piece of clothing from this time, I will surely die of a heat stroke." She had to admit, even though he has always been her favorite character, she wasn't gonna submit to a man's orders. She realized she had been too tired when she first arrived, and couldn't make much of the situation, but this time she was fully awake and completely conscious of her actions.

The others in the room looked at her wide-eyes, for she had just responded to their vice-commander. "Huh… so that strange blue book said the truth about you, you don't really listen to men." Hijikata said, to which Abigail gasped.

"Wait… you have Kino's diary?!" she asked loudly.

Hijikata nodded, taking it out of his left sleeve, placing it in front of her. She almost instinctively rushed to grab it, holding in tightly against her chest, then looked up at Hijikata "Where did you find this?" she asked.

"That is not our primary issue, I wish to confirm something first, from you." he said sternly, making her look straight at him. Her eyes now showing a deep seriousness, looking straight at the vice commander. "I want you to look around you and identify the names of each one, including me." he instructed.

So you want to know if I know the names of everyone huh? She thought, nodding once and looking around her. From left to right, she pointed and started saying names in the order they were sitting "Keisuke Sannan, Isami Kondo, and Hijikata Toshizo…" she then turned to her right, doing the same "Okita Souji, Saito Hajime…" then she turned to her left "Harada Sanosuke, Toudou Heisuke and Nagakura Shinpachi."

She sighed, looking around a bit more, to which Hijikata asked "Anything wrong?" he asked calmly. "I am missing three that are not here…" she said without noticing the reaction of everyone else in the room.

"How did you know there are three more?" Sannan asked, baffled.

Abigail looked at him straight in the eyes "Cause I am from the future, I have seen you all before." she said plainly. Since she didn't look around anymore, she failed to notice a serious but dumbfounded Saitou looking at her.

This girl… is she an assassin? He thought, but judging from her appearance, he was not too convinced.

It was then that Hijikata started talking "Just as I expected, we haven't seen you in our lives before yet you know us already." Abigail nodded.

"Yes, I also know about the Rasestsu." Her eyes widened and she covered her mouth as soon as she said those words. When she looked back up, she saw a lot of surprised faces, except Hijikata, who was now giving her a death glare.

"Well this is far more problematic than I expected…" said a familiar voice from her right side, when she looked to her side, it was none other that Okita "Maybe we should finally kill her?"

To his words, Abigail snapped a little, though she had experienced death at first hand, she despised the thought of it. Glaring at him, she spoke in a low, menacing voice "I don't believe that is something you should joke about…" hearing those words, everybody went silent. Harada's eyes shifted from her to Hijikata, who looked back at him since they knew the full story of the petite beauty.

"Why don't you just present yourself to the rest?" Harada suggested, and she looked at him, realizing they didn't even know her name.

"Oh! Right…" she stood up straight "My name is Abigail, nice to meet you guys." She simply bowed her head slightly then sat on her knees again. The others started greeting her, Saito watching silently from afar.

After greeting the mysterious girl named Abigail, the captains of the Shinsengumi left the meeting room, Harada offering himself to take Abigail back to her room. All except Saito, who was still sitting down waiting for his comrades to leave the room.

It was then that Hijikata noticed Saito's prescence "Is something the matter Saito?"

"Sir, with all due respect, is she really the same girl bedridden a few days ago? Harada described her… differently." Saito responded, his serious tone had a hint of concern, making Hijikata nod.

"She was injured and not fully conscious, I believe her behavior right now is her true nature." Hijikata said, looking at his comrade straight in the eye "I understand your concern, I have never seen someone talk to Souji that way before."

Saito nodded once "Her eyes… the way she glared at Souji was almost as if he had offended her critically…"

"Well, I would not blame her, her now deceased partner died after the incident that brought her here, and apparently he was involved in dangerous affairs that included death." Hearing those words from Hijikata, Saito could not help but look up at his vice-commander's eyes in concern.

"Deceased partner sir?" he asked, wondering about the life of the girl before she arrived to this world. Saito's suspicions were completely brushed off, the girl could not have possibly an assassin after such a terrible loss. "Was she also involved in those affairs?" he asked curiously.

"From what she told Harada and I, it seems so, it also seems she has experience killing people too." Saito's eyes were now slighting shocked A woman that has experience killing people? What kind of world did she live in? he thought quietly, standing up and leaving the room. "Saito, prepare for patrolling today." Hijikata ordered, and Saito looked back, nodding slightly.

"Understood." he said, walking out of the meeting room.

Once they reached her room, Abigail just stared blankly as the door to her room opened Maybe we should finally kill her? She remembered Souji's joke and how she had reacted. She was in such a deep thought, she didn't notice Harada was calling to her.

"Hey, Abigail!" he screamed, making her blink twice and snap out of her trance.

"A-ah, y-yes? I'm sorry I was… distracted." she admitted, looking down at the floor.

"Are you sure you are fine now?" Harada asked, concern clear in his eyes.

"Y-yes… it's just… I am trying to accept the fact that Kino died…" she said softly, tears forming in her eyes. Seeing this, Harada pulled her gently towards him, her face against his chest.

"If you want to cry, don't hesitate to use me as the shoulder to cry on." he said, caressing her bare shoulder. He noticed yet decided to ignore the fact to console her as she silently cried on him. After a few short minutes, she calmed down and pulled away, looking up at him with determination.

"Harada-san… I will get stronger… I promise…" she said sternly. Harada's eyes widened in surprise as he looked straight at her eyes Her eyes… there is something in them that I cannot figure out. She really is different. He thought. What the both of them didn't know, was that they were being silently watched.