Author's note: Thanks to all the reviews ^_^ I was a bit stuck for a while but after some research, I got a very clear idea of where this story is going to go. Now I just have to get from point A to point B by filling in the stuff in between!

I'm trying to be historically accurate but I have to work with real history and Kenshin history so you know… it ain't gonna be perfect. Still I hope you continue to enjoy it!

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Thawing

Chapter 2 : Introductions and Assignments

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It only took an hour before the police came. Soujirou was hardly surprised. But at least had given him the chance to plan what to do. He wasn't ready to be put in prison just yet but he was not about kill policemen. Atoning for his sins was mostly definitely not conducive with killing people who were just doing their jobs.

He sat on his knees in the restaurant and watched from the corner of his eye as the waitress pointed over to his table. The policemen caught his eye and Soujirou smiled, gripping the hilt of his sword and giving them a small nod.

The head officer paused, taken off guard by the motion. But before he could make a decision about what to do, Soujirou stood up and took off, heading towards the kitchen. The police called out a warning but he never paused, sliding by cooks and waiters in the back like a fish among the kelp trees.

He stepped outside and the cold hit him hard. But he barely paused as he began his run down the road. He could hear the policemen behind him and the small crowd of people in front of him parted to let him pass.

He let them chase him for a while before he finally reached the half-dug canal. It was the only open spot he knew of in Sapporo. His feet came to a stop in the mud and he turned, watching the police officer come up to him. Reaching down, he picked up a hoe and tested the weight in his hand.

"Seta Soujirou, you are under arrest," the head officer stated.

"For what?" Soujirou smiled. "I've been in the town less than a day."

But they didn't seem too concerned with providing him facts. In a fluid motion, they drew their swords. Soujirou began to tap his foot softly into the mud. These were men who were under Saitou's leadership. He shouldn't take them lightly.

It surprised him, however, that the officers were not ready for the speed at which Soujirou attacked and countered. Hadn't Saitou warned them about his fighting style? And why only send five against him? Was Saitou trying to insult him or was there more to this than met the eye?

The first attacked with a lounge and Soujirou easily parried it, spinning quickly and hitting the man squarely on the back of the head with the wood handle. Two more came at once and it was a simple matter of quickly block the right upper strike and the left lower strike simultaneously. And then quickly, he turned on his foot, bringing the wooden hoe around his body and striking the man on the right in his stomach and the man on the left on the forehead.

One more strike came at his side and Soujirou caught the blade with the hoe, pushing it away and using his knee to hit the man in the stomach. The final attack came from behind, but Soujirou ducked quickly and threw a back kick, connecting with the man's midsection.

Soujirou stood up. His feet were covered in mud from the canal trench. But his hands… his hands were clean. There was no blood on them.

It had taken all of ten seconds to defeat the small police force and Soujirou was barely out of breath. He planted to the metal part of the hoe into the ground, leaning against the handle. Looking around, he waited, knowing it was far from over.

"Should I be insulted that there were only five men, Saitou Hajime-san?" Soujirou called out, hoping to draw out his foe.

From a darkened corner, a small orange circle suddenly appeared. Soujirou smiled and let the hoe drop. He rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. Innocent policemen were not something he wanted to kill. But he knew Saitou Hajime would never be defeated with a farmer's tool.

The orange circle suddenly moved, arcing up into the sky before landing in the snow. Saitou stepped out, eyeing Soujirou with cold golden eyes as he came up to the edge of the embankment.

"We need to talk," Saitou said. And then without another word, he turned on his heel and walked away.

Soujirou's hand slowly relaxed on hilt of his sword and his smile faltered. This was not about being arrested, he suddenly realized. It was a show. But for what reason, he didn't know. The only way he would, would be to follow Saitou now.

Saitou's footprints eventually led Soujirou to a small noodle bar on the outskirts of town. From the way the chef looked at Soujirou when he stepped inside, it was obvious that the restaurant was just a cover for police work.

Saitou had already sat down at a table, a steaming broth of plain soba in front of him. With soft steps, Soujirou walked up and took a seat across from him. He paused, watching as Saitou worked the chopsticks in his hand before they snapped forward. Like the talons of a hawk, the two sticks clamped down on the noodles and slowly brought it up to his mouth.

Soujirou's smile never faltered but the situation was growing more uncomfortable. And the silence stretched on for what felt like hours.

"Five men was enough for people to believe you were truly being arrested," Saitou said finally. "But not enough so that you would have to resort to your real sword."

"Ah, I see," Soujirou said. "So the encounter was merely a cover for this meeting."

Saitou nodded slightly. "There is a plague in this town, a himitsu kessha. They are recruiting fighters for their cause but it is by invitation only." He paused, taking another mouthful of soba and slowly grinding it down.

"The police are attempting to investigate them," Saitou continued, "however it is very hard to get an agent into their ranks. The only way would be to find someone who was invited who would be willing to work for us."

"Willing," Soujirou said, "or blackmailed into doing it."

Saitou's face slowly arced into a smile. "It would be most unfortunate if people here learned your true identity."

Soujirou sighed. "Then what can I do to…"

* * *

"…help."

Saitou blinked and looked up from his soba. The young man in front of him was smiling despite the sobering news he had just given. The high ponytail swishing slightly as he turned his head and looked at Saitou.

"We were hoping that you could help," he repeated. "It is true we have been deceived many time since we arrived in Kyoto, that our organization has had some… unfortunate incidents but that will all change now. The Aizu han has sponsored your admission into our ranks and no one would question your skills, Yamaguchi Jirou."

Saitou nodded slowly. It was not his real name but then names were not something he could hold on to. Not when he was hunted by assassins of his foes. Not when he had spent so much time attempting to erase any traces of his real past.

"I know they would not," Saitou responded. "It would be the last mistake they made."

The man smiled and nodded. "I knew they were right to ask you. However, once you agree, you can not step back. It is not allowed to leave the Shinsengumi."

Saitou paused for a moment longer, to give the illusion that he was thinking about it before nodding again.

"Excellent," the man said happily. "I will take you to the Vice Captain immediately." He stood up dropping a few coins on the table.

Saitou didn't move. The young man looked down at him, perplexed. "What is your name?" Saitou asked.

The young man nodded. "I suppose now that you have agreed to join us, there is no point in hiding things, ne? I am Okita Souji, one of Kondou-san's students."

Saitou nodded and stood up.

"And you," Okita said, "what is your name?"

Saitou paused, thrown off guard by the question. "Yamaguchi Jirou," he replied slowly.

"No, not that one," Okita smiled. "What is your real name?"

* * *

"Saitou Hajime-san?"

Saitou blinked, watching the scene in his mind fade away. The winter air suddenly gripped his bone and brought him back to reality. Not Kyoto… this was Sapporo and that was…

"Join their ranks," Saitou said firmly. "Find out how they are organized. I just want information about them."

"All right," Soujirou said with a small nod. It wasn't as if he had much choice in the matter.

"In two weeks we will meet back here," Saitou said. "That will be enough time to get an idea of how they work."

"Hai," Soujirou said, watching the policeman stand up.

Saitou paused, casting a glance at Soujirou before narrowing his eyes and moving out the door.

Soujirou took in a deep breath, letting it out so that it danced with the steam from his soup. It was bad but... it could have been worse. Besides, there were at least five months of harsh winter to endure here. He couldn't really travel anymore until the spring thaw came.

He finished his soup just as the snow began to fall outside. With a small wave to the owner, Soujirou slowly walked towards the Hall of Celestial Delights.

* * *

"The girl was claimed this morning."

Saitou looked up from his desk at his assistant. "Really? Who?"

"A family of farmers. They said she was the wife's sister."

"Do you ask them to stay for questioning?"

The assistant paused. "It was not possible. They had schedule a service at the temple and…"

"Where are they now?" Saitou asked.

The assistant was silent. "We… we don't know."

Saitou looked up, his golden eyes narrowing at the other man. "Find them," he said simply. "Find them and bring them here."

The assistant nodded and walked out of the room quickly. Saitou smashed the cigarette in the ashtray, taking little joy in watching its light flicker out of existence. The dead girl was their only clue and because of the softness of his officers, the only path that led from her was closed.

He stood up, lacing his hand behind his back and looked at the window as the snow began to fall. He would find them, somehow. And he would put an end to their organization.

* * *

"You will stay here," the brothel mother said, pointing into the empty room. Storage closet was more the word for it but at least it had been emptied of its supplies. Soujirou sighed as he let his belongings drop on the floor.

Getting in to the brothel again was easy. The man who had tried to recruit him earlier had allowed it without question but said that they would speak soon.

So Soujirou had made it into the building, but there was no guarantee that he would make it into the group. If for a moment they believed that he was actually working for the police, then his life would be forfeit.

"Leave your weapons here and follow me," the old woman said.

Weaponless, Soujirou followed after the woman towards his judgement. She slid the door open and Soujirou walked into the receiving room, taking a seat on the empty pillow.

The man who he had met before came in after a few minutes and took a seat facing Soujirou, withdrawing his katana and lying it on the floor next to him. Immediately, Soujirou began to look for different ways to counter blows. But the man relaxed and began to speak, the weapon by his hand soon forgotten.

"I am Toyama Mitsuru," the man said firmly. "You are Seta Soujirou, once assistant to Makato Shishio."

Soujirou paused, looking over at man. "You are well informed."

"It is my organizations' main purpose to be well informed," Toyama said. "I take it that your returning here is an indication that you have found yourself in agreement with our beliefs. Or is it because you were almost arrested today in a local restaurant?"

Soujirou paused, waiting for the other axe to fall. Had his meeting with Saitou been observed as well?

"All five were found unconscious in the canal ditch," Toyama continued. "Tell me, how long did it take to defeat them? A minute?"

Soujirou smiled. A minute? Apparently, they had not seen the fight and probably not him speaking with Saitou in the street.

"About," Soujirou said.

"The stories of your skills are true," Toyama said with a smile. "To have you join our ranks… but I get ahead of myself. You have accepted my invitation but it still remains to see if you are worthy of becoming a member of the Genkai Nada."

Soujirou made a note of the name. Black Ocean. It would not be difficult to remember it. "I would expect no less," he replied.

Toyama nodded. "Until then, you will earn your keep here, whether it is through household chores or… through other means," he said, casting a glance down at his katana.

"I understand," Soujirou said.

Toyama nodded and the door slide open. The old woman was there and Soujirou took it as his signal to leave. With a small nod to Toyama, he quickly fell into step behind her. As they rounded the corner, Soujirou could hear the excited laughter of children coming from a room up ahead.

"Ronin!"

Soujirou blinked at the name and then looked more carefully into the room. Yes… it was Ichiro, the little boy he had met on the way to Sapporo.

"Ichiro," Soujirou said and the little boy confirmed his suspicions. "And… Koharu." The little girl blushed. "Where are your parents?"

Ichiro frowned for a moment. "Mom is sleeping. She's real sad 'cause Auntie Keiko died right before we got here."

"Oh, that's too bad," Soujirou said. But the looks on the children's face made him press on. They were too young to really understand what had happened. "And your father?"

"He went with some people to do some work," Ichiro said.

"And you are supposed to be doing your mother's work while he is gone," the old woman cackled. "But you are just useless children and so Seta-san will have to wash all those dishes himself."

Soujirou looked over at the pile of unwashed plates. At his feet, Ichiro was vehemently defending his ability to do work and Koharu was looking at Soujirou shyly. There was a crash as Ichiro resorted to throwing a plate and suddenly Soujirou began to wonder if jail had been that bad a choice.

* * *

"Are you worried, Seisuke?"

"I was just thinking about Hayami and the children. I should have stayed… Keiko's death was very shocking for them."

"Let the woman cry, that's all they are good for. But we… we will get revenge for your sister-in-law's death."

Seisuke nodded, letting the sword shift in his hand. This was not his choice, not what he wanted to do. He suddenly longed for his hoe and shovel, his little farm in the mountain when it was only him, Hayami and the children.

But winter had forced them away and Keiko's death had forced him to seek revenge. Toyama had told him it was the third rule of Genkai Nada. Defend the rights of people. And Keiko's rights had been taken away from her.

"There he is. Walking unguarded is a fool's thing to do."

Seisuke paused and looked at where his associate was looking. A tall man in a policeman's uniform walked down the road, the snow clinging to the navy blue suit, a sword hung at his side.

"They think they own this town but we were here first, long before the Meiji government existed. Come on Seisuke."

Seisuke grabbed the other man's arm. "No. This is not a good idea," he said.

"Are you a coward?"

Seisuke shook the insult off. "He's seen us."

"Then we'll kill him anyway. Do you want to dishonor Keiko's memory?"

"No but Keiko asked us here so that we would be safe from the winter. Attacking that man would not only kill me but put the rest of my family in danger. Doing that would dishonor her memory."

"Toyama-san has order us to do this. You can not disobey…"

"Look at the man. Look carefully and see his eyes. There is no fear in those eyes but I know he has seen us. He is not afraid of two armed men lying in wait for him."

The man went to protest but Seisuke stood up and walked away.

"Toyama-san will here about this," the other man said before quickly falling into step behind Seisuke.

Saitou never stopped his stride but he saw the two men break off. It was almost disappointing. It had been so long since he had been in a real fight. His sword almost cried out for the lack of use. His skills would begin to diminish if not tested from time to time.

Other things were starting to fade as well. He wasn't as observant as he used to be, his senses were starting to falter. He could remember days when he could smell blood in the air without seeing it.

"Yadda na, Saitou-san! Maybe you've been killing too much recently."

Saitou's feet came to a stop and he frowned. Okita had said that. Recently, Okita had been in his mind too much. The past should be forgotten. Saitou Hajime should not exist in this world and neither should his memories.

"Fujita-san!" Saitou turned and watched his assistant run up to meet him. "I thought you would want this as soon as it came in."

Saitou took the letter from the man's hand and the smell of cherry blossoms filled his senses. He didn't need to open it to see whom it was from. Looking down at the seal, he waited a moment later before quickly shoving it into his back pocket.

"Fujita…" his assistant started.

"How is the search for the family of the dead girl going?"

His assistant paused, still frowning but eventually relented. "We are a following a few leads. Something will be found, I am positive of it."

* * *

"I'm bored!"

Soujirou blinked and looked over at the little boy. Ichiro sat on the floor, his legs folded up in front of him. Soujirou paused, shaking the suds from his hands.

"You could help…"

"I don't want to," Ichiro said quickly, pre-empting any attempt that Soujirou might have tried in order to recruit him.

Soujirou nodded. "Well… I have to wash these dishes."

"Tell us a story!" Ichiro demanded. "You don't need your mouth to wash dishes."

Soujirou looked at him with a smile and tried to think of a correct response. The boy was impetuous, stubborn and very demanding. It simply wouldn't do to give into his whining.

There was a tug on his leg and Soujirou looked down. Koharu, her hair tied back in pigtails, pulled at his clothes but suddenly stopped when she saw him looking at her.

"Story," she said.

Soujirou sighed, knowing he had just lost the battle. "A story… let's see. All right, once, not to long ago in a large city there was a man who wandering the streets acting like a fool. Most people didn't pay him much notice or they thought he was a simpleton, a bumbling idiot. But perhaps in the end… he was smarter than them all…"