I thought no one would read this, but, oh well. Okita is hidden in the
shadows of the world of RK and thus I have no reason to complain. I'll use
Soushi and Souji alternately in each chapter since they are both correct.
***
Souji walked through the hall of the dojo (where he now lived in) that night to get himself water. It was the middle of the night and he could not sleep. He felt something odd...he could not place a finger on it although it bothered him a lot. Somehow, he sensed that he would be a part of something big. The only light he had was the oil lamp in his hands whose illumination could not reach a good distance. Everything was where it was, where and what it was supposed to be, but what was it that was bothering him? Could it be the voices that he was hearing further down the hall?
He walked as light-footed as he possibly could to his master's office. There were two voices there, a voice that belonged to his shishou and another that was husky and sort of old. It was unlikely for him to eavesdrop, especially on Masanobu's business but this seemed like an exception. He kneeled and leaned his head closer to the sliding door for a clearer understanding on what was said.
"Masanobu-san, as I have said," the husky voice stated with a hint of agony in his voice, "There is a group that wishes to vanquish the daimyo's reign as well as The emperor's other officials. We have asked the help of the Onimitsu Oniwabanshuu for this but I believe their number is not enough, I fear the other group has recruits from peasants and other people that belong to the poor class and while that is the case, they will outnumber and overpower even the ninjas."
"And you turn to us to seek aid?" Kondou asked and the old man nodded. "I want to know, what is the name of this group, who is their leader and where do they seek refuge?"
"The name of the group is Ishinshishi." The old man started, "We believe he is headed by Katsura Kogoro of the Choshuu faction but it is not confirmed. Where they seek refuge is not to our knowledge yet."
"Forgive me," Masanobu's silhouette bowed, "I cannot give an answer to you as of yet, I shall consult the other members if they would want to be included in this war of yours."
Souji notice that the other man was getting up and, so, he scrambled to his feet and hurriedly went to the kitchen. [A group is against the government? Why? Am I going to be a part in this coming war? No matter, I don't care how young I am,] he thought to himself, [If I have to join to protect the emperor and his government, I will agree without hesitation. This must be the reason why I have been training so hard.]
***
Later the next day, Masanobu called all the masters of the different chapters of the dojo for a meeting on the decision for the aid asked by the government. Souji acted as if he had never heard of it before and listened eagerly as he heard what the others say. He was a child; they all knew that, but his part in the assembly is just as important as any of them. He looked across him and saw a man older than him. His face stern and somewhat focused and Souji knew he was from another chapter. The man glanced at him and turned his attention back at Kondou.
"We shall decide then, later on." Kondou called out, "Once the decision is made, it cannot be reversed. We shall either be on the government's side or not." At that, everyone got up and walked about.
The one Okita noticed went up to him and talked to him in a low voice. "Aren't you too young to be in this? I didn't know Masanobu sensei had a son."
"You misunderstand my condition, sir." Okita shook his head, "I am one of the head masters in this dojo. I am Okita Souji, and yes, I am indeed younger than the rest of you. And who might you be?"
"Hajime Saito," the man nodded, "How old are you and long have you been training?"
"I am 20 and I have been training for 12 years." Souji answered politely, "And you, Hajime-san?"
"I am 20 and I have been training for quite as long as you, but not as serious and I have been out in the world, although not too far." Saito shook his head. "I pity you."
"What do you mean?"
"You sold your youth to become strong, I only made my training really serious in the later years. Youth is priceless, Okita-san. If, I am not mistaken you were known as the adult child. It is better that you repay your youth."
"Yes, I am known by that; but I have gotten this far and I am not turning back."
"I did not say that you have to quit. There are other ways to that. You must catch up. 'I have spent mine in full and you must with yours though the time has passed,' that is what my grandfather used to say and I believe it until now." Souji just stared at him quizzically as he spoke. In response, Saito added, "You could start by smiling, even a little bit." When Souji tried Saito nodded in approval.
It was quite an unusual feeling for Souji to be smiling again but it felt good. "What technique do you master, Hajime-san?"
"Gatotsu," Saito said, "You should smile more often. It suits you better. And may I ask of your technique?"
"Sandanzuki," Souji replied, "Thank you. Why don't you smile yourself?"
"I have become tired of it." Saito explained, "Besides, it wouldn't suit me any more."
"It would."
"I will only look weird."
"Try me."
With that, Saito smiled and it took all of Souji's will power to conceal it, although not enough to hide his amusement. Saito sighed, "I told you so."
The meeting then commenced, and the unanimous decision was to help the government.
***
Imagine Saito smile. I saw it once and it does not suit him!!!
***
Souji walked through the hall of the dojo (where he now lived in) that night to get himself water. It was the middle of the night and he could not sleep. He felt something odd...he could not place a finger on it although it bothered him a lot. Somehow, he sensed that he would be a part of something big. The only light he had was the oil lamp in his hands whose illumination could not reach a good distance. Everything was where it was, where and what it was supposed to be, but what was it that was bothering him? Could it be the voices that he was hearing further down the hall?
He walked as light-footed as he possibly could to his master's office. There were two voices there, a voice that belonged to his shishou and another that was husky and sort of old. It was unlikely for him to eavesdrop, especially on Masanobu's business but this seemed like an exception. He kneeled and leaned his head closer to the sliding door for a clearer understanding on what was said.
"Masanobu-san, as I have said," the husky voice stated with a hint of agony in his voice, "There is a group that wishes to vanquish the daimyo's reign as well as The emperor's other officials. We have asked the help of the Onimitsu Oniwabanshuu for this but I believe their number is not enough, I fear the other group has recruits from peasants and other people that belong to the poor class and while that is the case, they will outnumber and overpower even the ninjas."
"And you turn to us to seek aid?" Kondou asked and the old man nodded. "I want to know, what is the name of this group, who is their leader and where do they seek refuge?"
"The name of the group is Ishinshishi." The old man started, "We believe he is headed by Katsura Kogoro of the Choshuu faction but it is not confirmed. Where they seek refuge is not to our knowledge yet."
"Forgive me," Masanobu's silhouette bowed, "I cannot give an answer to you as of yet, I shall consult the other members if they would want to be included in this war of yours."
Souji notice that the other man was getting up and, so, he scrambled to his feet and hurriedly went to the kitchen. [A group is against the government? Why? Am I going to be a part in this coming war? No matter, I don't care how young I am,] he thought to himself, [If I have to join to protect the emperor and his government, I will agree without hesitation. This must be the reason why I have been training so hard.]
***
Later the next day, Masanobu called all the masters of the different chapters of the dojo for a meeting on the decision for the aid asked by the government. Souji acted as if he had never heard of it before and listened eagerly as he heard what the others say. He was a child; they all knew that, but his part in the assembly is just as important as any of them. He looked across him and saw a man older than him. His face stern and somewhat focused and Souji knew he was from another chapter. The man glanced at him and turned his attention back at Kondou.
"We shall decide then, later on." Kondou called out, "Once the decision is made, it cannot be reversed. We shall either be on the government's side or not." At that, everyone got up and walked about.
The one Okita noticed went up to him and talked to him in a low voice. "Aren't you too young to be in this? I didn't know Masanobu sensei had a son."
"You misunderstand my condition, sir." Okita shook his head, "I am one of the head masters in this dojo. I am Okita Souji, and yes, I am indeed younger than the rest of you. And who might you be?"
"Hajime Saito," the man nodded, "How old are you and long have you been training?"
"I am 20 and I have been training for 12 years." Souji answered politely, "And you, Hajime-san?"
"I am 20 and I have been training for quite as long as you, but not as serious and I have been out in the world, although not too far." Saito shook his head. "I pity you."
"What do you mean?"
"You sold your youth to become strong, I only made my training really serious in the later years. Youth is priceless, Okita-san. If, I am not mistaken you were known as the adult child. It is better that you repay your youth."
"Yes, I am known by that; but I have gotten this far and I am not turning back."
"I did not say that you have to quit. There are other ways to that. You must catch up. 'I have spent mine in full and you must with yours though the time has passed,' that is what my grandfather used to say and I believe it until now." Souji just stared at him quizzically as he spoke. In response, Saito added, "You could start by smiling, even a little bit." When Souji tried Saito nodded in approval.
It was quite an unusual feeling for Souji to be smiling again but it felt good. "What technique do you master, Hajime-san?"
"Gatotsu," Saito said, "You should smile more often. It suits you better. And may I ask of your technique?"
"Sandanzuki," Souji replied, "Thank you. Why don't you smile yourself?"
"I have become tired of it." Saito explained, "Besides, it wouldn't suit me any more."
"It would."
"I will only look weird."
"Try me."
With that, Saito smiled and it took all of Souji's will power to conceal it, although not enough to hide his amusement. Saito sighed, "I told you so."
The meeting then commenced, and the unanimous decision was to help the government.
***
Imagine Saito smile. I saw it once and it does not suit him!!!