Maybe I should change the Title to "The Shadow of Rurouni Kenshin" because
when I ask some anime-related people about Okita, their first reaction is,
"Who?" That sucks!!! They don't know my onii-sama!!! So do you think I
should?
=8=8=8=8=8=
Soushi woke up the next day to find some clothing before his room. He lifted one of the neatly folded articles and found it to be a blue haori, with white ridges at the end of the sleeves, that didn't quite overlap each other as he pulled them together. The one below it was a blue one and a figure 8 string along with to it. A white headband with a dark blue rectangle in the middle was beside a daisho (daito-long and shoto-short sword) replacing the bokken that he had been using. He dug up a letter underneath the pile and read:
'Thank you for deciding to help out the government, Okita Soushi. From this day forward, you shall be called, Captain of the first Shinsengumi squad under the leadership of Kondou Isami Masanobu. By noon, you and your comrades shall be transported to Taikoro where your new headquarters will be.'
Soushi sat there fazed. [Me, a captain of a squad? I wonder if Hajime-san is also a captain. He seems to be qualified enough.] He shrugged and put on the new outfit over his purple haori and white hakama. He stepped out of his room and walked along the dojo. He knew he would miss that place as he ran his hands upon its walls.
He opened one of the doors to the dining area and, to his surprise, the other sword masters were already there, eating and chatting. The only available space was the one between Kondou and Saito. He had no other choice and decided to sit between them sheepishly. It felt awkward for him to sit there since he had gotten up late. Kondou, to his left, nodded to him as if greeting him a pleasant morning and Soushi nodded back before starting to eat.
"Do you usually wake up this late, Okita-san?" asked a voice that came from the right.
"No, Hajime-san." Soushi shook his head in denial, "It is only for today that I have awaken this late. Usually, I awaken at the crack of dawn. Tell me, how late is it?"
"The sun is near overhead. A good guess would be nearly noon." Saito told him, "It is well that you awaken that early. I usually wake up at around a little earlier than this. I see that your smile had not wavered." Soushi nodded and continued to eat; Saito continued, "Do you hold any position in the group?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact." Soushi replied as he finished his soup, "Captain of the first squad. I believe you have a position as well."
"Captain of the third squad," he replied in monotone. "You are a unique kid, you know that? I haven't met any captains that go by your age or younger. It seems that your skill in Sandanzuki is indeed great."
"And I say the same for your Gatotsu." Soushi nodded, finishing his meal. "Do you have any clue as to where Taikoro is? Is it far from here?"
"I have never gone as far as that yet." Saito admitted. "But I think it's in another region. Do you think those Ishinshishi guys have a swordsman that would match up to us?
"I guess," Soushi shrugged, "I don't know all the people in Japan, so I'm not sure. We may never know. I mean, I have never gone out and challenged outsiders yet. For all I know, I could be a weak warrior in front of another."
The raucous laughter that echoed in the room was cut off by the sound of hooves and wheels that trudged against the ground. They rose from their seats and went to the front gate to see several hors-drawn carriages with roofs. [Am I going to ride this? The only ones I know who ride these things are government officials and rich people.] Okita thought.
With Kondou's orders, they all boarded and Soushi was again with Saito. Getting the window seat, he got a better view than Saito who sat between him and Hijikata Toshizo, vice commander of the Shinsengumi as well as the acting older brother of Okita. Soushi didn't know whether he'd be seeing his home town again or not. With one last glance, he took in all of the scenery. The dojo he lived his life in, the farmers and other people he knew, working as if driven by some unknown force, the plantation he had stolen some fruit from when he was six, and the entire town, waving them goodbye. [Is this really goodbye?] Soushi asked himself as he waved back making some teenage girls blush.
Soon, the mountains loomed over them and they were near the boundary of the fief. Soushi relaxed in his seat and sighed as if contented.
Toshizo eyed both men and smirked, "Do you two know what we're getting ourselves into?"
"A fight to help the government." Soushi answered.
"A war." The 3rd squad leader said flatly which made Soushi blink at him in askance.
"Indeed, it is a war." Toshizo agreed, "Saito, I think you have already gained quite some knowledge about it, am I correct?" Saito nodded. "If it wouldn't cause you too much of a burden, I would want to ask you to help Okita through this. I wouldn't know what his first reaction to killing another person would be."
The other man nodded and glared at Soushi questioningly. [If he hasn't any experience in this, why is he the captain of the first troop? For all we know he could be vomiting at his first kill or else he couldn't kill at all.]
"Soushi," Toshizo continued, "I want you to know that in war it's, kill or be killed and mercy is for the weak. If we are to support the government, we must eradicate all who oppose it, do you understand?" Soushi only eyed him questioningly. "You are young. What I mean to say is that whenever you see an enemy, kill him before he gets a chance to kill you."
"I understand, but," Soushi shook his head, "Couldn't we show a little mercy even if the enemy is already wounded?"
"If he cannot stand to fight any longer." The older man added. "Follow the code of Bushido, Soushi, that's all there is to it."
***
Maa, I'm so loaded but thank goodness school's over! Now I can get back to writing!!!
=8=8=8=8=8=
Soushi woke up the next day to find some clothing before his room. He lifted one of the neatly folded articles and found it to be a blue haori, with white ridges at the end of the sleeves, that didn't quite overlap each other as he pulled them together. The one below it was a blue one and a figure 8 string along with to it. A white headband with a dark blue rectangle in the middle was beside a daisho (daito-long and shoto-short sword) replacing the bokken that he had been using. He dug up a letter underneath the pile and read:
'Thank you for deciding to help out the government, Okita Soushi. From this day forward, you shall be called, Captain of the first Shinsengumi squad under the leadership of Kondou Isami Masanobu. By noon, you and your comrades shall be transported to Taikoro where your new headquarters will be.'
Soushi sat there fazed. [Me, a captain of a squad? I wonder if Hajime-san is also a captain. He seems to be qualified enough.] He shrugged and put on the new outfit over his purple haori and white hakama. He stepped out of his room and walked along the dojo. He knew he would miss that place as he ran his hands upon its walls.
He opened one of the doors to the dining area and, to his surprise, the other sword masters were already there, eating and chatting. The only available space was the one between Kondou and Saito. He had no other choice and decided to sit between them sheepishly. It felt awkward for him to sit there since he had gotten up late. Kondou, to his left, nodded to him as if greeting him a pleasant morning and Soushi nodded back before starting to eat.
"Do you usually wake up this late, Okita-san?" asked a voice that came from the right.
"No, Hajime-san." Soushi shook his head in denial, "It is only for today that I have awaken this late. Usually, I awaken at the crack of dawn. Tell me, how late is it?"
"The sun is near overhead. A good guess would be nearly noon." Saito told him, "It is well that you awaken that early. I usually wake up at around a little earlier than this. I see that your smile had not wavered." Soushi nodded and continued to eat; Saito continued, "Do you hold any position in the group?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact." Soushi replied as he finished his soup, "Captain of the first squad. I believe you have a position as well."
"Captain of the third squad," he replied in monotone. "You are a unique kid, you know that? I haven't met any captains that go by your age or younger. It seems that your skill in Sandanzuki is indeed great."
"And I say the same for your Gatotsu." Soushi nodded, finishing his meal. "Do you have any clue as to where Taikoro is? Is it far from here?"
"I have never gone as far as that yet." Saito admitted. "But I think it's in another region. Do you think those Ishinshishi guys have a swordsman that would match up to us?
"I guess," Soushi shrugged, "I don't know all the people in Japan, so I'm not sure. We may never know. I mean, I have never gone out and challenged outsiders yet. For all I know, I could be a weak warrior in front of another."
The raucous laughter that echoed in the room was cut off by the sound of hooves and wheels that trudged against the ground. They rose from their seats and went to the front gate to see several hors-drawn carriages with roofs. [Am I going to ride this? The only ones I know who ride these things are government officials and rich people.] Okita thought.
With Kondou's orders, they all boarded and Soushi was again with Saito. Getting the window seat, he got a better view than Saito who sat between him and Hijikata Toshizo, vice commander of the Shinsengumi as well as the acting older brother of Okita. Soushi didn't know whether he'd be seeing his home town again or not. With one last glance, he took in all of the scenery. The dojo he lived his life in, the farmers and other people he knew, working as if driven by some unknown force, the plantation he had stolen some fruit from when he was six, and the entire town, waving them goodbye. [Is this really goodbye?] Soushi asked himself as he waved back making some teenage girls blush.
Soon, the mountains loomed over them and they were near the boundary of the fief. Soushi relaxed in his seat and sighed as if contented.
Toshizo eyed both men and smirked, "Do you two know what we're getting ourselves into?"
"A fight to help the government." Soushi answered.
"A war." The 3rd squad leader said flatly which made Soushi blink at him in askance.
"Indeed, it is a war." Toshizo agreed, "Saito, I think you have already gained quite some knowledge about it, am I correct?" Saito nodded. "If it wouldn't cause you too much of a burden, I would want to ask you to help Okita through this. I wouldn't know what his first reaction to killing another person would be."
The other man nodded and glared at Soushi questioningly. [If he hasn't any experience in this, why is he the captain of the first troop? For all we know he could be vomiting at his first kill or else he couldn't kill at all.]
"Soushi," Toshizo continued, "I want you to know that in war it's, kill or be killed and mercy is for the weak. If we are to support the government, we must eradicate all who oppose it, do you understand?" Soushi only eyed him questioningly. "You are young. What I mean to say is that whenever you see an enemy, kill him before he gets a chance to kill you."
"I understand, but," Soushi shook his head, "Couldn't we show a little mercy even if the enemy is already wounded?"
"If he cannot stand to fight any longer." The older man added. "Follow the code of Bushido, Soushi, that's all there is to it."
***
Maa, I'm so loaded but thank goodness school's over! Now I can get back to writing!!!