Takada Saiko aka Chase-chan: Yeah, um, Saitou's last name is Hajime and
Soushi/Souji's is Okita. So, they did call each other by their last names
the first time they met, right? Thanks for the correct info, I'll bear that
in mind. Thanks for the correction; it's just that Saitou looks so much
older. And yes, I will launch an attack on those evil dubbers as soon as I
get away from my evil teachers!!!
Kasumi Destruction: Yeah, stupid dubbers! Next time, I'm gonna get my shoto from my uncle in Japan (since I can't bring it out of the country; he gave it to me, I have no license yet) and slice them all!!! Go! Iaijutsu!
Mayorie: Yup, I'm gonna keep updating and updating because I have readers and reviewers like you guys. But, I'm really sorry for the delay.
Important: Mwah! Doumo arigatou gozaimasu minna! Also...Gomenasai minna!!! The ages were wrong; Okita nad Hajime are of the same age, but please bear with me. I was not able to look for more info on anything lately with my English/Journalism teacher and her research papers. I just changed the age in the other chapter and Saito will be there to guide him because of his knowledge of the outside world. (No, I'm not saying Souji-niisama is ignorant; his hometown is secluded.)
***
Souji awoke before dawn as he always did expecting even at least one to be up, but to his dismay, it was only him who was awake. He waited a few minutes more but none of them awoke. With a sigh, he folded his sleeping bag and stared at the burned-out fire then gazed above him - at the moon that directed it's rays to dimly light the earth at night. He noticed, for once that it was a beautiful sight. He always looked at it but never noticed.
Without anything to do at all, he thought why however the likeness of the size of the moon and the sun, they never gave the same amount of radiance. He thought about the legends about them but they never seemed to satisfy his inquisitive mind. He had a different theory altogether. He thought that the moon was the sun's sister that will replace him when his light burns out. He knew that it was a silly assumption but the legends are, to him, silly as well.
Shaking himself out of his thoughts, he walked over to the wagon he had ridden in. He opened the door and got the paper ball from under the chair. He didn't want to bother his thoughts with what lay ahead so he played with his toy again as he sat down beside where he had slept. He didn't have the time to pack up much of his belongings so it was the only reminder he had of home and the townspeople there.
[I wonder if I will ever see that boy again.] He thought wishfully. [No one here seems to be any fun if I don't start it--] He stopped despite himself and shied with a shade on his cheeks [Was I that cold back then? Was that how I spent my childhood? A hard rock covered with ice. Yes, that what I once was and what they are now. I don't know why but I seem to be disturbed by the concept of killing someone. That is a weakness that a samurai must overcome; and overcome it, I shall.]
Soon, one of the servants stirred in his sleep and awoke. Seeing Souji already awake, he scrambled to get up and immediately lit the fire with a bit of noise accompanying it rousing the others as well. Most of the servants and coachmen went about helter-skelter and the Shinsengumi sat up quickly.
Souji wore a puzzled look for a while then broke into a laugh. All the while, Toshizo came up to him and sat by his place. "Souji, when we get to Kyoto, there will be a screening for the recruitment of the Shinsegumi members. Although we wear this uniform, we are not yet fully pledged Shinsengumi. Do your best and always remember Bushido."
At that, Toshizo stood up without any more to say and left Souji looking at him askance. When Saitou came by, he called out, "Saitou-san, are we really still going to have a screening in Kyoto once we get there before we really become Shinsengumi?"
"Yes," Saitou began, "Although we have been pre-tested in the dojo in a way that I have don't know, Higonokami Matsudaira is not easily belived by rumors that this one is god or that one is one of the best. He wants to see things for himself. If we do pass, a number of our followers will be ronin, so we must be prepared for their rudeness."
"Matsudaira?" Okita asked him wide-eyed, "Higonokami Matsudaira, the leader of Kyoto Shugoshoku? Now that made me nervous. What kind of screening will we have?"
"A test of skills in sword handling, of course." Saitou said shaking his head. "Well, they're already starting breakfast, so come on."
After they had eaten, they were on their way to Kyoto once again.
As they finally arrived, he marveled at the streets. They were teeming with people bustling about on both sides of the cart talking loudly. Roving vendors shouted their goods and, as he observed, most of them sold fish and vegetable. There were inns there twice as big as the one in his hometown which he once thought was already too big. Inside, he could hear laughter from the drunk and irritable shouts from the owners. The people didn't seem to take even a second glance at the carts that passed by treating it as if it was an ordinary occurrence while back home, most of the people crowded along the carts to see who the nobleman was that came to honor them with his/her presence.
[Things are very different here.] Souji thought. [I hope I can adjust to this kind of living immediately. I wouldn't want to be lost in this.]
Toshizo smiled at his companions and said, "Be careful, now, especially you, Souji. There are a lot of conmen here that may trick you into something. This is not like ordinary village life; not the one that you were used to."
"I understand." Souji replied. "But how am I going to get used to this city?"
"What do you think I'm here for?" Saitou asked him, "As I've said, I've been out in the world and I know certain things. But when you're off alone, better ask women for directions and such questions and never ask drunkards."
"Yes," Toshizo agreed, "especially not drunkards."
They rolled along the street silently from then on to Taikoro for a little rest then onto Shieikan where Matsudaira awaits.
Kasumi Destruction: Yeah, stupid dubbers! Next time, I'm gonna get my shoto from my uncle in Japan (since I can't bring it out of the country; he gave it to me, I have no license yet) and slice them all!!! Go! Iaijutsu!
Mayorie: Yup, I'm gonna keep updating and updating because I have readers and reviewers like you guys. But, I'm really sorry for the delay.
Important: Mwah! Doumo arigatou gozaimasu minna! Also...Gomenasai minna!!! The ages were wrong; Okita nad Hajime are of the same age, but please bear with me. I was not able to look for more info on anything lately with my English/Journalism teacher and her research papers. I just changed the age in the other chapter and Saito will be there to guide him because of his knowledge of the outside world. (No, I'm not saying Souji-niisama is ignorant; his hometown is secluded.)
***
Souji awoke before dawn as he always did expecting even at least one to be up, but to his dismay, it was only him who was awake. He waited a few minutes more but none of them awoke. With a sigh, he folded his sleeping bag and stared at the burned-out fire then gazed above him - at the moon that directed it's rays to dimly light the earth at night. He noticed, for once that it was a beautiful sight. He always looked at it but never noticed.
Without anything to do at all, he thought why however the likeness of the size of the moon and the sun, they never gave the same amount of radiance. He thought about the legends about them but they never seemed to satisfy his inquisitive mind. He had a different theory altogether. He thought that the moon was the sun's sister that will replace him when his light burns out. He knew that it was a silly assumption but the legends are, to him, silly as well.
Shaking himself out of his thoughts, he walked over to the wagon he had ridden in. He opened the door and got the paper ball from under the chair. He didn't want to bother his thoughts with what lay ahead so he played with his toy again as he sat down beside where he had slept. He didn't have the time to pack up much of his belongings so it was the only reminder he had of home and the townspeople there.
[I wonder if I will ever see that boy again.] He thought wishfully. [No one here seems to be any fun if I don't start it--] He stopped despite himself and shied with a shade on his cheeks [Was I that cold back then? Was that how I spent my childhood? A hard rock covered with ice. Yes, that what I once was and what they are now. I don't know why but I seem to be disturbed by the concept of killing someone. That is a weakness that a samurai must overcome; and overcome it, I shall.]
Soon, one of the servants stirred in his sleep and awoke. Seeing Souji already awake, he scrambled to get up and immediately lit the fire with a bit of noise accompanying it rousing the others as well. Most of the servants and coachmen went about helter-skelter and the Shinsengumi sat up quickly.
Souji wore a puzzled look for a while then broke into a laugh. All the while, Toshizo came up to him and sat by his place. "Souji, when we get to Kyoto, there will be a screening for the recruitment of the Shinsegumi members. Although we wear this uniform, we are not yet fully pledged Shinsengumi. Do your best and always remember Bushido."
At that, Toshizo stood up without any more to say and left Souji looking at him askance. When Saitou came by, he called out, "Saitou-san, are we really still going to have a screening in Kyoto once we get there before we really become Shinsengumi?"
"Yes," Saitou began, "Although we have been pre-tested in the dojo in a way that I have don't know, Higonokami Matsudaira is not easily belived by rumors that this one is god or that one is one of the best. He wants to see things for himself. If we do pass, a number of our followers will be ronin, so we must be prepared for their rudeness."
"Matsudaira?" Okita asked him wide-eyed, "Higonokami Matsudaira, the leader of Kyoto Shugoshoku? Now that made me nervous. What kind of screening will we have?"
"A test of skills in sword handling, of course." Saitou said shaking his head. "Well, they're already starting breakfast, so come on."
After they had eaten, they were on their way to Kyoto once again.
As they finally arrived, he marveled at the streets. They were teeming with people bustling about on both sides of the cart talking loudly. Roving vendors shouted their goods and, as he observed, most of them sold fish and vegetable. There were inns there twice as big as the one in his hometown which he once thought was already too big. Inside, he could hear laughter from the drunk and irritable shouts from the owners. The people didn't seem to take even a second glance at the carts that passed by treating it as if it was an ordinary occurrence while back home, most of the people crowded along the carts to see who the nobleman was that came to honor them with his/her presence.
[Things are very different here.] Souji thought. [I hope I can adjust to this kind of living immediately. I wouldn't want to be lost in this.]
Toshizo smiled at his companions and said, "Be careful, now, especially you, Souji. There are a lot of conmen here that may trick you into something. This is not like ordinary village life; not the one that you were used to."
"I understand." Souji replied. "But how am I going to get used to this city?"
"What do you think I'm here for?" Saitou asked him, "As I've said, I've been out in the world and I know certain things. But when you're off alone, better ask women for directions and such questions and never ask drunkards."
"Yes," Toshizo agreed, "especially not drunkards."
They rolled along the street silently from then on to Taikoro for a little rest then onto Shieikan where Matsudaira awaits.