Hontou ni gomen, minna!!! I know I was gone for far too long but it's
because I went to the province and they don't have any computers within a
10 mile radius of where I stay.
Important: Oh yeah, I know that Saito came in later in the Shinsen but I want him in already so that he and Okita will have a better relationship with him, ne?
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Soushi looked about the mansion (what do you call that?) of Higonokami with great interest since he had not been in a place such as that in his whole life. The hall they walked through to the training hall was embellished with the statue of every Shinto deity there was. The walls were painted red through the influence of the Chinese culture, if his suspicion was correct, and gold columns beside every statue. The hall was long and the ceiling was high and it was wide enough to let five people walk abreast.
Soon an enormous door separated them from their test and most of them closed their eyes as if this was going to be the biggest battle they have to fight in their entire lives. The door swung open slowly, making a low creaking sound as it did. Higonokami sat upon a dais with two others by his side. Two servants led them to be seated at either ends of the wide hall where the cushions (what do you call them again?) were placed; one for each person.
The two men beside the Kyoto Shugoshoku leader stood up and went across the hall. The more silent-looking man spoke in a booming voice. "You are all here to be tested if you are fit your titles as one of our scouts have told us. I will be the referee on this. As you hear your name, please step up and test your strength against Yamanami-san. You are to use these bokken." He gestured toward the man at his right and the bokken at his feet. "Okita Soushi!"
Soushi was startled out of his wits! He didn't want to be first, but there was no avoiding it. The hardened stare of Higonokami did not make it any lighter for him at all. His throat tightened and the grip he had on his daito made his knuckles white as he stood up. He had absolutely no idea how powerful this man was. For all he knew the other man could kill him as efficiently as he could if faced with a sheep. As he was on his knees, he remembered to untie it and he did so hastily; fumbling at the knots.
When he got to the center, his hands trembled reaching for the bokken. Kondou shook his head as he noted the uncertainty he had. He stared at him hard until Soushi's gaze fell on him. He knew what the stare meant. [If you doubt yourself as if putting yourself down, it is best that you abandon it and save yourself from shame. No, I don't doubt myself! I can do this. I am to be the captain of the 1st squad and I will be!]
He closed his eyes and took in one deep breath then opened them again to see the referee motioning them to the two red strips of paint on the tatami mats one and a half meters apart. Suddenly he felt as if there was only him and his opponent; as if it weren't a test; as if he were to kill. As they positioned themselves, the referees hand raised then went down immediately signaling them to begin.
Soushi charged at him using only the basic thrusts and slashed to see how well his opponent was. The latter thought that his strength only reaches that much and belittled him as he, too, was studying how well Soushi was. Yamanami thrust at him with great skill but Soushi was not to be caught unaware.
[I do not doubt myself!] He screamed inside telling himself that as if his life depended on it.
Soushi parried the block with great ease and stepped to one side awaiting his opponent's move.
[I will not shame the honor of my family and neither of my dojo and the technique taught to me by my master!] He thought so that he could almost hear his own voice.
Yamanami was suddenly aware that Soushi had only hidden his talents when his every attack had no effect on the latter. Finally he resorted to his ougi without thought for he was overwhelmed. Soushi took it to his advantage.
[I am Okita Soushi, the best in the Shirakawa fief. I will be the victor and I will not be looked down however young I may be!] with his thoughts came a wordless scream. He dodged the other man's ougi and put to work his Sandanzuki after the older man had done his and left himself open for an attack.
With a grunt, Yamanami fell and dropped to his knees. At that, Soushi finally came to his senses and noticed that he was now in defense stance. He didn't know why then, but he felt as if he had both lost and controlled himself in the test. To him, it felt like he was about to kill someone although he knew he was not. He dropped his bokken and stared at the room with wide eyes and mouth hanging slightly open. His gaze fell on his master whose face was then showing a great deal of satisfaction and pride. He dropped his bokken and asked the other man if he was well. The other nodded and smiled despite himself.
The referee's voice echoed once again, "Okita-san, you may either wait for the decision here or anywhere else in this place but do not leave the grounds. Should you wish to go to the garden, you may. You shall be called upon later on."
[The garden...yes, perhaps, that is a good place. Zen.] Okita bowed to them and replied, "I shall wait in the garden and clear my thoughts." With a surprised nod from Matsudaira he went his way.
It was not only Higonokami that he noticed who stared at him in surprise but as well as others. Unaware, Hiroki followed him with both awe and respect in his eyes, not speaking a word and waiting, like a good servant, to be spoken to before he spoke.
When Okita finally sensed the presence of Hiroki he decided to ask him in a calm and comforting voice, "Nagashima-san, why do the others stare at me as if I had done something very wrong?"
"I do believe it is not that, sir," the servant replied shaking his head, "rather, I think it is the same reason why I am awed, you were smiling the whole time you fought, although it wavered in a step or two. It was as if it were not a real battle to you."
"I was?" Okita sounded startled himself. "But, really, Nagashima-san, I was quite nervous about the whole ordeal. I could have done poorly and his defeat may only be by chance."
"Whatever you say sir." The servant bowed, "I still think you have done well."
Important: Oh yeah, I know that Saito came in later in the Shinsen but I want him in already so that he and Okita will have a better relationship with him, ne?
=8=8=8=8=8=8=8=
Soushi looked about the mansion (what do you call that?) of Higonokami with great interest since he had not been in a place such as that in his whole life. The hall they walked through to the training hall was embellished with the statue of every Shinto deity there was. The walls were painted red through the influence of the Chinese culture, if his suspicion was correct, and gold columns beside every statue. The hall was long and the ceiling was high and it was wide enough to let five people walk abreast.
Soon an enormous door separated them from their test and most of them closed their eyes as if this was going to be the biggest battle they have to fight in their entire lives. The door swung open slowly, making a low creaking sound as it did. Higonokami sat upon a dais with two others by his side. Two servants led them to be seated at either ends of the wide hall where the cushions (what do you call them again?) were placed; one for each person.
The two men beside the Kyoto Shugoshoku leader stood up and went across the hall. The more silent-looking man spoke in a booming voice. "You are all here to be tested if you are fit your titles as one of our scouts have told us. I will be the referee on this. As you hear your name, please step up and test your strength against Yamanami-san. You are to use these bokken." He gestured toward the man at his right and the bokken at his feet. "Okita Soushi!"
Soushi was startled out of his wits! He didn't want to be first, but there was no avoiding it. The hardened stare of Higonokami did not make it any lighter for him at all. His throat tightened and the grip he had on his daito made his knuckles white as he stood up. He had absolutely no idea how powerful this man was. For all he knew the other man could kill him as efficiently as he could if faced with a sheep. As he was on his knees, he remembered to untie it and he did so hastily; fumbling at the knots.
When he got to the center, his hands trembled reaching for the bokken. Kondou shook his head as he noted the uncertainty he had. He stared at him hard until Soushi's gaze fell on him. He knew what the stare meant. [If you doubt yourself as if putting yourself down, it is best that you abandon it and save yourself from shame. No, I don't doubt myself! I can do this. I am to be the captain of the 1st squad and I will be!]
He closed his eyes and took in one deep breath then opened them again to see the referee motioning them to the two red strips of paint on the tatami mats one and a half meters apart. Suddenly he felt as if there was only him and his opponent; as if it weren't a test; as if he were to kill. As they positioned themselves, the referees hand raised then went down immediately signaling them to begin.
Soushi charged at him using only the basic thrusts and slashed to see how well his opponent was. The latter thought that his strength only reaches that much and belittled him as he, too, was studying how well Soushi was. Yamanami thrust at him with great skill but Soushi was not to be caught unaware.
[I do not doubt myself!] He screamed inside telling himself that as if his life depended on it.
Soushi parried the block with great ease and stepped to one side awaiting his opponent's move.
[I will not shame the honor of my family and neither of my dojo and the technique taught to me by my master!] He thought so that he could almost hear his own voice.
Yamanami was suddenly aware that Soushi had only hidden his talents when his every attack had no effect on the latter. Finally he resorted to his ougi without thought for he was overwhelmed. Soushi took it to his advantage.
[I am Okita Soushi, the best in the Shirakawa fief. I will be the victor and I will not be looked down however young I may be!] with his thoughts came a wordless scream. He dodged the other man's ougi and put to work his Sandanzuki after the older man had done his and left himself open for an attack.
With a grunt, Yamanami fell and dropped to his knees. At that, Soushi finally came to his senses and noticed that he was now in defense stance. He didn't know why then, but he felt as if he had both lost and controlled himself in the test. To him, it felt like he was about to kill someone although he knew he was not. He dropped his bokken and stared at the room with wide eyes and mouth hanging slightly open. His gaze fell on his master whose face was then showing a great deal of satisfaction and pride. He dropped his bokken and asked the other man if he was well. The other nodded and smiled despite himself.
The referee's voice echoed once again, "Okita-san, you may either wait for the decision here or anywhere else in this place but do not leave the grounds. Should you wish to go to the garden, you may. You shall be called upon later on."
[The garden...yes, perhaps, that is a good place. Zen.] Okita bowed to them and replied, "I shall wait in the garden and clear my thoughts." With a surprised nod from Matsudaira he went his way.
It was not only Higonokami that he noticed who stared at him in surprise but as well as others. Unaware, Hiroki followed him with both awe and respect in his eyes, not speaking a word and waiting, like a good servant, to be spoken to before he spoke.
When Okita finally sensed the presence of Hiroki he decided to ask him in a calm and comforting voice, "Nagashima-san, why do the others stare at me as if I had done something very wrong?"
"I do believe it is not that, sir," the servant replied shaking his head, "rather, I think it is the same reason why I am awed, you were smiling the whole time you fought, although it wavered in a step or two. It was as if it were not a real battle to you."
"I was?" Okita sounded startled himself. "But, really, Nagashima-san, I was quite nervous about the whole ordeal. I could have done poorly and his defeat may only be by chance."
"Whatever you say sir." The servant bowed, "I still think you have done well."