KasumiDestruction: oh, sorry. Well, these kinds of samurai are noted to
have servants scurrying along with their masters when they are off duty so,
well, if you don't like it, I'll put them out of the story after this. And,
well, they are different persons in need to strengthen some of their
weaknesses.
April-san: Thank you! They will battle in the next chap. That's no joke. ^^x
Phoe-chan: You've read it? Oh, then I have to take a look at it. Its been so long since I bothered with that one and moreso with the others. Thank you for your review on that one.
Nikka: Yeah, he was but at more serious battles, he doesn't smile as wide.
Hiss: OK, here's the next chap then.
Gomen! My ISP wouldn't let me log into ff.net for two days! Please accept my sincerest apologies. There's also the field demo coming up as well as the trainings in the army (yeah, we do have those), the upcoming Student Council projects, JS promenade and there are more to come. Kami- sama...tasukete kudasai!!!
***
Souji woke up early as he usually does. He wanted to find out if any of them were awake yet but he dared not rap on their doors - not even in thought. He wrapped his blanket more tightly around himself shivering in the cold air. He could remember that his hometown was cold as well but not as much in Kyoto. He wondered why it would be colder in that region since it lacked trees and forest air.
Hugging the blanket tightly around himself, he began to look for a haori and hakama to change into after he had seen to the heating of his bath. Surely, no one would dare bathe themselves in well water in a freezing morning. He did that before when he was young at his house and it wasn't a delightful experience. The cold water had pricked him like a thousand needles and his muscles became numb for hours on end. He wouldn't be stupid enough to try that again...not that he had become what he is now.
He slid his shoji open and walked half-wittedly to get to the place where coals must be burned to heat a bath. He dragged his feet noisily against the mats which caused Hiroki to awaken. The servant hurriedly got to his feet and asked what Souji wanted. He knew for a fact that his master wakes up earlier than most people but he couldn't get used to waking up earlier. "A bath, sir?"
Souji laughed. "Yes, that is what I want but, stop calling me sir. I told you we're friends."
"But I don't think I can get used to that, si-Souji-san." Hiroki replied casting his eyes downward.
"Nonsense," Souji replied.
"But, the lords will not allow it."
"Very well then," Souji sighed, "but let me, at least, have your company as a friend. I guess I will have to get used to having a servant, then. All right, I will wait for that bath and afterwards, a meal. I want you to eat with me, and I will accept no excuses."
Hiroki bowed then proceeded to rush out and heat the coals for his master's bath. When it was done, Souji proceeded to take a bath and eat his meal with Hiroki. The latter felt odd having it along with his master and never tore his stare away from his food but talked as casually as he could. Although the oddity of it was controversial to those who might see it, it felt good to him.
***
Souji, along with the troop assigned to him, walked casually along the street. Being a Shinsengumi had a lot of responsibilities that could outweigh the privileges the daimyo had to offer. Still, the captains had additional pains, like keeping his men in line and fit, and knowing what was going around the district he was assigned on for that particular day. Yes, they could wander along other districts but that must be known and allowed by the other troop captain.
"I think I'm going to like being a Shinsen member," he heard one man say. "I have the license to kill."
Souji wanted to interject but another voice hurriedly cut him off, "Yeah, look at them, seeing a bunch of us in swords. A good thing they steer clear of us."
The captain had had enough. He stopped dead on his tracks and turned to face his troop members. "I find your talk interesting, Ijiki-san, Touya- san., though I doubt if you do know the meaning of being a Shinsengumi."
His sudden move stopped everybody else and his meaningful smile sent shivers down everyone's spine. To them, having someone know they're mad at you with their teeth baring and eyes glinting menacingly, was bad enough. Having someone mad at you with a calm smile on their faces was another thing. The others were sure they heard the two men gulp audibly. Okita may be younger than they were, but they certainly knew better than to cross him.
"Well, do you?" Souji asked.
The men stuttered as if the world would tumble if they didn't let a voice out. "I...uh...we were...it was jut..." one of them at least got some words distinguishable.
Souji laughed under his smile [Why on earth are they so afraid? Do they think I'd hurt them? Well, I don't think they will follow someone like me if they don't fear me, being young and unknowing among them. I'll gain their respect later on.] He told that to himself without knowing that they do give him respect. "Well, if you don't know anything better to do being a Shinsen, I suggest you get yourself off this before something even worse happens to you.
Death. Everyone fears it. No one wants it. But it was reality. Everyone knew that once some or even of the most important the rules of the group is broken, they shall suffer, not only suspension, but they will also have to face seppuku killing themselves forcefully. It was even more painful when you are defiant seeing that if you do not do it, they will either suffer drowning or burning; either was as painful as the other.
All of the members agreed but the two he had scolded who seemed to be drowning in shame. Soon, they started off again.
Ronin. Most of them were; the two who had said those things were. He knew that it would take time before they embrace the code of Bushido as well as the laws of the Shinsengumi. He would have to do what he must, then, to teach them, else he would loose his head.
April-san: Thank you! They will battle in the next chap. That's no joke. ^^x
Phoe-chan: You've read it? Oh, then I have to take a look at it. Its been so long since I bothered with that one and moreso with the others. Thank you for your review on that one.
Nikka: Yeah, he was but at more serious battles, he doesn't smile as wide.
Hiss: OK, here's the next chap then.
Gomen! My ISP wouldn't let me log into ff.net for two days! Please accept my sincerest apologies. There's also the field demo coming up as well as the trainings in the army (yeah, we do have those), the upcoming Student Council projects, JS promenade and there are more to come. Kami- sama...tasukete kudasai!!!
***
Souji woke up early as he usually does. He wanted to find out if any of them were awake yet but he dared not rap on their doors - not even in thought. He wrapped his blanket more tightly around himself shivering in the cold air. He could remember that his hometown was cold as well but not as much in Kyoto. He wondered why it would be colder in that region since it lacked trees and forest air.
Hugging the blanket tightly around himself, he began to look for a haori and hakama to change into after he had seen to the heating of his bath. Surely, no one would dare bathe themselves in well water in a freezing morning. He did that before when he was young at his house and it wasn't a delightful experience. The cold water had pricked him like a thousand needles and his muscles became numb for hours on end. He wouldn't be stupid enough to try that again...not that he had become what he is now.
He slid his shoji open and walked half-wittedly to get to the place where coals must be burned to heat a bath. He dragged his feet noisily against the mats which caused Hiroki to awaken. The servant hurriedly got to his feet and asked what Souji wanted. He knew for a fact that his master wakes up earlier than most people but he couldn't get used to waking up earlier. "A bath, sir?"
Souji laughed. "Yes, that is what I want but, stop calling me sir. I told you we're friends."
"But I don't think I can get used to that, si-Souji-san." Hiroki replied casting his eyes downward.
"Nonsense," Souji replied.
"But, the lords will not allow it."
"Very well then," Souji sighed, "but let me, at least, have your company as a friend. I guess I will have to get used to having a servant, then. All right, I will wait for that bath and afterwards, a meal. I want you to eat with me, and I will accept no excuses."
Hiroki bowed then proceeded to rush out and heat the coals for his master's bath. When it was done, Souji proceeded to take a bath and eat his meal with Hiroki. The latter felt odd having it along with his master and never tore his stare away from his food but talked as casually as he could. Although the oddity of it was controversial to those who might see it, it felt good to him.
***
Souji, along with the troop assigned to him, walked casually along the street. Being a Shinsengumi had a lot of responsibilities that could outweigh the privileges the daimyo had to offer. Still, the captains had additional pains, like keeping his men in line and fit, and knowing what was going around the district he was assigned on for that particular day. Yes, they could wander along other districts but that must be known and allowed by the other troop captain.
"I think I'm going to like being a Shinsen member," he heard one man say. "I have the license to kill."
Souji wanted to interject but another voice hurriedly cut him off, "Yeah, look at them, seeing a bunch of us in swords. A good thing they steer clear of us."
The captain had had enough. He stopped dead on his tracks and turned to face his troop members. "I find your talk interesting, Ijiki-san, Touya- san., though I doubt if you do know the meaning of being a Shinsengumi."
His sudden move stopped everybody else and his meaningful smile sent shivers down everyone's spine. To them, having someone know they're mad at you with their teeth baring and eyes glinting menacingly, was bad enough. Having someone mad at you with a calm smile on their faces was another thing. The others were sure they heard the two men gulp audibly. Okita may be younger than they were, but they certainly knew better than to cross him.
"Well, do you?" Souji asked.
The men stuttered as if the world would tumble if they didn't let a voice out. "I...uh...we were...it was jut..." one of them at least got some words distinguishable.
Souji laughed under his smile [Why on earth are they so afraid? Do they think I'd hurt them? Well, I don't think they will follow someone like me if they don't fear me, being young and unknowing among them. I'll gain their respect later on.] He told that to himself without knowing that they do give him respect. "Well, if you don't know anything better to do being a Shinsen, I suggest you get yourself off this before something even worse happens to you.
Death. Everyone fears it. No one wants it. But it was reality. Everyone knew that once some or even of the most important the rules of the group is broken, they shall suffer, not only suspension, but they will also have to face seppuku killing themselves forcefully. It was even more painful when you are defiant seeing that if you do not do it, they will either suffer drowning or burning; either was as painful as the other.
All of the members agreed but the two he had scolded who seemed to be drowning in shame. Soon, they started off again.
Ronin. Most of them were; the two who had said those things were. He knew that it would take time before they embrace the code of Bushido as well as the laws of the Shinsengumi. He would have to do what he must, then, to teach them, else he would loose his head.