Um... Little Heaven

Chapter 2

The outpost was buzzing with activity at the first rays of the morning sun. Ninety-three men were waking up, rolling up futons, and getting ready for another day of training and work. Though in one of the rooms twenty of these men did so slowly their attention more on the stranger in the corner closest to the door. The stranger sat there sword drawn close and seemed to be asleep.

One brave man, who was finished putting away his sleeping items, went over and poked him. Kenshin jumped at the sudden contact and almost pulled his sword out on whoever it was. Though he remembered where he was and stopped short.

He looked up at the man in front of him, he had black hair and dull green eyes, and tilted his head some. "Can I.. can sessha help you? I don't like being awakened in the morning, at least not at this hour... ,de gozaru."

Kenshin slightly twitched at the awkward wording he was now using, but remembered the note he had read last night.

Flashback

He sat in a corner near the door away from the others in the semi-dark room so as to not disturb them. Pulling a slip of paper from his gi, he read the note given to him by that kunoichi at the docks.

Himura-

Here's a list of phrases. Use them as just something to help you act more 'in character.' If you don't you jeopardize the mission, and your life

-Yume

Inside was a list of old fashioned phrases, the kind used by old decrepit, psychotically, honorable samurai. There was even a silly phrase, "oro," that Yume described as being a "save your ass when you're in trouble word." Needless to say, Kenshin blinked at her description. Why the hell should he use these ridiculous words? Kenshin flipped the paper over and read the postscript.

P.S. If you don't use the phrase, I promise you the pink kimono will be back, with lots, and lots of make-up until you look like a geisha...

Kenshin silently gulped and used the first word on Yume's list.

"Oro..."

-end Flashback

Coming back to the present, Kenshin focused his attention to the man in front of him.

"Well we are supposed to be up when the first rays of sun come through the doors. If we aren't we can get into trouble."

"Aa, thank you."

A bell chimed outside and everyone else left to go to the cafeteria for breakfast. The brave idiot held out his hand to help Kenshin up and he accepted getting up and placing his sword into his belt.

"And who are you if I may ask?" the other asked as they walked towards the cafeteria.

"Um, Shinta."

"Ah, well I'm Takami. Nice to meet you."

Kenshin only nodded and when they entered he stayed back. This puzzled Takami for a moment but he went and got his food. When he next came back, he asked Kenshin if he wanted to sit with him and his friends.

"Sure."

He followed Takami back to a table and sat with him. There were three others at the table. The blond caught his attention though, since black and brown were common. Strange, was all Kenshin could think. Though his own bright red hair was strange as well. It then hit him. He hadn't done anything to make sure he still had his dyes and makeup on. Well those he sat with hadn't said anything so he guessed he was fine.

"Hey guys! This is Shinta. I'm guessing he's new... He kinda just appeared in our room this morning. Shinta, this is Inoue," pointing to the blond, "Kaito," a mahogany-haired, small guy, though he was still bigger then Kenshin, "and Shun," the black haired one.

Kenshin nodded to each.

"So where are you from?" Shun looked at Kenshin with piercing liquid brown eyes.

"Kyoto. What about all of you?"

"Oh, wow. So your like right in the fighting. I'm from the harbor not far from here," Kaito instantly picked up on that and Kenshin took a guess that he liked being in fights or causing them.

"Well I'm from right in the middle of Osaka. So is Inoue," Inoue smiled at Kenshin then continued eating otherwise ignoring his companions.

Takami caught Kenshin's puzzled face and leaned over to whisper to him.

"Inoue talks, trust me, just not till he knows you better. Give him time."

After Takami went back to his own breakfast, Kaito spoke up, "So why are you here if your in more of the fights and could get better training in Kyoto then here in what we call a trash heap of a training ground?"

Takami and Shun laughed but listened since they were curious as well.

"Got sent here so as to be away from the battles and brush up on my skills."

After asking their questions, they gave him a weird look then took care of their few eating utensils and headed to the training ground, Kenshin following behind.


The air was filled with the swoosh of katanas hitting dummies and a few yells every so often. Kenshin was among them doing the same as everyone else though he wished that maybe he could just leave. The type of training here, though he had once done it before, he found boring.

Suddenly the two guards from the day before were passing by and when they spotted him, stopped and came up to him.

"Hey. I thought we kicked you out yesterday. How did you get back in?"

"Well sessha was allowed back in by some other guards. If you don't believe me go talk to Taiki."

He scrunched his nose slightly at the "sessha" word, but also told a blatant lie knowing that if they knew he'd snuck in he'd get in a lot of trouble in more ways then one. Things slowed to a halt in the yard as the men in the yard turned to look at Kenshin. Then suddenly it burst into whispering and questions.

"You've seen Taiki personally?" one of the guards asked skeptically.

"Yes. Is that such a bad thing, de gozaru ka?" another twitch for the count.

"No one here has seen him except for the other officials and the few Shogunate and Isshin Shishi passing through."

Kenshin had to think on this for a moment. They both passed through here? Also, with no conflict? Something was definitely wrong in this situation. Not to mention, he looked around to see the reaction of those in the yard seeing that no one was surprised by what the guards had just said. That was defiantly wrong but there had to be more.

"It also seems that I will need to see Taiki again," he mumbled.

Finally fed up and needing a moment to think on the new information he had accuired he, not thinking of the consequences that he would later face, sliced the dummy straight through. At that the guards backed up some, for no one in the fortress could do something like that unless it was Taiki himself or a visiting samurai.

"I need a small rest, I'm a little light headed."

The guards glared at him but allowed him to go then yelled at the others to get back to work. Though little got done that day after the confrontation.


Kenshin later sat in the room that he shared with the others. It was largely empty with nothing on the floors and two of the four walls made of the rice paper frames. But none of this mattered to Kenshin as he sat in a corner furthest from a door lightly hitting his forehead. He was technically trying to think but also get himself to think straight.

He quit hitting his head, for although slightly satisfactory, did not help his thought process at all. Unsheathing his sword, instead, he began running fingers up and down the blade until he accidentally cut himself when he heard the rice paper door close. He hissed in pain and when he heard footsteps slightly rushing towards him his head snapped up abandoning looking at his cut finger, which now oozed blood.

It was Takami.

"Hey you ok? Your bleeding."

'Thank you captain obvious,' what he said though was different. "Sessha is fine."

He licked the blood away, subconsciously and though it continued to bleed he ignored it. Takami gave him a weird look then sat down in front of him.

"Why do you call yourself 'sessha'? And don't do that."

At that Kenshin looked at the other and had to scrunch his face. He never really thought he'd need a reason for how he talked but it seemed luck could never be on his side. A short pang of remorse and sadness hit his side though he ignored it.

"Anou, it's natural, sessha guesses."

"Ah, um another question. What you did in the training ground today. Was that for real? That must have been hard."

Kenshin gave him a weird look. "Not really. It was just wood."

"Your weird. So you've actually been in some of the battles? If so then why are you here then?"

"You've already asked me that question, de gozaru. My captain wanted me to be out of the way and to touch up on my sword skills. So yes I have been in a few. I was more of a bodyguard though."

The two continued to talk about different things until the room had filled and most were asleep or headed that way.

"Takami-dono? I think we should sleep."

Takami looked around and agreed.

"Yeah. I guess I'll see you in the morning."

Kenshin nodded slowly.

After he was positive all were asleep, he quietly made his way out to the practice ground and looked up to the sky. Not really wanting to sleep or do much else he went into the Battoujutsu stance. Waiting for a moment he then drew his sword sweeping it across the field an eerie wind following in it's wake as a pale moon's glint shined of the sword at it's end result.

As he did this he did not notice Taiki standing in one of the many doorways, watching. Kenshin's display of the move had surprised his onlooker. Taiki hoped that his worst fear, Hitokiri Battousai, was not this man.

Finally Taiki cleared his voice and thus startling Kenshin out of his meditative state.

"Well I must say that you really do not need any extra practice from us. What is your purpose here?"

"Um, aa, just to be out of the way and out of danger as well as more practice so my captain is positive I won't die after my second battle."

"Well you caused quite a commotion today," Taiki sighed.

"Yes, sessha is very sorry. Though I wanted to know why both Isshin Shishi as well as Shogunate come here? Isn't that like being traitorous to both sides?"

Taiki gave him an odd look. "Shogunate come for recruits and Isshin Shishi come for officials and news. We have two entrances for the different sides so if for some reason they come at the same time we won't have issues." he paused thinking, "My recommendation to you is to not provoke the guards into blabbing everything they know to everyone. Also to watch when you practice. I don't think the others would not jump the gun to say your someone bad."

Kenshin was speechless. Taiki had pretty much given him the answer Katsura-sama needed but for some reason something wasn't right. There was more.

"Yes, Taiki-dono."

Kenshin bowed and left to go get some quiet time before he had to get up to Takami's calling. Before sitting to relax he reapplied his make-up and hair dye. Hopefully while he was here he wouldn't get wet. The 'disguise' came off to easily in the water, which would be bad for him.


"Time to wake up Shinta!"

Bright rays of morning sun flooded the room and though Kenshin already knew that it was time. He looked up at Takami.

"I am already awake, Takami-dono."

Takami gave him an odd look, "When I figure out how the hell you can sleep like that. I will tell you. Anyways, let's go. I'm starved."

Kenshin smiled softly at Takami then got up to follow his energetic friend.

In the cafeteria once more it was loud and buzzing with more activity then when everyone's waking up or practicing. As Takami went to get his food Kenshin went to their table and sat down. Shun and Kaito were already there but Inoue was no where to be found.

AN: Hey all it's the next chapter! Sorry it took so long +sweatdrop, dodges random things+ Well yeah cookies for reviewing so review+offers cookies to previous reviewers+ I love you guys+huggle+ Oh I just realized that there was a Shinsengumi Captain named Inoue. The Inoue in this story has no relation and is not the Captain of the sixth Division of the Shinsengumi! Just to get the straight. Oh well see ya next chapter!