Author's Note:

To make it easier to keep track of the official members of the Shinsengumi there will be a list of them all with there styles and rank at the bottom of this chapter. This is as much for me as for you. It's hard to keep track of real people. I got this list from a Stanford website. The link and credits are on my main ID page. The ones that served Serizawa Kamo have their names underlined. The ones majorly loyal to the Kondou Group are completely underlined.

If I do make a political or otherwise historical error about the Shinsengumi please let me know. I'm trying really REALLY hard to get the timeline & politics right.

Menkyo Kaiden- to master the entire sword style... secret tequniques too.

Roshi- means Rurouni or a wandering samurai hence the name of the Shinsengumi before they became a major figure.


Chapter 5: The Seeds of Betrayal
Tokio did her best not to show how distressed she was this morning. She went down into the main room with her cheerful happy smile she was already becoming known for plastered onto her face. Though truth be told she didn't feel much like smiling. Not after everything that had happened this morning.

"Kaneyoshi-sama?" One of the girls cleaning the floor gave Tokio a bright good morning smile. It hadn't taken her long to relize that unlike many of the other members of the Roushi-gumi Kaneyoshi Okita was for the most part a kind and gentle person.

"I'm fine, Shuntarou-san. Thank you for worrying though. Tell me has anything strange happened this morning?"

"Strange?"

"Well, then... that's all right. Say hello to you're brother for me. I heard that he planned on joining us here, is it true?"

"Yes. Kaneyoshi-sama, if there... if there is anything I can do to help I'd be glad to."

Tokio nodded her understanding and walked away. She never even noticed the looks the young girl was giving her as she walked out into the garden.

"You should be more careful, stealing young girl's hearts like that! You really should save some of them for us, or will you simply doom us to jealousy!"

Tokioglanced up from the stone she had unintentionally been watching while thinking about her situation, and what it would mean for her. She merely raised an eyebrow at Isami-san's wry comment, to be honest she wasn't sure how to respond to such a comment. She wasn't wooing anyone!

"Ummm... "

"Well, speak up! Ummm... is a useful word but doesn't do us any good!"

"You are an instructor in the Tennen Rishin Style?"

Isami-san studied Okita seriously. Was there a point to all of this? He knew the name Fusnaga sounded familiar but from where? That was when he remembered the rosters at the dojo that he owned. Fusanaga Soushi... Fusanaga Tokio... they had been cousins... students at his school, even though he had never met them up close and had only seen them once or twice when returning to the dojo. Master Kondou Shuusuke had spoken highly of them both. So this was the male cousin...

"After what happened last night I have to become stronger. I know I can, but... Please teach me!"

"You have trained under Master Kondou, what makes you think that there is anymore that I can teach you?"

"My failure last night is proof that I have much still to learn."

"Everyone makes mistakes, just be glad that last nights wasn't fatal to any of our own."

"I have to become stronger."

She had to! She couldn't let herself be so weak that she needed to be protected by anyone. She had to be able to hold her own. Against anyone.

Isami wondered what it was that he could teach Okita... but... Okita was his student by right. It was his duty to continue his education.

"Let you're arm heal itself first. We'll start in a few days, we shall see if it will be worth our time."

Tokio stiffled her smile knowing that for such a request she had gotten off easy. When she had asked Kondou Shuusuke things had been much much harder.


That night Tokio went with two other guys into a Kyoto tea house. Tokio sipped her tea and listened. There was much she needed to learn but she had to be careful about how she learned it.

When an opertunity presented itself in one of theyoung girls in trainingtripped while carrying away empty bottles of sake. Okita slipped from his place and helped the young girl gather the empty containers. Tokio offered to help her carry the containers to the back, and she merely looked at Tokio like a child caught by the light of a firefly.

Tokio had to verbally nudge her into showing her the way to the kitchen. The sounds of the other's laughing could be heard as they walked together to the kitchen.

"So that's what Kaneyoshi-san's type is!"

Tokio could feelher cheeks redden a little, she hadn't expected for her actions to be interpretted like that. She tried to avert her eyes from everyone else and just keep her constant smile plastered into place, when she felt someone's eyes on her. she glanced over to the other side of the main room where several other Roushi were gathered, and Saito was sitting amongst them, his eyes coldly watching her walk to the back.

She knew in her bones that he was more than a little suspisious of her actions. Well why wouldn't he? She had been lying about her identity the entire time, let alone her gender, and the secret had been spilled rather quickly! She really needed to know what he intended on doing with the information he had... was he just waiting for the right time to reveal the truth? Was he going to keep it a secret? The questions were nawing at her, and she needed an answer.

Still there were many answers that she needed and that was only one amoung many.

"Thank you." The girl smiled up at Okita. She reached to take them from him, but Tokio merely stepped further into the room towards the sink were things were supposed to be washed. The girl fell into step behind him, surprised by his help, and very confused as to what she should do. This was the first time anyone had helped her like this... let alone a guest. It was more than a little strange and it made her nervous, and yet pleased.

Tokio flashed the girl her best smile. "My name is Kaneyoshi Okita. It's a pleasure to meet you."

The girl could feel her cheeks warm at the smile. She couldn't help but notice how handsome Kaneyoshi-sama was, and his smile was so kind and charming. She wondered what someone like this was doing with such crude roshi.

"Hello." She tried to keep her voice level but it wanted to crack. "I'm Ayame...

Tokio set the dishes in the large washing basin. Using a piece of cord he tied his sleaves back and out of the way and started to get to work cleaning the dishes.

The two of them worked in silence, as Tokio tried to think of a way to broach the subject of Serizawa-sama, and what had once happened to make him so hated.


Kyokuchou- Chief

Serizawa Kamo Mitsumoto: Mito Roushi, Shintou Munen Style Menkyo Kaiden

Niimi Nishiki Kinzan: Mito Dappan, Shintou Munen Style Menkyo Kaiden, trained in the dojo of Okada Sukezaemon

Kondon Isami Masanobu (Masayoshi):Edo Gyofunai Dappan, Tennen Rishin Style (Teacher (Shihan), disciple of Kondou Shuusuke, owner of Shieikan)started out as a Warrant Officer in the 6th group.

Fukuchou- Executive Officer

Yamanami Keisuke Tomonobu: Sendai Dappan, Hokushin Ittou Style Menkyo Kaiden at Chiba Shuusaku's dojo (the "Genbukan"), trained again by Kondou Isami

Hijikata Toshizou Yoshitoyo: Edo Gyofunai Dappan, Tennen Rishin Style Mokuroku (a status inferior to Menkyo Kaiden), disciple of Kondou Shuusuke

Jokin (Warrant Officers):

Okita Souji (Soushi) Kaneyoshi (Fusanaga): Shirakawa Dappan, Tennen Rishin Style Menkyo Kaiden, disciple of Kondou Shuusuke and Isami

Nagakura Shinpachi Noriyuki: Matsumae Dappan, Shintou Munen Style Menkyo Kaiden at Okada Juumatsu dojo

Harada Sanosuke: Iyomatsuyama Dappan, Taneda Houzouin Style (not kenjutsu style, but a spear style) Menkyo Kaiden at Tani Sanjuurou's dojo

Toudou Heisuke Nobutora: Edo Gyofunai Dappan, a bastard son of the Isuzu Province Chief Toudou Izuminokami, Hokushin Ittou Style Mokuroku at Chiba Shuusaku's dojo

Inoue Genzaburou Kazushige: Edo Gyofunai Dappan, Tennen Rishin Style Mokuroku (some say he reached the Menkyo Kaiden) and disciple of Kondou Shuusuke / Isami

Hirayama Gorou: Mito Dappan, Shintou Munen Style Menkyo Kaiden at Saitou Yakurouu Tokushinsai dojo (the "Renpeikan")

Noguchi Kenji:Mito Dappan, Mokuroku given from Yurimoto Shouzou, a fabulous swordsman of Shintou Munen Style

Hirama Juusuke:Mito Dappan, Shintou Munen Style Mokuroku at Serizawa Kamo's dojo. A faithful man to Kamo

Saitou Hajime: Banshuu Akashi Roushi, master of the Mugai style of kenjutsu

Ogata Shuntarou: Kumamoto Roushi, a scholar

Yamazaki Susumu: Osaka Roushi, a master of the Kadori Style of Bo (staff)

Tani Sanjuurou: Osaka Roushi, Harada Sanosuke's master

Matsubara Chuuji (Tadaji): Osaka Roushi, Jiu-jutsu teacher of the Sekiguchi style

Andou Soutarou: Kyoto Itsugatsu Temple Dassou

Chouyaku Narabi Kansatsu Gata(Investigation and Observation Responsibles (Spies)):

Shimada Kai: Oogaki Dappan

Kawashima Shouji(Katsuji): Osaka Roushi

Hayashi Nobutarou: Osaka Roushi

Kanteiyaku Narabi Konida Gata (Cleanup Operations and Small Baggage/Luggage Responsibles):

Kishima (Kishida) Yutarou:

Okan (Oseki) Yabee: Wada Uemura Dassou

Kawai Kitarou: Osaka Roushi

Sakai Hyougo: Osaka Roushi