Author's Note:
Giri: I'm sorry I couldn't think of an easy translation so I just used the original word. It literally means the "right way." Such as a debt to the government based upon the fact that they provide you with certain protections or a debt to you're parents for giving you life, and taking care of you. It ties into honor. Giri is something that must be repaid.
The title 'Following the Light' was taken from The Tao Te Ching.
When you wanted to study 'a way' you had to prove yourself worthy of being a pupil. It was an honor to be allowed to study ikebana, kendo, kenjuitsu, or any other form of an art. Lots of different schools would make a potential pupil work for them for years before introducing them into the secrets of there crafts. It kinda reminds me of how first years in Japan are responsible for the cleaning and other duties of the club.
Chapter 13: Following the Light
"So what have you learned from our little Okita-san this morning? Saitoh-san and you spent a little too much time upstairs for just waking the boy up. Anything interesting?"
"Isami-sama, and you are both masters of the Tennin Rishin style… the same that Okita-san is trained in. Wasn't it even the same dojo?"
Susumu knew he was walking on thin ice but he needed to answer him. He also needed to reassure himself that Hijikata-san or Isami-sama wouldn't suddenly find out about Tokio's little secret. If they had trained together than this was a horrible gamble he was taking, especially if Hijikata had known both cousins.
"Kind of. The boy began his training the year before I left. He wasn't even permitted to pick up a shinai yet. His training at the time was limited to basic duties, though I do remember a little chit always following him around. His cousin I think. I doubt she was permitted to study though, but Kondo-sama had great respect for their family. I'm afraid I don't remember much from those days when both Isami-sama and I left together. A lot can happen in so many years. The boy has changed his name since then… though he does look different…less ruff around the edges.
"Is that all that you learned from the lad? About his school and training? Can we use him, or did you forget your purpose in this?"
"No, my lord! I mean yes my lord we probably can use him. He has little love for Serizawa-sama. For T… Okita-san it's just an arrangement of convenience. He doesn't even like him!"
"And how do you know the lad won't betray us? After all Serizawa-sama was the one to bring him to the Roushi-gumi."
"Yes, Serizawa was the one to recruit him, but there is no debt of loyalty owed, nor any other form of giri! There is no tie."
"Then why is the boy so close to him? Serizawa-sama lets few people close to him and yet someone that has no ties is so close? Perhaps it's a trick to flush us out. Perhaps we're suspected as being traitors?"
"No my lord… there is a reason… Okita…-san" How was he going to do this? This was going to be difficult. He had to explain, to convince Hijikata that Tokio was a potential ally and not a threat. He knew that was going to be difficult because Hijikata suspected everyone of being an enemy, and he took every potential enemy very seriously.
"My lord… there is a reason. The boy Okita-san, well… it's just that…"
"Keep your friends close but your enemies closer, right Yamasaki-san?"
Susumu looked back on the path that they had taken and saw Saitoh walking towards them, his hand lightly resting on the handle of his blade.
"Well, Saitoh-san, good morning to you."
"So than Okita-san is suspected of being an enemy by Serizawa-sama himself, not us? You're saying it isn't a trick to capture us, but rather a trick to capture young Okita-san then?"
"Serizawa-sama is holding a blade over Okita-san's neck, every minute of every day. The boy isn't seen as a traitor but as a prize. Okita-san is Serizawa-sama's prized fish. A skilled swordsman who will obey because he has no choice."
"No choice?"
Susumu had made up his mind it was already too late to back down from this. After all this was for Isami-sama. Somehow he would do what had to be done. He had to be able to do this.
"Okita-san is a prized fish, slowly being pulled from the water. What creature wouldn't choose freedom over a pointless death? If Okita-san could be free from Serizawa-sama he would happily do that. That is my opinion. He only wants to serve the Shogunate, under who's command is up to us to decide."
The two warriors stood beside each other facing Hijikata with only their words. They could only hope that those words were enough to convince him that Tokio-chan was not a threat.
"You're interpretation of the style is very different from anyone that I have fought with before. You depend a great deal upon you're speed rather than brute strength. It suits you very well."
"Thank you very much, Isami-san."
"Serizawa recommended you highly because of your sword talents, and I can understand why, still there is much for you too still learn."
"Yes sir, I will do my best!" Tokio smiled happily. She knew that she had a long way to go and she was looking forward to the journey that lay ahead of her, after all this was her chance to make Shoshi's dream a reality.
"Oh my! We've worked away the entire morning." Kondo looked at the entry way as Saitoh, Yamazaki, and Hijikata came in through the main door, he knew that they were waiting for him.
"Well, it may be best for you to get something to eat. I heard of your work last night, you did a good job, dispatching that one all on your own. You aren't far from the rank of Menkyo Kaiden, only two techniques… two techniques that with Suusuke Kondo's permission I will teach you. For now though you must do what you can to build you're strength. A good meal will do you good. Also there is something I would like to speak to you about when you have finished, if I may."
"Of course!"
Isami watched as Okita hummed a pleasant tune while putting their shinai's and gear back where they belonged. For now he needed to know whatever it was those three had learned, about the young Okita-san.
Tokio was beginning to feel a little light-headed as she sat down to her meal. She hadn't had anything that morning, and it was a good thing too. She hadn't expected the practice to be so rigorous. Her shoulder muscles ached from the constant work and she knew it would be hard to use her full katana tonight on patrol. Between practice, the injury, and what had happened last night, she wasn't sure that she would be able to handle herself very well in combat at all. Well, maybe tonight would be a quite one. She could at least hope, anyway.
"Well, well, Okita-san! I saw you up bright and early, and wasn't that Kondo Isami-san that you were practicing with this morning?"
"Good morning, Serizawa-sama. He's an instructor in the Tennin Rishin Style. I asked him to see if there were any flaws in my sword style."
"So tell me, did you learn anything useful?"
"I still have a problem with shifting my elbows in too soon, on the downward motions, and various other small problems that I will have to work diligently to fix."
"Well, I'm sure your master thought to himself. This one looks like a girl there is no reason to fix such girlish swordsmanship!" He laughed heartily; everyone in the dining area had heard his comment to Okita. Okita just smiled taking the insult to her hard work as best as she could.
Serizawa had a unique way of making her angry. Few had the knack for it but somehow he did. Either way she wouldn't show any sign of her irritation.
"Excuse me, Serizawa-sama."
"What is it? Can't you see we're talking here?"
Tokio looked up and saw Hijikata-san's stern face, bowed in apology.
"After last night's evens you requested that Okita-san be given the rank of Captain. Since it was decided that it would be over the new first division, Niimi-sama asked that I introduce Okita-san to his new comrades. Would it be better if this were handled later, my lord. Also there is a man here delivering goods that he said you had ordered. It seemed to be clothing of some sort. I asked him to leave them in you're quarters."
"Well, so they are here are they! Well in that case you will be forgiven for you're rude interruptions of ourprivate conversation! Okita-san do you're best. Don't let them tease you unmercifully about you're overly childlike appearance."
Serizawa laughed as though his joke was the funniest in the world as he headed back towards his rooms. Tokio just smiled and pretended that every time he said something like that it was just a joke. That he wasn't constantly reminding her of the power that he held over her head.
But even someone like her knew that was completely untrue.
Now she was a Captain, and the very lives of her men rested in her ability to survive and fight. She prayed she would be strong enough to not let them down. She couldn't stomach the thought of having so many lives end because of a mistake on her part.
To be continued...
