Seiji stepped into the training hall, gulping back a feeling of uneasiness that came from all the watching eyes standing around the room's perimeter. It was much like every other training hall he had ever been in, expansive, clean, and with only the slightest scent of perspiration. What made this so different was that this was the Shinsengumi, the guardians of Kyoto assigned by Matsudaira Katamori himself. Not only that, but he was being tested for a captain's position. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, he forced himself to calm down.
"Now who should Katsumori spar against?" Kondo asked thoughtfully, looking over the group's roster. On either side of him sat two men, one with a friendly smile on his bespectacled face and his hair in a topknot, the other with his hair in a long ponytail and a pair of brooding eyes above the grim line of his mouth which he had clamped around a pipe. Kondo had introduced them at Vice-Commanders Yamanami Keisuke and Hijikata Toshizo respectively.
"Souji's too far out of his league," Hijikata replied, leaving no room for discussion.
Without the slightest change in his amiable demeanor, Yamanami offered, "Perhaps Sanosuke or Shinpachi would be adequate."
The elder gentleman rubbed his chin, considering. "I think Shinpachi," Kondo declared. He then added, "After all… they are quite similar in stature."
Seiji walked to the center of the hall, mentally preparing himself, as his opponent stepped out from the group of onlookers. He was about as tall as Seiji, which was to say far shorter than the rest, with fiery red hair and a freckled complexion. "Yo," he greeted, smiling. "I'm Nagakura Shinpachi, the second unit captain. Nice to meet you." Taking his practice sword in hand, he stood ready for the match.
Seiji nodded in return, holding his bokken ready. "I'm Katsumori Seiji," he replied and immediately swung the weapon, taking the offensive. Shinpachi dodged left and swung low but Seiji deftly leaped over his attack. Upon landing, he made a thrust straight at his opponent's throat. Shinpachi batted the sword aside and brought his own weapon down at Seji's head. Quickly leaping backward, Seiji avoided the blow and leapt back in, locking blades with his opponent.
"You're pretty good," Shinpachi sneered, pushing against Seiji's weight. The two combatants both stepped back and continued trading blows, each narrowly escaping the other's attack. The crowd watched in awe as they became a blur with their speed.
Kondo chuckled aloud. "They're pretty evenly matched, I'd say."
Yamanami nodded, replying, "To be able to hold Nagakura off like this, he's definitely qualified to join. I think he'd make the perfect captain for the new eleventh unit." He looked over at Hijikata, expecting a similar assessment. He merely grunted, remaining silent.
"What's the matter Toshi?" Kondo asked disappointedly.
"He's fast, I'll give him that," Hijikata answered, blowing out a stream of smoke from his pipe. "And fairly strong."
"But…," Yamanami urged.
The vice-commander made an annoyed sound and added, "But he doesn't seem like captain material to me." He narrowed his eyes, staring at the two men zipping about in the center of the training hall. Suddenly they both rushed past each other and spun about, bringing their practice swords around, each ending up at the other's throat. It was a draw.
"Well he has my vote," Kondo replied.
"As well as mine," Yamanami added.
"Hmph… fine," Hijikata conceded.
Breathing heavily from the workout, sweat dripping down his brow, Seiji lowered his bokken and nodded to his opponent. "Shinto munen-ryu, right?" he asked breathlessly.
"Yeah," Shinpachi answered, lowering his sword as well. "Kami arashi-ryu?"
"That's right."
The redhead smirked. "Man, you are good."
Kondo stood from his spot in the hall, clapping his hands together. "Splendid, Katsumori-san! The three of us are in agreement, you'd make an excellent captain for the eleventh unit. Welcome to the Shinsengumi!"
Seiji turned and bowed respectfully. "Thank you very much Kondo-san, Yamanami-san, Hijikata-san."
Shinpachi clapped him on the back and beamed, "Welcome aboard! Maybe now we can show these giants what us short guys can do." Seiji grinned back at him as the assembled crowd cheered his appointment.