Chapter 1: Teardrop

Akaiken awoke early, shaking her head to remove the images… another nightmare, haunting memory. She decided she might as well get dressed and start her training for today. She wore her usual outfit, being a lighter colored kimono, and hakama pants. She brushed through her hair a few times and tied the end with a string. She slid open the door and looked around, it was pretty dark, almost dawn. She glanced around a bit and she didn't see anyone around the training hall or anyone up in general. She walked quietly and pulled down a bokken from the rack in the training hall. She had a nice view of the gate and sometimes she liked to watch the sun rise over the wall of the Shinsengumi Headquarters. The time seemed to pass quickly, in no time at all the hall was filled with several men sparring. She wasn't quite sure why, but none of the members ever wanted to spar with her, well the truth was, that she could fathom so many guesses that she had no clue. So, she would practice in the corner, striking skilled blows at the air.

She had attempted to join once before, and at that time she was a much kinder, or at least friendly, girl. She had sparred with Sanosuke Harada and had done well, though not well enough for Toshizo Hijikata. Sano then said that she should go practice for a few more months and try again later, she waited one year, but when she came back, she was… serious. When she left she had nowhere to go, she stayed in abandoned homes and practiced daily until her hands bled. Even then she would wrap them in what she could, and practice more. One thing that she did to make sure that she got stronger was that she would add weights, sand bags, to her arms, ankles, and even her sword. And her skill never diminished. This caused her to become faster and when she sparred to join, not only the light weight of the bokken but the fact that she wasn't weighed down at all caused her to be slightly excessive in force. This was a blessing, and a curse. She did get to join, but she got reprimanded by the vice commander Hijikata. Commander Kondo gave her a uniform and made her a full member on the spot, although Akaiken was offered a new set of swords because hers were old and one was seemingly dirty, she refused saying that they were hers and she could not give up her soul so easily. Of course that probably didn't help people into thinking her friendlier…

Soon Akaiken heard the call for breakfast and the training hall emptied in moments, this left her a clear view of the entrance, where a coach pulled up and a seemingly drunk man pulled out a girl, a few years younger than herself, and threw her towards the residence, he then yelled something which Akai couldn't make out and got back in his coach which drove away. The girl then got up, her long, wavy, unruly black hair shivering in the wind. She was fair skinned, her silver eyes shone with tears, yet there were none. She dusted off slim figure not noticing Akaiken and made her way, rather lost, in the direction of the cabins, trying to find someone… Akaiken narrowed her eyes for a moment and then turned away; heading towards the kitchen, thinking that girl has just wandered into the middle of a wolves den…

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\\X\\ Super Point of view Switch time! Yay//X//

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The girl wandered, only half-knowing where she was headed, she soon came upon the demon Vice commander's room. She knocked when she heard movement, and the doors slid open quickly Toshizo Hijikata looked around rather sour as usual, but then his face softened. "Namida? What are you doing here?"

The girl's eyes welled up with tears and she hugged him, crying into his kimono, "Uncle Toei, -sob- F-Father was going to sell me-sob- but then he-he just left me here! -sob-"

Toshi sighed, that yaro "It's alright Namida, you can stay here until things get straightened out… did you get anything to eat?" She looked up at him, shaking her head. "Alright then, head to the kitchen and have Ayu give you some breakfast." Namida only nodded and he patted her shoulder, she rubbed her eyes a little and walked towards the kitchen.

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Meanwhile…in the kitchen

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Akaiken was helping Ayu clean up after most the guys had finished eating. Akai wasn't much of a cook, and so she mostly just helped with preparation and cleaning. "Thanks for helpin' me out in the kitchen Akai"

Akaiken nodded lightly, "It's the least I can do, cooking for us all the time." Akaiken turned around quickly, and the girl from earlier was standing there, it was rather obvious she had been crying and

Akaiken was slightly surprised to see that she was taller than herself, the girl had looked so small from the training hall. "Um… I'm Namida, Uncle – I mean Mr. Hijikata said that I should come down to get some breakfast…"

Akaiken just blinked a moment. Namida…? Teardrop…? Sounds kinda pathetic…

Ayu just nodded "Okay, I'll get ya a nice warm breakfast, By the way I'm Ayumu, Ayumu Yamazaki but feel free just to call me Ayu. And this here, is Akaiken though she just goes by Akai."

Namida bowed slightly to both of them "Nice to meet you…"

\\XComments:\\ Akaiken Hogo means Red Sword That Defends, Namida means teardrop

You'll soon discover that they are complete opposites….

\\Next episode preview: Saito Hajime says: "Two souls will meet. Blood thirst is quelled. And a young kitten gets stuck in a tree."//

//EndX//