Chapter 5: Red Shards
The day went by nicely enough I even found a old run down dojo. It was just on the edge of Kyoto. The owner wanted to sell it to move and I more then happy agreed to buy it. Once I paid for it I looked round and saw that it did need some repairs but nothing that couldn't be fixed. I found this place had three bedrooms or rather empty rooms that could become bedrooms. A main dojo room for training, a medium size kitchen, an indoor hot-spring, a storage shed and even a large garden with a back gate that leads into the woods. Also in the garden there was a well that had a river running under it. I found some old papers that seemed to be on some kind of shards that was red in colour. And something that I could really tell but seemed to be something that maybe a medical or scientist might be able to read and understand. So I put them back where I found them to keep them hidden.
I told Towa chan to wait in the garden or in the dojo and to not leave this place. I would return with items to repair this place. I left to gather up wood, nails and anything else I might need. Even gathering up some food for the two of us. As walked with the items for repair back to the dojo, I could feel those eyes watching my every move again. Not the monsters eyes but a different set of eyes. I shook my head sighing as I kept walking. I thought to myself let that person watch but if he or she ever tries to hurt Towa chan then they would have to deal with me. Once the items was in the shed I went back out to gather food for our meal tonight. I had already gave Towa chan and myself a small break by bring back some lunch. Now all that was left was getting some ingredients, for our meal tonight.
I picked up quite a few at the market and was about to head into the woods, the sun was still up so I felt safe but before I could I felt a piercing pair of eyes but again I chose to make it as if I had not noticed. As I gathered the food I took note that the person watching me was somewhere up in the trees. I picked up some edible mushrooms and some berries that I knew me and Towa chan could get. I found some wild mint and picked that up at well. Happy with what I had found in the forest I put all of that in my food basket, and then looked round for medical plants just in case as well as anything else I could use in healing up anyone. All the medical plants and stuff I placed in a second smaller basket then started to walk back to the dojo. I had also found a red shard and placed that in my sleeve as I was going to look at it at a later date.
The person I felt followed me all the way back to the dojo. I put away what I had gotten, and started to cook our meal for the night. At one point the person who had followed us had vanished most like to report back to who ever they worked for. Me and Towa chan ate our food. We had beef stew with a side order of rice. Once I was sure that Towa chan was fast asleep I went outside to train with my sword. I didn't want my sword skills to get rusty as I needed it to keep Towa chan safe. As I was doing that I heard the sound of a eerie laugh. Walking to where she heard the laugh she found it came from the streets more so just a little bit down where her dojo is. Turning into a dark alleyway I saw a man with red eyes and snow white hair. But his face was twisted into a mad man's look. He was stabbing his sword into a dead person. Blood slashed up soaking his clothes, as he laughed a wicked laugh.
I drew my sword ready to defend herself. The red eye man moved to me with inhuman speed. Ready to attack wildly as he could I caught every swing of his sword with my own. This went on for some time until blood sprayed all over me from someone spearing the red eye man's heart. The sword right through his heart pouring out of him. Soon the blade was removed and the man fell to the ground dead. Behind the dead man stood a man wearing the same jacket and head band, yet his hair was a light brown and his eyes although behind a pair or round rim glasses looked more hazel in colour. I felt frozen before this man even though he had a confused look in his eyes as he stared at me. He still gripped his sword but seemed to be waiting for me to do something. I took a step back and saw him frown as he took a step forward. "Strange it seems that you have kept your sanity even after being covered in blood. Yet I don't think your one of ours" He said his voice soft yet clear.
"oro?" I replied fully confused this only made him blink as he took another step closer. I took another step back my sword now sheathed but I knew I could get it if need be. "Stop moving I am not going to hurt you unless you give me no other choice do you understand?" The man asked me. I nod my head watching him as he moved close enough to be looking right at me. Our sandal feet almost touching as he looks down at me. "Will you come with me back to my headquarters" my eyes narrowed when he told me that. "Why should I?" this made the handsome man frown as he let out a sigh. Looking at me his eyes seem to be searching for something in my face. "You seem to be able to talk and have your sanity while most like that man I had to kill was driven to bloodlust and went mad. I just want to know something and I need you to tell me some answers to my questions. As long as you don't try to do anything to me or my friends then I will not kill you."
I blinked at him as he grabbed my arm, "now come with me" he said as if that was okay. He clearly took me not talking as a sure I will do what you say kinda thing. I breathed a sigh of my own looking up I said, "Umm sorry to bother you but can you please let go of me? Also I need to get back to the dojo to make sure Towa chan is okay as she is only a child and will need someone when she wakes up" This made him stop in his tracks as he looks back down at him. It was clear he was shocked I was talking about a child being left on their own. "You are caring for a child even in that state? How?" he seemed really confused but I felt even more so. What state did he mean I was fine. "Fine we will go there first to get this child then will you come back to headquarters?" I nodded "yeah I will follow you back once Towa chan is safe and with me" The man seemed to agree as he allowed me to take him to the dojo and get Towa chan.
I gently wake Towa chan up knowing that this man is watching my every move ready to attack if I so much as do something out of line. Once we have our stuff I make my way over with Towa chan in my arms as she is still tired. Her little head in the nook of my shoulder. The man has a strange but thoughtful look on his face as he watches me and Towa chan. But true to my word I walk with him back to his so called headquarters. Half way there we met up with one of the other men no doubt from this man's group as he to was dressed in the same way. Same uniform and everything but his eyes was so cold it turned my blood to ice or rather it felt like that when he glared at me.
He looked at the man who I first met and said in a cold and harsh tone. "Sannan san who the hell is that? And more importantly why is there a child in that fury's arms?" Sannan looked at the other man and calmly said, "Calm down Hijikata kun unlike the furies we know this one seemed to be more in control of himself and shows no signs of bloodlust. I thought we could take him back with us and question him however I found out that he is watching over a child so I am taking both of them back to headquarters with us. Once there we can think of what to do." I listened but had my mask on where it showed nothing. As if I had not heard and I hoped that both of these men would believe that, but I had my doubts.
We soon reached the shinsengumi's headquarters and I was led into a room and told to wait there. I knew they posted someone just outside the door. I laid Towa chan down so she could sleep. I the sat across from the door and waited. I must have dozed off as the next ting I knew it was morning and the door opened. My eyes flew open to look at a man with a spar in his hands. He was looking down at me before he said, "Hi I was told to come and get you the others are waiting for you in the meeting room. We have someone who will watch over the child so please don't worry, do you understand?" He asked a little bit warily. I couldn't understand why he was so warily of me. I nodded as I got up I had noticed that my sword was missing but my guess is they waited until I was fast asleep and took it so I wouldn't harm or kill anyone not that I could with a sword like that. And with those thought I followed this man to meet the others he had spoke of earlier.
The man looked at me again and he decided to talk to me on our way to the main room. "Must be hard walking in the sun I am a little shocked that you have kept your sanity what with all that blood that Sannan san covered you in when he killed that other fury and now the sun being out must be hard and painful." I blinked up at him he was tall with golden eyes and red hair. He also looked strong, but even all of that I didn't understand what he meant. Fury what is a fury I could play along that might keep me and Towa chan alive. "I am okay" I said to him knowing he would want me to say something. Plus it was only fair as he was trying to talk to me. The man laughed a little "your okay man I know how hard you furies can have it. You must be strong enough to not let the sun and blood bother you I am Harada Sanosuke" he smiled a friendly smile as he stopped at the door. "This is it they are on the other side of the door and don't worry they are not bad and are quite kind" he said as if to reassure me. I nodded and said, "My name is Himura Tenma" The door opened and I stepped in.