Dance Of The Blades


Chapter: 1

3rd POV

One night, Furies attacked a town where Chizuru Yukimura is passing through. She was saved or captured by the shinsengumi as a witness of the scene. Knowing she was a girl and has been looking for her father Kodo Yukimura, the shinsengumi took her in. A month passed, when suddenly a boy with a sword arrived to the shinsengumi's entrance.

" I want to speak with Isami Kondo, let me through." The boy said. The men guarding the entrance unsheathed their swords threatening him to leave. He wasn't faced by the two swords pointing at him and still looked calm as ever.

" Leave at once you pest!" The guard said. The guards lost sight of the boy in a split second and had their own swords against their necks. They averted their eyes behind and saw the boy who turned the tables.

" I simply want to speak with Kondo san, if you won't show me then I guess I'll have to find him myself." The boy said backing away with the two swords in hand. The two guards dropped on their knees as they watched the boy wonder around the place.

" Who are you and what do you want with our commander?" A black haired man asked. The man who stood before the boy with a sword in hand was Toshizo Hijikata, the vice commander of the Shinsengumi.

" You must be Hijikata, you'll do I guess. I have a request and I wish for it to be granted." The boy demanded. The other shinsengumi samurais appeared surrounding Hijikata and the boy.

" A request you say? You've got a lot of nerve to do that after you infiltrated our hideout." Hijikata said. The boy sneered raising his chin and looked as if he was looking down on Hijikata who seems to be a lot taller.

" Alright let's hear it."

" Kondo san? But this child-"

" Is a samurai, he seems to be the stubborn type. His ability to pass through our guards peaked my interest, therefore, I want to hear his request if he's this persistent." Kondo said cutting off Hijikata's words.

" Speak." Hijikata ordered still pointing his sword against the boy's neck.

" Very well, but please to not be so surprised to hear this unexpected request. I wish to join the shinsengumi." The boy said. Everyone looked surprised including Kondo.

" Join the shinsengumi? But why, what could have possibly pushed you to join the shinsengumi?" Chizuru asked.

" Nothing, I simply like the ideals of the shinsengumi. The code of the Shinsengumi included five articles, prohibiting deviation from the samurai code, leaving the Shinsengumi, raising money privately, taking part in others' litigation, and engaging in private fights. The penalty for breaking any rule was seppuku . In addition, if the leader of a unit was mortally wounded in a fight, all the members of the unit must fight and die on the spot and, even in a fight where the death toll was high, the unit was not allowed to retrieve the bodies of the dead, except the corpse of the leader of the unit. In order to become a samurai this code has to be mastered. But I have a feeling that this shinsengumi is a little different than the one I would imagine." The boy said.

" You're awfully talkative aren't you?" Souji Okita said.

" Well then forgive me for my rudeness, I seemed to have completely forgotten to introduce myself." The boy said.

" Introductions can wait, you must prove yourself that you are worthy to join the shinsengumi. Your opponent will be Saito." Hijikata said.

" Hold on Hijikata, don't you think Saito might be a little too much? I mean look at the kid, he's skinny and looks fragile. How about having Heisuke as his opponent instead." Shinpachi Nagajura suggested.

" If Saito is my opponent then it might be my chance to know the extent of my skills. " The boy said.

" You are one cocky child aren't you? Very well, Saito kun if you would please?"

" Yes commander." Saito said and faced the boy. The people surrounding the two backed away as far as they could to stay out of their range.

" This is ridiculous, we already know what the outcome of this spar is. I bet that Saito will win." Sanosuke Harada said.

" Well I like the kid's guts so I'll place my bet on him." Shinpachi said.

" If you lose, you're going to treat me dinner." Sanosuke said.

" Same goes to you." Shinpachi said.

" Draw your sword." Saito said to the boy.

" Hajime Saito a master of iaijutsu, the art of drawing one's sword, cutting down one's opponent and sheathing the sword, all in one motion. Almost same as my battojutsu." The boy sneered. They both waited for a few minutes and finally, they both drew their swords and engaged at each other. Their swords clashed, and each held their own against each other.

" Woah, look at him go. He's almost as good as Saito." Heisuke Todo said.

" I'd say the kid is on a whole different level that Saito and I. He uses the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu style and with that kid's light figure he'd be able to move even faster if he wants to." Okita said.

" Are you serious?" Both Shimpachi and Sanosuke said in unison.

" He's using a reversed blade, while Saito uses the back of his sword. I see the boy does not intend to kill." Keisuke Yamanami or known as Sannan san said. The boy jumps and lands a blow at Saito and in a split second, the sword from Saito's hand has been thrown far away from him. The boy landed and pointed his sword at Saito's chest. The boy once again sneered at Saito which surprised the samurais around them.

" Incredible, he defeated Saito."

" Did you see how it happened?"

" I didn't, did you?"

" Ryūtsuisen or Dragon Hammer Flash - From a position higher than one's opponent usually initiated by a powerful jump, one uses the momentum of the fall to strengthen a two-handed sword swing that brings the blade down on the opponent's head or shoulder. But in his case instead of hitting Saito's head he removed the sword from Saito by hitting his hands and the sword at the same time." Kondo explained.

" I can't believe I won the bet..." Shinpachi muttered.

" Well now, since I have proven myself and now is an official member of the shinsengumi. I should introduce myself, I am Nobu Oda."