Dance Of The Blades


Chapter 2: Curiousity

3rd POV

" Nobu Oda, so you are from the Oda clan." Hijkata said. After the spar, the shinsengumi welcomed Nobu and is apparently having dinner.

" Yes, I am from the branch family. I certainly do not approve of my parent's ideals and so when I heard there is a group of men slaying Rasetsu which has caused quite a lot of trouble to my family, I decided to help." Nobu happily said as he drank the tea Chizuru had made.

" So that's your true reason for wanting to join the shinsengumi. So tell us what kind of trouble did those monsters caused you?" Okita asked. Nobu frowned and looked at the tea.

" I believe that is a personal matter, I do not talk about my past to strangers." Nobu answered.

" Ah yes, you still don't know who these other are." Kondo said.

" It's only appropriate for them to introduce themselves to a new member it's rather rude." Nobu said. He place the tea down and looked at Chizuru.

" I want to start with the girl." Nobu sneered.

" Huh?! How did you know I'm a girl?" Chizuru asked.

" It's easy to tell, your hands are small and has marks of a person who does household chores. Plus, there is no way someone could be so cute as a samurai, not to mention how delicate you move. You're too feminine to pretend to be a boy." He explained.

" I'm that obvious?" She pouted.

" Ehem! Your name?" Nobu asked.

" Oh, I'm Chizuru Yukimura." She said. Nobu looked rather surprised and taken aback.

" Are you perhaps the daughter of Kodo Yukimura?" He asked.

" You know my father?"

" I cannot believe this, how is it that you are his child? I don't see any relations." Nobu sighed. He looked at Heisuke to sat next to Chizuru.

" Hmm... Weak boy what is your name?" Nobu asked. He looked at Heisuke as if he was never interested in the first place.

" Weak boy?! I'll show you who's weak you little-"

" I'll have you know that despite my appearance I am 19 years old and I have trained myself to improve my strength. Saito himself can tell that I have more power." Their jaws dropped surprised that he is older. Nobu is as short as Chuzuru yet he is a lot thinner.

" No offense but if you want us to believe you're really that old then try eating more and building up muscles!!!" Shinpachi shouted.

" Muscles don't suit me, I'm too skinny for that. Plus I look ridiculous if I gain fat." Nobu replied.

" It is an advantage, his opponent would think he's the weakest for his small figure." Sannan said.

" The element of surprise is my specialty. Now then, your name weak boy?" Nobu sneered.

" I'm not weak get it?! I'm Heisuke Todo now don't you forget that!" he huffed. Nobu chuckled and looked at Shinpachi.

" Shinpachi Nagakura, nice to meet ya."

" You seem to be the type to have bad luck as your comrade. But don't worry it won't kill you honest." Nobu smiled.

" This arrogant brat's gonna get it I swear." Shinpachi muttered as a vein popped on his forehead. Nobu looked at Sanosuke and smiled.

" You must be Sanosuke Harada, you're quite famous around the redlight district so no need to introduce yourself." He sneered. He looked at Souji then averts his eyes back to Chizuru.

Story continues below

" Well then that's about everyone. So Kondo, Hijikata, Harada, Sannan, Heisuke, Saito, Okita and Chizuru right? Nice to meet all of you." Nobu bowed.

" Hold on, Sannan san and Okita san haven't introduced themselves yet so how did you know?" Chizuru asked.

" Actually I've met those two before but I suppose it's an event that isn't worth remembering" Nobu smiled.

" Event?" Okita asked.

" Oh I almost forgot, I need to do my daily training before going to bath. I better get going now." Nobu said and stood up.

" Hold it, Chizuru will come with you." Hijikata said.

" Aww.. I wanna train alone.." Nobu pouted.

" We still don't trust you so beat it!" Heisuke said.

" Butt out shorty, I wasn't asking you." Nobu frowned. Chizuru quickly stood up and followed Nobu who had already left.

" That guy's weird, I don't trust him." Sanosuke said.

" Saito, is it true he's really strong?" Heisuke asked.

" Yes, I couldn't even compare his power to Souji's." He replied.

" Seriously?" Shinpachi asked.

" EHHHHHHH???!!!!!!" They responded.

Meanwhile

" Chizuru, why do you pretend to be a boy?" Nobu asked while doing sit ups as he hung on a tree branch.

" Well.. women aren't supposed to travel alone and I'd looked weird while wearing my short sword." She answered.

" I see, a woman with a short sword would be disturbing. A woman wielding a sword is rather something you don't see everyday." Nobu said.

" Oda san, how many sit ups are you going to do?" She asked.

" About a thousand, eight hundred push ups, five hundred seconds in hand stand and two hundred seconds squat, and please call me Nobu instead of using my family name."

" Okay, but your training is really intense! Are you going to be alright though?" She asked.

" Yeah, but wait till it's morning. You'll see even more intense training than this."

" You just ate, I think you should take a bath now. It's not good for your health, no wonder you're so thin. Come with me, I'll show you where you can bathe." She said as she walked away. Nobu stopped his count and followed Chizuru. She tried to open the bathroom door but it wouldn't open.

" Hey kid, the bathroom is under maintenance so no one will be able to use it tonight. But there's a well in the backyard, you can use it." A man said.

" Oh thank you." She bowed. They went to the backyard and found no one around.

" Well this is fortunate. Chizuru, will you please help me put up these sheets to act as a curtain? I'm not used to bathing out in the open. "

" Huh? Uh.. okay." They pulled up the sheets and hang it up surrounding Nobu like a box.

" Thank you." Nobu said.

" It's nothing, I'll stay outside and watch out for people." She said.

" Once again, I thank you." He said. Chizuru stood outside the curtains while Nobu undressed himself. All that is heard in the backyard are splashes of water. Meanwhile , Kondo, Hijikata, Okita, Shinpachi, Sasnosuke, Heisuke and Saito stormed around the place until they finally found Chizuru.

" Where is he?" Hijikata asked.

" Oh, he's bathing behind the curtain." Chizuru answered.

" Bathing huh? This could be the perfect opportunity to see if this kid really has muscles or not!" Heisuke forcefully move the sheet away and saw Nobu who is actually...

" Are those-"

" You saw nothing."