Chapter III

Declarations

The Shinsengumi headquarters was a place that had seemed as if death had came and took every bit of life with it; it had been a week since Matsumoto Ryojun had informed Commander Kondou Isami and Vice-commander Hijikata Toshizou about the future of a certain ailing captain. Knowing that the news would reach the men anyways, both leading figures held a meeting, a meeting that requested the presence of every Shinsengumi member.

"What the heck is going on?" Tetsunosuke whined as he and three comedians Sano, Shinpachi and Heisuke made their way to the training halls.

"I hear we're going to war, maybe the commander's briefing us on some upcoming battle" Heisuke replied, as the three looked on.

"Whatever it is, it better be important…I was in the middle of a good dream." Sano retorted with a grin.

As the three men neared the training hall, they saw it packed with men and decided to oversee the conference from outside. After how many hours of waiting both commanders arrived, their faces stern and hardened.

"Maybe Heisuke was right, perhaps we are going to war" Tetsu thought to himself as he observed his commander's stern expressions.

The men became silent and all eyes were focused on their commander, "Men, we are here to inform you that there will be major changes in the Shinsengumi from now on." Kondou started.

There were murmurs and whispers among the crowds but no one dared to speak up, "This meeting is to inform you that as of now Okita Soji captain of the first division has been formally discharged from the Shinsengumi."

"Discharged?!" Sano belted out loudly, apparently he wasn't the only one shocked by the news. The crowd of men began talking loudly amongst themselves, apparently not wanting to believe the shocking news.

"Okita-sensei is being discharged?"

"What the hell is going to happen to the first division?"

"Who's going to replace him?"

Ignoring the men's response, Hijikata Toshizou continued the briefing "As you may all know by now, Okita Soji is no longer in any condition to hold position as captain due to his illness. By order of Lord Matsudaira we are formally discharging him."

"Order of Lord Matsudaira?"

"Is he out of his mind? We're on the verge of war and his discharging the captain?"

"How could this happen?"

A few rooms down the training hall, former shinobi turned medical apprentice Yamazaki Susumu was attending to the ailing captain who apparently was listening on to the on going conversation.

"Okita-san, your tea is getting cold. Please drink it" Susumu stated simply as he passed the cup through the shoji doors; as much as it hurt him to see the swordsman prodigy being isolated from the rest of the world his orders from Matsumoto Ryojun were simple and had to be obeyed at all costs.

Avoid any contact with the diseased stricken patient; this will make you less prone to the disease. Every item the patient touches must be discarded, and after every visit wash your hands with hot water and vinegar.

"Thank you Yamazaki-kun" Soji replied softly as he brought the cup to his lips, the tea was lukewarm and it tasted like medicine. "My time has finally come to an end hasn't it Yamazaki-kun?" Surprised by his words, Yamazaki Susumu fell silent apparently uncertain of what to say.

"A couple of nights ago, when I was having another of my coughing fits I saw a vision, it wasn't that of an angelic apparition but rather that of a deceased clansman whom I had killed with my katana."

"Okita-san perhaps you should rest, you can tell me the story later…"

"Later? Sadly Yamazaki-kun there won't be a later for me, the apparition told me that anytime soon this feeble body of mine will finally lose this battle and sooner or later I shall be joining them on the other side."

"You must not say such words; kami-sama has kept you alive long enough so please live long enough." Susumu said sadly, trying his best to fight back the tears.

Hinting the sadness in his friend's voice, Okita Soji managed to produce a light laugh in hopes of brightening up the young shinobi's mood. "For the Shinsengumi…I will…I will keep fighting…"