Chapter 3

The next few days were borderline agonizing. None of the men would come near me except when the brought me my meals. When they did look at me it was only for a short time so they could glare. The only one who didn't was Saitou. I was still learning everyone's name. The girl never came near me, but that was fine. The men were probably telling her not to come for her own safety, not that it mattered. I wouldn't raise my blade against someone who couldn't fight. She would probably be dead soon anyway. In regard to her death, I wouldn't have a part in it. Fighting groups of people is fun, but not when all of them are as skilled as the men here. I stayed in my room for the most part, but on decent nights I would wander out into the courtyard. Many were asleep by then. Tonight was the perfect example. I walked out of the room quietly and sat on a rock near the pond. The water was so clear that I could see my reflection. My hair had always been short; I cut it on a regular basis so that it never came past my ear. My clothing was masculine and my expression frozen to an angry stare. The girl, Chizuru was pretending to be a boy, but I looked like one more than she did. I heard a soft footstep to my right and drew my katana before turning around. About two yards ahead of me stood the man with the ponytail and constantly angry expression, Hijikata I believe was his name.

"I admire the lack of hesitation in your blade, but there is no need to draw it here," he said flatly. I snorted and sheathed my katana.

"It's a reflex. I'm not exactly welcome here," I replied.

"That you brought on yourself," he said. I snorted and looked back into the pond. Quiet is not a luxury that can be attained very often. "When I first met you, you were as hostile as any soldier, but looking at you now I can see the woman you are desperately trying to bury."

"You are mistaken. There was never a woman in me," I said. "My father went through a great deal of trouble making sure of that."

"I'm not going to ask you about your past, I don't care. What I am going to ask you is to stay away from Chizuru."

"Did you need to get me alone to ask me that? It seems as though you could have told me anytime you wished," I snapped, not taking my eyes off of the water. I was jealous of it. Even through all this noise, it was still able to remain calm. "But do not worry. I have no intention of going near that girl. It was an engagement of misunderstanding that controlled my actions, nothing more." I stood up and walked past him, not looking into his eyes.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"To my room. You have already disrupted my night and I do not wish to allow you to continue," I replied, walking into the room I have no choice but to call mine. I closed the door without another word and placed my sword on the ground next to the bed. I had been here for a little over a week and I had not been out of the gates. I still felt as if my father were going to find me and end my miserable life. He had threatened me enough. I sighed and lay on the bed, having no desire to rest. Sleeping meant an opening. I stayed awake, watching the sunrise through the window. I waited for the meal they brought me, since they didn't want me eating with them. This time when the door opened, it was that Heisuke boy.

"It's time to eat," he said coldly, placing the food down.

"If you would all let me out you could be rid of me faster," I commented. He looked at me and seemed surprised. I didn't blame him since I had made a habit of not speaking to anyone.

"It's not quite that simple," he replied. I sighed and grabbed the food, sitting cross-legged on my bed with it in front of me.

"If it's not simple to let me go, then just kill me. I have no desire to be trapped in a mansion with men who want me dead anyway," I said taking a bite out of some bread.

"What are you going on about?" I looked up and saw Okita standing next to Heisuke. "Killing you would be a waste. If you have a problem here, then maybe you shouldn't threaten the people here." I rolled my eyes in annoyance.

"She told me she was here for the same reasons I was. I thought she could fight. It didn't occur to me that she was weak," I spat back. "Furthermore, I never intended on hurting anyone. I allowed her to stand when she fell. I gave her time to draw her blade. In a real battle the enemy will not be so kind."

"You want to fight? You got it," Heisuke said as he drew his blade. I stood up quickly only to realize that was a bad idea. The room spun around me and I began to stumble. Okita quickly came to my side and caught me as I fell.

"Maybe this isn't the time for that Heisuke. Go eat, I'll be there shortly," Okita said. Heisuke snorted and sheathed his blade as he walked out, closing the door behind him. "Now what is this all about?"

"I haven't slept since I got here. I believe it's catching up to me," I admitted bitterly. Perhaps I was weaker than I thought.

"Why on earth would you not sleep?" he asked incredulous.

"Sleeping creates an opening. That is what my father has taught me," I replied, my vision beginning to blur. The tired feeling I had been suppressing has begun hitting me with its full force. Okita sighed as he laid me on the bed.

"You're not around people that are going to cause you harm, you can rest," he said softly, pulling the blanket up. I looked at him and his expression seemed to soften. "You know, you're not nearly as frightening as you seem to want to be. As you are now, I couldn't kill you if I wanted to." He stood up and walked out, closing the door gently behind him. That was all I saw before I drifted off to sleep.

A/N: Sorry for the late update, I was on vacation.