Chapter 5
It was nearly three hours past dawn and Chizuru was almost at her limit. She had been knocked unconscious at least 4 times already and was bleeding from minor cuts all over her body. We decided to train away from the eyes of suspicious men and for that I was grateful. Just thinking of what the others would do if they found us like this grated on my nerves. Chizuru was skeptical about training with real swords, but my father never believed in training with firewood and I suppose I inherited that belief. She was standing before me breathing heavily, her stance fatigued as if her legs barely had the ability to support her weight. It was a sad sight to see, but her eyes held the intensity and fire of any warrior. If not for her eyes, I would not train her.
"We're stopping for today," I said sheathing my sword. Chizuru blinked and sheathed her own blade. "Go clean yourself up and come to my room. I will fix you up after the blood has been washed from your skin."
"Thank you Akita-sama," Chizuru said bowing slightly. She stumbled away and I shook my head. I had been going easy on her. She must have been the daughter of a noble. No real warrior would be affected so much by such small wounds. I walked to my room and sat on the floor, awaiting my meal. I couldn't say that I was beginning to enjoy this place, but it was nice to be given food instead of hunting and fishing for my own. I flinched at the thought. So many years of stealing food from others when I was very young just to be able to remain standing during training sessions with father.
When mealtime arrived I looked up to see Okita at my door. He wasn't holding anything and I was confused. Were they punishing me because they found out about Chizuru's wounds? Or were they finally allowing me to die, but making me suffer before hand?
"Come on, you're eating with us today," he said with a smile. I raised my eyebrow and stood up, following him to a room where everyone was already dining. They all looked so lively as they chatted and argued. All of them glanced over at me as I walked in, but only for a moment. I sat in front of a pallet next to Okita and Saito.
"So Chizuru, how did you hurt yourself?" Sano asked curiously. I showed no emotion on my face, not giving my involvement away.
"Oh, I fell this morning on some gravel. It was very clumsy of me," she replied. I looked at her and she smiled at me. I didn't smile back. Instead my eyes narrowed. She looked confused at the fierce expression and looked down, eating her food. She had a bandage on her left cheek. I had cut her right.
"You should be more careful," Hijikata said with a small smile. Chizuru looked up and smiled back.
"I will, thank you," she replied. I ate only a little. The atmosphere made me ill. Everyone was happy. Meals with my family were never a pleasant experience. My mother ate in a different section of the house while my father and I ate in the courtyard where we trained. I was forced to place all of my food that I had gathered on the ground and eat with my hands bound behind my back if the day's training wasn't going well. Many days he would not allow me to finish my meal. If he was done I was done. He picked up his sword and began training me again. I would have to get up with my hands bound and maneuver in such a way that he was forced to cut my bonds. The bonds would not come off unless I found a way out of them. Many days I had to sleep with them on. Of course, after mother died, my father preferred it that way.
"Excuse me," I said, forcing myself back to the present. I stood up and walked out without another word. I had to keep the past in the past. Allowing my mind to darker times would do nothing but bring back pain I did not want. I walked to the courtyard and sat on a rock, looking down at the pond. My brown hair was cut short and uneven with a sword. One of my eyes was blue while the other was a light brown. I was born with just blue eyes, but after a bad sparring match with my father he hit me in the eye. I couldn't see out of it for three months. Scars riddled my neck, but on scar ran from my ear to my jaw. I glanced at my wrists and saw the scars the bonds had left.
"I would have thought you wanted to have some company while you ate," Okita said standing a few feet behind me with his hands in his sleeves.
"I prefer to dine alone," I replied coldly. He walked over and put his hand on my shoulder. As a reflex I grabbed his wrist and yanked him to the ground. I let go of him as soon as I realized what happened and he stood, brushing himself off.
"You need to learn to relax," he said flatly. I shrugged slightly.
"And you need to learn not to touch people without permission," I snapped back.
"Fair enough. I'm heading off to patrol with Sano. Care to join us?" he asked. I sighed and stood up. He walked toward the front gate where Sano was waiting and the three of us walked into the city, myself behind the two of them.
A/N: Reviving the stories time! I would make this chapter longer, but I plan on fun stuff happening in the city and it would just be too long of a chapter.