HAKUOKI: AN UNEXPECTED ADVENTURE
I do not own Hakuoki no matter how much I want to. That honor goes to Idea Factory and any other companies involved in the franchise. I just own Aryssa (whatever she is I haven't figured out yet but she definitely isn't human.) Please review if you can I would greatly appreciate it.
CHAPTER 9
Waking up the next day I feel much better and get ready to face the day. Once I am dressed and I pull my hair into my usual high ponytail and slide the door to my room open only to come face-to-face with Yamazaki
"Are you here to check up on my arm a final time?" I ask him
"Yes I am, and Yukimura also wanted me to find out if you are recovered after what happened last night."
"I told her I would be fine." I tell him, "I've dealt with that issue before so it was nothing new to me I just simply needed to sleep it off. As for my arm I can barely see a mark so it should be fine in a matter of hours." I tell him holding out my arm to show him what I mean.
"Yes, I agree with that assumption." He says glancing at my proffered arm, "If you get dizzy again let someone know so we can get you some medicine." With that he offers me a bow and quickly walks away
"Thank you," I say to his retreating back and then sit down just inside the entrance to my room, closing my eyes with a sigh, "No matter where I am I just feel like such an outsider sometimes." I mutter to myself but I am not surprised when I hear a response.
"What do you mean by that?" I hear Heisuke ask and I open my eyes to see him a few steps in front of me.
"Just thinking out loud," I tell him
"I won't let you get off that easy you know." He says crossing his arms in front of him, "Now explain,"
"Fine," I tell him "I feel that way because back home everyone seems to be afraid of me for some reason except for my mother and Great Grandmother and even here only a few of you guys seem to like me and watching the way you guys interact with each other I still feel like an outsider despite the fact that I may be joining the Shinsengumi later today."
"Just give everyone a chance to get used to you being here." I hear Chizuru say as she walks into sight as well. "They treated me the same way when I first got here as well."
"Do you really think that?" I ask,
"Of course I do." She says handing me yet another tray of food
"By the way, do either one of you guys know when I am being tested?" I ask, "All I know is that Hijikata and Okita are making me spar with Saito at some point today." They both shake their heads no and then Okita shows up with the answer.
"You have about three hours," He says "and then I am taking you to the dojo on the other side of headquarters."
"That was perfect timing Okita," I say, "I was just asking if these two knew anything about that."
"If you have been leading me on about your fighting skills, I'll kill you." Is the reply I get
"You don't need to worry about that." I tell him before thanking Chizuru for the food and starting to eat. Deep in thought I finish my food and realizing that everyone had left at some point I placed the dirty tray and dishes outside and to the side of my door and start my warm-up routine to kill some time. Just as I finish up Okita returns to escort me to the dojo and grabbing my practice sword quickly I follow him.
Entering the dojo behind him I look around the large room and see everyone gathered to observe the match.
"So how are we going to do this?" I ask and I am handed a sword in a sheath by Okita, "Um, why are you handing me a real sword for a sparring match?" I ask
"Most of our matches are fought with real swords," he says then forces my hand closed around the sheath.
"But I've never used an actual sword before." What happens if one of us is injured on accident?
"I doubt you could land a blow on Saito if you tried and we figured if you manage to cut yourself it should be fine since you will heal in a few days anyway."
"Fine," I say, resigned to a legitimate sword match and replace my practice sword with the real one, surprised with how natural it feels on my hip despite the heavier weight. After practicing a sword draw a few times to get a feel for it I look towards Saito and he bows.
"Attack me whenever you are ready." He tells me without making a move for his own katana. Without a sound I attack unsheathing my sword on the fly and as I hit him I hear a resounding crash as our weapons collide. Time vanishes as we silently separate and continue our match. After a time we suddenly freeze as I find the flat edge of Saito's blade pressed against my throat.
"I yield," I say and taking several steps backwards I return my borrowed sword to its sheath. After a time Saito nods and does the same turning towards Hijikata
"She passes." He says and retreats across the room
"I am glad Aryssa is on our side." Heisuke says after a few minutes of silence and glancing at Okita I see a rare look of shock on his face.
"Told you that you didn't need to worry didn't I Okita?" I ask drawing him out of his reverie.
"Dam, you are almost as good as Saito and I skill and speed wise." He says with a laugh his trademark smirk back in place.