Another day in the training grounds of the Imperial Army, another day spent watching conscripts learning to be soldiers, and of course, another day spent with Miryu dutifully haunting his steps. Ever since the audience with the Emperor, she seemed all the more cheerful and jovial, but he could see the confusion in her eyes, the sad glimmer of sapphire that she tried so hard to hide from him with that enchanting mask that was her smile… What had caused this in her, he still could not decipher, but he trusted time would reveal it to him, when it deemed it right. For now, he was content that she was still speaking to him, and that they were still in the training grounds, and not facing the samurai right now.

As of now, he was walking the grounds with Miryu, Gant, Graham, Hasegawa and Gant's interpreter in tow (a young and pleasant Non-Comissioned Officer), overseeing the many regiments as they trained. "Ask Hasegawa what kind of man this Katsumoto is," he told Graham, who immediately translated the question. Ah, if only he knew more, Miryu thought to herself as General Hasegawa elaborated on Katsumoto's background. The rebel leader was the Emperor's teacher, a man great among the ranks of the Ishin-Ishishi, that was all common knowledge, but few knew that even in the early months of the Bakamatsu, her relationship with Katsumoto was one alike that of Kenshin and Katsura Kogoro's. In fact, he was the one who opened the door for her when she knocked on the Ohagi Inn's doors, asking for a boy her age known to her only as "Kenshin"… He was the one who told Katsura Kogoro of the obvious similarities in skill and strength she had with Kenshin, and convinced him to recruit her as a hitokiri as well… and to think that the man who showed her so much kindness would rise against the Emperor in another rebellion…

When Graham had translated Hasegawa's answer, Algren was astonished to know that Katsumoto was the Emperor's teacher and most trusted advisor… So why would he cause so much havoc? What good could be gained in all of it? "You must understand," Graham said to Algren with a cautious voice. He knew very well who were samurai and who were not in that very time and place, and it was a subject not to be taken lightly. "For centuries it was the samurai who guarded Japan and fought her wars, and with the creation of a modern army of conscripts, well, some accepted the change, some accepted money, and some couldn't bring themselves to do it, thus the rebellion."

"The samurai are proud in their ways, Captain," Miryu said, remembering now that he did not really understand her when she told him that she was a daughter of two great clans, which meant that he still did not know that she was as much a samurai as Katsumoto was. She was proud of her heritage, but she also knew that in this time and age, it would be highly dangerous to proclaim one's linage, particularly if one came from a samurai background. "They would not give up that easily…"

Algren nodded, and thanked her for her explanation. Still, there were many questions floating in his head. "Who supplies his weapons?" he asked once again, knowing that no one would be foolish enough to fight without the use of modern weaponry. It would be more than folly, it would be suicide. He knew from Miryu's tales that even nine years ago, guns shipped from all around the world were used by both sides of the Bakamatsu, so Katsumoto must have had some shipments of some sort of artillery…

However, Hasegawa's answer astounded him. "Katsumoto no longer dishonors himself by touching firearms," Graham translated. To those who honored the old ways, Katsumoto still remained a hero. A highly influential and charismatic leader, he relied on the old wisdoms of his ancestors to turn the tides of war, as they had always done. Granted, his distaste for firearms was already deeply planted since before he began to lead the Ishin-Ishishi. "He used them once, but he felt that it diminished the way of Bushido, the Way of the Warrior. It's very serious stuff, a code of behavior of sorts." And when asked by Algren once again, this time, whether how well does Hasegawa knows Katsumoto, he said, "Katsumoto and Hasegawa fought for the Emperor together with Miryu."

This time, his ocean-colored gaze fell both on Hasegawa and Miryu. Why would they fight with the Emperor with rebel savages? It could be that he did not have a good enough understanding about the samurai, but he still could not believe his own ears. "You fought with the samurai?" he asked Miryu, his voice filled with slight confusion and disbelief. Hasegawa gave her a knowing smirk, which she returned duly.

"We are samurai," she said. Her answer was short, concise and straight to the point, the perfect answer to drive the truth into the American's head. Even in her childhood as an orphan under Hiko Seijurou XIII's wing, she was still raised as a samurai, to stand tall, to respect and be respected, to value peace and life, and more importantly, honor. Bushido had been a natural thing to her, just as natural as how birds take flight, and how fish frolic in the seas. Algren regarded them for a moment, and pondered.

How was it possible, that Tsubasa Miryu, who was so sophisticated, well-bred and learnt a woman, could be a samurai? And Hasegawa, this man demanded respect with the slightest fatherly nod he gives the troops… How was it that they were samurai, Algren asked himself. Perhaps there was more to learn about the enemies he was training the Imperial Army to face. There was definitely something that he did not know until now. He needed to learn their ways, how they fought and he needed to know it quick. In his mind, it was either that, or total defeat…

HAN: Hey, people! I have just realized something, a mistake that I have made that I deem to be quite serious. I have downloaded a version of a script of Last Samurai, which I have used as reference to the movie lines, and the movie itself differs a little bit from the script. So for the sake of continuity, I will continue using this script, and I will do my best to make sure I stay as closely to the movie as possible. And can anyone suggest a good moment for Kenshin to have either a small role or a cameo??

Thanks for reading!!