Alright this is my second chapter, and unhappily I've only had one review, but no biggy at least I got a review. For any and all readers, I welcome you, please enjoy my story.

Kojima Hiraru, or Sagara Hiraru, the only daughter of Kojima Shiro (A.k.a. Sagara Sozo) stepped into the alleyway, and leaned against the wall. She was still breathing heavily from her wild run from those thugs. Her head pounded and she had an extra bruise on her arm from where that rooster-headed man had grabbed her. Her chest felt tight from the bandage-like bindings she wore to make her look more like a young boy. At seventeen she made for a gangly, long-haired, tall thirteen-year-old. Her once overly long hair had been chopped so that it hung no lower and just below her collar bone, and was pulled back into the closest thing to a topknot. She was sure every man that had seen her today had thought she was a young boy, if not a dirty child, and would have paid her no mind.

Her head throbbed again, reminding her of the small wound. Unhappily she reached down and tore off another piece of cloth from her worn out pants. Using the water barrel next to her she cleaned off as much of the blood as she could and then used the now bloody piece of cloth to further stop the bleeding. She headed out again, taking a random direction.

I really need to get a map or learn this area, she thought as she moved with the crowd.

After several stops, at different shops, Hiraru found herself standing in front of the Oguro Clinic of Doctor Oguni. She walked in, removing her sandals and calling out, "Hello? Anybody here?"

"Yes, already. Stop yelling, there are other patients," A beautiful woman in her early twenties came walking down one of the hallways. Her long hair was restrained with a simple head cloth, and she wore a blue kimono and a purple smock. Her expression was that of a woman who spends too much time dealing with troublesome people; it oddly reminded Hiraru of a fox. "Now then," she crossed her arms, "what do you need?"

Hiraru gave the woman her best "I-goofed-up" smile, and replied, "I'm afraid I hurt myself." She removed the piece of cloth showing the small head wound off.

The woman gave an exasperated sigh, "It looks like you got into a fight." Hiraru just grinned, and the woman sighed again, "Alright, follow me, I'll treat you." With that she turned and walked off. Hiraru followed her barefooted to the examination room. Once there the woman berated her for not getting any slippers.

Hiraru only stared and stated, "I didn't know there were any spars . . . ."

The woman looked taken aback, then calmed before sitting down on a stool. She gestured to another, "Please sit, and I'll take a look at you wounds." Hiraru did as told, holding perfectly still as the stinging disinfectant was spread across every stiff bruise and burning cut. The woman was silent for many moments, until all the blood had been removed from Hiraru's face. "What would cause a young woman to receive wounds as though she had been in a fist fight?" The doctor woman asked.

Hiraru smiled weakly, her face stiff from the many bruises. "Some jerks were being rude to an old man and his granddaughter. I stepped in, turning their aggression on me, and when I refused to fight 'like a man' their leader thought I looked like a fun piece of ass. I kicked him in the face. I think that was about the time I got thrown through a store front."

The woman paled. "Did they know you were a woman?"

Hiraru grinned a little broader, "Nope, I'm pretty sure you're the first person to know me for what I am."

The woman snorted, "It's not hard for a doctor to tell a man from a woman this close."

Hiraru nodded dumbly. "May I know your name?"

"Takani Megumi," the woman said. "Stop smiling so I can put this bandage on your cheek."

Hiraru dropped her smile quickly but kept her eyes squinted. "I'm Hiraru."

Takani-san looked at her. "Hiraru what?"

"Hiraru…. Fudo Hiraru," she lied. Long ago Hiraru had learned how dangerous her real last name was.

"So," Takani-san continued, "Fudo Hiraru, why are you dressed like a man?"

Takani-san was taking care of Hiraru's head wound now, so Hiraru dared to smile again. "I learned a while ago, it's safer for a young man to travel the roads of Japan, then for a young woman to do so."

Takani-san snorted again. "Do you have money to pay for this visit?"

Hiraru patted herself hoping to hear where she'd stored her money; finally a jingle. She pulled out the last of her money. Takani-san took all but ten sen. A small part of Hiraru cried silently. "I guess I should try to find a job today." She looked in a mirror on one of the walls, "But with this face who's going to hire me? At least I look more like a guy . . . ." She looked at Takani-san; the female doctor was putting away her supplies. "You won't tell anyone I'm a woman . . . will you Takani-san?"

The female doctor turned to Hiraru. After several minutes of silent conversation between the two, Takani-san sighed, "I won't tell anyone, but I suggest you not keep it a secret."

Hiraru stood and bowed. "Thank you, Takani-san. I'll be on my way, now."

Takani-san turned back to the cabinet, "Feel free to come back any time, Fudo-san. You're a very good patient. You didn't even wince when I put that disinfectant on you." When she turned back Hiraru was gone. Silent as the wind, the only signs she'd been there was the bloody gaze, the torn piece of cloth, and the still warm stool where she'd been sitting.

Not much lift to say… I hope you enjoyed the story, please review…