Chapter 12
"Draw your sword, Suzu of Choushuu!" Ryuunosuke said angrily. Suzu grin and got up, "I'm not going to be the one to fight you. Hikagami will." Hikagami step out from the dark corner. He stood behind Suzu with his large spear. Ryuunosuke hiss in silence, "I won't forgive you for what you've done."
Suzu titled his head, "Judging by the way you said things and actions, I say you already knew who kill your wife and mother."
"It was unnecessary for them to died," Ryuunosuke said quietly, "My wife and mother had nothing to do with what I was before. They were only bystander."
"That may be so, but even they are needed as sacrifice for my plan."
"What plan?" he raise an eyebrow. Suzu grin, "My plan for Tetsu."
In a blink of an eye, Hikagami lunge at Ryuunosuke. He dodge and slash back against Hikagami. Suzu sat back down on the arm chair and grin, amused by the show before him. Ryuunosuke jump up into the air and went straight for Hikagami's head. He block with the spear and sent him flying onto the wall. Ryuunosuke got up and clench Silver Fang tighter… I've should have known… that fighting after all these years would be a pain… this Hikagami person reminds me of someone I know… but who… in a flash, he jump off the ground strike Hikagami…
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Tetsu walk down stairs to the flower shop. Today, Kondou-san decided to close shop early for their arrival. He walk up to the window and stare out into the open shop… I can't really go back to those days, can I? a drop of tears slide down his face. Okita-san came out of a back room in the shop with a cardboard box. He notice Tetsu and set the box down. He strode to Tetsu's side, "Tetsu-kun?"
He wipe away his tears and turn to Okita-san, "Sorry Okita-san, do you want something?" Okita-san gave a big grin, "I want you to tried on something. Come over here for a bit." Tetsu follow him to the box. "What's this?" he asked. Okita-san ope it up. Inside was a practice suit used for sword training or kendo if you prefer.
"Remember what Ryuunosuke said about your training?" Okita-san asked. Tetsu nodded. He continue, "Well, your father put you in my care for your training, so I will specially teach you the basic of swordsmanship and other things"
"Why do I need to learn swordsmanship?" Tetsu asked, a bit quiet.
"Well," Okita-san thought of another reason, "it's for self protection. You never know when you're going to need to protect yourself right?"
"Right," Tetsu nodded.
"Well then, let's put it n and see if it fits. If it doesn't we'll make some adjustment to it." Okita-san said. Tetsu smile a bit and put on the suit. "Wait!" Okita-san stop him after he realize something, "I think you should put on a lighter outfit before you put on the suit. Your clothes right now would only drag you down. Tetsu look at his clothes, "You're right. I'll be right back."
He ran upstairs and got out of his clothes. He put on a white t-shirt and a short. He walk back downstairs and into the flower shop. "Okita-san?" he called.
"In here!" He heard a voice from another door in the back room. "Okita-san?" he asked as he open the door. He gasp in surprised and amusement when he saw a big training dojo in the shop. Okita-san was wearing a kimono that used in training back in the Meiji Era. He was tying his hair and notice Tetsu entering, "Oh Tetsu-kun. Come here." Tetsu walk up to him. He look at his outfit, "Are you going to teach me wearing that?" Okita-san look at his outfit, "Yeah, and you're going to have to waer one as well."
He handed Tetsu an outfit similar to his. Tetsu willingly took it and started putting it on. It felt like th old day back in the head quarter… he smile and tied the slash together. Okita-san help him put on the training suit and the helmet. He handed him a bamboo sword. Tetsu took hold of it and look at Okita-san. They bow and \stood in a position that feel comfortable to them. "Ready Tetsu-kun?" Okita-san asked. Tetsu nod. In a flash, Okita-san was gone from view. Tetsu blink… he's gone… huh? Tetsu lay flat on the dojo floor with a throbbing pain on his side. Okita-san stood next to him pointing the bamboo sword at his throat, "Lesson 1, don't ever let down your guards, or you'll be sorry." Tetsu gulp in fright. He wasn't afraid of Okita-san, or his eyes, he was more afraid of losing. The look in Okita-san's eyes was a look he was familiar with in his past life.
Okita-san smile and reach out a hand, "Need help?" Tetsu grin and took the hand. Okita-san help him up. "This is your first time so it's only normal to let your guard down, but remember it next time," Okita-san pointed it out.
"Okita-san? I thought this was a flower shop only, so why did you had a dojo here?" Tetsu asked. Okita-san look around the wall and the dojo, "We used this dojo to practice swordsmanship when we had free time. Your father, Ryuunosuke, also train in this very dojo as well."
Tetsu look at him and turn to the dojo sign on the wall. True strength doesn't come from the skills you learn, but rather from your determination… he read it to himself. Next to the sign was a few names written on wooden tablets. He could make out his father's name, Ichimura Ryuunosuke, in black dark ink. He grin happily and turn to Okita-san, "Okita-san, can we practice once more?" Okita-san grin with a sigh, "Sure!"
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Ryuunosuke slam onto the floor with a loud thud. Blood pour out of his open wounds on his left side. He look at the man that stood a few inches away. "You… ~cough~," he spat out blood, "I remember you now… ~cough~ you're Hikagami Shiro… the one who abandon the dojo thirteen years ago."
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"Hikagami Shiro? Who's he?" Tetsu asked as he look at the name beside the dojo sign after their little training. Okita-san look up at him from his sitting position. He patted a spot beside him that Tetsu willingly take. He began, "I don't know much about him, but I have heard about him from Kondou-san and Hijikata-san. Hikagami Shiro was a student of this dojo during your father's time. Shiro-san was great friends to both Kondou-san and Hijikata-san. In fact, they built this dojo together. But one day, Shiro-san left and hadn't return since. As to the reason, I don't know, neither do Kondou-san and Hijikata-san. Even now, sometime I would think they're waiting for his return."
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Hikagami narrow his eyes and kneel down beside him. He pull Ryuunosuke up by his shirt until his mouth was a few inches away from his ear. "The reason why I left, is because I _." he whisper into his ears. Ryuunosuke's eyes widen and SLASH… he lay on the marble floor with blood coming out of the hole in his chest.