Chapter 15

"Before I began our training today, I would like to introduce you to some people who would later as well take care of your training." Okita-san said.

Tetsu nodded. Okita-san turns to the door, "You guys can come in now!" as he said that, three men came in. Tetsu knew who they were instantly. Nagakura-san…the man who was the shortest of the three, and had a white bandage across his nose… Harada-san… the tallest of the three, and had sharp eyebrow… Toudou-san… the one with the right height, and tied his hair back like in the 1500. They stop in front of Tetsu and grin. Nagakura-san spoke first, "Hi! Tet-chan!" Harada-san next, "Aren't you too puny?" he earned himself a death glare. "You're sooooooo cute!" Toudou-san who love cute things said lovingly, which gives Tetsu goosebumps. Okita-san was watching Tetsu's reaction so he laughs along with them. Tetsu gave him a death glare also.

"Ok, enough introductions. Let's begin the lesson.' Okita-san interrupted their laughter. "Nagakura-san and the others will be watching us practice so they which level you're on. In the mean time, don't mind them, just focus and attack me like yesterday, got it?" he explained. Tetsu nodded with a serious look. "Let's begin," he said once everyone was by their station.

Okita-san was in his fighting stance and so is Tetsu. He closes his eyes and senses the energy around him. He was going to attack Okita-san, but he felt something different about him. He felt the wind around him and the one that are coming through the open window. He waits a bit and studies the wind pattern. Okita-san took this chance and attack. Tetsu could feel Okita-san approaching. He took a deep breath and slices the air around him, which send Okita-san flying a few feet back. Okita-san landed on his feet and was a bit surprised at this unexpected move. He was expecting Tetsu to use the Ghost Whisper but, he was completely blown away by this new move.

"Dragon Slice eh?" Nagakura-san said with a smirk.

"Didn't expect him to know about that move," Harada-san added.

"I thought it was pretty cool that he did that," Toudou-san said.

Tetsu grin and rush toward Okita-san who was laughing with surprised. "Ok, now attack me again with the same move." Okita-san ordered.

"Why?" he asked in confusion.

"That move you just did is not complete. The complete version will not only send me flying, but knock me out as well. Now give me your best," Okita-san explained.

Tetsu took a deep breath and close his eyes to gather the wind. He feels them swirling him this time. The wind was acting quite irregular. He took another breath when he felt it's the time to attack. He points the sword up and strikes it straight down causing the swirl wind to strike straight at Okita-san. Okita-san manages to dodge in the neck of time before he gets hit. The swirl wind dissipates instantly.

"Dragon Tornado too?" Nagakura-san asked in shocked.

"How did he manage two killer moves like that?" Harada-san asked.

Tetsu rush to Okita-san with an apologetic look on, "I'm sorry! I tried to do the same move, but somehow I just did that other move! I'm sorry again!" he apologized and gave a short bowed as well. Okita-san patted his head with a smile, "It's alright! Besides, that was actually quite fun for me! I haven't train like that in a long time."

"Really?" Tetsu asked in surprised of Okita-san cheerfulness. He had thought for sure that Okita-san would be angry for not doing what he was instructed to do. "How about we take a little break to refresh ourselves?" Okita-san suggested. He nodded in agreement, "Oh, I almost forgot, I need to make tea for Hijikata-san!"

"Um, I can do that for you. Susumu taught me how to make tea before, so I can take care of that for you?" Tetsu asked.

"Are you sure?" he asked. Tetsu nodded. "Ok then, thank you Tetsu-kun!" he replied happily. Tetsu walk out of the room and head into the kitchen. Okita-san turns back to Nagakura-san and the others when the door was close.

"Those move? Did you teach him those?" Nagakura-san asked.

"No, but I'm sure that Ryuunosuke hadn't either." Okita-san replied.

Toudou-san gave a sad smile, "Yeah, he wouldn't. He's not those types of people who would do such a thing."

Everyone look sadly at each other. They all knew that he wouldn't come back. "Have you told Tet-can the truth?" Nagakura-san asked. Okita-san shakes his head, "I can't bring myself to tell him the truth. But I bet Tetsu-kun himself already knew. That's why he didn't ask us when his father's coming back."

"I bet it would be even harder when he knew who killed his father," Nagakura-san stated sadly.

Tetsu mixed the ingredient together and gently swirl it all together. He pours it into a smaller tea cup like those in the 1500 and put it on a tray. He blushes slightly when his dream flashes back into his mind. He shook it off and walks upstairs to Hijikata-san's room. He knocks twice. "Come in," a voice on the other side replied. Tetsu open it and walk in nervously. Hijikata-san didn't bother to look up once even when he put the tea on the table. Tetsu quickly walk to the door. "Ichimura," a voice stops him. He froze in his spot, not being able to turn around. Hijikata-san tastes the tea and gave a smirk, "The first tea you made for me lurk warm, but that's good enough as my page."

Tetsu flush bright red. "What do you mean by page?" he asked after he regained composure and looks at Hijikata-san, who still writing down something. Hijikata-san turns his head a bit, "As long as you're here, you must work. And since Kondou-san put me in charge as well as manager, I said you work as my page and the store as well."

Tetsu frown as he turns back to his papers. Tetsu left the room quite annoyed, but he couldn't deny the happy feeling as well. This new life is starting to make him feel like he's really home.