The next morning Haru jumped as she felt someone shake her awake, she bolted upright immediately and pressed herself against the wall to get in a defensive position, Heisuke jumped back as well from being caught off guard and then laughed from the surprise, "Wow I didn't expect you to react like that!" He exclaimed cheekily.
Haru her heart sill racing but recovered from her sudden fright looked to Heisuke, "I didn't expect someone to just up and grab me while I was asleep!" she exclaimed back at him trying to be playful but really to express her anger at him startling her like that. Her face fell, "I guess everything that happened wasn't a dream after all, I'm really stuck her aren't I?" she mumbled to herself somewhat heat broken at the prospect of being trapped in a different world then her family.
Heisuke sighed and scratched the back of his head, he could understand why she was so upset. After all if he had found himself suddenly lost in a strange place surrounded by strange people with no explanation as to why he'd feel upset as well, "I guess you are, but hey I'll help you out if I can. I mean you still want to join us right?"
Haru nodded, her spirits raised as she remembered how Heisuke had volunteered to speak on her behalf, "I sure do, and thank you again for helping me-really Toudou-sempai." She said with a smile on her face, she was extremely excited and sad at the same time-bittersweet was the word she realised she felt, "Really you don't understand how much this means-I'll pay you back ten times over for what you've done for me!" she insisted.
He laughed and shrugged it off, "I wish half of our recruits showed the same enthusiasm that you do." He remarked, he scratched the back of his head, "So I think I'll think of some way we can be connected-I can' say we know each other but perhaps if I mention you know a family member of mine or something…" he trailed off, Haru regarded him curiously now because she knew there was some debate about Heisuke's family and parentage in history books but deciding not to say anything about it. He then looked her up and down and frowned.
Haru glanced down at the borrowed clothes that didn't fit her very well, "I suppose I look quite silly in this they don't fit all that well." She remarked glancing up at Heisuke and sharing a laugh with him, she was surprised at how warm and welcoming he was with her. She thought for sure he would react hostile or coldly to her since she couldn't be trusted as a stranger.
Harada gave an awkward cough having decided he'd been sitting off to the side silent for far too long, "I agree, those clothes don't suit or fit you at all-in fact it raises suspicions and gathers too much attention." He glanced Haru up and down, "You're about the same size as Heisuke, I'd say."
Shinpachi nodded in agreement, "I'd say that too-Heisuke you have anything that she could use. You have some old clothes still right, you just got that new outfit." He stated. Heisuke perked up and glanced down, he'd gotten changed along with Harada and Shinpachi after confirming that Haru was out cold. His clothes were still new.
"I've got some old things you could have-I mean if you don't mind them being a bit worn and old." He confirmed for Shinpachi and turned around rummaging through his things to find what he needed.
Haru smiled cheerfully, "I don't mind at all! Thank you! Thank you everyone so much!" she exclaimed. Heisuke rummaged around some more before finding the old outfit, it's a good thing I didn't throw this away last week like I was planning to he remarked to himself holding up the trousers and inspecting them. He folded the articles up and handed them over to Haru.
Harada gave a cough, "So I suppose we'll give you some privacy then."
Haru nodded her head, "That'd be great thank you," she said and waited for the three males to step out into the hall. With new found privacy she pulled of the night clothes she had burrowed and folded them leaving them neatly on her burrowed futon. She spent a few seconds examining the new bundle of clothes making sure she had the right idea of how to put them on. She slipped into the clothes easily enough and found them to be a near perfect fit, a bit loose on the shoulders and a bit tight on the hips but otherwise good.
Haru glanced down never thought I'd be thankful for having the flattest chest on the planet but here I am she remarked and tried twisting around to examine herself hoping she didn't look like a girl. Haru slid the door to Heisuke's room open and stood in the door way feeling very awkward, she glanced down observing the outfit she was in. She frowned, I hope I put this on correctly and that I don't look like an idiot in it, unconsciously raising her arms examining the clothes. Compared to the clothes she'd seen Heisuke wearing these were less flashy and more like what she'd seen from history text books.
"Wow, I never expected Heisuke's clothes to fit so well." Shinpachi remarked as he glanced the foreigner up and down, it's a good thing she has a boyish figure, "Yep it won't be hard to convince others you're a boy... though the fact you're not a foreigner may be a little harder. Where are you from exactly again?" he said, it wouldn't be hard to convince people she was a boy with how she behaved and spoke, she was really confident and powerful in the way she carried herself. Her face was somewhat feminine but that could be played off as her being young.
Haru meanwhile was happy to answer "Oh well my mother's side of the family they're all Japanese, my dad's side is a little bit of everything but there's a lot of Portuguese in there but he was from America." Haru explained to him.
Shinpachi nodded his head, Spanish and Portuguese would help explain her slightly darker olive toned complexion, "Hmm… well we'll try to emphasize that you are partly Japanese. In fact if we're lucky we might be able to convince people you're fully Japanese. But we're going to have to change your last name." He looked to Haru expectantly and she made a face of confusion back at him. They stared at one another for a long moment in absolute silence.
Shinpachi looked deep in thought, "Any ideas?" he blurted out having drawn a blank.
Haru's eyes rolled up towards the ceiling as she tried to come up with ideas, many came to mind but she knew none of them would work, so she shrugged her shoulders, "Any names I can come up with are based off of characters from books I like, which means I'd react but not as if it were my own name but instead like I was expecting to see them." She responded to him trying to be as honest as possible, Haru had found that whenever she found herself in an uncomfortable or unfamiliar situation being completely honest was always better than feigning everything was alright.
"What about Yoshino?" Heisuke piped in, "It sounds plain right? I'll just say she's a friend of a distant cousin who was just desperate to join and came all the way here." Heisuke shrugged, "Maybe she trained somewhere with them too."
Haru's eyes widened, "You'd really do that for me?" She asked excitedly honored that someone like Heisuke would vouch for her and furthermore lie for her sake as well.
He shrugged, "Well you seem like a good enough kid." He noted the unimpressed look on Haru's face at being called 'kid' and it made him snicker because he was certain he'd react the same way, "How old are you?" he asked her for curiosity's sake it'd been a long time since he'd interacted with someone his age other than Souji.
"Sixteen, I'm in my second last year of high school," She responded and watched Shinpachi and Harada share a look with one another, she was close in age to Heisuke-and they were intrigued as to what high school was too but decided that would be for a later time. She wanted to ask about the reaction but decided to refrain from doing so, "But really thank you so much for giving me this opportunity I swear that I won't let you down. This literally something I could have only imagined in my dreams ever happening!" she insisted to him gratefully.
He smiled, I don't think I've ever seen someone so excited and grateful for something, I feel like I've done something really great here he thought to himself, "Alright let's take you to see Kondou-san and Hijikita-san." He chirped jumping up to his feet, "Just follow behind me and do what I say."
"Here we'll go first just to explain the situation, hopefully Souji hasn't said anything, and Heisuke you can fill in the details once you arrive." Harada volunteered taking Shinpachi with him.
Heisuke nodded his head, "Sure no problem." He agreed grinning, the two older men quickly walked down the hall ahead of the two young members of the party leaving them behind.
Heisuke and Haru stood awkwardly for a long moment, "So… um…" Haru started trying to break the silent tension, "Thank you again Toudou-san for everything you're doing for me… I mean you barley know me, and I'm a girl so I mean you're really going out of your way for me!"
Heisuke slammed a hand over her mouth, "Shush somebody might hear… from here on out your Yoshino Haru a friend of a distant cousin of mine who's a boy." He hissed at her, and she nodded her head trying to speak through his hand that she understood but what came out was muffled garble. "C'mon let's get going." Heisuke insisted starting off down the hall.
Haru quickly trotted after him, he paused in front of a door and she stopped behind him, "Wait here for a moment, I'll tell you when you can come in." he said, "It'll only be a few moments." He said and Haru nodded her head, a serious expression on her face. He opened the door and slipped in leaving her to wait patiently in the hall for him.
Heisuke bowed politely as he entered and glanced up at his superiors, a grin broke out on his face, "So what'd Shinpachi and Harada tell ya?" he asked with a grin on his face.
Kondou beamed, "Well they explained a friend of yours has come all the way here interested in training-" he started before Hijikata interrupted him.
The vice commander had been sitting quietly with his arms crossed, "Heisuke we have designated times for applicants, we just accepted a group of new members not too long ago. Tell this friend of yours to wait until the next time we're accepting applicants." Hijikata said impatiently, they had to uphold rules, it wouldn't look good if they as the captains and commanders broke the rules they set forth; there was also the matter of not upsetting the other commanders, in particular Serizawa.
Kondou frowned, "Hijikata I understand where you are coming from but also we still need more men, I see no problem in at least greeting this young man who has traveled extremely far to get here." He boomed with laughter, "It's amazing that someone has traveled all the way here to join us. Please bring him in and let us see him." He insisted he was beaming on the inside that someone as young as Heisuke was so interested in them that they had traveled all this way to apply. Hijikata sighed but nodded towards Heisuke knowing Kondou had a point they really couldn't afford to turn away applicants right now, he'll sort out how to explain this late applicant later-that is if he even accepts the applicant.
"I'll get him." Heisuke stated jumping up to go to the door and get Haru, he slid open the door and found her patiently waiting for him. If he hadn't met her last night he wouldn't have known right now that she was a girl from her appearance. She glanced up at him with her short brown hair, that was in messy tufts from her bed head, her large eyes stared up at him inquisitively her expression slightly anxious.
He smiled down at her excitedly, "They want to see you in here." He chirped and watched her face light up brilliantly with an enormous grin, her eyes shining with eagerness.
"Thank you." She whispered to him gratefully as she got to her feet, she slipped into the room after him and found herself being seated in front of two men, one with a stern face and arms crossed I assume that's Hijikata-san Haru thought to herself, her assumption was based off of how the two were often portrayed in books and shows, Hijikata was typically portrayed as the cooler headed one that often made the tough decisions, and sometimes was extremely mean. Her gaze swept over to the much happier and welcoming man and this must be Kondou-san.
The one she assumed to be Kondou spoke first, "Heisuke has said you are an old acquaintance of his and are very interested in joining us." He spoke with his deep voice, a smile still on his face. Haru instantly liked him, he was charismatic and seemed fatherly and kind. She was even happier with her decision to join the Shinsengumi if this was who she was going to be serving under.
She then realised that she had to answer him and quickly stuttered out her response, "Y-yes that is true. I know a cousin of his who told me he was here so I set off interested in joining." Haru stated trying to remember the lie that they had come up with while not sounding like she was lying.
Kondou nodded his head, "I see, we don't have very many young boys interested in joining us. And it's very difficult for us to accept members as young as you are-many aren't ready for the responsibility or don't have the strength and skill they need not only to carry out their duties but to also stay out of harm's way." He explained to the young man before him whose eyes were shinning with youthful ambition, it was clear to see that Heisuke's friend was very determined to join. He didn't want to deter him or turn him away, but if he wasn't ready for this path Kondou was not about to take responsibility for that because this was no man it was just a boy before him.
The boy nodded, the smile from his face gone and a serious expression on his face, his eyes hardened the youthfulness in them was gone but the ambition remained, "I understand sir."
Kondou nodded, "It's not to say that we aren't happy in your interest in joining us, we just have to be sure that you are ready." He added hoping it clarified what he meant, "From what I've heard your familiar with Todou and one of his cousins, have you trained in the same style of swordsmanship?"
Kondou watched the boy frown and his head dropped, but his hands in his lap curled into tight fists, "I will be completely honest, no I didn't train with them. I trained under a different instructor and only for a few short years in the art of the sword." All of Haru's hope drained out of her, she could feel Hijikata glare at her no doubt thinking Haru was a waste of time
"Could you by any chance tell me your name?" Kondou asked the boy in front of him, raising a hand at Hijikata to silence him before he chased the boy away by scolding him, "And I'd like to be able to see your face again as well." He knew that Heisuke wouldn't be foolish enough to invite someone who wasn't properly trained to join their ranks.
Haru glanced up at him, "Yes of course sir, sorry sir. My name is Yoshino-Yoshino Haruka." She gushed out realising that since neither Kondou nor Hijikata have told her to leave that she still had a chance, they were still willing to hear her out, "I-I'd be really honoured if you would allow me to join, tremendously so. Please I know I'm young but I'm not inexperienced in combat. And I admit I'm underqualified when it comes to sword wielding but I have a great amount of skill when it comes to hand to hand combat and I know how to use many wooden weapons. I promise you I have no end or limit to my loyalty or willingness to serve you." Haru pleaded with Hijikata knowing she had to win him over. Koundo may be the formal leader but from all the readings she'd done and even looking at the man before her she knew he was a charismatic man with goodness in his heart but that the tough decisions were left up to Hijikata who'd so far been silent and brooding.
"Look I don't even have to be one of your fighters, I can do anything you ask of me. I can cook, or clean, I can be a messenger boy." She continued. "I'll do my utmost to fulfill every single order, I swear." She hesitantly cast a glance up at the stern face man-Koundo looked like he had been won over and was beaming happily down upon her.
Hijikata however, looked skeptical, "I'm not quite sure I can take your word." He knew Kondou would be easily won over he probably was the second the boy opened his mouth, not to mention the fact that the boy was in a way like them when they were younger. But he also knew that he had to be reasonable, they couldn't just take anyone in and they barely knew anything about this boy-and taking on someone inexperienced was not just dangerous for them but everyone around them. A silence ensued and Haru's head dropped with disappointment, her chest tightening as her stomach fell, I guess this is it… it was a long shot anyways I mean really what would they want with me. At least I'll know that I tried she thought to herself trying to remain positive.
"What if Haru-kun was to demonstrate his skills?" Souji proposed breaking the silence, great idea Okita-sempai! Haru subconsciously exclaimed happily, though as she glanced at Souji from the corner of her eyes gratefully. Though it appeared he proposed it merely to see her get embarrassed or possibly hurt, judging from last night I'd expect no less, actually I'm surprised he's playing along with this. Her gaze flickered back to the front of the room, Hijikata still looked skeptical but slowly nodded his head.
"I'll give him one chance to prove himself." He relented and sighed his arms still crossed before him, he then glanced over to Heiskuke, "Toudou, this one is your responsibility since he was sent here by a cousin of yours." He stated looking up to meet the eyes of his youngest Captain.
"I understand, gez making me do all the hard work-" Heisuke started with his motor mouth but froze seeing how Hijikata's face darkened. He glanced over at Haru, "How about we demonstrate Haru's strong point with her-his hand to hand combat," Heisuke stated hoping that no one caught his blunder with rpomouns.
Heisuke glanced around, "I suppose here will be good enough if we make some space," he suggested, the captains soon moved to the sides of the room opening up the small room to leave a small ring for sparring. Heisuke and Haru stood side by side at the end of the ring, both of them wouldn't admit it but their hearts were racing madly in their chests and they were petrified of embarrassing themselves.
Heisuke smirked looking over at Haru, "I know you said you're good but don't be disappointed if you can't take me." He taunted trying to prep himself, "I'm not some American."
Haru nodded her head, sharing the smirk feeling pumped up and ready now herself "I already knew that I would have to give everything in this-I won't relent I never will." She assured him, she entered the makeshift ring that had the main members of the Shinsengumi gathered around. She glanced around at some of them familiar faces from the night and tried not to look at the new faces from this morning. She turned and faced Toudou Heisuke and bowed, heart pounding I never thought that in my life something like this would ever happen, I mean I fantasized about it but I never thought it would actually happen.
Heisuke and Haru bowed to one another out of respect and when they straightened up they both raised their fists staring one another down. The circled the ring glaring one another down. Hesiuke moved first rushing in for a jab to the head, Haru twisted her head to the side firing out a punch for the gut but Heisuke's other arm got in the way. She didn't let that stop her and continued on with a combination her other hand launching out in a jab which Heisuke moved his head out of the way he didn't however expect the second jab from the same hand. Haru didn't put a lot of strength intoit but the strike nonetheless made Heisuke's eyes water and he had to back off and shake his head out to deal with the stinging pain.
He circled her more cautiously, Haru took the initiative and crossed her legs over and then shot out a side kick at Heisuke's head twisting quickly into a round house kick. Heisuke skirted back to the edge of the ring cornered and suddenly Haru was rushing him with another combination. She swung at him with a hook punch for his head he blocked but took a hard jab to the gut instead. He coughed out and she backed up he took advantage of her politeness and rushed at her sending out a flurry of punches he hit her once in the gut which prevented her from locking a punch to her eye. Haru kicked Hesiuke in the gut to get him away from her blinking out her eyes that took the hit.
Heisuke tried to rush Haru again and she kicked out at him forcing him back, he smirked and backed up rushing again and expected her kick he snatched her leg and used that to throw her backwards. Haru fell from the sudden off balancing but did a rolling back breakfall landing back up on her feet and threw a jab that caught Heisuke hard in the shoulder jamming his own jab. He threw a hook punch with his arm and Haru used that to throw Heisuke to the ground. Heisuke fell on his back hard and winded himself but swept Haru's feet out from under her.
Haru fell on top of Heisuke and he rolled over on top of her trying to put her in a hold but Haru moved faster kicking her legs up and wrapping her legs around Heisuke's throat and pulling him off of her. Not wanting to fight Heisuke on the ground his superior upper body strength would have given him the advantage Haru got up to her feet. Heisuke got up after her and grabbed her from behind attempting a chokehold. Haru fell back against him and he stumbled back off balanced and Haru elbowed back into him before tearing his hold off.
They broke apart panting and sweat covered glaring one another down, Heisuke tried a kick at Haru but she blocked his kick to the side and twisted him jabbing out for his face. He took the hit to grab her lapel and she grabbed his the two of them entering into a wrestling competition. Haru noticed suddenly as they grappled around that there was an opening, Heisuke had opened himself just the slightest fraction.
Haru slipped her foot in between his and quickly twisted her hips, "Sorry Senpai!" she cried as she threw Heisuke over her shoulder. She had thrown him harder then she had intended and he flew before slamming hard into the wood floors. Everyone stared surprised at how such a tiny person could throw someone so easily-sure she was taller than Heisuke but it still made her small. He had flown clear over her and sailed some distance before crashing to the floor. He landed hard and all the wind was knocked from his lungs leaving him breathless.
He lay stunned for a second before springing up to his feet glancing around confused, he turned and faced Haru who was staring at him looking frightened.
"I suppose that means that the kid has won." Souji stated smirking as he glanced over at Heisuke from the corner of his eye. Admitedly Souji was surprised that the girl had held her own, brushing off those hits to the head like nothing.
"Not yet, I didn't say I was done!" Heisuke stubbornly replied facing Haru, "I was just… I wanted him to feel better about himself." He tried to reason out to everyone, Shinpachi and Harada snickered under their breath as they watched the ongoing fight.
Heisuke rushed at the girl who stood her ground, just as he went to strike it was as if she had disappeared from in front of him. His eyes widened as he noticed her presence beside him, he hadn't even seen her move to dodge him. His feet were swept out from under him and he slammed back hard into the wood floors. His arm was suddenly grabbed and twisted and burning hot pain radiated up and down. He rolled from his back to his stomach trying to get as close to his arm as he could to help ease the pain.
Suddenly a knee was placed down onto his spine and he felt two legs close around his arm, he glanced up to see Haru effectively had put him in an arm bar with her legs her hands free and up to strike him. She looked down at him and immediately got off of him rather than taking advantage of her pin and beating him senseless. She backed away from him keeping her head titled down as if in submission and Heisuke knew she was afraid of embarrassing him or having gone too far. Wincing he clambered back up onto his feet.
"You're a lot better than I thought you'd be, but I bet you still can't beat me in a match with swords." He stated and glanced over eagerly at Hijikata, "Can I?" he asked excitedly, Hijikata sighed but nonetheless relented to the young Capitan's wishes nodding his head.
"One match." He stated and closed his eyes sighing again hearing Heisuke's eager feet pounding across the floor. The match was arranged quickly, Hijikata watched as the hesitant youth was given a wooden bokken. Admittedly he was interested, the youth was skilled and talented in hand to hand, if his sword skills were even half as good with proper training he might be one of their best swordsmen after the captains.
Toudou and Haru once again squared off now armed with wooden swords, "I'll warn you now you'll need a killing intent to keep up with me," Heisuke grinned as he narrowed his sights in on the girl. He'd never had to fight a girl before and to have such an unusually small opponent. Really it was a first for him to find someone his size-which was an unexpected difficulty having been used to opponents with greater range than him and more strength. Their previous match had given him a rough estimate of her weight, strength and speed which he knew would be advantageous but at the same time she'd gotten that information from him.
Haru nodded once, "I understand." She answered him, they stood their ground for a long moment shifting their grips and feet.
They're eyes locked and they stared at one another with a great intensity. Haru was for once the one to attack first, she had noted a shift in Heisuke's weight just the slightest shift in his feet an indication he was going to move and that gave her an opening. He seems to have a weak spot in his arm right… there! She mentally exclaimed as she slashed down at the spot. Her intuition and quick observations had been right, she knew immediately that she had found his weak spot. But unfortunately he seemed aware of it and quickly defended himself. His strike was jarring it knocked her bones. She ground her teeth together just because he's stronger doesn't mean I can't beat him she assured herself remember meet a strike at a perpendicular angle. She reminded herself. She made a quick retreat switching her grip on her sword and with a bellow thrust her sword forwards, like she had expected he blocked it easily but she used his redirection against him to create another slice. He blocked and tried to make it into a strength competition, Haru allowed herself to be pressed back before finding an opening slipping under his guard and running behind him but he twisted to quickly for her to get a strike in.
She's not remarkably strong, but then again she is a girl it'd be difficult to get the same upper body strength. But she has speed going for her He thought as he watched her twist to block her strike by stretching her arms across the front of her head the tip of the sword tipped down towards the ground. He cocked his head, "What are you doing?" he asked her.
"A move I saw once." In a television show Haru added mentally. Heisuke seeing an opening from the awkward position decided to exploit it rushing at her, striking and she narrowly dodged it before twisting out of her odd position and slashing out with her blade but the experienced swordsman blocked it just in time. However, Souji's attention was drawn at the odd technique, it was a pretty admirable attempt if it weren't one of the captains it probably even would have paid off.
Heisuke pressed down and Haru panicked as her grip on her sword faltered, it's an all or nothing strike she thought to herself realsing the difference in their strength she only had one chance left to win. She let Heisuke press down on her sword without any resistance. Their swords flew down to the ground and she recovered bringing hers up to strike when suddenly his sword slammed down on her wrists sending her sword arcing over her head useless. She blinked feeling dazed, I didn't even see the strike she thought to herself stunned staring down at her now empty hands.
"Are you alright?" Heisuke asked worriedly, she took the entire strike on her wrists he remarked also staring at her hands, he knew from experience that that would hurt terribly and would mostly result in a sprained if not broken wrist.
Haru was snapped out of her daze, "Yeah why wouldn't I be?" she asked him staring at him blankly, she honestly hadn't felt a thing she was just amazed at how the wooden sword was knocked out of her hand.
"Uh no reason." Heisuke replied, she's sturdier than she looks he thought to himself I probably even would have winced in pain he mentally admitted shocked that she was totally fine. He watched as she shook it of retrieving her sword from the ground.
Haru sighed as she stared down at the bokken in her hand, "That move worked a lot better when I saw it… maybe it's because I don't have a enough speed, the swordsman I saw also had a sheath and used it as well." She mumbled to herself as she remembered the episode of the anime she had been attempting to copy.
Heisuke heard what Haru had muttered and he laughed, "Wait that last technique you saw it once and tried to use it?" He asked her as he tried to stop laughing, even he wouldn't have been that fool hardy.
She nodded her head embarrassedly, "Well… I had to learn it sometime and you know a mock fight is a good time to practice new techniques." She squeaked, "Did I do something wrong?" she asked them. Heisuke continued to snicker but was broken off quickly by Koundo clearing his throat at the front of the room, the two had forgotten they had an audience. Everyone quickly turned to look at him, Heisuke quickly seated himself and Haru followed suit.
Kondou beamed down at the happy youth, he was honestly impressed in his skill-though the Shinsengumi were required to be excellent swordsman perhaps having an errand boy as skilled as this in hand to hand combat may not be a bad decision. Furthermore the determination and the flash in his eyes reminded him of a slightly younger Souji.
"I see no problems with you being an errand boy," He stated, noting the slight flash of disappoint across Haru's face at errand boy. But the boy quickly recovered and Koundo could see it wasn't just for a matter of being polite the boy was earnestly happy to just be of service. Kondou glanced at Hijikata from the corner of his eyes, the vice commander's eyes were closed a slight scowl on his features as he thought deeply. Hijikata's eyes opened and he glanced down at the small boy, there was something not quite right with him. Hijikata could sense it, perhaps it was just because he was inexperienced but he felt there was something else but he couldn't turn someone away over a bad feeling he needed justification.
Hijikata sighed, "I see no problem with it." He relented and saw a broad grin break out across the boy's face, the boy was clearly in need of some training to refine his sword wielding technique but was adequate enough not to be a significant handicap. Hijikata could see that the boy had natural talent but required someone to mold it, and Hijikata wasn't going to let that talent just slip by.
"You won't be disappointed Vice commander, sir." Haru assured him bowing deeply, such a polite youth Hijikata thought to himself, he thought that surely the boy would show some dislike or irritation towards him for his coldness and initial rejection.
Hijikata then turned his attention to Heisuke, "Toudou, since it was you who brought the boy in I'm leaving him as your responsibility." The vice commander ordered his captain.
"Understood sir." Heisuke willing replied with a nod, which was to Hijikata's surprise because it had come without any of Heisuke's smart quips and snide comments, Heisuke then glanced over at Haru, "Haru come with me." He ordered and the young boy straightened nodding to Heisuke and turning back to everyone bowing. He then quickly trotted after Heisuke.
"Whew, that went a lot better than I expected but don't feel too good I went easy on you." Heisuke remarked though honestly that was a bit of a lie, he had gone all out in the hand to hand match. Haru followed behind him at a respectful distance, he glanced over his shoulder at her, "Hurry up will you." He commented realsing what she was doing, Haru frowned quickening her pace to keep up with him, "Anyways, don't be surprised that I'm superior I am after all a captain." Heisuke continued and Haru struggled not to giggle at his attempt to cover an injured pride, "But I admit that you're a lot more skilled and stronger than I expected, where you come from is everyone educated in fighting?" he asked curiously.
Haru shook her head, "No unfortunately most people see martial arts as a sport where I come from and it's practiced recreationally. My instructors though are very serious and we remain as traditional as possible." She answered, "I try my best… though I feel as though I'm not very good. But my goal is just to make my Sensei and our dojo proud regardless of my placing in tournaments, and to keep the art alive."
He nodded his head, what a humble cause he thought to himself, "So are you really from the future?" he asked her glancing over at her from the corner of the eye. How would I even tell if she's lying about coming from the future-Do I even want to know about the future? Should I ask her what happens to me, or just leave it to fate? He wondered.
"I want to say yes, because well I'm from the twenty first century and I mean this is the eighteen hundreds. But I'm still not even sure where here is… is this really Japan from the past? What if this is like you know my afterlife… or an alternate dimension?" Haru rambled on blurting out all the possibilities that came to her mind.
"Alternate dimension?" Heisuke repeated unsure of what the term meant, "Ah never mind that, let me show you around the compound." He stated "so here's where we grow our food, and over there is the soldier's barracks. The well is over there, vegetable store house. The main gate is over here-" Heisuke stated as he pointed out significant landmarks until that is he noticed who was rounding the corner, "Oh Serizawa-sensei excuse me." Haru could tell from Heisuke's tone he was just being polite for politeness' sake rather than actually meaning it and being respectful. Haru restrained herself from glancing up at the much larger man knowing it could be considered disrespectful. She kept her head low and shoulders down, though she couldn't help her eyes glancing up to regard his stern face as he glared down at her.
"And this boy is who exactly?" Serizama boomed as he looked her up and down.
"Possibly a new page-though things haven't been decided." Heisuke answered, Haru knew he was lying because Serizawa would not be impressed if Kondou was making such decisions as accepting members without his permission. Just when I thought I had gotten in I face another barrier she thought to herself, Hijikata and Serizawa were never on very good terms that much I know… but in terms of Koundo's relationship I've read varying things.
"Page boy? He looks nothing more than a dog!" Serizawa exclaimed, "Look how scrawny he is, what good could he be?!" he remarked, "Oi boy do you have a name?" he asked.
"H-Haru sir." Haru answered as politely as she could manage
"Well at least he's got better manners than a dog, I won't be surprised if he dies within the week." Serizawa remarked, "Anyways I have to be going, I have things to do." He stated and pushed past the two, Haru quickly moving out of his way.
Heisuke sighed when Serizawa disappeared, "Man, I wish I could tell you to be disrespectful when he's around but it'd just get you into trouble. But when it's just us you can say whatever you feel like." He stated, "Anyways let's continue our tour… by the way do you have any idea what a page does because I don't?"