Shinsengumi: Falling Blossoms

[Josiah]

"Meh, nevermind then." Sakria shrugged. "I can just do it later for free. You hear that?" she called loudly to make sure that their "shadow" could hear. "You're going to be in a lot of trouble if you follow me any longer! One stalker is enough!"

[Prancing Mad]

Bael waited for awhile after Kaoru had left the room, and then moved toward the Demon Vice Commander's room, walking in. He placed his right hand into his left palm, and bowed his head to him.

Hijikata opened his dark eyes and looked up at the person who had just entered his room. He raised an eyebrow questioningly, bringing his hand up to take the pipe from his mouth. The smoke cleared from his lungs during the next breath he released. "What is it?"

"I've come to talk to you about your attitude towards Kaoru-chan."

The fukuchou lowered the pipe, tapping the metal bowl on the ash collector to empty it. He then set it down and leaned back on his elbows. His eyes remained focused on the one in front of him. "If that's the case, I really don't want to hear it. But I'm sure you're not going to leave just like that. So start talking."

"You're too harsh on him. I wish you'd leave him alone about his business, because he means well by his actions. He was late today because he helped a young girl recover a lost pet, which I think is an honorable thing to do."

"It's all well and good that he helped a citizen of Kyoto. But you're not looking at the bigger picture. I will let up on him for being late to dinner tonight. However, what worries me is the fact that he went out into the public unarmed. What if he'd run into trouble out there?"

"He's trustworthy, and would find a way out of an trouble that would find him, I'm sure of it. Now, if you'll excuse me, Im going to go take a nap."

Hijikata growled in irritation, one of his eyes twitching. "Maybe you just don't care enough. Kaoru is a Captain for Kami's sake. He needs to learn to take better care of himself.", he paused, sighing. "Just leave. We're not going to agree."

"No. We won't" Bael said as he left, sliding the door closed. He sighed softly, holding his forehead, and moved toward his and Kaoru's room.

[Shans]

Yuji sighed "One-on-one, eh?" he looked over to his sister, "Maybe, we should stop before..... she kills someone..." He thought to himself. The other thing that had concerned him was what kind of "matches" Kaoru was talking about, if they had nothing o do with preventing your opponent from being able to attack then what was it, there's no other way.... "Wait..... it better not be a battle of wits or something" he thought, sweatdropping, "I suck at those things...." He again looked over at Shinta, "This kid doesn't look extraordinary or anything, but something about him bothers me."

Isumi knew the extent of her abilities and didn't really want to harm anyone, "I guess I'll just rely on my physical skills in this test..." she thought to herself.

[Isaac]

"It's all right, Shinta-kun. You don't have to do it if you don't want to. I can ask a different member to test the childrens' skills. Well, please pardon us. There is something that I must teach these two before any sort of fighting will take place.", Kaoru smiled, giving a partial bow to Shinta before continuing to walk slowly down the hallway away from the dining hall. He glanced back to make sure that both of the young ones were following him. It would be quite unpleasant if Yuji-kun decided to make another commotion.

The Taichou cleared his throat softly before speaking to the siblings again. "At any rate, it's unlikely that Kondou-Kyoukuchou will be able to watch your matches tonight. It's already fairly late in the evening and most of us Shinsengumi usually turn in early to get a good night's rest. So the least I can do is show you our laws before finding a room for you to sleep in. Come tomorrow morning, you will have made a choice on whether or not you truly want to join us.", he said with certainty. Kaoru stopped at a particular fusuma and slid it open, stepping inside of a dimly lit room. "Please, come in."

[Silver]

"For the last time, I am not a stalker," Honda asserted, though he was sure Sakria wasn't listening to him anyway. "And besides... it probably isn't smart to be shouting threats at the real stalker. I he knows we know he's there, it'll just be harder for us to catch him by surprise, should we need to..."


Rui's head appeared from around the corner as soon as Kaoru and the siblings had left down the hallway. "Now he wants someone to fight the annoying kumo, and I wasn't the first choice? Now that's just cruel... Well. All I have to do is wake up early tomorrow morning... Then I can make sure I'm the one doing the testing," she said quitely to herself before beginning to laugh somewhat maniacly. She promptly disappeared behind the corner again, just in case they heard her laughter, then snuck off to her room for the night.

[Shans]

(Ah, the forums are up again, and a new colour boards..... i don't think i can get my exact colours right though -_-;)

Yuji had already decided in his mind that he would join, it was probably the easiest way out of... well, the hellish life that him and his sister had been living up to that point, "Thanks for the accomodation, I guess..." was all that Yuji could utter as words of thanks. His pride disallowed him from saying much else. Right before stepping into the room, he could have sworn he heard someone laughing, "If that laugh was for me, someone's lucky I don't know who the heck that is." He thought to himself. He looked back at Kaoru, "I guess this is good night..."

Isumi bowed to Kaoru, thanking him as well. As she stepping into the room, she not only noticed the laugh, but noted that her brother seemed irritated, "He must have heard it..." he thought, "At least he doesn't recognise the presence from before, I guess Rui-san still underestimates him." Isumi entered the room, she was happy that her brother and her could stay in a place that wasn't as dirty as an alleyway in the streets, or an abandoned building. She approached Kaoru, "My decision on joining, I will join if my brother does. If we were to be separated then, it would be a problem. I have a horrible sense of direction after all..."

[Isaac]

(Actually, Shans, you can simply type in the text color you were using and it'll still work.)

~~~~~~~~~~

Just as soon as he had stepped inside the room, Kaoru heard a small fit of laughter come from down the hall. His accute hearing allowed him to immediately recognize it as that of Rui-san. 'Oh dear... Something tells me that I'll be seeing her in the morning. Ah well, she will make a good opponent for the siblings.'

It was then that Yuji and Isumi entered. Kaoru smiled, lighting a few more candles in the room so that they could see more clearly. Then he walked over to a low desk in the corner of the room, taking something off of it. "This...", he began, turning to them. "Is the Code of the Shinsengumi. Please, read through it and absorb the severity of these laws." He handed the folded packet of rice paper to Yuji.

"Oh! I almost forgot..." The Taichou walked over to the closet and pulled it open, luckily finding a few spare futons stored inside. "You'll need some proper bedding. Wouldn't want you to have to sleep on the floor, after all." He smiled again, taking down two of the large fluffy futons. "You can set them out where ever you like..." His words trailed off as he heard Isumi's voice.

"About my decision on joining... I will join if my brother does. If we were to be separated then, it would be a problem. I have a horrible sense of direction after all..."

Kaoru set the bedding down on the floor and then reached out a hand to pet the girl on her head. "You're absolutely adorable, Isumi-chan!", he admired, closing his eyes. "We wouldn't seperate you from Yuji-kun if you decided not to join. There are other positions available here, after all. You could be a page to one of the Taichous or Fukuchous. Or maybe you'd like to work in the kitchen as an assistant cook... Perhaps even take care of the piglets out back. Of course, if you don't wish to do any of those, then we still wouldn't turn you away. So don't you worry."

With that said, he headed towards the door. "Now, I bid you a good night. Please, take a good long look at those rules and remember to blow out the candles before you go to sleep." He waved gently before disappearing out the door, the fusuma sliding closed as he did. The hallway was dark but he easily made his way back to the room that he shared with Bael. "Hmm... I doubt he'll still be awake. That's fine... The screen seperating our space should be closed then." Kaoru quietly entered the room and indeed, the screen which seperated the shared room was drawn closed.

~~~~~

Kusa sighed as he finished changing out of the geisha clothes in a backroom of Hanamachi. It was nice to finally be out of them after having worn them the entire evening. Unfortunately, no useful customers had come in and he had gathered no new information concerning their enemy's movements. 'Ah well, I'm sure Hijikata-san will understand.' He put on the disguise he used when moving about in the town and left the establishment, an umbrella above him to keep him from getting soaked. "Still pouring rain..."

~~~~~

Loud, lapping noises filled the small space inside of the cave. Gil happily lapped at the bowl of stew that had been placed in front of him. Never the one to be very civilized, he had abandoned his silverware in favor of using his pink tongue. Amazingly, he didn't get a single drop on his chin or on his clothes. Every so often, he would look up at Zaka and recieve a gentle pat on top of his head. Then he would go back to eating his meal. Finally, the bowl was empty and the neko layed down again, purring in content. "Mmm... Thank you, Master. It was good."

[Prancing Mad]

Bael was sitting in the corner, holding one of his many books out of his collection, when he heard Kaoru walk in. Bael slipped the bookmark back into the book, and stood up, moving the screen aside, and walking up, hugging him. "Hey." He merely said.

[Aquanta]

Shinta started to go to his room, finding it with a few other people just walking around. He saw two little kids running and complaining all the time, so he just went outside for fresh air. But hopping to get into some action as he sees the stars in the sky. Now if a higher rank could just talk to him.

[Josiah]

Sakria shrugged. "Eh, whatever. So are we just going to keep standing here in the rain or are we gonna go to that inn you mentioned?"

[Neo Zanther]

"Well tonight was a bust. But can't make everything go how you want it. Especially in the spi busness." Ishi said to herself. After having a 2nd tea and hearing nothing of any importance she got up and grabed her umbrella and headed out the door. "Still raining? I can't wait til it's over. I do hate getting wet for no reason." she said to herself. She then begain to walk back to the hotel she was staying at.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Yes it was Gil. I'm glad I found some other talent besides fighting. Good food means happy troops and happy troops means better overall performance. Now it's time to relax. Everyone should be starting to get ready for the night now. We should get ready for bed as well. Who know what tomorrow will bring for us."

[Isaac]

Bael was sitting in the corner, holding one of the many books out of his collection, when he heard Kaoru walk in. He slipped the bookmark back into the book, and stood up, moving the screen aside, walking up, and hugging him. "Hey.", he merely said.

Kaoru had hardly even taken a few steps into the room and slipped his sandals off when the thin paper screen seperating the room was slid open. The gentle sound of footsteps caught his attention, causing him to look up at their source. He was then enveloped in the strong arms of the room's other occupent. A smile crossed his lips as he wrapped his own arms around the taller's chest in return. "I thought you had gone to sleep, Bael... You're usually the first to turn in.", the young man said quietly.

~~~~~

Shinta started to go to his room, finding it with a few other people just walking around. He saw two little kids running and complaining all the time, so he just went outside for fresh air. But hopping to get into some action as he sees the stars in the sky. Now if a higher rank could just talk to him.

Yamanami had been sitting outside on the walkway, enjoying the cool night air and the calm atmosphere. But the emergence of another from within the compound made him stir from his reverie. He slowly looked up to see Shinta standing not too far away from him. "Oh, Shinta-kun. I thought most of the members would be asleep by this time... Is something keeping you up?", he asked calmly.

~~~~~

"Yes it was, Gil. I'm glad I found some other talent besides fighting. Good food means happy troops and happy troops means a better overall performance. Now it's time to relax. Everyone should be starting to get ready for the night now. We should get ready for bed as well. Who know what tomorrow will bring for us."

Gil looked up at Zaka while he was speaking, listening with a very relaxed expression on his features. At the mention of getting ready for bed, he nodded in agreement and pulled himself up from the floor. The two of them then moved into a different area of the cave where the bedding was stored. In this area, there was no chance of them getting wet from the rain or any surprise flooding. The neko laid down near his master, making sure that he was closer to the entrance. No intruders would stand a chance of getting past him if they even made it inside at all. "Good night, master...", he purred.

[Prancing Mad]

Bael chuckled softly, running his hand through the boy's hair. "Nah, I was waiting to see you before I hit the sack." He chuckled softly, placing a kiss on his forehead.

[Isaac]

Kaoru closed his eyes, resting his head gently against Bael's chest as the other brushed a hand through his long hair. It was a comforting gesture that relieved him of any and all tension or stress. He smiled, purring softly as he felt a tender kiss on his forehead beneath his bangs. "Mmm... I was just offering as much help and advice as I possibly could to Isumi-chan and Yuji-kun. I hope they truly agonize over their decision before tomorrow morning...", the young taichou said quietly.

[Aquanta]

"Yamanami-rei, I was just wondering if there was something I could do to make things more interesting. Fighting those two children seems in my mind not good. I've improved my skills and showed how to use them against others of our enemies. Yet that was awhile back, now I have nothing to do besides sit around here doing nothing. It's not fair!"

Shinta turned his head. "Yet I guess that there will be a battle soon. I've heard people talk about it and that the emperor is missing is another thing I have listen to too. My skills are not that impressive compared to yours, but at least I want to be by someones side and help them with these low live scum that have been walking these streets throughout the day and into the night. We will never stop them, but by killing them, they wouldn't be here to keep us from the goal of keeping Japan in our hands."

Eri wasn't in a good mood when she took an alley and found that she was by the ocean. Why on earth did I take that path and got here. I wanted to get a bath before I went back to bed. She thought as she took a corner and saw that there were people in the street having a good time. "This will be the perfect time to see if my skills are up to par, or they are slacking." Eri said under her breath. Taking a step, she ran fast as ever and got to the next street without anyone seeing who did it. Looking back, 11 people were on the floor dead, their throats sliced and blood all over. Eri walked away thinking of her next victim instead of the bath she wanted for the last few days. Her eyes were now red from her cold heartless stare and the blood she felt on her fingertips. Yet it didn't take long till someone was following her through the streets as she killed whoever she wanted.

Olka followed the two people he had to follow and see where they were going. His skills were good against humans, but demons and other sorts, he was perfect at what he did. Yet being half demon and half human, his senses were better then humans, but still not as powerful as a demon. But Olka was able to sense both and his job was the cold cut that could never be taken down so easily. Staying about 400 feet from the two people, he could still hear what they were saying and still have one eye on them and the other on another person that he had to kill very soon. This one was in blue, and one of the groups here trying to keep Japan for themselves. Even if he got killed, Olka knew that there was someone even stronger then him here to take his place. Olka served Eri, but his real master was Tricillia.