Hello again, guys! It's really been a while, sheesh. Can't believe my last update was more than a year ago...

I know a few of you were really waiting on updates and I just want to say sorry that it took so long. I was hit with a major writer's block and the university workload has really gotten heavy these past couple of terms. It actually took me a while to remember I even had an ongoing fanfiction account...whoops...

But anyways, now that this is back on my radar again, you can expect me to update and not disappear off the face of the earth like I did previously. I can't promise that I'll be posting in a routine fashion, but I will whenever I see the opportunity to.

Cheers!

The room was completely empty when Hijikata and Kondou arrived. It served as a reminder of Sannan-san's absence and his mission.

"What do you think we should do if she doesn't want to join us?" Kondou asked solemnly as they took their seats.

The vice commander was silent for a moment before answering, "There really is only one option in her case, the other being death." He knew what the consequence should be if she refused to comply but for some reason, the idea of slaughtering a person who he only recently saved left a bad taste in his mouth. Not to mention she was a woman after all. And he also wasn't sure about how Souji would react, especially considering how he had protected her last night.

"Hijikata-san! Kondou-san!" Heisuke's voice reached them before his body did. He poked his head into the room, the same cheerful grin on his face.

"Don't be so rude, Heisuke," Harada's voice came floating after him. Several seconds later the tall man appeared, followed by Shinpachi. "Ohayo gozaimasu Hijikata-san, Kondou-san."

"Ohayo," Kondou replied as the three took seats before their commanders. They were joined shortly after by Saito and Yamazaki.

"Where's Souji?" Heisuke asked.

"On guard duty," Hijikata replied bluntly.

"Jealous, Heisuke?" Shinpachi immediately quipped.

"I'm not!"

"That's enough," the vice commander cut in before their bickering could get too far. Obviously the men would not be happy if any harm came to the girl as well. "We're here to discuss what should be done about Misora Sakurai if she does not agree to become a member of the Shinsengumi."

"But I thought you didn't want her to join us officially," Heisuke automatically said.

"She saw one of the Rasetsu," Hijikata replied shortly.

There was a brief moment of complete silence before Saito spoke up.

"She may be a threat," he said. "Her fighting skills are much too refined to have been learned without a purpose."

"I don't think we should do anything until we find out more about her," Harada argued. "There could be another reason behind her skills."

Saito nodded once. "I am currently investigating the background of her katana, which may be able to give us a lead."

"And in the meantime, she should be kept guarded," Kondou added, "But we should return her katana to her if she decides she wants to join us."

"That would only make her harder to guard," Hijikata pointed out. He thought about the way she fought that night in Shimabara, the gleam of her blade…

"I'm sure Souji will be fine," the commander replied. "They actually seem to be getting along quite well if I'm not mistaken."

"And what if she does decide to join us?" Shinpachi asked. "Not that I'm complaining, but wouldn't the other men find it distracting for a woman to be walking around headquarters?"

"Who's jealous now," Heisuke prodded.

"Well she cannot walk around dressed like a woman. She would have to be in male disguise."

Just then, there was a familiar female voice at the door, a voice that everyone had already seemed to grow accustomed to. Silence fell once again as everyone stopped to listen.

"Sumimasen," it said. "I have made my decision."

"Please do come in, Misora-kun," Kondou was first to reply, and the door slid open. She looked relatively unchanged, standing tall at the door. But there was a new glint in her brown eyes and her next words came out strong and clear.

"I accept your offer to be a member of the Shinsengumi."

Kondou was again, the first to react. He smiled his brilliant smile at me and said, "That's wonderful to hear, Misora-kun."

"Well it shouldn't be," I pointed out mildly. "You know that I have to stay no matter what."

There was a loud thump as everyone in the room turned towards the source of the noise. Toshizo Hijikata had one had firmly planted against the floor.

"It would do you well to learn how to keep your mouth shut," he growled, eyes flashing dangerously.

"So I'm supposed to just remain here as nothing more than a servant?" I retorted hotly. "I'm not even allowed to speak freely?"

"Of course you are, Misora-kun," Kondou cut in before his hot-tempered vice commander could snarl back a reply. He looked a little sheepish. "But first we have to discuss a few issues."

"And those would be?"

Hijikata folded his arms and looked away. Seeing that his vice commander clearly didn't want to talk, Kondou continued, "First things first, you would have to switch to wearing male clothing."

There were several sounds of discontent from Heisuke and Shinpachi, which were expertly ignored.

"This is for your own safety so that the rest of the Shinsengumi do not get any ideas, or bring any other women here. Our goal is proficiency amongst our soldiers and we would like to avoid possible complications."

I nodded once. "Fair."

The commander returned the nod. "Your katana will be returned to you, and you may join Souji's squad to train, but you must stay in your current room." He looked over my shoulder. "And Souji will remain as your guard." I followed his gaze and nearly startled when I came face-to-face with none other than the green-eyed warrior himself.

Kondou chuckled. "I trust you will be able to take care of her."

"Leave it to me, Kondou-san."

I sighed and lowered my head. So they were still planning to watch my actions carefully.

"What, you don't want me to be your guard?" Souji pulled an exaggerated sad face. "I'm insulted, Misora-chan."

"Your snoring kept me awake the entire night," I retorted, and a slight ripple of chuckling passed through the men.

"Oh," Kondou said suddenly as if remembering something. "Souji, could you also find some of our clothing for Misora-kun?"

"Hai~" There was a slight breeze by my ear as he left. Knowing Souji, he would probably find me the most hideous clothes available.

"You may start today if Yamazaki-kun says so," the commander continued, nodding to the spiky-haired young man who dipped his head in turn.

"I have checked her wound earlier and it seems she is in condition to be training," he spoke in a respectful tone of voice before shifting his gaze to address me. "However, it seems your injury will leave a somewhat permanent scar on your forehead."

"I don't really look into mirrors all that often," I shrugged. I guess a scar on my forehead was certainly better than being dead. It also made me more comfortable knowing that I could never return to Shimabara again, and the events from last night confirmed that. I would have to look forward from now on.

"I see,"Kondou said. A frown creased his features. "Arigato, Yamazaki-kun."

Yamazaki dipped his head again as Kondou picked up a katana resting beside him and presented it to me. It was still in perfect condition, the dark red sheath still shiny and polished.

I accepted it with quiet thanks just as the door slid open. Souji had appeared with an armful of clothing.

"Come on, Misora-chan," he said before starting down the hall without hesitation. I turned to follow him, with everyone's gazes burning into my back.

Souji led me to my room and handed me the armful of clothing.

"Come outside when you're done," he instructed me, then shut the door firmly.

I let out a soft breath and set the clothes down on the floor. Sifting through them, I was able to find a dark blue yukata and obi, a pair of tabi, a black headband, white hair ties, and two haori: a pale blue one trimmed with white triangles, and a dark blue one that matched the shade of the yukata. Upon closer inspection, I found the dark blue yukata to be quite nice. There was a darker patterning of delicate branches on the right shoulder area and along the left hip. The obi was the same colour of the branches, complementing them perfectly. I felt a grin tug at my lips. Maybe I had been wrong about Souji.

I peeled off my worn geiko clothing and slid on the yukata with haste. It made me feel uncomfortable being fully bare in a house full of men, even when alone. I tied the obi securely around my waist and draped on the dark blue haori. It was slightly too large for my frame, but it did conceal my curves to a certain extent. I tied my hair back into a high ponytail, leaving the part framing my face tied slightly looser in comparison, the same way that my mother used to do it. Then I slid my father's katana under the obi and went outside.

Souji was sitting cross-legged on the deck, and he instinctively turned when he heard me. His green eyes regarded me calculatedly for a moment.

"You still look like a woman," he observed, before standing up. It was then I realized how much taller he was than me. Without warning, he grabbed the obi around my waist and shifted it down to my hips. "You're wearing the obi too high," he said before stepping back and regarding me again.

I glared at him, face burning.

"I guess this will have to do," he sighed, as if he was some kind of tailor. After a few more moments underneath his painful scrutiny, he led me back to the others. I could feel my heart thudding in my chest, and I willed myself to calm down.

"May I present to you: Misoro Sakurai," Souji announced.

I slapped his shoulder as I felt many pairs of eyes focus on me once more. Feeling my face flush, I stared hard at my feet.

"Wow, Misora-chan!" Heisuke exclaimed, turquoise eyes bright. "I thought you'd end up looking like some old geezer but you still look like a young woman!"

Harada whacked his head, causing him to careen forward with a yelp. "Mind your manners, baka."

"You do look rather feminine," Saito even chipped in quietly, in his usual monotone.

"It's her chest," Souji replied with a lecherous grin and I had to restrain myself from knocking him flat on his face.

"If I could borrow some of your bandages, I could fix the issue," I forced myself to say.

"I do have some leftover if you need them," Yamazaki replied.

"Alright then," Kondou said before I could reply. "This meeting is over." He turned to smile at me. "Welcome to the Shinsengumi, Misora – ah, Misoro-kun."

Everyone chuckled except Hijikata, who was probably still angry, and Saito, who didn't look like he was capable of cracking a smile.

Because it wasn't Souji's turn to go on patrol, he stayed behind, insisting on a training session. I wouldn't have minded, except for the fact that he had called together the rest of the captains to watch.

"Alright, Misora-chan," he said as he passed me a wooden sword. "I want you to show us what you've got."

"So…who do I fight?" I asked, glancing around at all the faces. Heisuke, Harada, and Shinpachi were all present, minus Saito, who was out on patrol with his squad.

"Me," Souji said, smirking rather darkly. I suddenly remembered the dimly lit room in Shimabara, holding my blade against Souji's. He had given me almost the exact same look as he overpowered me. The memory made me shudder. It was a good thing that we were using wooden swords this time.

"Shinpachi-san, would you be the referee?"

"Sure," he replied. I thought he looked relieved that he didn't have to fight me.

Souji tapped his wooden sword against mine, and before I could even react, I found myself down on the ground.

"Hey, I didn't even tell you to begin!" Shinpachi sighed. "That was a little harsh, Souji."

"Really," I heard Heisuke sigh in agreement from the sidelines.

Souji didn't seem to be listening to them. "Focus, Misora-chan." He also seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself as he watched me clamber back up to my feet. I glared at him and readied my sword. He touched our swords together once more. As soon as the tip of his sword lost contact with mine, I lunged forward. He moved out of the way and instantly tried a counterstrike, but I had seen it coming. I didn't have enough time to dodge, so I was forced to block it. The wooden sword creaked under the sheer force of his strike. I dug a heel into the ground and parried with gritted teeth. He was supposed to be ill, but his strength was still a force to be reckoned with. I was going to have to move faster. Or… I narrowed my eyes as an idea struck me. He could move slower…

I crouched low as if in a defensive position. I just hoped that this would work on him. He lunged at me, and I mimicked my previous parry making sure to slow down my actions noticeably.

"Are you tired already, Misora-chan?" he asked, still grinning. Evidently, he had slowed down to match me. I returned to my defensive position once more, and he lifted his sword to strike. In that split second I lunged forward - right under his raised arm like I had seen Saito do - and then it was over. I placed the tip of the wooden sword neatly against his side in conclusion just as I began to notice the silence around us.

"O-one hit in," Shinpachi said half-heartedly. I looked up to see his blue gaze burning into my face. I cleared my throat and straightened from my half-crouch, only then daring to sneak a look at my opponent. Souji's green gaze was shadowed by his fringe. He looked at me with indecipherable features, which suddenly melted into a smile like a cloud passing over the sun.

"Damn, you're a tricky one," he laughed.

"What a way to use your body language!" Harada called.

"I think I owe you an apology," I said to Souji. "I used your kindness against you in that one."

At this, he blinked curiously. "What do you mean by that?"

"I assumed that's the reason you slowed down."

He said nothing, but continued to stare thoughtfully at me. When his gaze was becoming uncomfortable, I turned towards the deck to see that the two commanders had joined the party. As usual, Kondou had a smile on his face and Hijikata wore the same tense frown.

"That was a brilliant counter technique, Misora-kun," the commander congratulated me from afar. "You easily saw through Souji's fighting style."

"It's pretty scary if you ask me," Shinpachi said, but he was smiling as well. "Kinda reminds me of the way Saito fights."

"Well, no –" I began to disagree, but was cut off.

"Saito relies purely on well-honed swordsmanship to win his battles, not any cheap tricks," Hijikata said.

"Don't be like that, Toshi," Kondou rebuked.

I turned to face the vice commander, feeling my face being to heat up with anger and frustration. Forcing myself to keep calm, I said, "The technique I used does count as a one-time use skill, and I have already apologized to Souji for it. There is no need for you to judge me so harshly, I merely wanted to see if it would work." I glared at him. "Besides, if this technique can win battles as easily as well-honed swordsmanship can, I would say that it is quite effective."

His gaze instantly snapped to focus on me. For a second he looked almost bewildered, as if he had not expected such a retort. Souji's bemused chuckle came from somewhere behind me.

"Nothing can replace proficiency with a sword." His voice was menacing.

I scoffed loudly. "Did I say that having skill was a bad thing? Obviously it's the most important thing to have! But you're wrong if you think that I have none."

"So use them," he growled back.

I felt my blood reach its boiling point. Was he implying that my father had taught me nothing but cheap tricks and no battle skill at all? I did not spend all those years training until my hands bled to be insulted by a heartless excuse for a commander.

"How dare you –" I began, but stopped short when I felt a large hand clamp itself around my mouth. Another landed squarely on my shoulder, preventing all forms of escape. I turned my head around just enough to glare through the corner of my eyes.

"Sumimasen, Hijikata-san," Harada said, dipping his head politely. Beside him stood Shinpachi. "We promised Misora-chan that I would teach her how to fight with the spear as well."

I protested angrily, but could only make unintelligible noises against his solid palm. Finally, I settled for a gaze that I hoped was full of contempt as they dragged me away. Once we were at a safe distance, I felt their grips loosen and I broke away from their grasp.

"Why would you do that?" I demanded angrily, whirling around to face them.

"It's not a good idea to upset the vice commander," Harada commented. His golden eyes were gentle despite his words. He was quite a lot taller than me now that I was facing him directly and suddenly I was the child again, being lectured for doing something wrong. Memories of my previous life began flooding back, and I was powerless to stop a wave of sadness and confusion from washing over me. It might have been a mistake to join these people. But then again, what choice did I have? If I tried to run away I would have been killed for sure. I thought back to Souji, who had gone through such lengths to protect me despite our bad start and Hijikata, who had unbelievably saved my life. Would they decide to kill me if the decision really came down to it? And was I a bad person to put them in such a dilemma…?

"Are you alright, Misora-chan?" Shinpachi asked. "You look a little tense…"

"I didn't say anything wrong," I merely replied. "You should have just let me talk. I spent years and years training with the sword, learning every single detail from my father. I won't let anyone speak badly about the lengths I went through."

"Hijikata-san wasn't speaking badly of you," Harada replied gently. "He was just worried that you only knew how to fight with your temporary winning moves. None of us have really truly glimpsed your true skill just yet."

"And Hijikata-san is so scared of harming you that he hasn't even made one move against you," Shinpachi added with a smile. "If any one of us had said what you did, all of us would probably have black eyes."

As much as I hated to deny it, the explanation made sense. He had saved my life; it only made sense for him to want to preserve it.

"He certainly has a funny way of showing it," I grumbled.

Both Harada and Shinpachi looked at each other and chuckled.

I had expected a thick aura of disdain to hang in the air by the time I returned with both Harada and Shinpachi, but to my surprise there was none.

"Ah, good," Kondou said naturally, as if I had just returned from the outhouse.

"Just in time too, Misora-san," Heisuke added, smiling.

"Misora," I corrected him gently, feeling my heart soften. He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"Right," he agreed.

It was as if nothing had happened. But I knew what had to be done.

"I'm sorry for what I said," I apologized, dipping my head in a show of respect. "I overreacted." I looked back up at the vice commander, whose gaze was directed off to the side. "But please do not assume the worst about me. I will practice my swordsmanship more often."

He closed his eyes and sighed. Just as I thought he was about to lecture me, he nodded once. "Very well."

I returned the nod. It wasn't exactly friendly yet, but it was definitely getting better.

"Now that all of you are present," Hijikata began, addressing his team (which may or may not include me), "we have another issue to discuss. I have received a letter this morning from the Aizu representatives. There has been rumours about the Choshuu rogues taking shelter right here within Kyoto." His violet gaze swept the captains before finally resting on me. "We are all to begin preparations for battle and are expected to invade as soon as the Aizu gives us the word."

"What about Sannan-san?" Heisuke asked.

"We need all the fighters we can get," Hijikata replied. "Sannan-san should return soon. But if the Aizu gives us the message to move in, there is nothing we can really do."

I watched as the men all nodded amongst themselves. Whoever this Sannan person was, he was probably a proficient fighter.

"Are you fit to fight?" I met the vice commander's gaze when he addressed me.

"Yes," I replied.

"Ah, Misora-kun," Kondou cut in suddenly. "Perhaps it would be better if you remained at the barracks."

"She can stay behind to defend the barracks if Sannan-san returns in time," Hijikata said immediately. I was about to protest, but decided against it at the last second. Harada and Shinpachi's voices were still bouncing around in my head. "But I believe you will be able to handle yourself just fine. Have you been in an actual battle before?"

"Well, no…"

"Then train hard," he replied. There was a slight pause as something shimmered underneath those mysterious eyes. "A real battle is nothing like the stories of honour and courage you often hear."