Clashing Blades, Cross of Fate

Draft 5

Okita Souji is, by no mean, a simple pretty flower

That much is obvious among the people who works with her.

The girl is trained in the way of the sword. She's a warrior, first and foremost, who graduated from the school of Edo and proudly stands side by side with her brethren.

Souji never hestates when it comes to battle and the taking of lives - something which earns her admiration and respect from the rest of the corp. At the tender age of 17, she was already amongst the higher-ups of the organization known as Roshigumi. That alone spoke volumes of her personality more than any historical records could

Then...there was him

In comparison, the man she has eyes on is a doctor. While also respected by the villagers, Japan's society revere men who blooms in the battlefield than those lying at the back treating to the wounded. In their eyes, such work is the mark of a coward

He is a rarity on that front. Yet, he never cared. To her great surprise the man seems almost happy to be treating the people in this village

Looking at the two of them, you cannot deny they cannot be anything more than different. Thier jobs are different, their dispositions are different,

Yet, how? Why did Okita feels attracted to this mysterious man known as Dokutah. What is it about him that interest her so much?

In the end, she decided that it does not matter

"Nine hundred seventy six"

All thoughts were discarded from her mind as the young girl focused onward, her concentration focused solely on ignoring the pain and continuing with her improved training regime

"...Nine hundred seventy eight"

Sweats ran down between her eyebrow, glistening in the early sunlight

"....Nine hundred eighty two"

"Nine hundred ninety seven"

Other people walking by the courtyard stares at her. She ignored them in favor of straining her muscle for the next swing

Each slash must be done with not only strength and agility, but also resolve

"Nine hundred ninety eight"

"Nine hundred ninety nine"

"One thousand"

Her sword swung to a stop. Wind rippled in front of her, indicate of the strength behind each strikes she made

Okita wiped the sweat on her brows away as she leaned down on her sword to take a breath. Her arms sored from the constant swinging, but that's what what a good exercise will do to you

What is pain, but a medium for getting stronger?

"Alright everybody, that's enough for today!" The girl called out to them

"Yes, instructor Souji!" The Ronins bellowed. She smiled as they all straightened their postures and shook hands with their partner. Their bare back showed the faint outline of scars received from their first battle.

The last time she'd seen them Okita almost panicked in the midst of battle. But now she is assured it will not result any permanent effects, the girl found herself silently thankful the ambush had happened by night, otherwise the wounds would have been more lethal

She grinned

Well, maybe it's less the injuries themselves but rather the doctor who treated them that made them undergo such swift recovery