Clashing Blades, Cross of Fate

Draft 2

Over the past few months here, I've slowly gotten used to life here on this island called Japan

Yes, it's not as good as the modern day to which I woke up from, but I know things can be worse when it comes to time travel. I could be stranded in a more unpleasant time, like Roma or Egypt for example. The cultural shock would be too much for me

I have been a doctor for some time now. It aligns with my previous occupation from the original Earth, so the job was much easier once I've gotten a hold of the local's medicine

The village I reside in was now a bustling trade town with many people taking the short road across different towns. It wasn't used to be like this, but whatever

The point is, my fame as a healer apparently had traveled far enough for some of them to seek treatment from me. Some time it's simply curiosity, other times it's from desperation for their supposed "incurable" diseases that just happens to be incurable because lack of modern medicinal knowledge

Often time, I would gladly help them. This is not one of those time

<><><><><><><>

"God damn it! No treading in my clinic!"

I cursed Kami. I cursed Yami. I curse every god out there for bringing this hurdle upon me

"You Ronin are all dirty" I pointed at the river just to the left of the field "Go wash yourself and I'll let you enter"

The men before me shifted, sheepish grins adorning their face. Some of the regulars only rolled their eyes at our antics

The band of men wore dark blue and gold patterned Hakama over kimono. Woven straw hats and light iron helmet adorning their heads as part of their uniform, but most importantly they all have sheathed katana strapped to the hips.

Shinsengumi, or rather, the beginning of them

During the Bamatsu period, Japan's forced opening lead to major political instability within the country. Loyalists and the Shogunate fell into disagreement, which caused them to form the Roshigumin, Shinsengumi's predecessors. Made up of a large numbers of samurai, they are tasked with protecting the Shogun on his way to Kyoto and meet with the Emperor at that-this time

The group before me was just coming out from one side of the forest after having taken down some bandit on the way. Their supplies were running low and they decided to get into town to have a refill

Which is when they met me buying some milk from the vendor

One thing lead to another. Conversations piled up and their commander asked me to treat some of their wounded. Reluctantly I agreed, because it's good money. Just because I don't need to eat or sleep means I don't have a use for currency. Thus they decided to stay here for a few days before continuing on

Their leader, a man by the name of Kiyokawa Hachiro, soon become acquaintance with me. From the outside, he is a polite man. I remembered he did contribute to the collapse of Roshigumi, which eventually lead to the Shinsengumi being formed. A part of me tell me that there's more to him than meets the eye and that I should be cautious of him

But then again, the men won't be treated if I just walk away from him 

I accepted. 

<><><><><><><>

It was only after thinking about it that I realized my mistake

The Butterfly Effect. I haven't realized I'm supposed to be a foreigner to this timeline, and as such fate itself might be altered by me