Clashing Blades, Cross of Fate

Draft 4

The meeting with the girl made me realize one thing. The difference between modern people and those from the past can sometime be vast. It is only through the distance of time that one can realize how far our society has grown from both a technology and ethical standpoint

Okita Souji is a cute girl. In modern times, her looks and upbeat attitude would have made the girl a popular idol or influencers if she were into such things. With a healthy complexion, honey-colored eyes, and lithe figure, I could imagine many of my colleagues going batshit crazy trying to invite her for a drink had she been introduced to the group

At least, that is what would happen if she was born in my time

This is the old Japan, Edo period. Circa a time where walking around with a sword is perfectly normal and health safety awareness is so fucking low people might as well be throwing feces on open wounds to prevent infection

In this era, there would only be two fates for Okita. One being married off to another house as a wife, defenseless against any harrassment dished out on her because of her frail form. The other being sold off as a Geisha or common whore, which isn't all that different from each other in context.

Why? Because feudal ages tends not to treat their women very well. At least that is what I have gathered from the general historiccal records at the time

Thankfully, she did none of those. The Souji household is, from what the swordsman had told me, a generally well off family who practiced Kendo as their tradition.

As a result, she had came to learn the way of the sword as a child and proved herself capable with it. One thing lead to another and she was recruited into the Roshigumi, earning herself fame amongst the others after executing many enemies on their way to Kyoto

I should be glad such a fate was avoided, being happy that people from the past isn't as discriminating as I thought they'd be

But....As someone coming from a modern society where the taking of another's life is frowned upon...As someone whose job is to save people....as someone who had dedicated his entire life to researching life itself....it boggled me that a young girl like Okita Souji would already have several kills under her belt, and yet acted like there's nothing wrong with it

Cold eyes of a kille gazing at me with curiosity. Hands that brought death clasped upon my shoulder. A bright smile lit up her entire frame as I finally paid her attention

It's confusing

It's unnerving

Yet I have no right to judge her. I know that for all that she'd done, Okita's not inherently a bad person, which is why I did  not immediately refuse her offer to join her for lunch after training

After all, killers may be killers, but food is food.

An apple a day's not gonna keep a hungry doctor away

_____________

After I had made myself an office in the village, the amount of people getting sick decreased. Still, there were the occasional case of diseases showing up that needs my attention, so you could say I wasn't entirely idle in my job

I closed the office's door behind me and walked outside. The warm spring's breeze brushed through me, ruffling my grey Yukata as I made my way toward the busier part of the village

"Ah, it's Dokutah! Good morning to you!"

"Old Gakotsu, say hi to your niece for me"

The old farmer greeted me as I passed them. I nodded back, nervously quickening my pace