Chapter II: The Second Bakumatsu

Various scouts all around Fushimi found the force of Meiji soldiers and Kyoto Police alike heading in their immediate direction. Runners arrived at the Shinsengumi HQ quite quickly without delay. After them ran in the scouts, shouting for civilians to gather into their homes and stay low. On the walls, at interval'd watch towers, gongs were rung in the deathly sound of war. At the HQ, the telltale noise did reach Hijikata and the remaining officers.

"They are here already, sooner than I thought..." Souji said with a smirk of anticipation.

"Indeed. Shall we greet our guests?" Hijikata asked with a hint of sadism.

The command to defend the city at all costs was passed from officer to officer, who moved out from the HQ and into their positions upon the wall or interior. Below the wall, in fixed positions, mortars were set up, fresh from their arm shipments. On the palisades, musketeers loaded their ammunition and threw bandoliers over their shoulders. Socket bayonets were affixed, and rifles raised.

"This is the Shinsengumi's moment. This is the day we slowly bring back the old way of life. As long as we stand, the code of Bushido will never disappear. The Samurai will rise again, and the rightful Shogun will come back to power." Hijikata yelled out, his bellowing voice reaching all soldiers ears.

"AKU SOKU ZAN!" Souji called out, receiving returns from the Shinsengumi of the city.

Hijikata walked to his own position upon the battlement walls, he could see the enemy encroaching upon the city. Slowly, he unsheathed his glittering curved blade and raised it to the sky. The enemy, who marched down the slope of a green, grassed, hill, could see the katana rise like the proverbial guillotine. With a voice like thunder, his command to attack came.

"UTE! (Fire!)"

The roar of the mortars behind, and then the barrage of musket fire at the palisade rung out clear through the rushing wind. Plumes of dust and dirt flew into the air where shell and shot hit the ground. And in the wake, crimson mist of enemy's blood was seen where the damage was done. War had started and Kyoto, again, was the battlefield.

"I am ready," Huang said in reply to Hayate. "We must stop these brigands from turning into something more powerful than they already are. However, they are only powerful in strength. They are weak in the mind. We can use this to our advantage."

Huang had everything he needed to go on this mission, but all that really mattered were his fists and staff. They were the two main things that would keep him alive. Ryouichi had accompanied Hiraku, but they managed to get William to stay behind for at least a couple more days, though he was very against it. That man's rage would probably be the end of him someday.

"I am prepared to do what we must as well," Ryouichi said. "Let us move and finish this as quickly as possible. It doesn't feel right letting those devils stay in freedom longer than we have to."

Ryouichi looked over at the new face, Huang, noticing that he was, in fact, not Japanese. He had different attire and a look about him that both seemed confident and just. The man was clearly a fighter of some caliber, though he wasn't in the most fit condition. Ryouichi shrugged. They would need all the help they could get in this mission.