[ A local training hall? What's that, like a boxing gym maybe? Ah, but given that Hijikata's kind of an old-fashioned guy, it was probably swords. Old guys love swords... old guys and gangsters. ]

Me? Nothin' so respectable. [ Falling into private security and getting picked up by a bigwig... that's not a bad way to go!

Now let's see. What's he willing to share? ]

I've been on my own since I was a kid. Mostly driftin' around, you know. Find a town, find a hottie to shack up with, maybe find some work lookin' scary for some big guy, or liberating something for him. After a couple months you wear out your welcome and move on, totally free.

The last town I ended up in, the big guy was this priest, right? So I fell in doing jobs for him with a couple other guys. Before I got brought here, we were on a long job, been at it for a couple years, heading across the country to... well. [ He chuckles, drawing off his cigarette. ] Keep the peace was th'end game goal, so let's go with that.