Hakuouki: Dragon Circles in Quiet Summer

Chapter 5

I wake up as if nothing had happened but I know better. I get dressed and go outside to find her, little Mei.

She sits on the stairs, waiting for me with Souji. She hears me approach and turns around. Her eyes were so big and brown. It was as if I was seeing Kaede again as a little girl.

"Mom died." She whispers as she walks up to me with a bowed head.

"I know." I whisper back. I was emotionless and tired. The death of my childhood friend lingered in my mind.

"She said that I can trust you. That you can keep me safe." I nod and notice a sudden change in her posture and voice.

"Why did she have to die? Why couldn't you save her? How can she talk about you like some sort of hero when you can't even save a single life!?" She screams at me.

"She died because I could only save one of you. She wanted you to live. I apologize for my weakness." Her eyes widen. "You look tired." I note.

"I don't want to sleep. If I do I'll see them again." She says trying to keep her voice from wavering.

"Come on, I'll show you the best place to hide from them." I say walking down the steps. After a second of hesitation she runs to catch up and grabs my hand.

"See? It's peaceful. Just let it all surround you and the rest will be easy." I say having her lay against me.

It was obvious she was exhausted but I didn't expect her to fall asleep as soon as she sat down, that would be true if she was actually asleep. "I'm sorry, you mom is someone I owe a lot to. I owe her my life and freedom and I guess I get to repay that with you."

"She also said that the most important things I needed to know was what you would say when I fell asleep." Mei whispers making me laugh.

"I knew you were awake. I wanted to tell you this so you could sleep with ease. I'm not you're mom but I can be there for you, I can make sure you wake up feeling safe. You're in a good place."

"Can you sing it? Mom said when she was scared you would sing to her. She couldn't remember it but only knew it was about cherry blossoms." I laugh.

"No because I know you're not gonna go to sleep. Let's go meet the others. I'm Sakura." She sits up so quickly and looks back at me.

"I thought you and Sakura were two different people!" I grin.

"Your mom always said things that could be misinterpreted. Let's go. I fed you yesterday, make use of it and be friendly when you meet them." She nods standing up. Souji comes over and holds out a hand to help me up. I grin taking it.

"I'm Okita Souji. She's mine." He says putting an arm around me.

"Idiot." I say with a shake of my head.

"I'm Mei, a pleasure to meet you." She smiles.

"Let's go meet everyone else." I say and she takes my hand to lead her making me grin.

I find most of the captains on the steps in the front. "Hey, mind if I leave her with all of you so I can talk to the others?" I ask making them turn around.

"Sakura!"

"Little girl!" They call in surprise.

"It's Mei!" She says angrily making me and the others laugh.

"Everyone be nice to each other I will be back soon." I'm about to turn away when Mei clutches my hand harder so I don't leave.

"What's the matter?" I ask touching down when I see her scared face. She doesn't answer. "Remember what I told you. I wouldn't have you meet them if they weren't nice." I smile but she isn't convinced. I sigh picking her up.

"Which one is most intimidating?" I ask. She points to Saitou.

"What!?" Shinpachi yells.

"Saitou, come here." He does and I put her in his arms startling them both. She immediately begins to squirm.

"Saitou, you have to hold her until I get back or you'll end up like Yamazaki. Mei, if you feel scared don't show it. Fight it until you aren't. So punch and kick if you have to buy tell me if he drops you. If he does you can help me make him a pretty girl." She begins to smirk deviously at the worried looking Saitou.

"That was effective." Souji laughs.

"Why wasn't she scared of you?" I ask curiously.

"Is it hard to believe that I'm good with kids?" He asks. I give him a look making him chuckles. "After you passed out I took care of her. She wouldn't eat or drink anything so I sat outside your room all night with her because she wouldn't do anything else." I nod.

"That was nice of you." I say giving him a small smile. I open the door and see all the demons plus the leaders. "Oh... You guys..." I start backing away. In a flash Karou is in front of me.

"Do you know how much I blamed myself? How much I grieved? And you didn't come and tell any of us?" I look to Kazama.

"You had to get them? I didn't tell any of you because I didn't want any of you to get involved again." I say sitting down next to Souji.

"That is up to us to decide." Amagiri says. I roll my eyes looking away.

"I appreciated everyone's work. So is everyone up to speed?" I ask changing from the gloomy subject. They nod.

"We can interrogate Mei later but do you know what happened?" I look to Kazama.

"Your clan, incidentally." I sigh.

"Kaede was part of the second group which means there's only one left. They'll be hunting so hopefully they don't know about Mei and Kaede."

"Oh, Sakura-"

"If it's about Kaede don't tell me. I don't want to remember her any other way." Hijikata nods.

"What about the kid?" Kyo asks.

"I owe a big debt to Kaede. So I will take responsibility of Mei but if it comes to it, I'll send her away to somewhere safe." They nod.

"What could you possibly owe to a fury?" Karou asks coldly.

"I owe her my life. She was the reason I was able to escape Dr. Osana and his... Program."

"What doesn't make since is why they even took the poison." Sannan comments.

"No, they train furies to follow every command. And if the master dies, so will them. But it's a long process so this lets me know that they've made no new furies."

"How were they able to reproduce?" Kazama asks.

"Like us but it's more complicated. A fury baby has a one and a billion chance of actually developing and even rougher chances that it will survive. The child is possible because they had good odds and lots of blood. Mei will be stronger but dangerous. If anything I need to teach her discipline and control."

"How much stronger?" I think.

"Twice as much and the odds of her being able to reproduce will be higher and the strength of the offspring will be twice as much as hers. It goes like that like demon bloodlines." I add to clarify.

"How do you know this?" Sannan asks.

"It was tested before I was born. It was a short family. Grandmother, mother, child. They eventually died. I knew the child although it was a short relationship."

"How did they die?" Kondou asks making me hesitate for a second.

"I killed them." I say simply.

"Why?" Kazama asks. I just sigh.

"They were plotting against Dr. Osana and tried to organize an uprising. I, however, stopped it and had to kill them. I didn't have a choice." I add in a whisper when they all stare at me with wide eyes. Souji puts an arm around me for comfort.

"None of you should be in any danger from my clan, but if they go back on their word, let me know."

"Being put under the protection of the head of the Tatsumaru clan is reassuring." Kyo jokes.

"I guess you're free to leave. I'll be here if any of you need me." They all nod.