Hakuouki: Dragon Circles in Quiet Summer

Chapter 7

I was drinking tea outside, looking out when Kondou-San and Souji came. "She's vary upset. Saitou is watching her but I think Sano and Heisuke wanted to cheer her up." I nod.

"Was that you? Futakuchi-onna?" Kondou asks as Souji sits down next to me.

"That was a long time ago." I say softly, drinking the rest of the tea.

"What's so dangerous about the style?" Souji asks.

"You have to break. She doesn't deserve that and I honestly wouldn't forgive myself if I did that to her. Nothing bad is suppose to touch her. If I can't make even a little bit o that true than I fail." 

"Why didn't you tell her who you were?" Kondou asks.

"Should I tell her that I was the fury manager? The one who broke and executed her family and then abandoned them? And if I told her it doesn't change the fact that she would press me harder to teach her." Kondou pats my shoulder.

"I understand. I'll see if I can get the captains to change her decision."

"Thanks." He smiles.

"You're a little too hard on yourself." Souji says once Kondou leaves.

"Not hard enough." I whisper making him chuckle and puts his arms around me. "Souji..." I groan. But then he suddenly picks me up. "Souji!" I yell trying to get away.

"Nope! Not until you agree." He begins to spin me making me laugh.

"Stop!" I try to squirm away but he had a secure hold. He kept spinning me until we heard him.

"That's cute. The love but isn't this little girl so cute as well? Which would you choose, love or this sweet little girl?" He had light honey hair and a wicked smile. In his thin arms was Mei. "Or should I say cute little fury?"

"Let her go and tell me why you're here." I growl. He sighs, casually shifting Mei in his arms to lean over her.

"I was told to retrieve the two runaways and had a hunch. But it seems mommy didn't make it. So sorry little Fury but I'll help you get to her though...." He smirks.

"Leave her alone. She is under my care and you will not hurt her." I say pulling out my fans.

"So scary. But how about we strike a deal? I give you the parasite and you give me a little peak at your gorgeous unbalanced eyes."

"Give me something I can do." He sighs clicking his tongue.

"It was a bit far fetched, I agree. Then... I want..." He suddenly gets an idea. "I want to see Ketsui. Fight me, using it. And yes I did eavesdrop, just a little bit." He grins.

"Let her go and than we'll fight." He kicks her forward. "Souji, take her to the others-"

"No, I want the parasite to watch. She wanted to know so desperately and I can think of nothing better than to give her a little sneak peak." I can't say no.

"Souji, bring her to the side and make sure no one comes down here." He wordlessly does what he's told as I tie the red sash around my eyes.

"Oh? So serious." He grins tauntingly. I throw one fan in the middle between us and it sticks from the ground.

"So how do we start? Do you-" I take off. I slit his throat and begin to jab the pressure points in his arm. He sucks in a pained breath as I kick him forward.

He holds his lifeless arm as it dangles uselessly as his neck heals. "That's a new-" I take off again.

I drive the closed fan through his stomach and snap his back on my knee. Then I kick him down and he falls on to the fan that stuck from the ground. It was so close to where his heart was.

As I walk to him he tries to pull out the fans but I step on his hand until it crunches making him yell. I look down into his eyes despite mine being covered I could see so clearly. I rip the fan from his stomach and point it at him.

"You are not skilled enough for me to use this style on you. But part of it is killing the opponent. Do you wish me to continue?" He growls.

"Let me up. Our clan is as good as our word. You may keep the pest." I take the fan from his chest and lick the blood from the edge. "Next time you try to hurt those under my care, I will make sure to follow through until I taste your blood in the air. Until the blood begins to taste familiar so I can remember this moment that I had warned you. And then I can laugh at your stupidity as I kill whatever's left of you."

"You are truly terrifying." He whispers with wide glistening eyes. I pick him up by the neck.

"Do you understand?" I whisper threateningly. He nods and I toss him aside. He disappears as he hits the ground.

I finally yank off the sash. I see everyone was watching. I go over to them wiping away the blood on my mouth.

"Explain yourself." I say in a hard voice looking at a frightened Mei.

"But y-you, you're-"

"Explain." I say again making her shrink into Saitou.

"I was going to find Futakuchi-onna and snuck out of headquarters." I look to Saitou.

"She requested to be alone to calm herself." Saitou explains. I look back to Mei.

"I told you before that you must always be with one of them. Not because you are a child but because you were in danger. You and your mom escaped but that doesn't mean they wouldn't look for you. I explained this many times and why this was important. If they weren't so twisted you would be dead."

"I'm sorry." She cries burying her face in Saitou's stomach.

"And what's worse is that you didn't even call for me. That is what I am most upset about. Sano, Heisuke." I say sharply. "No more secret outings when you think I'm busy. She will remain here and is not permitted to leave until she learns discipline and how to defend herself."

"Wait, how did you-?" Heisuke begins until Sano elbows him.

"I knew the whole time. Saitou." He nods understanding. "This was completely unnecessary. I just made another reason for them to make things harder for me." I say tying the sash on my waist, turning away.

"This was my fault. I apologize sincerely." He bows deeply.

"Do not let it happen again." I warn turning away from them.

"You're Futakuchi-onna!" She says as I begin to walk away. I stop for a moment.

"Do not call me by that nickname." Is all I say as I disappear to calm down.