Hakuouki: Dragon Circles in Quiet Summer

Chapter 8

I came back the next morning exhausted. To burn off steam I had tracked down and put away criminals and did investigating on a gathering of a local gang which I allowed to continue so I could eavesdrop on an upcoming and important meeting.

I dumped my notes on the desk and organized the reports. I got the stack and went off to Hijikata's room. He wasn't there so I just left them on his desk like I use to do.

Now I wanted to sleep.

~~~

"Where is she?" I hear Mei ask.

"She usually returns by morning so if she isn't in her room, she'll be here." I hear Saitou say, his voice becoming louder as he neared.

"A tree? I don't see her." I hear Saitou chuckle.

"She prefers to be up higher. Look up. She's hidden but her arm is dangling." I groan and sit up.

"Both of you are so loud." I complain jumping down, making sure my sleep robe wouldn't go up.

"Sakura!" Mei yells hugging me at the waist. I yawn patting her head.

"Sorry but I was out all night working."

"I'm sorry!" She yells making me laugh.

"You don't need to yell. I know you were. I just went out because I was worked up from the fight, I'm okay now."

"But it was all my fault. I promise to be better, don't leave me!" She holds me tighter.

"Good, but I wouldn't leave you. I promised I'd take care of you." She nods and I pick her up.

"Promise that you will remember that I'll always be there for you." She nods.

"Promise." I smile and throw her up and in a flash I place her on Saitou's shoulders.

"I think I should get dressed before Souji thinks I was showing you my legs since I'm so indecent."

"I never said you were." Souji says coming up to join us.

"Hm... Not what I heard." He shakes his head laughing.

"You need to stop going out at night or I will never-" I hit him.

"Shut up." I say walking away. Saitou looks red as he rushes off the other way with a confused Mei making Souji laugh.

~~~

"So how did you know we were taking Mei out?" Heisuke asks when I join them. I laugh.

"I know everything that goes on around here. You didn't think that I wouldn't know did you?" He blushes looking away.

"So how much do you really know that goes around here?" Shinpachi asks.

"Enough to know that you three always sneak out every three to four days when Hijikata gets a lot of work. Then you sneak back in after drinking and fooling around through the side entrance in case that Sannan is up." They're all staring at me. "You three are vary predictable." I defend.

"Predictable?" Sano asks laughing.

"Yep and you should know that one of the geishas you see regularly steals a little of each of your money after you get drunk when she helps you up to leave." I add making their mouths drop open.

"I told you I didn't take your money!" Heisuke shouts at Shinpachi.

"How was I suppose to know?" Shinpachi defends.

We see Saitou running over and all of us stand. "Where's Mei?" I immediately ask.

"It's your brother, he's where you fought the demon yesterday." I grab his arm and I go at top speed.

Saitou is in small shock but snaps out of it when we see Mei being held with a sword at her throat. "I made a deal, let her go." I growl.

"I know, he told me and his name is Minori. I just wanted to get your attention." He smirks letting Mei run to me. She jumps in my arms and I give her a hug.

"Stay with Saitou until I'm done. Saitou, I don't want her to see this." He nods taking her.

"I'm not that bad that you have to dismiss her." He smirks.

"What do you want?" His eyes narrow.

"Check up, see how my big sis is doing."

"All of you keep coming here. I understand training but-"

"I know. But humans and furies... They worry that they'll taint you."

"I never had anything pure in my life to begin with." I say crossing my arms.

"Which is why we want to stop it before it's too late."

"I know you mean well, and I understand where you stand. But until I am free of responsibility, I will not step down to join you." I feel the blow as I'm knocked to the ground. I don't react.

"We are you're family!" He screams at me.

"Then where was my family when they used me? When they hurt me and made me a slave? No, I did not have a family then and so I had to make my own." I say standing up.

"But now we're here! Now we have you!" He says shaking me by the shoulders.

"Then tell me why none of you were there! Tell me why all of you were here when I was-" I was knocked down again. "At least I do not hurt my family. I protect it, I love it and I will give up everything to see them live on safely even without me." I say making his eyes widen. I get up again.

"I will see you again." Is all he says as he disappears.

I hear people running and turn to see them. I quickly wipe away the blood that had leaked from my mouth. Souji held me at arms length.

"You okay?" I nod and he uses his thumb to wipe away the blood I had missed. He pulls me in his arms when he hears my breaths begin to quiver.

"What did he want?" Hijikata asks when I pull away. I sigh running a hand through my hair.

"Um... Nothing. He just came to see how I was doing. But Mei is recognized as a part of the Shinsengumi now and so they won't try to hurt her." They nod. "I need to talk to her. Excuse me." I say and they let me go.

~~~

"Saitou, I got her for now." He nods getting up from where he sat to give us privacy. I sit down in front of her. "Mei... How are you doing?"

"Those were the people who attacked us. How do you know them? Did they kill your family too?"

"In a way yes. I'm ashamed to say that those people are my family. I don't associate with them though." She looks up horrified. "I never really knew them because I was taken away as a baby so I guess we're not truly family." She nods understanding, having to live with no real relatives all her life.

"I'm sorry you ended up with me." I finally whisper.

"No, I ended up with my moms idol and I'm here with really nice men! I was mostly always around girls and they usually didn't talk much." I chuckle.

"Just let me know if you ever had enough." She nods.

"But I don't think I ever will." She smiles.