Hakuouki: Dragon Circles in Quiet Summer

Chapter 20

I was out at night working when I felt the familiar feeling of being summoned. If it was Fuyu he would know we could speak but since it wasn't him it was Souji.

I immediately go to him, taking off my mask. "What's wrong?" He isn't startled.

"Mei, I don't know what happened but she's starting to attack us. We don't want to hurt her but we can't stop her if we don't... There was blood all over her." My eyes widen.

"Take me there." He nods and leads me by the hand.

~~~

There she was, somehow she got a sword and all the others were fending her off just barley. They obviously we're holding back.

I block her next attack, appearing in front of everyone. "Stay back." I order. Hesitantly the do what I say. Mei retracts her sword.

"Your blood. I want more of your blood!" She laughs. It made my body go cold.

"Mei, I don't want to do this with you." I say putting away the fans. "Where's the mask? Did you try-" She laughs more.

"I broke it! Now give me your blood!" She strikes but I dodge.

"Think about your mom. She wouldn't want you like this. She wanted you to be happy. Don't you care about everything she's done for you?" I ask desperately hoping it would work.

"If I say yes can you give me your blood?" Her red eyes... This wasn't Mei. "I don't care about my mom. She was a horrible mom. She was a monster."

"Enough!" My voice booms across the courtyard making everything silent. "I will not allow you talk about her like that. Everyone is different so I knew the mask wouldn't work for you. I'm sorry Mei but this is the only way to get you back." I pull on my mask and take out both fans making her laugh.

"So you think I'm a monster? I knew you were lying. You're no better than my previous master-"

I had kicked her in her stomach and she was now rolling over. "Mei!" They all yell. I turn to them stopping them with my eyes.

"This is the only way." I explain.

"By hurting her!?"

"Yes. Don't try to interfere in what you don't understand." I say coldly just as I feel small teeth clamp down on my arm.

This was for Mei...

I punch her backwards.

Kaede...

I force her to the ground, twisting her arm behind her back painfully.

The Shinsengumi.

I snap her elbow in, breaking it, causing her scream.

Who was this really for...? Her, Kaede, the Shisnengumi, me!? Whoever this was for, this was not Mei. This was not her, so was this okay? To not feel the dropping of my stomach or the pain in my heart? Yes... It was what I wanted to be true but her screams told me not.

"What is your name!?" I yell at her, holding her elbow, ready to squeeze. My yell makes the others freeze. "Tell me your name!" I yell at her tightening my hold.

"Mei!" She screams when I tighten it again.

"Who are they?" She growls when I force her head to look at the men staring. Horrified? Confused?

"I hate you! I'll kill you!" She yells but screams when I break her pointer finger.

"Who are they!?" I scream.

"Stop!" I break her middle finger.

"Who. Are. They."

"Shinsengumi."

"What are their names?" She stays silent and I break the index.

"Saitou!" She yells. "Sano... Heisuke, Shinpachi, Hijikata, Kondou, Sannan." She whimpers but her hair is still white and her eyes are still red.

"Again." I command.

"No..."

"Again!" I yell breaking her pinky. Each finger was broken and I was holding it in place to make sure she wouldn't heal. She takes longer than she needed and I let her feel me grab her thumb.

"Saitou!" She says quickly. "Saitou, Sano, Heisuke, Shinpachi, Hijikata, Kondou, Sannan."

"Again. Don't stop or I break your spine."

"Saitou, Sano, Heisuke, Shinpachi, Hijikata, Kondou, Sannan. Saitou, Sano, Heisuke, Shinpachi, Hijikata, Kondou, Sannan. Saitou, Sano, Heisuke, Shinpachi, Hijikata, Kondou, Sannan. Saitou..."

Her hair goes dark. "Don't move." She whimpers. "This is going to hurt." I tell her.

"No, no, no, please-" She screams as I force her arm back right. I hold her arm flat down against the concrete to snap her fingers back as well.

"They won't heal right if they stay like it." I explain as I pop them back in place. Each one involving screams, cries, and kicking. When she's finally done I get off of her and the others run to her to see how she is.

I give them space and watch as she stumbles up. "Sakura..." She whimpers, approaching me. But I don't give in. I slap her.

"Sakura, she's had enough." Saitou says.

"I told you not to drink all of it! Because of your ignorance this happened! Because of you I had to do that to you! I had to hurt you! I had to be that person again!" I yell at her making her cry as it tore off the mask. Tears filled my eyes.

"I'm sorry..."

"I trusted you with it."

"I... I..."

"Morning and night, that's it. If this ever happens again..." I take a shaky breath. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry. This is my fault. I'm just frustrated that I let this happen. Just... Clean up. I don't want to..." I feel a tear fall down my face. "I can't deal with this. We'll have a talk tomorrow."

"Sakura, I'm sorry. I don't-"

"Shut up!" I scream at her. "Just shut up and let me calm down!" I scream and Souji immediately has his arms around me as I begin to break down with tears streaming down my face.

"Saitou, take her." Hijikata says.

I'm still crying and Souji comforts me, holding me tight. I hold on to him just as tight. He picks me up letting my face be against his chests.

He sets me down in his bed. "It's fine, I could just-"

"Don't. Plus I miss sleeping with you." He winks making me give a shaky laugh. He wraps his arms around me and I look up at him. He grins wider.

"What?"

"You look cute when you cry." I narrow my eyes.

"Shut up." He laughs.

"Just being honest." I roll my eyes and he gives me a kiss. I laugh and kiss him back.

"I'm going to sleep." I say snuggling down so my head was against his chest. His heartbeat... Why was it so reassuring?

I thought that as I fell asleep in his arms. His arms told me everything would be okay but my mind knew better than my heart. That was what life has taught me.