Hakuouki: Dragon Circles in Quiet Summer

Chapter 25

I got up in the early morning hours and I was alone. It felt... Different. I shakily get up and notice Souji was there sitting against the wall. This was his room.

The sun wasn't even up as I went to take a bath and change into a sleep robe. Nothing processed through me until I sat on the steps looking at the trees and lightening sky.

I let my face fall in my hands as I begin to cry. Needles, blood, fans, it all made me shudder and cry harder. My own fans... When I thought it couldn't happen to me after everything I've been through, I was shamed with my own two weapons.

Someone wraps their arms around me and I just lean into them crying. I recognized this frame as Hijikata.

He held me tight as I began to break down. I had no more strength. I thought before that I had nothing left but besides the Shinsengumi and my clan but... Whatever I had that I took for granted was now gone. Deflated and drowned in needles and blood.

I truly had nothing left in me.

~~~

I wake up in Souji's bed again where Souji watches me from the wall. He grins when I catch him staring at me. "Someone's awake." I say nothing. I just pull the blankets around me tighter.

I hear him get up and I flinch when I feel his touch. He freezes, unsure, but I take his arm and pull it securely around me. I let out a shaky breath and turn around.

I look up into his green eyes and I get why it felt different the first time I woke: he wasn't there.

I put my arms around him and press my ear to his chest. His steady beat is enough to make me cry again.

He holds me tight as I listen to his heart. Eventually I calm down enough and lay back so I can wipe my tears away.

"How are you feeling?" He asks and I chuckle.

"Is that the first thing your going to make me say?" He laughs.

"I thought I should ask." I grin.

"Well than I'm okay. Just... Stay here with me." I say and he nods.

~~~

I was sleeping on edge already when I heard it. "Sakura!"

I let out a scream, feeling tears and dread fill me automatically. I scramble back on instinct, covering my face when I was backed against the wall. "S-Sakura?" I feel a hand touch me and I flinch.

"D-don't touch me." I whimper and I feel hands go on my shoulders making me shrink.

"Sakura, it's Souji. You're here, you're safe." He runs my arm and I look up. Everyone was at the door, Mei a little means away, and Souji was there with an encouraging smile.

I close my eyes, relaxing. "Sakura, I'm sorry." I hear Mei say shyly. I open my eyes and give her a smile.

"No, no, come here. I missed you too." I say unraveling myself so I could hug her. I take that time to gather myself when I hold her.

"Hey, we missed you too. Don't we get a hug?" Heisuke asks and I laugh. I give each one a hug and kiss making some of them blush. Hijikata gave me a smile and Kondou held me for longer than anyone and Souji snuck in behind him to get a kiss. I smile as I give him one.

"Are you gonna eat with us? I made it just for you!" Mei smiles.

"Sure. But-" Souji picks me up.

"I figured it would come to this." He grins making me roll my eyes.

He sets me down right next to him so I can lean against him and I'm given Mei's food. It looks and smells good so I know she worked hard on it. "Thanks." I say and she nods.

She watches as I take the first bite. I smile at her nodding and she smiles back. She turns to talk to Heisuke and I look down. What was in this?

I feel my eyes water as I force myself to swallow. I put a hand over my mouth trying to stomach it. But I felt my stomach churn. The taste was still in my mouth.

I tried something else and it was the same. Another and it's the same. I couldn't try anymore.

"Sakura? You alright?" Sano notices my flushed face and sweat that began to bead on my forehead.

"I can't." I mumble as I stumble up. I slam open the door and fall to my knees as I threw up in the grass. I gaged over and over as I threw up what little contents I had out.

Souji rubbed my back as tears sprung to my eyes. They streamed down my face. "It tastes like salt." I whimper. "All of it."

~~~

Yamazaki was examining my mouth. He tried to wipe my tongue and have me try food again. I threw up again.

"It's just... You're mind is making it taste like salt. But at your current health, you can't stop eating. You're already as weak as it is." I look away. "Maybe I should call your brother and tell him you're awake. Maybe he can help you-"

"No! Don't call him. I don't want to see him."

"Sakura it's not his fault-"

"No, you don't understand. He, he-"

"I'm sorry, okay? Forgive me. It was all my fault and none of this would've happened if I hadn't taken it off." Fuyu appears.

"Get out! Get out! Get out!" I yell scrambling back.

"Sakura please-"

"No! Stop it! I don't want to see you! I don't want to see any Tatsumaru! I don't even want this mark!" I yell.

"What? No don't blame the others, it was my fault-"

"No! That's not what I'm saying!" I let my head fall in my hands.

"Than what are you trying to say?" He kneels in front of me, grabbing my wrists. "Please, I couldn't sleep or eat. I couldn't stop looking. Just tell me what I can do-"

"They're angry at me." I whisper in a emotion filled voice.

"Who?"

"All of them. They're angry. Every time he killed me, they found me. They're so angry..."

"Who?"

"The ancestors. They said they'd do horrible things to me if our clan failed. Because it would be my fault. They're. So. Angry. I couldn't take it but they wouldn't let me go. They wouldn't let me-"

"Shh. It's fine. It's fine." He pulls me into his arms. I try to fight against his arms but my strength is next to none and his is infinite and absolute.

I fight and fight until my strikes and moves become slower, even more weak until I finally can't hold my own.

I fall into his arms and I don't get back up again.