The Bloody Jasmine • Samurai X

Chapter 2 | The Lost Cat

"Mei!"

Iizuka's voice was heard faintly from Mei's room, causing her to immediately but calmly open her eyes. "I've overslept." She spoke to no one in particular. The brunette sat up on her futon and rubbed her temples tiredly, before using the hair tie on her wrist to tie her hair up.

As Mei walked out of her room, a certain scarlet-haired assassin was standing in front of the door to his room. "Overslept, eh? Exhausted from all the killing last night?" Iizuka appeared in front of her and smirked, "Good morning, Iizuka-san." She said simply and walked passed him.

"Good morning Kenshin." Mei said as she walked passed him, causing him to slightly mumble a few words. As the brunette made her way outside, she had bumped into another individual. "Oh..! Um, forgive me." She said, embarrassed.

"It's alright." The soft, feminine voice spoke, causing Mei to switch her gaze to her. In only a few seconds, Mei had realised that it was the woman Kenshin brought home last night.

"My name is Tomoe, sorry for causing you trouble. I was drunk." She picked up the vase that had fallen from her grasp and got up, slightly bowing.

"Tomoe..." Mei mumbled quietly before getting up herself, "I'm Mei. Mei Hayashi. It's nice to meet you." Mei returned the gesture and excused herself, wanting to change into her assassin attire and and refresh herself.

As she finished her morning routine, Mei went to the dining room only to find the ladies display breakfast in front of the Clan's members. The brunette took her usual seat beside Kenshin and adjusted her arms guards.

"You almost missed breakfast." The red head commented quietly.

"I was slightly delayed for my morning routine." She replied and awaited her breakfast. She glances at the ladies, before furrowing her brow when she sees Tomoe serve breakfast to most of the men, "Huh, a new face." Someone from amongst the men, "Hey, look at this pretty thing!" Says another.

"My name is Tomoe." The black haired female stated calmly, "Eat up." She says before getting up and walking away. "That's the woman you brought in last night, isn't it?" Iizuka makes his way to sit beside Kenshin, "She's quality. Where'd you find her? How did she taste?" He asks, causing Kenshin to put his bowl down. "The landlady told me you let her sleep in your room."

Mei sighs, "Must you have such a disgustingly perverted mind, Iizuka-san?" Iizuka completely ignores Mei's question as he stuffs a few fruits in his mouth.

Kenshin takes his sword, as if about to attack someone. As the room quiets down, he stands up and walks away. "Geez, what a sensitive guy..."

Mei's eyes follow Kenshin as he walks out the dining room, causing her to sigh and finish her breakfast.

• • •

The day moved on in it's usual pace as everyone engaged in their own activities.

Mei was walking the halls of the Kohagi House as she spots a familiar black-haired woman sweeping her room. Mei walks into the room and quietly cleared her throat.

"Listen..." Mei said out of the blue, grabbing Tomoe's attention.

"I don't exactly know how you were acquainted with Kenshin, but forget what happened last night and leave." Mei looks at her as her hair fell beside her face, "Is it dangerous for me to stay here?"

"You have family, don't you? They'll be worried." Mei says, slightly losing her patience. "If I had a home to go to, I wouldn't be out so late getting drunk." Tomoe replied. Mei furrowed her brows in a confused manner and eyed her.

"You have no home?" Mei asks, earning a quiet 'No' from Tomoe's lips, "I'm a lost cat."

Mei processes the situation and looks at her, her eyes slightly softening, "Kyoto is a dangerous city, you should find yourself a place to stay. It's not safe here."

Tomoe stays quiet for only a few moments, before opening her mouth to speak. "I've had the same conversation with him..." She says quietly, causing Mei to shoot her gaze to her. "I'm finished with your room. Excuse me, I'll be going."

"Um...Tomoe?" Mei calls, "Yes?"

"...Thank you."

Tomoe nods her head and left the room, causing Mei to sink in her thoughts. 'A lost cat, you say? What's her story, anyway?' Mei shakes her head and decides to leave her room to meet with Kenshin and the rest.

After Mei left her room, the brunette finds Kenshin speaking to the landlady, asking her to hire Tomoe. Mei faintly heard their conversation, but paid no mind to it and moved on.

Soon, Iizuka had approached Kenshin and informed him with some news. And with exchanging only a few words, they both left the Kitchen.

With time passing, the sun started to set. Mei stood outside the Kohagi house and inhaled the fresh air, slowly closing her eyes. Only seconds later, Iizuka saw the female assassin and walked to her, in order to share some information.

"Mei--"

"I already know you have information to share. Did you do the background check on Tomoe yet?" Mei asked, her eyes remained closed. "How did you know?" Iizuka sighs, "There's no need for unnecessary questions, is she a spy?"

"No, she hasn't made any outside contact. She's probably formally trained, judging from her handwriting - She's good with a brush."

Mei stays quiet for a moment, "...I see. Can she possibly be from the Kanto? The brunette asks. "It's a possibility. But we can't confirm it yet. We can't figure out what she used to do." Mei took the time to let this new information sink in.

"So basically, her background is unknown?" Mei spoke up. Iizuka nodded his head, "It's likely she came from a rich family that fell under hard times. Her parents died, and she stumbled here. It happens a lot."

"That's true, but can we trust this story?"

"I'm sure we can." Iizuka nods his head and looks at the sky, "Have you told Katsura-san?"

"He knows everything already."

"Good. Thank you for this information, have a good night."

And with that, the brunette enters the Inn and made her way to Kenshin's room. Without knocking, she walks inside in order to check on him, as she usually does. "Kenshin?"

"What?" He replies, "Are you alright?" She closes the door as she sits opposite him and watches him wipe the blood from his cut, "I'm fine." He replied coldly. "It's bleeding again."

"I'm aware of that." He looks at her for a second then back at the white cloth, "Katsura-san has a lot of worries on his mind," Kenshin comments.

"He's the leader of a Clan of assassins; Isn't that only normal?" Mei crosses her arms under her chest, "Mei, I find your unnecessary sarcasm tedious. If you would be kind enough to reduce your usage of it, that would be appreciated."

"I wasn't even being sarcastic. How rude of you - Saying I'm tedious..." She mumbled the last part and let out a short sigh, "Why are you saying that anyway?"

"He suspects there's a traitor amongst the Clan, we've had an ambush."

"An ambush?"

After nodding and explaining the situation, Mei sighs as her frown deepens, "Just...be wary of the Shinsen Gumi, Mei." He says, also sighing. "Understood." She gets up and dusts her attire, "I'll be going now, have a good night Kenshin."

She says and heads out, gently closing the door behind her. Mei made her way to her bedroom and closed the door, sitting down on her futon and drowning in her thoughts. 'Damn it...a traitor. Who? and why? I'm having a hunch it's...wait, maybe it isn't...' Mei thought to herself and lied down.

Even though so many thoughts ran across her mind, the female hitokiri found herself dozing off, her eyes shutting in merely a few minutes.

終わり