Reminiscing The Past • Rurouni Kenshin

Chapter 21 | Taking Action

It's been a few weeks, and the Black Birds were taking action - They have put Japan and every city in it - In ruins. With the flow of weeks, Japan's currently most feared group of mercenaries were killing and breaking everything apart.

The Police Department were losing control over the group, yet they tried their hardest to stop them - They had to stop them.

Mei and Sumiko weren't at ease, especially Mei. The brunette was afraid of what the Black Birds might do. She hadn't the slightest idea on what they wanted to achieve, yet she wanted to know ever so badly.

It was past midnight; The atmosphere hadn't changed for weeks. The darkest of alleys got even darker, even the stars hadn't shined as bright as they used to.

Mei lied on the ground, her hands to her eyes, and her mind thinking as deep as the ocean.

"How do we stop them...?" She asked herself, sighing sorrowfully.

Mei sat up, the reflection of the moon shining on her. Mei used the ribbon in her wrist to tie her hair up, letting her bangs fall directly on her face.

She was in her home, still in her purple Haori and grey baggy Hakama. She didn't even bother to change, since she was going to return back to PD anyway.

The brunette walked back and fourth across her apartment, her pointer finger and thumb placed under her chin as an indication of her thinking.

"Okay - Let me get everything straight." She said, and let out an exhausted sigh.

'The Black Birds - Japanese spelling; 黒い鳥
A group of mercenaries attacking Japan at will. A group of 14 people...supposedly, all of them are males - But why? Why are they doing this? What do they want to achieve by killing people? I cannot let murder be brought into the Meiji Era...I just can't.'

Mei thought to herself.

The brunette flopped herself on her futon, closing her eyes - As if she were defeated. "Maybe I should just sleep it off..." She spoke quietly, before closing her eyes and steadying her breathing.

BOOM!

And suddenly, a loud sound came from outside the residence. Mei immediately opened her eyes and sat up, an expression she hasn't used for a decade was evident on her face;

Her battle expression.

"What the hell was that!?"

She exclaimed.

Soon, she found herself dashing out of her home and seeing fire from a distance. She gasped in shock and quickly acknowledged her surroundings and found everyone running. "Oh no..." She said quietly, before the tragic screaming of civilians intensified.

"I knew this would happen...!" She slightly panicked, before beginning to run to the Kamiya Dojo. "I hope it didn't reach there yet..!"

KABOOM! BANG! BANG! BANG!

The sound of gunshots and men exclaiming brought shivers down Mei's spine.

"Ha! Get every one of 'em, boys!" A man with a deep voice laughed aloud, earning chuckles of agreement from his comrades. 'My sword..! We're not prepared for this!' Mei said, her panic intensifying.

With only a few steps left, Mei found herself getting closer to the Dojo. Kenshin, Kaoru, Sanosuke and Yahiko were already outside - As if they were preparing to attack.

"Oi!" Mei exclaimed once she reached them, placing her hands on her knees as she caught her breath. "Mei..! Oh, we thought you'd never come!" Kaoru exclaimed and held a worried look on her face.

"Are you all okay?" Mei asked, "We're fine, that we are. Are you alright, that is?" Kenshin asked, his eyes flashing from gold to amethyst in merely a few seconds.

Mei sighed and rubbed her forehead, her heartbeat quickening. "We're not prepared for this, Kenshin!" She exclaimed, her hands slightly shaking.

"Mei, it's going to be fine, that it is. Don't panic, that you must not." He tried calming her down, but the sounds of metal and gunshots were blocking out his gentle voice.

"This ain't right..! We gotta do somethin'!" Sanosuke interjected. "Yeah! We can all help you, Mei!" Yahiko threw his fist in the air in determination.

Mei widened her eyes in shock, "Are you all insane!? Of course not! That is out of the question!" She exclaimed.

"But why!? If we all work together, we can beat the Black Birds for sure!" Kaoru interfered and tried to reason with Mei.

"I said NO! Don't you see everything around you!? This is War! This isn't just a normal fight - It's war!"

Everyone quieted down, anxiety in the atmosphere. With every minute that flies, another explosion occurred. "Mei, you're being ridiculous right now..!" Sanosuke said, growing irritated.

"You know what? Just shut up everyone!" Mei exclaimed harshly, causing everyone to gasp in shock.

'No...that look in her eyes...it is not normal, that it is not...' Kenshin thought to himself, his eyes showing a look of worry. He saw something in her eyes; something that he didn't want to see - Something he hasn't seen for 10 years.

"Mei, calm down, that you--"

"--Why don't you just let me think!? Just be quiet for a second, goddammit!" Mei yelled angrily, before stomping away from them in order to get some space.

"Why is she acting like that?" Kaoru asked Kenshin. "The war..." Kenshin sighed sadly, "What?" Yahiko asked. "She's affected by the war, that she is. Chimamire nō Jasumin...is still in her, that she is." He spoke softly, another sad sigh escaping his lips.

"Chimamire nō Jasumin? Kenshin, what are you implying?" Kaoru asked.

"Miss Kaoru, Yahiko, there's something I need to tell you, that there is." Kenshin looked at them both, his eyes indicating his sadness. "Kenshin, what's wrong?" Kaoru asked worriedly. "Kenshin, c'mon - Why are you bringing up the female hitokiri?"

Kenshin quieted for a moment, "The Mei Hayashi you know now..." He began.

"Is the legendary - Chimamire nō Jasumin."

To be continued...