Since then a few days had passed, quickly in Mei's opinion. She had gotten used to the people of the Roshigumi. Though still didn't tolerate Serizawa's casual disregard of others opinions and the morality of right and wrong. The people who didn't particularly like Serizawa took a liking to her once they heard of the argument and statements she courageously said to Serizawa.

Mei had been... less on edge than she would care to admit. Ever since leaving her home she had always been looking over her shoulder, always on alert. Never getting time to just relax and enjoy herself and the things around her. Like the soft chirping of birds in the mornings and afternoons, or the soft whistle of the wind. Not even the sunrise or the moon, or the sunset as it allowed surreal colors glow in the sky. For her, all those things should be cherish, for one day one may never hear it again.

This particular day, Mei had been sitting upon the edge of the floorboards and allowed her body to bathe in the bright sunlight. She wore a Black and gold version of her dress that the Roshigumi had captured her in.

"Eh? You want me to kill you, don't you kid?"

Another thing she couldn't stand tolerating was Okita's idiocy and impulsive behavior when in a bad mood.

Slowly, she stood up and walked towards the sounds of a man shouting in anger at Okita. As she drew closer, two figures were at the gates of their temporary headquarters, "...?" A rouge samurai, which she assumed, was standing in front of Okita.

"Who do you think you are, smart ass little punk!?" He shouted. Okita stood silently, a smirk on his lips, per usual. "You think I'm trash? I serve this country honorably! That family deserves to be cut down by my sword for disrespecting me! That snot nosed brat of a little bitch should've gone first!"

"That's what you think." Okita stated.

Mei walked over, her eyes obscured by her bangs and her hand reached for the hilt of her sword. She glared down at the man.

"Mei!" Okita said as he grabbed onto her wrist, "Calm down, this is not the time."

"What?" The other man laughed, "A Woman? Wielding a sword?! What a joke!" He looked at Mei with amused and a lustful gaze as it roamed her body, "Such a beautiful woman shouldn't wield a blade~ You should be a geisha. Such a body and face would earn you great money~ Especially if you gave yourself to me-" He was cut off by her knee crashing into his crotch. Falling to the ground on his knees, hands holding his manhood, he growled weakly, "Y-You... whore!..."

She was about to kick the side of his head but Okita held her body close to his, "Mei!... Calm down!... He's just another idiot.. Don't mind him." He was confused at her actions. Why did she lose her composure so quickly? Not even he could make her do that.

Mei glared daggers at the man before her.

"Get this guy outta here!" Okita told close by members of the Roshigumi. Said members hurried over and did as told; throwing the man out like he was no less than a piece of trash.

"Mei what is the matter with you?" Okita asked. He had never seen her, in the days that passed, so... Angry. So irritated. Not even Serizawa got her to the point where she looked scary and seriously lifted a hand to the hilt of her weapons. Despite his usual personality around her; being the type to tease her and make her upset, he did gain some sense of need to protect her, however possibly because of she was his page. It was an odd feeling for him so he never mentioned it to anyone. Not even Kondou.

Mei didn't make any attempt to answer. No writing on the dirt with her finger, no going for a scroll and paintbrush. Her bangs hid her eyes as her lips began to move, Okita's eyes widening a bit as he looked at them. Though he heard not a voice but something below a whisper, as if it was the wind speaking through the crevices between the trees leafs; before she harshly pulled away from Okita and walked off in anger.

"Mei...?" Okita mumbled before sighing and running a hand through his bangs, "Geez," he sighed, "Women like her are so troublesome..." Despite that he looked up at the afternoon sky and opted it being best to give her space. "She needs a breather.."

-Mei-

Later, the sun had set and the moon rose up high in the dark sky.

Mei sat on the grass under a cherry blossom tree. Watching the pink petals blow in the slight breeze. Times like these, she often thought about her past. Her lightening colored eyes stared up at the starry sky, looking for constellations and the milky way. She had calmed down by then from earlier in the day. Slowly getting to her feet she made her way to the court yard by the front gates, she felt like practicing with her sword. It had been some time since she last unsheathed her treasured weapons, and she felt that if those people that killed her dearest friend would come for her anytime soon, she'd be rusty and risk death. She wasn't ready to die yet, and especially not by their hand.

As she let out a silent sigh, she pulled herself from such thoughts and found herself at her destination. She unsheathed her Katana Muramasa, and took in a deep breath as she held the blades edge in the opposite direction that it normally would. However even before she had lifted her sword a chill ran down her spine.

Turning in urgency she lifted her sword to defend an attack but no one was behind her to inflict an attack of any kind. She was probably just paranoid at that point thanks to her earlier thoughts. But that theory alone made her mood worsen. She didn't want to go back... to the times she always had to look over her shoulder. Those times she couldn't enjoy the small things in life. The sun, chirping birds, to even enjoy her meals. It was hell... living like that.

"Mei!" Someone called out to her, grabbing her attention from any further negative thoughts.

Turning the woman spotted Heisuke, Harada, and Shinpachi. Her eyes were a bit wide and quickly she sheathed her sword. She nodded her head up a bit as if to say, 'What?'

"Have you seen Souji? He ran off a while ago after Hijikata said some pretty harsh things.." Heisuke asked.

"Yea, he was pretty upset. We were hoping he would've run off to you to at least tell you where he was going." Harada said lightly.

All three men frowned as Mei shook her head, a frown of her own on her lips. With a silent, deep, sigh she made her way towards the gates.

"Hey! Mei where are you going?!" Shinpachi called out.

Mei waved her hand at them before using the sheathe of Muramasa to write into the ground, Find, Okita. Hold onto Kusanagi so people don't think I ran off. She tossed over her short sword in that moment to with that she pulled off into a dead sprint and headed out into town. Where the hell are you Okita? She thought irritably. That man was a pain in the ass sometimes, and she wondered would it have been better if he had killed her the day she lost. Maybe she wouldn't have to deal with so much stress about him. If he ever did something bad, it'd reflect on her as well. It was bad enough people think she can't be trusted. She didn't need everyone thinking she was anything like Okita. I swear when I find him, I'm gonna kick his ass. She thought in annoyance before finally slowing her sprint to a fast walk.

She searched the town for some time before she stopped at the bridge, underneath the shadow of a tree. Okita... You little- ugh! She looked up in anger before it suddenly disappeared once she saw familiar reddish brown hair and emerald eyes. Her own lightning orbs widening in surprise, Oh... That's where you are. Found you. She thought sheepishly. As she was about to grab a rock and throw it in his direction to get his attention, that familiar chill ran down her spine, but so much worse. This time she knew someone was behind her.

"That your friend, little Shi yaojing." Said a low voice, lips pressing to her ear and causing her to freeze and tense up in place. "That your friend? The guy you lost too?" Her eyes widened considerably, "It makes me wonder if hes really that strong. Strong enough to take down a Shi child. It makes me wanna fight him and see how strong he is for myself." The voice was dripping with malicious intent in that statement and she put a hand to her Katana. "You make any move to gain his attention I won't hesitate to kill him." it said before pulling her along by her arm. "Lets have a small chat."

It took every bit of power not to throw something, make a noise, anything to get Okita's attention. But her body disobeyed her wishes in the end either way, even if she would make up her mind and try to involve Okita. Her body refused. Before she knew it she was pulled into the treeline and further into the forest and released. Four or five people surrounded her a good few yards away, not including the one that grabbed her.

"Well, Yaojing? Did you really think you could hide from us?" The voice said. It was distorted now that she thought about it. It was probably due to the person wearing a mask of some sort. She heard them put something on while they dragged her here. "Where's the Kusanagi blade? Your set isn't complete without it.. girl."

Mei gripped the hilt of Muramasa tightly. Her knuckles turning white at how tightly she held her precious treasure.

"What's wrong, Yaojing? Cat got your tongue?" The voice mocked and she turned quickly unsheathing her katana and cutting off the mask that was placed over the owners face. The male was grinning widely, "Ahh~ So I made you made from that statement? Do you want your voice back?" He chuckled as the owner stepped into the light. His blonde hair wavy in the most perfect of ways, and his dark green eyes glaring into her lightning ones. "Then grow a backbone. Find the will to break the curse you put yourself under." He teased. His Changshan pitch black with silver embroidery and a silver dragon wrapping around his clothes design. Two swords at his side.

Mei glared angrily at the man before lunging at him.

"That's right, Mei. Fight~" A grin on the mans face as he pulled out both his swords and the sounds of four or five other pairs of footsteps rushing at her reaching her ears as she aimed to attack.

I hate you! Uncle!

The sound of the slicing of flesh filling the air of the woods, followed by the splatter of blood.