The sound of swords clashing rung in the air, quickly. A crowd had formed around the two that had sparred from wooden swords to their true, lethal, weapons. At first it seemed nothing more than two individuals sparring before it escalated to the two really seemed like they wanted to kill each other, if not simply cause damage. The two jumped back from one another once again, staring down at each other. One with his usual cat-and-cream grin, while the other with her lips tugged into a faint smirk.

Okita placed the flat part of the blade onto the back of his left hand, separating his legs as he readied to attack again. Mei was across from him, feet spread a bit apart, holding out her kodachi in her right hand beside her, pointing the blade at him while her Katana was placed in her right hand with the blade pointed to her left and held up a bit in front of her face. No one moved, no one dared to even speak, the only noise in the air was the faint wind moving the trees and the heavy breaths that the two fighting individuals in the middle of the circle. Then suddenly the two lunged at each other yet again, like many times earlier, Okita was forced to take the offensive immediately once Kusanagi met with his blade. Following the first move, Mei changed the placing of her feet and began to spin on her feet, each time swinging her blade and aiming to cut Okita's torso or legs. Her movements were fluid, precise, quick and sharp. Most of the men in the crowd knew from the moment they had caught sight of their sparring, they would not stand a chance of winning against Mei. Okita held his own, but many of the men began to think Okita has met his match outside of the Roshigumi. Suddenly Mei changed her stance once more, it was too quick for many of the men to follow, but she moved her feet a bit closer together, placing her katana upon her shoulders while she held her kodachi in front of her. In a split second, she moved again and brought the blade that sat upon her shoulders overhead and down to strike down at Okita's head, the blade in her left hand moving behind her. Okita blocked it with little difficulty but barely blocked the next attack as she had brought the first blade down and behind her while the other previously behind her moved for the same attack. Narrowly missing his shoulder, but managing to cut the fabric in the front of his haori as she swung her sword again in a 360 movement.

"She's insane... I've never seen someone, other than Hajime, last this long against Souji…" Heisuke whispered so he didn't disturb the two sparring—rather fighting.

His friends close by to him nodded in agreement.

"You're right… But something about how she fights… Is almost…" Shinpachi trailed off as he began to try to figure out a word to describe Mei's fighting style.

"Impish…" Saito finished as he watched the two fight. "In my opinion, as Souji seems to be enjoying the challenge she brings forth, she looks as if she is having more fun toying with him. As if he is her prey." He watched intently at her movement. The smallest details in her features. He watched her lips struggle to fight off a growing grin. Throwing it to a trick of the light, for a moment it looked like her eyes were glowing. To him she resembled a fox playing with its food. Before he realized it, it was like the whole world slowed down and Mei's eyes locked with his own. It was as if her eyes spoke to him loudly, Play with me too. Before everything sped up again to normal and she turned her eyes back to Okita. "I recommend we stop them or this shall get out of hand." Saito said, yet all of those he was closest too, all caught the underlining urgency beneath his calm suggestion. His eyes followed her next move and in a blink of an eye he had charged forward.

"Saito?" His friends asked in surprise.

And before anyone could truly register it, the man stood between Okita and Mei, his blade drawn and blocking Mei's Katana which would've pierced Okita's chest if he had not blocked it. While Okita's blade was currently blocking another attack from Mei's kodachi. The impact of Saito's katana meeting Mei's was loud, proving that she was not holding back, and whether absently or intentionally, intending to kill him. "I believe that's enough." Saito advised.

Mei and Okita looked at the man with mixed emotions before they sighed and finally put their weapons away.

"What's wrong Hajime? Why'd you go and get in the way?" Okita asked with a smirk still playing on his lips.

"No particular reason. I just assumed you'd both would've gone for hours if we hadn't stopped you now." Saito stated lightly, sheathing his katana back into his scabbard. Turning away from both of them, he walked off back to where he originally was on the veranda.

"We have to greet the new recruits soon, both of you, hurry up and clean yourselves up. You smell like sweat and dirt." Hijikata stated as he began to walk off in the direction of his room. Though more than likely was going to wait in the room they were to meet the new recruits.

Mei and Okita sniffed themselves a bit before making faces. But right after Mei looked at Okita with an exacting glare. One of which said, I call bathing first. Easily getting the message she was trying to convey, he put his hands up in a surrendering motion. "Fine. You get to bathe first, but then you have to cook in place of me for lunch today." He smirked as he saw the frustrated look on her face. "Me and Harada will make sure no one walks in on you." He suggested as he already began to walk off. Mei didn't hesitate to follow. Harada not too far behind her.

Mei sighed contently as she laid in the large semi-large Ofuro. However, after some time she had shifted in the water, grabbing a wooden bucket in her hands as she leaned over the edge a bit and dumped the warm water onto her head and soaking her hair. After doing that she found herself leaning back against the Ofuro and sighed deeply. Lifting a hand a bit above her face she gazed at it with half-lidded eyes and a small frown tugging at her lips. Since the incident with the fury, Mei had not talked, and it was like she was constantly fighting something within her. At least that's what Okita and the others who were close to him thought, anyways. And to add salt to the wound, Mei had also seemed more on guard, closer to when they all first met than just mere days ago.

Okita and Harada stood just outside the door in the hall, guarding the bath house to make sure none of the guys wanted to peep on Mei. A couple of incidents where that happened resulted in many of their men almost getting killed.

At the memories, Mei found herself sighing deeply and washing herself down of all the gunk and sweat that accumulated on her body. These people… Aren't just respectable opponents… They aren't just… Men of the Roshigumi… They're my friends, huh? She thought back on the words. Whether the images of her deceased family were only dream induced, or the real spirits of those she could not save, their words could've come from their real bodies from how hard Mei took them to heart. I may see them as friends… But do they see me as a friend too?

Mei stood at the doorframe a bit with a tray of hot tea, glancing at all the new recruits. Two stood out from the rest by the air they gave off. Other than that, she didn't seem all too impressed by any of them. Once introductions were over she walked over to each of them and handed them some tea. It seemed that some of the new recruits didn't like her clothing, being she was a foreigner and that went against their political stand points, and gave her dirty looks.

"Don't even think about it guys." Okita spoke up, immediately catching onto to those men who glared at Mei. "If you piss her off enough, she will end your life. She wouldn't even need her weapons. On top of that, she's my page. So, lay a hand on her and I'll just have to kill you." He threatened with a playful tone, though those who knew Souji Okita, they'd know his threat was all too serious.

"Souji." Hijikata grumbled.

"Miss Mei is also the Roshigumi's substitute medic. She doesn't know too much, but she knows more than the average person." Sanan interrupted, "So, Yamazaki, I would like you to please work with her. She may have medical knowledge you do not possess, and vice versa. Please take this opportunity to its full potential."

Yamazaki only nodded, sparring the woman a glance, who in turn gave him a small nod then began to walk out.

"Mei, don't forget you're making lunch." Okita called out teasingly, giving the woman a playful smirk.

And in return, it earned him a deep sigh from the woman and a glare. Though she said nothing, she was less than pleased that she was stuck doing his chores. Turning away from him she made her way to the kitchen and put her hair up in a ponytail.

The day went on normally, as if the day they witnessed one of their friends as a fury, witnessed his death, had been nothing but a horrible dream. The only indication that the events of that night ever happened was the missing man, and Mei's almost-too-subtle-to-notice change in her demeanor. She still did everything she did before, but now it was like she gave off a very tiny, underlining predatory vibe off her aura. Very few noticed, Kondou being one of the many who could not tell, thought that wasn't anything new. But those of who did notice, knew she was different. And whatever it was that was happening, seemed to be slowly eating away at her.

Mei made it to the kitchen and easily began making lunch, wasting no time as if she did, Okita would only annoy her with complaining. And she did not want to hear Serizawa or Hijikata's annoying rabbles of her tardiness as they have done before. That night she had witnessed a fury once again made her put up her guard. It made her skin crawl every time she thought about it, remembering those events so clearly. It was like a never-ending nightmare she could not escape from even when her eyes were open. All she saw now in that courtyard was that man's corpse. The brilliant white hair, the bright crimson eyes filled with an unforgettable madness. The stench of blood that invaded her nostrils… The feeling of the crimson liquid on her skin. She wanted so desperately to forget what had happened, to feign ignorance. She was only a page, that was her situation now. She had no right to intervene in what the Roshigumi did… So why couldn't she let it go? She knew that much, yet her mind refused to allow her to suppress those memories.

I just want to forget… Let me forget… Mei thought, almost desperately, to any God that would listen. I have no right to ask for it… But damnit… Let this nightmare end… But as if to spite her, suddenly she felt a sharp and burning pain crawl down her spine. At first it only made her wince, but it grew excruciating. Tears sprang to her eyes as she backed away from the stove.

"You don't deserve mercy… Pampered little bitch…" Her uncle growled.

And it was like someone had dragged a burning blade down her spine, agonizingly slow. "St… o… p…" She whispered hoarsely before she turned around quickly. "I don't… want... to… re… mem… ber…" She pleaded as her tears fell down her cheeks. Her breathing slowly becoming ragged and strained, her throat felt like it was tightening. Her chest ached with pain as she could scarcely get enough breath into her lungs, and her back continued to burn. It's getting worse… Don't think… Don't think about it anymore…! All that was around her began to distort, to change. And now everything was engulfed in flames, her hands stained with blood, her clothes, and legs as well. Her body was smaller, and her wrists bound together by rope. "Stop…" Her voice shook, heavy with fear and pain. Her head felt heavy as she tried to lift it up, "Stop…!" She spoke louder. As she managed to lift her head, she only met with bright crimson glowing eyes filled with insanity. A large grin beneath it, sharp elongated teeth stained with blood.

"Blood…"

"Mei…?!" A concerned and very confused voice broke through her moment of insanity. And the scene before her disappeared into the normal kitchen of the Roshigumi.

Her head snapped up to the owner of the voice, and their stood Harada, eyes wide with worry.

"What's wrong…?! Are you hurt?" Harada slowly approached the woman on the floor, who had been and still was crying. "You just woke up yesterday, you shouldn't strain yourself, and just make Souji do his own chores." He stated as he reached out for her. "You keep making us worry…" He whispered gently before slowly kneeling in front of her, "I'll take over from here, you go rest up okay?" He suggested, slowly helping her to her feet.

Mei didn't say anything, her bangs obscuring her eyes, and only nodded in response. Without saying anything else, or waiting for him to, she bowed her head a bit and rushed out of the kitchen. Not even sparing him a look, not noticing the frown that tugged at his lips.

"Mei…? I need to tell the others… This is bad..." Harada whispered faintly.

I'm sorry this chapter sucks so bad ;-; There's no excuse, I shall make it up to all of you next chapter, but I just wanted to update now just in case I won't be able to update for a while since my laptop needs to get fixed.

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love,

Chess