The rest of the night was silent; however, Mei was called in to speak with Hijikata not too long after the initial incident…

"You would have me put a furies head on display in Osaka?" Saito asked as he and Mei sat across from Hijikata.

The black-haired man looked down for a moment before speaking. "Yes… the orders came from that commander. To compound matters, the ronin had falsely used the Roshigumi name to coerce money out of the common folk."

"Is putting his head up on display supposed to be some sort of warning?" Mei asked softly, her eyes staring into the bright purple hues of the man before her.

Hijikata sighed, "I opposed the idea, in fear we'd bring forth the masses ire if we follow through with it." The man had an almost pained look on his face as he explained himself. It was as if he was remembering the whole discussion he had with Serizawa. "This course of action… But he said a bad name beats none at all." The man looked at the two before him with almost a more pained look, "I need you to take Mei with you as well. It's come to my attention that Serizawa has been whispering about her to Nimi and others of his small court. So, to prevent anything rash possibly happening, I think it'd be safer for everyone if Mei went along with you."

Mei looked at Hijikata a bit surprised before bowing her head.

"Very well my friend…" Saito said as he and Mei slowly stood to their feet, "We shall leave for Osaka immediately. I am happy to travel with the inspectors as well." With a small bow of their heads they made their way to the door.

"I'm sorry… I always hand over the unpleasant work to you, Saito…" Hijikata smiled sadly, staring at the back of his old friend.

But Saito was quick to answer, "Not at all. Do not dwell upon it. I fully understand that such is my duty." And with that he watched Mei leave first and followed after her, closing the door behind him.

Mei did not wait for Saito and immediately went to walk to her room to dress herself. The woman wasn't surprised that Serizawa was the cause of some part of Hijikata's discomfort, though was surprised that his discomfort had also involved her well-being as well. More than anything, she hadn't expected Hijikata to give a damn. There's no point on dwelling over it… I'll leave and come right back…

"What about Li!"

Those words echoed in her mind and caused the woman to freeze up wherever she stood. She thought about her conversation with the woman named, Jun. She knew, more than anyone, her presence put the Roshigumi at risk. When she first told them her situation, it was a very generalized explanation, and she was thankful they didn't even remember the small detail about her coming to Japan with some friends. She knew it was technically lying, but how could she tell them the whole truth…? At first, they didn't even know about the Furies, about the Water of Life. Now they did, so when it first came up should she have told them what it was and its consequences that she's experienced? She is an outsider. She had no right…

But then why did she speak up that night?

Out of anger. You had and have every right to be angry at those monsters.

Mei's eyes widened like saucers before she suddenly felt weak. Her body shook trying to keep her body weight up and she immediately grabbed onto a pillar to keep herself standing. There was a cold shiver down her spine and the hair on the back of her neck stood up on end.

You have every right to hate them. Be angry with the Roshigumi for not listening. For being ignorant.

"Shut up. These aren't my thoughts." She whispered desperately, as if trying to convince herself of the matter. Slowly she lifted a hand to her face and covered part of her face, her uncovered eye staring at the floor wide and in shock.

You know that isn't true. I am what you were meant to be, what your parents tried to hide from you. We're meant to kill anyone that crossed our family.

"Stop." Mei pleaded softly before she ran off towards her room. It's getting stronger… Why is this happening…? Once she closed the door behind her she felt her whole body go numb and fell to her hands and knees, crawling to what little belongings she had left by the desk. Being a semi-medium bag to hold some clothes and medicine. Reaching into the silk red bag she pulled out a small glass vile, smaller than the one that holds the Water of Life, with dark purple liquid inside it. Opening the small thing she pressed it to her lips and threw her head back a bit, downing its contents into her system. "… I have to somehow go out and get some more…" Mei whispered as she looked at the last vile of medicine she had left in her bag.

Mei walked alongside Saito silently, ignoring the two behind them. They were five hours into the trip and already she felt a bit sick again. The medicine had not lasted as long as she originally anticipated. It used to work for 18 hours… Now it only works for 5? I need more… Mei thought as she inconspicuously lifted her hand a bit in front of her near her stomach, and watched it shake. It wasn't so bad that the others she was with could notice, but it wouldn't be long before it became noticeable by not only them, but passersby would notice.

"Is there something the matter, Mei?"

Mei jumped a bit, pulling away from her thoughts, as she heard Saito say her name. She looked over at him from the corner of her eyes before looking ahead of them, "I'm fine… Why do you ask?" She murmured.

"You seem a bit deep in thought. Yamazaki has been calling you for some time without any response from you." Saito explained before he glanced back at the man in question.

Blinking with confusion, Mei turned to Yamazaki a bit, "What? Did you need something?"

Yamazaki cleared his throat a bit before speaking low enough for only her to hear, "If you don't mind me asking, could you tell me a little more about yourself. As it is my job to do a background check on everyone now, as is Shimada's, we would like to know about you to assure you are no threat and have no surprises for us."

Mei looked at the two, unnoticing of the fact now Saito looked at her a bit curiously, before looking ahead a bit. Slowing down her pace so she was behind Saito a bit, now walking between Saito and the inspectors. "My full name is Mei Shi, I'm 22 years old… I lived in a small village deep in the mountains with my siblings and parents. Our home was in the family for centuries… I was taught swordplay when I was young, as were my other siblings… My mother was Japanese while my father was Chinese." The information she was allowing them to know wouldn't do anyone harm, but she had to watch what she said. "My life was changed… when the man who my parents had thought was our trusted friend…. Murdered my family by his hands… Burning my home to the ground… I'm not sure how it was brought here… But an elixir for furies was also brought to China… And those furies were used to hunt down members of my family left on the grounds… and were murdered… I managed to escape… when…" Her eyes darkened. Those memories continued to replay in her head, fresh. As if it were just yesterday she had lost her family.

"Mei." Saito murmured as he set a hand on her shoulder. "It's alright if you would rather not delve into that part of your life at the moment. A traumatic event such as that would be hard for any person to remember and speak about."

"..." The woman looked over at Saito. He was beside her once more, to either hear more clearly to what was being said or for it to be easier for him to comfort her, in his own way. Mei took a breath before staring back down at the floor as they walked. "… About 10 years ago I came to Japan… I've been living off what the forest gives me, and what the red-light district workers will pay me for protection. That doesn't imply I've done what the women of Shimabara do." She wanted to make it clear she wasn't impure.

But you know you're not a saint.

Mei froze a bit, causing her three companions to stop immediately.

"Mei?" Saito asked lightly, concern in his eyes, though only barely.

You're nowhere near a saint, and you know that.

Mei shook her head as a pained expression came over her face. "I'm sorry… I just… I got a headache all of a sudden… Nothing to be concerned about."

"Do you wish to rest a bit…?" Yamazaki asked, though none of them waited for her to answer and immediately offered her to sit on a bench by a tea house. "Are you sick? I have heard from the commander you do tend to overheat or get sick."

".. I'm fine…" Mei whispered unconvincingly. She looked at her hand and saw it shaking a bit more noticeable than before.

"You're shaking…" Yamazaki stated a bit surprised before he set a hand to her head. "You're a little warm. Do you think you can make the trip? I wouldn't advise you to push yourself and risk making it worse."

The woman couldn't help but frown a bit at the inspector before looking down at the ground, "Are you saying for me to go back to the compound?" Mei asked slowly looked up at the three.

"That might be the safest option…" Shimada stated.

Mei bit her lip as if she was torn on what was happening before she reluctantly nodded. "Fine… Let me just rest here for a bit then I will go back…" She murmured. She needed them to leave. They were giving her the perfect opportunity to get her medicine.

"I feel it would be safer if she were to stay at an Inn for the time being, and on our way back to the compound we'll pick her up." Saito stated, his eyes on Mei. "If she were to push herself to the point of collapse while on her travels and no one was there to help her that wouldn't be good. Okita would also be very upset with us if we let her go back all alone while she's unwell."

"…." Mei sat there in silence. She didn't care which path they chose to take with her, but in either case she would be able to get her medicine.

"I suppose that is the much safer route." Yamazaki stated before they helped her up, "Sir, please wait here while we help her into an Inn." He said as he had looked at Saito.

Saito was silent before he gently nodded, "Please make sure she will be safe before returning. I will wait here patiently, thought don't take too long. We do have a task at hand." He reminded before his eyes landed on Mei's own. They narrowed for a moment before he now sat by the base of the tree where she once sat.

Mei took notice of that small exchange before she was taken to the nearest Inn that would be the safest for her.

It had been about three or four hours since the three had left her behind in the Inn. It was comfortable and allowed her to rest. "They must've reached Osaka by now…" Mei whispered as she slowly sat up from bed and looked out the window as the sun had set and the moon was high in the sky. "Jun." She growled out in a command. "I know you're still close by. So, come here." She stated in annoyance.

Just like that, a sudden gust of wind came in through the window and Mei's eyes moved from the scene outside to the woman who was now bowing in front of her. Her long white blonde hair touched the floor as the woman's head was bowed down as well.

"Lift your head… I'm not someone you're serving anymore… I need a favor…" Mei murmured.

"What is it…" Jun whispered as she slowly lifted up her head to reveal flawless skin contrasting against the black of her clothing. She was dressed as a ninja, yet still her features made her look more like a woman of royalty than anything else. Her eyes a bright silver.

"I need more medicine… I ran out…. I drank one before leaving… the compound… And it's already wearing off, if it hasn't already." Mei said as she frowned, her eyes at the ground.

"It would be much easier if you left those men. You do not belong with them. This wasn't the plan-"

Suddenly light glinted off the blade before it was now lost in the shadows the moonlight casted as it shined in through the window. Blood now dripped a bit from a wound on Jun's cheeks. "What did I say, Jun? You've told me before. I don't want to hear any of it." Mei's eyes seemed to glow in the moonlight, glaring daggers at Jun.

The woman's eyes were wide before they narrowed, "Lan… Go retrieve the lady her medicine." Jun commanded into the darkness outside the window.

"Yes Ma'am." Came another female voice. Whether the owner of the voice actually moved or not was undetermined as there was no sound to indicate otherwise.

"Mei… Why do you insist on this? You aren't allowed to even be doing this?" Jun got to her feet.

Mei growled before doing the same, clutching her scabbard and katana in hand. "Screw the fucking rules, or the plan you're so fucking insistent on thinking exists. They're dead so the rules no longer fucking apply to me."

"What rules might you be speaking about, Mei Shi?"

The two women froze, Mei being the first one to turn towards the door to see Yamazaki standing there, Sword in hand and aimed at the both of them. His eyes were thinned with anger and contempt, and the intent to kill now filled the room, emanating off Yamazaki. Mei's eyes were wide with surprise, she almost looked pained to see him. It was because he was part of the Shinsengumi, not just some lowly rounin.

"You two will not exchange another word until the captain comes back." Yamazaki stated in a growl, "So keep silent until then."

"How dare-"

But Jun was cut off. Mei had covered her mouth, bangs covering her eyes before she slowly sat down on the floor, gripping her swords and holding them to her chest.

Jun looked at Mei surprised before a pained expression of her own overcame her features and she sat down beside Mei. Her eyes looked at the floor and glared up at Yamazaki every so often.

Mei frowned, small tears forming in her eyes. Why… What is this feeling in my chest…? She thought as she was silently glad that her bangs obscured her eyes from Yamazaki's view.

It's your anxiety. Fear.

This time Mei didn't flinch away from the voice in her head. This time it didn't sound malicious, it hadn't told her to do something horrible to Yamazaki. After that input, it stayed quiet. The voice in her head never had done something like that before, but Mei was more than happy it didn't say anymore. She focused on the feeling in her chest. That feeling that could only be described as pain.

A few hours had passed and Mei's fever had gotten worse. It had caused her a great deal of pain to move so she resigned herself to taking fainter breaths and not moving a muscle, almost like a statue. This wasn't good. She knew that, but she refused to speak up and tell Yamazaki. To even tell Jun how bad her illness had gotten was something she was not intending to do. The longer she sat there, the worse the feeling of being pulled from consciousness got. She knew what would happen then… I can't …

Suddenly the window opened a bit more than before and slowly came in another female ninja, though her hair the color of blood and her eyes the colors of the setting suns sky. Her hands were up in the air to notify Yamazaki of her surrender, "I'm simply here to give the lady her medicine. I will do everything else to cooperate. You can even watch me give her the medicine, but please. She will die otherwise."

A bit dramatic there. Jun and Mei couldn't help but think, smile mentally forming in their minds.

Yamazaki had fought with the new female for about 20 minutes before eventually allowing her to give Mei the medicine. He watched as the girl pulled out a vile with a dark liquid in it from a red velvet bag she had at her waist, and administered the so-called medicine to Mei—whose tense body now seemed to relax as the liquid poured down her throat. "Please allow her to rest… To allow the medicine to take affect…" She asked lightly, to which Yamazaki reluctantly agreed to.

The new woman helped Mei back beneath the covers, and smiled beneath her mask. Mei nodded to the woman before closing her eyes and holding her swords close to her person. I'm gonna be in big trouble when I get back… Won't I…? She couldn't help but think before the medicine had begun to make her drowsy. Already in a comfortable position, it didn't take long for Mei to fall asleep.

As she slept, the two unfamiliar women sat there on either side of Mei, facing Yamazaki. Neither of them seemed to have minded the man there pointing is sword at them, glaring at them with hatred and suspicion. Or rather, it only seemed that way.

After a few hours Jun frowned a bit at Yamazaki before finally, she snapped, "Put that damn thing away…! We aren't planning on resisting. If we did you'd already be dead."

"Shut up Jun." Lan, the other female, stated with slight irritation. "We can't say anything here… I'm assuming Mei already told you to shut up." Her eyes glared at her companion before they softened once her gaze landed on the sleeping form between them.

Jun looked at Lan with much more irritation than Lan had expressed in words, but ultimately the woman resigned herself to silence. The tension in the room didn't let up but Yamazaki, after some time, had put away his sword.

Jun and Lan stayed at the sides of Mei's futon and frowned at each other eventually, she's going to be really upset. They thought.

"Yamazaki, open the door please." Saito's voice came from the other side.

The women's heads turned towards the door sharply.

Sorry that this chapter took so long! I got the new game for Hakuoki and I've been obsessed with it along with the Code: Realize game I'm really sorry. But please tell me what you think about this chapter I'm dying to know. I think I did, alright- naw I still think it sucks. Sorry. But please, if you like my shitty writing I will continue this story so favorite, follow, and review so you can keep up with the story and also let me know that you enjoyed it, hated it, and/or want me to continue. Thanks guys! Thank to those who are following, favoriting, and have reviewed this story it means a lot to me!

oh! and guess what-

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I JUST GRADUATED YESTERDAY ON THE 13 OF JUNE! IT WAS FUCKING AMAZING GUYS! I'M NOW A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE! WOOOO!

love,

Chess