"I told you this woman was nothing but trouble. Now she's a traitor." Serizawa growled as he looked down at Mei, Jun, and Lan who had their hands bound and on their knees in the middle of the room, all the captains and commanders surrounding them.
"We are not condemning them just yet, Serizawa. If at all possible I would like to avoid any bloodshed of the innocent." Kondou stated as he looked directly at Mei. "We are here to come to a decision as to what to do with these three. I believe Mei has been with us long enough that we can give her the courtesy to explain herself first, I'm sure she has a very logical and non-traitorous explanation for her actions." He smiled, "So let us not act in haste."
"You go too easy on them, Kondou." Serizawa frowned before fanning himself, glaring at Mei, who only glared back, "Now you don't need your hands, koinu. Speak up and explain why you've been lying to us."
Mei was on her knees a bit in front of the other two at the sides, and her eyes now drifted to the floor, "… I didn't… I haven't lied. I told you I came to Japan with friends." She stated, anxiety building up as she glanced at her swords that were in the possession of Souji Okita, sitting to her left. "… When I was captured by the Roshigumi we had separated because I had wished to go retrieve my swords alone. I had thought they were long gone and left without me once they found out I was captured." She looked at Jun, who probably had something to do with their lingering presence in Japan. "Obviously that wasn't the case; that was a mistake on my part."
"Yamazaki had stated he overheard your conversation. He said you spoke about rules and a plan. Could you elaborate on that?" Sanan asked now, watching everything the women did. Listening intently to Mei's voice.
"… My plan on coming here was to simply retrieve my swords then go hunt down Li… That was my sole purpose here… However, that is when I encountered Serizawa… An abnormality in the plan. If I know a gigantic, loud mouthed gorilla was going to be in Kyoto-" Suddenly her head shot to the side and her cheek stung intensely, burning with heat. She could already feel the bruise beginning to form on her cheek.
Serizawa looked deadly with a grin on his face, "Show some respect, pup." He growled.
Mei hid her eyes with her bangs as she spat out blood at the man's feet. "If I knew the 'oh-so-great' Serizawa was here in Kyoto, I would've gone around and entered the other side of the city." She growled as her eyes turned cold, "… The rules… Are something we use to refer to the code of my family. One of them being that we do not involve outsiders into our problems and conflicts… But I felt that since my family has been dead for quite some time that the rules no longer exist, let alone apply to me. Jun has an issue with all of you fighting Li for your own reasons or for my sake. She acts as if I asked you all to fight, when in actuality I have no say in the matter." Mei explained, glaring coldly at the Serizawa. "The only reason that these two showed up last night was because they have been tailing me." She finally said, "I had no intention of further communicating with them while I was with the Roshigumi… However," She turned her glare to Jun, "… Someone doesn't take no for a fucking answer." Then she turned to Sanan, "I had and have no intention of telling anyone anything about the Roshigumi…" Her voice was firm, and her eyes were sincere.
She seemed almost pleading to Sanan.
"Are we gonna sit here and allow this woman to feed us lies." Serizawa cut off Sanan before he could say anything. "She's obviously just trying to save herself."
"And you obviously love to hear yourself talk." Lan stated.
"What was that you-"
"Continue that sentence and I'll rip off your tongue." Mei cut him off, she was in no mood for the man's idiocy. "Sucks doesn't it that I have a voice to speak now. Back off or I'll kill you myself." She threated as she got to her feet before anyone could stop her.
"Please Mei, calm down…" Kondo said softly as she and a few of their companions had gotten to their feet.
Serizawa glared down at the woman, his eyes narrowed, but a smirk on her face. "… Your eyes always do send a shiver down my spine."
"And your existence makes me want to vomit." Mei sneered.
"Mei, for now, please allow Souji, Harada and Saito to take you all to separate rooms while we come to a decision." Kondo insisted gently as he set a hand on her shoulder.
Mei looked up at Kondo for a moment before looking down, "Alright…" She whispered before she felt someone's hand wrap around her upper arm and begin to escort her out the room. She heard several pairs of footsteps follow after her but she didn't bother looking up. She could see his green pants as they walked down the veranda.
"Surprised you haven't said a word. Feeling that guilty? If you didn't do anything wrong, I don't see why you should be feeling guilty." Okita stated as they neared a room and opened the door to her. "Get in and be a good little pup."
Mei didn't look up at him as he spoke coldly to her, instead only stayed mute as if it were the first time they met all over again, and walked towards the other end of the room and sat by the window, waiting till the door slid shut to look up at the sky. Her heart felt tight, like she could barely breathe. She couldn't bring herself to look at Okita. Nor the others besides Sanan and Kondo. Why? She didn't know herself.
She sat there for God knows how long, and she frankly didn't care. She hadn't moved from her spot; however, she grew a bit bored waiting to be told if she would be executed or not. "I suppose this'll pass the time…" She murmured before she closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the frame of the window.
"I see you drifting through the veil of night, my lost young child. These torn clothes and your face is bruised and red, what's happened child? Did you say your parents were kidnapped? No child, your parents can't be dead! My little lotus flower, crying in the dark."
Mei sang. It was something that would never occur to anyone that she could sing, and to sound so heavenly. Though the lyrics were sad, it was so beautiful.
"Lotus flower, you've been starving in the streets, it breaks my heart. Lotus flower, how can a child they beat, it breaks my heart. Child, I will take you in. Child, I will bring you home. And bring happiness back to you, no more you will suffer alone. Child, we will take you in. Child, we will bring you home. You'll be a flower that sees the spring. Soon a dove flying over the storm."
In the other rooms, Lan and Jun frowned. It had been so long since they last heard their young lady, their friend, speak, let alone sing. And for her to sing such a sad song made their hearts ache for her. It reminded them of the years where none of them would've thought they could carry such hatred and sorrow in their hearts.
"My young child, you scream each night fearing the monsters will come take your grandma, just like they broke down your door and took your mom. My little lotus flower, crying in the dark. Child, I will take you in. Child, I will bring you home. And bring happiness back to you, no more you will suffer alone. Child, we will take you in. Child, we will bring you home. You'll be a flower that sees the spring. Soon a dove flying over the storm."
Mei frowned at the end of the song, her eyes still on the sky as the many colors of the evening painted a lovely painting of purple, orange, yellow and blue. "Flowers… Born from Sin… The gentle… Beauties that bring misfortune on those around them… Their existence inviting evil… They live in peace... Even if their very existence is Sin…" She stated softly, watching as the many surreal colors in the sky began to fade to a chilling yet beautiful blue, "S-I-N… As in conceived, born in, and am currently living happily in…" She closed her eyes as she listened to the worlds white noise to lull her to sleep. "The Shi family… Flowers from sin… The odd family… The outcasts… The unwanted… The frightening… The powerful… The beautiful…"
~Dream~
"Why do you say that mama?" Asked the same 9-year-old girl.
"Because we are different from most of the other families…" Her mother said as she gently picked the girl up and set her in her lap, beginning to brush her hair with a comb. "We are… Flowers born from sins… From the bloodshed of others… That bring sorrow and horror to others they touch… We bloom in silence… In beauty… In dignity." Her mother spoke softly, "We are born pitifully… Yet gifted with many talents… It's unfair to the other families… They are frightened of us…"
Mei glanced up at her mother, "Is that why we live in this small village? Because the other people are afraid of us? Is that why we're so far and deep into the mountains mama? Is that why we hide?"
Her mother gave her a melancholic smile, "My dear child asks many questions…" She gently kissed the girls head, "Yes… We hide because we are frightening… The village is our home… People here are not frightened by us… and in turn our family protects them…"
"I like this village… They're all so nice to me and the others…! ~" The small child spoke happily, smiling adorably at her mother.
"My lovely, adorable child… I wish you can grow up to live happily… To live out your days without worry… To find love… To find peace…" The woman started before she gently began to cradle the young girl in her arms, "To have a family of your own… To never have to lift a sword with the intent to kill… To never have to see the horrors of death and war…" She whispered before kissing the girl's head. "That is my one and only wish for you, Mei…"
/
"Mei! Don't touch my little girl!" She heard her mother scream, but when she turned she couldn't see past the fire that licked her skin. The heat only grew more intense as if controlled by the desperate tone In her mother's voice. "MEI RUN!"
"MAMA!" The girl screamed in sorrow as tears ran down her face. She smelled blood… Her home was drenched in crimson, reeking of the coppery stench. "MAMA!"
"MEI RUN!" Now it was her father's voice. The next thing that came out of his mouth dripped with agony and sorrow, Mei knew what happened. "KIKU!" Her mother's name left his lips.
Mei had no choice but to run as she faintly heard her mother past all the noise, after another thud in her mother's direction, "… YU…!" Now it was her father's name.
Mei heard her parent's last words before she left, frightened.
"Hello there, Mei,~ Where are you going?"
Something grabbed her hair tightly and suddenly threw the child to the floor.
~Dream End~
Mei sprang with a start, crying out softly in pain. In her panic, she somehow broke the binds holding her hands together and reached for her throat. She couldn't breathe, the air had somehow been knocked out of her. Tears fell down her cheeks as those memories, her parent's cries, were burned so clearly into her mind. What was worse was that she didn't have her swords to comfort her in the least. She was there… Alone. In a room without anyone else.
Kill them…
"No…" Mei whimpered before she immediately moved from the window and to the darkest corner of the room. She pulled her knees up to her chest, holding them there tightly with her arms wrapped around them. She pressed her forehead to her knees and shut her eyes tightly.
Kill them… And you will be free of all your pain…
Mei whimpered again, covering her ears as if it would block out the voice inside her head.
Let me kill them for you…
She trembled, horribly so, like a frightened child. "Kill me… Someone…" Her voice sounded hoarse, and broken. She begged and pleaded for someone to kill her for so long in the very depths of her stone-cold heart—she no longer wanted to live if it meant she had to continue to remember such painful memories. To have these voices in her head telling her to do awful things. If living meant she'd put those she'd cared about at risk, she'd rather be put under six feet of dirt and never see the beautiful moon and bright sun again.
After a while in silence, Mei set a hand on her throat—it's dry, she thought, when was the last time I drank something? And now her stomach growled, when was the last time I ate something… Whose turn was it to cook dinner? Mine? Or Okita's? Or maybe it was Saito's… Harada cooked yesterday…
Thinking like that as if they'll treat you the same is meaningless. It'll only hurt you more in the end when they betray you.
Mei froze and pressed her forehead to the wall beside her as her legs moved frown her chest to the floor to the side. I don't… want to hurt anyone… She closed her eyes. She looked a bit defeated, as if she had given up.
So, you'd rather be betrayed?
"No… I…" Mei shut her eyes tightly. "I don't want… to hurt them…"
If you won't kill them… I will. Save yourself the heartache. You're worthless to them, Mei. Kill everyone here… Especially the two responsible for your current situation.
Mei tensed. "Who-"
Lan and Jun. If it weren't for them pushing their opinions and shit onto you, then you'd happily be making dinner right now.
"But… My swords… Even if I wanted to… I couldn't…" Mei whispered before she covered her ears again. "Go away…" She whimpered as she couldn't help but wish for someone to help her. Anyone. To rid of the voice inside her head, she'd do nearly anything. "Someone just kill me."
"I'll give you a hand with that…!~"
Her eyes widened as the voice registered in her mind. It was as if in that moment time slowed. She watched as slowly a figure came in through the window, the thirst for blood—her blood, dripping off the figure like an unending fountain. Their sword at their side, drawn and ready to cut her down as it was slowly being raised over the owner's head.
"Mei!"
That was Jun and Lan… Mei thought as she willed her body to move. She felt the hatred she had nurtured for years slowly overflowing off her form. She pushed herself away from the corner and nearer to the door and out of the range of the katana that would've cut her straight down the middle. She pushed herself off the floor, slowly raising to her feet as she felt all her anger bringing her out of her moment of weakness.
That's it, Mei… Cut down everyone that caused you harm; anyone that stands in your way. Let your anger control you…
Mei felt an almost animalistic, guttural, growl leave her throat as her pupils contracted into slits and eyes narrowed on the figures form. "Li…" She hissed as he body tensed with anger. She saw the man's smirk as he set the sword on his shoulder. Behind him his men held Lan and Jun captive.
"I was only trying to help you, Mei~ You asked for mercy and I was willing to give you just that at no charge." Li grinned as he glanced at the two behind him held by his men. "I haven't seen your servants in forever, I was sure they had gotten killed." He cooed.
"You were mistaken. They were deserters." Mei spoke, venom dripping off her words.
"Shame. I suppose you hate them just as much as you hate me." The man frowned before he made the men drop the women with a flick of his wrist.
Once Mei heard the thud of their bodies hit the floor she charged at Li at a superhuman speed, aiming to kick the man's head, but before she could she was caused to dodge a swing from his sword, which gave him an opening. He swung on his heel and kicked Mei dead center and with such force to push her through the doors and into the outside courtyard.
"Come on Mei! You can do better than that~"
"Mei!"
… Who was that this time? Who called out to me?
"Without your swords, Mei, you are weak. Not even worth my full strength. Such a pathetic sight you've turned out to be. Such a pathetic display of the Shi family."
Kill.
Mei moved on instinct now, rushing at the man again and kicking him in the jaw before attempting to reach for his short sword. When she had barely grazed the handle, she had dodged another swing of his sword before kicking the man in the chest and landing on her feet a bit away and near the wall. Her eyes remained on Shi, as if the world around her was just a blur.
"MEI!"
Who keeps calling out to me?... It isn't those two… So… Who?
Kill. Kill him now. Let your anger control you.
Mei allowed herself to give in to that voice, allowed her anger to drive her and nothing else. She rushed at Li once again, aiming to hit his feet before kicked the flat of his blade that would've cut her shoulder, away from her and grabbed his sword instead.
"Show everyone who you really are, girl." Li grinned as he resumed a fighting stand. "Having fun, aren't you?"
The woman simply rushed at him as many times before aiming to hit his stomach now, dodging a swing of his sword before kneeing him in the stomach and jumped a bit into the air to kick him in his jaw. A grin crept its way onto her lips as she looked at the blood that fell from the man's lips. Her movements were instinctual but were graceful and with conviction. She moved beautifully yet with deadly intent. "I'll see your blood splattered on this grass, you bastard!" She laughed before she dodged one of his attacks. She looked like a demon herself as she seemed to take pleasure in the sight of her opponent's blood, in fighting with the risk of her own life.
"You're taking too much pleasure in the fight, Mei~ You are losing sight of your surroundings." Li grinned madly now as well as Mei suddenly felt a kick to her side and she flew into the nearby tree.
The woman let out a gasp of pain as now she had blood spill past her lips once she fell to the floor with a thud. She forced one of her eyes to open to look up at who had kicked her, that's when she saw one of the two men Li had brought with him before. She had forgotten there were more. She had been so focused on Li she had completely forgotten about the two extras. Speaking of, she couldn't see the other one in sight. "Where-"
"MEI BEHIND YOU!"
Mei pushed herself from the ground in seconds and moved away from the tree before she heard the sound of two swords clashing. "What the-" She quickly turned her head towards the sound and saw Saito had blocked the missing lacky's attack. Hearing the sounds of battle behind her again she turned to see Harada had begun to fight against the man who had kicked her before. Her eyes widened as she saw the two begin fighting with her enemies, the anger slowly being pushed away by surprise and confusion.
"Don't take your eyes off me, Shi!"
The sound of the man she so hated brought her from her moment of shock, much too late and she didn't have enough time to block let alone dodge. She shut her eyes as she waited for the strike to hit her, only to hear more swords clashing in front of her.
"I don't think so, buddy."
Mei's eyes shot open at the sound of that voice—his voice. "Okita…!"
"I recommend you don't touch my page, if you value your life. Haven't I already told you that?" Okita grinned at the man in front of him.
"…You'll have us to watch your back. Okita especially."
"Get out of my way!" Li growled in irritation as he swung his sword again.
"That isn't gonna happen, your fight is with me now. Who fights a girl, let alone an unarmed one? Is it because you think you can't beat her with both her swords or do you just because you Know you can't." Okita said as he blocked the attack and held Mei a bit behind him, protectively as the others soon joined the fight. Hijikata and Kondou had gathered on two other sides of Li, Heisuke and Sanan went to help Saito while Shinpachi went to assist Harada.
Li growled in anger as he was now pushed back by attacks from three opponents, all very skilled swordsmen. He watched as his comrades were eventually cut down by the other Roshigumi members and made their way to him.
"You've already lost, bastard." Okita cooed as he made to slash down the man's front, only for him to miss.
"Next time I won't be beaten so easily." Li vowed before he ran off into the room Mei was originally held and then jumped out that window, disappearing into the night.
Mei felt some sort of weight lifted off her as the night gradually calmed. The woman felt a sense of relief, if only just a tiny bit for just a few seconds, before she looked at all of the men around her. Were they the ones calling out to me?... It must've been them... She thought softly, feeling something warm in her chest. "Why... Why did you help me?" She whispered as she turned her gaze to the ground. "If you all thought I was a traitor..." The way she said that however, "you" was emphasized, and directed to a certain swordsman in front of her. "Why help me?"
The question lingered in the air for a few, long moments that seemed like years to Mei, before someone broke the silence, "Because we promised."
Mei turned toward Harada with a wide eyed look of surprise.
"We told you we'd have your back for when that creep came back." Heisuke chimed in with a smile. "We could never believe you would betray us."
"We came here to tell you that." Shinpachi added. "The only reason we took so damn long was because of a certain bull headed man." Serizawa, most likely the culprit.
"An almost equally bull headed demon was relentless in trying to win the argument that you were innocent." Sanan smiled as he glanced to his purple eyed friend.
"We would've jumped in sooner, but you seemed to be in a sort of frenzy, so we decided to stay back till you absolutely needed us. Otherwise we felt we would've gotten in your way." Kondou smiled as he sheathed his sword.
Mei turned to all the men as they spoke, slowly but surely however, everyone turned to Okita who stood in front of the woman. He sheathed his sword as everyone grew quiet. "..." Mei didn't dare to say anything, waiting for him to say something.
"I told you... No one does something like that to my page and gets away with it... Again, I also didn't like the look he gives me." Okita stated as he turned to his page. "Don't look so surprised. Did you really doubt us?" The look of feigned hurt crossed the mans features as he gazed down at the woman he had just protected.
"... You're insane..." Mei whispered as she felt tears begin forming in her eyes. Because of that she bit her lip and looked at the ground. She felt truly lucky to have friends like them.
"... Mei are you alright?!" Came the two servants from the room Li had escaped through.
The woman couldn't stop the small laugh that left her as she wiped away her tears and suddenly felt the arms of both women wrap around her form. "I'm alright..." She whispered softly, as she wrapped her arms around them as well.
Hello! Thank you for waiting! Here's the new chapter~ It's a lot longer than the last few so I do hope you enjoy it. Please tell me if you do or don't in the reviews! Tell me what you like about it, hate about it, or whatever you want. Favorite and follow if you haven't already! And if you have thank so much I really do appreciate it and get giddy whenever I see any of my fanfictions get any sort of recognition and praise from my emails.
By the way the song Mei sings is not my own, however I forgot the songs name and such! If you have any idea what is is please PM me it or post it in the reviews. I REPEAT THE SONG IS NOT MY OWN. I DON'T HAVE RIGHTS TO IT.
Thanks for taking the time to read my fanfictions and I hope you all continue to enjoy it and read it as much as I do~
Love always,
Cheshire.