For the next couple of weeks, I had to work at Chous place cleaning up, and dealing with annoying Iwa. She enjoyed teasing me and causing me trouble. She thought that I would be afraid of her, but her "bullying" didnt scare me, it was just troublesome.

The Shinsengumi were busy fighting, I dont know what exactly or why, and I didnt even bother to find out. They were keeping it a secret from me anyway. Something about "demons" or whatever.

I didnt care, as long as it didnt concern me.

I lost alot of weight ever since I came here, and my hair is grown longer and curlier as well. I found out a way to charge my cellphone and ipod, and in my free time I would listen to music or play games.

Sometimes id hang out with Shinpachi, Sanosuke and Heisuke, but that was rarely. They were always busy and tired.

Other times id walk all over town, talking with people, or trying out different foods.

One day, I found a wealthy couple, who visited America, and had many books witht them. They allowed me to stay at their house and read.

It was nice, me being able to relax, and do nothing.

This was how summer was supposed to be.

I didnt have anything to worry about until the year was over, then I could go back home.

Well..thats what I thought...

until I ran into a zombie one afternoon...

'Dont forget to watch out for perverts!" Hideki called as I left their house.

"Yeah, yeah.." I chuckled. They always wanted to send someone to walk me home, but I assured them that I could care for myself.

Well the truth was I didnt go directly to the Shinsengumi headquarters..Id take a detour and visit the nearby lake.

I liked to go there and just lay on the soft grass, for some reason this lake brought back memories from when I was alive.

Its strange saying that..when I was alive..

Id lie and think about my parents, friends, schools, food..all kinds of stuff.

I felt so homesick..

You know that feeling, when you were a kid and slept over your friends house for the first time, at first you were so excited and pumped, but when it was bed time, you missed your parents and siblings.

You assured yourself that you wouldnt miss them at all..

But you did..

Thats how I felt.

I just want to go back home, and live my life normally..

After I was done, pondering about life I stood up and began walking back to the headquarters.

It was about eleven at night, so it was pretty dark. Luckily they had small lanterns scattered over the place.

"Guuurrgghh"

Huh? Did I hear something?

I turned around, but there was nothign there.

Maybe it was just a dog?

"GGAAGGHH!'

A dog with rabbies!

I quickened my pace and looked around to see if there were any other people around.

I watched plenty of movies, I know whats about to happen next..

"AGGHHUU!"

I ran as fast as I could.

I didnt even turn around to see what was chasing me.

'MUAHAHAHAH!"

Omigod was it laughing!?

I glanced behind and saw that it was a man, wearing the shinsengumi uniform. His hair was white and his eyes were a bloodshot red. He had fangs produting from his mouth and spit hanging all over the plaace.

"Ewww! Zombie!" I screamed, zig zagging myself around the place. Maybe this way itll be harder for him to catch up.

The zombie wasnt even fazed, he was catching up to me.

"Help!" I shouted.

"HAHAHAAHA!"

The zombie caught up to me, and pulled my hair.

"Let go!" I yellped, trying to push him away. But he was super strong.

He brought his face closer to mine, ready to eat me up...

When suddenly..

SLASH!

A sword appeared out of nowhere, and split the zombie in two.

I looked up to see who my hero was..

It was Kaede..

"My hero!" I shouted running towards him.

"Oh, hello Coco" He smirked as he cleaned his sword.

I blushed and quickly backed away.

Wow..that was really stupid of me...

"Thanks for saving my ass...twice!"

"Ha its no problem" He laughed. His green hair was pulled into a high ponytail, showing off his handsome features.

I think im gonna faint!

"What are you doing walking out here by yourself?" He asked.

"Umm..."

"Dont walk alone ok?"

"Yeah okay" I sighed, "What was that thing anyways?"

"Its better that you dont know.."

"Oh."

"His outfit is like the Shinsengumis.." I muttered out loud.

Ooops!

"Yeah.." He gave me a strange look as he continued on inspecting the creature.

"Its a zombie right?" It had to be a zombie!

"More like a vampire.." He mumbled. "Didnt I tell you its better you dont know much about this?"

"S-sorry.."

Were the shinsengumi behind this?!

I couldnt let Kaede know I was staying with them.

"How do you know about the zombie?" I asked.

"Zombie? You mean Rasetsu.."

'Yeah!"

"Damn. I already revealed too much to you, go back home.."

"But-"

...Fine I dont care, as long as it doesnt involve me.

"Ill see you later then!" I blurted.

"See ya Coco" He laughed.

I left Kaede and the zombie and ran back to the headquarters.

When I returned, everybody was awake.

Ohh..this meant trouble

"Choo choo!" Heisuke gasped as I entered.

"What?"

I looked down to where he was staring. The whole front of my kimono was splattered with blood.

"Are you alright?" Inou hurried over to me.

Damn it!

"Im fine..just..uh..tripped onto some dead fish.."

"You tripped onto some dead fish?" Inoue repeated.

"Mmmhmm"

"Where?" Hijikata asked, obviuously not believeing my story.

"I dont know im not from here!"

"Choo choo-"

"Im gonna get cleaned up and go to bed, night!"

"You stay right there" Hijikata roared.

Ughh...

"Why?" I whimpered.

"Have you seen anything strange when you were walking back here?"

"Nope"

"Really?"

"Yes"

"You sure you werent hit on by wierdo" Okita joked.

"No"

"So you were hit on by somebody.."

"No!"

"Whover it was tripped you onto a pile of fish, how pathetic!"

"I didnt trip onto a pile of fish!"

"Oh so then how did you get so bloody?"

Damn it! Okita revealed my lie..

"Okita your so-"

"Tell us what happened Coco, or youll regret it" Hijikata fumed.

What the hell! Now I was going to get in even more trouble.

"I was attacked by some zombie" I mumbled.

"Zombie.." Kondo murmered.

"And Kaede rescued me"

"Kaede!" Heisuke gasped.

"Yeah.."

"You know Kaede?" Sanosuke asked. His face was red, and he looked like he was really pissed.

"Y-yeah hes a nice guy.."

"A nice guy!?" Heisuke shouted, "That bastard-"

"Heisuke!" Sanosuke snapped.

Heisuke crossed his arms and glared at me.

What did I do wrong this time!?

"Did you tell him anything that had to do with the Shinsengumi?" Sannan asked.

"I j-just told him that the zombies-no Rasetsu's-outfit looked like the Shinsengumis.."

"You know about the Rasetsu too.." Kondo shook his head and sighed.

...You know that feeling you get when you did something wrong but nobody would tell you what it is that you did...

Thats how I felt like right now..

Why did they dislike Kaede so much? He was a nice guy! Besides..did they not hear the part about how he helped me?!

"Coco go to your room" Kondo instructed.

"O-ok.." I quickly stood up and rushed to my bedroom.

A few minutes later, Saitou entered my room.

I was lying on the ground in a fetal position.

I didnt want him to see that I was crying..

Yes. I was crying.

I have no shame in admitting that.

It was just stressful..very stressful.

They allowed me to stay here with them, until the train would arrive and I could go back home.

But I was causing alot of trouble for the Shinsengumi. Instead of being a help, I was being a burden.

And the way Heisuke looked at me..it hurt.

I thought we were friends, but the way he looked at me was filled with disgust and anger.

"Im not angry with you" Saitou spoke as he sat besides me. "Its not your fault, you didnt know any better"

He wasnt mad at me!

"Thanks" I sniffed, wiping away my tears. "I didnt tell him I was staying with you guys! He was the one who told me that the thing that tried to attack me was a Rasetsu"

"We know that"

"Then what are you guys so mad about?"

"Kaede..he is a bad man Coco"

Kaede? A bad guy!?

"H-how?"

"I wont tell you who he works with and why we dont like him.."

"...okay.."

"But I will tell you a short story"

Saitou was going to tell me a story?! He barely spoke in the first place.

I sat up, and scooted over besides Saitou.

He sat with his knees underneath his bottom, and his hands folding across each other neatly.

I was just sitting in a criss cross apple sauce position.

"Wake from death and return to life"

...

"Huh?"

"I said 'Wake from death and return to life'"

"What kind of story is that Saitou!?"

"Its a quote my grandfather would tell me"

"What does it mean?"

"It means to come out of a desperate situation and make a complete return in one sudden burst"

Huh? Why was he telling me this?

"Umm..Saitou.."

"I want you to remember that quote" He whispered. His mesmerizing eyes bore into mine. I could already feel myself getting lost in them.

"O-ok" I mumbled.

...Wake from death and return to life.