Chapter 3 Guilt
"Captain Sagara didn't know about it!" Sanosuke yelled, a furious look on his face. Gritting her teeth, Asami asked in a low tone, "Yes he did!" "If he had known, he would've stopped it!" "My point exactly!" "What is your point?!" Both Asami and Sano were sending each other death stares. "We had sent a letter to your captain!" Asami yelled. She had deliberately used a sarcastic and snooty tone with emphasis on the "captain", which only infuriated Sano even more. "So what! He never got-" Sano stopped as a piece of memory flashed.
"Captain Sagara! It's a message from the village!" One of the colonels cried. Glancing back, Sagara Sozo asked, "What does it say?" The colonel didn't answer, but glanced nervously at Sano. Noticing, Sanosuke's eyes narrowed at him, which made the colonel even more nervous. Obviously noticing this too, Sozo beckoned for the colonel to follow him to the side, ordering Sanosuke to stay. Not daring to disobey orders, Sano could only watch from afar, dying of curiosity at what made his captain moody and quiet for the next few days.
"Judging from the silence, you do recall that your captain had received the message," Asami said, breaking Sano out of his trance. "It doesn't necessarily mean he got that message!" Sano replied weakly. Megumi laid a hand on Sanosuke's shoulder, startling him. He had forgotten about her when Asami and he started bickering. Even to Megumi, who hadn't known anything until now, had known, and understood Sanosuke's captain's actions. Megumi shook her head at Sano, warning him to stop talking. Then, walking up to Asami, Megumi looked at her right in the eyes. "Arata-kun," Megumi began. Asami's eyes were burning with anguish, but the moment Megumi said the word "Arata", all the fury in her eyes were gone, replaced by deep sadness. Good, Megumi thought. This way, she'd listen.
"Arata-kun," Megumi repeated. "Perhaps Sanosuke's captain did not save the village for a reason," "What reason?" Asami spat, her eyes narrowed. "Perhaps," Megumi said with more force. "That he couldn't help even if he wanted to." Asami's scoff that followed was hesitant and unsure. The way she avoided Megumi's eyes made Megumi sure that Asami had never thought of this way around. "Maybe you're just too blinded by hatred to see the light and forgive," Megumi coaxed gently. Sano was surprised and curious. He had never heard Megumi take that tone before, especially with a male. Omigod! The most obvious thought occurred to Sano. Perhaps she likes him! As in LIKES! As if reading his impure thoughts, Megumi turned around with a steely gaze and kicked with enough force and speed that her shoe flew out from her feet and socked Sano in the chin.
Asami was stuck. She had thought of Megumi's reasoning years ago. She had tried to tell herself that Captain Sagara didn't come back for a reason. Maybe the rebellion group was too big for him to handle. Maybe the Sekihoutai didn't have enough armed forces. Maybe… maybe he thought the town was better wiped out. When Asami had lived from the Sekihoutai rebels' attack, she had went to all the best dojo's and martial artists around, learning all the moves and games, receiving information along the way. One by one Asami tracked down and got rid of the rebel group, for it soon broke up after the raid. When she had killed the last one, deep hatred strived in Asami's heart. It had seemed like all her ambition for life had gone, like a deflated balloon, with no goal in life. Asami had lost all brightness of life, and lived in misery and despair, thinking only on revenge against the Sekihoutai rebellion group. But now, what would she do? For the hundredth time after the attack, Asami wanted to cry. But she had learned crying would do you no good, and only bring evil and terror into your life. After desperately thinking of a reason, Asami had came to the conclusion that this was entirely the Sekihoutai leader Sagara Sozo's fault, and vowed revenge on the remaining Sekihoutai. But how could Asami turn back on her vow now, at the high point of revenge?
"I don't know…" Asami whispered, her eyes full of shame, guilt, desperation, and more. "I just don't know." Megumi looked at Asami, and then she saw a way to snap her out of it. This was the only way to keep her from living her life like a… well, like a person who wants revenge. Megumi swiftly brought her hand over Asami's cheek. Asami's limply hanging head was snapped back by the force. Still shocked from the slap, Asami was immobile. Megumi grabbed her by the scruff of her shirt and dragged her towards the house.
"What the…" Sano muttered as Megumi stormed towards his direction, a look of positive fury on her face. His eyes widening in surprise, Megumi grabbed him too by his ear and pulled both of them to an empty room. Throwing them both inside, Megumi said, "You two solve this problem by yourselves! I won't let you out until you're finished!" Then, she slammed the door shut, clicking the heavy metal lock outside the door together.