Fujiyama's house. Somehow she had known it had to be him. He was waiting on the porch, smoking, and as they approached he frowned, throwing his cigarette to the ground and coming forward to meet them.
"What happened?" he asked thinly.
Megumi's face was streaked with tears and the man holding her had to drag her along. The other two followed, the biggest of the three with Sanosuke slung over his shoulder.
"We had some trouble," said the man gripping Megumi's arm.
"I can see that!" said Fujiyama. He went to Sano, took him by the hair, and lifted his head to get a look at his face. "Nobody was supposed to get hurt."
"He attacked us," the man carrying Sanosuke protested. "We were just bringing her, nice and quiet, to you and this guy came out of nowhere."
Megumi glared at Fujiyama. "You won't get away with this."
"Get away with what?" He seemed genuinely surprised. "It's not my intention to cause you any harm, Miss Takani, or distress you in any way. You didn't give my offer fair consideration today, so I asked my men to bring you tonight so we could discuss it further."
"There's nothing to discuss!" Megumi struggled against the man who still held her and Fujiyama sighed.
"Let her go, Naga."
The man released her so suddenly that she stumbled, then regaining her balance she hurried to Sano. "Put him down!"
Fujiyama nodded and the man dropped his burden to the ground. Megumi knelt beside Sanosuke, feeling for his pulse. It was strong and steady and she sighed in relief, then turned her eyes on Fujiyama. "He needs more attention than I can give him here-I demand you take us back to the clinic. Immediately!"
"Miss Takani, I will be more than happy to take your friend into the house…." The man who had brought Sano picked him up again as Fujiyama took her by the arm and lifted her to her feet, "but I really must insist that you at least consider my offer carefully before giving me a final answer."
Megumi was torn. More than anything she wanted to get away from this odious man and his spectacular house, but until she knew how badly Sanosuke was hurt, she was in his power and he knew it. "Take your hand off me," she said icily. "You're getting germs on me."
His eyes glittered but he dropped his hand and stepped back, motioning them all inside.