All For Love
Disclaimer: All characters of Rurouni Kenshin belong to Nobuhiro Watsuki, JUMP comics, and Sony Entertainment.
Chapter Ten
Megumi folded her arms and pursed her lips in determination. She was not going to have it. Ken-san wanted her to stay in the Dojo with Kaoru and Yahiko, while he and Saitou went to rescue Sano. What kind of a woman do they take me for? I have to go and see that Sanosuke is okay. I have to see for myself... She stopped for a moment. The thought that passed through her mind made her shudder. I have to see him before he is gone...
Megumi shook her head to get the thought out. What are you thinking Baka! This is Sanosuke. He has fought strong enemies before, and without a sword at that, so just stop it! Yet the more she tried to fight the more she felt the sting of tears form behind her eyes. In just a few short days she had come to the point where she could not see herself without that damned Roosterhead. How could they think that she would stay? If anyone is going to bring Sanosuke back home, it will be me.
Kenshin frowned as he watched her, knowing that it was going to be a useless battle with her. But he had promised Sano, and he was not going to give up on this. He took a deep breath before he continued. "Megumi-dono, you must understand why I want you to remain here. Where it is safe," he said emphasizing his last word, hoping that would make her get the point. Although he was known for being rather calm and reasonable, he had to admit that Megumi was beginning to wear on his nerves. "If you come with me then I won't be able to concentrate on rescuing Sano. I'll have you to worry about, and that may just be enough to put us all in danger. Can you please understand this, Megumi-dono?"
A snort came from the dark corner of the dojo, followed by a cloud of cigarette smoke. "Give it up, Battousai. The fox is too determined, and we don't have time to argue with her. If she insists on joining us then let her. I for one won't care about her presence. But do keep this in mind Fox, that I have made no promise to your rooster. Your safety is secondary to my motives for entering the Austin Compound. If you get yourself into trouble, then I will say right now that it has been a pleasure."
Megumi stared at the silhouette nestled among the shadows and thought that she saw a glimmer of those amber eyes through the darkness. She never liked Saitou Hajime. And since she discovered he was the principle figure in Sano's situation, she liked him even less. Then, on top of that, he thought that she was a simpleton; just a weak woman who could do nothing but get in the way.
Well lets face it. All you've ever done these past few days is cry and whine. What do you expect a man like that to think? Kenshin must be annoyed with you as well!
Megumi pulled back as if she had been struck. Who said that? she thought to herself. She looked around. Kaoru sat silently sipping tea, with Yahiko beside her quietly observing everyone. That left Kenshin, and the Wolf in the corner. The voice had been firm, and scolding. Kenshin could sound firm to the point of being deadly, and Saitou made a living out of scolding people-but it wasn't either of them. The voice had been soft, feminine, and taunting. The only voice she could think of was-
She gasped. She looked around again noting how the scene had quickly changed. Kaoru was silent, gazing at her knowingly. She had heard the words, as had everyone else, for Megumi had said these words to herself. The past few days were proof that she was indeed weak. Kaoru would be a better choice to join them. She was strong, and could fend for herself. What the hell do I know how to do but cry? Megumi lowered her head, and she heard a sigh come from the corner of the dojo. She could almost hear his lips curl into a smirk, scrutinizing her and convincing himself that he was right to call her a weakness...just as he had called Sanosuke.
Megumi's head snapped up, and she glared hard at the silhouette of Saitou Hajime. "Now you listen to me," she began, her voice lowering into a growl. She saw his eyebrows rise. "I don't care whether you protect me or not. I'm not some fragile female who needs constant attention. Sano needs me there, whether you, he, or anyone else believes it or not. If anyone is to bring him home it's going to be me. He is doing all of this for me, and I'm not going to let a psychotic creep like you stop me from granting him the courtesy of thanking him. Besides, I'm a doctor and who knows if my expertise will be needed? If Sano is hurt, then I want to be there to make him well. If that bothers you Saitou-san, then perhaps you can stay and lick your back wound. I'm sure Ken-san, and I will be fine."
Kenshin's eyes grew into that unusually large size again, and Kaoru looked as if she were going to faint. They both looked at Saitou who had gotten over the initial shock of her speech, and merely sat stone-faced with a cigarette dangling between his fingers. His amber eyes bore through the darkness again at Megumi. She pursed her lips, and flipped her hair over her shoulder refusing to be intimidated. It was about time that someone stood up to that intolerable cop. No matter how Sano had explained it, she still could not believe that Saitou had the best motives for him-especially with that deep slash on his back. He must think of a different way to kill Sano with every throb of pain that surfaces. Megumi thought sadly shaking her head. As a doctor she couldn't let him suffer with that pain, especially if they were going to face a large group of thugs. He wasn't going to be at his full potential but he would at least have some relief. Megumi softened her gaze, and granted Saitou a soft smile. He raised an eyebrow.
"Kitsune, your wiles will not work on me. I am a happily married man."
"What makes you think she's doing that?" Kaoru asked disgustedly.
"Saitou-san, I only bestow my wiles on the one I love. What I merely want to do is take a look at that wound. It may get worse, and you definitely won't be in any shape to fend for yourself, much less rescue Sanosuke. Do I have your permission to examine you?"
He snorted in the corner, but did not totally dismiss the offer. Kenshin stood up and slipped his Sakaba sword into his belt. He turned to Saitou. "I think that Megumi-dono can really help you out right now, and at the compound. She is right. We may need a doctor, and I did promise Sano that I would watch over her, so that would mean that she has to be with me at all times. Everything will be all right Saitou. Megumi-dono can take care of herself just as well as Kaoru-dono can. I'm not worried at all."
No more smoke came from the corner. The eyes had stopped gleaming, and a low growl resonated the entire Dojo. "Humph!" Megumi almost jumped out of her skin. "If the fox gets caught then I will give the rooster her regards." He shakily made it to his feet. He was at the door of the dojo when he stopped and looked over his shoulder at Kenshin. "Battousai."
Kenshin looked at Saitou, expecting a put down, but there was no sarcasm in his voice. No relentless gleam in his eyes, so that his characteristic menacing demeanor was gone. He looked humbled and it seemed to take almost every bit of energy out of him. He turned away and let out a deep sigh. His words came in a whisper. "Battousai. I put all of my trust into you. I grant all power and authority to you until I feel well enough to resume my responsibilities again." He glanced at Megumi who had stood up to leave. "Kitsune where do you think you're going? You have a patient to deal with, and I must warn you that I can be rather grouchy if I am not treated with the utmost care. I will be in your office. Meet me there in a few minutes. Oh, and Battousai, don't get too accustomed to my job. I'm not so badly injured that I have to permanently hand over my position. I will return shortly and then we can be on our way." With that Saitou exited the dojo leaving the others with their shock.
Yahiko, without noticing it, had held his breath for the entire time and finally realized that he would pass out if he did not take in some much needed air. He turned his head to look up at Kaoru. She was lost in her own thoughts, gazing at the doorway that Saitou had just vacated. It was weird. The damned psycho cop was asking Kenshin for help. No. He was asking Kenshin to assume all duties for him, because he knew that he was in no shape to handle it by himself. Yahiko shook his head, still not believing he had been awake to witness that. A helpless Saitou was indeed something he would not forget for a long time. Wait until I tell this to Sanosuke. He'll get a kick out of that one...unless Saitou kills him first. Feh! The cop's in no shape to do anything major to Sano. Look where their last fight got him!
Yahiko felt Kaoru's grip on his shoulder weaken and he saw that she made her way over to where Kenshin stood. He stared at the doorway as well, as did Megumi who had not moved to follow her patient. She then turned her eyes on Kenshin. "Ken-san. I have to go now and take care of Saitou-san. When I am finished, we will go," she said quietly, and bowed her head before she made her way to the door. A voice stopped her from leaving.
"Megumi-san." She turned around to see Kaoru by her side. She had her hand gripped between both of hers, and her gaze was filled with all of the things that she herself had on her mind. It was going to be dangerous, and she was doubtful. Megumi sighed.
Kaoru's grip grew tighter. "Megumi-san. Won't you please reconsider and stay here? I know how much you want to see Sanosuke but the fact is you will only be in the way. If you stay here then I will protect you. It is what I have learned to do with Kamiya Kasshin Ryu. Kenshin won't be breaking his promise to Sano. You will be just fine here. Much safer than if you were to go to that awful place with Kenshin, and Saitou. Megumi, please stay here. Kenshin will bring Sano back home. I know he will. He was able to bring Shinomori Aoshi back to Misao-chan. If he can do that then I know that he will bring back Sanosuke."
Megumi listened to Kaoru's words, as did Kenshin and Yahiko. Yahiko held up his shinai in a gesture to say that he would protect her as well. Kenshin merely looked thoughtful, not expecting Kaoru's speech to have much effect. He was right to think so. Megumi smiled weakly, and gently pulled her hand out of Kaoru's grip.
"Kaoru-san." Kaoru pulled back at the use of such a formal address from Megumi. She was always "silly girl", or just plain "Kaoru". This was so unlike Megumi, that it unnerved her. She held her breath.
"Kaoru-san, I appreciate your concern and your offer and I believe that you are capable of protecting me. I admire your strength and willingness to help those who are in need of it. But my place is with Sanosuke. I want to stand by him and bring him home, just like you did for Ken-san. I am asking you as a woman and as a friend to please understand why I want to do this. You of all people should know what it is like to fear losing the one you care about. I don't know what I would do without Sanosuke." She paused a moment and giggled softly, while she shook her head. "Can you believe that I am actually saying this about that Baka Chicken-head? Kaoru-san, what has come over me? What has Sanosuke done to me?"
Kaoru smiled coyly as she glanced at Kenshin, who stood by the doorway returning the same gesture. Yahiko watched the display with mock disgust.
"If you both start kissing then I'm going to be the one going with Megumi and Saitou." Yahiko thought about that for a moment and then he shuddered. "Megumi, you think we could leave the psycho cop here? We don't really need him do we?"
Kenshin, Kaoru, and Megumi burst into laughter, but then immediately fell silent. Yahiko wondered why they stopped so quickly.
"Ahou, I heard that! You'd get yourself lost once you left the backyard." Yahiko almost jumped through the dojo's roof. He fell into a fit of hyperventilation, and glared angrily at Saitou who had appeared in the doorway just as Yahiko had said his piece.
"Kitsune, we don't have all night. Tend to my wounds and then tuck that little boy in. It's past his bedtime," he said flashing Yahiko a wicked smirk. Kaoru grabbed Yahiko and dragged him out before he could erupt on Saitou. Kenshin nervously watched them leave, and then turned to Saitou.
"I will prepare while Megumi-dono takes care of you. I accept all responsibilities as of this moment, and I will relinquish them when you feel that you are able to assume them once again. Is there anyone I need to contact?"
Saitou shook his head. "I have 500 officers stationed around Tokyo, ready to go when they get the signal. All that's left is our arrival." Saitou made his way to the door and then paused again to glance back at Kenshin. "All of this depends on the state of mind that Sanosuke is in. I sincerely hope that he is level enough. How he deals with the compound will determine how we make our move. I am hoping that we will not be forced to ambush because the odds of his coming out alive might be slim. Battousai, prepare yourself for the worst."