Megumi was halfway across the narrow bridge spanning a deep gorge when she heard her name being called and saw a young man running towards her. Shaggy hair, white clothes-her heart constricted with fear and she shouted defiantly, "You can tell your boss I'm not going back!"
He stopped, then came forward slowly onto the bridge. "Megumi…."
"No! I'm never going back-Kanryuu can find somebody else to make his opium."
"I'm not from Kanryuu, Megumi." The young man took another step. "It's me. Sanosuke."
She shook her head. "I don't know you."
"What about Kenshin? Short guy, red hair, cross-shaped scar on his left cheek? You like flirting with him to make Kaoru mad. She's the worst cook in the world, and Yahiko-he's a little brat and he's always fighting with her." The distrust and fear in Megumi's face hurt Sanosuke to his heart and he asked sadly, "Doesn't any of this sound familiar?"
"No." Her hand tightened on the railing. "I don't remember any of this and I don't believe you. You just want to take me back to make opium for Kanryuu."
"Megumi…." Sanosuke closed his eyes. "I'm the last person in the world to want you to make opium. A good friend of mine died from an opium overdose. Don't you remember that?"
He took another step and she put both hands on the railing, staring at the hundred foot drop below. "If you come any closer I'm going to jump," she said steadily.
Sano stopped at once, the color draining from his face. "Don't! Please. Please, Megumi….look, I'm backing up, okay?" He held up his hands, tears in his eyes, and Megumi stared at the deep scar across his right palm.
A kaleidoscope of images filled her mind, all of this stranger who was suddenly so familiar-him talking and laughing and eating, playing with a dog, walking down a street, a terrible picture of him bleeding and unconscious with a broken sword in his shoulder and another of him sleeping peacefully in a futon….and a very special starry night….
Megumi swayed dizzily. "Sanosuke?"
He came forward just in time to catch her as her knees gave out, scooping her up in his strong arms. "Do you remember me?"
She gazed up at him. "It's all so hazy-we were on our way back to the clinic, and I heard shouting, and then….it's all so confusing."
His arms tightened around her. "It's all right now, Megumi. I'm taking you home."