"Mad?" Obaasan repeated.
The woman looked down guiltily, "I'm afraid that--," she paused, "--that she's been working too hard. She came down with something and has been delirious since, and keeps asking us to hide her. I don't pretend to understand what bothers her, but it is the only thing we really can do for her."
She held out the herbs she had in her hand to Obaasan, "If you are skilled enough to recognize the herbs I have, then perhaps you might be able to help her."
Obaasan impulsively patted the woman on the shoulder. "I would like to try. Please, take us to her."
When the woman who introduced herself as Takehima, Obaasan, and Aoshi came in viewing of a small compound of houses, a small child came running out. "My son," she said to the two strangers. "Ms. Megumi cured his sickness last week."
The boy was soon followed by a few elderly woman, who bowed politely.
"Our neighbors. They have worked with Ms. Megumi to help several other families who were sick."
"Kanzaki Susumu," Obaasan bowed to the women. Aoshi followed Obaasan's example but his bow was more stiff. "Shinomori Aoshi."
Aoshi was aware of the mix of intense curiosity and wariness on part of the little child and the older women. When Obaasan followed Mrs. Takehima inside he did not automatically follow. He decided to wait outside.
Obaasan emerged a few minutes later. "Aoshi-san. She is sick with some kind of fever but thankfully, no cough. I could use your help if you would not mind."
With that invitation to enter, Aoshi made a move to step inside. The women and child cleared a path for him, but they quickly followed and took up positions outside the door.
Megumi was lying on the floor, restlessly turning in her delirium. Mrs. Takehima looked up at him, her eyes still evaluating him. "She has not allowed us to get any of the tea we give her to stay down. She keeps talking about Kanryuu trying to get back at her. Do you know what she means?"
Aoshi raised his eyebrow at the mention of a name that he longed wished forgotten in the past. Obaasan gave Megumi a confused look. There were in fact many things that he had never revealed to the others at the Aoiya and there were parts to this story that he did not share as general knowledge.
"Kanryuu was somebody who did her harm. I do not know that it helps to say more than that." He frowned slightly as he looked down at the doctor. "But that is from a long time ago. Her spirit and mind are clearly confused."
"Obaasan," he turned back to his elder. "Do you have something to calm her? And if I hold her still, can you give her what she needs?
Obaasan nodded slowly and asked Mrs. Takehima, "Did Megumi-san have her bag with her?"
Mrs. Takehima nodded, and sent Kyu to fetch it. When Obaasan opened it, she was relieved to find among the things some of the powders that Megumi had obtained in Kyoto. These were not the sorts of medicines found here, but Western ones which Megumi had studied and procured from shops in Tokyo.
Aoshi carefully sat behind Megumi and lifted her up to a sitting position. Obaasan waved a small cordial of mint under Megumi's noise to try to revive her. Megumi's eyes fluttered open.
"Megumi," Obaasan spoke softly. "We've come to help you."
"I'm cold. My head hurts." Her eyes closed again as she leaned back, unable to keep her head up. She was caught by two strong hands. She clumsily looked behind her to see what kept her from lying down.
"Shinomori!" she whispered, then began struggling. "No! I won't go back with you!"
"Go back where?" Obaasan asked bewildered.
"Kanryuu!" Megumi cried hysterically, "I'd rather die!!"
"No Kanryuu" he said firmly. Aoshi saw the women all move towards them to help restrain her, but one look from him stopped their advance. "No," he repeated. He held her fast around her waist as she continued to struggle, but did not stop her from scratching him. He wanted her to understand that he would not harm her. "No, Megumi."
When he said her name, she looked up and stopped struggling. Aoshi dared not breathe as her eyes fixed on his face and her hand hovered for a moment. Slowly she reached up and touched the blood beading from the scratches on his cheek.
"No one will ever take you back there, Megumi." He spoke quietly as he tried to look into her eyes and make her understand. Underneath his hands, he felt her body relax ever so slightly.
Obaasan took the opportunity to approach Megumi and told her to take her medicine like a good girl. She did not squirm or protest further as Aoshi helped her sit up. She swallowed her medicine, and then a little of the liquid that Obaasan had found in the bag. The medicines had an immediate effect, and the doctor's eyes closed.
Obaasan sighed her relief. "That sedative should help her sleep better."
Aoshi set Megumi down gently. When he looked up, he noted the looks of suspicion on the faces of the women had increased.
"You have to understand," Takehima finally spoke up. "There were many names she mentioned while delirious. Some we could tell were her friends. And others -- , " she stopped.
"Shinomori-san," another woman spoke up, "The doctor mentioned you a lot. But most of what she said was unclear. Are you friend or enemy?"
Aoshi mused on that question for himself before answering. "My connection to Takani-san was initially through Kanryuu Takeda. It was not a pleasant or particularly proud time for either of us. There have been other situations where we have crossed paths and I have wronged her. But I consider her my ally."
He could tell that the vagueness of his answers left them a bit dissatisfied, but he was not willing to divulge Megumi Takani's past to lessen their own concerns about him. It would be wrong to do so and perhaps shame the doctor. Sensing his strong opposition to further questions, Mrs. Takehima finally politely chased ladies out. "We should have those scratches looked at and leave the poor doctor and her friends alone." She followed them out the door and slid it closed behind her.
Momentarily alone, Obaasan came over then and looked at him carefully. "Just minor scratches that need cleaning," she concluded and then wiped his face. She took up her position next to the prone Megumi. "You've never told me about Kanryuu Takeda and Megumi." She knew enough about Kanryuu and Aoshi to guess that this was where Aoshi had first met the doctor.
"While I willingly worked for that greedy man, she was not given that same choice. That kind of thing would mar her reputation if known, Obaasan. It is not for me to interfere like that and to share that past with other people who might not understand."
"I understand," she replied. "Your relationship is even more complicated than I had realized, Aoshi-san."
Mrs. Takehima reentered the room, interrupting Obaasan's further questions. She studied Aoshi and then addressed Obaasan. "Ah, are his scratches are okay?"
Obaasan nodded. "It takes much more to hurt Aoshi-san."
"Shinomori-san," Mrs. Takehima asked suddenly, "You come from Kyoto?"
He nodded.
She looked slightly disappointed at his response. "Ah, so you were with the patients that she tended in Kyoto."
"I was one of the patients." He answered.
"So you are not the wandering friend of Megumi-san's."
Aoshi raised his eyebrow. What strange things had Megumi mentioned to these people? "I do not think so."
Mrs. Takehima gave an embarrassed cough, and very deftly changed the subject. "You are both very knowledgeable with patients."
Obaasan smiled, "She taught me some things when she stayed with us. As for Aoshi -" she shot him a look as to say that he should say nothing more, "He has a lot of experience dealing with people in strange situations."
Mrs. Takehima sat down next to Megumi, opposite Obaasan and looked anxious. "I only wish this did not happen. My son was very ill, and she helped him get better." She shook her head, "When the neighbors found out, they all started coming to ask for her to visit them and treat them. Then children were sick in another village and she had to go there."
"She's not as strong as she looks," Obaasan said to Mrs. Takehima, who nodded her agreement. "Perhaps she caught something from the patients?"
"Perhaps." Mrs. Takehima shook her head, "but if she has what her last patient had then things will be difficult for Megumi-san. That girl has not fully recovered. She is weak and hasn't been able to do much even after recovering." Mrs. Takehima sighed, "It seems Megumi-san's difficulties will continue on top of all that she already has to deal with."
Aoshi lowered his eyes briefly. He was in fact part of the doctor's problems, wasn't he? Earlier, Obaasan had scolded him for his behavior to Megumi. On top of that, she still harbored memories of other times that were -- -- painful. He wondered whether he had driven her to this.
He had time to ponder this over the next few days, as Aoshi largely sat and watched the ladies tend Megumi. He did not do much except when asked. His presence still unnerved most of the women who came to tend Megumi, and Obaasan wryly commented to him that he perhaps should sit outside the door on the wooden porch in case his strength was needed. But beyond that one incident where she had struggled and scratched him, Megumi was now a passive, receptive patient. She was not talking much, but she was alert enough now to know where she was.
He had never seen so much attention given to one patient. She was out of danger, but the women watched her fever like a hawk. In addition, many neighbors came by to show their support for the doctor, who was too weak to do anything except smile at the kindnesses they paid her. Some left food, others flowers or herbs, and even others various good luck charms.
Once a day, Obaasan ordered that Megumi be taken outside. Here Aoshi was useful. He was given the task of carrying her outside to get air and to move a little. She was tired of the room she was in, and would ask if it were possible to go the fields and sit among the flowers. He would humor her, even though he suspected she rather enjoyed making him carry her so far. Little Kyu always tagged along, wanting to spend more time with the doctor, and also, as Obaasan joked, to keep an eye on Aoshi. Once out in the fields, he and Megumi would say little. Instead Kyu entertained them with his tumbling and kung-fu tricks, made flower chains or caught bugs for the doctor to look at.
When she was tired, he would wrap her up and take her back home, and if necessary, keep Kyu occupied with martial arts drills and books so the doctor could rest. He wrote letters on her behalf to the Himuras, the Morimotos, to Gensai-sensei, and whoever she thought she had unnecessarily worried with her illness. These were the little things he could to do to ease her mind about him and her situation.
His small efforts were rewarded; her attitude towards him slowly relaxed, and soon she began to speak to him directly again, sometimes asking about the residents of the Aoiya and sometimes asking about any news in general.
On the eighth day of her recovery, she asked him to tell all the women that she wanted to go home. "They won't argue with you, you know. They're all afraid of you still. And we're imposing on the Takehimas too much. I don't want everyone waiting on me hand and foot. I am well enough to travel now and want to go back to Aizu. I miss it," she said, turning her head away.
He heard the small lie in her voice, but did not question it. "I will tell them."
As she had predicted it, they protested the request. But when he stated it a second time as her wish, the women dropped the argument altogether. However, he did make one amendment to the decision which pleased Takehima and Obaasan. He had decided that he and Obaasan would personally see her home.
=============================================
A/N: lilserenity - It's fine by me. Fluffy-chan can absolutely be the number one bad guy. Esp. since Inuyasha's Sess can probably kill all RK characters with one swipe, so a one-on-one competition seems rather useless.
Cherie-Dee and Kyris - when are you going to update? Your unresolved fics means I must complete mine to achieve my ultimate goal of bringing Megumi some happiness in this universe since Sano chickened out and did not run off with her in either continuity. Baka Sano.
Rook: The problem with ninjas is that they think too much. Aoshi dispatched the ninjas to move quickly and to search far and wide, as opposed to much closer to home. I guess though they could doubledback if they had found something of interest and located Aoshi pretty easily. As for Obasaan getting results, well I think Aoshi's problem was that he never noticed the most distinctive thing about Megumi - which is that she is one of the most beautiful characters in the RK-verse.
=============================================
The woman looked down guiltily, "I'm afraid that--," she paused, "--that she's been working too hard. She came down with something and has been delirious since, and keeps asking us to hide her. I don't pretend to understand what bothers her, but it is the only thing we really can do for her."
She held out the herbs she had in her hand to Obaasan, "If you are skilled enough to recognize the herbs I have, then perhaps you might be able to help her."
Obaasan impulsively patted the woman on the shoulder. "I would like to try. Please, take us to her."
When the woman who introduced herself as Takehima, Obaasan, and Aoshi came in viewing of a small compound of houses, a small child came running out. "My son," she said to the two strangers. "Ms. Megumi cured his sickness last week."
The boy was soon followed by a few elderly woman, who bowed politely.
"Our neighbors. They have worked with Ms. Megumi to help several other families who were sick."
"Kanzaki Susumu," Obaasan bowed to the women. Aoshi followed Obaasan's example but his bow was more stiff. "Shinomori Aoshi."
Aoshi was aware of the mix of intense curiosity and wariness on part of the little child and the older women. When Obaasan followed Mrs. Takehima inside he did not automatically follow. He decided to wait outside.
Obaasan emerged a few minutes later. "Aoshi-san. She is sick with some kind of fever but thankfully, no cough. I could use your help if you would not mind."
With that invitation to enter, Aoshi made a move to step inside. The women and child cleared a path for him, but they quickly followed and took up positions outside the door.
Megumi was lying on the floor, restlessly turning in her delirium. Mrs. Takehima looked up at him, her eyes still evaluating him. "She has not allowed us to get any of the tea we give her to stay down. She keeps talking about Kanryuu trying to get back at her. Do you know what she means?"
Aoshi raised his eyebrow at the mention of a name that he longed wished forgotten in the past. Obaasan gave Megumi a confused look. There were in fact many things that he had never revealed to the others at the Aoiya and there were parts to this story that he did not share as general knowledge.
"Kanryuu was somebody who did her harm. I do not know that it helps to say more than that." He frowned slightly as he looked down at the doctor. "But that is from a long time ago. Her spirit and mind are clearly confused."
"Obaasan," he turned back to his elder. "Do you have something to calm her? And if I hold her still, can you give her what she needs?
Obaasan nodded slowly and asked Mrs. Takehima, "Did Megumi-san have her bag with her?"
Mrs. Takehima nodded, and sent Kyu to fetch it. When Obaasan opened it, she was relieved to find among the things some of the powders that Megumi had obtained in Kyoto. These were not the sorts of medicines found here, but Western ones which Megumi had studied and procured from shops in Tokyo.
Aoshi carefully sat behind Megumi and lifted her up to a sitting position. Obaasan waved a small cordial of mint under Megumi's noise to try to revive her. Megumi's eyes fluttered open.
"Megumi," Obaasan spoke softly. "We've come to help you."
"I'm cold. My head hurts." Her eyes closed again as she leaned back, unable to keep her head up. She was caught by two strong hands. She clumsily looked behind her to see what kept her from lying down.
"Shinomori!" she whispered, then began struggling. "No! I won't go back with you!"
"Go back where?" Obaasan asked bewildered.
"Kanryuu!" Megumi cried hysterically, "I'd rather die!!"
"No Kanryuu" he said firmly. Aoshi saw the women all move towards them to help restrain her, but one look from him stopped their advance. "No," he repeated. He held her fast around her waist as she continued to struggle, but did not stop her from scratching him. He wanted her to understand that he would not harm her. "No, Megumi."
When he said her name, she looked up and stopped struggling. Aoshi dared not breathe as her eyes fixed on his face and her hand hovered for a moment. Slowly she reached up and touched the blood beading from the scratches on his cheek.
"No one will ever take you back there, Megumi." He spoke quietly as he tried to look into her eyes and make her understand. Underneath his hands, he felt her body relax ever so slightly.
Obaasan took the opportunity to approach Megumi and told her to take her medicine like a good girl. She did not squirm or protest further as Aoshi helped her sit up. She swallowed her medicine, and then a little of the liquid that Obaasan had found in the bag. The medicines had an immediate effect, and the doctor's eyes closed.
Obaasan sighed her relief. "That sedative should help her sleep better."
Aoshi set Megumi down gently. When he looked up, he noted the looks of suspicion on the faces of the women had increased.
"You have to understand," Takehima finally spoke up. "There were many names she mentioned while delirious. Some we could tell were her friends. And others -- , " she stopped.
"Shinomori-san," another woman spoke up, "The doctor mentioned you a lot. But most of what she said was unclear. Are you friend or enemy?"
Aoshi mused on that question for himself before answering. "My connection to Takani-san was initially through Kanryuu Takeda. It was not a pleasant or particularly proud time for either of us. There have been other situations where we have crossed paths and I have wronged her. But I consider her my ally."
He could tell that the vagueness of his answers left them a bit dissatisfied, but he was not willing to divulge Megumi Takani's past to lessen their own concerns about him. It would be wrong to do so and perhaps shame the doctor. Sensing his strong opposition to further questions, Mrs. Takehima finally politely chased ladies out. "We should have those scratches looked at and leave the poor doctor and her friends alone." She followed them out the door and slid it closed behind her.
Momentarily alone, Obaasan came over then and looked at him carefully. "Just minor scratches that need cleaning," she concluded and then wiped his face. She took up her position next to the prone Megumi. "You've never told me about Kanryuu Takeda and Megumi." She knew enough about Kanryuu and Aoshi to guess that this was where Aoshi had first met the doctor.
"While I willingly worked for that greedy man, she was not given that same choice. That kind of thing would mar her reputation if known, Obaasan. It is not for me to interfere like that and to share that past with other people who might not understand."
"I understand," she replied. "Your relationship is even more complicated than I had realized, Aoshi-san."
Mrs. Takehima reentered the room, interrupting Obaasan's further questions. She studied Aoshi and then addressed Obaasan. "Ah, are his scratches are okay?"
Obaasan nodded. "It takes much more to hurt Aoshi-san."
"Shinomori-san," Mrs. Takehima asked suddenly, "You come from Kyoto?"
He nodded.
She looked slightly disappointed at his response. "Ah, so you were with the patients that she tended in Kyoto."
"I was one of the patients." He answered.
"So you are not the wandering friend of Megumi-san's."
Aoshi raised his eyebrow. What strange things had Megumi mentioned to these people? "I do not think so."
Mrs. Takehima gave an embarrassed cough, and very deftly changed the subject. "You are both very knowledgeable with patients."
Obaasan smiled, "She taught me some things when she stayed with us. As for Aoshi -" she shot him a look as to say that he should say nothing more, "He has a lot of experience dealing with people in strange situations."
Mrs. Takehima sat down next to Megumi, opposite Obaasan and looked anxious. "I only wish this did not happen. My son was very ill, and she helped him get better." She shook her head, "When the neighbors found out, they all started coming to ask for her to visit them and treat them. Then children were sick in another village and she had to go there."
"She's not as strong as she looks," Obaasan said to Mrs. Takehima, who nodded her agreement. "Perhaps she caught something from the patients?"
"Perhaps." Mrs. Takehima shook her head, "but if she has what her last patient had then things will be difficult for Megumi-san. That girl has not fully recovered. She is weak and hasn't been able to do much even after recovering." Mrs. Takehima sighed, "It seems Megumi-san's difficulties will continue on top of all that she already has to deal with."
Aoshi lowered his eyes briefly. He was in fact part of the doctor's problems, wasn't he? Earlier, Obaasan had scolded him for his behavior to Megumi. On top of that, she still harbored memories of other times that were -- -- painful. He wondered whether he had driven her to this.
He had time to ponder this over the next few days, as Aoshi largely sat and watched the ladies tend Megumi. He did not do much except when asked. His presence still unnerved most of the women who came to tend Megumi, and Obaasan wryly commented to him that he perhaps should sit outside the door on the wooden porch in case his strength was needed. But beyond that one incident where she had struggled and scratched him, Megumi was now a passive, receptive patient. She was not talking much, but she was alert enough now to know where she was.
He had never seen so much attention given to one patient. She was out of danger, but the women watched her fever like a hawk. In addition, many neighbors came by to show their support for the doctor, who was too weak to do anything except smile at the kindnesses they paid her. Some left food, others flowers or herbs, and even others various good luck charms.
Once a day, Obaasan ordered that Megumi be taken outside. Here Aoshi was useful. He was given the task of carrying her outside to get air and to move a little. She was tired of the room she was in, and would ask if it were possible to go the fields and sit among the flowers. He would humor her, even though he suspected she rather enjoyed making him carry her so far. Little Kyu always tagged along, wanting to spend more time with the doctor, and also, as Obaasan joked, to keep an eye on Aoshi. Once out in the fields, he and Megumi would say little. Instead Kyu entertained them with his tumbling and kung-fu tricks, made flower chains or caught bugs for the doctor to look at.
When she was tired, he would wrap her up and take her back home, and if necessary, keep Kyu occupied with martial arts drills and books so the doctor could rest. He wrote letters on her behalf to the Himuras, the Morimotos, to Gensai-sensei, and whoever she thought she had unnecessarily worried with her illness. These were the little things he could to do to ease her mind about him and her situation.
His small efforts were rewarded; her attitude towards him slowly relaxed, and soon she began to speak to him directly again, sometimes asking about the residents of the Aoiya and sometimes asking about any news in general.
On the eighth day of her recovery, she asked him to tell all the women that she wanted to go home. "They won't argue with you, you know. They're all afraid of you still. And we're imposing on the Takehimas too much. I don't want everyone waiting on me hand and foot. I am well enough to travel now and want to go back to Aizu. I miss it," she said, turning her head away.
He heard the small lie in her voice, but did not question it. "I will tell them."
As she had predicted it, they protested the request. But when he stated it a second time as her wish, the women dropped the argument altogether. However, he did make one amendment to the decision which pleased Takehima and Obaasan. He had decided that he and Obaasan would personally see her home.
=============================================
A/N: lilserenity - It's fine by me. Fluffy-chan can absolutely be the number one bad guy. Esp. since Inuyasha's Sess can probably kill all RK characters with one swipe, so a one-on-one competition seems rather useless.
Cherie-Dee and Kyris - when are you going to update? Your unresolved fics means I must complete mine to achieve my ultimate goal of bringing Megumi some happiness in this universe since Sano chickened out and did not run off with her in either continuity. Baka Sano.
Rook: The problem with ninjas is that they think too much. Aoshi dispatched the ninjas to move quickly and to search far and wide, as opposed to much closer to home. I guess though they could doubledback if they had found something of interest and located Aoshi pretty easily. As for Obasaan getting results, well I think Aoshi's problem was that he never noticed the most distinctive thing about Megumi - which is that she is one of the most beautiful characters in the RK-verse.
=============================================