A/N yes once again I suppose I must put a disclaimer in here. I don't own
RK at all that right belongs to somebody else. *Sigh* oh well.
Chapter Four - Betrayal
Pulling her small scarf over her face, Megumi hurried toward the place where she was to spend the night. She had been running for weeks now, trying to find a place where no one had even heard of a Takani relative. Her family had been large before the revolution, and it was difficult. In the end she just might have to leave Japan and move west, though that would break her heart.
She felt someone touch her shoulder gently. She swung around, angry words on the tips of her lips, but there was no one there. Just a milling crowd, some shopping, or some just talking with friends. She sighed and turned back around, trying to ignore her heavy breathing.
'I'm just jumpy that's all.' she thought, walked on toward her destination.
It wasn't the fact that she was traveling that was disturbing her. She wandered for years before she had gotten mixed in with the wrong kind of doctor. It was only the fact that it was Sanosuke that she had left behind, the man she knew she loved, and the very one that swore to find her and make her pay for the deaths of so many.
Suddenly she felt another touch on her other shoulder. This time she turned around cautiously, easily playing the part of a maiden who was just walking through the street shopping. But once again, there was no one there, and the only thing her keen eyes caught was a flash of white.
She walked on, only slightly faster this time. Some one was playing with her, while tracking her at the same time. Well, they weren't going to get away with it. Quickly she wove through the crowd, trying to lose her pursuer.
**A few hours later**
Megumi ducked into an alley and tried to catch her breath. She knew there was someone behind her still, so she had walked in circles around the town, trying to lose him or her. But still she had the sensation that she was still being followed. Megumi pulled her scarf down around her shoulders, sighed and walked farther into the semi-dark alleyway. It was almost dark, and she needed to get home. If this short cut didn't lose the pursuer, nothing would.
"Heh heh heh boys, look who we have here." a low man's voice whispered from the darkness.
Megumi gasped, and she grasped the small knife hidden deep within the folds of her kimono. It was kept there just in case, though usually only used for cutting meat and her doctor practices.
"Show yourself!" she cried into the darkness.
There was a short, curt laugh, and a man appeared, followed by two others who could only be henchmen. The man was tall, and if you like that sort of thing, dark and handsome. His eyes were like dark, cold rubies, and they glittered in the low light.
'Thieves.' She thought instantly, but the man in front was decently well dressed. 'Good thieves.'
"Back off." Megumi said, backing out toward where she had come.
"Oh no, pretty maiden. We couldn't do that. You are worth too much." The man snarled, pulling out a gleaming sword, while his two companions did the same. "Get her."
The men advanced, smirks completely destroying their already ugly faces. "Come here, woman." The first one said, wickedly flashing his blade through the night.
"We won't hurt you that bad." the second one said evilly, smiling with the light of a man that was hungry, and not for food.
"You know it's really not nice to attack a woman while she's all alone and unprotected." A familiar voice said off-handedly.
Megumi's heart jumped into her throat as Sanosuke stepped into the light. "Sano!" she whispered breathlessly.
"Get out of the way man!" the first dude said.
"Yeah, we don't want to have to kick your butt." The second one said, running a finger up and down his blade.
Sanosuke laughed. "You? I'd like to see the day."
"You are a fool." The man with ruby eyes said from behind the two fighters, watching silently.
Megumi was watching as well, her heart pounding. She knew Sanosuke would win, she had seen him fight many times before against much better opponents. What had her confused was why he would be protecting her when he swore he would make her pay for supposedly going back on her promise?
"YOU!" the men cried. "How dare you?"
The two men with swords sprung at Sanosuke, their swords drawn and ready to kill. Sano cracked his knuckles. "Bring it on."
Megumi sighed with relief. True, the fight had gone on only seconds, but with the two fighters down already, she was happier. She was always happier when she knew Sano wasn't in danger.
Sanosuke wiped his fist on one of the fighters shirts. There was blood but it was not his own.
You are worth too much.
The man's voice echoed in his head as he stood back up to stare at Megumi. She really must be involved in it then. "What did you do?" he asked softly, a slight angry undertone beneath the surface of his voice. "Why were they attacking you? Was it because you killed one of their friends, or because you worked for their master making opium?"
Megumi gasped, and the slight, delighted smile that had surfaced when Sano saved her disappeared. "What are you talking about?! I don't even know those men!"
There was a harsh laugh from nowhere, and for a moment, Sano thought it might be his, for he felt he could be laughing at her stubbornness. After all, that was why he thought he had loved her. Heh. Not anymore. There's a key word there. HAD. He thought harshly. Still, he looked around for the person that had creating the sound.
Suddenly from out of nowhere the man with the ruby eyes sped past Sanosuke and wrapped his arm around Megumi's waist. "We better be going my dear." the man said wickedly, turning Megumi around before he spoke so Sanosuke could not see her face. There was no answer from her, and Sano could barely breathe.
Not only had she began killing people with her drugs again, she had been cheating on him all along with another man?! It was impossible, but with the ready way Megumi did not say another word and walked forward with the man, there could be no other truth. He had put his heart on the line for this woman, and this was how the fox betrayed him.
"I didn't think you were so cruel to kill people Fox, but now I see you tear people in two too!" Sanosuke yelled at their retreating backs, his anger almost getting the best of him. But he didn't follow. If she chose to go with her lover, than so be it.
"That's the problem Sanosuke Sagara! You thought!" the man yelled over his shoulder, before continuing walking, laughing evilly.
Sano sank to his knees, staring at his fists. He had worked so hard for his own power, yet now, in the face of murderers and this strange man, why did he feel so weak?
Megumi's heart broke in two when she heard Sanosuke's parting words, but she couldn't breathe, nor cry. Trying to keep her calm she muttered, "Release me you idiot."
She felt the blade of a small knife dig farther into her throat. A small trickle of blood ran down her neck, and she flinched. "How about not." The man muttered hoarsely into her ear.
She had been in this same position since the moment the man had run up to her when she and Sano were talking. Knife at her throat and whispered threats into her ears if she did not stay silent and cooperate. What other choice did she have?
Megumi tried to swallow, doing her best to not flinch every time she stumbled and the knife dug into her flesh. Suddenly they stopped, and she felt herself being pulled backward. "Stop and don't move until I say, Megumi."
She froze, and felt the warmth of the man's body being so close to hers removed. Finally. The dagger however did not budge an inch and the man's fingers stayed close to her skin. She laughed even though there was no humor intoned. "Don't worry I won't."
Behind her she heard some whispers and then a gasp. Everything went silent and before she knew it, she was pulled into a small alley, and in a door. The room was dark, except for the glowing of a small lantern in the corner. The shadows of the room seemed to cultivate and grow as she watched. A much larger shadow moved from somewhere behind, and the pressure at her neck was relieved. "Sit."
She swallowed freely, and took a deep breath. "I'd rather stand thank you." She replied as steely as she could. This was no time to lose her resolve.
There was a flash of dark ruby eyes and she heard the small terrifying sound of a sword being drawn. "Sit, or you will be made to sit."
Megumi glared at the figure as he too sat down in the darkness. Slowly her vision adjusted to the darkness. It was the leader of the strange band that had attacked her earlier. The man had smooth handsome features, with ruby eyes that seemed to spark with a fire held deep within. She sat.
"What is it you want with me?" she asked, her voice still a little hoarse from lack of use.
The thin lips curved into a smile. "What I want with you? Everything, but I'm afraid some of my wishes cannot be satisfied at the moment. There are more substantial things that need to be discussed."
Megumi's breath caught in her throat. What he talked of, she knew. And it was not a pleasing thought, one that should be locked away. She frowned, and put on a calm, sometimes even thought to be cold, face she used with her patients. "Substantial things?" she asked raising an eyebrow, and using a tone that she knew he would find uncomfortable.
His ruby eyes narrowed. "Don't play tricks with me Megumi Takani." He growled. "You will tell me what I want, or die in the process."
She sniffed. "I will not tell you anything you wish to know for I doubt I know anything you would have an interest in. However since I suppose I am to be held in this place, I suppose I should know the name of the man who has," she stopped and put on a disdainful tone to cover the fact she was quivering inside. ".kidnapped me."
The light flickered, and as she watched the face broke into a grin, a handsome grin, though one with an evil, possibly perverted intent.
"Spoken like the ever clever fox I see. Very well." The man stood, and walked over to the lantern, his back to her. He picked up the light and it wavered as he carried to the other side of the room, lighting it well enough so she could see his face.
"No." she whispered, her eyes widening. "You're supposed to be dead."
His evil laughed echoed through the room. "Love cannot die!"
A/N: What is going on? Who is this maniac? And why is he talking about love? What will happen to poor Sanosuke's broken heart? Find out next time!
Megumi: You better actually finish this story!
Author: what?
Megumi: you know what I mean! You never finish your stories! And I'm in this one so it HAS to be finished!
Author: **blushes** You are not supposed to say that in public Megumi! And to all you readers, I can only finish with reviews! Later!
Chapter Four - Betrayal
Pulling her small scarf over her face, Megumi hurried toward the place where she was to spend the night. She had been running for weeks now, trying to find a place where no one had even heard of a Takani relative. Her family had been large before the revolution, and it was difficult. In the end she just might have to leave Japan and move west, though that would break her heart.
She felt someone touch her shoulder gently. She swung around, angry words on the tips of her lips, but there was no one there. Just a milling crowd, some shopping, or some just talking with friends. She sighed and turned back around, trying to ignore her heavy breathing.
'I'm just jumpy that's all.' she thought, walked on toward her destination.
It wasn't the fact that she was traveling that was disturbing her. She wandered for years before she had gotten mixed in with the wrong kind of doctor. It was only the fact that it was Sanosuke that she had left behind, the man she knew she loved, and the very one that swore to find her and make her pay for the deaths of so many.
Suddenly she felt another touch on her other shoulder. This time she turned around cautiously, easily playing the part of a maiden who was just walking through the street shopping. But once again, there was no one there, and the only thing her keen eyes caught was a flash of white.
She walked on, only slightly faster this time. Some one was playing with her, while tracking her at the same time. Well, they weren't going to get away with it. Quickly she wove through the crowd, trying to lose her pursuer.
**A few hours later**
Megumi ducked into an alley and tried to catch her breath. She knew there was someone behind her still, so she had walked in circles around the town, trying to lose him or her. But still she had the sensation that she was still being followed. Megumi pulled her scarf down around her shoulders, sighed and walked farther into the semi-dark alleyway. It was almost dark, and she needed to get home. If this short cut didn't lose the pursuer, nothing would.
"Heh heh heh boys, look who we have here." a low man's voice whispered from the darkness.
Megumi gasped, and she grasped the small knife hidden deep within the folds of her kimono. It was kept there just in case, though usually only used for cutting meat and her doctor practices.
"Show yourself!" she cried into the darkness.
There was a short, curt laugh, and a man appeared, followed by two others who could only be henchmen. The man was tall, and if you like that sort of thing, dark and handsome. His eyes were like dark, cold rubies, and they glittered in the low light.
'Thieves.' She thought instantly, but the man in front was decently well dressed. 'Good thieves.'
"Back off." Megumi said, backing out toward where she had come.
"Oh no, pretty maiden. We couldn't do that. You are worth too much." The man snarled, pulling out a gleaming sword, while his two companions did the same. "Get her."
The men advanced, smirks completely destroying their already ugly faces. "Come here, woman." The first one said, wickedly flashing his blade through the night.
"We won't hurt you that bad." the second one said evilly, smiling with the light of a man that was hungry, and not for food.
"You know it's really not nice to attack a woman while she's all alone and unprotected." A familiar voice said off-handedly.
Megumi's heart jumped into her throat as Sanosuke stepped into the light. "Sano!" she whispered breathlessly.
"Get out of the way man!" the first dude said.
"Yeah, we don't want to have to kick your butt." The second one said, running a finger up and down his blade.
Sanosuke laughed. "You? I'd like to see the day."
"You are a fool." The man with ruby eyes said from behind the two fighters, watching silently.
Megumi was watching as well, her heart pounding. She knew Sanosuke would win, she had seen him fight many times before against much better opponents. What had her confused was why he would be protecting her when he swore he would make her pay for supposedly going back on her promise?
"YOU!" the men cried. "How dare you?"
The two men with swords sprung at Sanosuke, their swords drawn and ready to kill. Sano cracked his knuckles. "Bring it on."
Megumi sighed with relief. True, the fight had gone on only seconds, but with the two fighters down already, she was happier. She was always happier when she knew Sano wasn't in danger.
Sanosuke wiped his fist on one of the fighters shirts. There was blood but it was not his own.
You are worth too much.
The man's voice echoed in his head as he stood back up to stare at Megumi. She really must be involved in it then. "What did you do?" he asked softly, a slight angry undertone beneath the surface of his voice. "Why were they attacking you? Was it because you killed one of their friends, or because you worked for their master making opium?"
Megumi gasped, and the slight, delighted smile that had surfaced when Sano saved her disappeared. "What are you talking about?! I don't even know those men!"
There was a harsh laugh from nowhere, and for a moment, Sano thought it might be his, for he felt he could be laughing at her stubbornness. After all, that was why he thought he had loved her. Heh. Not anymore. There's a key word there. HAD. He thought harshly. Still, he looked around for the person that had creating the sound.
Suddenly from out of nowhere the man with the ruby eyes sped past Sanosuke and wrapped his arm around Megumi's waist. "We better be going my dear." the man said wickedly, turning Megumi around before he spoke so Sanosuke could not see her face. There was no answer from her, and Sano could barely breathe.
Not only had she began killing people with her drugs again, she had been cheating on him all along with another man?! It was impossible, but with the ready way Megumi did not say another word and walked forward with the man, there could be no other truth. He had put his heart on the line for this woman, and this was how the fox betrayed him.
"I didn't think you were so cruel to kill people Fox, but now I see you tear people in two too!" Sanosuke yelled at their retreating backs, his anger almost getting the best of him. But he didn't follow. If she chose to go with her lover, than so be it.
"That's the problem Sanosuke Sagara! You thought!" the man yelled over his shoulder, before continuing walking, laughing evilly.
Sano sank to his knees, staring at his fists. He had worked so hard for his own power, yet now, in the face of murderers and this strange man, why did he feel so weak?
Megumi's heart broke in two when she heard Sanosuke's parting words, but she couldn't breathe, nor cry. Trying to keep her calm she muttered, "Release me you idiot."
She felt the blade of a small knife dig farther into her throat. A small trickle of blood ran down her neck, and she flinched. "How about not." The man muttered hoarsely into her ear.
She had been in this same position since the moment the man had run up to her when she and Sano were talking. Knife at her throat and whispered threats into her ears if she did not stay silent and cooperate. What other choice did she have?
Megumi tried to swallow, doing her best to not flinch every time she stumbled and the knife dug into her flesh. Suddenly they stopped, and she felt herself being pulled backward. "Stop and don't move until I say, Megumi."
She froze, and felt the warmth of the man's body being so close to hers removed. Finally. The dagger however did not budge an inch and the man's fingers stayed close to her skin. She laughed even though there was no humor intoned. "Don't worry I won't."
Behind her she heard some whispers and then a gasp. Everything went silent and before she knew it, she was pulled into a small alley, and in a door. The room was dark, except for the glowing of a small lantern in the corner. The shadows of the room seemed to cultivate and grow as she watched. A much larger shadow moved from somewhere behind, and the pressure at her neck was relieved. "Sit."
She swallowed freely, and took a deep breath. "I'd rather stand thank you." She replied as steely as she could. This was no time to lose her resolve.
There was a flash of dark ruby eyes and she heard the small terrifying sound of a sword being drawn. "Sit, or you will be made to sit."
Megumi glared at the figure as he too sat down in the darkness. Slowly her vision adjusted to the darkness. It was the leader of the strange band that had attacked her earlier. The man had smooth handsome features, with ruby eyes that seemed to spark with a fire held deep within. She sat.
"What is it you want with me?" she asked, her voice still a little hoarse from lack of use.
The thin lips curved into a smile. "What I want with you? Everything, but I'm afraid some of my wishes cannot be satisfied at the moment. There are more substantial things that need to be discussed."
Megumi's breath caught in her throat. What he talked of, she knew. And it was not a pleasing thought, one that should be locked away. She frowned, and put on a calm, sometimes even thought to be cold, face she used with her patients. "Substantial things?" she asked raising an eyebrow, and using a tone that she knew he would find uncomfortable.
His ruby eyes narrowed. "Don't play tricks with me Megumi Takani." He growled. "You will tell me what I want, or die in the process."
She sniffed. "I will not tell you anything you wish to know for I doubt I know anything you would have an interest in. However since I suppose I am to be held in this place, I suppose I should know the name of the man who has," she stopped and put on a disdainful tone to cover the fact she was quivering inside. ".kidnapped me."
The light flickered, and as she watched the face broke into a grin, a handsome grin, though one with an evil, possibly perverted intent.
"Spoken like the ever clever fox I see. Very well." The man stood, and walked over to the lantern, his back to her. He picked up the light and it wavered as he carried to the other side of the room, lighting it well enough so she could see his face.
"No." she whispered, her eyes widening. "You're supposed to be dead."
His evil laughed echoed through the room. "Love cannot die!"
A/N: What is going on? Who is this maniac? And why is he talking about love? What will happen to poor Sanosuke's broken heart? Find out next time!
Megumi: You better actually finish this story!
Author: what?
Megumi: you know what I mean! You never finish your stories! And I'm in this one so it HAS to be finished!
Author: **blushes** You are not supposed to say that in public Megumi! And to all you readers, I can only finish with reviews! Later!