She felt herself being lifted by strong arms and placed on the floor.
Two voices.
". . . she needs water . . ."
". . . poisoned . . ."
She opened her eyes slowly and saw two familiar faces. What odd dream was this?
"Fox lady!" Sanosuke Sagara was giving her a worried smile. "You shouldn't lie around like that. I thought you were dead."
"Sano-" she whispered. "Technically, I am."
He clasped her hand, and she squeezed it in return.
She looked over then at the other man who had suddenly taken a step away from them -- the other man who had become entangled in her own affairs, who looked as if he hadn't slept for days. It relieved her to see that he wasn't dead. So what her captor had said was another lie. "Aoshi-"
"You've been poisoned," he stated.
"I'm fine now." She saw the flicker of doubt in his eyes and then felt her wrist being taken by his hand. She realized his intention when his fingers explored the inside of her wrist and dwelled there; he was feeling for a pulse to confirm whether she was in fact telling the truth. Satisfied, he placed her hand back on top of her other and turned away to look back out the door of her prison. "Sagara, take her away for help. Her pulse is still a bit weak. "
Sano tore his attention away from Megumi long enough to frown at Aoshi. Megumi was confused. She didn't understand what was going on at the moment, but Sano complied and picked her up.
"Wait," she tried to struggle. "Don't leave those things on the table."
Aoshi was already moving out the door and into the hallway. Sano, sensing some urgency, grabbed the items Megumi had wanted and followed the man.
She watched somewhat confused by the expression on Aoshi's face as he moved ahead of them, his two swords drawn. Nor did she understand where they were going, until they were outside. It was then that Aoshi moved behind them to watch their backs as they continued moving.
Something dawned on her then. "You two aren't fighting."
She was aware it sounded like a rather stupid statement, but she was still confused about how the two of them had appeared together.
"Of course not," Sano wasn't quite paying attention to her, but was moving nonetheless.
"I'm glad to see you're getting along."
"Of course we are." He turned his head slightly to check on the other man. She felt him stiffen.
"Dammit" he swore under his breath. "As soon as I stop paying attention to him-"
"What is it?"
"That idiot went back inside to go after Kurisawa and the others. I shouldn't have trusted him to do things together. But I've got you now, and he knew that-"
"Kurisawa?"
"The man who had you kidnapped and had others killed to cover it up."
Megumi felt a sudden feeling of dread. If Kurisawa was her captor, and Aoshi had gone to face him. "Go back, Sano-"
"I can't do that. He said to get you out of here, and I'm agreed on that. He can take care of himself."
She glared at him, either the antidote was starting to really take effect or her fear suddenly lent her the strength to argue. "You don't know the danger he's in."
"You'll only distract him from what he needs to do if we're there. He'll be in more danger."
"Kurisawa is the one who poisoned me," she rasped out.
"More the reason to get you out."
"And he has more poison. Before he left me to die, he told me Aoshi would be dead too. He knows he's coming. He's waiting for him. You have the antidote. Otherwise, Aoshi will die."
"Megumi-" he used her name, as if to show the seriousness of his convictions.
She began to rail, knowing that sometimes it was the only means of getting through to him. "I'll never forgive you, Sanosuke Sagara, if you don't turn around and go back this very instant!"
Sano hated it when women begged and cried. But now that she was threatening him, he understood. He'd rather not fear that she would in fact haunt or taunt him the rest of his life. "He'll fillet me when he sees you and I coming after him. "
"I promise I'll fix you back up if he does, Sano." She added almost sweetly. "I always do."
He sighed. "And what if I said no?"
"Then I'll beat you with my medicine box once I get better. And then I'll really fix you."
"Heh." Sanosuke snorted at her rather scary expression. "That's the fox- woman I know and trust."
Without further argument, he turned back
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Aoshi had his swords drawn, and kept one eye on the man behind him running with Megumi in his arms, and another on everything around him.
While they were navigating the corridors and passageways, he had sensed the presence of someone familiar in hiding. As they emerged into the gardens, he felt the shadow move back towards the house, thinking it had evaded them.
It was Shimada, he was certain of it.
Aoshi quietly let Sano and Megumi run ahead , certain that the man would take Megumi to safety. He double backed and began to track that presence he had felt earlier. A few minutes later, he confirmed it as he found himself in a large open room with Shimada at the other end, and a dozen men standing in between them with various knives, whips, and swords drawn.
So, it seemed that Shimada and his men weren't simply thieving merchants after all.
Aoshi did not particularly care. With the doctor safely out of the way, he could simply cut loose and not concern himself with what was to happen, or the fact that he would break several promises in the next few minutes. He allowed his anger to serve him and wipe away the fatigue that he had felt over the past few weeks. Never mind that he had not much use of his sword in recent years, he still had years of training which helped him cut down those men quickly and effectively.
Shimada, the coward that he was, had run again, leading him further into the compound.
He fought more men, again none quite the level he was used to dealing with. He dispatched them easily.
And finally he came to one small room, where Shimada stood behind more men smiling that sickening smile.
"Thought I hadn't seen the last of you. In fact, I was counting on seeing you again especially after I gave you those clues in Kyoto. But I'm afraid I'll have to cut this reunion short. I know when I'm about to get the short end of the stick, and I'm afraid that this leader isn't worth it. While you play with my men, I will make my exit. Your man is in the other room."
Aoshi nearly howled in fury as Shimada disappeared out a window. Even if Shimada wasn't directly responsible for Megumi Takani's nearly dead body, he had attacked the Aoiya and attempted to take her niece. That was unforgivable.
Aoshi felt a bit strange though as he fought these men. He had only minor scratches and wounds, and again none posed a significant threat, but at the back of his mind, he felt uneasy.
Still he plowed forward and picking up one unfortunate man who happened to stupid enough to rush at him with bare fists, he hurled him at the door which lay between him and the next room.
As the men poured out, Aoshi dealt with each of them easily, his twin kodachis cutting a swathe through the crowd. In the room beyond, he saw the man who he assumed was the leader sitting alone. Why was the man sitting there so unconcerned?
As Aoshi finished dealing with all the men, the man almost smiled.
"So glad you could come." He pointed to the tea set on the table. "I was expecting you of course."
Aoshi did not bother to wipe the blood off his blades. "You'll forgive me if I skip the tea. You are Kurisawa, the leader, are you not?"
"I suppose." The man stood calmly. "Alliances come and go, and at the moment, I am their leader, although I do not need them as much as they need me."
"But you needed Megumi Takani."
"For a time, I did. But no longer, which is why I left her to die. I did not anticipate that you would come with another man, who would try to take her from here, but it is of no use. She will die from that poison, just as you will."
Aoshi was advancing towards him. "You speak too proudly for a man who is about to taste the blade of my sword. And the doctor shall live--"
"You won't get to me," the man spoke smoothly, almost hypnotically. "For you see - all those scratches on you from the swords and knives the men carried? They were laced with the same kind of poison that Megumi Takani was forced to take earlier. However, I gave her only a few small drops, while each of those blades was coated with a diluted solution. Count your scratches, Shinomori, for each of those is equivalent to the dose that Megumi Takani received in her mouth."
Aoshi raised one of his blades, and then felt an unfamiliar tingling in his legs and arms. "You are already being paralyzed as we speak. You will find all your muscles slowly reacting that way too-"
Against his will, Aoshi found himself falling to his knees.
The man laughed. "And as you lie there with your lungs slowly losing their ability to move and your heart slowly stopping, I shall walk right over you and out the door and disappear anonymously back into the city of Tokyo. I have an arsenal of poisons and better yet, I know now that young Megumi Takani knows far more than she should. I will take her from your precious Aoiya and absorb more from her. And slowly I will increase my influence over this land - poisoning those who stand in my way, bringing others under my control. People are so easily bought; so easily persuaded to do what I want."
Aoshi supported himself and painfully raised his head to look at the man. "Damn you."
"That's what the doctor once said too," the man laughed. "She and I had a lovely time. She was most cooperative when she had some of her brother's drugs. She made my drugs, she amused me with stories about all your friends and you-telling me about your very weaknesses. You fight well, but your opponents always are honorable ones. I don't happen to believe in honor." Kurisawa moved away slowly. "You are strong, I give you that. You try to resist, but it's only a matter of time."
When Aoshi faltered and slumped further, Kurisawa laughed. "See?"
"Why did you do this? What do you have against Kenichi Takani?"
"Kenichi Takani?" He paused. "Perhaps you really mean his sister." He yawned. "Nothing other than their genius. I am a collector of persons."
"You enjoy controlling them," Aoshi's voice was weakening, but at least his brain was not.
"No, I enjoy breaking them." Kurisawa smiled. "And I did enjoy breaking Megumi Takani. Such a lovely woman, much lovelier when she was drugged for she would sit there obediently like such a good girl."
Aoshi's expression darkened.
"Yes, I see that upsets you. The dear doctor actually is important to you, isn't she?
Really, taking in her niece like that. Touching. Most touching." Kurisawa was clearly enjoying this moment. "I did tell her about that. She was pleased. She respected you. She found you interesting. Kind. Odd, that particular reference considering your shared sordid past with her. But yes, . she found you 'kind.' Maybe even with time she could have loved you I suppose."
"Enough!" Aoshi stood, resisting the drug. "You can not just kill me with a cowardly drug. You will die."
Aoshi's eyes glittered as a look of fear suddenly crossed his enemy's face. Kurisawa's voice grew slightly nervous. "It can't be. that just doesn't make sense, you should be dead by now."
"I do not plan to die such a dishonorable way."
"--And you won't." Hajime Saitou stepped over the bodies in the room behind him, sword in hand.
"Saitou," Aoshi managed to spit out. "This is my fight."
"I'm afraid that isn't the case anymore. The police will be entering the compound shortly. This man you will hand over into my custody."
"I will not be robbed of justice!" Aoshi, despite being on his knees, glared at the other man.
Saitou walked over and coolly knocked the kodachis out of his hand. "You know the kind of justice I uphold. You also know that I gave you the tip that brought you here. You should have considered from our past history that it wasn't so you could end things this way. As sickening as the man is, he's still useful to me and to those that want to dig at the root of corruption that has allowed this man to exist, and that spreads even into my own department. Break his bones if you must, but you can not kill him. I don't particularly like the idea of putting you in jail because of this scum."
Aoshi reached for the kodachis again, even as Saitou stepped past him and with his sword at Kurisawa's throat, collared the man.
"Aoshi! "
He blinked exhaustedly as another presence entered the room. Megumi Takani stood there with Sagara supporting her. She was not supposed to be here. His eyes turned momentarily towards the other man. "Why the hell did you bring her back?!"
The other man shook his head. "This is her choice."
Megumi looked around, clearly appalled by the sight of all the bodies in the other room. All this, to get to one man. "What were you doing, Aoshi?"
"Protecting your future."
"By throwing away your life? By harming all these other people? It's not worth it."
Aoshi bowed his head. He was in no position to argue or to correct her.
"Please. Let Saitou have him. You know him well enough to trust him on this. You're in no shape to challenge him at this point. You've been poisoned."
"I'll be fine."
"Sano," her voice strained. "Help me."
Understanding, he set her down next to Shinomori and wrested the kodachis away from him. "I'm doing this for your own good, " Sano said before forcing the man to lie down. "Just do whatever she says."
"Aoshi," she looked apologetic. "This will taste horrible, but you must take as much as you can." Aoshi felt her somewhat shaking hands cradle his head in her lap as Sagara obediently poured a thick and horrible tasting liquid down his throat.
They both held him up, unwilling for him to choke or to regurgitate the precious antidote. All of it had gone down, and hopefully, it would be enough to counter the poison in his body.
He was unaware that he was already pallid, from both the loss of blood and the exposure to the drug.
. . .
As he passed into semi-consciousness, Megumi looked up. "Sanosuke," she looked up into his eyes. "Thank you. We made it just in time."
"Didn't want to owe the popsicle anything, that's all."
"Popsicle?-" She frowned, "Of all the rude things to call someone-"
"Roosterhead is far ruder-"
"So is fox-lady!"
A sudden hiss from Saitou interrupted the little quarrel.
Sanosuke stood up immediately. "What's wrong?"
Kurisawa laughed hysterically. "Idiots! You're all a bunch of idiots!"
Saitou looked more miffed than concerned. "While you had your touching reunion, this loser managed to break something."
"Another poison!" Kurisawa laughed in glee. "We'll all die together."
Megumi stared at the strange purplish mess on the floor, and then her voice turned strange. "Kurisawa - is that one of the concoctions I made?"
"Ah yes! One of the other things I had the liberty of taking from you while you were unconscious. Another of your brother's projects."
Unexpectedly, Megumi laughed.
"Is Saitou's death all that funny?" Sano wondered if the poison had addled her brain.
She calmed for a moment. "It's no poison, roosterhead." But then she snickered. "Well, actually maybe it should be considered poison for women, but not the kind you're thinking about!"
Saitou hit the man over the head with the hilt of his sword. "I expect no more trouble out of this one." He turned his eyes on the doctor, "Would you please explain what you're talking about?"
She raised her chin and looked at Saitou. "The poison he spattered on you is nothing more than a mild enhancement drug. You will not die. Nor will any of us. Search him for whatever else you have. I'll be at the station in the morning to identify whatever your men find, and to turn myself in."
"Turn yourself in!" Sanosuke glared at her, the matter of the purple 'poison' forgotten. "What the hell are you talking about?"
With characteristic coyness, she evaded the subject. "Aoshi is still not out of danger yet. I was able to take the antidote right away and even then I still feel its effects. He received much more poison and-"
"You know that's not what I'm talking about."
She shook her head. "You know what I'm saying. I'm going to turn myself in for all the things I've done."
"You have to be kidding!" Sano was clearly unhappy. "You know that you were forced into everything you did."
"Prison is the safest place for her." Saitou's voice spoke of his impatience. "At least until we can get her testimony on this creep and we rout out the rest who work with him." He took a hold of Kurisawa and then turned back to Megumi. "The rest of the police will be here any second. Tend to the Okashira and then turn yourself into Cho first thing in the morning. As for you," he turned to Sano. "See to it that she and the Okashira get to safety. You're the only one standing, as usual."
As was the case with Saitou, Sano found himself agreeing despite himself. Saitou disappeared with Kurisawa in tow, and Sano was left to deal with Shinomori and Megumi. As he turned back to the two persons he was charged with taking to safety, his expression softened as he watched Megumi working quickly to patch up some of Shinomori's wounds. The sight of her working was something he had thought just a short time ago that he'd never see again.
She looked up at that moment and gave him a puzzled look. "We should hurry." Her voice was tired, weak, and worried. Although she had given Shinomori the antidote, he was still fading in and out. Sanosuke looked down as Shinomori's eyes opened for a moment. Her efforts to help him had roused him temporarily. "You should not be here. The poison-"
"I'm fine," she tried to smile at Aoshi. "Sano got me here in time. With an antidote."
"The other drug?"
She frowned. "Nothing, Aoshi Shinomori, that you should worry about whatsoever. Particularly with your personality or with the problems you already have. We'll get you to safety and let you rest."
"And Sagara?"
"Don't worry. I'll just lock him away if he starts acting up."
"Hey!" Sano glared at her, aware suddenly that both he and she were having some fun at expense, but not understanding exactly how and why.
"Just carry him," Megumi stood wearily.
"And you?" Sanosuke had already hefted the man over his shoulder.
"I do not want to be carried out of here while I'm still conscious." She sniffed.
"Fine," he said somewhat grumpily as they walked out slowly stepping over the bodies.
True to Saitou's word, the police were beginning to make their way through the compound. Sano pulled Megumi off down a side passage. They would avoid them for now.
Their path took them past the room that had served as her prison. She retreated inside for a moment. She emerged shortly, with a bag. "There are other things, but I don't' have time to look for them."
"Other poisons?"
"No," she said softly. "Things of sentimental value to me. I'll have to hope the police find them."
"Megumi-" Sano looked at her, and realized that her hands were still shaking. "We have to go-"
She nodded and then grasped onto his arm for support. Sano bit back his impatience. He would rather just carry her, but something told him that she wanted to be able to walk out of her prison on her own.
As they came to the edge of the compound and had made it safely outside, Sano desperately racked his head for something to lighten the mood. She was thinking about something. "Fox-lady-"
"What is it, Sano?"
"Err. That drug that Kurisawa had used. An 'enhancement' drug. What exactly did you mean by that?"
She gave a slight chuckle, one that made his hackles rise.
"When you laugh like that, fox-lady-"
"An aphrodisiac for men." She gave him a sly smile. "Nothing deadly, except to the wives should they not like their husbands. And the only one really at risk is Saitou, who got most of it on him."
"That means-"
"There may be yet another Saitou on its way in 9 months time."
"Kamisama," Sanosuke made a face as he finally understood the connection. "I'm going to be sick."
Megumi simply looked away with a smirk on her face and moved slightly ahead.
Sano suddenly understood the meaning of the woman's other comments made earlier. After all he and Shinomori had done, she had insulted them to their faces. "Hey!! Just a minute!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Poor Shirotome was beside himself when three persons showed up suddenly at his doorstep.
One unconscious Aoshi Shinomori.
One beautiful woman who he assumed to be the presumed-dead Megumi Takani.
And one roosterhead Sanosuke Sagara, who was clearly looking much abused and beleagured.
The latter two were arguing when they appeared, and continued to argue until the woman kicked the former gangster out of the room that Aoshi Shinomori was to recuperate in.
After that, the woman was all business. Takani-sensei immediately asked Shirotome to go for certain medicines and medicinal helps while she tried to help Shinomori. Shirotome complied, and also did them the favor of dispensing a messenger to the dojo, to let them know of all the latest developments. Sagara would have gone himself, but he chose to stand guard outside the room, keeping in mind the warning that Saitou had given while not admitting that he didn't want to let the doctor out of his sight.
If Aoshi weren't so ill, Shirotome might have been amused by the strange dynamic that existed between the three of them.
But Aoshi's health was no laughing matter. The doctor, for all her joking earlier, wore a grave expression as she tended to the delirious man. Sagara filled in for him as much as he could about what he understood to have happened. Shirotome listened anxiously, and wrestled with how much to convey to the Aoiya in Kyoto.
He was in regular contact with the Aoiya. As Aoshi had chosen to do this alone, they constantly worried about him. It did not help that Shirotome had sensed something a bit remiss in Aoshi's behavior as of late. So Okina was now on his way to Tokyo to keep an eye on the younger man, and to also lend a hand if indeed there was to be a fight.
Okina would not be pleased with Shirotome for not doing more to stop Aoshi from proceeding without Okina. But he feared what would happen if as a result, Aoshi Shinomori died particularly now with his task nearly complete.
His wife had returned earlier that day, though, and her presence eased his mind a little. While he could do nothing more than run back and forth trying crudely to help, she had come in alongside the doctor and supported her as much as she could. A woman from the Kamiya dojo also came, and after embracing the doctor, did what she could to help Takani-sensei care for the young man such that she could work on creating more antidote.
It would take all night to complete, and would have to be used when it was completed.
That is, if Aoshi could last until morning.
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
a/n: I suppose I am an exceptionally cruel person to leave this last installment on this kind of note. I think I've been exceptionally mean to Aoshi. Sano got most of the Megumi moments and poor Aoshi is poisoned.
And guess I have to leave you hanging as I go off to see the parental units for a while. If I get computer time I will try to update. Otherwise, it'll be two weeks or so. Next time - Nightmares and confessions. Plus a little of Okina being useful! (whoa)
Comments: -Shimizu and mij - I am going to end it, darn it! 40 chapters and 100,000 words is ridiculous. Even I don't want to win the award for longest RK fic. I'm trying to get this down to about ten parts or less from here on out. That should scare you though considering the angst I'm setting up already here.
-Great Thing - she's aliiiiive! Threatening ants. somehow it doesn't inspire much sympathy from me. I hate ants, so I would love to see you smooshing them to pieces. Haha! But I tell you what, I think you'll like the next part.
-Lady Tskuya - Is this the first time you actually stated your preference? LOL. Okay, I hear ya.
-Junyortrakr - Villains should be nasty. And sometimes the best have no really good reason to be nasty other than they simply enjoy it. People should have no sympathy whatsoever for Kurisawa. He's just evil hiding behind normalcy.
-EEevee -Madame Kata will be back if I remember to write her in. Too bad I could not figure out how to resurrect Miss Brown or the other side characters. Okina needs some attention anyways, so he'll just have to do I guess.
-LiLianJieGurl - Sano didn't cut his hair all that much. It's just not as crazy, but still its spiky self. And while you liked this part, you may not like the next. But it's not resolved either. so keep rooting as you usually do.
Two voices.
". . . she needs water . . ."
". . . poisoned . . ."
She opened her eyes slowly and saw two familiar faces. What odd dream was this?
"Fox lady!" Sanosuke Sagara was giving her a worried smile. "You shouldn't lie around like that. I thought you were dead."
"Sano-" she whispered. "Technically, I am."
He clasped her hand, and she squeezed it in return.
She looked over then at the other man who had suddenly taken a step away from them -- the other man who had become entangled in her own affairs, who looked as if he hadn't slept for days. It relieved her to see that he wasn't dead. So what her captor had said was another lie. "Aoshi-"
"You've been poisoned," he stated.
"I'm fine now." She saw the flicker of doubt in his eyes and then felt her wrist being taken by his hand. She realized his intention when his fingers explored the inside of her wrist and dwelled there; he was feeling for a pulse to confirm whether she was in fact telling the truth. Satisfied, he placed her hand back on top of her other and turned away to look back out the door of her prison. "Sagara, take her away for help. Her pulse is still a bit weak. "
Sano tore his attention away from Megumi long enough to frown at Aoshi. Megumi was confused. She didn't understand what was going on at the moment, but Sano complied and picked her up.
"Wait," she tried to struggle. "Don't leave those things on the table."
Aoshi was already moving out the door and into the hallway. Sano, sensing some urgency, grabbed the items Megumi had wanted and followed the man.
She watched somewhat confused by the expression on Aoshi's face as he moved ahead of them, his two swords drawn. Nor did she understand where they were going, until they were outside. It was then that Aoshi moved behind them to watch their backs as they continued moving.
Something dawned on her then. "You two aren't fighting."
She was aware it sounded like a rather stupid statement, but she was still confused about how the two of them had appeared together.
"Of course not," Sano wasn't quite paying attention to her, but was moving nonetheless.
"I'm glad to see you're getting along."
"Of course we are." He turned his head slightly to check on the other man. She felt him stiffen.
"Dammit" he swore under his breath. "As soon as I stop paying attention to him-"
"What is it?"
"That idiot went back inside to go after Kurisawa and the others. I shouldn't have trusted him to do things together. But I've got you now, and he knew that-"
"Kurisawa?"
"The man who had you kidnapped and had others killed to cover it up."
Megumi felt a sudden feeling of dread. If Kurisawa was her captor, and Aoshi had gone to face him. "Go back, Sano-"
"I can't do that. He said to get you out of here, and I'm agreed on that. He can take care of himself."
She glared at him, either the antidote was starting to really take effect or her fear suddenly lent her the strength to argue. "You don't know the danger he's in."
"You'll only distract him from what he needs to do if we're there. He'll be in more danger."
"Kurisawa is the one who poisoned me," she rasped out.
"More the reason to get you out."
"And he has more poison. Before he left me to die, he told me Aoshi would be dead too. He knows he's coming. He's waiting for him. You have the antidote. Otherwise, Aoshi will die."
"Megumi-" he used her name, as if to show the seriousness of his convictions.
She began to rail, knowing that sometimes it was the only means of getting through to him. "I'll never forgive you, Sanosuke Sagara, if you don't turn around and go back this very instant!"
Sano hated it when women begged and cried. But now that she was threatening him, he understood. He'd rather not fear that she would in fact haunt or taunt him the rest of his life. "He'll fillet me when he sees you and I coming after him. "
"I promise I'll fix you back up if he does, Sano." She added almost sweetly. "I always do."
He sighed. "And what if I said no?"
"Then I'll beat you with my medicine box once I get better. And then I'll really fix you."
"Heh." Sanosuke snorted at her rather scary expression. "That's the fox- woman I know and trust."
Without further argument, he turned back
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Aoshi had his swords drawn, and kept one eye on the man behind him running with Megumi in his arms, and another on everything around him.
While they were navigating the corridors and passageways, he had sensed the presence of someone familiar in hiding. As they emerged into the gardens, he felt the shadow move back towards the house, thinking it had evaded them.
It was Shimada, he was certain of it.
Aoshi quietly let Sano and Megumi run ahead , certain that the man would take Megumi to safety. He double backed and began to track that presence he had felt earlier. A few minutes later, he confirmed it as he found himself in a large open room with Shimada at the other end, and a dozen men standing in between them with various knives, whips, and swords drawn.
So, it seemed that Shimada and his men weren't simply thieving merchants after all.
Aoshi did not particularly care. With the doctor safely out of the way, he could simply cut loose and not concern himself with what was to happen, or the fact that he would break several promises in the next few minutes. He allowed his anger to serve him and wipe away the fatigue that he had felt over the past few weeks. Never mind that he had not much use of his sword in recent years, he still had years of training which helped him cut down those men quickly and effectively.
Shimada, the coward that he was, had run again, leading him further into the compound.
He fought more men, again none quite the level he was used to dealing with. He dispatched them easily.
And finally he came to one small room, where Shimada stood behind more men smiling that sickening smile.
"Thought I hadn't seen the last of you. In fact, I was counting on seeing you again especially after I gave you those clues in Kyoto. But I'm afraid I'll have to cut this reunion short. I know when I'm about to get the short end of the stick, and I'm afraid that this leader isn't worth it. While you play with my men, I will make my exit. Your man is in the other room."
Aoshi nearly howled in fury as Shimada disappeared out a window. Even if Shimada wasn't directly responsible for Megumi Takani's nearly dead body, he had attacked the Aoiya and attempted to take her niece. That was unforgivable.
Aoshi felt a bit strange though as he fought these men. He had only minor scratches and wounds, and again none posed a significant threat, but at the back of his mind, he felt uneasy.
Still he plowed forward and picking up one unfortunate man who happened to stupid enough to rush at him with bare fists, he hurled him at the door which lay between him and the next room.
As the men poured out, Aoshi dealt with each of them easily, his twin kodachis cutting a swathe through the crowd. In the room beyond, he saw the man who he assumed was the leader sitting alone. Why was the man sitting there so unconcerned?
As Aoshi finished dealing with all the men, the man almost smiled.
"So glad you could come." He pointed to the tea set on the table. "I was expecting you of course."
Aoshi did not bother to wipe the blood off his blades. "You'll forgive me if I skip the tea. You are Kurisawa, the leader, are you not?"
"I suppose." The man stood calmly. "Alliances come and go, and at the moment, I am their leader, although I do not need them as much as they need me."
"But you needed Megumi Takani."
"For a time, I did. But no longer, which is why I left her to die. I did not anticipate that you would come with another man, who would try to take her from here, but it is of no use. She will die from that poison, just as you will."
Aoshi was advancing towards him. "You speak too proudly for a man who is about to taste the blade of my sword. And the doctor shall live--"
"You won't get to me," the man spoke smoothly, almost hypnotically. "For you see - all those scratches on you from the swords and knives the men carried? They were laced with the same kind of poison that Megumi Takani was forced to take earlier. However, I gave her only a few small drops, while each of those blades was coated with a diluted solution. Count your scratches, Shinomori, for each of those is equivalent to the dose that Megumi Takani received in her mouth."
Aoshi raised one of his blades, and then felt an unfamiliar tingling in his legs and arms. "You are already being paralyzed as we speak. You will find all your muscles slowly reacting that way too-"
Against his will, Aoshi found himself falling to his knees.
The man laughed. "And as you lie there with your lungs slowly losing their ability to move and your heart slowly stopping, I shall walk right over you and out the door and disappear anonymously back into the city of Tokyo. I have an arsenal of poisons and better yet, I know now that young Megumi Takani knows far more than she should. I will take her from your precious Aoiya and absorb more from her. And slowly I will increase my influence over this land - poisoning those who stand in my way, bringing others under my control. People are so easily bought; so easily persuaded to do what I want."
Aoshi supported himself and painfully raised his head to look at the man. "Damn you."
"That's what the doctor once said too," the man laughed. "She and I had a lovely time. She was most cooperative when she had some of her brother's drugs. She made my drugs, she amused me with stories about all your friends and you-telling me about your very weaknesses. You fight well, but your opponents always are honorable ones. I don't happen to believe in honor." Kurisawa moved away slowly. "You are strong, I give you that. You try to resist, but it's only a matter of time."
When Aoshi faltered and slumped further, Kurisawa laughed. "See?"
"Why did you do this? What do you have against Kenichi Takani?"
"Kenichi Takani?" He paused. "Perhaps you really mean his sister." He yawned. "Nothing other than their genius. I am a collector of persons."
"You enjoy controlling them," Aoshi's voice was weakening, but at least his brain was not.
"No, I enjoy breaking them." Kurisawa smiled. "And I did enjoy breaking Megumi Takani. Such a lovely woman, much lovelier when she was drugged for she would sit there obediently like such a good girl."
Aoshi's expression darkened.
"Yes, I see that upsets you. The dear doctor actually is important to you, isn't she?
Really, taking in her niece like that. Touching. Most touching." Kurisawa was clearly enjoying this moment. "I did tell her about that. She was pleased. She respected you. She found you interesting. Kind. Odd, that particular reference considering your shared sordid past with her. But yes, . she found you 'kind.' Maybe even with time she could have loved you I suppose."
"Enough!" Aoshi stood, resisting the drug. "You can not just kill me with a cowardly drug. You will die."
Aoshi's eyes glittered as a look of fear suddenly crossed his enemy's face. Kurisawa's voice grew slightly nervous. "It can't be. that just doesn't make sense, you should be dead by now."
"I do not plan to die such a dishonorable way."
"--And you won't." Hajime Saitou stepped over the bodies in the room behind him, sword in hand.
"Saitou," Aoshi managed to spit out. "This is my fight."
"I'm afraid that isn't the case anymore. The police will be entering the compound shortly. This man you will hand over into my custody."
"I will not be robbed of justice!" Aoshi, despite being on his knees, glared at the other man.
Saitou walked over and coolly knocked the kodachis out of his hand. "You know the kind of justice I uphold. You also know that I gave you the tip that brought you here. You should have considered from our past history that it wasn't so you could end things this way. As sickening as the man is, he's still useful to me and to those that want to dig at the root of corruption that has allowed this man to exist, and that spreads even into my own department. Break his bones if you must, but you can not kill him. I don't particularly like the idea of putting you in jail because of this scum."
Aoshi reached for the kodachis again, even as Saitou stepped past him and with his sword at Kurisawa's throat, collared the man.
"Aoshi! "
He blinked exhaustedly as another presence entered the room. Megumi Takani stood there with Sagara supporting her. She was not supposed to be here. His eyes turned momentarily towards the other man. "Why the hell did you bring her back?!"
The other man shook his head. "This is her choice."
Megumi looked around, clearly appalled by the sight of all the bodies in the other room. All this, to get to one man. "What were you doing, Aoshi?"
"Protecting your future."
"By throwing away your life? By harming all these other people? It's not worth it."
Aoshi bowed his head. He was in no position to argue or to correct her.
"Please. Let Saitou have him. You know him well enough to trust him on this. You're in no shape to challenge him at this point. You've been poisoned."
"I'll be fine."
"Sano," her voice strained. "Help me."
Understanding, he set her down next to Shinomori and wrested the kodachis away from him. "I'm doing this for your own good, " Sano said before forcing the man to lie down. "Just do whatever she says."
"Aoshi," she looked apologetic. "This will taste horrible, but you must take as much as you can." Aoshi felt her somewhat shaking hands cradle his head in her lap as Sagara obediently poured a thick and horrible tasting liquid down his throat.
They both held him up, unwilling for him to choke or to regurgitate the precious antidote. All of it had gone down, and hopefully, it would be enough to counter the poison in his body.
He was unaware that he was already pallid, from both the loss of blood and the exposure to the drug.
. . .
As he passed into semi-consciousness, Megumi looked up. "Sanosuke," she looked up into his eyes. "Thank you. We made it just in time."
"Didn't want to owe the popsicle anything, that's all."
"Popsicle?-" She frowned, "Of all the rude things to call someone-"
"Roosterhead is far ruder-"
"So is fox-lady!"
A sudden hiss from Saitou interrupted the little quarrel.
Sanosuke stood up immediately. "What's wrong?"
Kurisawa laughed hysterically. "Idiots! You're all a bunch of idiots!"
Saitou looked more miffed than concerned. "While you had your touching reunion, this loser managed to break something."
"Another poison!" Kurisawa laughed in glee. "We'll all die together."
Megumi stared at the strange purplish mess on the floor, and then her voice turned strange. "Kurisawa - is that one of the concoctions I made?"
"Ah yes! One of the other things I had the liberty of taking from you while you were unconscious. Another of your brother's projects."
Unexpectedly, Megumi laughed.
"Is Saitou's death all that funny?" Sano wondered if the poison had addled her brain.
She calmed for a moment. "It's no poison, roosterhead." But then she snickered. "Well, actually maybe it should be considered poison for women, but not the kind you're thinking about!"
Saitou hit the man over the head with the hilt of his sword. "I expect no more trouble out of this one." He turned his eyes on the doctor, "Would you please explain what you're talking about?"
She raised her chin and looked at Saitou. "The poison he spattered on you is nothing more than a mild enhancement drug. You will not die. Nor will any of us. Search him for whatever else you have. I'll be at the station in the morning to identify whatever your men find, and to turn myself in."
"Turn yourself in!" Sanosuke glared at her, the matter of the purple 'poison' forgotten. "What the hell are you talking about?"
With characteristic coyness, she evaded the subject. "Aoshi is still not out of danger yet. I was able to take the antidote right away and even then I still feel its effects. He received much more poison and-"
"You know that's not what I'm talking about."
She shook her head. "You know what I'm saying. I'm going to turn myself in for all the things I've done."
"You have to be kidding!" Sano was clearly unhappy. "You know that you were forced into everything you did."
"Prison is the safest place for her." Saitou's voice spoke of his impatience. "At least until we can get her testimony on this creep and we rout out the rest who work with him." He took a hold of Kurisawa and then turned back to Megumi. "The rest of the police will be here any second. Tend to the Okashira and then turn yourself into Cho first thing in the morning. As for you," he turned to Sano. "See to it that she and the Okashira get to safety. You're the only one standing, as usual."
As was the case with Saitou, Sano found himself agreeing despite himself. Saitou disappeared with Kurisawa in tow, and Sano was left to deal with Shinomori and Megumi. As he turned back to the two persons he was charged with taking to safety, his expression softened as he watched Megumi working quickly to patch up some of Shinomori's wounds. The sight of her working was something he had thought just a short time ago that he'd never see again.
She looked up at that moment and gave him a puzzled look. "We should hurry." Her voice was tired, weak, and worried. Although she had given Shinomori the antidote, he was still fading in and out. Sanosuke looked down as Shinomori's eyes opened for a moment. Her efforts to help him had roused him temporarily. "You should not be here. The poison-"
"I'm fine," she tried to smile at Aoshi. "Sano got me here in time. With an antidote."
"The other drug?"
She frowned. "Nothing, Aoshi Shinomori, that you should worry about whatsoever. Particularly with your personality or with the problems you already have. We'll get you to safety and let you rest."
"And Sagara?"
"Don't worry. I'll just lock him away if he starts acting up."
"Hey!" Sano glared at her, aware suddenly that both he and she were having some fun at expense, but not understanding exactly how and why.
"Just carry him," Megumi stood wearily.
"And you?" Sanosuke had already hefted the man over his shoulder.
"I do not want to be carried out of here while I'm still conscious." She sniffed.
"Fine," he said somewhat grumpily as they walked out slowly stepping over the bodies.
True to Saitou's word, the police were beginning to make their way through the compound. Sano pulled Megumi off down a side passage. They would avoid them for now.
Their path took them past the room that had served as her prison. She retreated inside for a moment. She emerged shortly, with a bag. "There are other things, but I don't' have time to look for them."
"Other poisons?"
"No," she said softly. "Things of sentimental value to me. I'll have to hope the police find them."
"Megumi-" Sano looked at her, and realized that her hands were still shaking. "We have to go-"
She nodded and then grasped onto his arm for support. Sano bit back his impatience. He would rather just carry her, but something told him that she wanted to be able to walk out of her prison on her own.
As they came to the edge of the compound and had made it safely outside, Sano desperately racked his head for something to lighten the mood. She was thinking about something. "Fox-lady-"
"What is it, Sano?"
"Err. That drug that Kurisawa had used. An 'enhancement' drug. What exactly did you mean by that?"
She gave a slight chuckle, one that made his hackles rise.
"When you laugh like that, fox-lady-"
"An aphrodisiac for men." She gave him a sly smile. "Nothing deadly, except to the wives should they not like their husbands. And the only one really at risk is Saitou, who got most of it on him."
"That means-"
"There may be yet another Saitou on its way in 9 months time."
"Kamisama," Sanosuke made a face as he finally understood the connection. "I'm going to be sick."
Megumi simply looked away with a smirk on her face and moved slightly ahead.
Sano suddenly understood the meaning of the woman's other comments made earlier. After all he and Shinomori had done, she had insulted them to their faces. "Hey!! Just a minute!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Poor Shirotome was beside himself when three persons showed up suddenly at his doorstep.
One unconscious Aoshi Shinomori.
One beautiful woman who he assumed to be the presumed-dead Megumi Takani.
And one roosterhead Sanosuke Sagara, who was clearly looking much abused and beleagured.
The latter two were arguing when they appeared, and continued to argue until the woman kicked the former gangster out of the room that Aoshi Shinomori was to recuperate in.
After that, the woman was all business. Takani-sensei immediately asked Shirotome to go for certain medicines and medicinal helps while she tried to help Shinomori. Shirotome complied, and also did them the favor of dispensing a messenger to the dojo, to let them know of all the latest developments. Sagara would have gone himself, but he chose to stand guard outside the room, keeping in mind the warning that Saitou had given while not admitting that he didn't want to let the doctor out of his sight.
If Aoshi weren't so ill, Shirotome might have been amused by the strange dynamic that existed between the three of them.
But Aoshi's health was no laughing matter. The doctor, for all her joking earlier, wore a grave expression as she tended to the delirious man. Sagara filled in for him as much as he could about what he understood to have happened. Shirotome listened anxiously, and wrestled with how much to convey to the Aoiya in Kyoto.
He was in regular contact with the Aoiya. As Aoshi had chosen to do this alone, they constantly worried about him. It did not help that Shirotome had sensed something a bit remiss in Aoshi's behavior as of late. So Okina was now on his way to Tokyo to keep an eye on the younger man, and to also lend a hand if indeed there was to be a fight.
Okina would not be pleased with Shirotome for not doing more to stop Aoshi from proceeding without Okina. But he feared what would happen if as a result, Aoshi Shinomori died particularly now with his task nearly complete.
His wife had returned earlier that day, though, and her presence eased his mind a little. While he could do nothing more than run back and forth trying crudely to help, she had come in alongside the doctor and supported her as much as she could. A woman from the Kamiya dojo also came, and after embracing the doctor, did what she could to help Takani-sensei care for the young man such that she could work on creating more antidote.
It would take all night to complete, and would have to be used when it was completed.
That is, if Aoshi could last until morning.
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
a/n: I suppose I am an exceptionally cruel person to leave this last installment on this kind of note. I think I've been exceptionally mean to Aoshi. Sano got most of the Megumi moments and poor Aoshi is poisoned.
And guess I have to leave you hanging as I go off to see the parental units for a while. If I get computer time I will try to update. Otherwise, it'll be two weeks or so. Next time - Nightmares and confessions. Plus a little of Okina being useful! (whoa)
Comments: -Shimizu and mij - I am going to end it, darn it! 40 chapters and 100,000 words is ridiculous. Even I don't want to win the award for longest RK fic. I'm trying to get this down to about ten parts or less from here on out. That should scare you though considering the angst I'm setting up already here.
-Great Thing - she's aliiiiive! Threatening ants. somehow it doesn't inspire much sympathy from me. I hate ants, so I would love to see you smooshing them to pieces. Haha! But I tell you what, I think you'll like the next part.
-Lady Tskuya - Is this the first time you actually stated your preference? LOL. Okay, I hear ya.
-Junyortrakr - Villains should be nasty. And sometimes the best have no really good reason to be nasty other than they simply enjoy it. People should have no sympathy whatsoever for Kurisawa. He's just evil hiding behind normalcy.
-EEevee -Madame Kata will be back if I remember to write her in. Too bad I could not figure out how to resurrect Miss Brown or the other side characters. Okina needs some attention anyways, so he'll just have to do I guess.
-LiLianJieGurl - Sano didn't cut his hair all that much. It's just not as crazy, but still its spiky self. And while you liked this part, you may not like the next. But it's not resolved either. so keep rooting as you usually do.
