Sheesh! That took a while. Sorry bout that. But anyways here's the next chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin and I don't own The Cheney Duvall M.D series by Gilbert Morris. I just borrowed names and ideas for a fanfic.

Chapter 4: Leaving

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Megumi looked out the window as the carriage moved shakily down the road. She was sitting across from her father who was carrying on a casual conversation with Sano. Her mother was beside her quietly staring at her hands. Megumi sighed inwardly.

She was leaving today, leaving behind all that was familiar and with a male nurse no less. She glanced at the form of Sanoske Sagara. A solid man. Seems to be bale to read people very well. She thought to herself. He's so unlike Aoshi- She stopped herself. Why was she comparing the two of them? O well, it didn't matter anyway.

The carriage came to a stop and the door beside Megumi was opened. She felt herself being helped down by Aoshi and she found herself staring up at the large ship once again. This is going to be my home for six months. She straightened her shoulders as she saw Sirus making his way through the crowd of women to reach them.

"Good morning Doctor. I trust you have your bags ready for loading."

"I'll say, the Doc has practically packed her entire room." Sano said with a grin. Megumi glared at him.

"I do. Sano if you would please take my bags to some of the deckhands to be loaded."

"Will do Doc." Sano said as he hauled the bags off.

"Well I must be on my way. There's so much to do in so little time. I will see you at the dinner table tonight." Sirus bowed slightly and tipped his hat to Megumi's parents before disappearing between the skirts.

"Good man." Garrett said approvingly. Megumi looked over at her parents. It was time to say goodbye.

She walked over slowly to her mother. She felt arms wrap around her and pull her close. "Be careful Dear. Remember I love you."

"I will Mother." Megumi pulled back and stared into her mother's eyes. Her mother had been her role model ever since she could remember. She now looked lovingly at her mother. Her mother's eyes glimmered with the hint of unshed tears and Megumi smiled shakily.

She looked over at her father who opened his arms widely to receive her. She fell into them. "I pray for your safe return Sweetheart. I know that everything will turn out all right and that God will keep you safe."

"Thank you Daddy." He kissed her on the forehead.

"Now be careful and remember we love you." She nodded and turned. She found herself face to face with Aoshi.

He took her hands in his and stared deep into her eyes. "You can still back out. You don't have to go."

"Yes I do Aoshi." She said quietly.

"Very well, go but I want you to think long and hard about what I said. I love you Megumi be safe." He pulled her very close-

"Alright Doc bags are loaded. It's time that we load ourselves." Came the cheerful voice of Sano.

"Yes. I suppose we should. Goodbye Aoshi." Megumi nodded toward him and took off in front of Sano, who was following her closely in order to keep a keen eye on her, especially because of the last incident at the docks.

Megumi's parents watched her leave. They had seen the episode with Megumi and Aoshi. Had been expecting it in fact. Aoshi had approached Garrett earlier to ask permission to ask Megumi for her hand. They had agreed but had already known what her answer would be, and they were right.

Sirus approached the Takani's as they stared after their daughter. "I'm sorry that I didn't get to talk to you earlier but it seems that two of out coal stokers had gone missing and one of them turned up dead next to several bodies of dead women. We had to find replacements."

"Dead?" Daphne said almost inaudibly and looked toward her husband.

"I see. I believe I am in more debt to Mr. Sagara than previously thought. If you would excuse me." Garrett strode of leaving Daphne in a state of shock. Sirus glanced from Daphne to the quickly receding form of Garrett. Probably best not to interfere. Not any of my business anyway.

Garrett found Sano and Megumi standing waiting to board and he pulled Sano aside. Megumi watched from a distance as her father talked in a hushed voice with Sano. Sano nodded and walked back over to her.

"Is everything all right?" She asked worriedly.

"Yes, everything's fine. No need to worry Doc." Megumi eyed him warily then brushed it off. After all it was no concern of hers if he wanted to be secretive. She glanced out at her parents who stood next to the carriage along with Aoshi. I'll be back . . .I promise. I'll come back as a doctor . . .not just the title.

"Ready Doc?"

"Yes Sano . . . I think I'm ready."

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Bull, a six foot two massive chunk of being, watched from the overhanging deck as the women milled about on the dock. Great this is going to be a lot of fun . . . he thought sarcastically to himself.

"Hey Bull, why are all these ladies getting' on da ship?" Beans asked confused. Bull looked over at his comrade. Beans Lowry, a tall lanky sandy blonde idiot. He had picked up the name from a man who said he didn't have beans between his ears, and Beans, being the child in a man's body, he was took it as a compliment and made it his new name.

"Cause we're goin' on a trip. We're taking all these here fancy ladies to the otherside of the US." Bull grunted and leaned back onto the railing.

"Ohhhh, I get it." Beans said excitedly and copied the way Bull leaned. Bull shook his beefy head as he watched his friend mimic him. Just as Beans had gained a new name that had been how Bull came to be known as Bull. A man had once said he was thick headed as a bull and Bull had taken a liking to the name so he had renamed himself as well.

Now both men watched amusedly as the women bustled about below. Then Bull heard the captain's boomin voice below.

"Get the rest of these women on board. What are they loading over there, the ship can't hold anymore cargo." He reached out and grabbed a nearby deckhand. "WHO GAVE YOU ORDERS TO LOAD ALL THIS JUNK?"

"Th-th- that man over-over there Captain."

"I see. The captain released the frightened deck hand and called out to a man dressed in a black suit.

"What are you doing loading all this junk on my boat? This ship has too much cargo as it is."

"I am from the board of directors and we have been given strict orders to take these boxes and load them on your ship." The man said as he adjusted his glasses.

"Oh? Really? WHO SENT YOU?" The captain asked gruffly.

"Your superiors."

"I want that junk off of my ship. And I mean NOW!"

"Frankly Captain this is not your ship. And this merchandise must be shipped."

The captain crossed his arms frustratedly. "Fine . . .so what's in those boxes?"

The man fidgeted with his glasses then drew out a document. Here are the listings. He said in a hushed voice. The captain eyed him uncertainly then scanned the document. He paled immediately and stared at the man.

"I am not taking this cargo."

"I am afraid you have no choice. This must be delivered on time." The captain wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead and grunted. "Frankly I am quite happy to be handing this off."

"Yea, I'm sure you are." Just then both heard a noise overhead. Beans had knocked over a bucket and Bull immediately pulled him back from the railing and both ran.

"HEY YOU UP THERE! HALT!" Darnit. He thought angrily. Wonder who those guys were.

"I strongly recommend not letting the passengers on board know of this . . .ahh . . .merchandise."

"I concur."

"Thank you Captain, now if you will excuse me." The captain watched the man walk off. He clutched the document in his hand and cursed under his breath. Why me? Why couldn't it have been someone else's ship? He growled to himself. My only objective right now is to get these women safely to port, then I'll worry about the cargo. He scratched the back of his head. And my first piece of business if finding out who overheard that conversation. With that thought in mind he stalked off.

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Bull rounded another corridor with Beans in tow and slumped over to catch his breath. He grinned maliciously to himself.

"You think the captain will be angry with me for knockin' over that bucket?" Beans asked worriedly.

"No. I don't think so."

"Oh good."

"Beans? Do you have any idea what they're loading out there?"

"Uhh boxes?"

"Yea . . . boxes and boxes. And do you know what's in those boxes?"

"Is that what was written on that there paper down there?"

"Yea . . ."

"Well, what did it say Bull?" Beans asked curiously to himself. He thought Bull was a smart man. He wanted to be just like him. He watched as Bull's face twist into a smile. So Beans smiled to. He wanted to be just like Bull.

"I don't know . . .but I know we're gonna find out. Come on Beans." Bull shoved his hands into his pockets and strode down the corridor with Beans following quickly behind trying to mimic Bull's walk. I may not know what's in those boxes but apparently it's somethin' good if the captain don't like it. An idea popped into his head and he grinned evilly to himself. It just might work . . .he thought It just might work.

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Review Responses:

Kenshinobsession- Sorry you went limp in the last chapter. Hope this one was a bit better!

Koishii Sweet- See two weeks just like I promised! Yay for me! Hope you liked this chapter!

Lily of the Shadow- Glad you're amused! Lol! Hope that this chapter gets you intrigued!

Darky- It's ok I forgive you! Sorry about the long wait! Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Makenshi'-girl- Hehe poor Makenshi. Anyway glad you like this story. And I promise MOK comes as first priority. I just had some spare time on my hands today! Hope you liked it!

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There ya go. Hope you all enjoyed. I don't have much to say . . . isn't it amazing? Anyway please remember to REVIEW!

~Kairi7~