Disclaimer: I own none of the Rurouni Kenshin characters.
CHAPTER FOUR
Sano stood deadly still, his arms around the crying Megumi.
After a minute, she stopped crying, though it looked as though she was crying inside her.
"Weren't they slashed to death-?" asked Sano.
Megumi shook her head.
"The doctor said they would've lived if……" she trailed of, wiping her eyes with her sleeve.
"It's not your fault," Sano tried to comfort her. "No one's going to
blame you."
"I'm a murderer……" she whispered.
"Megumi!"
A voice called from the gate. Dr. Gensai walked towards them, holding a letter in his hand.
"Leave me alone, please." Whispered Megumi, fresh tears running down her face as she fled into the house.
"What happened ?" asked Dr. Gensai.
"Well- " began Sano. "I'll tell you what I know."
xxxxxx
"- and then you came." Finished Sano.
The room was silent, apart from Suzumi and Ayame's shouts from the garden.
"I just got an important letter from my cousin. She's ill and wants me to take Suzume and Ayame and go to her immediately. And since the war is over, I'm free to go." Said Dr. Gensai finally.
"But I'd hate to leave you all here since all that has happened." said Dr. Gensai.
"Don't be foolish. What's to happen if all our loved ones die at the same time?" asked Sano.
"I can take care of Megumi and Yahiko." Assured Sano.
"I daresay you can." Said Dr. Gensai, opening the door and calling the two girls in.
"Don't worry. Everything will be fine," said Sano.
Dr. Gensai nodded and left the room.
"I hope." Added Sanosuke softly.
xxxxxx
Two days later……Yahiko ascended the stairs to Megumi's room, stopping before it and knocking on the door.
"Megumi, come down for supper."
"Go away, please."
"But-"
"Please, Yahiko."
"…….okay." he replied after a pause. Yahiko walked back to the kitchen and told the news to Sanosuke.
"You start first." Said Sanosuke, beginning to go up the stairs.
"Megumi!" Sano called once he reached the top.
"Go away, Sano."
"No." he tried turning the knob. It was locked. "Open the door, Megumi."
"Go away!"
"No, I won't!" he kicked the door down and stepped into her room.
Megumi turned around, her eyes filled with tears.
A knife lay abandoned on the floor, surrounded by thick strands of dark hair.
"My god, what did you do….?" Asked Sanosuke, open-mouthed.
"I killed them." She said. "I killed all of them."
"What is wrong with you? You won't eat, you won't come out of here…… and now you go and pull this crazy stunt!"
"You don't understand. I killed him." She said tonelessly. "Everyone hates me."
Sano's quick temper blazed up inside him.
"Is that what you think? And who told you that they hate you? Who blames you? No one!" he said, trying in vain to control his temper.
"I killed them both."
Sano advanced on her and slapped her. She blinked, looking like the old Megumi once more.
But the look quickly faded.
"What do you know?! Have you killed someone you love?" she asked angrily.
Sano felt an old memory rise to surface.
"You think I haven't?" he yelled.
Megumi fell silent. Then she turned around.
"Get out."
Sano gave her a last look, his anger quickly fading. Then he turned around and left the room.
Nice going, Sanosuke. He told himself dully, as he walked down to eat his food, which had gone stone cold.
Okay, sorry I didn't update sooner, but I was kinda busy. Well, how do you like this new chapter? Um, maybe it wasn't that great, but my story was leaving the original one I had planned and I had to pull it back a little. Bye for now! J