Author's Notes: I doubt there's anyone still out there, but here's the update (at last). Sorry it took so long, but life kinda got in the way. (sigh). So, I think this one's pretty long (12 pages!), and it's one of my more informative chapters. Details details details!
Thank you so much to the reviewers, and if you have returned after my long absence, I can only say thank you again.
As always, reviews are encouraged and believe it or not, they do help me along! Please enjoy.
Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin does not belong to me (sigh), but I do own this storyline and any outside characters.
chap. 11- shut
Sanosuke fumed, glaring at the closed flaps before him. There was a silent buzz that resounded loudly in his ears, sequenced with the uneven breathing of Hoji behind him. He knew that he should not have vented all of his anger on Megumi...there were the emotions that welled up inside of him and had let loose, springing words that he had kept within him. All the words he had said...he meant.
What was he supposed to think? So many events were being hurled at him at once.
It could be his fault his army was now in danger...
It could be his fault that Megumi is where she is now...
It could be his fault Hoji lay there, broken and near death...
It could be his fault he had dragged everyone into this mess...
Sano trembled slightly, and fought to steady himself, keep himself together, stay with his thoughts.
He turned, gazing at the unconscious Hoji. Thoughts whirled in his mind as he gripped the edge of the wooden table that sat next to Hoji's limp figure, bent over in exasperation. The world was reflected in his glassy brown eyes, averted and unconscious of the world surrounding him.
"What am I supposed to do, Captain Sagara?" Sanosuke whispered softly, addressing the man whose name he had honorably taken.
"Talking to yourself, Captain?" a voice shattered Sano's thoughts, the tent flap falling noisily back into place.
"Hello Meng," Sano replied voicelessly, not bothering to explain his rather dishelved figure.
Meng rotated his neck, listening to the joints in his neck crack before speaking, "That woman left...just thought you'd like to know."
Sano nodded.
"A pity, really. She was rather helpful when it came to medicine and treatment. Not that our medical team is bad or anything, but that woman could work wonders. She really knew what she was doing." Meng scratched the back of his neck, oblivious to Sano's inattentive state.
When Sano did not respond, Meng continued, "Aw well, we were all sad to see her go. I see you especially."
Sanosuke finally seemed to have comprehended what Meng was saying, and stared back at him in a dubious manner.
"It's alright, you'll be fine," Meng said reproachfully, "It's not like you slept with her or anything." And just like that, Meng gesticulated with a wave of his hand, walking out of the tent.
"Yeah...right..." Sano whispered to the empty air. He knew he was being unreasonable...he knew he was becoming repetitive and restless and rash and... He stopped, wondering where he was going to lead himself now. He would have to do his best to cope for the time being...and accept that she was now out of his life... He had said enough to keep her broken and away, he knew. Sadly, he knew.
His life would not be the same since she had walked back in and out again... He had to shove her out of his mind, and keep her out.
"Regrets aren't to be kept," Sanosuke muttered to himself, and with finality, he moved his foot, brushing a tremendous wave of dirt, covering the opium packet laying open on the ground. The soil swirled, the opium buried, stomped, suffocated beneath layers of dirt.
If anything more were hurled at him, Sanosuke did not think he would be able to bear it. In a mere day...in a mere morning...events were colliding past him unbeknownst to his consciousness. He sighed, and walked into the afternoon light, immediately heading towards the horses. Throwing sundry pieces of hay to the horses and feeding them water, he kept his mind blank, knowing that this was usually a chore he did not commit himself to doing.
His men must have noticed as well, but they kept out his proximity, knowing fully well that their Captain was not to be disturbed when he went on a thinking rampage. They owed him that much, at the very least. He had befriended each of them individually before asking them to join his cause and his army. They knew that Hoji was the first he had asked to join him, and the closest person he had to a friend in China. If there was anyone that could obtain the Captain's leniency, it was Hoji.
So the day dragged on, clouds occasionally shrouding the land in a muffled blanket of shade. Sanosuke kept to himself, restlessly doing chores and jobs that he would not do on a normal day. He did infer as to Hoji's condition and did not ask others to tend to orders. If a person on the outside were looking in, he would assume that Captain Sagara was keeping the pain away by not gazing the monster straight in the eye. He was avoiding the pain. But it was anyone's guess as to what Sanosuke was thinking. Perhaps he wasn't thinking...or thinking about the most petty things...of the weather or supplies or the steady beat of his breath.
The sun set into the horizon, the dull, red globe bleeding into the black clouds surrounding it. The day was coming to a sad close, and Sano had still said nothing to any of his men. They kept their distance and went about as if this were the normal routine.
Normally, the men would refer to Hoji, ask what was wrong with Captain Sagara and if there was anything they could do to help? But Hoji's absence was more than apparent. Who were they to turn to? Were they to be left leaderless? A group of men left without a leader would inevitably turn into a mindless mob. But they kept their cool for the time being.
Sano finally finished whatever it was that he had been doing and walked into his tent, gazing thoughtlessly at the rumpled sheets of his futon and the overall disheveled appearance of his tent. Turning around, he stuck his head out of his tent, and although his voice was quiet and monotonous, he was heard, "Meng."
The Chinese man appeared out of thin air, responding to his Captain's call, "Yessir?"
Sano breathed deeply before replying, "I want you to lead a small number of men to investigate what you believe the government has got pinned on us."
Meng's eyebrows quirked, "Oh really?"
"Yes. I will only allow three men at the most. Find out what you can, but with one exception."
"What's that?" Meng asked curiously.
"Don't get caught."
Meng smirked and disappeared, running off to find the two other men that would accompany him into the maze of the heart of Canton.
Curiosity had gotten the better of Sano, as well as the desperate need to know what he had done wrong. It was better to know what the government believed his army to be doing and know how to fight it, rather than stand ignorant and open to attacks. He remained at the front of his tent, staring out at his men who were either turning in to sleep or eating or drinking. He believed that he had never felt this refreshed. Again, his past was forgotten.
"Giichi." His voice called out another name.
Giichi appeared as well -- though slightly slower than Meng had -- limping steadily on a wooden cane situated beneath the crook of his right arm. As predicted, Giichi's right leg was indeed shorter than his left. But this did not reinforce the fact that Giichi was making a near-miraculous recovery, though he still could not scout. Giichi nodded in response to Sano's call.
"Well, Giichi," Sano started, "I would ask you to scout, as you are my best scout, but there is a slight problem with that."
"No need to rub it in, Sir," Giichi commented.
"I'm not, Giichi," Sano said, "As you are not open to scout, I need an opinion from you instead."
"What's that?...Sir," Giichi added hastily.
"Who do you think can do as good a job as you? Or at least, close to as good a job as you?"
Giichi stared at Sano, thinking it was a big joke, "Are you kidding me, Captain? You know each of these men like I do; you should already know...I don't see why you should be asking me."
"Second opinion," Sanosuke said simply.
Giichi rolled his eyes and mumbled something about Sanosuke "wanting to make him suffer" before saying slowly, "Well, if I had to pick someone, I'd have to say Matashi's pretty good."
Sano nodded and added, "Well, then I want you to tell Matashi to scout that boat off the Pearl River that you failed to take a look at," -- Giichi scowled -- "and tell him to also report anything that regards progress in the War."
Giichi stared at Sano with a doubtful look on his face, but limped off to find Matashi.
Lightning forked across the sky, and thunder rumbled thoughtfully, but no rain fell. Sanosuke disregarded this omen and walked into his tent to wait to see how the dice would roll.
With his arms crossed, Sanosuke sat across from Hoji in the medical tent the next morning. There was no sun, but merely shadows that passed effortlessly through open spaces. Sano's eyes had long ago adjusted to the slight darkness, and he continued to stare at nothing in particular, though his gaze was set in Hoji's direction.
Before Megumi had walked off, she had left directions to concoct a medicinal powder that would apparently help ease Hoji's pain. One of his men had told Sano this and had handed him the powder mixed in hot water to serve to Hoji when he regained consciousness. Although Sano's pride was severely inflicted, he accepted the steaming cup and brought it to Hoji's tent, waiting for his friend to awaken.
Sanosuke was not sure how long he sat waiting, but eventually, and miraculously, Hoji's eyelids began to flutter, and drowsily he half-opened his eyes, staring at the cream color of the tent. Sano let him take his time before leaning over to greet Hoji's return to consciousness.
"Hello Hoji," Sano said plainly.
"Hullo Captain..." Hoji drawled, forcing the words to painfully leave his mouth, "You must hate me for this..."
Sano ignored this comment with one of his own, "Think you can sit up? We've got a wondrous medicine here that'll ease the pain."
Hoji winced, "No thanks...Lemme suffer..."
"Suit yourself." With that, Sano turned the ceramic cup over without hesitation, spilling the contents onto the ground. The soil drank the liquid quickly, the dirt darkening into a huge circular glob. Sanosuke set down the cup before adding, "Mind telling me what's going on with you?" He kept his voice and tone as even as he could, if anything, he was more confused than angry at Hoji, and he desperately wanted to know why Hoji did what he had done.
Hoji continued to stare up at the tent, appearing to not have heard what Sano had asked. He blinked once, twice, before sighing tiredly in response, "Sano..." -- only Hoji could get away with addressing Sanosuke so mildly -- "I don't think I can come up with any excuses, so I'll just give you the truth. If anything sounds like an excuse, I apologize."
Sano nodded, wanting to understand, though he sat there emotionlessly waiting.
Hoji continued in a ragged breath, apparently struggling to breath, "I guess you could say I was tricked into it. Maybe I was pretending to be naive...I don't know...But...I was at a bar by myself...and then...this man walked up to me...offered me a joint...but godammit I was so damn drunk...I guess in that mess I thought that it was a harmless smoke..."
Sanosuke had half a mind to burst into lecturous rage, but seeing his friend lying there so pitifully broken made sympathy take over. Begrudgingly, he decided he would let Hoji finish his story.
"But it wasn't," Hoji rasped, "Took me awhile to realize the shit was opium...But I was hooked...godammit Sano I was fucking hooked. Days and weeks after that I was searching for that shit...I was searching for that shit... I knew I had to stop, but fighting the temptation? Sonuvabitch, it's the hardest thing to resist...you start seeing things...and the physical effects..." Hoji trailed off, the shadows under his eyes growing.
Sanosuke bowed his head, thinking for a long while of what to do. No thought popped into his head, so he simply spoke his mind, "Hoji...To say the very least, I am disappointed. I can't even begin to say anything because I don't know where the beginning is. I could be angry, but I think I'm so overwhelmed by confusion that I can't be angry... I always thought better of you, but now..."
Hoji closed his eyes, but Sano knew he was listening...and drinking in every word he said.
"One thing's for sure," Sano continued, "is that we have to get you off opium... I'll figure out a way for you to deal with the consequences later." His evenly toned voice reached Hoji's ears, and even though he could barely comprehend what was happening, Hoji could not detect a hint of anger in Sano's voice...in fact, Sano seemed distant and mechanical, as if this was the normal routine that went on day by day.
Hoji did not even attempt to resist Sano's statement, but merely lay there, contemplating the long road now ahead of him. Already Hoji felt nauseated, the world feeling unsteady beneath him. He knew that this was the effects that would happen if he continued not to smoke opium, and had a gut-sinking feeling that it would only get worse from here on out.
Outside the tent, a shadow appeared among shadows, the figure noiselessly landing on the ground. A voice traveled through the air, "Cap'n."
Sanosuke glanced one last time at Hoji before standing up, shoving the tent flap aside to greet the man that had called his name. Hoji remained inside, laying on his back with thoughts roaming about his head.
"What is it?" Sanosuke asked; he was surprised to find Matashi standing before him, apparently already back after completing what Sano had requested of him.
Matashi had a lithe figure, taller and thinner than most other men. However, his physique did not deter him from whatever task he set out to do, and his high cheek bones and black hair were more than commonplace. Although he seemed lanky, Matashi was extremely agile and would think of one hundred and fifty ways to kill a person if left in the same room with him for an extended amount of time. Much less to say, Matashi's presence was not kept for more than five minutes.
"Sir," Matashi saluted, "First off, I went to the Pearl River to see if that boat was still there."
"And?"
"Sir, it's not there anymore. I did some digging and found that it had taken off to restock."
"Do you know where it's headed?"
"India, Sir. The opium merchant there has got to trade other goods to obtain opium from the East India Company," Matashi replied, tallying the information effortlessly from his mind.
"Very well," Sanosuke sighed, "Any further information?"
"Yessir. It's regarding progress in the war."
"Go ahead."
Matashi shifted his position, taking a breath before he responded, "As you know Sir, Imperial Commissioner Lin Tse-hsu is under orders from the Emperor to rid Canton, and China for that matter, of opium completely."
Sano nodded knowingly, signaling Matashi to continue.
"Commisioner Lin still continues to search for opium dens. He still is ordering the continuation of the confiscation and destruction of opium."
"You mean he's still...?" Sanosuke trailed off.
"Yessir," Matashi answered promptly, "Deep, water-filled, trenches are still being built along the shore. The opium chests that the government confiscates is broken open and soaked in the water. As you know, large barrels of lime and salt are added, liquefying the opium and decomposing it."
"Is he still using laborers?"
"Yessir, the laborers stir the mixture which goes straight into the sea."
"Very well," Sano said, "Anything else?"
"As a matter of fact, yessir, there's more," Matashi replied, "I snuck around Great Britain's ships to see if I could gather information regarding what they plan to do next. As I found out, Great Britain's bringing a large expeditionary force straight from Singapore. They plan to attack Canton's defenses right here on her shores."
"How soon?"
"Within the next three days, Sir."
"What's Lin done? Does he know of this?" Sano asked urgently.
"He doesn't know about Britain's plans, Sir...or at least, not that I'm aware of. All he knows is of the past, minor warships that Great Britain has already sent. However, in addition to the many Chinese war junk ships he has stationed around Canton's shores, he has recently bought an American sailing ship and outfitted it with a cannon supplied by a group of enterprising Portugese merchants."
Sano muttered something to himself before turning to Matashi, "Lin's continuation with the destruction of opium will not go his way...he's wasting his time with that...he doesn't do it effectively enough, and it's getting him nowhere."
Matashi nodded, unsure of what his reaction should be.
"Shit...If Great Britain never brought that opium here, we wouldn't be in this crap in the first place," Sano mumbled, "...Although there have been a few minor tussles between Britain and China, Britain's never done anything as drastic as bringing out an entire expeditionary force. There is definitely going to be trouble, and Canton ain't going to have any hopes of putting up a decent fight. That American ship isn't going to help."
"So...what are we going to do, Sir?" Matashi ventured slowly.
Captain Sagara snapped out of his concentration and stared at Matashi, taking a split second before he responded, "At this moment, I'm not sure. Let's wait until Meng gets back with his report."
Matashi nodded and began to walk away. However, he had taken only a few steps before abruptly turning around to face Sanosuke again.
"One more thing, Sir," Matashi said, "I almost forgot."
Sanosuke looked up from his thoughts, "What is it?"
"In a recent report to the Emperor, Commissioner Lin stated exactly this --" Matashi paused, bringing his thoughts together, "'English warships are now arriving at Canton. Although it's certain that they will not venture to create a disturbance here, I am certain that they will, like great rats, attempt to shelter the vile sellers of opium.' Lin concluded that 'People say that our junks and guns are no match for the British...But they do not know.'"
Sanosuke had the most peculiar expression on his face -- that of a disbelieving manner -- and promptly snorted at this statement: "Like hell we don't know."
Beyond what he could physically see, Sanosuke saw nothing. He was completely wiped, emotionally and physically. The sheer mental strain he felt on his brain was taking a toll on his body, but he kept himself in check, keeping his mind completely driven to the task at hand. He kept his eyes focused on China and his army and their mission.
Although it was the next morning, the day after Matashi had reported to him, and despite the fact there was bright sunshine leaking through gaps in the grey clouds, firelight burned before his eyes, the lithe flames dancing in the glassy reflection. His breakfast cooked slowly on a stick next to the fire, the orange and red and yellow licking at the fish's roughed skin. A charred piece began to peel away from the surface of the fish, waving precariously in the breeze that had lifted until finally it simply tore off and flew away to some place unknown to Sano.
Sighing tiredly, he pulled the wooden stick out of the ground and began to raise the delicious morsel of food to his mouth when he abruptly halted. He discreetly rolled his eyes and in one smooth motion, lowered the fish.
"Report, Meng," he said placidly.
Meng's figure vaporized seemingly out of thin air, and his face was etched in a knowing manner.
"I was going to let you finish your breakfast, Sir," Meng replied coolly, not in a stolid, contemptuous manner, but in a calm, nonchalant way.
Sanosuke huffed, and promptly took a giant swallow of the fish, chewing in a routine manner, "How gracious of you." Sano took another bite before saying, "I doubt I would've had a decent meal with you hovering all around the place anyways."
"Was I that obvious, Sir?" Meng asked, more out of response than curiosity.
"Not extremely," Sanosuke chewed.
Meng simply stood there, waiting for Sanosuke to finish eating. When the Captain was done, however, he quickly disposed of the remnants of the fish with the exception of a thin fish bone, placing it between his teeth.
"Go ahead," Sano said through the thin bone.
Meng cleared his throat, "Well Captain, upon sneaking into the Commissioner Lin's building, we came upon nothing but the war, which wasn't our task. However, we did overhear a major officer reporting to Lin on 'the Army of Aku,' and I ultimately presumed he was referring to our quaint little army right here. The official said that his troops were tending to the matter, and I decided to check out the building where all of the government's troops are being quartered.
"We snuck in, blended in, and did the best we could to suck the information out of them without being too obvious. It didn't take long, however, until I got all the information I needed. Apparently Sir, all of us here are wanted on several accounts of invasion of private property and battery, as well as many, many accusations of attempted murder."
Meng paused.
A small breeze fluttered past, and Meng's long, black hair glided easily with the wind. Sanosuke listened intently to every word Meng uttered, taking his time to absorb what Meng had said so far.
"Do they know why we apparently 'invaded property,' 'attempted to murder,' and 'batter'?" Sano finally asked, "Do they know we never murdered a single person? Do they know that we are on their side and that we are trying to help them get rid of the opium merchants? Do they know that they aren't supposed to be chasing us?"
"With all due respect, Sir, don't take it out on me -- I'm only reporting what I found out," Meng countered mildly, "However, yes, they do know that we hunt opium dens and opium merchants. Ironically Sir, this is our downfall. The Chinese army has their pride Sir, and because you are Japanese, I don't know if you know about the pride of the Chinese army. No offense intended, Captain," Meng added hastily. He paused slightly before continuing,
"However...they do not like this pride to be dented. By our actions of attempting to help them with the opium situation, they have interpreted it as a sign of mockery. They believe that we think they cannot do their job correctly. By taking the situation into our hands, they believe that we are trying to ruin their good name and trample over their job as the Chinese army."
Sanosuke snorted, the fish bone quivering.
"Are you aware, Sir, of the corruption of the army?" Meng asked.
Sanosuke nodded, unsure of where Meng was headed in his explaination, "The army is filled with spies and backstabbing liars...in fact, they are most known for defrauding the people with their taxes."
Meng bobbed his head in agreement, "Exactly, Sir. That is how they have turned everybody against us. We are wanted not only for these counts of attempted murder and what-not, but they have gained the people's support by framing us."
"Do you mean...?" Sanosuke ventured slowly, not wanting to utter the words.
"Yessir. We have been framed with the tax defrauds that the army itself commits."
Beneath his breath, Sano swore in Japanese. He felt like the air had been squeezed out of him entirely.
"Do they know that we are camped here?" Sanosuke asked.
Meng shook his head, "No Sir, not that I'm aware of. However, there is a reward for our lives, dead or alive, and I doubt it will be long before someone finds us."
The fish bone between Sano's lips shook violently, "Shit."
"And you should know, Sir," Meng added leisurely, "That the British Royal Navy will be arriving at Canton's shores in no less than three days."
Captain Sagara exhaled in exasperation, and the fish bone went flying, landing squarely in the quivering flames of the fire. His voice came pallid and overridden,
"I know."