Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin, not even a measly little part of it.
"It's so good to see you again, Ken-san."
Himura Kenshin accepted the cup of tea with a smile. "It's kind of you to welcome me when I dropped by so unexpectedly, Megumi-dono."
Takani Megumi sat next to him on the engawa before taking a sip of her own drink. "You are welcome anytime, Ken-san, you know that. I was running low on some of the medicine you brought, so that makes it even more fortunate."
"I'm glad."
They lapsed into companionable silence, enjoying the bright spring weather without the need to say anymore. Only the lightest brushes of clouds drifted through the sky, which allowed the sun to warm the earth with its rays. A gentle zephyr swept through every so often, stirring young leaves and flowering bulbs into a restless dance before stilling again. The faint perfume of budding Oyama magnolia, courtesy of the young trees dotting the courtyard, brought a wave of nostalgia over Kenshin. The road leading home - or away from it - was filled with dozens of those trees, and it never failed to bring back memories, both good and bad.
He finished his tea and set the cup down carefully. "It's not every day I hear the clinic so quiet," Kenshin remarked.
"It never lasts long, so I've learned to enjoy it when I can," Megumi answered. She cast him a sideways glance, her brown eyes seeming to slash away the careful layers he had piled on himself as protection. "But I doubt you came all this way to talk about the clinic."
Kenshin smiled ruefully. He never understood how Megumi managed to read him so adroitly, but her perception served her well both professionally and in dealing with him. "I'm embarrassed to admit that I have a favor to ask."
Shaking her head, Megumi's voice was filled with half-exasperation, half-amusement. "Ken-san, you know I'll help out any way I can. After all, I owe you my life."
"You don't owe me anything, Megumi-dono," he replied firmly. But before he could say anymore, the gate creaked open and a voice called out as he sauntered into view.
"Oi, Kitsune, you here? You're going to have another patient soon."
Kenshin perked up at the familiar voice, warmth flooding his tone. "Sanosuke!"
And Megumi huffed at her nickname. "I prefer if you call me Takani-sensei like everyone else, Sanosuke." But she arose and went inside to grab her medicine bag in preparation for the patient.
Sano smirked and then focused his attention onto the other man. "Kenshin, I didn't know you were back!"
"I just arrived an hour ago," he explained, standing up. "You look well. Who is this patient you're talking about?"
"Ah, that." Sano rubbed the back of his head in a gesture of mild irritation just as Megumi emerged from the room and slipped into her geta. "It's the new Inspector. She's been challenged to a fight."
"Already?" Megumi shook her head. "It's only her second day, too."
Kenshin looked between them as the trio moved towards the door. "New Inspector?"
"Yeah, she arrived yesterday and was locked in with the Council for most of the afternoon. Got sworn in, the politicians made a big deal about how she was endorsed by Saitou Hajime and how she was going to stop the rise in crime and chaos around here." Sano shook his head and pulled out a senbon from somewhere, putting it to his lips. "I'll admit, she has an impressive background, but with all the bragging done by the Council, challenging her was bound to happen sooner or later."
Megumi clucked her tongue in disapproval. "They should have known better than to throw her to the wolves like that. She's the sixth new Police Inspector we've had in four months!"
They moved quickly through the streets of the city, Kenshin just as familiar with the area as much as the others from previous visits. The closer they drew to the epicenter, the more people filled the streets until they were forced to squeeze through the crowds. Kenshin lost sight of both Sano and Megumi, both of who were taller than him, much to his chagrin. Resigned to finding them later, he eased his way towards the fountain, guessing that was the location of the challenge. What better way to disgrace the new Inspector than a very public display of a duel?
Only mildly interested in seeing the new head of law enforcement, Kenshin took a moment to drink in the sights and reacquaint himself with the city. The smells of street food like dango and taiyaki filled his nostrils, bringing about a slight pang of hunger and reminded him he hadn't eaten since yesterday, minus the tea from Megumi. People flowed around him, ignoring his slight frame despite the vibrant hair which he both hated and liked for its unique color. The murmur of the crowd rose and fell, intermingled with laughter and an infant crying and high-pitched voices of children calling to each other in play.
Kenshin allowed himself to move with the direction of the people until he found himself facing the large center fountain which served as the post for news heralds and for showy demonstrations. He wasn't surprised to see two figures standing ten feet apart. One was a tall man with short-cropped hair and a disjointed nose that made the otherwise bland features look like another peasant. He sneered at his opponent, hand on his sword in readiness. Kenshin studied him briefly before calculating the man was a mediocre menace.
His gaze shifted to the woman who had to be the new Inspector. Her straight but relaxed pose piqued his interest and he craned his neck to see her better.
She was just below his height, her hair tied back into a high ponytail by an indigo ribbon. He guessed her age to be somewhere around twenty. Her trim figure was encased in a white gi and dark blue hakama. Over that, she wore a bright blue haori that signified her position as a police officer. Her eyes struck Kenshin the most; they were a deep cobalt blue that sparked with something he couldn't quite read.
The crowd hushed as they watched the confrontation. Part of the fountain blocked Kenshin's view of the Inspector, but he could see most of what was happening. This wasn't the first time he had seen someone publicly challenge the Inspector of a city, and it followed a rather predictable format. First, he thought sardonically, the taunting.
As if on cue, the man spoke, his voice abrasive and echoing across the plaza. "Step down quietly, Inspector, and I won't humiliate you in front of everyone."
"I could offer you the same option," the woman replied evenly. Her voice was high contralto and it resonated pleasantly to Kenshin's ear. "Stop this foolishness now or I'll have to humiliate you in front of everyone."
Her threat wasn't the same as the man's, Kenshin thought, but no one seemed to care. The crowd grew larger and pressed him forward slightly for a better view from behind. Slightly annoyed at being jostled, he shot a hard look at the people around him. Once they saw his eyes, they backed down and Kenshin turned his attention back to the impending duel, just in time.
The man scoffed and drew his sword. "Prepared for pain and embarrassment then," he snarled, and charged.
Kenshin watched him speed towards the ready figure, who dropped into a slight crouch, right foot forward so that she remained perfectly balanced. Her sword hand stayed close to the hilt, but she didn't draw it yet. That pose, reminiscent of his own, indicated experience in battojutsu which piqued his further interest.
The man screeched as his sword descended down in a straight slash, and then the Inspector moved. But instead of drawing her sword and blocking the attack, she dodged to the right and moved her left hand. The man's cries cut off abruptly and Kenshin saw his eyes widen comically as he realized what had happened. A split second later, the would-be challenger flew backwards and thudded to the ground in a crumpled heap. Stunned into silence, the crowd didn't stir for several long heartbeats.
Then someone called out, "Is he dead?"
The Inspector, frozen in her attack position, straightened up again and let her sword fall back into its usual place. Kenshin was impressed, despite himself. She had timed her attack perfectly, and reacted in appropriate measure to the man's skill - or lack thereof - by simply using the hilt of her sword.
The man abruptly turned to his side and vomited before clutching his stomach with a deep-seated groan. The crowd, seeing that he was still alive, began muttering to each other, casting the Inspector looks between astonishment, distrust, and uncertainty. She didn't move, still staring at her downed opponent, and eventually people lost interest and began to go back to their business.
Kenshin stayed where he was, watching the woman staring at the man. From the corner of his eye, he saw Megumi's lithe form fighting the flow of people and eventually broke through to hurry to the man's side. Kenshin smiled as he saw Sano subtly help the doctor by making more space with his presence, but Megumi didn't seem to notice, too intent on her patient.
Curiosity rose up, sharp and speculative, and Kenshin decided to join his friends, reaching Megumi at the same Sano did, but from a different direction.
"There you are, Kenshin. Get lost, didja?" Sano said, not looking at all surprised to find his friend suddenly there.
"After you two left me, I had to fend for myself," he retorted good-naturedly. Both men watched Megumi tend to the man still groaning and rocking himself. He then caught Sano's eye and quirked a brow in silent question. Sano nodded and grinned; he also saw what had happened, and seemed suitably impressed by the new Inspector's skills.
The Inspector strode up just then, looking down at Megumi and the man. "Are you a doctor?" she asked. In close proximity, her voice contained the faintest edge of huskiness that stirred something inside Kenshin. He ignored the thought for now, listening to the conversation instead.
"I am." Megumi pulled out a small paper packet and a vial of water. She poured the herbs into the liquid and gently swirled it until it mixed together. "I'm just giving him some medicine to ease the stomach pain. He'll be fine in a day or two."
"A pity. He might learn a better lesson if he hurts longer," the Inspector replied.
Megumi cast the other woman a measured look as she lifted the man's head and coaxed him to drink the tonic. He tried to refuse but Sano squatted down next to him and gave him a ilook/i. A terrified expression crossed the challenger's face and he swallowed it all down without further complaint. Megumi let his head drop with a careless release of her grip and stood up to dust herself off. "I thought I was coming here for you, but apparently you can take better care of yourself than your predecessors."
Their gazes met and Kenshin knew something was happening between them. An assessment of sorts, or gauging the other in womanly terms he didn't quite understand. Whatever it was, they suddenly broke eye contact and Megumi packed the empty vial and paper placket away in her bag.
"He'll be fine. Don't let him eat anything more than broth until tomorrow, and he can slowly incorporate some rice back into his diet if he's up for it," Megumi said briskly. Whatever happened between them, they seemed to accept each other.
"Thank you, Sensei. I appreciate it."
"Takani Megumi. In case you need my services later."
Sano picked up the man and hoisted him over his shoulder, ignoring the loud groan at the unexpected man-handling. "That was some move, Jou-chan. How about I take him to jail as thanks for the impromptu entertainment?"
The Inspector looked Sano over for a long moment before she nodded. "I would appreciate that." She glanced at Kenshin, her eyes falling on his sword for a brief second, before it rose to meet his eyes.
Kenshin smiled, striving for his usual friendly rurouni routine. But he was also curious to get answers, so he said, "That was an unexpected move that you did back there."
She narrowed her eyes at him, losing some of that relaxed posture she seemed to adopt as her normal. "I try to be unexpected," she answered, her gaze never wavering from his face.
"What move would you call that?" he asked, persisting to get an actual answer.
A spark of humor finally brightened her eyes even though she fought to hide a smile and maintain her serious disposition. "The stomach-pommel-pummel."
Sano guffawed. "That's a good one, Jou-chan."
She flicked him a slightly irritated glare though she didn't seem to mean it. "My name is Kamiya Kaoru."
"Inspector Kamiya. I like it." Sano grinned at her and turned around. "I'm heading over to the jail. I'll catch you later, Keshin, Megumi."
Kenshin watched as Kaoru and Sano left together, chatting away as if they were old friends. He frowned as he watched the easy camaraderie, wondering why she had treated him so coldly and Sano so warmly. Was it because of his red hair? His scar?
He didn't realize Megumi studying him until he caught a glimpse of her single-minded focus. She leaned back when she realized he noticed her, but she smiled anyway. "She's rather pretty, in a plain, unassuming kind of way."
Biting back a groan, Kenshin deliberately turned his back towards the new Inspector. "I was more interested in her technique than her looks," he said by way of explanation.
Megumi didn't seemed fooled in the least and the knowing look she gave him confirmed it. But she allowed him to steer the direction of the conversation into safer waters. "It was certainly impressive. I barely saw her hand grasp the saya and jerk it right into the solar plexus. Inspector Kamiya seems very well trained. Perhaps she'll last longer than the other five who held the position before her."
They headed back to Megumi's clinic in silent accord. Kenshin frowned in thought, then asked, "What happened to the previous Inspectors?"
"They all resigned. After Saitou Hajime was promoted to Inspector General and relocated to the capital, anyone who accepted the position has been eventually run out, fearing for their lives. Lately, it seems to be happening more and more quickly, spurred on by previous victories." Megumi shook her head and sighed. "It's a pity that it's allowing more chaos and crime to occur. It's gotten dangerous enough that the Council has considered a curfew. It hasn't happened yet, but if our new Inspector doesn't last long, they'll eventually declare martial law."
Kenshin considered what he learned as they arrived back at Megumi's clinic. And the fact that the new Inspector's name was Kamiya ...
"Once Sano comes back, we should have a meal together," Megumi suggested, breaking into his thoughts. She smiled at him. "But in the meantime, perhaps you can tell me what I can help with."
"Ahh, that." Kenshin allowed a sheepish smile to surface as he rubbed the back of his neck in an uncomfortable gesture. "It's more like two favors, if I could impose on you."
Megumi fold her arms in her kimono and raised her brows. "Well, what is it?"
"The first is, could you mix me this restorative potion?" Kenshin reached into his gi and pulled out a folded piece of paper to give to the doctor.
She unfolded it and scanned it briefly before her eyes widened. "Ken-san ..."
"The second favor," he interrupted gently but firmly, "is to ask that you do not know who it's for, or why."
Their eyes met and Megumi tried to ferret out the truth by the fierceness of her gaze alone, but Kenshin remained shuttered and impassive. If his friend didn't agree, he would have no choice but to find another doctor.
Finally, Megumi nodded. "Of course I'll do it. But Ken-san, you should know that taking this could do more harm than good."
He tamped down a sigh of relief. It was almost an imposition of their friendship, but Kenshin trusted her skills and discretion above all other healers. "I'm aware, Megumi-dono."
She stared at him again, but when he said nothing else, she sighed in resignation. "I'll get started on this while we wait for Sano. Have a seat, it will take a bit of time."
Kenshin waited on the engawa, staring up at the endless sky until the gate swung open and Sano sauntered in. Somewhere along the way back, he acquired a fishbone he used as a toothpick and it bobbed from his mouth. "Yo, Kenshin. Megumi seeing a patient?"
"She's mixing up some medicine. The attacker is in jail?"
"Locked up and still moaning as loudly as ever," Sano confirmed. He leaned against one of the columns and looked down at his friend. "What did you think of Jou-chan's skills?"
"She's well trained," he said. "If those are the kind of people challenging her, she'll do well as Inspector."
Sano grunted. "She did all right, but it's only going to get harder from here on out. Now that she's established some dominance, the stronger thugs will come out to test her."
Under the casual comment, Kenshin detected a thread of uncharacteristic worry in Sanosuke's tone. "Are you concerned about her?"
"Nah, just saying." Sano flicked his eyes at him. "She warned me about hanging out with you though. Said you looked dangerous."
Should he be surprised she immediately pegged him as someone different than everyone else? Kenshin considered that for a moment but he couldn't tell if he was annoyed or resigned. "Did she now?" he murmured when it was obviously the taller man was waiting for a response. "What did you say in return?"
Sano chuckled. "I told her that I'm the only one who would hang out with you, and I couldn't stop now."
Kenshin gave Sano a look but then the shouji opened behind him and Megumi stepped out.
"I thought I heard the voice of a freeloader around here," she said with her usual acerbic tone whenever she dealt with a difficult patient. "After exerting yourself helping the Inspector, I thought you'd be too tired to walk back."
Sano grinned at the doctor, unfazed by her unwelcome words. "I thought about taking a much deserved nap before I remembered Kenshin was here. We have to share a meal together before he goes back to wandering again. Who knows when we'll see him next?"
At that, Megumi had to agree. She turned and handed Kenshin a pouch. "Here's what you asked for. Use it wisely."
Kenshin accepted the medicine and put it inside his gi for safe keeping, ignoring Sano's curious look. Standing up with his left hand resting on his sword, he smiled at his two friends. "Shall we go eat, then?"
The afternoon passed quickly as the three of them caught up, Kenshin sharing in amusing stories while wandering about the world, and Sano and Megumi taking turns to fill him in on the goings on of the city. Around them, other patrons talked about the new Inspector and how chaotic the city was, but with renewed relief life would eventually go back to normal.
Kenshin heard all the talk, the worry, the tentative hope in their voices. And he wished Kamiya Kaoru well.
He stayed at Sano's rented place on Ruffian Row for the night, and bid his friend farewell early in the morning. Having already said goodbye to the doctor the night before, Kenshin headed towards the north gate.
Somehow, he wasn't surprised to see the Inspector leaning against the wall, arms crossed and head bent. Kenshin stopped a few feet away and waited for her to say something.
"Leaving already? Sanosuke-san will be disappointed."
Kenshin shrugged, wondering why he cared to explain himself to someone he didn't know. "He knows I'm a wanderer. He'll be fine."
Kaoru looked up to meet his gaze, her eyes narrowed. "And how long will you wander about until you return here?"
She framed the question in a friendly manner, but he picked up the hint that she would be watching him like a shop owner suspicious of a thief. "Who knows? It could be weeks, it could be months." Kenshin looked beyond the gate towards the road ahead, beckoning him to follow where it led. The pull remained as strong as ever, never allowing him to remain still long enough for the dust to settle from his hakama.
Seemingly satisfied with his response, Kaoru unfolded herself from the wall and strode by past him, her sword an unspoken menacing threat. "This is my city now, Himura-san. If I were you, I'd make it months."
He watched her head back into the heart of the city, shaking off the sting of unwelcomeness. But he also understood the reason for the warning. Her job would be hard enough without having to worry about him.
So Kenshin turned his attention to the road leading out of town and followed it. It was his penance to wander, and wander he would.