Better add another Disclaimer: This work is in no way affiliated with the great Nobuhiro Watsuki or the Rurouni Kenshin franchise.
Chapter 11
Smuggler.
The afternoon wind was uproarious now, and it billowed suddenly, tousling her long hair behind her back and pulling her clothes into a flapping frenzy. The girl in the button-up kimono hurried forward against the wind, her high heeled sandals clacking on the streets—hands tucked into her sleeve. Feeling the outline of a dagger concealed inside. A package of opium in the other. Her eyes darted to and fro, the way one did when they grew accustomed to to being held at gunpoint.
The doctor travelled on, holding disease in her hand, a recipe for calamity in her head. A cough from the stalls made her flinch, and the smell of smoke made her skin writhe. The doctor hobbled on, trying to train her eyes forward. She picked out a bundle of grey in the distance, and followed it up the path. The streets were better-off here, slightly, and she furrowed her brows as she drew nearer.
The bundle of grey was a man. Dressed in a dirty, patchy gi, he slumped against the wall, a teacup laid out neatly before him. His hands were knit together, head bowed. Her lips thinned at the sight of the katana at his side. Comfortably within reach. 'Another hapless samurai, huh? Ronin.' She breathed out forcefully. 'I wonder who's worse off in this Meji era. Me or this ronin.' She was ready to pass him—she'd seen too many beggars like him, too many men left in the dust after a lifetime of abiding the sword. Honourable brutes, and the less honourable brawlers alike. The ones not dead from the upheaval left to die at their own leisure. So what? The ones she served only totted by their guns. Hoarding their riches.
But she slowed for some reason, catching a glimpse of a smile under that fraying straw hat. The doctor fumbled through her robes, clinking a few coins into the ronin's flowery teacup. Hesitating for a moment, before pressing a few notes into it as well. He'll need it more than her. She'd survive for now. And as she hurried to get away, the dirty figure rose, bowing low toward her back. "Thank you so very much, Milady. Sessha is truly humbled by such generosity, that he is. Please, this lowly one wishes Milady a safe travel, that he does ." The doctor turned back in time to see the bowed ronin, ignoring his stutter. This lowly one? The only lowly one here was her. Deliverer of death to those already sick. Addicted. Still daring to call herself a doctor. And she didn't say a word as she left.
But the sun's rays came down, and for a moment, she thought she saw a tinge of red under the shadow of the straw hat. Ridiculous. She shook her head and left, forgetting the beggar in a day.
Yes, that was Takani Megumi. She's currently under Kanryu's power. She must be pretty young here- a teenager? Cos she's 22 in the events of the manga right? (I have no idea how long she worked for Kanryu, so please excuse any inaccuracies...)
To dear Elisabpshady, sueb262 and skenshingumi- A big thank you, you guys are a huge motivation. All my love.
In other news, I've basically caught up to all my pre-written stuff for this, so I'm afraid the next pieces will have a longer wait- and I'm off holidaying mid-Dec. This fic collection will go on indefinitely though :) So, feel free to PM me prompts- need to get back into writing~ And one more thing- I'm going to try write some happier fics too, sorry about the mopey-sad nature of these omg. I seem to ever only write angst. Well.
Thank you! Till next time.