I just can't stop writing this story lol, hope you are still enjoying the read.
Megumi had, despite her first introductions, started getting along well with everyone at the Kamiya Dojo. Even Sanosuke and Yahiko seemed to admire her, though Kenshin and Kaoru guessed it was mainly due to her skill at cooking.
Derek and Megumi sat within the dojo, she had confided within him that she knew something of medicine. Fascinated by her knowledge Derek had asked her to teach him some skills in treating sword wounds. Kenshin had asked to speak with Megumi concerning her attackers once they had finished.
"You must remember not to wrap the gauze too tightly," she informed him, finishing up one of her lessons. "Or you will cut off circulation and only aggravate the injury."
"Uh huh, uh huh," he nodded in response, jotting down her lessons in a small notebook he kept within his kimono.
Sitting down to rest Megumi turned to the swordsmen, curiosity in her eyes.
"So Derek, that's an odd name, did your parents name you that?"
"To be honest I don't remember all that well," he answered with a slight chuckle. "It was the name Kenshin-sensei says I told him when he first found me, I hardly remember that moment now, I was barely eight at the time."
"So dear Ken found you? How awful, that must have been during the Bakumatsu."
"It was after the fighting had ended to be precise. Kenshin found me at the time he gave up man slaying; I alone witnessed his last killings."
Derek couldn't understand why he discussed this with Megumi; after all he had met her only hours before. However he felt as if he could trust her with his past, after all there wasn't much special about it compared to his teachers.
"Perhaps your parents were killed by the shogunate before dear Ken found you," Megumi guessed, she sounded as if she truly felt sorry for him.
"I guess," Derek responded, though his memories of before he had met Kenshin were faded, and he surmised he would never recover them. "Kenshin-sensei has been like a father to me, without him I doubt I would have survived that night. Since then he has taught me everything he knows about swordsmanship…"
Silently the door to the adjoining room slid open, revealing Kenshin; upon entering he shut the door behind him.
"I believe we have waited long enough that I do," he started. "What can you tell us about the men chasing you?"
Megumi nodded and proceeded to tell them all about Kanryu and his men, including his elites, ninjas known as the Oniwaban group, led by their leader Aoshi Shinomore.
"The Oniwaban group?" Kenshin asked at last.
"Aoshi Shinomore?" Derek muttered as well. "To become leader of such a skilled group at the age of fifteen is no simple task."
"But with the two of you here I wouldn't be worried even if every one of them attacked us at once this very minute."
"I certainly hope it doesn't come to that," Kenshin quickly said with a laugh.
"After all who would pick up everyone after we took em out sensei," Derek replied, laughing at the same time as his master.
Neither one of them noticed Megumi bow her head, as if she was unsure of her own words.
"But Miss Megumi," Kenshin started once more. "Why is Kanryu chasing you, and what part do you play in this?"
Megumi was looking up at the sky, as if she hadn't even heard him.
"Didn't you hear my sensei?" Derek asked.
"I don't want to tell you," Megumi rebuked. "Only thoughtless men pry into a woman's past."
"Um…aren't you the one who started telling us of this whole Kanryu business?" Derek asked, determined to put all the pieces together. "It's just as rude to not finish a story that it is."
Megumi remained silent, responding to his words with nothing more than a sly smile.
With discussions finished Kenshin and Derek stepped out onto the porch, where Sanosuke was keeping a vigilant watch from a nearby rock. Kaoru was also present, though she appeared exasperated for some reason.
"See anything yet Sano?"
"Nope."
"I see, I am sorry to involve you Miss Kaoru that I am," Kenshin started. "There is no doubt they know Miss Megumi is here, and it is likely there shall be one or two nasty situations. I will do all I can to keep you safe Miss Kaoru.
"Kenshin…" Kaoru responded, blushing slightly.
Sensei…Derek thought to himself. Always got a way with the ladies, even though he never actually tries.
As Kenshin stepped down a pair of hands shot out from under the porch, causing him to fall flat on his face.
"Sensei!" Derek shouted, leaping down, sword drawn to face the threat.
It was only Yahiko.
"Don't think you guys can leave me out of this!" he shouted, jumping out from under the porch. "I'm a member of Kenshin's group too ya know."
Without warning the northern side of the dojo exploded, leaving a massive hole in its wake.
"Already here?" Kenshin muttered, rushing to the entrance with Sanosuke and Derek close behind.
What can only be described as a lumbering giant entered the breach in the wall. No doubt he was easily seven feet tall, the most heavyset man any of them had ever seen, yet it appeared as if his huge gut was more of an asset than a hindrance.
"I am Hyotkko of the Oniwaban group, who's first, or will all three of you bugs take me on now?"
"Huh, a big guy eh?" Sanosuke asked. "Let me handle this one guys."
"Sano! It is unlikely you can fight a group like the Oniwaban with brute force," Kenshin shouted, however Sanosuke had already started rushing the brute. Turning to Derek Kenshin laid his hand on his shoulder. "Pupil, it is likely there are more of them seeking to surround us, Sano and I can handle this one, you find the rest."
"Yes sensei," Derek responded, leaping over the wall, avoiding the battle between Sanosuke and Hyotkko.
Ducking into the brush around the dojo, Derek attempted to tune out the sounds of battle, listening for anything. He quickly heard soft muttering in a nearby tree, on first glance he noticed it was the small man from the morning, Beshimi, albeit with a bandage over his broken nose.
"Got ya," Derek whispered to himself, leaping towards the tree.
Beshimi never saw him coming, however Derek was unable to reach the tree.
Derek noticed the incoming attack at the last moment, as a fist came speeding out of the darkness. He parried the punch with his left arm, however pain shot through him as it seemed the blow was far more powerful than he had anticipated.
Landing on the ground he looked about, finding the source of the swing.
It was a tall man, his arms seemed longer than normal, his face was concealed beneath a horrific mask reminding Derek of the tales of demons he had heard in his travels.
"Are you of the Oniwaban group as well?"
"Indeed," the man replied. "I am Han'nya, master of shadow and disguise."
"You've got quite an arm on you," he moved his arm slightly to shake off the pain. "Even Miss Kaoru would be proud."
Han'nya rushed Derek once again, swinging his arm towards the young swordsman. Derek raised his sword, swinging in hopes of breaking the ninjas hand, however his sword glanced off Han'nya's hand, as if it were made of metal.
Flying past each other the two found themselves glaring at each other once again.
"Metal gauntlets? Nice touch, no wonder your punch hurt so much."
"Hmm, interesting sword technique, same as the first ones if I'm not mistaken," Han'nya replied once more, the eerie calm of his voice made Derek wonder about his skill, it seemed as if he thought nothing of him as an opponent. "Perhaps you are an apprentice of his? Interesting."
"And I see you use Kempo style, but my master's skill should be of no concern of yours, your opponent is me!" With that he rushed the fighter once more, nearing him with great speed.
However as it seemed his sword would strike the masked fighter, Han'nya suddenly retaliated, swinging his arms once more. His punch connected with Derek, from a seemingly impossible distance, a follow up kick sent him falling back to the ground. With a slight cough Derek spat up some blood, leaving a mark on his blue kimono.
"I never expected a swordsman such as your master to still exist in this world, and your skill is not so insignificant," Han'nya remarked. "We have taken you too lightly this night, however we shall meet again."
With that he leapt over the wall, after several moments he appeared again, carrying the unconscious form of Hyotkko and Beshimi, his strength was almost unreal. It seemed that Sanosuke had won his match, with Kenshin having taken out Beshimi with a well placed stone to the head.
Derek got to his feet, his sides in pain from the ninja's punch, he stumbled to the back to the others. Sanosuke looked as if he was gonna collapse, he was burned, though it appeared he was still fine…for him.
"Sanosuke, you look like I feel."
Before he could say anymore Sanosuke planted his foot right in Derek's face, causing him to fall over, grabbing his face in pain.
"Now you both look equally bad," Yahiko laughed, pointing at the two fighters. Moments earlier he had scarcely avoided one of Beshimi's darts, originally intended for Megumi. Beshimi had noticed Derek fighting Han'nya, and had missed his shot and alerted Kenshin to his presence.
As Derek and Sanosuke chased after Yahiko across the dojo, Megumi could only stand back alongside Miss Kaoru and watch, wondering how a group like this could face the full force of Kanryu and the Oniwaban to come…
Hope you liked the Han'nya Derek confrontation, he was easily my favorite member of the Oniwaban group, and as Aoshi's apprentice it only seemed right to make him Derek's rival. :)