Pride Vs. Desire
By:: Melissa

Italics - Flashback

Disclaimer:: Everything in this story (besides the storyline) belongs to Nobuhiro Watsuki, creator and writer of Rurouni Kenshin. Flashback that's been used is copyrighted to Nobuhiro Watsuki as well. It came from Vol. 4 of the manga. Constructive criticism is welcomed. No flames please.

Chapter 2

"I'm so sorry… I got you into this. I put you all in danger. But….it's almost over. Soon, your worries… …will end with me." Megumi said, sticking the knife onto her wrist.

"Megumi-dono!!" Kenshin exclaimed, shock and fear in every aspect of his face. Yahiko gasped in surprise.

"Look what I've become. Making opium. Living selfishly, so desperate to see family. If nothing else, I got to meet all of you." She smiled sadly.

"No!" Kenshin moved forward, as if to stop Megumi from taking her life.

"Yes." Her simple reply stopped Kenshin in his tracks. She tightened her grip on the knife, ready to seal her fate. Kenshin's pulse stopped for one single moment, suspended in time. Suddenly, a flash of red blood appeared. Megumi's eyes widened as she saw what had happened.

"You… …stupid wench! Kenshin and Yahiko nearly got themselves killed to rescue you! …And you want to make that all a waste! Got it?!" Sanosuke yelled, grabbing onto the base of the knife, cutting his hand. Pulling the knife away from her, Megumi fell onto the bench, crying.

"But… I have no choice. People are suffering from my opium. How can I just say, 'They forced me…' and go on living?"

Megumi tossed her hair, walking more slowly as she entered the next town. She sighed in frustration, battling with her thoughts. Scowling, she turned the street and walked along a long row of houses, looking for his house.

"Why am I seeing birdhead? I shouldn't be. He's the one who left. Not me. I shouldn't be caving in like this! I should be strong and just, go on with life without him," She said to herself, her scowl turning into a frown.

"Could I do it though? Could I just forget him and move on like nothing happened? Like nothing ever happened between us?" She stopped walking, looking at her hands.

"Nothing happened between us though. What am I saying? Nothing happened. No love, no care, nothing." She started walking again, anger rising in her voice. Turning down another street, she found the house she was looking for.

Walking up to the door, she stopped herself from knocking on the door. She heard voices inside. Her pulse raced. It was Sanosuke's and someone else's she didn't recognize. She leaned in closer, putting her ear up to the door.

"Sanosuke, you have to tell her." The unknown voice rang out through the thin, sliding door. Megumi's eyes narrowed. Were they talking about her?

"I can't Tsukioka. If I told her, it would devastate her." Sanosuke's voice was full of agony.

"You have to. You at least owe her that much." Tsukioka's voice pushed.

"But….Megumi would hate me. She wouldn't speak to me for the rest of her life," he said in despair. Megumi's eyes widened. So they were talking about her. Keeping her ears opened, she listened harder.

"You owe it to her." Tsukioka pronounced every word with emphasis and care.

"I know! I know!" Sanosuke finally exclaimed, pain tearing through his voice.

"I heard from Kenshin that she visited him yesterday. Kaoru told her where you moved to. She might be in today or tomorrow to see you." Tsukioka's voice was persuasive. She could hear Sanosuke take a sharp intake of breath.

"I guess I'll tell her if she shows up. If not, then I'll seek her out. I should tell her about the engagement," he finally said, defeat ringing in his voice. Megumi turned pale and she could hear her heart shattering around her feet.

"How could he do this to me? Maybe, he really thought we didn't have anything. No love, no care. I just was naïve to think that he would think of me as more than a fox." She wiped the tears from her eyes, walking away from the house. She never knocked, never acknowledged her presence. She walked quickly back to the entrance of the small town and made her way back to Tokyo. She didn't stay to listen to anything else.

She didn't stop by the Kamiya Dojo. She went straight home. Locking the door behind her, she went quickly to her room, not even saying hello to the doctor. Closing her door with a snap, she collapsed to the floor.

"I hate that birdhead. I hate him," She screamed to herself, crying the tears that she had been holding back for so long.

To Be Continued…..

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