Pride Vs. Desire
By:: Melissa

Disclaimer:: I do not own any of this story except for the storyline. Everything else belongs to Nobuhiro Watsuki, creator of Rurouni Kenshin. Constructive criticism is welcomed. No flames please.

Chapter 3

The sun shone through the thin paper doors as the morning broke the cool air. Megumi woke with a start, trying to rid herself of her dream. Sitting up in bed, she looked out her window, seeing the bright rays of sunshine filtering in. She shook her head, trying to get the thoughts of Sanosuke coming to her and telling her he had met someone else better than her out of her head. Getting up, she got dressed and ready for work.

She was going and working at people's houses, healing those that called on her for house calls. Getting her bag together with all the appropriate medical instruments, she locked her house, walking slowly down the street. She stopped in first at the doctor's place, so he knew that she was working. She opened the door and walked in quickly. She was startled to see the doctor already awake and getting his office organized.

"Hello doctor, I was just checking in with you before heading out to do house calls." Megumi flipped her hair, too proud to acknowledge that he had scared her.

"Oh Megumi, I thought you were taking the day off." The doctor looked up at her surprisingly.

"Why would I do that?" Megumi was confused. She hadn't said that she would take the day off or would like the day off.

"I heard from your friend, Sanosuke, that you wanted the day off today." The doctor looked perplexedly at me.

"Well, I'm sorry for the miscommunication but I'm not taking the day off and I'm making house calls. I'll see you at six o'clock, doctor." With that, Megumi left the doctor's house. Shutting the door more violently than she wanted, she mumbled under her breath.

"That birdhead…I don't want to talk to him…..why would I want to talk to him? He doesn't deserve to talk to me. I'm making my house calls." She walked quickly to the Yukimara family's home. She entered slowly, knocking softly.

"Oh, Megumi-dono, I'm glad you're here. Sakura is becoming sicker. Her head is hot and her cough isn't going away." Mrs. Yukimara led Megumi into Sakura's room. Rattling breath could be heard as Megumi sat down next to Sakura's bed. Reaching up to feel her head, Megumi pulled her hand back sharply, astonished at how hot her head was.

"How long has she had this temperature?" Megumi asked, looking at the mother warily.

"About two days...," the mother admitted, looking away shamefully.

"You should've called me sooner, especially with a temperature this high." Megumi looked sadly at the little girl. She noticed something on the pillow and leaned in closer for a better look. She saw red blood droplets on Sakura's pillow, right next to her face. Megumi leaned back, her face suddenly grave.

"Mrs. Yukimara, how long has Sakura's pillows been spotted with blood?" Megumi asked, turning to the mother again.

"Oh for about three or four months, why? Does this have something to do with why she's so sick?" Mrs. Yukimara looked at her daughter with fear in her eyes.

"I don't know for sure yet but your daughter may have tuberculosis, a disease where the recipient coughs up blood for periods of time until the body slowly starts to shut down and stop working. She also has a combination of the flu." Megumi looked downward as she said this, not wanting to see the mother's face at the terrible news.

"What does that mean? Is my baby going to die?" Mrs. Yukimara held her face in her hands, not wanting to hear the answer.

"Yes."

"When?"

"Probably in the next couple of weeks." Megumi felt horrible. Like a dealer of death. Just like before. Opium woman. Dealer of death. It's all the same. She shook the thought out of her mind.

Mrs. Yukimara collapsed to the floor, sobbing into her hands, unable to comprehend the thought of her daughter dying.

Megumi stood up and left the mother to her mourning and also left behind some herbs that would help with the cough and hold off the inevitable demise. She left the house, feeling the cloud of sadness still over her head. She sighed, walking more slowly.

"No matter where I go, I always bring death with me. Whether it be as opium woman or as a doctor." Megumi sighed again, running her hands through her hair. Her feet took her along the streets of Tokyo. She didn't look at the signs or at the house numbers. She knew that her feet would take her where they needed to go. Incidentally enough, she soon found herself outside of the gates of the Kamiya Dojo.

"What am I do outside of here? I needed to go back to the doctor's and tell him I was going home. Besides, why should I bring my dreary mood onto the Kenshin household?" Megumi looked away, tears welling up in her eyes.

Suddenly without any warning, Megumi felt a hand over her mouth. Her eyes went wide as her air supply was cut off. She tried to breathe from her nose but when she did, she smelled the fumes of chloroform. She held her breath but could already feel the effects of the gas working in her body. She started to go limp as she tried to remember what little self defense she knew. Her eyes shut involuntarily, trying to reach out to the gates of the dojo, trying to reach out to help.

"You're coming with me, kitten." The low, rough voice of her kidnapper rang in her ears. She couldn't think about anything other than getting help. Surely someone must see her. Someone must see her getting kidnapped. Before she closed her eyes and let her conscious mind go, she could only think of one thing.

"Sanosuke, help me…," she thought as the darkness swam before her eyes.

To Be Continued….

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