Opium Dreams

A mysterious woman arrives in Tokyo . She has the face of an innocent, but behind her peaceful amber eyes lie dark secrets she alone knew...

Kaoru watched Kenshin as he returned, alarmed by the fierce look that appeared fleetingly in his eyes. "Who was that man?" She asked him, a concerned tone in her voice.

The red-haired swordsman remained quiet as he settled back in his seat.

"The Onimabashu Gang," Kino suddenly murmured, looking straight ahead. Everyone turned to him questioningly. In answer, he held up one of the darts that the mysterious figure threw and said, "The Onimabashu is one of Tokyo's fastest growing crime syndicates. They're headed by a businessman by the name of 'Henry Takada.'"

"Takada?"

Kino glanced at Kaoru and raised his brows. "You've heard of him?" When the girl shook her head, he continued, "Takada uses his gunpowder business as a front for an underground opium ring, earning lots of money through illegal drugs."

His companions were shocked into silence as they exchanged looks. Only Kenshin remained collected, eyes thoughtful. Finally, the old doctor, Dr. Gensai asked the question that must have been burning inside everybody's mind. He inquired, "How did you come about this piece of information, Kino-san?"

"A friend of mine, Yoita, was a victim of Takada's illegal drugs. He died last week of an opium overdose," Kino replied. There was a gasp and he turned to find that it came from his young hostess. He smiled reassuringly, "Yes, Kamiya-gomo, it was most unfortunate but Yoita knew what he was doing. I have advised him time and time again to cease the habit but opium is like an octopus that spreads its tentacles and seizes your soul. In the end, Yoita couldn't even help himself."

"So why do you think they're after the girl?" Dr. Gensai interrupted.

Kino shrugged. "Could be personal interest on Takada's part," he speculated, "I hear he's quite fond of beautiful women and you've seen the girl. She's not exactly ugly."

"The complete opposite," the old doctor declared honestly.

"Unlike Kaoru," said Yahiko, who had been listening all this time.

Silence.

...Then, as expected, the sounds of several pots and pans thrown in the air could be heard as Kaoru thwacked her impudent pupil.

Meanwhile, at the secret hideout of the Onimabashu Gang, Henry Takada, accompanied by Hanya, entered a room where a tall, quiet figure stood, waiting. This man was young but the seriousness of his expression made him appear older than his actual years. He was standing by the window, his broadshouldered figure silhouetted by the light from outside.

"Aoshi-sama," Takada greeted, a ready smile on his face. He easily adopted the upper-class air he was born with as he crossed the room and bowed before the younger man. "What a pleasant surprise," he exclaimed. "Tell me, Aoshi-sama," he said, "what brings you to this rat-hole?"

He had intended to use the term "rat-hole" as a sarcasm but who would have thought that Aoshi would take it literally as he replied in a deadpan voice, "Rats brought me here." And with that, he turned to face the two men in the room with him. "I've heard reports in Edo that there are rats here who pass themselves off as Onimabashu members." This statement he addressed to the businessman who had suddenly gone pale.

Takada returned his look innocently. "But Aoshi-sama," he said, "whatever do you mean?"

Aoshi never swerved as he said, "I mean what I said, Takada-san. And I have come to clear the honorable name of the Onimabashu."

"I don't understand," Takada persisted.

Aoshi closed his eyes and made as though to sigh but instead, he said, "I understand that you're after a girl whom you fancy?"

"Takani Megumi," the businessman replied.

"Ah," Aoshi said. He recognized the name. He was an acquaintance of the Takani family and had known Megumi as a child.

"She took the recipe with her," Takada continued, referring to the formula needed to make the opium mixture. "My men are on her trail. I should have both the girl and the recipe back by today."

"I'm afraid that isn't possible, Takada-san." The Tokyo businessman turned to find the masked ninja step out of the shadows. "It seemed your girl found friends in the city who were only too willing to help her. Your men were beaten and sent away with their tails between their legs," Hanya said. His words were mocking.

A faint smirk lined Aoshi's mouth as he said, "Withdraw your men."

Takada turned once more to the tall man. "I beg your pardon?" He asked, surprise in his tone.

Suddenly, Aoshi let slip his patience as he said, "You will withdraw your men for as of today, you are no longer a member of this syndicate."

** TO BE CONTINUED **