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...

Kenshin finally arrived some minutes before sunset, just as Kaoru had said. But they were surprised to find that he wasn\'t alone for with him was a beautiful woman with long raven hair. It was Megumi.

Sano stopped whatever he was doing and just stared at her with an indescribable expression on his face. Kenshin was smiling apologetically as Kaoru glared at him. The girl\'s sharp eyes had quickly picked up on the way the other woman clung to Kenshin\'s arm and immediately felt jealous. If she had looked closely though, she would have observed Megumi\'s pale pallor and still-shocked look. Clearly, this is not the expression of a woman bent on snatching a man from another.

After the introductions were made and initial pleasantries were exchanged, Sano, who had not said one word the whole time, suddenly took Megumi\'s arm as she passed by him. At Kaoru\'s somewhat grudging invitation, she had meant to follow everyone into the room where dinner was served but Sano[\'s action halted her.

She looked up at him, frowning a little when she felt his fingers tighten. His eyes were stormy dark pools when he stared down at her. Then he said in a low voice, \"We need to talk.\"

{{Flashback}}

\"Takani Megumi,\" the voice said from behind her.

Megumi\'s eyes shot open when she heard him. At the same time, she felt the cold metal of his knife pressed against her throat. Slowly, she turned around and encountered a ninja wearing the mask of a demon. \"Hannya,\" she whispered.

The ninja bowed his head slightly in acknowledgment then quickly grabbed her and held her against him. \"Come with me now, wench,\" he hissed into her ear. \"If you don\'t, the Oniwabanshuu will kill everyone in the Kamiya Dojo.\"

Megumi struggled then, the threat of more deaths on her conscience spurring her on. She pounded on his hard chest but it was like pounding on rock. Hannya merely chuckled at her efforts and continued to hold her.

Thus, it was this situation that Kenshin witnessed when he came upon them on his way back from town. As soon as Hannya caught sight of the red-haired swordsman, he let got of Megumi and jumped to land on a high tree branch. \"I am not at liberty to fight with you, Samurai,\" he said, his eyes shining mockingly through the slits of his mask. Then turning to the pale woman, he said, \"Remember what I said, Megumi-san. The Oniwabanshuu makes good their promises.\"

And with that, Hannya disappeared, merging into the dark shadows provided by the thick foliage. Kenshin immediately ran towards Megumi just before she fainted from shock.

** TO BE CONTINUED **