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...

\"We don\'t have to be,\" Sano repeated, laying his hand on her shoulders. The gesture was not unlike the time when he grabbed and shook her but the ferocity was gone. This time, his eyes were gentle and filled with uncertainty and overwhelming resolve. He said to her, \"Megumi, you speak the truth when you say that we know nothing about each other. After only a day, how could we?\" He gave her a tentative smile, then added, \"But it was wrong of me to draw conclusions.\" He grew silent and stared at her beseechingly.

After the longest time, the cool amber of her eyes began to soften like melting butter as she whispered his name. Then slowly, in fluid movements, she buried her face in the warmth of his chest, her lithe frame trembling as though racked with emotions.

When she did this, Sano let out a breath he didn\'t know he was holding. He lifted one hand to run them over the silk of her hair. Then he lowered his head so that one cheek rested on top of her head.

He felt his heart filling up and the surge of feelings drove him to continue, \"Megumi, I do not pretend to know how I feel about you. I only know that I do.\"

They stood like that for what felt like an eternity. The wind was cold that night but they were oblivious to all that, warmed as they were in each other\'s arms. Sano was perfectly content having her in his arms like that, sheltered and safe. But her closeness also did somethign to his senses, firing him up. He closed his eyes and breathed in her scent.

Below him, Sano felt Megumi stir so he leaned back a little to look at her. He could see her face now and gasped when he did.

So much beauty was his first coherent thought. The intensity of her amber gaze. The telltale flush that colored her cheeks. The lips that were soft like poppy blooms. Those lips were saying something to him now.

\"Kiss me, Sano.\"

Kenshin stood outside the dojo. Behind him, the small form of Kaoru approached. Hearing her soft steps, the red-haired swordsman turned to smile at her but Kaoru noticed that something was bothering him. So she asked, \"Kenshin, what happened this afternoon?\"

\"Nothing to be worried about,\" Kenshin said, wanting to reassure her.

Sharp for a girl her age, Kaoru was far from reassured as she gave Kenshin a sideways glance. She continued, \"Don\'t think that I don\'t see through you, Kenshin. I saw how pale Megumi-san looked when she first arrived. Why, if I knew better, I\'d say she just saw a ghost!\"

More like a demon, Kenshin thought blandly. Then his face grew serious as he said, \"The Oniwabanshuu has a reputation for ruthlessness. She fears for her life at their hands but this one can\'t help feeling that she hides something from us.\"

Kaoru looked surprised. \"What do you mean?\"

\"This one can\'t know for certain,\" Kenshin answered.

They fell silent as they trailed their gaze far away, allowing their thoughts free reign. In the distance, their ears picked up the faint sound of a hooting owl hunting for prey in the gathering dark.

** TO BE CONTINUED **