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...

\"Sanosuke-san!\" Kenshin called out after the tall fighter as he ran like the wind into the woods. He and Kaoru quickly followed him, thinking that Sano would no doubt try to track the Oniwabanshuu members. But they were a little surprised when instead of going straight North where Kenshin was sure the ninjas were headed, Sano made a sharp turn and stopped just outside a ramshackle hut.

\"Kitsune!\" He called, running inside as though searching for someone. When no one answered, he came out, his face downcast.

\"She went away, Sano-san.\"

Sano whirled around to find Yahiko emerging from the side of the hut. There was a question in Sano\'s deep brown eyes, one which he couldn\'t seem to voice out. Sensitive for once, Yahiko replied to the unspoken question, \"I saw her leave with a man. They were heading No--\"

\"No!\" Sano shouted as at once he bounded towards the direction that the Onimabashu members had taken. Kenshin, Kaoru, and Yahiko called out after him but he was already out of earshot. So left with no choice, they followed.

Kenshin never took his eyes off Sano\'s back. He was only a few steps away, his samurai lightness skills greatly helping him in reducing the distance between them. He knew Sano\'s hot-headed nature and he believed without a doubt that the tall, former fighter-for-hire would try to force his way to the Oniwabanshuu headquarters, risking his neck in the process. He could not let that happen. Not to any of his friends. And apparently, Kaoru and Yahiko felt the same way for they were trailing right behind them.

Sano paid no heed to the fatigue that he felt. The muscles in his legs strained against the impact of the hard ground and his ribcage ached with the effort of breathing. But he had to go on. Guilt and tender emotions filled him as he ran. He remembered how Megumi had looked when he spoke harshly to her. He had to do it...for her own good. But he could not allow himself to let her go just like that.

Finally, they reached the edge of the woods and came upon a road that led up a large house on top of the hill. It was surrounded by guards but that did not stop the Kenshin-gumi in any way. Sano flew through them with his bare fists while Kenshin, Kaoru, and Yahiko followed not far behind.

Sano fought wildly, his long arms swinging from side to side, never erring in their aims. Kenshin was right behind him, flinging away some more guards who descended upon them. One of the guards managed to issue a warning by blowing on his whistle but Kaoru and Yahiko were instantly on him with the Kamiya Kasshen swords. There were only four of them against more than two dozen guards but in only a few seconds, they were able to down almost half of the men. They forced their way in and faced some more guards.

\"Takada Kanryu. Where is he?\" Sano said, grabbing one of the guards by the collar.

\"I-I...\" The man stammered under the fierce look in Sano\'s dark eyes.

Sano did not wait for a reply as he flung the useless guard away and shouted, \"Takada Kanryu! Come out here, you filthy coward!\" He took the stairs two steps at a time and was met by four armed guards at the top.

From the relative safety of his room, Takada Kanryu heard the muffled angry shouts of a man amidst the sounds of fighting. Then he heard heavy steps coming towards his room, causing a frightened guttural sound to escape his throat. The door opened to reveal the demonic mask of Hannya.

The ninja did not even blink when he saw the sorry figure of Takada cowering against the wall to the far side of the room. As though satisfied that all was well with the dishonored Onimabashu member, Hannya then moved to close the door when Takada called out to him.

\"H-Hannya-san, what\'s happening out there?\" The frightened businessman asked.

The ninja inclined his head and drawled , \"It seems, Takada-san, that you have made quite a few enemies as a former member of the Oniwabanshuu. They\'re here for you.\"

Takada visibly shook as his eyes grew wide in terror. He was a businessman. A cultured man. He was no fighter. How could he face these barbaric men? \"Y-You wouldn\'t let them get to me, would you? I mean, wouldn\'t you try to stop them?\"

The ninja did not reply but made clear his point, by leaving the door ajar. Takada was free to leave but the irony was that men who were after him were right there, waiting for him should he get out.

From the corners of her eyes, Megumi watched Aoshi approach. His pale eyes were hooded and she could not, for the life of her, read what he was thinking. But she knew enough to anticipate her own death. Shinomori Aoshi was an unforgiving man. When Megumi left the Oniwabanshuu, she knew that she had sealed her own death warrant. It was not Takada Kanryu that she was afraid of. It was Aoshi, this cold, quiet man who stood before her.

In the darkness, she saw the glint of a long dagger as Aoshi raised his arm. She closed her eyes. She welcomed the darkness. She remembered the faces of all the people whose lives she ruined with her opium. There was a scribe who thrived on depression after getting fired from his position. The opium placed a hazy smile on his wizened face but only for a short while. For the next time Megumi saw him, his lifeless body was dangling from the branch of a tree. He was only one among many. Lives she had ruined. And the guilt that resulted was destroying her. At least here, she would be free...

...Free to dream...

...Free to love...

Aoshi\'s cold voice jarred her from her thoughts of death. \"Your guilt is yours to keep,\" he said, then quietly added, \"and yours to let go.\" And with that, he placed the tanto on top of the end table beside Megumi.

** TO BE CONTINUED **