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...

When it looked as though the girl wouldn\'t move out of the way, Sano did not think twice and dove in. He felt something cold and sharp stab him on his left shoulder as he fell down. His hard contact with the floorboards made him grunt and dazed, he looked up at the pale, beautiful woman looking down at him.

\"Sano! Are you all right?\" It was Kenshin\'s voice, concern in his tone. He had seen the man release the metal weapons but since the young girl was sitting right on top of him, his movements were restricted and he couldn\'t pick up his sword to deflect the blow. He had watched in horror as the metal prongs steadily approached him and the girl, certain of impending doom. Until Sano did the unexpected and actually saved them.

Sano picked himself up, grimacing slightly as he rolled his shoulders. \"I feel like crap but I\'m okay,\" he said in reply. He was still staring at the young woman who was now looking down at her hands, an affected blush staining her cheeks.

Megumi could not believe it. This man -- this stranger -- actually risked his life to save her. Her emotions were in a jumble. She didn\'t know whether she should laugh with joy or tear at her hair in despair. She lived, but what was there to live for?

Sano glanced around and found his friend, Kino lying unconscious on the floor. Apparently, when the man with the rat-like face made his escape, he had released two weapons. One was aimed for the young woman while the other one was targeted at random. Sano was able to block one projectile but unfortunately could not do anything with the other one. Kino was hit squarely on the chest and was struck down immediately.

\"Kino!\" Sano shouted, shaking his friend. There was no blood so the damage must not be severe...Unless...

\"It\'s poison,\" the young woman said softly. Sano turned to her in surprise. He had not even noticed that she had moved to sit beside him until she spoke. Her pale hands quickly grasped Kino\'s wrists to feel his pulse. Then she laid her palms on his forehead, feeling the coldness of his sweat. She closed her eyes then, as though thinking, digging up a piece of knowledge from her jumbled memory.

Sano watched her, not knowing whether it was her intoxicating face that drew him or his overwhelming concern for his friend\'s welfare. Either way, he had to look at her.

The young woman opened her eyes then and whispered the name of the poison. She mentioned a plant from which the poison was made from before asking, \"Do you know of any doctor who lives nearby?\"

\"I know one. He lives near the Kamiya Dojo,\" Kenshin volunteered.

\"Quick, we must go to him. I fear that in two hours, the poison will have reached his heart and then,\" she paused at this before continuing, \"it will be too late.\"

Kenshin took this in his usual resolute manner. He and Sano then carried Kino\'s body out of the restaurant. Before stepping out though, Sano felt a soft hand touch his shoulder. He glanced down to find the woman\'s face leveled up to him.

\"You\'ve been poisoned too.\"

\"Don\'t worry, lady. I\'m a tough guy,\" he said, his tone casual. The three of them then made their way outside.

The restaurant was about an hour away from the dojo. But with Kenshin\'s light steps and Sano\'s endurance, they were able to make it there in less than thirty minutes. There was a girl with raven-black hair standing on the steps of the dojo when they arrived. She was young, barely seventeen, with a little girl\'s body but with the eyes of a woman. They brightened when they spotted the red-haired swordsman, followed by Sano...and another girl.