Part I -- The Beginning of the End

    Fubuki Taro smiled at his pupil.  His hair fell into his eyes as he looked up at the slight figure next to him, putting the finish touches on a bandage with careful hands as he watched.  It was a flawless performance, and the student looked up at last, pushing back long black hair with the movement.
    She was so young, so beautiful, and so sad.  Even after all this time, he wished she could be happy again.
    The doctor smiled at his student.  "I don't think I could have done better myself.  It is good that you decided to stay on and learn to be a doctor.  There is always much to learn, and I am glad you are so willing.  You have a gift for healing, and I am honored that you allow me to be the one to give you the knowledge to use your gift."
    The 20 year old blushed furiously.  It was so embarrassing when he talked that way!  Even if it was flattering and he was serious, she knew she had far to go before she could call herself a doctor.  She had studied with him for almost four years, but she knew Fubukisensei would soon be teaching her what she most wanted to know:  medicine.  Surgery.  For the past year and a half, she had been learning more than just the basics of the profession, but she wanted to know everything.  It was thrilling, but she knew how important it was to keep in practice -- and impartial.
    She also knew he was hiding something from her, but perhaps she would learn when he was ready to teach her.  Besides, she had a secret of hr own.  Not that her relationship with Mujihi Akira was much of a secret, but she had told no one of his desire to marry her.  They hadn't discussed it seriously yet, but the topic had come up more than once lately...
    Takani Megumi smiled to herself and rose with her teacher as he nodded to their patient and dismissed the man with a smile and a few words.
    "Megumichan, I've got to go out tonight.  Will you be all right for dinner?"
    "Hai.  Akira wanted to know if I would be free.  May I go find him now?"
    "Of course."  The young doctor nodded at his student.  It seemed things were getting more serious with her and the Mujihi boy.  That made him glad -- perhaps they would wed soon, and he would be spared from having to introduce Megumi into the life of a servant, an opium maker for one of the cruelest men Fubuki had ever known.
    Of course, Mujihi Akira was rather an odd choice for the sensible yet tender woman Megumi was to make, Fubukisensei mused to himself as his student ran off.  She clung so desperately to her lost childhood inside that it seemed strange for her to fall for such a distant man as Mujihi,  Hard-hearted, indeed.  The boy's entire family was well known for being tightfisted and insensitive.  Many of them had died in "unfortunate accidents" that never seemed to surprise anyone over the years.
    Perhaps young Akira was different.  He truly did seem entranced by the young medical student.  Perhaps he was the white sheep in a family that tended to darker fleece.
    Though he doubted it, Taro fervently hoped so for her sake.  It had been hard enough for his student to lose her family -- she harbored hopes that some of them survived, he knew, but the chances of that were rather poor.  He had never mentioned that, for it was a foolish teacher who brought pain to his students.
    Especially when the pupil in question had so much to bear.
    Taro sighed as he swept the floors.  Normally he would leave such tasks to Megumi, but tomorrow was her birthday.  Let her enjoy her youth while she had it.  At twenty-one, she would begin learning about the difficult side of his practice -- though, he prayed, not the darker side.  The riskier part of her education -- making medicine and performing more delicate surgeries -- would prove troublesome enough.  He would have to work to conceal the opium from her, though it would be close to impossible if she even got curious; he suspected she already was.
    And he was so close to the new formula.  With luck, he could have it completed by spring if he hurried.
    But he must keep Megumi away from Takeda Kanryu.  The man was evil, and Taro feared for Megumi's life.
    The doctor sighed as he turned the sign on the clinic's door and went to the back room.  He had put off teaching her medicine as long as he could so as to avoid the risk of getting her involved.
    Meanwhile, Megumi had visited Yamahasan's horse stall, where Akira was working for the experience, and Yamahasan had given Akira the evening free after telling Megumi that he dearly loved a fleet steed and someday, he and his family would be owners of a great dynasty of fast horses and sleek vessels for land and sea alike.
    Megumi smiled and listened with mild interest, though after the twelfth time, the lecture had begun to lose some of its luster.  She didn't doubt his determination; it was merely a matter of being in the right place at the right time, and she did hope that it would happen even as she secretly hoped that a customer would come and distract Yamahasan from his rant.
    She and Akira headed down the road in near silence.  She glanced at him in the twilight, thinking once again how good-looking he was.  It never failed to amaze her that he'd been attracted to her.
    Thick hair as dark as her own fell to the middle of his back in a loose ponytail, waving softly since he usually left it in a braid while working.  This eyebrows, as straight as his spine, danced expressively over impossibly large green eyes which always seemed full of emotion and thought.  Full, sensuous lips that curved easily into a slow smile completed the picture drawn with concise, delicate lines.  He would have had a very feminine face except for the too strong chin, the jaw too wide and the light stubble of a long day's work.
    Long and lean, he walked with a catlike grace alongside her.  His way of moving, among other traits, had earned him the nickname Hyou.  Panther.  As a joke, he tended to wear black and purr.  Broad shoulders tapered to a swimmer's waist, slim hips and lean, firm legs that ate up the ground with every step.  He moved like a fighter, spoke like a poet, and carried himself like a faintly modest god.
    Megumi smiled at the towering figure next to her as he slid a protective arm around her shoulders.
    "My darling, tonight should be special for us both.  Tomorrow you turn twenty-one.  No, hush, my blessing, for I know well you don't anticipate this, but remember, I will always be old next to you.  It is merely your own youth, your beauty, your soul itself that brings me such joy and keeps me so young at heart."
    "Oh, Akira, you're only twenty-seven.  Not so much older than I."
    "Perhaps, Megumi.  And perhaps not -- I cannot beat to argue such petty points.  Come," he said, leading her on towards the bridge.   "Come this way and let us watch to sun set on such a glorious day."
    They sat in silence, admiring the daily miracle that was never twice the same, watching the world and one another in the shifting golds and pinks and lavenders of twilight.
    When at last the final glory of sunset was spent, Akira lifted his chin from Megumi's head and lofted her own from his shoulder.
    "It's only a few hours' walk to Tokyo.  Do you think your doctor will allow you to travel with me on the morrow?"
    "I'm afraid not, Akira.  As it is, he's got to go there himself and he'll be leaving tonight and coming back tomorrow afternoon.  He goes there every two weeks, you know.  I think he meets someone there."
    "Perhaps Fubukisensei is enamored of a lady there?"
    "Akira you're such a dreamer!  I suspect it's a business deal.  Maybe he's a businessman as well as a doctor, not that you'd know it so see how he lives."  Megumi smiled fondly; her teacher got by but tended to forget about managing his own finances.  "Either way, I have to watch the clinic while he's away.  I wish I could go with you."
    Fireflies were beginning to dance around them as water lapped softly under the bridge.
    "Megumi, I've been thinking.  Tomorrow is your birthday.  I suppose I should mention this to you before I speak to Fubukisensei, but I was hoping you would not object.  I was hoping you would say yes to me for an excursion tomorrow."  He took a deep breath.  Megumi noticed he looked troubled.
    "What is it, Akira?  What's wrong?
    "He closed his eyes and took another deep breath, only now he seemed to be gathering courage.  "Megumi.  Takani Megumi.  I was hoping you would do me the great honor of becoming my wife."
    "A...   Akira."
    "Will you become, for me, Mujihi Megumi?  Say you will!"  All his poetry and poise, haughty airs and high-flown words fled him at that moment.  He begged with his eyes, baring his soul to her as she stared back at him in surpass.
    "Akira, I have to think about this.  I must finish my medical schooling, and I can't ask you to wait for me.  You're a very special person in my life and I don't want to hurt either of us by deciding rashly.  But, Akira?"
    "Yes, Megumi?"
    "Daisuki yo."
    "I know.  It's only that...  My family can easily afford to make do.  You have no need to work or a living."
    "Akira, I want to do this.  I love helping people, just like my father did.  The dream is all I have left of him.  Please try to understand how much this means to me!"
    "Your father is dead!  Can't you realize that?  And no wife of mine will ever need to work for a living!"
    Megumi looked at him, her gaze even, and when she spoke her tone was cold, calm and low.  "And if she should choose to work?"
    "N--"  Akira paused and looked back at her.  Suddenly he saw she had meant every word of it.  This was it.  Either he must give in to her demands, or give up.
    "My darling, I love you.  But I cannot ask you to work.  You know my father will not approve."
    "You are not asking.  I am telling.  This is not some foolish child's whim.  I want to do this, to be a doctor, with all my heart."
    Akira rose.  "I must think on that.  It goes against everything I know.  But if it means that much to you, I will talk to them.  Come, let me walk you home."  The romantic evening was obviously at an end.  He offered his hand and she placed hers on his arm as she rose, clearly as a token gesture.  He did not miss the symbolism.  She would accept him, accept his aid, but she would never allow herself to depend on him as long as she could stand on her own.
    "I've heard interesting rumors lately" Akira said, turning the topic to safer ground.
    "Oh?"  Megumi looked at her escort.  His rumors were usually reliable and interesting -- his father worked in a government office and often leaked tidbits to his sons.
    "Among other things, they say the Hitokiri Battousai has been spotted headed in this direction.  He's many days away, possibly weeks by the nearest rumors, and not near enough to make anyone worry, but there are those who are still nervous."
    "Didn't he vanish after the revolution?  I thought he was dead."
    "So they say, although I've heard he's become a rurouni, and has offered assistance to those in need.  I've heard he never stays in one place for more than a week, that he bears a heavy burden of guilt and is searching to atone for it.  They also say he carries a sakaba blade now."
    "He can't be very dangerous, then.  If he's helping people that way, and carrying a reverse bladed sword.  I think it's very noble and romantic."
    Akira laughed, a little harshly.  "All I know is, never piss off a man with red hair and a cross shaped scar on his cheek.
    "I'll keep that in mind" Megumi said dryly.  "Have you heard anything else of late?"
    "It seems opium is on the rise in Tokyo.  Also, the daughter of some small-town politician nearby is to be married off to her father's ally in China.  He seems to have very good connections."
    "I would say so. I'd like to go there someday," Megumi sighed wistfully.  "I'd like to travel to so many places!  But I suppose for tonight, Ill travel to my own apartment.  Hmm?"
    As they came to the door in question, Megumi saw a note stuck in a hinge.  "Oh, it's Fubukisensei's handwriting.  He's already left, and will be back as early as possible tomorrow afternoon," she told Akira as she read it.
    "Megumi.  My heart.  If you would rather not spend the night alone..."
    "I'll be fine, Akira.  Please give my best to your family."
    The tall man nodded.  "Of course.  Happy birthday, my heart."  Akira .smiled down at the beautiful young medical student and kissed her forehead.  He kissed her cheeks and met her lips then with his own, pulling her against him.  He ran one hand through her hair as he held her, kissing her deeply until at last she pulled away.
    "Akira, I really must rest."
    He could not entirely conceal the flash of disappointment.  "Of course, my darling.  I do apologize for pushing past the limits of my reason.  Sleep well, my angel and I will see thee on the morrow.  And once more, happiest of natal days, my blessing."  Akira bowed deeply and slipped out into the night.
    "What a character he is," Megumi smiled to herself as she closed the door.  "Ah, well.  I suppose I might truly get some rest tonight.  The world wont' stop just because I'm turning twenty one."
    Megumi crawled into her bed.
    "Fubukisensei.  Please stay away from that Kanryu.  Please come back safely."  It was almost a mantra, perhaps even a prayer, that she spoke every time he went away.  Her teacher had tried to conceal it, but she knew why he went into Tokyo so often.  All she needed to know was exactly why -- or more precisely, what drugs he was being coerced into making.
    The thought did not grant her pleasant dreams.  Even as she lay down, she knew Fubukisensei would be arriving at the place near Tokyo -- it would surely not be in the city itself -- where he met with the man who had him in thrall.  She prayed that she'd not been seen the night almost a year before when she'd sneaked out after her teacher.  He hadn't known; if he had, he would have refused to teach her.  That was certain.  He would have sent her away for her own safety.  She knew his own life was at risk every time he made the trip.
    She awoke early the next morning to a cold, clear day.  It was beautiful outside and Megumi allowed herself the luxury of waking up slowly.  She was surprised she'd slept so well, after all that had transpired the night before.
    "Akira, you make me crazy."  Megumi smiled as her voice fell upon absent ears.  "I'm sure we can work this out."
    She pushed the cover away and rose from her futon, ignoring the slightly chill air.  It was easy to let her mind wander over the previous night as she performed her morning ablutions.  It was not so easy to ignore the cold finger of worry over her sensei and over Akira from tracing her spine.  There was too much at stake at the clinic for her to fret so much.  Soon, patients would be arriving, and birthday or not she must help those who needed her.
    She stepped outside, walking next door to the small clinic, only to find Kamome Michiko waiting for her.  Michiko was a good friend, for all Megumi kept mostly to herself; often the two women would spend time together when they had some to spare.  Michiko was as good a source of information as Akira, though when men shared such news it was called just that: news.  When women spoke of the same subjects, it was gossip.  However, from the look in Michiko's face as she awaited her medically inclined friend, the latest was not to be pleasant.
    "Oh, Megumi, I'm so glad you're here!  You couldn't know, -- you don't, do you?  This is all so awful!"  Michiko was a wreck, her short black hair tied back roughly, her dark eyes wide with distress.  Her sharp features were twisted with worry as she wrung work roughened hands.
    "What's wrong, Michiko?"
    "You haven't heard, then!  Oh, Megumi, it's so horrible!  Akira's parents have --"  She stopped herself.  "Oh, Megumi, they've.. they.."
    Megumi took the frantic girl by the shoulders.  "What did they do, Michiko?  You've got to calm down."
    "I...  This morning.  They came with him o my parents.  He...  They asked... They said they wanted to -- that he should...  Oh Megumi!"  She was crying.
    Megumi opened the clinic and led the hysterical young woman inside.  "Come in.  I'll make you some tea.  You need to take a deep breath and calm down before you tell me what's going on."  Her doctor's instincts overrode those that told her just how bad the news would be, quelling her emotions grabbing hold of them, and throttling them, leaving them unconscious to be dealt with more appropriately later.   For now, she was calm and rational.  "They want to arrange a marriage for you and Akira, don't they."
    "I think so, Megumi.  They do, but I could never!  You love him and he loves you and you two were going to be married!  This is horrible!"
    "I didn't know he and I were going to be married."  At the first signs of stirring, her emotions were knocked out by the need for stability.  The pain would -- no, MUST wait.
    "Ev... Everyone thought so."
    "I'll tell you the truth.  He asked last night.  I told him I would not give up being a doctor.  He doesn't like the idea of a wife working outside of his home  Apparently, his parents feel the same way.  And apparently, he felt that was more important than I am to him, so I suppose I shall be seeing no more of Mujihi Akira."  Megumi was all ice.
    Michiko blinked.  "Megumi.  You...  Will you be okay?"
    "I will be.  But at this point, I'll sooner love the Hitokiri Battousai than even think about Mujihi Akira again!"  Megumi's eyes flashed but her lip quivered slightly.  She would not let herself feel the pain in its fullness until tonight, when she could cry alone in the safety of her room, but the anger was not so easily controlled.
    "I won't marry him, Megumi!  No matter what!"  Michiko was defiant.
    "If not you, then certainly your sister.  Kimiko would be the perfect wide for an...  assertive man like him."
    "Oh, Megumi, this is so awful!"  Michiko rose and helped her friend prepare the clinic for the morning's influx of patients.  "I can't believe he'd pull such a dirty trick!  Doesn't he even care hat you feel?"
    "You've got to remember, Michiko, the reason he doesn't want to marry me is because I insist on my independence.  It's not exactly a ladylike thing to do in his book, so perhaps I am also unlike a lady in that I do not have feelings, or they are of no consequence if I do."
    Michiko thought that over for a moment.  "I suppose you're right, but that is no excuse for him to pull such a trick!  You mustn't let him get away with hurting you like this, Megumi!  There's got to be something we can do!"
    "Right now, we can treat people who need a doctor."  Megumi sighed.  "Michiko, I appreciate your support but I can't let myself worry about him now.  You're welcome to stay and help out if you like, but I will not let him get to me now.  There's work to be done."
    "I do admire your strength, Megumi."  Michiko rose to stoke the fire and added water to the teapot as Megumi laid out fresh bandages and the pre-made herbal remedies for the most common complaints.  "Did you really mean that, about the Battousai?  I've heard he's been seen lately.  I've also heard that he doesn't kill anymore but that's so hard to believe!  I can't help but picture him as this seven foot tall, slavering, bloodthirsty beast all covered in hair and fangs!"  She giggled a little nervously.  "Once a killer, always a killer, right?"
    "I don't know, Michiko.  I'll never meet him anyway, and even if I did, why should I love him, if he's such a brute as you say.  He's more of a legend than a person, anyway.  And maybe that seems romantic to you, but not to me.  I'm not so easily given to flights of fancy.   Besides, if he's anything like that jerk Akira, I'll want nothing to do with him!"  Megumi sat down to await her first patient of the day.  Michiko sat with her, absorbing what her friend had said.
    "If you'd like, I'll stay 'til lunchtime."  Michiko was surprised at her friend's grateful smile.  "I know this is an awful way to start your birthday, but if it helps you feel any better, I have a surprise for you later."
    A surprise?  What is it?  Oh, please tell me!"  Megumi felt young again, like a ten year old expecting a surprise with nothing else to worry about.  No need to force the fears that her life was crashing down around her.  It was, after all, her birthday.  She could listen to the hateful little voice of fear later.