Part II -- On War's Path
 
    Megumi woke to Fubukisensei's knock.  Drawing her robe around her, she was surprised to see him so early.  He had spent the day before in Tokyo and not come back by the time she'd gone to sleep.  She'd been worried, but not overly so; her training was nearly complete and she knew herself competent.  More importantly, so did those she treated.  Besides, he was a fully capable fighter if he had to defend himself.
    "What is it, sensei?"
    "Megumi.  I need to finish your training as soon as possible.  I'm going to need to travel again soon, for a long while perhaps."  He looked as though he hadn't slept.  HE had the haunted look of a man running in fear for his life.  She noticed her teacher was nervous, agitated like she had never seen him before, a leaf in a snowstorm.
    "Of course, sensei."  No use being silly, was there.  "As soon as I am dressed, I will be at the clinic."
    "Hm?  Oh, yes, of course.  Dressed.  Yes, well.  Come to the back room when you're ready."  He scurried back to the clinic.
    That clinched it.  "How very odd," Megumi mused.  She had never seen him so distracted, and now she was summoned to the back room.  "Does he mean the medicine room or his private study?"  She pondered what could have him so frantic as she dressed quickly and went next door.
    Apparently, he did mean his private study.  Megumi had the feeling she was about to find out a few things she didn't want to know, a few things she possibly shouldn't know, and many thing she would need to know.  And not all of them would have to do with the medical profession itself.
    "Sensei, I am ready to learn what you will teach me this day and every day."  She bowed as she spoke.  It was their usual ritual greeting, to which he would usually reply with a smile and the daunting comment, "Then you have much to learn this day and every day forth, for each news breath brings a new lesson."  Today, he barely nodded as he hunched miserably over a paper of notes.
    After a long moment, he looked up.  "Megumi, tell me what you think this formula will make."  He handed her a paper from the side of the desk, with a recipe written upon it.
   "Hm?  She looked at it for a moment and her eyes widened with shock.  "This...  This is the formula for opium!"
    He handed her the paper he'd been poring over.  "And this?"
    She studied it intently for a moment longer than she had the first.  "This is also opium...  Only the ingredients are cheaper and it would be faster to make, but."  She looked up at her teacher with a carefully neutral expression.
    "But?
    "More deadly."
    "But..."
    "Yes?
    "But why, Sensei?"
    "To save you."
    Megumi was completely thrown.
    "I want you to learn this -- no, both of these and then destroy them.  And then you will help me make some the old way, and some the new way, and then I am going to go to Tokyo.  I am going to take it with me, and I am going to pray I come back here quickly.  If I am not back in three days, I want you to pack up my belongings as if you were going to send them to me, and tell people I was called away on a family emergency.  And I want you to swear to me you will do as I ask.
    "When you send my things, send them to the bottom of the sea.  When you tell where I have gone, say only that you think it is somewhere near Yokohama.  And most importantly, never, ever tell anyone you know anything about this.  Ever."
    Megumi stared at him, completely at a loss.  "Fubukisensei."
    He looked at her and his features softened.  "It is very much to ask, I am aware.  And you are young to bear such a heavy burden.  I regret very much that you and Mujihisan did not --"
    "That was many months ago, Sensei."  Megumi never cut off her instructor save for the most painful subjects.  "And I would ask you now not to mention it.  That is the past."
    He nodded.  "Very well.  Forgive me.  Yet I do regret it.  This would not be necessary; I would know you were safe and provided for, better off than you are now.  I do not need to tell you exactly what is at stake."
    Megumi shook her head.
    "I shall go and see patients today until you know those two formulae.  Please, Takanisensei, do not come after me!  Now promise!"
    "You called me..."
    "Only what you are.  You are Takani Megumisensei now, joi to the world, but always Megumisan to me."
    "Yes, Fubukisensei."  How could she argue when he phrased it so?
    "Taro."
    "Ta -- Tarosan.  Tarosan, I will do as you ask.  But --"
    He paused at the door.  "Yes?"
    "But if I am sure you are dead, I will do what I must.  Even if it means I must risk breaking my promise in order to survive."
    "Yes.  You must survive.  That is paramount even to this."  He turned to the main clinic as she bent her head to the recipes for death.
    The next two weeks were busy.  Fortunately, it seemed to be a slow season for serious illness and injury, so the interruptions were few and far between.
    It also helped that one of Fubukisensei's peers, who had studied with him, had come to the town and on his former colleague's advice set up his own practice.  Fubuki Taro explained to the other that he would soon be leaving town, perhaps indefinitely, and that he was unsure if Megumi, a very skilled student, would want to continue practicing medicine locally.  He explained it of as such womanly problems as failed romance and lost family.  Of course, he made the other promise to say nothing of this "to protect her sensibilities."  Yet if she wanted to remain local, Fubuki was told she would be welcome to work with him.
    Perhaps the other knew Fubuki was not telling the whole story, but the point was moot.  The important thing was that the town would still have a doctor, no matter what.
    That was easy to aid, as he told his patients a similar story about his own impending departure -- he said he expected Megumi would be traveling as well in order to expand her studies, and they should certainly feel welcome to try the new doctor in town.
    The days passed quickly and the preparations for the trip were nearly complete.
    "Megumi, I must leave early tomorrow.  Will you accompany me this evening to dinner?"  Fubuki smiled.  "We must celebrate that I have taught you all that I could, and how well you have learned."
    "I still have far to go."
    "Most of what you have to gain is experience.  That is not something I can teach you.  Come, don't fret over your old teacher so.  Enjoy the evening, for no doubt my return will be delayed."
    Megumi smiled and nodded, careful not to let him see the concern in her eyes.  No need for Fubukisensei to worry over hurting her.  They both knew he would not come back.  Simpler for now to enjoy the time with him before he left, as not only her teacher but her friend and colleague.  "Hai, Fubu--  Tarosensei."  She half teased him, though in truth it was not so easy to greet him as an equal.  She took the arm he offered and they went to his favorite restaurant.
    He left before dawn.