Part VII -- Megumi's Condition

    Cho joined them for lunch, much to Sanosuke's obvious discomfort.  He tried desperately to keep Kenshin's reminder in mind.  "It can't last, it can't last," became a silent mantra to him during the meal, though he couldn't keep from glaring with hostility at the Katanagari.  Cho seemed to be ignoring him, though Megumi caught him more than once -- and returned his expression with equal dislike.
    Though the others tried to pretend nothing was wrong, none of them found it easy.  The meal was strained and quiet.  Even Aoshi's usual silent manner seemed strained.
    "I need to pack," Megumi said quietly to her companion as they left the lunch table.  "We're leaving early tomorrow.  It won't take me long but there's no sense in putting it off until later."  She looked at Yahiko and Kaoru who were squabbling in the yard about whether or not he should practice since it was the last day of their vacation.  He insisted that he deserved time off while his instructor seemed to think otherwise.  Needless to say, neither one of them had started packing.
    "I can wait for you, Megumisan."
    "There's no need, Chosan, though I do appreciate it.  I'm not planning on going anywhere today," she said with a smile as she rubbed lightly at a bruised arm.
    He nodded and watched her go inside to pack.  Now was his chance to talk to Sanosuke and resolve this whole matter.
    "Chosan."
    "Hai?"  He looked at Megumi in surprise.
    "I know that when I go back to Tokyo it won't be easy for us.  I think it may be best," she said softly, "if we just let go for now.  I promise I won't commit to anything either way if you promise the same."
    "Megumisan," he said thickly.  Clearing his throat, he tried again.  "Megumisan, I'd like to be with you, but I don't make promises.  I can't say I'll wait forever, since I won't."  It wasn't easy to be cavalier, but he would rather die than lose machismo in front of a woman, even Takani Megumi.  "You'll always be special.   Just promise me one thing."
    "Why should I?"
    "Well, I was going to ask you to give the chicken a chance."  Don't show any weakness, he reminded himself, don't show any emotion at all.  Be brave if it kills you.
    "WHAT?!?!?"  Outrage colored her face.  "Why on earth should I, after all he's put me through!"
    "Because the dumb jackass loves you.  Same as me."  He turned and walked out, keeping his expression blank.  Megumi was left, completely floored.  Her eyes were still wide with shock when Omasu walked in.
    "Megumisan?"
    "Eh?"  Focusing on her friend, the doctor resumed her composure.  "Gomen, Omasusan.  What is it?"
    "You looked like someone just shot you.  I don't think I've ever seen anyone so in shock before."
    "Boys are dumb," Megumi said with a strange look as she left the room to pack.
    Omasu shook her head slowly.  "They're not the only ones."
    "I heard that!"
    The fighter smiled ruefully to herself as she went back outside.  There was a restaurant to keep running after all.  With Ochika on her day off, Shirojo and Kuro were complaining about waiting on tables.
    Curiosity got the better of her as she saw Cho and Sanosuke glaring at each other.  They seemed to be talking to each other.  More accurately,  they were growling and posturing like two male cats fighting over a female in heat, but there did appear to be some form of communication.  With a glance towards the restaurant, she slipped closer to the two men in order to hear what they were saying.  She didn't doubt the subject; one would have to be a complete idiot not to know they were talking about Megumi.
    "What the fuck did you think?"
    "That a shitfaced jerk like you wouldn't need much of an excuse to fight anyway!"
    "So she's just an excuse to you?"
    Their voices were low and dangerous; their hostility oozing from them in a darkly radiant aura, but somehow they weren't ripping one another's heads off.  Omasu was impressed; boys such as they often seemed to resort to violence more than verbal exchanges, yet so far there was no bloodshed.
    So far.
    "You know, asshole, I'm really losing patience with you."  The blond man looked dangerously at the ex-gangster.  "Megumisan is more to me than any woman I've ever met.  Just because you don't get it doesn't mean no one else does.  I told her to give you a chance."
    "What!?  Why would I want a chance with a vixen like her?"
    Cho smiled at Sanosuke, but there was no humor it in.  "I'll tell you the same thing I told her.  You're obviously in love with her, same as me.  Except I've got enough brains not only to do something about it but to deal with her not being meant for me.  Frankly, I think she deserves someone better than you but I ain't stupid enough to try and hold what ain't meant to be mine."
    Sanosuke was even more surprised than Megumi had been.  Omasu nearly giggled to see the look on his face.  Privately, she thought he couldn't be more surprised if he'd just eaten the best meal he'd ever had and then been told that Kaoru had cooked it.  This was certainly turning out to be a very interesting day, and lunch rush wasn't even over!  She smiled to herself.  Kuro and Shiro could wait a few more minutes.  Even they would have to agree that this was worth it.  She paused briefly to wonder when she'd become so gossip hungry, but there wasn't much point in dwelling on it.  No doubt it was simple concern for her friend and student that bade her listen in on this juicy little exchange between her two beaus.
    "What did you have to go and tell her for," Sano finally grumbled.  "Not that it's true or nothin'.  What'd she say, anyway?"  There was something different in his demeanor.  Cho thought he saw a shred of hope breaking through the shell of hostility the younger man wore.
    "Now why should I tell a dumbass chickenhead like you?"  Cho was smug.  "Ask her yourself.  I did what I came to do."  He shrugged, smiled coldly, and left.
    "Wait!"
    "Eh."
    "Forget it."  He paused.  "Broomheaded fucker."
    Cho smiled again, not as coldly though his back was to Sanosuke.  "I thought so, chickenheaded jackass."  He left without another word and Omasu slipped back into the Aoiya, leaving the tall man in white alone, looking as confused as Megumi had.
    The doctor herself was packing her few remaining belongings slowly.  It hurt to move more than she cared to admit.  Yesterday's training session had been quite a workout.  She decided to let the others fight; she'd stick to her medical training.  However, it was nice to know that she could defend herself if she had to against even one opponent.  It certainly was better than some of the alternatives.
    Before she packed her medical kit, she decided to have a look at some of her bruises and see what she could do about them.  She move her kimono aside to expose her thighs and had started to apply a soothing salve when Kaoru walked in.
    "Megumisan!  I didn't realize you were -- What happened!?  KENSHIN!  Megumisan's been hurt!"
    "Oro?"  Before he could stop himself, Kenshin had rushed headlong into the room, instinct overriding what he knew.  What if she had been hurt anew, after all?
    Unfortunately for him, Megumi hadn't had time to drop her kimono to cover herself.  Kenshin gaped, blushed, and tried stumbling out of the room, but he wasn't fast enough.
    "KENSHIN!!!"  Now Kaoru was angry at him -- and for coming when she called.  "Some boys have all the pain," he mumbled as her bokken seemed to appear out of nowhere to connect with his head.  It wasn't his fault Megumi was exposing her incredibly well formed legs...  The bokken came down once more, even though he hadn't said anything but "oro" again.
    "Megumisan, who did this to you?  I promise you won't go unavenged!"
    "I'm all right, Kaoruchan.  I fell, is all."  Megumi tried to keep the condescension out of her voice.  After all, the girl really was concerned for her and meant her promise of vengeance, no matter how displaced.
    "It was that broomheaded idiot, wasn't it!  Is he still here?"  Kaoru whirled and headed for the door, nearly tripping over Kenshin who was just sitting up.
    "Kaorudono, I don't think --"
    "Kenshin, did you see her legs!?"  Kaoru's eyes were filled with indignant fire.  "She must have been beaten pretty badly!  Why didn't you say anything to us?"  She turned back to the doctor.  Kenshin looked relieved she hadn't pursued her line of questioning at him.
    "Chosan didn't do anything.  I told you.  I fell."
    "For that many bruises?"
    "Several times."  Megumi was becoming annoyed.  She hiked her kimono back up to expose her bruised legs once more.  "Do you want the details?"
    Kenshin was scrabbling backwards, clearly panicking.  Not because of Megumi's legs, either; his gaze was (mostly) fixed on Kaoru's readied bokken.
    "I've never thought of you as the clumsy type, Megumisan," Kaoru said, only half teasing.  She obviously didn't believe that the older woman had fallen so often, but at the same time couldn't resist making a dig at her (former?) rival for Kenshin's affections.
    "Maybe you should just tell her the whole story, Megumidono," Kenshin said from the side of the door.
    "And have everyone know?  Kensan.  A woman must have her secrets, you know.  Even from other women."  Megumi smiled demurely and let her kimono down again.
    "This isn't the kind of thing you can keep to yourself for long, Megumidono."
    The woman sighed.  Kaoru was looking from her to the doorway and back in complete confusion.  "Maybe not, but for as long as I can, I'd like to hold it for myself."
    "What are you two talking about?" Kaoru fumed.
    "Nothing to fret over, silly girl.  You'll find out soon enough."  Megumi smiled benignly beneath Fox ears.
    "Oh my...  You didn't!  Did you?"  Kaoru started blushing and giggling.  "You and Chosan..."
    Megumi iced over.  "How DARE you imply anything!  First of all, silly girl, I would do no such thing, even if it WERE your business!  And second of all, I suggest you stop acting like Sanosuke and get your head out of the gutter!"
    A soft "oro" was heard outside, followed promptly by the sound of a hasty escape.  Kenshin had decided once again that getting the hell out of there was the better part of valor.  He knew better than to try and get involved in a dispute between the two women.
    He almost ran into Aoshi as he rounded a corner.
    "Aoshi!  Sorry.  But you may not want to go that way," he warned with another nervous glance in the direction of the women's room.
    The silent man raised a questioning eyebrow.  Kenshin was spared the trouble of answering by an especially shrill accusation of Kaoru's, the words of which were unclear but the tone unmistakable.  Aoshi's expression resumed its normal dark self as Megumi's voice was heard, though not as distinctly.  The two men stood, listening in morbid fascination as Kaoru's next line filtered out even more clearly, and they made out the occasional word.  "Slut" and "left you" and "Kenshin wouldn't" were among some of the choice, if scattered, tidbits they were able to gather.
    The two men shared a glance, though Kenshin read more than just trepidation in Aoshi's eyes, and turned as one, resuming the path Kenshin had been taking away from the living quarters.
    "This is not going to be good for business."
    "On the contrary, Himuradono.  People love a good scandal," Okina said as he appeared before them.  "So tell me, are they ripping each other's clothes and hair off?"  He smiled, not quite innocently, and recoiled at the double glare he received.  "It was a fair question!"
    Kenshin adopted Aoshi's philosophy and simply said nothing.
    "Oiy, what are those two screaming about?"  Sanosuke made his way over to the three other men, with Yahiko and Ochika behind him.
    "Everyone in the restaurant is starting to get either curious or annoyed," she said.  "I should see if they're all right."
    "It may not be safe, with jouchan and the kitsune going at it like that," Sanosuke warned.
    "Going at it?"  Okina's eyes lit up, and Ochika sighed.
    "Not that way, old letch," Sano muttered.
    "So I hear Megumisan dumped Cho," Yahiko said with a smug look at Sanosuke.  "Think that's what she's pissed about?"
    "Actually, I think it has to do with those bruises she's got all over her legs."  Kenshin looked at Okina in surprise.
    "Oro?"
    "Her legs?  What're you doin' lookin' at her legs, old man?!"  the ex-gangster's temper flared as he turned on the old ninja.
    "Maa, maa.  I think Megumidono and Kaorudono are screaming enough for everyone."
    "I think so too, Himurasan.  Why don't we go back into the restaurant and try to get back to work?"  Ochika began herding the gathering into the dining room; just in time for the last of the lunch crowd to start demanding to know what was going on.  With murmured apologies and calming smiles, the friends soothed the customers' ire and resumed business as usual.
    Moments later, as Kenshin was carrying a bucket of water back inside the restaurant, Megumi passed him.  She was leaning on her staff and looked like she might use it on anyone who even glanced at her the wrong way.
    "Megumidono?  Are you all right?"  He blinked at her, concern and fear evident in his tone.
    "I'm going for a walk, Kensan.  I'll be back before dark."  She didn't slow as she spoke, adding over her shoulder something about "telling the girl that accusing others to hide one's own guilt was not going to win anyone's heart."
    Kenshin watched her go, saying the only thing he could think of.
    "Oroo..."
    Megumi didn't even smile.  Kenshin's catch phrase usually calmed her down, if only a little, but as she made her way furiously towards the woods it seemed nothing at all would soothe her frayed temper.  Some of the things Kaoru had said had hurt in ways she hadn't even intended, even if they hadn't been accurate to the situation.
    She'd thought to try and gather some medicinal herbs but when she came to a clearing, she knelt down and laid her staff aside.  She would never have given in to the tears if she'd known she'd been followed, but her tracker had remained silent and hidden, knowing the way far better than she.  He dared not give away his presence, but the dark figure watched her unmoving as she cried her frustration and hurt to the trees.  A fox came from behind a log and curled up next to her as she lay down, and her sobs began to subside as she whispered to it, telling the wild creature what she couldn't tell her friends and oblivious to the other member of her audience.
    It was not easy to give up when she finally thought there was a chance to forget her past, to find someone for herself and move on with her life at last.  She hadn't seriously expected the relationship with Cho to work out, but instead of it being a relatively harmless diversionary tactic, she had indeed begun to fall for him.  Her dislike of Sanosuke was only partly a front, but she just didn't feel for him the way he seemed to feel for her.  She couldn't deny that she was attracted to him, but it was more along the lines of "Good friend and maybe-sometime-fling" than any deep romantic notion.  Sanosuke made life interesting, but not HER life.  And Cho...  Cho had begun to show almost too much potential, and it frightened her.  She could handle losing Kensan to Kaoruchan -- she'd known from the minute she'd seen them together, but it couldn't hurt to try.  But to have someone she might think of as her special someone, and to lose the dream before it had had a chance to become reality, that just wasn't fair.  Life wasn't fair.
    Someday, she'd go back to Aizu, and see if she had any family left.  Tokyo couldn't hold her forever, and though she doubted she'd find any other of the Takani bloodline still living, she had some small hope.  If nothing else, she could make a new beginning there, take up the medical practice her family had established there for generations, and look only to the future.  Maybe she'd go now, she told her listeners.  After they returned from Kyoto, maybe she'd start planning her trip.
    The wild fox that had come to listen to her watched her as she took deep breaths, but when she moved to get up it vanished into the woods.  Having gotten a better look at it, she could tell that it was fairly young and didn't have enough experience to be truly afraid of her.  She smiled faintly to herself at the thought.
    "There's only one thing that will keep me from going to Aizu as soon as we get back," Megumi told the silence.  "And that's the Genzai family."  She sighed.  Her old colleague was showing signs of his age.  Though his mind was still quite sharp, his sight and hearing were declining, and he was often sick.  She had been hesitant to go, but he had been well when they left and she'd had no word to the contrary since.  He had insisted she take a vacation, since though he did not say it, he suspected it might be her last for a long time.  She would insist on caring for him and the girls until the end.
    She shook her head slowly at herself.  What a morbid train of thought...  The shadows were beginning to grow longer, and she gasped as she realized how long she'd been there in the woods.  Rising and pushing aside her dark thoughts, she made her way quickly back to the Aoiya, trailed by an unseen shadow.
    "Megumidono, are you all right?"  Kenshin was waiting by the living area, and the look of relief that spread across his features gave the woman a stab of guilt.  "We were very worried when you didn't come back."
    "I did say I'd be back by dark, Kensan."  She smiled but he could tell it was strained.  "We have to leave early, so I'm going to finish packing.  I'm sorry you were worried, Kensan, but I'm all right."
    She vanished inside and he watched her go with a bewildered look.  Sitting down on the porch he hung his head for a moment.
    Suddenly he knew.  Someone was there.  Someone had followed Megumi, and was now watching him.
    "I think I'm under too much stress lately.  So much for a vacation," Kenshin sighed and looked at his hair.  Was that...  It couldn't be.  It didn't DARE!
    He looked up again as a shadow fell across the door.  He hadn't been wrong, then.  "Aoshi."  For a long moment there was silence between the two, when at last the slim, dark figure raised an eyebrow.
    "I don't suppose you've got any ideas."  Silence met his query.  Kenshin sighed.
    "I think I'm getting grey hair," he said mournfully as he looked down again at his thick red mane.
    For the first time, and with the tiniest of wry smiles, Aoshi spoke.  "With this group, that's no surprise."