| Chapter Seventeen
Disclaimer: All characters of Rurouni Kenshin belong to Nobuhiro Watsuki and all affiliates. Four dingy walls and a concrete floor were all he had to look upon during his stay inside one of the holding cells of Kyoto�s police department. Kyuuto Irushi sat on the cold floor with his knees drawn to his chest and his head lowered so that his forehead pressed against his knees. He wasn�t tired, and he wasn�t hungry. He was merely shocked that it all ended so easily. The Battousai had informed him that Mr. Austin was dead. All of his soldiers were arrested, and the house was seized by the police for further investigation into their plot against the Meiji government. Mr. Austin�s body was placed onto a boat headed for America where he would be buried in his family�s plot, much to the chagrin of the Mississippi police who wanted to execute him and bury him in a pauper�s grave. Irushi lifted his head and looked up at the window of his cell door. He saw shadows of the guards pass back and forth, and heard faint voices whisper in the darkness. He thought of the Battousai again. That man had single-handedly ended his vendetta and he couldn�t bring himself to understand how. How could one man defeat him so easily? How could one man so dedicated to peace and pacifism, turn around and fight so aggressively? The Battousai was an enigma he wished to know more about, but his present situation wouldn�t allow him much time for that. It had been decided at the time of his recovery, he was to be executed for his crimes. The government wanted no information from him. They wanted nothing to do with his talent for gunplay, or his sword skills. They just wanted him dead, so he knew that either his days or his hours alive were numbered. It was all over and in the end he had nothing to show for it. His head dropped down again. He heard more voices in the hallway and two distinct ones drew closer and closer to his cell. �I can�t let you go inside! A terrible man sits in that cell awaiting his death. Letting you inside will endanger you as well as myself.� �I was given special permission by Inspector Fujita to enter this man�s cell. This letter states his commands and the condition that an armed policeman is to accompany me. It doesn�t state that you specifically have to be that policeman. If this makes you uncomfortable then I will gladly go alone.� Irushi raised his head slowly. He recognized the voice. It was that woman�s voice. He heard a heavy sigh follow her statement and then two sets of footsteps continue toward his cell. He dropped his knees so that he could sit with his legs crossed and let his bound hands dangle between his knees. His cell door opened and a flood of light entered the room followed by a guard and the woman who was responsible for all of his trouble. The guard stayed at the door while she took a few more steps until she was only a foot away from him. He had to look up at her, and he gave her a quick once over not liking what he saw one bit. She had a piece of cloth tied around her neck that elevated her left arm so that it hung at her bosom. Why the hell isn�t she dead? �How did you get that injury?� He chose to disregard the usual pleasant greetings and get right to the point. She merely looked at him in quiet observation. �You shot me.� He peered at his handiwork. �I aimed for your heart.� She raised her right hand and lightly touched her shoulder. �You missed. Thankfully.� He shook his head and then looked away in disgust. He couldn�t come away from this ordeal with anything, not even her death. He really had lost everything. He turned slightly to glance at her from the corner of his eye. �What�s happened to Sagara-san?� She studied him for a moment before answering. �He�s been in the hospital recovering. The doctors won�t let him walk until the hole in his leg has healed, which is good since he is not to do much of anything else either to let the wounds in his arms and chest heal.� Irushi turned to fully face her. �He doesn�t seem like the type who would be happy about that.� He seemed unlike the monster she had encountered just one week before. His calm, humble demeanor unnerved her for she wasn�t ready to feel sorry for him. �Uh, no he�s not happy about it.� She stood there in the middle of the cell not knowing what else to say to this man. She had been prepared to tear into him, but his genuine concern for Sanosuke threw her off completely. She was sure it was genuine. There didn�t seem to be anything insincere about it. She heard movement and looked to see him shifting his position on the floor so that he sat formally before her with his feet tucked beneath him. He scanned the floor and then looked up at her apologetically. �I would ask you to sit but your kimono would get ruined on this filthy floor.� She didn�t respond. She didn�t move to sit either. She stood there wondering if there was a purpose to this visit. Why had she been compelled to see this man before he died? He looked expectantly at her and then broke the awkward silence. �Takani Megumi, is your name I presume? I�m curious to know why you chose to visit me. I caused you a lot of trouble, so perhaps you�re here to gloat and to tell me that I�m getting exactly what I deserve?� Megumi stared at him as if he were a ghost. Goodness, was this man a mind reader? she wondered as she shook her head in response. �I�m not sure why I came here, but I�m certainly not happy that you�re going to die. It goes against everything that I believe in as a doctor, and as a human being.� Irushi smirked at that. �That�s very kind of you. Doctors strive to save every human life that they encounter. However, you�re out of your league in this case Takani-sensei. You can�t save mine.� �You�re right, I can�t save you, but I can listen to you.� Irushi glared sharply at her. He knew where this was going. �I�m not going to tell you that I regret anything I�ve done. Nor am I going to tell you that I�m sorry that so many people had to die for Mr. Austin�s selfish desires. What I do regret is that I didn�t kill Sanosuke, or you.� The guard at the door turned to fix his icy gaze on Irushi. He noticed it right away. �This policeman misunderstands me, Takani-Sensei as do you. My failure to kill you both means that my skills were not good enough to withstand a blow from the Battousai. A stronger opponent beat me, and therefore I deserve what I�m getting. It really is a shame. Everything that I was to do for Mr. Austin will never happen.� His gaze softened, as he seemed to wander into his thoughts. �You see, even though Mr. Austin is dead I wasn�t going to stop. It�s just like what I told Sagara-san, to stop me you have to kill me. So I don�t regret any of it.� Megumi just stared at him expressionless, and nodded her head as if she understood. Irushi relaxed again and shifted back to sitting with his legs crossed. �You know, despite my one regret I like Sagara-san and I like you, so I�m glad you�re both okay.� He paused for a moment to let that sink in. �Do you have what you came for?� The question threw Megumi off more than anything that Irushi had just said. She wasn�t even sure why she had come, but strangely enough she felt the closure sinking in and lifting the burden of the entire nightmare from her shoulders. Now it became clear to her. She wanted closure, and as far as she was concerned she now had it and there was no need to take up more of Irushi�s time. She nodded her head in response and he smiled a genuine smile of content. �Good. Now I assume that you have no other business with me?� he asked. Megumi shook her head. �No I don�t, so I will leave you now.� She turned to the guard. �I�m ready to go.� Before she passed through the doorway she looked back one last time at Irushi. He watched her go out into the light of the hallway, and then the door shut and left him in darkness once again. He was oddly glad to have seen her. Not that he wanted forgiveness or anything. He wanted to die knowing that what he had done wasn�t in vain even if it meant giving his enemy peace of mind after her horrible experience. As pathetic as that was he was willing to accept it. He heard footsteps once again and this time he knew that they were headed for his cell. The time had arrived and he was ready for it. The door opened and the light from the hallway illuminated the tall, wiry figure that had now come for him. Irushi couldn�t see his face but he knew who it was. He caught the scent of cigarette smoke. �I appreciate you letting that beautiful woman come in to see me. Her lovely face will stay in my mind as I die.� The figure stepped into the room and closed the door. His katana gleamed momentarily as the light reflected off it. Irushi stared at it. There was no sense being afraid. A warrior always expected this outcome should he face the shame of failure, and he had failed Mr. Austin, so he was ready to accept his due punishment. He bowed his head, his eyes fixed on his bound hands. �I thought the Battousai would be here to witness this, or perhaps Sagara-san.� The man took a step toward him. �The Battousai doesn�t believe in this kind of justice, and my officer is still recuperating. Besides, this kind of scene isn�t in his nature.� Irushi lifted his head to look up into the man�s sharp yellow eyes. �It seems odd for someone like you to care about something like that. He is a good fighter, though. Perhaps even you, Saitoh Hajime found something to admire about him.� The wolf was as impassive as ever. His eyes fixed readily upon him as he raised his katana. �No. It�s just like you said, he�s not a killer. And just like I informed the Battousai, I get to have my way after all.� * * * * * * Sano didn�t think it was right. His body was battered beyond the limits of pain and here he was lunging forward to catch his best friend so that he wouldn�t smash his head on the floor. Kenshin had fainted when he heard the news from Kaoru and Sano had to admit that he felt a little lightheaded too. He openly gawked at her, which in turn made her so uncomfortable that she burst into tears. This scared Sano more than her fits of rage. He turned to exchange spooked expressions with Yahiko, who explained. �She�s been like that since you guys got back. Megumi says it�s her body and mind reacting to the pregnancy. She doesn�t know what to do with herself.� Sano shook Kenshin�s still unconscious form hoping to wake him up. He chanced a glance at Kaoru who had miraculously recovered. She kneeled beside Kenshin and cupped his face in her hands. �Kenshin, can you hear me? Please, be okay. I�m sorry about all this. I didn�t mean to let it happen.� His eyelids fluttered open and his foggy gaze fixed on her face. Kaoru�s cheeks turned red and she shifted her eyes shamefully away from his. Sano had never seen her like this before. He backed away and painfully stood up, remembering that he had been shot in the leg a few weeks ago. He wondered if he would forever feel the ghost of the bullet. He wondered if Megumi would feel it too. He dismissed the thought and moved to help Kenshin to his feet. The rurouni shook his red head and looked apologetically at everyone. �I�m sorry about that. I didn�t mean to make everyone worry. Kaoru, are you okay?� Kaoru jumped at the mention of her name. He had finally dropped the dono. �Uh, sure I�m fine. My stomach gets queasy but other than that I�m okay. What about you?� Kenshin smiled as he gazed at her. She looked so beautiful, even more so than ever. �I�m grateful.� Kaoru felt her eyes fill with tears. These sudden mood changes were going to drive her crazy, but the way Kenshin looked at her at that moment made all of her anxieties drift away. �What do you mean?� He took her hand inside both of his and pressed it against his chest. She felt his heartbeat quicken at her touch. �I�m grateful that I survived and I�m grateful to be back here with you.� Sano couldn�t help but feel warm and fuzzy as he watched his two friends. He also couldn�t help but feel that he should leave them alone. He looked at Yahiko who had the same thing in mind. �We should go, Sanosuke. They have a lot to talk about.� Sano studied the young samurai wondering when he had grown so sensible and mature. �You�re right about that.� �Yes he is. We have lots of planning to do for the wedding.� Sano and Yahiko were about to make their way outside but instead they froze in their spots. The mischievous voice also caught Kenshin and Kaoru�s attention as Megumi�s sudden appearance into the sitting room caused everyone to go silent. She settled down into a spot at the table oblivious of the stares directed at her. Kenshin and Kaoru exchanged looks then she turned to the Megumi to clarify. �Megumi, what are you talking about?� The foxy doctor looked at Kaoru as if she couldn�t believe what she had just heard. �I�m talking about your wedding you silly girl. There�s so much to do. We have to start right away, right Ken-san?� To everyone�s surprise, the redhead nodded. �This one agrees completely.� Sanosuke�s lightheadedness almost overcame him. It wasn�t like Kenshin to agree so easily to something without thinking heavily on it. He looked disapprovingly at the woman he loved realizing that she was a sneaky little vixen. �Hey fox, Kenshin just took a hard fall. He doesn�t know what he�s agreeing to, right Kenshin?� The rurouni put an arm around a shocked Kaoru and shook his head. �I know what I�m doing. I�d like this to be a nice party for Kaoru.� �Oooh, we�re having a party?� Dr. Genzai poked his head in when he arrived and then stepped inside when he heard the news. �What are we celebrating?� �A wedding. Kenshin and Ugly�s,� Yahiko answered silently happy to see the angry glint return to Kaoru�s eyes. He had to keep her in check after all. The old man glanced knowingly at him, and then clapped his hands together. �A wedding? Well then what are we waiting for? Megumi I�d love to help you. I need you in the clinic right now, but walk with me and we�ll talk about what has to be done for the party. This is so exciting!� Sano looked on in dismay as the old doctor and the foxy doctor made their way out of the dojo, jabbering away about preparations. They tossed an order to Yahiko to make catering arrangements with the Akebeko, and Sano heard his name in reference to picking up the sake. He sighed and followed the trio out, Yahiko going one way and Dr. Genzai and Megumi heading in another. Sano decided to head home for a while until it was time to pick up Megumi. They all said their goodbyes to each other and walked off forgetting about the couple that stood silently in the middle of the room. �Kenshin, what just happened?� Kaoru looked up, her eyes meeting his. He never realized how much he loved to look into her blue eyes. �It sounds like we�re getting married.� Those words came from Kenshin�s lips but she still had a difficult time believing them. This had to be a dream. �Getting married�� she said absently her mind wandering as she leaned her head against his shoulder. Getting married. To the man she had loved since the day she met him. It couldn�t be true. She felt his cheek press against her hair still unable to believe it. �Is this okay with you Kaoru?� She lifted her head to look into his eyes again. For the first time since he received her news he looked apprehensive, but not from the prospects of becoming a parent. He actually looked like he was afraid that her answer to him would be no. He could be so silly sometimes. �Yes, it is. Are you okay with it?� He looked relieved and nodded. Then he kissed her. * * * * * * The nighttime air was brisk causing Sanosuke to hunch his shoulders against the occasional biting wind that made it�s way inside his gi jacket. It never occurred to him to close the jacket since he assumed the bandages would be sufficient protection against the elements, so he stood outside the clinic and waited for Megumi while he shivered. He prayed she wouldn�t be that much longer. He wanted to get his arms around her again and hold her for a while just to know that she was safe, and to take in some of her body heat so that he could stop shaking. When she finally came outside he did just that, suffocating her within his large arms. She let him squeeze until her breathing came close to becoming a difficult task, and then they went on their way, his arm wrapped around her shoulder and her arm around his waist. Their relationship had progressed quickly in the weeks after their encounter with Kyuuto Irushi. Sano had given up his tiny apartment and moved into the small home she had settled into. He still worked for the police department, however his days as an undercover agent were over. Saitoh felt the case gave him too much exposure so that the general public and those in the underground now knew that Sano was a cop. Megumi was relieved about that, but the fact that he still answered to Saitoh Hajime didn�t give her much comfort. She wondered why he insisted on having Sanosuke work for him. She even posed the question to Sano once who brushed it off as a subject that he never wanted to delve into, so she just let it go after a while and accepted it. After the ordeal with Kyuuto Irushi Megumi felt it would be a long time before that name slipped from her memory. She knew she couldn�t forget him completely, much as she would like to. Odd as it was, it was the threat of Kyuuto Irushi and Mr. Austin that brought she and Sano together, so their names would forever be connected to their love story. Their home wasn�t very far from the clinic, and since they enjoyed their walk so much they went past it and continued down the road in the direction of town. So many things had happened, and so many new things were about to take place. She was glad for the peace they had now and looked forward to the time when she and Sano would take the step Kenshin and Kaoru were about to take. She grinned as she thought about the events of the morning. It had been a good morning indeed. �What are you smiling at, fox? You thinking about how you tricked Kenshin and Jo-chan into getting married?� Megumi�s grin faded. �I don�t know what you�re talking about. I merely brought up plans to arrange the obvious. You act as if you think their wedding wasn�t going to eventually happen.� Sano felt her body tense, as she grew defensive so he hugged her tightly to him to relax her. �Ah, maybe you�re right. Kenshin might have waited until Kaoru gave birth before he proposed, so you did good for our friends, Megumi- and for our enemy.� Megumi stopped walking and pulled slowly out of Sano�s embrace. She raised her gaze slowly to meet his, which was absolutely unreadable. Damn that Saitoh and his training! �I heard you went to visit him a few weeks ago.� And damn that Saitoh for having a big mouth. �I did. I wanted to see him before he was executed.� Sano studied Megumi closely. �Did you talk much?� She shook her head. �He did most of the talking. I just listened. I offered to do that for him and so he was able to get some things out of his mind before�� She stopped talking and stared up at him. �Is he-?� Sano nodded. �He�s dead, Megumi. It�s over.� Over. Their troubles were now over and they were able to look forward to a future together. Megumi never imagined that word could be associated with a new beginning. In all her life she never imagined she would get to a point where she could be happy to be alive. She took Sano�s hand, the one she bandaged numerous times in the past, and held it up to her cheek. It felt good to finally be happy. THE END A/N: Thanks to all who gave my story a chance, and special thanks to those who stayed with it �til the end. I do apologize for taking so long to complete it. I have to admit that I�ll miss writing more, but it did have to end sometime and I felt that this was a good point to conclude it. Anyway, thanks again for reading and for the encouragement that I received throughout. Until next time� -M. Kasshoku Go to Main Page Go to Fanfiction Archive |