All for Love- Chapter Seven Disclaimer: All characters of Rurouni Kenshin belong to Nobuhiro Watsuki, JUMP comics, and Sony Entertainment. �Dr. Genzai has gone to the hospital to tend to, Saitou?� Megumi asked, her eyes wide with disbelief. Then she heard the details of his condition and her heart sank. A horizontal slash across his back had rendered him unconscious. The wound was deep, yet hardly bled at all. The person who did this must have been a skilled swordsman, said the young man who had come to deliver the news. Kenshin stood beside Megumi as she received this news, a solemn expression darkening his face. She was thinking exactly what was going through his mind- Sanosuke has taken a dangerous step. Kenshin could not believe that Sanosuke had actually won a fight against Saitou. Perhaps they decided to pick up where they left off two years ago, but where did Sano learn to use a Katana- like that!, Kenshin thought to himself unable to fathom that Sano was learning sword tricks without his knowledge. As Kenshin thought more about it he began to feel a pang within his heart. It was the distinct pinch of betrayal, which perplexed Kenshin since he had nothing to feel betrayed about. Well, nothing but the fact that Sano was hiding this talent of his from everybody. Why did he keep something like that from us... why did he keep that from me?, Kenshin wondered feeling that pang in his chest grow more intense. Kenshin was suspicious about this entire incident. Sanosuke was hiding something that had to do with Megumi and that American. He turned to her now for he had a feeling that she also knew more than she let on. Megumi glanced at Kenshin when she felt his inquiring eyes on her, and she spoke before he could utter a word. �Let us go and see Saitou. He knows all of the information, and he can answer whatever questions you have about Sanosuke.� Kenshin silently pondered that for a moment. Saitou! That would explain the sword skills! But why would he want to learn anything from Saitou, and why would Saitou go out of his way to teach anything to Sanosuke?, Kenshin thought unable to put it all together. There was something missing. He looked to Megumi. Her expression was blank, but Kenshin was convinced she knew something that he did not. She sighed and lowered her head in defeat. Kenshin barely heard her, as she whispered softly, �Saitou trained him as part of the secret police. Sanosuke is a secret agent under his command, and he is the one responsible for my safety.� Kenshin just stared at Megumi as he listened. �I see. That�s why he knew so much about the situation that you�re involved in. He�s the one who has been investigating it. I can�t believe that I never caught on. I never suspected anything different about him, until recently. He hid it well.� �It was his job to keep it hidden. The only ones in Tokyo who knew that Sanosuke was a policeman were those who worked in the department. That is why they pretended not to know who attacked that man yesterday. Sanosuke watches over all of downtown Tokyo. It is his duty to protect us, Kenshin. Not just me, but all of us.� Megumi had tears in her eyes now that poured forth to glide down her cheeks. �He is taking it upon himself to ensure our safety.� Kenshin nodded and placed his hand gently on her shoulder. �He is doing this because he loves you, Megumi-dono. He wants to make sure that you are safe, and he wants you to live in a safe place. I admire that he took the initiative to join the secret police. It must have taken a lot to put his pride aside and take orders from Saitou.� Kenshin paused for a moment. �He must really love you, Megumi-dono. I don�t know if I�d do that for Kaoru-dono.� Megumi stopped crying and chuckled softly. �You know if Kaoru hears that she�ll add a few more lumps to your head, Ken-san.� She wiped the tears away, and her fox ears popped up. She placed her hand on his cheek, and brought him toward her so that she could kiss one of his quickly reddened cheeks. His eyes grew unnaturally wide. �Megumi-dono please, this is how you got me in trouble last time! Let us just go and see Saitou,� Kenshin tripped backwards and almost fell over the laundry. Megumi scooped him up, and hugged him so that he leaned snuggly against her bosom. His face and eyes were ready to explode. �Oh Ken-san, if you�re hurt I can easily mend those bruises with my special rub down.� Kenshin looked bewildered. �What about Saitou?� �I would rather not give him a rub down,� came the disgusted response. �Please Megumi-dono, Sanosuke asked me to protect you. How am I supposed to do that if Kaoru-dono knocks me unconscious?� Megumi�s fox ears wiggled as she lowered her voice into a sultry drawl and whispered into Kenshin�s ear, �If that savage woman of yours attacks you, then I�ll just have to bring you out of it- and I know just what to do.� It took only a few words with her sexy voice to render Kenshin limp in her arms. He had fainted. Probably from fear, Megumi thought fuming at the fact that Kaoru mistreated him so often. Oh dear, I�m going have to carry this Baka all the way to the hospital now. She hoisted Kenshin�s arms over her shoulders, and dragged him toward the gate of the dojo. She hoped that it was not too late to talk with Saitou. He was her only clue as to what Sanosuke was up to. As she made her way down the road, she could not help but feel uneasy. A feeling of foreboding came over her that followed her all the way to the hospital. She looked up at the early evening sky. It was a blend of rose and purple colored rays, which gradually grew dim to allow the blackness of the night sky to come forth. How could anything happen on such a beautiful night?, she wondered, yet the nagging feeling still remained. Saitou would have all of the answers. * * * * * When they arrived at the hospital, an assistant who was busy making Saitou�s empty bed greeted them. Kenshin and Megumi gave the young woman inquiring looks, and she answered with a frown, �Inspector Fujita is gone. He left us this morning. It was all so very unfortunate.� Kenshin gasped. �What do you mean? Oh my God he�s..?� Kenshin asked, thinking the worst possible scenario. No, it can�t be. Saitou?...Sano actually?...no! He couldn�t have. Please no!, Kenshin begged silently. The assistant nodded her head pursing her lips. �Yes. He was gone before we could do anything to help him. He was such a strong man. I regret that I could not do anything to help him.� Kenshin�s heart raced. NO! It can�t be! Sanosuke how could you! He pressed his eyes shut not wanting to believe any of it. He could not accept it. Saitou couldn�t be...dead! Megumi was thinking the same thing, for she was unusually silent beside Kenshin. Her expression became somber, as she thought over and over, Sanosuke what did you do? The assistant eyed them both with concern as she finished up her chores. She called for Dr. Genzai, and he immediately appeared. �Ken-san! Megumi-san! How are you both? This is all so unfortunate isn�t it? I can�t believe what has happened.� he said, giving them both the same look of concern. What�s with these two? Kenshin clenched his fists at his side and faced Dr. Genzai. �Where is he now? I want to see his body.� Dr. Genzai looked at Kenshin, with confusion. �Ken-san, what do you mean you want to see his body? He�s gone. The minute he came out of unconsciousness, he just got up and walked out. I was about to examine him when he disappeared. He has a nasty gash on his back that may become infected. It may make him severely ill if it is not treated, which is very unfortunate for him.� Kenshin gasped again. �So, he�s fine then?� Dr. Genzai shook his head. �No, he is not fine. He is in a very critical period, where he needs to be treated. I didn�t even get to clean the wound.� �But he�s not dead,� Megumi gently interjected. �Dead? Why he is far from it. No disrespect to Sanosuke�s skills as a swordsman, but if no one was able to kill Saitou during the Bakumatsu, then I have little confidence that Sanosuke could.� Kenshin let out a long breath. �What a relief. I was worried there.� Dr. Genzai narrowed his eyes at these two. They were acting very strange. �Why have you come to see Saitou? I would be more concerned about Sanosuke�s condition. We know that Saitou survived the fight, but we don�t know anything about Sanosuke. I believe that Saitou may have gone to look for him. I pray that Sanosuke is able to handle himself against that angry wolf. He is much more dangerous now that he is wounded.� �That�s true Dr. Genzai, but I think Saitou has another reason to find Sanosuke. I think he wants to find him before he gets himself killed,� Kenshin said, quietly coming to that realization. He feared for his friend. He had the odd feeling that his fighting partner had his days numbered. Dr. Genzai looked thoughtful. �Sano-san won a fight against Mibu�s wolf. He has become very strong. I don�t know whether to think that this is good or bad. Wait! What am I saying? This is Sanosuke. He is doing all of this for Megumi-san, and for all of Tokyo. He is on his way to be a hero like you, Kenshin.� Kenshin nodded his head, and smiled wearily. �Sanosuke has gotten strong because of Saitou. I�m glad that he was able to find the positive influence that Saitou hides within himself. I�m glad that he can feel confident about his abilities, and not think himself as a weakness anymore. He had that lingering within during the time I was fighting Shishio Makoto. He has now been able to get past that.� �But, Ken-san. If what you say is true, then Sanosuke is going to face a dangerous enemy by himself. Are you going to let him fight alone?� Megumi asked softly. Kenshin shrugged his shoulders. �He seems to not want me involved. I don�t know if I will be respecting his wishes if I were to interfere with his plans. But then again, he came to Kyoto when I asked him not to follow me, so it is only fair that I join him if he plans to fight this American. If we can�t find out through Saitou, then we�ll have to find out Sanosuke�s whereabouts some other way. I owe this to him, Megumi-dono. And I promise you that I will bring him back.� Megumi smiled in spite of her feelings of doubt. She could not believe Kenshin�s words, no matter how much she wanted to. Something within told her that it was not to be. Kenshin would not be able to keep his promise...and that saddened her immensely. Chapter 8 Fanfiction Archive Main Page |