• 1-The Embarkation
• 2-Unforeseen Events
• 3-Homecoming
• 4-Of Memories and Scars
• 5-The Pieces Start to Fall
• 6-Moments
• 7-Harakiri - A Flashback
• 8-Luncheon and a Mysterious Note
• 9-Confrontations
• 10-The Days are Gray
• 11-The Color of Night
• 12-Regrets
• 13-Swords, Needles, and Stitches
• 14-Turbulent Emotions
• 15-Tangled Clues
• 16-A Name's Worth
• 17-Remembering
• 18-One Perpetual Night I

"They only hurt your soul." ~ Hammer

DISCLAIMER: This is a fanfic. I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or its characters.

==============================================================

Chapter 11: Regrets

I shouldn't have come.

They were at the basement, talking in low tones across the table. Every once in a while, one of the two men sitting in the shadows would lean forward to come under the light emanating from the yellow lamp. His face was drawn and his eyes looked almost myopic behind his glasses, black and as dark as the night.

"We're waiting, Mr. McKay," Yazaki Gi intoned.

The quiet man sitting beside him was short in stature with wide, unblinking eyes. Yazaki did not bother to introduce him but sitting where he was, David caught snippets of their discussions and found out that he was addressed as Lao Mu, which further meant that this Lao Mu must be somebody important. Only elders and superiors were addressed as 'Lao' and in the San Tiulung, only the founding leaders were given that title.

Swallowing audibly, he said, "And what if...what if I don't agree?"

Yazaki gave him a twisted smile, saying, "That is, of course, your choice." He leaned closer then so David could see the look of intent in his beady eyes. His smile widened. "However, I don't need to tell you that there are other ways of extracting information."

David recognized his meaning and he felt an instantaneous feeling of anger surge in him. "Are you threatening me?" He asked in a raised voice, brows drawn together.

The Japanese chuckled, leaning back in his seat casually. "Quite the contrary, Mr. McKay. I am merely trying to convince you to do the right thing."

David stared at him for several moments, his frustration obvious in the tightening of his jaws. I shouldn't have come, he regretted for the second time that night.

Standing stiffly, he said in a harsh whisper, "This is ridiculous! I'm done with this." He was glaring at Yazaki. "My obligations to you stopped when I shipped those goods for you!"

At this sudden outburst, silence pervaded the room. David did not wait for him to respond as he angrily stalked off. It was not until he reached the doorway when the reedy voice of Lao Mu arrested him.

"Perhaps, we haven't made ourselves clear, Mr. McKay," Lao Mu said in broken English.

David paused but did not turn.

"Your brother works for a friend of mine. Wu Tong Shi - Mr. Wu - are you familiar with that name?"

David felt the blood drain from his face. Slowly, he turned to meet the unblinking black eyes of the sinister man in the shadows.

No obvious change occured in Lao Mu's voice but anyone who heard the next words he spoke sensed that something was afoot. "Would you say your brother's business is doing good?"

The subtle insinuation served to fire up David's temper and he suddenly shouted, "What the hell are you talking about? Who the hell are you?"

And it was then that Lao Mu laughed. It was an unpleasant sound, harder at the ears than even his reedy voice.

"Forgive me, I have been remiss," he said in polite tones. He was smiling but the affable expression he was attempting to imitate did nothing to dispel the menace sent by those unblinking eyes of his.

"I am Mu Long, a lowly servant of the San Tiulung," he said, his humble words belying the arrogance and pride hidden there.

It was said that the more humble a man's words were, the more deserving that man was of respect.

If not respect, then fear.

Mu Long did not speak anything more and it was Yazaki who leaned into the light, smiling his twisted smile. "You see, Mr. McKay, it will only take a single tip from a concerned citizen before the police will be all over your brother's business." His smile grew wider. "How long do you think before your brother figures out your part in this?"

A moment passed. Somewhere outside, a stray dog yapped, its faint barkings partially drowned by the thick blanket of dank air that gathered along the tunnel leading towards the basement.

Finally, in a strained voice, David spoke, "What do you want me to do?"

This seemed to please Yazaki immensely. Raising both arms so that his elbows rested on the armrest of his chair, he smiled and proceeded to tell the gaijin what it was he wanted done.

o0o

Minutes later, David emerged from the warehouse, his pale blond hair shining under the moonlight. He stood there for a moment, taking deep gulps of air and rubbing his hands vigorously. Then, he walked briskly towards his waiting coach which soon drove off.

From his hiding place behind some crates, the stranger watched the whole thing. He waited until the coach made a turn somewhere in the distance before he lit a match. The brief flare of light illuminated narrow amber eyes and sharp, angular features.

Sitting at his feet was a dog, ears pulled back as it quietly enjoyed the slow stroking from the amber-eyed stranger.

"Good dog," Saitou said, releasing a thin wisp of smoke as he did.

o0o

Dawn was yet to break and the streets in this seedy part of Tokyo were still deserted. Sano had visited Katsu earlier that night, asking for his help in tracking down a few people he knew worked for the Red Lanterns or who were somehow connected with the syndicate. Katsu had heard about the group and knew someone who might be able to give out more information. He told him that he will start the inquiry at once.

Closing his eyes, Sano continued to take lazy strides along the beaten old path. It was a path familiar to him for how many times had he walked these streets? How many brawls had he fought here when he still bore the name 'Zanza'? And how many nights had he spent on the sides of these streets, unable to stand because of the amount of sake he drank?

He shook his head mentally. He was such a fool. Such a young fool.

He was almost to the city districts now, stepping past damaged shanties that have long been abandoned by their owners and which became a favorite haunt of the yakuza and other unsavory characters. He stealthily quickened his steps though outwardly, he maintained his casual swagger, hands in his pockets and eyelids drooping slightly.

Suddenly, he stopped.

A few paces away from him stood three men. Fighters-for-hire. Grinning mockingly, Sano waited for them to approach, still keeping his hands in his pockets.

"Are you Zanza?" One of the three men called out menacingly, slowly drawing out his katana from its scabbard. He was wearing a black gi and a visible jagged scar marred the left side of his face.

Was I really gone that long if they can't even remember the name 'Zanza'? Sano wondered unnecessarily.

"What's it you?" he returned.

He saw through his peripheral vision two more men appear. They were also carrying katanas and were clad in black. An onmitsu group?

"We have business to take care of," Scar-face said, drawing closer.

"Then by all means," Sano drawled, "who's stopping you?"

"You see, Zanza," Scar-face said, "you are our business." And with that, he gestured with his head, a sign for his companions to start the assault.

All four men attacked simultaneously. The first one issued a high kick, his foot and the deadly point of his katana directed towards his victim. Moving his body sideways, Sano took him by the foot, using the attacker's bodyweight and speed as momentum when he flung him away.

The other three men did not stop to watch their companion fall and pick himself up. With angry shouts, they ran towards Sano's lithe form, swords at the ready.

Still grinning, Sano leapt away from one sword slash, then bent his torso at the hips to avoid another. His hands formed hooks as he grabbed the wrist of one attacker, squeezing hard enough to bruise the tendons and making the man cry out in pain and drop his weapon. Sano quickly whirled around and sent a fist to the man behind him and an elbow to the other one, making him cough out, winded.

By then, the first attacker recovered enough to stand and glare at Sano who nodded casually, challengingly. Cursing, the man moved forward swiftly, his katana held in front of him and levelled parallel to the ground. The stance was sudden, giving Sano not enough room to maneuver out of it.

With a low grunt, he brought his fists together against the flat side of the blade stopping its deadly descent towards his chest. There was a peculiar sound, almost like a bell tolling, and then the attacker's katana disintegrated.

Scar-face stared in stupefaction at the powdered pieces of the sword lying on the ground near his companion's feet. A moment of silence and then the one still holding the useless sword hilt suddenly cried out in pain. Scar-face looked up at him sharply and his eyes widened in shock to see blood spurt out from the man's wrist.

"Witchcraft!" Scar-face murmured under his breath as large beads of sweat appeared along the sides of his face.

Sano chuckled at this though he too was surprised at the lethalness of the stance. He had not used the Futae no Kiwami in a long time, having no actual use for it except when situations became desperate, like this one. He did not realize how much his strength had improved so that a blow could not only destroy the target but damage those surrounding it as well.

"His wrist is broken. He will not be able to use his katana for some time," he informed the one with the scar who continued to glare at him, his disfigured face taking on a more menacing look.

o0o