Concessions | By : lawless Category: Rurouni Kenshin > General Views: 3636 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0 |
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story. |
"When chill November's surly blast..." ~ Robert Burns
DISCLAIMER: This is a fanfic. I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or its characters.
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Chapter 14: Tangled Clues
He was riffling through the papers on the jail warden's desk, going through them carefully when something caught his eye. The unlit cigarette dangling from his lips was forgotten for the moment as he gave pause, eyes narrowed on one particular name.
It was a familiar name.
Smirking inwardly, Saitou Hajime leaned back in his chair and stared into the dark for a second before reaching down and striking a piece of flint against the rough edges of the desk. He moved his face closer to the flame, the tip of his cigarette burning a deep red as he inhaled deeply. Then, in a quiet voice, he spoke into the empty room, "So where do we begin, Warden?"
At first, there was no answer but as he continued to sit there, staring intently into a seemingly blank wall, an embarassed laugh could be heard. A stout man in gray jail officer's clothes suddenly materialized from the shadowed corner, smiling congenially at the quiet man. He indicated the file he was holding and said, "I see you have found what you're looking for."
Saitou remained quiet, waiting.
Still smiling faintly, the warden took the chair nearest to him and sat, resting his right elbow on the mahogany panel as he did so. His movements were clumsy, perhaps due to his heavy figure. Saitou paid no attention to this as he continued to smoke, the red glow of his cigarette the only thing visible.
"It happened almost a year ago," the warden began, "May to be exact."
"The breakout."
"Hai," the warden nodded. "Five prisoners died. All but one."
Saitou narrowed his eyes at this. With his index and middle finger, he took his cigarette off his mouth and then made a small gesture with it, the red glow indicating the movement as if to say "go on."
The warden took the cue and continued, "We learned later that he had some outside help. Someone from higher up wanted him free and decided to be generous but on one condition." Here, he paused for a moment before adding, "His name must be stricken from the records."
Saitou leaned forward a little, interlacing his hands together and resting them against the bridge of his aquilline nose. Smoke continued to float freely from the red tip of his cigarette but he seemed unaware of this as he stared intently at the warden with glowing amber eyes. When he spoke, there was a hint of mockery in his tone.
"Such magnanimous act. Such loyalty from you," he drawled. "I suppose the government will have to thank you."
The warden grinned, completely missing the sarcasm in his voice or the danger lurking in the amber eyes. He said, "I suppose they will."
A faint smile appeared briefly on Saitou's sharp features as he slowly leaned back and appeared to ponder for a bit. The warden did not have to wait long before he leaned forward again in listless, fluid motions and placed something long and heavy across the mahogany table.
The warden paled when he saw it and glanced sharply at his face, only seeing now the smirk crossing his features.
"I fear I am not so magnanimous."
o0o
Sano stepped into the curb, hands in his pockets as he took long strides along the street that would lead him to nowhere in particular. Ever since he came back to Japan, he had fallen into a routine of sorts. The first thing he did was to take aimless long walks around the city, purportedly to clear his mind but his walks were often purposeless. Most of the time, he ended up at the dojo, at the place where it all began and as he stood there, just outside the gate, he would remember.
Of course, it was not long before one of the Myojins, young Kenji, Yutaro, or the pupils of the Kamiya Kasshin School would notice him. They would then invite him for lunch or a light snack. He never refused but always, he left right before dusk fell, just a few minutes short of Megumi's arrival from the Genzai Clinic.
He knew from Tsubame that Megumi was spending most of her time there, trying to make the final preparations before completely turning over the practice to that colleague of hers. It was also no secret that she intended to return to Aizu before snowfall.
It was all together foolish, Sano knew, but he was actually glad somehow that she was busying herself. It made it easier for him to avoid her.
Suddenly, he stopped mid-stride. Was that what he was doing? Avoiding her?
Sano groaned inwardly as he ran his hand through his hair in a gesture of frustration. He swore and murmured, "Baka, baka..."
He realized he had to see her. This thing between them needed resolution and he could not think about his own fear at being rejected and the pain that came with it. He understood Megumi's dual nature and knew right away that she took only calculated risks.
Ah, Megitsune, he thought with a fond smile, when will you learn? You can't always stay on the banks forever when the river's flooded. Sooner or later, you have to wade in and get wet in the water. It's the only way to get to the other side.
Sano then decided to see her and convince her for the second time. But first, he had to pay Katsu a visit. Two days should be enough for him to gather information on the San Tiulung and this man called 'Yazaki Gi.'
o0o
"Fujita-sama."
At the voice, Saitou turned from the window to regard the subordinate officer standing at the doorway. He raised his brow, indicating to the younger man that he proceed.
The subordinate cleared his throat before saying, "A message arrived from Chou-san." He then stepped forward and handed Saitou the note. Afterwards, he stepped back and spoke, "He said he found Wu Tong Shi and is presently holding him for questioning."
Saitou nodded, keeping his eyes on the piece of paper as he unfolded it. He studied the kanji characters there, running through it once before crumpling it, his mouth forming a grim line.
The subordinate was slightly alarmed but at Saitou's gesture for him to continue, he went ahead, voice slightly shaking from apprehension. The tall senior officer was a cold man but the danger he emanated seemed multiplied when he was displeased about something.
"The Sunny Breeze has already left Hong Kong with the armaments, sir," he said hurriedly, "The captain, Peter McKay, seems unaware of this or of the real business his client runs."
Saitou's face darkened. "Post some men at the harbor to watch out for the ship," he said. "Make it look like it's a regular check-up. Nothing out of the ordinary."
The subordinate nodded. "Understood," he replied. He was about to turn around and step out of the room when he suddenly remembered something. The hesitation caused Saitou to raise his eyebrows, eyeing him expectantly.
"Anou... Fujita-sama," he began, stumbling over his words, "do we inform the Takani woman?"
Saitou stilled and gave him a withering glance. It was then that the subordinate understood and with a nod, he quickly left the office, the door clicking softly behind him.
o0o
"So?"
Katsu blinked. "What?"
"That's all you managed to find out?" Sano looked at his friend dubiously.
"I'm still working on a few more details," Katsu replied seriously. "So far, everybody is tight-lipped about the whole thing. No one really knows who Yazaki Gi is and those who do are paid not to disclose anything."
Sano frowned. "So the San Tiulung are selling illegal firearms and Yazaki Gi is making everything smooth for them by greasing a few government palms." He glanced at his friend for confirmation.
"Two to be precise."
"Huh?"
Katsu gave him a smirking glance before saying, "Yazaki's got two government dogs at his beck and call." His expression turned serious. "A special investigative branch of the Tokyo Police have their eyes on Assistant Defense Minister Shimamoto Kagure and his crony, Aochigi Jirou."
Sano looked at him. "The police are on this, too?" At Katsu's nod, he asked, "How much do they know?"
"A lot considering," Katsu replied.
He watched the troubled look which Sano was trying to hide. It was no use, however. He had known him since the Sekihoutai days and even if several years had already passed, their shared past made his eyes more discerning to the changes in Sano's expressions. Right now, he could clearly see how his friend was bothered by all this. But what he could not see was why.
He considered probing deeper and spoke, "The officer heading the investigation was Shinsengumi."
That should get a reaction. He knew how Sano hated the man, but he did not expect Sano to be so changed. It was a different Sagara Sanosuke sitting in front of him.
Sano looked at him before smiling faintly. He thought, Saitou. Of course. It only makes sense. AkuSokuZan. I wonder if that chain-smoking ass still believes in all that. And as he mused, he could not help but wrinkle his brow, remembering with some puzzlement what Huang Li Wei told him. She said that the San Tiulung and the Red Lanterns were after Megumi. But if the matter was about illegal trade in firearms, where did a woman doctor from Aizu place in all this?
The whole thing was confusing and all the clues seemed to point to the wrong thing. Sano was sure before that it had something to do with opium since both Hong Kong syndicates dealt with the drug but after what Katsu told him, everything was thrown into further entanglements so that even certainty was something fickle.
"Does this have anything to do with opium at all?" He asked, not realizing that he had asked the question out loud.
Katsu sighed. "I wish you'd tell me why you're so sure it has to do with opium, Sano. While it's true that Yazaki runs a drug business, it's only one of many illegal operations of the San Tiulung." He added, "I mean, think about it. If they're after profit and power, firearm trade is much more lucrative than opium." He paused then as a sudden thought crossed his mind. "Unless..." he murmured, glancing in Sano's direction.
Sano quirked his brows. "Unless what?"
Katsu was staring at him intently, his mind locking onto the idea like clamps. "Unless it's personal," he said in a low tone.
o0o
The wind was blowing nicely today and even though evidence of the coming winter was apparent in the stark landscape, the air was unexpectedly warm. The sweet scent of autumn's last bloom before the snow fell filled the atmosphere and Megumi breathed this all in, savoring it.
"Megumi?"
Startled, Megumi glanced up from her work. She was at the backyard of the Genzai Clinic, quietly laboring on the neglected garden. The ground was hard from neglect and so she had to till it back to its former glory.
The winter snow would soon cover the garden but the soil underneath would remain warm, allowing the seeds to germinate and sprout in time for spring. It was going to be a pleasant sight and she wished she could be there to witness it. With a soft sigh, Megumi stood up, wiping her hands on her apron as she smiled at the blond man standing on the engawa.
"Konnichiwa, David-san," she greeted.
It had been two days since that treacherous afternoon at the dojo with Sano and during the intervening moments, Megumi had thrown herself into her work at the clinic in a desperate plea to forget everything that happened. Still, guilt racked her and unexpectedly seeing today the man she had betrayed served only to increase her torment. Her smile was empty to begin with and the pleasure at seeing him was faked but when she looked at him and noticed his pale countenance, all her bravado faded.
David's eyes were bloodshot and there were signs of strain around them. Dark circles around his eyes and the shadowed hair along his jaws told her that he had not slept well for some days now. He looked unkempt, the grim set to his mouth evidence of the grave sitution at hand.
"We need to talk," he said, already turning back inside.
Megumi felt a slight flutter in her chest, thinking that he must have found out. Dread followed her footsteps as she walked towards the clinic, keeping her head bowed as she hoped frantically for something, anything that would stop whatever was about to come from happening. All her carefully rehearsed speeches flew out of her head the minute she stepped in and saw that David was not alone.
"Unless it's personal."
"What do you mean?" Sano asked, already feeling the dread deep in his gut.
"Just think, Sano," Katsu began, leaning forward slightly, "why would a powerful crime syndicate like the San Tiulung go after a relatively unknown doctor? Granted that Takani-sensei knows this special opium formula, it seems implausible. Unless - " He made a tiny hand gesture "- someone who knows told the San Tiulung exactly what they would want to hear. Someone who holds a grudge against the onna-sensei."
Sano felt his limbs grow cold as he realized the implications of Katsu's words. He suddenly remembered that Megumi was at that moment at the Genzai Clinic, alone and vulnerable. With his heart in his throat, he leapt up and dashed outside quickly, ignoring Katsu's shouts after him.
There was only one thing on his mind and that was to get to the clinic as soon as possible. As he ran, his limbs screaming with pain from the sheer effort, his heart was beating so hard he thought it was going to burst out of his ribcage. And even so, he did not care. All he cared about right now was to get to Megumi. If something happened to her... Sano felt white hot fury sweep through him, traveling from the pit of his stomach, choking him and making him gasp out for air.
He took the street leading up to the clinic like a man possessed, heart pounding wildly and he did not know whether it was from running so hard or from the panic that filled him. Blood roared in his veins, deafening his ears to the cries or the fast running footsteps coming up behind him. All he could think about was Megumi. This feeling, this wrenching, ripping feeling was not unlike how he felt that time at the mansion when he was running not to save his life, but hers.
- oo - TO BE CONTINUED - oo -
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A/N 14th Chapter, otherwise known as the "Chop-Chop" chapter. Sorry if this is late, guys. It's not that I haven't been trying, it's just that I couldn't come up with anything that was satisfying. I thought this turned out okay but I'll let you be the judge.
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