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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.

Chapter List
- 17
- 18
CONCESSIONS

by lawless

"...The loss was more deeply felt - in the air, under the skin, between the cracks on the walls where air seeped in..."

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

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CHAPTER 17: One Perpetual Night I

The rain had finally let up.
He watched the coach crawl interminably towards him, its wheels digging into the rain-soaked soil, creating deep tracks in the mud. The shivering lackey was walking in front, one hand holding the reins while the other was holding up a lamp high up to avoid the ditches in this back woods dirt path.
Parting the bushes that served as his cover, Aoshi stepped into the road and raised his arm in greeting.
"Who goes there?" The lackey called out suspiciously, trying to peer into the darkness.
Aoshi stepped right in front of the other man, allowing his tall form to tower over him. The lackey visibly shivered, whether from cold or fear, one could not tell. All he could do was stare up at him, mute.
"It's alright. It's him," a voice suddenly said from inside the compartment as the latch to the side door was released, allowing it to swing open.
Without sparing the lackey a second glance, Aoshi walked past him and climbed inside, his trained eyes quick to pick out the slight frame of a woman sitting in the far side, near the window.
"How many?" She asked as soon as Aoshi was able to settle himself in his seat and the coach began to roll away.
"Ten," was the brief reply.
"Guards?"
"Too many for any normal household."
"It must be where they kept the armaments," the woman said almost to herself, obviously referring to the shipment that arrived in the dead of the night. The shipment that escaped the ever watchful eyes of the police.
Aoshi made a non-committal sound as he gazed out the window, watching the moving scenery impassively.
The coach was moving them out of the wooded areas now and the thinning line of trees showed him that the road was about to open into a plain.
A countryside road.
A lone coach traveling in plain view.
A coach much too vulnerable for comfort.
"Something's going on," he observed quietly.
The woman glanced at him and he turned as well to meet her onyx gaze coolly.
"A man arrived just now," he explained at her unasked question. "I counted six San Tiulung guards with him."
"Yazaki?" Huang Li Wei asked after studying him for a moment.
Aoshi shook his head. "Osaga confirmed he's in Yoshiwara this afternoon. I don't believe he ever left since."
"True," she murmured, knitting her brows thoughtfully.
The red-light district had its own way of getting to you. Enticements. No grown man would want to leave without first having a taste of its wares. It should be taken into consideration though that Yazaki seemed to control a good part of it. Shi, he would be there, but not to enjoy its pleasantries. Rather, to check up on business.
"If it's not him, then it must be one of the elders," she said, frowning a little before the first signs of comprehension settled, easing the crease on her forehead. Ah, Lao Mu, Lao Mu, if it's not you, then who?
A hint of a smile appeared briefly on her features as she began to grasp the subtle direction things were going.
Of the three San Tiulung elders, Mu Long was the only one who took an active part in the "business." The other two, Jin Long and Yin Long, preferred to keep their hands clean, holding themselves up to the public as good and respectable while their fingers tightened around the strings that controlled all syndicate assets and interests.
Mu Long's presence here certainly meant that San Tiulung had upped the stakes even more. San Tiulung don't normally handle things themselves. That was an unwritten rule of all syndicates. Even the Red Lanterns followed such a rule. Why sully your hands when you can hire someone to do the dirty job for you?
No longer was this merely about opium, but the Spider's Web would still prove valuable. A pity Takani Megumi had to find herself in such a position.
"Interesting," she mumbled under her breath.
Noticing his curious look,she gave him a half-smile, saying, "Mu Long is here. It must mean something."
Aoshi blinked.
"Syndicate laws are not much different from those of the onmitsu or the yakuza, Shinomori-san. A high price is paid for loyalty, and I have an inkling," she said, her onyx eyes glittering, "Yazaki is about to pay his."

o0o

"So that's it?"
Misao stared at Yahiko, completely taken aback. Then, her face suddenly flushed in annoyance when she noticed the grin the young man was trying to hide. "What do you mean 'that's it'?" She said, imitating his tone. "Yeah, that's it!"
The two of them were seated in the dining room of the dojo house, facing each other with the table sitting in the space between them. They had just finished dinner and Tsubame was in the kitchen, busying herself with the dishes while Yutarou (having just stepped in) was removing his haori and resting his bokken against the wall near the sword rack. He refused the somewhat late dinner invite that Tsubame gave him, good-naturedly teasing her about it.
"But it's so simple," Yahiko said, seriously this time. He cast her a sideways glance which Misao took in stride as she sighed in defeat.
"Tell me about it," she retorted.
Some time before dusk, the rain had finally stopped and Misao, along with the other four people in the clinic with her, had immediately made her way back to the Kamiya Dojo. Megumi and her gaijin fiance (she still could not get over the fact that the onna-sensei was engaged) had walked ahead of the group with Saitou following some paces behind. Sanosuke had lumbered behind them, hands in his pockets and gazing out, his eyes deep in thought.
It had not been the most comfortable situation Misao had ever found herself in and for the first time in her life, she had not known quite what to say. Fortunately for her, Saitou's smirking face had reminded her just exactly what she wanted to talk to him about.
"What's going on?" She had hissed at him when her quick strides allowed her to finally catch up with him.
Instead of answering at once, Saitou casually took out a stick of cigarette from his breast pocket, placed it between his lips, and lit it, taking his time as he did so.
"I hope you choke on that," she had said, gritting her teeth in ill-suppressed irritation. "We had a deal, Saitou. What happened?"
"The little bird decided to come out of its nest and sing."
Misao had looked at him blankly. "Is that supposed to mean anything?"
Saitou had thrown her an irritated glance before he took a puff of his cigarette and explained calmly, "David McKay. Notice anything familiar?"
And she had finally understood. "So what is he? Our ship captain's brother?"
"Shinomori, I don't think I've given you enough credit," he drawled in mock astonishment.
Misao ignored him. "But he's also Megumi's fiance."
"Apparently so."
"And you didn't think to tell me all this before?"
Saitou had narrowed his amber eyes at her. "I'm telling you now," he had said.
"Yeah, but we had a deal. The agreement was I give you information while you keep me abreast of everything that's going on with the investigation. If I remember correctly, I spoke with you this morning and you never said anything!"
"Ahou ga," Saitou had replied calmly, smoke coming out of his lips. "If I remember correctly, it was you who got caught by my wife in my house and the only thing that's keeping me from charging you with trespassing on private property is your pledge to help with the investigation. So far, I have yet to see that help materialize."
She had been floored, but she had been saved from further humiliation because at that instant, the Kamiya Dojo appeared in sight.

"So that's really the plan," Yahiko said again, breaking her thoughts. "We're all just going to sit here and pretend that we don't know anything," that young man added, looking at her as though she had suddenly grown wings and started flapping around the room.
"What is so odd about it?" Misao replied in defense. "Saitou believes we could all be watched," she told him, "Even now." She gazed out as she said this, her mouth forming a grim line.
As if on cue, the sound of shattering earthenware reverbrated through the walls causing all three of them to jump in startlement. Then, they heard Tsubame's faint exclamations coming from the kitchen. After a moment of silence, an apologetic Yasuo, with downcast eyes, stepped out with his mother appearing right behind him, wearing the sternest, gentlest expression only she could muster.
"So sorry," Tsubame said to them a little sheepishly before ushering the boy to his room, her voice softly scolding.
Misao, Yahiko, and Yutarou exchanged glances and at the sight of each other's frightened faces, they burst into laughter.
"But are you certain, Misao-san, that this man, this Fujita Goro, can be trusted?" Yutarou later asked as he sat down with them.
He noticed there were several sake bottles and clay bowls scattered on the table before them. The young man eyed them curiously.
"Sano was here," Yahiko said in explanation.
"Oh."
"One can never be sure about Saitou," Misao answered, ignoring Yahiko's comment. "And it's different now," she added quietly. She did not have to finish her statement to let them know just what she meant.
It's different...

...now, that Kenshin's gone.

Even now, they were still feeling the loss that came with the rurouni's death. It was not just the absence of his sword or the strength behind it. It was not even the protective sense the mere mention of his name could evoke. Rather, the loss was more deeply felt - in the air, under the skin, between the cracks on the walls where air seeped in, in Kenji's crying at night...
All three people were quiet as they sat there in reminiscence.

o0o

Quiet.
He found himself at the shrine, standing there and staring down at the two unmarked stones. It was too dark but if he squinted just a little, he could make out the half-burned joss sticks lying near the burner. The smell of incense was still in the air, drowned by the scent of rain-soaked ground. He considered lighting one stick but decided against it. Instead, he ran his fingers through his hair and swore without any particular reason. His hand found a knot on his nape and pressed down hard, kneading it until the pain disappeared.
If only all pain were that easy to get rid of.
He stared again at the graves of two dead friends, watching it as though any moment now, it would tell him something, give him the answers he sought. But none came and the night remained quiet.
He recalled what Saitou had told him earlier that afternoon. The bastard still thought he was the best there ever was. Or the worst. Either way, it never seemed to make that much impact. He just did as he pleased. Kind of like him actually.
Sano caught himself and swore again when he realized that he was comparing himself to the ass.
I'm really drunk, he thought unnecessarily.
He never thought to wonder. He never asked himself why he always drank, why he liked to gamble things away, or why he did what he did. He just went ahead and did it without thinking about the repercussions of his actions. Most of the time, he got lucky. That was how he got half his share of the Sunny Breeze with McKay. No one would ever believe that he won it at a Western card game called 'poker' but he did. Luck was also what made him strike it rich in the freezing mountains of the Sierras when he and McKay stood waist deep in the water, desperately panning for gold.
He was lucky. Most of the time. And he spent his whole life riding on that luck.
"Your luck has run out, Sagara," Saitou's contemptuous voice pierced through the quiet and for a minute Sano thought the hated man was standing there. But, he realized he was only thinking.
"What would Battousai have done?" He had said in that truly rare moment when he had asked instead of mocked.
The gray entail of his cigarette smoke hovered in the air between them while the gentle patter of rain filled the atmosphere.
Sano had laughed harshly at his words. He stepped forward then so he stood next to him and said, the bitterness he felt obvious in his voice, "Is that what passes up for motivation these days?"
The older man had seemed startled although that was hardly believable. Saitou was the sort of man who never seemed startled. He had eyed Sano then, looking him up down with narrowed amber eyes, before seeming to finally come into a decision.
He had gazed in front, puffing out smoke. "It's your choice to make," he had said. Then without looking at him, Saitou had stepped away, adding, "If you change your mind, you know what to do."
And he had watched him retreat, his back turned towards him.
"Kenshin, jou-chan, if you're listening..." Sanosuke murmured, still keeping his eyes on the graves.

o0o

A moment later, Sano stepped out of the shrine and took the stone pathway that led back to the dojo. The oppressive quiet was getting on his nerves but he forced himself to relax. If not, then it would the gambling halls for him tonight.
At the engawa, he paused, thinking he had heard something, but the night was still. No sound was made. He looked around him and saw that he was standing outside a room, the pale yellow light from inside streaming through the paper panel. The glow from the lamp inside lit his path a little and cast the space farthest from the wall in shadows.
It was Megumi's room.
There it was again.
That sound. Soft enough to allow him to attribute it to his alcohol-induced imagination. But it wasn't just his imagination this time. It was a sob, hurriedly suppressed as though the person was trying to stop herself from doing so. He swallowed the painful lump that formed unbidden in his throat.
"Kitsune?" He called softly, unsure.
Nothing.
He frowned at the closed door, debating whether he should knock or just leave it at that. After a moment, he made up his mind and prepared to go. But before he could even turn, his ears picked out the wooden sound of the shoji sliding open.
The light from inside streamed past her so that he could make out none of her features. He could not even see her expression, or the look in her eyes. Just a silhouette. Hair streaming down her back, the light behind causing it to glow a strange blue-black. She was dressed in a simple yukata and the contrast between the white cloth and her black hair was enchanting.
I must be drunker than I thought.
Sano swallowed. Hard. "Megumi?"
"Shh," she said, her breath suddenly in his ears and she was pulling him inside and he was powerless to stop her.
Her lips covered his and he sensed a buzzing in his ears as he felt his body respond to hers instantly. He experienced a jolt and heat crawling up his spine. What was she trying to do? It was all happening so fast. Frantic hands wound around his neck, his back before finally slipping inside his shirt to lay against his bare skin. Sano hissed when he felt her cold fingers touch him and he tried to pull away but she tightened her arms around him, clutching him to her as though she was afraid to let go. Her lips were a constant source of delight and he was drunk with it - drunk and drowning.
What are you doing? Her own mind mocked her but she stomped down on it. Her boldness was born out of desperation and she pulled him to her, crushing her lips against his, the way he used to do during those couple of times. His body shivered when it came into contact with hers and she relished in the fact that she could affect this man, this man who could have any woman he wanted, this man who told her so tenderly that he loved her.
He loved her.
She felt her heart constrict and a rush of feelings long suppressed burst free. He was breathing heavily now, panting, his hands clutching her waist for dear life. They were still at the doorway, still paces away from her waiting futon. A cold draft was blowing but they could not care less, nor were they aware. His mouth moved to devour the skin around her neck, causing her to tremble and shiver with desire so pure it was almost white. He moved back up, poised to claim her lips once more when a shaft of light from the lamp caused him to see her face for the first time.
Instantly, he stopped.
She returned his look steadily, puzzled to see him with that peculiar expression on his face. Then, she saw his eyes soften as he lifted his right hand to touch her cheeks and the wet tears that fell without her being aware. She was crying and she did not know why.
"Ai-jou," he murmured in a devastated tone. Then, he drew his arms around her and pulled her into a tight embrace.
Megumi stared at nothing, confused by his change in attitude. Didn't he want her? Why did he stop? She closed her eyes against the pain of rejection. Instead, she breathed. He smelled slightly of sake and rain and just a hint of smoke. It was a most interesting smell but she wanted more. She always wanted more. She realized that now. She wanted more than just the teasings, the subtle touches, the stares... That was why she was so afraid. Even now, she was still afraid. Because there would come a day when he would leave. They always leave. Betrayal. The way David did. And she'd be left there, alone.
"I don't want to be alone," she whispered into his chest.
He was quiet for the longest time, his arms still around her and his chin just above her head. Then, he sighed and lowered his head so they were cheek to cheek.
"You're not. You're never alone, ai-jou."
Ai-jou. Love.
And the tears began falling more freely now. She stood there, her face buried in the folds of his clothes, sheltered by the warmth of his embrace and the gentle thudding of his heart.
Somewhere in the black night, the wind blew and the trees danced to the silent tune.
Somewhere in the black night, a twig snapped and the sound broke the stillness of the night.
Somewhere in the black night, a dark figure detached itself from behind a tree and he stood there for a moment, silently watching.
Somewhere in the black night, that person took careful steps away, until his figure disappeared, swallowed by the night.

- oo - TO BE CONTINUED - oo -

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"She wore far too much rouge last night and not quite enough clothes. That is always a sign of despair in a woman." Oscar Wilde

FOOTNOTES:
Lao Mu - 'lao' is an honorific that's used before the name of someone older and respectable; Lao Mu in this fic refers to Mu Long, one of the leaders of the San Tiulung
Huang Li Wei - is Sano's friend from Hong Kong who is working for the Red Lanterns, a rival syndicate to the San Tiulung; she seems to be after the Spider's Web, too
Yazaki - is Yazaki Gi and if you've been paying attention to Chapter 16 (Remembering), Takeda Kanryuu, apparently come back from the dead
- 17
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Concessions