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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.

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CONCESSIONS
by Lawless

...Her mind was whirling...lately, she was beginning to feel the biting loneliness...

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

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Chapter 1: Unforeseen Events

Aizu

Three weeks earlier...
Takani Megumi leaned back in her chair and rubbed her neck to ease the tense muscles there. When she was this tired, she felt grateful for pieces of furniture that provided support for the back. There really was something to be said about Western customs and the Sanada Hospital, perhaps the most advanced hospital in Tokyo in terms of technology, was taking advantage of all that the West can offer.
She eyed the neat pile of papers on her desk placed there by her assistant, quietly demanding her attention. Most of them were reports about hospital concerns filed by the staff, ones which she, as the assistant director, needed to look into before passing it on to the director for his perusal. The rest were patient files she made herself and an assortment of letters of correspondence from both friends and colleagues.
"I trust everything is well, sensei?" A voice said, its tone thickly laced with condescension.
Megumi looked at the elderly man seated in front of her. Tazuke Mibu. She had forgotten that he was in the room with her. Tazuke Mibu was one of the attending physicians at the Sanada Hospital. He was also one of several who frowned upon Megumi's medical practice and her fast ascension in the directorial ladder. For a man who had spent some time in Western countries studying advanced medicine, his perception on women doctors was quite backwards.
From her first day of work at the hospital, he had preyed on her. He was quite a famous doctor, earning a reputation for his vast knowledge in Western medicine and Megumi had actually looked forward to finally meeting him. But her hopes were quickly dashed when the doctor took one cursory glance at her, smirking as he said to one of his colleagues, "Isn't it peculiar how females encroach themselves on occupations so clearly intended for males?"
Megumi was never more humiliated and since that day, they became mortal enemies. Tazuke Mibu watched her like a hawk. Even though she was assistant director, his experience made him her senior. His comments on her work were always frustratingly vague in that they were disparaging enough to raise questions about her performance but not enough to make it too obvious. For her part, Megumi had given up a long time ago to try to get his approval. At most, she ignored him and tried to avoid him at every turn, a feat that wasn't as easy as it sounded considering that they both worked at the same hospital. Megumi was talented to begin with. With training, she became brilliant and Tazuke was finally able to treat her with grudging, if a bit condescending, respect though he was still quick to point out any instances where the younger doctor was likely to make a mistake.
Instances such as now.
Megumi hid her irritation well. She was becoming good at that, too, as she forced a smile. "Everything is well, Tazuke-sensei. Thank you for your concern," she replied politely.
He gave her a smile to rival her own in that it didn't reach his black, beady eyes at all. "Consider it as one advice from a colleague to another colleague," he said, standing up, "Often, a doctor is only as good as his next patient."
Megumi smiled tightly as she, too, rose from her chair. At that instant, a knock sounded and the door to her office opened. Her assistant hesitated in the doorway. "Yes, Keiko-san?" She asked the younger woman who had a slightly nervous expression on her face.
"Takani-sensei, sorry to disturb," Keiko said in a rush of breath. Then, glancing at the other person in the room, she bowed deeply, saying, "O-hayo, Tazuke-sensei." The doctor returned with an informal bow.
"It's quite all right, Keiko-san," Megumi said to her assistant. "What is it?"
"Maki-san is waiting outside, sensei. Shall I bring him in?"
From the corners of her eyes, Megumi saw Tazuke surreptitiously raise a single white brow, a gesture of disdain. Along with her doctoring, Tazuke was not in favor of Megumi's associations with patients. She decided to ignore him as she nodded to Keiko. David McKay was not even her patient, although he had been. She had treated the gaijin the previous months and struck up a sort of friendship with him. Admittedly, the relationship was a little more than platonic in the man's perception, and apparently in others' as well, but Megumi never encouraged nor discouraged his affections.
The old doctor waited for the assistant to exit the room before saying in that annoyingly polite voice of his, "Well, I see you have a visitor." He then picked up his coat and hat (he adored Western clothes) and made for the door. "I'll take my leave now, sensei. Good day."
"Good day, Tazuke-sensei," Megumi responded. At the doorway, he was met by a blushing Keiko and a tall, blonde man casually dressed in khakis and boots.
"Hey, doc," the American greeted, his blue eyes crinkling as he smiled. He was met only with a withering glance from the elderly doctor as he quickly made his way past him. Not flustered at all, the gaijin proceeded to Megumi's office, his smile never wavering. "Why do I have the feeling he doesn't like me?" He asked her, taking a seat without waiting to be told.
Megumi returned his grin. "You're asking me?" She said, raising her brows mockingly.
David laughed. "Don't tell me. He does the same thing to ya?" He said this one in English but Megumi had only little trouble understanding him. She had spent time studying the language, realizing that she had to if she wanted to read Western medical literature.
"Worse," Megumi replied, grinning. She watched the blonde man chuckle at this, feeling that familiar fuzzy feeling at the pit of her stomach. He really was quite handsome with his dancing blue eyes and pale hair. And he made her laugh, which was why Megumi felt a certain amount of fondness for him.
When David McKay first came to Sanada Hospital as a patient, Megumi had known immediately what was wrong with him. For two years she had watched the same thing happen to those people who took the fine white crystals that promised bliss for them. Opium, it seemed, would always stay with her, no matter how often she washed her hands from its stain. The gaijin was experiencing withdrawal symptoms from the drug, sweating a lot and experiencing bouts of chills and even fever. His behavior had altered drastically, becoming increasingly violent. Megumi stayed with him through it all, perhaps hoping to find some answers in helping him recover. Eventually, he recovered but she never found her answers. What she found instead was a friendship, which was a treasure in itself.
"God, you're so beautiful."
Surprised, Megumi looked up to meet eyes as blue as the sky gazing at her intensely. She felt the telltale flush in her cheeks even as she smiled dismissively. She had been so occupied with her own thoughts that she hadn't noticed him staring at her. She really must be tired; she was up late last night visiting one of her patients. She gave David another tired smile as she returned her attention to the papers on her desk. There was no need for her to ask him why he was there. He had already declared his tender affections for her only a week ago and had since made several visits to her at her office to convince her.
From his seat, David watched the dark-haired doctor. She was dressed in a dark blue kimono today. The clothing accentuated all her vibrant coloring -- the ivory paleness of her skin and the midnight color of her hair. He sighed unconsciously, letting his eyes follow slender hands as they worked on some file, wondering how he would go about wooing this young woman who sat before him.
Only a week ago, he had told her how he felt about her. Megumi had smiled politely but spoke nothing. It was said that Japanese women were quite shy but he never found a hint of shyness in Megumi. She was withdrawn sometimes but she was always direct, which was why he found it puzzling that she wouldn't discourage him outright. This was also why he continued to visit her regularly, feeling a bit hopeful that she would give him an answer soon enough.
Frankly though, he was getting just a bit impatient. He was, after all, a young man of good stature, an American of good income, and handsome to boot. Many a mother would find him an eligible bachelor for their daughters. He said then, "I probably can't visit you tomorrow."
"Hm," Megumi only said, frowning a little at a report made by one of the staff members.
"Or the day after that," David continued.
Megumi glanced at him then.
"My brother...you remember my brother? The ship captain?" At Megumi's nod, he added, "Well, his ship arrived in Tokyo. I got his letter yesterday afternoon. He wants to see me."
"That's good."
"We haven't seen each other for almost a year now."
"Hm."
Suddenly, Megumi felt large hands engulf her own, warming them so that she was forced to abandon her papers for a moment to stare up at the blue eyes of her companion. "David-san?" She asked, knowing full well that the gaijin was about to make another one of his declarations.
"Megumi," David said, walking around the desk to stand next to her without freeing her hands from his. "Come with me to Tokyo, Megumi," he went on, taking the liberty of touching her cheeks, "as my fiancee." There was a pleading note in his voice.
Megumi stared at him, alarm written all over her face. "David-san, you know I can't do that. I have so many things to do, patients to look after..."
"Please, Megumi," David said.
Megumi's mind was whirling. She genuinely liked David as a friend...and perhaps, a little more than that. For too long she had kept herself closed to all male attentions. Her excuse was that she was too busy with her work but lately, she was beginning to feel the biting loneliness of coming to an empty home at night. But she didn't want a husband who would try to control her and clip her wings. She wanted a partner in life, someone who wouldn't try to stop her from growing but instead, stay with her every step of the way. Then, David came to her life. His laughing blue eyes and sense of humor was like a refreshing breeze to Megumi's droning lifestyle. She looked at the tall gaijin then, knowing that she was blushing. Yes, she thought to herself, I could love him. In time, I could. And he won't try to stop me from growing, won't try to control how I live my life. Megumi closed her eyes, a slight frown marring her otherwise smooth brow.
"Megumi?" David asked.
Megumi shook her head, smiling sadly at him. "I'm sorry, David-san. I can't," she said quietly.
David wanted to ask her why but the look in her dark brown eyes told him not to. They were hooded, turned inwards as though not wanting him to see what was hidden in their depths. "I understand," he finally said, letting his hands fall to his sides.
Megumi watched him leave, followed him with her eyes as he opened the shoji and stepped out. She felt something bitter in her mouth and when he was finally gone, she slumped in her chair defeatedly. She had seen the question lurking in his blue eyes, a question which she did not allow him to ask. She couldn't tell him that at the moment when she wanted to finally accept his proposal and thinking about her married life with him, what she saw weren't a pair of earnest blue eyes...
...What she saw a pair of stormy brown eyes staring at her...

- oo - TO BE CONTINUED - oo -

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A/N Just a little warning for all you RK fans out there. This fanfic is not necessarily consistent with events in the real RK story. I'm sorry to say that I never read the manga so I don't know much about the story. *cries* So, ok if I claim artistic license, everyone? *hopeful smile*
To all my reviewrs, thank you. Ickabod - I'm glad you like the prologue. Big Bad Wolf - Thank you. I'll try to update as often as I can. Albino Elf - You rock my world. Thanks. Venus - Thank you so much. Cold Demon Lord - I'm happy to know that it intrigued you enough to get you hooked. I hope to keep the intrigue building. Crewel - Are you stalking me? LOL. Nah, just kidding. THANK YOU! :)
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Concessions