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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
- 6
- 7
- 8
CONCESSIONS
by Lawless

"Do you really think you can make things right by committing suicide?"

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

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Chapter 6: Harakiri - A Flashback

Kanryuu Mansion
Seven years ago...
"You can choose to end it here."
The icy voice of the Okashira seemed loud in the silence of the room. But, it was as though Megumi did not hear him as she continued to stare dazedly at his retreating back. She felt separate from her own body. Like something floating, watching the whole scene with the detached eyes of an observer. She was looking at herself below, a glazed look in her eyes while clutching a cool metal object in her hands.
A tanto.
How did it get there?
Her mind was slow to work. Then, a click sounded from behind her and it brought back memories to her in slow trickles.
Takeda Kanryuu.
Opium.
The Oniwabanshuu.
Sanosuke...
...Kenshin...
He was coming for her. And yet...and yet.... The Oniwaban!
Megumi felt something insider her twist. And automatically, her hand closed tightly on the handle of the dagger-like weapon. 'You can choose to end it here,' he had said.
Is it really that simple?
She bowed her head and her midnight hair swirled to frame her pale face. The soft moonlight streaming from the single window shone upon her, casting eerie shadows in the tower room and creating a misleading illusion of a halo around her head. Her expression was troubled, her stare blank, and her skin wan. Her eyes, the most captivating part of her, shone luminously but was a murky brown. Like cesspools, they were the eyes of someone haunted, someone who was looking back at a past that could not be undone, wondering where innocence ended and the all laughter died.
'You can choose to end it here.'
The words echoed in her head and as they continued to pound her mind, they began to take on a mocking quality until she was forced to close her eyes in an effort to shut them out. Still, they persisted, driving her mad.
Behind her tightly closed lids, she saw all the faces of the men whose lives she had destroyed. Her family, lost during the war but still existing inside the faded memories of youth. And then finally, the people who had so selflessly helped her and who, even now, were fighting for their lives in order to save her. Guilt and anguish filled her and she swallowed painfully at the tears that would not come.
'You can choose to end it here.'
Megumi raised her head as she took one shuddering breath. Gone were the flood of emotions that had so terrified her. In its place was a cold calmness, precise objectivity. Yes, she did indeed have a choice...and she was going to take it. Placidly, she lifted her arms so that the deadly tip of the tanto pointed directly to her chest. The metal glinted silently in the dark before she vehemently swung down, her arms forming an arc in the inky black...
She closed her eyes once more...this time, in anticipation, welcoming death with a smile, waiting, waiting...
Nothing.
Surprised and confused, Megumi opened her eyes and gasped at the sight that greeted her. It was Sano's bleeding hand, clutching the tanto and effectively stopping its descent. She watched in fascination as thin rivulets of blood flowed from the cut in his palm yet she noticed that he did not even flinch at the pain it must be causing him. She could feel the rage in his whole person; the way he was taking deep, rapid breaths told her that he was struggling to control his temper. With an oath, he wrenched the weapon away and glared at her, eyes dark with an unspeakable emotion.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" He hissed, teeth tightly clenched.
Shock and confusion were struggling inside Megumi and she had to blink twice to completely realize what happened. When she did, she returned his glare, eyes filled with loathing for the man who just saved her life. Too angry to think, she spoke the first words that came to mind, "What do you think? Give it back!"
"Do you really think you can make things right by committing suicide?" He said in a harsh tone.
"It is the only way!" As soon as the words came out of her mouth, she felt the stinging slap of his hand, the sharp imprint of his bleeding palm against her cheek. And she stopped, staring at him with wide eyes.
He had his eyes closed, head tilted a bit as he inhaled deeply. When he looked at her, his dark eyes were no longer as stormy with rage as before.
"Why are you doing this?" Megumi ventured, searching his features. "Have you forgotten who I am? Have you forgotten that I am responsible for several deaths, including that of your friend? I gave them opium and from the sidelines, I watched them die and their families suffer. I am a murderer. How can you care about the life of a murderer?"
Sano ran a hand briefly through his hair. A devastated expression suddenly came over him and he leaned back against the wall, his head bowed. After what seemed like an eternity, he slowly looked up and said, "I don't know." Then he lowered his head once more and allowed himself to slide down the wall to sit on the cold floor. In a quiet voice, he added, "I only know that death is not the answer you are seeking. If you die, your friends will grieve for you and you are lost to the world. But if you live," he looked at her, "then you can use your gift to help people. That way, you can find atonement for your sins."
Megumi watched him with face pale from tension and jumbled emotions. His words held some semblance of truth and try hard as she would, she could not find it in herself to fight them off. She gave a sigh. She was tired. So tired of fighting, of seeking a way out, of avoiding the guilt that weighed down her life. She was tired of fighting her troubles away. Why not just embrace them and try to make something out of it?
Cradling his head on his forearms which rested on top of his knees, Sano listened to the sounds of Megumi slowly approaching. He felt her slide down beside him and give out a deep sigh as though she could exhale all the pain inside with that one brief outburst of air.

- oo - TO BE CONTINUED - oo -

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A/N I was...having a writer's block so I decided to write this little flashback in the hopes of getting the juices flowing. I don't know yet if it worked. However, I AM working on the seventh chapter now so that's good news. This is not originally a part of this fic. Actually, some of the texts were taken from my other SxM fanfic, Opium Dreams (supposedly the prequel of Concessions but turned out as not. I swear, this is not a plug. ^_^) and I just incorporated them here.
As always, I'd like to thank my reviewers. Keep them coming. I love to hear from you guys. Just one quick note, not all things here are necessarily consistent with the manga or the anime. Uhm, artistic license? ^^ I'm sorry for being a bad writer and researcher but not sorry enough to stop. So there. ^^
Next Chapter: Luncheon and a Mysterious Note
- 6
- 7
- 8
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Concessions