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DARK DESIGNS

A Ruroni Kenshin

Fanfic Crossover

by

Jedi Brother Horace

(WARNING: This chapter contains many spoilers for the end of the Ruroni
Kenshin manga. So don't read on if don't want to know what happened.)

Disclamer: Ruroni Kenshin is owned by Nobuhiro Watsuki and Shueisha. Don't
sue me cause you won't get a penny. As for what the other series is. Tough
luck, I'm not telling anybody yet.

CHAPTER 4: Moonlight

"They're good people," Cadwell spoke suddenly.

"Huh? Oh! Yes, they are." Toki answered softly, as she the Englishman walked
down the moonlit street. It had been a half-hour since they left the dojo,
and the moon was high above the sky, shining like silver beacon onto the
Tokyo suburb.

"Have you known them long?" he asked.

"Well, I met them in Yokohama four years ago. But I haven't seen much of
them over the years."

The Englishman turned to look at her. "That is unfortunate. Maybe you should
spend more of your time with them. They seem an interesting bunch."

Toki fought hard not to smile at this comment, recalling the humorous antics
that had occurred in the Kamiya dojo. "I'm glad you say that. But surely
your colleagues in England must be better company to you?"

He then laughed out loud, much to her surprise. "What? You mean those
stiffs? I'm surprised I could stay awake when they're in the same room!"

Toki blinked, then joined him in his mirth.

Another half-hour passed when they reached the gate of Toki's mansion. Toki
smiled to herself, glad that she was able to spend time once more with this
gentleman whom she was slowly warming up too. Her thoughts of him had hardly
strayed since their first meeting at the harbor yesterday. She hadn't
realized how much she'd missed her time with Cadwell until she saw him this
afternoon. That was the reason she'd asked Kaoru-san to invite him over.

As they stood before the entrance of her home, Toki turned to him. "Why
don't you stay for tonight? I mean, it's very dark and you could-"

He smiled. "That's very kind of you, Toki-san," he said, gently interrupting
her. "But no. My carriage is waiting for me after all."

"Are you sure?" She pleaded.

"A little moonlight stroll never hurt anybody. Besides," he said, his voice
lowering. "I doubt your neighbors would appreciate you housing a filthy
gaijin."

"No!" Toki exclaimed, startling him. "Cadwell-san, you are more than just a
"gaijin". You are a good man and." she tried to continue, despite the
threatening redness on her cheeks. ".and.despite what some people may think,
you are human, and just the same as anyone I know." She finished
empathetically, yet hid her face to hide her embarrassment.

Cadwell stared, left speechless by her steadfast defense of him. It was a
touching gesture, to say the least. He then slowly reached out to take her
right hand. Toki looked up, startled by his gesture yet reassured by his
gentle touch. As he held her hand up, he then reached out with his left hand
to touch hers, uncurling his fingers so that both palms flattened against
one another.

"You're right," he said, their hands still joined. "We are alike."

Toki still looked confused, even as he pulled his hand away. He then laughed
softly. "Forgive me, it's something my mother taught me a long time ago."

"Oh.really?" She asked, her face still flushed from their brief physical
contact.

"Yes. It taught me that no one person is different from the other."

"Oh, I see." Toki by this time had regained her composure, but still looked
at him with trepidation.

The Englishman looked back at her with affection. "Thank you, Toki. Those
were the kindest words anyone has said to me in a while."

At those words a smile grew on Toki's face. "I.I'm glad to hear that."

For a brief moment in time nothing was said between them. Toki could not
shun her eyes from the handsome face that stared back at her in kind. The
moment ended abruptly, as the Englishman took a step back and bowed to her.

"I'd better go now," he said. "Do take care, Toki-san."

No...Please don't go. She thought desperately. Instead she let out. "Hai.
Kiwotsukete wo.John."

A look surprise crossed his features before a small smile appreared on his
face. He then took one last bow and turned to walk slowly down the street.
As Toki watched him go, the inner turmoil within her returned. Before, she
considered John Cadwell a friend and a gentleman. But now, she would do
anything to make him stay, to be in his presence, and to assuage the
loneliness she felt every night.

No.I'm being silly.She tried to convince herself. But despite the denial
within her, her heart ached with longing. Longing for someone who would
understand and protect her. Shigure had been that person, he was her only
family, and the only family she ever needed. Yet in one fell swoop he was
taken away right before her eyes.

And here was John Cadwell, a gaijin from England whom she barely knew. Yet
he made her feel again, touching her heart in ways like Shigure did. For the
first time in years, she didn't feel so alone anymore.

Sighing to herself, she opened the gate, trying to rid herself of such
foolish thoughts as she entered her home.

She never noticed the shadows that passed the front of her home, following
in the trail of the Englishman.

***********

The evening breeze felt good as John Cadwell took in a deep breath.
Straightening up, he continued to walk down the dimly lit path that ran
through the Tokyo suburb. A half an hour passed since he brought Toki home,
and it amazed him how unusually quiet it was. The people here obviously
valued their time for rest, unlike London, where waves of people gathered on
the streets or at junctions despite the late hours. He briefly wondered if
the residents of the Kamiya dojo were asleep tonight. A smile grew on his
face at the memory of their seemingly endless supply of energy and boundless
enthusiasm. These were people who enjoyed life to the fullest. And decent
folk at that, as shown by their ready acceptance of him into their circle.
That fact alone made him feel guilty, having deceived them about himself.

But how would they feel? He wondered. If they knew my true nature? He
imagined them to be shocked to say the least, especially Toki. She'd become
so close to him now, giving him her trust and friendship. But had she
learned the truth, would she be so trusting then? He felt saddened by the
thought of Toki turning away from him.

As he turned down a narrow street, a scream from the corner ahead caught his
attention. His thoughts momentarily forgotten, Cadwell in haste rounded the
corner to discover what was about. The street was empty, and he briefly
wondered if it was nothing when another scream tore the night. It seemed to
come from down the street, and Cadwell quickly followed to its source. After
a few moments, he came upon a large house. The rotting wood timbers and
cobwebs suggested it had been abandoned for quite some time. Presently he
heard the girl's scream from within, and with a mad dash he threw the old
door open. Inside was a dimly lit room, the only source of light being a
candle on the far corner. Seven figures he could make out, six of them were
men, all wearing tattered gi's and hakamas with sinister looks on their
faces. One of them was bent over the other figure, which was a young woman,
barely out of her teens. Her face was bruised and streaked with previously
shed tears. Three of the men were currently holding down her legs and arms.
Her kimono was torn on the front, exposing her chest for all to see. The
figure that stood above her was in pretty much the same fashion, his upper
body was naked, his gi hanging limply on his waist. Spread across from his
lower arm to his shoulder, was a hideous tattoo.

Yakuza. Cadwell had heard stories of Japan's inner mob, but this was the
first time he'd met them in person. The men in question had turned their
eyes to him, looking at first in surprise and then in malicious amusement.
The girl however had turned her youthful eyes to him hopefully, as if her
savior had come.

The half naked yakuza then spoke up, an evil smile on his face. "Oi, minna.
Looks like we got another guest."

The others chuckled in agreement, some of them taking out knives and
bludgeons. The Englishman then heard a scuffling noise from behind him, and
found another yakuza, a big man with a bokken in his hand, standing by the
doorway.

The half naked yakuza, who seemed to be the de facto leader of the group,
spoke once more. "Too bad you had to see this, gaijin. But we'll give you
two choices. You can play hero and we'll be happy to give you a good painful
death. Or, you could give us all your money and we won't hurt you.much." He
finished with a sneer.

John Cadwell merely narrowed his eyes, but they then fell on the girl, who
was still being held fast by some of the men. The look on her face was one
of desperation, and of helplessness. At that, the Englishman smiled, and
knew what had to be done.

Before anyone could blink, Cadwell turned around, twisting his body at
fantastic speed to catch the man behind him with a back fist. The gangster
flew from the blow, crashing through the rotting wall with a loud thud.

The shock stares of the men received him as he turned back at them with a
grin on his face. It seemed to unnerve the gang leader, who immediately
shouted; "KUSO! Kill him!"

No sooner were those words spoken, three of the men rushed at Cadwell. But
their actions looked futile, as the Englishman tore at them like a
whirlwind. First throwing savage blows that felled the first two, while
catching the third man's arm and snapping his collarbone with a vicious
chop. The gangster had a moment to scream before he was thrown through the
door.

The leader watched in shock, as his remaining two companions rushed the
Englishman from both sides. But it seemed as if Cadwell moved like
lightning, striking the man on his left with a powerful forearm swing. Then
he turned quickly, catching the other gangster's arm before the knife could
stab him. The gang leader's eyes then widened in horror, for the Englishman
lunged at this comrade's throat with his teeth bared. The gangster screamed
in pain, as the white molars of the Englishman tore at his flesh like some
cheap fabric.

Cadwell then let go of the yakuza, the latter fainting from the shock and
blood loss that his attack had left. Wiping the blood off his lips with his
sleeve, he then turned to find the gang leader holding a knife to the girl's
throat.

"DON'T MOVE!!!" The gang leader screamed, his voice on the verge of
hysterics. He then pressed the knife harder, earning a whimper from the
girl. "Don't move! Or she dies!"


The girl still held Cadwell with that helpless gaze. New tears in her eyes
sprang as the gangster twisted her arm painfully. Her eyes then widened a
bit as a small smile grew on John Cadwell's face.

"Go ahead," The Englishman said coolly.

Even the girl looked surprised, as the gang leader shouted. "WHAT?!"

The Englishman face betrayed an expression of amusement. "Kill her then. It
matters not to me."

The girl by now was in a state of disbelief, even as her captor started to
panic. "Do you think I'm joking?! I'll really kill her!" His statement
didn't seem to hold any meaning, as the gaijin stood still and continued to
eye him with that sharp gaze. "Are you saying don't care?!"

"No," Cadwell replied matter of factly.. "Merely saying that this farce has
gone on long enough." He then eyed the girl. "Wouldn't you agree?"

Suddenly the gang leader keeled over, as a sharp pain pierced his stomach.
He then fell to the floor, the blood flowing from his abdomen. The girl
stood, in her hand a bloody tanto which she used to stab the gang leader.
Her once helpless face now held a fierce expression.

"You knew," she hissed.

"I did," he answered, his face still a cool mask. "I must congratulate you
on your performance. You almost had me convinced."

"But how?"

He gave her a quick laugh. "This isn't the first time someone has tried to
trap me with such a facade."

"You knew this was a trap from the beginning? And yet you still rushed into
it?" She asked incredulously.

"What? And deny myself such good sport? I must say I haven't had such
entertainment in quite a while." He finished with a small smile.

He had no further chance to comment, as the girl suddenly rushed at him with
blinding speed, swinging the small knife in her hands. Had he not moved in
time, the tanto would have slashed him across the chest. Cadwell dodged the
attack, yet received a small cut on his arm.

The girl laughed haughtily as she turned to him. "Ha! Didn't expect that did
you?" She then readied herself. "Don't think me so helpless! These fools
were nothing compared to me!"

She then reached for something within her kimono, and before Cadwell could
see what it was, he moved out of the way as several throwing stars were
imbedded on the wall behind him. The girl then took the advantage, using the
moment from which her shuriken left her hand to run to the side of the room
and strike with her tanto. The blade was held in a stabbing position, and
aimed it straight for his heart. She yelled mentally in triumph as she felt
her dagger connect. Her smug demeanor faded, as she saw the Englishman's
grin.

"Very good," he replied coolly. "Yet not good enough."

The girl blinked, and realized her error as she saw that he had caught the
tanto with his bare hand. Desperately she tried to free it from his grip,
but he held on, despite the metal slicing through his skin. Realizing he
would not relinquish her weapon, the girl reached again for her shuriken.
But the Englishman was wise to what she was doing, and reached out with his
other hand to enicircle it around her neck.

"Enough games girl," he said as he held her aloft. "Who sent you?!"

"N-never," she choked, while struggling to free herself. But the iron grip
of the Englishman proved too much for her. "I'll. not dishonor.. myself by
answering. you."

The Englishman narrowed his eyes. "I do not kill women. But refuse to answer
my next question and I may make an exception. Where is Paul D'arnot?!!"

Before any response was given, he heard a low noise that sounded like a soft
whistle and felt something prick the back of his neck. Instantly he dropped
the girl, who before rolling away slashed him across the arm with her blade.
Turning around, he found another figure standing by the doorway, he was
clothed from head to toe in black and in his hand he held what seemed to be
some sort of bamboo pipe. As Cadwell's vision started to dim, the answer
became as plain as daylight, the man had shot him with some kind of dart
tipped with a poison of some sort! Reaching for the back of his neck, he
found there a small needle.

"Heh, Don't bother, gaijin," the shadowy figure sneered. "That little remedy
I gave you will have entered your system by now."

He scowled at the figure even as a sudden weakness overcame him. His legs
buckling, Cadwell fell on his knees, his arms supporting him even as they
began to sag. Cadwell held his wounded arm as he eyed the girl who stalked
up to him and raised her dagger to end his life.

The other figure however, rushed to her side to stop her intent. "Just what
are you doing?!"

He heard her respond angrily as his eyelids became too heavy to open. "What
do you think?! I'm going to kill him!"

"Our orders were to take him alive!" he heard him remind her.

"Screw our orders! You didn't see him tear up those men like some wild dog!
I say we kill him here and now!"

His arms were ready to give way as he heard the shadowy figure reply coldly.
"That's not for you to decide."

"Nor ever," a new voice chimed in.

Instantly Cadwell eyes shot open, and tried with great effort to lift his
head up to know what was about. His two assailants had turned around to
confront a new figure standing straight and holding something long and shiny
in his hand. Though his vision had started to fail him, Cadwell immediately
recognized it to be a sword.

"YOU!" the first assailant, his voice carrying a mixture of terror and fear.
Instantly he reached for something behind him, Cadwell saw that it was a
dagger similar to the one the girl wielded. But before it even came out of
it sheath, the sword flashed out to slice him by the throat. The girl
screamed in horror as she watched her companion die instantly. Her bravado
forgotten, she tried in desperation to escape the room. But in two quick
steps the figure was beside her, and in fluid stroke sliced her chest open.

It was over in less than five seconds. Cadwell then saw the shadowy figure
wipe his blade with a cloth of some sort, then sheath it easily into his
scabbard. The figure then turned to regard him, and Cadwell tried in
desperation to fight the effects of the drug as the figure started towards
him.

"Don't be afraid," the figure told him, as he held a hand out to the tired
Englishman. "I'm not here to hurt you." Cadwell accepted it warily, despite
the fact that he could not make out the other's face. The figure then moved
to his side to help him up. "You'll not be harmed by them either, on my
honor."

"Who.are.you?" The Englishman asked weakly, as blackness overcame him.

A short reply was his answer just before he fainted. "A friend."

***********

Megumi woke up with a start. Her eyes became wide as she thought she heard a
light treading through the yard outback. Though Megumi wasn't much of a
fighter and knew very little of sensing danger, she slept lightly and knew
what went around the clinic. And to her knowledge nobody was supposed to be
up and about at this late hour. She'd helped Genzai-sensei to bed, so it
couldn't have been him. And Ayame and Suzume were staying at the dojo.

As she got out of the futon, she hastily put on a loose robe and opened the
door of her room. Her eyes widened as he distinctly heard footsteps from out
side the yard.

Kamisama, she thought to herself. I was right. Someone's outside, and trying
to break into the clinic. Taking a deep breath and trying not to panic, she
crept silently to the operating room and opened the door. Hastily she opened
her cabinet rummaged through her instruments. Most of them were small, not
really much to threaten anybody with. She finally decided on a surgeon's
knife. It wasn't big, nor could she see herself stabbing anybody with it.
But it was all she had now, and she prayed to Kami that it would be enough
to scare someone away.

She then closed the medicine cabinet just as she heard the sound of the
front door sliding open. A look of horror crossed the young doctor's face.
The thief was breaking in now! Silently she huddled behind the cabinet and
sat perfectly still, as she heard the footsteps now treading across the
wooden tiles of the clinic hall.

Megumi's heart was racing, fear now taking hold of her. Briefly she wished
Kenshin was here, or even that baka-tori Sanosuke. But they weren't, and the
only defense she had was the small medical instrument she held in her hands.
And even with that she felt her chances were slim. Running away was not an
option either, as Dr. Genzai would be left alone.

Presently the footsteps stopped, and Megumi wondered why. A scary thought
crossed her mind. Could the thief have sensed her presence? Her hand grasped
the hilt of the knife tighter, as she held her breath and waited for what
would happen.

For a few seconds nothing happened. Megumi's eyes then widened as she heard
in a clear voice, "Don't be afraid. I mean you no harm."

Megumi was now in a panicked state, had the thief figured she was in hiding?
And was baiting her out for him to kill? Rather than give him a point, she
decided to remain silent.

The voice however, spoke out once more. This time the voice held a pleading
tone. "Sensei, please come out. There is a wounded man here who needs your
attention."

The last statement made her raise her eyebrows in puzzlement. This shadowy
figure had broken into the clinic to deliver her a patient? The logic to it
baffled her.

Briefly she considered her options. The thief seemed to be aware of her
presence, but what if he wasn't? What if all this was a elaborate ruse to
flush her out of hiding so he could dispose of her quickly? His voice had
sounded sincere, but she knew better than to trust what people said. On the
other hand, if what he was saying was true, then perhaps he had brought a
patient for her to care. It was highly doubtful of course, but her duty as a
doctor required her to treat whomever needed it.

Finally, ignoring her better judgement and hoping that she wasn't making
some big mistake, she stood up slowly. Still holding the knife close to her,
she spoke in a low and cautious voice. "I'm coming out, but.don't try
anything sudden."

"Of course," the voice responded. Megumi then groped around the darkness for
a moment until she found the oil lamp that they kept. Taking out some
matches from the cabinet, she lit the small instrument until it burned a
soft glow. Once the light was sufficient, she mustered up her courage and
slowly and almost hesitantly reached for the screen door and slid it open.

Her eyes were wide with disbelief as she saw who stood in the hall. Standing
before her was a shadowy figure, about the same height as Kenshin. He wore
what seemed to be a tattered gi and hakama, and a straw hat that covered
half his face. Strapped to his side was a sword. Megumi eyed it warily,
despite the fact that it was sheathed within its saya. Slumped beside him
was another figure, whose arm was being supported by the former. Megumi
blinked in surprised, as she recognized him to be the unconscious person of
John Cadwell.

Cadwell-san?! She thought in confusion, as she saw that the Englishman was
indeed wounded. His right arm was bleeding and had already soaked the sleeve
of his white coat, as was his left hand, which was dripping blood all over
the tatami.

Megumi was so stunned at the sight before her, that she barely noticed the
mysterious man brush past her while dragging the unconscious gaijin. Only
the brief whiff of a scent she thought to be out of place brought her out of
her stupor. She then whirled on him. "Hey! Just what are you doing?"

"Sensei, there's not time to discuss this," the figure said plainly, turning
to her. "He's lost a lot of blood. I suggest you start operating if you wish
to save him."

Megumi looked blankly at the mysterious figure before her, a dozen question
ringing in her head. Why was he doing this? Why had he brought an injured
John Cadwell to the clinic? On the other hand, how did the Englishman get
into the condition he was in the first place? Did this mystery man have
anything do with it?

But just as quickly, she cleared her head of such thoughts. The Englishman
was in need of a doctor, and fast. She then ordered to the figure, "Place
him on the table."

The figure did as instructed, hefting the huge gaijin onto the operating
table with apparent ease. Megumi then rushed to the Englishman's side,
taking time to examine his pupils and vital signs.

"He's been drugged." She then turned to the figure for confirmation.

"Don't worry," he reassured her. "The poison they gave him was potent, but
not lethal."

"They? As in the people who did this to him?" She asked skeptically.

The figure merely nodded.

Megumi looked suspiciously at the figure before her, but said nothing.
Turning around, she rummaged around her cabinet for some materials she would
need. Picking out some bandages and an ointment she turned back to the task
at hand.

"Tell me," she said turning around. "Just who are you anywa-" The question
died in her mouth, as she and Cadwell were the only ones present in the
room. The mysterious figure had disappeared, leaving no trace that he'd been
there in the first place. The scent which she caught earlier was gone as
well. Briefly Megumi considered seeking out so he could give her more
answers. But she shrugged it off, and set to begin her work.

Realizing that removing the Englishman's clothing would take some time,
Megumi settled for tearing the loose fabric. Taking out the knife that she
kept, she cut the material of the Englishman's coat. Once she was done, she
threw the discarded coat to the side and began working on the cotton shirt.

Her eyes bugged out when she finished. For before her was the exposed chest
of the Englishman, lined with thin white scars that seemed to crisscross
over his golden brown skin. Megumi with bated breath took time to absorb all
before her. Never before had she seen so many scars on a human being. True
she'd seen many scars in her lifetime, particularly in the form of Kenshin
and Sano, both of whom led particularly violent lives. But looking at the
sleeping form of the Englishman before her, she wondered how this gaijin
could suffer so many injuries to his person and still come out alive and
breathing.

Briefly she examined some of the damaged tissue. The scars on his chest
looked to have been left by claw marks. While a particularly vicious piece
on his ribs was an ugly gash to could only have been formed by a rocky
instrument of some sort. But the ugly patchwork on his neck and shoulder
made her shudder. She didn't want to think what may have caused that,
suffice to say that it could have been the result of an unfortunate
encounter with a particularly vicious animal.

Megumi turned her eyes to the face of the sleeping Englishman. He looked
peaceful and content, despite of what was presented before her.

My God, Cadwell-san. Just what have you been through?

***********

It was an hour later when Megumi finished her ministrations. The operation
had been no small feat, but fortunately the wounds of her patient were not
serious and she was able to stop the bleeding easily. The Englishman's
drugged state had a boon as well, as she was able to stitch up the wounds
without him thrashing about. Still, she fervently hoped that what the
mysterious figure said was true, and that the poison given to Cadwell was
not fatal.

Her thoughts turned back to the Englishman's mysterious benefactor. Why had
he risked himself to save the Englishman's life? What were his reasons? Why
was he being so secretive?

And why was the stench of a dead corpse about him?

####

End of Chapter 4

Arrrgh. I really have to stop getting distracted. Maybe then I can finish
all that I need to in a shorter period time. Anyway, this chapter took me
quite a while to finish. I had to edit a lot of stuff because they just
plain sucked in my opinion.

Til then. England Prevails.