Megumi gently flexed Sanosuke's fingers, then his hand, and finally his wrist. He endured her careful examination without movement or complaint, but there was a shadow of pain in his eyes and her own filled with sorrow as she began to bandage him. Sano's hand had never healed properly after the fight with Shishio, partly because the initial damage had been so severe and partly because he had never given it a chance to heal. He was literally too kind-hearted for his own good and had continued to fight when he saw someone in trouble and in need of protection. He was only nineteen years old, but his hand was permanently maimed, scarred and a little twisted and it was going to hurt him for the rest of his life.
She sighed and tried to focus on what he was saying-something about Kenshin and Karou going to Kyoto. "Oh, so they went to visit the cemetery."
"It's not really the season, but yeah."
The young woman tied a last knot and Sanosuke rubbed his hand, stretching his fingers experimentally. She expected him to go but he just sat there and finally she said, "Okay, that's it for today. Come back again next week." She wished she could do more than just a bandage for the pain and a warning about fighting.
"Okay." The young man saw the look in Megumi's eyes-a sadness that always seemed to be there when she was taking care of him. It was a look he hated to see and he tried to think of something to say to make her feel better.
"What's wrong? You can go now." Her voice was sad too and suddenly Sano had an inspiration.
He grinned wickedly. "You know, since Kenshin and the Missy aren't here, I was wondering what to do about lunch. In other words, well, uh…."
It worked-Megumi's eyes brightened and when she spoke, she sounded as if she were suppressing laughter. "Oh, all right. I have a few more patients this morning, so wait in the yard."
The young man smiled widely. "You mean it? All right!" He punched his newly bandaged fist into his other hand, wincing at the unguarded movement. "Then it's a promise. Don't forget."
"Yeah, yeah." Megumi watched him leave and murmured to herself, "If only I could forget him then I would be so happy." Or would she? He was the last man she had ever expected to care for-a girl dreams of falling in love with a prince, or a rich man, or at least someone with a steady job. Sanosuke didn't have any job at all, but it didn't really matter. Somehow he had gotten into her heart and grown there until there was no room for anyone else.
