Revised: June 6, 2002

Within Distant Reach

By; g3ozLizh

Prologue

Everything was supposed to turn out fine. But I guess not. For some known reason, Takani Megumi couldn't the least be happy about leaving. Leaving Kenshin and the gang. Leaving the clinic. Leaving this place. She added inwardly, surveying the scenery of a beautiful morning in Tokyo.

Leaving him.

Now where did that come from?

As much as Megumi tried to deny it, the one she would miss the most is that chicken-head. Sagara Sanosuke.

Then why was she leaving?

She didn't plan for this migration. She wasn't even expecting that she would be leaving for Aizu. At the back of her mind, it had always been to stay permanently in Tokyo. Too many memories hold Aizu, her hometown, to be a place where she can find peace and happiness. Sweet memories too, now dead.

In Tokyo… well, Tokyo is different. Sure, she had started badly here but it ended well. Better than she had ever dreamed of, even. She never knew that the one who would come to her rescue was a certain rooster ---

Ah, stop it! She focused her attention to the luggage she had prepared for tomorrow's journey, hoping that it would take her mind off a particular person. She tried vainly to think of anything she could have forgotten to pack. But try as she might, everything was already inside. Why, she even made it an excuse that every time her thought would wander back to him, she would reason out that it was only because he was part of the gang she was leaving behind. Even a flower from outside she had also included packing --- that was how she was desperately trying to pry her mind off him. All these just so I can stop thinking about him. To restrain myself from wondering why I haven't heard from him yet. She was silent for a moment.

Or why he isn't here right now to stop me. To ask me to stay.

Megumi drew in a shaky breath, suppressing a sob that was threatening to come out. She smiled weakly in consolation and thought of nice things to do once she's in Aizu.

I would go shopping for new accessories. That always cheers me up. She puckered her red lips, forefinger on her chin, thinking. And yeah, I can always cook, have a nice kitchen where I can --- She stopped short.

She would be eating alone.

Like as if that didn't happen before. But then again, for these past few months, Sano had almost always barged into her clinic to dine with her along with a suspicious injured hand. Of course, she didn't mind. She enjoyed his company as much as she hates to admit it most of the time, especially to him. He would just get big-headed again and presume that she likes him.

Which, of course, is true, her mind voiced knowingly.

Oh, shut up!

During those times, she had hoped against hope that something else would transpire between them besides the usual bickering or pulling of ears and trying to outwit the other.

No such thing happening. Of course, she's not the quitter type of woman so she decided to give it more time, maybe Sano can be so like Kenshin in some cases.

Until the time came to her. Came for her to realize that she should cease daydreaming and live with the present. Sagara and commitment? An unlikely match. All the stars would have to come crashing towards earth before something like that happens.

So, even though against her pro-Sano heart, she adjudicated once and for all to move on.

In short, she has no hope with Sano. No chance to be together with him.

It doesn't hurt much. No. Thank god.

But Megumi couldn't stop thinking. Would it hurt less if she knows… if Sano really cares --- that's putting it mildly --- for her, even just a bit?

That's one big question that will be left forever unanswered.

=====

That night, everyone was at the Akabeko, sort of a farewell party for Megumi. Well, almost everyone.

Glancing around the table, Megumi can see Kenshin and Kaoru stealing glances from one another, trying to hide it from everybody.

As if we're that dense. Megumi smirked.

Dr. Genzai was nodding off, oblivious to the noisy chatter of his two granddaughters beside him. Yahiko every now and then crans his neck to see the kitchen door, wanting to catch a glimpse of a certain someone donning an apron.

The Akabeko was closed for the night. Tsubame and Tae would be joining them too, as soon as the dishes are served.

I can't believe I'll be living all of these behind. A bittersweet smile formed on her lips. Only one person's presence didn't grace that place. And it hurt her to think that he would miss out this event; her last night with them.

She turned her head away, feeling the familiar trickle of tears gathering around her eyes.

Out of the corner of her eyes, Kaoru occasionally glances at Megumi to see if she's all right. Kenshin would meet her gaze as if to say that he knows too:

He isn't here yet.

That is why relief flooded across Kenshin and Kaoru's features as the door opened and in came Sano.

Megumi saw him and her heart soared. She almost leaped out from her chair to run and scold him for being late --- for worrying her. Or better yet, run into his arms and never let him go.

Of course, she didn't do the latter. She did scold him but she remained in her seat.

"Well, look who finally shows up." Megumi crossed her arms across her chest, one eyebrow raised. She hoped this façade would prevent the expression of great relief from showing.

"About time." Kaoru snapped, giving Sano the glare.

Kenshin just looked relieved.

"Where have you been??? I was dying of hunger here!" Yahiko raised and shook his fist.

Well, I guess I assumed wrong about earlier. It wasn't certain someone donning an apron but a certain something. She shook her head disapprovingly. Guys can be such… airheads. All they can ever think about is food.

"Um, Megumi, what is it?"

Kaoru's voice shot her back to reality. She blinked several times to clear her head. At this, she noticed that everyone was already seated around the table, even Tae and Tsubame.

She must really have been musing long.

"Sorry, guys. Just… my mind's full right now." She smiled apologetically to everyone. That's when she noticed Sano sitting beside her.

"Hope you don't mind." Sano whispered to her as their eyes met.

Now what did he mean by that? Sano usually sits beside her so what's the big deal?

Her heart told her something and it was making her light-headed. Could it be?

Megumi smiled at him. Not her usual smile.

She felt her cheeks redden so she looked down and dug in on her food but not before seeing Sano grin in return.

Megumi have every reason to think that her heart was making her over exaggerate every little thing happening at that moment. Especially went it involves Sano. So she made it a point to not be carried away by it, to be hooked by its deceptive power over her logical mind.

During the course of the meal, Sano's arms would occasionally brush against hers and his legs too, momentarily paralyzing her. She would hold her breath until that tingling feeling would subside.

Tae called out, "Second servings anyone?"

=====

The meal finally ended and after a few wisecracks and light conversations, everybody decided that it would be best that they turn in early so that they can be with Megumi early in the morning when she boards the train.

Sano and Megumi were the last one to go out, besides Tae and Tsubame who have to arrange and close the restaurant. The group had suggested that they do it tomorrow but Tae refused, saying that it would just be quick. So they resolved to wait outside for the two.

Kenshin and Kaoru had gone to some parts unknown while Dr. Genzai and the sleepy children had already went home ahead. Yahiko volunteered to help clean the dishes.

That left Sano and Megumi.

The night sky was velvety black with the beautiful contrasting colors of the stars twinkling brightly. Megumi stared breathlessly, taken in by its casual beauty.

"Beautiful night, isn't it?"

Megumi slowly lowered her head, to level Sano's gaze. "Yes." She stared meaningfully at him. "It is." She was looking right into the very depths of his rich brown eyes, searching for any sign that Sano meant what he said and --- hopefully --- if there's any underlying meaning.

Sano seems oblivious to her purpose. He looked straight ahead, leaning against the wall. Megumi shifted gaze disappointedly.

"Sure's gonna be lonely without you here." He stuffed his hands into his pockets.

Megumi stared at him, trying to make out what he really meant. Soft, cool night breeze bellowed gently; caressing her skin, billowing Sano's shirt.

She looked away. She couldn't bear to see that right now. It would only deepen whatever longing that's gonna be there when she will be away from him. No. Not when she's going to be away but right now, that longing is building up right now.

"Hey." Sano touched her shoulder gently. "Why so quiet?"

Megumi let out a short laugh. "Nothing. Just homesick already."

Sano straightened up. "Che." He flicked an imaginary dirt off his shirt --- no! Not imaginary. There really is dirt considering how seldom he washes it… if he ever washes it. "Don't go then. Nobody's stopping you."

Megumi wanted to scream. Baka! I want you to stop me! Yes. Inwardly she screamed out her frustration but outwardly, she just put on her usual carefree expression. "Typical you. It's not that easy you know. I had made plans." Yeah right. She silently rolled her eyes.

"Ok. It was just a suggestion."

Silence.

They both stared straight ahead, to nothingness. Thinking maybe.

Megumi noticed that they were behaving more than they ordinarily did. The atmosphere around them was somehow different.

Out of the corner of her eyes, Megumi saw Sano open his mouth to say something when Yahiko, Tsubame and Tae made known their presence.

"Hope we didn't let you wait that long." Tae smiled gratefully at the two.

You didn't let us wait long enough. That's the point, Megumi sarcastically thought.

"Where are the others?" Tae inquired, glancing about.

Kenshin and Kaoru emerged from behind a tree.

"Ready to go?" Kenshin asked.

There was a mischievous glint in Tae's eyes that seem to say she knew something.

Kenshin laughed sheepishly while Kaoru blushed.

Yahiko was gazing dreamily at Tsubame's face as the latter was softly giggling.

Well, at least not everybody's gloomy. Megumi can't help to not sound gloomy, even to herself. "What a nice farewell party this is turning out to be."

"You saying something, Megumi?" Sano queried.

Megumi realized that everyone was staring at her. She hastily brushed the question away with a dismissive wave of the hand. "Must be the sake kicking in."

=====

Sano and Megumi stopped in front of her house.

"Well, I'm home."

"You sure the sake's not getting to your head? You might not wake up early enough tomorrow."

"Nah, this is nothing. Besides, I can always count on you to wake me up, rooster-head." Megumi hoped that Sano would catch on with her line of thoughts even though she posed it only as a joke. Oh, Kami-sama. I can't believe I'm entertaining the idea of sleeping with him.

No such luck. It's either he's too sake-filled for his mind to work clearly or just plain dense, she didn't know.

"That's a really bad pun." He told her.

That's because it's not supposed to be a pun. "Ha.Ha." She mocked him. "Whatever."

Silence.

They were standing face to face, barely a foot away from each other.

Sano looked serious for a moment, as if contemplating something.

Seeing this, Megumi tried not to look expectant or eager or anything like that.

"Well, I guess this is goodbye." He smiled half-heartedly at her.

This is it. He's just going to leave. So near yet so far. Megumi felt like bursting into tears. But she maintained her composure. "Yeah, this is it." She replied, sounding breathy and soft, afraid her voice's going to crack if she's to speak any louder.

Silence.

I can't take this anymore. She turned around to go inside the house when Sano stopped her from advancing, holding on to her arm.

Megumi stared at the hand gripping her arm first then to the face of the man holding her captive. Of the man holding her heart --- her love, her emotions --- captive. She stepped closer… he stepped closer.

Even with head bent and eyes looking down, Megumi can feel that Sano was watching her intently. She couldn't bear to face him for she perceived that that would trigger her bottled up emotions inside to burst.

She didn't have to. Sano did it for her.

He gently tipped her face up with his thumb and forefinger… and looked inside her. Deeply.

Megumi closed her eyes, partly knowing what was to come and partly hoping to block the happy, thankful tears that are on the verge of flowing out.

She thought that this was going to be her happiest moment… maybe she'll stay after all. Hey, action speaks louder than words, right?

But Megumi didn't expect what happened next… or should we say she expected wrongly?

Sano hugged her. Just hugged her. Like a friend.

Okay, I get it now. Crystal clear.

Her heart broke into a thousand pieces at that very moment. All her dreams, expectation… all shattered. At that moment, something died within her. She aspired for something she couldn't reach or what was not destined for her to have. Yet however disappointed she was, she held on to whatever sensation the embrace imparts with, this may be the only closest contact she can get. So she basked in his warmth, wrapping her arms around him.

A lone tear welled out of her eyes, brushing them away with the back of her shaking hand. She imprinted in her mind every detail of the embrace. The way her head fits so perfectly on the crook of his neck, the way their body seem to mold into one, the sensations that were awakening every senses within her, his smell, the feeling of heart beating against heart.

I'll never be more than a friend.

Author's Notes:

I thought this was going to be a one-shot story… I guess not. I got carried away… hehehe. ^_^ I wrote this at about

1:00 in the early morning. Please review. Thanks!