Megumi returned to the porch after helping Dr. Gensai put Ayame and Suzume to bed and smiled. Sanosuke was leaning on that big stupid dog he had found, picking his teeth, a picture of contentment. He saw her and smiled back. "Thanks for the meal, Megumi. And thanks for taking care of Notaro tonight. One more night with him in the row house and I would get evicted."
"That's all right. I'm going to make tea-would you like some?"
"Sounds good." He got to his feet in one lithe movement. "Let me help you."
Megumi's eyes widened in surprise. Sanosuke was usually the laziest of men-she had never seen him lift a finger around the dojo, even when Karou shouted at him to help-why was he being so nice? Notaro licked her hand, wagging his tail appealingly, and she nodded to herself. Of course-Sano was just trying to get on her good side so she wouldn't throw the dog out. She sighed. For a moment there….
Sanosuke followed Megumi into the kitchen, tongue-tied as usual. Oh, when it came to teasing her he was never at a loss for words, but when it was important, he couldn't seem to make a sound. She probably thought he was only offering to help so she wouldn't throw Notaro out. He sighed and waited for her to tell him what to do.
Megumi picked up the tea kettle and shook it. "Can you get some fresh water?"
"Sure." The young man took the kettle out to the yard and filled it at the well, then brought it back and waited while she made the tea and put the kettle and a couple of cups on a little table. "I'll get that."
He carried it out to the porch and they sat side by side, watching the sun set and fending off Notaro. The dog finally lay down, staring at them both and wagging his tail, and Sanosuke said, "In a way, I think I'm going to miss this big lug."
Megumi hid a smile. "I'm not. There's no way I could afford to keep feeding him. What time is his owner supposed to get him?"
Sano shrugged. "I don't know. Chief Uramura just said sometime tomorrow. I'll come by first thing in the morning to pick him up."
They finished their tea and he carried the little table back to the kitchen, then punched Notaro lightly. "Be good, okay? Thanks again, Megumi."
"Yeah, yeah." She watched Sanosuke leave, then turned a stern eye on Notaro. "And you'd better behave yourself!"