Author's Note: Well I did promise you another SanosukeXMegumi fic…
Disclaimer: I totally deny all charges pressed against me (not THAT way! O.o) for "stealing" RK characters…
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A Girl Named Sakura
Chapter One: If Only He Knew
Megumi lay fast asleep on the futon, her eyes closed in slumber, while the others looked on.
"Jeez, she looks like she hasn't rested for ten years," Yahiko commented. Kaoru glared at her "insensitive" student and contemplated whacking the insolent brat on the head, but considering where they were and that her bokken was "conveniently" out of reach, decided not to.
"Well, anyone would be like that if they had to go through what she did," Kaoru explained.
"It's that bad?"
"From what I've heard, it's even worse than the thrashing you got from Hennya of the Juppon Gatana, back in Kyoto." At that, the raven –haired girl lightly stroked the ever-growing bump in her abdomen. " I hope that mine, if it can't hurt less, won't last as long."
Just then, Megumi stirred, interrupting their small talk. "Megumi-san!" Kaoru said, leaning forward to help her up.
"Where's Sakura?" were her first words, I want to see her."
Soon, the lady doctor was cuddling the day-old infant in her arms, her midnight-shaded hair framing her delicately-sculpted though worn-out face.
"She's beautiful," Kaoru commented.
Before Yahiko could stop himself, he remarked rather tactlessly, "If only that ass of her father knew." This time, Kaoru did whack him by aiming a slipper at his head and scoring a perfect bullseye.
"Ow! What was that for Ugly! Jeez, I hope that your baby doesn't end up looking like you or I'll have nightmares!" the kid samurai whined, dodging yet another slipper.
Megumi gazed down at her newborn child. If only he was here with them now. He would've been so proud…
Why did you have to go? What would you do if you were here? If you knew?
Instantly as if by reflex, her mind flashed back to that night. The very last time she'd seen him… the night when…
Forget him, she told herself silently and firmly. That idle ass wouldn't have cared enough anyway. All men are the same. He's not worth it. I can manage fine without him.
Megumi lifted a finger to stroke the newborn's face, while secretly vowing that she would never once look back from now on. She'd do all she could to bring up her baby, the one she named "Sakura" for the flowers which surrounded her place of birth and the falling petals which fell amongst them that very night.
But though part of her mind rejected the man she used to love, there was still that lingering thought that lay beneath in her sub-conscious mind.
Where are you now Sanosuke? And what are you doing?
If only you knew…
If only he knew.
…
In some other corner of the world (certainly not Japan), Sagara Sanosuke woke up with a start. Rubbing his eyes, he groaned a little at his interrupted sleep, and then got up, though quite in an unwilling manner.
Funny, he thought to himself, I had the weirdest dream last night. I saw all the others back in Tokyo, especially that Kitsune.
Actually, half the time I was just dreaming about her.
Wonder what they're all doing now without me around…
If only he knew.
…
Six years later…
As the people of Tokyo went about their daily business, no one seemed to take notice of the two young children playing by themselves outside the Kamiya Kasshin Dojo where Kaoru taught her students kendo. All seemed well in the peaceful neighbourhoood until…
"Tag! You're it!" a girl with long black hair and earth-coloured eyes shrieked excitedly as she whacked her unfortunate playmate hard on the left shoulder. "Come and et me Kenji!"
"Chotto matte!" cried Kenji, not wanting to be left behind. He quickly picked himself up and chased after her. "Sakura-san, chotto matte!"
…
Meanwhile, class had ended and the students were preparing to leave the Dojo. Two of the students, Outa and Duo, were chatting with each other when…
"Oof!" Sakura and Kenji collided with Outa and Duo and they all landed in a heap on the ground.
"Oww…" grumbled Duo, rubbing his sore rear end. "Did a meteorite blast its way in here or what?"
"Nah, it's little Sakura and Kenji," replied Outa, pointing at his neice and her friend.
"It's not my fault!" Kenji protested indignantly. "Sakura and I were playing tag and I'm it!"
"Ahh, sou desu ka?" said Duo, raising his eyebrows. "So it's Sakura again?"
Sakura simply pouted and stuck her tongue out at Kaoru's student.
"Yare yare," sighed Duo, "What's your daddy going to say when he finds out? He'd think that he has a son and not a daughter!"
"He won't say anything because he doesn't know me," Sakura replied. "And I don't even have one." She didn't say it smart-like; it was true.
Duo was about to continue when he received a kick on his leg from Outa. "Why don't you go back home first and I'll meet you later." He suggested tactfully, not wishing to see his niece being interrogated by his friend on her "family tree".
Duo shrugged and left the Dojo. Outa bent down so that he was eye-to-eye level with Sakura and spoke gently. "Sakura, you know that it's not very nice to go around hitting boys and one day it might not be fat Duo that you bump into."
Sakura nodded and replied, "I know."
"Promise you won't do it again?"
"I promise. Like me?" she asked, playing their old, favourite game.
"Rivers." Outa couldn't help grinning.
"Love me?"
Her uncle paused for a while before replying, "Oceans. Now go get ready to go see Mommy."
Sakura smiled back at him and went off to get ready for their trip to the clinic. Outa gazed after her, sighing inwardly.
Ever since his own older brother Sanosuke left Japan for kami sama knows where, he'd helped Megumi to take care of his young niece and watched her grow up in place of her own father.
It shouldn't be him. Uki always chided him for wasting his time doing something that was meant for someone else.
Their sister was right: Sanosuke should've been the one looking after her. He should've been there from the very beginning.
If only he were here. If he had known about Sakura's existence, he would've stayed.
If only he knew.
…
"Kenshin," said Kaoru, "I'm going to accompany Outa and Sakura back to the clinic. Could you keep an eye on Kenji while I'm gone?"
"Hai," her husband agreed, taking Kenji from her.
"I won't be gone long!" Kaoru added as she left with the othe two.
"Now I'll just be getting the laundry done and the… Oroooooo!" Kenji had reached up for a lock of his fiery red hair and pulled it hard again!
"Oroooo…" it was definitely going to be a very long wait.
…
"Take this medicine five minutes before you take your food," Megumi instructed her patient, an old lady with her silvery white hair tied into a bun at the back of her head. "And make sure you have plenty of rest as well."
"Arigato Dr Takani," murmured the old lady, taking the medicine gratefully.
Just then, there was a cry of "Mommy!" before a smaller version of the lady doctor whizzed through the crowd of patients at the clinic. Megumi bent down and caught Sakura in her embrace.
"Mommy I had such a fun time at Kenji's! We were playing tag and-oh!" she realized the old lady was there and remembered her manners. "Konnichiwa, oba-chan!"
"Such a lovely child," the old lady remarked, stretching out a hand to pat the six-year old on the head. "She certainly takes after you, Dr Takani."
So saying, the old lady left with the medicine.
"Well, I 'd better get back," said Kaoru, "Before Kenji really tears the house apart and gives Kenshin a headache!"
"I'm going to practice my kendo," added Outa, and left as well.
Which left Sakura to follow her mother into the clinic, while prattling about her day's activities. Finally, she got to the part when she bumped into "fat Duo", as Outa so aptly put it.
"Duo said that if Daddy looked at me he'd think I was a boy!" said Sakura, "Mommy, what would Daddy think? Mommy, why don't I have a Daddy? How come Kenji has two parents and I don't?"
Megumi froze, her eyes widened.
What would Daddy think?
"Mommy?"
"Your father- Sakura why are your hands so dirty! Here let me wash them! I thought I told you to wash them thoroughly before coming here!"
The sensitive topic was left untouched-for now.
But they couldn't avoid it for long.
Sooner or later they would all know the answer to their question.
If only they knew…
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Author's Note: Nearghhh… tired out… 2 am in the morning…
For those of you wondering, Outa and Uki are siblings of Sanosuke. They appear in volume 26 of the manga. Outa is the quiet one usually but I decided to make him a little more "talkative", what with Sakura and all… and Uki's supposed to be really short-fused from what I've read… anyway…
PLEASE REVIEW! MY ONE AND ONLY DEATH WISH IS FOR YOU TO REVIEW AND I'LL BE THE HAPPIEST PERSON ALIVE ON ARGIATO!
:passed out: mC