Funeral ceremonies finally finished, everyone stood around in small groups, talking. Kenshin exchanged some words with Chief Uramura and Shinichi. Sano, who was munching on a rice ball he had snuck along in his pants pocket, overheard their conversation.

"As far as I know, Oguni-sensei had no living descendants or apprentices. I'm not certain to whom his clinic will go now," said Chief Uramura sadly.

"I'm certain someone will be found eventually. With the introduction of Western medicine, many talented young people have begun studying it," said Kenshin, trying to be optimistic.

"Perhaps, but after Oguni-sensei's tenure, that person will have some large sandals to fill," said Shinichi.

'Successor, eh?' thought Sano. 'I wonder...'

He glanced over at Megumi as she chatted with Kaoru, who held an utterly-bored-looking Kenji in her arms. The Oguni Clinic needed a successor. Megumi was the best assistant Oguni-sensei had had. Kaoru had told him about some of the other assistants who came and went after Megumi's departure and none could measure up.

'The Vixen's the only one good enough. Honestly, Saranou and Meika got things in hand at the Takani Clinic. Me and the Vixen should come back here and take the clinic over!' Sano thought.

What remained was convincing Saranou of the idea.

As the group gathered and headed to the Akabeko for breakfast, Sano made a discrete exit and headed for the telegraph office. Upon arriving, Sano paid the fee and dictated this telegram to Megumi's brother:

"TO: Takani Saranou

Oguni-sensei's funeral's over. His clinic has no successor. I was thinking since you and your wife have the Takani Clinic running good, maybe Megumi could take over the Oguni Clinic down here.

I'm asking if me and Megumi can get hitched so we can stay at the clinic down here and help the people of Tokyo out. I've been working real hard at your clinic and hope I've proven to you how responsible I am and what a good husband I'd be. What do you think?

FROM: Sagara Sanosuke"

Not knowing how long it would take to receive a reply, Sano left the telegraph office and made his way back to find the others. Sano met them as they were just arriving at the Akabeko, which Tae had graciously reserved for only the mourners.

"Hey Rooster, where did you disappear to?" sniped Megumi as Sano fell in alongside her.

"Had business to take of," grunted Sano.

"Gambling, I suppose? Honestly, you can't think of anyone but yourself for more than two minutes, can you?" fumed Megumi, looking straight ahead.

Sano was a bit put off by Megumi's attitude, but didn't want to spoil the surprise.

"Guess not," was his non-chalant reply.

With a huff, Megumi walked away from Sano and joined the Himuras and the teenagers. Sano was miffed when Megumi sat between the three teenagers and Kaoru and Kenshin instead of next to him, but decided to tolerate the Vixen's attitude, for now.

The midday meal was a somber one; no one really in much of a mood for speaking. Sano pretended to be interested in his food, but kept a secret eye on Megumi, who was now cooing over Kenji, who had fallen asleep in Kaoru's arms.

Several times, Megumi looked up and caught Sano staring directly at her. Each time, she blushed and looked down at her food. Sano smirked to himself and continued to shovel it in.

After the meal was finished, Sano went back to the telegraph office after breakfast and found no reply.

'He better answer by tomorrow,' Sano sulked as he walked through the cold air.


The next day...

Sano made his way to the Oguni Clinic where Megumi had spent the night in case anyone needed medical attention. After stepping out of his shoes, Sano stepped inside and was shocked to be greeted by Megumi, Saranou and Meika.

"Wha?" he gaped.

"We thought a personal answer would be more appropriate than a telegram," explained Saranou.

"Alright Saranou, he's here. Now will someone please tell me what's going on?" fumed Megumi.

Saranou smiled at Sanosuke.

"I believe you had something you wished to ask my sister," he said.

"I did?" asked Sano.

Saranou gave him a look. Sano's brain finally kicked in.

"Oh yeah!" said Sano. "OK Vixen, you and me been livin' in Aizu five months now. I know I fucked up with that stunt I pulled last summer, but I've been workin' hard since then and I hope I've, uh made amends in your eyes..."

Megumi's eyes widened, willing the Rooster to continue.

"And uh... well I was thinkin' that since this clinic's got no one to run it now... maybe you 'n' me could have a go at it and get hitched?" Sano looked hopefully up at Megumi.

"Sanosuke," said Megumi in surprise.

She looked to Saranou and Meika.

"That's why we're here on such short notice," said Saranou with a smile.

"Sanosuke-san sent Saranou a telegram asking for your hand in marriage," said Meika with an excited smile.

"Meika and I can run the Takani Clinic and you could take this one over and act in Oguni-sensei's stead here," said Saranou.

Megumi didn't know what to say; being inundated by emotion. The past few months in Aizu had shown a new side of Sanosuke. He had worked so very hard at the clinic and had spent every free moment with her, courting her, buying things for her, taking her out to dinner, etc. He had done everything in his power to make up for his "slip-up" from last summer.* Megumi looked up at Sano, who was anticipating her reply.

"I accept," she said, blinking back tears.

"Great!" said Sano, whipping out a jug of sake.

The four spent the next hour pouring sake for each other to celebrate.

*A/N: Read Return of the Rooster.


Kamiya Dojo, later that morning...

Kenshin and Kaoru were awakened by a loud pounding on the front gate. Kenshin got to his feet and grasped his bokken until he felt the familiar, blatant ki wash over him.

"HEY, KENSHIN! OPEN UP!" came the familiar voice.

"Orooo," went Kenshin, setting the bokken aside.

Kenshin crossed the yard to the gate, which opened to reveal Sano and Megumi standing together.

"Me 'n' the Vixen's gittin' hitched," grinned Sano.

"Ororooooooroooooooooooooo," cried the startled Kenshin, eyes turning to swirls.

"What's going on out here?" demanded Kaoru, upon hearing her swirly-eyed husband's cries.

"Orooooooo..."

Kaoru sighed.

CRACK!

"Ow!" Kenshin rubbed his poor head as Kaoru nudged him aside.

"We're engaged," said Megumi.

"Megumi-san!" said Kaoru happily.

"You guys're invited," said Sano.

"Congratulations!" said Kenshin, finally able to speak sensibly.

"Hey, what's goin' on out here?" came the tiny, plaintive voice of Kenji as the boy strode out into the snowy yard in only his yukata and zori, clutching his rooster.

"Kenji, you'll catch a cold," said Kaoru disapprovingly as she quickly scooped the boy up and tucked him into the flap of her hanten. "Uncle Sano and Aunty Meg are going to get married."

"Is that it?" asked Kenji in disappointment.

"I'm afraid so, son," said Kenshin indulgently.

"Then I'm goin' back to bed," said the boy as he wriggled out of his mother's arms and retreated to the warmth of his room.

Kaoru flashed Sano and Megumi an apologetic smile before she and Kenshin led Sano and Megumi into the living area of the dojo.

"Have you two eaten yet?" Kenshin offered.

"Nah, just had a couple jugs a sake this mornin'," said Sano.

Kenshin could tell that by the smell of Sano's breath and how he slurred his words more than usual.

Kaoru questioned the engaged couple while Kenshin went to work preparing a hearty breakfast of dorayaki and gyoza.

"So, how did this come about?" Kaoru ventured as they ate.

"It was all this big lug's idea," said Megumi with a smile.

"Aaw, it was nothin'," blushed Sano.

"I thought he'd left the group to go gambling yesterday, but he went to the telegraph office and sent notice to Saranou and Meika, asking for my hand in marriage," explained Megumi.

"Why Sano, you actually thought of that on your own?" asked Kaoru incredulously.

"Yes," said Sano as he glared indignantly at Kaoru.

"The world's coming to an end," said Kaoru.

"After we're done here, we'll head over to th' Akabeko 'n' tell the Punk, Cat Eyes, the lil' girl 'n' Tae," said Sano as he continued to shovel his food in.


"Oh Sanosuke-san and Megumi-san, that's such wonderful news!" cried Tae upon hearing the joyous announcement. "The Akabeko will happily cater your wedding!"

"Congratulations," was Tsubame's quiet response.

"I just hope your kids inherit Megumi's brains," came Yahiko's offering.

"Good one, Yahiko," grinned Yutaro.

"You lil punk!" growled Sano as he and Yahiko got into a rough and tumble fight in the middle of the restaurant.

"Take it outside, you idiots!" roared Tae as she and Megumi tried to herd the two outside.


The next day, Sano and Megumi went back to Aizu with Saranou and Meika to pack their belongings and move permanently back to Tokyo. Sano helped Megumi put her clothes and equipment into boxes which would be shipped to Tokyo. Sano didn't really have much of anything to pack since he wore the same clothes every day.

Upon returning to Tokyo, the Himuras along with Tae, Yahiko, Yutaro and Tsubame helped the engaged couple get unpacked and settled in.


For the rest of the winter, Sano and Megumi stayed in the clinic and ran it together. They saw people with grippe, croupe, diptheria, mumps, measles, broken bones, etc. At Megumi's insistence, they slept in separate rooms during their engagement. This caused Sano no end of frustration, which he dealt with in the clinic's out house.

Megumi kept in close contact with Saranou and Meika, regularly exchanging news about their respective clinics with them and how her relationship with Sanosuke was progressing.

The rest of the Kenshingumi frequently stopped by the clinic to help the budding couple out as best they could. Kenshin also helped Sano by giving him some pointers on how to woo Megumi properly. Kenshin and Kaoru kept a wary eye on Sano and Megumi's relationship, ready to swoop in if Sano did anything stupid, which miraculously, he didn't.

Sano took Megumi out to restaurants, plays and the various festivals that occurred throughout the year. Megumi found her affection for the goofy, but lovable Sano growing deeper.