All For Love
Disclaimer: All characters of Rurouni Kenshin belong to Nobuhiro Watsuki, JUMP comics, and Sony Entertainment.
Chapter Three
Her eyes burst open, and she bolted upright to scream at the top of her lungs. Megumi heard footsteps scurrying in her direction, and Sanosuke came through the door and nearly threw himself onto the futon beside her. He took her hand, and stroked it lovingly. "Shhh, Megumi. You're alright now." He leaned toward her, and pulled her to him. Megumi let him pull her so that she could lay her head on his shoulder. There was that familiar smell again, and her arms immediately went around him. She held him tightly, and burst into tears. He had saved her.
His hands held her gently as she shook from her weeping, and he unconsciously leaned into her to rest his cheek against her hair. The scent of her hair hypnotized him once again, and he wondered why someone would want to harm a creature as beautiful as Megumi. She was like an angel to him, and he swore that he would protect her-even if his life depended on it. He had not watched her closely enough and so this incident had occurred. He could not forgive himself for that.
Megumi pulled away from Sanosuke, and wiped at her eyes with the edge of the blanket. Sano, pushed her hand away, and glided his fingers over those tears to wipe them away. She took his hand into hers, and kissed it. "I'm glad that it was you who saved me."
The feel of her lips on his flesh caused his spine to grow tense with pleasure. How could anyone want to hurt you? , he thought as he moved his hand to caress her cheek. Then he pulled his hand back quickly as if what he did was wrong. Someone had just attempted to violate her, and here he was taking liberties on her as well. Sano shook his head, and cursed himself for being so insensitive. Then he glanced into Megumi's eyes. She had so many questions.
"What happened to me?" Her voice was barely audible. Her tears had dried, and left stains on her cheeks. "Does someone want to see me hurt, or dead? Is that why that man attacked me?"
Sano couldn't believe it. She was blaming herself! He had to set her straight. "You did nothing to deserve this, Fox. There is nothing that you can do to deserve any of this. I won't let this happen to you again! Not ever! I took care of this one, and I'll take care of the others as well, if any. No one will ever lay a hand you again!"
Megumi's eyes widened, and she moved a few inches away from Sanosuke. He had fire in his eyes, as he spoke those heated words, and they burned through, to imbed themselves deep within her. She thought of what he had said last night, "It is my duty to protect you.", and she wondered if this had some truth to it. Sanosuke's gaze bore into her, and he moved to take her hand again. His strong fingers handled her delicate ones with care. "I'm sorry, if I am making you uncomfortable, Megumi. I have to protect you with everything that I have, for it is my duty. I will die if I don't. And I may die since I do." Sanosuke, sighed and rose to leave. The look on Megumi's face was making him nervous, since he had been foolish enough to reveal so much. He cursed himself again. It is better that she does not know. Let her heal, and get on with her life. You can watch her from afar, so that you don't interfere. It will be best for everyone. He glanced at her again, and smiled. "You should rest now. You have to get better soon. Your patients are waiting for you. And I may need you to mend a bone or two," he added shyly, turning on his heels, and heading for the door. Her voice made him stop.
"You dressed my wounds, Sanosuke. When did you learn how to do that?" He turned to look over his shoulder. She eyed him curiously. He shrugged, and raised one hand to scratch the back of his head.
"I've been learning bits and pieces of things. Don't want to bother you for every little thing now. Why don't you get some sleep? You should be safe here. I'll be back as soon as I can, and I'll check on you then." And with that he turned and left the room, sliding the door shut behind him.
As soon as Megumi heard his footsteps fade, she was on her feet, rushing for the door, and ripping it open. Sano knew something and she wanted answers. She stepped through the door, and was ready to burst forward, when an unfamiliar voice stopped her dead. It was a woman's voice.
"How is she doing? The dear must have had such a scare."
Megumi went forward on tiptoe until she was able to peek around the corner into the next room. Sanosuke stood with his back to her, and a woman kneeled on the floor taking her meal. There was another place setting for someone else to join her. Megumi looked around and noticed that the house was not familiar. She began to grow tense with worry, as she glanced back at Sanosuke. He had bent over a table to retrieve something- and Megumi's breath caught in her throat. Sano lifted a Katana sword from the table and slid it into its sheath. Then he attached it to his belt. The unnatural thing hung at his side, as if it belonged there.
"Megumi will be okay. She's tough. Thank you for letting her stay here. This is very kind of you, and your husband." Sano said, and then added absently, "And thank you for cleaning my sword."
The woman glanced up at him. "You did a number on that man. I doubt that he survived."
"That guy got what he deserved. Whether he survived or not doesn't make a goddamn difference to me." Sano cracked his knuckles. "I'll take him on again."
The woman smiled and shook her head. "You really care about this woman don't you? Well, you don't have to worry about her. I'll take good care of her. Now you should hurry up and go before my husband decides to come here to get you himself, and trust me, you're not going to want that. Now get going."
Sano turned and headed for the door. Megumi noticed that his walk was different, more formal, as if he practiced such a stride. She felt herself slowly becoming uneasy. She did not like any of this at all. She saw Sano pause, and he turned to the woman again.
"Is there any message that you want me to give to your husband?"
The woman rolled her eyes, and let out a deep sigh. "Just tell him that his Soba noodles have gone cold again." Sano smirked, gave her a thumbs up, and Megumi saw him finally leave the house. She leaned against the wall, for she thought that her knees were going to give way beneath her. This was too much for her to take all at once. She should probably get some sleep. Perhaps this was all a dream.
"I have your meal waiting if you would like it now."
Megumi gasped. She peeked around the corner again, and saw that the woman looked right at her. Her eyes widened, and her face turned red, at having gotten caught. The woman smiled. "You look like you can use some food." She stood up, and walked over to where Megumi stood. She took Megumi's hand. "Then, by Sano's orders, you must get some rest." Her soft hand tugged on Megumi's. "Please, come and join me."
