A.N.- Alright, I'm back with another chapter to my brand new R.K. story, and I would like to first extend my gratitude to all of my reviewers: Nyako, LittleTiffyChan, Shysie, Crewel, and Akanke. I am truly grateful to have faithful reviewers such as yourselves. I'd also like thank those who've read my story as well, even if you didn't take the time to review, I still thank you for being a reader.

I'd now like to say that although this story seems to be moving kinda slow right now(since I've yet to put any action scenes in it yet), I ask you to please bear with me. The way I have the story planned there will be much more romance and probably humor involved during the first few chapters, so the action will be sporadic during that frame of time. However, I can guarantee you that as the story deepens action scenes will become a lot more frequent and in depth, so I ask that you stick with me. You won't be disappointed. With that said, relax and enjoy!

Standard disclaimers still apply, meaning I own none of the characters of Rurouni Kenshin.

Two of a Kind

Ch. 3- Reflections of Another pt. 2

By: Ishimaru Amon

"Friendships begun in this world, will be taken up again, never to be broken off."

Sunlight streamed into the small room through the only window in the room, causing the sleeping person on the futon to stir out of her sleep. Megumi's eyes fluttered open slowly at the sunlight cast into the room. She rolled over and yawned tiredly, with her left hand on her head, her right hand folded across her chest.

She hadn't really gotten much sleep last night, as she spent a good portion of it thinking about her conversation with Kaoru earlier that evening. The fact Sanosuke showed any remote interest in her at all still boggled her mind, and under normal circumstances she would have done like she had with all of the other men in Tokyo who would feign ill in order to see her, try to flirt with her, or in some cases even propose to her. She would've just brushed them off with some witty comment and laughed her patented fox laugh, or in some cases she would've used her work as a doctor as a way to get around their proposals.

Hell, she had never even been affected in the slightest by any of her would be suitors. The only man who had ever had any remote effect on her at all was Kenshin. 'And Sanosuke,' her mind continued to voice as an afterthought. Megumi tried so many times to push the thought out of her mind, dismissing it simply as a ridiculous notion. But as hard as she tried to dispute it, the little voice inside of her would always remind her of all of their verbal bouts, the name calling, and the way she would scold him every time he got himself injured in a fight.

And the more she dwelled on the thoughts that night, the more the truth became apparent. In some strange way that she never even noticed, she did care for the rooster. Of course it was slightly different than the way she cared for Kenshin. After all, both of them got into fights on regular occasions, Sanosuke a lot more willingly than Kenshin. They both would get injured during these fights as well, which Sanosuke seem to do more of than Kenshin as well. The only difference between them was in the way that she showed her concern and care for them.

She would always be calm and soothing with Kenshin, assuring him that as long as she was there, he wouldn't have to worry about his injuries. With Sanosuke, it was an entirely different story. With him, she would be angry and harsh, quickly scolding him about his getting into trouble and getting injured. And the more she thought about it, the more she wondered if she actually worried more about him than she did with Kenshin.

She quickly shook those thoughts out of her head, and got up from her futon, stretching her limbs and smoothing out her grey yukata. Afterwards she folded up her futon and put it aside, then pulled out a pink kimono, putting it on but leaving her smock folded on top of her other belongings. Taking out a comb to brush through her hair to smooth out the strands, she finished off her usual morning preparations as she headed out to the kitchen where she could hear the others getting ready to sit and have breakfast.

She calmly and silently walked in and took a seat next to Yahiko, sitting across from Kaoru. She couldn't help but smile fondly at the argument ensuing between the two, no doubt brought on by some sarcastic comment of Yahiko's. Misao snickered at the bickering pair, while Aoshi remained impassive as ever, showing no signs of amusement or anything at the scene in front of him. Kenshin arrived from the kitchen with a couple of trays of food, sitting them down with Kaoru's help, after she finished strangling her top student.

The meal began in relative silence with the exception of Misao and Kaoru's idle chatter ranging from the wedding to the Kenshin-Gumi's next visit to Kyoto. Apparently Misao hadn't given up on having some fun with the group, and was determined on taking them on one of those grand tours of Kyoto that she and Okina seemed to be so fond of. Megumi sat quietly during the meal, sparing glances at both Kaoru and Kenshin, who seemed to notice her looks almost every time.

As the meal began to wind down, Kenshin decided to take the initiative, and find out what exactly was troubling the lady doctor. He had been told by Kaoru that Megumi had something she wanted to discuss with him, but she hadn't eluded as to what. He had a sneaking suspicion that he knew what, or rather whom, she wanted to talk about with him.

"So Megumi-dono, is there something you'd like to talk about?" Kenshin asked, catching the attention of everyone in the room.

Megumi looked up apprehensive at first, feeling slightly nervous at all the attention that was now focused on her. She instantly recovered her composure though, letting the indifference show again.

"Not really Ken-san, why do you ask?" she responded, having a feeling that a certain tanuki musume had already alerted her husband to their conversation from last night.

"You've been really quiet during the meal Megumi-dono, as if there was something on your mind. Are you certain there isn't anything you'd like to discuss?" Kenshin responded with that pleasant smile of assurance and politeness plastered on his face, knowing that it usually never failed in getting someone to open up to him when there was something wrong.

Megumi noted his polite manner, and spared a final glance at the others around the table. Kaoru gave her an encouraging nod, subtly telling her get on with it. Yahiko had paused from stuffing his face, and was now eyeing Megumi curiously, no doubt anxious to hear as well what was causing the normally talkative and teasing woman to be so quiet all of a sudden.

Aoshi continued to look unfazed, but no doubt was paying close attention to the discussion that was no doubt coming. And Misao spared glances around at the people in the room, letting her gaze mostly dwell on Megumi and Kenshin, as she felt as if there was something going on that everyone knew about but her. Megumi gazed at Kenshin once more as the decision was finally made in her head. He was giving her the golden opportunity to ask what she needed to ask, plus she knew the people she was with could be trusted, for the most part.

"Well Ken-san, I was wondering if..." she fumbled with the words, not quite sure how everyone would react to her sudden curiosity,"if you could tell me what you know about Sanosuke, about his past?"

Everyone's reactions were just as she expected. Misao and Yahiko were taken aback, Aoshi was impassive as usual, Kaoru smiled in silent triumph, and Kenshin just smiled politely and nodded. It didn't take long for a voice to break the silence that followed Megumi's request.

"What do you want to know about that baka's past for?" Yahiko voiced out loud. Misao was quick to follow.

"Yeah, it's bad enough that the rooster left without saying anything." Misao was seemingly still upset over the fact that one of her friends had to flee the country.

Kenshin was quick to put up a hand to silence the two energetic youngsters. He knew Megumi would be quickly discouraged from talking about it if she sensed there would be teasing involved at her expense, even if she could out wit Yahiko and Misao. And after the late night conversation he and Sanosuke had, the last thing he wanted to do was to discourage her.

"I just out found about Sano's departure recently, just like you Misao, and I've realized that there's a lot about the toriatama that I don't know." Megumi stated, shifting her gaze from Misao to the rurouni. Kenshin just smiled warmly at her, hoping to relieve some of the tension he sensed coming from her.

"It is alright to be curious Megumi-dono, sessha doesn't know all of Sano's history, but I will tell you what I can, de gozaru," Kenshin said with that patented smile on his face.

Kenshin then began to relent what little of Sano's past he knew, telling them how Sano joined the Sekihou-Tai at an early age. He told them about the tragic fate of the Sekihou-Tai, how they were branded as traitors and gunned down in front of Sano's own eyes, and how Sano later had to witness the painful sight of his father figure, Captain Sagara's head put on public display after his execution. He then told them that the Sekihou-Tai wasn't the false government army they were made out to be, and that they were merely scapegoats for the government to use. Misao and Megumi were both saddened by the tale, although Megumi's reaction was more hidden then the young okashira's.

"I can't believe they did something like that, especially when it was their fault for making such promises," Misao exclaimed. Megumi remained silent, so many thoughts running through her mind at the realization of why Sano seemed so angry and full of hate. In the end, she couldn't really blame him for his hatred of the government now.

Kenshin continued on about Sano growing up fighting on the streets of Tokyo, eventually becoming a street fighter and gangster, going by the alias Zanza. Misao, being the only one of the group who did not know of Sano's reputation, was once again surprised to find out that the feared gangster of the criminal underworld was none other than Sanosuke himself. She was even more surprised to learn that the former gangster had also fought with Kenshin not long after they first met, threatening to kill him.

Megumi was now filled with many emotions. Sympathy, sadness, frustration, they all coursed through her as she took in all of the information she had just been told. She then asked Kenshin if he knew about any of Sanosuke's family, but Kenshin replied that he did not, saying simply that Sano had never eluded to having any family members, much less spoke about them.

Now though, she could see him for what he really was, a tortured soul with a tragic past. It was scary and yet ironic at the same time, how much more they had in common. Before, she thought there was nothing they had in common, save for their loyalty and devotion to the Kenshin-Gumi. But now, she could see clearly, that they were indeed kindred spirits. It was the first time she had ever thought such a pleasant thought about him, and it awakened something in her, a feeling she had only felt once before, and wasn't sure she would ever feel again. But still, she was unsure, after all, he was gone now, and she had no idea if he would ever come back.

With the meal long at an end, Kaoru and Kenshin began clearing away the dishes. Megumi got to her feet, and offered to help, but was politely declined by the newly married couple. She couldn't help but think that they were probably going to be having some discussion about her and Sano. She didn't stick around to confirm it however. Instead she headed to her room and gathered her smock and her bag before turning and leaving the dojo, heading in the direction of the clinic. She needed time to think, to sift through these new feelings she was experiencing, and what better way to pass the time then to throw herself into her work.

End Flashback

Megumi was quickly brought back from her memories as her carriage had slowed down and come to a halt. Gathering her things she had brought with her, which was only two traveling cases, she stepped out of the carriage and into the street in front of the dojo. She politely thanked the carriage driver for his offer of assistance, but declined before paying him and sending him on his way.

She then turned to the sound of the front gate opening, and smiled at the red-haired swordsman who no doubt had heard the arrival of her carriage. He was dressed in his yukata, apparently getting ready to settle down for the evening. He invited her inside and the two chatted idly as he led her to her room during her stay in Tokyo. She thanked him again for the room while she wrapped things up with Genzai-sensei's clinic, since the old man was no longer around now, before she too went to lie down for the evening.

Meanwhile, in a more run down section of Tokyo, the sounds of grunts and anguished cries of pain could be heard in an ally just outside of a local bar. A tall man dressed in a tattered cloak and wearing dirty white pants squared off against 3 men. There were 5, but the first two were quickly disposed of as the bushy haired fighter charged them, freeing the screaming young woman, who now watched stunned from the sidelines.

One of the three men rushed forward, drawing his fist back before swinging at the taller man in a drunken rage. He easily caught his assailant's fist in his hand, shaking his head sadly before squeezing his hand, causing the bones in the smaller man's hand to crack under the pressure. The man howled out in pain as the brown-haired fighter dropped his hand before burying his knee into the man's sternum, causing him to double over and effectively silencing him as he slipped into unconsciousness.

Sanosuke spared another glance to the other two men to see if they would move, but they just stood frozen in their places, bewildered and frightened at how easily their buddies had fallen. He then glared at the men, his eyes seeming to give them a warning to leave while they had the chance. The men seemed to comprehend the warning, as they quickly turned tail and ran as fast as their feet would carry them.

"Hey! You forgot your friends here!" Sano called out to the two men who showed no signs of even slowing down, let alone stopping and turning back. He shook his head with a smirk on his face, before turning his attention towards the woman he had just saved from the drunkards. She was looking at him with a look of fear, and it was apparent that she wouldn't be the one to speak first.

"It's alright, those bastards can't hurt you now, and I won't either," he said as he smiled reassuringly at her. The woman continued to stare for a few more moments before nodding and smiling back at him.

"Arigato stranger, I'm very grateful for your help," she replied before bowing politely. He only waved off her thanks before walking back to the entrance of the alley and bent down to lift the giant sack he carried with him onto his shoulders. He turned and motioned for her to follow him, and she hesitantly obliged. They then began to walk down the streets of Tokyo away from the bar where they had been only minutes ago.

"So, you gotta name?" he asked casually, hoping to elicit more conversation from her. He noticed her timid manner around him, and he found that he couldn't blame her. After all, it had always been that way, even before he met Kenshin. He smiled as he recalled the times people would cower in fear when they saw the aku symbol on his back. The way people were always careful not to approach him, because of his gangster reputation.

"Oh, forgive me, my name is Suzuwa Haruko," she said bowing politely once again. Sano continued to smile at her, noticing the twinge of fear that he felt emanating from her only moments before slowly seep away.

"I'm Sagara, Sagara Sanosuke," he responded in kind.

"It's very nice to meet you Sagara-san, and I thank you once again for helping me."

"No problem, and you don't need to call me Sagara-san, just plain old Sano will do."

"Very well Sano-san, so may I ask why you are out this late at night?" she asked as they continued their walk through the streets of Tokyo. He regarded her with a look for a moment, before deciding it was alright to answer her.

"Well, it's been a long time since I've been here in Japan. I've been traveling the world for the last few years and I just got back in today. Now I have a question for you."

"Oh alright, go ahead."

"What were you doing at a sake tavern so late at night? Don't you have any family? You look to be of marrying age."

"Those were 2 questions you know." she responded smiling at him. He smiled back, suppressing the urge to chuckle at her observation. 'So much like her' he mused as they came to a row of homes not far off of the main road. He became silent as she began to answer his questions.

"I work at the tavern, using the money I make to support myself and my younger sister. My parents died from illness over a year ago, and I've been taking care of her ever since," she finished before bowing her head, unable to keep the sadness out of her voice at the thought of her parents. Sanosuke couldn't help but feel a bit guilty at being the cause of her dredging up such painful memories. He apologized as they stopped in front of her home, and she bowed once again thanking him for accompanying her home safely.

"Don't worry about it, but could you do me a favor. I need a place to crash and since it's been so long since I've been back here, I need to find an inn to rest for the evening." She nodded as she began to give him detailed directions to an inn nearby. And he thanked her before turning to leave and set out in the direction she showed him. She watched him walk away before turning to go inside for the evening.

Sanosuke continued to make his way, carefully following the directions he had been given. It was amazing how 6 years of wandering across foreign lands could help develop ones since of direction. He didn't get as easily lost anymore, especially in a place that he hadn't ever forgot about during all of his travels.

As the inn started to come into view, Sano couldn't wait to get into a futon and get to sleep. After all, he had friends that he hadn't seen in a long time to visit, and they were no doubt going to be happy to see him.

To Be Continued...

Japanese terms

Musume- little girl(rough translation)

Suzuwa Haruko- this is an actual Japanese name. Suzuwa being the surname. Suzu meaning bell, wa meaning peace or harmony. Haruko is a common female name that means Spring child.