The Takanis were a family of medical professionals, their influence extending to both the medical and administrative aspects of the field. In their role as head of the business empire, Dr. and Mrs. Takani often traveled extensively. Upon her parents' return home from one of their business trip later that week, Megumi immediately ensured that the family had no other plans for dinner – the engagement fiasco needed to be straightened out with no further delay.

After pleasantries and small talk about the trip had been exchanged, Megumi jumped into what she really wanted to discuss.

"Mother, Dad, I wanted to talk about Sano."

"My dear, you will make a lovely bride. Have you two decided on the date or should we engage the services of a *professional?"

"I don't want to marry him."

"And, why not?"

"I want to marry for love."

"Is there someone then? Someone you'd rather marry? From which family?" Megumi could sense her mother starting to panic.

"Mother, there's no one else. I just don't love Sano – I don't really know him."

"Darling, marriages are arranged all the time - especially in our circle. Marrying for love doesn't guarantee you happiness but an arranged union doesn't mean you won't be happy either. You very well know your father and I have an omiai." The older woman patted her husband's hand affectionately.

"Megumi," her father finally spoke. "Do you have any other objections to Sanosuke or his family other than this matter of the heart?" The way he said it, it was as if a "matter of the heart" was a simple matter of turning a switch on or off.

Megumi sighed and shook her head. "None. I know this arrangement is beneficial to both our families and I do want what's best for us, please don't doubt that. But, I also believe that these can be achieved while also marrying for love. I want something similar to what you and Okaasan have. I don't want to spend the rest of my life with a husband who cares little for me or I for him." Her eyes pled with them to understand. Mrs. Takani dabbed at her eyes with a napkin, her tears coming from Megumi's resistance to the marriage or from her heartfelt confession, Megumi couldn't say. She nervously twirled and untwirled the dinner napkin on her lap.

"We will call off the engagement." Megumi's eyes flew up and her mother gasped at her husband's declaration.

"Akio!"

"The engagement will be called off if after one month your feelings toward Sanosuke have not changed." Megumi only nodded in agreement.

One month. A single month to fall in love with Sagara Sanosuke. It sounded daunting. But was it really? Sano was a good man, she knew. He didn't have vices that she'd heard about. He didn't seem to be reckless. They were the same age, his family was lovely. He wasn't bad looking at all. Placed in that light, the arrangement didn't sound like a death sentence. Many young women would probably say it was far from it. Why was she so reluctant? He teased her and knew how to annoy her, that was certain. She didn't love him. And… he didn't love her.

She would take on her one month with a mind open to possibilities. Megumi fell asleep feeling slightly better for receiving this concession.

~O~O~O~

Megumi stretched catlike before flinging the covers off to start her day. She had an appointment with her advisor and had the rest of the day to work on finishing touches for her thesis. She was double-majoring in hospital administration and biology. She had wanted to follow in her father's footsteps and become a medical doctor but as the heiress to Takani Incorporated, it was a better career choice to select a major that gave her the background to run the empire instead.

Upon exiting the bathroom after her morning toilet, Megumi noticed a thick file that had not been on her desk the night before. The red letters on the cover page left no doubt as to what, or whom, the file pertained.

~O~O~O~

Akio Takani waved Megumi into his office as he finished his phone call. He noticed that she held the file he had had prepared for her. Megumi sat across from him and waited until he was done.

"Dad, thank you, but I won't be needing this." She began without preamble. She placed the file on his desk and stood. "I want to get to know Sano, but not through this." Bowing respectfully, she left.

Akio gazed thoughtfully after her. He nodded in approval.

*Mrs. Takani is referring to getting a professional consultant to find the most auspicious and lucky date for the wedding (think Feng shui, metaphysics, astrological calendars, and the like).

Omiai or miai is loosely translated as an "arranged marriage" and it literally means "looking at one another." It is described as "a meeting opportunity with more serious considerations for the future". These were fact-checked with the ultimate source, Wikipedia. LoL

Thank you to everyone who's reviewed. It warms the cockles of my heart.

Anon, as a guest reviewer, I'll reply to you here. (^^,) Thank you for your review! I'm glad you don't think it's over the top for Megumi to not know anything about Sano. Wow, I think I might actually have twice as many first cousins. I need to start counting… I'm really happy you're liking this story. I hope it does not disappoint!