Time Heals All

~.~

Megumi woke to bruised ribs as her heart pounded against its ivory cage. Used to waking to nightmare-induced panics, she swiftly threw back her blankets for movement chased away her demons more doggedly than any verbal comfort ever could. Her terror swiftly faded as she moved to her lantern, its light chasing away the lingering torment of her hidden shadows. At least until new morning horrors took their place.

Setting her light next to her mirror, Megumi sat heavily and glanced out to the dark indigo sky, the sun perhaps an hour away from making an appearance. With trembling lips and quaking shoulders, Megumi battled to keep her gaze away from her own reflection and toward the darkness of the window-hoping against hope she could begin her day without this repulsive pattern.

Sweat beaded on her twitching brow as she resisted ('Look at yourself'). Megumi closed her eyes and turned to face her reflection ('Look!'). Her eyes shot open, and hot tears filled and overflowed their boundaries.

'Disgusting.'

Her black hair twisted and knotted in a frizzy halo and fell in a convoluted mess to her lower back. Dried tear stains from her nightmares flaked away from her blotchy skin, and her puffy, red eyes only enhanced the deep purple circles that ran beneath them. Without the red paste, Megumi's lips paled, very nearly blending into the surrounding skin. When Megumi looked into her reflection a veritable skeleton stared back, grinning morbidly.

'Hideous. Fix your face, you beast of a woman.'

Unable to stop herself, Megumi watched her door fearfully, even while knowing she wouldn't be interrupted. That no one would burst through her door, demanding of her what she wasn't willing to give. She knew she could take her time, but she rushed to her cosmetics. He hated when she wasn't presentable.

~.~

The deep navy of the night sky had lightened into the crisp blue of morning as Megumi emerged from her home. Her thick, ebony locks fell beautifully across her shoulders and glistened in the sunlight. Flawless skin, reddened lips, and elegant brows complimented her radiant smile and quietly pleasant demeanor. In her perfection, she caught the attention of all passersby, male and female.

She exuded confidence and feminine appeal in its purest form. None would have guessed what transpired to reach that level of beauty. Looking into her eyes, no one could have known a knot in her hair caused a near breakdown. That a stubborn red patch at the tip of her chin shook her to the point of tears. That a torn nail could inspire such panic.

No. She was gorgeous. And people saw only what they wanted.

'Beautiful.'

~.~

As expected, Kenshin met Megumi at the door of the Kamiya dojo before she'd even a chance to knock.

"Megumi-dono," the wanderer smiled genially. "It's good to see you. Come in."

The doctor smiled at Kenshin and followed him inside, exchanging pleasantries all the while. The Kamiya residence was quieter than Megumi had ever encountered it, and warmth pooled in her chest at the realization she was alone with her samurai.

"Kaoru-dono and Yahiko-kun aren't here, I'm afraid. Your stuck with this one," he said, rubbing the back of his head self-deprecatingly. Megumi only waved away his words with barely hidden glee.

Ever polite, Kenshin poured them both a warm cup of tea, both secretly relieved they wouldn't have to subject themselves to the landlady's concoction. Conversation flowed easily and naturally, setting Megumi's spirit singing.

Before her sat a man who bore his dark sins with quiet strength and humility. Even with his wounded mind and heart, he smiled and poured out his life in the service of others, just as she was attempting to do herself. His tender gaze and forgiving nature drew her like a moth to the flame after so long being a victim of abuse of that hateful man, and she did precious little to resist her attraction.

Did he notice her hair?

Her smile?

Did he find her witty?

Beautiful?

She could only hope.

An hour or two passed with neither Kaoru nor Yahiko arriving, and Megumi knew she was beginning to overstay her welcome, though she knew Kenshin wouldn't even allude to it. Kenshin walked her to the front gate just as was expected, and Megumi left him sputtering and red in her wake after coyly kissing his cheek.

The sun shone brightly as she made her way back to the clinic, feeling light despite what occurred that morning, and she couldn't help but smile.


A/N: Reviews are life! Keep em coming!

Also, something just to clarify, anything in italics is a reference to the abuse Megumi was victim to. If its in quotes its the direct words of Kanryuu (that a**hole!). If its not in quotes, it can be generalized as her low self-esteem. The crap she tells herself as a direct consequence of Kanryuu's abuse.