After a demanding morning with his students, Sanosuke left for the Akobeko. The restaurant was busier than ever, but Tae kept a booth for Kenshin and company in one corner. It was always ready, and now she smiled as Sano walked in. "Megumi is already here, Sanosuke. She told me you have an anniversary coming up soon-don't forget now!"

The young man grinned. "What about you, Tae? Don't you think you've kept Katsu waiting long enough?"

Tae blushed. She had met the former Sekihoutai survivor at Sanosuke and Megumi's wedding and they had hit it off, but somehow nothing had ever come of it. Sano enjoyed teasing her, though, especially since Tae considered herself the resident matchmaker. And it had taken five years, a trip around the world, and a near-fatal shooting to bring him and Megumi together-who was he to criticize if Katsu and Tae wanted to take their time? "Let me take you to your table, Sanosuke. I hope you're planning to pay your bill?"

He grinned. "I might have forgotten my wallet, Tae. You wouldn't make Megumi go hungry if I couldn't pay, would you? It's been a long time since I ran a tab here-couldn't you just start one up again?"

She laughed. Ever since Sano returned to Japan and settled his tab, he had been scrupulous about paying his bill and generous about leaving a tip. She escorted him to the booth and went to the kitchen to give the cook an order for an extra-special beef pot.

Sanosuke slid into the booth opposite Megumi and she smiled at him and took his hand. "How was your morning?"

He smiled back. "Rough. The advanced students are getting more advanced than the master. What about you?"

"The usual. Cuts, bruises, the occasional head cold."

Sanosuke looked around the restaurant with a little smile.

"What is it?" asked Megumi curiously.

He shook his head. "Tae was teasing me about paying the bill. Sometimes I can't believe how much things have changed."

"Even after six years?" Megumi smiled slyly. "You sound like you're not sure of me."

"I'm sure of you." His eyes glinted mischievously. "You wouldn't cook so good for me if you weren't desperately in love with me."

"Humph! You seem to forget I was always a great cook, Sanosuke."

Sano laughed. "Notaro certainly enjoyed your cooking."

Caught off guard by the reminder of the big stupid dog Sanosuke brought to the dojo, the one that gulped down a whole platter of her ohagi in under a minute, Megumi couldn't think of a rejoinder. Then she laughed with her husband.

"This is certainly a pretty picture."

Sanosuke and Megumi looked up. Kanryuu Takeda was standing in front of their booth. The years had not been kind to him. His hair was dirty gray, his face lined, and his shoulders stooped. Nothing remained of the arrogant drug dealer from eleven years ago but his unpleasant expression.

Megumi shrank back and Sano jumped up, putting himself between his wife and Kanryuu. "You're supposed to be in prison!" He beckoned to Tae and she hurried up. "Call the police."

Kanryuu put a hand on Tae's arm. "Don't bother." He craned his head to look at Megumi. "I didn't escape. I was released. Prison overcrowding-terrible how so many people are breaking the law these days."

Sano's hands bunched into fists. "What are you doing here?"

Kanryuu looked surprised. "Why, where else would I be? Tokyo is my home, after all, and I have to start over, don't I?"

"You're not starting anything here," Sanosuke said grimly. "Get out of here and don't come back."

Kanryuu blinked at him innocently. "I have the right to eat anywhere I want. I also have the right to go to the Oguni Clinic if I'm sick or hurt."

Sano reached back into the booth and grabbed Megumi's hand, pulling her to her feet. "We're leaving. Now."

"Sanosuke…." He looked at her and it was the face of a stranger and she fell silent. She knew that once he had been the most fearsome street fighter in Tokyo, but it was a side of him she had never seen until this moment. She took a few faltering steps towards the door.

Sano turned back to Kanryuu. "If you ever show up again where my wife can see you, I'll kill you."

Kanryuu's eyes widened. "Your wife?" He looked at Megumi with interest. "Congratulations." He looked like he was going to say something more, but quailed before the chilling violence in Sanosuke's eyes. "I'll just be on my way, then."

The young man watched as Kanryuu left, then dug in his pocket, handing Tae some money. "Sorry we can't stay for lunch after all, but that should cover it." He put his arm around Megumi. "Let's go. That guy knows about the clinic-I want to make sure the baby is okay."

The color drained from Megumi's face. She had left Mariko in the capable hands of Ayame and Suzume, but they would not be able to deal with someone like Kanryuu if he showed up.