She couldn't believe her eyes. There was no way she was seeing correctly. She cursed under her breath wishing she had had her usual cup of Starbucks coffee. Without it she was seeing things or rather someone. Someone who she hadn't ever thought she'd see again. Suddenly a sensation of determination and reconciliation stirred within her. She didn't care if this was a hallucination from lack of caffeine she had to talk. She had to tell the truth from all those years ago to amend for what she had done. How else could she repay that dumb Tanuki girl for her friendship? She owed her a lot. In high school she never realized just how great a person let alone friend Kaoru could be. If she had only had her usual cup of coffee she would've been more prepared for this. Inhaling in a deep breath she looked up.

"Hello Yukishiro-san."

Jet-black eyes bored into hers curiously. "Takani-san it has been a long time."

"Too long Yukishiro-san." Megumi muttered. "I should've done this years ago…"

Tomoe blinked confused. "Takani-san?"

"There's something you should know." Megumi replied. It was about time she told her.

"Oh?" Tomoe asked looking surprised.

"Yes." Megumi answered. "It might take a while. May I please have your time?"

Tomoe stood absolutely silent and impassive. She thought hard. "Well then…shall we?" She agreed walking to the corner and opening the door of the nearest building. She held it open for Megumi.

Megumi raised an eyebrow. She glanced at the building. The she noticed the sign above the door; Starbucks Coffee. Her lips traced into a smile. Perhaps fortune was with her today. "Thank you Yukishiro-san I think we shall." Megumi said walking past Tomoe and into the cafe. After almost two years it was time to fess up.

A few hours later…

"So," Tomoe mumbled staring into her cup of coffee without glancing across the small table at Megumi. "Kaoru never had anything to do with my brother? She didn't cheat on Kenshin?"

Megumi was stirring her own cup. It was her second. She couldn't have gone through the story with just one cup of coffee. She glanced up at Tomoe who met her eyes.

"No she didn't. She didn't have anything to do with the rumors either. I started that. She had only told me because she had gotten intoxicated the night before at my party. It was all my fault." Megumi admitted looking back at the black liquid spinning in her cup.

"They're only rumors if they're not true." Tomoe said forlornly.

Megumi stung with guilt. She had been such a bitch back then. 'If only I could take it back.' "I'm sorry." She apologized regretfully.

Tomoe shook her head. "We were young. Besides how can I blame you? Who am I to blame you?" She said while her usual impassive eyes lit with passion.

"What?" Megumi exclaimed. Since when did Tomoe speak up at all? She had always been so quiet.

Tomoe turned her head away her sudden fit of emotion gone like the flickering of a dying flame. She looked out the window as if trying to see something far away. "I felt the same way."

'Oh.' Megumi understood.

Tomoe smiled sadly. "I love him."

"Who wouldn't?" Megumi said before she could think twice about it.

Tomoe looked at her knowingly. "That's what I thought."

Megumi noticed the trace of a frown. "Why do you sound sad? You're the one that won. He's yours."

"He wasn't the same." She replied looking off again. "He hasn't been."

"Huh?" Megumi said startled.

"He changed. He didn't act the same. I guess without her or because of her he was different. A part of him was missing and he didn't know what to do about it himself. He became callous, insulting and quiet. After a few weeks he started acting strange and finally he became distant…even from me."

Megumi placed her hand on Tomoe's. "I know Kenshin," She said finally saying his name which she hadn't said in so long. "He's the-" she paused. "He's one of the nicest guys I know. He'll come around. Give him some time." She said smiling up at Tomoe.

Tomoe looked hopeful. "I do hope so." Then she smiled a tiny bit. "If you Takani-san can come around then surely Kenshin will."

Megumi frowned.

Tomoe blushed realizing what she had said. "I'm so sorry Takani-san! I didn't mean-"

Megumi laughed. "Yukishiro-san it's okay." Megumi smirked as she rose out of her seat. "You're probably right anyway."

Tomoe nodded also rising. Her cheeks were still pink. Megumi shook her head.

Just as she was about to leave, she turned around. "Yukishiro wait."

Tomoe stopped abruptly looking a little taken off guard. "Takani-san?"

Megumi reached into her purse and pulled out a piece of paper and pen. She jotted quickly. Then she threw the pen back in her purse before handing the piece of paper to Tomoe.

Tomoe looked at a set of numbers written down. She looked up at Megumi with confusion.

"Just in case you ever want to reach me." Megumi said.

Tomoe nodded.

A minute later they both went their own ways. Their paths had crossed though and the lines of fate were just beginning to align.

--

Tomoe walked slowly to the curb where the bus stop was. She never liked driving so she usually took the bus. She had made a resolution.

Kenshin was coming back to town tonight after being released on break from college. She decided tonight she would tell him the truth about Kaoru. Maybe he'd stop mentioning her as something horrible. Maybe he might stop insulting her when she wasn't even around to hear it anyway. Maybe he'd change back to his old ways if he knew? Her heart fluttered a little. She didn't care too much though. She'd love him either way.

The bus came to a halt in front of her. She stepped on. If Megumi had the determination to talk to her about the matter then she should have the courage to tell Kenshin. She grabbed the pole tightly as the bus lurched to life.

It would come down to tonight. Her fingers subconsciously crossed at her side.

--

It was six o'clock. Sano stared at his watch nervously as he paced in his apartment. In one more hour and he was going to meet her. He was beginning to feel sweat bead at his neck. He pulled at his collar to loosen his tie.

"Why is it getting so damn hot in here?" he muttered in irritation. He had very little patience.

He knew it wasn't that hot in the building. He was just worried. Okay he was really worried. His eyes landed on her picture at his desk. He sighed at seeing her face. He brought his finger to trace her in the photo.

"Megumi…" he exhaled, as relief flooded through him. It was surprising at what she could do without even being there. He didn't need to be stressed out. He was worried over nothing. If he should be confident about anything in his life it should be this. It was going to be this.

Inhaling and exhaling one more time Sanosuke regained his confidence. He brought his hand to finger the little box in his jacket.

'One more hour…'he thought. He stood straighter. He was definitely ready.

--

He slammed his fist on the table. Tomoe flinched absolutely startled by his reaction. She had told him over dinner the story Megumi had replayed to her.

She opened her mouth to speak. "Kenshin I-"

"No!" Kenshin shouted. "I don't care anymore Tomoe. I don't care about…about her! She was just a lying back stabber! To think we were friends!"

Why was he being so violent? Passion flared in her again. She stood up tall. "You listen to me Kenshin!" she said raising her voice. She never did that before and surprised herself. He was struck silent in surprise as well. "Enough is enough! Kaoru isn't here to hear you insult her like this but I have to hear it! Would you stop it! Stop saying crude things about her! Don't say her name like a curse word anymore! Stop calling her and leaving horrible messages! She doesn't deserve that!" Tomoe shouted angrily. If Kenshin wouldn't stop she'd try and make him.

He slouched back on his chair. He looked ashamed. In a flash of a moment he got up and pulled her to him in a crushing embrace. "Fine! I won't do anything to her anymore! I promise."

She melted in his arms completely believing him. "Alright Kenshin."

However, two years later he'd mistake another woman, a waitress at a restaurant, for Kaoru and in a rush of hurt feelings he'd completely humiliate the woman and insult her harshly. Only then would Tomoe realize he hadn't changed or rather that he had.

--

Author's notes: So what do you think of this chapter? Please review! I know the explanation of how Kenshin bullied 'Kaoru' was quick but it wasn't that important at this chapter but I might rewrite the original scene with the waitress who looked like Kaoru. It was really funny. Imagine a waitress mouthing off back to Kenshin who thinks it's Kaoru! I'm going to try and sneak it in the story somewhere because it wasn't actually as bad as I thought it was. However, it was in Tomoe's POV and I might change it. We'll see. Anyway Thank you again to An Ash Tree for saving my mistake! Please review! Until next time Happy Writing!