Chapter Seven: And To All A Good Night!

Megumi looked up as her apartment door creaked open again. Sanosuke appeared, sliding into her home and shutting it behind him, a duffel bag full of what Megumi supposed to be clothes and the like. He raised his eyes to momentarily meet hers, quickly lowering them and shuffling over to her side, silent.

"Is it all right for you, to sleep in my office?" Megumi asked gently, hoping to ease the tension that surrounded the boy. "There's a couch in there that pulls out into a bed."

He nodded. "It's fine," Sanosuke replied, but remained as he was, standing awkwardly with his duffel bag, as though afraid to move.

"I'll show you," Megumi said after a moment, walking down the hall; knowing Sano was close behind. He seemed so nervous—which made Megumi uneasy, thus creating an entire web of anxiety around them both.

Leading him into her office room, Megumi pulled out the couch with his help. She left momentarily to get him blankets and pillows, asking him of his preferences of whether he'd like one or two pillows, a comforter or a sheet; or both, and so on. Once the bed was made, there was an awkward silence as they both stood together, the only movement among them Sanosuke setting his bag on the edge of the bed.

"Are you tired?" he asked at last, breaking the uncomfortable silence between them. He lifted his deep eyes slightly to look at Megumi.

She nodded, relieved that he had spoken. "A bit," Megumi admitted, turning her head to return his gaze. "I might go to bed soon. But if there's anything you need, Sano, don't hesitate to get it. Alright?"

Nodding and swallowing, Sanosuke watched Megumi go as she left his temporary dwelling, shutting the door behind her. Feeling out of place, Sanosuke slowly sat down on the bed, pausing a moment before lying down with his arms behind his head, and closing his eyes.

The blankets smelled like her. But it was a good smell; lavender and vanilla, but being blankets they smelled like laundry beneath her scent. Pulling his arms down, Sano rolled onto his side, thinking haphazardly that he should probably sit up and lie correctly on the bed instead of long-ways, but he hardly felt like moving.

Lashes flickering, he soon fell asleep.

-

Megumi reentered Sano's room, about to tell him it was alright if he wanted to use anything in the house, like the computer—only to find him asleep. Rolled onto his side, one arm tucked beneath him and the other resting near his face, Sanosuke was curled up like a child on the comforter Megumi had meant for him to sleep beneath.

Watching him for a moment, Megumi moved to the bed and placing an extra blanket over his shoulders. Daring to brush the hair out of his eyes gently, Megumi prayed inside that the peace Sano showed while sleeping would one day show as well when he was awake.

Sighing and turning on her heel, Megumi had just made it to the door before she heard Sano's voice speak up tiredly. "Megumi-sensei?"

"I'm sorry, Sano… did I wake you?" Turning about to give him a mellow look, Megumi's eyes followed the motion of the chocolate, spiky hair beneath the blanket.

"No…" he mumbled, feeling awkward as they maintained eye-contact while he lay alone in the bed. Why was it so uneasy, though? "But… did you want something?"

Megumi shook her head and smiled a little. "I only wanted to tell you that you may use anything in the house, such as the DVD player or the computer… do you need anything? I'm going to bed in a moment."

"I think I'll be okay…" Sanosuke mumbled, squirming about so that his head and feet were in proper places.

Unable to keep herself from asking further, Megumi pestered, "Do you think that'll be enough blankets? It gets colder because of the air conditioning."

"Dunno." Though his reply was indifferent, Sanosuke felt oddly pleased that she worried over him like so. No one had, not since his mother had died.

"Well," sighed the teacher. "I'll give you the electric blanket so that if the two blankets aren't enough, you'll be fine. You can turn it off with the dial." Moving over to the head of the bed, Megumi stood upon her tip-toes so she could reach the shelf. Her fingers danced against the topside of the wood, searching for the blanket.

After a moment with no success, and feeling the heat rush a bit to her ears and cheeks as Megumi clearly felt Sano's eyes roaming again; impatience struck. Desperately feeling around the shelves for the blasted blanket, Megumi nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt Sanosuke's hard chest brush against her back as he attempted to help her.

"I'm taller, Megumi-san—I'll get it," he assured her, trying to gently push her hands from his way.

Feeling uncomfortable in his close proximity, Megumi nevertheless refused to budge. "I can do it, really," she argued, trying to get him to back up by also moving back a little, still searching the shelf.

"Megumi," he growled, impulsively grabbing one of her wrists as she tried to get him to move back, though without thinking Sanosuke pressed back against her. Realizing the position he had put them in, he quickly backed up and away from Megumi, face flushing a dark red.

Like a bad dream, the hem of his already ripped jeans snagged on something—which he soon realized was the cord to the missing electric blanket—tangling their ankles together. Desperately trying to free himself, Sanosuke ignored Megumi's attempts to calm him down, eventually tripping himself and landing on the worst place possible.

The bed.

Naturally, Megumi fell with him. Trying to calm the flustered boy down, Megumi had her job cut out for her as panic struck at her as well… heck, she was trapped against her student, lying on top of him with her back to his chest, trying to calm him down as he frantically twisted and turned. This, of course, only made the bind worse.

"Sanosuke, stop moving," she urged, attempting to sound calm, trying to sit up and hide her own reddened face from him. "You're not going to get free like this!"

Blushing horribly, Sanosuke forced himself to stay still, his heart hammering in his ears. Oh shit, he thought, squeezing his eyes shut in fear he'd meet Megumi's eyes. He had never felt so frightened in his life because of something like this; but with Megumi, it was different.

The smell of her, the same as the blankets, only real and fresh and living—her hair against his chest and neck, the warmth and softness of her body… the fear and intrigue these things put into him made Sanosuke's senses sky rocket. He was so afraid and yet so hoping this would last; what could he do?

Megumi paused in her attempts to sit up, her palms sweating and her face bright cherry. Sano had gotten unusually quiet in the last few moments—her nerves worsened, and it took all of her self-control not to scream. Their right legs were bound together—and Megumi noticed amid her turmoil that Sanosuke had, due to his freak out session, ripped a beautifully huge hole in the leg of his jeans, twisting and tangling the cord about his leg and hers.

She sighed, managing to lift herself onto her elbows, without thinking pushing on the poor boy's chest in order to do so. Her entire face flushed when she heard him groan, but she didn't say anything to him. Megumi had to free herself. Somehow. Before something… she wasn't sure exactly what, but whatever it was she had to do whatever it took to stop it from happening.

Struggling to think clearly, Megumi said without looking at him, "Sano, I need you to pull your leg up so that I might be able to reach the cord." It was only then, as Sano silently shifted his leg, pulling both his and Megumi's calves closer. She did her best to keep her thigh as far as possible away from his, but it was to no avail—Megumi was afraid to move, afraid she might touch him the wrong way…

"Just—just…" Sano suddenly spoke up in a stutter, remains of panic still in his voice. "Can you… can you just… slide down… bet…" He was so bothered by the situation he couldn't tell her straight that she should be able to slide down between his legs, thus at a reaching point so she could undo the cord.

Megumi bit her lip, after a moment getting an idea of what he was trying to say. She might as well do it. Sanosuke was obviously incoherent, scared out of his wits—so it was up to her, unfortunately, to undo their legs.

She inched downwards, putting her arms out and pushing on the bed so she could sit up and scoot forward, doing her best to lift herself off Sanosuke's chest with only two arms and one leg for balance.

His face was burning—the heat on his face could have cooked a piece of bacon if someone placed a piece upon it, Sano was sure. Why did this have to happen to him? It was only a minor—stressful but temporary—situation, but with so many events and feelings already consuming Sanosuke, these moments of embarrassing closeness to Megumi threw him completely off what little equilibrium was left in him. His short-term anger with her had been thrown away because he knew hating what little help was offered to him wouldn't save him, but Sano also knew that no matter what he could never express his infatuation of Megumi, to no one.

His last secret must be kept; the last thread to his sanity, thought the secret was woven of insanity itself.

Megumi had managed to settle between his knees, and was now awkwardly but progressively untying their legs and unthreading the cord from Sano's holey jeans. Nearly as flustered as Sano was, Megumi struggled to keep a straight, unworried, adult-like face. Trying to box out her worries of what Sano might be thinking, she concentrated fiercely on freeing herself as quickly as possible.

"I've almost got it," she murmured, assuring herself just as much as she had intended to assure Sanosuke, maybe a bit more. He didn't reply, of course. Megumi wouldn't have, either, if she had been in his position.

Frustration pounced again on Megumi as she found that the tangle, thanks to Sanosuke's previous thrashing about, had worsened and tied itself into the denim. "I'm going to need to cut this out of your jeans," she sighed. "It's snagged."

A delayed, strangled, "A-Alright," came from behind her. After a moment of uneventful silence between the two, Sano's voice arose again, nervously. "How're we… going to do that?"

Since walking together in union while tied to the kitchen would be far more annoying and embarrassing, Megumi sucked in a deep breath before admitting her plan. "You're going to…" She sighed. "Take your pants off."

"Wh-what!" came the shocked, faint wheeze from behind her.

"You're wearing boxers or something, aren't you?" Megumi sighed, exasperated and embarrassed. "I'm not going to look at you. Just take them off, and I'll take them to the kitchen and cut the cord loose."

"I…" Sano began to protest further, but suddenly it felt as though his chest had caved in submission, and he fell silent. "Okay." Cheeks flushing once more, he undid his pants and unbuttoned them, praying inside he'd live through this. Sliding the jeans from his hips, he wriggled them down as far as they would go.

Megumi, keeping her eyes on the jeans, took the fabric from Sano's hands and pulled it free of his body. The sharp parts of the cord had left minor scratches on Sano's ankle, barely bleeding.

With a rush of relief and yet slight apprehension, knowing Sano was sitting directly behind her with only boxers, Megumi stood and quickly gathered the jeans to her so she wouldn't trip over them, exiting the room.

Sanosuke sat up, after a moment resting a hand over his scuffed leg. His face was on fire still, as he self-consciously slid beneath the blankets to hide his legs and his navy boxers. Rolling onto his stomach, Sanosuke pressed his face into the pillow in exasperation. What next?

-

She came back in a few minutes later with his jeans, free. Megumi looked at the half-dead Sanosuke lying on the pull-out bed, feeling slightly awkward since he was simply lying there spread-eagle in his boxers.

"Ah, Sano," she spoke up, watching him jump like a paranoid rabbit. She flinched in return, before taking a few steps over to him as he sat up in embarrassment, pulling the blankets over his legs. "You're jeans…. they're ruined. But I suppose we should put some medicine on those cuts of yours."

Megumi placed the pants aside, putting a small cup of balm and band aids on the bed. They looked at each other awkwardly for a second, before Megumi took hold of the blankets and pulled them from him. "Put your legs up," she asked softly.

Sanosuke did so, turning and bending his knees in order for her to have access to him. The cuts, that is.

She rubbed the white balm on the injuries, keeping her eyes there alone even though she was positive Sanosuke's thoughts were elsewhere. Megumi put bandages over the reddish stripes afterwards, making sure they fit comfortably and correctly.

Sanosuke put his feet upon the floor when she finished, watching her gather up the leftovers and standing up. She looked at him awkwardly for a moment, and then allowed herself to smile at him. "I'm sorry, Sanosuke… I should've let you get the blanket," she said, hoping to ease his nerves along with her own.

"It's okay," he grumbled, blushing a little. "I'm sorry for grabbing at you like that."

"You didn't grab at me," she protested, but then shut up when she realized this would only lead to a dispute and more discomfort. "Never mind. Good night Sano…" She started to bend down to give him a hug, but paused clumsily when she realized what she was about to do.

Sanosuke had made a lifting movement when she was about to hug him, but also withdrew when she did. He looked down, unsure of what to say other than, "Goodnight, Megumi-san."

Afraid she had hurt him; Megumi quickly put her arms about his neck and pulled him into her shoulder. Sanosuke succumbed to the embrace, relishing silently the feeling of her soft body up against him, closing his eyes after an intake of surprised breath. He almost hugged her back, but was afraid to do so in fear that he would pull her down onto him since he was sitting, and she standing.

She's… really warm, he thought quietly, as the few moments that she hugged him seemed to tiptoe like hours in his lovesick disarray. His mind was lost someplace, and Sano barely realized as he turned his face to nuzzle into her neck.

Giving him a small squeeze, Megumi let go in slight apprehension when she felt his rapid, hot breath on her neck. Sanosuke's eyes opened suddenly and he looked up at her in shock, blushing as he realized he had just tried to get a little too cuddly with her. Megumi looked back, unsure of what really had just happened; but she smiled anyway.

Her lips parted to speak just as the rude awakening of the phone split the void. The ringing interrupted them, and Megumi turned to go answer it. Sanosuke helplessly watched her leave him, gripping the comforter.

Well, how about that. His dad's in jail, Yahiko in a foster home. His friends were estranged to him, hollow but there. He lived on his own, supported himself in the lonely life he now led. His heart was broken, but strung together with tiny threads of his Biology teacher's uncertain affection. Sanosuke's life was a complete mess, and yet for a moment in Megumi's arms he felt a little… almost…kind of… safe?

His ears focused back into the real world as he heard Megumi talking on the phone in the quiet apartment.

"I… okay. Yes. I-I will. P-Please don't… I'll get it tomorrow… five hundred thousand, yes."

Sanosuke blinked, suspicion streaking his eyes as he stood up and snuck from his room down the hall, to eavesdrop. Megumi had hung up with whoever had called, and was now dialing the number to someone else.

Megumi waited a moment, her hands trembling and her skin pale. Sanosuke tensed up, wondering what could be wrong…what could be scaring her. After a minute, Megumi spoke, and the words she said cast Sanosuke into confusion and anxiety.

She had called the bank, to make preparations for her to withdraw a half of a million dollars.

When Megumi hung up, Sanosuke watched as she clung to the phone for a few moments more, shaking and making soft noises that almost sounded like…. Crying? His worry grew like a weed, and he stood up.

Speaking up after a minute longer, he asked softly, "Megumi-san, is everything okay?"

Megumi spun around, frantically wiping her eyes and trying to look calm. "Oh yes! Everything's wonderful, Sano. Shouldn't you be in bed, though? You need sleep."

"You're not my mother, I need no sleep when you're in here crying all by yourself," he growled, stepping up to her and looking her in the face. "What's wrong?"

She attempted to hide the bitter look in her eyes, failing. Megumi replied, "Sano, nothing is wrong. Please believe me. Everything is all right."

Glaring right back, Sanosuke impulsively took her by the arm, maintaining gentleness as he said firmly, "Megumi-san. Something has upset you. Who called?"

"It was just a telemarketer!" she yelped, jerking from his hands. "Please, Sanosuke, just go to bed. I'll wake you in the morning. Goodnight." With that, Megumi turned out the light and fled to her bedroom.

Sanosuke considered following her right inside, but that might be a bit too outgoing. He bit his lip in annoyance, and turned to retreat to his room in submission….when an idea hit him. It was invading Megumi's privacy just a tad, but it was worth it. He fumbled in the dark to pick up the phone, dialing the call return service.

He listened to the number, redialing it after hanging up from the service. It was a cell phone number. Sanosuke waited for somebody to pick up; and when they did, it was a voice he couldn't recognize.

"Hello?" said the strange man.

Sanosuke wasn't sure exactly of what to say other than, "Who is this?"

There was a pause. Sanosuke feared whoever it was had hung up, before…. Before a recognizable voice came upon the phone; one that Sanosuke dreaded to hear.

"Why hello, Sanosuke-kun," came the sweet chant of Yukishiro Enishi. "How are you doing? And just how, do you mind telling me, did you get a hold of this number?"

"Fuck off, Yukishiro," Sanosuke snarled; trying to keep his voice down so Megumi wouldn't hear him. "You've pissed me off too bad this time! What the hell are you doing with Megumi?"

A soft chuckle came from the other line. "Oh, she is 'Megumi,' now, is she? But of course the only way you could get this number must be that you used the call return service. Which means you are at the good lady's house, correct? My, are you spending the night?"

"None of your goddamn business," growled Sano in return. "Now tell me what you're doing, you bastard! I know you're up to something, and I won't let you do it. Keep the hell away from Megumi, you understand?"

Enishi sighed softly, amused; but when he spoke he used a tone Sanosuke had never heard from him before. It was deep, full of malice. "You're so little of mind, Sagara… I suggest you keep your nose out of other's business. Nothing will happen to you or Miss Megumi if you do so. Goodbye."

And he hung up.

Sanosuke put back the phone, stumbling back to his room; his mind flurrying like scattered snow. Enishi was up to something. It had to do with Megumi, and lots of money. But where would Megumi get money like that? And why would she give it to Enishi? And the yakuza Sanosuke had seen Enishi with before, surely they had something to do with this.

He clenched his fists, nestling down beneath the warm blankets. Sanosuke clenched his fists, praying a silent prayer. Whether she liked it or not, Megumi was Sanosuke's to protect, now. She was all he had left, and by God, Sano wasn't about to let anyone ruin her.

End of Chapter Seven.

MadiSano: I myself just read each chapter previous of this fanfiction about a half hour ago, and fell in love with it all over again. And here I am, continuing! (smiles) Freshman year in highschool sucks... no time to do anything... blah. I haven't updated in months... you all must hate me now! T.T (sighs) I hope you liked what I posted though, hopefully I'll be able to get to chapter eight quite soon! Yay! Please review, and I'll be encouraged to start updating again more frequently. I love you all still so much, your encouragements are always so fun to reread. Love ya!