EDIT as of 12/05: I fixed the error pointed out to me… can you say "typo"? I did write this at like, 2 am, so I didn't have much care for smaller errors. Wonder why grammar check didn't catch it. But for some reason, the first part of Sanosuke's flashback isn't in italics… does anyone know why that is?
Author's note: I'm so glad everyone like the extra long chapter nine. But don't you worry, that wasn't the end of the story. But, now that I've finished that segment of the KK arc, I think I'll revisit some old friends…
Disclaimer: You don't own me. And by "you" I mean, "I," and by "me" I mean "Rurouni Kenshin."
Chapter 10: Flight Home
"Sigh…" let out Sagara Sanosuke. Germany was pretty boring compared to the other places he'd been. Then again, international forces had been on his tail in the other countries, so excitement was kind of a given. Still, Germans weren't like the Japanese. He didn't think that ever in history they would get along.
Sanosuke had been sitting in a small restaurant, waiting for his bilingual friend that had accompanied him on his trip to the country to return with their food. He'd needed to meet up a different friend in almost every country, so that he could understand the people. It was actually quite convenient.
He would often dream of Japan, of Tokyo, of… "All of my friends." Sano wanted to go back. He missed his home dearly. Well, it wasn't specifically his home that he missed so much. It was all the goings on about town and the people. He'd missed talking with Kenshin, his best friend, about everything around town. He'd missed Jou-chan and Yahiko's fights, teasing Yahiko about his size, and even Jou-chan's cooking. But of course, he also missed dearly… Megumi. "Kitsune." Vaguely, he wondered how she was doing, back in her hometown of Aizu. Had she found her family? Had she gone back? Sanosuke's mind caught itself. He wasn't supposed to care about the doctor. He recalled the last time they had met…
Sanosuke slowly crept around the streets of Tokyo, keeping a close eye. For the last couple of days, the police's search for him had intensified, and he had actually become worried. He'd made up his mind: He needed to leave Tokyo as soon as possible. But… could he do it? A foreign country where he didn't have anything to his name, and alone. Well, not completely alone. He had a friend there who he'd met a while ago… but it wasn't one of his close friends… there was someone else that he needed with him.
And so, he arrived at the Oguni Clinic. Carefully yet swiftly, he entered and hid from sight, searching to see if the doctor was in. Instead, he found many bags half filled with clothes and supplies. It seemed that the old doctor was going to go on a long vacation. But then, why did he need these kimonos? Unless…
"Sanosuke?" the sweet, melodic voice pierced his thoughts, returning him to reality. "What are you doing here? Your checkup isn't for a few more days."
"Ah, Kitsune, I found you." He turned to face her, "Listen, I'm not here about my hand… are you going somewhere?"
Her expression became sorrowful. It seemed she had a hard time speaking what she needed to. "Yes, actually. I… I'm leaving Tokyo, going back to Aizu… for good."
Sanosuke felt the air leave his lungs. His heart felt as if it had stopped, or slowed down to a snail's pace. "You're… leaving us forever…?" it couldn't register in his mind.
"Well, I'll still visit, and you can come visit me, right?" She gave him an optimistic smile.
"Yeah, yeah… right…" He clenched his good hand, looking down, not able to face her.
"So, what did you come here for, bird-head?"
He drew in a slow breath, and looked straight into her eyes, "That's the thing, actually… you can't come visit me, and I can't come visit…." He trailed off, "…you."
Megumi was puzzled. "Why-"
"Because I'm leaving Japan." The words were out his mouth so quickly, he wasn't even sure he'd said them.
"Leaving Japan? You're going to another country? Why?"
"Well, you remember when I went to Shinsuu?"
She nodded, "Yes, and you ran back in one day, you crazy man."
"Yeah, well, I didn't just run to and from there. I did some things… things that were just and right. But in the eyes of a politician in the Meiji era, I am a wanted criminal. They've got practically the entire police force except for Saito on my tail."
Megumi gasped, her hand leaping to her mouth, "Wanted? What did you do to make the police go after you?"
"I beat the hell out of a politician."
"Sano! Why did you-"
"He was being unfair to the people in the village, including my family, okay?" he answered angrily.
"Your family?"
"Yeah, before I ran off to join Sekiho, I had a family in Shinsuu. But that's not the point. The point is, they're hounding me, and I need to get out of here. And…" he stepped closer to her, looking right into her blue orbs, "I want you to come with me."
Sano couldn't bear to remember any more. All that mattered was that he had left. But he couldn't hide the fact from himself: He wanted to see her. Badly. He didn't care that she would revile him. He needed to be in her presence again. Two years was too long to wait.
Just then, his friend arrived with their food. "Hey, Sano, I've got the eats! Dig in."
"Yeah, thanks Tasuke," said Sano with a forlorn look.
"Sano, man, what's wrong?"
"Oh, it's…" he paused in the middle of his denial, "You know, Tasuke, I want to go back."
Tasuke was confused. "Back? Back where?"
"Where else? Home! Japan!"
"Oh… yeah, I guess you could do that." He said in realization. "Why the sudden change?"
"Just… Let's call it an old memory, alright?"
"Whatever you say, Sano."
The two walked over to the harbor, where Tasuke needed to purchase Sano's ticket for him for two reasons: First, Sanosuke didn't speak a word of German, and Second, the fighter was, as usual, broke. Some things don't change.
Sano absentmindedly whistled, trying desperately not to look blatantly like the one of two of the only Japanese guys in the area. But then, he discovered that he wasn't.
"Yutaro?"
There, standing in the other ticket line, was Tsukayama Yutaro and his father, Yuzaemon. At hearing his name called out without a heavy German accent, the boy turned around, asking, "Bird head?"
It seemed that today was all about memories of Japan for Sanosuke. It all came back to him. The kid had been going to Germany to see if he could get his hand fixed from what that jackass Raijuta did!
"Oh! Isn't this a pleasant surprise! Sagara-san, nice to see you again," Yuzaemon greeted him.
"Hey, Tsukayama-san, you too. Why are you buying a ticket with a final destination to Japan?"
"Well, you see, we thought it might be good if we go home. Also, Yutaro's hand…" he gestured towards his son, "Is finally healed! Show him, Yutaro."
The boy lifted his right hand, "Well, it's not fully healed." He tried to flex it, but the fingers only went very slowly and not all the way. "But the doctors here used some incredible medicine and some of the nerves in my hand are repairing!"
"They say he may be able to use it more freely within a few years." Commented Yuzaemon.
"It's not perfect," said Yutaro, "But I can hold a shinai and wallop Yahiko!"
"Heh. Still haven't forgotten about that, eh? Well, I doubt the brat has either." Sano chuckled.
"But, Sagara-san, what are you doing in Germany?" asked Yuzaemon.
"Well, uh…" Sano thought quickly, "Oh, you know, sightseeing, getting a bit more learned, that sort of thing." He lied, thinking that it would not be wise to tell them of his transgressions against the government.
"Oh, I would have never pictured you as the knowledge-seeking type."
"Yeah, I thought you were just dumb muscle," insulted Yutaro.
"Ha ha, kid. But yeah, I do enjoy some good ol' knowledge seeking… yep, that's me…" he babbled, wishing something would change the subject. Luckily, due to deus ex machina, it did.
"Oi! Sano! I got the ticket!" Tasuke came running to them.
"Oh, hey Tasuke, thanks." He grabbed the slip from his friend, then motioned toward the other two and said, "Tasuke, I'd like you to meet Tsukayama Yuzaemon and Tsukayama Yutaro."
"Hello."
"Hi."
Tasuke was a bit stunned. He'd heard of the rich Tsukayama family before… "Sanosuke… you know them?"
"Oh yeah, totally, we're good friends, right?"
"Indeed, Sagara-san is a very much appreciated friend."
"Yeah, even if he is a bird head."
Sanosuke said his goodbyes to Tasuke and boarded the train to get to the nearest port. After a bit of catching up with the other two, he fell into a deep, much needed sleep. After all, he'd been running from the police for about two years straight. He only woke up to change modes of transportation; only feeling rested with they arrived in Japan, where he bid farewell to Yutaro and his father. "Hey, Yutaro," he called as they were leaving. "Go to Tokyo and train in Kamiya Kasshin Ryu. Your place is still held there." Yutaro gave a wave, signifying he would.
"Lessee…" said Sano, "Aizu should be…" he picked his direction, "this-a-way." And began walking, carrying his bag of souvenirs he had picked up on his travels.
Takani Megumi stood for what was the tenth time that week at the small mound. She stared down, unmoving, a pained look in her eyes. Her hand clenched tightly, as she fought futilely to stop the flow of tears from her saddened, deep blue globes. Over and over, as if she needed it memorized, she read the engraving on the large stone.
HERE LAY TAKANI RYUSEI AND TAKANI SAKURA
RIP
TWO OF THE MOST MEDICINALLY WONDERFUL MINDS, STOLEN BY WAR
Megumi sniffled, wishing the hopeless wish that she could see them again. She had found one of her brothers, Takeshi, in Aizu. The other, Nobure, had gone missing since an unknown time.
At the moment, though, she longed for the family that hadn't been taken from her; the family that she'd left behind.
In Tokyo.
Kenshin, Kaoru, Yahiko and… "Rooster head." When she thought of Sanosuke, her heart became cold and bitter. She had felt such anger at him, and at herself for a long while after they had parted, that fateful day. She could remember it so clearly, those seven stupid words he'd said that had started it all…
"I want you to come with me." He told her, giving her a look of pleading.
"Come… with you?" her mind could not wrap around the idea.
"Yeah, both of us, leaving Japan together. Whaddya say?" He sounded very hopeful.
"I… I don't know…" she turned away from him, "I mean, Sano, I have other things… I need to return home… and I'm too afraid to go to a different country, I'll be my first time outside of Japan, and…" her voiced trailed off.
"Don't worry, we'll be fine. You're the only one I could ask. Yahiko's too young, Kenshin and Jou-chan need each other, Tae has the Akabeko, and Katsu has his journalism," he saw the look of worry, still etched on her face. "Listen, Megumi, please… " She turned at him saying her name regularly, "I need you."
The doctor's eyes widened, her heart thumped hard in her chest, so hard she needed to put her hand to it. "What did you… just say…?"
At first a bit puzzled, his mind put together the pieces that indicated his sentence as being a potentially compromising one. Thinking quickly, he answered, "F-for my hand! I need you to fix my hand. I mean, who else is going to do it?"
The woman's heart shattered. Then it reassembled itself, this time black and enraged. "Oh." She said, emotionlessly, "Your hand will be fine with all the supplies I've given you."
"Ah." Said Sano blankly, realizing his attempt hadn't worked. He tried once more, "But what if-"
Megumi cut him off, "Is that all that I am to you, Sanosuke? Just a 'medicine box', as you love to call me?"
Sano was surprised, "What? No, that's not what-"
"Well there are other people who need to use this medicine box! They need my help, you can take care of your damned self!" she yelled as she stepped closer, forcing him to retreat.
He was shocked at hearing her curse, and lightly pleaded, "Please, Megumi, please… They're trying to kill me…"
"Then go and get yourself killed, I don't care!" She spat, the malice building in her heart.
Sanosuke's own heart forgot everything it had learned about kindness. He said, not loudly, not with much emotion, but simply, "Yeah, I guess an opium woman like you doesn't really care who lives and who dies, right?" The acid dripping off his tongue was so horrible it threatened to burn a hole through the floor.
This blow struck deep within Megumi. She began hyperventilating, tears building in her eyes, "How dare… You… you… get out!" She slapped him hard across the face. His grimace did not move, nor did he raise a hand to catch it. She pointed her hand at the exit, turning her face away from his, yelling, "Just get the hell out and never show your face to me again!"
"You didn't need to tell me twice!" He quickly stepped out the door.
As soon as he was gone, Megumi let her tears flow nonstop, burying her head in her sleeves, crying alone and miserable for what seemed like ages. "I hate you, Sanosuke!" she yelled at nothing, "I hate you so much, more than anything in the world!" Her tears quieted to a few sobs, "But I love you… I love you so much that you can hurt me like this…" and continued sobbing, until the sheer exhaustion made her fall asleep.
That had been two years ago. Two years since the man she had loved walked out of her life. Two years since she swore her heart would harden, not allowing any romance to affect her ever again. Two years since she had heard the voice that came from behind her right at this moment.
"So, this is where they are, eh?" said the unusually soft voice of a man she didn't ever want to see again. She didn't to turn to see who it was.
"Yes," she replied, staying motionless, "these are my parents."
"May they find happiness in their next lives."
"Yes."
There was a long, uncomfortably awkward silence before she finally swiveled around to face him, the man she wished to never set eyes upon again. "Why are you here, Sanosuke?"
"I just arrived from Germany, and this was a stop, so I thought I'd drop in." he lied, giving a decent excuse.
"I…" she toughened herself, "I don't want you here."
The sadness Sano had felt returned. "Yeah. Alright." Those two words were the only thing he could have said.
After a pause, she said firmly, "Go, Sanosuke. Don't come into my sights again… I thought I had told you."
Sanosuke clenched his fist, replying with an ironic grin on his face, "Well, I was just passing through to see the town. It was a complete accident that I stumbled upon this place. I mean, who would come to see you on purpose? I only gave respects to your parents because they must be ashamed at their daughter." He snarled, regretting the words as soon as they were out of his mouth, but did not deny them as he turned to walk.
Megumi's throat went dry, her breathing quickened. Regaining her voice, she called after him, "Sanosuke, you… you!" she fell to her knees, her volume decreasing to barely above a whisper, "you bastard…" Her tears quickly moistened the ground. "Damn you, Sanosuke! You aren't supposed to be able to make me cry anymore…" She sat down helplessly, bawling until her eyes were puffy and red from it all.
Eventually, though after many lapses and relapses of fierce crying, she got up, still saddened on the whole affair. "Two years of not seeing each other, not having contact at all, and this is what happens? We have a go at each other, keeping this stupid grudge? I can't believe it… I really messed up. Lord, help me..." She walked back to her clinic, where her brother was awaiting her return.
"Hey, imouto, welcome ba-" he paused, noticing the condition of her eyes, "What's wrong? Have you been crying? What happened?"
Not wishing to reveal the whole truth, she gave him a half of it, "I went to visit mother and father…"
"Oh…" He knew not to say anymore, but embracing her in a brotherly hug. She returned it, needing some shoulder to lean on after the day's events. When they released each other, he said, "Listen, you're not alone. I'm here, and we're together, as brother and sister, got it?" She sniffled a little, and nodded, retiring to her room.
Sanosuke walked the alleyway next to a bar. He was kicking at nothing, muttering angrily to himself, "That stupid, lousy, wench!" he kicked at the air, "Why does she have to be like that! I was trying to be nice and reconcile, but no! She has to just shoo me away, like a sewer rat." "But you were the one who really lost your temper. That was not a nice thing you said regarding her parents." His conscience was reprimanding him heavily. Worse yet, Sano knew that he deserved it. But he'd done what he'd done.
In frustration, he pounded the nearest wall with his right hand, using the futae no kiwami, decimating it. His hand barely felt anything from it; it had made a full recovery. "The hand she had worked on so tenderly, even when I'd just break it again." Sanosuke recalled all the careful treatment she had applied to it, her touch so gentle, and her skin so smooth. Sano's heart pounded painfully at these memories. He longed to feel that gentle touch, to have those soft hands caress his… but he knew, after what he'd said today, he would never feel that sensation again. A sigh escaped his lungs. Resigned, he walked into the bar for a nice, long drink.
Megumi woke up from her nap. The sleep had done her well; her eyes were no longer red and puffy, and she could breath without the occasional sniffle. She walked out to the entrance to the clinic, wondering how long she'd slept. Judging by the stars in the sky, it had been a few hours. The clinic had just about closed, so she went to lock the door, when suddenly she heard a voice in its direction.
"Meg'mi!" A familiar, yet heavily slurred voice shouted. "Kitsh'ne, I needsh ta' talk whish ya! Lemme in!" There, Sanosuke stood, more drunk than he'd ever been, pounding lightly on the door. It hadn't occurred to him until that next moment to try opening it. Upon doing so, he stumbled into the clinic, nearly tripping on his feet.
"S-sanosuke, what are you doing here and practically bathed in alcohol?" Megumi took a step back, fearing what he might do in his inebriated state. Just then, her brother burst in, having heard the shoji slam.
"Megumi, what's wro- who the hell are you!" he yelled at Sanosuke.
"Me? I'm Shagusuke Shanogara… Shaganora Shonoseku…." He babbled, on, guessing various syllabic combinations.
"He's Sagara Sanosuke," Megumi introduced him.
"Yesh, wha she shaid," he added.
"You know him?" Takeshi asked, incredulous.
"Sadly, yes. I don't know why he's here, though…"
"I'll tells you why I'm heres!" Sanosuke interrupted, "I'm heresh to…" but he never was able to finish. At that second, his eyes went blank, his skin paled as he collapsed on the floor, unconscious, causing Megumi to shriek.
"He just passed out…" Takeshi pointed out the obvious. Megumi instantly read the signs.
"Alcohol poisoning! Quickly, get him onto a bed!" She urged her brother.
"Yes, right!" Takeshi lifted the knocked-out Sano by the shoulders and dragged him into a room with a bed. Megumi was already there, her hair tied back, chopping some herbs.
"Get me a bucket and a cup of water," she ordered, "and hurry!"
Nodding, her brother leapt out of the room, returning with what she had requested promptly.
By this time, she'd crushed the herbs into a small powder. She took the water, poured what she had crushed into it, and began mixing it. She then took Sanosuke's head, raised it up, opened his mouth, and tried to pour a bit in. But after the first few drops, he choked them back up, making the effort futile.
Megumi's mind raced. She had to get this man to swallow the drink or else he would die. She took a deep breath, and calmed herself, swallowing her pride. The doctor once more lifted Sano's head, but this time so that it rested on her lap. She gently stroked his hair, leaning down to his ear, whispering, "Listen, Sano. It's me, Megumi. You know, 'kitsune'? I'm going to get you all better. But if you want to do it, you need to let me give this to you. I know you're a tough, strong guy, so just let me open your mouth, and have you drink this, okay?" The lack of resistance she found when parting his lips this time signified that he either agreed, or his body could no longer react. Little by little, she fed him the concoction, until none was left.
She turned towards he brother, "put the bucket here," she said, motioning towards the floor.
"Uh… yeah, okay…" he said blankly, obeying. He'd been stunned to see his sister treat this man like this.
After the pail was in place, Megumi slowly turned the unconscious man's head until it faced the bucket, held it away from herself, and waited. Then, he made a gurgling noise and subsequently vomited heavily into the bucket, eliciting faces of disgust from both the Takani's.
"Alright, Takeshi, that should be enough. Thank you."
"Sure. I'm glad I could help. Oyasumi," he bid her the night.
As he walked out, she said lightly, "Oyasumi…" Taking a small paper cloth, she began wiping the residue from Sanosuke's face, his head still on her lap. As she did so, she could notice the color returning to his cheeks. He stirred slightly, his eyelids steadily opening.
"Meg…Meg'mi?" he may have been cured of the poison, but he was still very drunk. "Megitshune…'dat you?"
She smiled slightly, responding, "Yes, Sano, it's me."
"Good."
This surprised the doctor. Was he happy to see her?
"I want'd t'say… I'm shorry."
Megumi was sure she had just misheard. There was no way a sober Sano, let alone this drunk one, would apologize. "What did you say...?"
"I shaid, I'm shorry. I'm shorry fer everythin' I've done to ya. I'm shorry fer insultin' ya whens ya left, an' I'm shorry fer insultin' ya jest t'day. I dun think yer parentsh would be 'shamed of ya. I thinksh they would be proud of ya, proud that their lil' girl grew up to be so great…"
The doctor blushed, responding, "You…you really think so?"
"Oh, yeah. Definitely. Ya know," he yawned, "Ya got really nishe handsh," With those last few words, he drifted off to sleep. Megumi kept stroking his hair and his cheeks. She didn't know why. Supposedly, she was still angry with him, even if he had apologized… but was she? Megumi couldn't bring herself to answer at this moment, watching his sleeping face. "He looks so peaceful when he's asleep…" she mused, "Hard to believe he's a vulgar, rude jerk when he's awake…" Eventually, she succumbed to the pull of sleep, remaining in the same place, her hands still on Sanosuke's face.
However, when he woke up the next morning, she was not there. His eyes opened slightly, but quickly shut when the morning light blinded him. He tried again, this time shielding his brown orbs from the sun with his hand. "Where am I…?" he looked around, unable to place his location. A sharp pain appeared in his forehead, scattering his thoughts. "Ugh, what did I do last night? I remember being angry with myself, then going into the bar… I had a few drinks, shared a few stories…I think I lost track of how many drinks I'd had after twenty… then I'm here." He was very confused as to what exactly had happened. Overall, though, it seemed he had gotten extremely drunk, which was very difficult for the rooster head, did things unknown, and ended up in some stranger's house. Oh well. It wasn't as if he hadn't been in a similar state various times in the past. But something was bothering him…"I remember I'd wanted to see Megumi… maybe say something nice to her."
The scent of food being cooked awakened him from his concentration. His stomach growled; apparently with all those drinks he hadn't had a single bite to eat. Maybe he could make this work out for him and get a free meal. Once again, he'd done it several times before.
Stretching in tiredness, he got up from the futon and walked toward the direction of the delicious aroma. As he approached, it became stronger, adding pain to Sano's already empty stomach. But just as he came close to the source, a memory was triggered. Hadn't he smelled something exactly like this before? Maybe someone had made it for him, long ago. He wracked his brains trying to find the answer… and then it clicked. He remembered where he'd eaten something exactly like this. His heart filled with panic. If he was right… "Oh no… don't tell me that what I did was…"
But he didn't need to complete the thought, as it was confirmed right before his eyes. There, cooking the wonderful meal his nostrils had anticipated was Megumi, staring straight at him. There was an awkward silence, ended by Megumi saying, "Good morning," and placing the plate down at the table.
This confused Sanosuke even more. Where was his well-deserved fury? Where were the insults, the smacking, and the statements of hatred? This was baffling… did it have something to do with what he'd done last night? "Better not question it…" He thought, counting his blessings. After another awkward silence, he decided to break it by saying, "So…"
"You gave me quite a startle last night, Sanosuke," said Megumi without turning to face him.
"Last night? Uh oh…" "Did I? Uhm, could you remind me of how…?" he felt he was about to dig himself deeper.
For the first time that morning, Megumi's face showed some emotion. It was a difficult emotion to read. Something like an expression of disappointment, shock, and, Sano could have sworn, hurt appeared on her face for an instant, but quickly reverted to its blank state. "So, you don't remember, do you? You don't remember how you barged into my clinic, so drunk you appeared to have been dipped in pure sake? That doesn't ring a bell?"
"Well, the sake does," he said, trying to add what became a failed joke, "But I don't remember coming over here."
"Then you don't remember how you nearly died from alcohol poisoning, and how I fed you herbs like an adult to an infant to keep you alive? How I coaxed you into swallowing them?"
It was as if a puzzle piece had been place in Sano's memory. He did remember, when he was asleep, her voice, saying something like, "I'm going to get you all better. But if you want to do it, you need to let me give this to you." "I do remember you giving me the herbs…" he said quietly, "thank you."
A smile crossed her face for only a split second, but just enough for Sanosuke to catch it, then said, "It's a doctor's duty, is all," her eyes softened, just slightly, "do you remember what you said to me, then?"
The man before her searched every memory he had, hoping something would come up. When it didn't, he said weakly, "No… I don't…"
Her hardened expression returned, She turned away from him once more, simply saying, "Oh."
In a desperate effort to continue the conversation, Sano continued, "I guess I must have been pretty dr-"
"Why did you come back?" She cut him off.
"Uh?" he was surprised by the sudden question, "Well, as you said, I was drunk, and-"
"No, I meant why did you come back from Europe?" She stepped toward him, her eyes pleading, "Why did you come back to Japan, to me, Sanosuke? Why did you return to me?"
He inhaled deeply before responding, then calmly said, "I'll tell you why I returned to you. For the last two years, I've been running all around the world, trying to escape from the goddamned police who were in fact, trying to kill me." He saw her cringe in what may have been guilt, "Yeah, they almost got me too," he reached toward his shoulder, "Bullet wound, right here, the cowards. Hurts almost as bad as when I smashed my hand for the first time." He raised it up and moved it, "It's fixed now. You see, I was a good boy, and I didn't use it once until it was fixed, just as you'd wanted it." He clenched the hand tightly, "and it was a constant reminder that I had left you and everyone else back here, in Japan."
"But throughout it all, throughout the throbbing pain in my hand, throughout running from country to country with nothing to my name, having to scrounge for food, nearly starving to death, throughout being shot, throughout it all one person stuck out in my mind." He gave her a fierce look, "You." Her face put on a wondering expression, clearly showing that she was thinking, "Me?"
"Yes, you. Every waking second and ever moment in my dreams, you were there. You were everywhere. When I looked into the sky, the clouds formed your face. Whenever I'd feel my hand sting, I'd think, 'I need to see the fox,' then realize that I couldn't because I was in different country!"
"Oh, sure, I'd try and forget about you. I tried meeting many foreign ladies, each more beautiful than the last. They really loved foreign guys. But then, if for one second I looked into their eyes, I saw your face staring right back. I couldn't get rid of you. I tried to escape, and around every corner, there you were! I was going insane, Megumi, insane!"
"So I figure, 'I'll go back to Tokyo, tell her that she can't be in my thoughts anymore, and that's that' right? No, it wasn't so easy. I can't get you out of my thoughts, you can't get yourself out of my thoughts, and for one plain, simple reason that has been driving me nuts for these twenty four months." Brown met blue so directly; it was as if they were within each other's souls. "I love you, Megumi. I love you so much that I drank myself into a near-fatal stupor to see you."
"Sano…" she couldn't think of what to say. She'd wanted this moment to happen for too long, but now that it had… she was at a complete loss for words.
He tore his gaze from hers, his face bearing a forlorn expression, "But I did think about what you said last before we parted. You couldn't have come with me. After all, " he made a sweeping motion with his hands, as if to encompass all of her, "You're a beautiful, intelligent, high class daughter of one of the most respected families in Japan. And what am I?" He looked at his feet, turning so that she could read the "aku" symbol on his jacket, "I'm just an escapee of the false revolutionary army, with nothing to my name, not even my name itself… just a criminal ruffian with nothing to give, and no life ahead. Even if you did love me back, I couldn't offer you anything." He began to walk away from her, "So, thanks for listening, and…" there was a choke in his voice, "goodbye…"
Megumi was silent while he took ten steps from her. Finally, her voice found strength, and she cried out, "Wait!" She ran to him as he turned around, surprising him by wrapping her arms around his back and crushing their lips together in a heated kiss. Sanosuke was surprised for a moment, but then leaned into the kiss, opening her mouth slowly, exploring every corner of it.
After they had pulled away, she looked deep into his eyes with a stern expression, saying, "I don't care what kind of social status you have, what kind of crimes you have committed, or what you can or can't offer me." She whispered in his ear, "If you offer me love, then that is all I care about. Will you do that?"
She felt his hot breath on her ear as he replied, "Yes. Now, and forever more."
Once more their lips made contact for a slow, lingering kiss, which was only halted when Megumi heard footsteps, parted, and said, "Mm, Sano, Takeshi's home from the market."
Sano, lost in the heat of the moment, said, "Huh… who?"
"My brother."
"Oh…" he said blankly. Then, he was brought back to reality and said, "Oh!" quickly releasing his love, for fear what an angry brother might do finding some drunk in his house and being intimate with his sister, the only family member he had at the moment.
"Don't worry, Sano, I'll just explain the situation to him. He's a nice guy, he'll understand…"
"I sure hope so, or else I'll be needing two hand casts…" "Uh, sure thing, Megitsune." Megumi stared at him. "What?""It's just that… you're using that nickname…"
"Oh, well… I dunno, I guess I kind of like it. I think it's adorable," Sano said with a little blush. That disappeared after he saw her smile broadly, nod, and turn to anticipate her brother. That was the first time she'd ever heard that man say anything was sincerely adorable.
So Sanosuke waited outside the kitchen, in the room nearest to the entrance. He heard them greet each other. Briefly, he heard his name mentioned, then a pause. After that, a loud, "What!" and then Megumi trying to calm him down. Then, footsteps… towards him.
"So!" said Takeshi, a bit hostile, as he appeared in Sanosuke's line of sight, "You must be Sagara!"
"Yeah, that's me," Sano said, extending his hand, "Sagara Sanosuke. You must be Takeshi."
Takeshi did not take the handshake until after Megumi nudged him with her elbow. "Yes, I am Takani Takeshi, Megumi's older brother. Nice to meet you."
"You too."
Silence.
"Well!" said Megumi cheerfully, trying to raise some positive feelings, "Why don't I get you some tea, and you two can get to know each other." She stepped out to fetch the tea and gather her thoughts. "Okay, let's summarize. Yesterday, the man you'd loved that had left you behind after a particularly nasty parting and you thought you'd hardened your heart to had returned, saying a particularly nasty insult. Then, he walks in your doorway, drunk as hell. He nearly dies from too much alcohol in his blood, and you save his life by being gentle with him. The next day, he barely remembers any of it, and pours his heart out, confessing his feelings to you. Your heart wasn't so hard, and you give him a big wet kiss afterwards." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "This is going to be something interesting to tell Kaoru-chan."
Meanwhile, in the other room, Sanosuke and Takeshi sat, staring silently at each other.
"So, Sagara-san…" said Takeshi, "How long have you known my sister?"
Sanosuke thought. "About two and a half years."
"I see. And how did you meet?"
"Well, she ran into a gambling den my friend and I were in, fleeing from some thugs and one ninja, carrying the opium that had killed my other friend, which she'd been forced to make by a madman who was protected by an elite army. Then we wanted to make babies with each other." Okay, so maybe the last part wasn't that true, but it would have been funny if he'd said it. He didn't though, thinking the whole Kanryuu affair might have been a touchy subject. "Well, we kind of just met by chance, you know, and talked…" it wasn't a complete lie. It was extremely random that she had come bursting into the room where she and Kenshin had been cheating the other guys. And he had yelled about it afterwards, so…
"Interesting. Sagara-san… your last name, are you related to Sagara Sozo of Sekiho?"
"Well, he was my captain, and I was a farm boy back then, unable to take a last name, so I just kind of adopted his…"
"You were in the false revolutionary army?"
Sanosuke bit his tongue. Hard. He desperately wanted to tell him what a terrible bunch the Meiji government were, how they had betrayed and framed his captain as a traitor. But in his mind, he kept telling himself, "This is for Megumi, this is all for Megumi…" "Yes, they deluded me into believing I was doing the right thing, and basically stole my childhood."
"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. You probably know this, but our family has been split up by the war."
"Yes, Megumi told me about it…" when in truth, it had been the older doctor at the Oguni clinic. "It is a terrible loss. I'd heard Takani Ryusei was a great man."
"That father was. He was kind, and smart, and loving…" From that moment on, Sano seemed like had scored a good point with Takeshi.
Megumi came back into the room with the tea, hoping that the tension in the room had at least subsided a little. She was pleasantly surprised, though, when she saw her brother and her love laughing about something Sano had just said. "Well, it seems you two are getting along well!" she said, setting down their tray.
"Oh, imouto," Said Takeshi, through the laughter, "Sano-kun here is a great guy. You made a good choice. I approve."
"Hey, Takeshi-san, thanks," said Sanosuke.
"Please, please, call me ani!" he joked, giving the other man a wink.
"Well, now that you two know each other… Takeshi," she said, taking a serious tone, "I'd like to tell you something. Sano and I are returning to Tokyo tonight."
Takeshi's smile instantly vanished. He said, with more sadness than anger, "You... you are?"
Sano flashed Megumi a look that could plainly be read as, "We are?"
"Yes. I need to return to the clinic there… Tokyo is much more busy than Aizu, and I think you can take care of the clinic here." She reassured him.
"But…"
"Please, they need me there."
"Geez, I hope this doesn't turn into Enishi version two." Thought Sanosuke worriedly.
But to his surprise, a smile appeared on Takeshi's face as he said, "I see. You need to go to Tokyo, to the big city to help others. You're so giving. But you will visit, right?"
Megumi nodded, "Frequently."
"And you'll take care of her, right?" he looked at Sanosuke.
"You can count on it," he said.
"Well… alright then… I'll miss you like crazy, imouto, but at least now I know you're alive… it's a great relief."
"And to know you're alive is an even greater one," she replied.
By the evening, they had packed everything and said their goodbyes to Takeshi. Megumi asked Sano if they could make one quick stop before leaving. He had guessed where it was, and let her go alone, back to the small mound.
"Mother, father," she told the stones, "I've found the man I love. And I'm leaving to help more people… I'll come back to visit, though." She walked slowly back to Sanosuke, looking back once more. He wiped the tears welling up in her eyes.
"I think they'd be very proud of you, Megitsune," he said, to which she laughed. "What's so funny?"
"You said the same thing last night, when you were drunk."
"Oh. Well then it's doubly true, isn't it?" he put his arm around her, then reached into his bag with his spare hand, "Ah, I got something for you, a souvenir from my travels."
"Ooh! What is it?"
"You'll see…" he pulled out the object, and put it into her hand. She opened her palm and saw a necklace. On the string, there was a beautifully crafted, small, golden fox with sapphires for eyes and a diamond for the white tuft of the tail.
Megumi's hands began shivering from excitement, "Oh, Sano…it's beautiful… how did you…?"
"A jeweler friend of mine owed me a favor," he smiled, "strong arms come in handy. Go ahead, put it on."
She did so, and moved her hands to show him, "Well, what do you think?"
"Now it's even more beautiful."
"I love it when you say nice things."
"Hey, everything I say is nice!" he jokingly complained. They looked deep into each other's eyes once more and he said, "I love you, Megitsune."
"And I love you, rooster head."
After sharing a kiss, they walked happily, arm in arm, in the direction of the train.
NOTE:
Imouto: one's own younger sister in Japanese. Someone's younger sister is imoutosan.
Ani: One's older brother in Japanese. Someone's older brother is Oniisan.
Futae no Kiwami: Mastery of two layers, the extremely powerful technique taught by Anji to Sanosuke that requires fist folding within 1/75th of a second.
Well, that was longer than I'd anticipated. It was even longer than chapter nine! But it didn't take nearly as long… and I didn't feel it becoming longer. I guess I kind of wanted to do the SM arc in one fell swoop than in stretched out chapters. Now that I look back on certain parst of it, I think, "Woah, did that really take up a whole page?" Things will get rolling again next chapter, when the Kenshingumi is reunited. For that scene with the drunk Sanosuke, I had so many red squiggles under my words… you'd think Word could understand drunk-speak. Please review, my wonderful readers!