Megumi scanned the lines of exiting passengers for her friend at the airport. "Megumi!" Kobayashi Hikaru squealed and almost knocked Megumi down with the force of her tackle-slash-hug. "It's been so long!"

"Hai, too long." Megumi agreed as soon as she could breathe again. She grabbed Hikaru's small duffle while the other woman lugged a suitcase and headed out the building to a waiting car. "How's Misao?" Hikaru was a year older than Megumi and had a sister, Misao, who was Kaoru's age. The sisters both had raven hair like their friend but where the latter was slender and moved with grace, the Kobayashi sisters were more athletic in build and liable to be bouncing off the walls with excessive energy.

"She's doing great. She can't wait to become a senior – she practically skipped a semester, you know – because there's this first year grad student she's got the biggest crush on."

"Little Misao?"

"Don't let her hear you say that." Hikaru warned. "But yeah, she's smitten. Apparently she's had a thing for him since senior year when he guest lectured on ceremonial customs at her dojo."

"Who would have thought?" Megumi said. Misao was a tomboyish girl who didn't care for much besides honing her martial art skills. Her parents had despaired of her getting ahead in life but that didn't seem to be the case anymore.

"I can't wait anymore! Spill!" Hikaru was fairly bouncing on the balls of her feet as they settled in Megumi's room. The two had stopped by a boba house on their way from the airport. Megumi's parents were on a trip again and were returning on Tuesday. Megumi had convinced her friend to stay with her that night and to just go to the hotel the following day.

Megumi took her desk chair while Hikaru flopped belly-down on the bed. Megumi told her about the engagement, the one month, the visit to the Sagara home, and the date.

"He sounds like a great guy. Do you have a picture of him?" When Megumi said she didn't, Hikaru pulled out her laptop and quickly typed in Sano's name. "He's one of those eligible bachelors under thirty, ne? There should be a good picture online. That him?" Megumi looked at the picture Hikaru had pulled up and nodded. It was a picture of Sano at a local festival from a society page the previous year. She clicked on another photo – this time a picture of Sano in a tux at a charity gala.

"He's gor-gee-us!" Hikaru gushed. "If you don't want him, I'll take him. He looks good enough to eat."

"Hikaru!" Megumi cried, scandalized.

"What? I'm not one to let such good man-flesh go to waste." Megumi slammed the laptop closed. "Hey!"

"First of all, Sano is not a piece of meat you can ogle. Second, he's—"

"Yours, I get it." Hikaru drawled. Megumi squeaked in protest. Hikaru wagged a finger in her face. "You, my friend, are in denial."

"I am not!"

"Consider this, if Sano dropped you like a hot potato and started going out with someone else, would you be happy about that?" Megumi was quiet. "Exactly. So face it, Takani Megumi. You like Sagara Sanosuke." Megumi sighed. Hikaru was right.

"So, what's holding you back? Isn't he everything you've ever wanted? Dreamed about? You've always been sure of your standards. Young, handsome, rich, from a good family, intelligent. Check, check, check…"

"I know, I know," Megumi groaned. "But I keep thinking: what if he wants me just because his family wants me? What if he just doesn't know that many women and therefore I'm his best choice? If that girl comes along, won't he go after her instead?" Sano had told her that she was his choice, other factors be damned but her traitorous mind was filled with so much doubt.

"Megumi, Megumi," Hikaru clucked her tongue. "What if the world ends tomorrow? What if you suddenly wake up bald? What if? What if? You can't do anything about that. What you have are choices and I think – and I haven't even met the guy – your Sanosuke has made his choice. From what I've heard, he doesn't sound like the type to just go along with what he's told if he doesn't want to do it. Am I wrong?"

"No…"

"Right, so it appears that he actually wants you, it just happens that luckily, your families are filthy rich and move in the same circles, that socially, economically, et cetera, et cetera, you're also perfect for each other. Girl, if you didn't have the whole package, you would have been star-crossed lovers."

Megumi smiled at the thought. Hikaru stared intently at her. "What?"

"You're thinking about him!" Hikaru laughed with glee as she sat up on the bed.

"And what makes you say that?" Megumi asked archly.

"You were smiling and had this look on your face. Do you deny it?"

"Who said I wasn't?" Megumi said with a grin.

Hikaru bounded off the bed and grabbed Megumi's hands. After long minutes of just laughing and dancing around the room, the two friends lay on the floor catching their breath.

"Thanks, Hikaru."

"Don't mention it. That's what I'm here for."

"I have been feeling differently toward him for a while now but…" She trailed off.

"I think your hesitation stems from your own insecurity."

"What do you mean?"

"Well you've never dated before – though not for lack of opportunity." She gave Megumi a meaningful look. Megumi recalled the guys who had been after her in high school and college but who were all turned down firmly and politely. "And as far as I know, never been in love, so it can be quite intimidating for you that your first relationship is with the man who's going to be 'the one' for the rest of your life." She squeezed Megumi's hand affectionately. "It's normal to be afraid, Megu-chan, just don't let it control you that you miss out on something wonderful."

Megumi felt her eyes prickle with sudden tears. "Thank you, Hikaru. And here I was thinking I must be crazy." She said lightly.

"Nah, just a bit cuckoo." Hikaru traced circles in the air next to her ear. Megumi laughed.

"He sid that he wanted me in his life since we were eight." She admitted shyly. She winced when Hikaru shrieked.

"Oh mah gaaawd!" That is the cutest thing ever! "See? See? What did I tell you? An eight year old wouldn't have been caught up with the 'politics' of an arranged marriage. He totally wants you. You! You're so lucky!"