I LOVE YOU
By: g3ozLIzh
Chapter Three
It was already late afternoon and there was still no sign of Sano. The sky had already turned slightly fiery in color and Megumi could somehow associate it to the whirling turmoil of emotions going on inside of her. She didn't know how to feel, what to feel towards Sano. Maybe she should just assume that Sano had chosen Akina over her… But what was it that she had seen in his eyes last night? When he cornered her? It was definitely something she hadn't seen in him before but even so, whatever it was doesn't directly equate to love. No, it does not.
Standing by the windowsill, she spanned her eyes over the horizon and for a brief moment, she remembered the time he confronted her in front of Takeda's mansion. She had been so surprised and was even a bit anxious as to what his intention was for coming. When she found that he was there to stop her from returning to Takeda, she was even more surprised. Disbelief would be the word for it. And though his tone wasn't anywhere near comforting, he had made her see the truth. And he was quick to defend her too. He even saved her from a certain death she herself was about to inflict…
Why did he do all those things? Why?
She slightly turned her head and stared at the little slip of paper beneath her little pouch. Her eyes burned with unshed tears.
I guess I'll never find the answer. She turned her focus back to the clouds floating by. I did what I could…
Slowly, almost hesitantly, she retrieved her luggage from a carved mahogany closet. Grunting as she did so, she dropped it when she overheard her name being mentioned by Dr. Genzai.
Could it be…? Her hands shook and the luggage felt twice as heavy. She pushed the luggage against the wall with her foot and just stood there, contemplating if she still could face him with a composed demeanor. Taking a deep breath, she strode towards the door, slid it open and was shocked to see Kaoru.
"Megumi!"
"Kaoru!"
They both cried out in surprise.
Megumi was quite disappointed but didn't let her feelings show. But then thinking that it was selfish of her, she temporarily pushed her disappointment out of her mind and gave the younger woman the welcome she deserves.
Kaoru half-ran towards her, grinning. "Mou! You're really here!" Her brows creased. "And you didn't even bother informing us. How come?" She crossed her arms in mock anger.
"I wasn't planning to stay long anyway." I don't have a reason to anymore, she silently added.
Kaoru gave her a scolding look. "That still doesn't mean you don't need to tell us. We miss you!"
Megumi felt the familiar burning sensation in her eyes. Had they really missed her the whole time she was gone? But being the ever-unperturbed Megumi, fox ears became obvious instead. "Really? You'd be the last person to want me here. Aren't you scared I'm going to take Ken-san away from you?" she couldn't help but tease.
"Fat chance." The young instructor rolled her beautiful sapphire blue eyes. "You have to go through me and Kenji first!"
As if on cue, a cute pink-cheeked face with flame-colored hair peeked out from behind Kaoru's kimono-clad legs.
"Oh. So this little guy's Kenji." She bent down and lightly tapped his nose. "Hi there, Kenji."
Big blue eyes just stared back blankly. Megumi can't help but notice that they are a sparkling blue, just like his mother's.
Sighing good-naturedly, Megumi straightened up. "Oh well, at least he doesn't go oro like his father does."
Kaoru laughed.
"So where's Ken-san?"
"Oh, he's off with Yahiko practicing."
"Practicing? Aren't you the one who's usually with Yahiko?"
"Well, not anymore. After I gave birth to Kenji, Kenshin saw to it that I devote my time to the baby and I guess, they got used to practicing with each other's company."
"Is Ken-san teaching him his Hiten Mitsiruigi Ryu technique?"
"Well, not really although from practicing with Kenshin, Yahiko picked up a few moves. He has gotten quite good himself." Kaoru beamed proudly. "Wanna come along? I'm sure they will be ecstatic to see you!"
"No. I couldn't." She cast her eyes downward. "I'm… leaving." She stole a quick glance from the Kamiya master, curious as to her reaction.
"You are?" The petite young woman's eyebrows knitted together. "Already? But you just arrived…"
Megumi shook her head ruefully. "I'm sorry. Now you know why I didn't want the rest of you to know."
Kaoru was silent for a moment then she brightened up, a thought having entered her mind. "But the train won't leave till later this afternoon. Come on! I know Sano would be glad to see you." She gave her a wink suggestively.
Megumi flinched at the name. Kaoru must have assumed that exactly no one knew of her arrival except her. Megumi apologetically replied, "I'd really rather not." She jerked a thumb to her room. "Lots of stuff to fix before I leave."
Kaoru would have persisted and argued that there isn't that much things to pack since she barely stayed for a week but upon seeing the tired look on the woman doctor's face, she just nodded her head in resignation. "Okay. I understand." She offered a small smile. "Well, Kenji and I will be going now." She looked down and took the young boy's hand. "Say goodbye to Megumi-san now."
"Buh-bye," the boy softly said.
Kaoru looked up and grinned. "Well, this isn't exactly goodbye. I know you'll be visiting us soon enough, ne?"
Megumi chuckled and gave a slight nod. "Hai."
"And be sure to stay longer," Kaoru firmly added.
Megumi didn't give the answer much of a thought, finding it easier to say it that way. "I will. No problem."
"Ja. We'll be going now."
Megumi gave a small wave. "Ja."
Before Kaoru could exit, she turned around again, a curious look on her face. "Megumi, what was your purpose for coming here?" she asked innocently.
Megumi was a bit taken aback and took her a longer time to answer. "Ano… I had to get a few important medical items here."
Kaoru seemed to be satisfied with the answer but added another query just for tease. "You sure you didn't come here to check up on Sano?" The mischievous grin was proof enough that she had no idea of what was going on in Megumi's head the moment she said those words.
Megumi could barely speak. "No, not at all." Years of pretending saved her from being found out.
Kaoru shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. "Okay. Bye again!" And with that, she finally exited.
She didn't know she had been holding her breath. Megumi exhaled.
=*=*=*=
It was Tanabata Day and here she was, stuck in the clinic doing her routine work of checking the supplies to be bought and to be replaced. She paused for a moment at the supplies' file folder she had been working on for quite most of the mid afternoon, hands poised on making another check or marking it off.
She didn't blink nor was she sweating but a drop of liquid softly made a small splat on the paper so the check mark she had just made became smudged. Slowly it spread out and formed the silhouette of…
She looked away, putting the pen down. But realizing that it was pathetic of her to react like that, she gazed down on it again.
Somehow, the smudged check mark formed into this faint solid shape of a heart.
Moving her right hand, she made a move to touch it.
Oh what the heck! She pulled back her hand and stood up, irritated by herself. Getting herself caught up in something so insignificant as a smudged check that looked like a heart. She shook her head warily, walking to a small table by the door to make herself some aromatizing tea. I should get a life. Maybe I should take a page out of Sano's book…
She stooped right there. Now where did that thought of him come from? Sure, that rooster is living his life without a care in the world while she stays in the clinic everyday, worrying that if she takes a little break to stroll down the park, she might miss to save or help a patient. But to learn from his way of life? Not in this lifetime!
She vehemently sloshed the tea bag back into the small kettle instead of letting it gently soak there.
Just because she's lonely and he doesn't have someone in his life, that doesn't mean that they would be good together…
Well maybe I need a little love
But she nodded her head.
Yeah
She stared at the tea bag which she had hastily put in and found that it settled its way to the bottom of the kettle, string and all. Her right forefinger and thumb throbbed and realized that she had scalded herself.
And maybe I
I need a little care
For some reason, she had a sudden craving for her favorite tea, a tea only Tae knows how to make. A tea so bitter, so strong…
As she was making her way to the Akabeko to ask for that tea that she loves so much, she saw Sano standing, all alone with hands inside his pockets and gazing up the sky. She couldn't exactly see his expression because from where he was standing, he has mostly his back to her.
And maybe I
… do like you, Sanosuke. Her heart thudded wildly at the little confession she had just made with herself. Energy surged up to every nerve in her body so that, she realized, she would not be needing that tea after all.
Maybe you
… could erase this loneliness I've felt for far too long…
Maybe you
… could replace the cold surrounding my heart…
Maybe you
… could share a part of yourself too..
Oh you need somebody
Just to hold you
Megumi braced herself, hands unconsciously running up and down her arms, imagining it was his arms around her. So when she closed her eyes, for just a moment, she believed it was his… with the faint smell of Sanosuke brought to her by the gentle breeze blowing around.
If you do just reach out
I'm right here, Sanosuke. You don't have to look that far. I'm right here, why haven't you seen me yet?
And I'll be there
She was about to step out of the bushes and the shadows… but then she heard him speak: "It's a good thing I don't have a woman in my life to complicate things."
She fell back. And just as fast as that newfound resurgence came, it escaped her before she could even share in its strength.
What was I thinking? She silently scoffed, disbelieving she could entertain such thoughts about Sano and her existent/non-existent feelings for him.
Purpose for going to the Akabeko forgotten, she went back to the clinic, disheartened than ever.
=*=*=*=
A knock came from the door, jolting her out of her dream or was it a memory? It was hard to tell nowadays. Megumi tiredly got up from where she had dozed off by the windowsill. She wiped her face with a clean damp piece of cloth for any remnants of tears. She straightened up and took a deep refreshing breath before situating herself behind the desk, ready to entertain any patients. She would start making use of her time or else she'll end up crazy from all the thinking and crying.
"Come in." Her voice was as calm and firm as ever.
"Megumi," came the voice through the door. "It's me, Kaoru." Kaoru slid open the door and smiled at the surprised look on Megumi's face. She scanned the room. "So, you're so busy to even pay a visit to old friends and yet you have the time for your patients. I must admire your dedication there, Megumi."
She laughed lightly. "There's no rest for the weary doctor."
Kaoru just smiled and sat on the chair in front of the lady doctor's desk.
"So. What can I do for you?"
"Are you always this…" Kaoru searched for the right word. "Don't you want take a break even just this once?"
"I am taking a break or else I wouldn't be here having this conversation with you." Megumi just smiled. To Kaoru, it looked like a halfhearted smile. Taking that as a sign that she should get right to the point as to the reason she came, she spoke up.
"Megumi, stop hiding. I know something is bothering you so why not tell me, I can help."
"This isn't something you could lend me a hand with, Kaoru. But thank you." She expressed sincerely. "I really appreciate it, your concern."
The lady doctor was careful and quiet with how she conversed, so unlike the Megumi she was used to. Kaoru prodded on, wanting to elicit a real Megumi reply. "It's about Sano right? And that girl Akina."
At the mere mention of their names, Megumi's smile soured.
"So my intuition is right. I --- "
"Kaoru, I really don't want to talk about it, okay? I can get over it. I'm trying right now… so please." Her voice then became took on a tired tone, not anymore the careful and quiet, and Kaoru silently applauded herself. It means that she was getting through her.
"Megumi, I don't intend for you to go to Sanosuke. I just want to let you know the whole story. At least, you'll know that before you leave. I guarantee you that I'll be done explaining things in less than half an hour, giving you four and a half hours to fix your stuff."
Megumi managed a smile for the younger woman's attempt to make the conversation less uneasy for her. "Okay, but I'm counting… so start already."
Just as Kaoru was about to tell her, the door to the clinic opened and from where they sat, they could here the frantic voice of Sano.
"Dr. Genzai, it's Akina! She's… I don't know what's wrong with her --- she's been convulsing and ---," came his breathless explanation and before Kaoru could vacate her seat, Megumi was already rushing about, bringing the needed medical supplies to the table.
Sano was holding on to Akina's shaking hand and trying to prevent her from hurting herself.
"Save her, Megumi. Please," came Sano's plea. It was so sincere and pained that Megumi was moved. She met Sano's gaze for the briefest of moments and saw how affected he was by what was happening so when she felt a large lump in her throat, she didn't know if it was because she was touched or because she was drowning inside.
"Yes, I will," came her voice, firm and sincere. But who's going to save me?