Author's note: Sorry if the characters are out of character… (-_-) I try. But most everything will be explained ……soon…..
"Stop worrying so much, Jo Chan!!! You're giving me a headache!!!" Sano exclaimed quite loudly.
"Stop telling me to stop worrying, Sano!!!!!!!" Kaoru snapped, crazy eyed, back at Sano.
"NONOONOO!!!! Both of you stop it… or I'm going to be one next in there!!" Yahiko yelled.
Kaoru suddenly became very quiet and looked down at her feet, bangs covering her eyes, and she said, "I know I shouldn't be so … worried… he's doing better today than he was yesterday, but, he always gets worse at night…… and……….." Kaoru trails off into silence….
"Woah! What a change in behavior," Sano whispered in Yahiko's ear, who nodded.
"I'll never understand women," he rewhispered in Sano's direction.
(Sanosuke and Yahiko appear close up in a huddle, with Kaoru in the background beginning to get angry)
"I don't think anyone will ever understand them you know?" (Y)
"And sometimes I don't think that they even understand themselves." (S)
"It's amazing, how they can go from crying there eyes out, to raging fury, to being the happiest things on the face of the earth." (Y)
(Kaoru is now very angry in the background)
"It is IMPOLITE to talk of the ways of women! Especially in front of them. AND BESIDES!!! What do men know of us anyway? You two especially! Your about as close to being feminine as a cat is to being a dog!!" Kaoru hissed.
(Wary glances are exchanged between Yahiko and Sanosuke)
"Fine! I just won't talk to you! I'll just sit over in this corner and wait on Kenshin!" Kaoru said zipping over to a seat closer to the door.
(just as she sat down the door opens and Megumi steps out with Kenshin following behind her holding a small bottle in his right hand)
"Kenshin!" Kaoru jumped up out of her seat and, before stopping herself, was about to hug Kenshin. Then she turned to Megumi, "So, Megumi San, were you able to find out what was wrong with Kenshin?"
"Well, not exactly. His symptoms and some of the tests I ran suggested a normal cold, but there is much more to it than that, and I'm not sure what that is," Megumi replied respectfully. "Anyway, I have prescribed him some medicine that should help him with his fatigue and fever. He needs two doses each day, no less than two hours apart, until this clears up. I've already given him one dose so he can't have another until one o'clock. If his symptoms worsen I want you to bring him to me without delay."
"Thank you so much, Megumi San," Kaoru said and then reached into her kimono to pull out her money pouch. "How much do I owe you?"
Megumi smiled and put her hands on the little bit of money in Kaoru's hands and pushed it back towards her. "All it will cost you is feeding that poor man a meal," she said pointing a thumb over in Kenshin's direction. "Being sick for the last few days I can guess that he hasn't eaten much, or at least no good food . And he needs to eat so he can build his strength back up," Megumi said walking to greet a man who just walked into the clinic clutching his stomach.
"I'll do that," Kaoru replied in gratitude. "Oh, one more thing, before we leave."
Turning back around Megumi asked, "What would that be?"
"Did he tell you anything about his dreams?"
Megumi thought for a moment then replied, "All he said was that he had been having troublesome dreams. Nothing more."
"Oh, ok. Well thank you," Kaoru said turning to catch up with the others who were waiting outside. She could automatically tell that whatever Megumi had given Kenshin was already helping, he was standing up straighter and held himself more alert. "Well," Kaoru said, stepping down and fluffing her hair, "who wants some beef stew?"
There was an immediate perk up in everyone. Especially in Kenshin, ….and his stomach gave out a loooouuudd GrOwL!! Yahiko was also very excited. No more of Kaoru's cooking for me tonight!!! Sano, seeing a chance for a free meal cheered right along with the others ..so long as she pays.
(moments later they are all walking down the road towards the Akabeko)
"Wow, Kenshin I see that medicines really worken there," Sano said as Kenshin walked merrily beside Kaoru, he was going to get to eat. Real food!!
"Megumi Dono's medicine works well, that it does," Kenshin nodded.
"Speaking of Megumi, Sano, what was up with here earlier today," Kaoru questioned at Sanosuke.
"Ehhhhrrrrrr, anoooooooooooo."
"Sanosuke Sagara! Tell me or your not getting a free meal!"
"Fine. (I'm to hungry to argue) You see, it's like this. I got into a fight a few days ago and I got beat up a bit. I went to the Fox's to get fixed up and……………" (F.l.A.s.H.b.A.c.K!!!!!)
*a semi beat up Sanosuke walks into a rather deserted clinic late at night with only Megumi left awake and working over at a small desk writing something by candlelight. Megumi notices Sano enter but pays him no mind*
"Hey, Fox," Sano said weakly, hobbling over towards the 'ignoring' Megumi, "I could use a bit of help over here. …………………….(no response) ….. …Yo! Megumi, in pain over here!" Sano walks a bit closer. "Arm TwIsTeD, ..leg sprained… black eye… large bump on head ….. IN PAIN!!"
"And what would you have me do you freeloader, heal you without getting paid, Again!!?" Megumi questioned without looking at Sano.
"MEGUMI!"
"Well,… what's wrong with you this time? Did you get in another fight? The almighty Roster, defeated in a bar brawl? Really Sano, you can't expect me to heal every single scratch you get!"
"It wasn't a stinkin bar brawl!"
"Cheated at gambling then, I don't care. The last time you were in here I told you that was the last treatment you would ever get for free and I meant it."
"I'll pay you back later!" Sano said clutching his arm.
An evil light gleamed in Megumi's eye, "Oh, you'll pay me back." Megumi said, finally turning around, and glaring wickedly. "Fine Sano, I'll help you, under two conditions. …..First, tell me what the story behind this injury is?" Megumi asked.
"…….. Fine, It's really simple. Some random guys wearing green attacked me on the bridge, some how I got shoved off and fell into the water and got bumped around a bit. And Finally when I managed to get out of the water I was drying off and I was run over by a wagon!!!!!!"
"Well…. you certainly look like you fell off a bridge and got run over by a wagon, …or don't you always look like that?"
"Yeah, yeah! Now what's the second condition?"
"You …….," evil grin, "Have to bee my SLAVE!!!!!"
"Y….your Slave???" Sanosuke questioned backing away warily.
"Yes, meaning you do what ever I tell you to do (ex. Errands, delivering messages/prescriptions etc) until you can pay your bill!!!!!"
"Ehhhh…. ….. well I guess it doesn't sound that bad," Sano admitted scratching his head, then rerealized his arm was still hurt and put it down. "So long as it's nothing kinky!"
"Ohoohoohoo!"
"…………."
(back to present) "And that's pretty much it. Now LET'S EAT!!!! IT'S ALL ON KAORU!!!!"
Kaoru------I was hoping he would refuse to tell…now I have to pay for his meal too.
…To Be Continued…..