Mukashi no Koibito

2 : When Paths Merge

People were giving the tall young man cursory glances as they strolled by. He was leaning casually against the pillar of the darkened office building, almost blending in with the shadows contrived by the dim street lamps nearby. He looked as if he was waiting for something to happen, the anticipatory air surrounding him the prelude before a climax. It was a potent combination of this edginess and his rough appearance that made the passersby nervous.

Sanosuke yawned loudly, and then stretched. He had been standing, squatting, slouching at the same corner since early evening. It was a prime spot, facing the hospital building opposite and allowing him an excellent view of every person who came in and out of it. But he was waiting for one person only, and she was taking a long time to come out, if she was even in the building in the first place.

Staring idly at the lighted windows of the hospital building, he tried to hazard a guess which room contained Megumi.

---

Parting the blinds, Megumi peered out of the slightly grimy window. She could see the bright lights of the city just a short distance away. That was where she would be tonight. Her shift had ended, and it was time to go home.

It had been almost a week since her encounter with Sanosuke. He occupied her thoughts so constantly that his name just rolled off her consciousness as if he were an old friend. She still wondered what exactly he had evoked in her. It was clear now that he was not a mere patient, as she had tried to persuade herself that night. There was something about the man; something she would have to wait another frustrating week to find out what. He would come back then, even if it did not look like he cared much whether his injury healed properly or not. She had already convinced herself as much, and she refused to think otherwise.

With thoughts of Sanosuke still lingering, she left the hospital building. As she made her way pass the usual stretch of gray buildings, a conspicuous figure approached from the opposite direction. His height was striking, as was his gait. He walked with a confident swagger, his hands shoved in the pockets of his trousers. She paused momentarily. Could it be him?

"Onna sensei, konbanwa." The stranger called out cheerfully in a familiar voice as he came closer.

It really was him! He wore a plain, loose shirt with more than the usual number of buttons left open; whether it was his preference or an indication of a sloppy character, it gave the distinct impression of rebelliousness. The grey trousers were just as loose. His sneakers she recognized as the favored brand of young men, since all the male interns owned a pair, but they were scuffed beyond repair. She could not remember what he wore the first time she met him, but now she was observing every detail.

Not quite sure what to think, she greeted him back hesitantly. It was as if her thoughts had miraculously manifested themselves into reality, now that he was standing right in front of her. Then she blurted out, "What are you doing here?"

"Happened to be in the area, and then I saw you walking out of the hospital," he said. "Such a coincidence, huh?"

Quite frankly there was nothing in the area that would interest someone like him. There were just a couple of office buildings and the hospital. It crossed her mind briefly that perhaps it was less of a coincidence than a planned encounter.

"How's your hand?" she asked politely.

"Not bad," he said as he pulled the bandaged hand out of his pocket and examined it. "Doesn't hurt a bit."

Again, that show of cockiness.

"Probably because you get into fights pretty often, and you're used to being injured."

"You always have something sharp to say, don't you?"

"Only when it comes to you."

The words came naturally, and it surprised her. It was not the first time someone had called her sharp, but it certainly was the first time she exercised her wit so freely, and to think he was a stranger. She really ought to watch her tongue.

He shook his head, slightly exasperated. "So, onna sensei, where are you headed for?"

"My name is Megumi. Takani Megumi, if you've forgotten already."

"No, I haven't," he said simply. "And my name is Sagara Sanosuke."

"I know. It's an unusual name."

---

The onna sensei had bothered to find out his name, and to think she still remembered it. Sanosuke had to curb the wide, foolish grin that threatened to show up on his face. Instead he asked again, with a straight face, "Where are you headed?"

"To the city, to get something to eat."

"Let's go then."

He had walked several paces ahead before he noticed that Megumi was not following him. Turning around, he realized she was still rooted to her spot, looking at him with some curiosity. Feeling a nervousness that was unfamiliar, he walked back to where she was standing.

"And why should I trust you?"

The question was tossed out playfully as he neared. She had her arms crossed in front of her and her head was tilted slightly to one side. Apparently, she was not going to let his arrogance go so easily. Kitsune. A now familiar annoyance pricked at him. Yet he was also amused enough to want to indulge her.

"I won't hurt you," he answered nonchalantly. That was the best he could offer, considering how little time he had to think. He had to admit he did not have the quick mind that Megumi possessed, so no witty answer that would easily charm a woman. At least he was honest. Now the challenge was hers to take up, if she should choose to do so.

She remained quiet, her playful expression giving way to a more serious one. She was chewing on her lower lip as if his words needed to be contemplated. The pause was getting awkward, and suddenly he felt the heavy air of defeat loom above.

"Ahh… I can understand if you don't want to."

Rationally, he was only a stranger. He had no right to assume she would trust him, even if for a moment it seemed like she would. Still he was reluctant to walk away from her. Even if his mind was persuading him to, his feet stubbornly refused to move from where he was.

In response she clasped at his arm gently. The action surprised him, but he soon regained his composure, and he managed to flash a cocky grin. A response like that was good for the ego.

She tugged at his arm. "Shall we go?" A rare smile illuminated her lovely features.

---

Lean as Sanosuke looked, his arm felt solidly muscular beneath her fingers. As they walked slowly along the street, Megumi closed her eyes and breathed in the cool night air mingled with the faintest trace of his scent. Being so close to him aroused the odd feelings of their first meeting again. Walking with him felt vaguely familiar.

"Megumi-san, daijoubu?"

The gentle concern in his voice made her shiver. She opened her eyes and nodded shakily, catching his gaze as she did so. This man felt different. Sanosuke was different. She trusted him. She sensed the wild, unrestrained aura about him; by instinct she knew it bordered on the dangerous. Yet it had only taken a few moments of hesitation on her part before she agreed to go with him. To think she had a reputation for being cautious.

She did not see much in her male counterparts, who clamored so embarrassingly for her attention. She liked older men, at least they said things that interested her, and they tended to carry themselves with more dignity than the pups. But to her knowledge, the ones that stayed single were that way for a reason, and the married ones were too complicated for her to want to get involved with. She was always cautious with who she chose to spend her time with, and in the end she was alone.

Here was Sanosuke, the kind of man she had little experience with and the one who finally caught her attention. In high school, he would be the type that cut class to sneak cigarettes at the bicycle stands, who hung out with the girls with too-short skirts and frightfully dyed hair, who sat at the back of the class and talked back to the teacher.

Her kind and his kind, they had a cordial enough relationship, but secretly they despised each other, perhaps out of admiration for one another's chosen lifestyle. Such people were conspicuously missing in university, and now in the hospital where she worked. Maybe she missed the vicarious excitement his kind provided. But what kind of person was he, really?

They walked along the street in companionable silence. Occasionally a car would speed by, interrupting the tranquil mood. Since when do strangers share companionable silences? The notion rammed into her thoughts rudely. She let herself dwell on the new oddity, until she realized that she was clinging onto his arm like she had a right to him, and that he was letting her do so.

"Let's go to this restaurant near the city. It's pretty rundown but the food is excellent, and sometimes I even get to eat for free…" he started to say, apparently oblivious to her slightly furrowed brow.

She shook herself mentally. "Sounds good to me," she managed to answer through the complicated tangle of thoughts in her mind.

Sanosuke grinned. That she approved seemed to make him ridiculously happy. His brilliant smile was satisfying all by itself, and the feeling stayed with her the rest of the walk there.