I do not own Rurouni Kenshin
TEN
Megumi looked down at her half written essay paper and realized that she'd been
writing the exact same sentence over and over again for the last 10 minutes.
Groaning in frustration she shoved it aside and closed her eyes tight hoping to
clear her mind. All of a sudden Sano's image with his heart-stopping smile
materialized in her mind. She quickly opened her eyes and pushed her chair away
from the table unable to believe where her thoughts has led her.
"I've been studying too hard, maybe a break would do some good," she said out loud
as if trying to convince herself of those words. She got up and walked over to her
bed where an opened magazine laid upside down and picked it up. She gave a big
sigh seeing Siam Shade picture in the front cover and wished she would get to
meet someone as good looking as them in real life. She flopped down on her bed and
flipped through the pages and stopped at an article that had an interview of the
lead singer when Sano's face once more appeared before her eyes.
"What is wrong with me?" She yelled as she sat up and threw the magazine across
the room, feeling mad at herself for thinking of him. Ever since she had gotten
home, nothing she's done has been right. She'd burnt the dinner while thinking
about Sano and what happened in the elevator, and then when she'd clean the
dishes the water overflowed because she was remembering Sano's beautiful voice
while he was singing to her. She didn't understand why all at once she was not angry
anymore every time she thought of him but instead felt embarrassed as if
everyone could read her mind.
"This is insane, he's an asshole, a full-fledged player, conceited to the bones." No
matter what she tried to tell herself to help mentally build a wall against the
incoming feelings that were all together foreign and scary to her, just the picture
of Sagara Sanosuke smiling was enough to crumble the wall down. Wanting to talk
to someone and distract herself she walked over to the phone and was about to call
Kaoru when it suddenly rang.
Hoping it would be Kaoru she quickly picked it up, "Hello?"
"Um... hello, can I speak to Megumi please?" A masculine voice came out of the
phone. Megumi felt her heart stop beating as her legs gave way and she dropped
into her chair. She didn't notice that her fingers have suddenly curled around the
phone in a death grip.
"Hello? Is anyone there?"
"H-how'd you get my number?" Megumi asked hating the way her voice suddenly
sounded so hushed and feminine, not like her at all. She couldn't seem to stop the
fast beating of her heart waiting for him to answer. Why would he call? He has no
reason to call, unless...
"I looked up in the phone book, sorry I just really needed to talk to you. Today...
can we meet somewhere?"
Megumi felt her mouth had gone dry and before she could think she blurted out,
"Where?" Once the word left her mouth she clamped it shut wishing she could take
back the words but it was too late.
"There's this café by our school. Why don't we meet there in 15 minutes?"
"Sure," Megumi said weakly as she hung up the phone. She slumped back in her
chair staring at the phone and trying to take in the significance of the phone call.
It's probably nothing, he's just probably bored and wants to bug someone, her mind
tried to tell her. But her heart refused to listen as she rushed to her closet to
choose an outfit to wear.
* * *
Megumi took a deep breath as if summoning all her courage before she opened the
door and walked in. She looked around and seeing him sit there so casually quickly
masked her own anxious expression into a neutral one.
"Megumi... " he called out as he waved her over. She hastily made her way towards
their table and sat in the seat opposite him and gave him a questioning look.
"You're probably wondering why I'd called right?" Kenshin asked as he quickly took
a sip from his drink, trying to dispel the big lump that has suddenly formed in his
throat.
"Well considering we hardly know each other... " Megumi trailed off in a bland
voice even though her insides were twisting around. Has Sano told Kenshin to
deliver her a message? But then why didn't he do it himself... is he embarrassed
to? All these questions kept circling inside her head and no matter how hard her
mind was screaming that Kenshin wasn't here because of Sano, her heart refused
to listen. Maybe he is shy to see me now that's why Kenshin's here, she thought
then gave herself a mental shake. Who cares who he's here for, you don't care, she
told herself but knew that she was lying to herself.
"Well, it's Sano... "
Megumi felt her heart stop and speedily dropped the hand that was reaching out
for the cup of water, it was shaking so badly she doubted she would have been able
to pick it up.
"Sano?" Megumi squeaked then had to clear her throat in embarrassment before
continuing, "What about him?"
"I'm... well I'm interested in your friend Kaoru but ah, Sano's kinda against it so I
need you to help me," Kenshin finally admitted then grabbed his drink and took a
big swallow not sure anymore if this was such a good idea. He has decided that the
best way to get to Kaoru was through Megumi, and even though he wasn't 100%
sure if she would help he had to take the chance.
"Friend? Kaoru's my cousin," Megumi said absent-mindedly as her heart fell to her
feet when she realized that Kenshin wasn't here because of Sano after all. I don't
care, as if I really wanted to talk about him anyway, but that thought only made
her feel like crying.
"Cousin?" Kenshin gave Megumi a sheepish smile as he scratched the back of his
head in awkwardness. "I didn't know... "
Megumi mentally shook herself to get out the self pity pit state she was in and
gave Kenshin all her attention trying to ignore the tiny ache in her heart. "So you
like my cousin... " Megumi commented as she gave him a speculative look. She had
already guessed as much. Even though earlier today at the library she'd been too
engrossed in arguing with Sano she could still see the attention that Kenshin was
giving to Kaoru. Kaoru was definitely hiding something from her and she was
determined to find out what.
"Tell me, why do you like her? I mean most of the time she looks and acts like a
boy, don't tell me that turns you on," Megumi remarked with a raised eyebrow.
"If that were true, I'd be going for a real guy, not a cheap imitation don't you
think?" Kenshin returned not liking Megumi's reference to Kaoru.
Megumi let out a soft chuckle seeing the protectiveness in Kenshin's eyes and put
her hands up in defeat. "Okay, then what is it about her that you like so much?"
"She's the only girl that I know that doesn't try to jump in my bed at every chance
she gets. If she likes me, then I'll know that it's me not my money that she's
interested in," Kenshin said with a shrug, "And the fact that she is beautiful
underneath all that boys' clothes doesn't hurt either," He added as an
afterthought.
"Is that all you men think about?" Megumi replied with disgust.
"Only those who are true men."
"That's a real comforting thought."
"So are you going to help me?"
"I'll see what I can do but no promises," Megumi answered then quickly got up from
her seat. "If there's nothing else I have to go now." Before Kenshin could stop her
she raced out the door in a hurry as if running from something.
"What a strange girl," Kenshin muttered under his breath as he took another sip
from his drink.
* * *
Sano leaned his head back against the seat of his car and looked out at the school
that was now shrouded in darkness. He couldn't seem to stay still in the house, for
some reason he felt so restless ever since he came home. So much so that he'd
wanted to help his mom out with the housework but she'd shooed him away after he
ruined the dessert she was going to serve that night for dinner. So he'd taken his
car and started driving around the neighborhood aimlessly until he found himself in
front of the school.
Suddenly Megumi's face appeared before his eyes, her cheeks all red from yelling
at him at the top of her lungs. He let out a little chuckle thinking of all the times
she'd undermined him and fought him at every turn. Now that he really thought
about it, she was rather cute when she was mad; surprising himself that he'd never
really noticed it before.
In the quietness of the car he started humming the song that he'd sang to Megumi
that day, and out of nowhere the feeling of completeness began to enfold him
again. He still couldn't quite place a finger on why it was that when he held onto
Megumi, he felt whole as if there was a missing part of him that somehow Megumi
managed to fill up. It wasn't as if he was missing anything in his life but he'd never
felt anything like what he felt that afternoon. In some way it kind of scared him
because he still doesn't understand where this feeling was coming from. All he
knew was that it felt right to have Megumi in his arms and that stunned him
considering she is exactly everything he does not want in a girlfriend.
~Aya~
TEN
Megumi looked down at her half written essay paper and realized that she'd been
writing the exact same sentence over and over again for the last 10 minutes.
Groaning in frustration she shoved it aside and closed her eyes tight hoping to
clear her mind. All of a sudden Sano's image with his heart-stopping smile
materialized in her mind. She quickly opened her eyes and pushed her chair away
from the table unable to believe where her thoughts has led her.
"I've been studying too hard, maybe a break would do some good," she said out loud
as if trying to convince herself of those words. She got up and walked over to her
bed where an opened magazine laid upside down and picked it up. She gave a big
sigh seeing Siam Shade picture in the front cover and wished she would get to
meet someone as good looking as them in real life. She flopped down on her bed and
flipped through the pages and stopped at an article that had an interview of the
lead singer when Sano's face once more appeared before her eyes.
"What is wrong with me?" She yelled as she sat up and threw the magazine across
the room, feeling mad at herself for thinking of him. Ever since she had gotten
home, nothing she's done has been right. She'd burnt the dinner while thinking
about Sano and what happened in the elevator, and then when she'd clean the
dishes the water overflowed because she was remembering Sano's beautiful voice
while he was singing to her. She didn't understand why all at once she was not angry
anymore every time she thought of him but instead felt embarrassed as if
everyone could read her mind.
"This is insane, he's an asshole, a full-fledged player, conceited to the bones." No
matter what she tried to tell herself to help mentally build a wall against the
incoming feelings that were all together foreign and scary to her, just the picture
of Sagara Sanosuke smiling was enough to crumble the wall down. Wanting to talk
to someone and distract herself she walked over to the phone and was about to call
Kaoru when it suddenly rang.
Hoping it would be Kaoru she quickly picked it up, "Hello?"
"Um... hello, can I speak to Megumi please?" A masculine voice came out of the
phone. Megumi felt her heart stop beating as her legs gave way and she dropped
into her chair. She didn't notice that her fingers have suddenly curled around the
phone in a death grip.
"Hello? Is anyone there?"
"H-how'd you get my number?" Megumi asked hating the way her voice suddenly
sounded so hushed and feminine, not like her at all. She couldn't seem to stop the
fast beating of her heart waiting for him to answer. Why would he call? He has no
reason to call, unless...
"I looked up in the phone book, sorry I just really needed to talk to you. Today...
can we meet somewhere?"
Megumi felt her mouth had gone dry and before she could think she blurted out,
"Where?" Once the word left her mouth she clamped it shut wishing she could take
back the words but it was too late.
"There's this café by our school. Why don't we meet there in 15 minutes?"
"Sure," Megumi said weakly as she hung up the phone. She slumped back in her
chair staring at the phone and trying to take in the significance of the phone call.
It's probably nothing, he's just probably bored and wants to bug someone, her mind
tried to tell her. But her heart refused to listen as she rushed to her closet to
choose an outfit to wear.
* * *
Megumi took a deep breath as if summoning all her courage before she opened the
door and walked in. She looked around and seeing him sit there so casually quickly
masked her own anxious expression into a neutral one.
"Megumi... " he called out as he waved her over. She hastily made her way towards
their table and sat in the seat opposite him and gave him a questioning look.
"You're probably wondering why I'd called right?" Kenshin asked as he quickly took
a sip from his drink, trying to dispel the big lump that has suddenly formed in his
throat.
"Well considering we hardly know each other... " Megumi trailed off in a bland
voice even though her insides were twisting around. Has Sano told Kenshin to
deliver her a message? But then why didn't he do it himself... is he embarrassed
to? All these questions kept circling inside her head and no matter how hard her
mind was screaming that Kenshin wasn't here because of Sano, her heart refused
to listen. Maybe he is shy to see me now that's why Kenshin's here, she thought
then gave herself a mental shake. Who cares who he's here for, you don't care, she
told herself but knew that she was lying to herself.
"Well, it's Sano... "
Megumi felt her heart stop and speedily dropped the hand that was reaching out
for the cup of water, it was shaking so badly she doubted she would have been able
to pick it up.
"Sano?" Megumi squeaked then had to clear her throat in embarrassment before
continuing, "What about him?"
"I'm... well I'm interested in your friend Kaoru but ah, Sano's kinda against it so I
need you to help me," Kenshin finally admitted then grabbed his drink and took a
big swallow not sure anymore if this was such a good idea. He has decided that the
best way to get to Kaoru was through Megumi, and even though he wasn't 100%
sure if she would help he had to take the chance.
"Friend? Kaoru's my cousin," Megumi said absent-mindedly as her heart fell to her
feet when she realized that Kenshin wasn't here because of Sano after all. I don't
care, as if I really wanted to talk about him anyway, but that thought only made
her feel like crying.
"Cousin?" Kenshin gave Megumi a sheepish smile as he scratched the back of his
head in awkwardness. "I didn't know... "
Megumi mentally shook herself to get out the self pity pit state she was in and
gave Kenshin all her attention trying to ignore the tiny ache in her heart. "So you
like my cousin... " Megumi commented as she gave him a speculative look. She had
already guessed as much. Even though earlier today at the library she'd been too
engrossed in arguing with Sano she could still see the attention that Kenshin was
giving to Kaoru. Kaoru was definitely hiding something from her and she was
determined to find out what.
"Tell me, why do you like her? I mean most of the time she looks and acts like a
boy, don't tell me that turns you on," Megumi remarked with a raised eyebrow.
"If that were true, I'd be going for a real guy, not a cheap imitation don't you
think?" Kenshin returned not liking Megumi's reference to Kaoru.
Megumi let out a soft chuckle seeing the protectiveness in Kenshin's eyes and put
her hands up in defeat. "Okay, then what is it about her that you like so much?"
"She's the only girl that I know that doesn't try to jump in my bed at every chance
she gets. If she likes me, then I'll know that it's me not my money that she's
interested in," Kenshin said with a shrug, "And the fact that she is beautiful
underneath all that boys' clothes doesn't hurt either," He added as an
afterthought.
"Is that all you men think about?" Megumi replied with disgust.
"Only those who are true men."
"That's a real comforting thought."
"So are you going to help me?"
"I'll see what I can do but no promises," Megumi answered then quickly got up from
her seat. "If there's nothing else I have to go now." Before Kenshin could stop her
she raced out the door in a hurry as if running from something.
"What a strange girl," Kenshin muttered under his breath as he took another sip
from his drink.
* * *
Sano leaned his head back against the seat of his car and looked out at the school
that was now shrouded in darkness. He couldn't seem to stay still in the house, for
some reason he felt so restless ever since he came home. So much so that he'd
wanted to help his mom out with the housework but she'd shooed him away after he
ruined the dessert she was going to serve that night for dinner. So he'd taken his
car and started driving around the neighborhood aimlessly until he found himself in
front of the school.
Suddenly Megumi's face appeared before his eyes, her cheeks all red from yelling
at him at the top of her lungs. He let out a little chuckle thinking of all the times
she'd undermined him and fought him at every turn. Now that he really thought
about it, she was rather cute when she was mad; surprising himself that he'd never
really noticed it before.
In the quietness of the car he started humming the song that he'd sang to Megumi
that day, and out of nowhere the feeling of completeness began to enfold him
again. He still couldn't quite place a finger on why it was that when he held onto
Megumi, he felt whole as if there was a missing part of him that somehow Megumi
managed to fill up. It wasn't as if he was missing anything in his life but he'd never
felt anything like what he felt that afternoon. In some way it kind of scared him
because he still doesn't understand where this feeling was coming from. All he
knew was that it felt right to have Megumi in his arms and that stunned him
considering she is exactly everything he does not want in a girlfriend.
~Aya~