I do not own Rurouni Kenshin
ELEVEN
Sano opened the door to the library and stopped dead in his tracks. He felt his jaw
was hanging open but was too stunned to close it. This has got to be a dream he
thought disbelievingly as he rubbed his eyes hard to see if his mind was playing
games on him. When he opened them, the image in front of him was still there
sitting quietly and waiting for him to come in.
Megumi felt her face flush with happiness at Sano's stunned look and the pleasure
she saw in his eyes once the shock wore off. She never realized that it took so
little effort to get a guy's attention. All she had to do was let her hair down, take
off her glasses, put on a little makeup, and wear a simple dress and suddenly the
whole male population realized she was alive.
Even her teachers were shocked when they saw her walking into the classroom;
some even went so far as to ask for her name to be sure that she was truly
herself. But all the joy she felt that day couldn't compare to the very moment Sano
walked into the library and saw her. Feeling rather shy all of a sudden, Megumi
looked at the table refusing to look Sano in the eyes.
Sano slowly made his way towards their table then slowly sat down like he had all
the time in the world. He leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms and spread his
legs apart as he sat staring at her with a bland face. Megumi stole a glance his way
and seeing his expression felt her heart break in two. Not wanting to let him see
the disappointment in her eyes that he really doesn't care that she'd changed she
looked down at her hands that were now tightly clasped together until the knuckles
turned white.
"I only have one question," Sano said quietly and waited until Megumi was looking at
him before continuing. "When did Cinderella suddenly turn into the beautiful
princess?" Megumi felt her face grow hot with pleasure and she couldn't meet his
eyes, she felt like kicking herself for being so feminine but she couldn't seem to
help herself.
Deciding that it was time to get to work Megumi became serious once again. "It's
time to get to work."
"Yes ma'am," Sano replied but with a friendly tone this time making Megumi smile.
Sano looked at his watch and realized he's been working for the past hour and the
weird thing was he hasn't fall asleep yet. Feeling Megumi's eyes on him again he
decided to finally let her know that he knows she's been goggling at him. He
suddenly looked up and sure enough caught her in the act.
"What are you looking at?" He said trying to sound snobby.
"A rat!"
"I didn't know there was a mirror behind me," Sano shot right back but with a wide
grin on his face instead of the usual sneer.
Megumi felt her heart do a little flip-flop and all the fighting energy rushed out of
her in one breath. She doesn't understand why his smiles had such effects on her
but it did and she wasn't sure she liked it-that much.
"What cat caught your tongue?" Sano asked when Megumi didn't come back at him
with a sharp reply. "Are you feeling alright? You're not yourself today you know."
Before Megumi had a chance to answer he suddenly leaned across the table and
felt Megumi's forehead with his palm. "You don't seem to have a fever," Sano
whispered softly leaving his hand on her forehead longer than necessary.
"G-get back to your seat," Megumi told him weakly even though she wasn't making a
move to get his hand off her.
"Alright, you're the teacher."
Megumi suddenly felt empty now that he wasn't so close anymore and tried to mask
her disappointment that he actually listened to her by looking down at her book.
"Hey Megumi," Kenshin's voice ranged out from behind Sano. They both turned to
see him making his way quickly to Megumi side. "Hey mind if I borrow her for a
sec?" Not waiting for an answer he yanked Megumi out of her seat and took her to
the back of the library.
"Whoa, what's the rush?" Megumi asked once they were hidden from view by the
tall bookshelves. She quickly removed her arm from Kenshin's grasp and gave him a
questioning look.
"I've been thinking, what do you think if I were to send Kaoru flowers and
chocolate? She'd like that wouldn't she? I mean don't all girls like those kinds of
things?" Kenshin's expression was so hopeful Megumi really didn't have the heart to
give him a dose of reality.
"Most girls would like those kinds of things, but Kaoru is not most girls. You have to
understand she's not used to guys giving her attention unless it's of a brotherly
sort and if you push her too far she might end up retaliating." Megumi watched as
Kenshin's face crumbled into frustration.
"Is everyone in your family so different from everyone else?"
"Well we've been known to be sort of eccentric if that's what you mean."
"Let's say that you were the one that I was interested in... would you go out with
me?"
"I really don't know... maybe... but I guess we'll never know for sure huh? Hey
come on let's go back before Sano gets worried," Megumi said then wished she'd
kept her big mouth shut.
"Yes, we really don't want to keep Sano waiting do we?" Kenshin remarked with
mischief in his eyes.
"You two sure took your fine sweet time," Sano snapped at them as soon as they
were at the table.
"We were just gone a few minutes, don't have to be so touché," Kenshin replied
giving Sano a strange look. Something was different about Sano from when he'd
first came in but he couldn't quite put a finger on it. Seeing that his staying won't
help matters, Kenshin made a quick exit leaving Megumi and Sano behind.
"What's wrong?" Megumi asked also seeing the change in Sano.
"This lesson is over right?" Sano asked right back without answering her question.
Megumi just nodded completely confused with Sano's sudden change in attitude.
"Fine, then I guess I don't have to stick around anymore." With that he grabbed his
bag and took off without even saying goodbye. Megumi stared after him and all at
once felt like crying.
* * *
Sano and Kenshin sat across from one another neither one making a move to start a
conversation. Kenshin giving Sano a questioning look while Sano returned it with an
evil glare while he took another sip from his wine glass-wine that he haven't
bothered to offer Kenshin.
Finally not able to stand the silent treatment any longer Kenshin let out his
frustrations. "If the whole point of you inviting me over here is to give me the
glare of my life, then the least you could do is offer me some wine."
Without changing his expression, Sano got up and proceeded to make a drink for
Kenshin, his frown never leaving his face. "Why the hell did you tell me to come
over if you're going to ignore me?"
"It's better than glaring at your picture," Sano replied as he placed Kenshin's drink
in front of him in a less than friendly manner.
"What is wrong with you? You seemed fine enough this morning. Don't tell me you're
pissed cuz I interrupted your little lesson in the library!"
"What did you and Megumi talk about?" Sano suddenly asked ignoring Kenshin's
question all together as he took a big swallow of his wine-something he rarely does
considering how much he loves his wine collection.
Kenshin felt his face grow hot knowing that if Sano found out he was taking
relationship advice from Megumi, he would taunt him to no end. And the fact that
Sano thought Kaoru was a she-man didn't exactly make it easier for Kenshin to
discuss this with him.
"I needed her to help me with some school problem." Kenshin fidgeted around with
his drink unable to look Sano in the eye.
"When did asking someone out constituted as a school problem?" Sano returned
sarcastically still throwing daggers Kenshin's way.
"You were eavesdropping on us?" Kenshin asked incredulously his eyes growing big as he stared at Sano.
"What'd you think? That I'll just sit there while you and Megumi are doing who
knows what behind those bookshelves." Sano tried to calm his voice but was failing
miserably at it. He couldn't understand this strange feeling coming over him every
time he remembered Kenshin's voice asking Megumi to go out with him. Just
thinking about it makes him want to physically hurt Kenshin and that was what was
making him feel so frustrated and disoriented.
"Did you actually think I was dragging Megumi back there so I could put the moves
on her? It's a f*cking library for god's sake, I have more class then-... are you
telling me that you're pissed at me because you thought I was asking Megumi out?"
"Well you know me and her are not exactly on friendly terms with one another and
considering you're my best friend, I'd thought that you would keep away from her
too," Sano said indignantly stressing the words best friend, and trying to block the
scene in the elevator out of his mind.
"Sure didn't look like you two were ready to jump at each other's throat when I
walked in," Kenshin mocked giving Sano one of his skeptical smiles that held no
warmth in it.
"Just because I'm nice to her doesn't mean that I like her."
"Ha, could have fooled me, the last time I checked when you hated someone, being
mean to them is what you're supposed to do!" Once again Kenshin gave Sano a
cynical smile making Sano's temper rise sharply.
"And the last time I checked regular guys usually go for girls who looks like they're
girls and not she-men," Sano shot right back knowing that he'd hit Kenshin where it
hurts most.
"W-what the HELL DID YOU SAY?" Kenshin felt his anger exploding and before he
could think he let his fist fly right into Sano's smirking face.
Mrs. Sagara jumped when she heard a hard thump coming from upstairs. Quickly
glancing at the ceiling she turned to her husband with worry in her eyes.
"I'll go check on them," her husband offered even before she got the words out. He
went over to her and gave her a peck on the cheek in reassurance before making
his way out of the living room and up the stairs.
As more thumps and bangs echoed down to the living room, Mrs. Sagara began to
wring her hands hoping Sano was okay.
Not quite sure what to expect Mr. Sagara made his way cautiously towards Sano's
room, his door wide open. Walking in, he stopped in shock and looked at the
surrounding not believing his eyes. It looked as if a tornado had found itself in
Sano's room and messed it up-wine bottles and expensive wine glasses lay broken on
the floor making the room smell strongly of alcohol, Sano's bed had been moved
from it's original location and now lay in an awkward position, pillows, clothes, shoes,
and other unidentifiable items were strewn everywhere.
"Hey dad, what are you doing here?" Sano suddenly called out in greeting from the
other side of the bed. Kenshin's head also popped up and seeing him quickly stood
up to bow before flopping down again. From their facial expressions and Sano's
bright greeting, it would seem that everything is fine except for the fact that
besides a few bruises on each of the boys' faces, they also each sport a black eye
that is quickly turning purple and green.
Mr. Sagara shook his head and massaged his forehead. "It's at times like these
that I truly feel my age," He suddenly let out before making his way down the
stairs again.
"This is all your fault," Sano complained as he watched his dad walk out of the
room.
"No it's yours," Kenshin accused as he pushed Sano backwards causing him to fall on
his behind. He let out a laugh at Sano's pained looked as his ass was introduced to
the floor.
"No, it's yours," Sano said with a smile on his face getting up and pushing Kenshin
back.
"No, it's yours... "
Seeing her husband coming back into the room, Mrs. Sagara looked at him
anxiously. "Is Sanosuke okay?" She asked not able to hide her anxiety any longer.
"He's fine."
"Then what was all that noise about?"
"Boys just being boys," he replied patting her hands comfortingly before walking
back to his own seat to finish his novel.
~Aya~
ELEVEN
Sano opened the door to the library and stopped dead in his tracks. He felt his jaw
was hanging open but was too stunned to close it. This has got to be a dream he
thought disbelievingly as he rubbed his eyes hard to see if his mind was playing
games on him. When he opened them, the image in front of him was still there
sitting quietly and waiting for him to come in.
Megumi felt her face flush with happiness at Sano's stunned look and the pleasure
she saw in his eyes once the shock wore off. She never realized that it took so
little effort to get a guy's attention. All she had to do was let her hair down, take
off her glasses, put on a little makeup, and wear a simple dress and suddenly the
whole male population realized she was alive.
Even her teachers were shocked when they saw her walking into the classroom;
some even went so far as to ask for her name to be sure that she was truly
herself. But all the joy she felt that day couldn't compare to the very moment Sano
walked into the library and saw her. Feeling rather shy all of a sudden, Megumi
looked at the table refusing to look Sano in the eyes.
Sano slowly made his way towards their table then slowly sat down like he had all
the time in the world. He leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms and spread his
legs apart as he sat staring at her with a bland face. Megumi stole a glance his way
and seeing his expression felt her heart break in two. Not wanting to let him see
the disappointment in her eyes that he really doesn't care that she'd changed she
looked down at her hands that were now tightly clasped together until the knuckles
turned white.
"I only have one question," Sano said quietly and waited until Megumi was looking at
him before continuing. "When did Cinderella suddenly turn into the beautiful
princess?" Megumi felt her face grow hot with pleasure and she couldn't meet his
eyes, she felt like kicking herself for being so feminine but she couldn't seem to
help herself.
Deciding that it was time to get to work Megumi became serious once again. "It's
time to get to work."
"Yes ma'am," Sano replied but with a friendly tone this time making Megumi smile.
Sano looked at his watch and realized he's been working for the past hour and the
weird thing was he hasn't fall asleep yet. Feeling Megumi's eyes on him again he
decided to finally let her know that he knows she's been goggling at him. He
suddenly looked up and sure enough caught her in the act.
"What are you looking at?" He said trying to sound snobby.
"A rat!"
"I didn't know there was a mirror behind me," Sano shot right back but with a wide
grin on his face instead of the usual sneer.
Megumi felt her heart do a little flip-flop and all the fighting energy rushed out of
her in one breath. She doesn't understand why his smiles had such effects on her
but it did and she wasn't sure she liked it-that much.
"What cat caught your tongue?" Sano asked when Megumi didn't come back at him
with a sharp reply. "Are you feeling alright? You're not yourself today you know."
Before Megumi had a chance to answer he suddenly leaned across the table and
felt Megumi's forehead with his palm. "You don't seem to have a fever," Sano
whispered softly leaving his hand on her forehead longer than necessary.
"G-get back to your seat," Megumi told him weakly even though she wasn't making a
move to get his hand off her.
"Alright, you're the teacher."
Megumi suddenly felt empty now that he wasn't so close anymore and tried to mask
her disappointment that he actually listened to her by looking down at her book.
"Hey Megumi," Kenshin's voice ranged out from behind Sano. They both turned to
see him making his way quickly to Megumi side. "Hey mind if I borrow her for a
sec?" Not waiting for an answer he yanked Megumi out of her seat and took her to
the back of the library.
"Whoa, what's the rush?" Megumi asked once they were hidden from view by the
tall bookshelves. She quickly removed her arm from Kenshin's grasp and gave him a
questioning look.
"I've been thinking, what do you think if I were to send Kaoru flowers and
chocolate? She'd like that wouldn't she? I mean don't all girls like those kinds of
things?" Kenshin's expression was so hopeful Megumi really didn't have the heart to
give him a dose of reality.
"Most girls would like those kinds of things, but Kaoru is not most girls. You have to
understand she's not used to guys giving her attention unless it's of a brotherly
sort and if you push her too far she might end up retaliating." Megumi watched as
Kenshin's face crumbled into frustration.
"Is everyone in your family so different from everyone else?"
"Well we've been known to be sort of eccentric if that's what you mean."
"Let's say that you were the one that I was interested in... would you go out with
me?"
"I really don't know... maybe... but I guess we'll never know for sure huh? Hey
come on let's go back before Sano gets worried," Megumi said then wished she'd
kept her big mouth shut.
"Yes, we really don't want to keep Sano waiting do we?" Kenshin remarked with
mischief in his eyes.
"You two sure took your fine sweet time," Sano snapped at them as soon as they
were at the table.
"We were just gone a few minutes, don't have to be so touché," Kenshin replied
giving Sano a strange look. Something was different about Sano from when he'd
first came in but he couldn't quite put a finger on it. Seeing that his staying won't
help matters, Kenshin made a quick exit leaving Megumi and Sano behind.
"What's wrong?" Megumi asked also seeing the change in Sano.
"This lesson is over right?" Sano asked right back without answering her question.
Megumi just nodded completely confused with Sano's sudden change in attitude.
"Fine, then I guess I don't have to stick around anymore." With that he grabbed his
bag and took off without even saying goodbye. Megumi stared after him and all at
once felt like crying.
* * *
Sano and Kenshin sat across from one another neither one making a move to start a
conversation. Kenshin giving Sano a questioning look while Sano returned it with an
evil glare while he took another sip from his wine glass-wine that he haven't
bothered to offer Kenshin.
Finally not able to stand the silent treatment any longer Kenshin let out his
frustrations. "If the whole point of you inviting me over here is to give me the
glare of my life, then the least you could do is offer me some wine."
Without changing his expression, Sano got up and proceeded to make a drink for
Kenshin, his frown never leaving his face. "Why the hell did you tell me to come
over if you're going to ignore me?"
"It's better than glaring at your picture," Sano replied as he placed Kenshin's drink
in front of him in a less than friendly manner.
"What is wrong with you? You seemed fine enough this morning. Don't tell me you're
pissed cuz I interrupted your little lesson in the library!"
"What did you and Megumi talk about?" Sano suddenly asked ignoring Kenshin's
question all together as he took a big swallow of his wine-something he rarely does
considering how much he loves his wine collection.
Kenshin felt his face grow hot knowing that if Sano found out he was taking
relationship advice from Megumi, he would taunt him to no end. And the fact that
Sano thought Kaoru was a she-man didn't exactly make it easier for Kenshin to
discuss this with him.
"I needed her to help me with some school problem." Kenshin fidgeted around with
his drink unable to look Sano in the eye.
"When did asking someone out constituted as a school problem?" Sano returned
sarcastically still throwing daggers Kenshin's way.
"You were eavesdropping on us?" Kenshin asked incredulously his eyes growing big as he stared at Sano.
"What'd you think? That I'll just sit there while you and Megumi are doing who
knows what behind those bookshelves." Sano tried to calm his voice but was failing
miserably at it. He couldn't understand this strange feeling coming over him every
time he remembered Kenshin's voice asking Megumi to go out with him. Just
thinking about it makes him want to physically hurt Kenshin and that was what was
making him feel so frustrated and disoriented.
"Did you actually think I was dragging Megumi back there so I could put the moves
on her? It's a f*cking library for god's sake, I have more class then-... are you
telling me that you're pissed at me because you thought I was asking Megumi out?"
"Well you know me and her are not exactly on friendly terms with one another and
considering you're my best friend, I'd thought that you would keep away from her
too," Sano said indignantly stressing the words best friend, and trying to block the
scene in the elevator out of his mind.
"Sure didn't look like you two were ready to jump at each other's throat when I
walked in," Kenshin mocked giving Sano one of his skeptical smiles that held no
warmth in it.
"Just because I'm nice to her doesn't mean that I like her."
"Ha, could have fooled me, the last time I checked when you hated someone, being
mean to them is what you're supposed to do!" Once again Kenshin gave Sano a
cynical smile making Sano's temper rise sharply.
"And the last time I checked regular guys usually go for girls who looks like they're
girls and not she-men," Sano shot right back knowing that he'd hit Kenshin where it
hurts most.
"W-what the HELL DID YOU SAY?" Kenshin felt his anger exploding and before he
could think he let his fist fly right into Sano's smirking face.
Mrs. Sagara jumped when she heard a hard thump coming from upstairs. Quickly
glancing at the ceiling she turned to her husband with worry in her eyes.
"I'll go check on them," her husband offered even before she got the words out. He
went over to her and gave her a peck on the cheek in reassurance before making
his way out of the living room and up the stairs.
As more thumps and bangs echoed down to the living room, Mrs. Sagara began to
wring her hands hoping Sano was okay.
Not quite sure what to expect Mr. Sagara made his way cautiously towards Sano's
room, his door wide open. Walking in, he stopped in shock and looked at the
surrounding not believing his eyes. It looked as if a tornado had found itself in
Sano's room and messed it up-wine bottles and expensive wine glasses lay broken on
the floor making the room smell strongly of alcohol, Sano's bed had been moved
from it's original location and now lay in an awkward position, pillows, clothes, shoes,
and other unidentifiable items were strewn everywhere.
"Hey dad, what are you doing here?" Sano suddenly called out in greeting from the
other side of the bed. Kenshin's head also popped up and seeing him quickly stood
up to bow before flopping down again. From their facial expressions and Sano's
bright greeting, it would seem that everything is fine except for the fact that
besides a few bruises on each of the boys' faces, they also each sport a black eye
that is quickly turning purple and green.
Mr. Sagara shook his head and massaged his forehead. "It's at times like these
that I truly feel my age," He suddenly let out before making his way down the
stairs again.
"This is all your fault," Sano complained as he watched his dad walk out of the
room.
"No it's yours," Kenshin accused as he pushed Sano backwards causing him to fall on
his behind. He let out a laugh at Sano's pained looked as his ass was introduced to
the floor.
"No, it's yours," Sano said with a smile on his face getting up and pushing Kenshin
back.
"No, it's yours... "
Seeing her husband coming back into the room, Mrs. Sagara looked at him
anxiously. "Is Sanosuke okay?" She asked not able to hide her anxiety any longer.
"He's fine."
"Then what was all that noise about?"
"Boys just being boys," he replied patting her hands comfortingly before walking
back to his own seat to finish his novel.
~Aya~