Chapter 8
A/N: Sorry for the wait! Things have been busy busy busy for a while-
But my paper and big test are done for now, and I decided to give you the next chapter!
I also am going to go back and revise the past chapters- I was rereading them one day and I found TONS of mistakes- sorry about those too… I'm horrible at typing and even worse at grammar…. ^_^;
So anyway- not much else going on- school, school, school, work, work, work…
Oh well- ttyl and enjoy!
Disclaimer- you guessed it! I own everything! … Oh wait… check that- rewind- I own nothing… right!
;)
-
Almost as soon as the girl threw herself on the bewildered Sanosuke, Kenshin came running into the room chasing a laughing Kenji.
"ORO!" The Rurouni was wailing. "Gomen Sano, I lost track of her." He said as he grabbed a hold of his son and hoisted the squirming mass under his arm.
"Kenshin…" Megumi said as finally a familiar face came into the room.
"Nyoko-chan, why don't we go outside? It's a pretty day out, that it is." Kenshin suggested as he saw the complete shock on Megumi's face.
"NO! I won't leave! She was hurting Daddy!" The little girl cried as she squeezed her father tighter. Sano couldn't help but turn a little red in the cheeks.
'Hurting? That's definitely what Megumi was NOT doing to me… the exact opposite yes, but not hurting…'
"Calm down kitten." Sano said as he stood up and got free of his daughter's extremely tight grip. Patting her head he could only chuckle. "I'm just fine, honest." He added as he knelt down to be at her eye level.
"But you sounded like she was hurting you and she…" Sano stopped the confused girl before she went on by a small kiss to her forehead.
"Nyoko, this is Megumi. She's an old friend of daddy's." He said looking up at Megumi for the first time since Nyoko had interrupted them.
"She's the doctor here and she didn't hurt me at all." Sano assured her. "Megumi, this is Nyoko… my daughter."
-
'My Daughter… My Daughter… My Daughter… My Daughter…
My Daughter… My Daughter…My Daughter… My Daughter…
My Daughter… My Daughter…My Daughter… My Daughter…
My Daughter… My Daughter…'
The words echoed inside Megumi's mind as a sharp pain slowly crept back into her heart.
'He… he… has a daughter? But that would mean… I am so stupid!' Megumi told herself. 'He probably came back to show off his new family… not for me… no! I will not cry! Megumi, you will not cry in front of him!'
-
"It's nice to meet you." Nyoko said bowing politely to Megumi. After an elbow from Sano, the little girl quickly apologized for her actions before. The apology woke Megumi from her stupor.
"It's so nice to meet you too." Megumi smiled a fake smile; she was very good at hiding her pain. She had become very experienced in the subject of that for the past four years…
"Kitten could you go with Kenshin for a moment? I'll be right back and we'll go back to the inn." Sano said trying to avoid looking at Megumi. He had hoped to bring up the topic of Nyoko a little later and in a better way… he wanted to explain everything to her.
"Oh Sano, you and Nyoko-chan don't need to stay in the inn, that you don't." Kenshin said, always the polite man. "You are family and you're most welcome to the guest rooms at the dojo."
"Can we Daddy?" Nyoko said holding on to Sano's hand. "I promise to be very good, that way I can play with Kenji!"
Sano nodded as he thought things over. 'The dojo would be nicer than the inn…'
"Alright, I'll get our bags later."
With that settled Kenshin said he was taking the two toddlers home and out of the clinic before they could do more damage.
-
As Sano and Megumi were once again left alone, Sano felt a chill in the air. That hadn't been there before…
"Megumi…" He began as he turned his head to look at her. However he never did get to even see her face, because he was met with a powerful slap across the face.
The blow was the most devastating hit of his life- those many drunken men, Kenshin's and even Shishio's attacks seemed like nothing as Megumi connected perfectly.
Without so much as an explanation she left the room. Sano however knew the reason for the blow. And he didn't blame her…
Sano couldn't move for a time; he just sat there and watched her receding figure go down the hallway and then out of sight.
"Megumi… wait… MEGUMI!" Sano said as he got up suddenly. He couldn't let it end like this. He had never expected her to love him… 'Did she really say that? I would never have dreamt that she ever had felt that way for me… I can't let her go on thinking things that aren't true…'
"Megumi!" He said as he ran after her. Not caring what he bumped into or who he pushed aside, Sano ran after her.
He closed his eyes and sprinted after her as she quickly darted behind a door. Sano was unable to stop himself as she slammed the door behind her.
Crashing into the solid frame, he fell to the ground. But that didn't phase Sano as he tried to reason with Megumi. He was up again and pounding on the door right away.
He had chased her to the living quarters in the very back of the clinic, away from the rest of the usual daily groups of people, so it was quiet.
"Megumi, please… it's not what you think… I…."
"NO!" She cried from behind the door. "I don't want to hear about you or your happy life away from me…"
"Megumi, please let me in… you don't understand…"
"No, you're wrong… I understand perfectly. I told you to leave four years ago, and it was one of the worst mistakes I've ever made in my life up until now…until just now, when I thought I had you back for good… but you have a family?!? And to think you let me carry on like… like a…"
"What… what are you saying Megumi?" Sano asked in a quiet voice. He wanted to see her face… Really see what she was feeling. But the door blocked his path. Sure he knew that he could just break down the door with no more than a finger. However that would just complicate things.
'Alright Megumi… have it your way… but I will talk to you… I will straighten things up…' Sano silently promised her as she once again told him to leave.
"We'll talk again when you've calmed down fox, that I promise." He said loud enough so she could hear, but soft enough that she could also hear his feelings he had for her.
-
Sano walked down the streets of Tokyo towards the dojo. On his shoulder he carried the luggage he and Nyoko had brought with them. Rounding the corner, he was met with laughter as he entered the old Kamiya dojo.
"S…sano?" A wide-eyed Kaoru called as she dropped her bokken and ran towards her long time friend. Kaoru caught the tall man by surprise as she ran and launched herself on the friend she thought would never return.
"SANO!" She smiled as she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a big hug. Sano dropped the luggage he was carrying as the dojo master had practically jumped him.
"Hey now Missy, it's good to see you too!" Sano laughed, as she was uncharacteristically caring. 'Must be from raising a kid,' he thought because he, himself had 'softened' a bit.
"So has married life made you a better cook? I'm starving" Sano smiled as he patted her on the back. To that remark Sano received a sound smack on the back of the head as Kaoru released him.
"And you haven't changed- still the same old Sano." Kaoru smiled. "Let me look at you! Oh my- you look so… Westernized."
"Na- I'm still the same." He said casually.
"Not really, I see you did a little something while you were away and I don't mean the change of cloths and a hair cut." Kaoru smiled now. "I would have never believed that a little treasure like Nyoko could be your child… are you sure she's yours?"
"Ya, the kitten's mine." Sano smiled looking over to where the two tikes played in the back yard. "So are you going to keep me waiting or what?"
Just as Sano brought up the topic of food, Kenshin came out of the inner rooms with a tray as if on cue.
"Here you are Sano. You're favorite, that it is."
-
After a quick meal Sano went out to sit on the back steps like old times. He had long since discarded his suit coat and now let a few buttons undone on his shirt. Kenshin had taken the luggage and prepared the guest room for the dojo's special guests.
After finishing that the red haired Rurouni came up behind his friend and sat down next to him.
"So, I take it Megumi didn't take things well, that she did not…"
"Well, it was a big shock. I mean I really didn't want to find her after the way we parted the last time. I had nightmares for years that she had married and forgotten about me… but now I know how she really felt about everything…" Sano said with a sigh. "I only wish I would have known… we both could have been spared from such utter despair…"
"The world works in mysterious ways, that is does Sano." Kenshin said looking serious, while reflecting on his own strange existence. "If you wouldn't have left, then you would have never met the many special people you did, or been blessed with Nyoko-chan."
"Yeah, I guess you're right. It wasn't the easiest road to take, but everything was worth it… I love Nyoko with all my heart. She's the last gift Hikari gave to me…." Sano said as he looked down at his hands, his shoulders slumping as he remembered the woman who had saved him.
"Sano, if you need to I am here to listen. It seems that you have been through a lot in these few years."
"I have Kenshin… I have…" Sano said as be began to recant the tale of his departure.
After he had left, he wandered for a while, but always felt empty… then the night he was at his lowest point came. Even after his beloved Captain Sagara had left him, the pain was not so immense. His heart was crying out to him with every beat, so he decided to stop it… to stop it all.
And as he lay there feeling his lifeblood flowing out of the self-inflicted wound a light came instead of the darkness.
It was Hikari. She and her father were passing by on their way home from a business meeting. She had stopped their carriage and began to treat his wounds. She had saved him that night and demanded to bring him home with them to their home in the Southern part of Japan. One night when he had finally awoken from his coma like state he lost himself in her embrace. And that is how Nyoko had come about.
Finding himself welcome in their home, Sano began to get an education and helped Hikari's father with the family business. Soon everyone in the town thought of him like an adopted son in the family. They never pushed him to marry Hikari, because there was always a part of them that understood that Sano's heart had still not recovered fully. And deep down, Sano knew he could never love Hikari like he had Megumi… over the months they prepared for Nyoko's arrival with a joyful anticipation. That was until the night of the birthing. Everything was so bloody, and her screams were unbearable. In the end Sano clutched the tiny form of his daughter to his chest as the second woman he had loved left him… Hikari died shortly after seeing her daughter for the first time, still holding on to Sano's hand… But Sano and her father had managed to carry on with the little one in their care. But once again life decided to give Sano reminder that nothing was forever. Nyoko's grandfather had become ill not too long ago and passed on, leaving the father and child alone.
"I know that I now live for Nyoko, but seeing Megumi… touching her face and knowing that she loved me just as much as I do her… it feels like everything's changed… what do I do Kenshin?"
-
A/N: There- hopefully you enjoyed it! I should be updating more frequently now- *crosses fingers* But we'll have to see….
Thanks for the reviews and all! I enjoy reading them! Keep them coming!
Ja!
A/N: Sorry for the wait! Things have been busy busy busy for a while-
But my paper and big test are done for now, and I decided to give you the next chapter!
I also am going to go back and revise the past chapters- I was rereading them one day and I found TONS of mistakes- sorry about those too… I'm horrible at typing and even worse at grammar…. ^_^;
So anyway- not much else going on- school, school, school, work, work, work…
Oh well- ttyl and enjoy!
Disclaimer- you guessed it! I own everything! … Oh wait… check that- rewind- I own nothing… right!
;)
-
Almost as soon as the girl threw herself on the bewildered Sanosuke, Kenshin came running into the room chasing a laughing Kenji.
"ORO!" The Rurouni was wailing. "Gomen Sano, I lost track of her." He said as he grabbed a hold of his son and hoisted the squirming mass under his arm.
"Kenshin…" Megumi said as finally a familiar face came into the room.
"Nyoko-chan, why don't we go outside? It's a pretty day out, that it is." Kenshin suggested as he saw the complete shock on Megumi's face.
"NO! I won't leave! She was hurting Daddy!" The little girl cried as she squeezed her father tighter. Sano couldn't help but turn a little red in the cheeks.
'Hurting? That's definitely what Megumi was NOT doing to me… the exact opposite yes, but not hurting…'
"Calm down kitten." Sano said as he stood up and got free of his daughter's extremely tight grip. Patting her head he could only chuckle. "I'm just fine, honest." He added as he knelt down to be at her eye level.
"But you sounded like she was hurting you and she…" Sano stopped the confused girl before she went on by a small kiss to her forehead.
"Nyoko, this is Megumi. She's an old friend of daddy's." He said looking up at Megumi for the first time since Nyoko had interrupted them.
"She's the doctor here and she didn't hurt me at all." Sano assured her. "Megumi, this is Nyoko… my daughter."
-
'My Daughter… My Daughter… My Daughter… My Daughter…
My Daughter… My Daughter…My Daughter… My Daughter…
My Daughter… My Daughter…My Daughter… My Daughter…
My Daughter… My Daughter…'
The words echoed inside Megumi's mind as a sharp pain slowly crept back into her heart.
'He… he… has a daughter? But that would mean… I am so stupid!' Megumi told herself. 'He probably came back to show off his new family… not for me… no! I will not cry! Megumi, you will not cry in front of him!'
-
"It's nice to meet you." Nyoko said bowing politely to Megumi. After an elbow from Sano, the little girl quickly apologized for her actions before. The apology woke Megumi from her stupor.
"It's so nice to meet you too." Megumi smiled a fake smile; she was very good at hiding her pain. She had become very experienced in the subject of that for the past four years…
"Kitten could you go with Kenshin for a moment? I'll be right back and we'll go back to the inn." Sano said trying to avoid looking at Megumi. He had hoped to bring up the topic of Nyoko a little later and in a better way… he wanted to explain everything to her.
"Oh Sano, you and Nyoko-chan don't need to stay in the inn, that you don't." Kenshin said, always the polite man. "You are family and you're most welcome to the guest rooms at the dojo."
"Can we Daddy?" Nyoko said holding on to Sano's hand. "I promise to be very good, that way I can play with Kenji!"
Sano nodded as he thought things over. 'The dojo would be nicer than the inn…'
"Alright, I'll get our bags later."
With that settled Kenshin said he was taking the two toddlers home and out of the clinic before they could do more damage.
-
As Sano and Megumi were once again left alone, Sano felt a chill in the air. That hadn't been there before…
"Megumi…" He began as he turned his head to look at her. However he never did get to even see her face, because he was met with a powerful slap across the face.
The blow was the most devastating hit of his life- those many drunken men, Kenshin's and even Shishio's attacks seemed like nothing as Megumi connected perfectly.
Without so much as an explanation she left the room. Sano however knew the reason for the blow. And he didn't blame her…
Sano couldn't move for a time; he just sat there and watched her receding figure go down the hallway and then out of sight.
"Megumi… wait… MEGUMI!" Sano said as he got up suddenly. He couldn't let it end like this. He had never expected her to love him… 'Did she really say that? I would never have dreamt that she ever had felt that way for me… I can't let her go on thinking things that aren't true…'
"Megumi!" He said as he ran after her. Not caring what he bumped into or who he pushed aside, Sano ran after her.
He closed his eyes and sprinted after her as she quickly darted behind a door. Sano was unable to stop himself as she slammed the door behind her.
Crashing into the solid frame, he fell to the ground. But that didn't phase Sano as he tried to reason with Megumi. He was up again and pounding on the door right away.
He had chased her to the living quarters in the very back of the clinic, away from the rest of the usual daily groups of people, so it was quiet.
"Megumi, please… it's not what you think… I…."
"NO!" She cried from behind the door. "I don't want to hear about you or your happy life away from me…"
"Megumi, please let me in… you don't understand…"
"No, you're wrong… I understand perfectly. I told you to leave four years ago, and it was one of the worst mistakes I've ever made in my life up until now…until just now, when I thought I had you back for good… but you have a family?!? And to think you let me carry on like… like a…"
"What… what are you saying Megumi?" Sano asked in a quiet voice. He wanted to see her face… Really see what she was feeling. But the door blocked his path. Sure he knew that he could just break down the door with no more than a finger. However that would just complicate things.
'Alright Megumi… have it your way… but I will talk to you… I will straighten things up…' Sano silently promised her as she once again told him to leave.
"We'll talk again when you've calmed down fox, that I promise." He said loud enough so she could hear, but soft enough that she could also hear his feelings he had for her.
-
Sano walked down the streets of Tokyo towards the dojo. On his shoulder he carried the luggage he and Nyoko had brought with them. Rounding the corner, he was met with laughter as he entered the old Kamiya dojo.
"S…sano?" A wide-eyed Kaoru called as she dropped her bokken and ran towards her long time friend. Kaoru caught the tall man by surprise as she ran and launched herself on the friend she thought would never return.
"SANO!" She smiled as she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a big hug. Sano dropped the luggage he was carrying as the dojo master had practically jumped him.
"Hey now Missy, it's good to see you too!" Sano laughed, as she was uncharacteristically caring. 'Must be from raising a kid,' he thought because he, himself had 'softened' a bit.
"So has married life made you a better cook? I'm starving" Sano smiled as he patted her on the back. To that remark Sano received a sound smack on the back of the head as Kaoru released him.
"And you haven't changed- still the same old Sano." Kaoru smiled. "Let me look at you! Oh my- you look so… Westernized."
"Na- I'm still the same." He said casually.
"Not really, I see you did a little something while you were away and I don't mean the change of cloths and a hair cut." Kaoru smiled now. "I would have never believed that a little treasure like Nyoko could be your child… are you sure she's yours?"
"Ya, the kitten's mine." Sano smiled looking over to where the two tikes played in the back yard. "So are you going to keep me waiting or what?"
Just as Sano brought up the topic of food, Kenshin came out of the inner rooms with a tray as if on cue.
"Here you are Sano. You're favorite, that it is."
-
After a quick meal Sano went out to sit on the back steps like old times. He had long since discarded his suit coat and now let a few buttons undone on his shirt. Kenshin had taken the luggage and prepared the guest room for the dojo's special guests.
After finishing that the red haired Rurouni came up behind his friend and sat down next to him.
"So, I take it Megumi didn't take things well, that she did not…"
"Well, it was a big shock. I mean I really didn't want to find her after the way we parted the last time. I had nightmares for years that she had married and forgotten about me… but now I know how she really felt about everything…" Sano said with a sigh. "I only wish I would have known… we both could have been spared from such utter despair…"
"The world works in mysterious ways, that is does Sano." Kenshin said looking serious, while reflecting on his own strange existence. "If you wouldn't have left, then you would have never met the many special people you did, or been blessed with Nyoko-chan."
"Yeah, I guess you're right. It wasn't the easiest road to take, but everything was worth it… I love Nyoko with all my heart. She's the last gift Hikari gave to me…." Sano said as he looked down at his hands, his shoulders slumping as he remembered the woman who had saved him.
"Sano, if you need to I am here to listen. It seems that you have been through a lot in these few years."
"I have Kenshin… I have…" Sano said as be began to recant the tale of his departure.
After he had left, he wandered for a while, but always felt empty… then the night he was at his lowest point came. Even after his beloved Captain Sagara had left him, the pain was not so immense. His heart was crying out to him with every beat, so he decided to stop it… to stop it all.
And as he lay there feeling his lifeblood flowing out of the self-inflicted wound a light came instead of the darkness.
It was Hikari. She and her father were passing by on their way home from a business meeting. She had stopped their carriage and began to treat his wounds. She had saved him that night and demanded to bring him home with them to their home in the Southern part of Japan. One night when he had finally awoken from his coma like state he lost himself in her embrace. And that is how Nyoko had come about.
Finding himself welcome in their home, Sano began to get an education and helped Hikari's father with the family business. Soon everyone in the town thought of him like an adopted son in the family. They never pushed him to marry Hikari, because there was always a part of them that understood that Sano's heart had still not recovered fully. And deep down, Sano knew he could never love Hikari like he had Megumi… over the months they prepared for Nyoko's arrival with a joyful anticipation. That was until the night of the birthing. Everything was so bloody, and her screams were unbearable. In the end Sano clutched the tiny form of his daughter to his chest as the second woman he had loved left him… Hikari died shortly after seeing her daughter for the first time, still holding on to Sano's hand… But Sano and her father had managed to carry on with the little one in their care. But once again life decided to give Sano reminder that nothing was forever. Nyoko's grandfather had become ill not too long ago and passed on, leaving the father and child alone.
"I know that I now live for Nyoko, but seeing Megumi… touching her face and knowing that she loved me just as much as I do her… it feels like everything's changed… what do I do Kenshin?"
-
A/N: There- hopefully you enjoyed it! I should be updating more frequently now- *crosses fingers* But we'll have to see….
Thanks for the reviews and all! I enjoy reading them! Keep them coming!
Ja!