Chapter 10-
A/N: sorry for the wait! But here's the chapter as promised!
Sooo much going on here- but I won't bore you with Kate's life story of life: work, school, work, school, anime, work, sleep, anime, school, anime, boys, anime…. You get the picture ;)
Anyway- just got back from Japanese class- and I thought of you guys and how you are probably wanting me dead because I haven't had time to write/type/post… so please don't kill me!
It'll all be worth the wait, you'll see-
Happy Halloween to all and stuff…
Oh all right, I'll shut up and get to the story!-
Disclaimer: ……… to lazy…..
-
"Grandpa said mommy use to make daddy cook for her all the time. Daddy makes the best soup, he makes it all the time for me, he even made it for me when I was still in mommy's tummy." Nyoko smiled as she told Kenji and his parents as they sat in awe of Sano's ability to actually cook. And what shocked Kaoru even more was that it smelt good.
"You cook? When did you learn?" Kaoru smiled.
"Very quickly! Especially when you had such a spirited woman like Hikari around… she could hit like no one I've known with the exception of little missy and… well," Sano just couldn't bring himself to utter her name… 'Kami-sama, have I really messed things up again, I should just give up.' He thought quickly. "When Hikari wanted something it didn't matter where I was-"
Sano began to recant the many tales of his life with Hikari, much to Nyoko's delight. The little girl especially liked hearing stories of her mother. The small in stature woman with the braided short hair had a great spirit and had kept Sano on his toes.
Sano remembered the time she would just look at him and he and her father would melt into submission instantly or suffer her wrath. But she was so loving, that even when she was so demanding they couldn't help but love her back.
Kenshin and Kaoru contently listened to Sano's tales while watching the happy little girl's face contort with excitement at her parent's adventures.
"Daddy I want to help!" Nyoko giggles as she clung to his leg. "And you should put on your pretty outfit too! We'll match then!"
"Nyoko… what has come over you? I thought we were going to wait to wear those."
"But I want to wear it now… please? I'll set the table and you can go and change!" She said while trying to push the extremely large man out of the kitchen.
"Oh what's it going to hurt? Sano let's see these respectable cloths." Kaoru smile thinking it would make Nyoko so happy. "I mean those western cloths are nice, but they're not really cloths you can relax in."
"Alright, alright…" Sano said throwing his hands up in the air defeated and he went to change.
"Nyoko-chan," Kaoru asked looking at the table as the little girl quietly set the places out. "Why are there six bowls set out? Yahiko won't be back from Kyoto for another three days."
To that question, Nyoko just smiled up at the older lady. "You'll see."
-
Megumi sat staring into the mirror at her small house near the clinic. She had long since moved out of Dr. Gensai's house and into her own place.
It was just right for need to privacy. It was roomy and perfect for her, and then maybe one or tow more…
Staring into her reflection she blushed a little. Her hair was mostly up in a simple bun. An elegant silk kimono adorned she slim frame.
'Do I go or not?' She asked herself… but her conversation with Nyoko had explained a lot and did give her some hope.
In not so many words Nyoko had said how unhappy her father was- although he always tried to appear the other way.
Nyoko was an extremely bright child. Somehow only a four year old understood the matters of the heart better than Megumi thought she knew.
The little girl had also told her of several reasons why Sano never settled down after he left Tokyo. The most important was because he always said there was someone back where he was from who already owned his heart and soul… Hikari had, ever since she saved him and gave him Nyoko, had owned his life…. That was why he did what he did.
"Daddy never does anything for himself… and I know he could be happy… if…if you'd just love him back…"
The little girl was asking a lot- but it wasn't like Megumi had ever stopped loving the tall and handsome man she met by sheer chance so long ago.
The hard part was getting him to see that she did love him and that he could still be a good father and make himself happy.
And that's were she sat now. Nyoko had invited her over for the evening meal. There she and Sano could talk and work things out, hopefully.
Megumi applied a last touch of makeup to her already flawless complexion and decided on her course of action. She had made the biggest mistake of her life letting Sano go all those years ago and she was determined to not make that mistake again… unless that's what he truly wanted….
She hoped he didn't…
-
"Am I to your liking now kitten?" Sano asked as he entered the dinning area. He was now out of the western suit and back into traditional Japanese attire.
Matching Nyoko's silky blue kimono with gold and silver thread designs, Sano wore a dark blue yukata robe. Instead of the red headband containing the wild hair of the old Sano, a blue one did the same for his tamer and shorter brown hair.
As Sano looked out at the group he noticed an extra guest kneeling at the table. The devastatingly beautiful Takani Megumi sat quietly looking up at him, along with everyone else. Seeing her made him freeze… his eyes never left her deep orbs until they were distracted by a bubbly girl's cry.
"OK! Now we can eat!" Nyoko smiled as she took her father's hand and lead him to a spot that was coincidently next to the lovely doctor.
The meal started out quiet. The two children seemed to miss the tension and silence of the adults. Or at least Nyoko decided to stay out of her father's business; she had gotten them together, now it was up to them to work things out.
"Sano, I can't believe you made this…" Kaoru said tasting the meal he prepared.
"Yes it is. You are very good at cooking that you are." Kenshin smiled as he sipped his soup.
Nyoko knew things weren't going well. She had to do something… and soon.
"Daddy, can we go on a tour of the city tomorrow? I want to see all the places you use to go to!"
"…" Was Sano's first impression. 'The places I use to go… well I'm going to make sure she never sets foot inside some of those places…'
"Sorry kitten, I have some things to do tomorrow. I have to tie up loose ends with grandpa's company and we have to send a telegraph over to your auntie in the states for one… knowing her, she'll be worrying about us when we don't arrive in a few days." he said ruffling her hair.
"Well we could stay here and not even go over to America." Nyoko suggested.
"What's this? I thought you were excited about going to see your aunt and having a house in California."
"So you are going to leave again then Sano?" Kenshin asked quietly seeing the pain in Megumi's eyes at the thought of losing him again. She didn't know what to say or how to bring up talking with Sano when everyone was around.
"I don't know…" Sano sighed looking at his food. Suddenly he wasn't that hungry after all. He felt everyone's eyes were on him. "We have a few days till our papers are finished… but Nyoko's family is in America…"
"But Sano, you're family is here, that we are." Kenshin added as he looked across the table at his troubled friend.
"Let me think some more, ok?" Sano said and signaled that the conversation was over.
After dinner ended the group moved outside and sat on the back porch like old times. The two children ran around a bit as Kenshin and Sano made small talk.
Megumi still wasn't sure on how to broach the subject of earlier today with Sano. But she wasn't leaving till this was straightened out.
Not long after, both tikes were tired out as the sun set in a beautiful display of colors. Their seemingly limitless energy was worn out for the first time. Kenji slumped down in his mother's arms, while Nyoko snuggled up to Sano's soft clothing.
Megumi couldn't help but smile as Sano looked up and saw her staring at them. His actions were so loving, she thought. A twinge of sadness came to her heart when she thought it could have been their child he was doing that too if it wasn't for her words four years ago… but he had come back… sure he had changed, but Sano was still the Sano she had grown to love. She was dead set on letting him go away again. If he was determined to leave Japan, then she was going to go too. Megumi knew she needed him, and Nyoko's words were true. He did put up a happy front, but his eyes gave him away. The way he stole longing glances at her, the dull look in his eyes told of an emptiness in him. It was that emptiness she hoped he would let her fill…
"I think this is the first time I haven't had to bribe or tie this kitten down to go to bed." Sano chuckled as he shifted the sleeping form in his arms.
"Same here." Kaoru sighed. "Maybe they're good of each other, and for us." She smiled looking down and brushing a red bit of hair off Kenji's sleeping face.
"We better dump these kids into bed." Sano decided as he stood up, still holding Nyoko in a secure embrace. "I'll be right back." He said as he carried his daughter into the dojo and to their room. Kaoru agreed and got up to take her own sleepy bundle inside.
-
In the darkened room, Sano gently put the sleeping form down softly as to not wake her. As he placed a kiss to her forehead, Sano pulled up the covers and stood. Turning around, he was about to walk out of the room until a tiny, tired voice stopped him.
"Daddy?" "Yes, kitten… what is it?" He asked kneeling by her bedside.
"I would really like a mommy." She said as she yawned cutely.
"Kitten… I know…" He sighed. Nyoko deserved a mother. It was hard on him to take care of her and still look after the family business that had been left to him. But it was probably worse on her. But he just couldn't marry anyone… only one woman was truly the 'one' for him. He couldn't stand sitting so near her and not having her speak to him…. Why did she even come over when she knew I was going to be here? He asked himself as he told Nyoko that he'd see what he could do.
-
"Ms. Megumi, can I ask you a question?" Kenshin said as both his wife and Sano took the children inside.
"Hai, Kenshin?" "You once told me you loved Sano and if he ever came back you would not hesitate to restart your lives together… but has Nyoko really changed your feeling for him that much?" the question stopped Megumi from answering.
At first yes, Megumi thought, Nyoko seemed to change things a great deal… especially when she thought Sano had married. But things were different now that Megumi knew more of the story.
"Kenshin, at first I was shocked, that's why I lashed out at him… but now… now I feel as though Nyoko only makes me love him more…"
"I'm happy for the both of you, that I am." Kenshin smiled as he stood up and went back inside the dojo.
As Megumi sat there and waited for Sano to return, she looked up at the sunset ad sighed.
"It's beautiful isn't it?" Came a masculine voice from behind her. Megumi turned and nodded as Sano's form came closer to where they were all sitting before.
"Yes, it is."
"Where did the little missy and Kenshin run off too?" Sano said feeling a bit uncomfortable. His heart could not take much more of this roller coaster he was on. He never liked to admit he was weak, he never liked to show his insecurities and worries, but if Megumi hit him again with words or fists, he knew he would break. And he was afraid… really afraid of her and her power over him…
"He went to go and talk to Kaoru." Megumi said quietly looking up and trying to see what Sano was feeling right now. But all she could see was a wall that he had put up in a short matter of time.
"Sano, I… can we talk? I have something that I need to do… to tell you." She started out as she stood. "Walk with me for a while?" She asked and motioned for him to follow her out of the dojo.
Sano inhaled deeply and tried to quickly think… what should he do? Taking a look back at the dojo and towards the area where he knew his daughter safely slumbered he nodded and followed Megumi.
They walked away from the dojo and off towards the river. Silence filled the space between them, until Megumi turned around suddenly. Sano had to stop fast; otherwise he would have bumped into her. He just looked at her and how close their bodies were, yet they didn't touch.
Silently Sano pleaded that she would get the rejection over with quickly… he didn't want any more pain than what was necessary.
"Sano, about what happened in the clinic…"
"I'm sorry Megumi… I shouldn't have allowed myself to go that far… I know I deserved that slap and I just hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me…" Sano quickly interrupted. He didn't know exactly why he was apologizing, but he had to say something.
"Sano?" Megumi stopped his rambling apology with a finger to his lips. "Please… hear me out. It is I who should apologize to you…I…I don't care what happened in the past. If you were in love, or even married, all I know is that since the moment you came back I know that I could never love you less…" She told him. Sano remained silent as Megumi touched his cheek with her slender hand. "I can see you are hurting inside Sano… just as I have been since I made the mistake of letting you go… please don't go away again… don't leave me alone. I need you Sano. I love you with all my heart." With that she moved herself closer to him and wrapped her arms around him as she cried into his shoulder. "I love you." She mumbled over and over as he finally embraced her once again.
"And I have always loved you so much Megumi…so much is hurt…" He replied as he nuzzled his face into her soft hair.
There under the setting sun the couple was reunited…love had brought them back, and they felt that they could face all the problems that were ahead…
A/N:
The end??? I don't think so! There's still more- so if you want more story- tell me!
Anyway- it's time for Kate to work on her Halloween costume!
I am going as the 'Anime Fairy'
I have little wings, a wand and then I'll be carrying around some of my bishie dolls around! I think I'll have the best costume in the office…
That or everyone at work will know I'm totally nuts! So I'm the youngest worker there- sue me! At least my anime buddies at work will appreciate my creativity ;)
Ja!
A/N: sorry for the wait! But here's the chapter as promised!
Sooo much going on here- but I won't bore you with Kate's life story of life: work, school, work, school, anime, work, sleep, anime, school, anime, boys, anime…. You get the picture ;)
Anyway- just got back from Japanese class- and I thought of you guys and how you are probably wanting me dead because I haven't had time to write/type/post… so please don't kill me!
It'll all be worth the wait, you'll see-
Happy Halloween to all and stuff…
Oh all right, I'll shut up and get to the story!-
Disclaimer: ……… to lazy…..
-
"Grandpa said mommy use to make daddy cook for her all the time. Daddy makes the best soup, he makes it all the time for me, he even made it for me when I was still in mommy's tummy." Nyoko smiled as she told Kenji and his parents as they sat in awe of Sano's ability to actually cook. And what shocked Kaoru even more was that it smelt good.
"You cook? When did you learn?" Kaoru smiled.
"Very quickly! Especially when you had such a spirited woman like Hikari around… she could hit like no one I've known with the exception of little missy and… well," Sano just couldn't bring himself to utter her name… 'Kami-sama, have I really messed things up again, I should just give up.' He thought quickly. "When Hikari wanted something it didn't matter where I was-"
Sano began to recant the many tales of his life with Hikari, much to Nyoko's delight. The little girl especially liked hearing stories of her mother. The small in stature woman with the braided short hair had a great spirit and had kept Sano on his toes.
Sano remembered the time she would just look at him and he and her father would melt into submission instantly or suffer her wrath. But she was so loving, that even when she was so demanding they couldn't help but love her back.
Kenshin and Kaoru contently listened to Sano's tales while watching the happy little girl's face contort with excitement at her parent's adventures.
"Daddy I want to help!" Nyoko giggles as she clung to his leg. "And you should put on your pretty outfit too! We'll match then!"
"Nyoko… what has come over you? I thought we were going to wait to wear those."
"But I want to wear it now… please? I'll set the table and you can go and change!" She said while trying to push the extremely large man out of the kitchen.
"Oh what's it going to hurt? Sano let's see these respectable cloths." Kaoru smile thinking it would make Nyoko so happy. "I mean those western cloths are nice, but they're not really cloths you can relax in."
"Alright, alright…" Sano said throwing his hands up in the air defeated and he went to change.
"Nyoko-chan," Kaoru asked looking at the table as the little girl quietly set the places out. "Why are there six bowls set out? Yahiko won't be back from Kyoto for another three days."
To that question, Nyoko just smiled up at the older lady. "You'll see."
-
Megumi sat staring into the mirror at her small house near the clinic. She had long since moved out of Dr. Gensai's house and into her own place.
It was just right for need to privacy. It was roomy and perfect for her, and then maybe one or tow more…
Staring into her reflection she blushed a little. Her hair was mostly up in a simple bun. An elegant silk kimono adorned she slim frame.
'Do I go or not?' She asked herself… but her conversation with Nyoko had explained a lot and did give her some hope.
In not so many words Nyoko had said how unhappy her father was- although he always tried to appear the other way.
Nyoko was an extremely bright child. Somehow only a four year old understood the matters of the heart better than Megumi thought she knew.
The little girl had also told her of several reasons why Sano never settled down after he left Tokyo. The most important was because he always said there was someone back where he was from who already owned his heart and soul… Hikari had, ever since she saved him and gave him Nyoko, had owned his life…. That was why he did what he did.
"Daddy never does anything for himself… and I know he could be happy… if…if you'd just love him back…"
The little girl was asking a lot- but it wasn't like Megumi had ever stopped loving the tall and handsome man she met by sheer chance so long ago.
The hard part was getting him to see that she did love him and that he could still be a good father and make himself happy.
And that's were she sat now. Nyoko had invited her over for the evening meal. There she and Sano could talk and work things out, hopefully.
Megumi applied a last touch of makeup to her already flawless complexion and decided on her course of action. She had made the biggest mistake of her life letting Sano go all those years ago and she was determined to not make that mistake again… unless that's what he truly wanted….
She hoped he didn't…
-
"Am I to your liking now kitten?" Sano asked as he entered the dinning area. He was now out of the western suit and back into traditional Japanese attire.
Matching Nyoko's silky blue kimono with gold and silver thread designs, Sano wore a dark blue yukata robe. Instead of the red headband containing the wild hair of the old Sano, a blue one did the same for his tamer and shorter brown hair.
As Sano looked out at the group he noticed an extra guest kneeling at the table. The devastatingly beautiful Takani Megumi sat quietly looking up at him, along with everyone else. Seeing her made him freeze… his eyes never left her deep orbs until they were distracted by a bubbly girl's cry.
"OK! Now we can eat!" Nyoko smiled as she took her father's hand and lead him to a spot that was coincidently next to the lovely doctor.
The meal started out quiet. The two children seemed to miss the tension and silence of the adults. Or at least Nyoko decided to stay out of her father's business; she had gotten them together, now it was up to them to work things out.
"Sano, I can't believe you made this…" Kaoru said tasting the meal he prepared.
"Yes it is. You are very good at cooking that you are." Kenshin smiled as he sipped his soup.
Nyoko knew things weren't going well. She had to do something… and soon.
"Daddy, can we go on a tour of the city tomorrow? I want to see all the places you use to go to!"
"…" Was Sano's first impression. 'The places I use to go… well I'm going to make sure she never sets foot inside some of those places…'
"Sorry kitten, I have some things to do tomorrow. I have to tie up loose ends with grandpa's company and we have to send a telegraph over to your auntie in the states for one… knowing her, she'll be worrying about us when we don't arrive in a few days." he said ruffling her hair.
"Well we could stay here and not even go over to America." Nyoko suggested.
"What's this? I thought you were excited about going to see your aunt and having a house in California."
"So you are going to leave again then Sano?" Kenshin asked quietly seeing the pain in Megumi's eyes at the thought of losing him again. She didn't know what to say or how to bring up talking with Sano when everyone was around.
"I don't know…" Sano sighed looking at his food. Suddenly he wasn't that hungry after all. He felt everyone's eyes were on him. "We have a few days till our papers are finished… but Nyoko's family is in America…"
"But Sano, you're family is here, that we are." Kenshin added as he looked across the table at his troubled friend.
"Let me think some more, ok?" Sano said and signaled that the conversation was over.
After dinner ended the group moved outside and sat on the back porch like old times. The two children ran around a bit as Kenshin and Sano made small talk.
Megumi still wasn't sure on how to broach the subject of earlier today with Sano. But she wasn't leaving till this was straightened out.
Not long after, both tikes were tired out as the sun set in a beautiful display of colors. Their seemingly limitless energy was worn out for the first time. Kenji slumped down in his mother's arms, while Nyoko snuggled up to Sano's soft clothing.
Megumi couldn't help but smile as Sano looked up and saw her staring at them. His actions were so loving, she thought. A twinge of sadness came to her heart when she thought it could have been their child he was doing that too if it wasn't for her words four years ago… but he had come back… sure he had changed, but Sano was still the Sano she had grown to love. She was dead set on letting him go away again. If he was determined to leave Japan, then she was going to go too. Megumi knew she needed him, and Nyoko's words were true. He did put up a happy front, but his eyes gave him away. The way he stole longing glances at her, the dull look in his eyes told of an emptiness in him. It was that emptiness she hoped he would let her fill…
"I think this is the first time I haven't had to bribe or tie this kitten down to go to bed." Sano chuckled as he shifted the sleeping form in his arms.
"Same here." Kaoru sighed. "Maybe they're good of each other, and for us." She smiled looking down and brushing a red bit of hair off Kenji's sleeping face.
"We better dump these kids into bed." Sano decided as he stood up, still holding Nyoko in a secure embrace. "I'll be right back." He said as he carried his daughter into the dojo and to their room. Kaoru agreed and got up to take her own sleepy bundle inside.
-
In the darkened room, Sano gently put the sleeping form down softly as to not wake her. As he placed a kiss to her forehead, Sano pulled up the covers and stood. Turning around, he was about to walk out of the room until a tiny, tired voice stopped him.
"Daddy?" "Yes, kitten… what is it?" He asked kneeling by her bedside.
"I would really like a mommy." She said as she yawned cutely.
"Kitten… I know…" He sighed. Nyoko deserved a mother. It was hard on him to take care of her and still look after the family business that had been left to him. But it was probably worse on her. But he just couldn't marry anyone… only one woman was truly the 'one' for him. He couldn't stand sitting so near her and not having her speak to him…. Why did she even come over when she knew I was going to be here? He asked himself as he told Nyoko that he'd see what he could do.
-
"Ms. Megumi, can I ask you a question?" Kenshin said as both his wife and Sano took the children inside.
"Hai, Kenshin?" "You once told me you loved Sano and if he ever came back you would not hesitate to restart your lives together… but has Nyoko really changed your feeling for him that much?" the question stopped Megumi from answering.
At first yes, Megumi thought, Nyoko seemed to change things a great deal… especially when she thought Sano had married. But things were different now that Megumi knew more of the story.
"Kenshin, at first I was shocked, that's why I lashed out at him… but now… now I feel as though Nyoko only makes me love him more…"
"I'm happy for the both of you, that I am." Kenshin smiled as he stood up and went back inside the dojo.
As Megumi sat there and waited for Sano to return, she looked up at the sunset ad sighed.
"It's beautiful isn't it?" Came a masculine voice from behind her. Megumi turned and nodded as Sano's form came closer to where they were all sitting before.
"Yes, it is."
"Where did the little missy and Kenshin run off too?" Sano said feeling a bit uncomfortable. His heart could not take much more of this roller coaster he was on. He never liked to admit he was weak, he never liked to show his insecurities and worries, but if Megumi hit him again with words or fists, he knew he would break. And he was afraid… really afraid of her and her power over him…
"He went to go and talk to Kaoru." Megumi said quietly looking up and trying to see what Sano was feeling right now. But all she could see was a wall that he had put up in a short matter of time.
"Sano, I… can we talk? I have something that I need to do… to tell you." She started out as she stood. "Walk with me for a while?" She asked and motioned for him to follow her out of the dojo.
Sano inhaled deeply and tried to quickly think… what should he do? Taking a look back at the dojo and towards the area where he knew his daughter safely slumbered he nodded and followed Megumi.
They walked away from the dojo and off towards the river. Silence filled the space between them, until Megumi turned around suddenly. Sano had to stop fast; otherwise he would have bumped into her. He just looked at her and how close their bodies were, yet they didn't touch.
Silently Sano pleaded that she would get the rejection over with quickly… he didn't want any more pain than what was necessary.
"Sano, about what happened in the clinic…"
"I'm sorry Megumi… I shouldn't have allowed myself to go that far… I know I deserved that slap and I just hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me…" Sano quickly interrupted. He didn't know exactly why he was apologizing, but he had to say something.
"Sano?" Megumi stopped his rambling apology with a finger to his lips. "Please… hear me out. It is I who should apologize to you…I…I don't care what happened in the past. If you were in love, or even married, all I know is that since the moment you came back I know that I could never love you less…" She told him. Sano remained silent as Megumi touched his cheek with her slender hand. "I can see you are hurting inside Sano… just as I have been since I made the mistake of letting you go… please don't go away again… don't leave me alone. I need you Sano. I love you with all my heart." With that she moved herself closer to him and wrapped her arms around him as she cried into his shoulder. "I love you." She mumbled over and over as he finally embraced her once again.
"And I have always loved you so much Megumi…so much is hurt…" He replied as he nuzzled his face into her soft hair.
There under the setting sun the couple was reunited…love had brought them back, and they felt that they could face all the problems that were ahead…
A/N:
The end??? I don't think so! There's still more- so if you want more story- tell me!
Anyway- it's time for Kate to work on her Halloween costume!
I am going as the 'Anime Fairy'
I have little wings, a wand and then I'll be carrying around some of my bishie dolls around! I think I'll have the best costume in the office…
That or everyone at work will know I'm totally nuts! So I'm the youngest worker there- sue me! At least my anime buddies at work will appreciate my creativity ;)
Ja!