Chapter 2: The Secret Gets Out

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"Oh, and do you remember when we jumped off that bridge?"

"How could I forget that? All because those boys dared us to!"

"I remember that very well," Kaoru responded, grinning, "I had to explain to Mom why you were wet, but every time I tried I'd start laughing!" The girls fell into another fit of giggles. "We really should keep our voices down. We don't want to wake the children."

Kenshin laughed. He could just see Mei jumping off a bridge. She was just that kind of person. All ways willing to take a dare, always taking a risk. He glanced over at Sano. He held a monotonous smile on his face, staring at Sakura, who suddenly yawned.

"Well, I guess I'll head to bed now." She stood and walked toward the door.

"Wait, I'll walk you to your room," Sano offered, standing also. Without waiting for an answer, he followed her out. Kenshin looked over at Mei, whose eyes were filled with a mysterious glint. Kenshin knew that look very well.

"May I ask what your thinking, Miss Mei?" Kenshin asked, smiling.

"I'm gonna follow," she whispered, giggling with childish delight. She stood and tiptoed silently out of the room. Kenshin chuckled. 'There she goes again…'

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Sakura touched the ___ and turned to say goodnight but Sano blocked the door with the force of his hand. "I know your not just here to see Mei. What's up?" he demanded. Sakura blinked slowly. "I know there's something your not telling me," Sano inclined further, stepping close enough that Sakura could feel his breath on her face.

Sakura sighed wearily and glanced down the hall, and after hearing Kenshin chuckle, sighed again. "OK. Just remember, your coming in strictly to talk. Not for…" Sano nodded and followed her inside the dark room. Sakura lit a candle and sat down opposite of him. She pulled a tattered, yellowed envelope from the inside her kimono and handed it to him.

He took it and opened it carefully, looking up at her over the letter. He stared at her for a brief moment then read the letter.

Sano,

I can't believe you actually left. All those things I said were out of anger. I just couldn't stand coming home one more day to you with a bottle of sake in one hand and another in the other. My world has been ripped by the seams since you left. Please come back to us.

~Sakura Sagara

"Us?" Sano asked after a while. Sakura nodded hastily and looked away. 'He will NOT see me cry,' she thought fiercely as tears welled up in her eyes. "Us?" Sano asked again, gently taking her chin in his hand and turning her to look at him. He had no cue what to do with a crying girl so he pulled her into a hug and Sakura buried her face into his chest.

After a minute or two Sakura took a deep breath and began her story. "After you left me, I wandered around Kobe for a few days, sleeping and eating at friends houses. One day, while I was at sweet old Mrs. Kikimoto's, I fell ill and she called Dr. Hitai. He… he ran some tests and told me I was… well, he told me I was…. I was with… with child…." Sakura drew in a sharp breath and clenched her eyes tight I her heartbeat quickened.

Sano's hand froze on her shoulder. After a long lapse of silence, Sano asked, "Whose child… is it?"

"You baka. You know very well it's yours," Sakura sat up quickly. They sat there for a while, avoiding eye contact.

"What's his name? The kid's I mean," Sano asked.

"Her name is Seena…Sagara. I kept your surname. I hope that's OK." Sakura asked, finally looking up at Sano.

Sano responded with another question. "Where is he… she?" He asked uncertainly, looking from Sakura's stomach to her eyes.

"I left her in the care of Dr. Genzi and another woman who identified herself as Megumi Tankani. Amye and Suzumie were there also."

"When can I see her?"

"Tomorrow. I'll go tomorrow."

Sano grunted and nodded.

"I really must sleep now, Sano. Goodnight," Sakura bade, laying down on her futon. Sano stood and walked over to her and planted a kiss on her cheek. He walked quickly down the hall, not noticing Mei. She held one hand over her mouth and the other over her chest, for she had heard every single word.