Chapter 3 ~ Interlude

She sat alone, in the shade of a great leafy tree, peacefully sipping her drink. A small smile played across her face, even as the shifting patterns of sunlight and shade danced upon it. She looked…happy.

The tall, handsome man lingered for a while in the shadows, enjoying the rare sight. He had not seen her so seemingly content in a long time, and now he let his gaze wander lovingly over her small, petite frame, wrapped securely against the spring chill in a soft pink shawl. Unable to resist any further, he rushed over and pulled her into a warm embrace.

"Hey babe. I've missed ya," murmured Sagara Sanosuke.

Misao uttered a barely suppressed shriek of surprise as she felt herself being enclosed by a pair of warm, strong arms. Arms that felt oddly familiar…and the hair tickling her face…and that smooth, low voice…

"Sano!" she yelled, this time in joyful recognition. She twisted around in his arms and gave him an equally fierce hug in return. "You're back!"

He chuckled, then gave her an affectionate peck on the cheek. "Of course! I couldn't leave you here alone for too long! Who knows what trouble you would've gotten yourself into?" He smiled at her blush, and settled himself comfortably into the chair beside hers. "So tell me, what's been going on?"

Misao suddenly found herself at a loss for words. How could she possibly explain to Sano everything that had happened in the past few weeks? Even she was still trying to put everything together. She placed a hand over his and said lightly instead, "No Sano! You have to tell me about Mongolia first! Here I've been, stuck at home working, while you go off on your little vacation halfway across the world! And you didn't even write!"

He grinned sheepishly, and Misao felt herself relax. Her face softened as she studied the man next to her. They had grown up together in Okina's school, much as she and Aoshi had. But instead of being quiet and detached like Aoshi, Sano was loud, brash, and always ready for a fight. He was also always ready to come to her rescue, be it from the local bullies, or as they grew older, the increasingly often occasions when she felt blue. Most of the time it was because of Aoshi. She sighed happily. Sano was her rock, her guardian, her friend. She had missed him dreadfully while he was gone.

Sanosuke in turn was looking intently at his companion. There was something markedly different about Misao…something that spoke of a great weight lifted, a joy bestowed. Some of the old light had returned to her eyes. He wrapped his fingers around her small hand in a gentle grip, secretly wishing that he could hold her in his arms like he had just moments ago.

It was no secret that Sagara Sanosuke loved Makimachi Misao, just as it was no secret that she had loved Shinomori Aoshi.

Misao pretended not to notice the way Sano's hand tightened around hers, or the way his boyish hazel eyes deepened with unsaid meaning. She knew how Sano felt about her, but she also felt deeply that his was a misguided love ~ a childhood crush mistaken for something more. Sano would always be her friend ~ she couldn't live without his friendship, just as she'd gladly give her life for him ~ but she could never feel for him anything like…what she felt for Aoshi. What she had felt for Aoshi. She couldn't help thinking that Sano deserved more, deserved someone whose heart would truly belong to him. He only had to meet that person, and he would know that he never really loved Misao.

For now, they would carry on this charade. Sanosuke was no fool ~ he understood what Misao's feelings were towards Aoshi, perhaps even better than Misao herself did. He hadn't grown up with the two for nothing, hadn't consoled Misao countless times for nothing. Grudgingly, he also hadn't missed the flash in Aoshi's eyes and the barely perceptible smile that appeared whenever she was near. Although the two boys had grown up together, they had never been close, both vying for Misao's attentions in their own ways. He had hated Aoshi for leaving her, had cursed him while she wept on his shoulder. For her sake, he hoped that she'd moved on. And he would wait; for one so normally impatient, Sano had an amazing amount of self-control when it mattered. He would not let her go without a fight.

They sat in a comfortable silence, lost in their musings but enjoying each other's company. It occurred to Misao how different silence could be, depending on the person one shared it with. Sano's silence never made her nervous or tongue-tied, and she thought back to those days when Aoshi's silence was just as companionable. As they had grown up, however, that chummy understanding had disappeared, changing to obvious awkwardness.

Then again, Sano's presence had never given her the deep thrill she felt with Aoshi. She had never felt that tingle of anticipation, those flashes of absolute joy, when she knew that with him, she could overcome any obstacle, achieve any dream. With Sanosuke, she had never felt love.

"Misao?" Sano's low voice called back her attention. She gave herself a mental shake; how foolish of her to think of Aoshi when…when nothing mattered anymore. It was better to leave the past, and its painful memories, behind.

"Misao…tell me why you're so happy." His senses had never failed him; he still knew her better than anyone else. Except for maybe…

Her eyes widened slightly, then lighted with a rueful smile as she realized that she had to confess. "It's…I…I met an old friend the other day, and it just feels good to have reclaimed what I thought I'd lost." She turned to him seriously. "Sano, it was Aoshi. But don't worry, the happiness I feel is that for a long-lost friend." Chuckling, to make light of the situation, she added, "I don't make the same mistakes twice."

His breath came out in a sharp hiss. "Shinomori…that bastard…what did he come back for?"

She was alarmed at his reaction. "Sano please, let's leave the past alone, okay? I want us to all be friends again. And," she added slyly, "I know that even though you pretend to hate him, you'd go in and help him in a flash if he got into trouble. Just as he would for you." She decided not to tell him the part about them working together.

He sighed in defeat. She was, after all, a first-rate lawyer…and someone he'd never want to get into an argument with. He ventured another question that had been bothering him. "Shinomori…is he with anyone now?"

He watched her face darken with a sinking feeling. So, she does still feel for him. But he didn't press for answers when she answered simply, "Yes."

She had almost forgotten about Megumi…he'd never mentioned her at dinner. A part of her was secretly thrilled that he seemed to have forgotten about the beautiful girl, while her pragmatic side suggested that maybe their relationship was too personal, too…special, for him to discuss with anyone. Aoshi was too fiercely reserved to reveal to the world what was in his heart. The euphoria of the past few hours viciously turned to anguish. And anger. How could she have let her guard down so easily?

"Misao, daijoubu?" She realized, with irony, that it was the second time someone had asked her that in the past twenty-four hours. She put on a forced smile, forgetting that it was for Sano, who didn't need falsehoods to see her real feelings.

He really, really wanted to hurt Shinomori. But he reminded himself that this was Misao's "friend," his friend, and with difficulty unclenched his fists. He was about to ask her again if she was all right, when she suddenly turned to him with a brilliant smile, genuine this time. His mouth open in surprise, Sano could only stare at her in disbelief.

She laughed ~ also genuine ~ and hit him playfully over the head. "Baka!" she told him, as well as herself. "Didn't I tell you that I only wanted his friendship? It'll be different this time Sano, I promise." With that, she leapt spiritedly from her chair. "Let's go see Okina! I'm sure he'd love to see you back!"

Ruefully he followed her, shaking his head in mock despair. "Women."

Overhearing his muttered comment, Misao smiled. She looked up at the dazzling noon sky ~ such a deep, pure blue ~ and let fly all her worries and fears. The time for grieving was over. Whatever the future held, she was ready. She would smile.