Prologue: Reunion
Dr. Megumi Takani smoothed her hair back as she adjusted the strap of her carry-on bag. Her dark eyes surveyed her surroundings at Norfolk Airport.
"Are you all right?" a voice came up beside her.
She gave her significant other a reassuring smile. "Yes. Why?"
"Just making sure." Aoshi Shinomori tightened his grip on his rollaway bag and glanced to his right side, where his adoptive teenage daughter was eagerly staring out the window as snow fell in particles. "Misao, let's go."
"Okay!"
The three headed away from the terminal, making their way towards the exit near security.
"I've never been to the East Coast," Megumi mused. "I've lived on Hawaii all my life…the air is certainly different…"
More like chilly. She had dressed for warm weather on the flight from Honolulu to Los Angeles. But once in the LA airport, she had changed from her sundress to a maroon sweater V-neck sweater dress and knee high boots. Aoshi had pretty much worn the same outfit, only adding layers as they got into colder climate. He wore dark slacks and a long sleeved gray collared shirt with a black sweater and leather jacket over it. His daughter had done the same layering up method, wearing a thick fleece jacket over her shirts.
It was an interesting situation. Megumi never imagined that she'd be attending her ex-boyfriend's wedding. Not many women still were good friends with their exes. And not many men would be happy about that. But Aoshi had been very understanding. He wasn't like most men, and for that, she considered herself very fortunate.
Megumi pulled on her fleece coat as they made their way through the airport to the arrivals terminal.
A whistle caught their attention. The three turned to the source of a sound, seeing a man in blue jeans and white hooded sweatshirt wave at them before making his way towards them.
"Sanosuke?" Megumi's eyes widened before smiling in greeting. "You got here just in time…"
He gave her a brief hug. "Glad you could make it, fox-lady."
She patted his back in response. "It's good to see you, too, Sano."
Aoshi stepped forward, hand out. "Congratulations, Sagara."
Sano shook it enthusiastically. "Thanks and thanks for coming. Do you guys need anything before I take us back to the house?"
"A rental car would have been nice so we won't inconvenience you," Megumi said wryly.
Sanosuke took Misao and Megumi's bags from them. "I told you, Megumi…I don't mind driving you guys around. Kat and her family are taking care of the last minute wedding stuff…my job is to entertain guests from out of town."
"Well, I appreciate it," Megumi stated as they began walking to the parking lot. "I'm looking forward to meeting the woman who tamed you…"
"Hey," Sano interjected. "I'm sure you didn't make it easy for Iceman when you guys got together…"
Misao giggled while Aoshi narrowed his eyes.
"Iceman?" Aoshi echoed.
Sanosuke glanced at Aoshi, then Megumi, who was smiling sheepishly.
"I told him the codename that your team used to call you," Megumi explained.
"Obviously," Aoshi commented wryly.
Sanosuke unlocked the trunk of his 4 Runner before placing the bags inside. Aoshi pushed in the handle of his rollaway before storing it next to the women's bags.
"How long does it take to get to your place from here?" Megumi asked as she opened the passenger side door.
"Fifteen…twenty minutes, maybe," Sano shrugged as he slid into the driver's seat.
Aoshi took the seat behind Megumi while Misao leaned on his shoulder to take a quick nap, her petite frame taking up the remaining seats in the back.
"So…Megumi tells me you guys like surfing," Sano started the engine and pulled away from the airport, glancing into his rearview mirror to see Aoshi staring out the window.
"That's right," Aoshi answered.
"We go out at least twice a month," Megumi commented.
Misao shifted slightly and Aoshi moved his arm so she could rest in the crook of his shoulder.
Sanosuke and Megumi chatted amicably during the entire ride. Aoshi would occasionally contribute to the conversation while Misao slept, but he mostly stayed quiet. He didn't really know Sagara that well, anyway.
A little voice in the back of his mind told him that he really didn't belong there. He was a complete stranger to Sagara and his fiancée. Yet they invited him to the wedding, anyway…because of his ties to Megumi. Sagara even went so far as to let the three of them stay at his home. The Himuras would be joining them later. From what Megumi understood, Kat's family lived in the area, so she and any other out-of-town relatives would be staying at her parents' house. The accommodations situation would definitely prove interesting.
Sagara seemed nice enough, and it was obvious that he was excited about the events to come during the next few days. Aoshi shrugged off the strange feeling just as Sanosuke pulled into the driveway of a white and blue two-story house.
A/N: Well, there's a little teaser for you guys. More to come in the next few days. ^_^
