A/N: Whew! Sorry it took so long to update. Been out of the loop of writing, I almost forgot how. =P

Part 2: Party Time

Day 2: Friday

            Aoshi lightly tapped the microphone of Sanosuke's karaoke machine. He grimaced as his foot ended up getting caught in the cord. Didn't these people own wireless microphones? He had tripped over the cord once already.

            Megumi shot him an amused look as she set a plate of chips and dip onto the dining table.

            "Microphone one seems to work..." he commented easily, switching it off before testing the other one.

            "Do you plan on singing?" his girlfriend asked him once he finished testing the second microphone.

            "No," he replied. "The one who sets up the machine doesn't sing."

            "Is that an unspoken rule?" she teased.

            "Something like that." As she turned away to adjust the food on the table, his eyes remained on her.

            She was wearing a dark green long sleeved sweater that hugged the curves of her body, the bottom ending just past her hips, which were covered in blue denim. Her jeans flared slightly at the ankle. Her black hair, which he had combed his fingers through barely twelve hours ago in the privacy of her bedroom, was pulled back and pinned to her head. Beautiful, elegant. And much more. That was his Megumi.

            He wondered what had happened in the kitchen early, early that morning. Aoshi had no problem with Sanosuke Sagara, he never had. He also knew that Megumi and Sanosuke were good friends, in spite of the past they had shared. He was fine with that.

            His girlfriend and her ex certainly had no bridges burned between them. Which was rather unusual. It was in his experience that very few couples remained on good terms once the relationship was over.

            By nature, Sagara and Megumi were friendly, flirtatious people. Which caused one to wonder...

            "How did you two meet?" Aoshi asked as he switched the second microphone off.

            Megumi's eyes widened. "Sano and myself?" At his nod, she shrugged. "Oh...he hit my car...ran into it as I was leaving the exchange parking lot. He had Kaoru and Kenshin with him...by then I had already known them for a few months..."

            "So as you spent more time with the couple..."

            "I saw him on several occasions, then more frequently, and the rest..." Megumi shrugged again.

            He kept silent, rifling through the karaoke CD collection.

            "Why do you ask?"

            "We've already discussed your friendship with him...but we've never talked about your relationship," Aoshi commented easily.

            "Isn't it...forbidden for couples to talk about previous significant others?" she hesitated.

            "Only if the couple is too emotional to deal with that," he answered. "Many couples tend to get caught in the past, on how they compare to the past, instead of focusing on what is happening in the present."

            She was quiet for several moments. He took that opportunity to pull out a CD which contained over two hundred songs.

            "Aoshi."

            He looked in her direction, seeing her eyes focus outside the window. Snow gently fell on to the ground.

            "Beautiful, isn't it?" Aoshi commented.

            She smiled at him in response. "Yes, it is."

            "When Misao and I lived in Washington, she used to build a family of snowpeople in our backyard," he mused.

            Her eyes took on a soft look. "It seems like you've been everywhere...California, Japan, Australia, Washington DC, Hawaii..."

            His eyes slowly moved over her face. "I was born on Hawaii. As much as I enjoyed seeing the world, I consider it my home. Especially now."

            Her lips lifted in a wistful smile.

            "What time is Sagara supposed to be back again?" he asked.

            Sanosuke, Kat, her family, Kenshin, and Kaoru had gone to the wedding rehearsal. Misao had tagged along with Kaoru out of curiosity, having never attended a wedding before. Which had left Aoshi and Megumi at Sano's house alone. After breakfast, the others had left while Aoshi and Megumi offered to set up the house for the wedding rehearsal family get together.

            "He'll be back soon. Not that I'm counting the minutes..." Megumi smiled as she circled his waist with her arms.

            He towered over her easily, for she barely reached his chin. She always felt feminine and soft when he held her. 

            "Can I ask you something?" she murmured.

            "Hm?"

            "Did you ever get close to getting married before you came to Hawaii?"

            A gleam entered his eyes. "An officer in Washington did once ask me to marry her..." He arched a brow. "Are you thinking about getting married?"

            Her eyes rounded before narrowing, and she moved away. "Hardly."

            "Are you sure?"

            She flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Of course."

            "Why do women say that when it's just the opposite?" he queried.

            "I'm not like other women who are hopping to get married," Megumi reminded. She gestured to the half-empty carton of Christmas decorations Sano had brought out early that morning, indicating a change in subject. "Can you put that in the attic? Sano forgot to put it away when he finished decorating the house this morning."

            Sanosuke had placed icons in the windows to commemorate the holiday event. He had even decorated the front door. He figured that even though he and Kat would be on their honeymoon during Christmas, he should make the house look festive.

            Aoshi took the box and went upstairs, climbing the ladder that led into the narrow opening of the attic.

            "Can you get the box in there?" Megumi asked, watching him. "I didn't think the door would be that small…"

            "It's fine."

            Megumi left for a few moments while he surveyed the small space of the attic. Kat and Sano barely used it. And since the house was fairly new, hardly any dust formed on the walls. Aoshi slowly made his way back down the ladder.

            "Aoshi."

            He turned to the sound of her voice, underestimated the size of the door, hitting his left temple against the doorframe. He swore softly, his head reeling. Somehow, he managed to get to the floor without sliding.

            "Are you all right?" Megumi asked, rushing to his side.

            The first thought that came to mind was the size of that door. How could he lift a box into it, enter the small space, then exit it like a fool? As if the microphone situation wasn't enough.

            "Depends what all right means," he responded.

            "I'll go get you some ice," she said, laughing.

            When he got downstairs, she was in the kitchen, placing some cubes in a plastic bag. Megumi insisted that he lie back on the couch.

            "I'm not an invalid," he argued.

            "Aoshi, just lie down," Megumi ordered. Then she grinned. "You never argued with me when it came to being horizontal. Why now?"

            He arched a brow, bracing his head. "And you never had a problem when I wanted to stand."

            "Ooh." She bit her lip to keep from laughing.

            Sighing, he moved away to settle back on the couch.

            She gently brushed aside several of the bangs that barely touched his brow. "Here…this should stop the swelling," Megumi held the pack against the side of his head. She smiled slightly. "Are you all right? You tripped over a microphone, now you're having trouble navigating through doors?" Her eyes gleamed. "Am I that distracting?"

            "Yes. That has to be it," he said wryly.

            "I'm flattered," she replied, reaching down with her other hand, slender fingers deftly loosening a button on his shirt, exposing his upper chest.

            He watched as her fingers moved downward, working on the next button. "Don't start what you can't finish."

            She raised a brow. "You're one to talk."

            Aoshi grasped her wrist, not surprised to find her pulse beating rapidly beneath his fingertips. Megumi was a passionate woman.

            "That's not something I plan on doing while we're here," he responded, his thumb stroking the inside of her wrist, satisfied when her pulse jumped.

            It was nice to know he still affected her, given that they had been together as long as they had. A part of him had felt a little guilty making her wait six months to consummate their relationship. She had tried seduction…to see if he'd give in to his six-month waiting period, but he had been determined to stick by it. Although he had been tempted to break it. Several times. But he wanted to show her that they could have a solid relationship. And his theory had been right…she had fallen in love with him long before he slept in her bed.

            Her earlier question brought up something he had never thought about. Did she really want to get married? Did he want to get married? The idea of settling down with her wasn't difficult to accept, but from the beginning, he and Megumi always took their relationship day by day, never planning too far ahead in the future.

            In the past, when he got involved with a woman, the relationship usually started off fairly well. But as time went on, women would usually make unreasonable demands of time and of him. He usually ended the relationships before more hurt could come out of it. It was the first time he ever, truly cared about making a relationship work. Megumi was not always an easy person to deal with. She could be incredibly stubborn and argumentative. But she wouldn't be Megumi without being all those things.

            The sound of a key jiggling in a lock caught their attention. Aoshi had only finished closing one button when Kat, Sano, Kenshin, Kaoru, and Misao walked in.

            "Hey, Iceman, Fox-lady," Sano greeted. He then stared at them. "Oh, damn. You two weren't fuc-"

            "Sano!" Kat chided.

            "Sorry," he grinned at Megumi and Aoshi. "Hope I didn't interrupt anything."

            When no response came, they noticed the ice pack Aoshi held against his head.

            "What happened to you?" Misao blurted out.

            "I bumped my head while coming from the attic," Aoshi explained.

            "Damn, Fox-lady, what are you doing to him?" Sano teased. His eyes took on an innocent look when Megumi and Kat glared at him. "What?"  

            Over the next hour, guests - Kat's family and friends trickled into the house. They wandered about the house as a group. Inside the kitchen, a petite woman looked at them and smiled as she placed ice cubes in a bucket.

            "Hi, Mom," Kat spoke up.

            Mrs. Antonio caught sight of the two other guests she hadn't met. She came forward. "Hello...you must be Megumi and Aoshi..."

            "Yes. It's nice to meet you," Megumi shook her outstretched hand.

            "It's nice to meet you. Please, call me Melanie."

            When she and Aoshi shook hands, an older woman came inside the kitchen. "Melanie, dear, have you seen...oh. Hello."

            "And this is my aunt Gloria," Kat said proudly. "Auntie, this is Megumi Takani and Aoshi Shinomori...Sano's guests from Hawaii. I was telling you about them on the ride over..."

            Kat's aunt was probably a good ten years older than Kat's mom. Mischief danced in her eyes.

            "It's nice to meet you, Megumi," the woman said as they shook hands. "Thank you for coming."

            Aoshi came forward. "Hello."

            Auntie Gloria reached out, and in a quick movement, one that even his kempo training didn't prepare him for...grabbed him below the snap of his jeans. Aoshi jumped back the instant it happened, as the woman let out a peal of laughter.

            Kat bit her lip before saying, "I'm sorry, Aoshi...I...um...Auntie likes greeting men...married, engaged, or taken...that way."

            Megumi couldn't help raise speculative eyebrows before smiling as Misao laughed her head off, Kaoru giggled into her hand, Kenshin pretended to be oblivious, and Sano grinned.

            Aoshi straightened. "It must prove very interesting in public places..."

            Gloria pouted. "Not even a shout...when I did that to Sanosuke the first time, he let out the most colorful curses..."

            "I told you he wouldn't react, Auntie," Sanosuke commented.

            "Oh, darn..."

            Kat seized Megumi and Aoshi's arms. "Here...let me introduce you to the rest of the family..."

            It took a while, but Megumi couldn't recall how many aunts, uncles, cousins she met. She mingled with the guests, occasionally helping herself to some food. She lost track of Kenshin, Kaoru, Misao, Aoshi, Sano, and Kat as she interacted with Kat's family and friends.

            "Everyone into the living room!" Gerald Antonio, Kat's father announced many minutes later.

            "What's going on?" Megumi asked in general as she joined the group into the room that Aoshi had set the karaoke machine in.

            "Karaoke," Sano explained. "In Kat's family, they all put their names in a hat, draw a name, and they basically sing a song that was selected at random by another family member. If the song is a duet, they pause it and pick another name from the hat."

            "Oh..." Megumi skimmed the crowd of thirty plus people, spotting Aoshi leaning against the far side of the wall, his arms crossed over his chest.

            "And the first is..." Gerald pulled out a slip of paper, skimmed it, and waved it around. "Sano! Come on, son, time to sing!"

            Sano grinned at Megumi. "See you later, Fox-lady."

            She shook her head before making her way towards Aoshi. She noticed Kenshin, Kaoru, and Misao sitting in front of him.

            Megumi's eyes widened as a familiar tune filled the room.

            "Well..." Sano cleared his throat. "Um...Interesting...choice. This was at random, right?"

            "Yeah. You can't sing this one?" Gerald asked. "Too low, too high?"

            His future son-in-law shook his head. "No, no...it's fine..." Sanosuke looked at Megumi for a moment before his eyes turned to the monitor. "Okay. Here we go." Then he began to sing K-Ci and Jojo's 'All My Life' in his baritone voice.

            Everyone applauded after Sanosuke finished. Aunt Gloria was next, singing a hip 70's tune, Kenshin and Kaoru miraculously had the duet from Disney's Aladdin, Misao sang a nursery rhyme, Kat also had a Disney song. Megumi, much to her own dismay, had been added into the name pile by Kat herself. Nearly everyone had sung a song, except Aoshi. It was uncertain how he had avoided being selected, but it wouldn't have made a difference...he wouldn't have sung despite the pressure.

            He really, really didn't want to be at his current location. Aoshi drank his soda for several moments before glancing at Himura. The other man looked as uncomfortable as he felt.

            Sagara and several of his friends and future family members were gathered at a crescent-shaped sofa around a sturdy wooden table. For the most part, Aoshi remained aloof as usual, regarding the activity impassively. Himura, however, nearly turned red any time a female moved in a suggestive manner.

            Kaoru hadn't known that Sagara's bachelor party was that night - she had assumed it already happened. She had been furious. But Megumi had reassured her, saying that whatever was going to happen, the female dancers were just tissue. She had made it sound so...clinical. Considering how many physicals Megumi had conducted, it made sense she saw it that way.

            One of Sagara's groomsmen had rented a hotel suite that night just for the bachelor party. Two women were dressed in scantily clad costumes - a maid and a policewoman. The maid - Lexi - was wearing a white, lowcut blouse and short black frilly skirt. White thigh high stockings covered long legs, her feet cased in high heels. Her blonde hair was pulled up and away from her face. The policewoman - Brandi - was wearing a blue blouse and black leather skirt with matching boots. By the door were two hefty men, bodyguards, Aoshi presumed, who would ensure the dancers' safety.

            They had brought their own boombox with them, and presumed to dance for the male spectators.

            Aoshi settled back, trying to keep the bored expression off his face. He didn't want to give any indication that he was ungrateful for the free dinner and drinks.

            "Shinomori doesn't look like he's enjoying himself," a man spoke up. He was one of Sagara's friends from work.

            Aoshi sat up, as Kenshin spoke, "We're still adjusting to the time zone..."

            "But it's six hours ahead here," Bret, the man who spoke earlier, commented.

            "Exactly," Kenshin responded. "Back on Hawaii, we're still in work mode."

            What a pathetic statement. And Aoshi indicated it to his friend by a look. The man merely shrugged, smiling sheepishly.

            The ladies were currently tying up someone to a chair.

            "I saw your girlfriend when we came by the house to pick you guys up," Bret continued while Aoshi remained quiet. "You've got yourself a fine-looking woman. If I had someone like that to tap every ni-"

            "Hey, Bret," Sano cut in. "That's enough."

            "Oh yeah!" the man exclaimed before drinking his...Aoshi assumed...sixth beer of the evening. "Didn't you used to hit that, too? I remember you told me that she was a FREAK. She was into-"

            "Bret, knock it off," Sano ordered, but Aoshi could see that he lost a little color in his face.

            "Hey, it's not like he doesn't know," Bret pointed at Aoshi before he got up to move around. "He's probably used to that-" The man tripped over the leg of a chair and fell to the floor, out cold.

            "What's going on?!" Lexi demanded.

            Aoshi and Sanosuke checked the man to see if he was all right while the bodyguards looked on suspiciously.

            "He's just unconscious," Aoshi stated.

            "It's all right...Sorry...he probably had too much to drink," Kenshin explained feebly.

            "I'm taking him to the other room," Aoshi declared. "He'll be less interfering there..."

            "I'll go with you..." Sano offered.

            Once the two men had the drunken guest settled in one of the bedrooms, Sano cleared his throat.

            "Listen...about what he said..."

            "How you and Megumi interacted is not my business," Aoshi responded.

            "It is because Megumi's your girlfriend," Sanosuke continued. "Bret's been around since I got here...When I got over the breakup, it was a lot easier to talk about her good points..."

            "There's a lot more to her than that."

            "I know," Sanosuke shot back. "I didn't stay with her those four months just for that! She's one of the most dedicated people I've ever met," Sanosuke declared vehemently. "Anyone who's her friend is damn lucky to have her."

            Aoshi lifted a brow before narrowing his eyes slightly.

            After a few moments under his scrutiny, Sanosuke turned away. "I'd better get back...I don't think Kenshin could calm them down by himself if they get out of control..."

            "Whoever answers the most correctly wins three prizes of their choice. Question number one...Where was Sanosuke born?" 

            Megumi, Kaoru, Misao had gathered at the maid of honor's house for the bridal party she was throwing for Kat. The party had mostly been full of fun games where prizes could be won, fingerfood snacks and champagne drinking. The current game involved trivia concerning Sano.

            Julia, the maid of honor, shot a smile to the females watching. Several females who sat in a circle of the living room, Megumi included, were giving their unexpressed request to play.

            "Pass."

            "Pass."

            "Pass."

            "Kat?" Julia prompted, glancing at her index card before holding it against her so no one could see the answers.

            "Kona, Hawaii."

            "Pass."

            "Kona, Hawaii," Megumi answered before sipping her drink.

            Julia glanced at her card before making a note in pencil. "The correct answer is Kona, Hawaii. Sanosuke was born on Kona."

            "That's easy," Kat grinned.

            "Question two...What is Sanosuke's favorite drink?" Julia asked.

            "Um...Long Island?"

            "Margarita?"

            "Sex on the Beach?"

            "Sake," Kat said, smiling.

            "Pass."

            "Sake," Megumi answered.

            "And sake is the correct answer!" Julia made a note on her card. "Next question...Sanosuke's favorite song."

            "Get It On Tonight by Montel Jordan," Megumi automatically announced. "The remix version with LL Cool J."

            Kat's eyes shifted to the woman.

            Julia pursed her lips and teased, "You know...I don't think it's fair Megumi participate...she's known Sanosuke the longest..."

            "That's not true," Kaoru jumped in. "I've known him the longest."

            "But not like that," Julia argued.

            Megumi shrugged, smiling. "It's okay with me..." She rose to her feet. "Excuse me…I need to refill my cup…"

                Kaoru and Misao followed her lead.

            Once in the kitchen, Megumi placed ice in her cup before pouring soda in it.

            "This is pretty fun," Kaoru commented. "It's a girl gossip session."

            Megumi smiled, taking a sip. Then her features turned to a frown when she heard the soft voices of the guests in the living room.

            "Can you believe her? Kat, why is she here?"

                "At the wedding? Sanosuke invited her," Kat answered.

            "And you told him it was okay?" another female chimed in. "She's Sano's ex-girlfriend. Hello? Who invites his ex-girlfriend to the wedding?"

                "Well…considering he invited her boyfriend and his daughter…it didn't seem that strange to-"

                "Well, it's pretty obvious why they never lasted," another voice went on as if ignoring her. "She's not the type who can settle down. Look at her."

                "That's not fair," Kat jumped in. "You don't even know her."

                "Like you do?" the voice responded. "Let's face it, Kat, women like her don't last very long in relationships."

                "But you don't know her," Kat interjected. "We've talked on the phone many times…"

                "Am I hearing what I think I'm hearing?" Misao whispered.

            Kaoru shook her head, her eyes narrowing. The subject went back to the game.

            "Megs, they're talking about you behind their back," Misao hissed. "You're not going to let them get away with that, are you?"

                Megumi lifted a shoulder. "Let them talk all they want."

            "I hope you boys were well-behaved," Kat joked, poking her fiancé in the chest once he, Kenshin, and Aoshi came home.

            "We were," Sano reassured blandly. "Everyone else is at the hotel, asleep."

            Her smile faded. "What's wrong, honey?"

            "Nothing." Sano gave her a brief smile. "Just tired, I guess. Where's everyone else?"

            "Kaoru and Misao are watching some TV. Megumi's around somewhere," Kat stated.

            Sanosuke nodded and moved to the kitchen to get himself a drink. Something...rather...someone...sitting on the backyard patio swing caught his attention. He prepared some tea in the kitchen before throwing on his thick jacket, two mugs in hand, heading outside.

            "Here..." he held out a mug of Chamomile tea.

            Megumi accepted it, smiling briefly. "Thanks..."

            "You're welcome." He gestured to the swing. "Mind if I sit here?"

            "Help yourself," Megumi scooted over to make room for him.

            "Thanks." Sano settled beside her, sipping his tea thoughtfully.

            Megumi studied the sky, thousands of stars blinking in the inky blackness above, while she took an occasional sip of her tea.

            "Can I ask you something?" Sanosuke suddenly broke the silence.

            Her brows drew together slightly. "Sure..."

            "When...When we were together," he began, "did you ever feel that it was wrong?"

            She blinked and thought for a moment. "It was wrong?" she echoed.

            "That we never should have gotten together...that I wasn't treating you right...that-"

            "No," she cut in. Taking a breath, she continued to think for several moments. "We disagreed on a lot of things...but I never regretted being with you." She studied him for several moments. "What brought that question on?"

            He grimaced. "I...wasn't a very good boyfriend, and-"

            "Well, if it makes you feel any better, I wasn't a very good girlfriend."

            He shook his head. "I guess we both needed to work on ourselves before we had gotten involved with anyone."

            "Not necessarily before. Even after you left, I didn't want to get involved with anyone. At least, seriously," she admitted.

            "You found Shinomori," Sano reminded.

            Megumi smiled wryly. "He found me, actually. And that was long after you."

            "How'd he convince you?"

            She lifted one shoulder. "We talked, and I realized it was better to try and see how things would go than to overanalyze the possible negatives that could come out of being with him."

            He was silent for a moment before saying softly, "I didn't think you'd come to my wedding."

            Her eyes rounded. "Why?"

            "Given our history, I thought it'd seem weird to you." He cleared his throat.

            "I can't believe you thought that," Megumi shook her head.

            "Being around you's never been weird, now that I think about it," Sano commented. "Even when we first got to know each other...we were always fighting...and we never took it seriously. People in public thought we did it for fun."

            Megumi laughed. "You're just a natural fighter."

            "And you just like to argue," he responded, smiling.

            Silence.

            "Karaoke today was...interesting," Sano commented lightly.

            "I can't believe you ended up singing our song..."

            He grinned. "It's a cool song. Brings back a lot of memories..."

            She studied him for a few moments. "You were never sentimental, Sano. It's...different..."

            "People grow up, fox-lady," he responded. "They start to see value in what they have and had..."

            Inside the house, Kat sighed as she turned away from the window, closing her eyes. When Sanosuke went to Hawaii a year ago, he told her that he had plans to meet with his ex-girlfriend...that he had some issues to settle before they could settle down. Sanosuke had needed reassurance that he was right for her...that they'd be happy together...Given his personal history...not just his relationship history but his family history, he didn't think he could be the man he needed to be for her. So she supported his decision and encouraged him to visit the place where he grew up and the people he knew.

            When he had returned, he seemed so much happier. More focused. Over the course of the past twelve months, he'd keep in touch with Megumi...and eventually Kat got to know her over the phone. Megumi was a vibrant person. It was easy to see why Sanosuke had given up his dating ways for her. But what would have happened if Sanosuke never left Hawaii, if Megumi's father hadn't intervened?

            Kat's eyes opened to meet the calm expression of Aoshi, who stood just several feet in front of her, his arms crossed. She took a quick breath. "I...I didn't know you were standing there..."

            He glanced out the window. "I can see that."

            Kat looked away, saying honestly, "I know that it shouldn't bother me...but...sometimes..." she sighed. "I...I don't know what to think..." It was obvious that Sano thought very highly of Megumi. But how high did that opinion go? "Doesn't it bother you? Seeing her...with him...knowing...?"

            Aoshi stared out the window, his eyes taking a faraway look. Kat looked outside to see Sanosuke and Megumi talking in low tones.

            "All day today...I felt as if he was somewhere else," Kat whispered. "At the rehearsal...he didn't seem as if he was into practicing...then at the party with my family...I never had a chance to be with him. He was always talking with someone or doing something else..." Pausing, she glanced out the window. She swallowed, seeing the light in Sanosuke's eyes. "You know...he...he's never...looked at me that way..."

            After brushing her hair, Kaoru slipped into bed, frowning in thought. A glance at Kenshin told her that he was occupied with his book, an item he picked up prior to the long flight to Norfolk.

            "Kenshin?"

            He looked at her, closing his book after marking the page. "Yes?"

            "Is it just me...or does Sano seem a little...I don't know...not himself?" Kaoru asked.

            "Meaning?"

            "He doesn't seem like himself. He seems so distracted. When all of his energy should be going to the wedding, he seems...lost...or something..."

            "He does seem that way..." Kenshin agreed. "Perhaps he's nervous."

            "I'm surprised no one has said anything," Kaoru mused. "Nobody wants an anxious groom..."

            "He must have a lot to think about," Kenshin stated.

            "Hmm? Like what?"

            "I'm not sure," Kenshin responded with that gentle smile. "Only Sano can tell us what's on his mind and why he seems so far away."

            Kaoru gasped. "You think he's getting cold feet?"

            At that, her husband shrugged and smile again. "Kat's a nice woman. They'll be very happy."

            She settled against his shoulder, studying the ceiling. "Today...Sano's first karaoke song was his and Megumi's old song. I remember because she used to play it all the time. Don't you think that's weird?"

            Kenshin looked at her. "You think Sano is reconsidering his relationship?"

            "They're different people now," Kaoru murmured. "More grown up...and Sano's done something with his life...he just isn't in the Navy for a paycheck anymore..."

            "I think because they've grown up they've learned from their relationship...and used that knowledge to succeed in the ones they have now," Kenshin commented.

            Then she smiled at him. "You're right..."

            "You've been staring out the window for almost an hour." Misao glanced up from her handheld system from her position on the bed. She was lying on her stomach, her feet kicking up occasionally as she played the game. She wore flannel pajamas with cartoon weasels dressed in different animal costumes.

            Aoshi sat at the windowsill, staring out into the backyard. He had worn a long-sleeved white T-shirt and black sweatpants. His fold out bed was on the floor, blanket and pillow nicely arranged, waiting for usage.

            "I didn't notice the time," he responded.

            Misao frowned. "You okay? If anyone cares about time...it's you."

            He turned around, nodding his head once.

            She turned her system off and placed it on the nightstand so she could crawl into bed.

            "Hey."

            "Yes?"

            "Are you and Megs okay?"

            Aoshi's eyes rounded slightly. "Yes. Why?"

            "Well, I read in this magazine that weddings make women super emotional. Just want to make sure nothing weird is going on."

            "She seems to be her usual self," he said slowly, absently arranging the comforter around her chin.

            Misao smiled at his gesture. "You going to stay awake a little longer?"

            He nodded. "I'll probably go downstairs for a while."

            "Okay. G'night."

            After a moment's hesitation, he leaned down, dropping a kiss on her forehead. "Good night, Misao."

            Her smile widened before her eyes closed and she snuggled beneath the covers. Aoshi exited the room and headed downstairs to Megumi's room. Over an hour ago, Kat had interrupted Megumi and Sano's chat, saying her goodbyes until tomorrow. Aoshi had gotten ready for bed after she left. As for what Megumi had done, who knew.

            Sanosuke was in front of her room, his hand reaching inside to switch the light off before closing the door quietly.

            He turned and stopped. "Aoshi...I...I saw Megumi's light on...she forgot to turn the light off..."

            Aoshi said nothing and moved to the kitchen to fix himself tea. So much for quality time…

A/N: And the tension mounts! Sano's talking a walk down memory lane...Kat's feeling insignificant...Megumi's oblivious...and what does Aoshi think? With the wedding a day and a half away, anything can happen.

Oh yeah, and I am working on drawing the characters. I have Misao, Kenshin, and Kaoru done...if anyone wants to see them, I might have them ready for the next chapter.