A/N: This chapter could be rated R due to Sano's language. Had to repost and fix something.

Part 3: Doubts

Day 3: Saturday (and parts of Sunday)

            "Everyone still asleep?" Megumi asked in the kitchen the next morning.

            Sanosuke was separating sausage links while keeping an eye on the omelet he had on the frying pan. "Yeah..."

            Megumi was dressed in a long sleeved shirt with bell sleeves. The back formed a low V, stopping halfway down the slope of her back. Blue jeans cased long legs while her black hair was pinned up and away from her face.

            "Was Jo-chan still pissed off about the bachelor party?"

            "She recovered," Megumi assured him. "Besides...it's your bachelor party. What kind of wife would she be if she forbade her husband for spending time with his best friend before his wedding?"

            "Thanks for talking to her."

            "No problem," Megumi replied, stifling a yawn. "I was so tired last night, I fell asleep with the light on."

            "I know. I ended up turning it off. I know I'm letting you stay in my home, but gimme a break here..." He grinned to let her know he was teasing.

            "Conserve energy..." Megumi nodded, glancing out the window. "Goodness...that snow has fallen fast..."

            "Yeah...there's supposed to be a storm coming. I had to shovel the driveway and walkway this morning." He moved to the stove. "Hey, take care of the meat, I gotta flip this omelet..."

            Megumi assisted him as he requested.

            "I still can't get over the fact that you can cook," she declared.

            He grinned mischievously. "You remember what happened a month after we started dating? When I had supposedly been taking cooking lessons?"

            Pausing for a moment, her eyes widened and she shook her head. "You're so bad, Sano..."

            "You actually believed I learned how to cook just for our anniversary," Sano shook his head. "Who knew doctors were so gullible?"

            "That's not fair," she chided.

            "You even thought I made the cococut macadamia cake myself."

            Megumi smacked his shoulder. "Only because you distracted me!"

            He grinned. "And I don't remember you complaining. Dessert on you naked. Those were the days..."

            She gasped. "I can't believe I'm hearing this the day before your wedding..."

            After setting the omelet on a plate, he stirred the cup of eggs one more time before pouring them into the pan. "I can't eat coconut macadamia cake without thinking about that. Every time I see it, hear about it, I try not to bust out laughing."

            She smiled coyly. "I know the recipe...let's just hope I'm not feeling in a baking mood otherwise we'll have a lot of explaining to do..."

            He laughed. "It's good to see that you haven't changed too much over the years."

            "Honey, is..." Kat walked into the kitchen, stopping short.

            A brief silence filled the room, as if she entered at an inappropriate moment.

            "Good morning, Kat," Megumi greeted.

            "Hi. Where is everyone? Are they still sleeping?" Kat asked before giving her fiance a kiss on the cheek.

            Megumi answered, "Sano's been here most of the morning…and…as far as I know, everyone else is still asleep."

            Kat nodded. "Okay. Sano, you know you're supposed to pick up the money well today. She said she's expecting you at eleven."

            "Okay."

            "Eleven a.m. sharp." Kat added. "And after that, you need to pick up the tuxedos."

            "I know," he responded automatically.

            "Don't forget to make sure that the ties are all the same color and that the shoes are in each garment bag," she reminded.

            "I know," he repeated.

            "This is important," Kat insisted. "So don't 'I know' me! I'm stressing out-"

            "Will you relax?" Sano interrupted. "I'll do exactly what you tell me to do, so you don't have to worry."

            Megumi raised her hand. "Do you want me to leave you two-"

            "Yes," Kat replied the same time Sano said, "No."

            Kat stared at her fiancé. "No offense, Megumi, but it's best-"

            "Why should she have to leave?" Sano cut in.

            Megumi shook her head. "This is really a matter between you-"

            "She's just telling you to leave the room so she doesn't feel stupid," Sano explained.

            "I'm just trying to make everything perfect for our wedding," Kat responded.

            "There's nothing wrong with that," Sano replied. "But you don't have to get upset when there's nothing to get upset about. No one told you that you had to be the wedding planner..."

            Megumi stayed silent. Sano had forgotten about breakfast and Kat was pacing.

            "Ever since I was a little girl, I've known exactly what I wanted at my wedding...music...flowers...clothes...and I just want everything to be perfect," Kat pointed out.

            "I know," Sanosuke stressed. "We could have done this in Vegas and had a reception at McDonald's if you wanted-"

            She gasped. "That's so...tacky! McDonald's?! Why-?"

            Megumi covered her forehead, shaking her head slightly.

            "I'm just saying," Sanosuke said slowly. "That I'm willing to go along with what you wanted."

            "All right. Fine," Kat blew out a breath, stopping her pacing. "I also wanted to do something special for our first dance."

            "Like what?"

            It sounded as if Sanosuke was keeping a tight rein on his temper.

            "I don't know. Megumi and Aoshi know how to dance, right? Maybe they can teach us a short version of the waltz or something..." Kat waved her hand.

            "If it's all right with Aoshi…" Megumi said softly.

            "No way," Sanosuke declared.

            Megumi glanced at him. "No?"

            He shook his head.

            "Why not?" Kat asked.

            "Because I hate ballroom dancing."

            "I thought you said that you'd go along with what I wanted."

            "Sure, fine," he shrugged. "It's your wedding."

            "What's that supposed to mean?"

            "Like you said...you've been planning this since you were little," Sanosuke echoed.

            "Don't throw my words back at me," Kat commanded, walking to the fridge where she had a calendar of events and an itinerary for the wedding. "So you'll pick up the well and tuxedos at eleven and eleven-thirty...twelve we'll ask Megumi and Aoshi if they could teach us a dance and have lunch...so then at two-thirty I'll pick up my dress...Got that?"

            "I got it," Sano snapped.

            "Why are you acting like this?" Kat demanded.   

            "Like what?"

            "Don't play dumb-"

            "Shit," Sano muttered. "This is pointless. Can we just-"

            "You know what? I'm going into the living room and make a few phone calls to my relatives..." Kat interrupted.

            "Yeah, you do that," Sano shot back.

            Kat stomped outside the kitchen, nearly running into Aoshi. But not before hearing…

            "What is wrong with you?"

            "Me?" Sano blew out a breath. "Since when did you take her side?"

            "I'm not taking anyone's side," Megumi responded. "You both should be doing this together. Now is not the time to be arguing over petty issues."

            "She's the one who's giving me a hard time," he argued. "Did you see how she told you to get out of this room? You're my guest. You don't see me telling off her friends…"

            "She wasn't telling me off," Megumi reasoned.

            "Yes, she was. Nobody talks to my friends like that…not even my fiancée."

            "Sano, calm down," Megumi interjected. "Breathe…you're getting as angry as she is…an angry bride and groom is the last thing everyone needs right now…"

            "Did you see the way she spoke to me? Like I was beneath her. Shit. I had enough of that back in Hawaii…"

            She blinked. "It didn't sound that way to me. And I'm sorry if I ever-"

            "It wasn't you, fox-lady…it was your old man."

            Kat moved away, not missing the curiosity in Aoshi's eyes.

            "I...I don't know what to say," Megumi said.

            "You don't have to say anything," Sano shrugged. "I'm just telling it like it is."

            Pause. "I think I'll see if anyone else is awake." Megumi exited the kitchen, looking up to see Aoshi. She smiled wryly and said in a soft tone, "I nearly got caught in the middle of something I shouldn't have been in the first place..."

            Her significant other arched a brow. "It sounded as if you were going to get caught in the middle, regardless."

            Sanosuke and Kat hardly spoke to each other all morning. If anyone noticed, no one said anything. So at ten forty-five, Sanosuke left the house with Kenshin and Aoshi to pick up the items.

            "Women..." Sanosuke grumbled as he eased his truck through the streets.

            "If you don't mind me asking, Sano..." Kenshin trailed off. "What happened?"

            "Kat wants the wedding to go perfectly, so she's acting like she's the queen and everyone should follow her command," Sano replied.

            "I'm sure she's just stressed out," Kenshin added.

            "But there's nothing to be stressed about," Sano continued. "Assuming that everything's been done by the people who were paid to do what they do, why would anything go wrong?"

            "Perhaps you should have assisted her plan all of it," Aoshi spoke up suddenly.

            Sano glanced at him through his rearview mirror. "Even if I did help, she'd just yell at me for making it worse..." He caught the lift of brows coming from the backseat.

            Aoshi then glanced out the window for a moment before seeing the expression on Kenshin's face. It was one Sano and Aoshi knew well...the 'I don't want to get involved but I'll listen' expression.

            "We're fighting over something stupid…" Sano said suddenly.

            "You both seem to be getting upset over such a small thing," Aoshi agreed.

            "Wait...you were listening?" Sano gaped.

            "It wasn't that hard to hear," Aoshi pointed out. "Particularly when one is awake and wandering around the house."

            Sanosuke shook his head. "You haven't planned a wedding yet. Why don't you get married and tell me if your woman starts to stress out."

            "Aoshi...Sano..." Kenshin interjected. "Maybe we should just be focusing on what's happening now, all right?"

            "Right. Sorry," Sano took a right turn on the street.

            Aoshi grunted in response.

            "Oh yeah, thanks for volunteering to help me pick up the stuff today," Sano added. "It's gonna be a busy day..."

            "He's got to be the most frustrating man alive," Kat declared as she braked hard at an intersection, causing Megumi to lurch forward.

            The doctor braced herself against the dashboard. After breakfast, Sano had left with the men. Sano and Kat's dance lesson was cancelled, so Sano offered to take Aoshi and Kenshin to lunch in addition to picking up needed items. Kat asked Megumi to go with her to pick up her dress, and she wanted to talk to her alone, which left Misao and Kaoru at the house. Megumi jokingly told Kaoru to let Misao do the cooking. Interestingly enough, Kaoru and Misao seemed to have no trouble with the fact that Kat wanted to take just Megumi out. As if they understood.

            Deep down, Megumi understood also.

            "You said you needed shoes, right?" Kat asked.

            Megumi nodded, bracing herself again.

            "Okay. I guess we can do that, go to lunch, then grab my dress."

            Two hours later, after Megumi had selected a pair of strappy heeled sandals to go with her dress, she and Kat were sitting in a restaurant of the mall she had just shopped in.

            Megumi took a bite of her Oriental chicken salad, waiting for the younger woman to speak. They had engaged in small talk for the most part, but it seemed as if Kat was avoiding the subject she wanted to discuss.

            "When…you and Sano broke up…was it because he left…or because it was really over?" Kat asked suddenly.

            Megumi paused, finishing her bite of food before saying, "I think it was for both reasons…"

            "You weren't happy with him?"

            Megumi frowned. "I was." Pause. "Do you mind if I ask why we're talking about an old relationship?"

            "I'm just wondering what he was like…I mean, he told me that he dated around…a lot…before he ever got serious about anyone. And you were the first person he was serious about."

            "I don't understand what you're saying..."

            "Sano's always thought highly about you…After he proposed, he told me that he needed to see you again because he needed to prove to himself that he could take care of me. One of the issues between you two was that he never felt good enough for you…And I guess…each relationship is different…I mean, your relationship with Aoshi is different than yours and Sano's."

            "Well, that's because Aoshi himself is different," Megumi said slowly.

            "How so?"

            "He isn't like other men at all," Megumi said after a moment. "He's…complicated."

            "Sano's complicated," Kat chimed in. "You know, he always complained that I spent too much time with my family? That always drove me crazy."

            "I suppose it depends on what you can consider complicated." Megumi paused in thought. "Since Sano grew up in an orphanage, he never really understood the importance of family ties. I lived a large portion of my life following my father's dream for me…and that caused a rift in our relationship. But what Sano didn't understand was that it wasn't completely my want to please my father…if that had been the only case, I wouldn't have made it as a doctor. I wanted to be a doctor for me. He grew up pretty lonely, so any attachments he sees are difficult for him to accept."

            Silence.

            "Did you love him?" Kat asked suddenly.

            Startled, Megumi stared at her for several moments before saying thoughtfully. "I think there are different levels of love. Each person we meet…we love him differently than the person before him…So…to answer your question…Yes, I did." She propped her chin against her left fist. "Back then…we were two lonely people who just wanted to be accepted wholeheartedly for who we were."

            "And you found that with him," Kat prompted, studying her carefully.

            "It seemed that way back then," Megumi shrugged nonchalantly. "But I had to come to terms with who I was and who I wanted to be…and I did, eventually. But…"

            Leaning forward slightly, the younger woman's eyes widened. "But?"

            Snippets of her conversation with Sano for the past two days filtered into Megumi's mind. Megumi met Kat's gaze before saying carefully, "I don't think Sano ever came to terms with who he is."

            Kat bit her lip, her voice barely above a whisper, "Meaning?"

            Megumi pushed her long bangs out of her eyes and stared at some point in the mall. "Sano has always lived his life without any real goal. He's wondered if he did something this way, what would happen…or what if he did it a different way. He's been looking for something…I don't think he knows what it is…to make him…something else. It could be anything. But because he's never had any roots…there will always be something." Megumi smiled wryly. "It's quite a dynamic quality to have."

            Nodding slowly, Kat agreed, "Yes, it is…" 

            During the ride back to the house, Kat seemed quiet. Her mother called shortly after their conversation, apparently wanting to pick up the dress as well and have some quality mother-daughter time. Kat decided to give Megumi a ride back to the house. When Kat pulled up in front of the house, Sano was closing the trunk of his truck.

            "Thanks, Kat," Megumi said as she climbed out. "Have fun with your mom."

            "Thanks…"

            Sano waved at Kat, who apparently received a phone call, was holding the phone to her ear.

            "Hey, fox-lady," Sano greeted with his playful grin.

            "Hi, Sano," Megumi adjusted her bag of shoes in her hand.

            Her host blinked as Kat sped away. "What? No 'Hi, Bye'?"

            Megumi patted his shoulder. "It's a busy day tomorrow. She's got a lot on her mind…"

            It was after dinnertime when Kat entered the house, her eyes troubled, her hands shaking slightly as she closed the door. Aoshi looked up from his reading as Misao, from her position on the couch with her handheld game system, shot him a look of alarm.

            "Where's Sano?" Kat asked.

            "I think he's showering," Misao informed, studying her carefully. "Are…Are you okay?"

            Kenshin immediately turned off the television, turning to face her as his wife looked away from the screen.

            "Um…I have something I need to get out," Kat said.

            "You look worried about something," Megumi observed aloud, leaning forward from her position on the couch next to Aoshi.

            "Hey, I thought I heard…" Sano entered, running a towel through his hair. He stopped short, seeing his fiancée in the living room. "Hey, babe. What are you doing-?"

            "I'll make this short," Kat cut in. She took a breath. "You always say that I'm always hiding…never letting those close to you…or us…know what's going on…"

            Sano frowned. "You're not making any sense…"

            Kat wrung her hands nervously…which brought attention to her empty left ring finger. Sano immediately snatched it up, staring at her blank hand.

            "Where the hell is the ring?!" Sano demanded.

            Kat's face crumpled slightly.

            "Sanosuke…" Kaoru interrupted gently.

            Sano took several deep breaths. "You lost it. Okay…that's…that's okay…"

            Kat brought her right hand up and opened it, palm up, revealing the ring. "No…it's here."

            Something flickered in Sano's eyes.

            "I'm…I'm giving it back to you," she whispered.

            At that, Kenshin pushed against Kaoru's back and Aoshi grasped Misao and Megumi's hands, both men ushering them out of the room.

            Sano's eyes narrowed slightly.

            "First of all…" Kat cleared her throat. "I've had some time to think…and…I don't think we should get married…"

            "And why is that?" Sano said quietly.

            "Because I don't think you really want to marry me," Kat whispered. Pushing her hair aside, she then added in a stronger voice, "I…I don't really know where you've been the past few days, Sano…but I know that you haven't been with me."

            "You've been busy," Sano reasoned, trying to keep his voice under control.

            "Ever since Megumi came…I started noticing…" Kat swallowed. "She knows you so well, Sano…" Kat's eyes filled with tears. "No woman should be able to do that…but me…"

            Sano blinked. "I…I don't understand-"

            "I can't compete with that…I shouldn't have to," Kat argued. "How can I be your wife knowing that someone else will understand you just as well if not better than me?"

            "What?!" Sano's voice lifted. "Is this what it's about?"

            Kat sniffed. "And if she knows you like that…chances are…there are several feelings you need to resolve between you two." She sniffed again. "I can't be with you, Sano…I'm…I'm sorry…"

            "This is crazy," Sano declared, grasping her shoulders. "I love you…she and I were over a long time ago…"

            "Don't you get it?" Kat pleaded. "Megumi's a wonderful person. But…after seeing you this weekend…with her around…I can't do this."

            "But she and I are done. There's nothing going on anymore," Sano insisted. "How-?"

            "I know it's stupid, but…but I can't accept the fact that another woman knows you better than I do. I'm supposed to be the only one-"

            "What about your family?" Sano pressed. "They came here to see you and you're just gonna-"

            "All of them already know," Kat whispered.

            That stopped Sano.

            "What?"

            "I told all my relatives that I'm canceling the wedding," she said softly.

            That did it. That absolutely did it. He dropped his hands.

            "Hell, Kat, why didn't you just say so?!" Sano demanded, propping his hands on his hips. "Just tell your entire damn family before even telling me!"

            Kat took a breath. "I thought it'd be convenient for them-"

            "Shit! Convenient, my ass! What about me?! I'm the one who you're supposed to be marrying! Why the fuck am I the last to know that you're canceling our wedding?!"

            "I didn't want to upset them, so I thought if I-"

            "You didn't want to upset them?!" he echoed angrily. "What about me?!" Then he added in sarcasm, "Sure, forget about the groom…who's also a huge part of this…" He kicked the ottoman in the living room, burying his hands in his pockets. "Dammit, I've put up with so much crap…then when I see you pulling this…Shit!!!"

            Megumi and Kaoru looked at each other sheepishly from their positions at the dining room table. In spite of the wall that separated them from the couple, they knew exactly what was going on once Sano's voice rose several octaves. Kaoru bit her lip and rose to her feet. Kenshin placed a hand on top of hers to stop her movement.

            "Sano-" Kat began.

            "I don't want to hear it!" he roared. "You've always put your family first…why can't you be fucking honest, Kat? Why give me that bullshit about Megumi and just say you're not ready to get married?"

            "Because she DOES understand you better!" Kat argued vehemently. "I've seen the way you talk to each other…I've heard what she says about you…and I will not compete with that! I can't accept the fact that there's someone else! Why aren't you listening?!"

            "That's pretty stupid coming from someone who'll drop a date with me to go shopping for shoes with her mother!"

           "You know what…fine…forget this! I'm not going to stay here any longer …" Kat tossed the ring at his feet, stomped to the door, slamming it after her.

            Sano threw the door open and shouted, "Go crawling back to your family…see if THEY keep you warm at night!"  

            "I can't believe this…I never expected…" Kaoru stopped her pacing to sit next to her husband, leaning against his shoulder.

            "It is a shock," Kenshin agreed, grasping her hand.

            "Kat cancelled?" Kaoru asked, as if trying to realize the situation. Sano had locked himself in his room for the past ten minutes.

            They had all heard the argument. It hadn't been difficult to avoid. Tensions flaring, insults hurled around…

            "What happens now?" Misao asked timidly.

            Kenshin and Kaoru glanced at Aoshi. Megumi reached across the table, her fingertips brushing against his hand. He turned his hand over, capturing her slender fingers in his.

            "We go home," Aoshi stated quietly. "There's no need to impose on Sagara's generosity now that the wedding is cancelled…"

            Silence.

            "I can understand if you wish to go home, Aoshi…" Kenshin said slowly. "But Kaoru and I are going to stay as we originally planned."

            "That's understandable," Aoshi nodded. "Misao and myself…we'd just be in the way…"

            "I'm staying, too," Megumi chimed in.

            At that, Aoshi stiffened. He then said, "Would you three excuse us?"

            Immediately, Kenshin, Kaoru, and Misao rose to their feet and left, Misao glancing over her shoulder before exiting.

            "You're serious about staying?" Aoshi inquired, sitting back and releasing her hand.

            Megumi nodded. "Yes."

            He sighed. "I'm going to Hawaii tomorrow…and I'd like you to come with me."           

            "I…I can't…"

            His eyes darkened. "Why?"

            "Sanosuke…he needs his friends right now…and after everything that's happened…I can't just leave," Megumi said quietly.

            "So you wish to stay in Virginia because of him," he said coolly, rising to his feet.

            Catching a breath, her eyes immediately shot to his form. "Aoshi…I want you to understand-"

            "I understand, all right," he replied. "This wedding was never going to happen as long as you and Sagara remained close."

            Megumi paled. "What are you talking about?"

            "I also understand where I place on your list of priorities."

            "You're asking me to choose between you two?" she exclaimed incredulously.

            "It seems as if you've already made your choice," Aoshi said, unable to keep the bitterness from his voice.

            "Since when?" Megumi demanded. "Choosing between the man in my life and my friend is not-"

            "A friend who you were once personally involved with," he added.

            "That has nothing to-"

            "It has everything to do with it," he argued. "Because he's your former lover it makes it even more complicated."

            "Why does it have to come to that?" Megumi replied.

            "Because it always will," he replied. He cleared his throat. "I'm leaving tomorrow. With…or without you."

            "Aoshi…" she swallowed. "What…What are you saying?" The finality in his silence was a direct hit, as all the color drained from her face. "That…That's it? It…It's over?"

            He turned away.

            That was answer enough. Megumi took a deep breath, got up and turned on her heel to leave the room, running right into Sanosuke.

            "Whoa, hey!" he exclaimed, grasping her arm. His eyes widened, seeing her shake. "Fox-lady? What's wrong?"

            "Can I…Can I borrow your car for a bit…I…I just need to get out…" she whispered.

            His eyes widened. "Yeah…sure…" He dropped the keys in her hand after retrieving them from the key holder mounted on the wall. "Just be careful…"

            "I will. Thanks."

            And she was gone. Sano walked into the dining room, seeing Aoshi stare out the window. Sano's fists clenched tightly.

            "What did you say to her?" he demanded.

            Aoshi frowned. "Excuse me?"

            "Megumi…what did you say to her?"

            "What goes on between Megumi and myself is our business," Aoshi responded.

            "It's my business if you upset her," Sano retorted. "If you've hurt her-"

            "Don't you think you've done enough already?" Aoshi cut in.

            Sano's eyes widened.

            Sighing, and remembering his manners, Aoshi moved away from the window. "I'm leaving for Hawaii tomorrow. Thank you…for letting Misao and I stay here. Megumi…is staying…like your other two friends."

            "What? Why?"

            "Because of you."

            "What?" he blinked.

            "Megumi wishes to lend her support. And because of the same reason Katherine cancelled the wedding."

            "But that's crazy," Sano argued. "Megumi's your girlfriend, she should be with you. Did you tell her that?"

            No response.

            Sano gaped at him. "So that's it? You're just going to leave?! Don't you even care what she thinks? How she feels? Do you even care about her?"

            "That's enough."

            "Well, you obviously don't love her enough to-"

            Aoshi's eyes flashed for a moment before he argued, "You don't even know me to say something like that."

            Sano glared at him. "I don't get you. You two had something good. Why the hell would you give up on something like that?"

            A trace of sadness filtered into Aoshi's eyes. Without answering, he left to gather his belongings.

            After waking up the tenth time in a row in the course of the past three hours, Sanosuke gave up and punched his pillow. He yanked it over his head, burying his face beneath the covers.

            He was hurting.

            He couldn't understand why Kat called off the wedding. Why would they go through nearly two years together only to end it this way?

            And how did Megumi fit into all this? Apparently, Kat thought she had a place in it. As far as he was concerned, she didn't. Growling with frustration, he hopped off the bed and headed downstairs.

            Megumi sat alone in the living room, her eyes tearing for what seemed to be the twentieth time since Aoshi and Misao left.

            It was well past midnight. Several hours ago, Aoshi and Misao left the house, Aoshi having reserved a room at a hotel next to the airport. He had made his feelings perfectly clear by leaving. He didn't want to be around her and he didn't want to impose on Sano. Her mind replayed the scene…

            "It doesn't have to be this way," Megumi said softly as Aoshi shrugged into his leather jacket. A taxi was waiting outside as Misao retrieved some final items upstairs. Megumi spoke in quiet tones due to Kenshin and Kaoru's proximity as Sano stood leaning against a wall.

            "You're right…it doesn't," Aoshi agreed. "But you made the choice to stay here."

            He was so calm about it. At least, that's how it would look to an outsider. But she knew he was angry. The cool detachment in his voice, the flexing of his jaw, the frost his gaze…they were all signs of irritation that lingered beneath the surface.

            During the course of their relationship, there had been several times that they had been angry at each other. But it usually didn't take Aoshi very long to calm down and discuss what happened. This would be the first time he didn't want to talk about their problem. 

            "If you're sure about leaving tomorrow, Aoshi…" Kenshin spoke up suddenly. "Then I hope you have a safe trip back home."

            "Thank you."

            "Aoshi…" Megumi hesitantly reached out.

            "Don't," he ordered softly. "You've made your decision. I'm making mine. End of discussion."

            Her eyes flashed. "Why do you have to be so stubborn?" she hissed at a volume only he could hear. "All I wanted was for you to be supportive of my decision to stay here. Not to overanalyze it, not to-"

            He glared at her. "I could say something, but I won't."

            "Say it."

            "This is pointless," he muttered. Then he called out, "Misao! Let's go!"

            "Okay, okay!" Misao hurried down the stairs, large backpack strapped to her shoulders.

            And with that, Aoshi nodded at the others. "Kenshin…Kaoru…I'll see you back in Hawaii. Sagara…thank you for the hospitality."

            "Take care," Kaoru said.

            "Yeah," Sano echoed. "Hope you…liked it here..."

            Perhaps it was Megumi's imagination…but was there tension between Aoshi and Sano?

            Those piercing blue-gray eyes settled on her with dispassion. "Megumi-"

            "We'll talk later," Megumi said through clenched teeth.

            He frowned. "We're done talking," Aoshi said before leaving the house to get in the taxi.

            Megumi looked away, closing her eyes in pain. Misao gave Kenshin and Kaoru goodbye hugs.

            "I'll see you guys back on Hawaii," Misao hugged Kenshin first. He gave her a gentle pat on the back.

            "Take care, Misao. And look after Aoshi…" Kenshin smiled briefly.

            "Bye Misao!" Kaoru gave her a hug when Kenshin was finished. "We'll go for some dessert when we get back!"

            "Okay!" Misao grinned. Then she turned to her host, offering her hand. "Sanosuke…thank you…for everything. I…I'm sorry things didn't turn out…well…you know…"

            He shook her offered hand sincerely. "It's all right. Thanks for coming, anyway."

            Misao moved away from Sano, touching Megumi's shoulder. "I don't understand what's going on…but he's angry, Megs," Misao said softly. "I…I hope you guys can fix it…"

            "Me, too," Megumi responded after opening her eyes.

            Misao said before giving her a hug, "Call me when you're back on the islands…No matter what happens…we're still cool, right?"

            Megumi felt her throat close up, nodding in response. "Right..."

            Why did they have to be this way? She thought of dialing Aoshi's cellular phone, but she knew he'd just hang up on her.

            "You look miserable," Sano's husky voice entered the room.

            Abruptly, Megumi's head lifted and she cleared her throat. "Sano…"

            "Mind if I join you?"

            Shaking her head, she gestured to the couch around her. He settled down next to her.

            "Some weekend, huh?" A bitter smile crossed his lips.

            Megumi forced a smile. "Two dumpings in a day. Oh yeah."

            He studied her for a few moments. "You doing okay?" he asked gently.

            She nodded. "I'm sorry…" Megumi said softly. "I shouldn't have come here…"

            His eyes widened and he squeezed her hand. "Don't say that, fox-lady…"

            Her eyes closing, she bowed her head. "If I hadn't come here, Kat would have never cancelled…and Aoshi wouldn't have dumped me…I…I didn't think our past together bothered them that much…"

            "I'm sure things might have been different," he assured. "But I'm glad you came. Not sure if it'd be the same without you…"

            "How are you doing?"

            He laughed dryly. "I'm doing okay."

            Her eyes opened. "Are you really?"

            "Yeah…" Sano blew out a breath. "I'm much better than a couple hours ago…"

            Their eyes met and she could see resigned acceptance in his. He was hurt, but he was trying to deal with the situation as best as he could.

            "You know…she put her family first above all things," he said quietly.

            "Really?"

            "She was worse than you," Sano recalled with a wry smile. "But I think you admired your dad so much for everything he did trying to raise you and your two brothers…with her…I think family ties is genetic…"

            "Did she really cancel a date with you so she can go shopping with her mom?" Megumi asked.

           Sano nodded. "Yeah." His eyes darkened. "She told me that once we got married, I'd come first in her life. I loved her enough to be willing to deal with her family stuff. But when she told her family about canceling our wedding…that pissed me off…"

             "I could tell."

            "I mean, I guess I could understand her family ties…and I could understand her telling her parents about canceling. But when she told her entire side of the family?" he shook his head. "That was bullshit. I should have been one of the first people to know. I couldn't believe she did that…"

            "I'm sorry."

            "Me, too."

            "What are you going to do about her?"

            Sano sighed. "I was going to call her tomorrow. We had something together…even if it wasn't perfect…and…In spite of everything…" he swallowed, "I can't let it end like this…"

            She nodded. "Good answer."

            "What are you going to do about Aoshi?"

            "I…I don't know…" Her eyes moved to the ceiling and she bit her lip. She had been focusing on Sano that she tried to block her own misery. But in a single question, it all came back. Her voice wavered. "I…I miss him so much…"

            Sano covered her hands with his. "I know you do…"

            Her eyes were moist and her chin trembled slightly. "The entire West fleet's been by the harbor this past month, so he's been pulling twelve sometimes sixteen hour days. I hardly saw him. But even then…he'd take just a few minutes to call my office or leave a message on my voicemail." She then whispered, "I…I knew I was never far from his thoughts. Now…I'm not sure I even have that…"

            "Hey," he said softly, moving closer to her. "Of course he's still thinking about you…"

            She took a deep breath to calm herself, closing her eyes as Sano placed an arm around her. Megumi rested her head on his shoulder. The position felt unusually…familiar. She shifted slightly, and with her cheek pressed against his chest, she could hear the steady beat of his heart.

            In that instant, she remembered that Sano used to hold her like this after she had a long day at the hospital. She'd be physically tired and emotionally exhausted…very much like now…           

            "Megumi told me that it's over between her and Aoshi," Kaoru said softly.

            She and Kenshin were surprisingly still awake, in spite of the late hour.

            "I suspected as much when he left for the hotel," Kenshin commented.

            "I feel bad for them…things were going so well…" Kaoru paused. "But then again…I think there's something going on between Megumi and Sanosuke that we don't know about…"

            Kenshin turned to face her, studying her in the darkness. "Why do you say that?"

            "Kat's right…Megumi does understand Sanosuke. Why would someone who lives on the other side of the country and half an ocean away be able to do that if she didn't care for him?"

            Her husband smiled patiently. "You still think Megumi loves Sanosuke?"

            Kaoru sighed. "I think a part of her still does. Maybe…a part of her always will. And…I think…Aoshi's known that. He came here to support Megumi…but I think deep down he wanted to see for himself what they're like around each other."

            "I can't imagine Aoshi having hidden motives," Kenshin said lightly. His wife had an overactive imagination. However, there could be possible truths in what she said.

            "If Aoshi really believed that Megumi's feelings for Sano were finished…he wouldn't have reacted the way he did, right?" Kaoru tapped her fingers on the bed by her hip.

            Kenshin responded, "Hmm…"

            "You don't think she still has feelings for Sano, do you?"

            "I think she's long started looking to her future than to her past."

            Kaoru blinked. "You know…Megumi never mentioned Aoshi in her future…"

            Sano slowly opened his eyes, his brain lulled with sleep. The timer on the lamp in the living room had gone off, swallowing the room in darkness. He sat up slowly, realizing he must have dozed off. Rubbing his eyes, he turned to his right to see Megumi asleep on the couch, her head tilted back against the backrest of the sofa, in a sleeping-sitting position.

           Rising to his feet, he moved over, lifting her in his arms so he could make his way to her room. Once there, balancing her carefully, he was able to turn the light on and pull the covers back, depositing her carefully on the bed.

            He turned to leave, flicking the light switch off before exiting her room.

            "Wait," she said softly.

            Sano paused, turning slightly. "What did you say?" He must have misunderstood her.

            When she didn't answer, he moved towards the bed. The shadow of his body obscured her facial expression, making it very difficult to confirm what he heard. All he had to go on was the quiet urgency in her voice.

            "Megumi?"

            "Stay…" she whispered.

            His jaw nearly dropped. He must be going crazy. Did she just ask him to-

            "Please…"

            He swallowed fiercely at the touch of her fingertips on his hand…

A/N: Aren't I evil? So is Megumi dreaming or quick on the rebound?? =P

This entire chapter was EXCRUCIATING. Like getting teeth pulled and eyebrows tweezed by a crappy tweezer at the same time!!! Come on, muses, WORK!!!

Amazing how a thing like hanging around your ex can change your relationship. I realize that Aoshi's feelings for Megumi haven't been made clear throughout this story, but I hope their 'argument' at least gave you a little insight. ^_^ Also, I PROMISE to give K/K more screen time…they're gonna play some pretty important roles…especially when Megumi returns to Hawaii.         

Oh yeah…if anyone's interested…I have some fanart up in the form of a character profile…if you don't understand it, email me.

www dot geocities dot com slash cheriescorner slash Gallery slash mtakanifile dot jpg

www dot geocities dot com slash cheriescorner slash Gallery slash mmakimachifile dot jpg 

(K/K I'm redoing…and Aoshi I need to make a couple tweaks. So I can't make any promises for next chappie!)

Next! Kenshin, Kaoru and Megumi help Sano clean up after the non-existent wedding, Sano reflects on his relationship, Aoshi & Misao return to Hawaii.