Part7: Revelation
Day 8: Thursday
"Thanks for picking me up, Kenshin…and on short notice," Sanosuke pushed his sunglasses to the top of his head while Kenshin drove away from Honolulu airport and onto the freeway.
"It's no trouble," Kenshin responded. "Christmas is next Thursday…I'm surprised you were able to catch a flight…"
"I built up some vouchers," Sanosuke shrugged.
"So what are your plans?"
"Well…thanks to the base closing down for the holidays…I can pretty much stay until after New Year's," Sanosuke gazed out the window. "Do you know if Pearl Harbor closes?"
"I believe next Tuesday until the day after Christmas. Then the base closes offices again New Year's Eve and New Year's Day," Kenshin said slowly.
"Okay, cool." He stared out the window for several moments. "As soon as I get back…I'm gonna try to sell the house…"
Kenshin glanced at him sharply. "You and Kat were not able to work out your differences?"
Sano continued to keep his eyes out the window. "No…we weren't. I…I've requested a transfer out of Norfolk."
"What?"
"It's really over," Sano blew out a breath. Smiling ruefully, he added, "A part of me is glad…but…still…when you've been with someone…for so long…you feel…kind of…empty…" He looked out over the land, where he could see water in the distance. "But that's why I'm here."
"Really?"
Sano nodded. "There's nothing for me back in Virginia. At least here, I have family…you, Jo-chan…and…Megumi."
Kenshin glanced at him. "Sano…I know it's not my business…I already asked Kaoru to leave you two alone to work things out yourselves…but-"
"I know what you're going to say," Sano interrupted. "You're telling me to be careful…don't let the wedding failure influence what I'm really feeling…But I've really thought about all of this. Megumi and I will always be friends. So if she and Aoshi plan to make up, fine. But if something more happens between us, then I won't try to stop it."
Kenshin smiled slightly. "Looks like you have thought over everything."
Sano shrugged. "I'm also here to find my birth parents."
"You've never bothered before."
"I'm curious," Sano answered. "I had the county send me a copy of my birth certificate. It was kind of faded and stuff, but get this…" He lightly slapped his friend's shoulder. "My dad was in the Navy."
"That's quite a coincidence," Kenshin shook his head in amazement.
"I think my parents had to give me up or something when I was a kid…but for some reason, they wanted me to be able to find them, otherwise, they would have had their names removed from my birth certificate, right?"
"It makes sense," Kenshin agreed.
"So now I gotta go find them or any of my other relatives. I figure the islands are a good place to start," Sano grinned, apparently proud of himself, as he leaned back in the passenger seat. "Maybe I could trace my family tree or something."
"That's great. So where do you plan on starting?"
"I don't know…maybe hire a detective."
Kenshin was quiet for a moment. "Sano…considering your father was in the Navy…there is someone who could locate your parents for you…in a short amount of time and charge you nothing for the search."
Sano's ears perked up. "Hey…the faster and the cheaper, the better." He frowned. "You really think they could find them fast?"
"I'd say he could locate them within a day or two."
"Yeah? Hey…that means I could find them before I go to Virginia…" Sano mused. "So who's the guy?"
Pause. "Aoshi."
Sano's eyes went huge. "Aw, hell no."
"He's very resourceful, Sano-"
"He'd have me shot on sight!" Sanosuke exclaimed.
Kenshin winced at the volume of Sanosuke's voice. "I don't think he-"
"Yes, he would!" Sanosuke argued. "Did you see the way he acted when he left Norfolk? He's like one of those guys who just stays calm when he's really pissed off then snaps and goes on a killing spree."
Kenshin sighed. "If you approach him at NIS headquarters…he'd be more inclined to listen to what you have to say…"
She hurried towards his office, knowing that if she didn't step in there soon, she'd lose her nerve. Megumi needed to get Aoshi in a position where he would listen to her. At work, the image he portrayed was only a part of the person he truly was. Which was understandable…even she carried on a different persona at work. So perhaps if she caught him at work…
Darn it. She grimaced, seeing through his office blinds that his desk chair was currently unoccupied. Cautiously stepping inside, she surveyed his simple furnishings as if she had never been in his office.
Unlike Commander Saitou, who hung pictures of wolves, aircraft, medals, and ships in his office, Aoshi kept his walls fairly clean, with the exception of motivational posters with the words, 'Leadership' and 'Determination', complimented with nature scenes. On his desk, amidst file folders and paperwork, was a pencil cup holder, stapler, and calendar. The other corner had two framed photographs…and to her sadness…she recalled the desk usually had three. One photograph was of he and Misao standing in front of Mt. Kilauea…the other was a fold out frame containing a picture of Misao at the Merrie Monarch festival back in June…with her hula costume and all. The other was a photograph of he, Okina, and Misao last Christmas. She exhaled softly. The third photograph he usually kept on his desk was of her at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Misao had saved her allowance for a digital camera and had been very enthusiastic about taking pictures about anything and everyone. Megumi hadn't minded being Misao's frequent subject, and after previewing several of the photographs, Aoshi had asked Misao to print several for his collection when they had gotten home that day.
Megumi bit her lip, remembering one of the photographs Misao had given her that still hung in her apartment…Misao had captured a rare moment between her and Aoshi…he had been talking to her in low tones during a cultural demonstration, his hand lightly resting on hers for several moments. Misao had a good eye. And good reaction time, too.
"What are you doing here?"
Her thoughts interrupted, she turned and found Aoshi standing in his office doorway. Shock registered in those blue-gray eyes, mixed with wariness and a little reluctance.
"Aoshi." She swallowed. "I…I wanted to talk to you."
"Personal visits are frowned upon," he reminded.
She bristled slightly. "Last I checked, your CO never had a problem with me visiting before."
He tightened his jaw and closed the door firmly. Then he turned the blinds so that they were obscured from view. Aoshi then settled at his desk chair, nodding towards one of the seats in front of his desk.
"Sit."
Megumi gracefully tucked her skirt against the back of her legs as she perched in the chair he indicated. A chair she was positive was designed for torturing people. It looked nicely cushioned, but it wasn't. She resisted the urge to show her discomfort. When did he get the new chair, anyway?
His eyes remained on her, cool, impassive, distant. She hated seeing them that way, directed at her. But she was here for a reason, and she wasn't going to quit.
"I…I'm really glad to see you," Megumi began. She swallowed. "Listen…I know that things seem awful right now…I don't really know what happened in Virginia, but that happened over the weekend, and I'd rather be focusing on now. I love you and I miss you," she continued on in a rush of breath. "It…It just doesn't feel right ending things like this…We…We had been together for almost a year…that's the longest I've been with someone…that has to count for something."
He continued to study her.
"If…If it's my past that bothers you-"
"It's not that," he interrupted. "It's that you can't seem to decide what you want. You tell me one thing, but your actions reflect another."
"How can you say that when I'm here?" Megumi questioned. "Isn't me being here enough?"
Aoshi rubbed his temples with the thumb, index, and middle fingers of his right hand before looking back at her. "Megumi…you and I never really talked about our future."
Megumi blinked. "I…I thought it was best that we take things slowly. Given my history…I just didn't want to rush things." Her lips parted. "Is that what this is about?"
"It's related," he responded.
"You…didn't think we had a future together?" she asked, fighting to keep the tremor from her voice. She could not believe the detached tone of his voice.
"No…you didn't," he said quietly.
"What made you think that?"
He arched a brow.
"You never asked me what I thought," Megumi clenched her hands in her lap. "You always assumed…just like you're assuming now, that you know what I'm thinking and feeling."
"I don't make assumptions," he corrected.
"Right…you make incorrect conclusions," she shot back.
His eyes glittered dangerously. "You told me so yourself…you weren't thinking about settling down."
"Were you?" she challenged.
"The thought had crossed my mind several times," he responded crisply.
"Well, I haven't thought that far ahead because I have a career to focus on and you never gave me reason to," she retorted. Even if the back of her mind was whispering that in some twisted, roundabout way, Aoshi was telling her that he was strongly for the idea of marrying her, she was too angry at him to pay attention. "I don't understand you. First you're talking about what I say isn't what I really mean, now you're talking about how I never considered settling down…why don't you tell me how you really feel?"
He opened his mouth but was cut off abruptly.
"Am I missing something?" she demanded. "What's going on here? I came here to talk to you and try to see if we can get our relationship back on track-"
"No."
That simple word stopped her.
He glanced away for a moment, thinking. "We…we really need some time…apart..."
She was too upset to notice the uncertainty in his voice. "You're sitting there…asking me for space."
"Yes."
"We've been apart for a month now...because of work...and because you left Virginia early," she reasoned. "Why-?"
"This is different. I think we need time to decide what we really want."
"I want to be with you," Megumi insisted.
"I'm not sure you do. And I don't want to be around when you're between answers," he responded quietly. "Which is why time apart is good."
He was serious. She swallowed. She had done what she could. She wasn't going to crawl on her hands and knees and beg him to reconsider. Slipping on a mask of indifference, she rose to her feet. "You want time apart, Commander, you got it."
He looked up at the change in her voice.
She turned, opened his office door, marched out, and slammed it shut behind her. Then she immediately gave Aoshi's commanding officer an apologetic look. He was several feet away, perched on the desk of a yeoman.
"Sorry…Commander Saitou…I didn't mean to disturb anyone," she said quietly.
His amber eyes followed her all the way until she exited their department floor. He then glanced in the direction of the office she had fled from.
Aoshi slowly opened the door, immediately being greeted by several curious gazes.
"Don't ask."
"Actually, I was going to ask you if you knew that your windows weren't soundproof," Saitou smirked.
"A Naval Intelligence facility with no soundproof windows?" Aoshi scowled. "Where is the taxpayers' money going?"
Aoshi shut his door behind him with a bit more force than needed.
His commanding officer merely smiled.
"It was awful," Megumi lamented, gripping the receiver tightly in her hand. "I really thought he'd listen to me this time…" She sniffed. "You know what he said?"
"What?" Kaoru's concern was obvious across the phone line.
"Space! He wanted time apart!" Megumi swiped at two fat tears that had somehow slipped down her cheeks. "We've been apart for weeks because of work and now he wants space?!" She fanned herself with a tissue. "I've never been this upset…"
"I'm so sorry, Megumi," Kaoru spoke up. "Maybe he-"
"And you know what's worse?" the doctor pressed on. "Somehow, our future got into the conversation…Did you know he's actually thought about marrying me?"
"No…I…"
"How can a man tell you that he's thought about settling down with you and then say he needs space?" Megumi exclaimed. "I don't understand-"
"Maybe he just needs time to himself," Kaoru reasoned. "The past weekend...has done a lot to everyone..."
"Well, he can have all the time in the world," Megumi wiped at her eyes one more time, straightening in her office chair. "I'm giving up on men."
"Megumi-"
"Both he and Sanosuke are mixed up," Megumi retorted. "You know what Sanosuke said before I went to the airport? He said that he and Kat were over and that he's probably still in love with me. The boy is on the rebound. There's no love involved!"
"Are you sure about that?" Kaoru pressed. "I mean, you two were each other's first loves..."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Megumi countered. "There's a reason why we aren't together anymore..."
"Yeah...he felt you were putting work first...and that you couldn't tell your father that you wanted to live your life your own way..."
"It's more than that," Megumi argued. "What we shared can't last."
"How do you know that?"
"Because..." Megumi stopped. "Wait a minute...whose side are you on, anyway?"
"No one's," Kaoru answered. "I just told Sanosuke that you both owe it to yourselves to-"
"What?"
Kaoru coughed. "Oh...shoot...um...well...I...wasn't sure if you guys were really over...so I told him that you two need to figure it out."
"You encouraged him?" Megumi said incredulously.
"Maybe...a little..." Kaoru hedged.
"I can't believe you!"
"I'm sorry! I just wanted you and Sanosuke to be happy..."
"What about Aoshi?"
"I know you two were happy, but-"
"Not everyone ends up with their first love," Megumi said pointedly. "I was very happy with the love I had a week ago."
"I'm sorry..." Kaoru's guilt was easily reflected in her voice. "What...What are you going to do?"
"Give up on relationships," Megumi said decisively with a stubborn tilt of her chin. "Maybe have a fling. No strings attached, no drama, no indecisiveness, no emotional BS..."
"You don't mean that!"
"Of course I do. The men in my life are enough to make me angry to-"
"You really don't mean that," Kaoru interjected.
Megumi bit her lip, her voice wavering, "Just thinking about Aoshi gets me upset..."
"Hey, Saturday, why don't we go shopping?" Kaoru abruptly changed the subject.
"I...I don't know..."
"We can have some of that brunch at your aunt's hotel...and then we'll go to the mall."
"I guess..."
"You'll feel better," Kaoru assured.
Megumi hesitated for a moment. For the strangest reason, shopping and indulging in five-star quality food always made a girl feel better. "Sure..."
"Okay. I'll call you tomorrow."
"Okay. Bye..."
Kaoru released a breath, checking the clock on the wall. Kenshin was due to arrive soon with Sanosuke. She quickly dialed Misao's cell phone.
"Hello, hello!" Misao chirped.
"Misao, where are you?" Kaoru asked.
"Um...with Stella and Danielle...why, what's up?"
Kaoru sighed in relief. "Oh good, you're not with Aoshi. Megumi just called me. She went to Aoshi's office earlier today."
"What happened?" Misao asked.
The two had discreetly been discussing what had happened in Virginia over the past few days. Mainly because Misao said that getting any information out of Aoshi was pointless, since he wasn't planning on saying any more than he already told her.
"He told her that he wanted space."
"Space?" Misao echoed. "Space?"
"It looks like he's willing to forgive her for staying, but he needs space first."
"What? That's so lame!"
"She's really hurt, Misao...I don't know what to do...she's thinking about giving up on relationships..."
"She can't do that!" Misao exclaimed. "After everything they've been through?"
"Well, what's Aoshi's take on this? Is he still mad at her?"
Misao paused. "I don't think so...I think he doesn't like what happened. He felt that her staying meant she wasn't over Sanosuke yet...And with Aoshi...he just needs to know his place in her life."
"Really?"
"Well...Aoshi's last relationship...his girlfriend cheated on him...dumped him when he wasn't ready to get married yet...and...to be honest...Aoshi's past relationships haven't really been successful...He told me himself that he didn't plan on falling in love with Megs, but he did. And that's probably why he's acting the way he is."
"Boy, I've done a great job this weekend..." Kaoru murmured.
"Huh?"
"Nothing. Just that...she and I are going to have brunch at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Do you want to come?"
"Sure!"
"Okay. Maybe we can convince her not to give up yet. In the meantime, maybe you should work on Aoshi..."
"Oh, don't worry," Misao said cheerfully. "Jiya's coming tomorrow. So I'll have some backup."
"Okay. I'll see you soon." Kaoru smiled, hanging up the phone. She turned, stopping dead in her tracks at the sight of her husband and his friend standing in her living room. "Kenshin."
Her husband gave her a gently disapproving look. "I thought you weren't going to interfere in our friends' affairs."
"Megumi's a special case," Kaoru argued. "She's thinking of going to a bar and having a one-night stand because she's so upset..."
"What?" Sanosuke's eyes rounded.
Kaoru reached out, grabbing his arm. "Hey...why don't you take her out tomorrow night?"
"Kaoru..." Kenshin trailed off.
"She really needs a friend right now...someone who she can have a good time with...who better than you?" Kaoru shook Sanosuke's arm.
He frowned. "I don't know if that's a good idea..."
"She needs to remember that there are people around her..."
"If she's still upset over Aoshi, I'm probably the last person she wants to be around..." Sano sighed.
"Sanosuke!" Kaoru chided. "I thought you two were friends!"
"We are," Sanosuke admitted. "But-"
"But nothing," Kaoru interrupted. "Friends look after each other."
"All right, all right..." Sanosuke conceded. "I'll go. But if she tells me to get lost, I'm leaving..."
Day 9: Friday
"I'm surprised you managed to take an earlier flight," Aoshi commented as he opened the trunk of his car. Hand braced on the lid of the trunk, Aoshi glanced around him to see the busy sights of Honolulu International Airport. Okina had called him not too long ago, after passing through customs. Aoshi had been fairly surprised to hear his voice. With Christmas only six days away, people scrambled as they rushed to their gates, eager to get to their flights on time.
Okina lifted his carry-on luggage so he could place it in the trunk. "I thought I'd take a chance."
"Good call."
"So how have you been?" the older man asked once they settled in the car.
"Busy," Aoshi commented. "As usual."
Okina waited until Aoshi drove out of the arrival area. "Don't you do anything else but work? I thought having a girlfriend changed that."
Aoshi's features shifted ever so slightly into a grimace. Something Okina didn't miss, by the shrewd way he was looking at him. Maybe now was a good time to bring up his non-existent relationship.
"Megumi and I are spending time apart," Aoshi said reluctantly.
Okina's expression indicated that he was curious, but he wasn't going to press the issue.
"Last weekend was the weekend her ex-boyfriend was supposed to be married," he continued.
" 'Supposed to'?"
Aoshi nodded. "He didn't. His fiancée thinks that Megumi understands him better than she can, therefore…she didn't want to marry him living with that knowledge, and she cancelled the wedding."
"Well, I can't imagine anyone doing that…living like that…" Okina replied. "Of course, I've never been married, so I can't say…" He turned his eyes to his former ward. "And Megumi?"
"Since there was no reason to stay anymore…I left early. But Megumi chose to stay in Virginia."
"You did mention to me I think twice that Megumi still remains good friends with her ex-boyfriend…"
Not exactly common among most people. "Megumi made it very clear that she chose to stay with him. Our relationship was over…but after she returned, we talked…twice…and I told her this time that we need some time apart. It will give her time to decide what she really wants." Once he said the words aloud to someone else, he hadn't realized how ridiculous they sounded.
"It sounds to me that you have an insecurity problem," Okina said after a moment.
"What?" Aoshi shot him a sharp look.
"Pure jealousy."
"I do not get jealous." Him? Of all people? Jealousy was a useless emotion…known to drive people to do the most irrational acts.
"Then what is it?"
Aoshi's fingers tightened over the steering wheel.
Okina waited patiently.
"I've been made into a fool before…and I don't want that again," Aoshi said quietly. And it was true. He was too old to be toyed with by manipulative women who thought they could do whatever they wanted in their relationships.
"Are we talking about Renee?" At Aoshi's glance, he responded, "From the way you made it seem, it was as if that woman was just another in your line of girlfriends whom you got bored with."
"I wasn't ready to settle down at the time," Aoshi responded. "So I asked Renee to wait…She didn't, and found someone else she wanted to marry…before she and I were finished." He stared at the SUV in front of him. He paused for a moment, reflecting on the past. "I told myself that the experience didn't bother me…but I'm too old for games. I won't wait around for Megumi to make up her mind."
"You know what your problem is?"
Aoshi rolled his eyes.
"You wanted to end things with Megumi because you were afraid of getting hurt. Your experience with Renee made you a little wary…but with Megumi…you intuitively knew that there was a lot more at stake." Okina studied Aoshi carefully.
He immediately said, "That's-"
"-the truth," Okina responded, effectively cutting him off. "You've lived your whole life in control of everything around you, so when something seems a little out of control, you distance yourself from it." He stroked his beard. "You've finally found someone to love. It overwhelms you sometimes…you're afraid she's going to leave you, just like your previous girlfriend did."
Aoshi looked away, slowly releasing a breath.
"Men in our line of work don't find that kind of thing very often. And I've seen the way she is around you. Is it really over or are you the one declaring that it's over?"
Aoshi gazed out the windshield thoughtfully before giving his former guardian a rueful smile. "How does an old bachelor like you know so much?"
"This place looks like Madrid in July…" From their positions at the Ala Moana Mall, Okina watched the shopper who jostled by him in his hurry to the next store.
"You said you wanted to go shopping before the weekend," Aoshi pointed out.
"If I had known it would look like this…"
"Better now than later," Aoshi responded.
Okina placed his fist in his palm. "Fine, then. Have you bought Megumi her present yet?'
"Not…yet…"
"Good. We can do that while we're here…" Okina began walking down the open aisle of the mall, not moving aside for anyone who happened to get in his path.
Aoshi, however, due to his height and demeanor, without saying anything to anyone, told others to move out of the way. Okina paused to view the window of a lingerie store, critically examining the satin slip one of the models had on display.
What is he doing? Aoshi wondered.
Aoshi's blue-gray eyes widened as Okina took one step, his foot on the red carpet of the store's interior, before grabbing his guardian by the back of his shirt. "What do you need to go in there for?"
Okina shot him a look. "For someone so dense…I'm surprised you've lived this long."
"You are not going in there to look under dressing room doors…" Aoshi warned.
The old man stared at him as if he had lost his mind. "I wasn't aware that could be done here. We're going in here for you. You haven't bought a gift yet, right?"
Me? But…
Aoshi released him. "True. But I really don't think-"
"Oh, quiet, and just move along," Okina grabbed his arm and yanked him into the store.
They both stopped short, seeing a long line of men by the cash register, waiting to purchase gifts for their proverbial mates. The line zigzagged several times. And no females, except for the retail associates, were in sight.
When they recovered, Okina began to walk down the aisles, examining attire. "What kind of color does she like?"
"Ah…all, really. Just…not pink for these types of clothing."
"Hm. Doesn't really go with her skin tone, anyway."
Aoshi's eyes widened for a moment.
Okina pointed to a burgundy slip with transparent material placed at various parts, designed to provoke the imagination. "I'd wager she'd look nice in this." He shot Aoshi a mischievous smile.
Aoshi shook his head. "You have no shame, old man."
"Your Megumi is a fine-looking lady. But I don't have impure thoughts about the women who date family or friends. It's not right." He shrugged. "You don't think she'd like it."
"I don't think she will," Aoshi answered. "It's...the skirt's too long." What am I saying?
"She prefers shorter sleepwear, then." Okina pointed to a black see-through slip with matching panties. "That's certainly daring. What I wouldn't give to be young again…"
"Women are different now than in your time," Aoshi reminded.
"They are certainly more independent when it comes to dating…"
Aoshi had to ask himself why he hadn't pulled Okina out of the store yet. The exit wasn't that far. Megumi had a penchant for silk and satin underwear or sleepwear. Maybe being in there just reminded him of her. He was hopeless. No, it was the season. That had to be it. It was the one time of the year men like him became sentimental and spoiled their women shamelessly.
"Okina, maybe it's best that we-"
"Hello, can I help you two with anything?" a young sales associate, probably several years younger than Megumi approached them, dressed in white dress pants and pink smock.
"We're shopping for him," Okina gestured to Aoshi.
Confusion filtered into her eyes before understanding dawned. "Oh. Um…I'm not sure we have anything in your size…but I can special order something for you."
Frowning slightly, Aoshi was unable to grasp her meaning. For about a second.
Hastily, he explained, "He doesn't mean me. He-"
"-was referring to his girlfriend-"
"Ex-girlfriend," Aoshi interrupted.
"Whom he plans to make up with-"
"Not anytime soon-"
"But in the future," Okina said, smiling. "And he needs plenty of gifts."
She smiled back in response. "Well, we have a wide selection from elegant sleepwear to our cotton collection…"
"Something pretty," Okina nodded.
Aoshi covered his eyes with his hand.
"She's a classy lady, so nothing tacky. Fine material," Okina continued. "Unless…she prefers leath-"
"No," Aoshi retorted, giving Okina an evil eye. Then he turned to the sales associate and said, "Thank you…but I think I can find something suitable for her on my own."
With a playful smile, she said, "Suitable? Women who like lingerie don't settle for suitable. But if you need any help, just let me know."
As soon as she left, Aoshi grabbed Okina's shoulder, hauling him out of the store.
"We hadn't even looked through everything!" Okina protested.
"Whatever gift I buy her, it won't be from there," Aoshi responded.
"What about a necklace?"
"She doesn't wear much jewelry," Aoshi admitted as they made their way down the mall. "And who said I was going to buy her a gift, anyway?"
The old man blinked. "I don't know…didn't you?"
Aoshi sighed, his eyes moving to the window display of a bookstore.
"What are we doing here?" Okina grimaced. "Only you, Aoshi…would stop at a bookstore."
"That's it." Aoshi's eyes focused on a collection of children's books.
Okina, who was looking at him oddly, turned to look at the item in the window Aoshi was staring at. "Basil of Baker Street? What…?" he couldn't finish his sentence as Aoshi moved inside of the store. Before he knew it, Aoshi came back out, plastic bag in hand. "Aoshi, what do you need children's books for? I know you haven't fathered any children-"
"It's…for Megumi," the young officer admitted. He wasn't sure what prompted him to buy the item, but he knew her well enough to know that she'd appreciate the gift.
"So how is the halau doing? Last time I saw the students was in June," Okina commented as Aoshi placed the car in park on the street in front of Yuki's halau.
"Auntie is busier than ever…she's had to divide the intermediate and beginning wahine classes," Aoshi explained.
"Auntie?" Okina echoed. "No Ms. Asawa…or Yuki-sensei?"
"She insisted I call her that," Aoshi shrugged.
"Before or after you started dating her niece?"
He thought for a moment. "After." Then he cleared his throat. "I'll wait in here…for you and Misao." He didn't want to risk running into Megumi just yet.
"All right."
"Whew…" Misao stepped out of her skirt, revealing the denim shorts underneath. "What a workout…"
With words of 'Mahalo, Auntie', 'Thank you, Auntie', 'See you next week!', several of her fellow classmates filed out of the building.
"Misao?"
She stopped in her action to retrieve her bag. Turning slightly, she squealed with delight. "Jiya! You're here, you're here!"
Okina laughed heartily, swinging her in circle as he engulfed her in a hug.
"Nenji," Yuki greeted pleasantly. "It's good to see you."
"Same could be said to you," he responded with a smile.
"Did Aoshi drive you?"
Okina nodded, setting Misao down. "He's in the car." The man's features twisted in a half scowl, half pout. "He's being stubborn. He didn't want to come in for fear of seeing that beautiful niece of yours."
Yuki sighed. "Oh, dear. She didn't come today for fear of seeing him as well…"
Misao waved her arm. "Um…Kaoru and I are going to meet her for brunch at the Royal Hawaiian tomorrow. Kaoru and I are going to try and talk to her."
Smiling mischievously, Yuki clasped her hands together. "Why don't we all go? It could be an interesting session…"
Okina's eyes gleamed. "Indeed…"
Glancing at the clock, Megumi noted that ten p.m. seemed so early. Sighing, she picked at her tiny carton of ice cream with a spoon while watching a DVD movie. Her hair was held away from her face by a claw, and she wore a pale blue long-sleeved button down shirt that reached mid-thigh length.
Aoshi's shirt. One of several clothing items that he had left around her apartment. Not that he wore many clothes whenever he was with her in her apartment…whenever he was at her apartment. The thought made her smile. He usually slept naked, which he had discovered to be very comfortable…something he couldn't do when he was at home.
The phone rang. Megumi picked up the handset.
"Hello?"
"Hey, fox-lady."
"Sano?"
"Open the door."
"What?"
"I'm outside."
Puzzled, Megumi moved to her door, unlocking it before cautiously opening it. Sanosuke stood in the doorway, Kaoru's cell phone held to his ear.
"Hey," he greeted with his usual grin before hanging up.
Megumi turned off her phone. "Hi."
"Can I come in?"
"Sure." Megumi took a step back to let him in. "I'm assuming you came to the islands earlier. No phone call to let me know as soon as you got here?"
"I wanted to surprise you," he responded.
"So what brings you here?"
"You," he said simply.
Megumi turned slightly, studying his features. What did he mean by that? She turned away.
"How have things been over the last couple days?"
She sighed. "Not good. Aoshi…wanted some time apart, so…here I am, sitting at home. Why are relationships so hard?"
"They wouldn't be as much fun."
Even her relationship with Sano was complicated. She doubted many male/female friendships were like theirs. But then again, she wasn't sure if any of them had been lovers for a short time, as well.
"Let's go out," Sanosuke said suddenly.
"Where?"
"Someplace fun."
"Hitting balls. We left my apartment to hit balls," Megumi pursed her lips as Sano rolled a cue in her direction before arranging the triangle on the green felt.
"Come on, fox-lady, it's pool. How can you say no to pool?"
Megumi sighed, glancing around the Waikiki sportsbar. Several men sat on barstools, watching the sports recaps.
"Break," Sano instructed.
She sighed as she chalked her cue stick. "I'm terrible at this kind of thing…" Megumi bent down to aim.
"You weren't that bad…" Sanosuke assured.
She smiled up at him. "You're just being nice."
He shook his head. "Nope."
Megumi hit the cue, which in turn, hit the triangle formation, but not producing enough separation between the balls.
"I take back what I said," Sano frowned at the table.
"This is our table," a voice announced rudely to his right.
Megumi straightened, seeing two men standing to the side of the pool table, cue sticks in hand. With their smooth features and light eyes, she had no doubt that they had seduced their fair share of women. One was lean and well-built, the other a little more on the muscular side.
"You weren't here earlier," Sanosuke responded.
"I was just buying a drink for my friend," he gestured to his partner with a flick of his thumb.
"So it takes you to pay, and him to pick up the drink?" Sanosuke asked with a wry smile.
His blue eyes narrowed. "Fine. You consider yourselves the first people here, we'll play you both for it." He gestured to himself, "I'm Jack, this is Scott." The two men held out their hands as if taunting.
"Sanosuke," he firmly shook their outstretched hands. "This is Megumi."
When she shook their hands, she didn't miss the look of appreciation in their eyes.
"Nice to meet you, ma'am," Jack flashed her a smile.
Scott began chalking his cue tip. "Whoever wins, gets the table for as long as they want. And three hours in the company of your lady friend."
Sanosuke and Megumi shared a look.
Then Sanosuke said, "I don't know…that seems kind of a short deal for me…"
Jack began pulling out several bills from his wallet. "One hundred dollars to the winner…" he studied Megumi thoroughly. "And whatever you're wearing under that."
Sanosuke gave her a quick glance over. Megumi had chosen to wear a blue pareo with pink flowers patterned on it. The straps tied together above the middle of her breasts before knotting at the back of the neck. The garment's hem fell just at her knees, gently flowing over the curves of her body. Her platform sandals had accented her long, sleek legs. He could practically hear the other two men salivate. She flicked her hair over her shoulder, a sly smile curving her lips.
"Two hundred and we're in," she responded.
Sano's eyes rounded. "Megumi-"
"You drive a hard bargain, lady," Jack replied, studying her carefully.
The mischief Sano saw in her eyes multiplied as she quipped, "I'm wearing some very valuable lingerie."
Jack smiled. "All right. Two hundred, your lingerie, and three hours of your company."
"Sounds good to me," Scott responded. "Who goes first?"
Jack produced a coin from his pocket after tucking his money away. "Call it."
"Heads," Sano spoke up.
Jack let the coin land on the table. It was tails.
"You two first," Megumi moved aside as Jack and Scott began prepping the table. She looked up as Sano's fingers gently closed around her upper arm.
"I hope you know what you're doing, fox-lady," he said quietly.
"Of course I do."
He sighed. "If we lose, you'll be spending three hours with them wearing nothing but that," he said pointedly, gesturing to her outfit.
She grinned. "And this bothers you why?"
"Because," he set his jaw.
"Because why?"
"It…" He blew out a breath in frustration. How could he explain to her? He just plain didn't like the fact that they were ogling her in the first place, because he knew what they were thinking. And what they wanted.
"Men are natural pigs, Sano. They'll do anything to get just an inch closer to a woman," Megumi said playfully. "Relax."
Jack did the break, sinking one stripe in. And another after that. Then it was their turn.
"Your turn, Sano," Megumi said.
Sanosuke sunk two solids before missing on his third shot. Scott studied the felt for several moments before hitting the cue. He put one ball in the pocket before Megumi's turn came.
"Good luck," Sanosuke murmured.
She simply smiled back at him. When she bent down to aim her cue stick, she caught sight of Jack at the left corner of the table, watching her. She hit the cue precisely with power, cleanly sinking one ball in the very same pocket right in front of Jack's lower region.
"Nice shot," Jack muttered.
"Thank you," Megumi responded sweetly as she moved to his side to hit the cue again. She easily sunk two more by bouncing them off walls.
Sanosuke's eyes widened and he glanced at the other two, who seemed shocked. Considering her break was terrible beyond anything, they were surprised she was sinking balls in.
Megumi studied two different solids that were left on the felt as she chalked her tip. Then as if having made a decision, she hoisted herself up onto the edge of the pool table, placed the cue stick behind her back, aimed, and sunk one ball right in the corner pocket.
Sanosuke's mouth dropped a couple inches. She ended up missing the last solid on the felt, but it didn't seem to bother her. He stared at her as she perched in the stool next to his, crossing her legs.
"What?" she asked, looking back at him with laughing eyes.
"Hustler," he shook his head in amazement. "I can't believe…When did you…?"
She patted his arm. "It's your turn, Sano. Don't let me down. I really don't want to give away my underwear…"
Their opponents had only sunk in one. After recovering from the shock, he was able to sink the last ball in. Which left the eight ball.
"This corner pocket," he pointed to his right side. Sinking the last ball would require that he bounce the ball off the wall. But he had spent many hours in the pool hall of a carrier, learning to trust his own skill.
He smiled as the black ball rolled easily into the indicated pocket.
"Hmph," Scott replied.
"Our money, gentlemen," Megumi rose to her feet, setting her cue stick against the table.
"And there's an ATM right there," Sanosuke pointed to the front entrance of the bar.
Jack angrily tossed down five twenties onto the pool table while Scott did the same.
"Thanks," Sanosuke swiped the bills up. "Bye." He grinned as the two walked away in a huff. "You are one evil woman…"
She grinned back before shrugging one bare shoulder. "I have my days…"
He counted out five of the bills and held them out to her. Just as she was about to retrieve them, he pulled his hand back, the money well out of reach. At the confusion in her eyes, a devious smile crossed his lips as he said loftily, "Technically, I sunk the eight ball, so I'm the winner. Which means I keep your underwear."
Her eyes widened. And she jabbed his stomach. Not that it would do any good, given the fact that his belly was hard and flat, he wouldn't feel any pain. "The hell you do," she retorted.
"Damn…I was kidding," he handed the money back to her.
"Besides, you've seen my underwear, big deal," Megumi began to neatly flatten her bills.
"But it's different knowing I have your bra and panties in my pocket," he replied. "And you're not wearing them."
Were they actually having this ridiculous conversation? Hell yes. Flirting with her was way too much fun.
"I had a good time," Megumi spoke up as he pulled over at her apartment complex.
"Good. That's what I'm here for," he replied.
"Thanks again," she patted his arm. Then as an afterthought…"Would you like to come in?"
Sanosuke swallowed fiercely. He really had a good time. And it seemed that Megumi was back to her spirited, sexy self. Somehow, she didn't seem to be the wreck that Kaoru had made her out to be. He should have known better. This was Megumi. At one point…she had been his Megumi.
"Sano?" she prompted.
She hadn't given him any indication that she shared the same feelings. He knew she cared about him, but he wasn't sure how she felt about him.
"I can't," he responded before saying, "I…I might do something that will make me look stupid."
"I don't understand."
"I don't expect you to," he replied, squeezing her hand lightly.
"Look, Sanosuke, if it's about us…" Megumi's fingers interlaced in her nervousness. "I don't want to hurt you. Being with you today…showed me how much I enjoy your company. A part of me…does wonder what could have been…but…"
"But?" he prompted. He already knew the answer.
"But I can't think about that right now. I appreciate what you've done…as a friend…but…I can't handle being with anyone right now. With everything going on with Aoshi…and with my family keeping me busy for the holidays…I just…"
"Hey," Sano placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry about it. I came here to be with family for Christmas…not to have a hot fling with my ex."
Megumi couldn't help but laugh at the comment. It made him happy, knowing that he could at least make her smile. He put his arm around her, half-hugging her.
"You worry too much, fox-lady…"
Her fingers curled into the front of his shirt as she rested her cheek against his shoulder. He allowed himself some indulgence by resting his chin against the top of her head.
"Remember what you said?" At her silence, he continued, "No matter what happens, we'd always be friends. Sure, we're not the normal friends…but still." He then added, "But if you want a fling, I'd be willing to help out."
"Sano!"
"Hey, better me than some stranger or one-night stand."
She pulled back, staring at him suspiciously. "Meaning what?"
He cleared his throat. "Well…"
"What?"
"I just don't think you should be going around having one-night stands because you and Aoshi are spending some time apart," Sanosuke chided.
"Where did you get the idea that I was…" Her eyes narrowed. "Kaoru."
Sano's eyes widened at her expression. "She was just a little worried about-"
Megumi threw open the door of the truck he borrowed from his married friends. "I can't believe this!"
He turned off the engine and pushed the hazard lights on as she headed up to her apartment. "Megumi…wait!"
"Why does she always blow things out of proportion?" Megumi asked. "She's known me for how long and she thinks that I-?"
Sano caught her by the arms, turning her to face him. "Megumi, loneliness sucks. If you wanted some affair, I wouldn't blame you...I've been through it. But it doesn't help." He wasn't proud of his past, but he wasn't one to hide it. Especially from her. She knew him for all he was.
"I know that. Having a fling is just a temporary solution, it's not going to make me feel any better about my situation," Megumi retorted.
"She didn't understand that," Sano assured. "I'll talk to her."
"She overreacts constantly…" Megumi sighed. Then she met his gaze. "What are you doing Christmas Eve?"
He paused, taken off guard by the change in topic. "I…I'm not sure…"
"Auntie Kyoko is having a party at the hotel. Fairly fancy. I think you should go. Nobody wants to be alone Christmas Eve."
He grinned. "Ex-players gotta stick together. I'm in."
NEXT! Brunch at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel! Seduction 101! Okina, Misao, Kaoru, Auntie Kyoko and Auntie Yuki attempt to educate Megumi on wooing a particular good-looking, stubborn, and resistant naval officer...But what does she think about all of it?
