Part 8: Conversation
Day 10: Saturday
"You are in so much trouble," Megumi stared at Kaoru with narrowed eyes when she spotted her in the reception area of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.
Kaoru winced. "What did I do?"
Megumi crossed her arms and arched her delicate eyebrows, keeping a steady gaze on her friend. Then she smiled sweetly and said, "Wouldn't you like to know what Sano and I did last night?"
The younger woman's eyes widened and she immediately grabbed her arm. "He wouldn't tell me a thing. What happened?"
The doctor sighed, clasping her hands over her heart. "It was just like old times..."
"Really?" Kaoru's eyes widened.
"I had forgotten how wonderful Sanosuke can be..." the doctor continued. "But it's so nice to be around someone with no strings...no expectations..."
"You and Sanosuke slept together?!" Kaoru's eyes went huger than before, her voice increasing in volume.
"I hope not," a gruff voice spoke up from behind Megumi.
The doctor turned around immediately, to see the wry expression of an old man who favored loud Hawaiian shirts. Beside him, Misao wore a white tank top and pink shorts.
"Okina!" Megumi smiled in greeting.
"Please tell me that I didn't hear what I think I heard..." Okina grasped her outstretched hands, shaking them slightly. "No offense to your friend, but those wiles should be used elsewhere."
Megumi grinned, "I doubt you can handle them."
He snorted in response to that.
"How you doing, Megs?" Misao asked.
Megumi smiled reassuringly. "I'm great. You?"
"Same."
"We should find our table," Kaoru commented.
Kaoru led them to the back of the hotel, where brunch was being served on the patio. Megumi was surprised to see her aunts sitting at a table, obviously waiting for them. After greetings were exchanged and hot food was retrieved from the brunch bar, everyone sat down to sample their meals.
"On to business," Kyoko spoke up abruptly.
"What business?" Megumi asked.
"Yours, of course."
Megumi studied her aunt carefully.
"Have you talked to Aoshi yet?"
"Of course I have," Megumi responded.
"And?" Kyoko prompted.
Megumi sighed. "He won't listen to me."
"He always was a stubborn boy…" Okina commented.
"Tell me about it," Megumi blew away a strand of hair.
"So talking hasn't worked," Yuki mused.
"I thought he would at least listen to me," Megumi responded. "For a man who certainly appreciates the direct approach…it didn't seem to work in this case…" Then her eyes narrowed. "But it doesn't matter anymore…Aoshi's made it pretty obvious that he doesn't want to be around me."
"That's where you're wrong," Okina spoke up. "The boy scolded Misao last night for playing boy band love songs…"
Misao giggled. "Yup! He actually turned off the stereo system by the time I put Backstreet Boys in…" She straightened in her seat, deepening her voice, " 'I don't think you should be listening to that garbage. That group can't sing, anyway.'"
Yuki smiled, laughing softly.
"And…" Okina raised his index finger in the air, grinning from ear to ear, "Just yesterday he went to the bookstore and impulsively bought the Basil of Baker Street stories collection because he thought it's something you'd like." He cast Megumi a speculative look. "What have you done to him? He's getting angry at the sound of love songs and sentimental when he sees children's books."
Megumi stared at Okina in shock. "He…actually bought that?"
"Jiya!" Misao tugged his arm. "That was supposed to be a Christmas present!"
Okina's features twisted sheepishly. "Oh. I…I didn't think…"
"He bought that?" Megumi repeated.
The old man blinked. "Yes. Why-?"
"That was her favorite story collection as a child," Kyoko supplied.
Megumi sighed again, crossing her arms defensively over her chest. "Even if he did…it doesn't matter. We're through."
"How can you say that?" Kaoru asked.
Megumi shot her a look. "This coming from Sanosuke's cheerleader?"
Yuki and Kyoko immediately stared at the young kendo instructor, their looks causing her to sink in her seat slightly.
"I thought you and Sanosuke were over," Yuki asked.
"Someone thinks otherwise," Megumi stated, giving Kaoru a pointed look.
Misao frowned slightly. "But who do you want, Megs?"
"Honestly? Neither," Megumi responded. "Sano's good company…but…" She bit her lip. "He isn't Aoshi. And if Aoshi doesn't want to meet me halfway on this…then I just have to move on. I can tell him that I love him all I want, but it's not going to matter…" Her eyes took on a sad look.
"Aoshi's a man of action," Okina spoke up after a while. "He'll only be sure if you show him without directly saying those three little words."
"I don't really know what to do," Megumi shrugged.
"I say seduce him," Kaoru piped up.
Silence.
"What?" Kaoru blinked. "Find some way to get him inside your place, have candles set around the room, a small tray of finger foods, wear some pretty lingerie…if he really loves you, he won't be able to resist."
Megumi stared at her friend. "You're not as naïve as you let other people think…" At Kaoru's grin, she added, "But unlike most men, Aoshi doesn't give in when sex is involved."
"Who said anything about sex?" Kaoru spoke up. "Sex is something you have with a fling. Lovemaking is what you have when it's someone you love."
Megumi sighed on Kaoru's technicality. "I can't believe I'm hearing this…"
Okina coughed. "You can save the make up time for later."
"How about sneaking into his room when he's asleep?" Kaoru asked.
"Sneak into the room of a former spy? That will really work…" Megumi shook her head.
"I think it could," Kaoru replied. "Haven't you picked up any habits from him?"
"Listen, Kaoru…your ideas sound nice, but I just don't think they're going to work…not with him," Megumi commented.
"This hotel is hosting a party on Christmas Eve. Perhaps you can bring Aoshi along," Yuki directed the question to Misao and Okina. "Besides, if Misao is performing, I'm sure he'd want to see that…" Then she turned to her niece. "When he's here, you two can have some time alone together."
Kyoko was known for her well-planned parties on Christmas Eve. The event brought couples and singles all looking to add romance to their holiday season. With a Hawaiian twist thanks to Yuki's halau.
"Maybe he won't be so grumpy," Misao added. "It's worth a shot trying to talk to him then…"
"You know what? Maybe I should just let it rest for a while," Megumi spoke up. "Aoshi clearly isn't in the mood to talk to me, but-"
"Darling, you can't just let him sit there. How else is he going to know how you-" Kyoko began.
"Can we not talk about my personal life?" Megumi sighed. "I appreciate your concern, but I really don't think the time is right to be talking about all of this…"
Day 12: Monday
Glancing at his watch, Sanosuke hurried into the naval facility. The map at the bottom by the elevator indicated which floor he was headed.
By the time he got to the third floor, he glanced around once.
Why do all government buildings look the same? he wondered. Especially navy buildings. They all had that beige or brown color scheme to their offices. He cautiously pushed open the office door that led to an area full of cubicles and wall offices that provided views of the Pearl Harbor base.
"Can I help you?" a yeoman spoke up from his desk position.
Sano cleared his throat. "I'm looking for Lt. Commander Shinomori." Damn. I can't believe I'm actually going to take Kenshin's advice.
"He's at the harbor, but he should be back, soon."
"Okay…I'll just wait, I guess…"
The phone rang, and the yeoman excused himself to pick it up. Sano jammed his hands in his pockets, glancing at the walls.
"What are you doing here?" a familiar voice demanded behind him.
Cursing, Sanosuke whirled around to see Aoshi in khaki uniform, clipboard tucked under his arm. He was really good at that sneaking thing…
"I…um…I need some help…locating someone. Kenshin told me you'd be the person to talk to."
"Himura obviously lost his memory. I don't do that type of research anymore," Aoshi sidestepped to head to his office.
But Sano blocked his way. "Listen, I really need the help. I wouldn't…ask if I didn't think you could do it. I'm sure you'd rather kill me than help me since I ruined your relationship-"
Something flared in his cool eyes. "We'll discuss this in my office," he cut in sharply.
Sano blinked, watching as Aoshi turned to the yeoman, who suddenly made himself look very occupied. Was he…eavesdropping?
"Transfer calls to voicemail," Aoshi told the young man at the desk.
"Yes, sir…"
Aoshi then led the way to the left down several offices. He then briskly opened one door to his left and stepped in. Sano stopped short, seeing the window announce in bold, black lettering 'LTCDR Aoshi 'Iceman' Shinomori'. No shit.
"Shut the door," Aoshi ordered as soon as he stepped in.
Sano bristled slightly. "Look, I may be the lower ranking between the two of us, but-"
"I could care less about personnel who don't work in my unit," Aoshi replied. "So keep your voice down. Why are you here?"
Straight to the point. "I need to find my parents."
The officer settled in his desk chair, a slight frown crossing his features.
"I…I lived my whole life without my parents…so I'd like to know where they are. If…they're even still alive," Sano added. "Kenshin…told me that you're really good at this type of stuff…so I thought I'd ask you instead of hiring a PI to do it and pay him."
"Even if I agreed to this…which I haven't…I'll need a name."
Sano reached into his back pants pocket, tossing down a folded piece of paper onto the desk. He waited as Aoshi picked it up and unfolded it to read its contents.
"That enough?" Sano sat in some uncomfortable chair facing his desk. Aoshi remained silent for many long moments. "Look…I know I probably don't deserve the help. Especially with everything going on with Megumi. I…saw her a couple of days ago." He didn't miss the cold expression in the other man's gaze. "For what it's worth…she does love you." He shrugged. "Just…thought you'd like to know."
Aoshi stood up and moved to open his office door. Sano's jaw dropped.
"That's it?"
Aoshi pointedly glanced out the door.
What the hell? "Look, I'm trying to help you out here. Your relationship's gone to shit and-"
"Sagara, I'll have something by tomorrow afternoon on your parents," Aoshi interrupted.
Not knowing what else to say, Sano nodded and exited, nearly running into Commander Saitou.
"Shit…" As if Sano didn't have enough to deal with.
"What are you doing in my building?" the commanding officer of NIS asked lightly.
Sano narrowed his eyes. "Just taking care of some business."
Saitou glanced at Aoshi, who stood in the office doorway, arms crossed. "What is this…a reunion of Dr. Takani's boyfriends?"
"Sagara was just leaving," Aoshi spoke up.
"And no, this isn't a reunion," Sano corrected, brushing past him to the exit.
Saitou and Aoshi watched him exit, after nearly running over a file clerk. Saitou shook his head.
"That moron always caused trouble when I went out to inspect ships during repair…" Saitou commented.
"From what I know, he tends to cause trouble, period," came the junior officer's response.
Saitou studied him from a moment. "Do you plan on letting him just come back into your girlfriend's life?"
Aoshi narrowed his eyes. "I don't really have a choice."
"All right…rephrase. Do you plan on letting him come back into her life so they can pick up where they left off?"
"My answer's still the same." Aoshi clenched his jaw.
"She wasn't the one who wanted space," Saitou corrected.
Aoshi responded coolly, "With all due respect sir, I don't-"
Saitou shook his head, smirking slightly, and said, "If you have any intention of getting your woman back…you better do it soon. Even if her relationship with Sagara is over…she may decide that she doesn't want you anymore..."
A/N: Just a couple more chappies to go. And everyone can thank eriesalia and Another Chance for inspiring me to write the latest chapter of After All (which should be posted soon). If it isn't one story, it's another…Now if only my muses would leave me alone and let me study…
