First of all…let me say that it was really, really hard for me to write the previous couple chapters. I had decided long ago to have Aoshi and Megumi reconcile, but as time went on, I myself started to wonder who was the appropriate man for Megumi. It's probably Eriesalia's influence (yes, I'm talking to you, girl!!! =P), but I like both men for completely different reasons, and as Sanosuke was thinking about what could have been, I was, too.

Part 11: Disappointment

Day 16: Friday

            Early morning sunlight filtered in through the curtains of Megumi's bedroom. Aoshi had been awake for nearly ten minutes, as Megumi continued to sleep, curled against his side.

            He had arrived around midnight last night, as promised, after he had spent the day with Okina and Misao. Misao had grinned like the Cheshire Cat once she found out that he and Megumi had reconciled. Okina had made comments about him getting his head on straight. And sometime past eleven-thirty last night, they had nearly pushed him out of the house with an order to make up for lost quality time. 

            Lightly running his fingers over her hair, his fingertips grazed her bare shoulder, down her arm and up again to rest his hand over hers, which was placed above his heart. Instantly, he recalled their informal discussion about marriage.

            He'd been around her enough to know that she was wary of commitment. Usually men were the ones in the situation…not the women. He knew how she felt about him and there were some things that she expressed better through action than words. It had taken a while for Megumi to fully open up to him even after they had started dating. He had sensed that she kept a part of herself locked away. And yet…even now…

            The sound of a phone ringing caught his attention. He stilled as the machine picked up, tuning his ears to the message.

            "Hey, fox-lady, wondering if you're there…" Sanosuke's voice echoed in the living room.

            Why was he calling? Aoshi frowned in thought.

            Sanosuke knocked on the door to Megumi's apartment for the third time. It was eight-thirty in the morning. He doubted Megumi was still asleep. Maybe she was in the shower?

            "Come on, fox-lady, where are you?" he said to himself.

            As he raised his fist to knock again, the door swung open.

            "Shit."

            Aoshi lifted a brow. Judging by the state of Aoshi's clothes…khaki pants and blue collared shirt all hastily pulled on…Sano cursed himself for his timing.

            "Sorry," Sanosuke said sheepishly as Aoshi let him in. "Were you sleeping?"

            "Yes," Aoshi replied. "What are you doing here?" It was a casual question.

            "I'm supposed to go with him to meet his mother," Megumi answered from the hallway leading to her bedroom. She came forward, directing the comment to Sanosuke, "I didn't know you were going to go immediately the day after Christmas…"

            Sano shrugged. "I kinda want to meet her ASAP."

            Megumi nodded. "All right."

            "But…only if it's…okay…with you…" Sano glanced at Aoshi. "If you guys had plans…"

            Aoshi shook his head as Megumi spoke, "I don't need anyone's permission." She sent Aoshi a slight smile and turned away. "I'll get ready." Megumi moved to walk away.

            When she was out of the room, Sanosuke looked at Aoshi. "I'm glad things worked out."

            Aoshi studied him for a few moments before nodding in the direction of the balcony of her apartment. "Let's go outside."

            Oh, great, Sano thought, a feeling of dread coming over him. Aoshi moved to open the sliding door leading to the balcony while Sanosuke waited. What did he want? Sano wondered. By the time Sano had stepped outside, Aoshi was already there, leaning against the railing. Sanosuke closed the sliding door behind him.

            Aoshi was quiet for what seemed to be minutes, staring out over Waikiki from her multi-story complex. Sanosuke was dying here. What the hell was going on?

            "You…wanted to talk to me?" Sanosuke prompted.  

            "Yes." Aoshi glanced at him. "Megumi tells me that she considers you one of her good friends."

            "Th…That's right…" Where is he going with this?

            "And you?"

           "What…How…do I see her, you mean?" Sanosuke asked. He was starting to feel very uncomfortable under that stare. Did he treat all people that way when they were being asked questions? At the other man's nod, he responded, "The same."

            "Is that all?"

            Silence. "I'd be lying if I said yes," Sanosuke admitted.

            "I know," Aoshi responded.

            Sanosuke couldn't help but grin. "Can't blame me. You've got yourself a good woman. Stubborn as hell…but she definitely keeps things interesting."

            "That she does," he agreed wryly. His eyes narrowed slightly as he watched some birds fly in formations.

Sanosuke suddenly said, "I've…I've been lying to a lot of people about my relationship with Kat. I kept telling myself that things were perfect."

            "Relationships rarely are," Aoshi pointed out.

            "I know. Megumi and I…get along so great now that-"

           "I'm willing to acknowledge that you're going to be around for a while. And if you choose to spend a lot of time together, I won't stop you," Aoshi interrupted. "But if it starts affecting my relationship with her…then there's a problem."

            Sano nodded. "It's cool. A girl shouldn't be away from her man too much, anyway."

            "How long are you two planning to stay in Kona?" Aoshi asked.

            The younger man shrugged. "Whenever everything's done. Not like airlines don't have flights all the time, anyway…" He grinned. "I'll have her back before New Year's Eve."

            Aoshi shook his head, smirking slightly. "If not…you'd also have to explain to Captain Takani why you're kidnapping his daughter…"

            Immediately, Sanosuke scowled. "That's the last thing I want…he always talked to me like…" he coughed. "Never mind…"

            "Like what?"

            "Well…you're an officer. You wouldn't understand what it's like being at my pay grade and dating Megumi." Sanosuke shrugged. "He likes you."

            Aoshi moved his gaze toward the city. "He didn't as much when he saw me leave her apartment one morning." 

            Sanosuke couldn't help but laugh. Captain Takani was a father, all right, no matter how old his daughter got. "Ouch. Did he get over that?"

            "After a week." 

            The sliding door whooshed open and Megumi stepped out, wearing a red sundress, her hair left flowing loose around her shoulders.

            "Sano, I need to talk to Aoshi for couple minutes…"

            "Oh…" Sanosuke blinked. "Sure." He made his way back inside.

            Tipping her face up to meet his gaze, Megumi wrapped her arms around Aoshi's waist.

            He arched his eyebrows. "Did you forget to tell me that you'd be going out of town?"

            "I was distracted yesterday," she explained. At his expression, she elaborated, "Family…you…Besides, I didn't think I'd leave this quickly…" She was quiet for several moments. He idly ran his fingertips down her back, his eyes focused on something far away in the distance. Clearing her throat, she spoke up again, "Thanks for…being understanding…"

            "I'm trying," he admitted with a slight shrug.

            "I know." Content that they were alone, she brushed her lips against his. "If it makes you feel any better…we're staying in separate rooms…"

            A ghost of a smile turned his lips. "It helps."

            "I'll call you tonight." She released him reluctantly before heading back inside the apartment.

            Aoshi glanced out at the city again.

            "Sorry."

            Sanosuke had apologized for nearly the two hundredth time since they got to the airport. With their carry-on luggage stowed in the seats in front of them, Megumi and Sanosuke had settled in their assigned seats, the aircraft ready to take off Honolulu airport.

            Megumi closed her eyes. "Don't worry about it. I told you it's fine."

            "You look tired," he commented.

            Sighing, she adjusted the pillow propping her head. "No, I'm not."

            "Yeah, you are."

            "Well, it must be because I slept less than four hours last night…"

            "Damn. What time did you get back from Christmas dinner with your family?"

            Opening her eyes, she gave him a pointed look before settling against her pillow again.

            "Oh. Shit. Make up sex. Right," he realized lamely.

            "Please announce that to the rest of the world, Sano," she murmured.

            "Can I ask you something?"

            "What?"

            "Was it always like that?"

            "Like what?" Megumi stared at him, a puzzled expression in her eyes.

            "I don't know…he doesn't seem the type who'd be into that. He seems real…I guess…practical…? When it comes to relationships."

            "He is," Megumi admitted. "He believes that relationships should be on equal terms. It's give and take with him."

            The jet accelerated down the runway before lifting off.

            Sanosuke blew out a breath. "That was my mistake with Kat…"

            "What?"

            Sanosuke glanced out the window. "I spoiled her. Not necessarily with gifts…but more like…I did a lot of things for her…cooked for her, took care of her car, drove her to places…that kind of thing." He frowned. "It was more like I gave and she took."

            Megumi was silent for a moment. "When Aoshi and I first started dating…we did it the…smart way, I suppose?" She glanced at him and he nodded. "What we wanted in a relationship was the same, so we figured we'd try to make it work. I'm not saying that instant infatuation is bad…it just wasn't like that for us." She closed her eyes.

            "No…you did it the smart way…" Sano agreed. Then he grinned. "So does he satisfy you?"

            Megumi's eyes flew open and she stared at him incredulously. "I know I didn't hear what I think I heard."

            "I mean…you know…compared to others. I can honestly tell you that Kat was fun," Sanosuke interjected. "She wasn't as adventurous as other women I've been with, but I loved her at the time, so that didn't matter to me." 

            "And that's how it should be," Megumi pointed out.

            "I know. But she was too high-maintenance."

            Megumi sighed, studying her friend for a long moment. Were things really that bad between the two? "Do you miss her? In spite of that?"

            Sanosuke glanced out the window, sighing. "I did for a while. I got used to her being around…you know? I still think about her…but I'm relieved now that it's over. Being around her sometimes…it was…unpredictable."

            "But that's good."

            "Not when you're worried something might go wrong."

            "But you seemed so happy…" Megumi responded softly.

            He looked down at his knees, as if embarrassed to meet her gaze. "You guys were across the country and halfway across an ocean. You never saw what was really going on…" 

            "I'm sorry."

            "Me, too. You think I would have learned by now…" Sanosuke shook his head, smiling ruefully. "Kenshin and Kaoru make it look so easy…you and Aoshi are mature enough to get over your differences… but...I guess not everyone can be happy..."

            Megumi shook her head. He was depressed. It seemed so…unlike him. He always took life in stride…if things didn't go perfectly, screw it. That was the way Sanosuke saw things. "You're a good man, Sano. You'll find someone."

            "I thought I had…" he admitted. "Twice." 

            Looking away, Megumi absent-mindedly picked at loose threads on her dress.

            "Can I ask you something? And…you'll really think about it…not answer right away because-"

            "What?" she interrupted.

            "If…we had separated…grown apart like we did during your residency…then met again…and if you weren't already in love with someone else-"

            Smiling, Megumi responded, "I don't need to think about that answer."

            "Yeah?"

            "Yeah."

            He grinned. 

            "Is this it?" Megumi shaded her eyes as she examined the single story building overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

            Sanosuke checked the address twice already. "Yeah."

            As soon as they arrived at the airport, they took their rental car and drove off, stopping by a flower shop along the way. The small bouquet of various flowers in his hand shook slightly. He looked nervous. Really nervous.

            They made their way along the path leading to the front door. Just as Megumi reached up to ring the doorbell, Sano's hand caught her wrist.

            "Wait."

            "Wait?" Megumi echoed.

            "I can barely breathe," he whispered.

            "What?"

            "This is a big thing, Megumi. Maybe I should have called first…"

            "And say what? You're her long-lost son?" Megumi shook her head. "We're already here…it's too late to be thinking about a phone call…" And she rang the doorbell.

            "No, hey…aw…dammit. Now why'd you have to go and do that? You'd think-" he stopped short as the door swung open to reveal a petite Asian woman, her black hair pulled up in a bun. A long blue cotton tunic hung past her hips over loose cotton white pants.

            At the woman's blank stare, Megumi spoke up, "Hi. We're looking for Naname Kitagawa?"

            The woman glanced at her then at Sanosuke. "And you are?"

            "Uh…I'm…Sanosuke Sagara…her son," Sanosuke explained breathlessly. "This is Megumi, a friend of mine..."

            She stared at them blankly for several moements before stepping aside. "Come on in…"

            She led them into the house. With its spacious ceilings, it was a very inviting and airy living space. They passed by the dining room, where several other Asian women were playing cards. Poker, from what it seemed.

            "Thank you so much," Sanosuke began. "I've never seen her…at least that I can remember…and I'm not sure she even remembers me..."

            After a few moments, they reached the living room. Sanosuke's eyes darted rapidly around the room, barely noticing the appeal of the black and white photographs of various objects hanging from the walls.

            "Here she is…" the woman gestured to their surroundings.

            "What?" Confusion crossed Sanosuke's eyes.

            "This is where she is…"

            "I…I don't get it…" Sanosuke frowned.

            "These photographs…were hers…" Megumi said softly. Almost reverently, she reached up, gesturing to a photo with a single lily flower vase. "Look at how simple…yet elegant these pictures are…"

            "I…I-I thought she was here," Sanosuke stammered.

            "She is," the woman continued. "Her presence is felt in the house through her work."

            Alarmed, Megumi shot Sanosuke a look. "I take it that…she passed away?" she asked the woman. At her nod, she bit her lip. "We came from Oahu to meet her…"

            The woman lowered her gaze. "I'm sorry you've been inconvenienced…"

            "Is…there anything…you can tell us about her?" Megumi asked. Sanosuke looked as if the ground had disappeared beneath him. He was in no mood to talk. Megumi felt her heart go out to him. She could only imagine what was going through his mind.

            "I…don't think it's my place…" the woman hedged.

            "Oh. I understand." Megumi reached into her purse and pulled out a card. "If…If there's anyone who'd be willing to tell us anything…could you give them this?"

            The woman accepted the business card, scanning the information. "You work at Pearl Harbor…Dr. Takani?"

            "Yes."

            "I…will definitely keep this for reference…" The phone rang, and she excused herself before going to answer it.

            "Come on, let's just go, Megumi," Sanosuke muttered. "Let's cancel the hotel reservations and go back to Waikiki."

            "But Sano-"

            "Please."

            He looked so upset. As if his entire world collapsed. Maybe it had…

            From his position on the lawn, Aoshi studied the board thoughtfully. After a moment, he turned one piece over and Misao stared in shock as he calmly turned over ten pieces in Othello.

            "This sucks."

            "This was your idea," Aoshi pointed out with a slight smile.

            Misao moved to lie on her stomach on the blanket they had set on the lawn, looking over the board.

            Okina leaned towards them from his lawn chair before settling back, sipping his iced tea. "Misao…fifth column from your right side, six rows up."

            Immediately, Misao turned over the piece he indicated and turned fourteen pieces. "Ha!" she pointed at Aoshi triumphantly.

            Her guardian frowned slightly, his disapproval directed at Okina. "I thought you weren't going to help her…"

            "And watch her get slaughtered? Ha."

            "Hey!" Misao exclaimed.

            "I'm trying to help you," Okina pointed out. He looked up as a Lexus came to a stop along the curb in front of the house.

            The car's engine hadn't turned off when a man emerged from the passenger's side.

            Aoshi frowned instantly. "What are you doing back so early?" he called out, rising to his feet.

            Misao quickly switched several pieces once Aoshi became distracted.

            Sanosuke Sagara practically glowered at him as he came to stand several feet away. "What the hell are you trying to pull?" he demanded as Megumi emerged from the car and hurried over to stand near them.

            Aoshi's frown deepened. "I don't understand-"

            "I just went on a goose chase in Kona to find my mother. Who's dead," Sanosuke added flatly.

            Aoshi arched a brow. "Dead?"

            "Yes. Dead."

            Misao and Okina glanced at each other.

            "That's not correct," Aoshi replied.

            "You're damn-"

            "What happened?" Aoshi interrupted.

            "Nothing!" Sanosuke exclaimed. "We went to the address, this lady opened the door and showed us this room with all of my mom's photowork. There were all these other Asian ladies playing cards…and…that was it! Megumi asked her what happened to my mom and she passed away. That's it!"

            With slightly narrowed eyes, Aoshi concluded, "She was lying to you."

            "Why would she lie?" Sanosuke shook his head. "You could have made a mistake…you could have-"

            "Sano," Megumi cut in gently. "It's not like Aoshi to overlook something like that."

            Aoshi caught her gaze. Her faith in him indicated the trust she had for him. He wanted to thank her...but now wasn't the time. But the look in her eyes told him that she understood. It was enough for now.

            "All right, fine." Sanosuke grumbled, crossing his arms. "What can you tell me about my family, Iceman?"

            "What does that mean?" Aoshi met the other man's gaze directly, his own expression unwavering.

            "I want to know what you know," Sanosuke continued. "You know something. You told me that since my parents obviously haven't contacted me in so long…that might bring up something that shouldn't be brought up." He shrugged. "So what is it?" 

A/N: That's it for now! Don't know when the next update is…but on the plus side…visit my new site for all my AU fics. It's a lil incomplete, not all the fics or character profiles are up, but I'm working on that. www dot geocities dot com / cheriescorner / sentakushi dot html