In response to previous reviews...

Eriesalia - I love Sano. He's got to come out on top somehow. Megumi definitely won't make things easy on Aoshi. He might have to drag her to the altar. lol

Mij - Thanks, I think a lil humor is needed throughout this drama...

Leila - Your reviews always crack me up. Since the bet will take place at a very expensive restaurant, all the losers chip in to buy a 3-course meal. The winner is the one closest to the date without going over. Yes, Aoshi is SOO cute. =P

ChiisaiLammy - Thanks...it's taken a while to really finetune the main characters. I feel like I leave Kenshin and Kaoru out of the loop sometimes, so I want to add them when I can. I might write a short fic about their move-in day. I've found that life throws the most interesting situations and with a lil twist on things, they could end up as very entertaining stories.

NightRain2 - Congrats on the new job. Hope everything goes well for you.

Shimizu Hitomi - I had Okina in mind when I created Kyoko. As for Sano meeting his Mom...we'll see. Depends on the story flow.

Trupana - You should update too. =P As for Sano, I do plan to do something. Not quite sure yet. Feel kinda bad for leaving him hanging. I'm sure you and a couple others wouldn't mind the men in that universe. I think of the women when I'm writing AU Sano and Aoshi...

Little_owl - Time will tell. =P

Kenshinobsesssion - Yay, an open-minded reader! I think it's safe to say that the Aoshi/Megumi/Sano triangle has ended, so you probably don't have to worry about Aoshi/Megumi anymore. Or do you??? =P

On to the fic…

~~~

Part 14: Trying

Day 19: Monday

            "You've been really out of it lately," Julia commented before taking a sip of her soda as she waited in line with Kat to return their purchases.

            The other woman sighed, looking away. "Well…"

            "You did what you had to do," Julia assured. "Sanosuke was a nice guy and all…but if he's got some emotional baggage, it needs to be gone before you two can get together and settle down."

            "I let him go," Kat stated wistfully. "I don't think he'd come back after that…"

            "Again…you did what you had to," Julia insisted.

            "You know what I miss the most? He always knew how to make me laugh." Kat closed her eyes. "I treated him so badly…putting my family first…when I really should have been paying more attention to my fiancé. You don't know how many times I've cut our time together because my mom wanted my help with something."

            "She's your mom. That's okay."

            "It wasn't to him. Other times, he could understand…but when I made promises to be with just him that day…it made him angry. My mom was more than able to take care of her errands on her own." She bit her lip. "Family's always been important to me…but…"

            "It's part of your culture," Julia interjected. "Close family ties exist, and he should accept that."

            "He did. To some extent."

            "He planned to marry into that family, he should have adjusted."

            "No…he was marrying me. Not my family." Kat looked up to see a couple her age staring at a box which contained a 1/4 carat diamond ring.

            "I really think we should return it," the woman said softly, but not soft enough so Kat couldn't hear her. "It's too much…and with us saving up to move into a new place…"

            "Darling…I only want to make you happy. This makes our engagement official…"

            The woman looked at the man, smiling tenderly as she squeezed his hand. "I don't need a diamond ring to tell everyone I'm engaged…"

            "If returning this is what you want…" he sighed heavily.

            "Ick. Talk about gross city…" Julia whispered.

            Kat immediately began digging into her purse wallet before extracting three department store gift cards. Then she tapped the woman on the shoulder. "Excuse me…" she held up three cards. "This might help. There's about four hundred dollars on these combined…"

            They stared at her in shock.

            "Next?" the customer service clerk spoke up.

            "You can check to see how much," Kat assured.

            "Kat! What are you doing?" Julia hissed.

            "Can I help who's next?"

            As the couple stood in shock, Kat moved forward. "I'd like to see how much is on these cards…"

            The clerk scanned them quickly. "Five hundred dollars, ma'am."

            "Thanks." Kat turned to the couple and pressed the cards in the woman's hand. "There. You can return the ring and buy yourselves another one. A bride and groom wedding set, maybe. Their New Year's Eve sales are practically steals."

            "I…I…" the woman stammered.

            "Kat…" Julia stared at her friend in shock.

            "Thank…you…but…why?" the man asked.

            Taking a deep breath, Kat answered, "That doesn't matter. Just…promise that you'll never put anything else above each other."

            Their faces lit up.

            "Thank you…and…happy…holidays…" the woman spoke up.

            With that, Kat immediately moved away from the line, heading out of the department store and into the main mall.

            Julia scurried to catch up with her. "What was that about? I've never seen you give away something like that. Ever."

            Kat blew out a breath and pulled out her cell phone. Then she rummaged through her purse. "Where is it…I know I have his card here somewhere…Where…? Ah!" She pulled it out and began to dial the number.

            Julia's eyes rounded. "Why are you calling him?"

            "I want to see if Sano's okay…"

            "And you're calling him??"

            Kat shot her a look. "Of course. Do you think Sano would actually want to talk to me?" When a voice answered, she cleared her throat. "Hi, it's Kat." Pause. "I'm doing okay, how about you?...I heard that you two…oh, you did? That's great! Well…the reason I'm calling is…"

~

            "I'm sorry if I called you last minute," Lynne apologized.

            "It's okay. I'm surprised you called, that's all…" Sano drove through the streets in the vehicle he borrowed from Kenshin.

            "Thank you so much for doing this." Lynne smiled. "I've always wanted to see the Sagara Foundation…see what kind of programs they have for children…but…I was always afraid to call. Cynthia's place had a different purpose…I always felt insignificant…"

            "You shouldn't feel that way," Sano stated. "The foundation had the same purpose as Cynthia did to help people."

            Once they arrived at the establishment, Sanosuke parked his car and headed inside, gesturing that Lynne follow him.

            He had been surprised when Lynne called, requesting to see the Sagara Foundation. She was in Honolulu on business and was curious to see what the place was like.

            They were both greeted to white walls and plush gray carpeting. The walls were decorated with children's drawings and paintings. The sound of laughter could be heard coming from the back of the house.

            Sanosuke opened an office door and sauntered in, much to Lynne's surprise.

            "Walking in without permission…only Sanosuke…" one man spoke up from his position at his desk, brush in hand.

            Sanosuke grinned. "Who else?" He turned. "You can come in."

            Lynne moved forward. "You two know each other? So…familiarly like that?"

            The man at the desk smiled wryly before setting his brush down. "Unfortunately."

            Sano grunted and gestured to the head of the foundation with his thumb. "This is Tsunan Tsuikioka. We grew up together here. This is Lynne Roberts."

            "Nice to meet you," Lynne greeted, holding her hand out to shake.

            "The pleasure is mine," he responded, rising to his feet and accepting her hand. Then his brow furrowed. "Wait…you're Naname Roberts' daughter."

            "What?" Sanosuke's eyes flew to hers. It certainly didn't take long for him to put two and two together.

            Lynne froze.

            "That's right...your mother runs the Cynthia Matthews Manor on Kona with her sister," Katsu murmured. "I saw an article on the manor several months ago."

            "I thought the woman passed away," Sanosuke said tightly.

            "Cynthia? Yes. But the two sisters took over and have been in charge ever since."

            Sanosuke turned to Lynne, studying her carefully. Now that he had a chance to really look…he could see traces of Asian heritage in her hair and eyes. "You let me think that she was dead."

            Katsu became silent, unsure of what to say.

            Lynne sighed. "Sanosuke, look…"

            He began to shake. "So…this makes you what? My half-sister?" Sanosuke swallowed. "Damn…a week ago…I was ready to accept not having a family…Just a couple days ago…I find out that my grandfather's always known that I've existed…and that I now have a sister…Does anyone on either side of the family even want to know I exist? Why the hell is everyone so damned determined to hide things from me?!"

            "Sanosuke…wait…" Lynne grabbed his arm as he turned to leave.

            "I'll leave you two…" Katsu quickly left the room.

            She managed to snatch him back. "I'm sorry you had to find out this way, but I was going to tell you sooner," Lynne insisted.

            "Bullshit," Sanosuke retorted, turning back to her. "You met me a couple days ago knowing full well who I was-"

            "I'm only trying to protect Mom!" Lynne interjected. "She was miserable for a long time without you! You have to understand what she was going through. When your dad took you away-"

            "He didn't take me away," he interrupted coldly. "My grandfather did. Both of my grandfathers. They didn't think my dad and my mom should have married, so they took away the one thing that would tear them apart."

            Lynne's eyes widened. "I…I'm sorry…You didn't…say anything when we met…"

            "That's just stuff you don't share with strangers..."

            Nodding, Lynne took a deep breath. "Mom always believed that your father took you away…so I had to meet you myself. She's always wondered what had happened to you…but she was afraid to contact you thinking that your father brainwashed you or something…into hating her…She had all kinds of ideas…she thought that your father cheated on her and wanted to take you away and have you just to himself…she…She had so many ideas…"

            "Hey." Sano crossed his arms. "My father didn't cheat on her. He loved her."

            "Did he?"

            "Yes," he insisted.

            Lynne sighed. "When you and Megumi came to visit…Mom was away…doing errands. When my aunt told me what happened…Mom refused to believe it. She's had so many hopes…she doesn't want to deal with that. She's happy…she and my dad love each other…he knows about your father and you…and he accepted that."

            "Look, my grandfather already made his message clear…let me just save you the time," Sano said, his eyes narrowing with resolve. "I'll stay out of your lives. You've made it pretty obvious that-"

            "She's not ready to meet you yet!" Lynne insisted. "Megumi and I were thinking on how to get you two-"

            "Megumi's in on this?!" he exclaimed. "Great! What-"

            "She cares a lot about you," Lynne stated. "I told her to keep everything a secret until the time was right."

            There was silence for a few moments. Sanosuke turned away, rubbing his neck. "My head hurts…"

            "How do you think I feel?" Lynne sighed, closing her eyes. "I've known about you for years…I...I always wanted to meet you, but I didn't think it was possible." At his silence, she continued, "I thought you could have been dead…you didn't know anything about Mom…anything…"

            He turned to exit the office.

            Lynne opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off.

            "I'm not going anywhere. Not yet," he assured before turning into the hallway.

            Lynne realized that he was headed to the back of the house. Where the children resided. They walked through several open rooms before he stopped at a window seat, watching as children of various age groups played outside on the playground.

            "I leave for Virginia after New Year's," Sanosuke said quietly. "I don't think she'll be ready before then."

            "You…you make it sound as if you don't plan on coming back here…"

            His brown eyes moved to study her for a few minutes.

            "What?" she asked, shifting slightly.

            "Nothing," he said, shrugging. "Just…I never thought I'd have a sister…and…after everything that's happened to me the last two weeks…"

            Impulsively, she grabbed his forearm. "Whatever happened between Mom and your dad…I…I'd really like to get to know you. I never had any siblings…and…I know it sounds weird, but…it doesn't feel right you going so soon…"

            "I have to," he said quietly.

            "Why? It's holiday. Your navy base doesn't open until when?"

            He sighed. "It's not that I can't take time off. It's just that…"

            "What?"

            "I…I have a lot going on in Virginia…"

            "You're military. I know you're busy. But-"

            "It's more than that," he cut her off. He studied her, seeing the hopeful expression in her eyes. After all this time…his stepmother and sister were the only ones willing to accept him? Was this the only family he could really have? Maybe there was something to be said about family ties…he barely knew Lynne Roberts, but he already felt a connection to her. He really, really didn't want to disappoint her. He looked away. "Before I came here…my fiancée dumped me the day before our wedding…"

            Her jaw dropped. "You…were going to get married…? But…what…what happened?"

            He stuffed his hands in his pockets and grumbled, "I never really understood the reason until I came here…"

            "But…"

            "It's a long story, and-" he stopped when she propelled him towards the backyard. "What are you doing?"

            "We're going to a tea shop, and you're going to tell me all about it. After we say goodbye to your friend…"

~

            "So that's it? She just told you to go to Hawaii and find yourself?" Lynne asked after her third cup of mango black tea.

            "Yeah…"

            "So…after you…find yourself…can you go back to her?" Lynne frowned.

            "Hell if I know." Sano sighed. "I'm thinking that being single is the better option for me…"

            Lynne smiled wryly. "Drama queens and their family? Definitely." Lynne propped her cheek in her palm. "So this whole thing with Kat…you think she was the one for you?"

            "It's kind of hard to say now…" he admitted. "I thought she was. But then again…I never really stopped caring about Megumi…"

            "Well, you guys are friends. She seems nice." Lynne studied him. She had heard the whole story about Kat and Sanosuke's wedding weekend. She also was told about Megumi and Sanosuke's relationship years earlier. "Does she know how you feel about all of this?"

            "She's in love with Aoshi," Sanosuke stated.

            "But it doesn't stop how you feel."

            "True. He knows that, too."

            "What?"

            "They were on break for about a week or so because of what happened in Virginia. Until Aoshi made up with her. He's crazy about her. He tries not to let it show…but you can tell. He's already making plans to marry her…"

            "Sounds serious."

            "Anyway, he and I talked a little…he doesn't have a problem with Megumi and I being friends…he just doesn't want his relationship to suffer because of it. So if I'm taking too much of her time, I'm going to have to step back once in a while."

            "Sounds like he was willing to do the one thing Kat couldn't…"

            "Yeah. He's a good guy. He'll take care of her." Sanosuke sighed.

            "Must not be easy…on the outside…in front of everyone…you accept it, but inside…"

            "I feel like I'm losing my best friend," he admitted, shrugging. "In a way, I am."

            "I don't think so." Lynne shook her head. "The fact that she went with you to Kona. That says a lot about your friendship." She smiled. "But you're single again, so why worry?"         

           Sanosuke shook his head. "I'm just remembering why I got out of the dating scene in the first place…I was tired of it. I wanted to settle down…" He looked at her. "What about you? Any ex-boyfriends who need to be rearranged?"

            Lynne sighed. "Who hasn't had those?"

            "Me."

            "You know what I meant…"

            He grinned. "I know."

            "But to answer your question…I've had my share of bad relationships. For the most part…I help out at the center."

            His eyes turned serious. "So…how is…Mom? Seriously."

            "She's good," Lynne responded. She cleared her throat. "It…might take time, Sanosuke. I believe you…when you say what happened between you and your grandfathers. One of my grandfathers. Whatever. But she may not be ready just yet."

            "Will she ever be ready?"

            "I don't know…" Lynne sighed. "I wish you didn't have to leave…"

            "Me too," he admitted.

            "But I don't blame you for going back. It sounds like you have a lot to handle…" Lynne pursed her lips. "So maybe I can visit you."

            Pause. "I'd like that."

            "But not in the winter time. It's too cold…" Lynne added, laughing at the look in his eyes.

            "Hey, I lived in Hawaii until I was eighteen," Sanosuke retorted. "If I can tolerate it, so can you..."

            They sat in companionable silence.

            She coughed slightly when she noticed that he was looking at her directly. "What?"

            "Nothing. Just…I have a sister. It…hasn't sunk in yet. I didn't…think I'd meet any family here…and…well…" he faltered.

            "I know what you mean," she responded. "One step at a time. Just take one step at a time…"

A/N:

Okay, so no A/Meg goodness for any fans. Oh well. As for Katsu's name, Katsu/Tsunan/artist/newspaper guy…no use in making things TOO complicated. =P

NEXT – More Sano arc. Whee.