Yumi sat on her new futon for a while taking in everything that just happened to her, "If he thinks that he'll get me that easy he'll have another thing coming." Yumi smiled mischievously, she'd innocently entice Sano for the longest time until he can't deny he wants her, make him squirm.

Yumi became quiet comforted by this little scheme and borrowed a brush and started getting ready. She put the purple beads in her hair and cleaned up her kimono. Luckily she had some cosmetics tucked in her obi and touched up as best she could.

When Sano came out with a paper screen and placed it in the middle of the room Yumi decided this would be the best time to start her plan. She walked over to the door and slide it open aware that Sanosuke was watching her from the corner of his eye while setting up the screen. She leaned gracefully against the doorframe and as the breeze came threw she leaned her head back and closed her eyes exposing her bare leg slightly.

She sighed heavenly and looked over to Sano with a smirk, "Ready?" she asked in a low smooth voice.

Sano now turned towards her trying best not to look like he was watching her the whole time and walked out with Yumi closing the door behind him. As they walked up the street Yumi walked a little in front of him knowing he'd catch a look at her lower half.

Sanosuke hummed a little tune trying his best to distract himself but failing miserably. He did indeed looked and tried his best to give himself a pep talk in his head, "OK Sano, your only human but God man isn't anything forbidden! But look at her...she just asking for something. Yeah she's probably asking for trouble! Yumi is off limits! Remember that, Yumi off limits!"

As they were seated quietly Sano ordered two sakes, and chose their meals when Yumi started giggling; "Don't you remember Sano? This is the same spot where you tried to pick me up!"

Sano blushed a little but spoke up in his defense, "Yeah I was drunk so what? Can't a good liking drunk like me flirt with any girl he chooses?"

Yumi knew actually what to say, "So you checked me out on purpose?"

Sano knew this wasn't going to be an easy going evening like he planned but decided to play Yumi's game and smiled playfully, "Who knows? I sure don't remember what I do when I'm drunk," and he swallowed the whole glass of new sake.

Yumi only smiled devilishly, which Sano clearly saw, and started eating her meal. Everything was quiet as they ate a few honest jokes and laughs until they finished with their dinner and left for a walk back to his apartment.

Now they were both loosened up thanks to the sake but were sober enough. As they finished laughing from a more mature joke Yumi decided to prod at him again, "So Sagara, how come you can't seem to keep a girl long enough to actually remember her name?"

Sano of course didn't take any offense to this question knowing it was true, "I dunno, I just don't like to get burdened with responsibility."

Yumi laughed a little, "Typical men..."

Sano looked over to her hands in his pockets as they continued to walk, "Speaking of men, how come you never moved on after Shishio?"

Yumi became very quiet, the amusement in the air vanished and she spoke up softly, "Shishio was...a important person in my life and I guess you never really get over someone like that. Other men that seemed decent enough to date that approached me...I just never really wanted to admit Shishio was gone..."

Sano looked at her kindly, "Were you scared?"

Yumi looked up at him and remembered her little scheme and decided that the topic and her confession best dropped, "Sagara, we both know I can have any man I want whenever I want, so why should I fear them?"

Sano sighed knowing the topic was lost and decided to become playful again, "Oh yes that's right. The sexy, forceful girl, every man's favorite type."

Yumi looked over inquisitively, "Is that what you think I am Sagara? Sexy and forceful?"

Sano looked to the starry sky then at her. In truth he did but he wasn't about to let himself seem so desperate, "Yumi, I think your more than most can handle."

Yumi liked the sound of this, she knew Sano wanted to say something else, "No need to deny the truth Sagara. If you love me you should really just say so, it's a lot better that way."

Sano looked at her in almost disbelief, "What?! Oh jeez woman if you think I'm falling for you in the slightest bit you got another thing coming."

Yumi leaned toward him making him stop, "Do I?" she giggled and then strolled off.

Sano followed a good way behind her thinking to himself again, "C'mon Sano you'd could never get a girl like that, she out of your league. Besides what would you want a girl like that? Dangerous, provocative...with a great pair of legs. No! No! Sano she's not like all the others..." And with that they both entered the apartment and lit a lantern. Sano lent Yumi a robe and they slept on opposite sides of the screen and both fell into a confident slumber.

That morning Yumi woke up to the smell of something burning. She tightened her robe and stepped out from behind the screen to find poor Sanosuke struggling with boiling some water. Yumi sighed as he picked up the pot in frustration and threw the contents out the door.

"Home sweet home," she said.

Sano looked up in surprise to find her there, "Oh your up, umm looks like I'll have to swipe some food from the dojo." He opened the door and stepped out, "Yumi try not to move around my stuff too much."

"Why would I want to touch anything?" she asked.

"I dunno. It's just a girl thing," he stated and shut the door off to the dojo.

Yumi yawned and looked around the room, "Big dope. I could've cooked if he wanted." She picked up the pot, filled it with water, and set it above the new fire.

She walked around the little space and managed to find the newly bought duck eggs and dropped them in the pot. After a while the eggs were finished and Yumi quickly took them out and drained the water. She took some eggs for herself and left some in a bowl for Sanosuke when he returned.

As she peeled at the eggs Yumi wondered how early he got up to buy the eggs and why he was even bothering enough to make her breakfast. After wrestling this thought for sometime she just dismissed it thinking she was now his responsibility according to the doctor, and after all no man his completely heartless.

Then a sense of betrayal and guilty overcame Yumi, why had she thought instantly about Shishio while think about heartlessness? Did she really feel raw towards him for almost killing her? Yumi remembered Mt. Hiei and the incident there. Then she felt happiness for being of use to Shishio and grateful for all he did for her but did she hate him for what happened. She didn't know what to make of the matter and luckily Sano slid the door open when he did. He immediately saw the boiled eggs and rushed over to them and started eating while Yumi divided the extra food from the dojo among them.

"How come you didn't tell me you could cook the eggs?" asked Sano stuffing some bread and egg into his wide opened mouth.

"Well you never asked," she said calmly.

Sano of course was too busy gorging to respond and they ate to their content. It was about noon after Yumi and Sano finished bathing at the dojo while the others were out and they headed off into town.

"Why are you following me?" asked Yumi hotly.

"Well one, I can't leave you alone doctor's orders, and two I planned a day for us," said Sanosuke looking straight ahead.

"You planned a day? Really Sano you're showing more intelligence then I thought you were capable of," said Yumi mockingly.

"Very funny," he muttered. "Hurry up its this way!"

"And just where do you think you're hulling me off to?" she asked being pulled by his strong hand.

"We're taking a little walk to the more rural part of town to visit a buddy of mine," he replied.

"That's you plan? To have me tag along like some dog?"

They were just exiting the outskirts of the bustling town when Sano halted and grabbed her arm and pulled her close, "Hey, your no dog to me. Plus I want you to meet my friend, it wasn't because I need to."

"Why is that caring I sense in your voice?" said Yumi as they trotted off again.

"Yeah well get used to it. Until I your full recovered and find some place your stuck with me," he said modestly.

As they walked on the dirt road with grassy hills cascading on both sides of them and no one around Yumi became tired and they stopped under a tree for some shade.

"Ugh how long have we've being walking?" she groaned.

"Not long maybe a half an hour or so," he said trying to make out the little buildings in the distance.

Yumi rubbed her feet; "OK help me up lets get this over with."

Sano grabbed her arm and pulled her up but as soon as he let go of her, her legs gave way and luckily he caught her in time.

"Woah! Hey don't pass out on me here," he cried as he yanked her up and held her in front of him.

"Sorry it's just that I didn't know I was so tired. Ugh my legs feel like jelly," said Yumi trying her best to hold her own.

"Look its OK, I'll just carry you the rest of the way and HEY!" Yumi tried to stand up on her own and fell onto a small grassy hill and was gently rolling down. Sano thought fast and quickly ran out in front of her and managed to catch her. Unfortunately they both tumbled back and Yumi was on top of Sano huffing and puffing.

"Well, that was a little more fun then I wanted today," she said as she looked up from his shoulder.

Sano slowly opened his eyes to find hers staring back at his. They gazed at each other for a while unsure what to do. Sano brushed away the stray hairs from her face and held her in his hand.

"Sano..."she whispered.

At that moment Sano felt like he was waking up from a dream and quickly got up from the ground and helped Yumi up whom felt insulted by this.

"What's your problem?" she asked as he picked her up and carried her in his arms.

"Nothing," he said with a level voice. A part of him almost wanted her right there and then but he knew what he had to do first if he wanted to keep her.

"Then why'd you stop?" Yumi protested.

"Nothing started."

"You know very well if you didn't get up like that something would have!"

"Would it of Yumi! Until I know you're over Shishio then that's never going to happen! Until you can tell me truthfully your angry at him for almost killing you there's nothing!" yelled Sano silencing Yumi.

He carried her the rest of the way there that wasn't very long in silence, neither wanting to start a fight again. Yumi confused, Sano frustrated. Until they got to Katsu's little house did Sano set Yumi down on a spare futon and close her door did Sano speak only to Katsu out of her earshot. Yumi lay there on the bed trying to fall asleep but the thoughts in her head wouldn't rest. Confusion was tearing at her in the silence.

"I'm sorry Sano..."