Wake up Call

By: Ochako107

Standard Disclaimer

"Man, where IS everyone?" Sano had been furiously knocking on Aoshi's door for the past twenty minutes. "Kenshin's out with the scary Jou-chan, and Aoshi isn't home! Heh, probably making out with that little chick from yesterday."

Sano gave one last hard punch on the door and walked away from Aoshi's apartment. "What a day. Kami-sama must love me to give me such solitude on a beautiful day like this." He shuddered. "I've been around Shinomori too long."

Sano had walked all over town, enjoying his day off. Not on duty, no tickets to give, all was dandy. Well, almost.

"You stupid woman!" A loud smack echoed through the oddly empty street. "What kind of a wife are you? You can't even pick up simple dry cleaning without ruining it!"

"I said I was sorry! Do not smack me again!" A raven-haired women burst through her picket fence while clenching her fists. "I'm tired of you abusing me! It was an accident, the children were playing and I tripped into the mud!"

Two small heads peaked out from the door of the small, white house. "Don't you DARE raise your voice at me bitch! I own you!" He struck her again as she gasped and flew a few feet away. She stayed down as his rant filled her ears.

"You are a lazy wife! You can't cook shit! You are a terrible mother! You are a dirty son of a-"

"STOP!" Tears flew from the women's porcelain face. "Stop shouting at me! I try my best but it does no good! I TRY to be all you want me to be! I'm leaving you and filing for divorce! I'm taking the children with me you horrible monster! You are so different from the man I used to know; now you are nothing but a filthy low life!"

The women glared at her husband with cinnamon eyes. "You don't have control over me!"

The children began crying and shut the door afraid to see their mother hit again. "You will not disobey me!" Kanryu held his hand to strike Megumi again. Megumi closed her eyes and waited for the blow that never came.

"You know." A new masculine voice said smoothly. "Slavery ended quite a while ago, and I believe a wife is your life partner, not your servant. You are supposed to treat women with respect, last time I checked."

Megumi opened her eyes and turned to the spiky haired man holding her husband's wrist. 'What is he doing?'

"Well last time I checked, this was none of your business you street gangster." He snarled ferociously. "So get out of my way or-- OW!" Sanosuke narrowed his eyes and clasped harder on the wimpy man's wrist.

"Or WHAT." His voice was almost as icy as Aoshi, but obviously, not AS icy. "What will you do to me?" Kanryu smirked and gave a bitch slap.

"Ha, and I'm just warming up."

Sano flexed his face back and smirked, just staring at the idiot. "You are a moron." He punched him in the face, knocking a few of his pretty little teeth out of his mouth. "What kind of an offence was that? I can't even write you up for hitting an officer. I know grandmas who hit me harder than that." Sano spit on him and turned to Megumi.

"Oi. Ma'am are you okay there?" Sano crouched down towards the sniffling women. "I'm sorry that man you call your husband was abusing you. I'll be calling the station right now. Is there anything I can do to help?"

"No." Megumi raised her head with all the dignity she could muster. "I'm fine; I do not need your pity, so please leave me alone." She got up as her bangs covered her eyes.

"I do not think you will be okay with this man… what's your name?" He brushed the hair out of her face.

"I am Megumi…" She slapped his hand away from her.

"Ah… Megumi, what a beautiful name." Sano replied.

Megumi pulled at a piece of her hair and sneered. "Do you not know I am a married woman?"

"From what you were shouting before, I thought you were filing divorce." Sano smirked.

"And I'm not seeing anyone right now! I'm in a crisis right now and the last think I need to worry about is myself thank you!" She brushed past him and Sano just stood. He listened to her footsteps, which stopped abruptly.

"I was once married." Megumi gasped and listened to Sano. "She was a wonderful wife. She was everything to me. I'd give the world to her if I could. Obviously I wasn't enough for my darling, Sayo." Sano looked down at his feet. Megumi turned her head to look at Sano over her shoulder.

"She thought lowly of me after a while. She hated my job since I was out at night. She complained my hair was unruly. The simple things ya know?" Megumi silently agreed as she clutches the hem of her apron.

"One night, I came home. We had been married for about 4 months. I found her… in bed with someone else."

"I'm so sorry."

Sano continued as if Megumi hadn't said anything. This was the first time he'd talked about it and of all people a foreigner who he'd never see again. "I just stared at her… and left the house. There was nothing for me there. We divorced the following week." Silence hung in the air.

"A month after that, while drinking with my buddies, I got a call at the hospital. My ex wife had been in a car accident and was instantly killed by impact."

"Mr.…"

"Sanosuke. Sagara Sanosuke."

"Ah, well, Sanosuke. Thank you for telling me that tale." She turned around to meet his doubting eyes. "Really. That… means a lot to me." She smiled sadly. "Would… you like to come in? Maybe you'd like something to drink."

"Ah, if that's okay with you, Megumi." He glanced at the unconscious man on the floor. "I think he needs to spend sometime out here."

"Ohoho! I agree!" Sano stepped into the house to meet two adolescent kids.

"Hello there." He waved. The children cowered behind Megumi.

"Mama? Who is that rooster headed man?" The young girl asked.

"Yeah, yeah! Rooster rooster!" The other girl whispered.

"ROOSTER?!" Sano laughed and knelt down to the girls. "Now see here! I'm no-"

"Look Ayame, his hair really IS like a rooster."

"And it sticks up too, Suzame." Ayame whispered back. Megumi giggled at her children, as Sano became SD.

"Children, this is Sanosuke."

"Why do you carry a gun Sanosuke-san?" Suzame pointed at Sano's waist.

"I'm a police officer. I help keep bad people away from small girls like you." He wiggled her nose as she giggled in delight.

Ayame, the older girl, tapped her chin. She pulled Sano's ear towards her as she whispered. "Mr. Rooster? Does that mean you will keep daddy away from mama too?"

Megumi's eyes weld up as she tried not to cry. "Ah, yes little one. That means I will help keep your daddy from hurting your mommy." The two girls smiled wide and hugged Sano.

"Arigatou tori-atama!"

"TORI-ATAMA?!"

"Ohoho!" Megumi tapped her chin. "I'm sorry Sanosuke, but it IS true!" Sano patted his hair.

"Oh well, I guess so." He turned to look at Megumi. "Please don't cry Megumi, we'll have you taken to the station and help you out."

"Can we come?" Ayame asked instantly latching onto his leg. "I've never been inside a police station before!"

Sano and Megumi smiled. "Ah, sure I guess so." The little girls cheered as they went to grab their shoes and jackets. Sano pulled out his phone and beeped Kenshin.

Megumi shyly tapped Sano on the shoulder. "I appreciate everything you are doing Sano."

"Yes. I can't stand guys like him anyway. I'll have someone come and take him under custody, Megumi." He put his hands on her shoulders. "I promise, nothing bad will happen to you anymore. I promise."

"Aoshi?"

"Hai."

"Do you enjoy your job?"

Aoshi glanced at the fidgeting girl. "Well, it's satisfying, but I don't really like putting my existence on the line. I want to help save people though so I don't see any other choice."

"Oh." There was silence until they reached the station. Misao looked up into the building and just stood there with her hands clasped together.

Aoshi offered her his arm. "Ready?" She giggled and slipped her arm into his. They went inside and instantly saw the familiar rooster hair.

"Yo Rooster!" Misao bounded over to him. "I can't believe you would dare Aoshi to do such a thing! Didn't you notice who I was?"

"Aren't you Jo-chan's friend?" He asked looking up from paper work. She smiled and nodded her head. "Nope, never heard of you." Misao became angry and was about to deck him when Aoshi stepped in.

"Sagara."

"Heeey ice-block."

"Well? What did you want?" His voice was as smooth as glass.

"Oh, I was walking around today and a man was abusing his wife. Tankani Megumi has reported sever bruises, scars, and…well she's not in the best shape. She has two children though. They are as healthy as can be. I've taken them here while another officer is taking Kanryu in custody."

"Okay."

"I want you to interview him please." Sanosuke sat back in his chair and grinned. "No one can get someone to talk better than you ice-block."

"Aoshi is NOT an ice-block!" Misao argued. Sano waved her off which upset her to no end.

"Sano-nii!" Two little girls ran over to Sanosuke with little hands wanting to be carried. They looked curiously at the two new strangers.

"Hi, I'm Misao." She smiled warmly at the children.

"Wow Misao-san… you're hair is very pretty."

"Well why don't we sit over there and leave Sano and Aoshi do their work?" The girls agreed and ran away from Sano following Misao.

"Thanks." Sano replied. He looked at Aoshi who was just gazing at Misao. "Don't tell me you're becoming a softy on me too!"

"No, not yet anyway."

The afternoon proceeded. Megumi was at the clinic being treated, Aoshi was interviewing Kanryu, Sano was at his desk doing paper work and Misao babysat the two girls. As it became late, Aoshi emerged from the interviewing room.

"Hey, how did it go? Is he chicken or what?"

"That guy is a wimp. He didn't even put up a fight." Aoshi responded. Sano began laughing hysterically. Aoshi noticed the small bundle in the crook of the station. He found two children sleeping peacefully embraced by a woman with long black tendrils waving around her small form. He stared in awe at the sight before him. Sano noticed Aoshi spacing out and nodded.

"They've been asleep." Aoshi nodded and walked over to Misao. Staring down at her, he had to fight the urge to stroke her glossy hair. He pulled off the trench coat and wrapped it over the three girls. He then walked to the opposite end of the station and sat on the bench watching the woman he came to know breath slightly and sniggle into his coat. Sano shook his head and walked back to his desk. The night carried on as everyone drifted off to sleep.

Sunlight hit Misao's eyes the next morning. "Awwwwww." She yawned. She felt the warmth of the bodies still next to her and a light sent of tea aroma mixed with… something… she couldn't put her finger on it but who the hell cared; it was a wonderful feeling. "Ayame? Suzame? Wake up now." She said with her eyes closed.

"We're over here, Misao!" Misao opened one eye to find a woman, Ayame, Suzame, and Sano sitting at Sano's desk eating fruit. "Good morning!"

Wait then what was the warmth around her? She carefully gulped and looked up to find a slumbering Aoshi. "Eep!"

"Hey, I just moved you over since the girls wanted to get up. Hope you don't mind." Sano grinned.

"Yeah, across the room and right on top of Aoshi!" Misao whispered. She carefully lifted the coat off her and wrapped it on Aoshi. She found her hair a bit frizzy but was in no mood to care as she walked to Sano's desk.

"So I take it you are Megumi?" Misao asked politely as she snatched a fruit from Sano's hand.

"Yes."

"I'm Misao. I'm glad you are feeling better. Sano was worrying about you, you know."

"Oh he was, was he?" Megumi raised an eyebrow at Sano who began choking on his food.

"Yeah. I guess he was!"

"What about you, Misao?" Sano shot back taking the fruit back from Misao. "Shinomori over there stayed up half the night just staring at you. How boring looking at an ugly little weasel like you."

Misao gasped and pulled at her hair. 'WHAT! I aught a kick his tiny ass all the way to… well some where really far! I can't be THAT ugly! And why this early in the morning?! I didn't even go home-- oh baaad Misao. I know Kaoru will be giving me a lecture later on. But still! Stupid Sano don't have to point out my every flaw, at least I know how to use a HAIR BRUSH! I better make a good comeback.' She thought vivaciously. Yet the only words that came out of her mouth were: "I…I…"

"Misao is beautiful." They all turned around to find Aoshi's frigid eyes staring at them sleepily. "Do you concur, Sagara?" Misao gulped but had to admit he looked pretty cute all sleepy and his hair tousled like that.

"Nope." He replied quickly taking a huge gulp of the peach he was just eating. 'Why does he always give me those eyes? They are so creepy!'

"Ah, Tankani-san I presume."

"Hai, that's me."

"I have spoken with Kanryu and I have decide he is to be on trail then sentenced to jail in due time. The nurse says your injures will mend in time but mentally..." He paused. "She said that's up to you. In time you will have to get along with life again. She recommends a physiologist if you need to talk to someone."

"I see…" She looked down as Sano stared at her.

"Awe come on, Kitsune!" He took her by the shoulder. "Look on the bright side! You're free! And if you ever need help, you can always count on meeeeee…" Everyone stared at him. "Uuuuuuuuuuuus! Yeah us!" He blushed a tinge.

"Thank you… Sano." She took hold of his hand and they didn't move out of that position. "That means the world to me. I now know I can move on and prepare myself for the next step in my life." He nodded solemnly and Megumi smiled.

"Come here, loves. Mommy loves you both very much and we will get out of this safely. I love you two so much."

"We love you, mommy. Don't cry anymore, please?" Ayame said as both children hugged their mother.

"Yes… no more tears." The watched the family

Misao smiled wide and gathered her things. "Well this has got to be the oddest, best, funniest day I've had. I'm afraid I've got to be going now though. There are too many things to do at home. I really hope to see you all again." They waved good bye to the small girl as she and Aoshi made their way outside.

"Thank you for a great day Aoshi. I hope to do it again sometime." She pulled her purse over her jacket and moved her long flowing hair from her face.

Aoshi nodded and grinned nicely. 'Well it's a start. Not a smile, but close enough.' "Ah, it had been one of my more exciting days for me also."

They stood there for a while until Misao huffed a small laugh. "Do you remember the first time we saw each other two days ago? Who would have thought we'd be here right now? I mean, what a crazy day it's been and all cause that ba-"

Aoshi kissed Misao briefly on the cheek while pulling her close to him. She breathed in and fluttered her eyes open. He backed away and looked down at the sidewalk, running the same hand that he touched her with through his hair. "I'm sorry, that was uncalled for."

She licked her lips as a devil of a smile crossed them. "Ha. You missed you know? If you can't give me a smile at least a kiss on the lips would suffice." He stared at her with an eye brow raised. Misao laughed and pulled his head down to her level as she planted a full kiss onto his own warm lips. He ran a hand through her silky strands as she tip toed still holding his face between her petite hands.

She let go of him as her feet touched the floor, still beaming with that treasured smile. He caressed her cheek with his thumb as she laughed. "I'll call you sometime Makimachi Misao." She fingered her lips and nodded.

"Yeah." She smiled. "I'll be looking forward to it." He nodded and flagged down a taxi. As it rolled by the curb, Aoshi gave the man money and said to drive the young lady wherever she wanted. With that, Aoshi closed Misao's door and she pecked him on the cheek one more time. "Till next time. Bye."

"Good bye." He watched the yellow taxi cab drive away, silently wondering what their next meeting would hold in store.

Once again, Misao pulled out her cell phone and dialed the same number she had dialed that fateful night on the road.

"Lo?"

"Hey, Kaoru, you would not believe what just happened."

"I wouldn't believe? You wouldn't believe what happened to me! Kenshin finally made me his girlfriend! He even gave me a promise ring! Oh, Misao," She could hear her friend sighing wistfully into the receiver, "I've been waiting for Kenshin to say that to me. Next is for us to get engaged! Then marriage! Oh, I have the perfect wedding dress in mind—and mind you, you will be my bride's maid! It will be wonderful! Oh and think of our children, they will be so cute! Don't you think, Misao? Misao…?"

"What? Oh yea, they'll be really cute, Kaoru. Whatever you say… whatever you say." Misao herself was thinking about a certain tall male and what their future would be like. This time they had kissed but what about next time? Surely it would be profound, extensive, passionate and…

She shook her head at the fantasy thoughts and hit her head a few times. She watched the world pass by her window as she partly listened to her friend's over excitement on the phone.

'One step at a time, Misao… one step at a time.'

OWARI
(End)

Thanks so much for reading this short piece! I hope you liked it enough to review with a positive note! But if not, review anyway! Thanks for stopping by— see you later!