#Finally#

"Just sit down right here." Megumi helped him to the usual stool. Sano's face was still slightly contorted with pain.

"It doesn't hurt so much anymore."

"I still need to look at it. Can you take your jacket off?"

Sano began to pull his arm out of his sleeve when he stopped with a short cry.

"I guess I'll have to do it," Megumi sighed. She looked at him and bit her lip. What was wrong with her? She had seen him with his shirt off many times. But, something has changed . . .

Megumi hesitated for a moment then gently began to slide the jacket off his shoulders and past his arms. She took a quick glance at his face. He was just staring straight ahead.

Megumi shook clear her thoughts and went back to the task at hand. She was going to have to unwrap the bandages around his stomach. She cleared her throat and wrapped her arms around his torso.

"Uh . . . Megumi?"

"I have to unwrap these bandages to see the damage, imbecile."

"Geez, you don't have to get all snippy about it."

"Well, if I'm snippy, it's your fault!"

"How is it my fault?"

"You are such an idiot . . ." Megumi muttered.

"How am I an idiot?" Sano yelled back.

"You just are!" Megumi shouted as she fought the tears that were beginning to prick her eyes. She continued to unwrap the bandage. Each time she pulled the bandage around his back, her lips were inches away from his bare shoulder. Megumi fought against the thrill that coursed through her insides and pleaded with her mind to stay on task.

Finally the bandages were off and Megumi was staring at very muscular and very bruised stomach. (A/N: Sano's got an eight pack. Ow!) Megumi gently probed the area with her fingers, wincing each time Sanosuke sharply sucked in his breath.

"Sorry."

"Naw, it's okay, I got it battling for a noble cause," he gave Megumi a lopsided grin that took her breath away.

"Well," she said after further inspection, "it looks like the damage isn't took serious. You just have few bruised ribs."

"I could've told you that," Sanosuke grunted, wincing again from her inspection.

Megumi glared at him.

"Well, I could've!"

Megumi still didn't answer but pulled out a new roll of bandages and her special salve. She dipped her white fingers into the jar and began to gingerly rub it on his stomach.

The gasp that Sanosuke gave then did not sound pain induced. Megumi continued to gently rub it on until suddenly Sano stopped her with his left hand. She felt him take a deep, shaky breath. She slowly looked up and saw that his eyes were closed.

"Megumi . . ." He said her name softly but, so much warmth behind it.

"D-Does it hurt?" She asked.

". . . No . . ." Sano removed his hand and let it drop to his side. Megumi then noticed that her heart had been racing. She took a breath, finished the job then began to re-bandage his torso. Once again her lips kept ending up inches away from his shoulder. Her heart was pounding and her hands were not obeying her. Megumi fumbled with the roll, making her pause at his shoulder long than usual. Finally she got a firm grip on the muslin. She was about to continue when she felt a pair of warm, gentle, lips on her neck.

"Megumi . . ."

The lady doctor closed her eyes against the overwhelming passion that radiated from him and answered in her. Her resolve broke when she felt his arms wrap firmly around her. Megumi removed her head from his shoulder and found herself inches away from his face. In the next moment he was kissing her with fervor that she never had known.

"I . . . I can't keep it inside any longer," she heard him say in a hoarse voice, "I . . . love you . . . Megumi."

A tear slid down Megumi's cheek. That was the change. She smiled a smile bigger than anyone had ever seen on her. "And I love you, you stupid Rooster!" She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him close. But then Megumi quickly detached herself.

"Oh! I'm sorry, I forgot!"

Sanosuke grinned. "So did I. But, it's okay, thanks to that salve the pain's already gone."

"Good." Then, Megumi gave him a mischievous smile and slowly bent down and kissed his stomach. Sano moaned with pleasure and when Megumi raised her head he cradled her face in his hands and kissed her again.

Kaoru Kamiya walked into the clinic the next morning to invite Megumi to come to come to the harbor with Kenshin, Yahiko, and her, to see the merchant ships from America come in.

"Megumi?" Kaoru walked down the corridors and glanced in the rooms until she came to Megumi's room. "Megumi? Are you in there? Megumi? I hope she's not sick . . . Megumi, I'm coming in." Kaoru slid the door open and at once wished she didn't. Megumi was indeed asleep . . . but she was not alone.

As Kaoru closed the door a relieved smile spread across her face. "Finally . . . they found each other."

The End # # # # # # # # I hoped you enjoyed it! Bye!