"speech"

'thoughts'

THE ONLY ONES LEFT

Chapter 7

Part A

Sanosuke's Point Of View

Ayame. This kid is so angelic. She's just like her Auntie Megumi. But sometimes, she can be really demanding. Yeah, just like the fox, all right.

Sigh.

I miss her.

When will she come back? It's torture, really. To be so far away from her and at the same time be beside somebody who resembles her so much.

Here I am again, thinking about her. Maybe it would be easier if I just try to think about other things. Like sleeping.

I really should sleep now. It's getting quite late. Besides, if I move too much, little Ayame here, might wake up.

Okay. I close my eyes in an attempt to sleep.

Megumi, get out of my head even for a while, okay? I gotta sleep, too!!

Why do I get this feeling.. This unexplainable feeling.. This unidentified feeling.

It's not normal.

It's worry.

She can't be in trouble, can she?

Grrrrrrrrrr.....!!

Eventually, I stood up, standing beside the window. I really can't sleep so maybe it'll be better if I just don't sleep. What nice reasoning.

The night air is quite refreshing. The wind blowing calmly brings peacefulness to my now confused mind.

But I guess peace and quiet is just rare here, in this place.

What is that I'm seeing? Is it a banshee?

I scratched my eyes to see if my eyes are just fooling me.

But they're not.

There certainly is a woman walking.. Er.. Rather fast.

I recognize her. It's no other than Megumi, herself. The goddess I've been thinking about.

It's not a banshee. And banshees don't come running around dragging little girls behind them.

Pull yourself together, Sano. Be serious, okay?

I ran out the dojo, opening the gate for the fox doctor. Hell, I've been waiting for her for so long now. I know, I know, it's just been two days but it felt really long.

Here she comes.

"Megitsune."

She looked at me like her eyes was flooded with different emotions. I can't read through it all but I can see regret, sadness, anger, hurt, and shame in it.

But before we patch things up, we have to let the little angel rest first. She looks much beaten than the fox doctor. This kid needed rest. So I took Suzume and cradled her in my arms. She fell asleep in an instant.

I brought her to sleep beside Ayame and went back to the fox doctor. But before I went straight to her, I dropped by the kitchen to get us something to drink.

I guess water will be best. It will soothe our minds.

So I went back to the garden where I saw Megumi hugging her legs, curled up in the bench like a little child who just dropped her lollipop to the ground.

I approached her quietly and gave her the glass of water.

I guess I won't speak now. Not yet. I might ruin what's already ruined for the second time around. Just like last time. That's the last thing I'll let my carelessness do again.

She took the water and drank some. Then she placed the glass down.

I sat beside her. I guess this is what she needs, anyway. Company.

We sat there for a long time. I didn't even notice and I didn't care what time it already was. All I care about is keeping her company.

I'm curious, of course.

What could have happened back there? What could have cause the emotions I can read in her eyes?

But the stars seem to be in favor of me tonight. A teardrop fell from her eyes down to her smooth cheeks. This is my chance. I have to ask her.

"They say that your problems will weigh half if you share it with others." I told her.

She looked at me, confused, before she spoke up. She told me what happened. Every detail. I could only guess what she must have felt. Bitter.

Her wish is to cure people and save them from their illnesses and I know that she'd probably blame herself for another death. She'd tell herself, "Oh, If only I came there early.. I could've done something to extend her life,"

I told her, "Don't worry, Megumi. It happens sometimes. You've already saved lives of lots of people. You've already touched hearts of many and I'm sure that Akane was happy that she met you before she lost consciousness. You brought her happiness right on time for her to die happily."

That was pretty long but I'm glad. It seemed to have helped ease her pain.

She didn't talk anymore. Instead, she moved closer and rested her head on my shoulder. Just like that night when we watched the fireworks display.

I placed my arms around her shoulders in attempt of making her feel better. I told you. She needed company.

I'm not chancing on her. I've been dreaming of this for so long. You know, being beside the woman you love staring at the stars just like every happy couple.

But this is not the right moment for that dreamy thing. The best thing I could provide her now is a feeling of comfort and security that I feel she's needing.

Eventually, she spoke up.

"Thank you and I'm sorry."

Part B

Megumi's Point Of View

I've been wanting to tell him those. I've also been thinking how to tell him. But it's probably best to say it straight and clear.

He looked at me, his eyes wondering. Well, maybe, straight and clear is not the way for this guy.

I looked at him and as much as I wanted the moment to last, I broke away from his comforting arms to explain to him.

Now, how to explain this to him.

"Thank you. For staying with me."

"And I'm sorry for.. For calling you a stupid freeloader, ex-gangster, good-for-nothing fighter for hire."

There, I've said it. It's the simplest way to say it. After all, they say, 'Say what you mean and mean what you say'. It feels good to remove one load from my conscience.

But wait! He's looking at me like.. I can't explain it.. It's like I can melt with his eyes looking right through the windows of my soul.

Please, Sano. Don't make me fall in love with you.

"It's okay." He said, waking me from my trance. His voice was cool, like music to the ears, actually. It's not his usual brash, uncivilized speech. It was.. Sincere.

He kept staring at me. Really, it's making me nervous. Then he spoke up again. This time, chuckling a little.

"It's actually the truth."

Then his face became serious again. He placed his hand, the one I bandaged almost everyday that I can almost memorize the lines in it, to cup my face.

Using his thumb, he wiped away my tears and with his other finger, brushed away loose, stray strands of hair and tucked them behind my ear.

The act in itself is making me feel butterflies in my stomach. What he said after made me feel more nervous, but gladder at the same time.

"I'm the one who should say sorry."

My eyes widened a bit, for I was surprised. I didn't expect to hear this from him next.

He continued. "I feel like a stupid bastard for saying what I said to you. I can't even repeat them. I don't want to. You know why? You don't deserve such words."

I can now hear my heartbeat. Fast, faster, and faster. I can practically hear it pumping in my ears.

I finally answered, "It's my fault, anyway. I could have just thanked you for bringing me home and saved us from the argument."

Sano replied, "Don't put the blame on yourself again, Megitsune. You do that a little too much. It's my fault this time for not thinking first before I say something. I'm sorry. That's the end of it."

I tried to answer, "But—"

But he silenced me with his finger. "Shhh.."

Then he hugged me, and I rested my head on his chest. I can hear his heartbeat. It's just as fast as mine. Then he kissed me on the forehead, like a little kid.

I returned his hug and I wrap my arms around him, too, to return the gesture.

"Thanks."

The next thing he did was raise my chin with his fingers, making me look up at him.

Kami-sama, this is really making me nervous.

The next thing he said was the most beautiful words I've ever heard from him. It summed up everything that was happening.

"Anata ga dai suki desu."

At that moment, time stopped. Not like before, when time stopped because I felt disappointed. This time, it's something that even made my heartbeat skip a beat.

I looked at him, disbelievingly before my emotions took over, too.

I transferred my arms, which were encircled in hiss waist, to his neck. I kissed him. Gentle and shy at first, but eventually, I put out all the passion I've felt in it.

He returned it.

I haven't felt this complete for such a long time.

I told him what I felt.

Again, straight and clear.

"i love you too."

I laid my head on his shoulder again, as we sat there, gazing into the stars.

Yes, I know. Cliché, isn't it? But I don't care anymore. All that matters is that it felt really good.