Standard disclaimer applies.

thanks for all those who religiously review this fic. idea for this fic is coming a little slow at the moment, plus i have a part-time work for four days. but i leave you this chapter...hopefully by the end of my 'work', i have 13 written.

HAPPY VICTORIA DAY EVERYONE - well, in Canada that is.

Chapter 12: A Chance Meeting

Megumi outstretched her arms. She was tired, but contented. The Western-style hospital building was no longer intimidating to her. She could get used to it. It was only her fifth day at internship, and Megumi found everything familiar already. It felt as if she truly belonged to the kind of atmosphere the hospital offered. She was no longer cooped up in a small clinic, with two to three single beds for patients. Here, there were a lot of beds to accommodate many patients. The difference, Megumi does not have to worry herself for not treating everyone accordingly. There were many staff, nurses and doctors available. Everyone was subjected to cooperation in a competitive environment.

Megumi waved a goodbye to everyone. Her shift was finally over. She eagerly exited the building, anxious to see a particular someone who promised to escort her home. Shinomori Aoshi had made it a point to walk her back and forth to the Kamiya dojo until he moved out to his new apartment. Megumi sighed in disappointment. She was beginning to get used to the sight of the former okashira. It was not like how it used to be at Takeda's mansion where she tried to avoid the said okashira. Rather, everyday she was looking forward bumping into him or simply greeting him a good morning or good night. She would curse the day Shinomori Aoshi vanishes from her life.

It was strange when Megumi finally accepted her attraction to him. When she first laid eyes on him, all she could think about was beauty. Beauty and strength. Given the Takeda circumstances, fear took control of her, hindering her from learning more of him. Now she was given more chance.

A smile automatically formed in on her lips upon seeing the approaching man. "Takani-san, forgive me if I was late," he apologized. She mentally frowned at his formality.

Megumi shook her head. "I just got out anyway, Aoshi-san. Hmm. How was your day?"

"Nothing but work. The store needed more repairs than I had imagined," he offered to take the medicine box Megumi was carrying. "You can never rid of this box?"

"No. It's a part of me, just like your coat…" she winked, then raised her eyebrow. "Which is missing. Where is it?

Aoshi was suddenly reminded. "Aa. That was what I forgot at the shop. Would you mind stopping by there?"

"Nope," she prevented herself from giggling. Aoshi cannot last a day without his precious white trench coat with him. "Plus, I'd be able to see it for the first time. Has Misao been there?"

"No. She would soon, the moment we open the store to the public." Aoshi led her to its direction. It was a big store situated in the heart of the market. The location was very convenient.

There were still workers repairing the building, Megumi noticed. One worker approached Aoshi who seemed delighted the employer was back. Apparently, some part of the ceiling had to be fixed.

"Takani-san, I would just have to look into this problem. It will only take a few minutes," he looked at her apologetically. Before Megumi could reply, someone caught Aoshi's attention.

"Aoshi-san? You're back?"

Aoshi turned around to the direction of the voice. "Aa. I forgot my coat. Then there are also some problems with the ceiling that must be looked at. Are you aware of this?"

"I had just been informed by Akiko-san," she inclined her head towards Megumi's direction.

"Forgive my rudeness. Aiko, this is Takani Megumi. She is a doctor working at the Hinode Hospital. Takani-san, this is Watanabe Aiko. She will manage the store."

Megumi smiled weakly. She recognized the woman standing in front of her. This was the same woman Aoshi had run after the week before. This was the same woman who had shown intimacy to Aoshi, and he had allowed it. She bowed in politeness. "Glad to meet you, Watanabe-san."

Aiko bowed also. "Please, just Aiko-san. I always feel embarrassed with formality." She turned to look at Aoshi who seemed to send her a message. She understood. "Megumi-san, can I offer you tea or anything while Aoshi-san tends to the ceiling?" She approached Megumi and led her to the back office.

The two women were so alike, despite the significant height differences. Both possessed a graceful way in moving and walking. Both have long, dark hair and dark eyes. Both were equally intelligent and independent in their own way. Megumi questioned herself if both of them even possessed a certain 'feeling' towards one man.

"Please take a seat, Megumi-san. I believe you are one of Aoshi-san's friends who stay at a Kamiya dojo?"

Megumi watched the other woman prepare her tea. There was a kitchen inside the small office. "Hai, Kamiya dojo is owned by Himura Kaoru even before she was married. She teaches kendo."

Aiko handed her the tea and offered her a teacake. Megumi was familiar with the Western dessert, recalling the first time she tasted one in Nagasaki when her family trained under Western medicine. "It's refreshing to know many people still embraced the old ways. Your friend is doing a good thing in preserving old Japanese traditions."

Megumi nodded. Somehow she could not bring herself to despise or hate the other woman. She seemed a nice person. She took a small bite at the teacake using a Western cutlery, a fork. "Have you been anywhere outside the country, Aiko-san?"

"Hai. I've been to Europe, England in particular, with my father. It was a nice experience but Japan is still first in my heart," she replied before nibbling on a piece of biscuit on her table. "What about you Megumi-san?"

"No I haven't been outside the country. Someday, I would like to have the chance to visit Europe." Megumi regarded the woman sitting in front of her. "How long have you been friends with Aoshi-san?" she could not help but ask.

The woman smiled shyly. "Since we were only children; he was fourteen, while I was merely thirteen."

Megumi hid her surprise well. This fragile-looking woman was older than her? She somehow found it impossible but kept her opinions to herself. "Ah, so you must know him pretty well?"

"Yes and no. I knew the young Shinomori Aoshi..." Silence enveloped the room. There was more to Aiko's answer, but the woman was unwilling to share. Megumi focused on the tea she was drinking, while Aiko was simply satisfied with nibbling her biscuits. The stillness in the room was disrupted by a soft knock on the door. Aoshi entered the room. Both women turned to face him.

He entered the small office expecting a lively chat between two highly spirited women. He was dead wrong. The room was dead silent with only the clattering of the teacup on the saucer. An expulsion of breath was like a loud bang on a drum in the quiet room. Two pair of eyes appeared to scrutinize his every move. For a moment, Aoshi wanted to run away? From what? Wrath of two women? Now why would they feel anger towards him?

He cleared his throat. "Aiko, part of the ceiling has been opened for repairs till tomorrow," he informed his associate. Aiko only nodded. "I'll be back here after I escort Takani-san back to the dojo," he stated, implying to Aiko to actually wait for him. "Takani-san, shall we?"

"Oh, I can walk back to the dojo alone. You don't need to walk me home. You can stay, Aoshi-san," Megumi stood up, brushing the front of her kimono.

"Nonsense, Takani-san. I also require something from the dojo. Either way, I have to go back there." Megumi could only nod. Aoshi turned to Aiko, and gave her a slight nod.

Aiko had also stood up and was already beside Megumi. "It's an honour to meet you, Megumi-san. I am aware of the excellence of the Takanis in the field of medicine," she bowed in politeness. Megumi smiled sincerely, feeling honoured at the other woman's show of respect to her family's name.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Aiko-san," she bowed.

Aiko watched Aoshi and Megumi leave. She could not help feel a pang of jealousy towards the other woman. Aoshi had clearly indicated his relationship with Megumi was of friendship. But observing the interaction of the two, and how they regard each other, Aiko was sure something deeper was shared between the two. Intimacy, perhaps? She would like to know more but it was not like her to probe on someone else's business. She sighed out loud, heading straight towards the small kitchen. She needed to nibble on something to soothe her nerves.

"Aiko-san told me you knew each other since childhood," Megumi broke the silence that had formed between her and Aoshi on the way to the dojo. Her only response was a nod from the man. "She is a very lovely woman," she glimpsed at his expression, trying to decipher his feelings.

"Indeed," was all he said.

"She seems a very intelligent person, and accomplished as well."

"She is."

Megumi was getting annoyed at his lack of longer responses. She wanted to know more about the relationship between Aoshi and Aiko. What am I thinking asking Aoshi of such things? Aoshi was never known to disclose information for mere gossip or conversation. He would say it when he deemed necessary. Apparently, his relationship with Aiko was off-limits. Well, Megumi wanted to find out. "Are you her suitor?" she made it sound as if a joke.

"I do not think Aiko-san is ready to marry anytime soon."

The doctor frowned. The answer was just way too vague. So, was he a suitor then? "And if she was ready to marry?"

"Suitors would probably flock the store. It would be good for the business if all would purchase something," Aoshi answered once again with a blank expression.

"Mou, you never answered my questions," she hid rolling her eyes in frustration. Obviously it was pointless asking the shinobi all these questions forming in her head. "You don't have to hide anything, you know. I'm your friend," she poked him on his arm.

Aoshi glanced at her with a raised brow. "Hide anything? I am not hiding anything, Takani-san. My relationship with Aiko-san is friendship and that of a business associate. What is there to hide?"

Megumi was in her playful, foxy mood. "Ooh. So you liiike her?" she hooted. Part of her though was confused with herself. Why was she keep teasing him about Aiko? It was as if a psychological way of denying something. "You liiiike her," she said once again, trying hard to keep her tone mischievous.

"If you say so, Takani-san," Aoshi replied much to Megumi's chagrin. She stomped her foot suddenly, walking quickly as they approached the dojo. Kenshin and Kenji greeted her.

"Yeah, hello," she grumbled. "I'm gonna look for Kaoru," she announced, leaving the three boys behind. She was clearly annoyed, especially to Aoshi who seemed unaware of the reason.

"What the heck is wrong with her?" asked Yahiko who nearly bumped into a very irritated Megumi.

Kenshin had a dumbfounded look on his face, while Aoshi only raised an eyebrow at the retreating figure of the doctor. He slightly shrugged his shoulders at the inquiring look from Kenshin.

"Aunt Megumi bokken Aoshi-niichan to the head?" he asked with innocence. Obviously, he figured Megumi had resorted to such an act. He clearly knew the expression on Megumi's face was the exact one his Okaasan wore whenever she was annoyed at his otousan or Yahiko-niichan. "Aoshi-niichan should kisu Aunt Megumi. She will not get mad anymore."

Kenshin was smiling sheepishly, telling his son it was impolite to say such things. Yahiko snickered, apparently unable to erase the image of Aoshi kissing Megumi. Aoshi closed his eyes, composing himself. Kenji seemed to say crazy things nowadays, particularly on the subject of him and Megumi.

"Takani-san had a long day today. She needs rest," he told Kenshin.

"Hai. I agree, Aoshi. Megumi-dono is working too hard. But sessha knows it is Megumi-dono's happiness," he gave his former enemy a smile. Deep inside, Kenshin sensed something was bothering Megumi, something that made her sad often. He could sense it in the doctor's ki. "Dinner would be soon served, Aoshi," he informed.

"I'm afraid I have to go back to the shop. There are still workers remaining in the store waiting for my instructions."

"But perhaps sessha could offer you tea before you go, de gozaru?"

"Arigatou, but I really have to rush," Aoshi bowed to Kenshin. "Also, I have fully arranged for my new residence which will be ready within three to four days."

"If sessha could be of any assistance?"

"I have imposed too much on you and Kamiya. I am in great debt due to your kindness and hospitality."

Kenshin shook his head, a look of sincerity in his face. "Sessha and Kaoru-dono are more than willing to offer our home and assistance to any of our friends, Aoshi. You are more than welcome." He looked down on his son who seemed to be understanding and agreeing on what Kenshin had said. "Even ask Kenji-chan, ne?" Kenji gave Aoshi thumbs up.

Aoshi gave a slight nod. He bid his leave to the two, going directly to his sleeping quarters to retrieve some papers he needed for the store. All the while his thoughts were on Megumi. She acted normal until they neared the dojo, where she suddenly became irate. Was it because he had refused to answer directly some of her questions? Some had rather been too personal for him to respond. Also, he did not know how to respond to them. Was he Aiko's suitor? Had he acted in any way that might have suggested to Megumi of such? Aoshi was puzzled and at a loss.

A/N: ch13 is already pre-written, which would be the continuation of this chapter where I will give Kaoru more exposure. I'm neglecting the belle of the series in my fic so far and that's just unfair. so...huuge and important Megumi-Kaoru interaction. i'll finish it the moment i'm once again unemployed -pouts-

reviews will be welcome as always to help me feel inspired. thanks a lot.