Like a brother to me

A/N: okay ppl, here's my second chappie, hope u like this one too.

Thnx for all who reviewed me.

Disclaimer: (sniff) no, I don't own anything of RK. (Wails)

Chapter 2

Our table seemed to be the noisiest in the pizza place. Joy and laughter radiated from us as we celebrate our victory. Sano, Ken, Misao, Aoshi, Megumi (Sano's girl friend) and I were partying. Actually, you could cancel Ken and Megumi. Ken seemed to be uneasy and Megumi was dangerously silent. Misao, Sano and I made all the fun. Even Aoshi tipped in. We joked and laughed aloud, attracting eyes towards us.

Professor Hiko Seijuro was there with his mother! He came to our table and congratulated Sano and I for winning, and then scolded Sano and Ken aloud for not submitting their project on time.

Megumi remained silent for most of the time, not opening her mouth except to eat. Then towards the end, she suddenly asked Sano angrily for a private word. A hush fell upon the table as we closely watched the two of them walk to the far corner of the restaurant.

I watched sympathetically as Megumi scolded Sano heavily. Poor Sano stood silently with his hands in his pockets, looking at the ground rather weakly. Megumi just yelled and yelled and Sano remained silent. He gave the impression of an armless soldier in the face of a canon. I just watched for a longer while before I finally ran out of patience and walked towards them. Megumi watched me coming midway and suddenly stopped furiously. She shot Sano a last disgusted look before she turned and left for the door. She bumped shoulders hard with me on the way and mumbled aloud something that I'm sure was 'Sister my ass'. I watched her back in shock till she disappeared out if the door. Then I went to Sano who was still standing in the same pose. It ached to see him shaken so badly. To any one else watching, Sano's immobility resembled coolness, but I knew him much better than that. He was frozen because he felt too shocked to know how to react.

"Sano, SANO" I called him twice but I got no response in return.

"Hey," he finally replied.

His pale face looked at me with a mixture of hurt and confusion before he draped his slim arm around my shoulders.

"Let's go back to our table" he said as he dragged be back with him.

Misao tried to stir up conversations but in vain. Everyone could sense Sano's depression and did not feel like partying anymore.

His love for Megumi could've been weighed by the world, he would've given her anything she asked for, yet she lost it all by a flick of anger and jealousy.

"Look, I'm sorry, but I can't take it anymore. I feel guilty for what happened. It's better if I leave now." I suddenly burst out.

Sano stared at me blankly; he seemed so tired and exhausted.

"Hold on, I'll walk you to your place."

"No it's okay Sano, there's no need"

"Karou, its fine. I think I also need to walk a bit"

"Okay," I said softly, getting up and gathering my stuff.

"See you later" nodding in the direction of Ken and Misao, and Aoshi.

"Later" echoed ken and misao.

The weather outside was a bit chilly, and considering what I wore-shorts and a tank top-I started feeling cold pretty quickly.

A few minutes of awkward silence passed between us before I spoke up.

"Listen sano, I'm sorry if I had anything to do with you and Megumi's breakup. I feel real bad about it"

"Don't be" there was something in his voice that I couldn't quite figure out. Maybe sadness or anger. Or maybe both. "You've got nothing to do with it.

A few more minutes of silence passed until he spoke up again.

"I love you"

I stopped and stared at him.

"You love me?" I asked. Over Megumi so soon? I didn't know what to say.

"No, not like that" he said "I love you like a sister"

I looked at him and smiled. I knew exactly whet he meant because I felt it too.

"I always wanted an older brother" I said softly.

"Exactly" he laughed "I always thought it would be neat to have a little sis"

My thoughts drifted away into other things; the end of the year is approaching, and Sano would be soon leaving to college, and I would have to stay behind in high school.

"Hey sis" he said "what are you thinking about?"

"You" I replied shortly "I'm going to miss you a lot when you go off to college, promise you'll remember me"

"Don't worry" he smiled "I'm planning on kidnapping you and taking you to college with me."

We both laughed, and he assured me that he'd visit often and arrange for me to visit him on campus.

We finally reached my place. I turned to him.

"Sano, thanks for everything" I said

"No, thanks for you for being here for me" he replied.

I hugged him and he hugged back a little too tightly. For a second I thought he was leaning on me, and only now I knew he was actually leaning on me…

A/N: what do u think, huh? Tell me tell me tell me. (Jumping around like a little kid) u guys know how to do that, right? Fire up with the reviews, so u'll inspire me to write the 3rd and most importantly, the last chapter of like a brother to me. Yes, the next chapter is gonna be the last.

Review ppl. Love u all.

-CG