I do but I don't

By Akane-tenshi

Author's notes : I didn't expect the Sano and Megumi scene to be such a hit. Oh well... I was feeling upset over a guy and I guess that's the kind of result you produce after bawling your eyes out. I read it again and I felt like kicking myself for being so sappy and mushy. But hey, this is a romance fic after all!

Thanks to...

Crewel (thanks for being my first reviewer )

dayof46 (aren't you glad you're living in the modern world?)

anime-diva-40 (hey thanks for reviewing again! Sorry for the cliffhanger but like I said, I was so tired and I had to go to school the next day! So you're a dancer huh? What kinda dance do you do? I always watch my friends do hip-hop but I never join them. I'm not much of a dancer... I'm more into drama! Tee hee )

WhiteRabbit5 (thanks again... yeah Megumi cares that Sano is upset... sometimes what they say have a hidden meaning )

Sano devil (see previous response... Megumi is wrong about Sano refusing to fall in love again)

happykid (sorry! well, this chapter is for you!)

lucerito-del-alma (i love torturing peeps with cliffhangers, don't you:dodges rotten veggies thrown at her: oookkk maybe not!)

shysie, gabyhyatt, enchantedsleeper & Black Metalmark

Here are the translations requested by anime-diva-40 and Black Metalmark

Kuso : Shit or damn

Tori-atama : Rooster head. I assume you don't watch RK in Jap dialouge? That's what Megumi and some other peeps usually calls Sano. I really hate it when Misao calls him that!

Hanaste : Let (me) go

Minna : Everyone

Honto : Really

Otou : Father

koibito : Lover, sweetheart

Teme : You. Said in a harsh way.

Well, the Oro is a tricky one. It's has the same meaning as "Are?" or "Ara?", which means "Huh?" Kenshin uses the word when he is confused or he gets hit, mostly by Kaoru. It's kinda like an anime thing I guess. Like Sakura (CCS) and her "Hoe" and Chichiri (Fushigi Yuugi) and his "No da".

Disclaimer : Look, do I really have to say this? I mean if I own RK, I would have made Sano married to Megumi and produce a lot of sappy scenes between them. Like Sano pulling her into an embrace and not wanting her do die... Sano protecting and saving Megumi for a dozen times and... ok ok, I don't own RK! Happy?


Sanosuke walked down the busy street, heading for Akabeko to have his lunch. He was broke yet again after a game of Cho-han, and he hoped to have a free meal at the restaurant. He can't possibly eat at the Dojo since Kaoru was cooking and he bet Megumi was still mad at him.

He didn't meant to hurt her by those words but he couldn't stop himself from doing so. Why? Why do I always upset her? Not that I care or anything... The martial artist mentally hit himself and took a deep breath before entering Akabeko.

"Irrashaimase!" Tae greeted while bowing deeply. Straightening herself up, she face-faulted after realizing who the person was. "Sanosuke-san! Haven't I told you before that you can't eat here until you've cleared your tab?"

"Tae! Don't worry about it! I'll pay once I get the money."

"You said that the last time and every time you came here! I won't allow you to eat here anymore until you've paid!"

"So this is the thanks I get for beating up those thugs!"

Tae shuffled her feet and let out a sigh, "Fine! But this will be the last time you hear that?"


"Are? What's all this?" Megumi eyed the table, which was laid with someone's cooking. Seated there was Takeshi, with a smile on his face. "Takeshi-kun! When did you get here?"

"A while ago when you were treating your patients. I made lunch just for the both of us. It's a good way for us to get to know each other better."

She knelt across the table and scowled, "I didn't hear you come in... are you a ninja or something?"

The blond chuckled, "Actually, I learned Kenpo before I moved to the States. So I know how to sneak around."

"Soka," Picking up her chopsticks, she muttered a soft 'Itadakimasu' and started eating. The food was nicely prepared. Megumi stole a glance at Takeshi. So he is a martial artist, doctor and a chef. Could he be any more perfect? This is the kind of man she has been looking for all along. But why didn't her heart flutter?

It's because I'm in love with someone else...

"Megumi, what's the matter?"

She looked up at his worried expression and shook her head, "I was just thinking... that's all... About the marriage-"

"Let me tell you a history behind the contract," said Takeshi, in a serious tone. "Our fathers crossed path when they were sent off to aid the Shogunate during the Meiji revolution. They became friends and helped one another in times of needs. They vowed to take care of each other's family in case anything dreadful happened to them. In doing so, your father married you off with me. They signed a contract to make sure the marriage would take place. Unfortunately, your father passed away, making my father even more willing to fulfill his wishes and went to the extent of making me commit seppuku."

In took her a while for everything to be digested. Megumi gripped her chopsticks tightly, almost breaking it into half. How could her own father do this to her? "Takeshi-kun... I never knew... Isn't there another way?"

"There is... that is if either one of us is dead... Please don't get any ideas."

"Why are you so willing to marry me? I mean, what if I'm a murderer and I poison your cooking?"

Takeshi shook his head, "Megumi, I was raised by my family to have you as my wife. I know everything about you. You're a doctor, not a murderer and your delicious meal will never poison me. I know your likes and dislikes... even your... shoe size..."

"Eh?" She blinked in disbelief. "You know about my past too?"

"The past is in the past. I only care about our future together."

"Don't you feel... reluctant to marry me?"

His glassed flashed, "At first I do... but after I met you, I knew right away that you're the one."

Megumi pushed her hair behind her ear, eyes cast down. She couldn't believe this was happening. The most perfect guy was in love with her and was practically begging to get married, but she was having second thoughts. Why? Because she was in love with a drunkard, free-loader gambler. No wait, a cute drunkard, free-loader gambler who have saved her life, tease her, mock her and flirt with her.

On the other hand, Takeshi was two years older than her. He can take care of her and he was definitely more mature. Sanosuke was only nineteen and can barely afford his own meal, let alone take care of himself. Maybe marrying Takeshi would be the best option. She could learn to fall in love with him over the years. That way, both sides would benefit. She couldn't bear to have him commit seppuku.

"Takeshi-kun..." she mumbled, not knowing what to say.

Suddenly, the shoji door slid open and there stood Sanosuke, his eyes immediately fell on the couple. He looked scornfully down at Takeshi as if he were studying an unpleasant looking insect.

Megumi gasped, "Sanosuke! What are you doing here?"

"I just wanted to pass a message from Jou-chan... she... wanted both of you to come over for lunch... but I see you've taken care of that," said Sanosuke in a cold voice. "I should be going now."

"Sano! Chotto!" The female doctor shouted, but he walked off without acknowledging her. She bit her lips, excused herself from the table and ran off after him.

Sanosuke gritted his teeth, ignoring her calls. I had came over to apologize and there she was, having lunch with that bastard. He quickened his pace as he passed the gates. Who am I kidding? It's not her fault he was too chicken to admit his feelings.

"Tori-atama! Matte!"

Doesn't that woman ever gives up? He finally stopped at turned around, "Nanda yo?"

It took Megumi twenty seconds to catch her breath before she could finally speak, "Sano... are you mad at me?"

"I'm not mad at you," he murmured.

"Yes you are!"

"No I'm not!"

"You are!"

"I'm not!"

"Why can't you just admit that you're mad?"

"Why can't you accept the fact that I'm not!"

"That's it! You're officially the most stubborn tori-atama in the entire universe," Megumi declared. She was so pissed that she couldn't find the right words to retaliate.

Sanosuke rolled his eyes and scoffed, "Oh nice come back kitsune."

"Argh!" She cried, outraged. Folding her arms hastily, she paced the grounds, trying to find the right words. "You know what," she stopped abruptly and marched up to Sanosuke. "You're mad at me because of what I said yesterday. So you came here to apologize-"

"Apologize? Hah! You wish!" Sanosuke lied and wanted to hit himself for that. "I came here to give you a chance to apologize to me!"

"Baka! Why do you always let your ego get in the way?" she said quietly, her tone laced with much resentment. Giving him one last glare, she left the scene, leaving a stunned Sanosuke behind.

"Soh!" He growled in frustration and felt tempted to punch the nearest object or beat up some thugs. He watched Megumi's retreating figure until she disappeared behind the door. He can't go in there. She will skin him alive. "Better let her cool off first..."


"What happened out there? Did Sagara hurt you?"

"No... No he didn't," said Megumi as she brought up her right hand to rub her left elbow. "I... I have to go back to work."

Takeshi lowered his head, getting a feeling that she doesn't want him near her. "Well then... I suppose I'll clean up the table and check out the town..."

She nodded, "Yes, you do that."

Megumi grabbed her medicine bag and walked out of the house as quickly as she could. Her mind was swirling with thoughts. He could have just apologized. What's so difficult about that? I need to be alone...

She wandered further down the street, and finally decided to go into town. Huge clouds gathered over her and children fled from the playground. A little girl, whom greatly resembled Suzume, fell on the ground and started crying. Megumi was about to help her up when her brother came over and gave her a piggy-back ride.

"Megumi-dono!"

"Ken-san," She plastered on a smile at the red-head, who was carrying groceries. Kaoru must have ordered him to go to the market. "You're a sight for sore eyes."

Kenshin let out a small laugh, "Aren't you suppose to be at the clinic?"

"About that... Ken-san, I'm not feeling well today. Can you do me a favor and tell Gensai-sensei that I'm a taking a day off?" She pouted, her fox ears sprouted from her head. "Onegai Ken-san..."

"Anou... you look fine Megumi-dono."

Her fox ears disappeared and she towered over Kenshin, with eyes hidden under her bangs. Lightning sparks were seen behind her and her voice were far more scarier, "Ken-san! You better make sure you deliver the message or else I'll tell Kaoru-chan what happened at the bridge between you and that lady!"

"Ororo... Sessha will tell Gensai-sensei!"

Suddenly, the lightning sparks disappeared and Megumi turned to her normal self with her fox ears clearly visible, "Arigatou Ken-san! Ohohohoho!"

With that, Kenshin rushed off to the clinic, dropping bits of vegetables here and there.

"He's such a push-over," she commented, a small smile playing on her lips. "Kaoru-chan is so lucky to have him."

Megumi looked up at the dark sky as the first rain drop splashed on her nose. She quickly made her way back towards her house; the rain was beginning to fall hard. She paused in her tracks when the rain stopped coming down on her and she was shielded by an umbrella.

"Sanosuke?" She turned to the person holding up the umbrella and her heart sank. It wasn't Sanosuke, just a delivery man of some kind. "Oh, gomen."

"Takani Megumi?"

"Hai?"

"These are for you," The delivery man handed her a bunch of white roses. "You want me to send you home?"

"No thanks," said Megumi as she cradled the roses like an infant. "I'm fine... where should I sign?"

"Here," The delivery man watched as she scribbled her signature and shoved the pen back to him. "Well, I better get going. Have a nice day."

Once again, the rain soaked through her clothes, but she didn't care. Megumi fingered the petals, which was splattered by huge raindrops. She reached for a card and opened it. In which three words stood out brightly, making her heart fluttered.

I'm sorry kitsune.


Isn't that sweet? Can I get a big great awww? Aaaaaaawwwwwwww! Anyone can guess the sender of the flowers? I'll give out chocolate chips to does who can guess correctly! For the sake of Sano and Megumi getting together : Review! Yeah!

Akane-tenshi

chachacha