I do but I don't

By Akane-tenshi

Author's Notes : Thanks for the lovely reviews! Guys, please be patient. I've been busy all summer and was unable to update. Actually I wanted to post this chapter much earlier but my computer broke down... and you know the drill... I'm really sorry... Here's chapter 4 for you!

Thanks to...

enchantedsleeper : Yay! You got it right! It's Sano, duh! Here's your chocolate chip! I'll give you extras since you're the first one to guess!

Crewel : Well, it's Sano alright. Psst... read to find out more. But I'll give you some chocolate chips for reviewing every chapter!

Black Metalmark : Yup! It's Sano alright! Wee! Good guess! Read more to find out! Here's some chocolate chips for you!

charLie : Thanks! Here's some chocolate chips for guessing it right!

WhiteRabbit5 : Yup! It just goes to show! Megumi loves Sano even though Takeshi is rich and perfect. That's pure, unconditional love. I believe that it's hard to break up two people who are fated to be together. Even if there are people who comes in their lives, with the intention to steal one away from the other, the couple will stay on strong. Even if they are unwillingly broke apart, they will eventually return together again! Ok, I'm yapping away again! Don't mind me. Here's your cookies! Wait a minute, rabbits don't eat cookies! Just kidding! Take as many as you like!

ungu-petite : Of course it's Sano! Care for some cookies? I'll never pair-up Sano with her! Sorry, I can't put her name with his in the same sentence. I just can't!

sanodevil : He can be such a sweetie sometimes! Aww! Of course Megumi will forgive him... who wouldn't? Please help yourself with the cookies!

Shadow Koneko : Thanks! You can have cookies just by saying that! Go ahead, don't be shy!

HARU is my LOVELY : Yes, you do that! Spread the tori-atama & kitsune-onna lurve! For forcing it upon your friends, you shall receive chocolate chip cookies!

anime-diva-40 : I did join my friends in their routines but I usually end up kissing the floor. Clumsy me! xx Anyways, I don't really wann be an actor... maybe a drama instructor. Hmm... a writer... Maybe one day... but for now, I will stick to writing fanfictions. Tee hee! Here's your cookies!

princess120502 : Thanks and we'll see!

lucerito-del-alma : Awww, for trying I shall give you cookies!

Lara : Thanks for the compliment and please be patient with me.

fox-san : Thanks!

roosterboy : Thanks and I'm flattered.

Nyteness : Thanks, I love fluffy stuff and you soon shall receive more! About Misao and Aoshi... I'm not sure they're going to make an appearance... At a wedding perhaps? Whos? I shall keep my mouth shut now!

megumi : Thanks!

happykid : Yup! Sweet as sugar!

meg-chan : Thanks... Sorry to disappoint you but there's no action between Sano and Takeshi in this chapter... it's coming around real soon. Keep ya fingers crossed! It's gonna be pretty nasty. And now, I shall keep my mouth shut... again.

Akane-tenshi is not responsible if you experience any kind of pain after eating the chocolate chip cookies! Enjoy!


"Gee, whatever happened to my break?"

"Stop whinning and start working!"

Sanosuke groaned lazily and continued to wipe the Dojo floors. He was only doing so because he was debt with Kaoru. Two days ago, he borrowed money from her to buy a bunch of flowers for Megumi as an apology gift since he couldn't muster up the courage to say those words to her. In return, he have to do household chores for one whole month.

He wiped the sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand and decided to take a break since Kaoru was nowhere in sight.

Have she forgiven me? Sanosuke wondered as he stepped on the grounds, hands in pockets. If she did, she would have visited me. She knows that I'm always at the Dojo... Maybe she's too busy. He scoffed at that thought, "Yeah, too busy with Doctor Perfect Asshole."

"Minna-san! Dinner is ready!"

Everytime when he heard that phrase, Sanosuke would immediately sprint off to eat but he didn't felt like doing the same at the moment. Legs heavy and leaden, he slowly made his way to the living room to have his food. As usual, Yahiko was swallowing his food as though he hasn't eaten in ten years.

"You know it actually taste better if you chew first," Sanosuke drawled as he settled at his usual place.

"Nobody asked you!"

"Please refrain yourself from fighting," said Kenshin, his voice gentle but firm.

Looking around the table, a slight scowl formed on Sanosuke's face, "Where's that doctor from hell?"

"You mean Takeshi-kun?" Kaoru queried, not expecting an answer. "He went out with Megumi-san for dinner."

He choked on his rice, "A date?"

"You could say that."

"He took her to a fancy restaurant, something you can never afford," Yahiko just had to rub it in his face.

"Teme!" Sanosuke growled and threw a steely glance at Yahiko. "Everyone knew about it and nobody told me!"

Without waiting for a response, he stood up and ran out of the room, heading for the most expensive restaurant located in town. He had a feeling that the both of them were going to be there enjoying a glass of wine or two.


"Takeshi-kun, this isn't really necessary," said a flattered Megumi. "You really don't have to take me to dinner in such an expensive restaurant."

"But I wanted to, you deserve it," Takeshi said light-heartedly. "You've been working so hard and treated me kindly so I thought I'd give you a treat."

Megumi looked around the restaurant, which was spectacular in all its grandeur. Rounded dining tables made for four were placed casually yet carefully, across the wooden floor. They were accompanied by georgeous center-pieces and lined with an assortment of different delicacies served on golden plates and platters. Couples were seen waltzing across the dance floor while the band played a piece of relaxing music. And, overlooking everything was an extravagant, brilliantly sparkling chandelier.

Her infamous fox ears appeared, "Since you're paying, I might as well enjoy it! Waitor!"


Panting heavily, Sanosuke slowed down as the most expensive and fanciest restaurant came into view. He quickly ran towards the nearest window, craning his neck, in an attempt to get a glimpse of Megumi. Without much luck, he hid behind the bushes and sat on the ground, trying to catch his breath. He could not believe that he had ran from the Dojo all the way into town.

Kuso... Why am I doing this? He questioned himself, but he found it hard to answer. Because... Because I wanted her to thank me for the flowers... Yeah, that's it... But I could go see her tomorrow...

"Argh!" Sanosuke shouted in frustration. "This is so confusing. And I skipped dinner for this?"

Suddenly, he heard laughter a few distances away. Sanosuke took a peek and was presented with the most disgusting sight. Takeshi and Megumi were walking side by side, laughing, without a care in the world. What's with the happy couple act? His blood began to boil. Without thinking, he jumped out from his hiding place and stood in front of them, blocking their way.

Megumi reacted immediately, "Sanosuke!"

"What are you doing here Sagara?" Takeshi demanded, a frown forming on his face.

"Tsk, that's none of your business Sensei," said Sanosuke, stressing on the last word, saying it without the least respect. "I can be here without your consent. The question is, what are the two of you doing here?"

Before Megumi could say anything, Takeshi cut her off, "I took Megumi-san on a date. Since we're getting married, I figured that we should get to know more about each other. Don't you think so, Sa-ga-ra?"

"Date?" Megumi blurted out, feeling quite surprised. All Takeshi said was he wanted to take her to dinner as a way of showing his gratitude, never on a date. "We weren't on a date! We were... just going out for dinner as friends-"

"Save it Kitsune," Sanosuke said bluntly. "I'm not born yesterday. A guy and a girl going out alone together is called a date. Go on. Enjoy your date."

Takeshi took Megumi's hand in his and pulled her away, "Sagara is right. Let's go."

"Chotto!"

Sanosuke's feet were anchored to the ground. He hated it. He hated the idea of Megumi enjoying herself with another man. His eyes wondered over to the restaurant and Yahiko's words appeared in his head.

"He took her to a fancy restaurant, something you can never afford."

"Kuso," He swore silently and turned back to look at the retreating figure of the couple. She didn't even bother to look back at me... With that thought in his head, Sanosuke slowly made his way home.

Megumi couldn't pull her hand away from his grip. She sighed and turned to look at Sanosuke, who was walking away in the opposite direction. He didn't even bother to look back at me...


"Let me see... I'll choose this one," said the doctor excitedly and quickly put on a dark blue yukata with orange coloured flowery prints. It had been a long day at the clinic and now she finally had the chance to see him. Megumi glanced at the mirror as she struggled to pull her hair back into a messy bun. She got the messy part, but it looked nothing like a bun.

She sighed and glanced at a vase filled with fresh white roses, which had been carefully taken care of. Her lips curled up into a small smile.

Megumi tilted her head upwards and towards the right, trying to catch a glimpse of the back of her head. She took her hair down and tried again. Usually, she never had the problem of styling her hair but tonight was different. She couldn't stop fidgeting due to the intense feelings in her.

Earlier in the afternoon, she had informed Sanosuke to come over to her place at eight. Megumi felt bad about the little incidence the night before and wanted to cheer him up a little. He did bought her those white roses.

"Oi! Kitsune!"

Her heart skipped a beat.

He's here.

"Chotto matte kudasai!"

Sanosuke sighed and leaned on the nearest wall. What could possibly be so important, that she had to call him here? Surely she wasn't going to apologise. She never did anything wrong. She had every right to go out with Takeshi. What was I thinking? I never should have interrupted their date like that... She'll probably hate me more than before...

"I'm ready!"

Sanosuke detached himself from the wall, "Ready for what-?"

He stood mesmerized, breathless, unable to take his eyes off her.

She was breathtakingly beautiful. She had always been. People turned their heads to look at her on the streets. Men had always been fascinated by her beauty, making their other half go green with envy. She was always showered with compliments by her patients and even stangers.

Megumi slowly walked towards him, grace in every step. She stood next to him, not caring about how close she was to him.

Sanosuke gulped as he felt his face heat up. He had to say someting. "Aah... about last night... I want to apo-"

"Okonomiyaki!" Came her sudden outburst.

"Eeehh?"

"Okonomiyaki! I want to have some okonomiyaki! There's a cart selling okonomiyaki by the river. It's your treat! Ikuzo!"

"Eeeeehhhhh?"


"Itadakimasu!" With that, Megumi tore a huge piece off her squid okonomiyaki, with a pair of chopsticks, and put it in her mouth. "Delicious! Ne, Sano... Why aren't you eating? You don't like squid? Fine! Tanaka-san, Sano will have a Combo special! He won big at gambling today!"

"Right away Takani-sensei!"

"C-Chotto matte yo!"

Too late. The owner of the cart had already oiled the black iron hotplate and pour the batter onto it. Tanaka let it cook for a bit, then checked the edges and flipped it over. He added the sauce and the remaining ingredients, and when it was done, he took it off the grill and served it to Sanosuke. "Enjoy!" With that, he rushed over at the other end of the cart to attend to his other customers.

"How am I suppose to enjoy when that woman is spending all my money!"

Megumi swallowed her food and scowled, "Don't be so stingy Sano!"

Sanosuke sighed and began chowing down on his okonomiyaki. I guess I deserved this. Suddenly, Megumi got off her stool and walked towards the river, bringing her half-eaten okonomiyaki with her. He chewed on his food, watching a beautiful scene unfolding before his eyes. She looked like an angel, standing under a sakura tree, gazing quietly at the sparkling river. If he was an artist, he would have captured the image perfectly.

It was a cold clear night; the black sky was littered with a million bright stars, and the moon is pale, and distantly enigmatic. A few sakura petals obliged to gravity and floated down to the ground.

The martial artist finished off his okonomiyaki and took a few steps towards her, "A penny for your thoughts?"

Megumi let out a soft chuckle and closed the distance between them, "I was just thinking... A guy and a girl... eating okonomiyaki under the stars... by the river... alone... Could it be... that we're on date?" she questioned cheekily, her fox ears clearly visible.

"I... I..." Sanosuke spluttered, a pink tinge appeared on his cheeks. He stopped, seeing Megumi looking deeply at him.

Time seemed to stand still, both of them lost in each other's eyes.

Sanosuke was fully unaware that his body was leaning forward, the desire to capture her lips made him lose control of himself. The lady closed her eyes, waiting for the kiss. Unfortunately that moment never came. It was interrupted by the loud sizzling sound of batter being poured on the hotplate.

Both immediately jumped and took a step back.

"Oh? Don't mind me," shouted Tanaka, as he laughed nervously. "I'm just doing my job!"

Another romantic moment ruined! Sanosuke thought bitterly, while Megumi just giggled, finding it highly amusing.


"We should have gotten further away from the cart if you wanted to kiss me!"

"Me? Kiss you? Hah! In your dreams!" Sanosuke was flustered, and in denial. "You were on to me!"

Megumi sighed as they reached the main door of her house, "You were leaning towards me tori-atama." She fumbled with her keys and when she finally found the right one, she pushed it through the keyhole and slid open the door.

"You were begging for it!"

She rolled her eyes, slipping her feet off her geta, "Oh please! Just admit it, you can't resist me." Megumi quickly stepped into her house and turned back to look at Sanosuke, who's mouth gaped open and close like a fish. "I'd love to argue with you but I have to work tomorrow morning. If you have nothing more to say, I'd like to bid you, oyasumi nasai. Maybe we can kiss another time, ne?"

With that, the sliding door closed shut.

Sanosuke closed his mouth and blinked. Kiss another time? I can't wait, Kitsune!


End of Chapter 4.

More about okonomiyaki...

Okonomiyaki is a mixture between pancake and pizza. "Okonomi" means "as you like". This refers to the ingredients. Depending on the region of Japan, okonomiyaki is prepared in various different ways. In this fic, Sano and Megumi are eating at an old okonomiyaki cart, which can be pulled anywhere. These are very popular in older days Japan.

Like I've said in chapter 2, if you don't know any Japanese terms used here, please don't hesitate to ask! I'll answer them in the next chapter. From now on, this applies to all chapters.

See that little blue button there? Review! Please and thank you!

Akane-tenshi

chachacha