Chapter 5- Sanosuke's Smooth Moves

By: Ochako107

Standard Disclaimer

Friday… it was dooms day. This was it… it was hell… a living hell.

Sanosuke wandered down his street with his pet dog. The street seemed a bit too empty for his taste. "I can't believe it… a whole week and not one date. Megumi is going to mock me for weeks on end I know it."

He looked to the sky feeling simply awful. The dance started in about a half hour so everyone was probably getting ready, pulling out those corsages, whipping out their demon cameras… and having a great time without him.

He could imagine all his friends in their stunning outfits and huge smiles.

All the food…

"NOOO! Stop it you baka!" Sano yelled out. His dog turned around and stared sadly at him. The dog was even giving him pity. "What do you know! You sniff other dog's butts for cripes sake!" The dog turned around and sat. Great, now the dog was mad at him. Sano tugged gently on the leash, "aw come on, I was kidding." The dog didn't move. "I'll give you a biscuit!" Not a movement. "Don't tell me I have to carry you home now old boy." The dog stared at him with watery eyes.

"I can't believe I'm carrying you home." Sano muttered while the large Chow Chow on his back licked his ear. "And don't think you'll be getting a treat too when we get home you big baby!"

When Sano finally got home, took the dog's leash off, gave in to the already fat dog and rewarded him with a treat, he plopped down on the couch in front of the television. He groaned into the cushion and peered at the wall clock. The dance would start in ten minutes. That's when his thoughts wandered to Megumi.

"Well, Kitsune… I hope you have fun."

Meanwhile at the dance, most of the guests arrived.

Karou wrung her hands nervously while standing close to Soujiro. "Sou… I dunno, what if this guy doesn't like me?"

The cousin gave her that never ending smile. "Kao-san, he will. I promise."

"Do I look alright at least?" She spun around in her champagne colored dress with a matching ribbon.

"Beautiful." He replied earnestly. Kaoru blushed as Soujiro tapped her shoulder. "Oh, there he is!"

"Hide me!"

"Kao-san, take it easy, stop being a baby." He teased. Kaoru closed her eyes trying to hide her face.

"I'm so embarrassed, I should have stayed home. I don't know why you dragged me into this."

'The only guy I'd EVER had a crush on was…'

"Kaoru-dono?"

Kaoru gasped and instantly pulled her hands away from her face. Kenshin stood before her with a small box with an ivory colored rose corsage in it.

'…Himura Kenshin.'

"Ken…Kenshin? What are you doing here?"

"Soujiro set me up on a date and… I was kind of nervous but he promised me that she was a breath taker."

Kaoru blushed and turned to face her cousin who sudden disappeared in the crowd. The little sneak. She turned back to Kenshin who also noticed Soujiro's disappearance. "That cousin of mine…"

"Who are you here with… Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin asked his eyes flaking slightly amber. Kaoru fidgeted embarrassed about their current situation.

"Sou set me up on a blind date too."

"…With who?"

Kaoru slapped him with her purse. "Baka, you! I thought it was pretty obvious, Kenshin!"

"Oro!" Kenshin fell over but regained composure quickly. "But you couldn't date such a lowly person like me!"

"Kenshin, you're at the top of our class, president of the Kendo club, vice president of student government, one of the hottest guys at out school…" Kaoru trailed off.

"I know, aren't I great?"

"Kenshin?"

"Sorry, my Master's influence."

"Master?"

"I was brought up by my teacher since I was a boy."

"Oh, okay."

There was a silence when Kenshin opened the box and slipped the flower around Kaoru's wrist. He held her hand for a moment before brushing air on the back on her hand carefully, his lips barely even touching. He stood up straight while Kaoru blushed like a tomato.

"Would you like to dance, Kaoru-dono?"

She let him hold her hand, a huge smile gracing her rose lips. "I'd love to, Kenshin!"

As he led her to the dance floor he chuckled to himself. "You know, Soujiro was right, you really are a breath taker." As the couple walked to the dance floor they passed Misao and Aoshi standing off to the side.

"Thank you so much for inviting me, Aoshi." Misao chirped happily. "I'm so glad you took me!"

Aoshi raised an eyebrow after taking a sip of his punch. "Why?"

Misao scuffed her feel while staring at the floor. "Well… cause…"

"Cause why?"

"Why are you pressuring me!" Misao yelled out standing in front of him with a cute pout and rosy cheeks. "I mean, just because I've had this huge crush on you since middle school and the fact that you don't really talk to me but we always hang out, that I'm always dropping hints, and trying to make you smile doesn't mean anything! THAT'S why I'm glad you took me!" She spit out rapidly. She pursed her lips and glared up at the taller male.

Aoshi had to chuckle, Misao hearing a low rumble from his deep vocal chords turned to look at him with one eye. "Misao…"

"What is it, Aoshi you jerk?" Misao asked.

He stepped closer to her lifting her off the floor and closer to his face. She held onto his shoulders wide eyed. Aoshi had to admit she looked so cute and guiltless. "Misao, I had no idea… but the fact of the matter is… I like you too."

Misao thought she was dead. She had to be resurrected from the lifeless just to hear those words again. She gulped and tasted the dryness in her mouth. "Can… can you say that again?"

"I had no idea."

"No, not that, the other part."

"Misao."

"No, the other other part."

"…"

Misao rolled her eyes, "forget it and just kiss me!" She laughed while Aoshi closed the distance between their faces. He hugged her small frame close to him. They're bodies practically melted together while Misao wrapped her legs around Aoshi. She was glad she wore a looser dress for extra movement!

Megumi watched her cousin and friend from across the room smiling. It was about time anyway. She stirred her punch and set it down on the table. Everyone was having a blast, enjoying the music, the food, the entertainment… everyone but her.

She felt bad for lying to Sanosuke. But then again she couldn't find him anywhere at the dance with his snooty girlfriend. She shook her head: no she shouldn't talk about the tramp like that. She growled to herself, 'what is the matter with you, Megumi!' The crowed suddenly roared with clapping and the principal got up on stage.

"Thank you all for coming to this evening's event! Yes, yes, we all know you all got so dressed up and looking dashing tonight. Without further introduction, here's your class president, Takani Megumi." Everyone cheered as Megumi stood up, taking one last swig from her glass.

This would be one hell of a night.

Sanosuke rolled around on the floor. "See boy? This is how you roll over. Rollllll overrrrr…. Rooooooll… aw damnit, forget it!" The dog watched Sanosuke roll around on his back looking quite pleased with himself as his owner made a fool of himself. Sano stopped rolling and turned to his dog. "Okay, now you do it." Sano pulled out a treat and waved it to his dog, "okay, now… roll—HEY! Come back here!"

Sano's dog grabbed the treat and made a run for it while Sano stood up shaking his fist at the large dog. "Yea, that's right—run ya little hooligan!"

He paused in his angry stance before falling back onto the couch. This was pathetic… He walk to his room and sat at his desk. "I know, I'll do homework for a change." He picked up the first book on his desk reading 'math'. "Ah ha! Piece of cake." He pulled out a paper and opened the book to find a mixture of letters and numbers scribbled all over the page. He scrunched up his face and slammed the book closed. "Why am I cursed?"

Sano put his head down next to the book and groaned. When he picked his head up he found a small paper on his head. "What's this?" He pealed it off and read the paper. It was the detention slip Saitou had given him with the phone number on it. Sano stared at it a moment tapping his fingers on his desk.

WOOF!

"AH!" Sano looked his dog's way as it was panting and staring at Sanosuke.

Woof woof!

"You think I should call Saitou and ask if he wants to hang out? That's crazy! That guy hates me—there's no chance he'd want to hang out! Anyway, he's probably at that stupid dance with his stupid girl friend."

Woof woof!

"What do you mean, I'm just sulking around? I am not—okay well I am…" Sano leaned back and stared at the number. "Okay… maybe Saitou will want to do something, he IS human right?"

Woof woof!

Sano laughed and walked over to pet his dog. "You're right, I think I have better chance with this phone number than teaching you how to roll over." The dog lied down and suddenly rolled over. Then he stood up happily and licked Sano's hand. The brunette stared at his dog.

"You're smarter than you look." The dog walked out the room while Sano grabbed his phone and dialed the number. "What harm could it do?"

Megumi pushed her hair out of her face and smiled to her class. "Hello everyone, having a great time?" Everyone cheered. "That's great! I'd like to open this dance officially with a couple's dance only…" she tapered off looking away for a moment. "So, everyone grab your date and I'd like to welcome everyone again to the dance again! Yeayy!" Megumi backed off the microphone and the DJ began playing a slow song…

Everyone grabbed onto their partners, almost looking like a beautiful flower garden holding onto their stems. Girls blushed and held onto their dates, while boys struggled to figure out where to place their hands… the lights dimmed and everyone cheered, waiting for the evident sappy love song. Even so… it all felt magical to everyone.

Everyone but Megumi, who backed away into the shadows of the stage watching everyone sway lightly. She looked away having a little of her heart rip little by little, wishing she could talk to her best friend about everything. She'd go to Kaoru or Misao… but…

Megumi looked their way seeing her friends enjoying the men of their dreams holding them close. She couldn't let her misery drag them down. She ran off stage and headed for the doors.

Late at night when all the world is sleeping
I stay up and think of you and I wish on a star
That somewhere you are thinking of me too

'Cause I'm dreaming of you tonight
'Til tomorrow I'll be holding you tight
And there's nowhere in the world I'd rather be
Than here in my room dreaming about you and me

Sano waited for the phone to pick up. And waited… and waited… "Damn, Saitou, pick the damn phone up!" He ran a hand through his spiky hair. He hoped Megumi was alright. He felt bad since… since he couldn't help but realize he thought about her more than he thought. She'd always been there and he was too blind to see it. He'd been too busy looking for the perfect date when she was there the whole time… not saying a word. She couldn't fathom the worry Sano always had for her. She was his perfect date, and now it was too late to tell her that. It was too late, she was with another guy and it took this long for him to come to this conclusion. He'd lost his best friend.

Wonder if you ever see me and I wonder if you
Know I'm there (Am I there)
If you looked in my eyes would you see what's inside
Would you even care

I just wanna hold you close but so far
All I have are dreams of you
So I wait for the day and the courage to say
How much I love you, yes I do!

Megumi felt her purse vibrate and she came to a halt digging around for her phone. She brushed away stray tears and just answered it, ready to yell at who ever was on the other end for bothering her when she honestly didn't want to talk to anyone at time moment, angry at herself for not telling Sano the truth earlier.

Her tone was evident of her choked up feelings. "Listen, you, you'd better have a good reason for calling me, because I'm ready to…"

"M…Megumi?" Sano croaked. He was almost surprised to hear her on the phone. Realization hit him and his chocolate eyed hardened with fury. "What did Saitou do to you? Hua? Why are you crying? What did that bastard…!"

"Saitou?" Megumi's eyes widened and she looked around. "What are you talking about, Sanosuke?"

"Just you wait; I'm going down there to kick his ass!"

"Wait, Sa…" Suddenly the phone went dead and Megumi snapped her phone closed. She wandered around in circles thinking of what to do. Her face looked determined when she burst out of the gym, running in the direction of Sano's house.

Kaoru watched over Kenshin's shoulder the whole time knowing exactly who called Megumi by her facial expression. Kaoru giggled to herself as Kenshin pushed her back slightly to see her face.

"What is it, Kaoru-dono?"

"Nothing, Kenshin." She gave him a beautiful smile and snuggled herself closer into his jacket, taking in the wonderful smell of sandalwood. "Everything is perfect."

She caught Saitou's golden eyes from across the room. She smirked at him and he nodded in acknowledgement.

Meanwhile, Megumi burst out into the cool night air and ran down the stairs. She wondered what the hell was going on! Why did Sano call her and why did he want to kill Saitou all of a sudden? Oh, that idiot!

On the other side of the block, Sano didn't even bother to tie his shoes as he dashed down the sidewalk. He didn't live too far from school and he would have ran even if he lived a thousand miles away. If it was to look after Megumi, he'd walk around the world!

He was there in a flash and suddenly saw a giant rose running at him. Sano backed up a little petrified. "What the hell?"

"Sanosuke!"

"Holy hell, it TALKS!" His eyes bugged out and he ran the other way.

"Sano, stop!"

"Demon flowers, go away!"

Megumi ran towards Sano anyway, her heels clicking all the way. Heh, she was pretty good at running in the four inch heals! "Sanosuke, it's me, idiot!" He stopped and suddenly Megumi ran into his back. "Ow, you idiot!"

"Megumi?" Sano spun around to see no one but he looked down to see a mess of red and black. "Megumi, are you okay?" Sano swiftly picked Megumi up holding her firmly by the shoulders. "What did he do to you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about!" She said. Sano put a finger out and caught one of Megumi's left over tears. She gasped when his face fell, worry written all over it even through his heavy breathing and sweating. He let out a deep lungful of air and crushed Megumi to him.

"I promise you, I won't let him hurt you anymore, Megumi, I'll go over there and kill that Saitou!"

Megumi pushed herself from Sano and slapped him. "What are you talking about? Stop talking about killing people, moron!"

"He made you cry! No one should make you cry!"

"Listen, all I know is that I was about to leave and then you call my cell phone and then you started babbling away about beating up Saitou, who did nothing, and you hung up! Saitou isn't even my date –crazy lunatic!"

"But…" Sano scratched his head. "You said you had a date and Saitou gave me his number and when I heard your voice I thought you were picking up his phone and…"

Megumi walked away from Sano and wrapped her hands around her arms. "No… I don't have a date Sano. I made the whole thing up."

"But why?"

"Because!" She yelled still not looking at him. "You were chasing all those girls around school all week and when you asked me if I had a date, I knew you had one and were just trying to rub it in my face! I was mad at you, Sano!"

"But… fox, I don't have a date… Kaoru was actually asking me why I didn't ask you, and I…" Sano turned to the street, "I… was going to ask you but you told me you had a date."

Megumi gasped and spun around while a gentle wind blew through her ebony locks. He… was going to ask her out?

Sano still stared at the street, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. "I really was dense, Meg, I didn't know I was hurting you. I always saw you as my best friend but the moment you told me you had a …date… I was…I don't know!"

Megumi walked over to Sano and put a hand on his arm. The touch sent jolts all the way through both teenagers. "I'm sorry… I guess we were both a little jealous." He turned to her and Megumi smiled.

"Heh… ya, I suppose so. I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions." They laughed it off and Megumi carefully wrapped her arms around Sano's middle. He in turn hesitantly put an arm around her shoulders. She looked up at him with an eyebrow raised. "Um…it's kind of… you know, cold out here."

She gave it a thought and her red lips formed a curve. "Yes… it is." She leaned into him and his grip on her shoulders held her protectively. She didn't want the moment to end.

After a while, Sano spoke, "Megumi, ya wanna get out of here?"

"Thought you'd never ask."

They stood apart, instantly missing the warm contact. Sano cleared his throat and began walking, Megumi right next to him.

Meanwhile, Kaoru and Saitou hid behind the stairs watching the love birds walk away. Kaoru laughed heartedly while Saitou shook his head.

"It worked!" Kaoru cheered.

"Yes, for once it did."

Flashback

Kaoru continued her questioning of Sano. "Did you ask her to the dance?"

The impulsive thought never did cross his mind. Ask Megumi to the dance? Psh, like a high class girl like her would go out with a ruffian like him. Sure… Not in a million years. Friends, maybe. Dates? He shook his head.

"No, I didn't ask her."

"Then I think you deserve to get hit with a book." Kaoru turned a corner and put a little extra kick in her step cutting off Sano as she suddenly changed direction.

"What is that suppose to mean?" He asked catching up to Kaoru who was busy looking in her bag.

"Nothing." She fell quiet. "So you were saying something?" She muttered while checking her cell phone for any text messages.

Sano shook the thought of Megumi out of his head and began turning on the Sano charms again. He didn't notice Kaoru typing away on her cell phone:

Saitou, do me a fav please?

What do u want Kamiya?

Meet after school by the art room.

Fine. Leave me, I need to monitor the science building. I have a feeling Sano will be late.

Bye.

After school, Kaoru found Saitou early. "Hey!"

"Let's make this short."

Kaoru sighed, "You're so dull." She stood up straight and looked Saitou in the eye. "Listen, I'm trying to hook Sano and Megumi up, can you help? I know you see Sano a lot in the hallways so I want you to give him Megumi's cell phone number."

"Why can't you do that?"

Kaoru rolled her eyes. "Because I'm a girl and Sano will think it's my number and then he'll tell Megumi and then Megumi will chew my ass for stealing her man!"

"So the fox girl has had her heart set on the idiot this whole time and he's been around chasing other girls…" Saitou chuckled. "Sounds interesting…"

Kaoru nodded and scribbled down Megumi's phone number, handing it to Saitou. "Just give it to him without telling him anything."

"How do I do it?"

"I dunno, be creative! Knowing Sano, he'll either think it's a girl who 'slipped' a paper into his bag and he'll call, or he is curious enough to call 'you' back."

Saitou turned to Kaoru. "Curiosity kills the cat."

"Well, that's a chance I'm willing to take."

Saitou thought a moment and began walking away. "Fine, either way, I suppose I should help you."

Kaoru grinned and began walking away as well. "Thank you so much, Saitou!"

"Oh, and Kamiya?"

Kaoru turned around to see Saitou disappear around a corner. "This meeting never happened."

End Flashback

Kaoru stood up and held her hand out to Saitou. "Thanks." He starda t it and then shook her hand.

"No, problem. I just…" Saitou turned to Sano's back and chuckled, "it would be a shame to see the guy alone for all that hard work."

Kaoru shifted her glance. "Do you have a soft spot for the idiot?"

Saitou snorted, "You wish. I'm going back to find Tokio."

Kaoru watched Saitou go back into the loud room and watched Sano take Megumi's hand as they continued walking. Kaoru's eyes alleviated and she quietly departed into the building as well to find Kenshin.

Megumi was silent as Sano and she walked into town. Sano bought her a smoothie as they continued to walk. They finally stopped over a bridge in the park. "You know this is more fun that that stupid dance." Megumi laughed while sipping her strawberry-banana drink.

Sano's eyes lit up. "Really?"

Megumi nodded and held the straw to Sano's mouth. He took a sip while she whispered huskily into his ear, "Because I get to spend this time with you."

Sano immediately began choking on his drink and Megumi took it back and continued sipping as if nothing had happened. Sano caught his breath ands turned around to Megumi who watched him with all too innocent eyes. She grinned. "What?"

"You really mean that?"

"…yeah." She replied. Suddenly, he snaked his arms around her once again and kissed her ear gently. He didn't know what possessed him to do it, but standing with her over the bridge it felt so right. Megumi turned around in his arms so they were facing each other; she against the railing and he holding her. The moon was behind Sano and it made her eyes glimmer.

"You look gorgeous." He whispered. He saw her face flush and he flushed as well. He couldn't believe he said that out loud! He was about to rephrase his sentence when he was caught off guard.

Megumi jumped up into his arms and kissed him fervently. He first stared wide eyed but finally kissed her back. Megumi fingered his hair as he rubbed her back, making agonizing circular patterns on her skin. She moaned and stood back as Sano turned away.

He blushed scarlet. He couldn't believe he'd just done that. "I'm sorry…"

"No!" His head snapped back to her as she laughed and held his head in her hands. Her cinnamon eyes held onto his chocolate ones. "I… I liked it." Sano gave her his boyish grin—one saved for only her. He continued to hug her as if he let go she'd vanish.

"Is this part of Sanosuke's smooth moves to get his girl?" Megumi asked humorously.

Sano looked hurt at first be saw she was joking. "No, this isn't. This isn't for any girl—this is for the girl."

Megumi rocked in his warm embrace. "And that would be?" She asked in her knowing voice.

Sano smirked and kissed her nose. "You."

Owari

Author's Note: Well, it's over! I thought it was cute, tehehe. I hope that you all enjoyed it as much as I did! It wasn't TOO sappy was it? Aw well, I thought it was fine. Aren't they cute? I love all the couples anyway even though Aoshi and Misao is my favorite! Tehehe. Readers and reviewer—thank you all for all your help and encouragement to finish this one!Adios until next time!

THANKS SO MUCH!