A/N: Changed the summary since the story isn't exactly flowing in that direction as of yet…

Part 6: Reactions

Since the doors opened to the Makani Room, Megumi tended to stay in the back. She had come in earlier to ensure that the sound equipment was working. Metal chairs were arranged around the stage per her instructions. Her work was pretty much completed.

Tsunan and Tokio were in the front, Tsunan distributing programs and Tokio accepting donations. She had been surprised how many people had arrived early to insure good seating. Megumi checked her clipboard again to make sure every item on her list was accounted for.

Abruptly, her cell phone rang. She began fishing into her purse, only to drop the item as she pulled it out. She cringed as it hit the floor, the battery dislodging. She bent slightly to pick up the device, her eyes widening slightly at the sight of a man retrieving the battery for her.

He held the part out to her. Megumi reached for it and locked the battery in place.

"Thank you."

"I understand you've been a great help to my wife regarding this event."

Megumi blinked. His wife? "Commander Takagi? Oh. I…I hadn't realized that…she was married…"

He merely turned to look at the throng of people making their way into the seating area. "It's a well-known fact in a few circles."

"Oh. It's nice to meet you…"

"Commander Hajime Saitou."

"…Commander Saitou," she finished. If he didn't tell her, she would have guessed he was a Naval officer. It was obvious in his demeanor. He was fairly tall, probably over six feet, with sharp, angular features and piercing amber eyes. There was an aloofness about him, almost an untouchable air, as if he was above anything petty. So this was the man Tokio Takagi married? Compared to Tokio's warmth and generosity that could easily be seen within five seconds of her company…he seemed like a complete contradiction to her.

Megumi stiffened slightly as she saw Sanosuke make his way towards her. She swallowed.

Ever since that incident in her office several afternoons ago, she couldn't look at him the same. Part of her was outraged that he would even think of treating her that way. Another was willing to admit that he had been right. She did want him. But she wasn't stupid enough to get involved with someone who just wanted another notch to add to his bedpost.

"Hey," Sanosuke greeted Megumi. "Lani needs to use the bathroom. Do you know where-?"

Megumi pointed to a door. "In there, first door on the left."

"Thanks." He waited, then glanced at Saitou for a moment before turning back to her. "Can we talk?"

Megumi looked away. "This…isn't a good time."

"Listen-"

"Sanosuke-"

"It's only for a few minutes-"

"I believe the lady said no," Saitou spoke up, quietly.

Sanosuke turned to him. "This is between us, so just-"

"Lovers' arguments should stay out of public functions," Saitou stated nonchalantly.

Megumi's jaw dropped. "It's not a-"

"Then we'll talk later," Sanosuke promised. He clenched his jaw and turned, walking away.

Megumi narrowed her eyes at the man calmly standing several feet away, examining the room. "I wasn't aware you two knew each other."

"Navy is a small world," Saitou offered.

He spotted Tokio waving him over, and after excusing himself, walked away.

The event had been a success. So successful that Megumi had been constantly addressed on it at work.

Her new rotation had her fairly busy, and usually working late into the night. So she'd manage to get a few naps here and there. She was so swamped that she hardly spent time with her aunts.

She had just gotten to the main lobby of the hospital when she saw Sanosuke chatting with a hospital technician. What is he doing here? she wondered. When he spotted her, he and the technician must have shared a few parting words because he left, leaving Sanosuke in the lobby.

"Hi," he greeted as she slowly made her way towards him.

"Hi…" She cleared her throat. "What brings you here?"

"I was told you'd be getting off your shift soon and I wanted to take you to dinner."

Megumi looked away. "Sanosuke-"

"It's just dinner," he interrupted gently.

"Why?"

"You did a good job on that fundraiser."

"Is that the only reason?"

He sighed. "Of course not."

Megumi crossed her arms. "Have you ever taken a woman to dinner without the intention of sleeping with her?"

"You'd be the first," he said teasingly.

"Then what would be the point, if-?"

"Fox-lady, we can stand here and debate all day, but I'm starving, so let's just go. If you really wanna know the other reasons, we'll go out, and I'll tell you then."

They had settled at a family-owned diner in Honolulu, with soft eighties music crooning in the background. After ordering, Sanosuke settled back in the booth, his eyes focused on her while she folded her napkin out on her lap.

"Hey, I never got around to asking about Evan the proctologist," Sanosuke spoke up.

Megumi looked up. "What about him?"

"Did you two go out or anything?"

Shaking her head, Megumi placed her hands in her lap. "Not exactly."

Sanosuke lifted his brows slightly. "Sounds like something was going on."

She wrinkled her nose. "You're very nosy," Megumi stated.

"So what? Not every day you see a wannabe plastic surgeon get slammed."

Megumi smiled wryly. "Well…he and I did become friends for a while. He even showed interest in me back in school. But…I was the unattainable girl in the class."

"Because you were a cold fish."

Her eyes narrowed. "No."

"Then?"

She crossed her arms. "It was because of my background. My father is a high ranking officer in Navy health care…my mother was a well-liked Navy nurse…I have two brothers who are also Naval officers in medical research…my aunt owns a hotel in Honolulu…and my aunt runs a successful hula school."

"A regular princess…"

I suppose…"I was the challenge. I wasn't interested in guys because it would interfere with my studies. They were interested not in me, but in winning me." She arched a brow. So there. "Sound familiar?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

He wasn't that dense, was he? "If I have to explain it to you, then-"

"Explain it."

Megumi sighed. "Men in general…especially men who aren't in relationships, have this goal to see as many women as they please. And not because of the woman, but the idea that they can see as many women as they please."

"And you're including me in this general category."

"Hey, you're a fast learner."

"No kidding. Doesn't take a high IQ to see what you're saying," Sanosuke responded. "Generalizations are lame. That's like me saying that women are emotional leeches." At her dark look, he continued, "But you get my idea. If-"

Megumi waved her hand. "I can't believe I'm even sitting here having this conversation with you. Of all the people in the world-"

"Then why are you?" he challenged. "I asked you to dinner…and you…still putting me in the class of men who want to conquer women…still said yes."

She rubbed her temples with slender fingers. "Goodness. Of all the-"

"Why?"

"What does it matter?" she said crossly. "Your ego obviously has had enough encouragement-"

"Last time I remember, you turned me down. And you're stubborn enough not to change your mind."

Megumi dropped her hands. "Fine." She crossed her arms. And waited a full minute.

"I'm waiting," he prompted.

She stared at his features before saying, "Maybe because when you're nice and normal…you're actually not bad to be around."

He blinked. "Wow."

"Wow what?"

He grimaced. "So you like normal, huh?"

He didn't sound too pleased. "Yes, I like normal."

"Normal's boring."

She laughed softly.

When the food was brought to them, Sanosuke waited as she began to eat before starting his meal.

"So what are your plans tonight?"

Megumi looked up. "Probably go home…read."

"Normal stuff, huh?"

She shrugged, instantly wary of the look in his eyes. "Why do you ask…?"

()

"You are a bad influence. Although I'm sure you've been told that a couple times…"

"Yeah, I have." Sanosuke grinned.

Megumi glanced at her watch. It was close to midnight. Just three hours ago, Sanosuke had taken her to a bar in downtown Honolulu. They'd danced, drank a little, played darts – it was the first night in a long time she had been so carefree.

"Thanks," Megumi spoke up as he escorted her to her apartment door. "I had a good time."

"Good. That's what I'm here for."

"To show a girl a good time?" she prompted. "Without sleeping with her?"

He mused aloud, "It doesn't happen very often." Sanosuke watched Megumi unlock her door. "We should go out again."

Megumi's eyes widened. "You're kidding."

He grinned. "It's actually kinda nice to go out with a girl and not worry about keeping her interested."

Megumi frowned. "You make that sound like hard work."

"It can be," he admitted. "A guy's gotta know what to say when."

"I had no idea womanizing was so exhausting," Megumi commented wryly.

He laughed. "When are you off next week?"

"Saturday."

"We'll hang out, then."

Megumi frowned again. "I didn't say yes."

He sighed. "Fine. If you aren't doing anything next Saturday, how about we hang out?"

She arched a brow. "I bet you've never used that line with other women."

"I thought you didn't want to be treated like other women," he pointed out. "Besides, I'm not asking you on a date. There's a difference."

Suddenly, Megumi's cell phone rang. She reached into her purse and made her way inside her apartment, waving him inside so her conversation wouldn't disturb neighbors. He closed the door behind him.

"Hello?"

"Megumi, it's Kaoru. Can you come over? I know it's late, but something's wrong with Kenshin!"

"What's wrong with him?"

"I don't know. He hasn't been himself the entire afternoon!"

"I'll be there in a few minutes."

()

"Food poisoning?" Kaoru echoed once Megumi concluded the problem.

Sanosuke tried not to laugh. Poor Kenshin.

At Kenshin and Kaoru's apartment, Sanosuke lounged on the couch while Megumi and Kaoru talked near the bedroom door.

"He should be okay in a day or two," Megumi said.

"What'd you feed him?" Sanosuke asked.

Kaoru glared at him. "Whatever he ate…I didn't make it."

"All right. If you say so."

She stuck her tongue out at him before her features relaxed. "Oh…did you two want something to drink?"

"It's all right. I can make tea on my own," Megumi offered.

As she headed to the kitchen, Kaoru's head immediately swiveled in his direction. He recognized that look. So he waited.

"Sanosuke, what are you doing here with her?"

"I gave her a ride," Sanosuke informed.

Kaoru frowned. "I thought I told you to leave her alone."

"What? I can't-"

"Megumi's not like your other women, Sanosuke," Kaoru declared, jutting her chin out in a determined manner. "She doesn't need you interfering-"

"Hey, I never got involved in your business," Sanosuke interrupted. "You had a little growing up to do, him being your first relationship, but I never told him to stop seeing you."

"But this is different," Kaoru insisted. "Besides, you promised me that you wouldn't-"

"I told her that I was interested," Sanosuke declared. At the shock in Kaoru's eyes, he continued, "But I left it up to her. If she wants to see me, then I'm not going to say no."

A/N: Sorry for lack of updates. Been busy with work and pulling overtime. Story should pick up some more soon enough – because after that previous chapter, I'm trying to prevent Sano from hoisting Megumi over his shoulder and occupying her for a good couple hours. (takes out ruler, swatting his hands) Back, boy, back!