A/N: The usual heat warnings.

Part 8: Unofficial First Date?

Megumi sighed, closing her eyes for a moment. When she opened them fully, she began writing down a note in her research notebook. Brunch with Kaoru had been fairly quiet. She thought Kaoru was going to be concerned about her and Sanosuke, but apparently, they had made it clear that they weren't having an affair. Which made her wonder why Kaoru was so insistent that the man stay away from her. Megumi knew she was only being protective, but why so adamant?

Megumi skimmed a paragraph before writing down some more information.

"Hey," a voice greeted softly.

Megumi jumped in her seat and turned to her right to see Sanosuke lounging back in the chair next to hers. "What are you doing here?" she whispered.

"I wanted to see you," he admitted. "This is the only library within twenty miles of your place, so I figured you were studying here."

He wanted to see her? "I'm working."

"I know." He shrugged. "When you supposed to be done?"

"I don't know…twenty minutes?" she guessed.

"Let's go out tonight," he said suddenly.

He had to be joking. "I can't," she responded. "I have to work on my report for this presentation…"

"When's the presentation?"

"Tuesday after next."

He shot her a look. "You're a week and a half ahead. You are a nerd."

She glared at him. "I'm not a nerd."

"Do you like desserts?" he continued, quickly changing subject. "There's this place in Honolulu I know that's having a dessert tasting…I have an extra ticket."

Megumi blinked. "I've…never been to one of those."

He grinned. "We can meet at your place in half an hour and go in one car."

She sighed, looking away. "Sanosuke-"

"If you're not at your place in forty minutes, I'll assume you're turning me down," he cut in.

Before she could say anything, he pressed his lips against hers in a kiss that left her shaking when it was over. He gave her a quick smile and walked away.

That…That arrogant…arrogant…Megumi bit her lip. She couldn't even think straight. How could anyone be so infuriating and irresistible at the same time? Megumi didn't recall ever knowing anyone like that. She looked up to see the librarian ten years her senior, standing several feet away, smiling at her before stocking the shelves. Megumi sighed. The woman obviously saw them kissing. And was clearly a romantic.

Exactly thirty-five minutes later, Megumi arrived at her apartment, seeing Sanosuke sitting on the steps. He gave her a slow smile before he rose to his feet.

Megumi released a breath. The man looked like an Asian film star. He was dressed in a maroon long-sleeved collared shirt with a few buttons left open, exposing a small portion of his tanned chest. A silver chain dangled from around his neck. When he moved, she could see two dog tags peeking out from the fabric of his shirt before disappearing again. The sleeves of his shirt were folded up almost to his elbows, and he wore black slacks with black leather dress shoes. His brown hair was styled to give texture to his normally short regulation haircut.

Oh…my…goodness. Was it warmer than usual at the moment? Megumi fought the urge to fan herself. Not that she had ever been around good-looking men before…Just…never around men who carried themselves the way he did. That easygoing manner that just seemed to pull people in…

"You clean up very nicely," she ranted. Oh, nice one, Megumi. How about you state anything more obvious in a more insulting way?

"Thanks," he laughed, the sound rippling through her.

Okay, you need to stop, she scolded herself. Man laughing is not supposed to excite you.

"So…am I supposed to wear a black dress?" she asked. She wasn't aware that dessert tasting required somewhat nice clothing.

"If you want," he answered slowly.

"So color's okay?" Why don't you shut up? You sound like an idiot.

"Color is fine."

She pursed her lips. "So…did you think I was going to show up?"

At that, he grinned. "Well…" he drawled. "I was kinda getting worried you wouldn't…"

"What if I didn't?"

"You're here, so it doesn't matter."

She rolled her eyes and opened the door to her apartment, allowing him to come inside. After telling him that he was welcome to the fridge contents, she went to her bedroom to look for a suitable dress. Color wasn't her thing tonight.

Mainly because a black dress had gotten her attention first. She'd have to wear flats tonight. Her ankle was better, but it was probably best to stick to flat shoes. She removed her white tank top and jeans before slipping on the boatneck black dress that fell an inch above her knees. The dress had a tear drop shape cut out, exposing her lower back.

You're dressing to get a reaction, her inner voice warned.

She ignored the voice and pinned half of her hair up in a twist, leaving the rest to flow down her back. With a light spritz of vanilla on her pulse points, she entered the living room to see Sanosuke patiently waiting.

"Ready," she stated, snatching her purse.

()

Sanosuke sat back in his chair, glancing at Megumi, who carefully placed a small morsel of cheesecake in her mouth.

"What do you think?" he asked.

Megumi nodded. "It's good…"

The small restaurant in Honolulu was preparing for its grand opening…and as a celebration, were offering samples of their desserts in hopes that crowd feedback would prompt them to make a final decision on the dessert menu. The restaurant was decorated in rich purple and auburn drapes, with floating candles as centerpieces. Had the management dimmed the overhead lights, the place could have a really romantic atmosphere. But they probably didn't just so people could see the desserts.

A waitress came by, pot in hand. "More tea?"

"Yes, please," Megumi spoke up.

The blonde waitress efficiently filled their small pots with hot water. Sanosuke gave her a brief grateful smile while Megumi softly murmured her thanks before the waitress turned away.

But not before giving Sanosuke once last glance.

Megumi stared at him.

"What?" He placed his tea bag in the hot water.

She stared in the direction the waitress had gone before turning to him again. "How do you do it?" Megumi asked, amazed. Three tables down, she could see a group of four women whispering. They were terrible at being discreet. He knew because he had caught them already looking his way. But he doubted they caught him catching them. "You just sit there and women are drawn to you."

"Not every woman's like that," Sanosuke reasoned.

"But women notice you. From the moment we stepped inside here. You have any idea how many dirty looks I've received?" Megumi lowered her voice to a whisper.

He blinked. "I didn't notice."

"So?" Megumi leaned forward.

He drank his tea. "It's in the attitude."

"Attitude."

"Confidence, fox-lady. A confident man can get anything he wants…and that could be anything. A job, an education, a car, a girlfriend."

"That's it?" Megumi blinked.

He shrugged, smiling. "Pretty much."

"That can't be it."

"Well…" he hedged. "You can learn a lot from experience, too."

"And exactly how far does your experience go?" Megumi asked.

He grinned. She was flirting with him. Whether she realized it or not. "Let's just say that I learned a little during high school and the rest while in the Navy."

"That's a long time."

"Not really."

Sanosuke watched as she picked the maraschino cherry off one dessert and ate the fruit, setting the stem back on the plate. He instantly remembered a game he used to play with his fellow shipmates while on shore leave. When she swallowed, he picked up the stem and held it out to her. At her confused look, he asked, "Can you tie a knot with your tongue?"

Megumi stared at him curiously. "For what?"

"Can you do it?"

"I…I'm not sure…"

"Try it."

"Can you?" she asked.

He nodded. "Yeah. When I was on shore leave, the guys and I would take bets on who could tie the most in the shortest amount of time."

She laughed. "You're kidding. Why knots?" she asked, taking the stem from him.

She really didn't know? "It's been said that a person who can tie knots into cherry stems is a good kisser."

Two spots of color appeared on her cheeks. He briefly wondered what her skin felt like when she was blushing. "You must have won yourself lots of money."

"How would you know if I've never kissed you with my tongue," he reminded. He had to admit, half of the time he said bold statements because he liked getting a reaction out of her.

Megumi cleared her throat and set the stem aside. "So…how long have you been in the Navy?"

He smiled at her change in subject but let it go. "Six years."

"Six?"

"That's right. Signed up at eighteen to see the world." That, and he couldn't see himself go to college. High school had been pretty boring and he wasn't interested in paying money to go study when he could be paid to work and instantly receive benefits.

Megumi tilted her head, studying him thoughtfully. "Do you have any plans?"

"For what?"

"After the Navy."

"Not really," he admitted. "I'm still young…Probably not gonna retire till I'm forty…" Which seemed a long way off.

His answer apparently didn't sit with her. "You plan on being a ship mechanic for the rest of your service?"

He frowned slightly. "No."

"Then what?"

He ran his hand through his hair and sat back, regarding her carefully. This was Megumi Takani, ambitious medical resident extraordinaire. Not that he had a problem with women who wanted to be successful. He just had to remember that some people considered themselves of 'higher class' than others due to their careers. But Megumi didn't exactly seem the type…she seemed to relate to him just fine. So maybe she was just curious. "My reenlistment is coming up…I have the choice of changing my occupation. I was looking into machine shop."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"What would you work with?"

"Ships, airplanes...Different things. Whatever Uncle Sam wanted."

"Why that career?" Megumi asked curiously.

"Well…it's a good thing to fall back on once I quit the Navy. It makes good money. And I've always been good with my hands, so…" He grinned at her exasperated look. "What?"

"You are so…crude."

"Hey," he interjected. "Didn't I fix your car and wrap your ankle?"

"Yes, but-"

"How's your foot, anyway?" He'd been meaning to ask about that.

"It's good, thanks…"

"Good."

"So that's your plan?" Megumi asked.

"For now." Sanosuke shrugged, then added, "I think some people focus too much on planning their futures…they stress themselves out when things don't go right."

"Of course they're stressed…real life is very serious," Megumi responded.

"I mean that they don't really enjoy themselves in the present time," he declared. "You're never really living life if you're always planning ahead. Life's meant to be enjoyed, not planned."

She blinked. "I never really thought about it that way. Maybe…because I've always planned my life…"

"Really?"

"Well…yes." Megumi shifted in her seat. "I always knew I was going to be a doctor."

"What made you decide that?"

Megumi smiled wistfully. "My mother was a Navy nurse…my father a Navy physician…I always knew I'd be in medicine."

"Family tradition?"

"Yes and no," she answered, propping her cheek in her hand. "I spent a lot of time studying…I hardly had time for anything else other than school. And of course the halau."

"No personal life?"

"Not much of one," she admitted. "I was planning to work on that after my residency. But mainly because I don't think most people could handle it. This week alone I've worked nearly four days straight. Anytime I'm home it's just to sleep."

"Must not be easy."

"It's worth it, though," she stated. "When I'm done I'll be working in the hospital eight to four or nine to five."

"Ever thought of joining the Navy? Instead of being a contractor?" Sanosuke asked.

Megumi rolled her eyes. "My father gets on my case about that…I haven't really decided if I want to join the Medical Corps…"

"Your dad must be really proud of you." While he had long accepted a life without family, he did wonder occasionally what it would have been like.

Megumi sighed. "He is."

Something in her tone alerted him. "But?"

She glanced at him for a moment. "From what I was told…he was never the same after my mom died."

Sanosuke frowned. "Wait…I thought your mom was alive. The way you talk about her…"

"She died when I was really young. I don't even remember her…" Megumi admitted softly. "But my aunts told me a lot about her…they say sometimes…that I remind them of her."

"Your mom must have been a very special lady…"

At that, Megumi smiled. "She was."

Most of the time was spent chatting until the restaurant closed. When the evening was over, he dropped her off at her apartment, even so much as to escort her safely to her door.

"Thank you," Megumi said with a soft smile. "I had a good time…"

"You're welcome."

"Would you like to come in?" Megumi offered hesitantly. "Maybe…get something to drink?"

"It's getting late," Sanosuke stated. "I should get going."

"All right...." She hesitated, as if unsure how to end the evening.

Which gave him just enough time to decide on just how to end the night.

He tilted her chin up, brushing a light kiss across her lips. He hadn't intended the gesture to go beyond that. But Megumi pressed herself against him, her hands reaching up to grasp his shoulders, deepening the kiss. Her boldness caught him by surprise, and his hands moved to wrap around her waist, pulling her as close as possible while he continued to kiss her slowly, thoroughly. He gently touched his tongue to hers, slipping between her parted lips, earning a soft gasp in response before he retreated, tracing the edge of her bottom lip.

Her breathing grew unsteady and she shook slightly as he continued to kiss her. A soft moan emerged from her throat as he pressed her hips against his. He rained kisses down her throat, nibbling on the flesh just above her collarbone as she tilted her head, his hand drifted over the exposed skin of her back.

He wanted so badly to lose himself in the softness of her skin, the whispered sounds of pleasure from her lips. She had haunted his dreams at night, so many times that he'd wake up in the dark, wanting her. And judging by the way she held on to him, she wanted him, too. But experience taught him that she wasn't ready to admit it.

Abruptly, he pulled away, releasing her, causing her to stumble slightly. He shoved his hands in his pockets to prevent himself from touching her.

She lowered her lashes, wetting her lips with the tip of her tongue before looking at him with longing in her dark eyes.

He swallowed and looked away for a moment. But he had always been upfront and honest. His eyes gazed at hers as he spoke in a low voice, "If I stay any longer…I won't want to leave…"

"Then stay," she whispered.

At the moment, he couldn't think of anything else he wanted to do. "You know what you're asking, right?"

Megumi firmly set her jaw, nodding once. He couldn't ignore the race of blood in his veins at the sight of her. She looked so beautiful – her hair falling in waves around her shoulders, the soft curves of her body he had just felt moments before...She was vulnerable yet strong and sexy all at once. In spite of the flush in her cheeks, determination glittered in those dark eyes with a certainty he wasn't sure even he felt.

And she surprised him with a slight smile and asked with just a small hint of playfulness tinged with anxiety, "So what's the plan, sailor?" Her voice lowered. "You going to stay?"

A/N: Yes. I'm evil. Knowing that this could go several different ways, I will leave you readers with this, and ask for patience as you will have to wait for a few weeks to see Sano's answer since I'm gonna work on After All. Thanks!