A/N: I had this about 95 percent done a while back, so I figured I might as well post now.

This is really pushing the steaminess envelope here.

From the beginning of the story, I wanted to make one important distinction between Sano/Megumi's relationship and Aoshi/Megumi's. Sano/Megumi had that incredible chemistry, that 'grand passion of first love', while Aoshi/Megumi had the kind of relationship that develops over time with mutual respect. Not to say that Sano and Megumi loved each other any less…Just that their relationship was different.

And as for Megumi still being a conquest…quite honestly, Sano's telling me that a part of him says yes. He's a guy. (grins) So I guess my goal from here on is to bring to light what the other part of him is thinking/feeling…either through his own POV, or through Megumi's based on his words and actions.

Part 9: Fire

He was quiet for too long. Swallowing the nervousness that seemed to come out of nowhere, and steeling herself, she stepped towards him, rising on tiptoes to graze his lips with her own. Immediately, his arms circled around her waist and he pulled her closer.

She wasn't quite sure how the evening would go, but at the moment, she didn't care either way. Soon they had her door unlocked and were making their way inside her apartment, not breaking contact. He backed her into the living room, maneuvering them so that she lay on the sofa, his body following hers.

And then it seemed as if all the greedy kisses and touching slowed, and only whisper-light caresses existed between them. She reached down to yank his shirt free, but he stopped her with a gentle, but firm grip on her wrist, pinning her hand by her head, before he ducked his head, sweeping his mouth in open kisses over her soft skin.

Megumi couldn't believe the man's patience. She didn't think he was the type who enjoyed taking his time. He certainly didn't look or act like it at first.

He spent close to an hour on her sofa, half-lying on top of her, just touching the skin that wasn't covered by her dress with his hands and mouth. Who knew she was that sensitive? Now it seemed like the men she interacted with in the past were amateurs.

She bit her lip as he shifted, sliding his knee between hers as he kissed her lips. Megumi closed her eyes tightly, struggling for control. If she reacted like this now, just by him touching or kissing her, who knows how she'd react once he… She shivered slightly and arched closer, her fingers shaking as she quickly worked his shirt out of their confining buttonholes.

Oh my goodness. Megumi ran her palms over the firm skin of his chest. She memorized each hard plane and curve, watching her hands glide over that richly tanned skin. After a few moments, he nudged her onto her stomach with a push of his hand on her shoulder.

A sound of protest went past her lips until she felt the pressure of his fingers at the nape of her neck, kneading the muscles there before following with the touch of his lips. She groaned aloud as she felt weeks of tension and stress begin to leave her body. His fingertips delicately stroked the pulse points of her throat. He was very good with his hands. And he was barely touching her. She closed her eyes as his hands skimmed down her exposed back, his thumbs pressing along the beads of her spine, her fingers sinking into the soft material of her couch.

"Sano…"

"Yeah?" he whispered next to her ear before his lips followed the path of his hands.

She sighed. "You are way too good at this. Where did you learn how to do this?" What made her say that???

"I-"

"Please don't tell me you learned this from a prostitute on overseas shore leave…"

"It doesn't matter where I learned how to do this," he said.

Somehow that didn't make her feel better. "You-"

"Megumi," he interrupted softly. "I'm not thinking about my past when I'm doing this, and you shouldn't, either."

She bit her lip as he kissed down the groove of her spine. Reaching out, he straightened her left leg, running his hand along her calf before his fingers moved over the back of her knee with feather light touches.

Megumi didn't ever recall a time feeling like this. This strange…need to throw everything away and lose herself in what he was offering. "Sano…"

And then his lips were on the back of her knee, causing all thoughts to leave her brain. She gasped, her fingers clenching over the couch material once more. Trembling, Megumi buried her face in the cushions.

Suddenly, his cell phone went off, causing her to nearly scream in frustration. Judging by the stiffness in his frame, he wasn't planning on ignoring the call either. Megumi glanced over her shoulder, seeing him tighten his jaw before streaking both hands through his hair.

"Hold on…" Reluctantly, he got up and swiped his phone from her coffee table, practically jamming the talk button. "What is it?" A voice spoke, and he frowned, a hint of alarm appearing in his brown eyes.

Curious, Megumi got to a full sitting position. Sanosuke began to pace. He looked very sexy standing there with his shirt untucked and open, his hair ruffled, his eyes narrowed slightly as he moved with the grace of a lion. Pure male. She tamped down her thoughts as Sanosuke's mood changed.

"When? Everyone okay?" He let out a breath. "Yeah…all right…I'll be there." He hung up and was silent for a moment before he let his eyes rest on her. "That was Tsunan…The…The orphanage caught fire..."

Immediately, she got to her feet. "I'll drive."

When they got to the foundation, Megumi pulled over a little more than half a block away. Before she even had her car in park, Sanosuke had unhooked his seat belt and bolted out of the car. From her position behind the driver's seat, she could see the firemen hosing down the building and the one next to it. Nearly half of it was blackened by soot and smoke. The structure was blocked off several meters, a small collection of residents stood watching.

And to one side, Tsunan stood, grim-faced, surrounded by a dozen somber children, all dressed in their pajamas.

She could only imagine what Sanosuke was thinking right now. He grew up in that building. If so much was lost…

Megumi hurried, Sanosuke a good ten feet in front of her, making his way to the group.

"Sano!" Lani cried out, being the first to spot him.

The group turned and Lani broke into a run in his direction.

"Everyone all right?" Sanosuke asked.

But before anyone could answer, Lani threw her arms around his waist.

"What's going to happen now?" the girl asked plaintively.

Sanosuke gently squeezed her shoulders. The gesture seemed to be enough comfort, for the tension seemed to have left Lani.

Megumi stayed to the side, not wanting to intrude. The group joined Sanosuke and Lani, conversing quietly. Megumi turned her gaze to the structure, where the fire was slowly dying.

One of the firemen came forward, removing his hat. He was young, probably in his thirties. And he looked tired. Weariness settled around his blue eyes, and dark soot streaked his cheeks.

"Are you the owner?" he addressed the question to Tsunan.

"Yes." He frowned. "What…is going on?"

"Parts of the building are still intact…It isn't safe to go in just yet. We still have to investigate the cause of the fire…" He looked at the group sympathetically. "I'm sorry."

Tsunan shook his head. "Thank you…I…I'm sure you've done all you could."

The fireman gave him a rueful smile before walking away.

"What happens now?" Andrew asked.

"Make some calls…" Tsunan answered slowly. "Our insurance should be able to pay for reconstruction…"

"I…I meant now," Andrew said softly. "Where are we going to stay?"

Everyone fell silent. Lani tightened her grip on Sanosuke, who frowned in thought.

"I have an idea…" Megumi spoke up.

Megumi glanced to her right side to see Sanosuke staring outside her car window as she navigated through the streets of Honolulu. Behind them, Tsunan followed with his large van that seated all the children. Megumi focused on the road again, her grip tightening over the steering wheel.

It was a quick drive, due to little traffic on the streets. Sanosuke turned as the majestic tower of the Royal Hawaiian came into view. Bracing his hand on the dashboard, he stared out the windshield.

"Your aunt owns that?"

"That's right."

"Wow."

Megumi pulled up to the front to see her two aunts patiently waiting outside. Kyoko in a simple gray pantsuit and Yuki in a dark blue muumuu. Megumi hugged her aunts in greeting.

"Hi…thanks for doing this…"

"Is that really necessary?" Kyoko asked teasingly. "You know I would have been more than happy to do this…"

Yuki gestured to the duffel bag slung over her shoulder. "I have some extra clothes if they need them."

As Sanosuke climbed out of the car, Megumi turned, and gesturing with her hand, said, "Auntie Yuki, Kyoko…this is Sanosuke. I was working with him on that fundraiser at the base."

Her aunts immediately looked in his direction before offering their hands for a shake.

"Nice to meet you," Sanosuke said with a brief smile. "I've heard a lot of good things about you both."

"Oh really?" Kyoko smiled at that.

"Thank you for this," Sanosuke said. "Both of you."

"It's our pleasure," Yuki responded.

At that moment, Tsunan's van came to a stop behind the Lexus.

It took about an hour to settle in, for everyone to check in and receive their room keys, and obtain any basic bathroom essentials for washing up. Several of the children used the clothing articles that Yuki had brought to change into for later.

"Thank you so much," Tsunan addressed her aunts just before he turned in. "I don't know what I could do to ever…"

"Say no more," Kyoko spoke up gently. "What's important is that they have a place to stay. Will they be all right going to school on Monday?"

"I think so. Normally they take a bus, but I can drop them off…" Tsunan responded.

"If you need any help, I can arrange for one of my drivers to do that."

"I…thank you. If…If I need any help, I'll let you know…"

"Please do. You're welcome to stay here as long as you need."

"Thank you." Tsunan nodded, then turned to Sanosuke and Megumi. "Thanks again. For being there as soon as I called."

"No problem," Sanosuke assured.

The two men continued to talk briefly about their plans for the orphanage.

Megumi and her aunts respectfully stepped back to give them some privacy.

"You look tired," Yuki spoke to her niece.

"It's been a long day," Megumi announced.

"Maybe you should get some rest first," Kyoko announced. "You both are welcome to rest here before you need to go home."

Megumi rubbed her eyes. "Waikiki isn't that far…"

"It's late," Yuki stated, glancing at her watch. "Nearly two a.m."

How like her aunts. Ever since her mother left, they had taken it upon themselves to take care of her and see to her well-being. Megumi sighed. "I suppose I could rest for a little while…"

"All right," Kyoko nodded decisively. "We're going to call it a night." She raised an inquisitive brow. "Do I need to arrange a room for Sanosuke?"

Megumi felt her cheeks flush. That reaction was enough for her aunts.

"Kyoko…don't embarrass her," Yuki chided softly.

In a ridiculous attempt to cover her mistake, Megumi stammered, "Why would you think that we-?"

A knowing smile curved Kyoko's lips. "Because you've been working together, and you are a beautiful young woman while he is a very handsome young man. There are very few of that combination that can maintain a platonic relationship."

How true her aunt was. The fact that he knew that she was a sucker for massages…and that the back of her knees were erogenous zones definitely didn't count as platonic.

She bade her aunts goodnight, walking with them to the elevator.

When her aunts disappeared, she turned to see Sano making his way towards her, Tsunan's door closed.

"What now?" he asked, tucking his hands in his pockets.

"I need to go to my room. Freshen up."

Sano's eyes rounded. "You have a room here?"

"That's right…" Megumi nodded. "I used to stay here when my dad went overseas. Do you need to go home right away?"

"No, I'm fine."

With that, Megumi led the way to her room on the top floor, the events of the night heavily looming over both of them.