a/n: okies, here's the deal, i keep updating every wed. so i think we'll keep it that way. so look forward to an update on this every wed, but that may change once skool starts back up... but i'll try to make them regular. on another note, this has to be like, my most popular ficcie, cuz everyone luvs it and keeps reviewing, which u should continue to do cuz it inspires me... okies? thank u much!

disclaimer: i don't own anything...

Chapter 7: Lunch Date?

Megumi drove home, in a bit of a fury. Still, there was nothing she could do yet; she didn't know if it was Sano. The coincidences could be just that; coincidences, but somehow she didn't think it was. Kenshin himself had said they worked together in a bar. Her Mr. Right worked with Kenshin in a bar.

She opened her door and collapsed on the couch. Thinking this hard about a certain rooster made her tired. She sighed and stared at the phone, wondering if she should call him again. There already was no answer when she tried from her cell. She didn't know what do to.

Kaoru was safe for a time, for now. She wouldn't maim her friend until she knew for a fact that it was indeed her who had tried to set her up with Sano. If it even was Sano. She still had her doubts… I mean, sure, Sano was good looking, but that attitude! She covered her face with her hands and moaned in annoyance. It was all Kaoru's fault for putting her profile on the internet.

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Megumi wasn't the only one doing some heavy thinking that night. Sano paced his living room when he got back. He really like Megumi. He wanted to have a civil relationship with her outside of phone calls. But how could he when all she wanted to do was argue? He sighed and finally sat down in a chair in front of the TV that was off.

If this was going to happen every time they saw each other, then this just wasn't going to work out. He couldn't keep going on lies; Megumi didn't even know his name for obvious reasons. He was sure that she would bring it up in one of these conversations some day. It was time to stop lying.

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Megumi woke up, refreshed and ready for a new day. Her alarm was still ringing insistently, reminding her that she had work this morning. Her thoughts were on work and work alone. Thinking of last night and all of her suspicions would only make her stressed and that was the last thing she needed at the moment. She poured herself a cup of coffee and then got dressed. Caffeine, caffeine, caffeine, caffeine. It's what made her go. Once she was dressed she grabbed her coffee and headed out the door.

"Hi Kamatari," Megumi greeted as she walked in.

"Hiya Dr. Takani!" Kamatari said in turn cheerfully. "I've got a list of forms you need to look over, and Mr. Udo is back again. He's having eye problems again."

"Again? I told the old coot to stop using that creepy technique!" Megumi told 'her.'

"I know! But he sees all of the poor civilians as enemies from the old war," 'she' told her.

"Thank you," Megumi said wearily, moving into the room. "Good morning, Mr. Udo."

"Wah! Enemy! Blast it! My eyes!"

"Mr. Udo, it's me. Dr. Takani," she informed him dully as he shot odd glances all over the room.

"Oh! It's you!" He concentrated his gaze on her once more and she sighed.

"I could have sworn I told you last time you were in here that you shouldn't use that technique anymore. It isn't meant for such extended use and it is putting lasting stress on your eyes, and causing them to become blood shot," Megumi told him as she prepared a vaccination.

"Oh? Did you tell me all that?"

Megumi sighed. It was going to be a long day.

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Megumi came home, dropped down onto her couch, took off her shoes and laid back. It was late. She'd planned on calling 'Mr. Right' but it was so late… Screw it. She picked up the phone and dialed his number.

"Hello?"

"It's me."

"Oh, Megumi!"

"I wanted to ask you something. I was just wondering, how is it that you have my name, yet I don't have yours?"

"I… uh, that is to say… Knot's Landing?" he supplied helpfully.

"Right," she said sarcastically.

"Hey, how about we do lunch tomorrow? Then I'll tell you my name and you can finally meet me," he offered.

She blinked. "Sure. Where would you like to meet?"

"How about the Akabeko around noon? Tae's always to give me a meal," he told her.

"Sounds like a date."

"That's because it is, foxy lady," he said.

"Did you… foxy lady… this guy I hate always calls me that…" she stuttered out.

"Oh, I just… you're so pretty and I… well it seemed fitting, but if you'd rather I call you something else…"

"No that's fine. I don't mind really, it just reminded me of this stupid jerk I know," she said.

Sano was silent for a moment. "Can I call you back?"

"Um, sure…" she answered somewhat uncertainly.

"Bye."

"Bye…" she barely had the word out of her mouth and he hung up.

Sano leaned up against the wall thinking over her words. A stupid jerk. Was he really like that when he was around her? And what about her? She could be a world class bitch if she wanted. But… she was so cute when she got riled up. He had to let her know who he was before he got in to deep. Dropping down on his couch, he picked the phone up again. He wondered what Kenshin would have to say on the matter.

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"Hello?"

"Kenshin, hi."

"Sano," Kenshin said surprised.

"I… um, need some advice. This is totally hypothetical. If this guy did nothing but argue with this girl, but they were on great terms when they only talked on the phone… but she didn't really know who she was talking to should the guy come out and tell her? All hypothetical…"

Kenshin chuckled, realizing his predicament. "Sano I don't know if Kaoru-dono would like it if you told Megumi-dono who you are…"

"Yo-You know!"

"Kaoru-dono told me, that she did," he said matter of factly.

"Wh- That was supposed to be a secret! Between me and her!" Sano said, still shocked.

"Well… she thought it might cheer me up after…" His gaze drifted out the window, his eyes softening, his voice trailing off.

"Ohhh… She's nuts," he said randomly.

"Huh?"

"Jou-chan. She's insane… or at least I think so. She keeps going on about her non-existent love life and some guy she's been chasing practically her whole life and he hardly knows she exists. She said that's why she tries to set other people up…"

"Kaoru-dono?"

"Yeah… she's totally bananas." He chuckled. "Poor chick needs some one to set her up. Blind dates don't work she said. Ever… Wouldn't tell me why though…"

"I thought we were talking about you and Megumi…"

"Oh yeah. So what should I do? I mean, I invited her to lunch tomorrow at the Akabeko, but I don't know if it was such a good idea."

"Kaoru-dono certainly won't think so."

"But I'm not asking about Jou-chan. I want to know what you think," Sano pressed.

Kenshin considered his options. "I don't think that it is right for you to continue lying to her, that I don't. She does really deserve to know."

"That's what I thought, so I invited her to lunch tomorrow at Akabeko," he replied.

"I guess that's the right thing to do, that I do, but still… I would stand clear of Kaoru-dono after you do that," Kenshin warned him.

"I'll remember that. Thanks for all the help, Kenshin," Sano bid him good-bye and hung up.

Tomorrow everything would be fixed.

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Megumi was having a nervous breakdown, or something of the effect as she thought about his offer that she'd so causally accepted. What if it really was the stupid rooster head? What if it wasn't? A whole slew of 'what ifs' flew into her head as she considered the possibilities. She picked up her phone, trying to decide what to do. She could call and cancel him… or she could call Kaoru and see what she would do in this situation… But then again, the raccoon was probably online herself and she didn't busy herself with the phone while she was online no matter what internet service she had.

She sighed. What on Earth was she going to do? She stole a glance at the clock on he wall; ten-thirty. She was off work tomorrow, but she was on call… and she was going to remember to turn her alarm off this time. She pulled on her pj's before moving into the kitchen and digging around for a small tub of low fat ice cream. Grabbing the double chocolate fudge, she curled up on the couch with it. Flipping through the channels she tried to decide what to watch. She eventually settled on re-runs of Will & Grace.

By the time she was ready for bed, she still couldn't get her mind off the next day. It was so… so frustrating. She still didn't know what to do. She'd already accepted his offer so it was only polite that she actually follow through and at least go and meet him, but she didn't think she was ready to know the truth. She'd found so much in this guy… and absolutely nothing in the rooster. If it was him, the first thing she'd have to ask was how he managed to bite his vile tongue while talking to her. After all… he knew who she was and she only had a vague idea and some wild theories about his identity.

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Sano sat in a booth at the Akabeko, making sure that the owner, Tae, knew to direct Megumi to his booth when she arrived. She'd asked no questions, but had given him a suspicious look that promised she'd find out what was going on, one way or another. He'd merely waved the look off and requested some sake while he waited for his date. She'd promised to come and he knew she wouldn't go back on that. Not on 'Mr. Right.' But after today… she might never want to talk to him again. Not after she finds out who he really is, who she's really been talking to.

Time went by slowly and soon he found that he already had three sake jugs laying around him. He looked at them, bewildered, before realizing that while he was waiting he had consumed them all himself. Glancing down at his watch he realized it was already half past one. He closed his eyes before slowly getting up. She hadn't come. She's promised. And she didn't come…

She never came to see him.

a/n: don't forget to review! i'm going to ask a little ? here. has anyone ever seen Knot's Landing? if u have, maybe u can make the connections here... don't forget to review!