a/n: okies, u all asked so nicely (actually, i do believe that hitenmitsurgi girl fufilled all my ?'s... cuz i asked u to bitch at me and ask nicely... and somehow she pulled off both...) and oh Sekishi-sama, this is ur chappie for k/k waff... and as for s/m, whoot, it's another fun filled chappie...

disclaimer: 2 hookers and an 8 ball... stupid ppl think that i am kool...

Chapter 13: Shock and Surprise (Truth finally revealed)

"You! How… how did you find out!"

"Megumi… I am him. I always have been," he confessed softly. "I've been interested in you since the very beginning so when Kaoru offered to hook me up… I couldn't refuse."

"I… I don't understand."

"Megumi. I'm Mr. Right. I've been talking to you on the phone on and off. That's why I couldn't tell you who I was. I was afraid you'd reject me before you really knew me," he sought desperately to explain.

"But… then… all the lies… and I… I even went out on a date with you!"

"Please." He stood up and put his hands on her shoulders. "Please, understand why I had to do it this way. There was no way you would ever give me a chance otherwise."

She bowed her head, knowing he was right, but not wanting to admit it. When she brought her head up her eyes were sparkling with tears. This way she didn't have to choose, but she still felt like she'd been tossed around.

"Why?"

"Because I love you." His arms came around her as he said the words. "I've never wanted anyone more than I wanted you…"

"I…" she didn't know what to say to that. This was part of her problem. She'd become so attached to him after each of their meetings that it had made it hard to turn around and pretend that she wasn't the least bit interested in Sano and more interested in the man on the phone.

"Please," he hugged her form to his, needing her to understand. "Please believe that it's true. I love you."

"S-Sano," she whispered, finding her arms slipping around his torso. "I… Part of me always wanted to have you… but then… when Kaoru went and… I just couldn't love you! And then you… That part of me wanted him to just disappear so I could run to you… I was so confused!"

"I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"

"Just don't… don't do anything like that again…"

"I won't… I promise…"

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Megumi drove to the hospital, smiling for a change. Sano loved her. She knew that there was still a voice in her head rebelling the idea, but a larger part of her reveling in it. She wasn't sure if she could say she was in love with him, but she definitely wanted to find out. After all… that kiss was so very nice…

"Megumi! I demanded details! Spill!" Kamatari ordered, rounding the corner of the building to almost slam into her.

"About what?"

"That sexy man that I 'treated' here a few weeks ago! And you! Kaoru came in here and said that you should have been here by now! That Sano shouldn't have taken that long!"

"Kaoru." She'd completely forgotten about her friend's involvement. She might just have to thank her for the first time in her life.

"Yes, Kaoru-chan."

"Where is she now?"

"In your office."

Megumi nodded her thanks and headed back towards her office to see her friend without answering Kamatari's questions leaving 'her' back in the lobby to scream down the hall. She thought perhaps she would thank her, but only after she mildly chided her for her involvement in the first place. She let a small smile flicker over her face as she entered. Kaoru was sitting in her chair, talking on the phone.

"Oh? Ohohoho!" It was unusual for her to laugh so much like her friend.

"Kaoru?"

"Hmm, it seems I have to go. The evil mistress has returned to her castle," she said. "Toodles."

"Kaoru, who was that?"

"Kenshin," she answered with a smile.

"Is that so? Now, missy, why is it that you always feel the need to set me up?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh yes you do! You set me up with Sano!"

"He wasn't supposed to tell!" Kaoru wailed. "Wah!"

"Well he did! So spill! Why did you, after I specifically said not to, tell him you could hook me up with him?"

"You liked him! I could tell," Kaoru said matter-of-factly.

Megumi sighed. There was no denying that she liked him more than a little. At least not now.

"Well, now that I have finished making you see the error of your ways-"

"Have not."

"-I shall now thank you. It was the only one of your matchmakings that actually came out good," she continued on as if Kaoru hadn't even corrected her.

"Hmm? I don't believe I heard you right, Ms. Takani, would you mind repeating that?" Kaoru asked slyly.

"Thank you," she grit out.

"Oh, for a moment I thought perhaps you were joking, but could I hear it one more time?"

"Thank you!" she screamed, frustrated with her friend.

"Goodie! Now, thy shall leave thou to thou's work… I don't think I said that right, but who cares? Oh well! Ta ta! I have a date!"

"What! With who?"

"Why none other than Master Himura!" She winked on her way out.

Megumi chuckled heartily. Everyone seemed to be getting a happy ending. She sincerely hoped that Sano turned out to a be an alright guy. And she really hoped that he would always remembered to bring his wallet after her last conversation with Misao…

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Kaoru skipped down the driveway, straight up to Kenshin's house. He'd invited her over and she'd gone as far as to call it a 'date.' Perhaps it wasn't. She hoped it was. She rang the door bell twice and waited for a response. He came to the door with a grin on his face.

"Hi Kenshin!" she greeted, bounding into his house.

"Kaoru-dono."

Her smile fell a little. Stupid old fashioned honorifics.

"I'm almost finished with breakfast. Would you care to join me?"

"Of course! Especially after a whole week of my cooking…" She held her stomach as it growled. "Doesn't exactly fill me up the way it should…"

Kenshin allowed himself a small laugh over her cooking and then took out another plate. He was nervous, he realized. He did want to tell her as soon as possible… but somehow he didn't. It was complicated.

"Kaoru-dono…" Kenshin said softly after she'd finished. "Could I talk to you over on the sofa?" Kaoru nodded and made her way over before pouncing onto the couch.

"Yes, Kenshin?"

"I've been debating this for a while now…" he started. "And I was wondering… if you were available."

"Available as in…"

"For dating."

"Heck yesh I am," she exclaimed happily.

"Good," he said, scooting closer. "Because I'm interested in you…"

His face neared hers and her faced flamed. She'd wanted this for so long… When his lips touched hers, her body came alive. Her fingers came to bury themselves in the thickness of his fiery red hair. His hands fell to her waist in a possessive gesture, trapping her against his hard chest. She whimpered low in her throat as his tongue began it's dance with hers.

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Misao could barely contain her giggles as she interrogated Sano about his encounter early on. She sat up on her knees.

"Come on! Spill it! I want to know!" she whined. "I didn't get up in time to tape it… come on!"

"You really don't need to know."

"Sure I do."

"Fine!"

"Goodie!" she squealed. "Now tell!"

"We… we kinda worked things out. I don't know… I'm going to take her to dinner again to see how this will work. She's not mad about it though…"

"That's good! Kaoru finally made a match! Heaven knows she's been trying for years…"

"Yeah well… Nothing you'd like to catch on tape happened. We hugged. That's about it."

"Idiot! You're supposed to sweep her into your arms and kiss her senseless!" she scolded.

"I'll do it tonight then!"

"You'd better."

"Uh-huh…" was his noncommittal response.

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She rolled her shoulders, hoping to relieve some of the tension that had built up within them throughout the day. She smiled, though, when she thought about Sano. He was taking her to dinner tonight. She'd have to shower and change quickly. She literally ran in her apartment and shed her clothing as quickly as possible and jumped right into the shower. As wonderful as it felt, she knew that dawdling was only wasting the time she had left to get ready.

Just as she was pulling her heels on, Sano rang her doorbell. She quickly finished up and headed towards the door to pull it open.

"Hey," he greeted. "Ready?"

"Just barely," she mumbled, stepping out the door.

He chuckled and escorted her into the car before checking to make sure that he had his wallet this time. When he felt it in his pocket he breathed a sigh of relief and slid into the drivers seat. The ride was painfully quiet, reminding him of the other time when they'd driven together. As delightful as that night had ended he forced his mind away from the topic. They finally arrived and he helped her out same as he'd helped her in. She smiled her thanks to him.

The waiter sat them in a booth by a window giving Megumi the urge to look out the window just so she wouldn't have to face him. She may have put all her fears to rest about his feelings, but she was still nervous to face him again. He grasped her hand in his causing her to turn her head in his direction.

"If you stare out the window all night I won't be able to admire your beautiful face," he said charmingly.

She blushed lightly and muttered a thank you. She didn't return her stare to the window and instead picked up a menu.

The night went by rather smoothly aside from the same old minor arguments. There would be a time when she got him to go out in public without that headband that always adorned his forehead no matter how dear it was to him, she vowed. Still chastising him about it as they left the restaurant, she couldn't help but laugh. The mood was so much lighter than the last time they'd dined together.

He took her home this time, enjoying the soft conversation they shared as they neared her small apartment.

"I'll walk you," he told her, taking her arm in his.

"Thank you."

They stepped up onto her doorstep and she was about to bid him goodnight when he captured her lips with his. He first only brushed his lips against her, but then deepened the contact, longing to remember the taste of her on his tongue. She leaned into his touch, clinging to him desperately as her mouth returned the assault. His hand came to bury itself in her ebony hair while the other clenched her waist in and effort to keep her close to him. She couldn't think and she was reminded of how wonderful his kiss was, only this was a million times better.

His back hit the door and he untangled his hand from her hair to reach for the doorknob. Finding it, and still deftly exploring the inside of mouth, he twisted it. He practically fell in the door, but managed to keep his footing. With his foot he shut the door, moving towards her bedroom. He dragged his mouth down from her lips to her neck………

a/n: lemon next chapter! (4 u kitty!) so if u don't like lemons... u'll have to skip the first part of the chapter... okies? great, update on wed. as usual for chapter 14...