Thanks so much to my reviewers: DemonSlayer, Meg-Chan, Nyako, Crewel, Gorilaz, Paris, Lara, sexy-lucifer, fox-san, gabyhyatt, and anyone else who reviewed if I forgot, I'm sorry.
You guys are amazing and are my motivation. I meant to finish the story with this chapter but it turned out longer then I expected so I'll post this today and the remaining chapter tomorrow since it's so close to being finished. Hope this chapter sounds okay. I kept going back and fixing thing but I finally gave up. Lol. It was the hardest one to write.

Chapter 5

The morning sun poured in from a small window bathing Megumi's room with its golden colour. Megumi stirred from her sleep and blinked slowly trying to wake herself. She still felt a little drowsy but she had slept really well for the first time in ages. Some nights she had horrible nightmares about her past. But this morning she felt comfortable and even happy. She rolled over and realized she was naked. She sat up with jolt, but then remembered all that had taken place the night before. She looked over at the empty spot beside her where Sano should have been. There was still an imprint of his familiar form in the sheets but she could see him no where.

She laid there for a moment, and she realized she his scent still lingered on the sheets and pillows. She almost wished she could lay there forever just smelling him. But then she remembered that even though it was Saturday she had promised Dr.Genzai she would help him at a walk in clinic today for a few hours. She rolled over and looked at the clock beside her bed and almost fell out of bed with shock. It was almost 8:30 am. She never slept this late. She had always been an early riser by nature and she was supposed to be at the clinic at 9:00. She quickly grabbed a clean pink kimono and put her purple smock on over top. She moved to the doorway and peeked around the corner, into the hallway. Still no sign of the rooster.

With a sigh, Megumi brushed her long dark hair out of her face and continued walking to the kitchen to make breakfast… at least for her self, before work. It looked as if that stupid rooster had taken off first thing in the morning without so much as a good bye.

Maybe it's better this way. Megumi decided. She was disappointed but she knew it was for the best. Sano wanted to travel to places like China and America and she didn't want to be the one to hold him back. What could she offer him here? She had her job and friends here. Sano was too unpredictable and as much as Megumi cared for him she also needed stability. Perhaps she was meant to be single forever. But Megumi knew she had to let Sano go.

As much as Megumi had loved every second of the night she spent with him, she wondered if it was too good to be true and decided that it had been a mistake. She was in love with him but that didn't change the fact that he was a free-loading, gambler who loved to drink. He had his good qualities, Megumi I had seen them before but what if it wasn't enough?

As she approached the kitchen however, all her thoughts went out the window as she was greeted with an enticing aroma.

"What's going on in here?" She asked in surprise sticking her head but no one replied.

Then she noticed Pepper in the corner eating something from a bowl. She crept over and realized someone had given him some milk. Pepper looked up at her momentarily and purred with happiness before going back to his meal.

"But… who could have?" She started but then she realized Sano must have fed him.

Who else could have? Megumi I had definitely never pictured Sano as an animal lover so the thought of him feeding the little kitten warmed her heart. No matter how much she tried not to believe it, Sano kept proving that maybe he wasn't such a bad guy. She had forgotten about the poor kitten last night, while Sano was seducing her but Pepper looked good and Megumi was glad. At least he was warm and fed now.

She looked on the kitchen table and found a note written in Sano's messy chicken scratches. Appropriate handwriting for a rooster, Megumi I thought with a smirked as she looked it over.

Dear Kistune-onna,

I'm not here because I had to some errands to run this morning before I leave tomorrow but I made breakfast. Hey I know what you're thinking. But surprisingly, Sano does know how to cook. I can just picture your face now. It's Occasional of course and although it's not the greatest, I bet its better then Kauro's cooking. Don't tell her that, though. Anyways it's in the fridge waiting to be warmed up. And I fed the kitten I found in the kitchen. Didn't know you had a cat. Guess we forgot about him last night with all that excitement. Damn, now I'm going to think about it all day and not get anything done. Love you,

Sanosuke

"Well the Rooster can spell. Who knew?" Megumi chuckled but she folded the note and slipped it into her pocket. It was a nice note and she would keep it for a day when she needed a pick-me up. He was being so sweet about all of this.

But, unfortunately it's going to make what I have to tell him ten times harder. How do you tell the man you love with all your soul that you don't want to see him anymore? Megumi thought with a frown as she sat down to eat after warming her breakfast. But hard as it would be, Megumi knew she had to be strong and do it for his and her sake.

She didn't want to be the one to hold him back. He wanted to travel and see the world. But Megumi couldn't go with him even if he asked her. She had too many obligations here with the clinic and her patients. As Dr.Genzai got older, the more work Megumi got. But that wasn't only it.

Megumi realized sometime last night as they had fallen asleep together that Sano had the power to really hurt her. Possibly more hurt then she had been in a long time, and it had taken her a long time to heal from her younger memories. That was partially why Megumi had trouble opening up to people. She had dealt with pain and misery a lot in her past. Perhaps that was why she guarded her heart so tightly. Sano had been the first and so far the only person to completely break down the wall of her emotions that she protected so carefully.

She was afraid of hurting someone, but also of getting hurt herself. Some people mistook her toughness for cold-heartedness, even bitchiness. But Megumi was vulnerable and she cared about people. Why else would she be a doctor? Sano was the only one who had been able to get through. But that scared Megumi the most, because she had never been so vulnerable to anyone else before him. That's why I have to let him go. Even if he ends up hating me… I know it will be the best for both of us. .I'll tell him tonight. Megumi decidedbefore quickly finishing breakfast and heading out the door before she was late for work. She already knew deep down that she would come to regret her decision, but what else could she do?

Sano finished in the market, after buying presents for most of Kenshin-gumi. He was in a generous mood and he wanted to give everyone something to remember him by. He didn't know how long he would be gone but he had a feeling if he left, it would be for a long time… years even. If he left… He was beginning to rethink his decision. He had saved and planned his trip for a while now but that was before the Kitsune had finally opened herself to him. Last night had been one of the best nights of his life.

Sano decided that he would get ready to leave anyways but he would also go visit Megumi at the clinic when she was done. He would let it be her call. Whether she wanted him to stay or not, Sano wasn't sure. He desperately hoped she would want him to stay. He knew he didn't really want to leave her and he knew that even if he left… she would never leave his heart. Last night, and even before then, Sano knew she had made a permanent mark. She was an unforgettable woman. Sano had been known as a fearless fighter his whole life and so it was odd that he was afraid – afraid of a woman. He knew he was afraid though, strange as it was. Afraid that she would decide their night together had been a mistake. She beautiful but at times she was unpredictable.

With a sigh Sano headed to the Akebeko. He smiled again, thinking of how surprised Tae would be when he actually paid her. He had been doing jobs on the side to save up for his trip and he had saved some to pay back his tab too. He really just wanted to see the look on her face. That alone would be worth the work and effort. His reputation as a free-loading gambler was famous but even roosters can change.

Tae's reaction was even better then Sano had pictured. He almost had to catch her when she looked as if she was about to faint. Fanning the bills to cool her face she laughed. "Sano I take back every bad thing I ever said about you" Tae joked.

Sano grinned at her and replied "I'm gonna pretend that was a compliment"

He hugged her and Tsubame goodbye and told them he would miss them. They told him they'd miss him too and Sano believed them. What could he say? He was a free-loading, sake loving, gambler. A cocky one at that but somehow he was still loveable.

Megumi was busy all day at the clinic despite the fact that it was Saturday. She hurried from one patient to the next and finally she looked at her watch to see it was 3:00. They closed earlier on the weekend so she looked over at Dr. Genzai and he nodded the okay to lock the door. As she moved towards the door however, she saw Sano come whistling down the street.

"He probably wants you to check his hand. You know he always asks for you." Dr. Genzai told her with a knowing smile. Megumi only looked at him in surprised. She didn't know how but somehow he seemed to know that something had gone on between them before.

"You didn't have to say anything. I've never seen you look so happy before and I could see your eyes twinkling. Your eyes never twinkle. You look like a woman in love Megumi. Well I have to go do some errands with the grandkids before supper but have a good night" Dr. Genzai added before waving goodbye and heading out the back door.

Megumi was still shocked however. She knew Dr.Genzai was observant, even for an old man but she had never realized just how good he was. With a sigh she opened the door and let Sano in. This was going to be the hardest conversation of her life. But she knew it had to be done before one of them got hurt. No matter what he says, I'm sticking with my decision, Megumi concluded silently. It's for the best in the end. Megumi added as if she was trying to convince herself that she was doing the right thing. But her heart told her otherwise.

"Good Afternoon Miss Megumi" Sano said with a wink as she let him in. Megumi used to hate it when he did that but now she found it adorable. It was funny how things changed. He flashed her, his lopsided grin that she had somehow grown to love and she felt her knees go weak. She noticed he had changed back into his usual white attire. The black kimono had looked nice on him but she had missed his usual look slightly. Not to mention the fact that it showed off his nice chest muscles. Pay attention to the issue at hand, Megumi scolded her self swallowing slowly. Be Strong, she ordered herself.

"Hello Sanosuke" She managed to reply.

Sano looked to see if anyone was around before he wrapped his arms around her waist and before she could protest he kissed her softly. "I missed you" He replied looking at her with soft eyes.

"You saw me last night" Megumi pointed out, trying to resist temptation to kiss him back. It was difficult to resist the way he was looking at her though.

Sano only smiled at her and bent down the kiss her again but Megumi turned her head away and pushed him away lightly.

"Sano I need to tell you something" Megumi started not sure where to start. Why did this have to be so hard?

Sano lowered his head and sighed as if he suspected this might happen.

"Megumi… I" Sano interrupted but Megumi brought a finger to his mouth.

"Please hear me first. I appreciate everything you've done. For feeding the kitten and making breakfast and we actually went a whole day without teasing or bickering" Megumi managed to chuckle a little hoping to lighten the mood but Sano's sad expression didn't change. She caught her breath and continued.

"Last night… was amazing Sano. I can't deny that. You proved me wrong. You're so much more then I ever thought. And that's why I can't hold you back. You want to travel and to see the world… " Megumi paused momentarily and Sano jumped in.

"Come with me Megumi. Let me show you the world. We can sleep on the beach, see the sights, just run until we drop. We can be free. " Sano urged her, looking for anyway to keep her in his life but he could already see Megumi shaking her head.

"I have too many obligations here. I can't leave my patients Sano" Megumi's voice was barely over a whisper now.

"I see" Sano replied quietly, looking away.

Megumi felt bad and reached out to touch his shoulder.

"It's better this way. You and I? We're two different people Sano, I'm like ice and your fire. It probably wouldn't have worked" Megumi tried reasoning with him.

Sano recoiled as she tried to comfort him.

"How do you know it would never work! You never tried Megumi. I know we fight and I know we bicker but I love you Megumi. For a long time now I've been looking for a way to get into your life. Last night I finally did …. So why is it different this today? It took so long for someone to finally break down that wall around your heart. How did you build it up again so quickly? Why can't you give us a chance?" He asked sadly.

Megumi felt a tear run down the side of her face but she didn't brush it away. Sano looked as if to be close to tears as well but he would never cry in front of her. He was a fighter, a warrior. Men like him didn't cry. She only looked at Sano forcing herself to be strong. But Sano was right about what he had said. Sano had been the only one able to break through her wall. But that left her vulnerable. That's why she needed to do this.

"I can't Sano. I just can't. I hope you understand" Megumi pleaded.

Sano looked down at his feet and said nothing for several moments. To Megumi the silence felt like years. He was mad at her, she knew. It was understandable. She prayed he wouldn't hate her but what could she do? Finally he spoke up.

"Well… I guess you've decided" He replied almost bitterly.

All Megumi could do was nod, but inside her heart was screaming at her. How could she be doing this?

"I'll be at the docks at 9:00am, tomorrow. Everyone's coming to say goodbye…just in case you change your mind." Sano told her and with that he was out the door.

Megumi watched him walk until he rounded the corner and she was beginning to feel like humpty dumpty. She could feel her heart being broken into what felt like thousands of pieces and only one person could put it back together again. What did I just do?, Megumi asked herself allowing her tears to flow now.

The full reality of what had just happened hit her hard but there was no turning back. She knew her words had done the damage, and she wouldn't be surprised if she never saw him again.