She laughed as she doused the paper in more perfume. "I guess I should go," she mumbled. She began walking down the path to the dojo.
As she neared the smells of delicious food began to engulf her. Laughter sounded and talking continued. She knocked lightly at the door.
The door opened and Kaoru smiled at her. "Glad you could make it, Megumi!" she said, pulling her inside. "You never cease to amaze me with your beauty. Where do you get your kimonos?" she asked as Megumi removed her shoes.
"This shabby thing? I've had it for a long time," she replied, holding up the long green sleeves. "I have many, if you want one, feel free to take it."
"They just look so aristocratic," Kaoru said as she walked with her into the adjoining room.
"They were my mother's," she said, looking down.
"I'll come over tomorrow and take a look! I love vintage kimonos!"
"Vintage?" Laughter filled the room.
"Hey, Megumi," a low voice said. It was Sanosuke. She rushed over to him, flinging herself into his outstretched arms. "I missed you."
"As did I. How could you leave me for so long?" she said, kissing his cheek.
"It's not like I wanted to, Megumi. I had to. And I have a present for you, as well," he said, biting her neck playfully.
"Hey, take that somewhere else!" Kenshin giggled, pushing them into another room.
The door shut and it was quiet. He pulled a tiny box from his jacket and gave it to her.
"Sano…" He put his finger to her lips and shushed her. She opened it with shaking hands. A dazzling jewel stared back at her. He took it out and slid it onto her finger. "It's official now," he said.
She collapsed in his arms; he stroked her hair. "I love you…" she choked out through tears. "Don't ever leave me again," she said, her face on his strong chest.
"I'll never leave your side," he said, holding her close.
"Does that mean you're moving into the clinic?" she asked, tears starting to subside.
"If you'll allow it," he said, his hands moving down on her body.
"Why wouldn't I allow it, Sano?" she said, kissing him softly.
"I love you so much, Megumi," he whispered into her ear, biting it.
She smiled and turned around, feeling Sano's strong arms wrap around her like a barrier. His hands roamed over her smooth plane of a stomach, as if they were there own living persons.
"Hey, come out, he's coming! Oh…uh…hi guys," Kenshin said, popping his head in.
"We're coming," assured Megumi, kissing Sano, sliding her tongue into his mouth. The broke apart and came into the room.
"Ok everyone, be quiet!" Kaoru said, quieting them down.
The room was still and dark, light footsteps came to the porch. Humming from a young voice came as the door slid open.
"One…Two…Three!" Kaoru said.
"Surprise!" everyone shouted, as lights went up. Kind faces surrounded Yahiko.
"No wonder it smelled so good around here, but Kaoru can't have cooked it!" Yahiko said, laughing. He hugged Kaoru.
"Happy Birthday, kiddo!" she said. He looked around. Kenshin, Sanosuke, the little girls and their grandfather, the old doctor, Tai, and Megumi. She came. He ran to her and hugged her.
"Thanks for coming, Megumi!" he said, as Kaoru took the food from the skillet. He snuggled his head into her soft breast, smiling.
"Hey, kid, I know what your doing," Sanosuke said, grabbing him and holding him in the air. "She's my fiancé, and I don't care if it's your birthday!"
"You're getting married?" Tai asked, a look of sheer surprise on her face. Megumi nodded and showed her the ring. The girls huddled around it, murmuring.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" she asked, flaunting the fact that she was getting married, and they were not.
"So you're really serious about this now, Sano?" Kenshin asked, placing his hand on his friends broad shoulder.
"Yeah, I am. I just love that woman so much. Smart, too," he said, looking out into the darkness.
"Sake, everyone!" Megumi called. The people gathered around as Megumi masterfully poured the Sake.
Once everyone had their glass, Kaoru raised her glass. "A toast to Yahiko!" Glasses clicked and were drained. Another round was poured. "Sanosuke and Megumi!" Click and drain.
A sharp knock came at the door. "I'll get it!" Megumi said nervously. She walked to the door and looked out.
"Megumi, Tatsunori awaits your presence," a scrawny man said.
"I'll be with you in a moment," she replied. She rushed inside and to Sanosuke. "I have a patient in dire need."
"I'll go with you," he said, holding her.
"No, I'll go. You stay here and have fun. I might be out for a while," she said. With that she was out the door and away.
"Out for a while?" he muttered. He shrugged and rejoined the party.
Yahiko looked out the window. "Out for a while?" He watched her get to the fork in the road. "That's not the way to the clinic," he thought. He eased through the door and into the night.
"Boss, she's here!" the man cried into the yard.
"You'll address the woman by her name, Kenji!" he said, walking up to the pair in a silken robe. "She is a woman, and she has a name."
"Megumi is here," he grumbled.
"And she's worth more than ten of you! Get out of here!" he said, pushing Kenji away.
Tatsunori eased behind Megumi. She felt something in the small of her back and sighed. "You're dressed so plainly," he said.
"I was at a semi-formal party," she said.
"I find it flattering," he said, wrapping his arms around her.
A sound in the trees. He looked up, pushing his blond hair out of his face. Nothing.
"Gotta be more careful," Yahiko whispered from the tree.
"A mere distraction," he said. "Now where were we?" He moved his hands down to the strings of her obi.
"But you're engaged…" he muttered.
He eased her clothes off, and had her take off his robe.
"You're a dirty girl," he said, laughing. He put his mouth onto her neck, resting his hands on her bottom.
"But…Sano!" he whispered.
His hands were going through her hair, his tongue in her perfect mouth.
"I love you," he whispered. He took her hand, but his smile quickly faded. "What is this?" he asked, looking at the ring.
"It's a ring of mine. It was my mother's wedding ring. I wear it in remembrance of her," she quickly lied.
"How touching," he said, reaching his hands into her lower regions.
"She lied, but why?" Yahiko whispered. He looked closer.
He had picked her up and brought her into a smaller house at the edge of the spring. Yahiko jumped down skillfully and looked through the window.
Tears were rolling down Megumi's cheeks as she lay helpless on this man's bed. He took full advantage of her helpless state, putting a small pill in her mouth. She suddenly stopped her crying and began to smile. As though she enjoyed what she was being subjected to.
"He's drugging her…" he whispered to himself. This didn't seem like Megumi at all. She would never be disloyal to Sanosuke. Yahiko walked away.
As he walked back to the party he began to think of things in his mind. He's always wanted Megumi, he knew that. He could use this as a way to get her, to get what he wanted.
Blackmail.
It was a simple way to get what he wanted. He wanted this woman, and he could threaten to tell her dear fiancé about this whole thing.
He smiled as he rejoined the party.