Chapter 8: The Truth Behind it All

Sanosuke and Megumi decided to linger around the school momentarily after leaving Kenshin and Kaoru's presence. Side by side they walked together, hands swinging freely as if forbidden from making physical contact. Each seemed to have taken a vow of silence as nothing but their footsteps made noise throughout the halls. The tension between them intensified Sanosuke's anxiety. He decided to break the ice unable to contain his peace of mind.

He grabbed at Megumi's wrist lightly and became startled by her outward defiance. He almost forgot how strong willed she was. Relief overcame him as she finally relaxed her hardened expression.

"You know that I'm seeking answers right?" he asked her earnestly.

She flicked her hair over her shoulders self-importantly nodding her head in response. She tried to make light of his presence focusing on her manicured nails and the tiny wrinkle on her top.

"I'm speaking to you," he tugged at her shoulders possessively. He hated the way she was dismissing him, the way she was making light of the situation. He wanted to shake her profusely until he knocked some sense back into her. But he knew that will only build infuriation, the last outcome he wanted to cause.

He released his grip on her, unable to get a response. All that remained was a blank stare that never connected with his. He contemplated giving up on her but his heart and pride refused to grant him freedom. He needed to be with her. He needed answers before he could move on with his day.

All day through his classes he had no concentration. He would be lying if he said he grasped every conversation each professor threw his way. His brain was completed paralyzed in thought of what could have possibly triggered Megumi's actions.

"Why did you break up with me?" He posed the question to her. He beckoned her attention as they stood still in the halls face to face.

Her eyes became glassy as she looked up to him reluctantly. She hated that she showed weakness to the one she hurt unintentionally. She finally broke her silence. "I've done some things Sano. I've done things that are too horrible for my lips to relay. I never intentionally wanted to hurt you. It—it just happened, an irreversible blunder."

"But Megumi --"

"Please, let me finish," she continued. She grabbed his sleeves tightly wincing as if in physical pain. "Losing you is my penance for the act that was committed. Such selfishness and recklessness does not deserve the compassion from another. Not from someone so devoted as you Sanosuke."

Her grip loosened as she backed away from him slowly. Tears blinded her vision as she turned her head to walk away. But Sanosuke wouldn't let her. He pulled her towards his chest tightly trying his best to console her.

"Okay, I won't ask anything more of you under one condition." He tugged at her chin gently, wiping away the single tear that escaped along her cheek. "Give me one more chance. Give us one more chance." Her lids slid shut in surrender, her answer being a silent notion as she found comfort in the caress of his lips.

B r e a k

Kenshin threw himself on the couch in his apartment, his knapsack tossed amongst the debris of clothing on the floor. Misery had befallen him. He felt awful for what he had done to Kaoru. Her soft sobbing remained still fresh in his memory.

Sanosuke's voice distracted him. He heard his voice echoing down the hall. He combed his hair back through his fingers quickly trying to hide any hint of misery. He tried to conceal his guilt.

"Hey buddy," Sanosuke undid the auto-lock latches and made his entrance through the door. Just like Kenshin, he dropped his bags amongst the clothing and threw himself on the couch alongside him.

"Man, today was a long day. I've never had this much emotional drama ever in my lifetime."

"What happened?" Kenshin's stomach quivered nervously. He held his breath briefly berating himself for asking such a question.

"She said some things--" Sanosuke paused and sighed heavily, palming his frowning forehead trying to recall her words.

"Hey are you okay man?" He turned and looked at Kenshin very perturbed. He could sense his anxiety from the expression on his face.

"Oro? Yeah I'm alright," He twiddled with his braid uneasily. Curiosity urged him to inquire more as the words dared to escape his lips. "So who is she?"

"Megumi," Sanosuke continued to watch Kenshin peculiarly. "Who else would I be speaking about?"

"Don't mind me," he said with assurance. "I also had a very bad day."

"What happened?" Sanosuke was glad to go off topic and listened very intently. His interest was peeked as he awaited his friend's response.

"I broke up with Kaoru."

Silence enveloped the two as Sanosuke awaited the follow up punch line. "You're kidding right?" He sat there laughing teasingly as he proceeded to shove Kenshin on his side. But he soon heeded his friend's serious expression and decided to take his statement to heart. "You're not kidding?" Kenshin still remained silent as Sanosuke anxiously awaited a reply.

"Come on man, aren't you gonna answer me?" He tugged at Kenshin's right arm that was till twirling nervously at his loose braid.

"I did something that would hurt her. Something that I truly regret--"

"Funny thing," Sanosuke commented. "Because that was the same statement that Megumi threw at me today, only the words were phrased differently."

Kenshin dropped his head into his palm in defeat trying to drown out the words that seemed to stab at his heart. As Sanosuke continued with his story, Kenshin's hidden infidelity seemed to suck the sanity.

"It was me," Kenshin suddenly blurted.

"Say what?"

"I am the reason--" he continued. "--the reason that Megumi has been acting this way." He sighed heavily as he continued to give his explanation. He was definitely terrified of the revelation's outcome. "The reason why I broke up with Kaoru has all been connected to this entire ball of confusion. Your problems are connected with mine and unfortunately they surround Megumi's."

"Did something happen between the girls?" Sanosuke questioned naively. It was either he was stupid or he did not want to interrogate his friend. Either way, no matter the reason or the cause, Kenshin knew he owned him an explanation.

"Actually – no," Kenshin continued retracting his statement. "Whatever happened solely surrounds me and Megumi. We—we slept together, two weeks before now on that late Saturday night."

B r e a k

A/N: I know this chapter is short but please forgive me as I was running short on time.

Thanks for your 2 cents punKrocKergrl and Kira just so you'd know, I don't like KenshinxMegumi pairings. Please review. I promise to make the next chapter longer. Arigatou