Whew, I'm finally adding to this story. Lol. I've been meaning to for so long but life has been so busy. This chapter definetly isn't as log as the other one. But at least it something till I get more time. Lol.

Also For all you Sano/Megumi fans. As you are well aware of Megumi and Sano are quite neglected as far as fan art goes. Seriously there should be more. Lol. So I decided to make a picture for them in paint. It's here http/ u want to take a look, You'll probably have to paste it into your browser. Sorry about that. I was curious what everyone thought. Sorry if there are any mistakes. I did it too quickly I think. I might go back and edited it better tomorrow.

5 Years Later…

Sano's dark spiky hair billowed softly as the warm summer breeze encircled him. He reached back and ran his hand through it still trying to get used to it not being tied up by the red bandanna. It had been almost 5 years since he had lost it on the streets of Tokyo by Megumi's home and some days it still felt strange to not be wearing it. In fact many days Sano felt like a different person and it wasn't only the loss of the bandana that made him feel like that. His hand trailed down to his scruffy chin which he hadn't shaved in weeks. His favourite old black and white outfit with the symbol Aku on the back had been thrown only just that past year. Sano had been forced to throw it out quite reluctantly after getting it torn up in a fight. It was old, faded and falling apart. The new Kimonos and outfits that Sano had purchased fit okay they were nice enough but somehow they weren't quite the same.

Sano perked up as he spotted a Teahouse up ahead on the busy street that he was walking along. Sano felt a bit better about his appearance as he passed several young girls who all gave him sideways glances and small shy grins. Despite his scruffy appearance at least he hadn't lost all his charm. Not that it matters any more, Sano thought with a sigh. Ever since he had left, He hadn't been able to think of any other woman then Megumi. It seemed that ever since their first and perhaps their last kiss, she had taken over his heart and mind completely. It had been 5 years and yet he thought of it constantly and he found himself looking for distractions all the time to keep his mind from wandering. None of it did any good though as it seemed Megumi was always on his mind at the end of the day.

It was a strange feeling for Sano, one that he was still trying to cope with. Perhaps that was part of the reason why he had waited so long to return home. He was afraid of what he might find there. What if Megumi didn't care about him anymore? Or worse… what if she was married? Sano didn't know if he could take it. But he was curious how everyone was and he missed Kenshin, Jou-chan, Yahiko and everyone else back home whom he had grown to care for in his own way. He knew Kaoru must have a few children by now. Sometimes at night when he laid under the stars trying to sleep he would think about what his and Megumi's child might look like. He knew it would never happen and it was strange for him – Sanosuke – the ever wandering bachelor to be thinking of things like that. He would never admit it to anyone. But this what was Megumi did to him. She made him think and act crazy even when she wasn't around.

With a sigh he pushed open the door to the Teahouse and looked inside the bustling, laughing building. Inside it was quite busy in the summer heat as several geisha and men talked and laugh over sake. He was greeted by an older lady who Sano assumed owned the teahouse because she wore little make-up unlike the other women who were busy entertaining. She tried to make small talk with him a she led him to a small table but Sano was quiet as he tried to push Megumi from his mind. How many years did he have to be gone from Tokyo to not think of her anymore? Perhaps it was the mere fact of being back in Japan. Kyoto where he was staying wasn't too far away from home in the small country and the scenery of his home country had brought back many memories. Especially all of the sakura blossoms that had started to fall on the streets.

The hostess asked if he would like a geisha to accompany him but Sano shook his head and asked for some simply some sake. Sano really just wanted to sit, drink and think for a while. For once he actually had money to drink, something he had surprisingly not done much of lately. In his travels he had worked hard in many places, never staying in one spot too long. He managed to earn some money. He had helped construct a few houses in a small fishing village in China after their land had been flooded. He had also worked and trained with a few samurai who had taught Sano not only a few physical strength tricks but some for the mind as well. After spending time with them Sano started to understand where Kenshin got most of his strength from. Most of it came from within and that man had more heart then anyone else Sano had ever known.

Seeing the Western countries, a place people called America had been an interesting adventure indeed. The people there spoke so differently and there ways of doing things were definitely strange. He had seen plenty of business men roaming Japan in his time but they hadn't prepared Sano for what he had seen. Sano had missed home and that when he decided, sitting there sipping on his sake that it was time he went home. He was worried, perhaps even the tiniest bit afraid of what he would find but he knew he would always wonder if he didn't. He needed to know.

He wondered who would kill him first for not saying goodbye. Misao or Megumi? Misao had a fiery punch but the thought of Megumi's icy stare and cold red lips gave him shivers and he figured he definitely feared The Fox Lady more. She was the one woman in the world who had the power to hurt him more then just physically and that scared the hell out of him.

Suddenly he heard a noise coming from outside. There was a lot of banging in shouting and people were standing up and running to see what was happening. A Fight! Sano thought with anticipation as he ears pricked up and he hurried after the others. Despite his years of travel, new knowledge, and a healed hand, he still got excited when there a fight. Sano figured it was in his blood.

Outside, what looked to be somewhat of a bouncer for the teahouse was throwing a tall, lanky dark haired man on the street rather aggressively.

"You better think twice about trying to steal from us you no good baka. You come here no more or you get worse next time" The man from the teahouse threatened. The thief wasted no time rolling up to his feet and dashing off around the corner and disappearing into an alley.

"Darn, I missed it" Sano grumbled shoving his hands in his pockets. People were starting to go back inside but Sano decided he had enough and decided to take a walk.

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"Dr.Gensai, Are you sure you'll be alright?" Megumi asked the elderly doctor standing over his futon.

"Yes, Yes I'll be alright. You just take care of the clinic and I'll rest today. Your such a good doctor." Dr.Gensai whispered trying to smile but instead he brought on another coughing attack.

"Here" Megumi replied grabbing his glass of water and handing it to him.

"I'll be back at the end of the day to see how your doing." Megumi waved him to him and quietly padded out of the room closing the screen behind her.

As she walked back to her office in the clinic she sighed, thinking about everything in her life. Or the lack of a life. Megumi rarely had time to see friends or do much of anything since Dr. Gensai was getting older and sicker. Megumi knew he wouldn't be able to do it for much longer. He should be retired Megumi thought to her self as she cleaned off everything before the first patients would arrive. He loved his job but it was making sick.

"I'll have to reason with him tonight" Megumi decided.

At 9:00 am, the first batch of patients arrived right on schedule and Megumi didn't have time to think of much else, which was a relief in a way. Lately whenever she had free thinking time, her thoughts drifted to a baka tori-atama who had deserted her without so much as a goodbye 5 years ago. Megumi didn't even know why he still entered her thoughts. It was not like he had meant much to her… and yet somehow he did. She still had his red bandanna and every now and then she would take it out and look at him and take in his scent which surprisingly still lingered on it.

Megumi hated to admit it but she missed bickering with him and she missed their strange friendship. They had been a lot together Megumi was beginning to realize for the first time. He was after all one of the people who had convinced her to look for her family. Kenshin of course played a big role in helping her find her past but Sano had done his share as well.

As Megumi finished up her last patient of the day she sat back in her chair and recalled what he had said to her so many years ago when he had tried to save her from the claws of Kanryu.

: Flashback :

As the sun slowly set, Megumi was walking on the dusty path to Kanryu mansion with tears still rimming her eyes. She hated herself but what else could she do? But there, in front of the gate. That figure? She knew who was by the rooster hair. He stood there with his arms crossed and his head tilted sideways in his usual fashion. Before she could do anything he spoke to her in a low tone.

"So what are you planning to do now?" Sano asked looking her in the eye.

"Going, Back to Kanryu and all…" He added.

Megumi closed her eyes and looked away.

"Don't worry" She replied slowly.

"I won't make any more of the opium that killed your friend" She told him, all the while wondering how he could have known she would be here.

"I promise you" She added with small hope trying to reassure him. He wanted to stop her from making the drug that killed his friend. He couldn't possibly care what happened to her after all what she had done.

Sano walked closer, still looking at her with his chocolate brown eyes.

"Kanryu isn't going to like that" Sano replied.

Slightly offended Megumi started right back him with the same intensity.

"I told you. I will keep my promise" She responded. Despite what he thought her, she was an honourable woman and she was just trying to save the only people who had ever helped her.

"So please move. I'm in a hurry" Megumi said hotly moving past him.

Sano turned around so quickly Megumi barely had time to register it.

"Don't hurry yourself to death" He replied. His words stung deep.

Megumi stopped, her eyes opened wide with shock. Why did he care if she died? She had killed his friend after all.

"Missie, You got Kenshin… and Me - Sanosuke. At your side" Sano explained to her. Megumi felt warmed when she heard him say his name. She knew that him and Kenshin. They were good people. But she couldn't put them in any more danger.

"Don't you go worrying too much" He told her.

Megumi turned her head quickly, whipping her long hair behind her.

"Your…" She started but Sano wasn't finished yet.

"The girls are waiting for you back at the dojo… And somewhere out there your family is too" He said wisely. Megumi hadn't taken this freeloading rooster to be so wise but seemed you couldn't judge people on first impressions. He had more heart then what first met the eye.

Megumi didn't know what to say. She couldn't admit how his words had made her feel. She wanted to hope that they were safe. But it was all so hopeless.

She turned back and replied sadly. "It's all right. Even if I did find them, how could I face them now?"

"I'm part of an illegal opium ring. Who could erase such a shameful past" Megumi explained.

"Don't be so stuck up!" He growled loudly, catching Megumi off guard with his fierceness.

"You're not the only one with a past that you want to erase! It's not like my friend would come back to life if you died. But if you stay alive, You can still repent." " Sano informed herm hoping she would understand.

"Someday, You will see your family again. If you die, all that becomes nothing." Sano added a bit more quietly.

: end flashback:

Megumi opened her eyes and stood up finding her eyes blurry with a couple tears. She was strong woman that hardly ever allowed herself to cry but as Megumi thought of the rooster boy whom she had had such a love/hate relationship with. The knowledge and sudden realization that she would never see him again was hitting her harder then she would ever tell and let on. The truth was that she missed him. Perhaps even loved him in her own stubborn way. But her hardened heart would never let her tell.

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Sano felt the cool evening breeze against he cheeks and actually felt a bit happy for the first time in ages. Even though the thought of returning home scared him, part of him was eager to see everyone. He had mixed feelings about it but he just had to hope that it would work out.

Suddenly he felt his skin prickle and he had the sensation that someone up to no good was closing in behind him. So Sano listened and waited until he could hear whoever it was creep right close and try to reach for Sano's pocket. But before the man could do so, Sano had already taken him by the shoulders and thrown him halfway across the street. Before he could move Sano moved over to him and grabbed him again by the front of his shirt.

"So you thought you could steal from Good ol' Sanosuke eh? Lucky for you I'm broke kid" Sano held up and looked at him threateningly. He was lying as he had accumulated a lot of money. He just wasn't currently carrying it on him.

"I'm sorry sir. I promise I'll leave you alone. I… I … was hungry. I have no money. Please Let me go" He pleaded.

Sano realize that the "boy" he thought he'd been talking to was actually a grown man. Perhaps even older then he was. He had dark black hair and a shaggy chin but it was his eyes that took Sano by surprise. He knew those eyes as they had haunted him in his dreams since he left Tokyo.

Sano could relate to living on the streets and felt a little sympathy for the man so he set him on the ground but continued to hold on to him.

"Just be careful who you rob. And next time use quieter feet and make a distraction so they aren't paying attention to their money. It works better that way" Sano advised him before letting him go.

"Thanks" He replied before scampering away. Sano realized it was the same man who had gotten kicked out of the teahouse earlier. But those eyes… They were eerily similar to Megumi's.

"You need to get some sleep. You're starting to see her eyes on other men Sano. Your going crazy Sano" He told him self with a shake of his head.

Just then as the man was taking off something fell from his. Sano yelled after him but the man was gone. Sano moseyed over and carefully picked up the fallen shiny object.

It was an old locket attached to a dirty chain. Sano pried open and peered inside to see a picture. But the picture he saw almost made Sano faint. The woman looked exactly like Megumi.

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Sweetmisery: sorry if any parts were slow. Better stuff is coming soon. I promise. Lol. So don't leave me just yet. I really wanted to do a little bit of episode 9 for some reason cuz I dunno… I really liked that scene with Sano and Megumi. It was nice the way Sano talked to her about her family. So yea…