Disclaimer: Everything that does not belong to me, belongs to Nobuhiro Watsuki and associates (Jump Comics, Shueisha Inc. etc.) Everything that does belong to me, does not belong to you.

A/N: Chapter two is finally here! It's a bit later than I would have liked…I'd forgotten how much life and homework can take time away! I'll be trying to get these chapters out quick and painlessly, you know? Thank you everyone for the lovely reviews, you have no idea how much they really help me and make me happy.

Crewel: Oh, I've been planning this fic for quite a while. Since I started Buried Path, I think. Some parts are even from before then. I'm flattered that you think I'm skilled. There will definitely be some SanoxMegumi to come.

Zioncross: Actually, I'd probably not believe you. Thanks, I'm glad you liked chapter one. I don't exactly know what you mean by "post-Flay Allstar Syndrome" but your advice is certainly inspiring. Lol. I'm glad that you're able to nit-pick at my typos and errors like that—it helps me a lot, and I hate having errors. So I've fixed it. Yay.

Kie-san: I never should have written that fic at all, huh? Oh well, it's not like you'd ever expect me to write angst or—gasp! Tragedy, now did you? I think you will like this next chapter…very a lot…especially the end. :wink:

Megumi: Sano and Megumi are great! I'm glad you like my writing, that means a lot.

One and Only: Oh, thanks! I'm so excited about that. I think the italics part gets much clearer in this chapter. I can tell you that it is in first person and I'm using the italics bits to jump over days and weeks so the time-line doesn't become confusing. I'm glad you liked all of my descriptions and such…

Sakura's Shadows: Wow, someone new! Thanks for the encouragement. It's good to know someone's interested.

Long Island Grace: Aww…you're so sweet as usual. I'm glad you got my interpretation of Megumi and Kaoru. I'm so proud that I wrote it in an accessible way. Who's point of view that is becomes almost strikingly clear this chapter. I'm also glad you've taken well to Naruku's…er, crazyish behavior here. I thought you might be indignant. If there's one person who would tell me that my own OC is out of character, it would be you. About Sano…you'll find out in a few seconds. And good point about Misao, I hadn't even thought of that!

Sueb262: Wow. Thanks for reviewing, I really admire a lot of your fics, so thanks for dropping by and all. I'm glad you liked my first chapter—and I know it's annoying to have to read another fic to get this one. But, you know, you'd only do it if you were really up to it. Thanks again!

"Oro" Object: Yup, new fic started and now we're at chapter two! I put it under Sano/Megumi, but that will change in part two. Sorry. Thanks for the review.

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-PART ONE-

Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact. -William James

Chapter Two

Leave

April 22

Meiji 13

Sano has left us. He was here one day, and the next simply gone. I don't know what he has planned—knowing him, he probably doesn't have anything planned. I suppose it was time he wandered again. He has left a sad a bitter woman in his wake, loathe though she is to admit it. Megumi-dono goes on with life, if only a little life has left her.

It is hard on all of us to see our friends go, but I have faith that Sano will be back. He may end up somewhere as far as China or Mongolia, but I know he will be back.

As for the dojo…it has been getting harder every day. I see Yahiko growing and maturing, I see Kaoru-dono trying to hold on to all of us. Naruku seems frozen in time. I almost don't know how to function in such a place. And yet…I know it will get better. It must.

Sometimes it felt good just to be able to look up at the noon sky and think of absolutely nothing. As Sano traveled through the winding dirt roads, this is what he thought.

He didn't know what made him suddenly so prone to running away. That had always been what Naruku was good at, as much as Sano didn't like thinking of his friend that way.

But he wasn't running away this time, not exactly. At least, he wasn't running from anything…but he wasn't running to anything either. So that meant he was going nowhere, but Sano hated being in standstill. No matter how lonely he got, no matter how tired, he would be glad that at the very least, he was going somewhere. On a mission. Doing something with himself.

Not to drag up what's buried, but Sano felt that it was a dishonor to the Sekihoutai and his dead captain if he, one of the few survivors, lived his life without purpose, without seeing things worth seeing. Something beyond Yokohama harbor.

He didn't know where this ship would take him exactly, or the next one, but wherever it was, it would be worth seeing.

Kaoru was by far the most shocked by Sano's departure. Not to say that she was any more upset than Megumi—in fact, Megumi was more distressed. But the doctor was not shocked. Somewhere inside, she had expected it. She had anticipated Sano's flight, even predicted that he would not say goodbye. He wasn't Kenshin, after all.

But Kaoru was so surprised by Sano's departure, so stunned that he would do that. The corners of her mouth had crumbled slightly, so there was no bright smile to adorn her face. Just a sort of half-hearted one, a smile that didn't reach her eyes. She was missing her spirit, her exuberance.

Kenshin, too, was affected by his friend's disappearance. Sano was always light-hearted and cheery, something that the rurouni needed to see every once in a while from someone, now that Naruku had lost all of that disposition. Now he had only Misao to rely on for optimism and liveliness, but Misao was doing something with Soujiro more often than not.

Ever since Sano had left, Misao had been spending more and more time with her ronin. It was almost as if she thought that because Sano had left, Soujiro would suddenly remember that he was supposed to be off wandering and not laying in the grass with a certain ninja girl. Not to say that Misao was any less vivacious or any less spirited, but sometimes her smile would drop off her face and she would bite her lip, as if just waiting for that moment when Soujiro would announce he had to go, he didn't need her anymore, he'd write her, if she was lucky.

It was a shame that Misao couldn't see as clearly as everyone else did how completely smitten Soujiro was. The thought if leaving her was had not even seriously crossed his mind. He'd toyed with the idea once or twice, but then he'd glance back at Misao and her face would light up and Soujiro would think, this is what it is to be saved.

"Misao!" Kaoru called throughout the hallways. "Misao-chan! There's a letter that arrived for you!"

She slowed her pace to a walk. "Hm," Kaoru said thoughtfully. "Maybe she's out again."

"Kaoru, I'm right here!" Misao replied, sounded very rushed. Her disheveled head poked out from her bedroom door.

Kaoru pivoted around to face her and her whole body went stiff and her cheeks flushed at the sight of Misao. "M…Misao-chan, Soujiro-san isn't in there too, is he?"

"What?" Misao said, blushing deeply as well. "No!" she replied. "What do you take me for? I just woke up, is all!"

Kaoru's body relaxed, but her face remained pink. "Well, it's just, I know you and Soujiro-san care for each other very much, and sometimes a man and woman who—"

Misao's face turned much redder. "I know, I know already, Omasu gave me this same talk years ago! Now can I please get dressed? Oh, and my letter, I want that, too!"

Kaoru sighed and forked the note over to the younger girl. "You know, if you two do ever…um, well, just don't do it here, it's crowded as it is."

Misao's face burned. "Kaoru!"

Face bright pink, Kaoru quickly dashed away from the ignitable young girl.

Misao sighed, just as Kaoru had done earlier, and flipped open the letter to where the seal was. Impatiently she broke it open and let her eyes glide over the characters there.

"Oh, it's from Jiiya," she thought blandly as she rolled her eyes at his predictably irritating salutation. As she read over the rest of the letter, though, her features darkened.

"He wants you to come back, doesn't he?"

Misao dropped the letter and whipped around to see Aoshi standing in the doorway. Her jaw hung slack for a second or two before she tidied herself. "Well, yes," she replied, picking up the letter again. "It has been four months."

Aoshi stepped inside the room and inclined his head. "Are you planning on going back?"

"What—? No, I'm not. I can't go back, not now."

"Misao," Aoshi began sternly.

"What?" it came out a little more petulant than she wished.

"I think you should listen to Okina-kun," Aoshi said simply.

"Why? I'm not a little girl anymore, I don't need to come running home. Besides, Naruku isn't doing well, don't you think it's better if I stay with her?" Misao said, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.

"Misao, that isn't why you continue to stay here, and you know it. It has more to do with that Seta kid than Naruku and—"

"As opposed to what, Aoshi?" Misao snapped. "You hanging around here to make sure Kaoru-san doesn't spend a second without you? How do you think that makes me feel, Aoshi? Like, maybe you just want me out of here so you can—you can—"

"Misao," Aoshi held up a hand and she quieted. "You're right, I have been spending some time with Kamiya-san. But that has nothing to do with why you should return to Aoiya."

"Well, then why?" Misao demanded, a blazing look in her eyes.

"Because you've been away for over four months. Okina-kun wants to check up on you. You belong at Aoiya, Misao."

"No, I don't," Misao refuted flatly. "I belong here, with Naruku-chan, and yes—with Soujiro, too. You can't tell me what to do, I'm not a child!"

"You're acting very much like one," Aoshi countered quietly, with little emotion in his voice.

Misao turned away from him furiously, facing the wall instead.

Aoshi sighed. "Misao, I'm sorry. You aren't a child, you're right. And you are capable of making your own decisions. I have no right to tell you to go back like that, I'm sorry."

Misao turned back around, stunned. "R-really?"

He bowed his head. "But you should still just think about returning."

Misao looked at him, and then slowly nodded. "Okay. I will."

Aoshi moved to exit the room.

"Oh, and Aoshi?" Misao said as he turned away. "I really don't mind you spending time with Kaoru-san. I'm sorry for even mentioning it. I really do want you to be happy. Really."

Though he was facing away from her, Misao could tell that Aoshi was smiling, even in the slightest way.

"That means a lot," he said, and then left without waiting for a response.

Misao looked back down at her letter from Okina. She wasn't ready to go back yet, that she knew. But the least she could do was write back.

No word. It had been nine days and still no word. Sometimes Megumi found herself cursing Sano's very existence and the fact that she loved him.

Did he have to be so…so impulsive, so spontaneous? She knew it was something she loved about him, but yet…didn't he understand that there were things she wanted to do, places she wanted to go? Did it ever occur to him that she wasn't holding him back, he was holding her back?

And yet…if there were things she wanted to do, things she was being held back from, why wasn't she doing them? There wasn't anything stopping her, not now. Sano hadn't let anything—anyone—stop him.

Megumi gazed dolefully out of the window. Why did it have to be this difficult? Why couldn't she and Sano just be happy together? Why couldn't he be happy here? Why the adventure, why the rashness? She wasn't enough for him, evidently. The world was not enough for him. It was enough for her…

Megumi closed her eyes and sighed. It had been a long week.

A very long week. Sano had spent his days traveling tirelessly, on horseback, on foot, on boat. He wasn't even sure where he was anymore. China? Mongolia…? Somewhere in between, maybe. He had traveled through a desert where his horse had suffered badly and then died. Sano had wanted to bury it—it had been a good companion, steadfast and loyal to him, even if it was just an animal. But he knew if he didn't eat, he'd die. If he didn't make himself a coat, he'd freeze. So he had carved his one-time friend up for his own uses. Poor horse.

"Heh…bet Kenshin never had to do this in Japan," he thought roughly.

After another day of traveling he had arrived at the harbor. He sat down on the rickety dock, his legs dangling over the edge but not even skimming the water. The sun was slowly and dutifully sinking into the horizon behind him.

He stared out across the ocean, getting lost in the line between the evening sky and the water. He stared at what he thought was the Japanese sea, and beyond it—home. What had happened to his sense of adventure? All he wanted now was to return. To see Kenshin, check up on Koneko and to see his brother. To come back to Megumi's loving arms.

"Though…I don't know how well she'll be loving me after this," he thought ruefully, tossing a large gray stone into the water.

He heard the skidding of footsteps and turned around. The last bright rays of the sun made it impossible to see anything other than a tall shadow in front of him.

"Hey stranger," Sano said. "Care to sit down with a lowlife and talk about nothing?"

The stranger said nothing and Sano wondered if he knew Japanese. Maybe he was from whatever country this was…

But slowly the stranger stooped down beside Sano and sat down, cross-legged

Sano turned his head away for a moment and then looked back at him.

He was young looking, perhaps the same age as Sano or younger. The facial features looked almost delicate, with no scars of any sort, though circular, tinted spectacles hid the turquoise brilliance of his eyes.

He, too, was looking out across the sea; his shoulders slumped, a dark blue cape hanging over him. He looked tired, and defeated in some way.

Sano wondered if there were something more to this young man, something that didn't meet the eye.

"Do you think you're a lowlife?" the stranger croaked.

Even though they were the only two there, it took Sano a moment to realize the man was speaking to him.

"Well, yeah," Sano admitted. "I'm across an ocean from my home, my family, the love of my life, and I'm the one who got me here. My horse just died and I had to eat it and it didn't occur to me when I left that I had to think of a way to get back home."

"You live there?" the stranger jerked his head across the ocean.

"Yeah. Tokyo, Japan."

The stranger nodded. "I lost everything in Japan," he said.

"Wow. Really?"

The stranger nodded again. He didn't seem to care much about Sano or his incredulity.

"So, what? You come here to die or something?"

The stranger shook his head. "I don't know. Maybe. I didn't think about it."

"What about family?" Sano said after a couple moments of silence. "Yours, I mean. Are they in Japan still?"

"My…sister…" his eyes became opaque and unfocused. "Dead."

"That's rough," Sano said, thinking about Uki and Kaoru. His mind wandered to Naruku, so forlorn and lost. He didn't know why he thought of her. Did this man remind him of her? She wasn't like him at all…was she?

"She was killed." A fist clenched, then relaxed.

Sano clapped a hand on the stranger's shoulder. "Hey. Shit happens, you know? You just gotta deal with it and…keep living."

To his surprise, the stranger swallowed and bobbed his head.

Sano's hand slowly dropped from the boy's shoulder.

"You…uh…" Sano cleared his throat. "Going back? To Japan?" he nodded at a boat that was coming into the port in the distance.

The young man looked up at Sano. "…why?"

Sano didn't know how to answer. Why what? Why was he asking? Or why should he return? He didn't really have an answer for either of those questions.

"I think your…um…sister would want you to be where you're happiest. That's usually home, isn't it?" Sano's forehead creased.

The stranger turned to look at the boat. "Where's home?" he sneered in a self-depreciating way.

Sano shrugged. "Wherever you're the happiest, I guess."

The stranger snorted. And then chuckled. Sano almost didn't recognize the hoarse noise as a laugh, but it was.

"You are a strange man. But maybe you're right. Maybe I should go back and visit her." He stopped laughing and his fist clenched again. "If I couldn't get revenge for her…going back to see her is the least—the least I can do for her…'nee-san."

The man got to his feet, but Sano remained sitting on the dock. Now it was his turn to have a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Thanks. You were right about me. I haven't lost everything."

Sano gave a smile, small as it was, in return. It occurred to him, as the man was walking away into the setting sun, how very odd his hair color was.

"Maybe I'll see you in Japan sometime," Sano said, speaking to the water below him. "And maybe we'll have a fight…or something."

He shook his head and stood up, the bag slung over his shoulder bouncing a little against his shoulder blade. The stranger was no where in sight and was probably already making his way to the other side of the harbor.

Back home.

Leave--End

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A/N: Ahem…those who've read Jinchuu arc probably have a good idea what that was about. For the decreasing numbers of those who haven't read it, please excuse my little tangle into canon. Haha. There are a lot of unsaid things between Sano and this…er, stranger, but I figured, they're strangers so they're not going to have a real heart-to-heart other than what you've witnessed. So what exactly did this "mysterious man" not loose? You'll probably find out.

I know it's weird to say this as the author, but I am really happy with a lot of the phrases I used, even if they seem spastic and kind of run-on-ish. You know, just like fragments, run-on sentences can be used for an effect. As long as they don't get out of hand.

Right, so, enough literature lesson today…now I will kindly ask those of you reading to please review. You know it makes me happy and such.

Also, before I forget, my "nominated" status in the RKRC awards for best author has now been bumped up to "entry" status. Someone has seconded the nomination and now I am legit! Yay! Thanks everyone for your support and encouragement!