D/C: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.

Hi! I'm back with a new chapter! Thank you all for the nice reviews; they made me really happy! Oh, and I'm having a nice time in my vacation so far, so I'm alright! Ah, well, anyway, I'll leave you to read the chapter now, okay? Enjoy!

Chapter 9:

Dad…are you proud to have me a son?

I take pride in you every second of my life…

…

Sano, why are you asking?

No reason. Just checking!

Well, then, are you proud to have me as a father?

…I'm honored…

-

'Excuse me…Megumi-sensei?'

Megumi looked up from a patient's medical chart she was examining. She smiled at her addresser. 'Ah…Kenshin!' she exclaimed. 'Hi!'

Megumi had to admit that Kenshin was looking a lot more pale and thin than the last time she had seen him. There were dark circles under his eyes and he looked like he needed proper grooming. Megumi was almost absolutely sure that Sano was why Kenshin had become like this.

Kenshin smiled wearily. 'Hello,' he said, nodding his head. 'How are you doing, Miss Takani?'

'I'm alright,' she replied, putting down the chart. She frowned at him. 'You don't look so good, though, Kenshin…haven't you been getting enough sleep?'

Kenshin grinned sheepishly. 'Is it that obvious?' he asked quietly. Megumi nodded. 'Yeah, you're right; I haven't been getting enough sleep…I stay up thinking of Sano all night.'

'I assumed you might,' Megumi said, nodding her head.

'How is Sano, by the way?' he asked casually. 'I wanted to come check up on him yesterday, but you told me not to…so…'

'Yeah, sorry about that,' Megumi said, uttering a nervous laugh. 'But you should've seen Sano when he came back…he looked an utter mess. I truly think that seeing you would've devastated him. I'm really sorry. But, anyway, he's alright now, so you need not worry about him.'

Kenshin's face relaxed. 'Really,' he said softly. It was more of a statement than a question. He smiled at Megumi. 'That's good to hear. So, where is he now? Can I see him?'

'Yes, sure you can,' Megumi agreed. 'I bring him along with me to the hospital everyday…he's gotta be around here somewhere…you should find him wherever nurses are grouped.'

Kenshin's eyebrows shot up in surprise. 'Nurses?' he repeated.

Megumi laughed. 'Yeah…um…Sano's very popular with the nurses,' she explained. 'They seem to find him absolutely adorable.'

'Adorable,' Kenshin repeated, his eyebrows still raised. 'Okay.'

Megumi chuckled. Even though she had told most of the hospital nurses and doctors about Sano's condition, it didn't seem to stop the female population from being attracted to Sano. She would stop and watch Sano getting mobbed by the females, who did a fair share of flirting, for a few moments, before going to his rescue. She just liked seeing him blush while they talked to him; he looked so adorable then. She led Kenshin towards where Sano might possibly be, and sure enough, there he was, standing in the middle of a group of nurses. While she giggled at the sight, Kenshin stared, with his mouth slightly open, at his friend. Sano was looking highly uncomfortable, and his face was a delicate shade of pink.

Finally, he clamped his mouth shut and turned to Megumi. 'Megumi-sensei, shouldn't we help him?' he said seriously. 'Sano's looking really freaked out in there!'

'Oh, alright,' Megumi wheezed. She marched up to the nurses and pushed her way through to the middle. She smiled at Sano, who looked thoroughly relieved to see her. 'Alright, girls…you can go now. Sano comes with me.'

There was a collection of groans and giggles and the nurses scattered away. Sano's shoulders slumped. 'Thank you, Miss Takani!' he breathed. 'I don't think I would've lasted another minute!'

'Just like high school, eh, Sano?'

Sano looked around at Kenshin, who had walked up towards them. 'Ah…Mr. Himura!' he exclaimed. 'Hi!'

Kenshin's smile was a pained one. 'You needn't call me Mr. Himura, Sanosuke…I'll just go by Kenshin, if you don't mind,' he told him.

Sano frowned. 'Er…are you sure?' he asked, uncertainly. Kenshin nodded. 'Okay…'

Kenshin smiled. 'Megumi-sensei tells me you're doing fine,' he said.

'Yup!' Sano admitted. 'I'm really happy! Miss Takani has been really nice to me! But…um, Kenshin? What did you mean when you said it's just like high school?'

'Back in high school, all the girls used to think you were really cute, and so they kept flocking around you, trying to get a date,' Kenshin told him. 'It's really a surprise that I ever got Kaoru for a girlfriend with you around.'

'Hehe…that popular, huh?' Megumi said.

'You can't imagine how popular Sano was,' Kenshin said. 'He was invited to all the parties, even when he was just a sophomore…he was the king of any prom, the head of any festival committee…and just like now, you only had to find the hugest crowd of girls to find Sano.'

Sano was listening with rapt attention, but Megumi just giggled. 'And what about you, Kenshin?' she asked. 'Where were you in this?'

'I was usually shunted sideways,' Kenshin said with a tragic sigh. 'But that was good, because if that didn't happen, I would've never met Kaoru…the first time I met her was when I was pushed out of the way by a couple of girls who wanted to get to Sano, and I crashed into Kaoru…'

'…and you both fell and you helped her up and picked up her book…typical meeting,' Megumi said, smiling and nodding her head. Kenshin grinned sheepishly. 'Alright, listen, how about I take a break and we go to the hospital's cafeteria for coffee or something?'

Both the guys nodded in agreement. Megumi led them to the cafeteria. They found a table, sat down and ordered. While they waited for their food to arrive, Megumi noticed that Sano was watching Kenshin intently. Seeing as none of them was taking the liberty of speaking, she cleared her throat.

'So…um…Kenshin, why don't you tell us something about Sano's past? I'm sure Sano would like it, wouldn't you, Sano?' she asked him, and Sano nodded vigorously.

'Sure…but, what exactly do you want me to tell you?' he asked.

'Well, anything which really stands out as a memory…something that you think would strike a chord in Sano's mind…trivial stuff,' Megumi said. 'That would be of great help to Sano, I'm sure.'

'Well…' Kenshin murmured, before lapsing into thought. Megumi was watching him as intently as Sano, eager to know something about his teenage life. '…alright, I think I got one. There was this time when Sano was practicing for a basketball game which was to be the next day. He was really worried about his performance and so he stayed there the whole night, practicing all by himself…when his teammates got to the gym they found him sleeping on the floor, surrounded by lots of balls.'

'And…what happened? Did I play well?' Sano asked anxiously.

Kenshin chuckled. 'We didn't get to see how you performed, seeing as you only woke up after the game was over,' he told him, and Megumi laughed. Sano's expression fell. 'But, your team won the game anyway! So it was alright!' he added hastily.

Megumi squeezed his shoulder. 'It's okay, Sano…I guess you probably never stayed up late before a game again,' she told him, and looked at Kenshin for confirmation; the later nodded. Megumi looked back at Sano, and noticed that his face was set in a deep frown; obviously this memory didn't ring any bells in his mind. 'So, Kenshin…anything else?'

'Yes, there's this one…I don't know how I didn't remember this before…' Kenshin said quietly. 'Sano and his dad had an argument about something, and Sano ran away from home. It was really late, and it was raining…Mr. Sagara was really worried. He called me that night to ask if Sano had dropped at my place, but Sano didn't. I called everyone else, but I couldn't locate him. In the end, Mr. Sagara started searching the streets himself. He found him in a dark alleyway, getting mugged by three or four thugs…Sano was really weak and couldn't defend himself; he was already beaten up when his father found him.'

Sano was gripping the fabric of his jeans so tightly his knuckles were becoming white. Megumi reached out and laid a hand on his. She smiled reassuringly at him. She mouthed a, "It's alright," at him.

'Mr. Sagara took all the men on, and he took Sano back home…he didn't yell at him or anything, he just treated his bruises and cuts and had him go to bed,' Kenshin went on. 'But Sano was crying that night…that's what I was told. He got up to his father's room and apologized to him, crying all the while. Mr. Sagara was really good about it…he didn't say anything; he just hugged him and let him cry…Sano told me this the next day, and he made a vow in front of me, telling me that he would never cross his father again.'

Sano was silent, hands still gripping his jeans and head bent. Megumi and Kenshin watched him warily. A waiter came and put their orders on the table, and Megumi offered him a distracted smile and nod, before turning to Sano again.

'Sano…' Kenshin said quietly. 'I'm sorry; maybe I shouldn't have told you about this…'

'No…' Sano said quietly. 'Thank you for telling me this, Kenshin…I'm really grateful…I don't want to forget what an amazing person my father is…even if he's not here anymore, I want to be reminded of how great he was. I don't want to pretend like he's not here anymore, I want to always feel that he's around me…watching over me…right, Miss Takani?'

Megumi had been listening, entranced, to him; not expecting to hear words so deep from a nine year old. She blinked when he talked to her. 'Yes, Sano…you're right,' she murmured, smiling warmly at him. 'We must not forget those who were good to us, or those we love…no matter what happens.'

'Yeah,' Sano said, smiling. 'Maybe that's why I didn't forget you, Miss Takani…because you've been so good to me…and because I love you so much.'

Megumi blushed. 'Th-thank you, Sano…that was so nice of you to say,' she said softly. Sano just smiled, and at that moment, Megumi realized just how much she loved that smile. 'But…let's not forget Kenshin, too…he obviously cares a lot about you…I mean, even though it's difficult for him to face you when you don't even remember him, but he still comes to check on you.'

Kenshin, who was watching the conversation with interest, was taken by surprise. 'Well, I…' he started, and broke off with a sheepish grin.

'Yes!' Sano said. 'Thank you so much, Kenshin! I'm really grateful…for everything.' Kenshin smiled. Sano looked down at his plate and grimaced. 'No syrup! How can you eat pancakes without syrup?' he exclaimed, and left the table to go get some syrup.

'Megumi-sensei…' Kenshin said softly, and Megumi looked around at him. 'It must be difficult for you, too.'

'Huh?' she said, confused.

'Because…you love Sano a lot…' Kenshin went on. '…and I don't mean the nine year old Sano…it must be difficult for you to hide your feelings from him…right?'

Megumi was silent.

Sano came back with the syrup and settled down on the chair next to Megumi. He started to pour the syrup over his pancakes, when he noticed that they were both silent. 'Er…is something wrong?' he asked.

Megumi smiled and shook her head. 'No, everything's fine,' she assured him.

-

I vow never to do anything which displeases my dad. I'm always going to be a good son and I will do whatever he tells me to do.

Aw, Sano! That's so sweet!

Thanks, Kaoru.

And let your black eye be witness over this vow.

That's not funny, Kenshin.

-

Kaoru looked up as she heard the front door slam shut. Seconds later, Kenshin came into the living room. She smiled and waved at him. Kenshin smiled back and walked over to the couch she was lying on. He leaned over and planted a soft kiss on her lips.

'Hey, beautiful,' he said, softly.

'Hey,' she murmured.

Kenshin plopped down on the couch across from her, and started to pull off his shoes. 'So…I went to see Sano today,' he said casually.

Kaoru propped herself up on her elbows and watched him with interest. 'Yeah?' she said. 'And what happened?'

'Well, it went smoothly,' Kenshin replied, succeeding in pulling off one of his shoes. 'Sano seems really happy.'

Kaoru narrowed her eyes at him. 'Why do I have the feeling there's more to this than Sano being happy?' she demanded.

Kenshin smiled at her. 'Because there is,' he admitted. 'I saw Megumi-sensei today as well…she and Sano are quite a nice pair, you should see them together…it's really nice.'

Kaoru gave him an odd look. 'Nice?' she repeated.

Kenshin nodded. 'He still loves her, you know…even though he's back to being a nine year old; Sanosuke still loves Megumi-sensei…he told her so himself when we were having breakfast together,' he said quietly. 'But what's really interesting is that Megumi-sensei feels the same way towards him.'

Kaoru sat upright on the couch. 'Really?' she squealed with delight. 'She does?'

'Yeah,' Kenshin replied. 'Looks like Sano's dearest wish finally came true, eh? Remember how he was so picky in high school?'

Kaoru laughed. 'Yeah…he broke a lot of hearts back then…and in university too!' she wheezed. 'And only because he couldn't find that one girl who was a bit like Megumi…he was really too much! But…I think it's really cool to idolize one single person for such a long time…it makes one feel so special, doesn't it?'

'Yeah, it does,' Kenshin agreed. 'And it paid off…Sano didn't just find a girl who resembles Megumi-sensei; he found Megumi-sensei herself…and it also happens that she loves him as well.'

Kaoru sighed. 'If only Sano hadn't lost his memory…' she grumbled.

'Actually, I think it's for the better…as cruel as that may sound,' Kenshin said thoughtfully. Kaoru frowned at him. 'Megumi-sensei wasn't so sure about her feelings for Sano…but now, living with him, getting to know him better…she's realized how much he means to her.'

Kaoru smiled. 'You know…I hate it when you're right,' she said softly.

-

Sano! Don't tell me you've gone and broken up with your girlfriend!

Okay, I won't.

Sano, I'm serious! I saw her crying today in the girls' locker room!

Oh…she was?

Yes!

Well…okay, yeah…um…I did break up with her.

But why, Sano? Why is it that the longest relationship you've ever had was just for two weeks?

Because…they're not like her…none of them are any bit like her…

Who?

Miss Takani…

Whoever she is, I don't think you should compare your girlfriends to her!

Kaoru, you don't understand. Miss Takani is…she's amazing!

-

'Alright, we'll be needing some dough, sugar, chocolate chips…um…'

As she listed the ingredients, Megumi went through the kitchen cupboards searching for them. She had already bought some of them at the market before heading home from work, and was now cramming all the other ingredients on the kitchen table before Sano, who was watching her quite intently.

Megumi placed the sugar on the table and smiled at him. 'Do you like chocolate chip cookies, Sano?' she asked him.

'Yes!' Sano said happily. 'I love them! …can I help? I want to help you make the cookies!'

'Sure you can,' Megumi agreed. 'Alright…let's see if I can remember the recipe right…I think we need to mix…um…'

'We have to mix everything together!' Sano said cheerfully. Megumi shot him a questioning look. 'Dad and I used to bake cookies all the time! We didn't like the cookies they sell in the markets, so we used to make our own! It was fun!'

Megumi smiled. 'Really,' she said softly. 'Okay, then, could you fetch me a bowl so we could mix them?'

'Okay!' he said, sliding off the stool. He got up and got a huge bowl from one of the cabinets. He set in on the table. 'Can I mix them?'

'But…this is all about mixing! If I let you do that, then there would be nothing left for me to do!' she said.

Sano grinned. 'That's right!' he agreed. 'You just sit and watch and I'll bake the cookies!'

Megumi sighed. 'No, Sano…that's totally out of the question,' she replied. His expression drooped slightly. 'Okay, listen to this…how about we take turns in mixing the ingredients? Seems fair, doesn't it?'

They set about mixing the ingredients, then Megumi set down the mixture on the trays in small, equal circles before putting them in the oven. She and Sano stood back proudly before the oven to admire their handy work.

'Well…we did it!' she said. 'All we have to do now is wait for them to be properly baked.'

'Yes!' Sano agreed, happily. 'These are going to be the best cookies ever!'

While they waited for the cookies to be done, they set about tidying up the kitchen…or it was rather like, Sano was insisting that he do everything himself while Megumi sits and watches. In the end she gave up trying to argue with him and plopped down on a stool next to the counter.

'Miss Takani…' Sano said quietly, while he put away the sugar back in its place. 'Can I ask you a question?'

'Sure you can, Sanosuke,' she replied. 'Anything.'

'Okay. Good. Um…before I lost my memory…' he murmured. For some reason, he sounded extremely flustered. '…you and I…I mean…what were we like?'

'Excuse me?' Megumi said, blinking. She understood the question perfectly well, but she wanted to make sure, just the same.

'Er…what kind of relationship did we have?'' he asked.

'Oh.' Megumi paused. What should she tell him? She couldn't possibly say that they had an affair which lasted for less than 24 hours because she dumped him. She hated to imagine Sano's reaction if she told him that…and besides, she really didn't think it was appropriate to tell him such things. 'Let's just say…you were a very special person to me.'

Sano perked up at once. 'Really?' he said, looking around at her.

Megumi smiled. 'Of course…and you still are very special to me,' she said.

'Um…well, did I ever annoy you? Did I ever do anything to hurt your feelings? Because if that did happen, then I apologize for whatever my stupid older self did to you!' he said, a bit heatedly.

Megumi laughed, but he, on the contrary, blinked. 'Oh, Sano! You're so adorable! Do you know that?' she wheezed. 'You're just too cute!'

Sano looked a bit discomfited. 'I am?' he said.

Megumi got up to her feet and walked up to him. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. 'Yes,' she said softly, holding on to him. 'I love you so much.'

Sano was silent. Megumi knew she should let go of him, but she just couldn't. Tears welled in her eyes. It was true…she did love him. She loved him a lot. Kenshin was right; it was difficult for her. It was too much to bear. The nine-year-old Sano is adorable and everything, but she wanted the older Sano back.

Finally, she let go. 'Sorry,' she murmured, looking away from him. She rubbed her eyes and smiled. 'Right! Let's check on those cookies, shall we?'

-

A/N: I'm done! Yay! That was a good chappie, wasn't it? I'm so happy I finally got it done…I got stuck in lots of places! Let's see…one…no, two more chapters left and I'll be done! Oh, I can't wait! I'm gonna try and update as soon as possible…but you keep those reviews coming, alright?

- S. N. B.