In the weeks that followed, Megumi was up to her neck in patients. It seemed like everyone and their sister was either accident prone or suffering from an incurable case of stupidity. She went three days straight without much sleep and could barely stop for a bite of food before some other poor unfortunate was hauled into her clinic complaining of some malady of sickness or injury.
By the time, Thursday came around, Megumi's physical as well as mental stamina were wearing very thin and at about three o'clock in the afternoon, she was over exhausted, underfed and sleep deprived. Just as the last of the mid-afternoon rush trickled out of the clinic; she didn't even bother to close the door. "The moment I do, someone will inevitably knock anyway so—why bother?" She plopped down in a near-by chair with a heavy exhale and leaned her tired aching head back against the wall. If I keep going on like this, I'm going to pass out right on my feet.
Little did the overly-worn-to-a-frazzle lady doctor know that a tall, broad shouldered lanky ex-fighter was making his way toward her clinic at this very moment with a picnic basket of food, a fishbone between his teeth and an impish lopsided grin.
Sanouske hadn't seen much of the fox lady over the last few weeks; between no fights as of late and Kitsune rushing off to tend to her patients at every turn, the famous zanza found himself restless and wanting—no, needing—to see her. He'd somewhat half-heartedly hoped that an opportune fight would come his way and land him back in the doctor's presence with an injured hand needing fixing but then again, his hand hadn't had this much time to heal in one setting and it was actually starting to feel somewhat back to normal; his fingers didn't ache as much and his wrist wasn't stiff from the constant buckling it had sustained over the course of one too many connections with a solid jaw. This however left him with a dilemma because other than an injured hand, Sano never had any other plausible excuse to just up and go see her. Well at least not one that didn't leave him looking like an incredibly pathetic ass.
But today, he'd finally thought of something that was relatively passable; take the good doctor lunch—lunch made by Kenshin of course—and she wouldn't suspect a thing. As the clinic came into view, he saw the last few patience trickling out the door on their way home and he picked up his pace, suddenly wanting to make it to her as fast as he could—he couldn't define it but he really really needed and wanted to see her.
Her long raven black hair that always fell in waves down her back.
Her wine colored eyes that always pierced his with striking boldness.
Her confident stride as she moved back and forth between her patience and to and from the medicine cabinets, and the way her hands moved fluidly and flawlessly when she picked up an instrument; she never faltered. She never second-guessed herself.
Her complete composure and self-confidence when healing and saving lives always both astounded him and turned him on—though he would never admit the latter part to a living soul.
He couldn't hold back a grin as he finally reached the door, giving three steady knocks. "Oi, kitsune! I'm coming in; I've got rice balls and miso soup for ya—courtesy of Kenshin"
He slid open the shoji and was taken aback to find Megumi plopped down in a chair, head back against the wall, hands idle and eyes closed. She looked pale, worn down and completely out to the world. "Hey…Kitsune?" setting down the food basket. He moved quietly towards her and squatted down to her level. "Megumi." He touched her hand and she tiredly opened her eyes.
"—Mmm—Rooster head, if you've—damaged your hand again—"
"Sorry to disappoint you, Fox but no; all's I came to do was bring you—"
She weakly waved him off, standing to her feet and stepping towards her work station. "I must have dosed off—I need to finish filing away these—charts and—my tools—" Suddenly, she felt light-headed and very faint; her legs weakened and her body swung to the side.
"MEG!"
And everything went black.
Sanouske leapt across the room, barely catching Megumi's fainting form as both went down—Sano's body cushioning her fall.
1 day later…
Megumi's eyes fluttered open.
They came in contact first with a blank ceiling.
Then turned to meet the bleary sunlight slanting through a window pane.
And then turned back searchingly until they came to rest on a tanned handsome face bearing a pair of very worried chocolate brown eyes.
"S—Sano?" Her voice came out faint and raspy and she nearly cringed at how helpless and vulnerable she sounded.
"Meg—don't try to get up ok?"
She shifted beneath the covers, looking curiously at her surroundings. "Am—am I?"
"You're at Karou's Meg—you passed out at the clinic, don't you remember?"
"I…what? Oh god, I have to get up—I didn't even clean up; everything's—the clinic's a disaster!"
She tried desperately to sit up, only to have her head swimming painfully and Sano's strong hands pushing her back down gently. "Everything's fine; the clinic's been cleaned already; I uh—I saw to it myself, yesterday so don't worry everything's fine. Doc Gensei is takin' care of the rest."
She looked back and forth between his eyes somewhat frantically. "Wait that—that can't be right yesterday, what…Sano, how long have I been out?"
He gnawed at the corner of his lower lip; something he always did when he was nervous which wasn't very often but it was a little tick of his that Megumi had caught onto—despite herself, she found it somewhat charming. "Look, Fox you've—you've been out for a whole day. Gensei says it's severe sleep deprivation…" His eyes met hers then and she could detect the slightest hint of anger masked with worry and relief.
"…Oh…I guess I just hadn't realized. The last three days have been—so busy—so many patients—sick and injured…I lost track of time."
Sano bit down, nodding and trying desperately to suppress his urge to yell. Megumi was still weak and now was not the time for one of their typical heated arguments.
Meg watched him. His eyes squinted as he licked his lips and his jaw tightened as he rubbed a hand over his face.
He was agitated and most likely pissed. She couldn't help but admire his efforts to control his anger, knowing that his temper was not his strong suit at all.
"You're upset with me…"
Sanouske couldn't hold back a sarcastic grin and a humorless laugh. "Well yeah, Meg I come to bring you lunch and I find you paler than a sardine and teetering like a freakin' pendulum, how do you expect me to be?!"
"I know—I just didn't realize it, honestly Sano."
He shook his head, fighting his flaring temper. "How can you not sleep, Kitsune?! You're a doctor for cryin' out loud it's your job to make sure other folks are takin' care of themselves and yet you can't even remember to make sure you're getting good sleep at night?!" He was on his feet now, pacing the room.
"Look Sano, I made a mistake alright it happens; stop yelling at me and making me feel worse than I already do—"
"Well you should feel worse than you already do, you fucking fainted on the floor, Meg right in front of me! But I'm no doctor so I don't even know what the hell faintin' is, for all I knew you'd just drop dead right then!"
"Would you stop being so dramatic, it's not that serious!"
"IF I HADN'T BEEN THERE, IT COULD'VE BEEN!"
She stopped short when she caught the look in his eyes.
Anger, fear, anxiety, relief and worry were all mixed together, muddling the usually milky chocolate brown to an intense deep shade of espresso.
He'd been completely and utterly terrified when she'd fainted; of course he would be; he wouldn't know the difference between a harmless mild fainting spell and a serious loss of consciousness or coma. She instantly felt a horrible sense of guilt and regret for yelling at him and taking his concern so lightly. She took a few calming slow breaths and met his angered worried eyes again. Despite herself, she couldn't resist noticing how handsome he looked right now, even though he was obviously a wreck with worry and fighting to control his temper, his strained features still held that dark, rougish element that always left her heart beating just a little faster every time she saw him. Her cheeks tinged a shade of red and she caught his eyes squint just slightly as he appeared to notice her blush. Damn it. she thought. "I'm sorry, Sanouske." Her voice was quiet and humble.
completely uncharacteristic of her.
"You should be." was all he could manage, dragging a slightly trembling hand through his thick mass of wild bronzed locks. He settled on the chair near her futon and leaning forward with elbows on his knees, his face fell into his right hand and he let out a long frustrated sigh.
She watched him for several long moments. He position and body language spoke volumes to her; he was tired.
strung out.
frustrated.
relieved.
anxious.
her brows knitted together in sad regret and her heart thudded panfully against her ribcage as if begging her to venture towards him to ease his suffering.
Carefully and tentatively she threw back the covers and pulled herself to a kneeling position. Then softly shuffling forward she came to a stop at the level of his knees where she hesitated for only a moment longer until she finally resolved to resting her tiny hands on his knees then waiting for him to look at her.
Sano felt tiny palms press against his knees.
he chanced a peak from between his fingers and was surprised to find Megumi kneeling before him with her hands resting practically in his lap and her wine-colored eyes gazing doe-like at him. the pleading hopeful look in their depths was like a hot iron tearing away at the hardened steel of his heart and her hands were burning with warmth as they inched a little higher, coming to rest on his thighs.
He choked back a groan. whenever she touched him, it was like instant ecstasy flooding every fiber of his being and it was difficult to resist the shiver running up his spine. Attempting to mask his swiftly slipping self-control, he heaved another sigh and dropped his hand into his lap. "Fox, what the hell are you-"
Tears.
First one slipped from beneath the thick curtain of long, lucious lashes.
And then another one spilled from the corner of her eye, coursing down the other cheek leaving a wet trail stain in its path.
Megumi was crying.
Megumi never cried.
"I'm sorry...Sano."
He blinked then stared wide-eyed at her as her head dipped lower, concealing her eyes behind the ebony curtain of her bangs.
"I'm always...so selfish. inconsiderate. Absorbed in my own life that I never really think about how I actually have people that care about the things in my life...well, like you and...I'm sorry, Sano. you're right I should have been taking better care of myself and I shouldn't have...I shouldn't have yelled at you. You were worried about me and that's...well it's incredibly sweet, really." At this, she lifted her head and met his eyes with a small, sweet smile that somehow even made her tears look so beautiful.
Sano was breathless.
stupidly and completely breathless as he looked at her.
"I don't think I've ever had someone worry about me like...like you do; I mean of course Kenshin and Karou do, I know that but...well I guess it's just...different because they have each other and of course they worry about each other first and most of all, which is fine! I don't mind, honestly! I know that I give Karou a hard time, making her think that I'm "deeply in love" with Kenshin but the truth is I-well I just do that because I know how scared she is about letting him see how she feels and I don't want her to keep it to herself for much longer because you never know what could happen and I'd be so sad if she was too late so really, it's my way of trying to help her see-what she's missing." She laughed a little, brushing away the wetness from her cheeks.
Sano took in a breath. "So...so you don't l-love Kenshin then? I mean like-like uh, like that?"
"Of course not! hohohoho! Kenshin is lovely but to be honest, he's...he's too good." She sat back just then, her hands slipping from his lap and resting in her own as she looked out the window to where Kenshin and Karou were now hanging out laundry. Her eyes became soft and a bit wistful. "Kenshin is a wonderful man there is no doubt about that. But for me, I couldn't be truly...complete with a man like Kenshin. He's so good and calm and kind and...well controlled? " her voice went up as if in a question and she tilted her head to the side thoughtfully.
Sano just watched her; eager and excited at this rare opportunity of having Megumi open herself up to him; he'd always felt that Kenshin was the only one that could reach her deeply and it had always left him feeling more than a little jealous.
"Like the way he feels about Karou; he's so...modest and polite about it all the time and quite honestly sometimes I just want to smack him up side the head for not just grabbing her and kissing her senseless!"
"W-What?!" Sano coughed and sputtered. he couldn't believe he was hearing this from Takani Megumi; the woman he'd always seen as the picture of perfect control and decorum.
Megumi didn't appear to hear him; her eyes staying trained out the window in a faraway look. "It's completely ridiculous. I mean I know it's a bit uncooth and none of my business but if it was me? I'd be going out of my mind insane wondering if he felt anything for me at all or if it was just my imagination and...ugh! I'd get so sick of it I'd be like 'seriously? show me some passion or this is a waste of my time.'" She huffed, shaking her head as she sat back upon the futon and just watched the shy pair; Karou with her ever blushing cheeks and subtle glances in Kenshin's direction and Kenshin with his ever-present gentle smile and 'perfect gentlemanly' manners. Megumi shook her head.
Sano's lips spread into a wide, mischevious grin. "So you're sayin' that Kenshin isn't your type because he's not...passionate enough, huh?"
Her eyes trailed back to meet Sano's and the flicker of heat and amusement in his now-shadowy espresso orbs had her fidgeting ever so slightly. Realizing that she'd been speaking her thoughts aloud and gone far beyond the boundaries of appropriate friendly conversation, her cheeks tinged a deeper shade of red and she bit her lower lip. "Uh...well I...really it's...huh. that's beside the point, S-Sano. the point is, for me, Kenshin has never been that kind of a friend."
His lips curled up into a boyish grin then as he slid off the chair and sat cross-legged on the floor directly in front of her. "So. You're tellin' me that you're the kind of woman who needs...passion in a man and someone who's completely direct when it comes to how he feels about you in order for you to feel complete?"
His close proximity had Megumi feeling dizzy with heat spreading to her cheeks and neck. She couldn't look at him directly so instead, her eyes pinned the bed linens folded in her lap and she pulled at the sheets with her fingers. "Well...I-I suppose that...yes I suppose that's what I meant. although I didn't realize that I was-thinking out loud." Her cheeks flamed red and Sano couldn't hold back a smug smile.
"Yeah well you do that a lot, Kitsune; think out loud...it's kinda your thing actually."
She still wouldn't look up at him as she scoffed softly. "Yes well I suppose we all have our odd little ticks don't we."
"Yeah we do and you're doin' another one right now; when you get all flustered and embarrassed, you don't look me in the eyes because you're blushin' and you're hopin' if you keep your eyes averted that I won't notice."
Her throat felt dry and her eyes widened. He can't seriously know me that well...can he?
"And I'm guessin' right now you're probably thinkin' how in the world I know that, right?"
She gasped and her eyes snapped up to his. "Sanouske, stop it!"
He laughed at her surprise and obvious discomfort at being so easily read by him. "I hate to tell you this but I know you a hell of a lot better than you can imagine, Meg..." His voice softened when he spoke the nickname he only used for her when they were alone and his eyes warmed to their usual milk chocolate hue as he looked at her, grinning.
"Well for your information, I happen to know you a lot more than you think, too, Rooster head." She gave him a challenging look and her eyes sparkled with pride.
God, she has no idea how damn beautiful she is when she gets like this...if only she knew what she's doin' to me. He leaned in closer to her, his face inches from hers and he couldn't hold back a triumphant smirk at hearing her sharp intake of breath. "Oh trust me Meg, I know it...and I wouldn't have it any other way."
She dared a glance into his eyes and right away she started melting on the inside. Damn him and his...stupidly handsome face; honestly who goes around looking that rougishly dashing all the time?! ...and of course it had to be him of all people...
Just then, she felt something soft and warm brush against her forehead and she was met with a very close and very intense pair of dancing brown eyes barely four inches from her face and again she felt the soft warmth brush against her forehead...Sanouske's hair. She suddenly couldn't breathe.
Her palms were sweaty and shaky and she felt a lump of thrilling excitment mixed with anxiety coiling in her throat. She had to act and fast before Sano got the crazy idea to kiss her right then and there...and she knew from the look in his eyes that that was exactly what he was fixing to do, no matter how hard she tried to deny it. Oh this...no. this can't happen! oh gods, this cannot happen! not right now, not with Sanouske...I...I can't just cross the line of friendship with him just like that I...no. no this isn't...I refuse I, Takani pull yourself together you will not be swept off your feet like a complete idiot! "Oooh noooo!" She squealed. At the last second she dodged him, palming him in the face with her right hand and swiftly shoving him backwards.
Sanouske landed on his back, surprised yet grinning from ear to ear as Megumi hurriedly scrambled to her feet, hair slightly dishevled and porcelain cheeks aflame. "Uh thank you, Sano for um keeping me company but I...I feel much better now...right, you know and I uh I have a thing...actually." She stuttered and fumbled nearly tripping over herself as she scurried to the door. "A thing, well er actually a few things, that I need to...get to. right now. at this moment. So thank you...again. have a lovely...lovely dayokaybye." And she was out the door as quick as a flash, leaving a very bemused and excited Sanouske behind, anticipating his next meeting with his beautiful, blushing doctor. "Oh Kitsune, if you think I'm lettin' you get away that easy and for good, you've got another thing comin' woman!" He called after her, laughing mischeviously as he stood to his feet rubbing his hands together and grinning shrudely. "I ain't quitin until you're utterly and completely...mine." And when the infamous Zanza set his heart and mind on a prize, he always won the fight.