About an hour before the worried friends had headed out to visit Sano the young girl Sano had saved showed up at Dr. Gensai's 'hospital'. She brought with her a box of expensive western candies in a box that was a shade of red lighter than her cheeks. Sano smiled when she walked in and spoke to her calmly "Hello there miss, are you all right?" The girl bit her lip instinctively "It's uh Umino Chika and I am so so so sorry sir, I got separated from grandfather and all of the sudden I felt a knife in by back" she said. "Did he cut you?" Sano asked concerned. "Yes, a little, Miss Megumi bandaged it for me, but I think it needs to be changed so I figured I could visit you while I am here" she responded softly."
So Megumi was there, why didn't she talk to him Sano wondered. Chika stepped towards him, delicately running her fingers over the bandage on Sano's abdomen. He was still very muscular and lean, in part because of Saitou's willingness to spar with him after Saiko was in bed. "Does it hurt?" she asked blushing fiercely. "Yeah, but I will live" Sano responded.
"Sano-san, is it?" Chika started then continued when he nodded "don't you have any family?" "I do, they just haven't come yet" he said sounding more dejected then he meant. "Oh" the girl said surprised. She was mesmerized by the young man and was trying hard not to get closer to him. Chika closed her eyes tight and took in a deep breath.
They popped back open in a flash and she remembered the present she and her grandfather had gotten him. She pulled the box from her pocket and offered it to him. "My grandfather and I got you some western candies, I hope you like them" she finally got out. Sano's eyes lit up at this "Oh yes Saiko loves western candies!" he spouted taking the box with his good arm. Chika's mouth fell agape and all color drained from her face. "Oh I didn't know you had a girlfriend" she muttered. "Oh no no Saiko is my daughter, I don't have a girlfriend" he replied nervously. Chika's eyes dropped to the floor embarrassed for responding so obviously. "Chika-chan I am way too old for you and you are way too young to be looking!" Sano said with a kind laugh.
"Of course Sano-san, you were just so brave on my behalf I cannot help but be mesmerized by you" Chika choked out. It was then Megumi entered the room without looking at Sano. She spoke immediately to Chika saying "Chika-chan lift your shirt in the back for me I need to change that bandage right?" "Yes Miss Megumi I was just visiting my hero" Chika replied happily. Sano stared at Megumi waiting for her to look at him, but she did not. She had not spoken to him since she gave Saiko to him and not once had she even been in his sight since that day until now.
The young girl turned towards the wall and lifted the shirt she was wearing to give Megumi access to the wound; she was most likely wearing it for that purpose Sano supposed. Sano sucked hard when he was the poor girl's back. While the man had not stabbed her as deeply as he had with Sano her wound was no paper cut. She had to be extremely brave not to cry as the gangster had forced her with him, knowing if she did, he would probably just have killed her on the spot.
Chika bit her lip and cried as Megumi applied some cream to the gash in her back. Sano temporarily forgot his pain and empathized with the young girl. She was scared to death from an attack, cut, and still was thinking about Sano enough to buy him a present. Megumi left the room without a word and Chika slowly turned around to look at Sano again. "Does it look that bad?" she asked softly. "Well kind of actually" Sano replied. "It cannot be anything compared to your wounds Sano-san," she said smiling.
Sano patted the empty space on the bed next to him offering Chika somewhere to sit. She happily obliged committing to herself that she would never stop loving him even if he did not want her to. She owed him everything now especially since what he saved her from was the most brutal of attacks. Sano opened the pack of treats and offered her one. Chika smiled and ate it slowly still unable to take her eyes off him. After a while, Sano began to feel tired, but he kept talking to Chika about silly unimportant things. He just put his uninjured arm behind his head and told Chika stories of his childhood.
Chika unconsciously began stroking Sano's bandages again so lightly be could barely feel her fingertips. If anything, the feeling was a distraction from the pain. Neither of them realized they had stayed talking for over an hour until they heard a knock on the door then the door opening. First came in Saitou wearing an un-approving scowl at the girl touching Sano's dressing and sitting so closely to him. Before Saitou could say anything or Sano or the girl could rectify their awkward situation Kenshin had walked in with Saiko in his arms. "DADA" she cried happily. All in the room stayed still not wanting to fight in front of such a happy baby. Kenshin smiled not knowing of the tension and set Saiko on the opposite side of Sano from Chika.
Saiko laid her head on Sano's bare chest giving him the biggest hug she could while kneeling on the bed. "Dada, no nigh nigh! Dada no bye bye" she said half into his chest. "I know Sa-chan I am very sorry" Sano said sadly taking his good arm and giving the girl a half hug. Saiko peeked up from the hug and climbed up his chest to kiss him on the cheek. At this point Chika felt she could slip out without to much turmoil so she hopped up from the table and ran out of the room as Saiko was kissing Sano.
If Chika had stayed a moment longer, she would have seen Sano return the kiss and Saiko demanding that "Da e" kiss "dada." If she did maybe, it would have gotten her to understand she would never be able to win Sano's love even if she did wait until she was older, but she was not there so it was a lesson she would have to learn in the future.
Kaoru laughed heartily at his hilarious display of a toddler's power and would have annoyed Saitou even more if Kenshin did not spin her around and cover her lips with his own. Saitou noticed this in the corner of his eye so he took the opportunity to kiss his damaged lover more deeply at Saiko's giddy approval.
Saiko, still held in Sano's good arm, nuzzled Sano happily as Saitou kissed him. Eventually both kisses broke and the room stayed silent for a moment. It was then Dr. Gensai made an appearance speaking directly to Saitou "Saitou-san Sano seems to have passed the critical time and he will be fine, as I have told him already the wound to his shoulder has done some serious damage. I entrust that you will be sure he goes easy on it until I say he is healed." Saitou nodded "of course Dr. Gensai I will keep the Ahou from doing more damage to himself" he grinned slyly before continuing "I will not let him get out of doing the laundry that easily." Sano groaned "Very funny Saitou."
Kenshin and Kaoru, seeing that Sano was going to be fine, decided to duck out and let Saiko and Saitou spend some time with Sano. Especially since Kaoru's heart was still racing from the unexpected kiss. Dr. Gensai continued with instructions for Sano's care and promised Saitou if Sano stayed in the hospital until the evening Saitou could take him home. Saiko was "filling" Sano in on what he missed since he was in the hospital. "Da e cut Sa-chan's hair, Da e said after Dada better" she said happily. Sano smiled pulling the girl up close to his face. "That is wonderful Saiko I am sure Daddy will do a great job." She smiled up at him coyly and kissed the bottom of his chin. He rubbed the top of her head happily, her soft black hair still sticking up between his fingers like feathers just like her father.