A/N: So sorry for the late update. I was held up by exams and the lack of vocabulary to describe Megumi's sitting room but this chapter is finally out!

Disclaimer: Any resemblances to any existing fanfictions are purely coincidental. I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or the characters.

Sanosuke saves Megumi from the thugs in the alleyway and what's next?

School Daze Chapter 3

'Man, I can't believe that Megumi is this heavy. How misleading figures could be...' Sanosuke couldn't help griping about Megumi's weight in his mind as he carried her on his back, making his way to her house situated at a rather posh part of the town where rich people dominated the elegant houses and well-manicured lawns. He got her address when he called Megumi's mother through her cell phone, and was quite relieved that she didn't go nuclear on him. He'd have to explain everything to her though, as he had this feeling that she wouldn't believe that he found her in an alleyway. It was either the truth, or risk his freedom by cooking up a half-witted lie for Megumi's mum. Although if she ever found out that she'd been lied to, Sanosuke would probably have a squadron of policemen after his sorry ass...which would be so damn troublesome.

Thankfully, her house wasn't all that far, thanks to the alleyway, which provided a shortcut that cut the entire journey distance by half. But unfortunately, good things don't come cheap, as that secluded stretch of road is infamous for its high rate of robbery and rape incidents. As a result, most (sane) people would avoid it like the plague.

Trudging up a slope with a girl on your back while simultaneously carrying both your bag and hers is no laughing matter, even for Sanosuke, who had a lean but muscular built, much admired by both the male and female species in his high school. He couldn't help but pause to catch his breath, wondering how the hell Megumi managed to survive when she had to climb up and down this slope everyday to get to school. Upon reaching the front gate, a sigh of relief escaped from him. Megumi's mother came down hurriedly to greet them after the second ring of the bell and quickly lead Sanosuke through the French doors leading to the sitting room to relieve him of his burden.

The sitting room was nothing like his own apartment. Its windows were covered with lavish, plush royal purple curtains while the floor (marble, Sanosuke reckoned) was carpeted with soft rugs that definitely cost more than the total of everything he owned back in his apartment. Ornate coffee tables are carved with absolute precision while the antique chairs beckoned with promises of blessed comfort. Being the daughter of a rich family who could afford to pay thousands of dollars across the cash register in hard cash (Do they even use cash?) without batting an eyelid, Sanosuke knew that he would have expected some level of extravagance in their sitting room. But nevertheless, the room's regal atmosphere and immaculate decor was still able to steal his breath away.

"So, Mr. Sagara, do you mind explaining what happened?" Megumi's mother shot the million-dollar question at Sanosuke after setting a cup of Earl Grey on the coffee table in front of him. Megumi was brought to her room immediately after Sanosuke stepped into the sitting room, leaving him alone with her mother. Sanosuke knew that this was expected from a worried-stricken mother and launched into an explanation of the events.

"…Mother?" Megumi whispered to the silhouette in her darkened room. It acknowledged her words and as it moved forward, she sat up from her bed, clutching her head as it throbbed nastily. Looking around her room, she looked quizzically at her mother, silently asking her the reason behind the sudden change in her environment, for the last thing she remembered was being chased by a couple of perverts and getting knocked out in the secluded alleyway.

"You'll have to thank Sanosuke for bringing you back from the alleyway," her mother said softly. "If it wasn't for him, you wouldn't be here right at this moment."

"But, why…" Megumi wanted to ask why the guy who seemed the least likely candidate for the job was the one who did it in the end, but her mother hushed her and retold the story Sanosuke had told her only a few hours ago. Never in her wildest dreams would Megumi think that the man who stared at her on her first day in school was the one who extended help to her during troubled times. 'So, it wasn't a bad idea to be friends with him,' she thought.

"I see that you've made a really good friend this time, Megumi."

"Yes I have, Mother. But I wonder, how can I ever return the favour? I feel indebted to him." Megumi felt troubled not being able to thank him while he was in her house and hoped to be able to repent for her rudeness.

"Don't worry, my child. That time will come some day. Now you should be resting, so get back to bed and regain your energy for the next day." Tucking her child into bed, she was grateful to God for not letting a tragedy befall her precious daughter and for allowing Megumi to know of such a good person.

Unknown to Sanosuke, he was followed from the moment he emerged from the end of the alleyway to the instance he left Megumi's house.

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Next chapter, the identity of Sano's unknown stalker is revealed and Takayashi Kenzaki (check chapter 1) makes his move on Megumi.

The story's ending soon! I promise to update my story faster! Hang in there people!