A/N: I really wanted to add a twist in this chapter, but my mind and muse just didn't wanna work with me, I apologize for this undramatic, yet important chapter. I promise to update really soon for the next one.

Chapter 26:
Happy Days No More

"Damnit! Damnit, damit!!!" Tomoe scream, falling to the floor pounding with all her might.

"Why??? Why me? I don't care if Kaoru comes and takes up part of his time, becomes his favorite employee, I don't even care if Kaoru becomes is best friend, but does she have to come and steal even his heart? This isn't fair!!!"

A knock on the door silenced her cries, "Um, excuse me Yukishiro-sama?"

Tomoe immediately stopped crying, standing up, she pulled out her purse and looked at her puffy reflection. Grabbing some make up that she never needed before and started to dab on her eyes and nose to erase the signs of crying.

"Come in"

"I was wondering if I could have the day off, I just need…"

"Go ahead, tell Megumi to cover for you after lunch."

"Thanks!"

As soon as the door closed, tears started to fill her eyes once more. picking up the mirror, she questioned herself what she lacked that Kaoru had.

"No, I will get my Kenshin back. I've gotten so far, I can't let this go."

"Hello again, Kaoru," says Sano, coming to stand behind my chair.

"Mou! So, what did you see her about?" I ask, turning around in my chair.

"It was nothing, really," he says. "Anyway, aren't you going to introduce me to your colleagues?"

"Oh, right," I say, jumping up immediately. "Guys, I would like you to meet my friend, Sanosuske," I say, gesturing towards him.

"Hi," says Sano, bowing slightly and giving everyone a warm smile.

"That's Yahiko, Misao, Megumi, and Omasu," I say, pointing to each of them as I called out their names while Sano shook their hands.

"Nice to meet you all," he says bowing again. "Anyway, Kaoru, would you mind showing me to Kenshin's office? I'd like to talk to him about a few things."

"Kenshin's office?" I ask, frowning a little. "What do you want to go see him about?"

"Don't worry, Kao-chan," he says, lowering his voice. "I won't beat him up or anything. I just want to have a guy-to-guy talk with him. Is that all right with you?"

"I guess," I say, twisting my fingers. As I followed Sano out of the Marketing Department, I felt a tug on my shirt sleeve when I walked past Megumi.

"That's a really, really good looking friend you have there," she whispered, her eyes twinkling as her little fox ears poped out.

"Interested?" I ask, giggling.

"Is he…" she trailed off, her face flushing red.

"He's single," I say, nodding my head. "Anyway, I should get going. He'll probably think I fell into the dustbin or something, if he doesn't see me."

"So, what was that all about?" he asks, raising an eyebrow at me as we rode the elevator up.

"Someone has developed a little crush on you!" I say gleefully.

"In a time period of two minutes?' he asks incredulously.

"What's wrong with that?" I ask, "You don't look too bad…maybe just a little flabby on the tummy," I say, walking around him in a circle, assessing him from head to toe.

"YAH! Kaoru!"

"Oh! We're here!" I say, ducking from his outstretched arms. "Hey, Yumi! Is Kenshin in?"

"Morning, Kaoru. No, he hasn't entered the office yet. Is there something important that you would like to hand over to him?" she asks.

"Oh, no," I say, shaking my head, my entire being flooded with relief. "My friend here just wants to talk to him."

"Would you like to leave a message?" she asks, turning to face Sano.

"No, it's all right. Maybe I'll drop by another time. Thanks anyway," he replied, smiling warmly at her.

"Bye, Yumi! Thanks!" I say to her as we headed back to the elevators.

"Oy, Kaoru," says Sano, poking me in the ribs. "Do you have any plans for lunch today?"

"Why?" I ask, looking sideways at him.

"I just thought maybe we could have lunch together!" he says happily, grinning at me.

"Who wants to eat lunch with you?" I ask, wrinkling my nose.

"Aww, Kaoru!"

"Mou, Sano. I was just kidding. You're so ultra-sensitive, you know that?" I say, pushing his head to the side. "Where are we going to eat?"

"Ummm…sushi bar?" he suggests and I nodded my head in reply. "That's settled then. I'll come pick you up at 12.30 later. Just wait for me at the front of the building, okay?"

"Okay!" I say, stepping out of the elevator at my department level. "Oh, and Sano?"

"Hmmm?" he asks, looking up at me from the elevator buttons.

"Your treat!"

"Hey, Kenshin?," says Tomoe, poking her head into his office. "Let's go out and have lunch."

"You go ahead," he says, not looking up from his paper work. "I'm not hungry."

"Come on, Tomoe," she says, walking over to him and closing the file. "You can't go on like this."

"Just leave me alone, Tomoe. I'm not in the mood."

"There is no way I'm going to leave you alone. Now get up. You're following me out for lunch whether you like it or not," she says, tugging him on the arm. Feeling defeated, he just stood up and followed her, taking his jacket with him on the way out.

"Okay, we're here," she says, pulling to a stop in front of the Sushi Bar. "Kenshin, why don't you go down and get us a table while I park the car?"

"Sure," he says absently, slamming the passenger door behind him.

She made a few rounds around the block, squinting against the sunlight to try to spot an empty parking space. To her delight, a car was just reversing out of its parking space and she drummed her fingers on the steering wheel while she waited for the driver to take his leave.

As she grabbed her purse and prepared to step out of her car, the number plate of the black car parked in front caught her attention.

8AN0-8A6A.

Her forehead creased a little and she leaned back in her seat slowly when she realized whose car it was.

Sagara Sanosuske.

She chewed on her thumbnail thoughtfully, then got out of her car and opened her car trunk. She hurriedly rummaged through the toolbox, which she kept in there for emergencies and her eyes gleamed when she caught sight of the edge of the little saw. Making sure that no one was around, she took the little saw with her and made her way over to the front of Sano's car.

Trying to act nonchalant, she lifted the hood of his car, then, with a sudden, sharp movement, she sliced his brake line in half. Slamming his hood back down again, she quickly disposed the saw by slipping it into a drain hole nearby and walked towards the sushi bar.

Don't blame me, Sagara. You were the one who brought this onto yourself.

"Sano! I can't eat anymore!" I whined.

"But you ate so little! We need to fatten you up!"

"Fatten me up? I'm not a Thanksgiving tur—" I stopped abruptly, catching sight of Kenshin who had just stepped into the restaurant. "Oh no," I muttered, slumping down lower in my seat.

"What?" asks Sano, turning to look over his shoulder. "Oh…" he trailed off, looking back at me. "I'll go pay the bill. Just sit tight for a few minutes and we'll be off, all right?"

"Yeah," I say. "Thanks."

As Kenshin scanned the busy restaurant for an empty table, our eyes met. It was as though time had stopped. Everyone else just seemed to fade away, leaving only the both of us. We must have been staring at each other for quite a while before he spun on his heel and walked out of the restaurant, breaking the gaze. I heaved a sigh, then stood up and walked over to where Sano stood.

"All done," he says as I approached him. "You feeling all right?" he asks, as we head out onto the streets.

"Yeah. Don't worry," I say, giving him a warm smile.

"Right. Just wait here for me, okay? I'll go and get the car."

"It's all right, Sano. I'll walk with you."

"No, you stay put. It's a little far. Just wait for me!" he says, running off.

I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, fiddling with the buttons of my jacket. Just then, I caught sight of Kenshin with Tomoe, walking round the corner across the street, arm in arm. I averted my gaze quickly, pretending as though I had not seen them.

I stood up on tiptoes and tried to look for Sano's black sports car. Spotting it cruising down the road, I walked towards the front of the sidewalk, preparing to get in. But, to my utter surprise, he did not stop. And as he passed me by, I could see worry etched all over his features. It could have been my imagination...I wasn't sure.

My eyes widened in shock as I stared after his car. As though in slow motion, I watched him as he swerved to the right sharply to avoid colliding with an oncoming truck, only to crash into the brick wall opposite. The echoes of screaming tires and the sound of glass breaking kept playing over and over again in my head. Before I knew it, I was running towards the wreck, tears streaming down my face.

"SANO!"

A/N: Sorry, I know some of you decided on pay back for Tomoe, but that's in two chappies and I've decided on what it is. Some reader felt bad for Tomoe, so I'll make her "punishment" be fair and hopefully ok with everyone.

Next Chappie: can't give clues, but get tissues.