Pride Vs. Desire
By:: Melissa
Italics - Flashback
Disclaimer:: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin; everything belongs to Nobuhiro Watsuki. The only thing I own is the storyline. Please review my fanfiction! Constructive criticism is welcome. No flames please.
Chapter 4
Sanosuke cursed as he walked down the dirt path. He kicked a stone as he grumbled to himself. His hands deep in his pockets, he seethed. His eyes were narrow like slits.
"Damnit, why didn't she take the day off? I had something important to tell her… Megumi, you fox, why didn't you listen to the doctor?" Sanosuke growled under his breath, remember waking up early just to talk to the doctor before Megumi showed up to work.
"Hey, doc, has Megumi showed up yet?" Sanosuke asked, walking into the doctor's office.
"No she hasn't, Sanosuke, why do you ask?" The doctor looked up at Sanosuke incredulously.
"Well, she just wanted me to let you know that's she's taking to day off," Sanosuke said, nonchalantly.
"Why would she take the day off? She's never taken a day off the entire year." The doctor looked surreptitiously at Sanosuke, as if he had another motive.
"She's spending the day with Kenshin, the little lady, and myself." Sanosuke sighed, giving him the excuse he had planned that morning.
"Oh well, I'll let Megumi have to day off then. She doesn't get out much," The doctor said, shaking his head in disappointment.
"Thanks, doc." Sanosuke left the doctor to finish setting up his office. He walked down to the Akabeko, awaiting Megumi's arrival.
He saw her arrive at the doctor's office, right on time as always. He smiled to himself, waiting in anticipation to spend the day with Megumi. He gasped in amazement as he studied Megumi as she walked slowly down the street.
"She's even more beautiful then I thought." He sighed, letting out a big gust of air. He didn't notice that he was holding his breath. She opened the door and went into the office.
He couldn't deny it any longer. He missed her. He missed the little fox. He missed her playfulness and her suspicion. He missed the way she would always call him "birdhead." He missed her attitude. He missed everything about her. How could he have not seen this? How could he have ignored her for so long? He would be lying if he said he didn't love that fox. He shook his head in disgust. Disgust with himself for thinking those thoughts.
"She would never feel the same way for me. She never has. Just like a fox, she deceives and cons others. But I still can't deny these feelings," he thought, rubbing his head.
He opened his eyes at the sound of a door. He looked across the street and saw Megumi walk out of the doctor's office. She still had her medical bag. He sighed. He knew that she would never take the day off. Especially if the doctor told her that he, Sanosuke, wanted to see her. She had avoided him for a year, what makes him think that she wants to see him now? He walked slowly to the Kamiya Dojo, frowning the entire time.
"Sanosuke, it's nice to see you!" Kaoru exclaimed, opening the door when she heard the knock.
"Hey Kaoru. I just wanted to stop in with you and Kenshin. I was in the neighborhood." Sanosuke looked around. It looked different the last time he was there.
"Sanosuke, long time no see." Kenshin embraced his friend in a hug. Kenji came out, looking suspiciously at Sanosuke.
"You know, Yahiko always asks about you." Kaoru motioned for Sanosuke to come in and sit.
"Yeah, I should check up on him sometime." Sanosuke sat down gratefully.
A long silence elapsed. Sanosuke stared awkwardly outside, waiting for Kenshin or Kaoru to break the silence. Kaoru looked at her husband nervously, waiting for him to break the silence. Kenshin sat in thought, vaguely remember the meeting with Megumi only a few days ago. He noticed that it was a lot like this meeting. Like in Megumi's meeting, Kaoru finally broke the silence.
"You know, Megumi stopped by a few days ago. She was asking for you," Kaoru said softly, looking up tentatively to look at Sanosuke's reaction. He stiffened, but kept his composure.
"Really? That's interesting. What did you tell her?" He asked, as if he didn't really care about the answer.
"I just told her where she could find you." Kaoru sighed to herself.
"Hmmm…" Sanosuke stared off again at the sunset.
"Sanosuke, you can't keep pushing her away. She cares…" Kaoru started but stopped at a glance from her husband. Again, Sanosuke stiffened, his jaw tightening.
"I have to get going. I'll see you guys around." With that, Sanosuke stood up and left through the same door that Megumi had left through. And again like the first time, Kaoru stared anxiously out of the open door.
He cursed to himself again, but not cursing himself, but cursing his pride. His pride for not saying what was on his mind. His pride in not telling Megumi how he truly felt. His pride for not being a man and just admitting to himself and to everyone else that he was in love. In love with the only woman that has ever held his heart. The only woman he ever wanted to hold his heart. The little fox that he saved at Kanryu's mansion. Damning himself, he walked out of the gates.
The minute he walked out, he heard a commotion. There was screaming and yelling. He went up to the nearest person and asked them what was going on.
"Hey, you, what happened?" Sanosuke grabbed a middle-aged man who was yelling at someone else to call the police.
"A woman was kidnapped here just a few minutes ago!" He said to Sanosuke.
Sanosuke's heart stopped beating. His face paled and his eyes went wide. "No no no, not her, please don't let it be her." Sanosuke thought, as if saying it would make it not true.
"What did she look like? What was she wearing? Do you know what she had in her hands?" Sanosuke asked frantically, searching for answers.
"She had on a blue jacket, like a doctor's coat. She also had a medical bag in her hand. She had long black hair and short bangs. Very pretty face." With that the man walked off to talk to the police who had just arrived.
Sanosuke sank to the ground, his hands over his head in despair. It couldn't have been her. Not her. Anyone but her. Please, God, anyone, just don't let it be her. He picked himself up and ran back to the dojo. He pounded on the door to the Kenshin house and Kaoru's face popped out.
"Sanosuke, what are you doing back here? Did you forget something? What's the matter?" Kaoru asked, concern on her face.
Sanosuke caught a glimpse of himself in the reflection from her eyes. His hair was disheveled, his face was pale and his eyes were wide in fear. Kenshin had come out to stand next to his wife, the same concern in his face as well.
"Sanosuke, tell us what happened," Kenshin said, his voice full of worry.
"They've taken her!" Sanosuke finally said.
"Who's taken who?" Kenshin asked, confusion in his face.
"Someone's taken Megumi! They've taken her! They've taken the only thing I've ever loved in my life! She's gone!" Sanosuke sank to the ground, letting the sobs and the tears overcome him.
To Be Continued….
Sorry if Sanosuke seems a little OOC...if he is, i might revise this chapter...so give me feedback on it! Please Review! Thanks:3