Saturday promised to be another beautiful autumn day. Megumi stretched and breathed the fresh air. She wriggled her toes, feeling energized and excited for the new day. Since the trip was for leisure purposes, there really wasn't a schedule planned but she knew Sano's lunch and horseback riding were on the books. She had also seen a tennis court when Sano toured her through the grounds so there was that as well. Megumi washed her face and changed into day clothes. Her parents were also up when she looked in on them next door. She was out in the hallway when Kaoru found her. The girl grabbed her hand and hauled Megumi with her to the dining room for breakfast. They were the first to arrive followed by Sano tailed by a still yawning Yahiko.

"Ohayo." They greeted.

"Ohayo gozaimasu. Where's Katsu?" Megumi asked.

"He sleeps in every chance he gets." Kaoru answered.

The two couples arrived and everyone settled in to a breakfast spread of eggs, sausages and fruit.

"What do you have planned this morning, Sano?" Shiro asked his son.

"I'm going to town to grab a few ingredients for lunch so anyone who wants to join me is welcome to."

The Sagara estate was a few miles out from a small town that was more like a village. Megumi thought it quaint and picturesque as they drove through the day before.

"I'll join you." Megumi offered. Sano looked mildly surprised.

"Okay."

~O~O~O~

Yahiko had been the only other one who wanted to go but after a sudden pained look on his face, he nervously said he didn't want to go after all. Megumi shrugged and finished her breakfast.

"So what are we looking for?" She and Sano were walking side by side along the vendor's stalls. They were currently in the produce section of the market. It was still early that some were still just setting out their produce. They had already gone through the meat section and Sano had only pointed out what cuts he wanted to the butcher and told the man he would be back for them later.

"Green beans, bok choi, bell peppers, and baby corn. The rest we have back at the house." He snapped a bean and munched on it. "Yoi. This is good." He turned to the elderly vendor. "This is some fresh produce ya have, obaasan." The elderly woman beamed at the praise.

"Hai, hai. We do our best, young sir and you certainly have an eye for them!" She looked at Megumi who blushed at the implication.

"Ohohoho, no, no, it's not like that!"

"Obaasan speaks the truth. A bag of these, please."

"That will be 145 yen, young man."

"What, no discount?" Sano picked up a tomato. "How about ya let me have this for free, obaasan?"

"Oh, fine." The old woman tsked good naturedly. Sano fished out some money and paid for the beans They moved on the next stall. Sano tested everything he needed and praised the vendor for the quality of his product. This went on until they had covered the whole section. Sano then led the way back to the meat section to pick up the cuts he had ordered earlier. By the time they were ready to go back to the car, Sano's basket was full. Megumi offered to help carry some of the items but he refused. "Thanks, but I got this." He tapped her on the nose. "I would need your help in the kitchen later though."

"You practically bought something from everyone," Megumi observed on their drive back. She glanced at the basket on the floor in the back of the car. It was overflowing with more than what Sano had said he needed. "Why?"

Sano rubbed the back of his neck, a gesture Megumi was quickly beginning to recognize as one he did when he was embarrassed. "Ahh… Well, I have a weakness for shopping." He offered.

"You didn't really bargain with them either." Sano knew he was caught.

"We were the first costumers for the day for most of them." He stated simply.

Megumi was amazed. "Sagara, you're something else."

Sano rubbed the back of his neck again. "Want to have a tennis match when we get back?" Megumi laughed at his discomfort and agreed.

~O~O~O~

Megumi had participated in tennis competitions throughout high school and her doubles team with Katsu easily beat Sano and Kaoru's duo.

"That's it! It's girls against guys next game!" Kaoru yelled.

"But I like where I am!" Katsu protested.

"Oi, Keep your eyes on the ball." Sano drawled. Katsu had the baseline and Sano knew he was enjoying the 'view'.

The second game went to Megumi's team again.

"I thought you would have been more of a challenge, Sano." Megumi sang out.

He shrugged. "Eh, you're a guest. I would hate to make ya cry."

"Hey!"

"Oh ho! I hear a challenge, Megumi!" Katsu egged on.

"Fine, you and me, Sagara."

"Ya sure, Takani?"

"No tears, Sagara."

"I'll bring ya the tissues myself."

"I'll help with clean up after I shatter you."

"Brave words, Takani."

"I'll show you, Sagara."

Kaoru rolled her eyes. They were so obviously flirting.

"Let's start then."

Megumi served Sano a topspin which he easily returned. The game was on.

"Ugh!" Megumi groaned and returned Sano's flat serve. The spectators cheered.

"Nice, Takani." Sano praised, and handily swung a powerful backhand. Megumi ran and barely made it in time. Back and forth, back and forth. The ball spun and flew across the court. An occasional grunt or groan marked the players' effort.

"Deuce!" Kaoru called out. Both opponents were breathing hard. They had been just one point off from each other for the past half hour and it seemed it wasn't about to change any time soon.

"You guys, how about a coin toss? Heads is declared winner, huh?" Katsu suggested.

"Reset." Sano ventured.

"First to score." Megumi agreed. Both took their places. Sano held the ball in his hand and bounced it twice. Megumi bent her knees, ready to spring into action. Two pairs of eyes narrowed in concentration. The autumn sun shone warm and sweat trickled down necks and backs. Breathe in. Breathe out. The thud of the racquet making contact with the ball rang out across the court. Megumi shot forward.

She knew even before she had completely landed on her leading foot that she had miscalculated. Not a second later her error was confirmed when the ball spun away from her. Megumi reached for the ball but it was too late. Sano had won.

"Good game, Kitsune. You made me break into a sweat." They shook hands.

"Don't rest to easily, Rooster-head, there'll be a rematch." Megumi didn't let go of his hand and tugged Sano closer. "That was a hard serve which took me weeks to learn."

Sano leaned in. "I learn fast when my interest is piqued." Megumi scowled at him and released his hand.

"Don't you have a lunch to make?"

"You're helping me so don't wander off." Megumi waved her hand to indicate that she heard him and headed back into the house to take a shower.

In some cultures, the first sale of the day indicates how well the rest of the day's sales would go. For many, they go shopping early in the day because that's when vendors are eager to make a sale and are most willing to bargain down. By buying from the vendors at full price, but still making it seem as if he had bargained, Sano was practically giving them a "blessed" start to their day.

Okay, I totally don't' know how to play tennis. I looked up some articles online and that's how I got the different types of serves. Sano's winning serve is a kick serve which is apparently hard to learn. He's not trained at the same level as Megumi so you can imagine our Kitsune's surprise and indignation when she lost to him! Nyayhahaha