Megumi was relieved that there was a 3-day conference she was scheduled to attend and she could avoid working with Yamada Jirou for a few days. After his talk on resurrecting the Spiders Web opium formula, she had been turned off by the idea of having to assist him. While she believed that prescription and over-the-counter medicine could benefit from less synthetic elements, she also knew that using opium was a dangerous alternative. She debated on how to get out of Yamada's scheme without having to make a big deal out of it since she didn't believe that he'd get very far with his formula anyway. She didn't think that the situation merited Yamada being called out for his farfetched ideas.

When Sano called on Tuesday, she gave him an account of her encounter with the scientist. Sano agreed that Yamada's idea was hardly revolutionary and was more than a little misguided, not to mention potentially dangerous. He warned Megumi to be careful but Megumi was quick to assure him that it wasn't anything serious, just a slight concern.

"Do you want to just meet at the gala on Saturday?" Before he had left, Sano had asked Megumi to join him for an annual charity gala that benefited a local hospital. It was one of the biggest events of the season and it was always well-attended by the elite and affluent. Their parents went every year and the Takanis were one of the biggest sponsors.

"No, I'll come get you from your place."

"Okay. But I'll see you when you get back?"

"Yes, on Friday."

~O~O~O~

Sano faithfully sent her something for each day he was away. That Tuesday, a box of Belgian dark chocolates was waiting for her when she came down for breakfast.

It's said dark chocolate's healthy – here are some for a health-conscious lady doctor. –SS

P.S. I bet this is way more effective that S.P.o. Let's pitch it to pharmaceuticals?

Megumi quickly said it was nothing when her mother asked what she was laughing so hard about.

On Wednesday, she woke up to a beautiful sketch of the Brabofontein.

I wish I could claim credit for this, but no, I merely paid a nice gentleman so you can see one of Antwerp's most famous landmarks. I find that despite the beauty of the landscape and the charm of the city, an important element is missing – I hope to see her when I get back to Japan in two days. –SS

Megumi sighed wistfully at that and kept the sketch framed on her desk.

Thursday's surprise was a tiny seedling in a hand-glazed clay pot. Tied to one if its bare slender branches was a haiku. Megumi immediately recognized it as a Bashō.

when planting it

handle it like an infant

baby cherry tree

At the bottom of the poem was Sano's handwriting.

Let me plant it with you in the spring? –SS

Megumi had the baby tree brought to her room to wait for the spring.

The conference was informative but otherwise uneventful and served to keep Megumi's mind off Yamada Jirou and for the most part, even Sanosuke. Megumi had no trouble admitting to herself that she missed the rooster-head. She eagerly anticipated Friday when he was scheduled to return.

~O~O~O~

"Megumi! Megumi!" Megumi lowered her hot chocolate and turned toward the person calling her name. A man was waving his hand and hurrying down the sidewalk toward her. He stopped in front of her and paused to catch his breath."

"Hello, Katsu." Megumi greeted with a smile. Katsu waved a hand again, still catching his breath.

"Hi Megumi." The two continued to walk.

"What brings you to Nagoya? Megumi asked. Katsu lived in Tokyo and only visited his relatives the Sagaras a few times a year.

"Father sent me down for some paperwork Uncle Shiro needed. I'm to pick it up from the office in two hours. I was wandering around killing some time when I spotted you." Since Megumi had a break in the conference sessions, the two decided to have lunch together.

"So how are you and my cousin?" Megumi could feel her cheeks warm but she hoped in vain that it wasn't visible. Katsu laughed.

"And you claim you're not dating? If that's not telling that you like him, I don't know what is."

"It really is none of your business, Katsuhiro." Megumi said sternly.

"Maybe, but Sano is my cousin so I have a vested interest in his happiness. Since I happen to like the lady he has his eye on, I'd want to know if she were happy too." He winked. Megumi had to hand it to him; Katsu was a born charmer and he loved to work it.

She shook her head but she was smiling. "Fine. You could say we're" she hesitated. "…dating."

"I knew it!" Katsu said loudly and threw a fist pump. "You'll both be happy together, I just know it."

Megumi was saved from replying when the server arrived to take their orders.

"Listen, Megumi. I know I joke around a lot but I am completely honest when I say that my cousin is a great guy. Sure, he's not as charming as yours truly, but he has his strengths and he's very loyal. You won't regret getting to know him better."

"Thank you, Katsu." Megumi said at the sincerity with which Katsu expressed his thought. "I know he is and I'm sure I won't."

They finished the rest of the visit exchanging pleasantries and other small talk. Katsu insisted on walking Megumi back to the convention hall.

"Just remember, Megumi, if it doesn't work out with Sano, well..." He wagged his eyebrows.

"Oh stop it. Thanks for lunch Katsu."

"See ya around!"

~O~O~O~

Megumi's mother had been upset when she heard that Sano was away and she mourned the lost week in her daughter's one month. Megumi didn't reveal that to make up for it, Sano had been calling her every night. She enjoyed curling up in bed and spending half an hour speaking with him and didn't want to have to share that just yet – the entire household already knew about his daily gifts, she wanted the conversations with him just between them.

"I ran into your cousin today."

"Katsu?"

"Yep. We had lunch together. He told me some interesting things."

"I'm sorry. I hope you didn't listen to him."

"He was very nice, actually. He didn't tell me anything I didn't already know."

"Is that so? Anything you'd care to share with me?"

"Well, it was about a guy I like, I don't know if you'd be interested in hearing that."

Sano was quiet on the other end. Megumi rolled her eyes.

"He's tall, handsome, and the nicest person I know. He also happens to be taken." Megumi could hear the smile in Sano's voice when he responded.

"And his fiancée is this beautiful fox-lady who can stop him in his tracks with just a word or look. Ahh, I think I know who this guy is, too." Megumi laughed, glad that Sano was so quick-witted. "So what did my cousin tell you?"

"That'll be a story for another time."

"Well it sounds like he kept you entertained so I guess I'm grateful. How was the conference?" Megumi gave him the brief version of the event. "Will you be seeing Yamada soon, then?"

"No, thankfully. I don't go to the lab on Fridays so I won't see him until next week." After a brief lull in the conversation, Sano spoke up.

"Megumi, I have some bad news." She sat up in bed.

"What is it? Did something happen to you?"

"No, no." He was quick to reassure her. "I'm fine. There's just been a delay in the proceedings and I won't be back by tomorrow night. The trip has been extended for one more day."

"Oh." It was just one day more but the separation was getting to be actually physically painful. Megumi didn't know what to make of it. She kept her voice neutral. "Will you be back in time for the gala or should I let the event organizer know we're not going?"

"I'll be there. I won't miss it for anything."

"Okay."

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault."

"Megumi."

"Yes?"

"I miss you." Megumi's heart skipped in her chest.

"I miss you, too, Sano."

~O~O~O~

On the day Sano was originally supposed to arrive, a package containing a beautiful silver and pearl clutch was on the table.

Totally unimaginative, I know. I was supposed to give it to you in person, but I've been thwarted. One day more. –SS

Megumi inspected the clutch it was of a beautiful grey silk embroidered with ivory thread and natural pearls. The clasp was made of silver and it would certainly go well with her gown for the gala. Megumi narrowed her eyes. Surely he didn't know what gown she was wearing! She never told him and as far as she knew there was no one else who could have leaked that information to him. She picked up her phone.

"Sagara."

"Kitsune."

"How do you know what color I'm wearing tomorrow?"

"I don't."

"Then how—"

"If it goes with your gown that is entirely coincidental, I promise."

"I swear—"

"You told me that if I wore a dark or grey suit that it would complement your own outfit. I just based it off that."

Megumi considered the clearly custom-made accessory. "You couldn't have had this made in less than two weeks."

"I have my ways."

"Hmmm."

"Am I absolved?" He hazarded at her silence.

"Yes." Megumi conceded. "It's lovely, Sano."

Bashō – born, Matsuo Chūemon Munefusa, was the most famous poet of the Edo period. He is considered the greatest master of haiku.