Note: Chapter originally posted on 7/15 but updated with a few major changes on 7/20.

Megumi would have collapsed if she weren't already sitting down. She felt as if the air was being squeezed out of her and her legs had lost their strength.

"Megumi? Megumi!" Her father's voice was panicked.

Time seemed to slow, her gaze hazy, her breathing labored.

"Megumi, I was not the one who broke off the engagement…

Sanosuke did."

He had broken off their engagement.

Sano was gone.

~o~

She lay on her bed staring at the ceiling for two full hours, awake, but unmoving, replaying the recent events over and over in her head.

All emotion had drained out of her, leaving Megumi cold and numb.

"He was in here this morning. He was in my office when I came back from a meeting and he only stayed for a few minutes. He told me that for your sake, to trust him. And, that he was sorry. The news about the engagement came out soon after he left."

"Why?" Megumi could only leadenly ask.

She knew why.

Sano was protecting her and her family. The Takanis publicly breaking off the engagement declared that they were effectively severing ties with the Sagaras and with it any potential repercussions from the scandal.

Megumi sat up in bed and balled her hands into fists.

She knew why he did it.

It did not mean that she would let him.

~O~O~O~

"Sanosuke!" Megumi yelled into her phone. "Pick up and talk to me, Sagara!" She threw the phone violently on her bed and bit back a scream. She was beyond angry now.

"That's not going to make him pick up the phone, hun." Hikaru cheerfully chirped. Megumi's best friend had flown in as soon as she heard the news. She had thought to comfort Megumi, instead she had found a woman on a mission.

Megumi was insistent on one thing. "Until they actually produce irrefutable evidence of his involvement, I refuse to believe that Sano's father or any of the Sagaras for that matter, had a part in this. They would never do anything that will jeopardize their own company much less their honor."

"Then Sano is right in doing this to protect you and your family."

"He can protect me all he wants but not this way."

~o~

"Urgh!" Megumi flopped down on the bed. "Why is he being so difficult? I need to get my hands on that rooster head and knock some sense into him!"

"Why waste your time trying to get in touch with Sano? Just go find him."

"I told you – I've already gone to all the usual places. I don't know where else to look…" Megumi mumbled into the comforter.

"Yeah, you do."

Megumi lifted her face from the bed. "What are you talking about?"

"Sano's MIA and his folks are on the DL but someone he's probably still in touch with might not be."

Megumi pounced on her best friend with a hug. "Hikaru, you're a genius!"

~O~O~O~

It was dark outside, night had since fallen and with it a thin dusting of early snow.

"Hello, Kenshin."

The redhead almost jumped out of his seat at Megumi's quiet greeting. Megumi smiled at him from the car's passenger side.

"M-Megumi." Kenshin stuttered.

"I know that you know where Sano is and you are taking me to him." Megumi's face softened the slightest fraction but the skin around her eyes remained tight. "Please, Kenshin."

Kenshin pulled out of the parking structure before he answered.

"Sano is doing this to protect you, Megumi."

"I know that. But he also needs to know I don't need protecting."

"These vicious attacks suggest—"

"Save it, Kenshin. I know there's something sinister behind everything that's happening but he'll just have to find another way of protecting me." She emphasized her words clearly. "I am not leaving him."

Kenshin sighed but nodded. "He won't be happy about this."

Megumi shrugged. Sano would most likely be upset, if not outright angry. "He won't be, but he needs to realize that we're stronger together."

Kenshin nodded again and continued driving.

~o~

Kennshin drove to a residential compound and punched in a code at the gate. "Sano is staying with me in the meantime." He explained as they drove through. He pulled into the garage and let Megumi into the house. Kenshin shut the door behind him and led Megumi toward the living room.

The only person who mattered to her in that moment sat with his back to the doorway. Just the sight of his gravity-defying hair and familiar posture against the couch already sent a calming wave over Megumi. An older, whip-thin man in a suit sat across from Sano and narrow eyes lifted to Megumi when she stepped into the room right behind Kenshin.

"Did you think you can escape that easily?"

Sano had been raising a glass of water to his lips. He froze at the sound of her voice. He lowered the glass and stood. Without looking at her, Sano spoke. "Saito, Kenshin. Could ya give us a minute?" Both men nodded and left the living room, leaving Sano and Megumi alone. Sano turned slowly, Megumi sensing rather than actually seeing him square his shoulders as if preparing himself.

Sano raised chocolate brown eyes to her. "Megumi."

The skin over Sano's jaw blanched for a fraction of a second then reddened immediately where Megumi's punch had landed. Megumi winced and shook out her right hand, fisting her left hand in front of his face.

"I am not breaking this." Her engagement ring winked under the lights. She turned abruptly and made her way to the kitchen. Sano followed without comment.

"Sit," she ordered. Sano sank down on the barstool she had indicated. Megumi rummaged in the freezer then wrapped an ice pack in a dishcloth and gave it to Sano who held it against his face which was already beginning to show signs of forming a beautiful bruise. Getting another pack, Megumi wrapped it as well and laid it across her sore knuckles.

Sano broke the tense silence. "You've a mean right hook." He placed a hand over hers. "And I deserved it."

Angry tears stung Megumi's eyes. "I know why you did it, Sano. But I am not breaking off our engagement. Not over this, not ever."

Sano smiled weakly at her. "That means a lot, Kitsune—"

"No. You are not going to talk me out of this—" she waved her ringed hand again "You might as well include me in whatever you're planning, Sagara."

Sano withdrew his hand and leaned away from her. "Megumi, what I've learned so far about this scandal is not pretty and it looks potentially dangerous. Have ya forgotten what happened to Nakamura? She was a part of this—most likely a pawn but she was killed because of this."

"We'll make a plan, get to the bottom of this, but I will not leave you."

"Megumi—"

"Are you not hearing me?" Megumi's voice rose. "I am not leaving you! I love you, Sano. This threat is not going to change that. I'm going to marry you—that's for better or for worse, alright? If I'm the one in trouble, if my family is the one in question, would you leave me?"

"Never." Sano's voice was firm, his answer swift.

"Then you know that I'm not changing my mind."

Sano sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I can't dissuade ya, can I?'

"Not on this."

Sano sighed heavily but his eyes were brighter and his back straighter. He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, his faint touch sending Megumi's nerves tingling. "Okay." He gazed at her for a long moment then settled his hands on her hips. "There's a lot I need to tell you."

"I've all the time in the world." Megumi said with a small smile.

Sano held her hand and led her back to the living room, the ice pack still held to his cheek as Megumi had insisted. He sat on the coffee table facing her sitting on the couch. Sano ran his hands through his hair, making them stand in every which way. "I don't even know where to begin." He said tiredly.

Not for the first time that night, Megumi studied him. His handsome face was weary, his usually bright eyes tired, and his broad shoulders were not held in their usual relaxed and confident posture. She touched his cheek. "The account books weren't adding up then it was later discovered that one of the employees had tampered with an account and made the money disappear. She was later found dead in Tokyo."

Sano discarded the ice pack on the coffee table and placed his hand above her knee, as if just needing that physical connection. "Nothing new was found after that and I thought that was the end of it. Kenshin, as you know, works at the Bureau and he called me a few days ago with an update. He and Saito had been working a previous case that also went cold but recently they have reason to believe that it wasn't over yet. Then yesterday—you already know about the fraud accusations against my father and S.I." He paused.

Megumi wanted to weep at the pain in his eyes. She squeezed his hand and did not speak.

"My first thought was of you." He looked down at their intertwined fingers, his ring sparkling on her finger. "We found out barely an hour before the information went public. I had to protect you and I did it in the best way I knew."

Because he loved her enough to let her go. Megumi's eyes welled.

Sano touched her cheek where a lone tear had marked its watery track.

"But I didn't count on you being so stubborn. I should have known you wouldn't have taken that sitting down." He smiled and it was a real one which touched his eyes. Megumi laughed and hugged him.

"What happens now?" She asked.

"When you arrived, Saito was explaining to me that the Bureau has reason to believe that the evidence found against my father is questionable and that they suspect it's an elaborate scam—not that I ever doubted my father—"

"But it's good to know that the Bureau doesn't believe he's guilty."

"Exactly. Now they want our help to bring down the real criminals."

"So at the moment, the world needs to keep believing that the Sagaras are guilty." Sano nodded. After a beat Megumi added, "and that we're no longer together."

"I'm sorry."

Megumi shook her head. "Enough with the apologies. From here on out we'll face this together."

Then because her emotions had been put through the wringer, because she was angry and relieved at the same time, and because she was madly in love with him, Megumi kissed Sano.

The ice pack fell off the table and hit the floor with a wet splat as her fiancé stood and wrapped his arms around her waist, imprisoning her against his solid form. Megumi wound her arms around Sano's shoulders, fingers finding purchase in his soft unruly hair. They kissed with need and want, the short separation a keenly felt ache that only mutual love and reassurance could assuage.

~o~

After he called them back in, Sano introduced Special Agent Saito Hajime of the Criminal Investigation Bureau. Megumi found Saito cold and clinical but he seemed to be competent and she could appreciate the work he was doing to get to the bottom of the fraud scandal.

"From here on out Megumi is part of this and for all intents and purposes, the public needs to believe that my fiancée and I are broken up." Sano's eyes were soft as he looked at Megumi, his expression belying his words. That was the first time Megumi could recall Sano referring to her as "my fiancée" and it felt good. "This will hopefully keep the Takanis from being targeted by whoever is pulling the strings."

"She'll need to remove her ring." Saito pointed out.

Megumi clutched her hand to her chest, reluctant to remove the symbol of Sano's love for her despite knowing that the cold stranger was right.

"He's right, Kitsune." Sano paused. Wait a sec." He left the room and came back a minute later. In his hand was a fine gold chain threaded through a beautifully intricate antique pendant in the shape of a key with small diamonds around its filigree bow. He slid the engagement ring from Megumi's finger and kissed the spot where it had rested against her skin. He strung it onto the necklace and fastened the chain around Megumi's neck. The chain was long enough that it hid the ring and the key beneath her blouse.

Megumi smiled and brushed her thumb across Sano's cheek in thanks.

Saito cleared his throat loudly. "If you two lovebirds are done?"

Sano's and Megumi's gazes snapped away from each other, matching blushes coloring their cheeks.

"Sorry." Megumi said in embarrassment and Sano rubbed the back of his neck with a sheepish laugh. Though he didn't, Megumi could almost see the eye roll from Saito while Kenshin merely chuckled.

From the corner of her eye, Megumi saw Sano nod at Kenshin which the other man acknowledged with a grin. Sano squeezed Megumi's hand and turned his attention back to Saito.

The Special Agent continued. "To continue what I was explaining to Sagara, I do believe that this is a takedown on Sagara Industries and not just a random hit. The fact that whoever's behind this is making it a point to tarnish and maybe even ruin the Sagara name makes this an orchestrated attack with what could be a personal motive behind it."

Saito spread out the documents on the coffee table. "Let's go over what we know right now." He pointed to the first pile of document which looked like reports to Megumi on Sagara Industries letterhead. "These are copies of the ledgers which first tipped of accounting that something wasn't adding up." He placed his finger on the document in the lineup – a picture of Nakamura. "Nakamura is discovered and three days later is dead in Tokyo." He moved on to the next pile. "These are the documents which allege your father's role in the scandal."

Kenshin spoke up. "As you both now know, the Bureau is aware that the documents are planted and they are more than likely enough to clear Sano's father of any involvement. We are sorry to have to continue like this but for the Bureau to catch the criminals, we need them to believe that we still suspect the Sagaras."

Megumi turned to Sano. "Do your parents know?"

Sano shoot his head. "Not yet."

Saito continued. "What we have isn't much to go by but with these documents and the investigation in Tokyo on Nakamura's death, there is still evidence out there. Evidence that can tie these two incidents together conclusively."

Megumi looked at the trail of documents. "And bring the real criminals to justice."

Sano's voice was subdued. "We just need to find it."

~o~

Kenshin ordered dinner for everyone but Saito declined, stating he had somewhere else to be. Sano thanked him and showed him out.

"Thank you, Kenshin." Megumi told the redhead as she set out the plates.

Kenshin smiled at her. "It was the right thing, Megumi."

"He really wasn't happy about it."

"Perhaps, but he is glad you came back to him."

After supper, Kenshin insisted on doing the chores by himself, giving the couple some time together. The two headed for the living room.

"What happens now?"

"I'll stay here, you go back home, go to school in the morning, and go on as if you're trying to put the broken engagement behind you. Behind it all, we wait."

"How are your parents? I tried calling your house but no one answered. I didn't go, for obvious reasons, but I want to see how they're holding up."

"They're shaken by it as is to be expected. My father's taking it really hard. He's built up S.I. a lot from the time he stepped in before I was born. He doesn't say it but I know he's hurt that these allegations are being believed. None if it is true but in the meantime, we have to bear the stocks plummeting, the board clamoring for an explanation, and of course, the slander and the scandal. I want to tell them but—"

"I think you should." She placed her hand over his. "From first-hand experience I know what it feels like when the person you love tries to protect you by keeping you in the dark. Even if there's nothing they can do about it, Sano, I think they should know."

Sano turned his hand and threaded his fingers through Megumi's. "You're right."

"Where are they now?"

"They're staying outside the city. Father wanted to stay and weather the storm but mother—well, she doesn't do so well under stress. He took her to the country house to wait it out."

Megumi snuggled in against Sano's side as they sat on the couch.

"It's only been a day, but I feel as if it's been much longer."

Sano rubbed his hand comfortingly up and down her back. "I know what you mean." He sat up and looked at her. "Megumi, it wasn't easy breaking off our engagement. I–"

"I know." Megumi interrupted. "I know." She pulled him back toward her. "We'll be alright. You'll see, it'll be alright."

"Kenshin?" Sano called out to his friend. Kenshin walked into the living room, wiping his hands on a dishtowel. He understood the unvoiced request.

"I'll take Megumi home."

"Thanks, man." Sano and Megumi got up from the couch. "I'll see you soon, Kitsune. I don't need to tell you to be careful."

"I will. You too." She stood on tiptoe and kissed his bruise. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. Now I really know you can defend yourself." He joked but the smile quickly left his face. "I'll get you bodyguards—"

"Sano, if anyone is watching, you'll tip them off about us. Let's just trust that the public announcement breaking off the engagement is more than enough."

"I hate this."

"It'll be over soon."

They parted with one last kiss then Megumi was out the door and gone.

~O~O~O~

The following morning, Megumi did her best to return to life as usual. She decided against telling her parents the entire truth about her engagement. She did tell them that she believed in the Sagaras' innocence and they agreed with her and thought it was just so unfortunate. She kept from telling them the whole story. It was better they didn't know the particulars, the less they knew, the less chances of anyone slipping up and accidentally revealing too much. It didn't escape her that she was being rather hypocritical after what she'd told Sano the night before.

Megumi got ready to leave for the University and attempted to get on with her day. It was not easy. Somehow, there seemed to be a pall over everything. The knowledge that someone was out to hurt the Sagaras left a bitter taste in her mouth and a feeling of dread in her stomach.

As she rushed around, Megumi knocked over her purse, spilling the contents onto her bedroom floor. "Drat!" She quickly grabbed the loose articles and stuffed them back into the leather tote. She paused over a picture that she did not recall putting in her purse. It was the CCTV capture of Nakamura, the woman who had worked at Sagara Industries. She must have mixed the picture in with her own papers when Sano had brought it over some two weeks ago.

That feeling that she had seen the woman before came to Megumi again. Puzzled, she shook it off and asked for the car to be ready to leave. As the car drove up to the laboratory building, it came to her.

A woman, leaving a building. Hurried steps. A leather messenger bag held tightly to her chest.

Megumi gasped and hit speed dial on her phone. Sano picked up on the third ring.

She jumped in without preamble. "I saw her at the University, leaving the laboratory building. I heard her speaking with someone before she left the building. The voices were too low to understand what they were talking about but the man's voice—she was talking to a man—sounded agitated. I didn't see who it was."

"Nakamura?"

"Yes. It was a few days before she was found dead in Tokyo."

Megumi recalled that she had been updating logs that morning. She closed her eyes, trying to jog her memory of the day. She backtracked through the days, trying to find a detail that stood out.

"Kitsune?"

"It was a Friday. I wasn't supposed to be on campus but I wanted to finish a report so I stopped by for a few hours."

"I'll let Saito and Kenshin know."

"Do you think there's a connection with the University?"

"I think it's safe to assume that. It's too much of a coincidence not to be connected, though not maybe "with", but rather "at" the University."

Megumi couldn't help a smile at that. "Getting technical?"

"You know how I like it, Takani."

She bit back a giggle. Sano flirting was a good sign that he wasn't too despondent that morning.

"I'm at the lab building now. I can look around—"

"No. You're not poking around there, Kitsune."

"Sano—"

"Promise me you'll just be doing your schoolwork, Kitsune, nothing more."He delivered an ultimatum."Don't force me to break cover."

Megumi knew he would, too. "Okay, I won't be 'poking around'—but I will keep my eyes and ears open."

"Then straight home after."

She rolled her eyes. "Okay, dad."

She bit her lip in unexpected delight when Sano responded with, "One day. Now behave and I'll see you soon. I love you."

Megumi glanced around to make sure no else was present before whispering. "I love you too."

~o~

"Megumi-san! Megumi-san!" The twins descended on Megumi before she could enter the lab.

"We're so sorry to hear about you and Sagara-san!" They dabbed at their eyes.

"You were so beautiful together."

"You would have made lovely babies."

"It'll all work out in the end, Megumi-san, you'll see."

"You'll find true love yet."

"Tae-san, Sae-san. Thank you for your kind words but I need to get to work now." She stepped deftly around them and fled to her lab station.

~o~

Taking advantage of a few minutes of free time between running tests, Megumi stepped out of the lab to take in some fresh air. She groaned when she saw the last person she wanted to run into standing just outside the building. It was too late to turn back—he had seen her already.

"Hello, Miss Takani. I trust that all is well?"

"Mr. Yamada." Megumi greeted, reluctant to participate in small talk.

"Come now, Miss Takani, let's be friends. Our differences in opinion over my project need not tarnish our professional relationship."

"You're right, Mr. Yamada, it shouldn't. However, when your project is potentially dangerous and life-threatening, I beg to disagree."

"So feisty, Miss Takani. I can't help but admire your spirit. Your fiancé likes it though I would assume?"

Megumi couldn't care less what Yamada thought but for some reason she wanted to emphasize to him that the engagement was over.

"Sanosuke and I are no longer together." She bit out, the lie bitter on her tongue.

The light glinted off Yamada's glasses.

"Ah, my apologies, Miss Takani. It must be very difficult—but then, Sagara had always been, for lack of a better word, a jerk."

Megumi's brow furrowed. "You know Sano?"

"Oh no!" Yamada replied. "I thought—that is, I've read about him. Someone who has ascended so fast in his father's company must have cut some corners, oiled some palms, if you catch my drift."

"I have work to do, Mr. Yamada. If you'll excuse me." Megumi said evenly. She hurried off without looking back. He was lying. How did Yamada know Sanosuke from before?

Greetings, dear readers! Yey! I made it and was able to update exactly one month from the previous chapter (6/15).

I've been asked if this story will be completed. Let me assure you that yes, it will be. I already have it plotted out and I know how it ends – it's the ironing out the small details, creating dialogue to move the story along, and closing any holes in the plot which takes time. I do promise to finish ARB. We're way more than halfway through and only have a few chapters left. Hang in there and we'll see this through!

I love reading your reviews and PMs so please do keep them coming! It helps me get back to writing so if you like this story, it's a win-win! :)