Megumi

The station was rather less crowded than Megumi had expected. She had only brought a single large suitcase with her and regretted it. It would have been better to travel light. She began to pace back and forth, adjusting her wide-brimmed hat and tightening the fur coat around herself to keep the cold out. She looked at the pocket-watch in her handbag. He's still not here? It's been ten minutes since the agreed time.

Megumi took a deep breath to calm herself and got out the two tickets to reassure herself. He'll show up. I shouldn't worry about it. He seemed like the type of person who would be haphazard, didn't he? I mean, look at that hair. Not that I disliked it but… She snorted and shook her head, remembering.

"Yo! Lady!" the call cut through her thoughts. Oh good. The boy actually showed up, thought Megumi, as a tall young man with a small pack on his back and spiky hair waved at her through the crowd and ran over, breathing heavily. "My uh, landlady was harassing me. Sorry I'm late. The deal's not off, right?"

"No." she said. "It's not. As long as you had arrived before the train left. But you came. I didn't think you would." Play it cool.

"Oh really?" He raised an eyebrow and grinned a little, his hands in his pockets. "You must have a ton of money to blow then, because I can see two tickets in your hand." Shit. He noticed. Just shut up already, smartass. Such an easygoing attitude annoys me.

"In fact I do have a lot of money to blow. I am a rich woman with a lot of skills and don't you forget it." She handed him his ticket. "Remember the deal, Rooster-head."

"Rooster-head?" he looked at her reproachfully, then burst out laughing. "I'd get offended, but when a pretty lady gives you a nickname, things are getting serious." He avoided a kick from her stiletto-clad foot. "You know I have a name, right? Sagara Sanosuke. It's a good name – and don't nobody forget it." Megumi said nothing. Sanosuke spoke again. "So what's the 'little favor', Fox-lady? Something illegal?" he asked. Tell him later when he won't have a chance to get out of it.

"Fox-lady?" she asked incredulously, quickly changing the subject and looking at him with a raised eyebrow. "Is that because foxes steal roosters from their chicken-houses and rip them to pieces in the forest?" her tone was bored, just slightly playful. "Are you expecting me to lure you somewhere far away and dispose of your dead body?" She sat on her large suitcase, crossing her legs at the knee.

"Well, someone's feeling morbid today. Hopefully not." He grinned, leaning down to look at her. "Nope. I'm calling you Fox-lady…" He winked. "Because you're one hell of a vixen."

Megumi didn't know how to respond to that one. She began to smoke, black-gloved fingers tapping on the edge of her suitcase, refusing to meet his eyes. "The train." She said stiffly. "It leaves at eleven." Am I being flustered by a boy like this? Get your head in the game, Megumi.

"Huh?" Sanosuke scratched his head. "Why'd you call me here so early then?"

"Because I figured you'd be late for the train if I had said any earlier time. I gave you ample time to get here, so you should be thanking me. And… Shouldn't we both have some time to get to know each other?" Megumi raised an eyebrow. "We'll be travelling together after all." I want to see if you're up for this. Beyond first impressions, I want to see who you are, Rooster-head.

He shrugged as if to say 'suit yourself'. "Uh… Well… Name's Sagara Sanosuke like I already said. Age twenty-three, single – on the market. Hint, hint." He winked at her again and Megumi rolled her eyes. "I like food, drink, gambling, but only a little, and fighting. Jack-of-all-trades but I don't keep jobs for long, can't imagine why, so I'm pretty much a part-timer." He shrugged again. "That's uh… It, really."

"Not that hard, was it?" she said a little patronizingly. "Now… I'm Take-" she stopped. No. Not any more – if this goes through at least. "Takani Megumi. Age twenty-seven. I like reading, driving and red wine. I'm…" she stopped again. Then a slow smile spread across her red-painted lips. "I'm a doctor." I am a doctor.