Part II -- Hit Me With a Rock

    It seemed an eternity before anyone could speak, but it was hardly any time before Hiko looked around at the small group.  "What are you all sitting around looking like fish for?"  He didn't sound too happy.  "As magnificent as I am, it's my baka deshi who ends up with the love of a woman like that...  And that of another girl."  Kaoru was still too flabbergasted to take offense, but she still filed the remark away for future reference.
    "You want...  KENSHIN to teach you about romance?"  Sano recovered enough to start snickering.  "You've GOTTA be kidding!"
    "As humbling as it is, yes.  That is why I came.  I am amazed to discover the hold that he has over women's hearts, but it is only fair that the student teach the teacher, once in a while.  Though he took my lessons poorly, he's not dead yet.  That must mean something.  And yet I find myself here, asking for advice."  He stood up abruptly, looking annoyed.  "You're right.  I have no reason to be here."  So saying, he turned for the door, his satchel of sake and a few belongings on his back.  "Sayounara."
    "Oiy!  I could tell you a few things!"  Sano called out.
    Yahiko took this as his cue to laugh; Kaoru still looked somewhere between shell-shocked and irate.  "Oh, please!  NOW who's kidding, ya big jerk?  You can't even tell Megummmm!!!!  Memmurm mmmimmguhhh mmmummmigmmmerrrrmmm!!!!!!"  He was cut off by Sano's hand clamped firmly over his mouth, though that didn't stop him from trying.
    "Maa, maa, can't you two control yourselves?" Kenshin said in something resembling a loss of patience to the two younger men before studying his old mentor, who had stopped and was looking over his shoulder.  "Oroo..."  He still seemed to be rather floored by this latest turn of events.  " I don't know.....  I mean... There...  isn't much...  I just...."
    "What Kenshin is trying to say so glibly is that he'd be honored to be of assistance," Sanosuke grinned.  "So how about passing some of that sake around?"
    "Is that ALL you ever think about?" Kaoru turned on him, having recovered from her shock.
    "Nah.  Hey, I'm hungry.  Did the Kitsune say she'd be bringin' over some food?"
    He didn't duck in time.
    Megumi, meantime, was in just as much shock as Kaoru had been.  People stayed out of her path as she made her way back to the clinic, so dark was her expression.  How DARE this arrogant stranger presume to be worthy of her!  There was only one man she loved, and he was everything that egotistical pig was obviously not.  THAT one was a heavier drinker than Sano, no doubt with a bigger appetite for trouble and instant self gratification, and he was so OLD!  He had to be nearly twenty years older than she; old enough to be her father.  It was a thoroughly revolting notion.  So what if he had been Kenshin's teacher; apparently the art of the sword was all he had managed to impart.
    And thank the Kami for that; no doubt Hiko himself would have left her to her fate all those years ago...  Wouldn't he?
    He didn't seem to be EVIL, exactly, but he certainly would not have kept her on his list of friends, not any of the others that Kensan had helped...  Of course, the slight redhead hadn't exactly chosen to stay out of sheer generosity.  If she recalled correctly, he'd been coerced to stick around, been made to feel responsible for the welfare of Kaoru, Yahiko, Sanosuke, and herself and not entirely by the dictates of his own conscience.  But he had brought her to Kaoru's home and into their lives, and come to save her out of his own free will when she'd left them behind...  Her heart weighed heavy indeed as she entered the clinic.
    "Oiy, Megumisan, why the long face?  I thought you were going to visit the dojo for the afternoon."  Genzaisensei greeted his young colleague with a concerned look.
    "I was.  As you know, Kensan's former shishou has come for a visit."  The old doctor nodded as she paused.  She took a deep breath.  "I met him in the street - more accurately, he hailed me for directions.  I guided him.  By the time we reached the dojo, he announced his intentions to everyone.  He came to seek a bride, and found one."
    "Hmm?"  Her tone worried him.  She hardly EVER got that cold, clipped mannerism unless she was VERY upset about something.  "You can't mean..."
    "He informed us all that he intended to marry me.  And as an afterthought, asked my name."
    This time, the old doctor was as speechless as Megumi.  He turned away from her, to hide the amusement that her obvious indignation was sparking.  "Megumisan...  Is it so bad to be so desirable?"
    She whirled on him.  "Have you even MET the man!?"  Her outrage was almost comical.  "That arrogant, self-centered, sake swilling, muscle-bound..."
    Genzaisensei could practically see the steam coming out of her ears as she began to run out of adjectives.  "Reminds you of Sano, doesn't he?"  He could no longer hide his own merriment.
    She growled her frustration and stormed her way inside.
    "What's with Megumineesan?"   Suzume looked at her grandfather as she followed her sister inside.
    The old doctor shook her head.  "I think she's a little upset with men right now...  And I think she's happier alone for a little while."  He smiled indulgently.  "I'm sure she'll be fine."
    Ayame nodded.  "If you say so, Grandpa."  Smiling at him, she reached for his hand as her younger sister took the other.  "Can we go play now?"
    Laughing again, the old man nodded at the two little girls as they led him back into the yard.