Part I -- Megumi's Proposition

    Everyone always thought Megumi had some kind of bad boy complex over Sanosuke.  Not, of course, that anyone ever said so directly to her face, but there were times, all too often, when the whole world seemed bent on making couples.  Kenshin and Kaoru seemed to be a general favorite, as did Megumi and Sanosuke, and even Yahiko and Tsubame weren't left out of the running.
    Megumi didn't know how the others felt about that, but she was something beyond sick of it.
    Oh, sure, maybe Sanosuke was fairly easy on the eyes and fun to tease, and he was great to have around in a tight spot, but did they really connect?  His idea of conversation involved picking a fight, more often than not.  She preferred to discuss more intellectual topics.  She liked her job, he couldn't hold one down with an anchor.
    The chemistry was there, but what would happen when it faded?
    And of course there was the tiny little matter of Kenshin -- more specifically, the fact that Megumi was just a tiny bit in love with him.  It did make things awkward for Sano.
    Well, there were other fish in the sea, weren't there?  No doubt Sano would eventually find a nice, stable girl who could cook and would not occasionally want to discuss the anatomy of digestion over lunch.  Maybe Tae would be good for him; she and Sano had an interesting relationship as it was, and of course there was the restaurant.  Megumi could picture Sanosuke asking Sekihara Tae on a date and taking her to her own restaurant in the hopes of free food!
    Both Kenshin and Kaoru had always seemed to think that there was something other than hormones between them.  Who could say?  But either way, that put any chances Megumi might have had with Kenshin out of the picture.
    And Yahiko was just way too young for her no matter how you looked at it, even if there had been a chance of compatibility.
    So where did that leave her?
    Megumi sighed to herself as she sat in the dojo, folding laundry.  Not even sure how she's gotten shanghaied into the task, she'd allowed her mind to wander freely over this problem.  Come to think of it, there had been that oddly interesting blond fellow.  He had a bigger ego than Sano, a bigger mouth than Yahiko, and a bigger collection of swords than anyone she'd ever met.  In fact, he had more swords than any three people she'd ever met!  What had his name been again?
    She looked around the dojo, trying to remember.  It hit her as her gaze fell on the broom in the corner.  Cho.  That was it.  Sano called him a broomhead due to his unique hairstyle.  He'd been one of the most peculiar of the Juppon Gatana -- they were all strange but he was definitely out there.  Shishio's infamous Ten Swords, most of them were now scattered throughout the government, working for what they'd once fought to overthrow.
    Last she'd heard, Sawagejo Cho was working for Saitou on the Kyoto police force, operating as a private investigator "until something more interesting came along."  The idea of him working for the police in itself was interesting, considering his previous employer.  Megumi herself didn't know much about him aside from his reputation and Sanosuke's commentary.  And after all, the chicken and the broomhead had done time in prison together under the thumb of Saitou Hajime.  She did remember that aside from his ego and his bizarre fetish for swords, he wasn't nearly as dumb -- or as insensitive -- as he looked.  And that, she knew, was a good thing.
    Megumi decided it was time for an excursion to Kyoto.  They could visit Misao, Aoshi, and the rest of the Oniwa Banshu, and she could just happen to stop by the police station.  She could even use the chickenhead as an excuse.  Hadn't he been engaged in some sort of rivalry with both Cho and Saitou?
    She finished putting away the spare clothes she kept here at the dojo in case of emergencies and went outside.  The tableau that greeted her was utterly predictable: Kenshin did the laundry, Yahiko and Kaoru practiced, Sanosuke leaned against a wall on the porch, chewing on a fish bone.
    How disgusting.
    "I think it'd time we paid Misaochan and the others a visit," Megumi's voice interrupted the semi quiet routine without warning.
    "That's a wonderful idea!  Misaochan and the others came here last time, so it must be our turn!"  Kaoru beamed, dropping her practice like a large and hostile worm.
    "Hai, Megumidono, it would be nice to visit with them again.  But this time," Kenshin turned to Sanosuke, "You're staying with us instead of chasing off after lunch!"
    Even the ex gangster had to laugh along with Yahiko, if only a little.
    Megumi remembered hearing that story.  While she had been out shopping under protest, dragged along by Kaoru and the women of the Oniwa Banshu, Sano and Yahiko had been out on an adventure supposedly of their own while Kenshin had stayed behind to spend the day with Aoshi.  It had been a learning experience for all of them.
    Sano looked for a way out before realizing he had time to come up with something.  After all, they must send word to Kyoto first, plus there was time for packing and making arrangements to secure the dojo.  He felt confident in his ability to come up with a plan by then.
    "I wonder if we'll meet Saitou's wife?" Kaoru pondered.
    "I still can't believe he HAS a wife!"  Yahiko laughed at the image they all had of this woman who must surely be a goddess.  "Not Saitou!  He's such a --"
    "Yahiko, stop.  There's no need to deprecate the man.  After all, he is a policeman, now, and no matter what, he is still as human as you or I."  Megumi went back inside to write a letter to Misao.
    "Oro?"  Kenshin wasn't the only one watching after her with consternation.
    "Suddenly, now she likes Saitou?  Maybe we should ask Genzaisensei to check on her mental health!"  Yahiko blinked an instant before Kaoru's bokken connected with his skull.  He was beginning to think she did it primarily because she liked hitting him, rather than to teach him anything.
    "Just because Megumisan's completely lost her mind does not mean you have the right to mock her for it," the young woman said primly.
    "And you do, jouchan?"  Sano didn't expect the bokken crashing down on his own head, though he should have.  He was beginning to agree with Yahiko on that point at least.
    "Sano, since when did you ever take Megumisan's side?"
    "I knew it!  You like her!"  Yahiko cheered.  A moment later, he growled into Sanosuke's foot, which somehow had been planted in his face.  "And why're you taking Saitou's side for that matter?"
    Sanosuke retrieved his foot and shrugged nonchalantly, as though chewing his fish bone was the most important thing in his world.  "I just don't think it's nice to tease someone who's completely lost her mind."
    Megumi, who had just come back out with a tray of sweet potatoes she'd had cooking, did not take his comment well.  "So you think I've lost my mind, hmm?"  She grabbed Sano's ear with a free hand and yanked.  "Simply because I defend someone who is not here to defend himself?"
    "Maa, maa, Megumidono, I don't think -- Oro?"
    The second Kenshin had started speaking, Megumi had let go of Sano's ear and attached herself to him rather affectionately, and Kaoru took it as well as she always did.
    "Kenshin no baka!"  *Thwack!*
    "Orooo?"
    "Kenshin?"
    "Oiy, jouchan..."
    "Such a violent woman."
    Days passed and still Sano had no idea on how he could get out of this trip.  He was getting desperate.  Faking an illness or injury was out of the question, since Megumi would probably decide that no matter what, it was fatal and the only cure to be had was a trip to Kyoto.  Plus, in the case of an injury, they all knew him well enough to know that he wouldn't admit pain if he were beaten within an inch of his life.  No, even to fake so much as a stubbed toe would cost -- Megumi would never let him get away with it, and none of them would ever let him live it down!
    Previous plans, perhaps?  A job?  But no, they knew him just as well now as they did a moment before.  If he told them he didn't want to go, they'd probably tease him into it, but then again, just maybe...
    "Sano?  Aren't you packing?"  Yahiko's voice cut into the tall man's thoughts.
    He looked up in surprise.  "Why  I ain't going."  He resumed doing what he'd been doing before -- which is to say, absolutely nothing.
    "What do you mean you're not going?"  Kaoru looked at him as she stopped too, as if the possibility of anyone not going was somewhere beyond absolutely unthinkable.
    "I mean, I ain't going.   I don't feel like it."
    Kenshin, knowing exactly what it was that Sano didn't feel like doing, sympathized but was also smart enough not to say so in so many words -- not when the women were present, anyway.  Instead, he simply asked, "Don't you want to show Saitou how much you've improved?"  It was a bit of a low blow, the rurouni knew, but sometimes that seemed the best way to get through to Sanosuke.
    "Another time," was the lazy reply.  Inside, however, Sano was getting nervous.  This didn't seem to be working as well as he'd hoped...
    Megumi seized her moment.  "I wonder," she commented idly, "Do you suppose that sword collector is there?  Cho?  He seemed very interesting."
    Four thuds echoed as four friends hit the floor in shock.
    "Megumisan!?"
    "Orororooo..?"
    "THAT nut case!?"
    "That BROOMHEAD!?!?!?"  Sanosuke came back to life with a vengeance.  "I can't wait to kick HIS ass!"  He made a beeline for the door.
    "Baka!  Aren't you forgetting something?"  Megumi held up his shoes with distaste and a smirk.
    Sano glowered at her as he grabbed the shoes.  He would never admit his agreement -- they did rather have a certain air to them.  She went back inside as he put them on.
    Cho.  Did she really actually want to see Cho?  The broomheaded, sword licking freak?  A complete waste of life as far as Sano was concerned, and now Megumi actually wanted to see the jerk?  The guy was all talk, ego, and attitude!  What on earth could Megumi possibly want to see him for!?
    "You don't think she's serious, do you, Kenshin?"  Kaoru looked desperate for an anchor in the storm.
    "I don't know.  Megumidono has seemed a little out of sorts lately..."
    "Kenshin, you think she's flipped completely, don't you!"  Yahiko's eyes were as big as his mouth.
    "That's not it.  Not her mind.  I think Megumidono is fed up."  Kenshin's eyes were full of concern now, all traces of surprise gone.
    "What do you mean?"
    "I think she feels left out.  Is that what you mean, Kenshin?"  Kaoru didn't wait before continuing.  "I think, with me and Kenshin involved, and you and Tsubamechan, and Sano flirting with everyone -- especially Taesan -- I think he's lonely for someone of her own."
    "I do NOT flirt with Taesan!  I'm only trying to discuss my tab!"  Sano looked insulted, and was about to continue his denials when a new idea came.  "Do you think that's what it is?  That woman's going after that broomhead cause she's lonely?"  Sagara Sanosuke was amazed at the idea.
    "Why don't you take her out, eh, Sano?  You're always saying how she's such a fox!"  Yahiko sniggered until he found himself looking very closely at the sole of Sanosuke's shoe.
    "That's not funny, kid."
    "But it's not a bad idea, is it?" Kaoru mused, interrupting the others before they could start brawling.  "Sano, maybe you should take Megumisan out for an evening."
    "Kaorudono, Yahiko, and I will be happy to lend you something if you need.  Megumidono deserves to have a nice time."
    Sanosuke looked at Kenshin's optimistic smile with a grunt.  "Well, and what would I do with her?"
    Kaoru clapped a hand over Yahiko's mouth.  "Well, since we leave for Kyoto tomorrow, let's worry about that now, and we can plan Sano's date later."
    Yahiko made a face over Kaoru's hand and ducked out of her grasp.  He did, however, keep his mouth shut, which was good since that was the moment Megumi reemerged.
    "I'll be staying at the clinic tonight, to finish packing.  What time shall I meet you?"  She hoisted her small overnight bag over her shoulder.  "Oh, I'll be doing some laundry this evening, too.  I'll save myself the trouble of doing it when we get back."
    "That sounds like a good idea, Megumidono.  I think I'll do that too."  Kenshin smiled brightly.  "Why don't we meet you on the way?  We'll pick you up at the clinic since we pass there on the way to the train anyway."
    Sanosuke blanched at his friend's casual mention of the T-word, but no one else seemed to disagree.  "That sounds good to me, then.  I'll see you all tomorrow morning!"  Megumi stepped off the porch, and Kaoru followed.
    "I'll walk you to the corner."
    "Thank you, Kaoruchan," the doctor smiled at the younger woman.
    "It's nothing!"  The two women took turns making polite statements until they were out of the gate, laughing merrily.
    "Amazing how well they get along, sometimes," Yahiko snorted.  "Not like when they first met."
    "Ke-Ke-KENSAN!?" Sano piped in a giddy falsetto.  "Yeah, that was something all right.  I guess," he added more soberly, "she's not as evil as I thought she was."
    "Pretty ironic, coming from a guy who has it written on his back, huh."
    "Shut up, brat."
    "Who're you calling a brat?  Jerk!"
    "Who's a jerk?"
    "Yare, yare," Kenshin sighed.  "Last call for laundry."
    "Oiy, Kenshin, could you wash this for me?"
    "Could you do mine too, Kenshin?"
    Sano and Yahiko had spoken almost in unison as they appeared suddenly with great armloads of dirty laundry.
    "Oro?"  Kenshin blinked.  "I didn't know you two owned this many clothes!"
    Just another day at the Kamiya Dojo.
    Fortunately, thought Kenshin, tomorrow would bring some change, at least.