Part II -- Megumi's Wait

    The trip itself was so uneventful as to be almost boring -- with the sole exception of Sano's mild phobia, in fact, it WAS boring.  Megumi herself was a little nervous about the trains, primarily due to the former Sekihou Tai member's own hysteria, but Sano's condition gave her something to preoccupy herself with during the trip.  She teased him as mercilessly as ever, pretending she had not heard the discussion the day before about getting them out on a date.  The others were kept well entertained with the doctor's ruthlessly accurate digs at the tall young man.
    "Oh, so the big strong Sekihou Tai member can hold his own in a fight against anyone, but only if they're not holding a camera, ne?  Do you think a train takes a piece of your soul, too?  Come out of there, tori-atama.  You look ridiculous hiding under the bench."  Megumi's comments were interspersed with laughter from the others and protests from her victim.
    "Maa, maa, Megumidono, lay off a little.  Can't you see he's already terrified without you giving him more ideas?"  Kenshin smiled as Yahiko and Kaoru snickered.
    Sanosuke growled.  "I'll get you for that!"  He reached for Kenshin, beginning to stand just as the train turned, throwing him back into his seat.  "Just as soon as we're off this thing."
    The others all laughed even as he glared at them.
    When at last they arrived in Kyoto, they stepped off the train to find Misao waiting for them with Omasu.
    "Over here!  Kaorusan!  Himura!"  The young woman jumped up and down waving furiously to make sure she was seen.
    "Well, she ain't lost any energy," Sano grumbled.  He liked the so-called weasel girl, though her boundless energy rather intimidated him at times; the shape he was in at the moment did him no good either.
    "Misaochan!  I'm so excited!"  The leader of the Kamiya Dojo embraced the okashira of the Oniwa Banshu.  "It feels like it's been too long!  How's Jiya?  And the others?"
    "Jiya's...  Jiya," Misao grinned, "and everyone is fine!  Aoshisama's saying more than a sentence a day now!  Not much more, but that's all right."  The young woman's eyes sparkled.  "Himura!"  Having disengaged from Kaoru, Misao now flung herself at the rurouni.
    "Oro?"
    "It's good to see you again too!  Hey, is that a new ghi?"  Misao pulled back to study it.  "It is!  But, Himura, why don't you ever get something other than pink?"
    "It's not pink, it's fuschia."  The redhead ducked his head, hiding reddened cheeks behind red hair.
    In the meantime, Omasu was hugging Kaoru, though not as effusively as Misao had, and then shook hands with Kenshin while Yahiko, Megumi, and Sanosuke hung back from the exuberant displays.
    Makimachi Misao, normally not so easily dissuaded from anything, merely bowed to them and welcomed them demurely.
    Six months ago, when she had last visited the dojo, she had not been quite so refined.  Megumi noted how much more serene the girl with the long braid had become, how much more refined and mature.  The doctor suspected Aoshi's influence; the man was not her favorite person, but even he had his good points.  Perhaps they would balance one another.  Misao would bring Aoshi out of his shell even as he calmed her down.
    Megumi's thoughts wandered briefly to a certain tall, lean man with a strange haircut and a penchant for violence.
    "Come to the Aoiya!  Jiya's absolutely dying to see you all!  He's already prepared a party," Misao added almost apologetically.
    "We're all glad you came.  When we received your letter, I think Aoshisama may even have smiled!"  Omasu giggled as she mockingly confided in Kaoru, who widened her eyes appropriately.
    "Wow, Misaochan, that's got to be your influence," the woman with a bokken teased.
    "Must be," the other replied jauntily as she puffed out her chest and led the way to the restaurant.  The others followed, still laughing.
    While Misao and Kaoru giggled and talked, Omasu made her way to Megumi's side.  "In your letter you asked if any of the police personnel had changed.  If I may ask, why is it so important?  Are you expecting trouble?"
    The doctor smiled.  "Oh, no, not at all!  Not that sort of trouble.  No, I asked for a different reason entirely."  She looked slyly at the other woman.  "Well, the fact of the matter is, Sano has a couple of friends in the department, such as they are, and I thought it might be nice if I arranged a little surprise for him to see them again."
    "A surprise, huh?"  Omasu looked thoughtful before returning the sly gaze.  "Oh, so you and he have finally hooked up, hmm?"
    Megumi's indignant reply fell along the lines of, "As if!"
    Omasu raised an eyebrow but said nothing more about it.  "So who are these friends of his we should ask after?"
    "One of them is probably in a higher position, in his forties perhaps.  He's tall, very thin, and smokes like a chimney in winter.  He's called Fujita Goro.  The other is the former Juppon Gatana, with the broom hair.  I can't remember -- I think his name was Cho?"
    "Yes, they're both still around.  I thought Sano hated them," Omasu looked confused.
    "He has an odd way of showing affection.  Last month, he came to me after banging his thumb with a hammer.  It was barely even bruised.  He said he was helping a friend build something and his hand slipped, but Kaoru told me she'd seen him "helping his friend' and the only thing being built was Sano's gambling debt!  Her conclusion was he did it on purpose."  Megumi rolled her eyes as Omasu giggled.
    "Oh, Megumisan, that's so cute!  Why don't you just cut him a little slack?  He's obviously sweet on you," she smiled knowingly.
    "Why should I?  When he decides to approach me as a woman and not as a doctor, I'll consider it.  In the meantime, I am well aware that there are men in the world who are not nearly so chickenheaded,  Ne, even a broom isn't so tactless!"  Megumi's voice rang out clearly on the last sentence.  Kenshin watched his friend's eyes narrow in pained anger.  This was not good, he thought.
    Omasu was having similar thoughts, though she could not see Sanosuke's face.  "Maa, maa, Megumisan, I'm sure he's doing the best he knows how."
    "That's precisely the problem," Megumi said haughtily.
    "Megumisan!"  Trying to look chastising, Omasu spoiled the effect with a giggle.  "You should be ashamed of yourself!  And I shouldn't be laughing."
    "Jiya!  We're back!" Misao shouted out just then as the refurbished Aoiya came into view.  The Oniwa Banshu had redone it beautifully since their last visit.  Not long before that, it had been demolished during the fight with several of the Juppon Gatana.  Cho had been doing time, and the others had been back at Shishio's labyrinthine palace hideout.
    Though together they'd done some patchwork on it, there had been vast improvements made and much work done on the building.  It was a little classier in appearance, a fact which did not escape Sanosuke's notice.
    "Oiy.  I'm sure glad I don't have a tab in this place."
    Yahiko snickered even as he nodded agreement.
    "Don't worry, I'm sure Misaochan will be happy to make one up special just for you," Megumi smirked.
    Sano was spared from replying by the emergence of Kishiwazaki Nenji, better known as Okina or Jiya, of the Oniwa Banshu.  The old man ran out and grabbed Kenshin's shoulders, pulling him into an enthusiastic embrace.
    "Himurakun!  I'm so glad you made it!  And Kaoruchan!"  Releasing the redhead, he ran over and seized Kaoru even more exuberantly.  "Come in, come in, you must all be famished!  Can I take your things, Takanisensei?  Please, allow me to assist you," the white-haired man said with a swooping bow.  Kaoru choked and began to struggle for air.  He let her go with reluctance and picked up Megumi's small travel bag.  Omasu tried not to glower at him too hard as old Okina bounded back with the bags into the restaurant.
    "Some things never change," Kenshin smiled.
    "And that's supposed to be a good thing?"
    "Sano..."
    "Oiy.  The old man is right about one thing.  I'm starved!  When do we eat?"
    "When do you not," Megumi commented as she followed Jiya's path.
    "She's got you there!"  Yahiko crowed as he sauntered inside.
    "Come on, Sano, or there won't be anything left."
    That shut the tall ex-gangster up and he tried not to rush inside too quickly.  The others followed.
    "I'm so glad we're finally here," Kaoru sighed as she sank down in front of a well laden table.
    "Me too," Sano mumbled around a mouthful.
    "We can talk after you eat," Jiya said.  He was more than a little impressed by the rate at which his guests were cleaning their plates.  "Haven't you eaten since you wrote us?"
    "It's been over an hour," Sanosuke complained mid shovel.
    "Don't talk with your mouth full you big jerk.  It's gross!"  Yahiko's hypocritical comment brought laughter in its wake, as half of what he'd been chewing attempted to escape.
    "Don't be such a greedy pig," Megumi glared at the two younger men.  Naturally, her normally graceful table manners were even more pronounced, and it was obvious she enjoyed seeing them squirming uncomfortably, especially the older of the two.
    Kenshin blinked as Sano leaned over him to leer in Megumi's face.  "And what makes you so much better, Kitsune?"
    It was clearly time to intervene, before things got ugly, but Yahiko beat Kenshin to the punch (as it were.)
    "Come on, admit it, you two, how you like each other.  Now why not kiss and make up already?"  Barely had he finished speaking when Kaoru's student found himself with a faceful of fist -- one from Sano, and one sharp slap from Megumi.
    "Shut up," they snapped in unison.
    "So, now that you're here, how about a tour of Kyoto tomorrow?"  Nenji smiled into the awkward silence, pretending nothing had happened.  "It seems to me you all still owe me."
    "Why, yes, I believe we do," Kaoru smiled gratefully.
    "That's a great idea, Jiya!"  Misao pounced eagerly on the new conversational thread.  "There  are some wonderful places to shop and new shows -- I think the circus is in town, too!"
    "Oiy, Somenosuke, don't we have something better to do tomorrow?" Sano asked, glowering at his now empty plate.
    Kenshin cringed.  "I wish you would forget about that."
    "Why, Kenshin, you were amazing!"  Yahiko jumped up, mimicking the moves as he called them out with shining eyes.  "Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, Big Ball Bash!  Umbrella Smash!"
    Kenshin grew redder.  "That's enough, Yahiko," Kaoru chided even as her eyes sparkled.  "Although I can't argue with him on that, Himura Somenosuke.  You were amazing.  And the sight of you balancing on that ball, with the umbrella, and the other ball on that..."  The sensei of Kamiya Kasshin Ryu dissolved into helpless giggles.
    Even Aoshi looked perplexed as the Oniwa Banshu all exchanged bewildered glances.
    "Megumisan, what are they talking about?" Omasu pleaded, turning desperate eyes on the young doctor.
    "Just something that happened once," Megumi said airily.  She leaned over towards the other woman, dropping her voice to a conspiratorial tone.  "Not long after I met them all, Yahiko got us involved with a circus.  It seems he had a little crush on the star act.  Anyway, we ran into some problems, and Kaoru took over as ringmaster while Sano and poor Kensan had to act like clowns.  Admittedly, it comes naturally to Sano, but for Kensan...  Anyway, some thugs tried to shut the circus down but Kensan saved the day with his usual finesse."
    "That sounds like fun!" Omasu exclaimed.
    "I wish I could have been there," Misao sighed.
    "You know, some of us have never seen Himurasan in action," Shirojo said.
    Aoshi raised an eyebrow.
    "Well, it was certainly exciting, but Kensan is sure that his calling is elsewhere.  As is Sano, but I'm not as sure I agree with him, Megumi commented, toying with her hair.
    The others all nodded, except for the ex gangster who was too busy glaring at the young doctor.  Even Kenshin seemed to have lost the edge of his embarrassment as he joined the others in trying not to laugh at Sanosuke's disgruntled attitude.
    "So what shall we do this afternoon?" Misao asked with a cheerful smile, in an attempt to take the heat off Sano.
    Kenshin smiled bravely.  "Anything but the circus..."  It evoked another laugh from his friends.
    "I think I'd like to see what medical supplies are available here," Megumi said.  "Don't let me get in the way of anyone's plans."  She rose, smiling briskly.  "Although I wouldn't mind having a little company, as well as someone who knows the best places to go, ne?"  She smiled winningly at Shirojo, who managed to look thrilled and dismayed all at once.
    "I'd love to come," Omasu chimed.  It came as a bit of a surprise to the others, but Megumi had been expecting it.  She knew the other woman was all but overcome with curiosity about her mission.  Was she REALLY intending simply to go shopping for medicines, or did she have another sort of selection in mind?  Shirojo looked relieved, yet strangely disappointed.  Megumi flipped her hair in his direction while Sano made a big show of chewing on his fishbone and glaring off in another direction.
    "Where did you get that disgusting thing?"  Kaoru was glaring at Sanosuke and his fishbone now.  "Do you carry it in a pocket or something?"
    Jiya smiled as Misao looked at him.  "It doesn't look like it's his day, does it?"
    Megumi and Omasu walked out of the Aoiya in relative silence, the local woman casting the other surreptitious glances.
    "I'm not about to turn into a wild animal, Omasusan," the doctor smiled.  "You can stop looking at me like you're afraid I might turn on you."
    "Ah, gomen."  The brown haired woman looked abashed.  "I just wondered if you really were only going to buy medicine, after what we talked about."
    Megumi cast a knowing smile again at her companion.  "I really do intend to go buy medicine.  As for the other, I've not yet decided," she continued loftily.
    Omasu, about to say something else, decided to say no more.  The more she pushed the other woman for information, the less she would get out of her.  Sometimes Megumi could be cajoled into talking; this was not one of those times.
    The two walked a little way in silence, Omasu desperately struggling not to appear too desperate with curiosity, and Megumi struggling not to laugh.
    "It's part of the Oniwa Banshu's business to get information," she ventured at one point.
    "It's part of a doctor's business to know when confidentiality is required," was the dignified response.  It became a game, of sorts, with Megumi answering Omasu's attempts with reasonable, if occasionally arrogant answers.  By the time the two women reached the first apothecary's shop, they were laughing, absorbed deeply in their verbal volley.
    Omasu slowly became fascinated; from the moment they entered the shop, the young doctor shed all jocularity and seemed to change into a different person, approachable, businesslike, and very shrewd.  Though Omasu had been aware of some of the basic properties of common herbs and medicines, she was impressed to see that not only did Megumi know the different plants, she knew what each part could do, how long it was good for, the best way to store it, and how to get the most for her money.  It was easy to see, in that respect at least, why Sanosuke might be such a nuisance to her.  She cared where her income went.  Sano would spend his faster than he had one... IF he had one.
    Megumi didn't buy much at the first shop, preferring to look around for good deals and high quality products.  The woman who'd chosen to accompany her seemed to have forgotten completely about the possible side excursion.  "Megumisan, would you teach me?"
    "Eh?"  The foxy woman  seemed caught off guard by Omasu's request.
    "Would you teach me?  About medicine, and about shopping?"  The brunette's eyes were wide with appreciation for the other's skills.
    Megumi blinked.  "I suppose I can, but on one condition."
    "Which would be...?"
    "You teach me to fight."
    Now it was the Oniwa Banshu fighter's turn to be surprised.  "But, Megumisan, you're a doctor!  Why would you want to learn to fight?"
    Megumi said nothing, but walked down instead to the docks, to sit where she had once before, to have one of the most difficult conversations in her life.  She had given up her claim on the man she loved, years before, in that shady spot under the docks.  Now, she had another sacrifice to make, and aside from the privacy granted in that spot, she thought there was a certain appropriateness to the idea.  She sat, dangling her legs in the shallow water, watching Omasu's reflection as the other joined her.
    "Omasusan, when I first met Kensan and the others, I was on the run.  Everything I thought I had to live for was gone.  Then Kensan came, and not only did they all save my life from the one who made me miserable, but they stopped me from killing myself.  Kensan told me that I should atone for the deaths I'd caused, rather than killing myself.  My life wouldn't bring anyone else's back.  He told me I should use my skills as a doctor to make other people's lives better.  I took his words to heart.
    "That doesn't sound like it has much to do with why I want to learn fighting skills, but it does, in its own way.  Whenever Kensan and the others went off into adventure, and got into fights, I could do nothing to help him.  When we went shopping, do you remember?  You and Kaoruchan, Misaochan and Okon and I, were accosted by that group of thugs.  The rest of you all jumped into action, and I couldn't even defend myself.  I watched.  I knew there was nothing I could do.  That's one of the worst feelings in the world, the inability to act.  I want to learn to defend myself, Omasusan.  I don't want to feel that helpless again."  She had risen and walked out into the water a little bit, but now she turned back to face the other woman with a wry smile.  "I don't want to throw off my kimono for one of those little outfits, either, but I want to be able to at least defend myself."
    Omasu, unsure why Megumi seemed to want this to be a secret, stared at the other for a long moment before smiling.  "It's a deal."  She rose and continued teasingly, "So are we going to the police station, or what?"