Part IV -- Megumi's Date

    So, the hot doctor wanted to see him, did she.  Sawagejo Cho found this to be useful information.  The chickenhead would be back in town.  He had a score to settle with the big talker.  Sure, he had Anji's Futae no Kiwami, but Cho had something better.
    Lovingly he stroked the sword that lay across his lap, his feet propped up on Saitou's desk.  The old chimney hated that, which was half the reason Cho did it.  It was so damn funny to see the arrogant pig get his underwear all in a knot over stupid things.  Sure, he was a good cop, but he was still a pompous ass.  Cho hated pompous asses -- when they weren't himself.
    Of course, he was neither an ass nor pompous.
    It seemed to him that there was no other option at this point but to take the woman at her word.  Perhaps he could use her as a hostage to draw the chickenhead to him.  If he recalled, the jerk did have a thing for her.  She might provide some useful leverage, maybe even some entertainment...
    He smiled to himself.  Supposedly, those days were behind him.  The Juppon  Gatana was history; most of them were either in prison, working for the government, or dead.  He'd been working alongside the Kyoto police force as a private investigator until something better came along.  Then again, anything too drastic and he'd have to fight Kenshin again.  The guy was a sweet challenge, sure, but he packed more of a punch in the end than Cho truly cared to face.  Not like a Futae no Kiwami from a chicken brained big mouth.
    The image of the doctor as he remembered her flashed before his eyes.  She was beautiful, sharp as one of his beloved swords both in mind and word.  It was a devastating combination.  He suspected that holding her as a hostage would not be as easy as it sounded.  Maybe winning her heart would be more satisfying, give him a better edge over Sagara...
    "Fuck this," he growled to himself, his mood changing abruptly.  Swinging his legs down from the desk, he rose and paced restlessly.  Ever since he'd heard the message, he'd been dwelling on it.  Even the contemptuous Saitou had noticed his distraction, though the old bastard hadn't seemed to care.
    "It strikes me as unlikely that the ahou would care to see either of us," he'd said.  "Concentrate on your work.  If the Fox woman has trouble in mind, it will come of its own."
    What made it even more unbearable was that the jackass was right.  If Takani Megumi had some sort of plan, he wouldn't have to chase it for it to come to fruition; it might even be unpleasant for him.
    But she was so damn hot, how could he not hope that she wasn't bait for some kind of trap?  And how could he think anything else?
    How could he think OF anything else?
    He leaned against the wall, glaring sourly at the floor just as Saitou walked in.
    "In early again," the former Shinsengumi captain said after a very long silence.  "Take off, find him, and don't let me catch you doing something you'll regret later."
    Cho's eyes widened in surprise, saying nothing and grabbed the sword he'd left propped against the desk, slipping out before the other changed his mind.
    He knew exactly where to go, of course.  The doctor had mentioned she'd be at the Aoiya, and the best way to contact her was through Omasu's farming friend.  He went to the farm, wishing idly for a sharp uniform like that the cop wore and cursing himself for it.  After all, though it looked good, it was a sign of slavery of a sort.  The cop was still obsessed with his whole Aku Soku Zan thing, and the uniform was symbolic of his ties to that.  Cho was turned off by the whole idea.  He was Katanagari; he lived by and for the sword.  Sides didn't matter to him, as long as he had his swords.
    Still, those thrice damned uniforms were pretty slick.
    He covered ground quickly, deciding to stop for breakfast on the way.  There was not much sense in going hungry, and Cho hated to fight on an empty stomach.  He'd done it often enough to know.  Not that overeating was a great idea, but better run that risk than lose aptitude for a simple lack of blood sugar.
    The sun was well on its course when he arrived at the farm, knocking on the door and bowing to the elderly woman who greeted him.
    "If you're looking for the lady doctor, she's out in the fallow field."  The woman pointed the way with a gnarled finger and a crooked smile.  "She said to send you directly when she's here, so I suggest you go before she leaves."
    "Thank you," he bowed and strode in the direction she'd indicated.  There were two women in the distance, sparring.  Both wore the costume of Oniwa Banshu.  Cho's hackles would have risen, were he a dog; as it was, he growled softly.  If this was a trick, that pretty little lady would regret it for the rest of her short days, and fuck what Saitou said.
    It was clear the one was training the other in the use of fighting with a staff.  The black braid of the trainee served as a whip as well, though she was still practicing its use as such.  The brown haired woman faced him, and he thought he recognized Omasu, but who was the other woman she was training?
    "Megumisan, I think you have a visitor!"  Omasu dropped her stance as the blond man approached.  "We'll take a break, but don't dawdle or you'll tense up again!"
    The other nodded and turned to face Cho.
    He was floored.  He stopped walking and tried not to gawk too hard at the vision that greeted his eyes.
    Sure, the Foxy Lady Doctor was a babe, but now...
    Her face, flushed with exertion, glistened with sweat in the sunlight beneath glossy black hair tied back in the tight braid that now trailed over her shoulder.  His eyes followed its path, down to full, firm breasts beneath the blue fabric that hugged a deliciously hourglass figure.  Smooth legs, taught legs, legs he suddenly wanted wrapped tightly around him, greeted his gaze as he completed the preliminary inventory.  He was very interested in taking a more in depth examination of the goods, but that could come later.
    "Well, are you just going to stand there gawking, or are you actually going to say something before I get back to work?"  Oh, the haughtiness in that voice, the teasing smile!  She was more than simply beautiful, she was breathtaking, she was...
    "Sanosuke.  Where is he?"  The damn chickenhead...  If he'd actually gotten to her...  If his filthy fucking scum bucket hands had actually touched such purity, such beauty...
    "He's probably gambling again as usual.  What does it matter now?  You're here, now, aren't you?"  Megumi smiled up at the tall, thin man.  Omasu had moved a little way off and was doing kata while the two talked.  Megumi leaned on her staff.  "I wasn't entirely sure you'd come," she continued coyly.
    "Your message said you wanted to surprise the chicken."  Sawagejo Cho eyed the woman of his apparent dreams with mistrust.
    Megumi nodded.  "I do, but not precisely in the way you may have thought."  She cast her eyes down, looked up at him through thick dark bangs.  "I wanted to see you myself.  I remembered you were different from most of the other men I've met in so many ways...  Not the least of which is your hair."  Suddenly the teasing smile was back, a smile that would haunt his dreams forever.
    "Well, I do pride myself on its unique style," he grinned,  running his long fingers through the high blond mass.
    "And well you should.  It must take a very cunning man, an interesting man, to manage to style it so well."
    Cho nodded.  "Not like some people," he said, closing his eyes and looking snobbish, peering at her from beneath his eyelashes.
    "Megumisan, come on, let's get back to work!  You yourself said you've only got a few more days in town," Omasu called as she finished her stretching.
    "She's right," the woman said as she turned back to Cho.  "I'm learning some basic fighting techniques, but I don't want the others to know yet.  Will you keep my secret?"  Red lips smiled enticingly.
    The enraptured fighter nodded.  "When will I see you again?"
    "I'm often here, or at the Aoiya," she replied.
    "No, I want to see you, without anyone else."
    Megumi blinked.  This was going better than she'd hoped!  He was serious.  So was she.
    "I want to make plans, away from the chickenhead, I want to see you."  He felt so nervous.  Dammit, this was NOT supposed to happen!  He was Katanagari, dammit!  He did NOT get tongue-tied around women!  He played with them and left them, toys for his amusement, not meant to reduce him to quivering inside and stumbling all through!
    "Lunch.  I'll be free for lunch this afternoon," she said slowly.  "Come back at noon, and we can go to lunch."
    Cho nodded, stepped closer, looked down at her.  "Lunch, then."  Such hypnotic eyes, so sensitive, so understanding, so proud and full of fire!
    While Cho and Megumi were flirting, Kenshin was walking up the road to the farm, carrying a lunch box for the two women.  Misao had been suspicious when Kenshin told the others the cover story, but she decided to go along with it -- after all, unlike Sanosuke (as she often reminded him), she TRUSTED her friends.  She'd put together an ensemble of tea treats and such, with a little note that read "Courtesy of the Aoiya Restaurant -- Thank you for your assistance!" addressed to Hirosuesan, who had in fact been very supportive especially while the Aoiya was being rebuilt, offering space in the farm for storage and sleeping space should it be necessary.
    Ever since he'd caught out the two women in their secret, he'd taken it upon himself to make sure there was no chance the others would find out.  It was rather fun, a little like children hiding from the grownups some exciting new toy, like a frog.  Fortunately, it wasn't quite as messy.
    His first instinct, when he saw the lean, tall blond figure talking to the two women, was to drop everything, go for his ever present sakabattou, and run for it.  However, they seemed to be casual, and there was no apparent threat, but he walked silently towards the gathering, listening carefully.
    It was inevitable that he be discovered, of course; he wasn't even trying to be stealthy.  Caution was to be expected, in a situation like this.  What the hell WAS Cho doing there?  And why was he talking to Megumidono?
    "Himura!  You're earlier than usual!  Is everything all right?"  Omasu waved to him with a broad smile and a concerned look.  "Megumisan's got plans for lunch, so it will be just Hirosuesan and us today."
    This was too much.  "Oro?"  Somehow, he held on to the tray.
    "Kensan," Megumi smiled.  "You remember Sawagejo Chosan, don't you?  He's still working as a private investigator locally," she reminded him.  Not that the rurouni needed reminding, but the doctor hadn't finished speaking.  "He and I will be going for lunch this afternoon, once morning practice is over."
    Things still hadn't quite percolated.  "Oroo..?"
    "Himurasan," Cho nodded in an informal bow.  "Omasusan...  Megumisan, I'll see you in an hour."
    Megumi nodded.  "By the house."
    "Sawagejodono," Kenshin nodded back bewilderedly.
    While he stood dazed, Megumi nodded at her trainer, who winked back.  She turned, ducked low, and suddenly was standing in front of  the perplexed redhead, one hand stopped less than an inch in front of his forehead by his own hand.  She grinned.  He blinked.
    "If you say oro one more time, Himurasan, I'll help her!"  The Oniwa Banshu woman's eyes were sparkling with humor and pride.  Now there was a good pupil!
    Kenshin smiled weakly.  "That was impressive, Megumidono.  This is really important to you, isn't it," he said, studying her.
    The doctor nodded.  "I can't always be dependent on you and the others to finish before my date."  She seemed to dance off with Omasu as they began a heated practice.
    Why had he never noticed it before?  Megumi was indeed a stunning woman; not only was she almost insanely beautiful (especially when she had a project) but she was dedicated to her causes.  Maybe she wasn't as demanding as Kaoru, but she needed the support of her loved ones no less than any other.  He wondered briefly if this date with Cho was Megumi's method of having her revenge on Sanosuke for never seeming to notice her.  Kenshin knew otherwise; the ex-gangster was head over heels for the foxy doctor but wasn't very good at expressing his emotions in general.  For all his talk, Sagara Sanosuke was very much afraid of Megumi and of relationships in general; having lost so many of those that he'd loved and called family in his youth had done his heart serious damage that even the doctor's careful work might not salvage him whole.
    Kenshin could sympathize.
    He watched the two women practice a moment more before turning back to the main house.  Hirosue would be waiting for him there.  He enjoyed helping her with her chores; the garrulous older woman made for pleasant company and her onigiri were amazing.  Misao had confessed to him she was hoping that Hirosuesan might be persuaded to give him some to bring back to her.
    When Megumi came in ahead of Omasu, she asked the farm's owner to borrow a towel and slipped out around back to the well.  With Omasu standing guard, she loosened her hair and poured a bucket of water over her head.  Pouring a second bucketful over herself, she sighed and closed her eyes as the water cascaded over her, cold and clear.
    "Omasusan, I have to admit I wish this didn't have to end so soon," she said as she dried off quickly.  The woman stood guard of her own accord; Megumi had no serious objection should Kenshin accidentally catch a glimpse of her body, though her trainer was not quite so nonchalant.
    "Hai, Megumisan.  You're learning so quickly.  It is amazing how time flies, isn't it?"  The brown haired woman's eyes clouded briefly.  "Okon has been pestering at me to find out what it is you and I sneak off to do.  She's convinced she should be in on it, and so should Misaochan -- that is, Okashira Misao, since of course we as women must stick together."  She rolled her eyes expressively and smiled at the doctor, who was by that time nearly dressed.
    "Well, I don't doubt that everyone will know before long.  I know Kensan can keep quiet, and Cho has no reason to tell anyone, but if one of the others found out, there's no reason they should keep it a secret."
    "You know it won't stay secret forever, Megumisan.  Some day you're going to use all this training, and it's nothing you can hide easily.  The staff could be used as a walking stick, if you like, without being too conspicuous, though I still say you should have chosen another weapon."
    "Shall I learn to wield a sakaba blade as well, Omasusan?"  Megumi laughed lightly.  "The other side of this staff is I can also use it to keep certain repeat patients of mine in line, such as a certain chickenhead we all know so well."  Megumi pushed the ornate sticks she'd borrowed from Omasu carefully into her hair, styling it quickly yet neatly into a fairly elaborate upsweep.  Omasu studied her appraisingly.
    The silvery deep midnight shade of blue she wore for a kimono, embroidered in white cranes, set off her fair skin admirably.  She looked somehow a little smaller, though no less voluptuous; a perfect maiden waiting to be rescued by some heroic knight -- or abducted by some heinous villain.  She peered out from long dark bangs with shyly smiling eyes that could not entirely cloud out the sly, foxy wisdom and cunning upon which she counted.
    "You're out to do some serious damage today, Megumisan, aren't you?"  The two women smiled at each other as they turned and reentered the house.
    Hirosue nodded approval at the two women and smiled at Kenshin and Cho as they stumbled to their feet.  Kenshin couldn't remember ever seeing Megumi with her hair up except for when she was working, and then it was either braided or tucked into a scarf.  And that kimono!  He didn't remember seeing that before, either.  It was a completely different look, and if he noticed how the nape of her neck was artfully exposed between soft wisps of black hair...   He briefly wondered if accompanying Megumi on her date, one hand on his sakabattou, would be in poor taste.
    Megumi's eyes were riveted to the tall blond, however.  He too was dressed nicely in a light grey Western style suit, his hair brushed neatly (though still in its usual style) and he only wore two swords in plain sight.
    Omasu's eyes met Hirosue's and they smiled knowingly at each other.  The older woman nodded and cleared her throat after a long moment, startling Kenshin, Cho, and Megumi.
    "Welcome back, you two.  Come, Omasusan, I'm quite hungry and we've much to do this afternoon.  Himurasan, come eat with us.  I'm sure Sawagejosan's reservations won't keep very late."
    Megumi's eyes widened in surprise.  "Reservations?"  She looked up at him shyly.  "Cho, reservations are so much trouble..."
    Awe was still warring with machismo, though in the end it was chivalry who won (inasmuch as Cho would ever be chivalrous.)  "I know, but I have a friend who owns a restaurant.  He was happy to make room for you and I, though Hirosuesan has the right of it.  They won't keep forever.  Come on."  Despite his words, he made no move to depart since he couldn't seem to tear his eyes away from the transformed woman standing before him long enough to start walking.  What a complex creature she was!  Just when he thought he was getting a handle on her, she would go and surprise him again.
    Omasu and Hirosue's eyes were on Kenshin as the other two finally walked off in the direction of town.  The redheaded rurouni looked absolutely crestfallen.  Sure, he'd always known she was a true beauty but to see her get so dressed up for someone like the Katanagari...  Well, that hurt.  Especially knowing that it could have been for him that she'd dress like that.  Could have, would have, should have, it made no difference now, he thought as he watched the two well dressed figures recede into the distance.
    The two women exchanged a look.
    "Himura, you're not going to just stand there all day and stare after them, are you?  I didn't think you went for blonds," Omasu giggled wickedly.
    Kenshin flushed.  "Oro.."
    "Come inside.  If Misaochan sent us such lovely things, it's the least we can do to enjoy them, isn't it," Hirosue said.  She left the room and returned with a steaming pot of tea, while Omasu took the gift tray from Kenshin's hands and began setting it out.