Part VIII:  Megumi Straight

    Morning came as innocuously as ever to find the Aoiya in the frenzy of last minute preparation and goodbye.  Megumi and Omasu stood a little apart from the others, conversing in low tones.
    "I wish you could stay longer, Megumisan.  Things were just beginning to get interesting," the brown haired woman smiled teasingly.  "Then again, we can always write."
    "That's true.  It would be nice to stay longer, but I'm needed at the clinic."  Megumi smiled but could not keep the worry from her eyes.  She had barely given much thought to her ailing colleague while on vacation -- which was what he had ordered her to do, saying that she was supposed to e on vacation and not think about work.  Still, she was concerned for him.  Suppose he had fallen ill?  What would the girls do in case of an emergency?  No, it was time to go back, Megumi knew.  Not that she was without regrets at leaving Kyoto, but some things could be dealt with.  "Besides, you don't need Sano chasing the customers away," she smirked as the tall man emerged from the restaurant.
    Burdened with his own belongings as well as Yahiko's, the ex-gangster was grumbling under his breath about the brat, and what was keeping him anyway?
    Shirojo grinned at the other's discomfiture.  "Need a hand?  Last I saw, Yahiko was catching it from his sensei."  He held out a hand to take some of the luggage from Sanosuke.
    "Nah.  Oiy, Kenshin!  Do we have time for breakfast before we leave?"
    "Kaorudono has the train tickets," the redhead said from under his own burden.  "You'd have to ask her."
    "Not if this brat doesn't give me back my ribbon, we don't!"  Kaoru's outraged expression was almost comical as she chased her student outside.  Her hair was unbound and flew out behind her in disarray as she chased Yahiko around the yard.
    "Oiy!  Give it back, kid, I'm hungry!"
    From across the yard, Megumi sighed.  "Remind me again why you're not staying with us and just letting them go back?" Omasu smiled at her friend.  "Seems to me we'd be better off that way."
    "Maybe I'll come back to live here someday," Megumi replied.  She knew that if Kenshin did ever actually marry Kaoru, she would not want to stay around very long.  Aizu waited for her, but Aizu wasn't the only place in Japan, and it was far from everything she'd come to love...  Maybe that would be best, later, but first things first.  She wouldn't go anywhere while Genzaisensei still needed her.
    Misao ran out just in time to dodge Yahiko as he ran past, waving the blue ribbon and taunting Kaoru as she followed in hot pursuit.  Sano had dropped the luggage and was starting after them.  Aoshi walked more slowly behind the young Okashira, showing no sign of amusement at the busy scene in the yard.
    "Kaorusan!  Here!"  Misao waved a new hair ribbon at her friend, the bright red fabric flashing in the morning sunlight.  "Jiya said to give this to you at the train, but maybe now would be better?"  She smiled at her friend as the other girl slowed with a final glare at her young pupil.
    "Thanks, Misaochan.  Not that this gets you off the hook, Yahiko, but now at least we can get home on time.  You'll have to ask Sanosuke about breakfast, though."  She took the red ribbon from Misao and tied her hair up quickly.  "We're going to have to rush a little, since SOMEONE wasted so much time being obnoxious.  Kenshin, do you have everything?"
    "Hai, Kaorudono," the rurouni smiled weakly.  She'd cornered him earlier into carrying her things, and what could he do?
    "I do wish he'd show some backbone to her," Omasu muttered and Megumi looked at her friend in surprise as she picked up her own bag.
    "I can't disagree, Omasusan, but what brings this up?"
    "It doesn't make sense.  Was he REALLY Hikosama's student?  Unless that's WHY he has no spine..."
    Megumi blinked.  "Sometimes even I have a hard time understanding you."
    "Never mind.  I have to set up for breakfast," the other woman smiled.  "I wish I could walk with you to the train but Misaochan said she'd rather do it.  She said she had a message to deliver anyway, though she wouldn't say anything more."  She bowed slightly.  "You're a good student and a wonderful teacher.  Remember to practice what I taught you, all right?"
    "Don't forget what I told you, either."  Megumi smiled and bowed back.  "Sensei."
    "Not-so-baka deshi."  The women laughed together and Omasu went inside, followed by Shirojo, as Megumi joined the others.  Yahiko had been given his own things back, and everyone but Kaoru had their own packages.  Misao kept reaching into her pocket and looking oddly at Sanosuke who seemed oblivious of her scrutiny. Kenshin looked ready to topple over under the weight of Kaoru's belongings, though he himself had packed lightly, and Aoshi still hovered in the doorway, watching them.  The two men were aware of each other as only those who had fought together and as opponents could be, though Kenshin wasn't entirely sure he understood why the other man's eyes were fixed on Megumi.  And what was with Misao?  Had they worked out some sort of swap deal?
    Kenshin shook his head slightly.  That was just too strange.  The idea of Megumi and Aoshi just wouldn't sink in, despite the fact that they looked good together.  The idea of Sanosuke and Misao, however, was vaguely entertaining, but he had to wonder what sparked those thoughts.  He definitely was beginning to wonder if he was getting too old for this...
    "Come on, the train won't wait for us," Kaoru said.  "And I can't wait to see the Genzais again!  It'll be good to get home again," she admitted to her friend, "even though I've had a great time.  I'm going to make it a priority to get the dojo active, and I just can't do that from here."
    "We will miss having you around," Misao replied, "but you know where we are if you ever need anything."  Smiling, she chattered on merrily as they walked together in the lead, with Kenshin and Yahiko next and Megumi trailed by Sano a little way back.  Clearly, she wanted to go home but her concerns weighed heavy on her heart.  She hadn't told anyone other than Omasu anything about Genzaisensei's failing health, and then only just enough that the other wouldn't be as worried as the doctor.
    The Kenshingumi, on the other hand, knew the truth.  Sano watched her carefully, fighting with himself.  After all, what could he do?  Something Shirojo had told him then popped into his head.  "Sometimes it's the little things you do, lending a hand without being asked, or a shoulder to cry on without trying to force an issue, that make the biggest difference to a woman.  I think Megumisan needs your support more than fancy things.  Don't make a show about it, just do it."  The Oniwa Banshu fighter had smiled supportively and left Sano to think over his words.  Now, as they walked to the train, it fell into place.
    "Oiy, onna, you've got enough weight to carry without this," he said brusquely as he took her bag from her shoulders.
    Kenshin winced, praying Megumi wouldn't be too hard on his friend, but he wasn't the only one who nearly fell over when all she said was, "Thank you."
    "Megumisan, are you all right?"  Misao looked back over her shoulder at the doctor, surprise clear in her expression.  She, too, had expected the other woman to misinterpret Sanosuke's remark, perhaps deliberately.
    "I'm fine, thank you."  Megumi's smile once again did not quite reach dark eyes full of concerns.
    Kaoru shook her head slightly.  "I think she's worried about Genzaisensei.  He hasn't been well lately.  Megumi says it's his heart."  Her own distress was evident.  "He's more like family to her than the rest of us, I think, and it's even harder on her."  If Megumi had heard this insight, she gave no sign, but Sanosuke and Yahiko exchanged a surprised glance.  They didn't expect such maturity from Kaoru!  Especially in light of the way the two women had fought last night...
    "I...  I'm sorry.  I didn't know," Misaochan replied softly.  "Is there anything we can do to help?"
    "I don't think so, Misaodono, though we appreciate the offer.  This vacation was partly his idea.  He wanted Megumidono not to think about him and take some time for herself, but I think she's blaming herself for leaving him alone now."
    "Kensan, I don't think you need to talk about me like I'm not here," the beautiful woman spoke up with indignance in every line of her body.
    "Oro?"  Kenshin blinked.  "Gomen, Megumidono!"
    "It's all right.  For you, Kensan."  She smiled vampishly at him.  "But only for you."  She'd moved p next to him and slipped an arm through his with a sly grin.
    "Oro?"  Kenshin tried to duck Kaoru's bokken but found it difficult with the luggage and Megumi all attached to him.
    "Don't we have a train to catch?"  Yahiko rolled his eyes.
    "You know, the walk ain't so bad," Sano said thoughtfully.
    "Chicken!"
    "Maa, maa.  We're at the station already," Kenshin said with relief.
    Sano stopped to readjust his bag and Megumi's over his shoulder as the others walked ahead.  Misao fell back and slipped something into his pocket.
    "Give this to Megumisan when she's alone, and whatever you do, don't read it!"  She gave him a stern glance.  "Sa--er, Sanosukesan, the writer said it was private but that Megumisan shouldn't read it until she was home again and alone.  I was told to tell you only that you shouldn't do anything colossally stupid if you could help it.  Direct quote!"  She held her hands up in defense as Sano began to glower.
    The tall man thought it over and nodded.  He'd give the letter to Megumi when they got to the clinic.  He'd walk her back himself, without the others, and wait for her to read it.
    "Oh, and don't read over her shoulder or anything either.  It's a private letter," Misao grinned.  This time Sano did glare before joining the others on board the train.  Megumi sat by the window, looking out at the platform as he approached.  He decided he'd still walk her back to the clinic but instead of giving her the letter when they arrived , he slipped it inside her bag for her to find when she unpacked as he stepped through the door, where the others couldn't see.  Sliding into the bench, he closed his eyes and tried to pretend he was not on this impossible pile of steel.  No matter how many times he rode a train, he could never get used to the idea.
    Kenshin and Kaoru took up their favorite spot at the back of the caboose as the train started to move.  They shouted goodbyes to Misao who ran along behind them, waving back at Megumi and Yahiko.  Sano stuck his fish bone out the window and waved as well, creating a scene that had become standard for their departures from Kyoto.
    The trip back was quiet, each wrapped in their own thoughts.  Kaoru and Kenshin were talking quietly, and Yahiko was staring out the window in a state of complete boredom.  Sanosuke curled up on the bench and tried to ignore the moving steel around him, resting his head on Megumi's lap and pretending not to notice when she pushed him off repeatedly.  Her efforts didn't seem as determined as time went on, and eventually she just dropped her hand on top of his head and drummed her fingers.  He found it soothing, somehow, but it wouldn't do to admit that.
    "Oiy, onna, stop that."
    "Then get your fat head out of my lap, tori-atama."
    "Make me."
    Their tones were lazy, distracted and without their usual conviction behind the words.  Sano smiled to himself, his face turned away from the doctor.  There might be hope for him yet.
    She twined her fingers in his hair and a thrill went through him.  His eyes closed in something close to rapture for a moment as she played with his hair.  His mind started racing -- or was it his pulse that raced, he wondered idly at the response he was beginning to feel to her touch?  Her touch was light on his skin, inflaming him as she caressed his ear almost tenderly before grabbing it, twisting and yanking -- not very hard, but more than enough to jerk him upright with an indignant squawk.  "OIY!"
    Megumi smirked.  "You said to make you move."  She looked at Yahiko, who eyed them both oddly.  "Some people are never satisfied."
    The youngest member of the group just snorted and looked back outside.  "Hey, there's the station!"
    "It's good to get home again," Kaoru said as the train began to slow.
    "You keep saying that.  You just want to make me work, don't you."
    "It's not as though you couldn't use the exercise.  You've been getting lazy, Yahiko."
    The young man muttered.  "At least I'm not an ugly old toad on top of being lazy."
    "Yare yare...  Could you save it for later?  I don't think innocent bystanders need to be hurt," Kenshin sighed.
    "Kenshin!" Kaoru whined.  "Are you implying you think I'm too violent?"
    "No, Kensan is saying so outright," Megumi smirked.
    Kaoru looked daggers at her as the train screeched a protest and stopped.
    Without a word, Sanosuke took Megumi's bag up once more with his own.  "I'm just glad that's over," he grouched as he ran for the door.  He did not bear any great love for the iron horse, and was eager to feel solid soil under his feet once more.  "Come on, Kitsune, I'll walk you back."
    "I wonder what Misaochan told him," Kaoru mused.  "He's sure changed a lot in the past few days.  If nothing else he's been so much nicer to Megumisan."
    "Megumidono is worried about Genzaisensei.  I think it's good that Sano's concerned for her and not afraid to show it anymore.  She needs someone to look after her sometimes."
    "The way you look after me, Kenshin?"  Kaoru smiled as she latched an arm through Kenshin's as he tried to balance their baggage.
    "Oro?"  Kenshin blushed.
    "Will you two stop being so gross?"  Yahiko, despite having discovered girls, was still not quite into his teens and thought that certain things were just not meant to be seen.  ESPECIALLY when they involved ugly toads like his sensei.
    For once, he managed to dodge the swipe Kaoru took at him.
    "For once, I gotta agree with the brat," Sano grinned at his friends.  Shifting the bags on his back, he grimaced at his jacket which was slipping beneath their weight to reveal his shoulder and started walking.  After all, it wouldn't do to be too obvious.  It occurred to him that Megumi had seen far more than his shoulder when caring for his various wounds, but when she wasn't being a doctor it was bound to have more of an effect.
    Wasn't it?
    She walked silently behind him, watching where she walked instead of staring constantly at his exposed flesh.  It was only a shoulder, she reminded herself, but it was definitely a nice shoulder, well muscled and all that.  However, it was also Sanosuke's shoulder.
    That did rather complicate things.
    "We'll see you at home, Sano," Kaoru called after them.  "Come on, Yahiko.  Maybe you can get in some practice before dinner."  That suggestion was met with complaints and Megumi smiled as Yahiko's protests faded behind them.  It seemed they were lagging deliberately, trying to leave her alone with Sanosuke.  The route to the clinic was the same as that to the dojo, with only the difference of a street or two.  On the other hand, it did afford her the time she needed to straighten things out with the younger man.
    "Oiy, Kitsune, are you sure you're okay?"  He cast a look over his shoulder in time to see her exploring a bruise on her arm as she walked.  Though she dropped her sleeve in a hurry, he hadn't missed the raw black and blue mark that was still developing after her final training session the day before.
    Kenshin had told him about the training, and about her less-than-stellar attempts against three opponents, but rationality lost all meaning at the sight of her injuries.  The desire to beat the living daylights out of anyone who harmed her in the slightest welled up in him and he thought fondly of the agony he would inflict upon Cho for putting her through such torture.  The fact that it had been her idea was irrelevant, as was the little detail that none of Cho's blows had actually landed on her -- in fact, only Omasu had contacted at all.  Megumi's defense was good, but she tended to overbalance herself in an uneven fight and would fall instead of ducking properly.  She'd decided to work on that more than any other technique.
    However, working on technique didn't erase existing bruises.
    "I wonder if there's anything to eat," Sano wondered as they walked into the clinic and he unslung her bag from his back.
    "Oh, go ask Kaoru," Megumi rolled her eyes at him.
    "Are you tryin' ta kill me?"  He watched her as she leaned against the door for a moment, listening.
    Ignoring him, she opened the door.  Genzaisensei was sitting in the middle of the floor.
    "Megumisan!  Okaeri nasai!"  He raised his teacup to her.  "Sanosan!  Come in!"
    "Tadaima, Genzaisensei," she smiled.
    "How was your vacation?  No, tell me later when the girls come home.  They're out playing with friends," he said.  "Why don't you go unpack and we'll talk over dinner.  Sano!  Tell Himurasan and the others to come to the Akabeko tonight, we'll celebrate your return!"  The old man looked as well as he had in months, and was certainly exuberant enough.
    "That sounds wonderful.  We 'll meet you at the dojo," Megumi told Sano, taking her bag from him and slipping into her room to unpack.
    As she opened the sack, the note Sanosuke had hidden fell out.  Curious, she bent to see what  it said, but only her name was on the front.  Slowly she unfolded it, but another letter started to slip before she'd finished.  Holding it aside, she opened the first one fully and scanned it.  The writing was a little shaky and cramped, as if the writer was not very highly educated.

        Dear Megumisan,
            Please don't be angry with me for saying we can't be.  You know I'm not much good at these things, but know you are a very special woman who impacted my life in a way I'll never forget.  We could have had something wonderful, but I don't deserve it.  There is someone else who does, and I hope you'll give him a chance.  I don't think much of the chickenhead, but he truly loves you and for my sake don't dismiss him without giving him a shot.  He ain't smart enough to be as badass as me.
        Missing ya.  -- Sawagejo Cho.

    A rush of emotion nearly overwhelmed her.  How typically him; in his own unique way he was telling her he was afraid of having something that good.  She wished he could have felt differently, but rationality told her that as good as it might have been, it couldn't have lasted forever.  He wasn't a forever kind of guy, not for her no matter how much she might wish otherwise.
    The other note had nothing written on its surface, and as she unfolded it she saw the handwriting was very precise, neat and small and clear.

        Takani Megumisan.
            Please remember that no matter how dark things seem, you're never alone.  As long as you're honest with yourself and those around you, someone will be there even when you can't see clearly.

    It was unsigned.  Megumi wondered who it could be from and she refolded both notes as she'd found them and slipped them under her pillow before going out to the main room.
    The time had come, she knew, to be honest with him.  She was relieved when she saw Sanosuke hadn't left and was sitting and having tea with the old doctor.
    "Sanosuke, I think we need to talk."
    The tall young man looked up in surprise.  Megumi's colleague rose and cleaned up, leaving the room silently with an indulgent smile at his young friends.
    "It's time we straightened things out between us," she said as she sat down.  If she didn't start now, the courage that had birthed itself in her heart would fade.  Sano had to know the truth.  They all did.  "I know how you feel.  And I know that you hate Chosan, but he's on your side.  Sano, I don't know that I feel the same way, or that I ever will, but maybe we should give it a shot."