From: "floribelle maximo" HANGOVERby flori-dono DISCLAIMERS: This is a Rurouni Kenshin-inspired fan fiction. The author is not making any money out of this. The characters of Rurouni Kenshin belong to Watsuki Nobuhiro, Shounen Jump, and Sony and others that should be mentioned but were not. AUTHOR'S NOTES: 1/12/00 8:57:23 PM I still have that report to make and look what I'm doing now... this is getting longer than I expected. I actually intended this to have three to four parts but I guess it'll be five now or even more... PART 2B Sano watched Megumi as she gracefully made her way among the people in the streets. No matter how hard he tried, he still couldn't get her off his mind. Actually he had given up trying altogether. What's the use of forcing himself to forget her when she's all he could think about? It still hurt knowing that she didn't love him, but at least he now knew where he stood. At least, he could now get on with his life, how hard it might even be without a certain Kitsune in it. He saw her stopped then slowly turned her head in his direction. He leaned back to hide himself behind one of the market stalls but he was too late. She saw him, stared right at him even. He held his breath, wondering what her reaction might be. He expected her to ignore him as usual, or give him a strong glare but he wasn't prepared for the longing he saw in her eyes. But it was only too soon when that longing was replaced with pain. His heart broke for the umpteenth time. Was he really that hateful that the mere sight of him could bring her so much pain? He turned his back, deciding to go to some tavern and drink his problems away again. "Ah!" He halted as he heard the shout. "What the..." He looked at where the shout came from and saw a group of people huddled around. "Somebody's fainted!" he heard the women next to him said. "It's Takani-sensei," another added. "Oh my..." Kuso, it was Megumi! With a speed that could rival Kenshin's, he arrived at the doctor's side. Wordlessly, he picked her up in his arms and moved towards the direction of the clinic. "Alright, fun's over." he shouted. "Get out of our way!" "Alright, Sagara's got his woman!" somebody yelled. He winced and smiled ruefully. He wished... *** A startled Doctor Genzai met them at the clinic. "Sensei, she fainted," Sano said as he settled Megumi down on one of the cots. "Seems like it," the older man said as he put a hand on the girl's forehead. He already knew what was happening. With all his years as a doctor, he could easily tell a pregnant woman from the way she moves or carries herself, aside from the other obvious symptoms. He had just kept his mouth shut for weeks now, knowing that Megumi would tell as soon as she was ready. He also had an idea about who the father of her child is. Having observed the recent happenings, there was no doubt it was this young man, who seemed to be getting worried over her every minute. He sighed inwardly. These kids... blind as bats. They couldn't see what was already in front of them. They just needed a little push. Doctor Genzai smiled inwardly. "I'm not that old yet not to play matchmaker!" he thought. Silently, he offered an apology to Megumi. "Sano, would you please follow me outside?" he requested. The young man looked at Megumi. "But... what about her? What's wrong with her? It's the second time I've seen her fainted." "Just follow me and I'll explain it to you," Doctor Genzai said patiently. A bewildered Sano followed the old doctor at the back of the clinic. "Alright, sensei," he said. "So what's wrong with her?" The doctor crossed his fingers behind his back. He tried to look as serious as he could. "Do you love her?" he asked. "Wha-at?" Doctor Genzai controlled his laughter. Sano was standing with his feet apart and his eyes bulging out of their sockets. "I said, do YOU love her?" he repeated. "What kind of a question is that?" Sano asked. "Look, just answer the question and I'll get on." "That's what you always say," Sano muttered under his breath. What the heck, admit and be damned! He sighed. "Alright, I love her," he admitted. Silence... The sensei smiled. "Good, but you need to show her that love, specially now..." Sano interrupted, getting a little irritated with all what he thought were stupid questions. The doctor must have wanted to embarrass him. "What's this got to do with..." "... Specially now," the doctor said then paused for effect. And in a softer voice, he added, "Specially now that you will become a father." *** Sano leaned against the wall of the room, right across the cot where Megumi lay. The old doctor's words were still ringing in his mind. 'You will become a father...a father' A father? The idea made him smile. A child... he and Megumi were going to have a child! Megumi... Sano frowned. He wanted to wake Megumi up and shake her hard. If he didn't love her so much, he could've strangled her. Dammit, he was angry! Was she not going to tell him? Was she going to have his child and not say anything about it to him? What kind of a cad did she think he was? This was his child... their child... Megumi stirred slowly from her slumber and rubbed at her eyes. That was another one of her fainting spells. She should be more careful; fainting just anywhere could endanger her child. She sighed. Seeing Sano unnerved her, perhaps triggering her fainting. She stared at the ceiling and realized that she was back at the clinic. Who could have brought her? "I'm glad you're awake," a cool voice said. She gasped and sat up. She saw Sano across the room, leaning against the wall. "Did you bring me here?" she asked when she found her voice. He merely nodded. Megumi cleared her throat. There was something very intensely frightening about Sano at that moment. She could feel goosebumps starting to form on her skin. "Domo arigatou then," she said then started to get up. "I must see to some paperwork." "Wait," Sano ordered. Megumi stopped. "Wait..." "He knows," she thought in a panic. "He knows!" Her knees started to give up on her that she needed to sit down on the cot once again, or else she would've collapsed. Silence. "Why the hell didn't you tell me?" Sano asked quietly. "Weren't you planning to?" Megumi could just stare at her lap. This was it. "Yes," she said softly. Sano felt his control slipping. He strode from across the room, "Dammit, that's my child you're keeping from me!" Megumi closed her eyes. She could feel the anger in Sano's voice. She wanted to tell him that it was not like that at all. But... "Gomen Sano," she said silently. "Gomen..." She looked up and Sano could see the defiance in her eyes. She smirked, "How can you be sure that this is your child?" Sano visibly paled. "You can't fool me Megumi, I was your first." "But that doesn't mean you were the last!" "Why you bitch!" Sano roughly took hold of Megumi by the shoulders. She winced in pain. "What Sano... what if this IS your child?" she spat out. "What would you do, marry me?" Silence. He released her. "Yes." TBC AUTHOR'S NOTES: I'm tyring hard to finish this and all the rest of my fics but I've no time to write with the midterms coming... Gomen for another cliffhanger! ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- Get great offers on top-notch products that match your interests! Sign up for eLerts at: Click Here ------------------------------------------------------------------------