From: "floribelle maximo" KONNICHIWA MINNA! INDULGE ME, COMMENT ON THIS -flori- SECRET FEELINGS by flori-dono Disclaimers: This is a Rurouni Kenshin inspired fan fiction. Standard disclaimers apply. Author's note: This story happened when Saitoh first appeared, after he wounded Sano. I have always been fascinated by the love-hate relationship between Megumi and Sano so I could not resist writing this one down, especially since I have just watched that particular episode on tape (again). Anyway, enjoy! Megumi watched Sanosuke as he lay down on the futon unconscious and deathly pale. She sighed. At least the worst was already over. She had done the best she could. As a doctor, she was used to seeing the worst injuries yet she could not help but shudder when she saw Sano's wound. It wasn't ghastly looking, but the sword wound was too deep, that it was lethal. Her eyes, which were threatening to cry, suddenly slanted in anger. What kind of animal would do such a thing? She met Kenshin, Kaoru and Yahiko by chance earlier that evening. The trio had just had dinner with Doctor Gensei and his granddaughters at the Akabeko, celebrating a successful yet difficult delivery of a patient's baby boy. As always, she had succeeded in annoying Kaoru by flirting shamelessly with Kenshin. Actually, she was just covering up her dismay of not finding Sanosuke with them. So, she went with the three as they walked back home to the dojo, hoping that the handsome gangster would be there. Sano's sigh of pain broke into her thoughts. She put her hand on his forehead, feeling his temperature. She was glad that it had cooled down a little. She could not help but tease the brown tendrils brushing along his forehead with her finger. "Yahiko," she said. "Would you please fetch me some clean water?" Yahiko who was sitting in the corner of the room promptly stood up. He got the bucket near Megumi and went out of the room. The boy didn't miss Megumi's tender action. He was a little surprised that the lady-doctor did that. He thought she liked Kenshin. He shook his head. Women... Megumi heard the door slid close. She looked at her hand, which was still on Sano's forehead. She brushed her thumb gently on the bridge of his nose. "Oh Sano..."she said softly. She longed to bend down and put her arms around him. She longed to kiss him and tell him of what she felt, but she knew she couldn't. What if he would wake up? What then? The door slid open and Yahiko entered the room with the bucket now filled with clean water. He set it down near Megumi and excused himself, telling her that he needed to run errands for Kaoru. Alone with the slumbering man, Megumi was once again lost in her reverie. She loved Sano. She had stopped denying to herself that fact a long time ago, but she was not yet ready to admit it to the others especially to him. She didn't know how he would react if he would ever find out. Would he laugh? Would he ignore her completely? Maybe both. She remembered how he treated her indifferently when they first met. He mistrusted her, hated her even because she was the one who made the opium which caused his friend's death. It hurt and it was still hurting when she would think of it. Yet, she could not forget when Sano tried to save her from killing herself. If not for him, then she would not be here, living somewhat peacefully and contently despite her colored past. She shook her head. She'd rather not know what Sano's reaction would be. It would be better if she'd keep her secret to herself. Besides, she was having a good job in doing it. Making others believe that she was in love with Kenshin was the perfect cover. Of course, she really liked Kenshin and she loved him as a brother. Wasn't he the one together with Sano who encouraged her to live and use her gift of healing to atone for her sins? However, she could never fall for him knowing that the rurouni's heart already belonged to Kaoru, another couple blind to see their love for each other. Who was she to talk? Well, at least Kaoru had the certainty that her feelings would be returned. While she... she had nothing! Every time she and Sano would meet, they would end up baiting each other, throwing sarcastic remarks. Even if she knew that their bickering was harmless, it still had the power to hurt her. Yet, she had her pride. She would not let him know that he had the power to make her cry. She would not let him know that he had the power to make her heart beat wildly whenever he'd be near. She would never let him know that he held her whole being in his hands, the he was her life, her everything. After all, she was the Fox-lady. She was strong, and brave, and sly, and... still human. One by one, her tears started to fall. She brought a hand to her face to brush them away. Her musings about her hopeless love and her worrying over Sano were taking toll on her already weary body. It was all too much for her. She had decided to leave her patient in Kaoru's care for a while. She needed to go home for a bath and a change of clothes, then she'd be back. She checked up on Sano for the last time. She gazed at his handsome face longingly; the urge to kiss him was strong. Would she dare? This time, she gave in. He wouldn't know anyway. When he'd wake up, he wouldn't remember that for once, Megumi let down her guard and showed him her love for him. Gently, She bent down, resting a hand lightly on his chest and placed her lips on his in a kiss. It was a chaste one, just a mere brush, a slight caress, but that kiss told a lot. Megumi slowly rose, putting that moment in her small chest of wonderful memories. Suddenly, a crash was heard coming from the dojo. Then followed by loud shouts. There was a fight going on! It must be the man who injured Sano. He had come back to get Kenshin. Oh no, her friends might be in trouble! She had to see what was happening. She moved hurriedly to the door. "Me...gu...mi..." She turned. It was Sano and he was awake. "I... heard the noise. Fight..." he said weakly, trying to rise. Megumi went down on her knew telling Sano not to move or his wound would open. "Must help Kenshin..." he insisted. She sighed. Nothing would stop Sagara Sanosuke from helping his best friend. After all, Kenshin helped him changed his life for the better. "Alright," she said. "We'll both see what's happening in the dojo, but you have to go slow, so no running!" "Anything you say, Fox-lady," he quipped with a slight smile on his face. Somehow, she felt relieved about that. It had meant he was doing fine, but he was still weak. She helped Sano up and put his arm around her shoulders She placed her arm around his waist for support. He was heavy, but Megumi was thinking more his closeness, of the feel of him near her. She shook her head. No, her friends might be in trouble. This was not the time for romantic foolishness. She focused instead on how she and Sano would get there in time without causing him any pain. Sano was grateful for Megumi's help. Even in his weak state, he knew that he had to get to the dojo in time. Kenshin would be needing his help. The bastard who almost killed him had extraordinary skills with the sword. He had faith in his friend's capabilities, but still... Besides, he knew that the samurai boy and Jou-chan were already sick with worry over the rurouni. He looked at the woman who was bearing most of his weight. She looked strained yet determined to get to her friends too. Despite the sly-girl attitude she would normally sport, she had a soft, vulnerable side to her. That was one of the things that he loved about Megumi. He sighed. He remembered of dreaming that somebody was kissing him, and in his dream, it was Megumi. It seemed so real that he could still feel the pressure of her lips on his. "Baka," he thought. "This is not the time for your hormones to get all worked up. Your friends need your help." Grimly, silently, the couple made their way to the dojo, casting aside the emotions that were beginning to build up because of their closeness to each other. Maybe someday, they would find the courage to speak up, to tell of their love, but now was not the time. *OWARI* --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- GRAB THE GATOR! FREE SOFTWARE DOES ALL THE TYPING FOR YOU! Tired of filling out forms and remembering passwords? Gator fills in forms and passwords with just one click! Comes with $50 in free coupons! Click Here ------------------------------------------------------------------------