I Could Fall In Love

Note: This takes place a few weeks after 'In Another's Eyes.'

Late night at the Akabeko. The waitresses and other workers were busily trying to clean, eager to return home.

[I could lose my heart tonight]

Tae, after giving instructions to a new worker, looked toward a booth at the back of the restaurant and sighed.

[If you don't turn and walk away]

Slowly, she made her way to the dim corner.

['Cause the way I feel I might]

Reaching the booth, she peered in to see Sanosuke staring at an empty sake bottle with a blank expression on his face.

[Lose control and let you stay]

She cleared her throat to make her presence known. He looked up at her for a moment with the same blank countenance and then asked, "Would you like to join me for another?"

['Cause I could take you in my arms]

Tae thought about the restaurant's closing but one look at his lost face and she just could not make him leave.

[And never let go]

Nodding, she took his empty bottle and went to the kitchen to refill it. She murmured "goodnight"s to the staff as they finished their tasks and left.

[I could fall in love with you]

As Tae left the now-dimly lit kitchen, she noticed that the only other light in the building was coming from a lantern hanging next to Sano's booth.

[I could fall in love with you]

Settling down across from him, Tae refilled his cup. Sano brought the small cup of warm liquid to his lips and slowly drew it in.

[I can only wonder how]

Leaving a few drops of the precious liquid in the bottom of the cup, he set it down on the table and mumbled, "You didn't bring one for yourself." Tae just nodded as he refilled the cup by himself. She could see the shakiness of his strong hand as he unsteadily poured the sake.

[Touching you would make me feel]

Sano startled her by offering the brimming cup. Blushing slightly ('Not that he could notice in this lighting,' she reassured herself.) Tae accepted the indirect kiss on the cup.

[But if I take that chance right now]

She thought back to the several other times, over the past few weeks, that they had sat at this table late at night drinking sake together. Since Megumi had left.

[Tomorrow will you want me still]

The same night Kaoru had told her of Megumi's departure, Sano had shown up to have a meal on his tab. Tae had taken it upon herself to wait on him personally and brought him his favorites. But, he had hardly touched them.

[So I should keep this to myself]

He just sat, slowly sipping warm sake and staring at the wall.

[And never let you know]

This worried her more than anything because she knew that his usual reaction ought to be yelling or wanting to hit something. So, she surreptitiously stole glances at him throughout the night.

[I could fall in love with you]

It tore at her heart to see him like this. All of his vitality stripped away as the result of a single action. She had felt that vitality from the first moment she had met him when he had caught her and then protected her and her restaurant from those drunken men. She had felt it whenever she casually touched his hand when giving him food and drink or when she 'accidentally' stumbled while near him and he would catch her. Then, he had been with Megumi... but...

[I could fall in love with you]

So, when, after closing and all of the crew was leaving, he had asked her to stay and have a drink with him, what could she do?

[And I know it's not right]

She could deny him nothing. Not food and certainly not her company when he had requested it.

[And I guess I should try to do what I should do]

Not that he knew that or that she would let him know that. No matter how much she wanted it, no matter how right it seemed to her heart, she had to consider him.

[But I could fall in love, fall in love with you]

He should be with someone young... vivacious... able to match his vicious energy with her own... not some old maid restaurant keeper.

[I could fall in love with you]

But, somewhere in her heart, she could not give up the hope, however slight, that maybe...

[Siempre estoy sonando en ti]

Her thoughts were interrupted by Sano clearing his throat and beginning to speak.

[Besando mis labios, acariciando mi piel]

"You probably think that I'm a complete idiot... getting all mopey and depressed just because... she left." He did not give her a chance to answer, simply continued on with what he was saying.

[Abrazandome con ansias locas]

"But I loved her and I thought she felt the same. I know that me and her never really concreted our relationship but I thought..."

[Imaginando que me amas]

Looking down at his lap, he mumbled, "That's what I get for thinking."

[Como yo podia amar a ti.]

"You're probably tired of bein' around me... sorry to bug ya." With that, he moved to rise.

[So I should keep this to myself]

Tae watched him deliver his speech, pain for him tearing at her heart. When Sano started to get up, she knew she had to do something to keep him from leaving.

[And never let you know]

So, she put her small hand over his large one as he braced against the table to help himself stand. When he felt the warmth of her touch, so gentle yet so insistent, Sano turned his head to look at her face.

[I could fall in love with you]

Tae could feel the blush rise to her cheeks when he looked at her.

[I could fall in love with you]

"It's really no trouble at all," she murmured while offering him a weak smile.

[I could fall in love]

Giving his hand a tender squeeze, she continued. "I enjoy this time with you."

[I could fall in love]

Sano looked at her with mild shock written on his face. After a moment of standing in his half-crouch, he moved himself to sit back down.

[With you...]

Quietly, Tae refilled the glass with the now-cooled sake.

Owari?

Burn baby, burn! Disclaimer inferno! Anyway, I don't own the characters or the song... if you sue me, all you'll get is some Beanie Babies and lemon-scented candles... (you can have my cat if you want though!)

Author's Notes: Yay! Break out the sparkling apple cider! I accomplished my goal, set waaaay back in February, to set up Misao/Soujiro, Aoshi/Megumi, and Sano/Tae couples. It worked! It worked! It worked! And I thought I couldn't do it...^_^ I know that you guys would rather see Misao and Sou-chan's wedding and I wanted to work on some other projects but Chiriko is being a little punk right now and won't let me work on what I want to... Meanwhile, this fic is brought to you by my new Robin T-shirt and green shorts, my 'Mouto-chan (who said I was being mean to Sano before), and the ants currently invading my room. Let me know what you think!