"Somewhere Between Love and Friendship" a Sano/Megumi songfic By Tochi-san Music by: Wang Yu Nee Original Chinese Lyrics by: Huang Ann English Translations by: Tochi-san Disclaimer: standard disclaimers apply... **** setting: New Year's party at the Akabeko. Lanterns are strewn all over the town square, the evening a bustle of sweet aromas and joyous laughter. Robust crowds fill the streets, packing stores and booths, the Akabeko being the center of all activity. *the music starts* A lonesome Sanosuke wanders through the masses, his face a picture of boredom despite the obvious celebration around him. [Tender passion, too much of who's-right-who's-wrong] He smiles as he spies Kenshin and Kaoru arm in arm as they share a bowl of noodles, peals of laughter resonating from where they sat watching a group of children play. Kaoru, wearing a stunning lavender kimono, looks up from her meal and waves to Sano. Sano smiles and waves back. His smile fades into an expression of wonder as he spies Megumi through the crowds. [If we want to love we should, why wait until it's too late?] Megumi glances at a display of roses wistfully. Her kimono glows a deep mahogany, bordered with saffron-colored flowers, her hair tied back neatly in a braid. Sano can only stare back in quiet admiration. [In the cruel, heartless world, I shed a tear.] She leans forward to sniff the roses... [And do you know for whom it's for?] Her eyes close as she takes in the honeyed scent. [We use the way of love when we meet] Sano cautiously approaches her from behind. [Don't you think that's a little risky?] He clasps his hands over her eyes playfully. Megumi pouts her lips, reaches behind and tickles Sano's stomach. Sano releases his hold in bouts of laughter allowing Megumi to step out of his reach. [You work on making up your appearance] Megumi gently brushes the bangs out of her face, surprised to see him. She taps his balled up form in light concern. He is still recovering from laughter. [I work on making up for my faults] The best he can do is give her a goofy thumbs up. [I get close to you and I fear people behind will point and stare] Megumi rolls her eyes and darts away. [My feelings for you are somewhere between loving and liking] Sano watches in disappointment as the flashes of gold on her kimono fade into a sea of bright colors. Determined, he trudges forward, pushing through the joyful celebration. [We use the way of friendship when we meet] Amidst the hubbub, Megumi sips her tea quietly at the Akabeko, the one loner in a restaurant full of parties. She looks up, startled, as Sano plops himself into the seat across from her. As much as she dreaded his company, she smiles pleasantly, willing to accept anything to rid her of her loneliness. [Don't you think that's a little hypocritical?] She and Sano share a holiday complimentary plate of yakitori as they chat and exchange jokes. Megumi finds herself taking pleasure in Sano's company, laughing at his endless pranks and enjoying her New Year's. [I love raining kisses on you face] Megumi talks and Sano can do nothing but gaze at her, wallowing in his luck. Her charming liveliness enchants him, a treat as she rarely acted freely around anyone. As he listens, his eyes travel from the dark piercing eyes to her full red lips. [And don't you think that's crossing the line of friendship?] She breaks into laughter and he can't help but smile broadly. Megumi's smile fades into a frown as a group of rowdy men approach the dining couple. Sano immediately recognize them as men he had previously fought with this earlier morning. The drunks noisily demand a rematch and lounge around their table, unwilling to leave. By now most of the restaurant is staring. Sano, seeing Megumi's uneasiness, tries to talk them out of it as best he can. This only increases the audience, much to Megumi's dismay. [Your mother's always advising you not to fool around with me] Sano glances sheepishly at an expressionless Megumi. One of the men runs his hands along Megumi's neck suggestively and she slaps it away, causing a sea of gasps and murmurs from spectators. [And your friend's always asking what it is you actually see in me!] Glaring at Sano, she gets up from her seat and storms out of the restaurant, leaving Sano wide-eyed and speechless at the table. Forgetting about everything else at the moment, he calls out to her makes a mad dash out into the streets. [Could it be that, when they open their mouths the world spills from it?] He glances around anxiously for any sign of her from the doorway, seeing nothing, hearing nothing but the festive celebration going on around him. He catches a familiar glimpse of gold flowers through the waves and plunges into the tide without a second thought. [I take a single step towards you and it transforms into a journey] Snowflakes begin to fall from the sky, raining, sugar-like, on the world below. Sano feels his breath become ragged as he desperately pushes his way through watching in dread as the mahogany silk slowly fades from his view. [When you're together with me, we're happy beyond our tears] He halts in the middle of the street, his attempt to catch her in vain. There is nothing before him but the endless stream of soft white flakes. Gloomy in defeat, he turns around and walks away. [Don't you think that's going beyond hypocrisy?] As he passes, he notices a familiar booth he had visited earlier that day... [Tender passion, too much of who's-right-who's-wrong] Back at the clinic, a disheartened Megumi unfastens her braid in front of the mirror, watching as the mane of ebony tumbles down her shoulders. Sadly, she reaches out and trails her fingers down her reflection. [If we want to love we should, why wait until it's too late?] There's a short knock on the door. Megumi whirls around in surprise, then, curious, hurries to the door and unlocks it. There, lying in the snow on her doorstep, is a bouquet of roses. [In the cruel, heartless world, I shed a tear. ] Megumi reaches down and picks them up without a word. She buries her face in the corsage. The sweet scent of honey. Hopeful, she gazes down the path to entrance to the gate. [And do you know for whom it's for?] There is no one. She continues to stare out into the glowing streets as the New Year bells begin to toll... *the music fades* THE END **** This is the first part ot my New Years songfic series. Next up, the wonderful Aoshi/Misao!!! *_* ________________________________________________ Get your own "800" number - Free Free voicemail, fax, email, and a lot more http://www.ureach.com