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Patience
Sanosuke saw something that, under normal circumstances, would have been a most welcome sight in the mornings. Megumi walking down the street past his house. Yet, he winced at the sight of her lovely profile. A deep growl escaped his throat as he remembered the previous night at the bar when she’d come in. That WHORE... The vehement thought didn’t help. In fact, it only made him feel worse. He sighed, forcing himself to get out of bed. He sat up and stared across the room. His apartment was sparsely furnished, but he was never here much anyways. He picked up Megumi’s hankerchief, which he’d kept under his pillow normally, except when something bad had happened, then he would hold it to his nose as he slept, breathing in the smell. It wasn’t even a whole hankerchief anymore. He’d ripped it in half in anger when he’d come back home. He hated that woman for making him do something he promised he’d never do. Cry. She actually made him cry. He hadn’t done it in front of anyone; that would create a weakness, a thing to be exploited. He glared towards her as she passed him on the street and wasn’t all together surprised when she paused, glancing at him. Megumi was surprised at the proverbial hatred in that gaze. She frowned, tossing her hair over her shoulder and walking along the street, her hips swaying slightly as she moved. Sano shoved the hanky into his pocket, his face dark as he followed her. He watched her duck into a bar and his eyes darkened even more. He stepped inside and wasn’t all too surprised to see her flirting with a guy at the bar, batting her eyelashes flirtingly. His blood ran cold. How could she... He walked towards the bar, sitting a good distance away from her. He ordered sake and watched her from the corner of his eye. She was standing now, leaning away from someone who was reaching towards her, his hands catching the lapels of her kimono. “LET ME GO!” She finally yelled, her face furious. “Listen, slut, if you want to keep that pretty face of yours perfect, you come with me to the inn, NOW.” The man said calmly. Sano didn’t interfere as the man drug the struggling girl from the bar. Silently, he finished his sake and stood, following the pair from the bar. Megumi trembled with rage as the man forced her down the road. She wouldn’t do this. She’d get away. This bastard wouldn’t touch her...She closed her eyes tightly. Where’s Sanosuke? Probably still at the bar...her logical side said. After all, you were acting like a floozy tonight and this morning. He probably feels this is your just deserts... She felt herself get thrown to the ground and closed her eyes. “Who the fuck are you?” “...” Sanosuke didn’t respond, walking past the man and kneeling beside Megumi. “Get out of here, fox.” He said softly. Her eyes flew wide and she stared up at him. “Sanosuke...” She struggled to her feet, but couldn’t stand. She tenderly felt her ankle, her face pale from pain. “My ankle...” She said softly. He frowned, glaring towards the man. “Then don’t move...” He stood, facing the man, the character for ‘evil’ showing plainly on the back of his gi. “Megumi isn’t a prostitute, ass hole. I wont let you treat a respectable woman like this...” He was angry with her, but he couldn’t let her get hurt. “And who’s going to stop me? You, chicken boy?” Sano cracked his knuckles. “Actually, I was hoping you’d ask that...” He lunged for the man, hitting him in the face. The man caught the blow and carried it through. His eyes widened. He turned, watching the man approaching Megumi. “We aren’t done yet...” He snarled. “Quit trying to play hero, kid. The slut asked for it, acting like such a whore in there...” The man felt five fingers close easily around his throat. “First, I’m not a kid. Second, she’s not a slut. If you lay a finger on her, I’ll snap your neck like a twig...” He smiled a bit coldly. “I can tell you haven’t been around town long, or you’d know she was the town doctor, and I just happen to be one of her friends.” Megumi stared at him in shock. She’d been trying so hard to make him jealous last night, and again this morning. After he’d stormed from the bar yesterday, she was sure he hated her now. She trembled slightly, her eyes ashamed. He didn’t hate her, so she was being deliberately cruel to him. She watched as the man clutched the hands at his throat desperately. “Sano...let him go...” She said softly. She struggled to stand. “Megumi?” He asked, staring at her. “You’re hurting him and I don’t want to be the one who gives him medical attention later...” Her ankle gave out and she began to collapse, but two steady hands caught her. She looked up and was surprised to see concerned, gentle brown eyes staring down at her. “Daijobu?” He asked softly. “I...I can’t walk...” She said softly. He knelt before her, pulling her arms around his neck and scooping her up onto his back as he carried her towards the clinic. He ignored the wheezing man in the alley, his eyes concerned for the slender, well-formed woman on his back. “Arigato...” Megumi said softly, her cheek resting against his shoulder. He smelled good, a little musky, but deffinately male smell. She sighed softly, her eyes sad. “And...I’m sorry...for last night...” He closed his eyes, smiling a bit as he entered the clinic. He noticed the darkness inside and frowned. “Where’s the doc?” He asked softly. “Oh...I’m covering the clinic today...” She blushed, burying her face into his back. “On that foot?” He asked softly, setting her down on a bed and frowned at her. He saw the downcast look on her face and kicked himself. “Look, I’ll give you a hand, alright?” He asked softly, smiling a bit. Her eyes widened. “A...Aa...” She said, smiling back, finally. “For your first patient, you need to go get that linen and to TIGHTLY wrap her foot so it wont move. It’s just a sprain, hopefully.” She said calmly. He nodded, walking to a cubbord and pulling out a roll. He knelt before her, taking her food and tugging her shoe off. He saw how swollen her ankle was and winced. “If I’d gotten there sooner...” He said softly, his eyes angry with himself. She jumped in surprise at the accusation in his voice. “Sanosuke, I’m almost glad this happened...” She looked down at him and hesitantely caressed his wild hair. She saw his eyes widen and smiled fondly. “Doshite?” He whispered, looking up at her as he tied off the bandage. He saw the smile and his heart sped up slightly. “Kitsune-onna?” He asked softly. She smiled into his face gently, her fingers caressing his cheek lightly. “I am...” She felt tears gather in her eyes. “Because...by showing up, you proved you don’t hate me, even though I was always such a total bitch to you and...” She trembled slightly. “I’m sorry...” She whispered. He pulled a chair over next to the bed and stared into her face. “Megumi?” “I...I was trying to make you jealous...at the bar...even with Ken-san...I...I like the attention...” She bit her lip and looked away. “Gomen nasai...” “Megumi...” He smiled a bit. “You succeeded...” He said softly, smiling at the shock in her face. “I got jealous. I got angry, too...” He gently took her hands, looking at them. “But I don’t hate you...I will never hate you, Meg...” He held both of her hands in one of his and used his free one to brush the hair from her face. Megumi blushed, looking away slightly. “S-Sano...” He moved over to the bed, sitting beside her and pulling her against his chest. “I can’t hate you, Meg...” He murmered against her hair. “I can’t, because I love you too much...” He ran his thumb along her jawbone to her chin where he tilted her face up. “Meg...” He murmered, seeing the tears on her cheeks. He gently brushed his lips across them, kissing the tears away. She bit her lip, her face pink. “I love you...” She whispered. She looked into his warm eyes and trembled slightly. “I love you, too...” He stared at her a moment before leaning down and placing his lips over hers, kissing her lightly. When her lips pressed against his, returning the kiss, he buried his fingers into her hair, sliding his tounge between her parted lips. When he pulled back slowly, she was flushed pink, her eyes shining, her lips parted, her breath coming in rasps. “There’s my fox...” He murmered softly. She smiled caressing his face lightly and leaning against him, waiting for the first patients to arrive for the day.
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