Hangover by flori-dono
Disclaimer: 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.

II

(Two weeks later...)

"Hello?" Kaoru asked as she stepped inside the clinic. "Anybody here? Megumi?"
She needed to ask for some bandages since Suzume tripped and grazed knee. She 
tried the clinic and saw Megumi staring into space... again.

"She's been doing that a lot more these days," she thought.

Megumi sighed. How could she hide her condition to everyone? It was a week ago 
when she finally confirmed that she was with child. In two more months, 
everybody would notice her now growing tummy. And what about the father of the 
child?

Oh sure, he had kept his promise and stayed away from her ever since they had 
the talk that night. Everytime, they would cross paths, they would just ignore 
each other as if the other does not exist at all. Somehow it made things easier. 
But it was just like sweeping the dirt under the rug. It may be out of sight but 
the dirt's still there. 

They may ignore it but the thing between them wasn't still resolved. It's hard 
to admit it, but Megumi regretted saying those things to Sano. She knew that 
Sano was already revealing his feelings to her that night and what did she do? 
She rejected him and his love. Knowing Sano, he wasn't the type who would assert 
himself where he wasn't wanted. 

Oh Megumi you fool! 

"Megumi?"

Megumi turned her head to the direction of the voice. It was Kaoru. 

Kaoru, though pretty much curious held her tongue for the moment and just stated 
her business. 

Megumi smiled weakly and got her the bandages. 

Kaoru thanked her and hesitated at the door before leaving. 

"Megumi," she said. "I know we've never been that close. But I just want you to 
know that you're already like a sister to me, even if it seldom shows. If you 
need to talk, I'll gladly be there to listen."

Megumi was touched. She took Kaoru's hand and squeezed it.

"Domo arigatou," she said. "I will, I just need some time."

Kaoru smiled and went on her way.

Megumi shook her head to stop the fresh tears from flowing.

"I need a walk," she thought. 

She wrote a note to the Doctor explaining she would be back in an hour before 
securing the place.

She just started to walk, not caring where she was going. She just wanted to 
clear her mind, so she could think rationally about her child's future.

She smiled. A child, she was going to have a baby! At first, she was practically 
disgruntled over the idea of raising a child, but she wouldn't just have it 
aborted. She wasn't that kind of a person. This child was a part of hers. And 
besides, why would she involve an innocent being to her problems? It was her 
fault anyway. If she didn't get drunk, then she wouldn't have gotten herself in 
a very compromising situation. She couldn't actually blame everything on Sano, 
since she was the one who seduced him, although not intentionally. 

"It always comes back to Sano," she thought. "How would he react if he finds out 
about the baby?"

Now that was the real problem. 

"Should I tell him?" she asked herself. "Perhaps...perhaps not... Oh, dammit! I 
hate it when I can't decide!"

She stopped suddenly in her tracks. It felt like somebody was watching her. She 
looked up and she felt time froze, as she gazed directly into the eyes of Sagara 
Sanosuke.

***
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 hard 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.

"Domou 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 get so weak 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."

"No..."

"Yes! I would marry you," he repeated.

She smirked. 

"And why?"

"Because," he said. "I don't want any child of mine be born a bastard. I want to 
give that child my name, because even how hard you try to deny it, I'm still its 
father. I can feel it Meg, I know!"

She laughed bitterly at that. 

"And what Sano?" she said. "What if you marry me? What kind of life will you be 
able to provide us? You can't even look after yourself! You're indolent and 
happy-go-lucky! You don't even have a job! How will you be able to support us? 
By gambling... brawling in the streets? What kind of future would you be able to 
give this child? And you want to give it your name... That's all you can give 
Sano, that's all you can give!"

Sano smashed his fist against the wall.

"Damn you Megumi!" he yelled. His eyes were shut; it was obvious that he was 
controlling his temper. He opened his eyes slowly then turned towards her. Her 
breath caught as she saw pain in the brown orbs staring at her. 

She turned her head away, suddenly afraid that she would just cry and break down 
in front of him.

"You don't pull any punches do you?" he said softly. "You call me indolent... 
what would you call yourself? You're selfish. You don't want to marry me but 
have you thought of the consequences of bringing this child to the world without 
a father? Do you want everybody to look down on him? Because being a bastard 
sucks!"

"And how would you know?"

He looked at her squarely in the eyes. 

"Because I am one..."

She gasped. She wasn't expecting that. 

"Look Meg, this is pointless. Just put it in your head. You... Will... Marry me! 
Whether you like it or not..."

Sano looked at her then sighed. 

"Damn it Megumi, don't look like that!" he said in a tired tone. He reached out 
his hand to touch her but pulled it back again, clenching it to his side and 
turning his back to her again. "I'm going but I'll be coming back, be sure of 
it. Think about what I said... sleep on it if you must. Ja..."
 
She stared at the open door. She felt warm droplets on her hand. One by one her 
tears started to fall. Sano...

It only went to show how little she knew of him. She buried her face in her 
arms.

Sleep it over? Did he think sleeping on it would be enough? This wasn't just a 
dice game; this wasn't just about luck. This was a lifetime commitment.

But did she? Did she really want to marry him?

Yes she wanted to. She wanted to be with him all her life. She wanted him to be 
the last person she'd be with before she'd sleep, and the first person she'd see 
when she'd wake up.

"Marry me..."

"Is that all?" she whispered.  "Don't you want to marry me because you love me?" 

But how could you ask him of that when for sure he must hate you. After 
rejecting him, do you still expect that he loves you? Any affection he might 
have had for you would've disappeared by now. You know it hurts, but it's true!

She didn't mean saying those things to him. Goodness, she didn't need riches; 
being with him was enough. But how could things work out between the two of them 
when all they'd do is argue.

She sniffled. All the crying was making her head ache. She was so tired. She lay 
down on the cot again and closed her eyes. Yes, maybe she should sleep on it. 
Perhaps by tomorrow, she'd find the answer. 

But it was a long time before she was asleep.

***
"Sano?" Kaoru squinted in the darkness, not sure if the shadow lurking at their 
backyard was really their friend.

"Konbanwa Kaoru," he said, stepping into the light. "Is Kenshin home?" 

She nodded, unable to speak. This was a subdued Sano. It was either he lost in 
gambling again or it was because of Megumi. Kaoru thought it was the latter. 
Everything had been pretty screwed up lately. It was never the same since her 
birthday party.

"Kenshin," she called. "Sano's here!"

"Arigatou," he said, sitting on the porch beside her. 

This was definitely new. Kaoru couldn't believe it.

"Have you eaten?" she asked, she couldn't even believe herself. 

Sano didn't even look up from his musings. "Iie..."

Kaoru sighed. She started this, might as well go through with it. She stood up. 

"I'll just go get some food," she said. "Don't worry, Kenshin cooked."

She shook her head as she saw Sano's lips made an effort to smile. 

"Those baka!" she said to herself. She wanted to shake them hard. Heck, she even 
wanted to hit them on the head with her bokken. Perhaps, the drastic action 
would put some sense in their stubborn heads.

She met Kenshin at the door. They exchanged knowing looks.

"I'll just get him dinner," she told him. "He said he hadn't eaten yet."

"Konbanwa Sano-san," Kenshin greeted.

Sano raised his hand in return. 

"Kenshin..." he began. "I'm certain everybody knows what happened between Meg 
and me."

"Hai," Kenshin said. "Are you bothered by that? We, er, understand Sano."

"Iie," he shook his head. "It's not that. I would be a hypocrite if I said that 
I never wanted it to happen. Kenshin, the only thing I regret about it was that 
I could've chosen a better time and place. I guess, I dishonored her in a way. 
You probably knew from the start that I love the Kitsune. I would never do 
anything to hurt her... in any kind of way. Demo..."

His words stalled. Kenshin looked at his friend. He had never seen him like 
this. Even during the episode with Katsu, when Sano decided to fight him, he was 
never this affected. Perhaps it takes love to distraught a man. Kami-sama knew 
it was true, even for him.

"Gomen," Kaoru said as she entered. "Here's your dinner Sano."

She lay the tray beside Sano. She was about to get up again so that she could 
leave the two in their conversation, when she felt Sano's hand on her arm.

"Stay, Jou-chan..." he said. "I would appreciate it if you would help me on this 
one too."

"Ha-hai..." she said, slowly sitting down once more beside Kenshin.

Sano didn't touch the food. Instead, he continued.

"Has she told you anything Jou-chan?" he asked.

"We haven't talked much in the past few days. She seemed quiet for months now."

Sano sighed. 

"I need your help," he said. "I know she hasn't told anybody yet and I'm sure 
she wouldn't want the information to come from me. But... kuso! It concerns me 
too."

He paused.

"She's pregnant," he said softly. "And I'm the child's father..."

Kaoru gasped. Sano and Megumi... a child? She shouldn't be surprised; she knew 
what happened between the two. But still... she glanced at Sano. She could see 
that he must have known the fact by accident. Knowing Megumi, she probably hid 
it from him. She even hid it from them. She was pained at that. Didn't she trust 
her enough to confide in her? 

"Kaoru..." she scolded herself. "Think! The girl's probably as messed up as him. 
How could you expect her to just be happy about it and tell you everything."

Kenshin wasn't as surprised as Kaoru. He knew about the possibility. He glanced 
at the girl beside him. A child...

"Baka!" he reprimanded himself. "You shouldn't go think things like that. Your 
friend needs you!"

But still, he couldn't help but feel envious. 

"So what are you going to do about it?" Kenshin asked his friend.

He looked up. He looked tired and haggard. He seemed old all of a sudden. 

"He seemed more mature," Kenshin thought.

"I asked her to marry me. But she refused. I told her to think it over. I'm 
willing to give her some time. But there's only one answer I'd like to hear from 
her and I want it to be a yes."

"So how could we help you?" Kaoru asked. "I'm afraid if it would be to convince 
her, I think we can't help you with that. Megumi is really stubborn." 

"She's right," Kenshin agreed. 

"No, it's not that" Sano said. It was a long time before he was able to say 
anything. And when he did, his voice cracked.

"She told me I couldn't... couldn't provide enough for her and the child if she 
did marry me. It hurts coming from her, but it hurts more because it's the 
truth. I... I want to change, Kaoru... Kenshin. I want to prove to her that I 
can. That I can be responsible if I want to. That I can provide for her and our 
child's needs. I just want to ask for help. I want to find a job. Because you 
know what I've been through, what my past really was. I don't want that child to 
grow up without a father."

Kenshin nodded. But he needed to know one more thing.

"Sano, I'd just like to ask you one question. Is that your only reason why you 
wanted to marry Megumi, to give your child a name?"

This time, Sano looked at them directly. 

"No," he said simply. "It is because I love her."

Kaoru felt that she would cry. Kenshin was glad at his answer.

"I know someplace where we can go," he said. 

"Arigatou Kenshin," he said. "and to you too Kaoru, thanks for listening."

"Iie," she said wiping the tears in her eyes. "It was nothing..."

She stood up, leaving Sano with his food. An idea was forming in her mind.

Kenshin stayed with Sano, watching the young man eat.

"I know you won't like this idea initially," Kenshin said. "But it's the only 
thing I could think of."

"Look  Kenshin, I'm already in debted to you for my life. I'd still be even in 
the after life. Please, I can take it."

Kenshin smiled. "Okay, if this is what you really want."

"I do, promise."

"You see, Saitoh  has been stationed here in Tokyo."

Sano frowned.

"He came here and asked me if I still wanted to use my 'abilities' by working 
for him as a spy. I refused. He called me an idiot but didn't push. He must have 
known I was already a lost cause but he did anyway. I guess he had an idea of me 
passing on the information to you. He was just too proud to ask help from you."

Sano smiled. He knew the policeman from way back. If there was one man with so 
much arrogance, it was Saitoh Hajime.
 
"I'll go to the station first thing in the morning,' he said. "Thanks for your 
help."

Kenshin waved his thanks off. "I'll accompany you."

"Hai," Sano responded. "Arigatou."

He stood up, dishes in hand. 

"The least I can do is wash these... " Sano replied.

"Oro?" 

On to chapter 3