Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ As Time Goes By ❯ The Meiji Style Dating Game ( Chapter 4 )

Well, I'm finally delving into the abyss....I mean of course, that I am attempting to realistically write about the process of two people getting to know one and other. I can promise you one thing, right now. If you're looking for the a defenseless, dewy eyed virginal woman swooning over a virile, robust man....*snorts* well, this probably isn't the story for you. The two main female characters (Kaoru and Mara) are complex, intelligent and wonderfully messed up human beings as are their male counterparts (Kenshin and Sanosuke). The common threads that bind these people together is their inherent desire to be loved, the pain of having lost someone that they adored, and the fear that despite their best intentions and efforts, they will lose the person that they love best. (I think that all of us, especially in such troubled times, can relate to these characters as we struggle to keep those we love safe and secure....)

AS TIME GOES BY

Chapter Four

The Meiji Era Dating Game (Part One)

(Now why does that man seem so familiar?) Dr. Genzai readjusted his thin wire spectacles and squinted his bleary eyes tightly in an effort to see better. (Well, I'll be a battosai's brother in law....)

"Sanosuke!" He warbled out towards the street, gesturing that the tall, dark haired man come inside the clinic compound. "You wild haired rascal, quit loitering around the mulberry bushes and come share a little cup of "tea" with a senile old man ."

"If you're senile, then I'm a candidate for a Buddhist monastery!" Sano barked happily as his long strides quickly closed the distance between himself and the slight, grinning physician, a man whom Sano had long regarded as his unofficial grandfather (Thank the Gods he's glad to see me....after the day I've had, a friendly face is a sight for sore eyes!)

"Now..now....stand back and let me have a good look at you!" Dr. Genzai craned his neck back and gazed proudly at the younger man, taking in the additional three or four inches of height and forty extra pounds of muscle that adulthood had graced upon the ex-gangster. (The boy's as healthy as a tiger....looks like he managed to survive his adventures in the world without too much mishap!)

"Bless my soul, I thought I'd never see you again!"

Sano grinned at the old man's age defying exuberance and patted his friend on the back, being mindful not to accidentally knock the unsteady physician over. "That makes two of us Doc." He stepped away and surveyed the changes that a six and a half year absence had wrought. The man had aged tremendously, his once erect posture now bowed and thin from obvious ill health. (Still, the guy's as feisty as ever....some things never change) Sighing at the unspoken thought, Sanosuke followed the teetering physician into the thick walled clinic, then stopped and looked around, his eyes widening.

(And some things do.....this place looks completely different!) White, cracked plaster walls were now painted a soft yellow hue, making the waiting room seem warm and inviting, more like the inside of someone's home than a stuffy medical building. There were vases of flowers...wild flowers to be exact....situated throughout the building, giving the spotless interior a well needed dose of color and vibrancy, filling the air with the sweet, subtle scents of chrysanthemum, honeysuckle, and tiger lilies. Sanosuke leaned over a particularly beautiful arrangement and inhaled deeply, finding the smell to be wonderfully relaxing.

"I assume our efforts at redecorating meet with you approval?" Dr. Genzai asked proudly, his little black eyes twinkling with good humor as Sano nodded. "I have to agree with you....Mara's little project has done wonders for both patient morale and the bottom line." He chuckled and carefully repositioned several pamphlets on sanitation that were askew.

Dr. Mogensen did this?" Sano couldn't keep the incredulous tone from his voice. He ran a calloused finger over delicate yellow petals and tried to imagine the perpetually cynical and restrained woman being responsible for such warmth and beauty. "Somehow she doesn't strike me as the flower arranging type."

"You'd be surprised." Dr. Genzai quipped as they made his way into his office, a small brightly lit room that was crammed from floor to ceiling with books, beakers and tangy spice bottles. "My partner is really quite resourceful." He chuckled at the understatement and began rummaging through several filing cabinets, muttering darkly when he realized that the aforementioned woman had once again managed to find his stash of sake and confiscate it. "...not to mention bossy, foulmouthed, mal-tempered and sneakier than a boatload of weasels." Dr. Genzai huffed indignantly, then resumed searching, this time looking behind several large canisters labeled "leeches". "Ah-ha! Good thing this old man has a few tricks up his sleeve!" He turned towards Sanosuke and proudly held up a dusty bottle of sake. "Now we can have a proper cup of "tea" together and discuss your adventures."

Sano tried not to laugh as he watched the old man carefully pull out two sake bowls (hidden in a hollowed out book) and with an impish wink, tip toed over to the door and quietly slid it shut, his half guilty- half excited countenance reminding Sanosuke of a small child sneaking candied ginger from his mother's kitchen.

"She's that bad huh?" He sat down in a well worn chair and stretched his long legs out in front of him.

"Mara?" Dr. Genzai looked up from pouring his treasured clandestine sake and grinned. "Oh yes, the woman is impossible." He lifted the sake bowl and took a tentative sip....then drained the bowl and sighed happily, his black eyes twinkling."It's a good thing I convinced her to come work with me....just to keep an eye on her of course."

"Of course." Sanosuke nodded indulgently, finding the old man's gruff affection for his new partner to be endearing. He took his bowl and slowly drank, relishing the silky smooth liquor. (Ahhh...I've missed the taste of Japanese sake..nothing even comes close)

"So what brings you back to Tokyo?" Dr. Genzai asked as he poured himself and his guest another bowl.

"I don't know...perhaps a slight case of homesickness?" Sano smirked wryly. "To be honest with you, I just got a hankering to see how Kenshin and Kaoru were...I just wanted to make sure they were happy..." He frowned and put the sake bowl down then turned towards the window, suddenly pensive. (Gods....who would have thought that those two would be having problems...) He frowned as looked out at a wild cherry tree, laden with abandoned bitter fruit. Of all the couples he'd ever known, the slight red head and feisty blue eyed kendo instructor were the last he would have pegged for marital difficulties. It had been the downright dreariness in Kaoru's demeanor that had thrown him for a loop, that and the omnipresent guilt that seemed to hang over Kenshin like a shroud, blocking out the light in his violet eyes, making his friend seem almost.....old.

(Knock it off! The man's just doing what he thinks is right...besides, it's not any of my business...) Sano frowned again, then forced himself to relax and smile as he lifted the sake bowl to his lips, no longer really tasting the crisp liquid. (Dammit, I just wanted them to be happy....) He'd been crushed when he found out how difficult the past few years had been for them, especially for his little miss. (What in the hell was Kenshin thinking?) It had been a test of his will not to try and pummel the man into the ground after Yahiko had revealed to him the true extent of Kaoru's hardship, especially the part about the poor woman losing her baby....and very nearly her life. Thankfully, Kaoru had been spared and was slowly recovering, thanks to the crackpot of a doctor who was now living in the dojo.

"I know that you're very worried about the Himura's." Dr. Genzai said kindly, his face mirroring the deep concern that Sano felt. "Still, things could have turned out much worse...."He frowned remembering just how close he'd come to losing the tiny woman who was like a daughter to him. (Kenshin was granted a second chance with his family...I hope in the name of the Gods that he chooses a different path this time...)

"Is Kaoru....is she going to recover?" Sano asked, his throat tight.

"In time." Dr. Genzai's voice was reassuring. "You have to remember Sanosuke, that the injures to Kaoru's mind and heart are far more difficult to treat than the side effects that the typhoid wreaked on her body." He rose from his chair and walked over to the window, leaning heavily against the cool plaster coated wall. "Luckily, she's in very good hands. "

"So I've heard." Sano smiled slightly. "From what Yahiko tells me, you managed to find one hell of a doctor to help out here at the clinic."

"Hmph!" Dr. Genzai sniffed at the understatement. "Sanosuke, I've been practicing medicine for nearly fifty years. In all my life I've never encountered such a remarkable physician nor met someone with such an uncanny ability to treat and predict the onset of disease." He turned from his vantage point and sighed deeply. "It's almost a shame to waste such a delightfully sharp mind with this menial clinic... with her talents the woman could practically go anywhere and have a financially lucrative career."

"So why doesn't she?" Sano mumbled as he downed his third bowl, wondering why Dr. Genzai seemed so hell bent on pointing out Mara Mogensen's good points (Please don't let this be some half assed attempt at setting us up.....Gods, just what I don't need to deal with, another mal-tempered female doctor...one was quite enough, than you very much!) He smiled thinly and reached for the sake bottle.

"It's because of Kenji....She's staying here because she promised the boy that she'd look after his mother." Dr. Genzai took off his glasses and ran a shaky hand over his eyes. "Honestly, who ever heard of such a thing...a person throwing their professional career away over a promise made to a hyperactive five year old....It's like I told you, the woman is impossible." He sniffled slightly, and wondered if old age really was making him as sentimental as his two granddaughters's insinuated.

"Knock ! Knock ! Knock !"

Both men looked up as a low but decidedly feminine voice filtered through the rice paper panel. "Dr. Genzai? I made some tea and was wondering if you'd like some."

Dr. Genzai's eyes widened until they were the size of the forbidden sake bowls. "Hurry, hide the evidence!" He hissed at Sanosuke, throwing the sake bottle at the startled man. "If she catches us in here with this stuff we're dead men!"

(Oh sure, he gets to hide the dinky little sake bowls and I'm left with a gigantic bottle....how typical!) Sano looked around desperately for a place to hide the sake bottle, his brown eyes narrowing with annoyance as he watched his co-conspirator shove the sake bowls behind a potted geranium, frantically trying to reassure the woman behind the rice panel that he was up to his ears in incredibly pressing matters of health.

"Would you like me to come back when you're a little less busy?" The voice asked again, her mellow tone betraying a hint of sarcasm that made Dr. Genzai's left eyeball twitch nervously.

"No, no, we wouldn't want you to think that we were hiding anything....because we're not of course...being the upright and honest men that we are.....isn't that right Sanosuke?" He tittered slightly as the tall man threw his head back and promptly drank the remaining sake in one rather impressive gulp, then chucked the offending bottle out the window.

"Dammit, Genzai you owe me one!" Sano growled as he stumbled back to his chair, already regretting the hangover that he knew he was going to have in a matter of hours.

"Yes, of course....I'm in your debt!" Dr. Genzai whispered as he hastily popped a piece of toffee in his mouth, hoping like crazy that the western sweet would mask the scent of sake on his breath (Can't be too careful...the woman is devilishly clever....)

"Ready or not, on the count of three, I'm coming in....One...Two...." The door opened and Mara Mogensen poked her head inside. "Three." She fought the urge to grin as her nostrils picked up the faint but unmistakable scent of high grade sake. (That sneaky little man...) "I brought you a special blend of tea, perhaps you'd like to sweeten it with some soy milk or honey?" Mara smiled brightly as the old man demurely declined, her voice becoming silky as she continued, the warmth in her voice belying the absolutely chilly cast to her stormy grey eyes. "No? Perhaps you'd prefer something stronger....some sake perhaps?"

"What?....How did you....Ah, I mean, what are you thinking?" Dr. Genzai shook a finger at the tall woman, determined not to get caught. "You know perfectly well that I've sworn off the stuff...what with my heart and all."

"Of course you have." Mara crooned as she carefully placed the tea set on the desk. "Why only a complete idiot would be so stupid as to risk another heart attack by being foolish enough to drink when he knew damn well that any form of alcohol reacts badly with his heart medication."

Genzai mumbled something under his breath that sounded distinctly like "Gods, what a tyrannical woman" and forced himself to smile brightly, hoping that he'd managed to fool his protege yet again. "Yes, only an idiot would do such a reprehensible thing...." His solemn statement was interrupted by a rather impressive hiccup.

"Yes, only an idiot." Mara repeated as she poured a cup of fragrant tea, then turned and silently offered it to Sanosuke, her expression unreadable.

"Thanks." He took the teacup and gingerly took a sip of the dark liquid, then looked up. "What's in this stuff?" Sano sniffed the tea carefully, smelling within the whisps of vapor the unmistakable traces of peppermint, then took another small taste....and found to his surprise, and his already queasy stomach's relief that the strange tea blend was making him feel less blitzed than he knew he should be.

"A bit of this and that." Mara's voice was barely audible as she poured herself a cup of tea and gracefully sat down in the chair next to him. "I've found that among other things, it's quite useful in preventing...oh, how should I phrase this...the unfortunate effects of excessive alcohol consumption." She blithely sipped her tea, ignoring Sanosuke's wide grin and Dr. Genzai's neurotic little giggle.

(Damn, this gal is one cool player....) Sano glanced over at the deceptively serene woman sitting beside him and couldn't help but be impressed. (She knows we've been drinking and isn't even batting one pretty little eyelash...) He lowered his eyes to his teacup and smiled , pleased that the woman had been thoughtful enough to give him something that might forestall the effects of chugging down half a bottle of sake in under ten seconds, curious as to how she'd known he'd been dumb enough to go along with Dr. Genzai's little ruse, and more than little confused as to the reason why the "battle ax" (one of his favorite nicknames for Mara) was behaving in an almost....friendly manner. (How utterly typical....I finally get this chick figured out and she goes and pulls something like this....)

(What, no scathing remarks?....No pithy little jabs?...Sagara must have drunk more than I thought....) Mara turned and silently regarded the tall man, her eyes softening slightly when she realized that he actually seemed grateful for the tea she'd so hastily prepared. (It's possible that I've been too judgmental) She lightly gnawed her bottom lip as she replayed her behavior towards Kenshin and Kaoru's long time friend and found to her chagrin, that she had in an attempt to protect herself from the man's depreciating humor, behaved in a cold and inhospitable manner. (Dammit, I don't mean to act this way...it's just that.....) Mara sighed and glanced over at his tanned, ruggedly handsome features, wishing that she had the man's natural ability to converse with other people, his easy going manners and self assured bearing contrasting sharply with her painful shyness and perpetual feelings of ineptness when it came to dealing with members of the opposite sex. (....I've always been an idiot when it comes to such things....) She wrapped her thin hand around the fragile porcelain tea cup and forced herself to sip the scalding liquid, to keep up the calm facade that she'd so carefully constructed. (And it's only gotten worse....since I.....) Her grip on the tea cup tightened. (Since....I....lost.....him.....)

Mara closed her eyes as a flash flood of memories broke through her mental dams, filling her thoughts with murky sounds and blood soaked images (Oh please....not this.....) The office began to dissolve into a nightmarish medical corridor, the pleasant sounds of conversation warping into high wailing screams.....her heartbeat mimicking the rapid staccato of gunfire. (Not now....) She could taste the tangy bitterness of blood on her tongue as she bit down, fighting the floating surge of panic that threatened to sweep her away from the hard won sense of control that a lifetime of discipline afforded.....the control that a mindless moment of violence had mercilessly destroyed, leaving her a shattered, washed out excuse of a woman. (....ERIK.....)

The empty tea cup shattered, sending white sharp shards flying.

"What the hell!" Sanosuke gasped as he jerked away from the tiny glass missiles. "Hey watch it, Mogensen! Somebody could lose an eye or something!"

"I...I'm...sorry." Mara whispered brokenly as she gazed down on the shattered remnants of her tea cup that littered the landscape of her skirt. Fingers trembling, she carefully began picking up the pieces, avoiding eye contact with the two men like her life depended on it.

(What's wrong with her?) Sanosuke leaned over and carefully nudged the silent woman. She was bone white...her skin impossibly pale , as though it had been dusted with a geisha's finest rice powder. "Hey Doc, you okay?" He frowned when she ignored his query and looked over at Dr. Genzai, hoping for an explanation. The old man's sad expression only added to his confusion. (What in the hell just happened?)

"Fine, don't talk to me." With an exasperated huff, Sano knelt down and began collecting the bits of porcelain that had settled on the floor, eager to do something....anything but sit on his ass and pretend that nothing was wrong.

"I said I was sorry." Mara muttered as she made her way over to the garbage basket. (This is just wonderful!) She softly cursed when she caught a fleeting expression of something akin to pity dance across the tall man's face. (Now he's really going to think I'm three fries short of a happy meal.....) The thought brought her up short. (Not that I care what he thinks of me or anything.....)

(Well, well, well....) Despite the tense atmosphere, Dr. Genzai inwardly grinned. (What do we have here?) His black eyes carefully watched as Sanosuke helped his partner clean up the broken tea cup, surprised at the man's tactful handling of such an awkward situation, amazed that Mara had apologized (twice in fact!) and was actually allowing another person to assist her.

"There." Sano dusted his hands off on his backside. "All cleaned up with no harm done."

"Thank you." Mara murmured, her eyes still glued to the floor.

"Really, it's no big deal." Sanosuke said gruffly. "Are you sure you're all right?"

"I'm fine!" Mara snapped as she quickly stood up, her face suddenly infusing with rosy color. (Well this has been about as fun as a root canal without anesthesia....) "Please excuse me, I should really be getting back to work." She brought her hands up to her flushed cheeks and hoped like hell she could make it out of the office before she started to cry, a response that was incredibly repellant to the proud woman. (Smooth one Mogensen...way to boop!)

(Oh, not you don't!) "Mara, my dear, you are impossible!" Dr. Genzai groused as he caught the fleeing physician by her arm, gleefully ignoring her vehement protests that she had a mountain of paperwork and several plot variances that she needed to try and finish before the end of the day.(You're not running away this time!) "You've been here since....oh, let me guess five this morning?" He waited till his partner nodded sheepishly, then wagged his finger at her as he launched into another lecture on the evils of overwork and the perils of not having a proper social life. (Not when things are going so well....)

(Awww crap, not this again....) Mara rolled her eyes and wondered whether or not she could justify cramming her well meaning but seriously overprotective employer into one of his filing cabinets. (First I make a fool of myself in front of Sagara...Now this !....The man is obsessed with matchmaking!)

"........and then you had the audacity to actually pour miso soup all over the poor man's head." Dr. Genzai sighed sadly, still slightly miffed that Mara had managed to ruin another carefully arranged "meeting" with an eligible young bachelor. "I won't even mention the time we caught you hiding up in the maple tree rather than going to the theatre with Watanabe's second cousin." He ignored the rather inelegant snort from Sanosuke.

"The man had four teeth and a propensity for pinching me on the ass!" Mara protested, her voice rising with righteous indignation. "And that bastard from the Dutch embassy deserved far worse than a bowl full of soup in his face." She crossed her arms and glared at the short doctor, daring him to even try and contradict her, wishing that Sagara would quit snickering behind his teacup. (As if this isn't embarrassing enough....)

"What about Suzaka?" (He seemed like such a nice man...)

"He smelled like eight day old tofu." (I nearly puked up my soba noodles!)

"That nice fellow from America?" (At least he was as tall as you...)

"Married." (With eight children all under the age of ten!)

"My nephew's brother-in-law?" (You'd better be careful Missy, this is family we're talking about...)

"Too short." (He was eye level with my chest)

"Watanabe?" (The man is an ex monk for crying out loud!)

"Dumber than a box of hair." (That's the understatement of the year)

"Idakeya?" Dr. Genzai was beginning to sound desperate.

"Even dumber than Watanabe." Mara huffed, still amazed that such an incredibly moronic person had managed to survive into adulthood. She carefully smoothed back her tightly braided hair and glared at the white haired doctor. "Let's face it Dr. Genzai...it's hopeless."

"Oh I wouldn't say that." Dr. Genzai chuckled wickedly, his beady little black eyes fixing on an unsuspecting Sagara Sanosuke (who was currently laughing his head off and therefore unaware of the imminent danger he was in). "I happen to know a perfectly eligible young man...he's well traveled, speaks wonderful English, and best of all isn't married, is slightly taller than you are, doesn't smell like sour tofu, and is remarkably intelligent, despite his attempts to fool people into thinking otherwise." He leaned back in his well padded chair and shot Mara a triumphant grin. "He's prefect."

Sanosuke roared with laughter, nearly falling off his chair in the process. "I seriously doubt your "perfect" little gentlemen could last ten minutes with Mogensen." He glanced over at the irate woman and shrugged. "No offense...."

"None taken." Mara snipped, her eyes darkening with barely concealed annoyance. She leaned against the wall and folded her arms defiantly. (Like you'd do any better....)

"Perhaps you're right."Dr. Genzai sighed dramatically and assumed what he hoped was an reluctantly defeated expression. "I suppose that my feeble attempts at trying to bring a little happiness into your lonely life will never be properly appreciated." He gazed sadly at his young partner, knowing that if this formidable opponent had one weakness, it was that she was notoriously tender hearted when it came to people she cared about. "Please forgive me for my meddling.....I only wanted you to be happy, to know that when I'm gone there will be someone to look after you...to keep you safe." He dropped his head and made a sniffling sort of sound. (There.....that should do it...)

Mara bit her bottom lip in an attempt not to start sniffling herself. "Dr. Genzai...I'm sorry." She awkwardly patted the poor man's head, then choked back a tiny sob when she realized that her mentor was nearly in tears. (Now look what I've done....the man gave me a job, is a wonderful listener and really does have my best interests at heart....the least I can do is try and make him feel like his botched up matchmaking isn't a lost cause.) "Tell you what....why don't you tell this young man that I'll meet him at the Akabedo tomorrow for supper." Mara smiled bitterly, wondering if the older doctor knew how hard this was for her. "I promise that I'll behave myself...as long as the guy doesn't try and pull any stupid moves. How does that sound?"

Dr. Genzai nodded, his brokenhearted expression giving way to a hopeful....almost radiant smile. "Nothing could make this sick, old man any happier." He looked up at his somber faced protege and resisted the urge to laugh out loud, thrilled that for the first time in nearly six months, he'd finally gained the upper hand. "You don't know how happy this makes me....thank you."

"This is the last time I'm doing this for you." Mara growled petulantly. "I mean it!"

"Of course...of course....." Dr. Genzai crooned, magnanimous in his victory.

Sanosuke silently watched the interplay between the two doctors, finding himself torn between being amused at the masterful way Dr. Genzai had managed to trick the younger physician into going on a date and slightly angry that the poor woman had been manipulated into something that made her obviously uncomfortable. He rubbed the back of his head reflexively and wondered whether or not it would be appropriate to keep a quiet eye on Kaoru's friend...just in case anything unpleasant happened.

Mara carefully collected the empty tea cups and placed then on a wicker tray, eager for an excuse to get the hell out of Dr. Genzai's office before her employer managed to emotionally blackmail her into getting married, wearing a corset, and buying a little lapdog named "Princess". She hesitantly glanced over at Sagara and smiled slightly, thankful that for once he'd actually kept his big mouth shut and not added his scathing humor to what for her was an already unbearable situation. (I'll have to thank him later....) Nodding fractionally to the tall man and completely ignoring the other, Mara quickly made her way out the door and back to her office, relived that she'd finally have some blessed peace and quiet.

"Not too bad Doc, you really managed to pull one over on Mogensen." Sanosuke said

quietly as he casually examined a split knuckle. "She'd probably do just about anything to try and make you happy." He sighed and flexed his wrist, feeling the dull pain that meant he'd probably bruised one of the small bones inside his already much maligned hand. (Dammit, I didn't even want to get in a fight with those assholes...)

"Yes, well...in the long run Mara will thank me for it." Dr. Genzai protested slightly, his already smarting conscience reacting badly to Sanosuke's subtle rebuke. "I know she's still suffering from the loss of her husband, but it's time for her to try and move one....the woman's far too young to relegate herself to the lonely life of a spinster."

(I didn't know she was married!) Sano frowned, then smacked himself lightly on the forehead. "Gods, I'm as blind as a Malaysian fruit bat ! That ring she wears on her left hand is a wedding band." It was a western custom that he'd become familiar with during his travels, one of the few practices that had actually made some sense to him. (Gods, her husband must have been one hell of a patient man....)

"You didn't know she was a widow?" Dr. Genzai prompted quietly, his sharp mind already forming a rather ingenious way of getting the notoriously stubborn ex-gangster and the equally recalcitrant curly headed doctor in a position to get to know one another better without either parties killing each other and more importantly himself.

"No. She and I...well, we haven't exactly spent much time getting to know one and other." Sanosuke muttered, his dark brown eyes narrowing fractionally at the thought of letting himself get mired down in a relationship ...especially with a person who reminded him of a black haired woman whose eyes were the color of Madagascan cinnamon, a woman that he'd loved with all his heart and then through his own selfishness and stupidity lost. "And it's for the best. You and I both know exactly how well I seen to do with female physicians." He stood up and sauntered over to the window, running his uninjured hand over the rough wooden windowpane. (I'll be damned if I ever go through that again)

(So he still blames himself for what happened....what a pity) Dr. Genzai frowned as he caught the fleeting look of sorrow that passed over his friend's expressive face, only to be replaced a second later with the man's usual cocky smirk. (How ironic...he's still mourning the loss of a woman who would have destroyed him....) While he adored and wished Megumi every happiness that the world had to offer, he knew with absolute certainty that the tempestuous girl would have taken what little self esteem Sanosuke had managed to find for himself and crush it under her dainty little geta's.(The two of them were never meant to be....eventually he'll come to understand this and be grateful that things transpired the way they did....)His black eyes twinkled as he heard the tinkle of a broken glass and the subsequent sound of Mara cutting loose on a foul mouthed tirade that would make a Japanese sailor duck his head and run for cover. (In the meantime...let's see what sort of mischief I can create)

"Sanosuke, I have a personal favor to ask of you." Dr. Genzai assumed a serious, paternal expression. "It is apparent to me that Mara is concerned about her date tomorrow night."

"Ya think?" Sano snorted at the gross understatement. "Scared shitless is more like it." (I know how she feels....Gods, that monstrosity Tae keeps trying to hook me up with is nearly enough to send me scrambling back to Mongolia!) It was that very reason that he'd been lurking around the bushes around the clinic earlier, hoping like hell that he could once again avoid the thirty-eight year old woman with her collection of hairball infested bulldog's without having to hurt her feelings. "I've gotta be honest with ya Doc, I think Mogensen just needs a little space...some time to get back on her feet." (I wish people would show me the same courtesy)

(Oh Sanosuke, you are such a predictable man....bless your heart) "Perhaps you're right." Once again the crafty doctor assumed his most penitent stance and sighed, showing every indication that he regretted his decision. "That's why I was hoping you wouldn't mind checking on her tomorrow night, just in case things go badly. Unfortunately, Mara's had several....less than pleasant encounters, despite the men's assurances that they'd be gentlemen.. To be frank, I've begun to wonder whether or not I still am a good judge of character..."

"Dammit, what type of guy did you set her up with?" Sano cracked his knuckles without thinking, his slight concern giving way to down right worry.

"A nice enough sort of man...at least I think he is. It's been years since I even laid eyes on him ." Dr. Genzai smiled brightly. "Of course he's currently unemployed and has a rather colorful history when it comes to dealing with the fairer sex, not to mention the fact that he's notoriously bad tempered." He sighed and played with some paperclips on his desk, delighted to see the wide eyed look of panic on Sanosuke's face. "Still, the man has a good heart...what could go wrong?"

(Oh, you'd be surprised....) Sano covered his face and groaned loudly, his creative mind coming up with all sorts of awful scenarios that usually ended with the tall woman stabbing a lecherous old twit in the chest with her chopsticks and being hauled of to jail. "Fine! I'll keep an eye on her tomorrow night." He walked over to his friend and stared at him menacingly. "But I'm telling ya right now, I don't care if this guy's a friend of yours. If that son of a bitch lays a finger on her, I will personally kick his ass!...Do I make myself clear?" His eyes widened with surprise at his outburst. (Okay, where in the hell did that come from?)

"Crystal." Dr. Genzai beamed brightly as the tall man stormed out of his office, then promptly dug out another hidden bottle of sake and poured himself a drink, content to back in the glow of his greatest matchmaking triumph.

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Coming up in the next chapter.....

Sanosuke groaned as the woman's shrill voice lanced through his head, her sticky sweet

tone promising all sorts of untold anguish and at least several hours of mind numbing conversation about the joys of breeding and raising bugeyed, snaggle toothed canines. (This is karma coming back to bite me in the ass for all those meals I mooched off Tae....) He banged his head against the wall, then froze when he heard the sound of approaching footsteps and held his breath, praying simultaneously to several gods and six minor deities that the current bane of his existence would either be roasted alive or simply pass by his precarious hiding place. Sano screwed his eyes shut as the ferns in front softly rustled....then slowly parted (That's it....see if I ever try praying again...)

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Individual Responses to my wonderful reviewers....

Stoneiris (Who is not only my sister and best friend, but an incredibly talented artist and author in her own right) I'm glad that you liked the tension between Sanosuke and Mara. (Just wait...it'll be getting much better *cackles wickedly*)

Mad Melma *Hands her a box of chocolates for reviewing three times* Yes, Kenshin is quite dark in this story. I think that my characterization is based partially on his character in the OVA's and mostly on the way I think a man who had suffered so in the course of his life would behave. If he didn't have the pain, guilt and residual anguish then he wouldn't be in my humble opinion the good man that we love and adore. I'll promise you one thing though....Eventually, I think you'll see him happier than he's ever been before. (Unfortunately, this will be at the end of the story so you'll have to bear with me for a little....actually a lot longer) Thank you again for your wonderful reviews and encouragement!!!

Scaiya - What a great review! Thank you so much! FYI...in the OVA's Kenji and Kenshin have an incredibly unhealthy relationship. (That was one of the reasons I had to write my own ending to the RK Saga. I'm very big on the whole happy family idea) The manga also hints that there won't be a great deal of harmony between the two men. As far as Megumi is concerned .... *Sweatdops and tries not to give too much away* Yes, she will make an entrance. Yes, there will be fireworks. (How's that for a wee bit of a hint?) I'm glad you liked the humorous parts. This story is going to be a mix between the angst in chapters one and two and the humor that you'll saw in chapter three and the upcoming chapters 5 and 6. (Then it gets real angsty again...)

Kka - I'm posting as fast as I can. *pants and wheezes* I'm not going to rush things though....I am very, very picky about what I write and don't want to do sub standard work.

Shadowfax - your wish is my command. Here is another chapter. Thanks for the review!

Friuze Khanume - *Gives a big hug, both for the email and the 2 wonderful reviews!* Okay, let's see if I can answer your questions....1.) Does Mara suffer from survivor's guilt? YES. 2.) Did her husband sacrifice himself like Tomoe? All will be revealed in chapter 7. (There's a little teaser in this chapter though that I put in just for you!) 3.) How did she get to the XIX Century? We can all thank Tomoe for that little intervention. (There will be more concerning that in the next chapter) 5.) Will the Kenshingumi find out where she's really from. Eventually...one at a time.

Imbrium Iriduim *Also gets a box of chocolates for being a three time reviewer* Thank you so much for your support. As a first time author, this means so much to me. I loved your bubble scene that you wrote! Stay tuned for some more humor, a wee bit of angst and some seriously BAD poetry!

Hana Himura - Thanks for the review! You are incredible! Yes, Mara and Sanosuke are baka's of the highest order (Just wait...it gets much, much worse....these two are such twits when it comes to relationships....*sighs and smacks self on head*) Hope that you enjoy this chapter.

***DISCLAIMER....I DON'T OWN THE RIGHTS TO KENSHIN**** (Thank you. That is all.)