WHAT MATTERS MOST

A soft knock stirred Aoshi from deep sleep. He blinked, trying to clear the cobwebs from his brain. For the first time in weeks he was able to stay in bed on a Sunday morning. After getting home from the Navy ball, he had undressed, hung his uniform, crawled into bed and fell asleep. In the middle of the night he had opened a window to let the balmy night air inside his room before sleeping again. Thinking he imagined the knock, his eyes drifted close again.

"Aoshi?" a voice filtered through the door before the knocking started again.

He lifted his head slightly.

"Aoshi?"

Remembering he had only worn white briefs to bed, he arranged the sheets around his legs and waist, covering himself as he sat up. "I'm awake," he called out.

His door opened and Misao stood wearing a blue tank top and pajama pants with white rabbits on them. Apparently she had just woken up, her black hair was messy and sticking out at strange angles. A white cordless phone was clutched in her hand.

"Jiya's on the phone," she announced, tossing the handset to him before turning to exit the room.

"Misao, close the door."

She obliged, her footsteps echoing in the hallway. He pressed the talk button.

"Okina."

He heard a click, indicating that Misao had hung up the phone in her room.

"Aoshi, how are you?"

"Good..." He glanced at the clock, before rubbing his eyes. "It's late in Spain..."

"It's late morning in Hawaii," the old man responded. No doubt he had a smile on his face. "Besides, I don't work tomorrow. Long time no talk..."

"Aa."

"How's work?"

"I'm on vacation."

Okina chuckled. "Good for you...How is Misao?"

"She's okay," Aoshi replied.

Silence.

"Everything all right?" the old man asked quietly.

Aoshi glanced outside the window. His former guardian knew him all too well. While he and Okina never had the father-son type of relationship most people would assume they had, he and Okina understood each other and respected each other. After losing parents at such a young age, Aoshi matured faster than most children. Growing up, he felt sometimes that HE had been Okina's guardian. Okina certainly never followed the code 'once an officer, always an officer'. As soon as the uniform was off and he was away from work, Okina could cause mischief that would make four-year-olds cry. He always said that there was no point in acting too old and dull even as a man aged. That took the fun out of life. But Okina could also be very serious. Especially when it came to the people he considered his family.

"Aoshi?" he prompted.

"Everything's fine..." he trailed off, hesitant to voice his thoughts.

"You always were stubborn...What's wrong?"

"Nothing..."

"Is it about Misao?"

Silence.

"Misao's happiness and future has always been the most important thing to us," Okina began slowly. "Akihito trusted us with her...if he didn't think we could properly take care of her...he would have never left her to us..."

"That was a long time ago," Aoshi said quietly.

"But the one thing he saw in us both back then hasn't changed."

Aoshi cleared his throat. "True."

"I hope you'll be on vacation for a while...because I'll be coming to Hawaii for a visit."

"You're what?"

Okina laughed. "I think the three of us will have a good time..."

"When are you flying in?"

"Friday afternoon. It's been a long time since I've been to the islands. It'll be nice to see the place again..."

"It hasn't changed much since we last lived here..." Aoshi said dryly. "Except for maybe more tourists..."

"Nothing wrong with that."

"All right. What do you plan to do when we're here?"

Pause. Then the old man asked, "When was the last time you rode waves?"

Aoshi's eyes widened. "No."

"Why not?"

"No."

"Aoshi," Okina scolded. "You live on Hawaii and you don't surf? You learned to surf when you were old enough to swim in deep water!"

"No thanks to you," Aoshi responded. "I only learned because you pulled me along, thinking being a father figure would attract the female instructor's attention."

"It worked, didn't it?" Okina chuckled.

"No, Okina."

"Why not?"

"I don't even remember how to-"

"It's like riding a bike. You'll have fun."

"But-"

"It's done then. I'll be at the Honolulu Airport at noon. Don't tell Misao, I want to surprise her."

Hawaii. It seemed like a lifetime since he was last here. In a way, it was. He had a new life...new job...

But there was something...someone...who he had never forgotten. When he first left Hawaii, she was in his mind every day. But for the past twelve months, she hadn't appeared for a long time. She was just a fleeting thought...several times during the year.

He was over her. He had been a long time ago. But he needed to see her one last time.

He was really nervous. He kept breathing in and out, tried to stop his heart from racing. She didn't even know he was here. He wondered if she still lived in the same apartment. It had been his for a while, too...several nights of the month.

His brown eyes skimmed the curbside of the Honolulu Airport arrival area. Then his eyes shifted to look at his sportswatch.

Where was he?

He told Kenshin that he'd arrive at three o'clock.

"Sano!"

He looked up to see Kenshin waving at him standing next to the driver's side of a white Corolla. Kaoru was sitting in the passenger seat, waving as well.

Sanosuke Sagara grinned, hitched his carryon higher on his shoulder and walked towards them.

"Kenshin! Jo-chan! Long time no see!"

The couple looked happy to see him. It felt good to be back around friends. Sure, he had a whole new life back in Norfolk, Virginia, but he had missed these two. He settled in the backseat after tossing his bag in the back. While his friends drove, they chatted and he absorbed the sights. It sure felt nice to be back on Hawaii. His friends in Virginia would love this place!

Sano stared in amazement at the apartment Kenshin pulled into. "This is where you live?"

"You like it?" Kaoru asked.

"Oh yeah..."

The couple led him through the front door and into a gray carpeted two bedroom living area. Kaoru proudly showed him the place, from the homey kitchen and its little accessories, to the living room with simple pastel paintings and cream sofa, the bathroom, with its sea green carpeting and seashell decor, to the guest room, with white and purple linens.

"So, how's Virginia?" Kaoru asked as they settled at the kitchen dining table.

Kenshin was preparing snacks.

"It's pretty neat. Weather's not as nice as here...but you get used to it," Sanosuke answered.

"You get sent to sea a lot?"

"Once a year. Although I spent a whole year in school, so I didn't go away as much..."

"That's great that you decided to become an aircraft mechanic," Kenshin supplied as he poured iced tea for them. "When you get out, you'll have plenty of job opportunities..."

"That's what I planned," Sano grinned.

Kenshin put a plate of seaweed crackers in front of them while Kaoru set the iced tea glasses on the table.

"So..." Kenshin began with an enigmatic smile. "How long are you going to stay in Hawaii?"

"Not long," Sanosuke shrugged. "I just...thought I'd enjoy my vacation...as long as I'm welcome here..."

"You can stay as long as you like," Kaoru offered. "Just don't make a mess."

Sanosuke laughed. "Don't worry, I won't."

The three began to eat the food at the table.

After taking a drink from his glass, Sanosuke broke his cracker in half and shoved one half in his mouth. After chewing and swallowing, he finally asked in a quiet voice, "So...how is she?"

Kaoru and Kenshin glanced at each other.

"Dr. Megumi is fine," Kenshin answered.

"So...she's really doing okay?" Sanosuke asked. "Is she in the Medical Corps?"

"No," Kaoru responded. "She's still a contractor..."

"Okay." Sanosuke shifted. "Is...Is she married?"

"No," Kenshin answered honestly.

"But..."

Sanosuke leaned forward at Kaoru's hesitant response. "But?"

"But...I think...she's seeing someone...I think...I think she went to the officer's ball with him a couple days ago..."

"She's dating a Naval officer?"

"Yeah."

"Good for her," Sanosuke added. He sat back.

"You still want to see her?" Kenshin asked.

"Yeah. Say hi..." Sano popped the other cracker half in his mouth. "Do you have her number?"

"What time does school get out?" Okina asked.

Aoshi glanced at his watch. "Two forty-five."

He had picked Okina up from the airport not too long ago. They had lunch and small talk. They were waiting near the administration building of Honolulu High School, hoping to catch Misao before Stella or Danielle gave her a ride home.

"What's the legal driving age here again?" Okina asked.

"Fifteen, sixteen?" Aoshi guessed.

"When are you going to teach her how to drive?"

Aoshi responded, "As soon as I have time."

Okina glanced at him and said gently, "Don't let the hours get to you, Aoshi..."

The younger man stared at him. "We're both Naval officers...in the same field...yet you don't understand why I do what I do."

Okina sighed. "I do understand. Better than anyone. But...Misao is sunshine...if it wasn't for her, I'd be old, bitter, and mistrusting at the world." He shook his head. "Look at you...you're so dedicated to the job. I've been here barely three hours and already you had to stop by the base and you're on vacation."

"I am the job, Okina."

"No," the older man corrected. "The Navy is a way of life. It is NOT life. When was the last time you did something for fun?"

Aoshi winced. "Well..."

"When was the last time you went on a date? Just for fun? Dating the relatives of your superiors or coworkers doesn't count," Okina interjected.

"What's the point?" Aoshi countered softly. "I don't believe in casual relationships. And anyone who is serious just gets tired...they always do...they can't handle the long hours...unpredictable schedule...they start thinking about settling down...start pressuring me to become more attentive..."

Okina looked up as the bell rang. Teenagers rushed to their lockers and chatted with friends.

"There she is." Aoshi gestured with his hand.

The old man looked in the direction and grinned. "She hasn't changed a bit..."

Misao was flanked by Stella and Danielle who were eagerly talking away. Okina hurried forward.

He still moves pretty quickly for an old man, Aoshi thought.

"MISAO!"

She looked up, startled. Then her jaw dropped. "Jiya?!"

"Misao!"

Forgetting where she was, Misao ran forward, pure joy on her face. Were those tears in her eyes? Aoshi wasn't sure. "Jiya! Oh my gosh!! What are you doing here?!"

Okina caught her in a hug. "How have you been?"

"It's so good to see you, I can't believe you're here!!" Misao hugged him back fiercely before stepping back to look at him, unable to believe he was standing in front of her. "I missed you so much! When did you get here?"

"Three hours ago," Okina responded, smiling as he ruffled her hair.

"Why didn't you tell me that you were coming?" Misao demanded.

He laughed out loud. "I wanted to surprise you."

Stella and Danielle, apparently noticing the reunion, had left with a silent wave in Aoshi's direction. He acknowledged their presence before turning to the two people he considered his family, who were chatting nonstop, walking beside each other.

"How long are you going to be here?"

"Not long, sorry," Okina said. "But a week's vacation is long enough."

"A week only?" Misao pouted. "That sucks..."

"I figure I'd save two weeks worth for Christmas and New Year's," Okina announced.

"That's great!"

The three climbed into the Legend, with Misao in the backseat.

"So what's gonna happen while you're here?" Misao asked excitedly.

Okina slid a crafty glance in Aoshi's direction. "We're going surfing."

"What?" Misao blinked. Then she glanced at Aoshi's impassive expression in the rearview mirror. "We are? Does Aoshi even know how...?"

"He took lessons about the same time I did," Okina declared. "He learned quickly, too."

"I...I didn't know you knew how," Misao said quietly.

"It's not something I like to announce," Aoshi responded, glaring at the older man. "I was in kindergarten...and Okina bribed me..."

"To take surfing lessons?" Misao asked.

"Yes," Aoshi responded.

"Yup! I packed his lunch and made cute cutouts of hearts and flowers in his sandwiches and cookies. All his classmates thought he wanted to be a girl. So I told him the girly food would stop if he agreed to take lessons with me. The instructor was pretty cute..."

"Why didn't you just fix lunch yourself?" Misao asked.

"I tried," Aoshi said flatly.

"But I put all the food on high shelf and there were no stools for him to use to reach it!" Okina cried out gleefully. "Aoshi's stubborn, he went without lunch but after three days he couldn't take it anymore!"

Aoshi shook his head. "I haven't been out in the water in ten years."

"Oh, quit being a baby," Okina said briskly. "I'll even pay for the rental boards."

"Well..." Misao grinned, sitting back. "It'll be fun to watch Aoshi wipe out..."

"Look at that...isn't she a beauty?" Okina crowed, pointing to a blue wave with a white cap approaching Waikiki shore.

"This is soo cool...I'm going surfing with Jiya and Aoshi. Who knew?" Misao grinned.

Aoshi looked up from waxing his white rental board, a hint of apprehension flickering in his eyes. "I don't remember Hawaiian waves being that big..."

Okina shook his head. "Chicken. You're in the Navy and you're afraid of water?"

A glare from Aoshi earned an equal glare back. Then he turned to the teen. "Misao, if you wipe out, dive in the water or you risk the board hitting your head and causing a concussion."

Misao rolled her eyes. "Stella and Danielle taught me how to surf two years ago. I'm not some stupid amateur..." And she ran towards the water.

"Misao-" Aoshi glanced at Okina who tsked.

"She's sixteen, Aoshi, not six," the older man chided before following the girl to the water.

Normally, if given the free time, Aoshi would sit on the beach and relax as opposed to surf. He hadn't hit the water since the summer after he graduated from Annapolis. But he was willing to make an exception. Today was family day, so why not.

Once he was out on the crystal blue water, he paddled, keeping a distance from the breaking waves, watching as Okina and Misao rode crest after crest.

After a couple minutes, Okina pulled over next to him as Misao and a couple surf bums rode out the waves. "Don't tell me you're scared..."

Aoshi shook his head. The older man scanned the water, shading his eyes with one of his hands.

"Thirty seconds."

The young man turned to him. "You're challenging me to ride a wave for thirty seconds?"

"Yup. It's like riding a bike."

"Fine..." Aoshi began to paddle out. "But I choose your next wave."

"Yes, sir!"

The three had spent several hours on the water before they decided to leave. It had to be the most fun Misao ever had in the water, for she had never done that type of activity with both of her guardians. Reality soon sank in as they arrived at the house.

After dinner, Misao went to her room to start on her homework. She had been working for an hour when Jiya knocked on her door.

"Mind if I come in?"

"Go ahead..." Misao turned to him, watching as he closed the door before settling on one side of her bed.

"I wanted to talk to you about Aoshi," he announced.

Misao's eyes widened. "Oh? What...What about him?"

"Is everything all right between you two? You both

seem so tense...At least...when we weren't out on the water..."

Misao sighed, plucking at a loose thread on her shorts. "Well..."

He waited patiently, sitting for several minutes while she began her hesitant reply.

"Aoshi's changed so much, Jiya." Misao looked away. "I don't even remember why...or when...but all of a sudden we stopped having fun together...He's always thinking about work...I don't even know when he comes home...he just...does...I got so used to him just...being there...or not...and...I...I don't even think we're a family anymore..."

Jiya gently patted her hand. "Life's been hard on you both."

Misao swallowed. "All he seems to care about is work and my grades. He doesn't really seem to care about me...He stopped caring about me a long time ago..."

"That's not true," Jiya spoke up. "Being a good father is very important to Aoshi. He is trying..." The old man sighed. The girl looked so miserable. What had happened to cause such a barrier between his two young family members? He remembered when Aoshi and Misao were inseperable.

"I...Sometimes...I wish that Aoshi never became my guardian," Misao whispered.

He was silent for a minute. Then he began to speak, his voice clear. "I know you two better than anyone. There was a time when you two did everything together. People change, and sometimes they lose sight of what they had. And that's okay, because people lose sight of things all the time. It might take some time...but you both will find your way again..."

Misao nodded. "Maybe you're right..."

He ruffled her hair. "I'll leave you to your studies..."

"Thanks, Jiya."

He exited her bedroom and made his way to the porch, where Aoshi was sitting down, watching the stars.

"Misao's doing homework," he announced.

Aoshi nodded. "Is she having any problems?"

"No. Misao's a smart girl, she's fine." He glanced at Aoshi, who leaned back in his chaise lounge. "You two...don't seem as close as you used to be..."

"Misao's growing up," Aoshi commented.

"True."

Silence.

Okina enjoyed the night air. He had missed this place. How fortunate for Aoshi and Misao to live in a house. Aoshi didn't remember, but his parents had owned a house as well. Okina had been an old friend of Aoshi's grandmother, but she passed away before Aoshi was even born. He smiled fondly. She was quite a lady. He had been fond of her for many years. One could say that she had been the only woman he had ever loved. Okina promised to look after her son and daughter-in-law. When Aoshi was born, he had tried to help out as much as he could. It had been raining...when Aoshi's parents died in a car accident. Okina had been shocked when he discovered that he was named as Aoshi's guardian. He didn't think he could do it, but he managed. And he was proud of the results. Aoshi Shinomori had grown up to be a fine young man. The kind he was happy to call family.

"Okina...what was it like when I was her age? I don't even remember..."

The old man smiled. "Well, by then you were already capable of making your own decisions and opinions. You just never really voiced them. And you were stubborn. And determined." Then he continued, "I let you be...because I trusted you, knowing that you wanted to push yourself to success. You wanted to make something out of yourself."

"Are you saying I should trust Misao to know that she will take care of her own future?"

"She's a girl, Aoshi. Young ladies want to enjoy life. But when it comes down to it, they also know when it's time to focus to secure themselves a stable future."

"I see..."

"When you've been a guardian as long as I have, you know these things," he said proudly.

Aoshi smirked. "Enjoy being wise, old man. It won't be long before you start having memory loss."

"Stupid door...why won't you unlock?" Megumi muttered as she balanced one heavy grocery bag in one arm while trying to unlock her apartment.

When she was able to let herself in, she kicked off her shoes, closed her door and placed the bag on the counter when the phone rang. It was probably her father. She let it ring a couple more times before reaching over to pick it up.

"Hello?"

No answer.

"Hello?" Megumi glared at the phone, her hand moving to put it back in its cradle.

"Hey, fox-lady."

She froze, her hand hovering in mid-air. It couldn't be. After all this time?

"Megumi? You there?" his deep voice spoke up.

Holding the phone in two hands, she brought it up to her ear. "I'm here..."

"It's Sano."

She cleared her throat. "I knew that. No one else calls me that nickname..."

He forced a laugh. "I probably shouldn't call you that...but...it's an old habit..."

Silence.

"Why...Why are you calling me, Sano?" Megumi asked.

He sighed. "I...I'm in Hawaii."

"Right now?" Megumi asked incredulously. "How long?"

"Not long. I just dropped by Kenshin's to visit," he answered quickly. "Are you free tonight? I was thinking...we...could...meet up somewhere...if...if that's okay with you?"

Megumi glanced at her grocery bag, where a plastic box full of linguine and alfredo sauce lay waiting for her. An action/drama was the TV movie for tonight. Dinner and a TV movie or dinner with the ex-boyfriend? Talk about different scenarios.

"Where?"

"Is that Chinese restaurant at the International Marketplace still there?"

"Yes, it is..."

"Okay. How about there at six-thirty?"

"All right."

He spotted her before she saw him. And she was wearing blue jeans and a purple spaghetti strap tank top. He couldn't help but smile. Megumi never just threw clothes on. Every article in her closet flattered her complexion or figure in some way, shape or form.

"Hi," she spoke up, hooking the strap of her purse over the back of her chair.

"Hey." He cleared his throat. She hadn't changed at all. Still pretty, smart...and probably following her father's every command.

"I'm...surprised that you're here..." she began.

He shrugged. "Just vacationing. Thought I'd say hi..."

After they ordered food, Megumi leaned back, studying him for several moments.

"It's...good to see you," she said finally. "Considering..."

"A lot has changed since then, fox-lady," he responded quickly. "At least on my side. What about you?"

"I like to think things are constantly changing," Megumi said honestly.

"I heard that you're a practicing physician now. No harsh resident's hours?" Sanosuke sipped his tea.

"You heard correctly." Megumi poured herself a cup of tea. "Banker's hours now..."

"Good for you." Sanosuke picked up his fork, twirled it, then set it down. "I went to aviation maintenance school."

She looked up. "What?"

"I went to school to become an aircraft mechanic," he stated. "I figured there's more stability for aircraft mechanics than ship mechanics, so after I arrived in Virginia, I looked into it and started the paperwork. I went to school for a year, came back to Norfolk and worked on the jets there."

"That's wonderful. I'm really happy for you," Megumi said, nodding.

Their food arrived and they began to eat in silence.

"I heard you went to the officer's ball," Sanosuke spoke up.

"Yes...I...I did..." Did she just tense up?

"Naval officer, huh?" Sanosuke tried to keep his voice neutral. "I thought you didn't like officers?"

"I don't," she quickly replied.

"He must be really convincing, then."

An odd look entered her eyes. "We aren't really seeing each other," Megumi added. "He seemed like a suitable date at the time. Besides, my father was giving a speech at the ball and-"

"Once again, it goes back to Dad," Sanosuke muttered.

Megumi set her fork down. "Is there a problem?"

Shrugging, Sanosuke said, "Just that you haven't changed. You still crawl when Dad says crawl."

"I went to the ball with an officer so I could hear my father's speech," Megumi responded.

"Because he asked you to go," Sanosuke added.

Megumi cleared her throat. "Well..."

"And I bet you went to great lengths in selecting your date...because there are so few officers who would meet with your father's approval," Sanosuke continued. It was too late to stop now, he was on a roll. It was sad to see Megumi still the same. He thought she always had more strength than other women, but when it came to her dad, she was a weak kitten.

"What are you talking about?"

"Let's see...so Mr. Naval officer..." he began in a biting tone, ignoring Megumi's wince. She knew he couldn't handle officers. They always had this 'I'm better than you' attitude. Sure they had the college degree, the pins, the medals, but most of the officers he knew were a bunch of lazy bastards. The most work they ever did was open their mouths to order around little guys like him. "...probably graduated from the Naval Academy...And he's probably a medical officer."

"Intelligence."

"What?" He blinked.

"Intelligence," she repeated.

"Wow. Even better," Sanosuke replied. "And he's a lieutenant."

"Lieutenant commander," Megumi corrected before placing a morsel of food in her mouth.

"Fox-lady, you sure can pick them. You exceeded the expectations. Dad was probably happy."

"Don't call me that," Megumi retorted. "And for your information, I went with him as my date because my father was planning to set me up with some officers he knew. I figured if I showed up with an impressive date, he'd leave me alone."

"That's pretty sneaky. So instead of standing up to your dad, you're silently rebelling against him," Sanosuke concluded. "Is your dad still pressuring you to join the Medical Corps?"

Megumi sighed. "Even if he is, what-?"

"Do you want to join the Corps?"

"No, but-"

"Have you told your dad that?"

Her brown eyes flashed. "Will you let me finish?"

"You haven't changed at all, fox-lady. It's really, really sad."

"You haven't changed either," Megumi snapped. "Still as rude and inconsiderate as ever."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"You never once understood where I was coming from," Megumi replied tartly. "You grew up in an orphanage, what would you know about family loyalty? Nothing." She began digging in her purse for her wallet. "My father did everything in his power to keep our family together after my mom died. Do you have any idea how difficult it was to raise three kids? He could have separated us and given us away to relatives, but he didn't."

Sanosuke shook his head. "Listen to yourself...He's the reason why you are the way you are, why we broke up, why you haven't been in a relationship since I left-"

"Who told you that?" she demanded.

He cleared his throat. "Well-"

"Kaoru talks too much," she muttered. "No doubt you know my entire story since you've arrived in town..."

"You were too focused on pleasing your old man, on living the life he wanted you to live! And you still are. You became a doctor and worked so much to please your old man. If you'd just listen-"

"No, you listen, Sanosuke Sagara. You're putting my father at the center of all this, saying he was the reason I became a doctor...and being a doctor I worked long hours, which interfered with our relationship...but my father's to blame for our failed relationship because he wanted me to be a doctor in the first place. Everyone knows that my father isn't to blame. You're the only one who thinks it's his fault," Megumi argued. "The reason we broke up was because you couldn't understand that there was something I loved just as much as you. You made me choose between my career and a relationship. And to make it worse...you asked me when I was going to spend three days working at the hospital. I didn't even have a chance to contact you. So you left. Without even saying anything." Megumi tossed several bills on the table as she got up. "What happened between us was a long time ago. So before you start lecturing me on how I should behave, why don't you look at yourself."

And she left the restaurant. Sanosuke cursed. She always did have a way of pressing his buttons...

After he had paid, Sanosuke took a walk along the beach.

She was right. Partially. He didn't understand family loyalty...he never experienced it. He could see why she had been so dedicated to her father. Yet...he knew that sometimes...kids just had to lead their own lives. What kind of life was that...? Always doing what their parents wanted? Why did parents have to live through their kids? Couldn't they just be happy knowing that their kids were happy? Why did they have to be controlling?

Deep down, Sanosuke knew that Megumi's father had only been part of the problem. But he had certainly fueled the fire. He hadn't been good enough for Megumi. He knew that. A ship mechanic and a physician. Megumi would have been better off with someone more stable...someone who understood her passion for medicine.

Her drive for excellence had been one of the things he had loved about her. She always wanted to be better than she was...and that quality had given her strength and courage. He remembered that she used to come home after work, and she looked like she was about to fall apart. When he found out that she hadn't been able to save a car accident victim or she had witnessed a stillborn baby, he had wanted to hold her until the sadness went away. But she had strength in numbers. Being a doctor was a part of who she was...and he hated that part. It took her away from him. He couldn't compete with her career. Yet he felt guilty for hating that side of her...if he hated that side of her...did that mean he didn't really love her? He had been frustrated with that notion.

He had no right to judge her. Megumi was a smart lady, she'd find some way to balance between living her life and making her father happy.

Sanosuke blew out a breath. He came to Hawaii because they had left a lot of things unresolved. He was at the stage in his life where he felt he should resolve what happened in the past.

Quickly jogging to the nearest payphone, Sanosuke dug into his wallet for his phone card.

"Hello?" she picked up after two rings.

"Megumi."

Silence.

"You there?"

"I'm here," she said quietly.

"Sorry about earlier," he spoke softly. "I...I'd like to see you again."

She hesitated.

"I promise not to bring up your dad again," he added. "But...it's pretty important. It's one of the reasons I came to Hawaii..."

Megumi sighed. "All right. I have plans all day tomorrow...but I can meet you early tomorrow morning."

"Early, huh? Eight o'clock, Kuhio Beach okay?"

"That's fine."

"I'll see you tomorrow..."

A/N: WHEW! Congrats to the readers who guessed correctly - it WAS Sanosuke! *grins* And I imagine modern-day Aoshi as a briefs kinda guy...after all those uniform pants only look good with briefs...one can see the lining of the boxers...