WHAT MATTERS MOST

Megumi had just emerged from the bathroom when her phone rang. She hurried over to pick it up.

"Hello?"

"Dr. Takani?"

She recognized that voice. "Commander McIntyre."

"I'm sorry to disturb you on a weekend, but we are short on physicians covering the emergency room. The officer on duty who was supposed to work that shift tomorrow morning was on vacation, but his plane has been delayed in New York until tomorrow morning. I've called other physicians and you're the first one I've reached so far..."

"What time does the shift start?"

"Seven hundred."

"All right. I'll be there tomorrow."

"Thank you so much!"

After they hung up, Megumi headed to the kitchen. So much for her discussion with Sano. She retrieved a number listed on the fridge and dialed it.

"Hello?"

"Kaoru, it's Megumi."

"Hi!"

"I'm sorry to bother you, but may I speak to Sanosuke?"

"Oh..." the young wife sounded apologetic. "Sanosuke's not here right now...but I can leave him a message."

Of course. Just her luck. Megumi sighed. "Could you tell him I need to reschedule? He'll know what it means..."

"Um...okay, sure..."

"Thank you."

She hung up, glancing at the clock. It was only nine o'clock. He should be arriving at the Himura residence soon. They hadn't been at dinner THAT long...

Well. She had an early day tomorrow, so she might as well get to bed.

Two hours later, her phone rang.

Megumi blindly reached in the dark for her lamp switch while climbing from beneath the covers. She squinted as light illuminated the room and reached for her phone.

"Hello?"

"Is everything all right?" Sano's deep voice echoed in her ear.

Megumi blinked several times. "Yes...why...?"

"You said to reschedule. Everything all right?"

"Yes...I...just...have to work tomorrow."

Silence. Then...

"Tomorrow's Sunday. You don't work Sunday."

"Tomorrow's an exception," Megumi responded.

"This I got to hear..."

Megumi tried to ignore his tone of voice. "One of the ER physicians scheduled to work tomorrow won't be there, so-"

"So naturally, you decided you could take his place," Sano finished.

"The executive officer asked me to-"

"Relax, I know all about dealing with XOs. You're not even Navy and you follow their every command."

"It is my duty to-"

"I don't get it...you're not a medical officer, yet you let them order you around," Sanosuke pointed out.

"Why are you getting upset over this?" Megumi demanded.

"It's just like two years ago," Sano retorted.

"Wrong," she snapped. "Two years ago we actually meant something to each other."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Two years ago you had reason to argue, now you don't."

"Oh, wait...just because I stayed in your bed I had every right to argue every time you let me down but now since I'm not in it anymore I'm supposed to just shrug it off?"

"I can't believe you just said that!" Megumi practically shouted. "You had a hold over me back then because we were personally involved. We aren't anymore."

"I know that, dammit!" he roared.

"If you know that, then stop acting like you have every right to tell me what to do!"

"Work is getting to you...again. Never mind the fact that we used to be involved, you don't let friends down like this."

"You're hardly a friend, Sanosuke."

Silence.

"Listen, Sano. XOs, commanding officer fathers aside...this is my job. I'm a doctor. It is my job to help people. I knew that when I got into this field. It isn't the most glamourous job in the world, but it has its own rewards. You haven't really learned that since we broke up. You haven't learned anything." Megumi took a deep breath. "If you still want to talk, fine. Just not now."

Click.

Sanosuke clenched his fists tightly, almost tempted to hit something. Even after two years, she still got to him. She knew exactly what to say to make him angry. No wonder they fell apart. They didn't have enough patience for each other.

Coming to Hawaii was a mistake. He thought it was a good idea at the time... but... how could he resolve everything if what he needed to resolve wouldn't let him? Stubborn, infuriating woman...what had made him love her in the first place?! Sano blew out a breath. It was over between he and Megumi. He knew that. But it didn't stop him from feeling angry, hurt, and frustrated. Considering he hadn't contacted her since he left, showing up again just seemed to open old wounds.

Megumi couldn't sleep. Upset, angry, frustrated...

She stirred her cup of strawberry green tea, glaring at the clock as if it was her worst enemy. Wrong. Her worst enemy was at the Himura household...no doubt sleeping peacefully.

Sano. How he loved to argue...

Sometimes he did it because he was angry. Other times he did it just so SHE wouldn't have the last word in.

She was over him. So why did it still hurt?

Megumi bit her lip and stared into her teacup. Their relationship had gone so sour. By the end of the first month, she knew they had many obstacles to overcome. She couldn't recall how many times he had brought up her father or her job.

He had been her first lover. No one had ever captured her attention the way he had. But maybe that was the romantic foolishness of a young woman who had never experienced love. Until him. He was such a vibrant person, full of passion and energy. After their relationship ended, she had been devastated. She went about her life, her job, as if nothing happened. No one could tell. But she knew. When the sadness wore off, anger and hurt replaced it.

She hadn't been in a relationship since he left. Why? She had only physically shared herself with one other man since Sanosuke left. And they had dated for quite a while. But she couldn't help wonder if maybe she had been using the experience as a weight...to see if she could feel as strongly about a person again. She had some serious issues to work out, especially when it came to relationships.

What if Sano was right? What if she hadn't gotten involved again because of her father? What if she was afraid he wouldn't approve of her next companion? Could that be why she hadn't felt serious emotions about anyone? Wasn't that the reason why she sought Lt. Commander Shinomori...knowing he was exactly the type of man her father would approve of...in spite of the friction between them? Was she that desperate for her father's approval?

And what about the Medical Corps? Why didn't she think she could become an officer? Did she think that low of herself?

No...I really don't want to be an officer, she thought.

So why couldn't she bring herself to say so to her father? She didn't want to see the disappointment in his face.

Megumi felt her eyes fill. She had grown up without a mother. Her mother had been a shadow who hovered over her life. She had wanted to be someone her mother could be proud of. And her father...placed his expectations on her...and thinking that's what her mother would have wanted, she followed. But sometime down the road, she stopped wondering what her mother would have wanted and let her father do the talking. She heard all stories from her father, from Auntie Kyoko, Auntie Yuki...she knew that her mother wouldn't have been so demanding. Her aunts had said many times that personal success was the one thing her mother wanted for everyone. And that success could mean anything to the one who wanted it.

But could she do it? Could she go against her father's wishes? She was all he had here...her brothers rarely contacted them...they had their own lives.

She just didn't know what to do...

"This is the luxury..." Okina leaned back in his chair, savoring the sight of the sun rising into the sky and the tropical breeze that whisked across the land.

Aoshi poured himself a cup of orange juice. "I don't take advantage of a Hawaiian sunrise as much as I should..."

Okina shook his head. "That's really sad..."

"Not another speech about life again..." the younger man warned before taking a drink.

The two men were eating breakfast on the backyard patio of Aoshi and Misao's home. The home was on the outskirts of Honolulu, north of Waikiki, just a twenty minute drive east of Pearl Harbor.

"Morning!" Misao greeted as she hopped outside. She tugged the hem of her bright yellow tank top over her denim shorts and settled in the seat between Aoshi and Okina.

"Morning, Misao," Okina greeted.

The girl's eyes rounded. "Jiya, what are you wearing...you look like a tourist!"

Aoshi took a bite of his smoked salmon to keep from smiling. He had thought the same thing...Okina had chosen to wear a bright orange and blue aloha shirt, with hula girls printed on it, a blue sleeveless shirt underneath, and brown shorts.

"What's wrong with it?" Okina protested. "I think it's colorful." Then he pointed at Aoshi. "Better than your gloomy guardian."

Aoshi had worn a blue and white aloha shirt leaving it unbuttoned, and white shorts. "So?"

"It's boring," Okina responded.

"It's not too bad. Not something he'd wear on a date," Misao said after eyeing him critically.

"Not that he goes on dates," Okina muttered.

"He does," Misao added.

Okina gave her a look. "For fun?"

"Well...no..." She gave Aoshi a sheepish smile. "Usually for work."

"Hmph."

"That's enough," Aoshi spoke up. He poured Misao a cup of orange juice as she helped herself to some fish and rice. "Misao...I've been meaning to ask you..."

"Hmm?" She stared at him with a mouthful of rice.

"During an outing with Dr. Takani she mentioned you had seemed very interested in the hula, so the offer for lessons still stands..."

Misao's jaw dropped, causing some food to spill on her plate. Aoshi lifted one brow, and she immediately began to chew and swallow her food.

"Oh...Yeah...Are...Are you serious?"

"Do I look like I'm joking?" Aoshi responded.

"Now let me see..." Okina spoke up, examining his former ward's calm demeanor. "...No."

Aoshi glared at the old man but his features relaxed when he turned back to Misao. "If you're interested, I can speak to Dr. Takani about setting up a time for you...one that doesn't conflict with school, of course."

"Yeah...sure...that...that'd by awesome..."

"Who's Dr. Takani?" Okina spoke up.

"Misao's physician," Aoshi supplied.

"And you went out with her?"

"Kinda," Misao answered. "It was a work date."

"Oh...those kind..." Okina shook his head. "Wait...Takani...is she related to Ryuusei Takani?"

"She's his daughter."

Okina narrowed his eyes at Aoshi. "That's the ultimate work date."

"You KNOW her father?" Aoshi queried.

Okina sighed. "Don't you ever surf the net when you're bored? I do at work all the time. Her father's picture is only on the Pearl Harbor Medical Facilities website. He IS the commanding officer, after all..."

"I know, but she's pissing me off." Sano sighed, cradling the phone to his ear. "What do you mean, give her a chance? Whose side are you on?" He nodded at Kaoru who walked into the living room. "I know, but..." He sighed. "You're right. I know....Yeah...I know. I'll try...I will...I promise. I'll talk to you later...Okay. Bye."

"Everything all right?" Kaoru asked.

Sanosuke shook his head after hanging up. "I guess so..."

"Weren't you supposed to meet Megumi this morning?"

Scowling, he responded, "She's covering for someone today..." He glanced at the clock. "But...maybe I should check and see her at the hospital..."

"Do you need to borrow our car?" Kaoru asked. "As long as you don't ruin it..."

"Thanks!"

The ER was a mess. Today of all days. Sano grit his teeth. Okay, so he wasn't really being logical about all this. He could easily wait to talk to Megumi after work. Forget logic.

He walked through the entrance, the pristine walls giving the sense of cleanliness. People walked back and forth and he could hear sirens in the distance. He approached the desk nurse.

"I'm looking for-"

"Dr. Takani!" someone called out urgently from some spot behind the desk, beyond his line of vision.

Sano immediately went around the desk, sensing something was wrong.

"Sir, this is for patients and medical personnel-" the desk nurse ordered.

When he turned a corner, he spotted a young nurse holding Megumi's slumping form.

"What's wrong?" Sano asked.

"She just collapsed," the nurse explained as a doctor rushed over. "We need to get her to a room..."

Sano reached forward, lifting Megumi in his arms and followed the nurse, who hurriedly straightened the sheets on the bed. Once Sano set her down, the doctor checked her temperature and pulse.

"Pulse is a bit weak..." the medical officer spoke up. "What time did Dr. Takani start her shift?"

"Seven this morning, sir," the nurse replied. "She just clocked out..."

Megumi's eyes slowly opened.

"Dr. Takani, can you hear me?" the medical officer spoke up. At her slight nod, he gave her a reassuring smile. "Are you all right?"

"I...I think so..."

He held up her hand. "You're shaking. Did you have anything to eat today?" At the shake of her head, he gave her a stern look. "It's been busy all day, and you haven't had any food?"

"I know, I..."

"I'll be back in a couple minutes..." he and the nurse left, leaving Sano glaring at her.

"You're really stubborn, you know that?"

Megumi sighed. "I really don't need this from you..."

"So obsessed with work, you won't even take care of yourself..."

"If you're going to be here and insult me, do something productive," she snapped.

He moved to the sink to get a cold compress for her head.

"Quit making a big production out of it..." Megumi accepted the cloth from his outstretched hand and placed it on her forehead.

"I'm just-"

"Save it, Sano...I don't want to hear it."

"Will you just let me-"

"I said 'Save it'."

Sano settled in a chair, crossing his arms to stare at the tiled floor. Abruptly, he rose to his feet.

"I'm going to get you some food..."

Irritating woman. Had she always been this troublesome? He wondered, What did I ever see in her?

He sighed. A long time ago, he loved her very much. Their time together was passionate, unforgettable. She was the first woman he ever, truly loved. But they couldn't last. They were too different. And she seemed so focused on her career. And he was just happy he had a job. It had taken him a long time to accept that what he and Megumi had wasn't meant to be.

Ten minutes later, Sano handed the cashier several bills and took the egg salad sandwich and bottled water to the room where Megumi was resting.

"Hey, I got you something to eat..."

Megumi sat up in her bed, bracing her head against her hand. "Thank you..."

He couldn't help but smile. Even when she was angry with him, she never hesitated to display manners. Always a lady.

"Listen, I wanted to talk to you about-" he began only to be interrupted.

"What are you doing here?" a bellowing voice echoed in the room.

Oh, damn... Sano thought, gritting his teeth. Megumi was staring over his shoulder, her eyes as huge as saucers. I can't believe HE'S here, Sano fumed silently. Why now?

"Father..." Megumi stammered.

Sanosuke set his jaw as Ryuusei Takani stalked over to his daughter. "One of the nurses called my cellular phone to tell me you collapsed. Luckily I was at the commissary nearby, so I hurried over here. What's wrong?"

"She's fine," Sanosuke interjected.

"I didn't ask you," the captain responded.

Sanosuke rolled his eyes.

"I'm all right, Father. I guess I just...overexerted myself," Megumi explained.

"As usual," Sanosuke added.

Megumi grimaced while her father shot him a death glare. Then he turned to look at her former lover.

"What are you doing here, Sagara?"

"Looking after your daughter," he snapped.

"You expect me to believe that you came all the way to Hawaii just to look after her? Don't you have a life elsewhere?"

Sanosuke scowled. "I came to visit an old friend and decided to say hi to Megumi. I didn't know I had to ask for permission..."

"You have no business seeing my daughter. Your...affair...is over."

"Father!"

"And you're pretty glad about that, aren't you?" Sano shot back. "You always thought I wasn't good enough for your daughter. I bet every single chance you had you were saying I couldn't provide for her...I was too immature for her...I was too-"

"Exactly. So what are you doing here?" Captain Takani demanded. As Sano opened his mouth, he turned to his daughter, "What is he doing here?"

"He just came to visit me after work, that's all."

"I pray you aren't thinking of rehashing your affair because that's the worst mistake you'll ever make..." the captain muttered.

"Yeah, that's the reason I'm here," Sanosuke retorted. "I missed her so much...after two years...I just HAD to throw away my life in Virginia and fly all the way here just so we can continue our AFFAIR..."

Megumi groaned. "Sano...you're not helping..."

"Megumi, I'm disappointed in you," Captain Takani spoke up. "Especially after our discussion..."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

Sano crossed his arms.

"Your...choices in men aren't exactly the most...well-thought out," the captain said. "Now, I understand...you're young, you're single, but eventually when it's time to settle down, I can't have you pick some lowlife-"

"Don't talk to her like that," Sano cut in.

Megumi closed her eyes as her father turned to Sanosuke.

"What did you say?" the older man demanded.

"You heard me," Sano responded. "She's an adult, she can make her decisions. It's not your job to tell her that she's making the right or wrong ones."

"I'm her father, I have every right to-"

"Look, Captain, I may never understand the relationship between kids and their parents, because I never grew up with parents...but most fathers never talk to their daughters with a superior attitude."

"Why you..." the captain took a deep breath to calm himself. Then he turned to Megumi. "Fine. If you want to throw your life away on someone like him, it's up to you. But don't be surprised if he breaks your heart again."

"What the-?!"

"We're not involved, Father. That was a long time ago," Megumi insisted, cutting Sano off. "He's been trying to tell you that all along."

Her father looked at Sanosuke suspiciously.

"I'm only here as a friend," Sanosuke insisted.

The captain nodded. "Good. It should stay that way. You caused my daughter enough heartache."

"Father-"

"Look, you don't need to keep telling me how wrong I was for her!" Sano replied. "I know that now. We were too different...we had some growing up to do...whatever! I'm sure you had plenty of excuses and reasons. But that's between me and her!"

"I'm so glad you left. I had hoped that you'd never come back...but I guess I can't wish for the impossible..."

Sano glared at him. Officer respect be damned. Sanosuke never did anything to make Megumi's father hate him. Her father just interfered in their relationship from the beginning.

"Well, if I have my way, Megumi and I will be on a lot better terms," Sano warned.

"I don't think so," the captain said confidently. Then with a humorless smile, he said, "Why do you think you were able to leave Hawaii so fast when you requested a transfer?"

Megumi stared at her father in shock while Sanosuke clenched his fists.

"When you've been in the Navy as long as I have...you make many connections...and many friends...Your transfer request processed very quickly, wouldn't you say?"

"You're...You took part in that? THAT'S why I was able to leave so fast?" Sano stammered. "Shit! If I had known that, I would have stayed in Hawaii anyway!"

"I know."

Megumi closed her eyes, burying her face in her hands.

"You had been a nuisance for a long time," the captain said coldly. "And I wanted you to leave. How convenient that you had saved up enough vacation time that you decided to use prior to your next duty station...that made the process so much easier..."

"Damn you!"

"Stop it, stop it, both of you!" Megumi cried.

Both men turned to her. When she looked at Sanosuke, he was surprised to see the frustration, anger, but most of all, the hurt that ran deep into her soul. He could only imagine what she was feeling. She had been tricked, too. A sheen of tears pooled in her brown eyes. Maybe...just maybe she'd understand what he had gone through.

"Sano...I think you should leave..."

His jaw dropped. "What?"

"Please...just go," she begged.

Sano cursed aloud. "Even after all this time...you're STILL going to listen to him?!"

"Sanosuke..." Megumi whispered. "I'll call you later. I promise."

"Forget it!" Sanosuke stalked to the door.

"Good. Run off like two years ago," her father mocked.

Sano paused in opening the door. Then he glanced at Megumi. "All right...You know where to find me..." he said in a gentler voice. Then he was gone.

"Good riddance. Now, Megumi-" her father stopped once he caught the frostiness in his daughter's eyes.

"I think you should go, too," she said quietly.

"What?"

"Father...I love you..." Megumi shook her head. "But before I say something I might regret...I suggest you leave..."

He stood still for a moment. Then he turned to exit the room.

As he opened the door, he said softly, "I hated the pain he put you through. Every time you were upset about him...it was the same thing over and over. I know you loved him. And...he loved you. But love isn't always enough, Megumi. He's right...you're an adult who can make your own decisions...but I can't stop supporting you just because you're a certain age. Fatherhood doesn't stop when you turn eighteen."

And he left.

So! Next! Megumi comes to terms with her relationship with her dad...Sano and Meg finally get to talk without arguing about the past. Is it really over between them?...The Himuras decide to have a big dinner...guess who's invited? Until next time! ^_^