Why Am I Awake? Heh.
Rurouni Kenshin first scene of first chp. of multi-chp. fic
Sano/Megumi
Morning. A shy sun, just awakening itself, shone down on the sleeping world, new and twinkling and deceptively dull, oozing out through the pale, porous clouds. A thin haze of relaxation and lazy sleep still lingered, clinging tightly to the warm bodies still wrapped up in blankets. The day had already had promise, bold and bright and new, every waking person rejuvenated and filled with a calm warmth.
Takani Megumi blinked open her eyes, slowly waking from a deep, comforting sleep. It was still early; if she wanted to, nothing was stopping her from enjoying the lazy delights of morning just a little longer. Her awareness was slowly coming back to her, stirring her senses into a frenzy of observation and memory. She was... content. Quite content.
Suddenly, a presence made itself known. An arm- or some like appendage, though an arm was the considerably most comfortable thought- snaked around her body, and abruptly pulled her backwards. She stiffened immediately, coming quickly to the realization that she wasn’t alone. A low moan was expelled behind her. The arm pulled her a little closer, and her back met with a firm wall of... person.
It was just as she feared; the arm was attached to a body. And judging from the deep tone, the flat, firm chest, and the oh-so-relevant- and considerably compromising- nature of the situation that they found themselves in together, the body was that of a man. A dread sense of realization began to dawn on her. It wasn’t just any man, it was a-
"Mmm, Megitsune," he murmured, tucking his head between her shoulder and neck, lips tickling her skin as he spoke, "It’s too... early..."
It definitely wasn’t just any man, it was a Sanosuke. A free-loading, idiotic, uncivilized, rooster-headed Sanosuke. And she was there... with him... and...
Biting her lip to keep from shrieking, she pushed away from him and stood, running to the other corner of the room. He just rolled onto his stomach and kept sleeping peacefully. But WHY was she there, with him? Obviously she had... Or he had... Or they had...
There was no reason to panic, not just yet. There were still explanations to be had, and - she noticed as she glanced down - clothes that still needed to be found. Her eyes flew over to Sano. She watched him sleeping, calm and peaceful and... beautiful. He looked so young and happy. But... She glanced around. She wasn’t even in her own home! Taking a deep breath to maintain her composure, she began rationalizing the situation.
The night before, she had been upset. A patient had died; she hadn’t been able to save the poor boy. He had his whole life before him, and so quickly it had been taken away. Was there something more she could have done? Why hadn’t she been able to save him? That had released a flood of anxiety and anguish she had been holding back for a long time. She had wandered in the dark aimlessly- thoughtlessly- until she had bumped into Sanosuke. Where they were, she couldn’t say, but he saw her distress and made a hearty effort to calm her.
Seeing him worried like that wasn’t exactly a situation she was comfortable with. She had made the first move, dismissing the consequences until she was herself again. He had been so... beautiful. She had been looking for an easy one-night stand, one enjoyable experience, but nothing that really mattered. Nothing memorable; nothing special. However, she hadn’t counted on his feelings.
Things turned out a little differently than she had planned. As much as the idea shocked and amazed her, she had obviously underestimated Sanosuke’s feelings for her. He meant it when he touched her. He had never been particularly adept at deception- that she had noticed- and she was far from blind or senseless. So how could she not have noticed the reverence he gave her body? How could she not have felt his tenderness? His passion? The warmth that only came with a feeling frighteningly close to love...
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Yeah. This is called These Mad Meiji Nights (or Remember Me in the Morning). I wrote this a long time ago - found it; and now I've posted it. Heh. All right! *sigh* I should sleep soon. I probably won't.
-ILB