Chapter 02 - THE DOCTOR’S REQUEST
SAKURA: (thinking of the days events and feeling slightly embarrassed about needing to be carried to the doctor) Sano… um… I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused you.
SANOSUKE: Hey, I always do just what I want! Besides, I haven't had a good fight in a while… at least not until you got into town.
Sakura smiles a little as she drifts into unconsciousness. Sano feel her body go limp. Sakura has lost a lot of blood from the dagger wound and her body has been pushed to its limits. Sano knows time is of the essence and he begins to run.
Sanosuke finally reaches Dr. Gensai's house and is at the brink of exhaustion himself.
SANOSUKE: Dr. Gensai, it’s me Sano, open up!
Megumi opens the door, obviously upset at being prematurely awakened.
MEGUMI: Sano, what are you doing here so late? You can't just- (noticing the girl on his back) Who's that?
SANOSUKE: (with a sense of urgency) You've got to help her, she's already passed out from losing so much blood.
MEGUMI: (pointing to an empty room) Bring her in and put her down in there.
As Sano puts Sakura down Dr. Gensai walks in.
DR. GENSAI: (yawning) What's all the commotion? (noticing Sakura) Sakura-chan?
MEGUMI: She's lost a lot of blood; we're going to have to treat her quickly.
DR. GENSAI: Sano, please wait outside. Megumi, get the bandages.
As Megumi and Dr. Gensai work to treat Sakura's wounds, Sano sits outside looking at the stars. His mind begins to wander. Fragmented thoughts swirl in Sano’s mind. (What happened today…? All I wanted was some rice cakes… and now…? Sakura… Sakura, please be alright… What is this that I'm feeling…? It’s odd… it’s different… it’s weird! I know we just met today but… I can't get you out of my head. What's wrong with me? Why? Why Sakura… why can't I stop thinking about you?)
Megumi goes outside and sits next to Sano, interrupting his racing thoughts.
MEGUMI: Sano this is so unlike you, you look so pensive. So what's the deal with that girl anyway?
SANOSUKE: (being startled away from his contemplations) Huh? Oh, that's Kaoru's sister, Sakura. She just got into town today. What happened tonight… is a long story. (a long pause) I don't know if I have the energy to tell it.
MEGUMI: Sister huh…? I guess we know who got all the looks in the family, huh?! (Megumi starts cackling, but abruptly stops when she sees that Sano isn’t in a jovial mood.) Well anyway, you can go home now. Dr. Gensai is treating her ankle. Her stab wound was deep but it missed all the vital organs. She'll be fine with enough rest.
SANOSUKE: (hopeful) Has she regained consciousness?
MEGUMI: (a little hesitant) No.
SANOSUKE: I'll stay with her. (He put his head on his hands and stared into the night sky).
MEGUMI: What? Why?
SANOSUKE: She saved my neck a couple of times tonight. It's my turn to return the favor.
MEGUMI: But-
Before she could finish Sano has already left. Sano goes back in the house to check on Sakura for himself. As he enters the room where Sakura is being treated, he sees that Dr. Gensai is just leaving.
DR. GENSAI: Ah Sano, I just finished… (looking at Sano carefully). I take it from the look on your face that you are going to stay here tonight. I'll have Megumi bring you a blanket and I will check on the two of you in the morning.
Sano enters Sakura’s room and she looks as though she is sleeping peacefully. Sano can’t help but stare at her, wishing that she’ll wake up. It just doesn’t seem right to him that someone who is so lively should be laying here this still. Sano feels a fundamental ache somewhere inside him that he can’t quite place. In fact he doesn’t even try. He just accepts it, along with everything else that happened today. Megumi comes in with a blanket and pillow for Sanosuke. She sees him staring into Sakura’s face. He doesn’t even look up. Megumi takes the hint and leaves the room as quietly as she came in. Sano takes the blanket, wraps himself up and sits down next to Sakura. Sano remembers how her limp body felt in his arms and also how active she had become later. Sitting there Sano begins pondering some of the more difficult questions of the day. How’d she do it? How did she find the strength to fight so well when she was injured… first her ankle, then her side…? How did she take down that henchman at the double doors so quickly and easily? In fact how did she manage to knock Okano unconscious when he clearly had the advantage? As the thoughts continued to run though Sano’s mind he slowly drifts off to sleep, a sleep that was tormented with nightmares where other people he knew were getting murdered.
Morning comes and Megumi goes in to check on Sakura. She sees Sano sitting by Sakura's side. He looks as if he didn't get any sleep at all.
MEGUMI: Sano? Uh… how is she?
SANOSUKE: No change.
Megumi thinks to herself (Man, I have never seen him look so serious… What’s going on here… Could he really have feelings for this girl…?)
SANOSUKE: Megumi, I have a favor to ask you. Will you take this letter to the Kamiya dojo?
MEGUMI: Uh… sure… (Megumi was too shocked to say anything else.)
Megumi takes the letter and leaves. A few minutes later Dr. Gensai walks in with a plate of food.
DR. GENSAI: Here Sano, eat something. (Hands him the plate of food). Megumi made it before she left.
SANOSUKE: Thanks.
Sano takes the plate of food and puts it to the side. For the first time in a long time, he does not have an appetite. Dr. Gensai checks Sakura's vital signs along with her wounds.
DR. GENSAI: Well, her vital signs are strong. I'm sure she will regain consciousness before too long. All we can do now is wait.
SANOSUKE: Thanks Doc.
---
Over at the Kamiya Dojo…
KENSHIN: Ah, Good morning Megumi-dono
MEGUMI: (running up to Kenshin and batting her eyes shamelessly) Good morning Sir Ken.
KAORU: (quietly) Great, what is SHE doing here?
MEGUMI: Sano asked me to bring this over. (Hands Kenshin the note.)
KENSHIN: Thank you.
Everyone gathers around Kenshin as he reads the note.
KENSHIN: (reading) "On the way to Dr. Gensai's last night Sakura became unconscious. Although her wounds were treated promptly, she has not regained consciousness. I have decided to stay here until she recovers. Sano."
KAORU: Poor Sakura. She must have been more injured that I realized.
KENSHIN: I'm not surprised… that fight took a lot out of her, both physically and mentally.
YAHIKO: Let's go see her! Maybe she'll snap out of it!
KENSHIN: (smiles) That might even cheer Sano up, that it might.
Everyone went back with Megumi to Dr. Gensai's. Their long visit included Kaoru fighting with Yahiko, Sano fighting with Yahiko, and Kenshin trying to keep the peace. Finally everyone went back home. Well, everyone except for Sanosuke. Sano was determined to stay by Sakura's side.
Sano finds himself sitting once again by Sakura’s seemingly lifeless body. He watches her breath, just to make sure that she is actually still alive. Sitting there alone with all distraction removed, his jumbled thoughts begin to take over his mind once again. (Sakura… why? Please… please get better… I… I can't lose another…) With these thoughts flooding his mind Sano drifted off to sleep. Thankfully a dreamless sleep which was much more restful than that of the previous night. Night gave way to morning and in the midst of his hazy sleep Sano heard a sweet voice.
SAKURA: Sano…? Sanosuke… (As Sakura opened her eyes she was surprised to see the man who fought alongside her asleep against the wall. When she tried to sit up a surge of pain stung her side.) Ow… what the…?
SANOSUKE: (being startled out of sleep) Huh? Where am I? (looking across the room and noticing that Sakura is propped up on her elbows and staring right at him.) Sakura! (Sano was so happy that Sakura had actually regained consciousness that he quickly went over to her and gave her a big hug).
SAKURA: OW! (As she slaps him across the face).
SANOSUKE: (backing off a bit and rubbing his cheek) uh, sorry… I'm just glad that you're finally awake…
SAKURA: … what do you mean, finally? I just took a little nap.
SANOSUKE: You were unconscious for two days, you idiot!
SAKURA: (stunned) … two… days… Everyone must be so worried…
SANOSUKE: (looking down) I let them know you were all right. They even came to visit.
Sakura looks around the room. She is finally beginning to realize that she is not at home. The fight with Okano slowly comes back to her. She feels sore all over and she is covered in bruises. Sakura notices that her wounds have been tended to; she also notices the bags under Sano's eyes.
SAKURA: (a little apprehensive) uh, Sano? Have you been here long?
SANOSUKE: (he feels heat rushing into his cheeks and turns away) … no… I, uh, just got here… (what a lame lie! She's going to see through that one for sure… but how could I tell her that I've been here the whole time? That I haven't left her side? She wouldn’t understand…)
Dr. Gensai and Megumi enter.
MEGUMI: What's all the racket?
DR. GENSAI: Sakura! It's good to see that you are awake!
SAKURA: Hello Dr. Gensai (recognizing the doctor at once). It's good to see you again. (looking at the defensive bruises on her arms.) I just wish we could have met under different circumstances.
DR. GENSAI: Don't be silly, I’ve been treating your wounds since you were a kid. I’ll bet you were in here at least once a week with a new cut or scrape. Nothing’s changed. I'm just glad that you are awake and doing better. Sano, please excuse us, we need to examine her.
SANOSUKE: ok (Sano leaves, grateful for the interruption).
DR GENSAI: Megumi, please help me check her bandages. (to Sakura) So how are you feeling?
SAKURA: Sore, but good. Good, knowing that it's over. That I can finally put my past behind me.
DR. GENSAI: Good, well you look like you are doing much better to me. Megumi, why don't you finish up in here. I'll go make everyone some breakfast. (leaves)
MEGUMI: (Relishing the chance to gossip) So Sano tells me you are Kaoru's sister. It's a good thing you fight better than she does, or you might not of made it.
Sakura has never met this person in her life but suddenly she is being bombarded with innuendo and unsolicited advice. Sakura’s head is already swimming and she doesn't quite know what to make of this.
SAKURA: How… ?
MEGUMI: I'm a doctor. It's my business to know these things. Anyway, I heard that you saved Sano's neck. Any woman who does that either has to be strong, brave, or stupid.
SAKURA: What do you… ?
MEGUMI: Never mind. You know that idiot Sano never left your side. He…
As Megumi keeps talking, Sakura's mind begins to wander. (He never… he never left me… why? Why did he stay with me? Why did he fight with me? Why was he willing to get hurt on account of me? We just met… Was it just to save Kaoru and Yahiko? I’m sure that’s gotta be it… but… but that doesn't make sense. They could have left during the fight. That doesn't explain why he stayed here… with me… or why he brought me here in the first place… he doesn't even know me. What he does know about me should make him wanna run in the opposite direction. At least, that’s what usually happens… What is this…? What is this that I'm feeling? I can't believe that he stayed with me… I just can’t stop thinking about it. Why? Why would he do that…?)
MEGUMI: …so what do you think?
SAKURA: uh…
MEGUMI: Well never mind. It sounds like breakfast is ready I'll go bring you a plate.
SAKURA: … uh… thank you…?
As Megumi leaves Sakura finds herself more confused than ever.
---
During breakfast Sano and Dr. Gensai have a serious conversation.
DR GENSAI: Sano I'm going to let Sakura go home today, but she is going to have to stay in bed for a couple of weeks. There’s no sense in her staying here when she would be more comfortable at home. However, the wound in her side is deep and her ankle is sprained badly. I'm going to need someone to look after her to make sure she does not reopen her wounds. That girl is a free spirit you know, and left to her own devices she would probably try to walk home today, even as badly hurt as she is. That's why I'm asking you to look after her.
SANOSUKE: What?! Me?! Why me?!
DR. GENSAI: Because Sano… like it or not, you've already assumed that role. The minute you brought her here I could tell that you would do anything for that girl.
Sano looks away pouting. He’s caught off guard by the doctor’s candid comments. Sano sits in silence, cheeks blazing, (Is it that obvious…? What is he talking about anyway? I… I don't even know what it is I'm feeling but he… I just did what anyone else would have done in this situation, right…?)
DR. GENSAI: I'm counting on you Sano.
Before he knew it Sano is walking home with Sakura in his arms with strict instructions from the doc to keep her on bed rest. Dr. Gensai was right about her. When Sano went to check on Sakura after breakfast she was trying to stand on her bad ankle. She insisted that she was fine and could easily walk home. Then her ankle gave out and lucky for her Sano caught her and saved her from doing more damage to herself. With a LOT of convincing Sakura finally agreed to let Sanosuke take her home.
Back at the Kamiya dojo everyone was happy to see them. Within the weeks that followed, Sakura, while getting better physically, was getting more and more agitated about not being able to get out of bed. As difficult as the task was becoming, Sano kept his promise to Dr. Gensai and tried to make Sakura follow the doctor's orders. However, one morning when he went to check on her, she was gone. When Sano went outside he could hear someone in the dojo and figured it was her. Sure enough, Sakura was in there practicing.
SANOSUKE: Hey! What do think you're doing? You're not even supposed to be walking yet!
SAKURA: I'm a martial artist! I can't just lay around all day! I need to do something to keep my strength up. Anyway what do you care… ( just then she loses her balance and starts to fall)
Sano catches her.
SANOSUKE: I told you to be careful you idiot!
SAKURA: Idiot! Who's an idiot! I never asked you to look after me alright, so mind your own business! (Struggling to break out of Sano's grasp.)
SANOSUKE: I can't do that. Dr. Gensai asked me to watch you, and since I'm just about as stubborn as you are, I'd say you've met your match.
Sakura is fuming, but says nothing. Sanosuke picks her up and puts her down on the porch outside of the house.
SAKURA: HEY!
SANOSUKE: Let's compromise. I'll sit here with you for a while.
SAKURA: (sighs as a sign of defeat) Fine, you win, but you have to tell me a story. Something about yourself. It's only fair. I've been here just a short amount of time but you practically know my entire life story.
SANOSUKE: (looks away) Sakura, not everyone's past is something they are proud of… (Hesitating.) However, I do want to tell you about mine before you hear it from someone else. (He looks back at her). Here it goes…
Sano tells Sakura about his history with the Sekihoutai, his life as Zanza, and his fateful encounter with Kenshin that changed his life. He also tells her why he still wears the symbol for "wicked" on his back. How it will always be a reminder of his past.
SANOSUKE: (looking away again) So that's basically it.
Sakura takes his left hand in both of hers. Sano blushes as he looks into her face.
SAKURA: Sagara Sanosuke, I'm glad I met you. I don't care about your past. Your past made you who you are today, and I'm so happy to have met you. (Smiles)
Sano is speechless, his eyes widen. (That smile…those words… they're the same as before… I… I wonder…) Then Yahiko comes up, seemingly from out of nowhere.
YAHIKO: Ooh! Sano is blushing! Hey Sano how come your face is all red?
Thud!
Sano punches Yahiko and walks away.