Chapter 1 
         
    Megumi stared at herself in the mirror. She barely recognized herself. The woman in the mirror was beautiful and elegant. Her tall and lithe frame was clad in a dark red silk kimono and her tiny waist was accentuated by a black obi. Even her hair had undergone a transformation. It was piled high upon her head with delicate inky wisps framing her face. 
    “Maybe this is too much,” she said, brushing her bangs from her eyes. She gazed at herself for a couple seconds longer. She looked so different. Exotic and mysterious, unlike the common doctor that she really was. 
    A loud knock on her door interrupted her thoughts. “Oy Fox! Are you in there?” 
    Sanosuke. 
    Megumi frantically began to loosen her obi. All her courage had vanished the minute his deep voice called from outside. She couldn’t go through with this. She had to change. Once he’d see her, he’d laugh his head off. Laugh or call her a stuck-up snob. Hastily she grabbed her regular purple kimono as she hurriedly began tugging off her obi. 
    Without waiting for an answer, Sano pushed open the door and stalked in, just as she dropped her normal clothes in her haste to get her obi off. 
    Not even looking at him, she quickly knelt down to pick up her clothes. Maybe if she stayed down here he wouldn’t notice her. Maybe he would leave. Maybe she wouldn’t have to look or talk to him.  
Maybe... 
    She was being foolish. She had to go through with this. So what if he laughed at her and called her names? What was new with that? She couldn’t let him ruin her plans. Everything rested upon this  
charade that they were about to play. Afterall, it wasn’t as though as was dressing to impress him. She was dressed so lavishly so that their plan would be that much more foolproof. Why should she care if he laughed or mocked her?        
    Rising, she lifted her chin determinedly and looked him straight in the eye. “You’re here,” she said as she quickly adjusted her obi. 
    Her cheeks stung as he languidly looked at her. He began from the top of her hair all the way to the bottom of her feet. Then he slid his gaze over her again, this time slower, more deliberate. 
    “You look...” he trailed off, his voice very deep and masculine in the small room. He continued to stare at her. 
    Angry at the way he was looking at her, angry at the way he was about to insult her and angry at the way his voice sent shivers racing down her spine made her lash out. “Oh shut up,” she cried,  
vexed. “I know exactly what you’re going to say Sanosuke. Well may I remind you that I’m helping you and if you even dare to say that I look stupid or call me a stuck up bitch then I’ll-” 
    “You look exquisite,” he interrupted slowly, his voice even deeper. “Like an Empress.” 
    She blinked surprised. She certainly hadn’t expected than. Red heat spilled into her cheeks. He was still staring at her. “Um…arigato,” she whispered, looking at the floor. 
    “You should always wear red,” he said so softly, his words embracing her. 
    Her gaze flew to his. About to reply, she stopped when she finally noticed what he was wearing. She swallowed nervously, her mouth suddenly dry. Dear Lord, he looked handsome. Why was it that she hadn’t ever noticed him before? 
    Sano was wearing his normal gi and loose pants, but with one big difference. Both were red. His gi was dark red, just a shade lighter than the kimono she wore, outlined with black. His pants were longer and she couldn’t help but notice that he wasn’t wearing his customary bandages around his waist. 
    “Sano,” she murmured. “You’re wearing red also.” She flushed. “You look beautiful too.” 
    He raised an eyebrow. “Beautiful? Me?” 
    Wordlessly, she nodded. 
    He chuckled. “Are you feeling okay, Fox?” 
    She glared at him, the mood broken, her nervousness gone. “Oh shut up,” she snapped. “Let’s go, chicken head.” 
    He smirked at her as he held open the door for her. “After you, my beautiful Fox Lady.” 
    Giving him a dirty look, she swept past him, resisting the urge to smack him. His clothes may be different and he may look attractive, but underneath he was the same old stupid Sano. 
     They stepped outside and she couldn’t help but note how everything seemed so quiet and peaceful. The moonlight splashed into the black night, lighting a path of moonbeams for them to walk on. 
        Megumi gasped when Sano suddenly grabbed her arm and pulled her to his side. “What are you doing?” she cried, trying to pull her arm away. 
        “Have you forgotten that you’re supposed to be my wife?” he demanded, tightening his hold on her arm. 
        “No I haven’t forgotten,” she hissed. “But I’m not your wife now so let go of me. You’re cutting off my circulation.” 
        He let go of her arm but instead took her hand. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. But we should practice being married. Everything depends upon us. We have to act like we’re a real couple in love.” 
        “I know,” she replied, trying to stop shivering. He was gently stroking her palm as he held her hand. His touch was cool and somehow very sensual. He was making her heart race just by holding  
her hand. Why was she reacting so strongly to him? He was barely even doing anything. All this scheming must be making her crazy. 
        “All married couples have nicknames for each other,” Sano announced, not noticing the devastating effect his hand had on hers.  
        “Although Fox is the perfect name-” 
        “Call me that again and I’ll kill you,” she threatened. “I have access to many different poisons, you stupid-”  
        “Alright, alright. I was just kidding,” he placated. “But I have to call you something cute and loving. How about ‘my little bekko-ame’?” 
        “Absolutely not!” Megumi thundered. “I refuse to let you call me that. I am not a candy!” 
        “But you’re as sweet as one,” he whispered, his breath tickling her ear. “That’s why I married you.” 
        She rolled her eyes, refusing to analyze why his compliment made her feel so warm and happy. He was only playing the part of a loving, doting husband. He didn’t mean what he was saying at all and yet she couldn’t help but be flattered. Yes, she was certainly going  
crazy. 
        “You have to think of a nickname for me too,” Sano told her. 
        “What is it with you and these stupid nicknames?” she demanded.  
        “All married couples give each other nicknames,” he announced in a superior tone of voice. “It shows that they really love each other. If we call each other by cute little pet names, then everyone  
will think that we love each other very much and that’s what we want.” 
        “How do you know that couples in love give each nicknames?” she asked, suspiciously. “And since when are you an expert on marriage?” 
        “I know everything,” he replied arrogantly. “Just trust me, my little bekko-ame.” 
        “Sano,” she warned in a dire voice. “If you dare call me-” 
        He laughed at her. ‘There’s no need for you to get upset, my love. I love you. You know that, sweetheart.” 
        She groaned. “After this is over, I’m going to kill you. I mean it.” 
        “This is really easy,” he informed her. “Come on, Fox. We both have our differences but we have to make this work. Lives are at stake. You know that. If we fail...” 
        He trailed off, letting the threat of failure hang in the air. She sighed. What he said was true. People were counting on them. She tightened her hand around his. 
        “Can I just call you darling?” she asked. “Sano darling?” 
        He bent and kissed the tip of her nose. “Of course Megumi, my precious wife. That sounds just perfect.” 
        She giggled, not knowing whether it was his little kiss or the sound of her name on his lips made her breath catch. He was right. Acting like they were in love was easy. Far more easy then it  
should have been. 
        The moon bathed them in a soft glow of white light, as they held hands and whispered their love for each other.