This chapter is devoted (almost) entirely to Tsubame and Yahiko. I'm afraid it might get a little mushy at parts, but I tried to keep it real. In any case, please R&R!!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or any of its characters, except Tomoko and Koichi-kun, my OCs.

. . . .

M I R A C L E S

Tokyo, Japan -- October, Meiji 13 (1880)

PART ONE

Tsubame could hear the rain pounding, gently, against the roof of the Akabeko, which was now emptying as night descended. She stifled a yawn, leaning against the door where she had just shown out a young couple, and keeping an eye on their last customer, a solitary drinker.

Tokyo was quiet now. In the last year, an uneventful affair that had passed in what seemed the blink of an eye, little had changed. Tsubame earned her keep at the Akabeko, and Yahiko-kun helped out when he could, as well as assisting with Kaoru-san's classes at the dojo. Kaoru and Kenshin-san kept mainly to themselves at the dojo, and occasionally came by to meet with a few friends. Easily the greatest of Asakusa's gossip last year had been Kenshin and Kaoru's engagement (as Yahiko aptly put it, about time); they had been married since spring. Tsubame was happy for them, and could easily see, when they were together, that they were very, very happy as well. Megumi had come by for the wedding and lodged at the Akabeko, but they hadn't heard from Sanosuke since his disappearance two years earlier. Yahiko had told Tsubame of his departure, though she still wished she could have been there to see him off.

Through the rain came the unexpected sounds of laughter, the clacking of geta on the street. Another couple arriving, this late at night? Tsubame peeked out from the Akabeko's doorway, squinting into the semidarkness. A young man and woman, she judged, dashing through the rain under one umbrella. She blinked, then, recognizing the two.

"Ah! Tsubame-chan!" The woman recognized Tsubame as well, darting in out of the rain. It was Tomoko-san, one of Akabeko's maids, just a few years older than Tsubame, and Koichi-kun behind her, who frequented the Akabeko. Both were flushed and short of breath from their dash through the rain, and both were laughing as if it was the most fun they'd had in years. Tsubame hadn't time to open her mouth before Tae-san arrived.

"Really, you two," said Tae-san, torn between amusement and disapproval, "I sent you on a small errand an hour ago." She sighed.

"I--I got the tea you wanted," said Tomoko, panting, and holding the packet for Tae to take it, "and then it started raining, but Ko-san had an umbrella, and he saw me, so he was going to lend it to me," she said, rapidly, "but I said he couldn't very well walk back home in the rain, so he said he would take me back to the Akabeko, and—"

"Alright." Tae cut her off. "You two go get to the back where you won't bother anyone and dry off. Ko-chan looks soaked. And Tsubame-chan," she said, turning, "sorry, but our last customer wants a cup of water before he goes, you'll have to get some from the well for now. Just go quickly and try not to get too wet."

"Hai!" Tsubame bowed out quickly and ran off to find a bucket. Tomoko hurried through the almost deserted restaurant, Koichi following behind her and tugging her sleeve playfully, only making her giggle more. Tsubame sighed, smiling. Tomoko-san was a real free spirit, always having fun and getting into trouble… in a way, Tsubame envied Tomoko. But her flirting really was a problem.

Tsubame sucked her breath in through her teeth as a single cold raindrop fell onto her arm. She inched around the edge of the building, then dashed across the open courtyard to the well and sheltered under its small roof. By the time she had dragged up a bucketful, she was fairly damp, but the day was almost over and she could change after showing out their last customer. Running to the best of her ability while carrying the now full bucket, she finally made it back into the doorway of the Akabeko and deposited the bucket near the door, sighing with relief. She grabbed a cup and filled it, carrying it out to their customer, who took the cup and downed it in one go before trudging out the door with his umbrella, ignoring Tsubame's thanks. Tae-san shut the doors behind him and collected the man's dished.

"Get some sleep, Tsubame-chan. It's been a long day." Tae yawned. "Oyasumi."

"Oyasumi nasai." She allowed a yawn for herself, too, and wandered to the back of the restaurant where she would round the stairs up to her room and get some much needed sleep…

She halted, eyes wide in the doorway, as her heart began to race. Beneath the shadow of the building's roof, ignoring the rain falling just a few feet away, Tomoko-san and Koichi were entwined, their lips locked together. The scene, it occurred to Tsubame, was akin to the sort of things Tae-san liked to read about in romance novels, a picturesque seen of star-crossed or otherwise endangered lovers. For a moment, she could think of nothing but how happy the two looked, how they held each other with perfect content, eyes closed and swaying gently. She watched, guilty, but unable to turn away.

Koichi-san broke free for a moment, looking up. He blinked in surprise at seeing Tsubame, and her heart leapt into her mouth. Muttering a completely inaudible apology, she turned and ran as quickly as she could to the shelter of the stairway, where she pelted up the stairs and into her room, chest heaving. Without bothering to light a lamp, she changed hurriedly and pulled the blankets of her bed over herself. Her thoughts spun, and any trace of drowsiness was long gone.

It was several minutes before Tomoko-san joined her, falling into bed without a word. And it was several hours before Tsubame fell asleep, long after she could hear the level breathing of Tomoko beside her.

. . . .

"Hey. Tsubame."

She brightened visibly, setting down a tray of tea before joining Yahiko-kun where he had just entered the restaurant, running his fingers through his wet, unruly hair. "Yahiko-kun! Did you come from the dojo?"

"Yeah." He said, nonchalantly. "Can you spare a minute? I'm starving."

She agreed, of course, and the two sat at table in the back room of the restaurant. Even for midday, there were few customers today; it was still raining, and harder than ever. Tsubame hadn't seen Yahiko in a few days; he was busy as usual. And every time she did see him, he seemed to be a fraction taller. He was already passing up Kenshin, though that wasn't much of a feat, really, and he would be in need of new hakama well before the year was out. She had thought about making him something for the New Year, and was itching to get to work on it once she could secure the materials. She'd had an excellent idea, concerning Sanosuke-san; a little 'aku' character on the collar line of Yahiko's gi, which she thought he might like.

She brought him a tray of tea and onigiri, which he promptly began to devour, then seated herself across from him and watched him inhaling the rice-balls, amused.

"…wha?" He said, through a mouthful of rice.

"Nothing." she said, smiling. Yahiko continued to contemplate her with one eyebrow raised, a rather silly picture, until Tsubame broke into a wide grin.

"How are things going with Kenshin-san and Kaoru-san?" said Tsubame, once Yahiko had finished. "I haven't been up to the dojo in a while, and I don't think I've seen them since autumn started."

Yahiko rolled his eyes. "I swear, those two… they're like lovebirds." He made a ridiculous imitation of said bird, sending Tsubame into fits of giggles. "But Kaoru's a little annoyed 'cause Kenshin keeps, well, taking care of her. What with the baby coming and everything. Well, she's probably happy about that, actually, she's just pretending to be peeved..." he shook his head. The news about the baby was fairly recent. Yahiko had mentioned they were going to have a party – probably at the Akabeko – but he'd never specified a date.

"It's such a miracle, don't you think?" Tsubame mused. "After all that we've – that Kenshin-san and Kaoru-san – have been through, all of us have struggled by… and are now quite happy. And Kaoru-san and Kenshin-san are going to be parents soon. Sometimes, I can't believe it."

Yahiko shrugged. "Pfft. A miracle? I guess you could say that." He grinned suddenly. "But you'd better believe it, anyway."

. . . .

"You like him, don't you."

Tomoko-san crept up behind Tsubame. She jumped almost imperceptibly. "T—Tomoko-san!"

"Yeah. You definitely like him." She said, grinning. Tsubame almost blushed, trying to maintain her good humor, though feeling not a little humiliated. Tomoko chuckled.

Yahiko had left almost an hour ago, with errands to run, into the pouring rain.

"You two really are pathetic, you know that?" she said.

"Pathetic?" said Tsubame.

"But don't worry." Tomoko laughed. "He likes you too. A lot. I can tell."

"T-Tomoko-san." said Tsubame, curtly, now blushing deeply. Tomoko laughed again at her reaction.

Tsubame sobered suddenly. She opened her mouth, closed it, and then tried again.

"I apologize." She said, finally.

"About what?" said Tomoko, perplexed.

Tsubame bit her lip. "Well—"

Tomoko cut her off again. "That? Oh, come on. I don't care. Don't worry about it. For that matter, don't call me '-san'. We're friends, you know."

Tsubame stood with her mouth open for a few seconds before shutting it again. She nearly apologized again just for that, before righting herself and smiling.

"Thank you," she said, simply. "Tomoko-s -- Tomoko."

. . . .

It had, finally, ceased to rain. It was late in the evening Tsubame lay in bed, listening to the last of it falling off the Akabeko's roof, and letting her mind drift. Was Tomoko-san – well, Tsubame figured she had more reason to call her –san now than ever before – right in thinking that Yahiko-kun… liked her? She'd like to hope so. After all, it was he she probably owed her life to. He was always very kind to her, and everyone teased him about it, but he did seem to like her.

Did she like him? Well, who was she kidding -- of course. And she hoped she wasn't terribly obvious about it, because Tomoko-san had certainly noticed. But did Yahiko-kun like feel the same…? She figured she would never have the courage to ask him. Love her…?

She put an abrupt halt to this train of thought.

Just go to sleep, she told herself, firmly. And don't worry. About any of this.

. . . .

The next chapter will probably be shorter than this, but it'll have a little more action. Thank you for reading, and please give me some review input (please!)!