When Dreams Come True

I forgot to do a disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin or any of the characters

If wishes could be granted

And dreams would come true

Would I be a believer?

And be happier too?

Chapter two – The Simplicity

"Isn't it beautiful?"

Misao and Soujiro stood in front of the Shirobeko. Soujiro felt a little nervous before entering. He had a odd feeling in the pits of his stomach…

"Are you sure it's ok for me to come in?"

Misao set her hands on her hips, "Well of course it is, just as long as you promise not to kill anyone."

Misao bounced into the building while Soujiro held his ground. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to lose his reputation as the Tenken. He remembered how Kamatari told him of how he and a few others attacked this exact restaurant.

Now he realized that this was the one place he didn't want to be. As soon as he entered, they would probably threaten him with kitchen utensils. At least it had rebuilt. It would've been even worse timing if it were still destroyed.

Soujiro entered the building. As he entered, his stopped abruptly. In front of Misao stood three men and two women.

One man was a little round whereas the other looked as if he got a good swing at Soujiro, he could easily break every bone in his body. The women at least looked nice enough.

"Misao…" the oldest man began, "You better have an EXCELLENT explanation for bringing one of the Jupongatana members to the Aoiya." Well, Soujiro could tell that he was already unwelcome in this household

Well, this was a great start.

Everyone's eyes burned deep into Soujiro's eyes. Well, all of them except for Misao who was smiling as if nothing wrong were happening.

"Aw, come on Jiya!" Misao was standing up for him, which was a total relief, "I swear he's different! He even saved me from these two huge guys that were chasing me!"

The old man who was apparently called 'Jiya' replied, "And why were these men chasing you?" Misao wasn't expecting this, and it was shown because she was tapping her two pointer fingers together. Soujiro just watched in horror while one of the men behind Jiya pounded his fist onto his palm.

Jiya turned his head around and motioned with his finger to the fist man to come talk to him, "So what do you think, Shiro?" Jiya mumbled to the other man.

The man named Shiro glanced at Soujiro and then looked back at Jiya, "I dunno, I still don't trust him. Especially what his pal did to our home."

Soujiro's smile twitched, 'Oh, Kamatari…why!'

Misao was getting angry so she yelled, "What's wrong with you people! He just needs a place to stay for one night!" Shiro and Jiya both looked back at Misao.

"Just one night?"

Misao sighed exasperatedly and brought her hand to her face, "Because he's a rurouni now, like Kenshin! He decided what he was going was wrong because he was following some screwball, so now he's a good guy!"

Soujiro was pleased that Misao was standing up for him, he didn't exactly like the fact that Lord Shishio was now being called a screwball. After all, Mr. Shishio and Yumi proved to be the only family he ever had. And like any 'child', Soujiro was a little protective. But he kept it back and just kept on smiling.

Jiya and Shiro turned back to Soujiro, "Is this true?" Soujiro blushed and nodded, he wasn't used to all of the attention.

After a few awkward moments, Jiya sighed, "Alright then, but only for one night. And I better hear you thank my darling Misao."

Soujiro immediately bowed his head low and said, "I'm honored that you are allowing me to stay in your living quarters. I am in your debt." He was still worried that the family would reject hm.

The two women in the background giggled. The one with the long hair said, "I'm sure Misao would be honored to have you stay here. Oh, my name is Okon and this is Omasu," she finished while pointing to the smaller woman.

Then Omasu pointed to the big, round man, "And this is Kuro!"

Kuro bowed as well.

When Soujiro was mid-bow, Misao grabbed his hand and ran up the stairs into her room.

Okon nudged Omasu and whispered into her ear, "Now isn't that cute?" Omasu nodded. Kuro just scratched his head while Shiro raised an eyebrow. But Jiya, usually the most understanding of them all, was even a little worried about the Tenken staying his home.

Misao led Soujiro to a room, which only had a mattress with a cover on it, "This is where you'll be staying. If you need anything, just come and get me."

Soujiro set down his sword so it lined up with the mattress. When he stood back up, he asked Misao, "I'm not meaning to be rude but, why are you being so kind to me?"

Misao's eyes widened. She rested a hand on her hip, "Like I said before, you should learn when and how to except generosity. Now come downstairs in an hour because that's when we eat."

Misao went to the door.

"Misao," Soujiro blurted out.

She turned around, "What?"

At that moment, something happened. For the first time in a long time, Soujiro felt something. The feeling was barely significant, but it was there. It was a warm feeling that rose all the way to the tip of his scalp. But the best thing about it was that it made him do something involuntarily. It made him smile, sincerely.

"I just wanted to thank you for your kindness."

Misao noticed it too. For a split second, she saw a different light in him. She saw something more humane, unlike the Tenken that haunted many people's dreams at night.

"Oh well," She started, diverting her eyes to the side, "just remember to come downstairs."

She turned around to open the door, but when she slid the door to the side, there stood Okon and Omasu with their hands brought up to their ears so they could hear better through the door. As soon as they realized that they had been found out, Misao went mental on them.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!"

Omasu looked absolutely horrified while Okon had an extremely pitiable smile plastered on her face. Misao was steaming at the ears and Soujiro's real smile was still on his face. Omasu apologized whereas Okon was in no mood to feel sorry.

"Oh come now, Misao! We just wanted to know what was going on! You never know what can go on in a room between a boy and a girl when they're all alone! What would you have done?"

Misao was so utterly horrified by what Okon had just said, she couldn't find the right comeback. Even Omasu was speechless. Soujiro was just embarrassed beyond belief.

After a few minutes, Omasu tried to loosen things up, "Misao, why don't you help out down stairs?" she said as she quickly grabbed Misao's arm and pulled her down the stairs.

Okon and Soujiro watched them go. Okon smiled and commented on how cute the awkward situation was, "Cute Misao, she can get so embarrassed so easily sometimes."

She turned back to face Soujiro, "And to answer your question earlier, you know about why Misao was being so kind? Well I think I know why."

Soujiro's eyes picked up. He had thought there was no reason behind why Misao was being so kind to him. For whatever reason, he felt a little down. He thought it was a kindness with no strings attached. But he guessed he was wrong.

"You're about 18 or 19 right?"

Soujiro nodded, "About 19."

She closed her eyes, "You see," she began, "Misao lost her parents at a very young age. Since they died, she went under the care of her grandfather who is Okina, the person who you heard us calling Jiya earlier. Ever since she joined the Oniwabanshuu, she's been hanging out with people who are quite a bit older than her. Even her beloved Aoshi is ten years older than her. So I guess she just wanted to talk to someone who was closer to her age instead of someone being over five years older than her. Do you understand, sort of?"

Soujiro nodded. His smile was there, but barely visible.

He regretted what he had thought earlier. He now understood that it was a kindness with strings attached, but attached to the kindness was wish to only befriend him.

She was the third person to ever want to have something to do with him. Firstly was Mr. Shishio who taught him how to stand up for himself and also taught him a new lifestyle. Then ten years later comes Mr. Himura who taught me to let go of things and also told me what I was doing was wrong. Then her…

All she wanted was to be my friend?

Seriously? That was it?

Okon closed her eyes and smiled, "So if you don't mind," she said while opening her eyes again, "if you might see her for only a night or maybe even longer, can I trust you to always make her smile the way she does when she's around you now?"

Soujiro's head picked up just a little, "So what exactly are you saying?"

She smiled as wide as her cheeks would allow, "Stay a pal to her! That's all. I know it sounds a little weird since you just met her today but if you wouldn't mind…"

Soujiro closed his eyes, "I understand."

Okon smiled and bowed. As she shut the door, Soujiro opened his eyes.

Life was so simple. He had missed so much simply because he made it more complicated. Sure, confusing things went on, but after they happened and when he actually started thinking about it, there wasn't much to it.

All he could do was live it the best he could, and that was it.

He sat down onto the mattress and brought his right hand to his forehead while his left picked up his sword. He just sat there and watched it for some time while his mind went to work, 'But things in life can complicate what you already have.'

When he thought this, he realized he was holding the one thing that made his life more difficult. And yet somehow, he couldn't let it go. It was all he had to remember Mr. Shishio, the one person who was somewhat of a fatherly figure to him.

Sometimes, when the stars were out and he was alone, he would imagine what his family would've been like. Or what a family would be like. Because now that he thought about it, having Mr. Shisho and Ms. Yumi as mother and father and all the others like Anji and Chou as brothers would probably make a wonderfully dysfunctional family.

But, who was he to complain?

He was an assassin. He guessed what he was trying to say was he envied Misao and even Mr. Himura. They all had belonged somewhere. They all had a place to return to if ever they were lost, but not Soujiro.

He knew that being alone was a part of being a rurouni was being alone, but sometimes…just every now and then, he wished he had a place where he belonged too.

He heard a knocking, "Soujiro! Come on! We're going to eat a little earlier than I said!"

She barged in and saw Soujiro sitting on the mattress, "Oh! Sorry, I shouldn't just run in like that… um dinner is ready so come down soon."

When she was about to leave, Soujiro stopped her, "No, I'm ready."

She turned around and was alarmed to see him standing right behind her.

They left the room and when they were about to walk down the stairs, Soujiro blurted out, "You are very lucky."

She stopped and turned around to meet Soujiro 's eyes, "What do you mean?"

He set his hand behind his head, "Well what I mean is, um…"

She rolled her eyes and laughed, "You don't think before you talk do you?" Soujiro blushed because of his fumble, "Well, only say that I'm lucky when Aoshi professes his undying love for me and also he sweeps me off my feet and," but she was cut off.

"MISAO! TENKEN! DINNER'S BEEN READY AND IT'S GETTING COLD!" Misao looked down the stairs and there was Kuro, "Oh, sorry," he mumbled as he walked into the kitchen.

Misao turned back around, "Sorry about that, ready to go?"

He couldn't really decline since Misao was already making her way down the stairs.

What Misao had said about Mr. Shinomori made him sound so amazing. And he was fortunate to have someone as wonderful as Misao to love him.

He then went downstairs to enjoy the meal, which the Oniwabanshuu had prepared.

That night, Soujiro did something different, he prayed. He prayed for his family. But he didn't pray so he could have a family, he prayed so that they knew he was thinking of them wherever they were in this world or the next.

End.

I don't really know why I wrote this last part. And forgive me if the middle was too sappy. If you continue reading my fic, you might come to realize that I might drone on without noticing what I'm writing. It usually has something to do with watching tv and listening to music at the same time while writing this. (Labtop)

And just to let you know, every chapter is like a lesson learned by Soujiro. So hang in there! It might take me a while to think of new lessons and stuff like that. Unless you give ideas! Wink wink. Well, yeah…

I'm stupid that way!

NaiLAUG!