Glance

Dreams

By Seabreeze

A/N: Ah, well, I decided to continue this story. For several reasons, but mainly because I got so much good response! Thanks so much! It means a lot. I think this is the most reviews I've gotten for one chapter of a story, and after that evidence, who can NOT go on? So on I go. After the story I'll have thank you's. Oh, and does anyone know how to get italics and bolds to show up on ffn? It annoys the bejeebees out of me.

*~*~*

~~He awoke to something soft bumping into him- a body. 'Yahiko,' he groaned inwardly. 'Learn how to sleep in less than 39 positions before you find a wife.' He moved as quietly as possible to shove the younger boy back to his cot, but quickly discovered that Yahiko's hair had grown about 5 times its
usual length, and was now braided and silky.

Kaoru.

He froze, unsure of what to do. The much-smaller girl was curled up
against him, and seemed to be sleeping heavily. Her nose touched his
bare chest, and her breath warmed it every three seconds or so. She
looked so content there- against him. He didn't want to move her, but
didn't want to face anyone's odd looks in the morning, having found
him wrapped around Kaoru. Reluctantly he shifted away, only to have
her grab his coat.

"Don't move, Kenshin", she pleaded softly, still as asleep as she had
been before. Sano smiled bitterly. 'She called me Kenshin.' He thought
sadly. 'She thinks I'm Kenshin.' Part of him wanted to shove her away
for making the mistake, and part of him wanted to take advantage of
it. 'No one'll ever know the difference, as long as I wake up earlier
than any of them,' he thought, but he immediately knew better.
Shifting again and ignoring her whispered pleas, Sano lifted her
gently and stood.

"Back to your cot, Jou-chan." He whispered tenderly. Still
unconscious, Kaoru kissed his chin.

"Arigato, Sanosuke."

Sano froze and stared at her. Yes, she was still asleep. But she had
kissed him. She had called him Sanosuke- not Rooster-head or anything.
Sanosuke. It sounded melodic coming from her. Sighing in regret, Sano
set her gently down in her own cot and pulled the covers up to her
chin for her.

"Goodnight, Kaoru." When he looked up, golden eyes met his own. They
glared harshly into his own, and he for some reason felt guilty.

"Seems like Jou-chan's learning sleeping habits from Yahiko," he
commented quietly. Kenshin said nothing, but drew the reverse-blade
and slashed. Everything went black.~~

~*~*~

Sano's eyes flew open- black. Black. But. . . he had opened his eyes. Sitting up slowly, he saw that everything was in its correct spot- Kaoru neatly tucked under her blankets, Yahiko sprawled crookedly on top of his, and Kenshin, fast asleep, against the wall.

It had been a dream. A good dream that had very quickly turned bad, but only a dream. Kaoru had never unknowingly snuggled against him, and Kenshin had never beheaded him. Sano shivered- it had been so realistic. He could recall feeling Kaoru and her closeness and her breath, and Kenshin's sword slicing easily through his skin.

'I could've done without the end of the dream,' Sano thought with a yawn, 'But up until Kenshin showed, it was great.' He grinned, but the grin slowly faded as he realized what he had just thought.

'Letting a girl make me think terrible things about Kenshin,' he scoffed. "And only Jou-chan," he barely whispered to the night. Sano settled back into his blankets and fell asleep once again.

And 'only Jou-chan' was a term that came quite easily to Sanosuke nowadays. Only Kaoru could make him wish Kenshin wasn't a part of the picture, make him wish he had been the one she became so attached to. Only Kaoru made him want to BE better, just by existing- no other girl had come close. Kaoru made him want to give up gambling and sake and dining without paying. Kaoru made him actually want to be respectable and kind and gentle- especially gentle. More specifically, gentle with her. What he wouldn't give to be gentle with her. . .

Hadn't he always heard that was what love was? Wanting to be better just for her, just because she was there? In that case, he really was in love with her. Not only wanting to be better- he just KNEW. He knew, without a doubt, that she was THE girl. The girl he was supposed to love, although he knew this didn't necessarily mean she would love him in return. And she didn't. That was what Kenshin was for.

~*~*~

A/N: I'm going to continue this, I'm just not exactly sure how yet. Suggestions wouldn't be thrown away carelessly, if you've got one. Now I feel like I have to explain- I am totally, 100% for Kenshin and Kaoru. Together forever, etc. But something about Sano being in love with Kaoru really struck me, and I felt it quite deeply * gets corn thrown at her * I know, I know. But it's really quite sad if you think about it. So I'm going to keep on with this one, and somewhere along the line it'll pick up some plot. Maybe.

If you care to know what I think on Megumi and Sanosuke, it's changed a little in the past week. From the beginning, I thought Sano kinda had feelings for Kaoru, but saw that Kenshin did too and was just kinda like "eh, well, I'll back up. Hey, Megumi!"

And I know that Sano and Megumi do (did? Will have? Whatever.) have a thing, and it's really obvious (take the Happy Kaoru! Episode. . . that was hysterical.) And I know that they flirted a whole hell of a lot, and that they cared for eachother, but I don't really know about love. Maybe, maybe not. We don't get enough material to tell a lot on those two. But now I think that Sano tried something with Megumi (as in relationship. . . you hentai!) and realized that he didn't feel as strongly about her as he did about Kaoru, so it just kind of. . . faded. And that's my hypothesis. On to thanks!

too lazy to sign in ^^;; - first reviewer! Yay! Thanks mucho for checking out my story. I'm glad you like it, and that I'm not the only one who looks at Sano and goes "hmmmm."

aliza- I'm glad you think my fic is cute- but I can' guarantee that Kaoru will fall for Sanosuke. * shrugs * whoooo knooooows. . .

Hells-angel- thank you very much, for reading and for your kind comments :D I am continuing, obviously :P

LittleDragon5- I think I (and anyone who enjoys this fic) owe it to you, for giving me the information and making me WANT to write more. Arigato! I hope you keep reading :D Thanks bunches.

Disposablepaperhearts- I love you too! Thanks for reading and reviewing. I will continue ;)

Briar- thank you! I totally agree with you about all the Kenshin guys being sweet to Kaoru- it's really cute. Do you read Tamora Pierce, by any chance?

Clemen- * high five * yay for people who suspect Sano of actually having a heart (especially when it comes to Little Missy ;) )

Some unknown person. . .- yeah, I'm going on with this. I can sorta agree with you about the Kenshin/Kaoru fics, but some of those out there are REALLY good. Take Rk-128's fics, "Liquid Dreams" and "Kendo, Dancing, and Everything in Between". It's really fun, and has major potential for fluff. Chibi-angel is flat-out MIND-BLOWING as well, if you want to read some good ones.

Blankis- Sano on the side. I like that. I know I would never refuse it. . . ahem. I plan to have some sort of Kenshin's reaction, but it's going to develop. Well, you'll see.

Reviewer- glad to offer variety ;) . But if you want some good K/K ones, check out my message to "some unknown person". Thanks for readin'!