Author's Note:  Yay!  We shall be meeting some more characters soon!  First, I'd like to say that I may be overdoing my writing style.  It's beginning to scare me.  Also, I've discovered that there are time when I can write well and times when I can write humor, but I can't do both at the same time. *sobs*

Disclaimer:  Rurouni Kenshin does not belong to me. *pouts*  However, I will take credit for any chaos that may ensue in my story.

The Seller of Dreams

Chapter 3: Dreams Do Come True

By CrismHeart

February 22, 2004

On the way home from the shop, Misao chattered away happily about what she thought her precious Aoshi-sama was doing at the moment.  Kaoru had not yet confessed about her misdeed.

"Maybe he's meditating…" pondered Misao.  She gave a sigh of contentment as she pictured Aoshi's calm, serene face, and the beautiful dark locks that gently fell over his closed eyes.

"Maybe Aoshi's practicing for the kendo tournament?" Kaoru suggested.

Misao's cheeks became a shade of pink that Kaoru was sure had not been discovered until then.

"…Misao-chan?" Kaoru queried.  She waved a hand in front of her face in hopes of getting a healthy response, "What exactly is going on in that mind of yours?"

"Eh?" Misao blinked, noticing that her friend was beside her for the first time.

"Oh, never mind Misao.  I'd rather not know about your 'Aoshi-sama fantasies.'"

"Oi!  Who said that all of them were dirty?" Misao complained, "…demo, you do have to admit that Aoshi has a nice body.  Anyway, I'm upset that there's no fairy dust left!  Since there weren't many people in The Seller of Dreams, I could have sworn that I would have been one of the seven customers to ask for it."

Guilt-ridden, Kaoru looked away from her distraught friend.  Unfortunately for her, Misao discerned that Kaoru was hiding something from her.

"Wait a second…" Misao eyed Kaoru suspiciously, "Why was that egotistical principal of ours winking at you?"

Kaoru could not take it any longer.  Why did she have to be born with such an irritating conscience?  "Misao-chan, gomen ne!  I'm so sorry!  Will you forgive me for not telling you sooner?" she apologized profusely.

"You mean that it's true?" Misao's jaw dropped, "You've been having an affair with Hiko-sensei?  I knew he had a reputation as a womanizer, but I never thought that he would stoop so low!  His own students?!  And you, I thought you were better than that!" Misao pointed a finger at Kaoru accusingly.

"Nani?!" Kaoru shrieked.  How in the world had Misao come to that conclusion?  It was an incredibly disturbing thought.  "Mou!  Misao, I can't believe you'd even say that about me.  Eww! This is Hiko-sensei we're talking about!  Besides, he has a wife.  I was saying that I was sorry because I was the last person to ask about the fairy dust while you were busy daydreaming."

"Hiko-sensei has a wife?!" Misao yelled, voicing the previous trauma Kaoru had experienced when she had found out.  Then, struck by the absurdity of Hiko's marital status, she burst out laughing.

Kaoru stared at her companion in disbelief.  Thank Kami-sama for not introducing her to anyone else who could make her go through so many mood changes.  If she knew others, she would be clinically insane.  "Ano, Misao, that wasn't my point.  Do you realize why I apologized?"

"Oh, yeah.  Why didn't you just say so in the first place?" Misao questioned.

"You're not mad at me?" Kaoru asked.

"Not really.  I did want the fairy dust, demo you deserve it more." Misao replied, "I can deal with Aoshi-sama on my own.  You, on the other hand, need to find someone, so use that dust to get that Prince Charming of yours!"

Kaoru was perplexed, "How did you know that…?"

"Know what?  Kaoru-chan, it's what every little girl dreams of.  Even if we're not kids anymore, we can still hold onto our dreams, right?  So, Aoshi-sama's mine, and we still have to find you yours."

"Misao, I never knew you could be so profound." Kaoru laughed, but inwardly she was still distressed.  What if there really isn't a fairy tale character for everyone?

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The two of them walked to Kaoru's house.

"Tadaima!" Kaoru exclaimed as she walked through the gates of her house and entered the front door.

"Okaeri nasai, Kaoru-chan!" her mother called back.  She was in the kitchen  "Misao-chan, do you want to stay over for dinner?"

"Sure!" came Misao's delighted answer.

"Wonderful, I think that dinner will be ready in about an hour, okay girls?"

"Hai, domo arigatou gozaimasu for letting me stay over, Kamiya-san." Misao proclaimed.  She really did like being with Kaoru's family because they always made her feel so welcome.  Plus, she had two brothers and everything seemed so much more interesting when a person had siblings.  Misao herself was an only child, although she remembered how she would beg her parents for a sister.  Nevertheless, she had to admit that she and Kaoru were close enough to be blood related.  They had gone through so much together and she really did want her best friend to be happy.

"Okaa-san, do you need me to help you prepare the food?" Kaoru asked her mother.

Both Misao and Kamiya-san gaped at her incredulously.  Did she still believe that the third time the kitchen had gone up in flames was an accident?

Kaoru's mother hastily waved her daughter away, "No, no, dear, I'll be fine.  Arigatou, demo I think I can handle it by myself."

"Are you sure?" Kaoru persisted.  She was not entirely certain, but her mother had been rather abrupt.  It was almost as if she had not wanted her daughter to cook.  No, that couldn't be it…

Misao gave a nervous laugh.  One of the reasons why she wanted to have dinner over was because Kaoru's mother was an excellent chef.  Even if she did love her friend to death, she wasn't prepared to starve herself if it could be prevented.  "Kaoru-chan, why don't we go to your room and hang out while your mom finishes making dinner?"

Kaoru's mother gave Misao a furtive smile, grateful that her kitchen had been safe from her daughter's hands for another day.  Misao hurriedly hauled Kaoru up the stairs.

When the two of them walked into Kaoru's bedroom, Misao immediately leaped onto the comfy bed, "So what are we going to do with your wish?"

"…we?" Kaoru looked at her friend curiously.

"Yeah, well?" Misao repeated, shaking her head at Kaoru as if she couldn't believe that she had not known that they would have to make this wish a good one.

"Ano… Misao?  Is this my wish or yours?"

"Yours and mine both, of course!" Misao winked.

Kaoru gawked at Misao, hoping that her friend was merely teasing her.

"Never mind, Kaoru-chan.  Just show me the instructions so we'll at least know what to do with it." Misao declared.

"Eh, okay." Kaoru took out the sacred pouch that she had been keeping in her pocket and gingerly untied it.  A rolled up piece of paper had been stuffed in it, but Kaoru gently pried the paper out of the now opened bag to ensure that she did not to accidentally touch any substance that may have been inside.

Kaoru passed what appeared to be the directions to Misao.  Her eyes grew wide in anticipation.  As she examined the contents of the paper, a grin formed on her face.

"What's it say?" Kaoru demanded impatiently.

You are the last of the seven chosen to have your wish granted, so make sure it's a good one!  At the end of seven days, you will have completed the trial and will find whatever it is that you have been seeking.  So, the first step is to take out a pen and jot down your dream on a sheet of paper.  Then tear it into miniscule pieces and mix it with the fairy dust.  Sprinkle the mixture of dream and magic in the open air so that the wind will carry you to your heart's innermost desire.

"So, Kaoru-chan?  How about it?" Misao jumped up and down excitedly.  Kaoru observed the items her friend was holding in her hands.  Apparently Misao had acquired a pen and a sheet of paper for her already.

A smile graced Kaoru's lips as she nodded.  She knew just what to write.  After performing the rest of the procedure she had been instructed to do, Kaoru felt as if a huge burden had been lifted from her shoulders.  Even if this turned out to be nothing but a fraud, as was likely if Hiko was behind it, Kaoru was still satisfied with herself.  What did she have to lose?

Later that evening, Misao was pleased that she had a delicious meal and Kamiya-san, an unscathed kitchen.  Kaoru's brothers, Sano and Yahiko, were noisy, rambunctious, and busily bickered over the food.  Although Sano was the eldest at nineteen years of age, he could be just as immature as Yahiko, the youngest of the Kamiya family, but this was to be expected.  They could not discontinue their daily rituals and Kaoru would not want it otherwise.  There would not be a norm for them to hold onto without their father around.  Then again, Kaoru was a bit frightened for Yahiko.  He was ten years old now and he still gnawed on Sano's spiky head when he was angry.  Kaoru could never tell if he did so because of his growing appetite that he would be desperate enough to consume hair gel or if he just did it out of habit.  Whatever the reason, Kaoru hoped that it was a tendency he would be able to control when he became older.

Kaoru fell into a soothing sleep, comforted by the fact that she might not have to endure the internal solitude she had felt ever since she was a child.  Her dreams revolved around the possibilities of what tomorrow would bring?

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Author's Note:  I'm not ecstatic about the number of reviews, but oh well.  I will get over it!  So, I'm thanking those who read.  Those who read and review, however, deserve special thank yous!

Koiishi Sweet:  Thank you! ^_~

Ari and Kat:  Thanks!

wackoramaco87:  ^_^  I've only seen a couple of episodes from the American version because I don't have cartoon network, but I will be wishing for your sake that you see more of Hiko!  He's so cool!  Kaoru is telling the story as she imagines it happening, so she's making it up as she goes along.  I hope I haven't confused you.

TanukiGirl22: *frowns* I don't mean to shrink my chapters!  I'm sorry, I will try to make them longer from now on.  There are really two stories going on, but so far I've only introduced one- the one being told by Kaoru.  I'll tell you when the next one is entered into the story.  I'm having writer's block and not much free time, but I'll update "For Honor" soon, I promise!

Kitsune KeNsHiN:  Thankies!  Yup, Hiko with wife… O.o  and we're going to find out why he keeps her a secret!  Yay!

Naiya-chan:  I know what you mean about guessing what will happen next in a story.  For example, I have to do it too and I am writing this story.  So, thanks anyway and I hope to hear from you soon!

nyllemnev:  Yay!  I can't believe that you reviewed!  It means the world to me!  You are so awesome! *continues shouting praises from rooftops*  I hope you can write more for your story soon!  ^_~

george dubbaya bush and holden caulfied: Because I know you are the one and only person I really forced to read, I'm thanking you for it!  I have no idea why you chose the strangest names ever though, lol. O.O