Disclaimer:
Yutaro: I just got back from Germany and already I'm doing a disclaimer!
Yahiko: Hey! No fair! I've been here since the beginning and I haven't done one!
Yutaro: Too bad... IcyPanther does not own Rurouni Kenshin.
Yahiko: You....you...
Yutaro: Don't swear Yahiko....
Yahiko: I'll get you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yutaro: (runs laughing off stage)
Kaoru's Wish
Chapter Eleven: A Stormy Night
From last time:
"Hello Kaoru-Sensei," said the voice, taking no notice of Kaoru's tone, "I got back sooner than I thought."
Kaoru turned, a smile lighting up her face. "Yutaro! Thank Kami-Sama you're back!"
"So has it been boring around here without me, Kaoru-Sensei?" asked Yutaro as he and the owner of the dojo sat on the front porch drinking cups of tea that Kenshin had prepared.
Kaoru smiled, her eyes twinkling. "No, we've had quite a bit of excitement here. Yahiko has turned out to be a wonderful playmate for Kenji and with Aoshi and Misao here as well it only adds more to the atmosphere."
"Speaking of Yahiko, where is he?"
"I'm right here," piped up a little boy who had appeared next to Kaoru. "Auntie Kaoru, are you done talking yet? I want to play with Yutaro," the boy pouted, sticking his lower lip out.
'What a sweet little boy,' thought Yutaro, giving the small boy a smile. "Sure Yahiko-Chan, that sounds like fun. By the way Kaoru-Sensei," he said, turning back to face the black haired woman, "Where is the other Yahiko?"
"Other Yahiko?" she asked, biting into a rice ball. "I don't know what you're talking about Yutaro."
"The one who is my age," the older boy said, beginning to grow frustrated.
"I don't remember that Yahiko," she remarked, now nibbling on a biscuit.
"He teaches kendo here too?" Yutaro said, hoping to have Kaoru respond with a positive answer.
"No one else is currently teaching here Yutaro," she said pleasantly. "Who are you talking about?"
"Damn it Kaoru! Where is MYOJIN YAHIKO?" he yelled angrily, his face livid.
"Yutaro! Watch your tongue! Yahiko is right here," she said gesturing to the child who was helping himself to a rice ball, completely unfazed by Yutaro's raving.
"BUT THAT KID IS TOO LITTLE TO BE YAHIKO!!!!" An idea suddenly struck him in the head as he realized that Kaoru wasn't being an ounce helpful. Bending down to the child's eye level, he gently asked, "What's your last name Yahiko?"
"Myojin," the boy said proudly. The fifteen year old took a double take of the four year old in front of him. Now he noticed that both of the Yahikos had the same bronze skin color as well as the unruly, black, spiky hair and bright brown eyes.
"It is..." he whispered in wonderment. "But how?"
"That's what I need your help with Yutaro," said Kaoru wearily, setting down her teacup. "Yahiko, why don't you run along for a little bit. I have to talk to Yutaro about something."
"Okay Auntie Kaoru. But not too long...."
About an hour later....
Yutaro leaned his head back against the tree he stood in front of, watching his 'charge' run around in the front yard chasing a ball.
Kaoru had explained everything to Yutaro and he had readily agreed to help. 'It's strange,' he thought to himself. 'My arch-rival and best friend is only four years old. It's funny how such strange things can happen in such a short OWWW!'
The red ball Yahiko had been kicking had just rammed into his head. "I'm sorry Yutaro! It was an accident!" Yahiko stood there quietly, hanging his head in shame.
'Kaoru-Sensei was right. He really is starting to act his age....' Holding out the ball he had picked up from the ground, he said, "Here Yahiko. Don't you want this back?"
"You're not going to hit me?" asked the boy softly, keeping his eyes riveted on the ground.
Bending down to Yahiko's height, Yutaro picked up his chin, forcing the brown eyes to look at his own. "Why would I hit you?" he asked gently.
The little boy trembled. "Because they would have. They always hit me when I did something wrong."
"Who is they?" Racing in his head was the thought of, 'I know Kaoru- Sensei is always hitting Yahiko... but that's only because he's being annoying or a brat. Would she really....?'
"The people I used to live with," the boy murmured, drawing his eyes back to the ground. "Are you going to hit me?" he repeated.
"Of course not." Reaching forward, he pulled the frightened child into a hug, the ball falling from his hands and rolling away. "Come on, let's go inside for a snack."
Yutaro spent the whole day playing with Kenji and Yahiko, enjoying both of their child like interests and outlook on the simplest of things... such as a leaf. Both of them were arguing why leafs were green and not pink.
After dinner, everyone Kaoru had invited to the dojo began to arrive. Upon Megumi's entrance, she at once left to go seek out the little boy whom she had become so fond of.
The doctor, found the four year old sitting next to Yutaro as the older boy told him a story.
"Can horses really fly?" asked Yahiko, his eyes wide in wonderment.
"Sorry Yahiko-Chan," the German boy said, ruffling Yahiko's hair. "It's a fantasy which means that it isn't real." Megumi smiled widely as she watched the two of them. It was so cute; two arch-rivals now transformed into a big brother and little brother relationship.
"Yutaro," she called. "We need you to come up to the roof!"
"Coming!" said the boy cheerfully, rising from his spot on the grassy ground.
"Why does Yutaro have to go on the roof?" asked Yahiko with confusion.
"I have to do something," he respond evasively. "But first, let's get you ready for bed." A few minutes later, Yahiko was dressed in another of Kenji's yukatas and had been tucked into his futon.
"Good night Yutaro," said the four year old sleepily, his eyes already drifting closed like Kenji's were.
"Good night Yahiko-Chan," said Yutaro. Exiting the room, he closed the shoji door softly behind him and went up onto the roof. Everyone was there, which meant Kenshin, Kaoru, Sano, Megumi, Misao, Tae, Aoshi, and Tsubame, gazing up at the starlit sky.
Kaoru turned at the sound of footfalls on the planks of wood that made up the roof. "Oh good, you're here Yutaro. Now remember, all of you... If you see a shooting star you must wish 'I wish Yahiko was back to his normal age', got it?"
Nods were seen all around and all the viewers turned their heads up to the sky again, ready to accomplish their task. Several hours later, it was now about midnight, not one shooting star had been seen and everyone was starting to get rather tired.
Kaoru forced herself to stay awake although sleep tugged at her eyes. After all, it was basically her fault Yahiko had been changed to begin with. She blinked twice, and was surprised to see a white speck traveling across the velvety black sky. Blinking again, she confirmed it was a shooting star.
"I wish Yahiko was back to his normal age," she whispered softly, not wanting to ruin the perfect silence all around her.
Quietly, they all trooped off the roof and peered into Yahiko's room where a four year old slept, one hand clutching the blankets. "Why didn't he change?" asked Kaoru sadly.
Misao gave her a side hug. "Don't worry about it Kaoru... I'm sure we'll be able to fix him somehow."
"I guess you're right," sighed the kendo instructor. "Well, good ni-" Her sentence was cut off by a loud clap of thunder that shook the dojo with its force.
Sano grinned and yawned. "I think I'll be staying here for the night. Good night Minna." In less than ten minutes everyone had been sorted into rooms, Kenji being moved into Yahiko's where they would spend the night.
Kaoru shifted under the covers, listening to the even breathing of her sleeping husband, the pounding of the rain, and occasional bursts of thunder. She was just about to fall asleep to this odd lullaby, when her shoji door slid open.
A little figure stepped into the room and ran over to Kaoru. "I don't like the thunder, Auntie Kaoru." Yahiko jumped as another monstrous clap filled the air.
"Come here sweetie." Kaoru gently pushed aside Kenshin and Yahiko climbed into the futon between the two of them.
"Can I stay here Auntie Kaoru? I'm scared...."
"Of course honey." Reaching over, she gave him a soft kiss on his forehead before tucking him beneath the blankets.
"Good night Auntie Kaoru."
"Sweet dreams Yahiko."
Author's Notes:
Thank Kami, only one more chapter to go. YES! My wrist is killing me so Reviewer's Comments are going to be really short. Not like there are that many to write any... -sniff-
Please review!
Reviewer's Comments:
LishaChan It seems I did the YuGiOh fic a little sooner than I thought I would, doesn't it? Yep, remember the Golden Rule. Treat people how you want to be treated!
warhero35 No idea. Do you think I should let him do the last one?
coffeentoffee Glad ya like BT that much. Looks like you like my YGO fic too. And as you see, it does center around Kaiba... My fave too!
warhero35 Sort of... Thanks for the review
Lady of Doom Thank you!
Tocole Not too much happened I'm afraid. Ficcy kinda lost my interest with the lack of support it got... So my huge idea went down the drain too.. At least Scars of the Past seems well liked.