Someday When Wishes Do Come True

Chapter 1: A Part of Me

By: Empathic Soul

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. This story is slightly AU although it is set in the Meiji Era as well, a few days after Jinchuu ended. Characters that would be included are Kenshin, Kaoru, Yahiko, Sanosuke, Aoshi, Misao, Soujiro, Saitoh, Megumi, and Enishi. Couples are not yet determined.
I really did not understand why this was meant to happen.

I wanted to search for the answer to my deeds

I wanted to learn more about myself as he has learned for himself during his 10 years of wandering

I wanted to run away from my past

I wanted to create a better future for myself

So why did I end up in this place?

Why did I end up where I started?

Miserable

And yet

Amusing.

He was walking from the market carrying a bag of fish, a small portion of tofu placed in a bucket, another bag of vegetables, and lastly some sweet cake he bought in one of the new western stores in town. He wanted to give this to that person who kindly offered him a home, a temporary home just about two days ago.

Soujiro entered the dojo with a soft smile. Well, that's the least that he could do right? Give the people there a soft greeting with a smile. After all it was only a couple of days ago that he was found by Kamiya Kaoru buying a few good bread for the continuation of his trip, in the market and offered him a place to stay, even just for a while.

Soujiro has never met anyone as nice as her. It was a record. And again there she was greeting him with a warm morning smile along with Kenshin smiling also, which was troublesome for Soujiro considering that he attempted to slide a sword on his back when they were fighting back in Kyoto. Well, at least one behavior seems rational.

Yahiko, or what he was called, seems to be glaring at him. It was not really that much of a glare, but still one. He did not know how the boy knew who he was but at least one thing's certain, he's not as irrational as the two older people in the house.

Well, when Sanosuke heard about him staying there, he volunteered to stay too. It was much to the annoyance of the lady of the house. But then again, it was noticeable that they were all too alert to be casual. It was as if there was something always lurking in the corners of the house ready to pounce. But even for him, he knew there was none, so why were they all edgy.

It was then that Kaoru explained to him what happed a few days ago. He could still remember the way she told him.

"Miss Kamiya, I'm meaning to ask, why are people in this house, seemingly tense. I do not mean to be rude of course, if you do not want to answer, it would be fine."

No, it's alright. Kaoru smiled warmly. She looked out the window and then back to him. "I was just kidnapped by Kenshin's brother-in-law."

And she said it with a smile.

Soujiro almost choked with his tea. 'How can a girl say that so casually as if it was a daily experience?'

"Nothing much really." Kaoru added.

I hope I don't say something I'm gonna regret. Soujiro thought. "Seems like a daily occurrence the way you said it."

'Damned mouth.' Soujiro cursed in his mind. 'Hope going down the drain.'

"It is for me. I don't understand but I always end up getting kidnapped, hostaged, because I'm some kind of the only woman in this house." Kaoru nodded with a bit of bitterness and at the same time amusement

'Amusement?' Soujiro shook his head. "I don't really understand why his brother-in-law would kidnap you and would actually do such a thing."

"It's a really long story but I must tell you, Enishi's not really that bad. He was just a lost little boy." Kaoru whispered and looked at Soujiro.

'Lost little boy huh, I bet if it were in different circumstances, she could call Shishio-san a lost lost man as well.' Soujiro just could not get it in him to understand why this girl is so nice.

He finally arrived at the dojo and saw three people standing in the hallway.

"Good Morning! I just went to the market to buy some food...I was planning to cook lunch for you because I just want to say thank you, Miss Kamiya." Soujiro smiled warmly as Kaoru rushed towards him.

"You bought it for Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin asked gently smiling appreciatively at the good manners the boy is exhibiting and covering up for the seething anger caused by the turmoil of battousai inside him.

That boy caused me too much pain already! I'm ready to bite his head off!!! Let me at him! How dare he say that in front of me!! How dare he say he bought my woman a few groceries in front of me!!!! Battousai was furious.

Maa...maaa...the rurouni could barely handle the unrestrained anger of the assassin. He almost had to beg for him not to come out. He was merely thanking her for letting him stay here.

Another thing that is!!! How can she actually stomach sending people here in her home without even blinking. I would even bet that if Saitoh would be homeless she would ask him to stay too! Battousai shook his head slightly calming down but not entirely.

But that's her goodness. The rurouni relaxed upon realizing that the other was getting better as well.

But not his!!!! LET ME AT HIM!!!!

Kenshin's eyes turned slightly to amber but he managed to return it back to lavender as quickly as the other color appeared. He heaved a sigh to control himself but did not notice Kaoru walking towards the direction of Soujiro.

"Oh you shouldn't have bothered! And please I insist you call me Kaoru. Formalities not needed around here." Kaoru smiled.

Soujiro smiled glancing towards the direction of Kenshin for a while. That was a hint. I got the hint. Did he get that? Soujiro knew somehow that there is something special between Kamiya Kaoru and Himura Kenshin, unspoken though.

Maybe I should help him. "Eh? I wouldn't dare so Miss Kamiya. I mean, Himura-san did not really call you casually and he stays here with you for the longest time. I wouldn't try calling you with such casual names."

Soujiro shook his head to emphasize his point. He took a glance at Kenshin only to see his eyes gold and amber gazed at him angrily as if a volcano just erupted.

Damn stupid little brat!!! How dare he! How dare he state the obvious! This is all your fault rurouni! You kept calling her –dono, dono, dono, dono, and more dono!!!! Battousai screamed in his head and almost choked the rurouni.

Oro? But sessha wa... The rurouni was not able to continue when the assassin pulled shirt and gritted his teeth while he seethed with anger.

Say that one more time and I'm gonna be the dominant personality for the rest of our worthless life!

Soujiro sighed when he saw lavender returning to be the shade of Kenshin's eyes. But he was disturbed to see Yahiko laughing. He tilted his head to the side and noticed Yahiko's laughter getting louder when Kenshin and Kaoru both looked at him.

"That hit the bull's eye didn't it?" Yahiko roared with laughter and proceeded to get out of sight as quickly as possible.

"YAHIKO!!!" Kaoru was beet red as she chased Yahiko who was headed towards the dining area as of the moment. Kenshin watched the ground whence he found the soil to be uniquely intriguing.

Soujiro on the other hand could not even get what the situation really meant. Slow or not, he wouldn't bother. The more important thing as of the moment are...

The food he bought from the market.

"Ano, Himura-san...can I take this to the kitchen now?" Soujiro asked with a smile yet again, even though he managed to go on wandering for quite some time now, it does seem like he still hasn't gotten over the routine of smiling, it became a habit as a matter of fact.

Kenshin snapped out from his inner trance (and outer trance) to stare at Soujiro for a while. It took a while for his inner self to calm down and prevent himself from grabbing any nearby accessible object that could inflict intense pain. He swallowed hard and smiled back.

"Of course, Soujiro-dono. Please do so, de gozaru." Kenshin nodded while gesturing towards the kitchen.

Soujiro merely bowed in respect and proceeded to the kitchen.
"Oh, so the boy's staying in the dojo." Megumi muttered while tying a bandage to the patient and talking to a very angry Sanosuke. Talk about multi-tasking.

"Hell Yeah! I still don't get why jou-chan allowed him, or even asked him to stay!!! That boy could kill her in any moment! What if she gets killed again? What if Kenshin gets back to that...that...Rakin..Kunin..." Sano tried hard to remember what that word was.

"Rakuninmura." The female doctor replied exasperated.

"Yeah that!!!" Sano stared at the ceiling. "If it happens all over again, will Kenshin come back and will Kaoru be alive this time!!"

"You're over reacting, like Ken-san...even Yahiko." Megumi muttered while giving a medication to the patient that would serve as supplements to his injuries. "Take this thrice a day and remember to eat before you take it."

"Are you listening to me?" Sano slammed his fist on the wooden furniture and broke into half grabbing the attention of Megumi, fully this time. "Oops..."

"What are you doing ruining my equipment you useless freeloader!" Megumi placed her hand on her waist and towered Sanosuke who looked at the broken furniture. She glowered at Sanosuke who gaped at the broken furniture and gave her a weary smile.

"I'll pay for it, kitsune..." Sano nervously laughed and Megumi suddenly shouted.

"And when will you be doing that! When the Meiji era ends? When the sun never sets? When the world is about to end! Who are you kidding!!!" Megumi was shouting so loudly that people in the room was looking at the two awkwardly.

"Megumi, not so loud, it's humiliating to the patients. You shouldn't be..." Sano was trying to avoid the anger and decrease the humiliation.

"WHAT! How dare you lecture me!" Megumi was furious. "I would not take any sermons from the likes of you!!"

Their argument was suddenly placed into a halt when someone from the patients cleared his throat. The attention of the bickering couple focused on the tall man that stood in front of the customer table with a dead pan look on his face. He stared at the two and as Sano and Megumi looked back, they themselves were shocked to see such a person in the clinic.

Sanosuke moved forward Megumi as some kind of reflex and Megumi held a small portion of the fabric of Sanosuke's clothes, argument forgotten.

"YOU! Kisama! What are you doing here!" Sano growled low under his throat. He never really thought that he would see this person again. He never really thought he'd...

"After what you've done! What right do you have to actually show your face in front of us!!!" Sanosuke was furious. He never wanted to see this man again, especially after so many things. There was so many things that happened.

Seeing this man, reminds him of so many things...he would rather forget. But the man answered his question.

"I decided to give you a visit." The man muttered and it only drained some of the remaining color in the faces of the people there, especially the couple. He sighed. "I mean no harm. I came with a purpose."

"You? What would you want from us except..." Megumi bravely stepped forward and uttered a courageous statement.

The man's eyes squinted a bit and then moved to the side only to come back quickly with a little boy in his arms. The boy had jet black hair tied in a small pony tail almost similar to the way Shinta was clothed when he was a child. It was the same style of hair but of a different shade.

"I don't need you to heal me...but I want you to heal him."

That was the last thing they expected from the likes of him...

TBC.

Hehe, short chapter. I know.