When Dreams Come True

…Because medicine doesn't heal

And doctors can't tell

If better I'm to feel

And when I'm to get well.

Chapter nine – To Be Loved

It had had been about a week since Misao and Soujiro had begun their journey to anywhere. It had been a rough start, since Misao thought that she could sprint the whole way. But after a few minutes of an all out sprint, she finally ran out of gas and realized she needed to take her time.

"You're very fast, you know."

Misao began to strut a little, "I know, I know. I happen to be one of the quickest, most agile she-ninjas in existence!" She held her hips as she soaked up her proud-ness.

Soujiro watched in amusement as Misao continued to live in her own little world. He always enjoyed seeing her like this. It made him feel proud to know her like he had his own personal friend, if that made sense. But it made sense to him, since he never really had an actual friend before. He began to wonder if he was acting like a 'friend' would. He hoped he wasn't letting his Misao down.

He hoped it was alright to call her 'his.'

'His Misao' sounded nice.

It made him want to say it over and over again.

"Is that Yokohama up ahead?" Soujiro glanced up and nodded. Up ahead lied the city of the coast. The Coast Shore city, he understood obviously what it stood for.

The relaxing sound of the waves crashing against the sand bar made Soujiro felt at ease. He inhaled the salty air that intoxicated him fully. He looked up to the sky that was clear as the clouds slowly drifted by. He felt so comfortable there with Misao…

"Hey, you might wanna watch out…Sou? Sou!"

Before Soujiro knew what was happening next, he ran straight into a tree.

ow.

He rubbed his nose. Maybe he should pay more attention to the road ahead instead of how beautiful the view was. But, wasn't that a part of being a rurouni?

He shook his head and smiled, sometimes he just thought aboutnonsense.

"You ok?" Misao asked while trotting up next to him, he could tell she was suppressing her laughter.

He allowed it, "So, I guess it was funny."

Her face twisted as she held back her laughter even more, "N-no," she tried not smiling while Soujiro continued to rub his nose. She finally gave up, "You should've seen your face! It was hilarious! I mean, it wasn't funny that you got hurt but your face! It was too good!"

She was bent over, clutching her stomach as she continued to laugh uncontrollably. He smiled too.

It was funny really, his nose might be throbbing but he was still feeling good. Better than good, above average. Maybe it was the climate change?

As the two walked along the bustling city streets, Misao ran back and forth between shop fronts. Her eyes, wide with amazement, searched every inch of every shop she went to all while Soujiro chased after her…

"Misao! Misao where'd you go?"

…Until he lost her.

"Misao! Misao!"

She was completely gone and Soujiro was beginning to panic. He started to jog around every shop, or at least the ones he could get to since most of the fronts were way overly crowded.

"Are you looking for someone son?"

He jumped as soon as he felt a hand on his shoulder. Sou turned around only to see a frail man, "Um, yes sir. Have you seen a young girl with a long black braid?"

The old man shook his head, "It might help if you head towards the artifacts shop over there," he said while he pointed over towards another shop.

There Misao was gaping at whatever her eye caught.

"Thank you s,"

Soujiro turned around to say goodbye, but the old man was already walking away. He shrugged and walked towards Misao.

"So there you are Misao," she nodded a little as she continued to gape at the item that was being sold. He looked over shoulder to see what the fuss was all about. He could only see until she held it up. Her hands shook as cradled two kunais in her hands. He didn't know what the big deal was, they seemed like normal old kunais to him, "You look like you really like those."

She did somewhat of a nod while she whispered, "They're beautiful."

Soujiro examined them a little more, trying to find the amazement of the small weapons in her hands until he gave up and asked, "What's so special about those?"

Something in Misao's head clicked, because when her head snapped around, she didn't look to pleased, "WHAT ARE YOU? STUPID! Look at these beautiful kunai! Its weight is perfectly distributed throughout the tip so your aim is almost always on target! Also look at the color! Its absolutely beautiful! Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!"

That's exactly the kind of thing he expected her to say.

He must've really gotten used to her being around.

"Are you going to buy them?" He asked while his smile widened.

"No."

Urk. Huh?

"You're not going to buy them? But if you like them so much…"

Misao shook her head, "No, Jiya always taught me that I need to practice restraint more often so here I am, practicing my restraint…" Misao began to drift off while she continued to stare at the apparently beautiful weapon sitting in front of her. Soujiro nudged her a little, and that's when she broke down, "Oh who am I kidding! I WANT THESE!"

She held them up and then began to stroke her cheek. She must really, really like them.

"Hey kid, stop making my merchandise all nasty," the shopkeeper complained as Misao glared back, "Just set them back down how about?"

Misao hesitated while setting the two kunai back down. She have one last sad look at the weapons before she walked off and blended in with the crowd.

About several yards away, Misao began to regret practicing her restraint, "Man, I really want those kunai right now."

Soujiro chuckled, "What would you do with them right now Misao?"

She shrugged, "I don't know. Probably peg someone in the shin with those mean little beauties," Soujiro gave a worried look, but Misao quickly caught it, "I'm just…kidding! Just kidding! Come on Sou, you know I'm just messin' with 'ya. I'd probably just practice with them on some wooden something."

Soujiro dug a little more, "But you said they were beautiful, would you really throw around something that precious? Would you really be so careless?"

Misao threw her hands up into the air, "Alright Sou! I didn't even get them! Lemme alooone!"

She slumped while Soujiro giggled a little. He didn't mean to make Misao feel uncomfortable, but he just wanted to make sure why Okina wanted her to learn.

It was all in the lessons in life.

"Sou, it's getting late."

He just wished he could learn some of them sometimes.

"Sou?"

Or…

"SOU!"

"Huh?"

…maybe he already had?

"I said it's getting a little late."

He scratched his head in embarrassment, "Sorry Misao, I wasn't paying attention. And yes it is getting late out. Shall we find an inn or something for tonight?"

She nodded while they began exploring for an inn to stay at. But all the while Soujiro was walking with Misao, he wanted to walk his straightest. He was nervous for some reason. He couldn't help but wonder why.

'It's 'cause someone's trying to impress someone…'

There was a monotonous voice that rung in Soujiro's mind. It wasn't Mr. Shishio calling out, and it wasn't the angelic voice he had heard earlier.

It sounded like a child mocking another.

It relatively sounded relaxing compared to other voices he had heard previously in his life.

Wait a sec…why was he even hearing numerous voices in his head? He knew he had problems but, he hoped he really wasn't that mental since he was hearing things and having conversations with dead people all in his head. Maybe it was a sign, something like he needed a lot more sleep. A lot, a lot more sleep.

But about what the child voice had said, about trying to impress someone, what was up with that? Did that mean he was trying to impress his Misao?

Wait. A. Second.

The voice was starting to make a lot more sense now…

But Soujiro was actually not thinking about this at all because now he was worried that some people would call him mentally retarded. Or deeply bothered, either one wasn't that great to be called.

"How about this one?" Soujiro asked, pointing up to sign that read, The Sarata Hotel.

"Whatever," Misao sighed, "It's practically dark out and we need to find a place to stay before robbers come out."

They walked in and headed for the front desk. There was a middle-aged woman at the desk examining her nails until she finally realized she had visitors.

"Oh, um hello, welcome to the Sarata Hotel. How can I help you?"

Misao hopped up to the front desk, "Two rooms just for one night!"

The woman nodded but Soujiro interrupted the two's interaction, "Wait a sec Misao, did you bring any money?" She shook her head and Soujiro face faded a little, "You mean to tell me you didn't bring any money on a long journey?"

Misao giggled, or did somewhat of a giggle, "Uh, no?"

Sou's head dropped, "I guess we only have enough money for one room if we want to continue staying in hotels and inns."

Misao was shocked, "What! Us! Same room! I don't think so Sou!"

Soujiro's face grew a little embarrassed because of the situation, and also the woman behind the desk was staring a bit. He then walked forward and leaned on the counter a little, "We would like one room with two mattresses inside."

Much to Misao's arguments, Soujiro pressed on to the room above them. When they reached it, it apparently wasn't huge. It was about the size of Misao's room at the Aoiya, "See Misao? It'll just be like me sleeping over in your room!"

Misao's face was still a little red from yelling so much so all she could do was roll her eyes.

After setting up their beds, Misao tucked herself in and mumbled, "I'm sorry Aoshi-sama…"

Soujiro eyed her, "Sorry about what?"

He sat up, "For staying in the same room as another man! That's what!"

She flopped back down as Soujiro couldn't help but feel a little disappointed that she didn't trust him more than he wished she did.

"Do you really not trust me Misao?"

She didn't get up but she did reply, "No I trust you, I just sometimes wish I saw Aoshi's face more often…"

Of course.

Why wouldn't she? She and Aoshi are meant to be together. They were meant to grow old together and have children together and, and…just love each other forever.

But then, why did Soujiro feel so left out?

Maybe it was because he wished to have a bond with someone that tight. Maybe he wished for someone to care for him the way Misao cared for Aoshi. What a wonderful feeling it must be. To be loved, to love someone, it was all beautiful to Soujiro. But he knew he would never find out that feeling unless he finally figured out some answers. But sadly, that wouldn't be occurring anytime soon because now he had a partner with him and it wouldn't be easy to concentrate on the simpler things in life. Or would it?

Whatever. All Soujiro knew was that if he ever found that feeling, Misao would be the first person he would share his happiness with, however he would do it…

But ah! To feel that feeling that only the lucky ones feel. Misao didn't really understand how lucky she was even to be able to love someone else. If he could care for someone the way Misao cared for Aoshi, he would give his all. And if Misao could care for him even a fraction as much as she did Aoshi, he would feel like the luckiest man in the world. Or luckiest 'loony' because he was hearing voices.

But hadn't he previously learned that Misao had cared for him?

He didn't realize this because Soujiro now was watching Misao while she slept. He really shouldn't drone on and on in his thoughts like that because he misses out on a lot of things.

But he couldn't think at the moment, he couldn't bring his eyes away from Misao who's chest was gently rising and falling as she breathed deeply every time.

Poor, poor Sou.

It was a little sad.

Deprived from a life worth living as a young child and as he grew up, he had no idea how to live. So, how could he figure out how to live unless someone showed him how to?

…!

Exactly.

End.

The end was kind of like me telling you a little of what will happen. And I really encourage the readers to take notice of the poem at the beginning. I really take pride with those. It's been a while to post, but what really inspired me was when my place kept falling down on the list of fictions on the list, I just wanted to be up at the top again.

Kinda sad, huh?

Yeah!

NaiLAUG!