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 twelve – A Little Effort

Okon was carrying tea to Aoshi in the temple in which he was praying. As she trudged up the stairs, she worried about what Aoshi would say because even she knew that Aoshi knew that Misao had left with Soujiro. She knocked on the door gently as the tea wobbled a little from where she was standing.

The trees outside were motionless and were beginning to lose their leaves since the winter season was coming soon. She noticed the days were getting colder and wondered how much longer Aoshi would be meditating with an open window.

But the thing she worried about the most was her Misao traveling with Soujiro.

Who knew where they were? They could be far north where it snowed all the time. If they walked around there for too long, they would certainly get frostbitten.

Or maybe she was worrying too much.

She knocked once more before she entered on her own. She saw Aoshi sitting righ tin the middle of the room as the breeze gently kissed his face as it brushed past him, "Aoshi-sama, I've brought your tea today."

She kneeled next to him and checked up on his face. It was darker, much darker. And also he was asleep, "Aoshi? Aoshi, wake up," she murmured as she shook him on the shoulder.

"Hm?"

Okon sighed, "You were asleep."

"Oh."

Misao poured some tea into the cup and slid it over to Aoshi before she commented, "So what were you dreaming about?" Aoshi looked up, obviously confused. Okon went on, "Well, I've only seen you sleep that hard when you are dreaming," Okon knew Aoshi very well, "So what were you wishing?"

Aoshi shrugged, "Maybe I'm becoming more peaceful at mind."

Okon threw up her hands, "For crying out loud! You're like the calmest guy I know! How come you're looking for peace at mind or whatever?"

Aoshi looked down, maybe he didn't know why either.

But then Okon blurted out, "So you know about Soujiro and Misao?"

Aoshi shifted his eyes but they still didn't look directly at her, "You make it sound like they're a couple."

Okon chuckled for a moment as the smile remained on her face, "They might as well be since they're spending all this time together. Plus, you're not doing anything about it. They spent so much time together while you just sat and meditated in this lonesome temple every day from dawn 'till dusk. Maybe she wanted to live a little more."

He shot her a glare for a split second as Okon held a contempt look on her face.

"He said he understood me…"

Okon's eyes picked up, it was kind of out of the blue and she didn't really know how to respond right away, "Well, um…what do you mean?"

"I mean," he began, "he said he understood where I was coming from…how I felt," Okon began to understand why Aoshi seemed so upset, "But he doesn't know me. He has no idea why I'm doing what I do. He should just keep his little ignorant nose out of things."

Okon was silent for a moment. After contemplating for a moment about what he had just said, Okon understood exactly what Soujiro had meant.

"Ah, I see, I see," Aoshi looked up for the first time that day, "You see Aoshi, Soujiro is a very smart boy. Intelligent man, I should say. He sees around what's right in front of him. He always questions he finds, and always hopes things might turn out for the better. He's a naïve boy though. And you're right when you say he's ignorant. He doesn't want to believe certain things because of what he was taught in years passed. But when those two things collide, it creates an intelligent person who doesn't think before they talk, simply because he doesn't have as much common sense as you do."

Aoshi stared for a moment, then commented, "But that still doesn't explain how he understands me."

Okon looked up to the ceiling for a moment, "Heh, you're right."

Aoshi stared up with an exasperated look on his face while Okon tried to put on a straight face again.

"He said he understands you basically because he understands where you're coming from. He relates to you because he knows what it's like to have nothing. He probably just tried to find some resemblance in the two of you so there wasn't such a big gap, if that makes sense."

Aoshi understood, but his mind twisted it around, "So he wants us to be friendly towards each other."

Okon knew exactly what Aoshi was doing. He heard things he didn't want to hear, he would jumble them up so they sounded just that much better. If only he listened…he would hear so much more.

"That's not what I said Aoshi-sama," Okon retorted, a hint of aggravation to her voice, " Maybe if you listened a little more, you would understand why Misao isn't here."

With that, Okon stood up and headed towards the door. But before her hand reached it, Aoshi spoke up, "He also said, 'I must be trying so hard.' Can you translate that for me too?"

Maybe he deserved more credit than she originally gave him. Maybe he actually paid attention to what was going on around him.

And what Soujiro said, he had caught, in a minute, what she had missed her entire life. Aoshi was trying, but he just needed to be led there. After living in the same building as Soujiro, she began to understand that he had the ability to heal himself, but he just didn't know how to. But if would just adapt his sayings of Aoshi to himself, he might just heal himself quicker than Misao ever could.

But maybe that's why Misao was with him, so he could realize this.

Maybe Misao really was some sort of savior?

"Okon-sama?"

She continued to face the door, but replied, "No I can't translate that for you. Maybe you can solve it for yourself someday."

She opened the door and exited, but just before she shut it behind her, she could've sworn Aoshi said something about how wise she was. I mean come on, Okon was pretty dang smart. She might not be the same kind of savior as Misao was to Aoshi and Soujiro, but she could always watch along the way and make sure the next generation might turn out to be just a little more understanding than that of the others have been.

When she finally arrived home, Omasu, Kuro, and Shiro had already left to buy groceries at the market. But Okina on the other hand was sitting outside on a bench right outside of the Aoiya just staring out into the sky ahead.

"Jiya?"

Okina didn't really respond, he just nodded and stared back up.

Okon walked up next to Jiya, set her hand on his head, then sat down on the seat next to him, "Jiya, what's wrong? I've never seen you act like this before."

She took a good look at him and then re-established what she had said, "Wait, scratch that. I have seen you like this before, haven't I?" she looked at the elder man who was staring now at the dirt, "I've seen you like this when Misao first developed her first big crush on Aoshi-sama, right?"

He chuckled, he hadn't actually realized this and came to believe it was true. The last time he ever really was in such a strange mood was because Misao was all over Aoshi all the time. And when that happened, Misao didn't have enough time for her grandpa. And those kind of things hurt when part of your family didn't have enough time for you. Maybe it was all just because he was jealous.

"Maybe you're right Okon, maybe I'm just getting too old."

Okon smiled gracefully as she stood up and replied, "Now, now, don't confuse my words. You're not getting old, it's just that the people around you are getting older at a rate faster than you thought they would."

Jiya nodded.

It was probably he was only being bitter about losing his Misao again once he thought he had her.

Funny thing was, was he actually losing her? I mean, why was he worrying about her if she still loved Aoshi when she was with another man? He should just stop worrying. Whatever Misao chose, he would be happy because he knew she would make the right decision. He just had to move on and understand he had his time with Misao, and now it was his time to pass on the torch. Or something like that. But whatever the case, he wanted to make sure she would be happy. If her future lied with Aoshi or even Soujiro by any chance, he would have to make sure that his Misao would be happy. Even if he couldn't be a part of her journey from here on out, he would be honored to watch from the sideline.

Okon walked into the building and climbed up the stairs. She walked out onto the balcony and watched as the people bustled beneath her. The few clouds that were scattered throughout the sky rolled slowly by as the breeze picked up.

She sighed and remembered the days she was Misao's age and how she missed them so.

She now knew that it was crucial to make the right decisions, but it was always interesting to make the wrong one and then learn along the way. So she decided that's what she would do with Misao.

From then on out, Misao was on her own. And plus, if she were old enough to go on a journey with a person of the separate gender, she certainly could make the right decisions.

And plus, it was always fun to see people learn the hard way. Something about it was so encouraging to do better. Like, you learned from their mistakes. But Okon didn't actually want Misao and Soujiro to make those mistakes. She wanted them to be happy with their time together. And besides, it was only a matter of time before Aoshi would finally realize his feelings for Misao.

But what would become of Sou?

He was a strong boy, even Okon thought he was stronger in the heart than Aoshi.

Okon liked Soujiro a lot, but something about him still made her worry about Misao. When he left, Okon could sense the shadows looming and covering Soujiro's heart. But she wasn't the only one who thought that. Okina also thought that previously.

But for the strangest reason, Jiya was beginning to understand why Soujiro had those shadows, even is the smiling young man didn't know himself.

Sadly, as most people know, the only way a person can begin to let others into their life, they have to be able to forgive themselves for whatever may be bringing them down. So if Soujiro was to let Misao into the special place in his heart, he would have to try.

We never know how high we are,

'Til we are called to rise;

And then, if we are true to plan,

Our statures touch the skies.

Keep trying Sou.

Soujiro and Misao were camping out in a clearing deep in the forest. The trees all around them whispered secrets that neither of them could here. The stars above them twinkled and seemed to play around the moon.

"Hey Sou, if you listen carefully, you can hear what the trees say!"

Soujiro poked at the fire in front of him once more before leaning back and closing his eyes.

He didn't exactly hear voices because he heard trees. But Misao sat across the fire while holding her ankles and humming a little song. Usually he would try to ignore her humming, but this time he listened carefully.

He had heard it somewhere before, long, long ago. It was a happy song, one that a mother would sing to a child before they fell asleep. If only he could remember though. Whatever. But now that song would be stuck in his head for a long while.

In a mansion in Kyoto, a little boy ran through the halls trying to find his way, "Mr. Shishio! Mr. Shishio! Where are you!"

It was a young Soujiro, only at the tender age of nine. He had only been at Shishio's mansion for around two months, but he was still having a hard time finding which halls led where. He had also been spending most of his time training to become a professional swordsman. It was hard, but since Soujiro was used to hard labor, some techniques were a lot easier than Shishio had expected.

But at the moment, he was lost.

As he wandered through a few more halls, he heard singing coming from one of the rooms next to him. He turned and tiptoed over to the door.

In it, the recently met Ms. Yumi was sitting on a chair by the window. On the windowsill, she stroked a flower that was dying, "Ms. Yumi?"

She looked over and saw Soujrio peeking through the door, Come in Sou-chan."

Soujiro walked over and sat on the ground next to her, "Is something the matter Ms. Yumi?" Soujiro asked looking up with a concerned face. Yumi looked down and smiled.

"I'm just not feeling that well, that's all."

Soujiro's face grew worried, "Oh no! That isn't good at all! Why hasn't Mr. Shishio told me yet?"

Yumi smiled once more and looked out the window, "Because Mr. Shishio doesn't know."

"Why?"

Yumi looked down. Soujiro could tell something was wrong because she was beginning to cry. Was she sad? But what could be bothering her that much? Yumi had such a wonderful life with Shishio.

"Because Sou-chan, Ms. Yumi's heart is a little confused right now," Soujiro leaned forward and tilted his head. But Yumi had expected him not to understand, he was still so young…so emotionless, "It's just that I'm questioning my love for Shishio-sama. I know he has priorities before 'us,' but sometimes I wish there was only us and nothing else. So, I'm thinking of leaving because my heart can't take that much more, my heart's slowly caving in."

Soujiro shook his head while continuing to look at Yumi, "No Ms. Yumi! You know Mr. Shishio loves you very much! He would hurt to see you go!"

Yumi wiped her eyes and patted Soujiro on the head, "Sou-chan, I can hardly imagine you knowing what love is."

Soujiro looked down. It was true you know, Soujiro had no idea what the feeling was.

"But," Yumi cut into his thoughts, "I'm sure you will one day. And when that day comes, you can tell me if it was worth it."

"Worth what?"

Yumi looked out the window again, "If it was worth my time to stay with Shishio-sama."

His eyes lightened, "Really! You're staying now? Don't worry! You won't be let down! You'll have the best time ever here!"

Yumi chuckled and then took Soujiro's hand in hers, "So promise me Sou? Promise me that when you're older, you'll tell me if it was worth it. And who knows, maybe you'll find someone to love for yourself someday?"

Soujiro nodded, stood up, shook her hand, let it go, then scampered out the door.

Yumi smiled one last time before closing her eyes and whispering to herself, "I'll have to try… One day I'll know I'm right."

Then she hummed a song to herself as she drifted off to sleep.

Too bad Soujiro didn't remember.

But he too was falling asleep now with the song still humming in his head. He watched Misao fall asleep for a few moments before drifting off himself.

He stared up at the stars one last time before finally giving up on where that song had come from.

And as he closed his eyes, he saw Ms. Yumi sitting with Mr. Shishio on the same red couch that they used to sit on together. Yumi was leaning on Mr. Shishio's chest while his right arm held her by the shoulder.

It was kind of like a picture, just them sitting there without moving.

But he imagined himself walking into the picture as well, standing beside the couch as he used to just smiling and holding his sword.

Maybe it did work out after all.

If you just put in a little effort…

End.

I worked my ass off on this chapter. I tried to make everything fit, and everything make sense. I hope this explains a little more why Okina was a little cold towards Soujiro. And just to let you know, Okon is pro Sou/Mis but she's also pro Aoshi/Mis. It's something like she'll always picture Misao with Aoshi, but she'll later move on. Whatever.

I also hope the Yumi/Shishio/Soujiro thing made sense. If you don't get it, read it carefully. I've been told that you usually need to read my words more than once to understand them fully. Or I could be a crackbaby. Who knows?

Well, my mom might…JUST KIDDING.

Haha!

NaiLAUG!