Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't updated, but I had a case of the dreaded Writer's Block. I know we've all been down THAT road! Thanks for all the reviews though! Time to respond to them!

Nanami-kins: Because I've never seen Minority Report, I would have no idea what you meant, but thanx! I'm so very happy you like it!

Katie West: I am so flattered that you think I'm a talented writer! I'm also flattered that you would have nominated me! (Congrats, by the way!)

Naomi: Can I ask a dumb question? What's a precog? I've never heard of those. Glad you liked this chapter!

Special thanks to Katie West and Naomi. Just because they have been with me from the very first chapter! I luv you guys! Keep reading! Time for the story!

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. I wish I did, but I don't have the money, so there! *Fights off evil lawyers* Back I say! Back!

Words in *stars* are Koji's thoughts. Words in italics are dreams and memories.

American Orphan: Who is Koji Really?

Chapter 2:

Dreams of the Past: Koji's Troubles

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Six years. Where did the time go?*

Koji sat outside, staring at the stars. Her auburn hair shifted in the wind around her face, framing it's elegance. Her green eyes glittered in the star's light. Clothed only in a night robe, she didn't seem concerned that someone might see her in this indecent state. She smiled at the familiar constellations, but deep down, she knew it was really an unfamiliar sky. She tried to push the thought out of her head, but it was no use. She couldn't help wondering.

*Who am I?*

She looked at the quiet, empty street. No one in their right mind would be out at this hour. Well, except one person, maybe. She was out here. Koji laughed softly, wondering if she was finally losing her mind.

*Or maybe I already lost it.*

She had that dream again. It was the reason she hadn't slept peacefully for almost a month now. It came to her in the night at the same time every night. She closed her eyes, recalling the dream's contents. As the cool night air blew around her, she could feel her mind wandering to the depths of time... She lay down in the soft, cool grass, and soon, she fell asleep, facing the stars.

Then, Koji began to dream.

Koji was standing on an unfamiliar road, one she had never seen before. In fact, she was on a type of road she had never seen before. Suddenly, it hit her. It was the dream again. It was that damn dream again.

"Oh no," she said. "Not again."

The wind blew leaves around her feet, as if it was trying to guide her somewhere. Koji remained unmoving from her spot.

Soon, she heard footsteps. It sounded like more than one person, and they were moving fast. It sounded like they were coming her direction. She looked around, but saw no one on the dark street. The footsteps faded into the night's mystery, moving away from her. Tears of fear began to well up in her eyes. She knew what was coming.

"Please," she sobbed. "Not again. Let it be different."

Suddenly, there was a flash of bright light, and it blinded her so she couldn't see anything for a few moments. Koji found herself running in a smaller body, and she was growing tired. Another woman held her hand. No, it wasn't different this time.

Koji looked up and saw fear in the woman's face. Who was she? Koji looked behind her to see two men chasing them. They wanted her, they wanted to steal her away. That was why they were running. Koji forgot being tired and ran faster.

"OMPH!!" Koji had run into someone's knee, and almost collapsed. The woman next to her was talking to the person they had run into. "Take care of her!" Koji looked at the woman, just in time to see a knife plunged into her back. She fell dead in the man's arms. Koji screamed her fear, and tears rained down her cheeks. Why was she crying? She didn't even know this woman.

Koji looked at the man, and even though she knew who it was, she was still shocked to find that it was Takuro. She felt a tremendous pain come down on her head. Her eyes closed, but a second later they shot open, revealing a sea of blood.

That was when Koji woke up, returning to reality.

*Not again!*

She shook her head and stood up. It was becoming persistent. Koji hadn't been able to close her eyes without seeing the images of her dream.

*Why me? What is this dream I keep having?*

Six years. That was all Koji knew of her life, her life here in Japan. When she tried to go further in her memory, the search would be in vain. It would all turn up blank. She couldn't even remember her real name, or if she had brothers or sisters or not.

No one knew how she got her, except Takuro, but he refused to tell her. Her friend, Kenshin, also knew but his response was always the same. "Memories must be remembered," he would say. "They cannot be told."

Other than the absolute absence of her past, Koji enjoyed her life, even though she wasn't a native. She knew that much. She could tell just by looking at the natives of Japan, and then looking at herself. Three years ago, while out with her friends, she tried to but the pieces together.

The Kenshin-gumi was out walking, on their way to find a place for a picnic. They were all there: Yahiko, Sano, Kaoru, and of course, Kenshin. But today, they had some guests with them. They invited Takuro and Koji to join them.

They settled down at the river where Yahiko and Koji practiced swordsmanship. They enjoyed the time to relax and relish the rare peaceful moment.

No one said anything for a few moments, but Koji took the opportunity to ask several questions.

"Doesn't anyone know where I came from?" she asked suddenly. Everyone was taken aback. Koji wasn't the kind of girl to ask a question like that.

Kenshin sighed. "You know what I've told you, Koji. Memories must be remembered, they-"

"Cannot be told," Koji finished. "I know that, but I also know I'm not from here. I would at least like to know where I came from." Takuro shook his head. "When your older," he said, "you'll understand the reason we can't tell you."

"Koji?" came a voice in the dark. Koji was shot back to reality again and almost jumped in alarm. She turned around to see Takuro looking at her with a confused, but tired expression. "What are you doing out here?" He asked sleepily. "You had me worried."

"Sorry, Takuro-san," Koji said. She stood up, brushing the grass that clung to her robe. "Is everything alright?" Takuro asked concerned. Koji smiled and shook her head. "Everything's fine."

"Are you sure?" he persisted. Koji nodded. "Positive. Just couldn't sleep. I'll come inside in a minute. Alright?" Takuro nodded. "Yeah, that's fine. But get to sleep, you got it?" Koji nodded again, and watched Takuro disappear into the house.

*Koji, you are a big fat liar.*

She couldn't go to sleep, or else she would have that dream again. But she was so tired! She couldn't continue this for much longer.

She remembered seeing Takuro, but why? Koji felt that it wasn't just any dream she was dealing with. It meant something, but what? Perhaps, it was a key to her past, and explained how she met Takuro. But, who was the woman? Could she have been Koji's mother? But, if the dream was really a memory, didn't that mean that Koji's mother was...

No. It was just a silly dream, that was all. But still...

*Why?*

She shook her head, and walked into the house. She went to her room, and on the way, she could hear Takuro's some-what loud snoring. Laughing to herself, she lie down on her futon and quickly fell asleep, ignoring her fears of the dream. She was to tired to stay awake.

Then, she dreamed that dream. Saw everything as she did when she dreamed it the very first time. She woke up at that same moment, heart pounding and gasping for breath. Once she calmed down, she could feel the warm morning sun on her face, and heard the birds outside. She smelled miso soup and rice cakes. But even though the morning sun brought cheer that day, she knew there was something wrong.

Before she had that dream, she had another. It was a new dream, but there was something important her sub-conscience was trying to tell her.

She remembered what happened, but like the other dream, this one confused her as well.

Koji stood in a stone room of darkness. It was a cell of some sort. There was a high window that let in a small amount of moonlight. Below that window, she could barely make out the people sitting on the floor. Closer examination told her that they had gone through a terrible ordeal, judging from the marks along their bodies.

Koji saw a tiny boy, probably only eight years old. It didn't take long for her to see that he was near death. In desperation, she ran to him wanting to help him get better. When she reached out to touch him, her hand went right through him! So she was only a spirit. She wasn't there. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she watched the boy suffer.

"There's nothing I can do to help? There has to be something!" Her cries fell on deaf ears.

Suddenly, the door across from them shot open, and a short figure stood before them. He had unruly red hair and a cross-shaped scar on his left cheek. That must be a younger Kenshin!

When all the people in the room saw him, their faces lit up in both hope, and hopelessness. They pointed to the boy Koji tried to help and Kenshin was beside the boy in an instant.

Koji watched through several intense moments as Kenshin did his best to help the boy. Before anything could be done to save him however, he coughed up blood, and died in Kenshin's arms. Koji screamed for the boy, and was sent back to that dark street. The dream came to her again.

After she and Takuro had breakfast, Takuro left to prepare for his voyage with Waotaka tomorrow. Koji would stay at the Kamyia dojo while he was gone, and during that time, she would discover what happened to her.

It was time she spoke with Kenshin. Alone. And this time, he would tell her everything.

~~~~~~~

How did you all like that? Kinda short, but still cool! Right? Hmmm. Anyway, Please review! Its those reviews that juice me up to write! So if you want another chapter, review

Soul Flyer