Somewhere I Belong

The Protector's Refuge

The auburn and russet colors of maple trees were about to turn grey as the leaves fall for the onset of winter in the next one and half months. Even the wind already carried with it some slight chill. Kenshin halted from his walk to put on his scarf over his shoulder and around his neck. He heaved a sigh.

This was a different season for Kenshin. For the first time, he felt some warmth inside him. It was as if he was drawn to succumb in the fall and the numbness of the winter's cold and yet he was glad to know that there's always fire in the hearth when he comes home. Home.

Home it is. He muttered to himself. He picked up his basket half full of tofu, some beans and soy, which he would cook for dinner. He went on his way back to the Kamiya dojo.

"Alright, Kaoru. I guess this is it for today." Yahiko enthused. "I need to recall some of the moves I have observed and write them down so we can study and practice it."

"You're getting good at it yourself, Yahiko." Kaoru replied. "Tomorrow, after the regular classes, we'll do it again for an hour, alright?" Yahiko replied with a nod.

Kenshin overheard this while he was preparing in the kitchen. Kaoru and Yahiko had been staying longer in the dojo to train. It seems that the two were getting along seriously well as master and student at last. He wondered on Yahiko's last remarks, but decided to put it off.

Quite recently, Kaoru became busy with Yahiko with their increasing number of students and frequency of classes she held. It was a beholding sight for him to see her so focused and determined. Fascination? Admiration, perhaps? Or maybe it was just a feeling of relief that she and the others had already moved on and recovered from the Shishio Makoto ordeal.

"Himura-san, why don't you teach us, too? We heard that you are a skilled swordsman" Asked a young man, followed by the agreeing grunts from the other students. They were on a break from a session and were lounging around the engawa when they saw him coming.

"I welcome the flattery, but I don't intend to pass the techniques I used in battles. But the Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu is quite fitting for you learn in this new age. That you should." He convincingly told them.

One brawny student came forward. "I have trained here since Master Koshijiro's time over a year or so prior to his loss in the Seinan War. There's some real good improvements in the style from Assistant Master Kaoru. We are all so excited to learn it." He said enthusiastically while the rest nod in unison.

Improvements in the style? Perhaps Kaoru-dono had this to attract more students to her dojo. Kenshin thought it was wise, but he decided to put it off his mind again.

From the time he heard of it, Kenshin had always planned to sit in Kaoru's classes to observe. But no matter how fast he could accomplish his daily tasks there were always some other errands she would ask of him. Like when she asked him to buy Megumi's prescribed ointment from the apothecary in the neighboring town. Kaoru emphasized it might be needed in case some of his old muscle pain would bother him in the coming winter. Often, she would even request him to do some errands for her students if it was something which he could do along his way to the school (where he assisted) or downtown. Kenshin was not complaining but it kept him busy.

Is Kaoru-dono keeping me off the dojo during classes? He could not resist thinking this way. Several times when he passed by the dojo in his free time, Kaoru would call for a break. Thus, giving him no chance to even peek before his next chore was due.

Kenshin came in earlier than the usual afternoon from Sasaki-sensei's school that windy day. He had been assisting the former Shinsengumi-turned-teacher in his lectures. Kenshin was teaching language and reading part-time while Sasaki-sensei taught writing, calligraphy and arithmetic. It seemed to be a good profession. Other than being a swordsman, he considered it greatly since he enjoyed being with children.