“It’s been a long time since I’ve been here…” I look up the sign that read “Kamiya Kashin Ryu Dojo”. Aside from Kenshin, I’ve only met the Kaoru-san and Yahiko a few times. I ready myself to knock but stop for a moment.? ?
If Fujita-san ever finds out… Well he -won’t-.
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“Excuse me! Anybody home?”
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“One moment!” I hear the voice of a woman, probably Kaoru-san. “Yahiko please hang the rest of the clothes to dry.”
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Ah… Laundry. Kenshin-san should be home then. The gates open and I bow slightly. “It’s been a while Kaoru-san…” I grin.
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“Eiji? Is that -you-?”
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I nod and raise my hand to give her… I blink! WTF!!! I left the tamarinds at the machiya! Great! Suddenly I grab her hand and start shaking it.
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“Kaoru-san how are you!? I’ve missed you!?” I laugh nervously and keep shaking her hand, “It’s been years! Here’s what I learned! Shaking hands! It’s a form of greeting! Yes that’s right, a greeting!”
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Kaoru-san is looking at me funny…
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“Eiji, welcome back. Ano…” She removes her hand, “Thank you?”
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“Yes! Yes! That’s right. It’s so nice to see you again!” Letting go I place my hand behind my back. Embarassing…
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“Mou… You two are so noisy, why don’t you let him in Kaoru?”
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Looking behind her shoulder I see him… “Yahiko-kun…” I nod, but he turns back to hanging the clothes.
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“Where are my manners, do come in.” Kaoru-san smiles, that bright smile of hers and leads me to the engawa. “I’m sure Kenshin will be happy to see you. I left him with Kenji inside the house.”
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“Kenji?” I look at her puzzled. Was he a new student?
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Kaoru-san smiles so brightly and puts her hand together, “Oh yes! It’s been more than? six years since I offered to take you in as my student. No wonder you don’t know.”
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“Yes I remember.” I grin back at her. Of course I had to decline, in fact that was the last time I saw them. There was something amiss in the house and I didn’t want to add to their worries. I know Fujita-san still thinks of Kenshin as the battousai. “So you did get more students?! I’m glad for you Kaoru-san.”
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“Oh no… Nothing like that.” Again, I notice a wistful smile on her face.
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“Nothing like that at all.” I hear his voice, the gentle one that spoke to me back in Shingetsu. Coming from an open room, Kenshin walks towards us holding a young boy. His resemblance to Kaoru is -uncanny-, there is very little of Kenshin-san in him. “Kaoru has to take care of this little one, which is why the dojo is no longer active.”
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I watch as he looks down on Kenji, a soft smile on his lips. It’s one of those things, that is now so rare these days… Happiness.
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“Momma!!!” The little kid runs and hides behind Kaoru-san’s kimono. “Who’s he?”
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“Now Kenji, you have to greet our guest…” Kaoru takes his hand and pushes the little boy to me, “Eiji, this is our son Kenji.”
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Kneeling down I smile at him, “Don’t be scared.” I put out my hand and I remember once again, I forgot the tamarind candies and I sigh. It would’ve come in pretty handy right now. “I’m Eiji. I’m not scary… See?” I make a funny face. It’s been a while since I played with little boys but I’m sure I haven’t lost the touch yet. He laughs and lets go of his mothers hand, just as I’d hoped. “So where are you off to today? It looks like you have your bag all ready.”
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“I’m going to school with okaa-san. Otou-san dressed me up and fixed my bag! See!” Without warning the bag is now laying on the floor wide open and the young boy starts showing me his pencil, paper and mostly lunch. Kaoru starts to laugh while Kenshin tries to arrange the stuff back into the bag.
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“Now Kenji, what did I tell you about showing of your things?”
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“Mou… But I like to show my things…” The boy pouts and his bag is handed to Kaoru-san.
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“You’ll have to excuse him Eiji-kun.” Kenshin turns to me, “He just started school last summer and well… He’s still excited about it. That he is.”
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“Ah no worries at all Kenshin-san.” I look down and smile at the boy. I’m rewarded with a nod and a grin.
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“Well you two better be going Kaoru. It’s getting late.”
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I stand with Kenshin-san on the engawa watching Kaoru and Kenji leave.
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“So Eiji-kun what brings you back here in Tokyo?? Sessha has? heard that? you’ve enlisted in the military a few years ago.” He smiles and sits down the floor board looking up at the sky.
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“Nothing much.” I tell him, “I just wanted to rest.”? Curious, up to now Kenshin-san is still looking out for me. There’s no one who would tell him I enlisted in the military, certainly not Fujita-san and he’s the only one that knows about Kenshin. “I did go back to Shingetsu before coming back here though.” I grin at him, a triumphant one.
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“I see. Why don’t you tell us all about it.” He gets up, “While we help Yahiko-kun finish up the laundry?”
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“Kenshin!!! I’m almost done here you know!” Yahiko is staring at me, “I don’t need -his- help!”
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Some things… Never changed. I guess Yahiko never forgot I turned down the Kamiya dojo. Of course he and Kaoru-san doesn’t know why, only Kenshin-san knows about Fujita-san… And Misao-chan.
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“Kenshin-san, I’ll just sit here if you don’t mind. Yahiko’s right he’s about done anyway.” If Kenshin-san wasn’t around, I’d probably say to Yahiko something like, “Who’d want to help an idiot like you?” or “I can do this all by myself. I don’t need help from an idiot like you.”? Idiot.