Author's Note: Sorry for missing last week but a family situation came up at the last minute. All is well now thankfully. For this entry, it is focused a bit on Kenshin.

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.

Story 26, Here in Tokyo

Kenshin was busy tending to the vegetable garden on a warm sunny day and adjusted his hat. It was a good time of year to begin the garden. Spring would be around the corner soon and the Kamiya dojo would have plenty of food to eat for the coming seasons.

'An abundance of food that it is.'

Kenshin began to pull out some weeds that were forming around a small patch of dirt. These had been stubborn as of late and it was annoying to pull them out of the ground. Just yesterday he had pulled out six weeds.

'I hate weeds. Always a problem that they are.'

Kenshin then felt his knees sting a bit and he slowly got up from the ground. He felt an ache in his lower back and placed his hands on the area, thrusting forward to stretch. Once the pain was gone, Kenshin stretched out his back and did a couple of squats in order to relieve the stiffness. It had been an hour of work to tend to the garden and Kenshin was ready for a break.

'I'll go to the well. Some water will do me good.'

Kenshin finished guzzling the water and allowed the liquid to go down his throat. He felt fully hydrated and refreshed now, and ready to meet the day. It would be lunch time soon and then nightfall would eventually come. Taking a sniff of the air allowed him to relax further and become more excited for spring.

'The flowers will bloom. The trees will be full of leaves. It will be a good time unlike last year.'

Kenshin's eyes were downcast to the ground and he felt a pain in his chest. In the early months of spring, he had found happiness in Tokyo. He had taken up residence at the Kamiya dojo and met wonderful people who had become a family. Then summer came and everything changed.

'Shishio. Enishi. Kaoru. Everything happened so quickly and painfully.'

Kenshin looked up to the sky, his hat blinding sun from his view. So much had happened last year that it changed everything for him. 'I should have been wandering now to parts unknown. That was my goal. Wander, help others, and atone. Yet here I am.'

"Kenshin!"

Kenshin turned around and saw Kaoru standing there in the front yard with Yahiko and Tsubame. Yahiko was learning to cook now and Kenshin could see that it was fish the young swordsman was making.

"Kenshin, the food's ready. Come and eat!"

Kenshin smiled at Kaoru, took off his hat, and went over to the outside stove where he sat on a bench next to Kaoru. The food was passed around with rice and water, and Kenshin began eating, enjoying each bite.

"I must say Yahiko. You're cooking is tasting better and better each time."

Yahiko smiled brightly. "Thanks Kenshin. I'm proud of the fish especially. No burnt taste either unlike Kaoru's."

"Hey!"

As Kaoru and Yahiko argued, Tsubame tried to calm both of them down in her shy but kind manner. Kenshin simply smiled at the three of them and continued to eat his food. He watched as the scene unfolded before him with yelling and laughter. To Kenshin, it was the best thing.

'Yes I could be wandering now but no more. This is my home. Where I belong. With Yahiko, Tsubame, and Miss Kaoru.'

He knew there was also Sanosuke, Megumi, Tae, Dr. Genzai. Misao, Aoshi, the Oniwabanshu, and more who were by his side. With these friends, his family, Kenshin would always belong. Yet Tokyo was his home, now and until the end.

Kenshin turned to look over at Kaoru and smiled. 'If I hadn't met you that day. If you hadn't asked me to stay. Where would I be now?'

Kenshin finished his fish and turned to Kaoru. "Miss Kaoru, I'll finish up in the garden but let's take tea after dinner tonight. Shall we?"

Kaoru smiled and nodded. "Sounds good. Will ginger tea be okay?"

"Yes that it will."

Kenshin finished tending to the garden that day and spent the rest of it enjoying a dinner of miso soup and rice. He then took tea with Kaoru as the night began to fall. They talked about their day and what to do tomorrow. It would be a regular one like all the others since the beginning of the year. Laundry, cleaning, and taking a walk if the weather permitted. A happy life.

Kenshin looked at Kaoru who sipped her tea happily. 'I'll do it all here in Tokyo, especially with you. Wife.'

End

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