Disclaimer: Ruroni kenshin belongs to nobuhiro watsuki

"Chores"

It was the fourth day in the sanctuary.

After two awkward experiences and a failed attempt at coordination, it finally seemed that the two children had found a suitable routine; Kaoru changed inside the main room, while Kenshin did it in the anteroom.

Despite the fusuma, Kaoru felt the need to dress equally behind the screen. She had never been particularly shy, but the truth is that she had never had to share space with a boy she had little to know.

And the truth was that Kenshin was quite... how can she put it?

Attractive.

Kaoru shook off such thoughts. She finished by adjusting the belt of her green hakama, typical of apprentices, and then sighed.

"I'm ready," she said.

From the other side of the fusuma came the answer.

"Me too," Kenshin said.

The apprentice opened the fusuma and stepped out into the anteroom. Kenshin was standing near the entrance; his clothes were the same as the days before. Both the pants and the kimono he was wearing were somewhat worn.

"Is something wrong?" Asked the boy when he felt observed.

Kaoru answered instantly.

"I'm not sure it's right that..."

And then she stopped. Because she reminded herself that she was being rude.

"It doesn't matter. Let's go have breakfast." She concluded and left ahead of her partner.

The poor samurai was confused.

This confusion lasted until he finished breakfast.

Once again Kago, sitting next to him, realized that something was worrying the redhead.

"Is something wrong, Himura-kun?" He questioned him.

"Nothing important." The samurai denied it. "It's just that, Kaoru dono seemed to want to say something to me today, apparently related to my clothes."

His partner looked at him closely then.

"Hmmm... -Kago looks at him thoroughly- I can see why. Tell me Himura Kun, will you join the shrine?"

Kenshin blinked in surprise.

Until then, he hadn't considered making his stay entirely certain, let alone adding himself to the sanctuary.

"I...I don't think so, but..."

Kago smiled.

"Maybe that should be defined first, ne?"

Once again the samurai was confused. Maybe even more than before breakfast.

And being a double confusion, it lasted until after morning prayers.

That was how Kaoru found him, just outside the main compound, sitting on the engawa with his arms crossed, frowning.

"Kenshin" she called running towards him.

The boy looked at her instantly.

"Come on, hurry up." She urged him, taking him by the hands again until he stood up with that confidence that was becoming more and more familiar. "Today you will help me in my cleaning duties."

"Hai," he agreed, following her.

Because he really couldn't do more.

Despite the arduousness of the task, since Tori's path was quite long and with enough altars, the boy welcomed the task; his mind was submerged in doubts about what he wanted and what he should do, and the reality was that he had no answer to either question.

"Is something bothering you?" Kaoru asked, already tired of the anguish atmosphere surrounding the boy.

Kenshin sighed, feeling both embarrassed and uncomfortable.

"I do not know how to explain it. But I feel that it may not be right for me to extend my stay here."

The apprentice felt a tightness in her chest.

"And why not?" She questioned.

"Well, I'm not really part of it."

"You are now." She hastened to correct him. "I invited you to my home."

Kenshin felt warmth in his core. Kaoru's gaze was honest, and she seemed to be able to see right into his soul. He let himself be carried away then by the depth of her eyes.

But she feared that his silence means he was annoyed.

"Unless you don't want to be here." She said sadly.

Kenshin jumped instantly.

"It's not that." He denied taking her hands in his own; being the first time he dared to initiate such contact with someone.

Kaoru smiled.

"Then it's settled. -She stated. -You can stay as long as you need. I am sure that by being here you will be able to find the answer you are looking for."

He looked at her curiously.

"How do you know what ails me?"

She feigned innocence.

"How? Is it, not something that happens to all of us?"

Her smile became contagious.

"We have a saying here. Rather a guide. -She told him, walking towards the edge of the altar where they were. - We live to serve our lives do not belong to us.""

Kenshin looked at her blankly.

"And?"

"How about while you're here you adopt our belief? I can teach you how."

What was this he was feeling? the samurai wondered. It was a warm feeling that made him want to jump, as if he were suddenly too big inside his body.

He barely hesitated for a second.

"Two days ago you mentioned something about the use of swords." He said.

Kaoru blinked excitedly. Her cheeks flushed red, and Kenshin thought she looked beautiful.

"Would you like to see us?"

"I'm intrigued to see your style."

The apprentice was filled with pride.

"Well, it's not something as elaborate as the styles of a samurai; it's more like a dance." She explained with an inflated chest. "But I'm sure we put on a worthy show like any geisha."

Kenshin rolled his eyes.

'The last straw with her,' he thought.

"You hold yourself in very high esteem, don't you?"

"Better than not having an iota of self-love". She refuted forcefully. "Don't you agree?"

The young man felt a thorn in his chest, small but uncomfortable.

"I'm just saying there's a difference between being confident and being vain."

That stung the apprentice.

"Are you suggesting that I'm vain?"

He smirked.

"No, not at all. Why? Are you?" He tempted her.

Kaoru was about to answer.

Kenshin waited for the moment when she did; he already had a ready answer to even what she might say.

-...

And after a moment of silence in which they both looked at each other expectantly.

-...

In the end, the blue-eyed apprentice ended up sighing somewhat exhausted.

"Maybe I am a little." She agreed with rosy cheeks. "But, every self-respecting girl must have a bit of vanity, don't you think?"

Kenshin blinked once and twice. There was no way to deny that, and the thorn in his chest shifted a little.

"I guess...but only a little."

"Of course, a little." She agreed, glad that he understood her.

They continued with the cleaning work then.

However, after a moment of considering what had happened, the young woman finally seemed to understand that air of anguish in her companion.

Taking a deep breath, she dared to speak to him.

"Kenshin," she called.

"Hm?" He murmured while continuing to sweep.

Noticing that Kaoru wasn't following, he put down his work and turned to look at her.

When she was sure she had his attention, she told him what her heart was crying out for.

"Boys can have a bit of vanity too, you know?"

The samurai blinked in genuine surprise.

Kaoru walked up to him and patted his face.

"Love yourself at least a little, ne?"

The thorn came undone.

That discomfort was no match for Kaoru's smile.

And once the girl passed by him to continue cleaning the atrium, the samurai felt a smile rise on his lips.

A joy so honest that he hadn't felt for years.

During the days that followed, the blue-eyed apprentice was in charge of acting as his teacher and instructing him in each of the functions of the sanctuary.

Kenshin was an avid learner, and it wasn't long before he was being referred to in the halls as "Kaoru dono's apprentice". It didn't bother him in the least.

And then, after a week, just before he went to sleep, his new friend (because she was his friend), came with a present for him.

"Kenshin! Take it."

The young man took the cloth and had to spread it out to recognize the garment for what it was.

His eyes widened in surprise.

"This..."

The girl looked at him with cheeks the color of sakuranbo.

"Though I couldn't get a gi, but at least the kimono is new."

Kenshin stood up and put the blue kimono on over his clothes, the garment fit him perfectly.

"It's just right for me," he exclaimed in wonder.

Her chest swelled with pride.

"Glad to hear it." She said.

"How did you know my size?"

"I may not be good at cooking but I have a gift with fabrics."

Kenshin smirked.

"Careful Kaoru dono, a little more and you will pass for haughty." He teased.

And he got the desired effect.

"Mou, Kenshin! -She complained with her puffed cheeks. -You should say "thank you Kaoru hime sama"!(princess)

She was so upset that she didn't notice the warm feeling in her partner's eyes.

"Arigatou, Kaoru kiire sama (Thank you, pretty Kaoru)" he crooned.

And then he climbed into the futon, still wearing his new kimono.

It took Kaoru a second to understand the word change.

"Whaaat?!"

This time the red in her cheeks was for a reason other than anger.

And Kenshin's smile lasted until the next morning. His heart had decided then that he wanted to stay where he was, right next to her.

A/N: Feel free to tell me what do you would like to know more about the sanctuary events.