Yesterday was my anniversary, so I couldn't upload the chap...

Disclaimer: Only the story is mine, as well as some characters. The main ones whoever are the property of Nobuhiro Watsuki.

Chapter 3: Bond.

1863

Contrary to what one might think, Kenshin did not abandon Hiko overnight, nor did he slip under his nose. It was the middle of the day, with the sun high. Kenshin had come over to try to talk with his teacher. He had secretly wanted to convince him to come down the mountain together and join the revolution that had been reaping.

"Baka deshi (stupid student), I can't let you leave this mountain. You haven't even finished your training. Forget about the outside world, and concentrate on mastering the sword."

Needless to say, he had received a resounding no. Still, in the end, Hiko had allowed him to go, if only to prove him wrong. Kenshin of course was ignorant of his teacher's thoughts.

It would have been easy -the boy told himself- to have gone directly to the recruiting camp—another open secret—where the revolutionaries met. Everything had exploded after the last Tokugawa edict against foreigners and from there, it had been a snowball that was getting bigger and bigger.

He did not understand it of course, immature and pure as he was, he only wanted to change the world, to belong to it... But, two years ago, he had received that message from his sisters through a future priestess apprentice. Even if he was not a believer, out of mere selfishness, he did not dare to deny the truth of that message. And perhaps that was why he had strayed off the path and ended up on the shrine grounds.

That was how he had his second encounter with the blue-eyed Miko, who was not yet a Miko at the time.

He had come down the mountain with his own pack of provisions, knowing that he had enough to reach his destination with the rebels, when he had been mistaken - given to his sword - for a ronin (samurai without an owner) and he was attacked by a group.

Was this a test from heaven? The boy questioned himself when he was forced to draw his sword. Until that moment he had never had the need to kill anyone, his teacher had always been with him to make such a terrible decision and lately, they had left everything in the hands of the police after having left their attackers unconscious.

Kenshin supposed he could do the same now, initially fighting without drawing his sword. Going deeper into a dance than a fight. Ruthlessly hitting their attackers at key points that could inflict lethal wounds.

However, inexperienced as he was, his steps ended up taking him inside the sanctuary, climbing the steps one by one in the direction of the Tori; the last opponent had turned out to be a true samurai and Kenshin had been forced to draw his sword.

He could have killed him.

In fact, he came close to doing so.

In a false step by his attacker, the redhead had gotten the winning hand, he spun around and jumped on him, getting to hit him in the shoulder -the samurai had turned out to be much more skilled than expected and managed to avoid the blow -But the boy had been more trained, taking advantage of the momentum of his fall, he turned on himself to hit a direct punch to his opponent's back, which would end up lifting him into the air to fall lifeless to the ground... but.

"Dame! (no)"

Right at the last moment, mid-turn, that voice had forced his hand to move by itself and save his opponent's life.

He had flipped the edge of the sword.

And with that, he had wounded his own hand.

The man fell to the ground, however, unconscious. Despite everything the flesh had been wounded in a long and clean cut, but not seriously.

'Should I kill him now?' Something in his conscience told him that it was better to finish him at that moment, but his body did not respond.

"I told you to stop."

Kenshin was startled when he heard that voice again. Something in his sub-conscience recognized her, it would be impossible to forget those eyes.

The girl came close to them until she leaned over the fallen man, checking that he was still alive. In a way, it looked like a mother hen scolding a snake, and the boy felt the need to defend himself.

"He attacked me first," he blurted out uncomfortably, like a brother hoping to escape his mother's punishment after hitting his brother.

Kaoru looked at him raising an eyebrow.

"And he can't fight you anymore, so you should leave him alone." She declared, pointing to the sword that was still drawn. "Do you really have to kill him?"

It was easy to take offense.

"Otherwise he could kill me." He refuted with annoyance.

"Couldn't you find another way? Why do you fight for, then?"

Kenshin jumped in his place. His master's words echoed in his mind.

"The art of the sword is the art of killing... Kill some to protect others, kill one to save all. That is the beginning of any sword art."

Suddenly embarrassed, Kenshin cleaned his sword and returned it to its sheath. With the movement, Kaoru was able to see the wound on the boy's right arm.

"You're also bleeding." The aforementioned looked at his own hand for an instant, before hearing her sigh and returning her attention to her. "Come," she told him.

Kaoru began to pick up the ronin's fallen body to the redhead's surprise and anger.

"What are you doing? He is a thief."

Kaoru looked at him with annoyance, there was fire in her eyes.

"He's a person, a human being," she said forcefully.

Thus achieving the boy's heart to rumble in his chest again, and the voice of his teacher again sounded in his mind.

"They were humans too…just trying to live their lives the only way they knew how."

"One who needs medical attention before going to sleep in a cell in the police." -She concluded, Kenshin could almost swear that she was accusing him at the same time with those very words, and he supposed that from her perspective it was easy to reach such a verdict." And well sir rurouni (wanderer)? Are you going to help me or not?"

For a second, Kenshin felt a small tic in his eye, this girl managed to make him angry in the same way as his teacher.

"My hand is bleeding," he said by way of excuse and exaggerating the damage to it.

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes, though he could see her feelings, she was too honest.

"I can see it, but you still have the other one. -She pointed to his regret- Well?"

Kenshin sighed.

And he placed himself on the other side of the fallen, between the two of them - although Kenshin could swear that he was carrying most of the weight - they both crossed the Tori and entered the sanctuary.

…

"Kaoru dono! Another one?" Exclaimed Yumi when she saw them enter carrying the unconscious man.

The interior was quite illuminated despite the hour, a soft mist had obscured the landscape, but inside several lanterns illuminated the rooms. There was a second priestess sitting with Yumi and two chokkai attending to them, the latter came out to take charge of the unconscious man and proceed to check him out.

"I'm sorry, Yumi-sama; but I couldn't leave him to his fate."

Yumi growled, despite the people in the room. Kenshin supposed that Kaoru had to give the eldest more than one problem a day, and for a moment he felt they had something in common.

"You can't keep bringing homeless people like this, this isn't a hospital," she scolded him.

Kaoru stood her ground.

"You said that the duty of the clergy was to support and help their people, how could we help them by standing idly by?"

Something stretched in the boy's chest, hadn't he said something similar to his teacher hours before coming down from the mountain?

"If I had known that you would take my words and interpret them your way, I would have remained silent."

"In any case, once the words are said, they cease to be ours."

Kenshin chuckled, just a weak exclamation, -he supposed that he had more in common with the aspiring miko than he thought-, however, Yumi was able to hear him and finally become aware of his presence.

"Ah, Seijuro san's apprentice," she acknowledged.

The aforementioned blinked showing recent interest.

"Do you know my teacher?"

"How could we not know our best customer?" One of the chokkai declared with a big smile, his two companions nodding with him. "Our best sake buyer."

Kenshin felt embarrassed, "what a reason to make himself known," he said to himself. "I should have imagined it."

Karou looked at him with interest.

"So your teacher is addicted to alcohol," she concluded, though without mockery.

"You can take it for granted" -very contrary to what the boy felt.

Then the second Miko's voice called his attention again as he re-entered the room after having checked the body of the unconscious.

"It's a fairly deep cut, fortunately not serious, how long ago did Kaoru dono find it?"

Kenshin then shifted uncomfortably, but it was Kaoru who answered without a problem.

"Just when he received the wound."

Yumi -with good reason- was shocked.

"Kaoru dono! The aggressor…!"

The black-haired dismissed it with a wave of her hands.

"Don't worry, it's him," she pointed at the redhead.

Kenshin felt like prey trapped in the spotlight of thousands of streetlights.

"He attacked me first," she defended pathetically, raising his voice without meaning to.

Contrary to what he thought, attention turned back to Kaoru, he supposed because they knew he was Hiko's apprentice. Yumi crossed her arms, annoyance evident on her countenance.

"Don't tell me, another ronin (samurai without master/owner)?" -The aforementioned lowered her face, making a guilty pout -"Kaoru dono!"

"I know I know." The girl said. "I already sent for the police." She assured.

Yumi raised a delicate eyebrow.

"Did you?"

The black-haired only cringed further. Yumi sighed.

"Kago kun, if you were so kind."

The aforementioned, apparently the oldest of the chokkai agreed.

"Right away Yumi-sama."

"Make sure to call Master Takani too."

The young man nodded again and left the premises heading towards the city accompanied by another of his companions. The second miko -Kaede- excused herself to attend the ronin again, but not before noticing the boy's situation.

"Kaoru dono, your guest is bleeding," she pointed out.

For any answer, the aforementioned tried to pretend not to understand.

"Oh really?"

"Kaoru!"

But Yumi didn't allow her to wash her hands, the older one knew that they wouldn't be in that situation if it wasn't precisely because of the girl.

"It doesn't matter," Kenshin replied, downplaying it, he wasn't planning to stay anyway "I can heal it myself." He assured.

But Kenshin hadn't noticed the staring duel between apprentice and priestess, much less the moment in which the latter had won and forced the former to accept her responsibilities above her own interests. So he was startled when the girl stopped him by forcefully taking his good hand, and forcing with the same force to seal his gaze with her own.

"I promised that I would cure you and I will do that, so follow me" she declared, beginning to walk.

Behind them, Yumi followed them with her eyes -arms crossed- with a strange glow in her brown orbs.

Somewhat confused, the boy reviewed their previous conversation in his mind, without finding the promise that the girl mentioned.

"You didn't promise anything-"

"Just follow me!"

And so, startled by the Miko's apprentice's temper, he allowed himself to be dragged into her room, almost reluctantly. And he would have complained enough to have released his grip and faced her; except that he was tired -and a little hungry- and his hand hurt, having flipped the katana at the last second had required more effort -although he didn't know exactly how he had hurt himself.

Kaoru didn't let go of him until they had entered the room. The shrine had a separate building where the priesthood slept, including the miko, apprentices, and recent refugees from other shrines, so it was normal for them to share a room. However, Kenshin immediately realized -after looking around the room- that the apprentice enjoyed individual accommodation, an exclusive area for her. He remembered then why was that.

Kaoru was a seer according to the Shinto beliefs. If kamisama visited her in her dreams, no one else had the right to occupy the same space. But he supposed that access during the day wasn't necessarily restricted to having the occasional visitor.

Or else he wouldn't be there.

"Ow!" He complained when the alcohol made contact with the wound on his hand, the girl attended to him without warning or care; the redhead looked at her with irritation. "I thought Mikos were gentle."

At his side, the black-haired girl didn't even flinch.

"Hmm! You mistake me for a geisha, we don't pretend." She pointed proudly. Then she analyzed the cut on the boy's forearm. "It's barely a scratch." She said surprised.

Because indeed it was a clean and almost even small cut, which fortunately had avoided most of the heart vein.

"I told you I could heal it myself," he reminded her, still sounding irritated, but he allowed himself to be attended to until she had bandaged his wound, discovering that he had indeed injured his wrist. She noticed it too and made sure to tighten the bandage properly.

Kaoru looked at him carefully once she finished. The boy was barely half a head taller than her, but he looked quite young. His eyes were blue like hers, but had hints of violet ribbons, almost like a shaman's eyes, she told herself. His hair was a light brown that looked red in the light and the girl wondered if he had foreign blood, most likely he did, although she didn't dare mention it for fear of offending him. Suddenly she wanted to know more about him.

"How old are you?" She asked.

Kenshin, who was still feeling irritated for the wrong reasons, looked at her warily.

"Why are you interested?"

Kaoru shrugged.

"And why not?" she argued, and then a glimmer of amusement danced in her eyes. "…Shinta," she blurted out, unable to hide her smile.

The boy almost gets up from his place on the floor, the shock is evident in his expression, he shifts uncomfortably and she finally lets out her laughter.

"Then I was right."

"My name is Kenshin," he growled.

Kaoru analyzes him again, but there is no longer any doubt in her eyes, but rather a slight tenderness that shakes him until he forgets his anger.

"Hmm, I guess that makes sense if you're a swordsman. Who is your lord?"

His teacher's voice resonates strongly in his mind again.

"The Hiten Mitsurugi is a free sword."

He feels the need to close in on himself again, but Kaoru, realizing his discomfort on the subject, ends up instantly apologizing.

"You don't have to explain yourself if you don't want to." She assures him to his surprise. "I just need to know if you have a place to spend the night."

That… is something he hadn't thought of. Through the high window, he realizes that night has begun to set in.

"I'd hate to bother."

"Ha!" she scoffs instantly, "as if you haven't already."

The redhead frowns again.

"You're not very convincing, you know?"

In response, she laughs, and Kenshin realizes that he could spend his life arguing with her if the encounter ends with her smiling.

"I am Kaoru," -she finally introduces herself with a small bow -" a member of the honorable Kamiya family and a priestess apprentice."

Kenshin imitates her.

"Himura Kenshin, apprentice of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu."

"It doesn't sound familiar to me, although the truth is that I don't know much about the art of the sword, except the katas that they teach us here."

He looks at her in genuine surprise.

"Do you use the sword?"

Kaoru resists the urge to tease.

"Every self-respecting priestess must know how to fight with different instruments." She explains. "My brother, Koishijiro, has even been inspired to design a new sword style, the Kamiya Kashin Ryu. Or at least that's what he plans to call it."

Kenshin nods, slightly intrigued to find out more about her.

"You have a big family, then?"

Kaoru smiles with some pity.

"Being the daughter of a daimyo you could say yes, but in reality, it's just my brother and me. The rest are my father's brothers. You?"

Kenshin shakes his head "It's just my teacher and me." -and he is surprised to say it, not because it's not true but because it is. In a way Hiko was his family, although he didn't know if the man saw the same in him.

The rest of the afternoon continues with a pleasant conversation in which both gradually complete their stories and combine - without knowing it - their destinies. The redhead wonders if this is what it takes to form a bond, friends at least, discovering how comfortable he feels in her company. Kaoru feels something similar. Even if she is related to the inhabitants of the sanctuary, there has always been a line that no one seems to want to cross with her. This is because of her role in their religion, despite her young age. So she relates to the boy in this way -while pushing the limits of her freedom with him, by making him lose patience- it's refreshing.

…

Later, it's time for dinner, and Kenshin sits at the same table as the rest of the clergy. The miko and the apprentices however, find themselves in the next room -doors open- and he accepts the hospitality with an open heart.

"Good luck with the soup" A boy next to him suddenly mutters, and the aforementioned looks at him with some confusion. "It was Kaoru dono's turn to cook it." Explains the boy.

That unsettles the redhead more, and he decides to leave the soup until the end.

Which ends up being a serious mistake, he realizes later.

"It's bitter and sour at the same time," he murmurs, hand over his mouth to avoid returning what has entered by force.

Kaoru suddenly appears.

"Is everything well?"

And Kenshin doesn't know if he's lying out of pity for her or out of fear for himself about her possible reaction, especially with the temperament that he discovered she has, hours ago.

"Oh, all good."

Then there is a murmur of voices outside, and the countenance of both of them changes.

Two police officers are outside and are about to enter to take the ronin, who was still unconscious. Yumi makes a sign to Kaoru and the girl nods. Before Kenshin can even react, the black-haired girl has already taken his arm and pulled him back to her room.

"Come quickly."

The boy understands that this is more for his protection than for the sanctuary itself. This girl is trying to protect him by covering him up. Although he doubts that this will work at all, after remembering the rest of the gang that he had left equally unconscious on the outskirts of the sanctuary.

For a moment he looks at their linked hands, even in the company of his master - where the contrast between the two makes him look small and harmless - no one has ever taken so many liberties with him. Ignoring protocol, he had never received so much sincere attention, or rather, he had never had anyone -sometimes not even his teacher- been so interested in him. And the young man cannot remember where he was supposed to go.

…

They reach the room and remain there until the officers have left. Kaoru then leads him in the direction of the baths, where she provides him with clean clothes. He isn't quite sure if white is his color but he doesn't complain, after all he is more a refugee than a guest, he tells himself.

When he returns to the building, Kago, the chokkai who had gone for the officers, informs him that he should go to Kaoru dono's room as everyone calls her. He doesn't even have to knock, the girl opens the door even before he raises his hand, and with that simple gesture she invites him in.

Only then does the redhead notice the two futons on the floor that she has set up, and suddenly he doesn't know what to say.

"There is no other option, you must stay here." She informs him while finishing adjusting the crown of braids on her head.

"I don't have to, I know how to sleep outdoors." He assures, somewhat embarrassed.

Kaoru, however, looks at him sternly.

"Will you offend my hospitality?" She complains, Kenshin looks away contritely after a moment. "Of course not."

"Even if it's improper?"

Her eyes widen in amazement.

"How old do you think I am?" She asks with genuine curiosity.

He looks at her even more confused.

"Why does it matter?"

"Because depending on our age differences, it will be inappropriate or not." She says. And she has a point, he reflects. "Well?"

"I am fourteen."

She blinks in surprise.

"You look younger."

"That's what they tell me," he answers blushing, "you?"

At the question Kaoru's smile returns and widens, hands on hips.

"Ten" Loose as the fresh morning, chin up, and proud.

Kenshin feels like a bucket of cold water has been poured over him, mouth open in amazement and disbelief. 'If she's nearly as tall as him! he thinks to himself. In the distance the voice of his teacher complaining about how his baka deshi is a dwarf comes back wrapped in a laugh.

Kaoru of course, totally ignores his reaction, accustomed as always to people reacting that way every time she confesses her age.

"So there won't be a problem," she assures, taking the division with both hands, "I'll put the screen anyway, don't you dare pass it," she threatens.

Kenshin returns to himself, to that part of him that likes to argue with her.

"Like there's going to be anything to be gained on the other side," he mutters under his breath, getting into his futon.

"Did you say something?" she questions above the screen.

Kenshin doesn't even turn around.

"Nothing, just my prayers." He assures with a haughty smile.

She looks at him confused.

"I thought you weren't a believer."

Finally he looks over his shoulder at her, laughter bubbling in his throat.

"I was being sarcastic," he blurts out.

And the reaction he expected is drawn in the vein that stands out on his partner's forehead.

"Jerk." She growls throwing a cushion at him.

Kenshin intercepts it with ease but waits to catch it until it almost hits him in the face, and he bursts out laughing.

Himura Kenshin does not join the rebels that year. His journey is delayed by some sort of spiritual retreat. After all, hadn't his master told him that he needed to clear his mind before thinking about getting involved in the war? Internally he knows that it is not why but for who he has decided to deviate, but it is still too early to admit it.

So he revels in his shrine days with her, and if he's being selfish -behaving like a child-, he convinces himself that he's just acting his age.

Both share her room night after night, and during the day they share the activities, even if during some of them, the boy simply observes her; Kenshin has become something like her bodyguard, Yumi muses.

A week has passed, and the miko decides that her selfish desire may end up doing more harm than good. But seeing Kaoru's smile, she is convinced that it could not be otherwise. She does not wish the same fate for her apprentice.

So she allows that bond to form and ignores the bad feeling that warns her of a future tragedy.

A/N: Again, be as kind as possible with my grammar xD