Master Hiko had rescued him from youkai slavers when he was only eight years old and since that first fall, he�d attended the Southeast Junior Academy for Magic. The teachers themselves had no idea what kind of special abilities he had, but Master Phillip assured them that he had amazing strength in his ki. It was, he�d said, the most powerful he�d ever encountered in a full human.
In a few days, Kenshin would be starting his second year at the Academy for Magic. While mainly children that, for various reasons, could not attend a normal elementary school attended the Junior Academy, young people from all over Japan that showed great strength of ki, an aptitude for magic or had strong psionic gifts attended the Academy. A great number of students joined the school in the second year rather than the first, because the kinds of abilities trained at the school didn�t often emerge until you were thirteen years old.
Kenshin grinned brightly at Miroku, a boy who had been attending classes on the island since he was only six years old. �Hello Miroku,� he said happily.
�Good morning, Kenshin,� the boy replied evenly. �Are you excited about greeting the new first and second years back to the Academy?�
�Indeed I am,� Kenshin said, nodding. �I have been lonely without all of our classmates all month, that I have.�
Miroku grinned impishly. �Did you miss anyone in particular?� he asked slyly.
Totally missing his point, Kenshin nodded again. �I think I missed Aoshi most,� he said earnestly. �He is a great deal of fun to spend time with.�
Miroku frowned and shook his head. Kenshin really was an odd boy if he had put Aoshi and fun in the same sentence. �I meant Kaoru,� Miroku clarified, pushing the thoughts aside.
�Oh,� Kenshin said softly, a light flush coming to his cheeks. �Why should I miss Kaoru more than any other?� he asked innocently. �She is always scolding me... and hitting me.�
Miroku sighed. �She does that because she likes you, Kenshin.�
The redhead eyed his companion dubiously. �Miroku, just because most girls strike you, does not mean that hitting someone is an indication of attraction,� Kenshin argued. �Girls strike you because you grope them, that they do.�
Miroku laughed and said, �Come on, Kenshin. Let�s go meet the students as they disembark.�
Kenshin nodded and followed his companion down to the docks.
**
�Master Hiko!� Kenshin cried happily on seeing his favorite teacher standing on the end of the dock. Before the tall, dark-haired man had completely turned, the young boy had thrown his arms around his waist in a tight embrace.
Hiko sighed. �Kenshin,� he said sharply. �You�re not a child anymore. Try behaving with a little decorum.�
The redhead backed off, looking stunned and hurt by the outburst. �Sorry, Master,� he said in a subdued tone. �I was just happy to see you back at the school.� Bowing slightly, he asked, �Did you have a pleasant sabbatical?�
Hiko sighed deeply and nodded. �It was just what I needed to get ready for another year of dealing with stupid children who think they know everything,� he answered evenly. Sighing again, he wrapped his arms around Kenshin�s slender shoulders. �I�m not angry with you, stupid boy. You just caught me by surprise.�
Kenshin grinned warmly at his master and returned the gentle embrace. �Sorry, Master,� he said softly. �I have been practicing moving quietly, as you suggested.�
�Hmm,� Hiko said. �I can tell. You actually managed to sneak up on me. I was distracted, however, don�t think it will be that easy all the time.�
�Of course not, Master,� Kenshin replied, a knowing smile on his lips. Having been practically raised by the arrogant man, he knew a compliment when he heard one.
Hiko eyed Kenshin suspiciously; then returned to staring out at the water. �Finally,� he muttered, breaking the silence only a few moments later.
Kenshin followed Hiko�s line of sight and saw a large ship heading toward the dock. In a few minutes the new and returning students would arrive and Hiko would lead them up to the main hall of the school, where the new students would be sorted into their respective houses. Kenshin grinned brightly as he remembered being separated into House Kawaii. At first, he�d been somewhat confused, but everyone in his house was so friendly that he soon settled right in. He didn�t even very much mind having to wear the bright pink uniform.
The new students were the first to disembark from the ship. The returning students were directed to hang back until the end. Kenshin scanned the crowd of students milling at the end of the ramp, then followed Master Hiko over to them.
�Is this everyone?� Hiko asked a short man with straight dark hair.
The man turned and grinned up at the other teacher. �Hey Hiko,� he greeted informally. �Hello, Kenshin.�
�Hello, Master Keenan,� Kenshin replied, bowing politely.
Keenan turned back to Hiko and nodded. �Yup, that�s all of �em,� he stated. �There are two more who won�t be getting here until tomorrow, but Phillip already knows what houses they go in.�
�Very well,� Hiko stated. Turning to the students, he called, �Follow me.� Without pausing to make sure they were doing as he told them, the tall man turned and headed toward the school grounds.
Kenshin spotted a boy with hair even redder than his own and bounded through the crowd to stand beside him. �Hello,� he greeted cheerily.
�Hello,� the redhead greeted, eying Kenshin uncertainly.
�I am Kenshin Himura. It is nice to meet you,� Kenshin stated.
�It�s nice to meet you as well, Kenshin,� the redhead replied. �I�m Shuichi Minamino, but most call me Kurama.�
Kenshin nodded and looked at the taller boy standing just behind Kurama. He had long white hair and golden eyes, but his most striking features were the white dog ears perched on either side of his head.
�Inuyasha,� the boy said, his ears folding back against his head.
�What are you doing here?� a cold voice asked.
The three boys turned to face a taller boy. Like Inuyasha, he had long white hair and golden eyes. However, he had sharp pointed ears instead. Inuyasha growled and said, �Obviously I got asked to attend this school, Jackass.�
�Oro!� Kenshin exclaimed. �Inuyasha, you must not use such language.�
�Feh!� Inuyasha grumbled. �My cousin�thinks he�s all that just �cause he�s a full demon.�
Kurama nodded understandingly and said, �Still, Inuyasha, Kenshin is correct. The teachers will surely not approve of students using such language.�
Kenshin nodded silently as the white-haired boy fell silent and closed his eyes. He watched Inuyasha a moment more before turning to Kurama and asking, �Do you know yet what classes you will be taking?�
Kurama nodded and pulled a crumpled piece of paper out of his pocket. �I have armed combat, basic healing, controlling your ki, potions, history of magic and communicating with your inner spirit.�
�Oro,� Kenshin exclaimed, hearing the name of the last course. Not everyone took that class, although Kenshin had last year. Only those students that had an inner spirit took the course. Because Kenshin had the memories of his long dead ancestor, he�d had to take the class until Phillip determined the memories were �ancestral� and not those of a second spirit occupying Kenshin�s body.
Kurama smiled slightly. �Is something wrong?� he asked.
Kenshin shook his head. �You have an inner spirit?� he asked in reply.
Kurama shrugged. �I don�t know. All I know is that I am the reincarnation of a thousand-year-old kitsune named Kurama.�
Kenshin nodded in understanding. The other kitsune at the school had explained to him about having several tails � three in his case � and that each one had a mind of its own. The tails worked together to solve problems that the kitsune encountered. If Kurama were a kitsune, it naturally followed that he�d have at least one other mind occupying his body.
Kenshin looked up in time to see Inuyasha bump into a dark-haired girl. The hanyou quickly apologized and helped her to her feet. Kenshin scowled slightly at the scene. In contrast to the rude, foul-mouthed young man he�d spoken to earlier, Inuyasha was being very polite to the girl. He was also blushing and acting somewhat shy. �Oro?� Kenshin said, glancing at Kurama.
Kurama shrugged and smiled. �She is pretty,� he said softly.
Kenshin nodded in agreement, but before he could reply in any other way, he heard Hiko calling to him.
�Kenshin, you stupid boy,� Hiko grumbled. �Come over here and help Phillip read over the rolls of new students.�
�Yes, Master,� Kenshin replied. Turning to Kurama, he bowed and then bounded over to Phillip. It was indeed a good beginning to an exciting new school year. Spring certainly was the most wonderful time of the year.
End.
