had returned to the little hut that day, completely disturbed. The experience had torn old wounds in his little heart.No matter how brave Kenshin was, he had cried himself to sleep that night.

Kenshin finally had enough of his game and swam to the bank. The cold night wind on his wet skin made him shiver and so he ran to look for his clothes together.
Exhausted from the exhausting swim and the race, Kenshin let himself fall into the grass next to Hiko and crossed his arms behind his head. He looked up at the clear night sky and its innumerable stars.
"Shisho, do you tell me about the constellations?" asked Kenshin.
"Baka deshi, you should be in bed by now!"
Hiko took another sip of sake. His mouth twisted into a barely noticeable smile when he saw Kenshin's disappointed face.
"You know that we train tomorrow morning .."
Kenshin nodded in confirmation.
"But I'm not tired at all, Shisho!" he assured and looked at Hiko. He thought for a moment and then added:
"And I promise that I will be very fit tomorrow morning and that I will try really hard!""So so..."
Kenshin turned his gaze back to the sky, disappointed. Shisho had already told him something about the pictures of the stars from time to time, but there were still so many he didn't know.
"So, Baka deshi, which constellation do you want to know about?"
Hiko hadn't talked for half an hour before Kenshin was fast asleep.

The next morning the melancholy had settled over Kenshin's eyes and mind again. Hiko wasn't surprised. It would be a long time before Kenshin could leave the events of the past behind. The wounds of his battered soul were slow to heal. But the last night had at least been a start.

Owari

Ayumi's comment: The idea for the FF came to me - how could it be otherwise - in winter! The story is kind of immature, but I still like it.