Somehow getting up from the hard mattress lying on the floor, Kenshin followed the girl, enjoying her elegant gait and seductive hip sways. Aya was very beautiful for a village girl. Besides long and slender legs, she had an outstanding toned ass and size-two breasts. Kenshin couldn't help but be enchanted by the young Japanese woman's beauty.
Following the beautiful brunette, Kenshin quickly surveyed the house interior and realized Aya lived quite poorly. In the main room where he had lain – two meters from his hard mattress – another one was laid out, a bit cleaner and neater. Besides the two mattresses, in the room's corner by the window stood a table and something like a sewing machine. The window itself was cloudy and not transparent. The village girl had no money for clean glass without impurities. Apparently, only rich people or shinobi could afford such luxury.
Aya's house was very small, consisting of a tiny kitchen, one central room serving as bedroom and workspace, and a small storage cluttered with junk. Toilet and shower were outside.
Kenshin reached the kitchen in literally ten steps and sat thoughtfully in the place the girl indicated. She headed to the wood stove and began ladling aromatic-smelling soup into bowls.
"Thanks," Kenshin said, receiving a bowl of hot soup from the girl, and began eating hastily, only now realizing how hungry he was, and immediately burned himself.
Aya just laughed merrily at his carelessness and began eating too.
"Thanks for taking care of me," Kenshin thanked the girl, looking into her eyes.
"No trouble. I'm sure you'd do the same for me," Aya replied, blushing, and looked away.
"I don't remember much, could you explain some details?" the young man asked gently. He'd gladly ask what year it was now, but unfortunately, that info meant nothing to him. Kenshin only knew the calendar from the birth of Christ, not from Konoha's founding.
"Of course. What interests you?" Aya asked with full devotion.
"Mmm, you said the current Hokage is Sarutobi Hiruzen... Has the Third Shinobi World War already passed?" the young man asked, and mentally slapped himself, realizing how ambiguously the question sounded.
"Of course it has! How could it not have, if you know about its end? Even if you've lost your memory, you didn't go to the past," Aya stated with a laugh, surprised by the strangeness of the question.
"Damn! One turnip's no sweeter than another! Even if the third world war is over, the fourth is ahead!" Kenshin thought, rubbing his temples.
"Um, how long ago did the third world war end?" the young man asked again, wanting to know how much time he had.
"Well... I was six when it ended. I'm almost eighteen now," Aya explained with a smile.
"Eleven years ago?! Damn, damn, damn! Canon must be in full swing now!" Kenshin thought with even more fallen spirits.
"And how long ago did the Nine-Tails attack Konoha?" He decided to pinpoint the timeline more precisely.
Hearing about the Nine-Tails, Aya nearly jumped in fright and put a finger to her lips: "Shhh, don't say its name! It's the scariest monster in the world, and no one knows where it went! People say if you carelessly say its name aloud, it'll come and destroy our village!" the girl muttered with noticeable fear.
"Hm, interesting. So villagers don't know tailed beasts are sealed in jinchuriki. That's why they made up scary tales..." Kenshin noted and hurried to calm the girl.
"Okay, I won't. So how many years ago did 'it' attack Konoha?"
"Nine years ago. Almost ten. My grandpa was in Konoha that day and heard all the horror..." Aya said sadly.
"Your grandpa? Where is he now?"
"He died half a year ago from pneumonia... Tsukishima-sama, our village medical ninja, refused to help him..." Aya said, sobbing, and two streams of tears flowed from her beautiful blue eyes.
"Sorry..." Kenshin said, then, not understanding why, suddenly moved to the girl and hugged her, enclosing her in his strong embrace, belatedly realizing he still hadn't put on a T-shirt.
Aya pressed against the young man's firm chest and cried even harder. The young girl had been completely alone the last half year, with no one to pour out her sorrow to. Kenshin hugged her tighter and stroked her tender back, comforting her.
But these tender moments were interrupted by a sudden knock on the door and a shout: "Aya, let me in, I know you're home!"
Aya's already unhappy face twisted in anger. "Leave me alone, Kaito, I'm busy!" she barked toward the door.
"Fine, I'll go, but you won't escape me for long! Like it or not, you'll be my wife!" Kaito shouted, and the sound of retreating footsteps followed.
"Who was that?" Kenshin asked, barely containing his rage that no sooner had he acquired a harem girl than someone tried to steal her!
"Just some idiot... He's the elder's son, and for several months he's been trying to take me as his wife. When my grandpa was alive, those scum were afraid to show their faces! I'm sure the elder convinced Tsukishima-sama not to treat my grandpa!" Aya spat angrily, pressing even tighter to the young man's chest. For some reason, pressing against Kenshin's muscular chest felt so good that she didn't want to let go.
"I see... Don't worry, I won't let them hurt you!" Kenshin declared resolutely, placing both hands just below Aya's back, almost touching her firm ass hidden by black pants. The girl noticed the gesture but only blushed a little and said nothing.