The early rays of dawn were uncomfortable for Rin to bear, having not being used to sleeping with her new bedmate. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes she could hear the familiar sound of Leon practicing in the yard. There were a few things that Rin had been left puzzled over as she got to know Leon over the last few months. Despite his jovial and joking attitude cut a very serious and always sharpened edge that was his gaze. She had once accidentally met the gaze head on when Leon wasn't paying attention and it sent a chill down her back. It wasn't much different to how a predator looked at the creatures back in the forest.
Swinging the window open, Rin gazed on as Leon practices with a crudely made wooden sword. Each cut he delivered was quick and deliberate, leaving behind a small gust of air from the force he put into it. Placing her hand under her chin she kept watch absentmindedly.
"It's definitely a hunk you have there" a soft female voice behind her said. Turning around Rin saw the caretaker still rubbing her eyes from drowsiness. Her face felt like it was burning from being caught so Rin simply ignored the statement.
"I'm sure the children will wake up soon. In a new place, familiar faces are the most reassuring" Rin said with a smile showing off her white teeth. The caretaker was almost dumbstruck at Rin's blazen attempt to avoid the topic and could only smirk. Even if you won't acknowledge it everyone else will.
Putting on her plain dress, the caretaker left the cottage to check on the children. Rin in relief of being left alone turned back to watch Leon finish his practice. However as she turned her head, her nose almost brushed across the chest of the man she was observing. His sweat was overpowering to her usually sensitive nose.
"Did you enjoy watching?" Leon said with a grin that almost reached ear to ear. Rin had to forcefully push back her own embarrassment and scoffed to cover up the blatant staring.
"I can look outside when the sun comes up, you being there wasn't important. Who told you that you were important enough that I would watch" Rin said with a snort. Leon could sense the false cold attitude be he didn't want to break the girl's performance in case she cried. It was an easy thing to pick up that women were incredibly upset if you made everything obvious.
"Well in that case what is the plan with the children? You know we can't keep them here like this for long" Leon reached through through the window to grab a rough cloth that he wiped his drenched face and hair with. Rin backed away quickly from the close touch between her and coughed to clear her throat.
"I have a plan, your concerns are unwarranted" Rin replies back. Leon could see she was already eyeing the door and was already satisfied with the current amount of teasing.
"Ok. Let me know if there's any changes" Leon nodded and walked away, giving Rin a chance to heavily breathe out in relief. Something was wrong with her recently and it had her immensely worried. An elevated heart rate, burning sensations on her face and palpitations every so often. Even as a miracle medicine lady she didn't know what it was, which left her constantly gnawing and not knowing the answer to her problem.
Changing out if her night clothes, Rin went over to the kitchen. The caretaker was already there as a number of kids were surrounding and chatting while waiting for the food.
"I'll give a hand" Rin said as the caretaker gave a smile as they prepped some ingredients and tossed together a simple gruel with vegetables and bread. The kids although having gotten used to the luxury treatment from having money and chickens were still happy and their laughter rolled over the conversations in the cottage.
"So what will happen to the children now?" The caretaker asked as she sipped at the gruel.
"I'll have a talk with some of the people I've treated before. A number of them are tradesmen so it shouldn't be too hard to build a new place for you and the children. The words caused the caretaker to hesitate for a moment and place her spoon down.
"So we cannot return?" The caretaker said, she was sure that she would be able to return from the orphanage but from Rin's words and the gaze she was being given that it was unlikely to go back to their home. The caretaker idly stirred her grule before she spoke up.
"Can I ask why?" The caretakers nervousness transferred into her slightly warblers tone. Rin sighed.
"I may not know the people who are involved but the message was clear. They're not after you or the children but you already have been involved with us and that seemed to be enough." Rin lectures on it. The caretaker didn't want to acknowledge it but after a moment she froze and paled. In her mind there was only one reason someone would dare to attack the orphanage and especially one associates with the church.
Stammering the caretaker tried to get out her words.
"Will...will the children be ok here?" The caretaker asked. Rin could only beam at how the woman always put these children first.
"There won't be any trouble, between Leon and I. There's very little we haven't dipped our fingers into" giving her a wink to reassure the caretaker. The caretaker sighed in relief and finishing up her collected the dishes up and sent out the children to play. It wasn't long after that a number of townsfolk arrived having received a letter that morning.