Hey there Jou-chan, Kenshin, Yahiko.

It's been a while since my last letter, yeah? Hopefully you two finally have your shit figured out 'cause I'm gonna be headin' that way real soon 'n I'd hate to have to knock your heads together. Anyway, yeah, I managed to score some tickets aboard a cargo ship for helpin' the Captain out with some manual labor . I figure it'll take a few weeks for everythin' to get sorted for leavin' so plan ahead for a big party to celebrate our reunion, 'kay?

See you soon,
Sano.

P.S. – And Kenshin, just make sure you're the one cookin' 'n not the Missy, alright? I'm bringin' someone with me and I'd hate for her to get food poisonin' on her first day in Japan.

"That idiot!" Kaoru Himura clenched her fist, crumpling the letter she held, and turned to her husband. "I can't believe that after all this time with no word from him he's still got the audacity to insult me."
Kenshin chuckled. "Don't let him get to you, Kaoru-mine. He's just being Sano, that he is."

"But," Kaoru protested, "My cooking skills have improved since then."

"Of course they have." Kenshin placed his hand on her shoulder. "But he hasn't been here so there's no way he could know that."

"True," Kaoru admitted. "I guess I'll let him off the hook this time."

Kenshin grinned. "So what else did the letter say? Could this one read it?"

"Oh!" Kaoru uncurled her fist and, somewhat bashfully, held out the little ball of paper. Still, sixteen years later, her temper sometimes managed to get the best of her.

After he finished reading, Kenshin looked up and raised his eyebrows. "He's bringing someone with him?"
"Yep." Kaoru nodded.
"A woman."
"Mhm."
"You don't think she's his...?"

"Wife? No. " Kaoru finished his sentence for him, laughing. "I don't think Sano has it in him to settle down and get married. Do you?"

"No," Kenshin sighed, folding the letter. "I guess we'll know when they get here." He slid the note into one of his sleeves and kissed his wife on the cheek. "In any case, that means we have plans to make for this, ah... 'reunion party'. What kind of food do you think this girl would like? She's a foreinger, after all, so this one thinks we should probably-What's so funny?"

Kaoru was giggling at the extremely amusing thought that had just occured to her, "Oh, it's just..." She said, forcing herself not to laugh out loud. "If Sano is bringing a wife, or even a girlfriend- what do you think Megumi will do?"
Kenshin considered the possibilities and frowned. "Sano would be in grave danger, that he would."

"What about Sano?"

The couple turned their heads and met the questioning gaze of their teenage son. His long hair, just a shade of darker red than Kenshin's, was tied up in the traditional top-knot of a kendo student. From the bokken strapped to his back, it was obvious he'd come from training in the dojo.

Kenshin had to release the pent up breath that caught in his throat at the sight of him. No matter how hard he tried, he could never shake the feeling that he was looking into the past.

"Ano, Kenji, have you completed your training already?" Kaoru asked. It wasn't yet mid-day and the boy had only started two hours earlier. Usually it would take an arm and a leg just to pursuade their son to come join them at dinner so it was odd for him to call it quits so soon.
Kenji shrugged, "The steps of the kata I've been practicing aren't difficult."

"Mou," Kaoru pursed her lips, "Alright, but try not to look so smug about it, Kenji. It takes some people a while to learn those steps. So don't take advantage of the fact you get them right so easily."

"Gomen-nasaii." Kenji apologized, with some apparent difficulty, bowing to his parents. "I didn't mean to gloat."

"It's fine, son." Kenshin put in, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "We are proud of you. We just don't want your pride to turn into arrogance."

"I know," Kenji nodded, and after a moment of silence: "So... what were you two saying about Sano being in danger? Is something wrong? Did he write? Is he coming here?"

"Whoa, slow down." Kaoru answered, holding up a hand to stall the next onslaught of her son's questions. She smiled at the eagerness in his eyes. After all the stories he'd heard of days long passed, Kenji's excitement at the possibility of meeting one of his parents' old friends didn't come as a surprise. "Sano's not in any danger, yet, and he did write us a letter. Why don't you go and get the twins? We'll all talk about it together over lunch."

"Great," Kenji grinned, and with another quick bow to his parents he was off.

Kenshin glanced at his wife, offering her his hand. "He seems excited, so he does."

"Aa." Kaoru agreed, lacing her fingers through his. "He was practically bouncing on his toes. It looks like we have a lot to look forward to in the next few weeks."

It came to me that it'd be stupid to think that Kenshin and Kaoru's children wouldn't have ever heard of Sano. Of course they would have been told stories by Yahiko, Kaoru, and even Kenshin himself. So when I looked over the chapter, I decided to rearrange everything so that it would come out the way I wanted it. Also, the conversation between Kenshin and Kaoru seemed like it would be more realistic if they suspected that Sano was bringing a wife along with him, instead of a child. I like it better this way to be honest. Heh, it makes for a better surprise when Sano and this mystery girl do arrive, and she's not his wife, or his girlfriend.

Anyway, please tell me what you think.

Next Chapter: Kenshin, Kaoru and company inform everyone of Sano's letter. The twins are introduced. And Kenji bothers Yahiko for information.