This is my first fic but it's a story that's sorta been in my mind for awhile. It takes place after the war but all 4 fallen samurai are still alive. In this story, they were never dead. They just pretended, to help teach Katsu to be stronger I tried to make the fic start with that story, but I just didn't feel like I could write it without being cheesy or interesting for that matter. Oh well! Please Enjoy! P.S. I do not own any Samurai 7 characters. I don't plan to either.

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Orange Popsicles

After the reuniting of the 7 samurai, they all sat down to start the "first meal" of a new beginning. Although the situation was different the ever glowing personalities of these lively characters hadn't changed a bit. Heihachi was a goofball, Kikichiyo was loud, Kambei was …well Kambei, Katsushiro was naïve, Shichroji was a lover boy, Gorobei was an entertainer, and Kyuzo was silent as a butterfly. But for some reason, they just couldn't strike up some interesting convo.

"So…..," Shichroji was desperate to talk about SOMETHING! "…what's everyone been up to?" And soon Gorobei joined.

"Well, I've been in Kougokyo for quite some time now. I've bumped into the ladies that helped us get into disguise….a couple of times actually. You remember them right Heihachi?"

"You mean the ladies that helped us to "unleash our inner butterfly?"

"Uh…sure?" Soon they all began laughing and the conversation barrier was broken. Everyone was so happy to see each other! They were laughing, talking, and most importantly enjoying themselves. Even Kyuzo joined in! Until a messenger girl walked in and handed Kambei a letter. She stood and waited for further instruction. He opened it and put his hand over his chin and sort of smiled to himself.

His good friend Shichroji was interested in his reaction to the mysterious letter.

"What does it say?"

"She got my message! Sh-she's alive!"

"Who's alive your girlfriend ?"Kikichiyo teased.

"My niece. I received word that someone ,a lot like her actually, was around and decided to see if it was her. So I sent her a message and she responded."

"What'd she say?"

It says,

Dear Kambei,

Yes ,it's me. Still a weirdo (only joking) but I'm doing good. I have a band and I' m doing the 1 thing no one, not even myself, thought I'd do….cheerleading!!! Creepy right? I made captain which is pretty cool especially considering I'm far from the preppy type. I enjoy hanging out with my goofball friends and orange popsicles. I'd really like to see you again. Please write soon!

Luvs Ya! -Senie

He quickly ripped out a piece of paper to write a response.

Dear Senya Benya,

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! I thought she said her name was Senie?"

"Senie and Senya Benya are both nicknames for Sen."

"Oh. Continue."

-Dear Senya Benya,

I'm staying in a small farming village called Kanna. I would love for you to visit me. If you are coming, I would like for you to send me further notation so I can prepare a place for you to stay. I am a samurai who enjoys solitude and friends as well.

Sincerely, Shimada Kambei

He faced the messenger girl and handed her the letter.

"Please take this to her." The girl nodded and headed out riding some sort of creature.

"So, how old is she?" He didn't know why he was interested, he just was. So Kikichiyo asked all the questions he could ponder about the girl.

"23."

"What's her hair like?"

Kambei shrugged.

"What's she-" He was cut off by Gorobei.

"Why are you so interested?" I'm sure at that point if Kiku could blush his face would be crimson red.

"I don't know! Just wanted something to talk about! Sheesh!" Heihachi started chuckling and added in,

"She's too old for you anyway. Your 13 and she's 23." he said in a matter-of-fact tone.

Kiku turned his head and everyone laughed. And then they all went into the barn to retire for the night. Just for old times sake.

The next day a white blanket of snow fell upon the fields of Kanna. The samurai ate breakfast with the farmers except for Heihachi. He was still sleeping.

"Hey! Where's Heihachi? We can't start the "party" without him!" the cheerful villagers at the men's table were in high cheers about the return of the samurai.

"Yeah! We can't give you guys your "presents" yet!"

"Presents huh?," said Shichroji in a calming tone, "What kind of presents?"

"Oh you'll see!" They began to laugh obnoxiously when Heihachi walked in slouched and yawning. His hat and goggles were crooked and he wasn't fully dressed. He had on a wife beater, khaki shorts and gloves. It made the ladies at the girl's table giggle.

"Well you look like you've had a rough night's sleep."

"Uhhh….what? Oh y-yeah…sure."he began to yawn in mid sentence. He rubbed his head and slouched with his elbows on the table.

"Here have some rice."

"What!?!? O-oh. Sorry. Suuure." he covered his mouth and yawned. "Look guys I'm goin' back to bed."

"Oh no your not! Come on eat! Rice is your favorite!"

"I'm not hungry."

"Come on Heihachi! They've got presents!" yelled Kikichiyo.

"I'M NOT HUNGRY! Look you'll just have to open presents without me." Everyone watched in astonishment as he walked back to his room. But as soon as he retreated, all the commotion started back up.

"What's his problem?" Shichroji whispered with concern to Kambei. But Kambei paid him no heed, he just kept on eating.

"Oh it's present time!!!"

"Woo hoo! Bring out the gifts!" Kikichiyo shouted. Just as they got the gifts passed out, the messenger girl came through the door once more.

Shimada Kambei,

I'm coming.

3 Days Later…

"Today's the day. She should be here soon." Kambei was pacing back and forth in the center of town. The whole village populace was in a big half circle surrounding him to see the girl he had talked so much about. Shichroji walked up from behind him and placed his hand on Kambei's shoulder.

"Hey it's getting late. Maybe you should try tomorrow."

"No. She said she'd be here today."

"Suit yourself." He sighed and walked to where Yukino was standing. "He's gonna be here awhile." He said to her sounding rather frustrated. She just giggled.

They soon heard rushed footsteps that slowed down as they got closer.

"I could be wrong …" Everyone looked towards Kambei to see his reaction. He had stopped pacing. Everyone curiosously watched as the new-comer arrived. And there she was. B-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l, beautiful. From her curly, almost black hair, to her lightly tan feet. Her big brown eyes to her curvy waist. Wow. That was all anyone could conjure up into their thoughts.

"Umm, hi. I'm uh, looking for a Shimada Kambei?" he quickly gave her a hug and she soon realized it was him.

"Wow look at you! I thought it was you but I wasn't sure. Don't wanna be known as the girl who just goes up and hugs random people!" Everyone began to giggle. She grabbed his arms and gave him a quick examination. "Oh I missed you sooo much!" They stood there for about a minute in a hugging frenzy.

Kambei looked like he was about to cry, "You've grown so much! Wow. I haven't seen you since you were this tall." He raised his hands about 4 feet off the grown.

"I haven't seen you since you were this tall!" She said sarcastically raising her hand only 2 feet off the ground. The whole town burst into laughter. Even Kyuzo couldn't hide a smile. Soon Senie started crying (happy tears) and smiled while she bit her lip trying to keep herself from choking up. But she did anyway and she embraced Kambei as she let out full on cries. He put one arm around her and the other on top of her warm hair as he laid his head on hers. He too began to cry…..just not as heavily.

'Aww'

"Sorry to intrude, but it's getting late. Maybe we could, show you to your room?"

Senie looked to Kambei to make sure it was okay. He nodded and a huge smile came over face as she walked off with Yukino. Yukino grabbed her hand and Senie stumbled to catch up. They both had enormous smiles on their faces and began to talk instantly.

Senie started laughing out of nowhere, "HA!"

Yukino started to giggle, "Ha,ha…mmmm what's so funny?"

"Ha. I don't even know." Then they both started to burst out laughing….for no reason.

"So, here we are! This is were you'll be staying."

"There's already things in here. Am I staying with someone else?"

"What do you mean?"

"Like a roomie?"

"A what?"

"A roomie. You know, like a roomate?"

"Oh! Well uh you're staying with your uncle and the other 6 samurai."

"Ok…."

"I know it might be a little awkward, but it's the only place available right now. Besides, you'll be with your uncle."

"That's a little awkward too. I mean I haven't seen him in years."

"Well I'm staying here too. Maybe we can have a sleepover at Kirara's for the 1st night."

"Alright. If it's okay with her."

"Let's go ask, come on!" When they walked back through the center of town things looked like they had calmed down. Everyone went back to what they were doing. She still got looks here and there, but she didn't mind. She actually liked it a little (or did she?).

"There's Kirara! Over there! Hey Kirara! We have a question for you." Senie sort of hid herself, feeling embarrassed for asking this stranger for a favor. 'Please don't say my name, please don't say my name!'

"Senie and I,"

'NO!'

"would like to know if you wanted to have a sleepover!"

"Why sure! I'll invite Shino, Mizuki, and Mika (I don't know the chubby girl's name, so for now, let's just call her Mika)! Oh, this is going to be great!"

The Sleepover

"I brought makeup! And lots of it!"

"Ughh, Yukino and makeup!" Everyone began to laugh and Yukino turned red.

"Oh and what's wrong with that!?!? Yeah Mika you could use a little!"

"AH!"Mika through a pillow at her.

"I was only joking! Geez can't you take a joke! Wow."

"Yeah I can, when they're actually funny!" Yukino gave her a puppy dog face.

"…"

"Fine! I forgive you!"

"Let's do something crazy! Like catalog makeup!"

"Senie, I can tell that we are gonna be good friends." Senie laughed and dumped out the huge makeup box.

"Okay, Kirara you do Mika. Mizuki you get Shino. And I'll do Yukino's makeup. Make it not too stupid, but crazy! Like something out of a Sephora magazine!" They all sat down and did each other's makeup. Conversations were…creative. Especially in Sen and Yukino's area.

"So you got a boyfriend?"

"No I'm single and lovin' it."

"Yeah the freedom and all. Besides, how am I supposed to help out some guy with his life before I've situated mine?"

"Eh you've got a point. You probably already met my boyfriend. Shichichroji."

"Helicopter head?" Yukino frowned.

"Yes Helicopter head!"

"Hey! I got a game we can play! Ok so you fill you mouth with soda, but keep your mouth open.Then you try to make each other laugh. First one to spill it loses!"

"Okay! Hey Kirara can you toss us some soda and cups?"

"Sure.Here you go."

"Okay,"Senie gurgled, "haha, ooh um…"

"Don't tell me you're losing this fast!"

"WEASEL! HAHAHAHA!"

"You dripped!"

"Oh no I didn't!"Senie was clearly wiping her mouth and this made them both laugh. "Your mom wiped!"

"Your face wiped!"

"Are you swallowing?!?! CHEATER CHEATER! UH…PUMPKIN….SWALLOWER!"

"That's not how it goes!"

"Who cares?"

"I do!"

"There's only one way to solve this!" They closed their mouths and faced each other. Yukino swallowed her gingerale to talk. Senie spat her's at Yukino.

"Hey!"

"A hallway joust!"

"Haaaaaaah okay."

They got all padded up with pillows and helmets and goggles. Senie pulled her goggles down.

"You ready?" She stood with one of those horse heads on a stick between her legs and pointed her mop at Yukino.

"Hold on." Yukino came over and squeezed the nose on Senie's 'horse'. "I wuv you" it chirped. Senie broke her stance and they both started laughing. Yukino waddled back to her place on her 'horse'.

"Now I'm ready."

"Ready. Setty. Goey!" As soon as those words came out of Mika's mouth they began making loud battlecries and charging at each other.

"AGHH! You got me!" Senie fell to her knees through a banana at Yukino.

"WHERE DID THAT BANANA COME FROM!"

"My superhero utility belt. Shhh it's a secret." Senie fell flat on her stomach with her finger still placed on her lip. "Go on without me!….Sally!"

"Hahaha….who's Sally? Oh no I killed her! What do I do!?!?"

"You're a monster!" Mizuki giggled out.

"Guess I'll just have to put my FEET on her." Yukino smirked and raised her foot.

"NO! The hero prevails! I hate feet!"

"For a hero you sure don't put up much of a fight!" Everyone started to laugh.

"Oh you keep on running!" Senie called out sarcastically, "I'll get! And your little dog too!"