Here goes! Probably won't be the last one in this series! Enjoy!

My name is Mori. I'm probably thirty years old by now.

I haven't kept track of my birthdays since I turned eighteen.

As you know, I have fallen in love with a mercenary.

Not just any mercenary would do for me, though. Oh, no.

I fell in love with Bankotsu, of the Shichinintai.

I have become his wife, and I'm waiting for the day he decides to quit the Shichinintai.

My life has been so perfect, you'd never know the first half of my life was so terrible.

I'm out today, slaying a youkai for some lord.

The dinosaur-like creature came at me.

I smiled, raising my dagger.

"Tamashii no hikari!" I said. "Gohiki!"

A light errupted from my dagger, and obliterated the youkai.

I turned my attention over to a little girl, fighting an imp.

I smiled, and went over to her.

"Come on, Hikarimi! Hurry it up!" I said. "Papa's waiting!"

"Hai, Mama!" She said.

Yes. This little girl was my six-year-old daughter.

She readied an arrow on her tiny bow, and shot the imp, killing it easily.

"Yatta! That's my girl!" I said.

I heard a youkai shrieking, and smiled.

"Aniki wo kuru!" Hikarimi said.

I turned toward the sound of the youkai shriek.

"Ukyoumaru, are you through?" I called. "Come on! Let's go see Papa!"

"Hai!" a voice called.

I heard alot of different shrieks. Then, my twelve-year-old son, Ukyoumaru, came running.

He came to me, covered in youkai carnage.

I laughed. "Well, you've ruined your armor!" I said.

He made a nervous face. I knelt down, and rubbed some of the blood out of his hair.

"Oh, well." I said. "At least Papa likes the blood-spattered look! Let's go. We're gonna be late!"

I collected our reward, and had Kazeji take us back to the school.

Most of our earlier students have grown up, and moved out to their own villages.

However, those of our students who aged slower, hanyou and youkai alike, are all still here.

The past twelve years haven't so much as looked at them.

They learned quickly, though. The hanyous were planning to build a village just for hanyous like them. Most of the youkai wouldn't speak of their plans, but, I knew better than to worry for them.

They had more than enough time to come up with their plans.

We made it to the school that was our home, and I saw a glint of light.

I smiled, and shook my head. "He just can't leave Banryuu, can he?" I asked.

Kazeji let us down. Hikarimi and Ukyoumaru ran right up to their father, Hikarimi actually jumping into his arms. I smiled, watching him greet our children.

There was nothing like this. I could have searched the entire planet for eternity, and I'd never find anything more amazing. The greatest paintings, most amazing scenery, most beautiful people were all put to shame, when I saw Bankotsu holding his daughter, and laughing with his son.

My entire being existed only because of this.

My family was my life. Even that wasn't enough to describe how much they were to me.

Bankotsu looked at me. His eyes had grown brighter, and happier over these last twelve years.

I knew it was because he, too, loved this life. Loved this family. Could not live without any of this.

He put Hikarimi down, and came over to me. He looked down at me, perfect affection refflected in his eyes, as he put his arms around me. "You didn't think I forgot you, did you?" He asked, teasingly.

I shook my head, still smiling, as I put my arms around his neck.

"Just enjoying the view!" I said.

Bankotsu smirked, as he leaned down toward me.

I leaned up towards him, and pressed my lips to his.

The love he put into his kiss was so strong, I was struggling to match it.

It felt as though he were trying to compete with me.

So, we started trying to kiss each other senseless, and forgot that everyone was looking.

"Ahem!" came a voice.

I broke the kiss, and Bankotsu growled, rather angrily, as we turned to see my father, watching us.

"How did it go?" He asked.

"Oh, they're as puny as ever!" I said. "Ukyoumaru slaughtered pretty much all of the youkai in one swipe, I bet!"

That lightened Bankotsu's mood. I could feel it.

"Hikarimi did pretty well herself!" I said. "Five imps fell by her arrows."

Bankotsu felt much better. The kids came over. I picked up Hikarimi.

"So, how long have you got?" I asked Bankotsu.

He smiled, almost sadly.

"About a week." Bankotsu said. "Just long enough to celebrate Ukyoumaru's birthday."

That was right. Ukyoumaru was almost thirteen. I smiled, looking at my once very little boy.

He had gotten big. He almost had his father's build by now. His hair was down to his waist, and braided, just like his father's. He had my hair color and skin tone, but, he had his father's beautiful eyes. I couldn't believe how big my little boy had gotten.

"Hahaue, doushita no?" Ukyoumaru asked.

Hikarimi rubbed a tear off of my face.

"Oh!" I said. "I'm sorry! I just...blinked."

I rubbed my eyes. Bankotsu leaned his forehead against mine, understanding completely.

"I really am sorry! Everyone was in such a good mood!" I said. "I ruined it by crying for no reason!"

I leaned a little closer to Bankotsu.

"Mama! You're squishing me!" Hikarimi grunted.

I let her down, and looked at Ukyoumaru.

"So, what would you like to do this year?" I asked.

Ukyoumaru smiled. "Chichiue, do you want to tell her, or should I?" He asked.

"She asked you." Bankotsu said.

I cast them each a funny look. "Hahaue," Ukyoumaru said.

I looked at him. "I want to go to the village that you grew up in!" Ukyoumaru said.

That took a bit to sink in. I hadn't thought about the modern era in several years.

Heck, I stopped going when I found out my grandfather passed away. I didn't know what to say!

"H-hang on! Why?" I asked. "I told you that place was terrible!"

"I'm ready to take that chance!" Ukyoumaru said. "I want to go to your home village!"

Home? Feh! Home is right here! Where I have always felt comfortable. Where I have a family. Where I'm accepted, and loved. That place was a living hell to me.

"Ukyoumaru," I said. "Are you sure? I could take you so many great places! Why go to my...village?"

His reply was simple, and quick.

"I want to know how my wonderful Hahaue came to be." Ukyoumaru said.

I was beat. He had his way...

Okay, I know I told a couple of people that I had a Twilight story coming. I really do! I wasn't lying! But, I got a request for a sequel to my previous story, and, when I started, I had to keep going! Please, review!