CHAPTER 1. Sweet dreams, Kenshin!!!

"Forgive me, my darling," Tomoe told him as the dagger fell from her hands. Blood dripped from the wound she created on his face.

"Tomoe… Tomoe… TOMOE!!!!"

Kenshin immediately woke up after that dream. HE looked beside him and saw Kaoru peacefully sleeping. He smiled seeing her safe and sound but then his smile vanished after remembering the dream. He put his hands on his left cheek and felt the scar once more then looked away blankly, "Tomoe." He closed his eyes. "Why now? What is the meaning of this?" He opened his eyes again and scrunched his forehead after smelling a very familiar scent. "White plum."

"Huh?"

Kenshin looked at Kaoru who was awakened by his movement.

"Are you saying something, Kenshin?"

Kenshin smiled at her, "I thought I smelled white plum. That's all. You are not to worry. Now go back to sleep."

Kaoru smiled, "All right then," she said then closed her eyes.

Kenshin stood up and walked outside their room. He doesn't want to disturb Kaoru's sleep again and he knew that he cannot go back to sleep anymore. Not now. His thoughts were consumed with memories of Tomoe. "Is it wrong to think about her at this point?" He asked himself and sat down at the wooden floors outside the dojo.

"Papa?"

Kenshin looked at the direction of that voice and found Kenji rubbing his eyes. HE smiled. Kenji looked exactly like him when he was a kid but only with black hair.

"What are you doing up so early?" Kenshin asked and stretched his right arm toward the little boy. Kenji, in response headed for his arm and ended up on his lap.

"I was awoken when you passed by my room," he answered then yawned.

"But I was so still and quiet."

Kenji nodded, "I knew that. But I don't know… I just felt someone's presence so I woke up."

"You better sleep in my lap now, is that fine, Kenji?"

Kenji just nodded and closed his eyes resting his head on his father's chest.

Kenshin smiled and let out a deep sigh. He is contented. He is happy. He loves his family. They are his treasures and it will remain like that until the end. Five years had passed. Five years at peace. Five years without any disturbance from anyone – no one was in danger that needed his help, well, of course, aside from Sanosuke who still has to ask for his help once in a while on his problem with his wife, Megumi.

HE chuckled at the thought. Sanosuke and Megumi were married for four years already and had a very cute little girl named Ayo, who is three years old. HE remembered the two constantly fighting on just what to name Ayo when she was born. Kenshin smiled at the transition. Sanosuke had grown so much over the years though for sometimes his immaturity shows up, but then again, Megumi was always there to straighten him out. He never expected it to be but Sanosuke was a very protective father to Ayo.

And there is Yahiko who is now a teenager and had grown friendlier with Subame. HE still lives with them but now he knew how to do his chores without grumbling especially if Kenji is around watching him. Yahiko is now a Kashin-style master and had no desire to hold a true sword. He said that if Kenshin were contented on a reverse blade sword, he would be contented with his wooden sword too. He also mentioned that it is not with the weapon that a swordsman is called a swordsman but what is in his heart. Kenshin sighed; Yahiko grew into a fine young man. Still, the scene of Sanosuke and Yahiko squabbling is still a common scenario at the Kashin dojo. Some things are not intended to change.

Kenshin looked up as his thoughts wandered to their friends in Kyoto. Aoshi and Misao are expecting a baby this spring. The once young, impulsive girl is going to be a mother soon. Kenshin smiled at the thought. He couldn't just imagine Misao being a mother. Sanosuke even suggested that the baby would suffer from ear infection just hearing the voice of the weasel girl. But Okina said in the last letter he sent them that Misao is doing a great job on being pregnant. Whatever that means… Kenshin couldn't still imagine how will Misao look like as a mother. With regards to Aoshi, the last time he saw him, he noticed he had been smiling a lot. He sure did found his peace.

Speaking of peace, Saito is now a captain of an elite task force of the government. He and Kenshin had finally resolved their differences and became good friends after Kenshin discovered that he was still alive. Actually, he was one of Kenji's godfather… but a stingy one at that. However despite of their friendship, he never by any chance saw Saito's wife in person yet. He was actually having thoughts about her being just a figment of Saito's imagination. It could be true. With Saito's temperament, he doubted if a woman could bear the burden of having him as a husband.

Their beloved friend, Dr. Gensai and the girls moved to Kyoto for the girls' education. During summer, the girls, Ayame and Suzume visit their favorite "Uncle Kenny" and baby-sit Kenji.

Of course there is his Master who visits them in Tokyo once in awhile to tell him how stupid he is and at times to scare Kenji. But as Kenji grew up, he learned how to face the master without being scared. If Master Heiku says 'boo', Kenji will say 'boo' as well. Now, when the master visits, he finds Kenji amusing. This time, he often teased Kenshin with, "see? Your son is even smarter than you."

Kenshin closed his eyes. He is indeed happy. With friends around and a family that loves him. How can he want for more? He is happy. No… He is full of joy… and maybe… Maybe… Tomoe just wanted to wish him that as well. With that in mind he quietly wrapped his arms around his son and dozed off.

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"Uncuw Kengy!!!!" Kenshin woke up by the sound of that teeny voice and saw Ayo waving at him on Sanosuke's shoulders. Kenshin smiled. Feeling his father moved, Kenji rubbed his eyes and looked at their visitor as well. He smiled after seeing his Uncle Sano and Auntie Meg.

"What are you two doing sleeping outside?" Megumi asked, her being a doctor and a mother overwhelming her. "You two might catch a cold. Now where is Kaoru? I am going to give her a word about this," she added and rushed inside the dojo before Kenshin could explain.

"Uncuw Kengy… why sleep outside?" Ayo asked him trying to imitate Megumi as Sanosuke put her down.

Kenji climbed down from his father's lap and held Ayo's hand, "Let's play, Ayo." HE said forgetting about breakfast. The two children ran away before even Kenshin or Sano could speak.

Sanosuke scratched his head, "Who ever thought being a father is tedious?"

Kenshin laughed as a response.

"So what are you doing outside Kenshin? Did the 'missy' become angry again?" Sanosuke asked implying the time when Kaoru made Kenshin sleep outside because he forgot to do the laundry.

Kenshin shook his head, "I woke up very early this morning. I can't go back to sleep anymore and I don't want to wake Kaoru up. So I decided to just stay outside. I woke up Kenji in the process. Then, we fell asleep together right here."

Sanosuke nodded repeatedly but his attention is on Ayo who is running around while Kenji is trying to catch her, "Ayo, watch the ditch," he called out. Ayo kept on running and running. "Ayo, there is a stone…" "Ayo, don't run too fast."

Kenshin couldn't help but smile.

"By the way Kenshin, any news about our little Yahiko and Subame?" He asked him without looking away from Ayo.

Kenshin smiled, "Sano, that is gossiping." Yahiko by that time came outside stretching his arms. "But if you wanted to know, I suggest you ask him now. That you should."

"Ask me what?"

"Uncuw Yayiyo," Ayo called to Yahiko. Yahiko turned to the little girl and waved.

"Tag," Kenji said after tagging Ayo. "Now. you're the it, you chase me."

"NO faiwr." Ayo said then pouted after pointing at Yahiko.

Kenji smiled, "Alright then, I'm still it. Now you run… because I'm going to catch you…."

Ayo shrieked then ran again. Kenji ran after her.

Yahiko turned to Kenshin and Sanosuke, "ask me what?"

Sanosuke shook his head, "Nothing…"

Kenshin smiled knowing very well to where this conversation will lead.

"What Sano?" Yahiko demanded. He knew that it was something very important judging from Sanosuke's way of acting.

"Nothing."

"I said 'what'?"

"I said nothing!!!"

"What?"

"Nothing."

"What?"

"Nothing."

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Sano, what?"

"Yahiko, nothing."

"What?"

"Nothing."

The children stopped running after hearing Sanosuke and Yahiko having their banter. They too, are a constant audience of the two and they find it very amusing. They ran towards the two.

"What do you think are they talking about Ayo?" Kenji asked.

Ayo shrugged her little shoulders while shaking her head, "I no know."

With Kenshin, they watched with their heads going back and forth at the two men as the latter continued with their 'whats" and 'nothings' until Kaoru and Megumi called them for breakfast.