Sanosuke and Megumi usually parted ways after breakfast, he taking Sozo to the Kamiya Kasshin dojo where he taught unarmed martial arts, and she to the Oguni clinic with Mariko, but that morning she decided to walk to the dojo with him. Kenji ran out when he saw them arrive, grabbing Sozo and starting the wrestling that they generally engaged in whenever they were together.

Sano and Megumi watched them for a moment, then he said, "I think Mariko needs to be changed-let me take care of that before you go." He went inside, smiling at Kaoru as she came out on the porch to greet Megumi and watch the boys play.

Kenji was a perfect miniature of Kenshin, and not just in looks. The child had inherited his father's short, slight frame and at ten years old, he was not much taller than Sozo, who promised to be at least as tall as Sanosuke.

Kaoru smiled. "It's like seeing Kenshin and Sano when they were small."

"Yes, I suppose it is." Megumi watched the children pensively.

"Is something wrong?"

"What? Oh, no, nothing's wrong, Kaoru. I was just thinking about how Sozo and Kenji will have much happier childhoods than Sano and Kenshin had."

Kaoru looked at the children with new eyes. "They are luckier than their fathers. I just hope nothing ever happens to change that." Megumi shivered suddenly and Kaoru put a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Are you sure nothing's wrong?"

The older woman tried to smile. "I don't know what's the matter with me. All morning long I've been having the strongest memories of my life with Sanosuke-almost like I'm trying to lock it all in my mind for some reason."

Kaoru smiled understandingly. "I get like that about Kenshin near our wedding anniversary. It's hard to believe it'll be eleven years soon."

"And six years for Sano and me…." Megumi frowned. "Our anniversary isn't for another month."

"Oh. Well, maybe you're just feeling it early."

"I never felt like this before." She saw Sanosuke come out on the porch with the baby, cuddling the child close. "Maybe it's just seeing him with the children."

"Sano always was good with children," said Kaoru softly. "I'm surprised I never noticed, but then with Kenshin around…."

"You never noticed much of anything else," finished Megumi. The two women smiled as Sanosuke came up and relinquished Mariko to her mother.

"Lunch at the Akobeko?"

Megumi nodded happily. "I'll see you there around noon." She walked away, Sano watching her until she was out of sight.

Kaoru punched the young man in the arm. "You know you have a class in ten minutes, right?"

He smiled down at her. "I know, Missy. Don't you think at your age you should be mellowing a little?"

"At my age!" Kaoru stuttered with anger. "I'll remind you I'm two years younger than you!"