~20 years later~

Kotono woke up with a start. Was it really a dream? She thought as she glanced around her bedroom, everything looked in place. The bedroom looked normal; there was a desk nearby when she needed to study her Mojikara. Her camera was lying down on next to her bed.

The door slid open; Kotono looked up, "Jii?"

Sakutaro smiled as he placed a cup of tea next to Kotono, "How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay..." Kotono decided not to tell Sakutaro what happened until she was certain it was a dream or reality. Sakutaro gently patted Kotono's hand, "Chiisai-Hime..." He addressed her as the Shiba Head, "I am proud of what you have become over the 13 years I had raised you...Please get a good rest." Sakutaro bowed before leaving the room.

What was that all about? Kotono thought, she silently sipped her tea. "Kenta-niisan!" She decided to look for her comrades to see if they had the same dream too. It wasn't a dream... Kotono kept telling herself, she was sure of it. The battle with Ayakashi Jikanryokosha that led them to travel back in time. The meeting with the previous generation of Shinkenger and fighting with them. Also, her battle with Leiko. Was it real?

Kotono then heard traditional music playing in the background. She walked a little more to find Ryu-sensei, dancing a fan-dance that Kotono recognized as Raiko's favorite, "Ryu-sensei!" Kotono greeted.

"Kotono... How are you feeling?" The man, who is 39, turned around and asked.

"I'm okay..." Kotono felt weird of being asked that question.

"Ryunosuke!" The both of them looked up to see a beautiful woman of 39, approaching to her husband.

"Mako..." Ryunosuke tenderly held his wife's hand and gave her a kiss on the cheek, "How was work?"

"Children are more energetic nowadays." Mako told her husband of her work as a kindergarten teacher. She then noticed Kotono's presence, "Kotono, how are you feeling?"

"Why is everyone asking me that question?" Kotono asked herself.

"Oto-san! Oka-san!" Kotono looked up to see Mamosuke and Raiko walking towards them.

Raiko grinned at Kotono, "Ah! You are awake. You were asleep for like three days..."

"I was?" Kotono asked.

Mamosuke shook his head, "You managed to seal Shitari with the Shiba sealing character. After that, you were unconscious and you have not waked up since..."

"Hiro said that since your Fire and Earth Mojikara are working perfectly, you would have enough Mojikara to use the Shiba sealing character." Raiko explained.

Kotono was puzzled, "What happened to Ayakashi Jikanryokosha?"

"We finished him off while you were dealing with Shitari. Don't you remember that?" Mamosuke asked.

Ryunosuke saw Kotono's confused expression and quickly went up to see his son, "Mamosuke, don't forget about your job as a high school teacher in the afternoon."

Mamosuke pouted, "Oto-san! Can I not go to school today? All the girls are asking for my number! It is scary!"

"Mamosuke! This job is for you to train as a teacher. If you don't go, you will lack experience. Don't you always want to be a teacher?" Mako asked her son gently.

"I do but I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher!" Mamosuke protested.

Mako gave Mamosuke a you-must-do-what-I-tell-you look and he gave in, "Fine!"

His mother smiled in triumph, "Come on, let's make Origiri!"

Raiko and Mamosuke cheered happily while Ryunosuke's face paled.

"Oto-san! Let's go!" Raiko pulled her father to the kitchen while all Kotono could do was to give a sympathetic look.

Before Mamosuke and Mako could go to the kitchen, Ryunosuke got an idea, "Raiko! Don't you want to practice your favorite dance?"

Raiko brightened up, "Hai! Oto-san, let's dance!"

With the traditional music still playing, Ryunosuke and Raiko began to practice their beloved kabuki fan-dance. Kotono watched and was amazed by their synchronized and graceful movements. She later walked to the garden, with the wind blowing gently. The young samurai sat down and wondered why Mamosuke and Raiko didn't remember the Shinkengers. She was certain they bonded with the ShinkenBlue and ShinkenPink. She tried recalling their names but it was blank to her.

"What's up with that long face?" Kotono looked up to see a man, aged 38 grinning fondly at her, "Tani-sensei?"

"Oi! Oyaji!" Kotono turned to see Chokichi sprinting to his father with his mother walking behind.

"Chiaki!" Chokichi's mother greeted as she stood beside her husband. She handed him a cup of tea.

"Arigatou, Moriyo." Chiaki thanked his wife as he sipped the tea. "So Kotono, how does it feel like to surpass Mamosuke?"

"How did you…" Kotono struggled to ask, did Chokichi tell him everything about the time-travel?

"Chokichi told me you defeated Mamosuke in one duel. That was pretty impressive since Mamosuke never loses his focus. I also like to congratulate you on achieving your control on both your Earth and Fire Mojikara." Chiaki stated and then walked away from Kotono, with his wife following him to the Shiba mansion.

Chokichi was about to follow his parents but Kotono held his arm, "Chokichi, don't you know Chiaki?" Kotono decided to ask about the ShinkenGreen they met from the past.

"Of course I know Chiaki! He's my father! You called him Tani-sensei?" Chokichi stared at her friend with disbelief, "Are you okay?"

"Didn't we go back in time?" Kotono asked.

Chokichi placed his palm on Kotono's forehead, "I think when you sealed Shitari, he must have placed a spell on you… Or maybe Ayakashi Jikanryokosha's powers must have backfired into thinking you went back in time when you finished off his first life…"

The younger ShinkenGreen was in deep thoughts, he then looked at his best friend, "Kotono, get some rest! You must be tired from battling the Gedoushu from over that last few weeks…"

Kotono stared with bewilderment as he walked away from her. If we didn't travel back in time, then how come they can still remember the things they did while we were there? What did happen?

"Kotono-chan!" She looked up, "Gen-Ojichan?"

Her uncle smiled as he presented a box fill of appetizing sushi, "Hai! Dozo!" He gave the box to her.

She peered down in the box; it was full of her favorite sushi. Salmon, Tuna and egg rolls. "Arigatou!"

"Kotono-chan! You must be hungry after sleeping for three days straight in a row! Eat up!" Her uncle sternly told her.

"OTO-SAN!" Kenta called out, "The worst crisis! Mamosuke and Mako-Obasan are going to cook!"

"AHHH!" Genta shrieked but before he went, he quickly complimented his niece, "Kotono-chan! Congratulations on defeating Leiko!"

"Genta, hurry up!" Kotono's aunt, Mitsuba ushered her husband. While Genta and Kenta were busy trying to prevent Mako and Mamosuke from going into the kitchen, Mitsuba walked wobbly towards her niece but Kotono helped her sat down on a huge rock.

"Kotono… Is there troubling you?" Mitsuba asked her niece but Kotono did not reply. "Your mother always has that look when something is troubling her…"

"Mi-Obachan, I don't really remember what happened with Ayakashi Jikanryokosha…" Kotono lied to see if Kenta told his mother about the time-travel.

Mitsuba smiled at her niece, "Well… What I heard from Kenta, Ayakashi Jikanryokosha and Shitari formed an alliance. Each of you had to defeat a revived Ayakashi; one Ayakashi shot Onibidama at you and destroyed your seal on your Earth Mojikara. That's how you managed to control both Fire and Earth Mojikara. Then I heard you battled Leiko and won." She explained.

So that what happens… Kotono thought, We didn't time-travel, did we?

"Chiisai-Tono!" Sakutaro called out as he went to greet Takeo.

Takeo bowed as a greeting to Sakutaro and walked towards Kotono, "Onii-san…" Kotono was surprised to see her elder brother walking instead of being in a wheelchair.

"Surprised? My condition is fine now. Hiro made a medicine for me to lower my Earth Mojikara so it would not constantly put out my Fire Mojikara. I can pretty much lead a normal life now…" Takeo smiled as he embraced his younger sister into a hug.

"I'm proud of you… No matter what people said, you will always be my little sister…" Takeo whispered to her.

"What are you doing?" Takeo was pulled away from Kotono, Tanba glared at her, "How dare you hug the 20th Shiba Head as if he is your brother?"

"TANBA! That's enough…" Kaoru walked towards Tanba and hit him with her big white fan.

"Sensei?" Kotono greeted Kaoru. Her sensei beamed at her and praised, "Kotono, well done on sealing Shitari! I'm glad our hard work on obtaining that character did not go to waste."

"Hime!" Tanba stood beside Kaoru, "How could you teach that child the character? It is supposed to be passed down on generations of the Shiba Clan!"

"Kotono is ShinkenRed!" Kaoru said that with final as she walked away, but Tanba followed her to continue their argument.

Takeo sighed, "Tanba will always be Tanba…"

"TAKE-CHAN!" Takeo turned around but fell down as Kenta and Chokichi wanted to hug him but they jumped on him and fell down.

"Takeo" Mamosuke greeted.

"Tono!" Raiko called out.

"Take-chan! You're okay now, right?" Chokichi asked with concern.

"I'm fine. Though I cannot use Mojikara, I am perfectly healthy." Takeo smiled at the Samurais.

"YAY!" Kenta cheered, "Let's celebrate Take-chan's recovery and Kotono's success of her Mojikara!"

"MINNA!" Everyone turned to see Genta waving his arms like a lunatic, "Sushi for everyone!"

"YEAH!" They cried out as they made their way to the kitchen. Kotono remained where she was.

Kenta noticed how quiet his cousin was, "Kotono, Daijoubu?"

"Huh?" Kotono was snapped out her daze. She decided to ask Kenta, it's now or never. "Kenta-niisan, did we time-travel?"

Kenta laughed, "Kotono, what are you talking about? You must be dreaming that you had time-traveled when you were sleeping for three days…"

Really? Kotono thought. Kenta continued, "Are you coming?"

"In a minute… let me wash my face!" Kotono excused herself and went to her bedroom. As the cold water jolted her to be more alert, she stared at her reflection. Her mind was in turmoil as she is still confused that Mamosuke, Raiko, Chokichi or even Kenta (whose memory is the best) could forget that they met the previous generation of Shinkenger.

Kotono noticed her camera and grinned. She knew Takeo's recovery would be considered as a major event. As she picked up the camera, she checked the space of the memory stick. It contained images of scenery from the park but what struck her was the date on the pictures.

2010

So we did go back in time… Kotono remembered the major fight she had with Chokichi and she took these pictures. She also recalled that Raiko screamed that they had time-travelled 20 years back. There was no mistake that it did happen.

Suddenly she felt a strange presence as if someone was watching her. Kotono cautiously took large but quiet strides, she silently picked up her shinai. Feeling the presence nearing her, the door slid open and she was ready to strike but stopped as she was surprised, "Oka-san?"

Her mother was amused with her strange pose, "Kotono, what are you doing?"

"Erm… I am stretching!" Kotono quickly made up an excuse as she pretended to stretch.

"KOTOHA-OBACHAN!" Kenta called from a distance, "Get Kotono! It's time to eat!"

"Coming! Kotono, are you coming?" Kotoha asked.

"Hai!" Kotono followed but as she slid the door closed, she thought: That presence was definitely not Oka-san…

Hikoma was from a distance, watching Kotono. Gomenasai, Chiisai-Hime… You are right. You did go back in time… The reason why Mamosuke, Raiko, Chokichi and Kenta did not remember because I erased their memories while they were sleeping...

The aged-man then witnessed the happy gathering. Kotoha sat between Kotono and Takeo. Hikoma observed Takeo; he had watched him since he was born. It is uncanny that he is the duplicate image of his father, Shiba Takeru. Takeo is like the splitting image of his father but he has the warmth and a bright smile from his mother, Hanaori Kotoha. That smile is the only common feature he shared with Kotono, his half-sister.

He silently thought of Kotono. Nobody knows who Kotoha's father is. Yes, Takeru and Kotoha did married but they divorced because of constant fights and argument over Takeo's condition of his Mojikara. Kotoha went to the United States to find a new life; she opened a dojo and spread the ways of Samurai there. But in the end, she came back because she missed Takeo, her own son, so much. When she came back, everyone was shocked that Kotoha had a new daughter, Hanaori Kotono. Takeru became angry at the sight of Kotono, he immediately left the Shiba mansion and has never come back sine. Of course, the gentle and young girl had to be a kagemusha for Takeo since Takeru left his position as Shiba Head.

Kotono's sudden existence and appearance was a blessing in disguise... Hikoma thought. True, everyone even Genta and Chiaki (Kotoha's close friends) were against Kotono at the beginning but they warmed up to her the moment they laid eyes on her. Kotono was three when she first came; she was innocent and well-mannered like her mother. No one could hate her. Kaoru decided to make her kagemusha since her health was perfect and Takeo felt the immediate bond of sibling for Kotono. Since Takeo could not be ShinkenRed, it made sense to pass that responsibility down to his next kin. And that is Kotono, though they do not share the same last name, Kotono carries their mother's name, Hanaori.

"Right! Time to clean up!" Sakutaro declared but Genta and Ryunosuke protested, "NO! The night is still young!"

Mamosuke rolled his eyes as he tried to get his drunken father to sit up, "Oto-san! It is like 10pm already!"

Kenta nodded as he went to his father, "Oyaji! Ryu-Ojisan! Please do not get drunk again!"

"Drunk?" Ryunosuke snorted. "Us? Nah! We are the best drinking man here! We can take in any alcohol!" Genta declared with pride though his balance was unsteady.

"It's amazing how Ryunosuke and Gen-san always fight but they get along fine when they are drunk!" The sober Chiaki commented which caused everyone to laugh.

Later, after an amount of persuasion spent on Ryunosuke and Genta to get to bed early, everyone wanted to sleep. Kotono, in her pajamas, sighed as she glanced at the pictures from her camera. No doubt that we did went back 20 years ago…

Unexpectedly, Kotono felt that strange presence again. She quickly summoned her Shinkenmaru, ready to fight. Feeling the presence nearing towards the door, Kotono slid the open but to cut a painting that was hanging on the wall.

Not again… Kotono thought.

"Kotono?" She turned to find her mother at the corridor, "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine!" Kotono lied.

"Let me tuck you in…" Kotoha offered as she pushed Kotono to her bed.

"Oka-san! I'm fine; I'm going to be sixteen! I'm not a baby anymore." Kotono protested.

Kotoha shook her head; she took out her bamboo flute and began playing a mellow melody that immediately soothed her to sleep. As Kotono was breathing softly with her eyes closed, Kotoha gently kissed her daughter's forehead, Baka! No matter how old you are, you will always be my little baby…

Further away from the Shiba mansion, a mysterious stranger was watching Kotoha tucking in her daughter. So that's Kotono? He asked himself as he glanced down at the photograph of Kotoha in a hospital bed, carrying a baby.

She looks just like her mother… The stranger thought as he examined how the striking resemblance between Kotoha and her daughter.

My little Kotono… you have grown up so much… He whispered as he walked away from the mansion.

YAY! Okay~ What do you think of the Samurais' parents? ^^ Well, as you can see Kotono is pretty much the potagonist, so please do not get sick of her! Bear that stranger (at the end) in mind as he would pretty much play a significant role in the next chapter! I will try to update as soon as possible, so please be patient! ^_^
Oh! I have to change the rating to T as the upcoming chapters are going to be 'darker' in a sense of erm... Nvm! I just change it because I feel I put the wrong rating but no biggie! :)