The next day, everyone knew that they could relax. For today and the next day nothing could happen that would put a damper on the good mood that they were in. Kishiko sat next to Otohime, each holding their girls and watching their boys play in the court yard with Heisuke. When she felt Otohime lean on her, Kishiko smiled down at her as she laughed. "What are you doing?"

"It just feels so nice. So right. Being here with you, our husbands, the kids and this place. For the first time since I could remember I feel whole again. I feel like everything is right in the world." Then she half closed her brown eyes as she sighed and pulled her daughter closer to her. "But then I think about what will happen in two more days and…"

Laughing as she turned back to the boys, Kishiko took a deep breath. "I wouldn't worry about though. Sanosuke and Toshizo are with everyone else but Heisuke right now figuring out exactly what we can do to make sure that we all stay safe and by the end of the fight, Keiji is dead and everything is right in the world once again. You will see."

With a laugh, Otohime stood up as she sat her daughter down and watched her run after her brothers. "That is true. Lets just enjoy the next two days to their fullest."

"That's right."

X

Standing in the doorway, Toshizo and Sanosuke couldn't take their eyes off of their wives as they played with the kids and Heisuke. Everything was right with them. And now they had to keep it right over the next 72 hours and fix things for them so that they could have a normal life. Be it in this era or the past.

Leaning on the door frame, Toshizo sighed. "With our enemy being Keiji, the son of those two. And the dreams, they know where the trap doors are where we would hide them. So we have to figure out where we can put them to keep them safe first of all. A place that no one else would know about. Even if we have to spend all day today and tomorrow building a new place."

With a nod, Sanosuke sat down on the porch and leaned against the wall. "I think we do that. Build a place to hide them, and conceal the trap door. I know they are going to know where it is, but we do have one huge advantage this time. We know it is coming, and how many are coming."

"This is true, however we also have to remember that these things seem to sniff us out each time they show up where we are." Saito had his arms crossed as he leaned against the wall on the other side of Toshizo. "They will be able to sniff them out, and we don't know what they can or can't do. Before they were old Shinsengumi samurai and others like it. They are using modern people with modern skills this time. The only real advantage that we do have is knowing it is coming. But we are at a greater disadvantage as far as keeping them all free from harm."

With a sigh as he caught a glimpse of her green eyes, Sanosuke narrowed his as he fisted his hands. "We need to come up with something. I won't watch them die again."

"It would help if we knew exactly when Keiji joined the fight." Sannan sighed as he fixed his glasses and walked out of the room to stand between Sanosuke and Toshizo. "If we knew when he joins the fight, maybe we could hold the rest off for a while until he could be dealt with. None of us actually died until we were distracted when the girls screamed. It was rushing to them to protect them that we were all caught off guard and took out."

"So we don't let that happen. We make it clear that we are protecting them now and not let them get close. Taunt him and draw him out." Shinpachi drew all eyes to him as he kept his arms crossed and watched the women and kids playing. "It makes sense doesn't it? We hid them when we heard that laughter, and left only Sannan to protect them right? Least that is how it was in my dream. I was fighting just inside the main gate when I heard them scream."

"He has a point. I wasn't where they were." Isami then looked at Sannan. "In your dream were you the only one there or was there others with you when you were protecting the trap door for them?"

Shaking his head, Sannan sighed as he looked out at the girls. "I was the only one there and more flooded into the room than I could handle. I was barely able to hold them off when they ran, I heard them scream just as they got outside. That was when….."

"So we do what Shinpachi said." Standing Sanosuke stretched his arms over his head. "We don't hide them. Keep them in plain view and circle around them. We know how to kill them, vital organs. We created them, we can kill them."

His eyes still narrowed as Kishiko and Otohime laughed and smiled with the boys, Toshizo gave a nod. "I like that idea. Dare him to come out. Then Sanosuke and I will go after him, and the rest of you will tighten the circle around them and keep them safe and we will take him out. Then clean up the rest. Two more days."

"Two more."

X

That evening, Kishiko put her kids to bed, then stepped just out of the room and smiled to see Sanosuke sitting there looking up at the stars. Stepping down off the porch to sit next to him, she gasped then smiled as he reached out and pulled her over, sitting her between his legs and wrapping his arms around her waist. Leaning back into his arms, she let out a content sigh. "I wish we could just freeze time into this loop. Today just replay forever so that we never have to be apart again."

Kissing the top of her head, Sanosuke laughed as he smiled. "I am game for that. The kids can stay little forever, and we will just be able to enjoy these times. But we don't know how to do that."

Taking a deep breath as she closed her eyes, Kishiko wanted to know if they figured out what they were going to do in two days. "So have you come up with a plan for day after tomorrow?"

"The best thing we can figure is that if we can take Keiji out then clean up the rest, then it will reset itself as they said." Leaning his head to the side and looking down at her he kept his tight hold on her. "Toshizo and I are going to gang up on him since he has to be done in by two blades to the heart at once, myself and he will do that. But what we are going to do different with you and Otohime and the kids, is have you out in the open. With all of us already there to protect you."

Shaking some at the thought of subjecting her boys to something like that, Kishiko held her eyes closed as she held onto his arms. She knew it made sense. "Well I can see that. Seeing as everyone died after we ran out of the hiding place and started to scream. If they are already there, then they can't get distracted."

"Exactly. However, the boys, Katsu, Matsu, Toshiro and Yukito as well as Fuko will all be knocked out. We don't want them to see that level of death. Hanako is too little to remember anything. We are going to rig her and Fuko to your chests and then have you sit with the boys on each side of you, the two of you back to back." Kissing her shoulder, Sanosuke sighed. "I won't fail you this time Kishiko. I will protect you and our family. I won't let you all die again. I swear."

Feeling the desperation in his hold, Kishiko moved and turned to face him as she framed his face and kissed his lips. "You did not fail me before my love. You did what you should have done and ran to help us. I could never be mad at you for doing that. For loving me and giving me the greatest kids that ever lived. I love you Sanosuke Harada. I would never say you failed me."

Reaching up with one hand, Sanosuke placed it on the back of her head and pulled her face toward his as he seared her mouth with his. A moment later he stood up as he kept the kiss, and carried her into their room, and quietly lay her on the bed and followed her down. Ripping his mouth for hers for but a second, he whispered so as not to wake up the kids. "I love you more than life itself Kishiko Harada. I always have and I always well." He then seared her mouth one more time. For this one moment, before the fighting stars again, he wanted a moment of bliss, holding her in his arms. And the way that she clung to him with a desperate passion, so did she.

X

After putting her kids to bed, Otohime went to the window and looked up at the stars with a sad look. She was so worried about this plan. She was terrified that she would have to watch as her kids and her husband were killed before she was again. All she could think about was all the bad things that could happen. Typical to her.

Feeling strong and sure arms wrap around her from behind, she smiled as she looked up to see lips kissing her head. "Toshizo are you sure about….."

"It is the best way to keep you all safe. Have faith in your husband Otohime." Toshizo then side stepped and turned her and had her look up at him as he kissed her. "I will fix things and we will watch our children grow strong and proud of who they are. You will see."

Reaching up and grabbing his clothes, Otohime sighed as she smiled up into his dazzling amethyst eyes. She remembered the first time that she ever looked into them. He saved her from being robbed, and maybe much worse. In his eyes she saw her salvation, her life and her future still today as much as she did the first time that she looked into them.

"What is it Otohime?"

With a laugh as she stepped closer to him as he let his hands fall to her waist. "I was just remembering the first time we met when you saved me and I first looked into your dazzling eyes. I still love looking in them."

Laughing as he lifted her and headed for the bed, Toshizo smiled as he kissed her. "What do you see in them?"

With a giggle as he lay her down on the bed and then settled next to her, slipping one leg between hers. "I see everything that I could ever want in life. I see love, my salvation, my future in all ways when I look in your eyes. I love you Toshizo."

"I love you Otohime. My hime." He then seared her mouth with his own, snagging her hands and holding them over the bed as he slid his tongue across her lips, then into her mouth. Right now, there was only them. There was no one else, there was no threat on their lives. It was just the two of them and the love that they share.