Beloved of The White Flame

by Kanzen ne Tsuki

COMPLETE Kenji Himura was born in the cradle of The Hand of Fire. Now, a formidable teen with a great Gift, his family is being threatened by an Old Evil. Can he control his Powerful Gift and rise to face his own Destiny?or will family ties be his undoing

2. Daddy's Little Hands

Standard disclaimers apply-same as always--blah, blah, blah... you know the drill.

Saiai=beloved, Koishii=dear or darling, Love=aijou, Ojiisan=grandfather, Okaasan=Mother, Aishiteru=I love you, Anata=beloved husband, Aisai=beloved wife, Aisoku=beloved son, Sochi=son (Hiko uses for Kenshin)Okaeri=welcome, Hinokagusuchi=God of Fire, Otousan/Otou=Father, Sensei=teacher, Koidzuma=loving wife, Chichioya(Chichi)=Father/humble(Kenshin uses for Hiko), Tadaima=I am home!, Akachan=baby, Kodora=small tiger, Onegai=please, Forgive/Pardon=yousha, Forever=itsumadema, Setsuai=love deeply

Chapter two

Daddy's Little Hands

October 15, 1901

Himura Kenji turned three months today, and though he remained a very small baby, Migumi had assured his worried parents that he was perfectly healthy and without any obvious defect.

Noteably within his short lifespan, the youngest Himura had become the center of attention and activity at the Kamiya Dojo as well as within the Kenshin-gumi. Yahiko had taken to having a 'baby brother' with an enthusiasm that surprised everyone, except Kaoru, but then she was getting used to seeing strange things happen ever since Himura Kenshin had walked into her life nearly 3 years ago, and it did not look like anything was going to be changing now that his son had taken up residence within their small but close knit household.

Strange things had started to happen almost from the very moment Kenji had been born. First there was the lightening strike on the old cherry tree that confused everyone. Everyone it seemed, except Kenshin and Yahiko who had stood looking at the tree mumbling to each other for hours after the charred split trunk was discovered. Then there were the four holes that appeared to have been place in an almost mathmatical configuration around the yard by the four predceeding lightening strikes, and again no one understood the possible significance of their meaning except Kenshin and Yahiko, and neither of them were saying anything to anyone. It was all very mysterious, and it seemed to be bothering Kenshin for some reason or another, but Kaoru knew better than to ask him what was wrong. When he was like this, getting information out of him was like trying to move a mountain alone. She would not get anywhere until he was ready to tell her, so she waited patiently for him to work it all out in his own mind. Whatever IT might be.

The next set of oddities to occur were centered around Kenshin's youngest adoped son and his usual behavior habit. It seemed Yahiko had lost some of his 'bad boy' image and was beginning to spend more time at the Akabeko these days, and it was rumored he was doing more than just working. He had been seen strolling around the streets holding Tsumbe's hand and buying her pretty flowers and ribbons. Someone even swore they saw him kiss her on the cheek once a few days ago. Now, THAT was definitely strange, but then again, the young Samurai was nearly thirteen, and starting to act more responsible with each passing day. Kaoru knew the changes had occurred mostly due to what had happened nearly a year earlier in Kyoto when Yahiko was faced with the battle of his young life. He had stood tall and proud, and faced his enemy bravely and saved the lives of his entire family with the fierceness of his emotional convictions and the power of his enormous ki. It was understandable that he would not be quite the same boy he had been before all of that happened to him. His heart, soul, and spirit had grown into those of a true warrior that night, and he had earned the respect of many strong fighting men as well, but mostly, he had learned that the love of a family was stronger and more important than anything else in the world. That was more responsible for the change in him than even winning the victory over the terrifying enemy he had fought.

Yahiko's spirit had found peace within the heart and arms of his Father, his Brother, and his Sensei-Mother that night, and he was fast evolving into a fine and honest man. Kenshin was as proud of him for that as he was for any other accomplishment he had made, and had started teaching him the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu shortly after they had all returned. Thus, the bond between the two of them had grown very deep and very strong. A stranger meeting them for the first time would never know Kenshin was not Yahiko's true father. The boy had even stopped calling the red-haired Samurai by his given name, and had opted instead for the title of Otou. That was just fine with Kenshin. That it was.

Then there was Seijorou Hiko. Kaoru had decided she would never fully understand that particular man or his personality quirks.

He had stayed away during her entire pregnancy as she she were infected with the plaque or some other terrible contagious disease, but as soon as Kenji was born, and Kenshin's letter reached him in Kyoto the big man had showed up at the front gate with his large arms filled with packages. Packages that turned out to be filled with clothes, toys, blankets, bottles, and anything else he thought a baby might have to have. The new parents had been dumb-struck to say the least as he had uncerimoniously dumped everything into their laps and then griped in a loud voice, "Where the hell is my Grandson?"

It had been love at first sight. From the first instant Kaoru had laid that tiny scrap of new life into those large muscular arms, piercing emerald eyes softened into the warm greens of a new meadow as they gently caressed every curve of the perfect face nestled against his broad chest. Then one large brown finger had tenderly, carefully pulled the fluffy white blanket away from a delicatly shaped chin so he could get a better look at the full features on the tiny infant.

'He has Kenshin's chin.' Hiko mused to himself. 'And the same shaped face.' Instinctively he leaned down and softly rubbed his nose against the velvety skin of Kenji's forehead then pressed a gentle kiss against that same flesh.

"Aishiteru, Kodora." He whispered in a thick husky voice that lightly fanned the wispy red hair on the infants head. "Okaeri to my Heart, Himura Kenji. I am your Ojiisan." Hiko lifted the baby close to his face and nuzzled against his sweet warmth as tears filled his eyes and emotion choked his words. "Your Father has named you 'Sacred Sword' just as I named him 'Heart of The Sword'. Okaeri to our Family and know that you are loved now, and that you will always be loved, My Small Tiger."

Then, Seijorou Hiko, 13th Master of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu had simply sat cradling Kenji next to his heart as the hours of the day passed into late afternoon, and to the parents shock and pleased surprise, their son was not in the least bit disturbed. In fact, he had appeared to be more than content as one tiny hand had wrapped around a large brown finger and he drifted off into a relaxed sleep snuggled securely inside the haven of his Grandfather's strong arms.

Then there were the letters that Kaoru had been getting from Misao which were filled with many strange things. Things like Aoshi playing games in the street with the local children, Aoshi smiling, laughing, and actually teasing her sometimes.

After that night when he had returned to the Aoiya, he had indeed swept a shocked Misao up into his arms and, buring his face against the softness of her throat, had told her how much he loved her and needed her. She had burst into tears and then proceeded to kiss him silly, and ever since then, he had changed so dramatically that his friends and family at the Aoiya did not have a clue how to act around him, nor what to expect from him next. Kenshin would set listening to Kaoru read Misao's letters and simply nod his head and smile, a wicked gleam shining in his amethyst eyes. Once she heard him mumble something like, "Good for you, brother. Keep them confused, it is good for their souls. That it is."

It had become quite obvious that Aoshi and Misao were very happy together now that he had finally 'thawed out', as she put it. Kaoru would often giggle and blush when she read some of Misao's letters because the younger woman occassionally shared some of Aoshi's more interesting personality traits that had begun to surface since he had told her he loved her. It seemed he had discovered the joys of 'not' sleeping together in his bed, and Misao was certain no other woman had ever had such an enthusiastic lover as Aoshi.

Kenshin had laughed out loud when she read that to him, and then had purposfully rolled her underneath him on their futon while burying his mouth against her milk swollen breasts. As his tongue had found one of her the overly large nipples, and began gently licking and stroking it wringing a shuddering moan of pleasure from her trembling lips, he had murmured in a husky voice, "Should we write a litter to Misao-dono, Saiai? We might could give her and Aoshi some suggestions." At that, Kaoru had disolved into a fit of uncontrollable giggles which were mingled with his deep throated laughter.

"Hmmmm," he had said as he raised up to gaze into her twinkling blue eyes, "I am certain there are MANY things we could share with them to improve their... ah, relationship, don't you, Koishii?" Then he had cut off her merry laughter with his mouth as he has seized her lips with his in a heated kiss. "Aishiteru, Saiai-Kaoru." He whispered against her moist mouth as he opened her Kimono. "Aishiteru, Koidzuma." They had made love for the first time that day since Kenji had been born.

It was not its' being the first time they had been together for so many months that made it strange. What made it strange, was that it had all come about because of Misao's letter about Aoshi's prowess in bed, and THAT made it strange to Kaoru.

Kenshin was also a different man than he had been before everything had happened that night in the Palace. One day Kaoru had caught him holding Kenji snuggly against his heart while standing outside with his face turned intently up to the sky. When she quietly approached him, she could see that he was being perfectly still, his eyes were closed, and there was a look of peaceful joy on his handsome face. She had almost hated to disturb him, but it was time to feed the baby so she had not had a choice. Kenshin had simply smiled at her, kissed her cheek tenderly, and placed his son in her arms and walked away. Later after they had retired for the night, she asked him what he had been doing, he had replied matter-of-factly, "Talking with Soujirou."

"T-talking?" She had stuttered in shock and confusion. "How do you mean? You were talking?" Kaoru had become more perplexed and worried about Kenshin's sanity the more inane questions stumbled out of her mouth, but he had just leaned over to her and taken her cold hands into his warmer ones and locked gazes with her.

"Yes, Koishii." The gentle mellowness of his soft tenor voice had fallen likd a soothing blanket over her shivering soul as he moved closer to rub his nose against hers. "He is well, but missing all of us very much and is planning a trip here soon. He is upset that he is the only one in the family who has not gotten the chance to hold Kenji, and thinks it is time his baby brother and he got aquainted with one another. That he does." Then gentle lips had brushed against hers lovingly and he had lowered his voice to a mere whisper. "Do not worry for my sanity, Koishii. I am perfectly sane. I am just... different than I used to be. It is difficult to explain, but I can hear Soujirou inside of my mind and he hears me inside of his. I do not know how this is possible, but I have thanked Kami-sama for it because; otherwise, being away from him would be unbearable. Do you understand?"

Kaoru had leaned back from him to look deeply into his pale violet eyes and had known at that moment he was speaking the truth no matter how strange or impossible it sounded. It seemed none of their lives were going to be the same after that one horrible night, but come what may, they were in it together. "Yes, Kenshin." She had leaned into him and pressed her forehead against his. "I understand and I believe you. When you talk to him again, tell him I love him and miss him too. Will you do that for me please, Anata?"

"Yes, my Angel. I will do that, and I am certain he will be more than pleased to hear it. That I am. He loves you very much as well." He had wrapped his strong arms around her and pulled her down onto the futon next to him curling his body around hers. "He is still unsure how to approach you or what to call you, Kaoru. He does not know how you see him fitting in our family. He wonders is he your son, your brother, your friend, or is he anything at all. What is he to you, Koishii? Do you know yourself?"

She had thought long and hard about that question until Kenshin was afraid she had fallen asleep. "Koishii?" He whispered gently.

"I am still awake."

"What are you doing?"

"I am still thinking about Soujirou."

"Have you come up with any ideas or answers?"

"I do not know, Kenshin. I know I love Soujirou and I know I feel he is a very big part of our family, but I am not sure what to call him either. He is too old to be my son, but just the right age to be my brother or my friend. But it would seem strange to me to have my husbands son be brother to me as well as my own son, but it would also be strange to have my husbands son be only my friend while still being brother to my son." She sighed heavily. "Do you see my dilema, Kenshin?"

"Yes, I do, and it is a difficult decision. May I offer you a suggestion."

"Yes, please help me with this."

"Perhaps you should try looking at him from a point of view that simply labels him 'a member of your family',and love him as such. Do not try to place him in any catagory or specific position such as a brother or a son, but only as 'a part of the family' that we are building together." The gentle rubbing of his nose against her forehead made her lift her face so he could look into her eyes. "Love is not borne within our hearts to be specified to a particular person or a particular title. Instead, we are each given an infinite supply that we are meant to share with whomever we deam to allow within the circle of our most intimate emotions and ideals."

"How does that apply to Soujirou and I?" Kaoru snuggled in closer to her husband as a cold chill fluttered up her back and chased gooseflesh across the warmth of her skin.

"It is very simple, Koishii. Just love Soujirou and let him love you in whatever manner suits the two of you and the relationship that is developing between you. There is no need for titles or specified designation of position within the family. All you need to do is love and accept each other for what you are. And that is all you need to tell him."

"You are saying all I need to do is tell Soujirou I love him and he is part of my family no matter what his age or relationship to my son? That he is now, and always will be a part of my family, and that is how I will always see him."

"Yes. That is what I am saying. Just love him, Kaoru, and tell him you do. That is all he needs to hear from you. That is all he wants, Saiai. He just wants and needs to know he belongs here with all us."

"I think I finally understand." Soft lips tenderly pressed against the warmth of the beating pulse in his throat, and then with a contented sigh, she burrowed into the inviting curve of his shoulder and closed her eyes. "You will remember to tell him what I said anyway, won't you Anata?"

A soft chuckle escaped him as he tenderly kissed her forehead, and then instinctively pulled her closer to his side. "Yes, Saiai. I will remember. That I will."

And the next time Kaoru had caught Kenshin lost within the deep thoughts of his own mind, she waited patiently until he roused on his own before she asked what he was doing. A playful smile had danced across his face just before he scooped her up into his arms and spun them both around in a wild circle while he laughed and kissed her.

"Soujirou is coming home for a visit!" The exuberance in his voice had brought tears to Kaoru's eyes as she watched the look of pure joyful happiness fill his face and shine brilliantly from his amethyst eyes. "Did you hear me, Kaoru? He is coming home!" Kenshin had dropped her feet to the ground by then, and was practically shouting his joy into the heavens as he crushed her against his frantically beating heart. Then, all at once, he had grown still and quiet, and tears had begun to wash down his glowing face as he cradled the precious knowledge of Soujirou's pending homecoming within the joyous depths of his soul.

"Oh Kenshin, I am so glad for you... for us." Her arms were wrapped tightly around his neck, and she could feel the power of his emotions reaching out to envelope her and pull her into their warm and vibrant embrace.

Kenshin trembled against her as he was finally completely consumed by the joy blossoming within his spirit-ki, and he pressed his tear wet face into the warmth of his wife's neck and pulled the comforting softness of her body as close to him as he could. His beautiful radiant Soujirou was finally coming home, and for the first time in nearly a year the Clan-Himura would be complete. 'He is coming home. Thank you, God, and bless the hands of Kami-sama for bringing my eldest son back to my arms.'

Seta Soujirou had arrived only a few short days later bursting through the front gate of the Kamiya-Dojo like a screaming whirl-wind and shouting at the top of his lungs in a loud happy voice, "Tadaima Otousan and Kaoru-san! Tadaima!" And in the space of only seconds, his travel bags were dropped to the ground and he was completely engulfed within the fierce and powerful embrace of his Father who had then crushed him against his thundering heart while he shed tears of joy and relief all over his neck and travel clothes.

"Soujirou... My Aisoku." The anguished voice of his Father had finally broken through the young man's smiling persona, and he had burrowed against him like a child and let the tears flow from his own eyes. "My beautiful radiant Son of the Wind. Okaeri home. We have been parted from one another for too long. I have missed the feel of your ki within my soul. That I have."

"And I have missed you as well. I have missed all of my whole family, but... I have missed you most of all, My Chichioya. I have missed you so very much." Then Soujirou's arms had tightened around Kenshin and he felt the feather soft touch of his son's lips pressed against his throat. "Aishiteru, Chichioya. Tadaima at last."

"Aishiteru, Aisoku. Okaeri home, and may you never be gone away from us for so long again."

From that day forward to the presant, the Kamiya-Dojo seemed to be bursting at the seams with occupants which, in itself was strange after it had stood so close to being empty for such a long time. Now it harboured the many souls of the Clan-Himura including, but not limited to Himura Kenshin and his wife Kaoru. Kenshin's two adopted son's; Seta Soujirou and Myojin Yahiko, and the couples natural born son, Himura Kenji. Also in residance was Kenshin's adopted Father and former Master, Seijurou Hiko, as well as Takani Migumi who had been part of the original Kenshin-gumi for nearly three years.

Seven souls resided beneath the arched tiled roof protected from the chilling rain and freezing winds as Winter quickly approached chasing Autumn away into the fading orange sunsets, but even that was odd since it seemed to everyone that the weather had snapped cold so abruptly in just the last week. Snow would be coming soon, but was not usually expected for at least another 6-8 weeks.

However, all things considered, everyone agreed the oddest thing that had occurred since Kenji had been born was the unexpected and unexplained appearance of Segara Sanoske on this very morning. He had exploded through the Dojo gate shouting in exuberance that he had come home at last and was never going to leave again, and then after that astonishing announcement, he had scooped a stunned Migumi up into his strong arms, kissed her passionately on the mouth, told her he loved her, and asked her to marry him and have a whole bunch of little foxes and rooster heads with him. Poor Migumi. She took one open mouthed numb look into his twinkling soft brown eyes, and fainted dead away.

Everyone else had sat nearly as stunned as poor Migumi, until Kenshin had finally stood up and walked quietly over to the tall brown eyed gangster. He gently took the unconscious form of Migumi out of Sano's arms and laid her softly on the grass, and then he turned and favored the now nervous man with a cold golden tinged violet glare.

"Three years, Sanoske. Nearly three full years and not one letter of news. Not one word of your whereabouts or welfare." Kenshin's right hand was balling up into a tight white knuckled fist at his side, and his pale eyes were quickly becoming more dangerous and violent looking by the moment as the gold in them spread to eliminate the violet completely. "Do you have any idea how much we have worried over you? How much we have wondered whatever became of you, and whether or not you were even still alive? Did you ever stop to think that we might be concerned about you? That we might... THAT WE MIGHT MISS YOU, YOU STUPID ROOSTER HEADED IDIOT!" Then Kenshin's balled up fist swung lightening quick and landed solidly against Sano's jaw with bone cracking accuracy.

TWWAAACCCKKK!

Sanoske went sailing head over heels plowing up a huge cloud of dust as he slid to a stop in the dirt about 15 feet off to Kenshin's left after making an exceptionally hard landing on the ground. A loud coughing choking sound was heard inside the dense dust cloud, and then he reappeared wiping blood off his chin and wearing a cocky grin on his wicked handsome face.

"I think your getting better at this." Spitting some blood out on the ground, he rubbed his jaw thoughtfully and remarked with amusement in his voice. "I'll definitely admit one thing. You sure do punch a helluvalot harder than I remember."

Kenshin's violet-amber eyes started to twinkle with amusement and pleasure as he watched his friend stumble out of the dust. "You deserved that you know." His voice was rock hard, but the hint of a smile was tugging at the corner of his mouth. "And you probably deserve a heck of a lot more just for the hell of it, and I would love to be the one to give it to you, but I am just too damned tired." Anger, amusement, and relief were battling inside of the red-haired Samurai as he struggled with the reality of confronting Sano after all the time that had passed, and his inner conflict was made evident by his lapse in vocabulary choices.

"Yeah, I know. You're probaby right. I probably do deserve more, and most likely worse, but... it sure is good to see you again, Kenshin. It's good to see everybody." Sano dropped his gaze and blushed in discomfort. Emotion had never been Sano's best area. "I guess... well, I... uhh, ah shit... I missed you guys too." He gave Kenshin a lopsided smile and kicked a rock with the toe of his shoe. "So, you gonna forgive me or what?"

Kenshin finally gave in and threw his head back and laughed outloud, and, approaching his very tall very nervous friend, proceeded to embrace him in a fierce hug that almost forced all of the air out of Sano's lungs. Sano looked as if he might cry like a little kid as he wrapped his arms around the best friend he had ever had, and the one man he respected and trusted the most in the world.

"Welcome home, baka-shin-yuu. You have been gone far too long. That you have."

"Thanks." Sano's voice was rough and heavy with emotion. "Thanks Kenshin."

Kenshin pulled away smiling hugely. "Come with me. There is someone I would like you to meet." Sano looked at him in confusion but followed obediently as he was told. Kenshin led him over to the cherry tree where everyone was setting on a blanket that had been spread out on the ground, and his eyes grew huge as he took in the strange cast of familiar and unexpected faces.

Kaoru was setting directly against the old cherry tree, in fact it seemed to be offering her some sort of physical support, though Sano could not understand why she would need it. He also noticed that she seemed to be wrapped up in blankets which also baffled him because this was one day that the Sun had actually decided to shine, and the air was quite warm, but shrugging to himself, he thought maybe she had been sick or something.

"Hello jou-chan." Smiling warmly but with a definite hint of embarressment, Sano lowered his length down beside Kaoru warily watching her reactions to him closely. He was trying to be prepared for that magic bokkon of hers that always seemed to appear out of nowhere and crush his skull when he least expected it, but to his surprise she just favored him with a beautiful smile and inclined her head in acceptance of his presance. Sano froze as he looked into her glowing face and found himself mesmerised by the most beautiful smile he had ever seen. He could tell there was something different about her, but he could not quite put his finger on what it was.

"Welcome home, Sanoske." She smiled again, and he felt himself drowning in the deep pools of her amazingly blue eyes.

"Thanks." Was all he seemed to be able to choke out as he stared into her beautiful face. Wracking his brain, Sano desperately tried to summen up a memory of Kaoru's face he could compair to the one he was gazing into now. He could not remember her being this beautiful, or alluring. She looked like an Angel sitting there beneath the old tree.

Kenshin was watching Sano and could not help the knowing smile that curved his lips. She had been having this extraordiary affect on everyone that came to see her ever since Kenji had been born. It was amazing, and Kenshin found it incredible to watch because no one realized what was happening to them.

Kaoru had become the Mother of The Beloved of Fire, and as such, had been blessed with an otherworldly quality that seperated her from the rest of the human race. Including himself, although as the White Warrior, he was allowed the joy and privledge of being her mate and husband. Kenshin felt more than blessed. Not only had the fates chosen him for the great task of vanquishing the evil that had been Elsbeth Katsura, and the responsibility of leading the Elemental Army into battle against The King of Hell, but he had also been chosen to be Father to one of the most profoundly powerful souls to be given life in this world of men.

"Sano," Kenshin knelt next to his wife and tenderly reached out and pulled the edge of the pale yellow blanket back. "I would like you to meet our son, Himura Kenji." The small head of a tiny baby was revealed as the blanket came away, and Sano sucked in a mouth full of air as he stared into the delicate features of Kenshin and Kaoru's first natural born child.

"Your... your son?" He whispered and shot a stunned and disbelieving look at his two best friends. "It's a boy?" A trembling tentative finger reached out and touched one of the tiny fists, and then jerked backed as the fragile fingers stretched and splayed open showing five perfectly formed little digits. "He is so small." He whispered in awe. "I never knew babies were so small."

Kaoru laughed a soft merry sound as she met Sano's shocked brown eyes with her dancing sapphire ones. "How else would he be, Sano? If he was not small, I could have never gotten him out now could I?" As that profound statement sank into his befuddled brain, he suddenly looked at her in horrified understanding.

"Oh Kami-sama! Jou-chan. That must have been really, really awful. I mean, that had to be the worst... Wow! I'm so glad I wasn't here for THAT." Both Kaoru and Kenshin burst out laughing at the terrified look that appeared on Sano's suddenly pale face.

"But Sanoske," Kenshin's amused tone shook Sano out of his horrifed imaginings, and brought him back to the real world. "I thought you just told poor Migumi-san that you wanted to have a bunch of little foxes and rooster heads WITH her?" Deep violet eyes danced wickedly within a face covered by a teasing boyish smile. "How do you think you are going to get all of THEM here if not like this?" A rush of deep laughter tumbled from Kenshin's lips as he decided to farther torture his anxiety stricken friend. "And another thing Sano, do not believe anyone who tells you that the birth of your child is the most beautiful experience you can share with your wife, because its a lie."

"Nani??" He croaked.

"It was worse than the Bakumatsu." Kenshin whispered in a conspiratal voice just before he gave in to another round of muffled laughter at poor Sano's expense.

"Kenshin!" Kaoru nudged him in mock reprimand, but her eyes were twinkling with her own supressed laughter because she knew in her heart, he was right. It had been worse than the Bakumatsu.

"Well, it was koishii. For both of us. That is was." He winked and gently kissed her nose. "But it was well worth it." They shared a special smile that had Sano blushing to the roots of his roosters head hair.

"Yes, it was worth it, Anata. All of it was well worth it."

"Hey, come on you guys. Give a guy a break will ya." Sano groaned and looked away from the mushy couple, and his eyes came to rest of the still unconscious Migumi. He could not stop the smile that came to his lips at the sight of her lovely face. He knew this beauty. Knew it all too well. "Kitsune..."

For three years he had hardly done anything else but think about this woman. The beauty of her face had haunted him everywhere he went, and whenever he got drunk he would mistake every woman with long black hair for her. Many was the time he had to pick himself up of the floor of some teahouse or bar after being beaned with a pitcher or clay jug by a jealous boyfriend, husband, or the woman herself.

The nights had been by far the worst. His dreams were plagued by her image, and he would often wake himself calling her name anxiously as he searched his bed for her, but he would still find it empty just as it was every morning.

It had taken him two years before his stubborn pride would let him admit he loved her. Two years of living in Hell and running away from the deomons of his past. He had heard during that time that Hajime Saitoh was actually still alive and still posing as the Captain of the Kyoto Police. Sano had slammed his fist into so many boulders and trees that he had nearly destroyed the bones beyond any hope of repair.

"That bloody Bastard!" He had screamed as tears had burned in his eyes. "Why did you let everyone think you were dead? Why did you let me think you were dead? Damn you, Saitoh! Damn you to Hell!" After that he had wandered aimlessly without reason or direction until one day he realized that his traitorous feet were taking him home.

When he looked up, he was standing on the outskirts of Tokyo staring at the familiar mountains and valley's he had left so long ago, and Sagara Sanoske had fallen to his knees and cried. He cried for all the loneliness he had suffered in the years since Captain Sagra's execution, and he cried for the waste he had made of his life. He cried for the family he had left behind; his Father, sister, and little brother, and he cried simply because he missed the only people he had ever felt like were his REAL family. He cried for the Kenshin-gumi.

"Can I go home?" He had asked himself. "Is it safe, or will I always be running from one Cop or another? Will they even let me come home?" It had taken him only a few moments to make up his mind, and standing up to his full height, he had brushed the dirt off his clothes and started walking down the road. Towards Tokyo. Towards home. Towards what he wanted most... The Kenshin-gumi, Migumi and a life of his own.

"Kenshin and Saitoh won't let them put me in prison." He said to himself. "I know they won't. Besides, it all happened a long time ago when I was a different person, and those stupid farmers have probably solved their own problems by now anyway."

It had been tough for him to walk the familiar streets as they wound their ways through the city leading to his ultimate destination. The Kamiya Dojo and the family he had left behind the night he fled Tokyo.

A shiver of fear and dread had snaked through him as he wondered if everybody was still there. What if they had moved to Kyoto and were living with Aoshi and Misao at the Aoiya? But the sounds of Migumi's and Kenshin's familiar voices echoing through the outside gate had reassured Sano that the dojo was still home to everyone it should be, and he had gathered up all of his courage and determination and proceeded to do the hardest thing he had ever done in his life. He opened the gate and walked inside to face the people he loved and called his family.

Now he was here inside the beloved walls of the Kamiya-Dojo, but the faces of the Kenshin-gumi had changed since he left.

Setting within the families circle was Seta Soujirou, the Tenken, looking as if he belonged there. A happy serene smile graced his boyish face, and he sat between Kenshin and a much mellower looking Seijorou Hiko. What Hiko and Soujirou were doing at the Dojo both puzzled and worried Sano because he could see no logical reason for either of them to be there. Espeically the Tenken. The fact that the 'Sword of Heaven' was setting so comfortablly within this family unit was bothering him very much. What in the hell had happened after he left? And what in the hell was going on?

Kenshin and Kaoru were both watching the play of emotions and thoughts wash across his face one after the other as he looked at Hiko and Soujirou, but especially Soujirou. 'What are you thinking, Sagara Sanoske?' Kenshin wondered as he carefully reached out and touched his friends ki and found it both confused and angry.

"It would seem a few explanations are in order, Kenshin." The deep baritone of Seijorou Hiko's voice interrupted the tense silence that was beginning to form within the close cirlce of Kenshin's family, as Sano struggled to understand the significance of certain individuals presence there. "Do you not agree, Sochi?" Kenshin smiled warmly into the sparkling emerald green eyes of his Father as he heard him use the honorrific Hiko had started to use in recent months while speaking to him. Kenshin had also adopted his own preferred title to use while addressing his Father, and because Hiko still remained his sword Master, Kenshin had chosen to honor him with a formal address.

"Yes, Chichioya. That I do." As the two men exchanged a meaningful look, the air around the family became charged with a warm pulsing sensation that wrapped itself around a startled Sanoske who could do nothing but stare in stunned wide eyed shock.

"Wh-what the hell?" He looked down at his hands and spread them out infront of him as if he thought he could see or touch the energy he felt holding him like the comforting arms of a loving parent. "Kenshin??" Anxious and confused eyes searched out the gently smiling violet gaze of the red-haired Samurai that Sano thought he knew so well, but as he found himself being swallowed by the power reflected within the shimering purple depth, he knew this man was more of a stranger to him than he could have imagined.

"Do not worry so much, Sanoske. Our life here has changed very much since you left, but it is also still very much the same." Kenshin leaned forward and reached out to grasp one of Sano's trembling hands within his strong steady one. "There is still an open place for you here, shin-yuu. You are still just as much a part of this family as your ever were, so you must not allow yourself to be pushed away by your own misjudgements. Every soul setting within this family circle is here because he or she is meant to be here." Setting back into his original place at his wife's side, Kenshin let his eyes travel from one face to another until he stopped on the last one. Soujirou who was sitting next to him.

Although his gaze caressed the face of his eldest son, Kenshin's voice was speaking to his confused friend. "I can see your confusion, Sano. I can see how desperately your mind is trying to make sense of all of these changes you see, but most of all, I can see you trying to understand why Seta Soujirou is here... setting beside ME." He turned to face Sano, and, inclining his head to one side, spoke in a quiet but very strong voice. A voice that broke no disputes, and would allow no arguments.

"Soujirou is here because I have taken him into my heart as part of the Himura family. I have adopted him as my son. He is my eldest son, Sanoske. He is my Aisoku just the same as Yahiko is my Aisoku, and they are both soul and spirit brothers to mine and Kaoru's natural born son, Himura Kenji." Fierce amber tinged violet eyes locked and held the gaze of shocked deep brown as he continued. "They are all three the son's of my heart and soul. They are my Aisoku and will be until death closes my eyes."

Kenshin watched Sano digest the information he had just given him and he could see the difficulties it was creating within his friend. He was sorry for that, but it could not be helped. Sano had brought that upon himself by not keeping in contact with them after he left Japan.

"I have also resolved my life issues with my Master, and we have come together as Father and Son, thus he is Jijii to my sons'. ALL of them." Sano's head dropped and his hands rose to cover his face as his listened to things he would have never believed were possible. "And, I also have a brother now as well."

"A brother?" Sano's head shot up and he stared at Kenshin. "Who??"

"Because of certain circumstance, that can wait for later explanation, I shared a mind fusion with Shinomori Aoshi and now carry a piece of his ki within my soul just as he carries a piece of mine. This unique bonding has left us attuned to one another's thoughts and feelings in a very... unusual way, and the only way we can describe our relationship to each other is as 'brothers'." Kenshin cast a worried look at Kaoru who nodded at him that he should continue irregardless. "This is my family now, Sanoske. MY family... not necessarily Kaoru's in the sense that Yahiko and Soujirou are NOT her sons' as they are mine, and Aoshi is NOT her brother as he is mine, but they are still PART of her family. Do you think you can understand what I am saying to you my shin-yuu?"

"I-I don't know... I mean, you're talking about people who were your... OUR enemies, Kenshin, and you're asking me to accept them as your kin." Shaking his head in dismay, Sano searched out the gentle blue eyes of the woman setting next to him. "I don't know what to think."

Kaoru smiled softly at his distraught face and reached out to touch his arm tenderly. "Is is all right Sano. Truly it is. You do not have to accept everything all at once, and we do not expect you to. But it is important that you understand that the dynamics of our lives have changed and these people are our loved ones now." Her blue eyes beseeched him to try and see what she was saying to him. "We love Soujirou, Hiko, and Aoshi just as if they were all of the same blood as we are, and you know we have alway loved Yahiko... You loved Yahiko. I think you looked at him like he was your little brother, and that was Ok. You can still do that if you want to... the more the merrier we say." An infectious giggle that sounded more like the old Kaoru bubbled over her lips as she yanked on his sleeve. "There's always room for one more, Sano, and like Kenshin said. You have been gone for too long. It is time you came home, so deal with your problems, get to know these men, and come home for heavens sake. Don't make me come and find you."

"That is right, Sanoske." Kenshin's voice was heavily laced with laughter. "After all, she is 'Kaoru'." And then, for the first time since he had shown up that day, Sanoske burst into laughter as he realized nothing had really changed except a few faces. He could handle a few new faces just as long as he could come home, and he was being told he could, so what the hell? It was what he wanted wasn't it?

Leaning over, he placed a gentle kiss against Kaoru's smooth pale cheek and whispered softly into her ear, "Thank-you, Jou-chan. It feels good to be home again." Then he pulled back and locked gazes with Kenshin, and with in a low meaningful tone, asked a difficult question of the new father. "Will you answer something for ME now, Kenshin? What the hell happened to everyone while I was gone?"

As that unexpected but poignent question wafted through the crisp spring air, Sano watched several odd things happen.

Yahiko scooted a little closer to Hiko who reached one of his big arms out and wrapped it around the young mans shoulders in an almost protective manner. Soujirou also seemed to have moved closer to the big Samurai as an honest look of apprehension washed over his boyish features, and Kenshin became suddenly very quiet as he turned and locked eyes with his wife and both became stoically serious.

One of Kenshin's hands reached out and cupped her cheek as he looked long and deeply into her lovely worried face. A thousand memories raced through his mind as he traveled back to the year before when everyones lives had taken such a drastic turn. Not one member of them had emerged untouched by the events that had occurred during that dark time, yet not one of them had regretted their participation in the nightmare; however, there were other things to regret.

"What happened to everyone...?" Kenshin's voice dropped to a painful whisper and a look of pain and sorrow molded itself to his face as his mind cried in rebellious anguish over the memories that were threatening to float to the surface. The mudane details arrived first, and his consciousness sifted through them easily. They meant nothing in the true scheme of things, so letting them out was not painful to remember.

After Elsbeth Katsura had disappeared, General Katsura had been indited by the Meiji Governement on charges of conspiracy to commit treason. The charges were based on evidence provided by Miko Ishida and his brother Thian, both of whom were police officers in Aziu, and had first hand knowledge of the General's illegal dealings. They had carefully traced his activieties over several weeks, and had finally

caught him in an illegal transaction with foriegn Spanish traders. He was making arrangements to trade Opium for stolen wheat grain which would then be transported into the northern provinces as part of of grand unification plan, but without his wife beside him, Anaki's strength had disolved around like rotting bricks. Eventually he had divulged their entire plan to take over the country. As the plan to assassinate the minister, destroy the trade agreement and peace alliance with Spain was divulged so he and his wife could seize power over the government, he had been thrown into political prison to await his sentancing.

The Governing Party had given him life in prisonment for his treasonous deeds because to put him to death would have offered him the death of a warrior, and it was decided this would be denied him. Thus he was to be inprisioned with his shame for the rest of his life. Kenshin had recieved a letter from Saitoh and Tokio several months later that the General had tried to commit suicide by hanging himself in his cell using the linen from his cot, but the guards Police Comissioner, Kawaji Toshyoshi had ordered to watch him day and night had discovered him hanging from the light fixture in the ceiling and pulled him down. Now he sat in a dark cell with nothing for light but a few candles. Saitoh indicated that the General seemed to be slowly losing his mind to madness.

This had not surprised anyone since he had been under the influence of Elsbeth's evil magic for so many years, it would be difficult for his mind to live without that particular support to hold it together. His was now a mind that was slowly unraveling like a ball of string dropped from a high turret while the end was still being held. Katsura Anaki, General of the Imperial Army was disintegrating into a huddled shivering mass of terrified flesh that hid in the corner of his cell like a frightened rat.

The conspiracy had been thwarted, the doorway to Hell had been slammed shut forever, and Japan was once again safe beneath the blue skies, but for how long. Why had a soul such as Kenji been brought into the world of the living? Why was the Beloved of the Hand of Fire here? What was his destiny to be? Kenshin had been consumed by that question ever since he had seen the massive burned split in the cherry tree and the four precisely placed markers around it. North, south, east and west. It still represented Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. But the true significance eluded him, and should not he of all people understand the meaning. After all, he was the White Warrior; The Elemental Warrior. His ki was made up of pieces of all four of the Elements which made him stronger and more aware than any other fighter living or dead, so why did he not understand? It was a difficult puzzle to accept, and now Sano was setting here asking him what had happened to him to change him and everyone else?

"What happened?" He murmured still looking into Kaoru's large sapphire blue eyes. She was searching his blank violet gaze worriedly as she struggled to see what he was thinking.

"Kenshin? Koishii, what is wrong? What are you thinking?" She asked as she laid a tender hand against his sorrowful face.

"I am remembering a dark night from a long time ago." His low serious voice filled her with dread. "A night when good and evil fought for the souls of the living and control of the world of men." A shiver raced down his spine and he closed his eyes against an image that emerged from a long forgotten place. "Do you remember?" He asked as he raised a trembling hand to cup her worried face.

Kaoru shuddered and pressed her cheek closer into his palm. "Yes, Saiai. I remember."

It almost seemed as if he had been forgotten by all of the adults in the surrounding family circle, but Himura Kenji was very much aware of everything going on around him, and as the emotions within the two people closest to him escalted with the rising of their memories, he began to move restlessly inside the haven of his warm blanket.

The dark oppressing feelings that covered the mans' memories struck a cord deep within Kenji's baby's mind, and he began to experience something strange on his own. Kenji began to remember something about that terrible night as well. Memories he should not be able to recall came rushing to the surface of his consciousness.

A vicious stab of pain, a blinding white light, and then a darkness heavier and deeper than anything he had ever experienced before came to cover him like a smothering cloak.

He could still remember the bright place where his Grandmother had held him and rocked him, singing to him for hours and hours. Kenji loved his Grandmother. With her long flowing red hair and dark sparkling amethyst eyes, she was the most beautiful Angel in all of heaven. She was the one who brought him to the warm peaceful dark place. Kenji could remember her telling him it was a good place for him, and that he would be all right and not to be afraid to go in. It was not the warm dark place he was afraid of, it was the painfully bright light and that awful pain that frightened him so badly.

Kenji did not understand what had happened to him that night, but he had remembered something that his Grandmother had told him before she left. He had struggled to remember it as the fear of disappearing into the nothing place increased, while the pain inside of him had grown worse and worse.

'Daddy.' The word had come to Kenji's thumb sized brain in a rush. 'Daddy.' That was it. That was what Grandmother had told him. Daddy would always take care of him and his mother, and he knew Daddy was here somewhere, and he would save us. 'US?' Who was 'US'? Kenji had wondered, and then had remembered that 'US' was the warm darkness surrounding him, AND him. 'Momma'. That was what this dark place was. His mother. She was hurt, and so was he. "DADDY!" His baby's voice had screamed outward through the walls of his mother's womb reaching for the feeling of the man who was his Father. "DADDY, HELP US!"

Now, as those traumatic memories boiled to the conscious surface of Kenji's three month old brain, he remembered that 'Daddy' had come and saved him and Momma that night. He knew that everything had been all right because Daddy had made the white light go away, and he and Momma were safe. So why were there so many upset feelings around him right now? They felt just like the scared and dark feelings he and Momma had felt that night when the white light had come and hurt them. What was happening around him now that had brought those bad feelings back? Had the white light come back? Was it going to hurt them again? Where was Daddy? Where was Momma? Kenji started to feel a little ball of burning anger growing inside his spirit-self. He would never let the white light hurt Daddy or Momma again.

As his infintile fury mounted, Kenji's spirit-ki began burning red-hot and his natually in-born elemental power level spiked dangerously high. He was close to exploding in his instinctively driven desire to protect his family, and when the energy-core reached critical proportions, for all that he believed was good and right, Himura Kenji let it go.

As the incredible power of Kenji's energy wave exploded outward from his little body, everyone within the family circle was forced to rear back. The wave was immediately followed by a harsh and frightening cry that was torn from the baby's throat, and so enormous was the impact that the unconscious Migumi was even shaken awake.

Little arms stretched out with tiny fists clenched manically tight, amazingly strong little legs fought the material of the blanket until they thrashed loose and began to kick violently in the air. "Kenji?" Kaoru could not believe the amount of fury she could feel eminating from the little body, nor she could believe the enormous wave of spirit-energy that had exploded from him a moment ago. It had not really hurt anyone except to cause some very painful head and bone aches, but the fact that he had done it all was unthinkable. Unsure what to do, Kaoru's terrified blue eyes turned to look at Kenshin's shocked face. "Kenshin, did you feel...?"

He nodded, numb with shock and his face pale as milk. "Dear God, what in the name of Kami-sama...?"

Kaoru was trembling badly as the shock became more than she could bare, so Kenshin tenderly reached out and took the squalling violently thrashing infant from her. Lifting his son into his arms, he carefully brought the wildly thrashing and screaming infant close to his own frantically beating heart. Then, for a brief but poigient moment, Kenshin locked eyes with his own father, and he felt Hiko's confusion as powerfully as he felt his own, and; although, the dark emerald eyes were narrowed into slits apprehension, Kenshin could feel the strength of his father's spirit sliding in next to his offering him encouragement and support.

"Kenji, my son," He breathed softly into the downy red fluff on top of the baby's head. "Be calm, my Aisoku. Shhhhhhh....you must calm yourself." The raging fury that burning within his son's ki both awed and frightened Kenshin. That an infant should possess such a power, and have the ability to manifest it was more than just a humbling thought. It made Kenshin start wondering again just exactly why his son had been born beneath the watchful eye of 'The Hand of Fire', and now he could add the question of why had he been given such a tremendous power? Shoving those thoughts to the back of his mind, he chided himself harshly and returned his focus back to calming his furious son.

A slow rocking motion started in Kenshin's body as he tucked his son's samll head beneath his chin and gently began rubbing his small flat back. "I feel the fury of your Fire, Akachan. I do not understand how that is possible, but it is here for me to touch, and it burns fiercely within your soul. You are very strong, and you are destined to be a great Warrior, Akachan-Kenji, but not yet. For now you must be calm." Kenshin closed his eyes and concentrated on reaching his son's spirit-ki and making an emotional contact. "Here I am." He began when he felt the touch of the small flaming hot ball. "Feel my hands, my son. Feel my spirit, and feel my soul, and know that I am your Father. Know that I am always here for you, Aisoku-Kenji. Always." As Kenshin concentrated on calming the burning fury within his small son, the wisp of a memory came back to him about that night in the Palace. He recalled that he had been able to sense Kenji's spirit essance even then when he could not have been more than a slug of fetal flesh no bigger than Kenshin's thumb, if that. He also recalled that he had been able to to touch that tiny fetal presence and hold it and comfort it within his ki just as he would have if Kenji had been a child, or a baby. Just as he was trying to do now.

'Daddy?' Kenji's little nose nuzzled against Kenshin's throat until he found a comfortable place, and then he began to relaxed inside the circle of his Father's arms. 'Is that you, Daddy?' He could feel a familiar warm presance closing around him and cradling him in its comforting embrace just as it had once before.

Kenshin's spirit-ki enveloped his son and covered him with the warm security of his love and the promise of his protection, and as contact was made, little suckling noises could be heard as Kenji let himself melt into that familiar warmth. He knew the feeling of this entity. It had visited him many times while he lived in the dark place that was Momma, but now it was more than just an intangible feeling. Now It was real. Kenji could feel It breathing underneath him. He could hear Its heart beating, and he could feel the touch of Its hands on his little body. 'Daddy...' His mind whispered and moved towards the entity he identifed as his Father, and as the connection between father and son was completed, Kenshin's violet eyes flew open in shocked amazement.

"Nani...?" Kenshin blinked rapidly in succession several times, and then shook his head slightly denying what he thought he heard. 'My imagination is getting the better of me.' He chided himself, but when it happened again, he could not deny the little voice he heard inside his own head.

'Daddy...' The little voice was more insistant this time as it invaded his thoughts. 'Daddy? Is that you?'

Trembling from head to toe, Kenshin closed his eyes once more and tried to concentrate on the voice of his son. 'Yes, Saiai-Kenji. I am your Father. Do you know me, Aisoku?'

'Yes. You feel just the same as you did before when you visited me inside Momma.' There was obvious relief in the child's voice as he spoke. 'Daddy?' He asked.

'Nani, Aisoku?'

'Where is Momma? I am not in the dark place inside her now, and I can't feel her anymore. Where did she go, Daddy? Did she go away?"

Kenshin smiled and rubbed his cheek against the soft fluffy hair as a tear slid down his face, and was lost in the downy red mass. 'Your Mother did not go away, Saiai. She is here with you. She is with both of us, but like me, she is seperate from you now.'

'Seperate?'

'Yes. She is the one who feeds you, bathes you, and keeps you warm. She is the one who sings to you and rocks you to sleep.'

'That's Momma??!' The little voice sounded joyfully surprised.

'Yes, saiai. That is your Mother. Did you not know this?'

'No. I thought Momma went away from me.' The deep sadness in his son's voice sent more tears down Kenshin's face, and he drew in a deep breath trying to steady himself. 'I was afraid she went to the nothing place.'

'The nothing place? What is the nothing place, Kenji?'

'It is where you go when you don't exist anymore.'

'Oh, I see. Well, Kenji, your Mother did not go to the nothing place and she would never leave you, Saiai, never. Neither would I. We love you most in this world, Aisoku. Do you know what love is, little one?'

There was a long pause as Kenji thought about his Father's question. Then he asked in his sweet innocent but intelligent voice. 'Is this love, Daddy? This warm thing I feel from you? Is this what love feels like?'

'Yes, Kenji. This is what love feels like. Can you feel how much I love you, Aisoku? Can you feel it and understand what it means?'

'Yes...I can feel it. Daddy?'

'Nani, Aisoku?'

'If this is love... then I love you and Momma too.' And Himura Kenshin buried his face against the softness of his son's red hair and wept with the intensity of a joy he had never known could exist in the world. Silent sobs shook his frame as he tenderly cradled his son against his thundering Father's heart.

Kaoru could feel the raging emotions that were rushing within her husband and her son, but she could also feel something else happening and it took her breath away. Her wide blue eyes darted toward and captured the awe filled emerald gaze of Kenshin's Father, and she finally understood what was happening right before her.

They were bonding together; her husband and her son. They were mixing their spirit-ki's and binding themselves to each other in a way only a father and son could. Kenshin had done it with Soujirou that day when he had joined his mind while trying to save him from wounds he recieved in the battle with the Horde, and he had done it with Yahiko in a private place the two of them had chosen after everyone came back from that fateful night in the Palace. Now he was doing it with a three month old infant, but it was difficult to tell which one of them had initiated the contact.

"Kenshin?" Her tender touch on his shoulder brought him back to a sense of reality, and he raised a tear stained face to look deeply into her wide blue eyes.

"He is talking to me, Kaoru. Kenji is talking to me in my mind." Kenshin's voice was filled with awe and joy as well as a mixture of disbelief and confusion. "I can hear him in my head just like I can hear Soujirou and Yahiko, and he speaks intelligently. This is not the babbling mind of an infant, but the clear and teachable mind of a child. He knows me. He knows I am his Father, and he understands you are his Mother. Kami-sama..." Tears streamed down Kenshin's face as a glorious smile shone brilliantly through the strong emotions. "He knows 'us', and he loves us already. Kenji loves us, saiai, he loves us." And Kaoru wrapped her arms around her beloved husband and son as she burst into tears.

Kenji could sense his parents overwhelming joy, and it made him very happy knowing that somehow he was the cause. Now that he knew Momma was seperate from him like Daddy, it was almost easy for him to sense her spirit. After all, the two of them had shared a body for so long he knew exactly what to look for, and he was so relieved to know that she had not gone away. That was something that had been worrying him for quite sometime. It was very good to feel her close to him again.

'Daddy?'

'Yes, little one?'

'Did I make you and Momma happy?'

'Yes, you did, Saiai-Kenji. You have made us very happy. Your Mother wants you to know she loves you very much, and she promises to never leave you just like I said she would.'

'Her love feels different than your's, Daddy. Why?'

"Because she is your Mother. Mother's love is the strongest love in the entire world, and there is nothing that feels the same as it does. It does not mean I love you less, it just means she loves you different. You were inside her body for nine months, and that makes the bond between you very special. Do you understand, Kenji?'

'I understand. Momma's love babies stronger than Daddy's, but not better. I love Momma different than I love you too.'

'You are very intelligent for such a small soul, Aisoku.'

'Daddy?'

'Nani, Kenji?'

"Why are your hands so little?'

Kenshin pulled his head back up in shock. He had not been prepared for a question like that, and he was not completely sure how to answer it. Kaoru looked at him in confusion and asked him what was wrong. Kenshin shrugged. "He wants to know why my hands are so little."

"Nani? Why your hands are little?" Increduality colored Kaoru's voice as she stared at her dumfounded husband. "What kind of a question is that?"

"A legitimate one." Migumi's stern yet bland voice floated over to the stunned couple causing them to turn their confused stares in her direction. "If he is as intelligent as you say, Ken-san, then he is noticing details, and the size of your hands means something important to him. I suggest you answer him and find out what is on his mind."

Kenshin shrugged again and nodded. "I suppose that makes sense, but it still seems like a strange question."

"Only because you are not the one asking the question." Migumi straightened her back and folded her hands primly in her lap doing her best to ignore Sano.

'Why do you want to know about my hands, Kenji?'

'Because, Grandmother told me you were a very strong man and you would protect me with the strength in your heart and your hands, but I do not understand how such little hands could have protected Momma and me on the bad night when the bright light came. Are little hands stronger than other hands?'

The total look of astonishment on Kenshin's face pulled everyone in closer to him and Kenji. He sat speechless for several moments compeletly unable to make a single sound, and when he could speak, his voice was hoarse and raspy as if his throat were to dry to talk.

"Ummmmm... Kenji wants to know if little hands are stronger than other hands because his Grandmother told him I would protect him and his Mother with the strength in my heart and my hands, and he is wondering if that is how I was able to keep him and his Mother safe on the night when the bright light came." Kenshin had to clear his throat and swallow after relaying that startling information to the stunned wide eyed group around him.

"That is impossible," Kaoru whispered. "I was only a month pregnant or so. How could he have any sort of a memory of what happened that night?" She stared at Kenshin in disbelief, but he could only shake his head and look beseechingly in Hiko's direction begging for advice. Unfortunately, Hiko, Soujirou, and Yahiko all looked just as shocked and speachless as poor Kenshin. He would find no help there.

"A pre-infantile memory?" The doctor in Migumi was totally astonished and intrigued by the possibilities this represented. "A fetal memory... that is extraordinary."

"I don't know what the hell is going on here, but its getting way too wierd for me. Somebody better bring me up to speed, or I'm outta here." Sano had been looking from one shocked face to another with growing apprehension until he could not take it anymore. "I mean, we've been through some pretty strange shit, Kenshin, but what's going on here right now... well, its way over my head. And what's all this talk about 'that night' and 'bad bright lights'? What the in the hell happened to you guys?"

A dozen eyes in various states of confusion and astonishment, turned to stare at Sano as if everyone had completely forgotten he was even there, and then they all looked at each other questioningly because it seemed no one knew how to answer his questions. It had been difficult enough explaining it all to Migumi when she came home, but the thought of trying to get Sano to understand everything that had happened was almost unthinkable. Finally, Kaoru turned a pensive face in his direction and met his anxious glare.

"Ummmmm, Sano... The 'things' that are being mentioned happened almost a year ago, and there are a lot of memories most of us would rather forget about. It was a very bad time... for all of us here, but it is what brought us together and made us the family we are."

"Ok, I get it. It was all bad and nobody wants to think about it anymore, but I'm setting here watching Kenshin talk to a three month old baby INSIDE HIS HEAD for God's sake, and you expect me to just say that's ok?" His deep tenor voice rose an octave as he lost a grip on the anxiety eating at his sanity. "I don't think I can do that, Jou-chan. I mean, you asked me to accept, the big jerk and the Tenken without any explanations and I said 'Ok', but this is going a little bit too far don't you think?"

A weary smile crossed Kaoru's face as she thought about Sano's perspective on the situation, and she had to admitt he did have a fairly legitimate point. It was a lot to ask someone to accept on nothing more than his Faith in his friends. She cast a furtive look at her worried husband, and then another at the three other male figures setting within the cirle of her family, and from earch she recieved a nod of understanding and approval. Returning the nod in agreement with them, she turned back to Sano, and locked gazes with him.

"All right, Rooster Head. This is how it is going to go. I am going to tell you everything, Ok, but if you so much as call me insane or crazy once, I'm beating the shit out of you."

"Kaoru!" Kenshin scowled at her from over the top of Kenji's head. "Do we have to start this all over again, JOU-CHAN?" His violet eyes were twinkling, but she could tell he was also partly serious about her lapse in verbal etiquette.

"Oh, dear. So sorry, Himura-san. Onegai yousha, Great One. I will be more aware of my speach content from now on. I promise." And then fluttering her long ebony eyelashes coquettishly at him, Kaoru stuck her tongue out briefly in a show of blatant disrespect. Hiko exploded into thundering raucous laughter which had Soujirou and Yahiko joining him in seconds.

"I said it before, Sochi. I'm glad she is your problem and not mine." Green eyes filled with hilarity mocked Kenshin as he struggled not to succumb to his father's ill placed myrth.

"Chichioya!" He yelled above the din. "How am I ever going to get her to stop cursing if you continue to laugh at her stubborness everytime I try to correct her? Besides, you are being a bad example for Soujirou and Yahiko."

"That is not my problem, Sochi, now is it? I'm just the Ojii, you are the Otousan." And the three of them had disolved into uncontrolled peals of laughter that had them leaning against each other for support. Poor Sano. All he could do was watch and wonder what he had gotten himself into.

Over then next several hours Kaoru took careful pains to explain to Sanoske everything that had happened from the time Kenshin had first encounted Elsbeth Katsure in the Taki Mountains, to the fateful night within the Imperial Palace Throne Room. To his credit, Sano had sat and listened intently to her every word and to anything any of the others decided needed to be added at certain critical points where Kaoru's explanation was more limited. He listened to how Kenshin had evolved into the White Warrior by rebuilding his ki out of pieces of Hiko's, Aoshi's, and Soujirou's ki's which were given to him by each of them, and he had stared at his friend it awe when he learned what that new ki had made him capable of.

He learned the story of the battle with the Zombie Horde, and felt himself shudder at the thought of what these men had seen and, again found himself setting in awe of Kenshin.

The battle at the Palace had left him astonished and shaken, and Sano found he could no longer look his friend in eyes. Not only that, but what was this he was hearing about Yahiko? A wild ki with enough power to crack the planet in half if he wanted? What was up with that, and how had the kid managed to get himself tangled up with the DEVIL and win for Kami's sake? Sano stole a tentative look at the young 14 year old setting across from him, and met a gentle but very mature gaze that spoke peace and friendship to him. Yahiko... A spirit ki stronger than anyone elses in this circle? Sano did not know if he could handle that, but, just by looking at the kid he could tell it had to be true.

Demon's appearing out of a lightning that had a mind of its own, Devil's with bulls horns and hooves, and a Witch of noble blood who could turn into a monster and cast evil spells... Sano's brain felt like it was going to explode.

"Stop..." He whispered as he dropped his head into his cupped hands. "Please, stop. I can't handle anymore right now, Ok. It's not that I don't believe what you're telling me... It's because I do believe it, and it's just too much to take in all at once, all right. Gimme a little time, please."

Kenshin traded emathetic looks with his wife and then quietly addressed his stunned and wilted friend. "It is all right to feel overwhelmed, Sanoske. Please believe me, shin-yuu when I tell you WE ALL know how you are feeling right now. Try to imagine living the reality of what Kaoru has just told you, and you will understand why we would rather forget what happened than remember. Too many times each of us questioned our own sanity as well as our ability to continue forward and finish what had to be done. Each of us had our own part to play, and none of us would have survived if those parts had not been performed to completion. That is what binds us so tightly to one another... the fabric of our life energies have mixed and intertwined with one another to the point that we cannot deny who or what we are to each other."

Sano raised his head and met the clear dark blue-purple of Kenshin's gentle but profound gaze. "We are foever bound together as one family for the rest of this human life, and perhaps even into those lives that wait for us beyond this one."

"Even Saitoh? You did not share ki's with Saitoh, so how does he fit into all of this?"

Kenshin turned and shared a wicked smile with Hiko whose green eyes were dancing with undisquised amusement. "Saitoh is special, Sano. Saitoh risked his life to help me save Yahiko from the underground prison, and then swore his life to me and followed me into battle as part of my Army. Saitoh has become a... " He paused searching for the right word, but Hiko beat him to it.

"Saitoh is a cantancerous sonofabitch who wears his arrogance and pride like most people wear their clothes... but we would not know what to do with ourselves if he changed. Would we, Kenshin?"

Kenshin began shaking his head as a low deep rumbling started in his chest and escaped in amused chuckles of defeated resignation. "No, Otousan, we would not know what to do if HE ever changed, but it is definitely nice to have him around. At least he keeps you occupied so you leave me alone once in a while." That made Hiko roar with laughter.

Sano stared at the howling Samurai and then looked at Kaoru helplessly.

"Hiko and Saitoh are about as close as brothers like the two of them could get." She leaned over and dropped her voice to a loud sarcastic whisper. "It would figure they'd get along though. They are both insufferable concieted assholes who have huge ego's to match."

"KAORU!!" Kenshin's voice was drowned out by the combined hysterical laughter of everyone, and all he could do was give in this time and admit defeat. Soon, his deep laughter rang out and joined in with the others as the Clan-Himura rejoiced in just being able to enjoy being together.

Kenji snuggled closer against the curve of his fathers warm throat, and finding his little thumb, sucked it into his mouth and relaxed completely within the security of those strong arms.

'Grandmother was right,' He thought to himself just before he drifted off to sleep. 'Daddy does have strong hands even if they are little. I have little hands too, but one day I will be as strong as Daddy. I know I will.' And then the little spirit nudged against the burning soul that held him trying to get its attention.

'Daddy?'

'Nani, Aisoku?'

'I love you.'

'Aishiteru, Kenji-aijou. Setsuai, My beautiful son. Go to sleep now, and dream beautiful dreams, Aisoku. I will always be here for you. Itsumadema.'

This chapter has a lot of reference to chptr. 18 of 'The White Warrior' when the Kenshin-spirit was trying to rescue Kaoru and he could feel the duplicity of souls with in her. Kenji is having fetal memories of that night, and remembering the touch of his Father's Spirit-ki, and it acts as a catalyst to initiate the wake-up for his own (even thought he is just a tiny baby). (He is Beloved of The White Flame after all.)