A Wanderer's Sword:

A Sequel to "Broken Hearts"

Ch. 15

Welcome Home, Kenji

Kaoru lay smiling down at the two boys asleep at her side. Kenshin lay on her one shoulder his hand rested softly on their newborn son. Their baby lay in her other arm, breathing softly.

"Hello Kaoru…" Yahiko said quietly as he stepped cautiously into the room.

Kaoru's eyes, which had been drooping tiredly, twitched open. "Hello Yahiko…Sano... Megumi…" she said as Sano and Megumi fallowed him in.

"How's little Kenji?" Megumi asked as she knelt down beside Kaoru. She placed a hand on her head, checking her temperature, "You really should get some sleep, Kaoru."

"I know…" Kaoru said in barely a whisper. "I just didn't want to disturb either of them." Kaoru looked loving at her husband, sleeping like a baby.

Megumi nodded, "Kenshin will be asleep for quite a while, that wound of his will take a good deal of healing, I'm surprised he even made it through to see little Kyoji be born." Megumi wrinkled her nose with a smile and placed a finger on his tiny hand. "He's such a cutie!"

Yahiko inched forward. "He's not all that cute." He lied. "Besides, he's just another distraction…"

"What do you mean Yahiko?" Kaoru asked drowsily.

"It's been months since we've practiced! How will I ever become a great fighter like Kenshin if you keep getting kidnapped and having babies?"

Megumi, Kaoru, and Sano laughed.

"What! It's true!"

Sensei woke several hours later to a headache throbbing down his neck and back. He sat up slowly and stiffly, messaging his head and grumbling loudly. It took him quite a while to remember why he was laying on the hard dirt.

"SHIT!" he swore as he stood up. "That damn Kenshin got away again!"

"I wouldn't say he really got away…" came a voice from behind Sensei.

He turned to look upon Sano, who looked about as mad as a starved pit-bull. Sensei's expression changed dramatically. "I'm happy to hear that the bastard didn't make it," he said with joy and added as a side note, "I'm sorry to say."

"What kind of teacher are you anyway!" Sano yelled with rage. "Shooting a man in the back like that! What the hell is wrong with you!"

Sensei smiled a crooked smile. "Teacher learned a few things about life…" his smile disappeared for a second, "…some terrible things…"

"Well I'll be teaching you one more lesson Sensei…" Sano said raising his fists. "NEVER MESS WITH SANOSKE!"

Sensei stumbled slightly, his blurred vision throwing of his balance. "You're no different than me if you attack me now; I'm not exactly a healthy man after what your late friend did to me."

"We've got a score to settle Mr. Sensei and I don't feel like waiting." Sano said right before disappearing.

"What the hell!" Sensei said looking around him frantically.

Suddenly a sharp pain hit his spine as Sano kicked him squarely in the upper back. Sensei fell limply to the ground, breathing hard and wincing in pain.

"Score settled." Sano said shortly.

It was nearly three weeks later before they made it back to the dojo. As Kenshin and Kaoru turned the bend to look upon home-sweet-home both smiled brightly. "Welcome home Kenji." Kenshin said quietly to the baby in his arms. Kenshin looked into Kaoru's happy eyes.

"I love you…" Kaoru whispered gently to Kenji, then looking up into Kenshin's eyes, "… both of you."

Kenshin held her close to her as they slipped into the quiet house. He stopped at the door, sadness filling his eyes. "I don't think you could ever forgive me for letting that man—"

"Shhhh…" Kaoru said putting a finger to his lips. "You didn't let him do anything, besides; I knew the risks of falling in love with a man like you. Never once have I regretted my decision." Kenshin kissed her softly and in they went.

THE END