EPILOGUE: Suteki No Mirai (Beautiful Future)

"Kenshin no baka!"

Sano hid the smirk he had on underneath his palm. Unfortunately, the situation was too hilarious not to laugh at, and he ended up bursting up laughing. Yahiko joined in the laughter as he sat beside Sano.

They had just finished dinner and were relaxing on the porch. Kenshin had gone fishing after dinner for breakfast tomorrow, but he came home empty handed. Kaoru got pretty mad at this, so she chased the samurai with a bokken.

"Minna? What's going on?"

Sano stood up at the familiar voice to see his silver-haired, blue-eyed wife carrying a baby girl with a brown-eyed boy clinging to her. The child was eating some ame and was looking with admiration at him and he smiled.

"Souzo!" Sano hollered as the child ran to his father's arms. He tickled his son as the child laughed in obvious delight as his wife watched him. After twirling the child around a couple of times, he carried him on his arm and turned to his wife, "Meiou, you're still beautiful…"

Meiou raised herself up and kissed him lightly on the lips, "You say that as if it's a bad thing…"

Sano smiled at her as he patted and played with his son. Meiou smiled as a flash of memories came to her mind.

After that fateful fight at the temple, Sano had married Meiou in the Christian Church. He decided that the only way he could legally marry her in only one religion. And since he knew that Meiou would never switch religions, he decided to switch for her.

They were married two months since the incident at the shrine, and seven more months after that, their son, Souzo Akari Sagara, was born. He was very healthy baby, and both of his parents were very proud of him, he was a very smart boy, who at the age of two was already showing signs of being a wonderful swordsman.

A few months after Souzo's second birthday, Sano and Meiou went to another honeymoon to Shimabara, where they visited Sayo's grave and conceived their second child. She gave birth to a healthy baby girl a few weeks ago, and had just recently been released from Genzai-sensei's clinic. She hasn't named the baby yet, but she now has the chance to tell them.

"MEIOU!"

Kaoru and Yahiko ran towards the couple with Kenshin smiling behind him. Kaoru had taken the child in her arms, much to the relief of Meiou, as she was beginning to feel slightly tired from holding her baby. She sat down on the porch as she watched Kaoru and Yahiko play with the girl.

"So… what's her name going to be?"

Meiou smiled at Kenshin, and turned to Sano who seemed to be interested in what she was going to say.

"I'm… I've decided to name her…Sayo Shiro." Meiou said as she raised her eyes to her husband, "That's what I always wanted to name her… in memory of her aunt…"

Sano thought for a moment, "…Sayo Shiro Sagara. It's a good name…" He smiled down at his wife before bending over and kissing her lovingly, "I like that name."

Meiou was very happy at what her husband said, and gave him a passionate kiss as a thank you. Kenshin merely smiled at them, as Kaoru and Yahiko began entertaining the baby and has started calling her 'Sayo-chan'.

Sano smiled at his wife, "I couldn't have asked for a better name for our daughter…"

Meiou smiled at him and said, "Thank you for agreeing with me about the name."

"Do itashimashite…"

"MEIOU! SANOSUKE!"

All of them turned to Megumi, who came to them in an excited near run, holding what looked like a letter in her hand. She stopped short in front of them and said, "Minna, I have a letter from Shogo and Shozo!"

All of them gasped in delight as Meiou took the letters in her hand and slowly unraveled it. She read it quietly first, until Yahiko shouted, "Read it for us, Meiou."

She nodded as she began to read.

Dear Meiou and everyone in Kyoto,

I am very pleased and thankful for the letter you all have sent me. I am missing Japan and Shimabara, and your letters have given me joy once again. We owe you all so much.

It is good to see that you are finally married, cousin Meiou. Although I apologize deeply for not being able to be the one to give you away, I wish you the best in life and complete happiness with Sanosuke. I am sure that is what Sayo would want me to say… and I am very sure that she was there, during your ceremony of matrimony. I am very proud of you, cousin.

I received the wood print picture of my nephew and niece. They look like young angels, and Sayo looks like her deceased aunt. I am thankful you have named your child after her. She would truly be honored.

We are doing pretty well here in Holland, and everyone is very happy. The gaijins have a great belief in God, and every one of us is starting to follow them in their faith in God. Here, no one is judged by his or her religion, and for that reason alone, we are quite thankful. The children are very excited here during the winter months, as the foreign children began teaching them how to make 'Suno-mansu'. I just wish you were here to see it with us; your family would truly be delighted at the sight.

Cousin, I have a favor to ask of you… it is too much of a favor, and I wouldn't mind if you refuse. I was wondering if maybe you could someday come here to Holland and visit us. Also, I would like to carry my nephew and niece in my arms. We would welcome you all, and we even agreed to make a nice 'paruti' if you come. But I would understand if you couldn't come.

I will finish my letter here. I hope to hear from you again soon. Please think about my request. I wish you the best in life, cousin.

Your loving cousin,

Amakusa Shogo

My dearest friends, Sanosuke and Meiou,

It is good to hear from you again! I have missed you all very much! I am very thankful that you have given us news about Shimabara… I was already very worried about some of our followers that were left there.

So, Sagara Sanosuke was finally married… to my mistress' cousin, no less! What surprising news! I wish you the best, Sano. You should be proud to have married a fine lady. I'm sure my Lady Magdalia would truly be happy. As for you, Meiou… I should warn you! Be wary of Sano! He is quite a fighter, and he has learned quite a lot from just fighting with me. I hope that you won't lose to him.

Lord Shogo has shown me a picture of your children, and I agree with the master when he said they looked like angels. They are such beautiful children, Meiou, and I hope that they become good Christians and follow the teachings of God as they grow older.

Lord Shogo has also told me of his invitation for you to come here. I really hope you would! I would like to announce to you that I am currently engaged with a woman, and I would be honored if both of you will come to our wedding. The Polish Consulate has agreed to provide us for our wedding, which is a great delight to my fiancée. I am convincing Lord Shogo to be married at the same day as us, as he is currently in love with a Polish woman. I hope I'll be able to convince him, that way we'll have a double wedding! I really do hope you can all visit us…

There is still so much I wish to tell all of you, but I guess it will have to wait. I really hope you could all come visit us, so we can have a celebration in your honor. Until then, God bless you all!

Missing you all,

Your servant, Shozo

Meiou folded the letter neatly, as she smiled and looked up at her husband. Sano was smiling also, while his son cuddled at his neck. The rest of the gang, who were all listening attentively, also smiled. Kenshin leaned back and smiled, "It is good to hear that they are all doing well."

Kaoru smiled as she tickled Sayo under her chin, "Yes, who would've thought that the both of them could be married at a foreign country."

Yahiko sighed, "I just wish we could really visit them…"

Megumi got a look of devilment as she said, "Speaking of getting married… When are you two getting married, Kenshin? I'm sure Kaoru is getting tired of waiting. Look! Even Sano got married before you!"

Kaoru turned beet red as Kenshin sweat-dropped and said, "Orooo…" Yahiko merely snorted and said, "I don't know if Kenshin would want to get married to a BUSU!"

Kaoru forgot her embarrassment as she hollered, "Well, I don't think Tsubame would want to get married to someone named YAHIKO-CHAN!"

"NANI!"

Kaoru gave Sayo back to Meiou as she smiled, "Sayo's asleep now, Meiou. I think you should take her to bed. And Souzo's way past his bedtime."

At her words, Yahiko chortled again, "Yeah! Before they wake up looking at a BAKEMONO!"

The two began their routine fight as Megumi and Kenshin laughed at them. Meiou carried her child into her arms to a nearby room as her husband followed her.

She laid her little Sayo down the futon as Sano did the same to a now sleeping Suozo. She kissed her children on their forehead saying, "Oyasumi nasai, Sayo… Souzo…"

Megumi appeared then, and knowing her role, sat down close to the children and began reading a book. She nodded to Sano and Meiou, who smiled as they left the room to the garden. She knew they still had so much to talk about.

In the garden, Meiou raised a hand and pushed a strand of hair away from her face. She looked at the moon and said, "Suteki da ne…"

Sano wasn't looking at the moon, but at his wife, whom he missed after being hospitalized for nearly two weeks. He looked at her as intense as he did the first time he admired her beauty. He watched as the wind played with her silver locks, the moon making her ocean blue eyes glitter with unspeakable beauty. He reached out and touched her cheek, loving the feel of her warm, silky skin. "Hai…" he murmured, "Suteki desu…"

Meiou looked at him, her face turning pink from his compliment. She looked down shyly at the ground and said, "Have you gotten a job already?"

He smiled as he drew her close to his arms and embraced his face into her hair, "Daijobu, I already have a job. I got a job as a tactician in Army, and I was allowed to consult with Kenshin if ever I don't know what to do. You don't have to worry." He nuzzled her neck, making her breathe deeply and sigh out loud, "I missed you, Meiou."

Meiou drew away from him a little, and looking up at him, ran a hand through his unruly brown locks as she said, "I missed you, too, Sano."

Sano smiled as he bent down and kissed her passionately, remembering their past and knowing that she was the woman he had totally fallen head over heels in love with.

He drew away from her reluctantly and putting an arm around her, drew her close to him as they walked back to their children's room.

Meanwhile, a tennin named Sayo Amakusa watched them from the sky, and she smiled at them, and with a wave of her hand, sprinkled them both with her blessings of happiness that she knew they both deserve.

OWARI (END)