"Mama?" Kotori heard come from her voice.
"Yes dear?"
"Where did Papa go?"
"She's gone to see Aunty Tatsumi." Kotori said as she patted the young girl in her laps head.
"Why?"
"She didn't say."
"Oh." The little girl said looking sad.
"Don't worry dear, I'm sure it will be fine." Kotori said giving the girl a reassuring smile.
"But it's been two days."
"It's a long way, be patient, she should be back soon dear."
(Thirty Minutes later)
"Aunty are we going to see her?" a little girl asked Umi ask they walked through the corridor. Umi smiled at the little blunette that was holding her hand.
"Of course we are Saki." Umi smiled as the two entered a garden, which held Kotori who was watching a young girl with blue grey hair who was busy swinging a stick 'Still trying to imitate me.' Umi thought as she watched the sight with a smile.
"Umiko, look whose here." Umi said.
"Saki!" the little girl shouted as she saw who was with Umi.
"Umiko!" Saki shouted in turn before both kids ran towards each other before hugging each other tightly.
As the two kids hugged Umi walked up to Kotori and gave the ashen girl a small kiss "Were things ok while I was gone?"
"Of course, you worry too much." Kotori smiled.
"Sorry."
"Don't be, I find it sweet." Kotori said as one of hands cupped Umi's cheek and gently stroked near Umi's cheek bone.
"Kotori!" Umi said with a blush which got a giggle out of the two girls "Your unfair." Umi muttered as the two kids carried on giggling.
"Sorry." Kotori smiled before turning her attention to Saki "Do I not get a hug to?" Kotori said with a pout to the smaller blunette who responded by hugging Kotori.
"Sorry Aunty."
"It's ok Saki." Kotori said as she hugged Saki back "So how long is she staying with us?" Kotori asked turning to Umi.
"A week." Umi replied.
"Really?" Was the collective response from Saki and Umiko.
"Yes." Umi replied with a smiled and was rewarded with two smiles for the pairs of girls.
"Oh, why is that?"
"Tatsumi wanted Saki to spend some time with her cousin."
"Well then I better get somewhere for Saki to sleep then."
"Can't she stay with me?" Umiko asked.
"If that's what you want, is that ok with you Saki?"
"Yes, aunty Kotori."
"Ok then, we'll go and sort the room then, you two have some fun." Kotori said as she and Umi walked off to the chamber that looked out onto the garden.
"So this was why you had to leave a few days ago?" Kotori asked as she opened the chambers door.
"Yes, Tatsumi said to keep it a surprise for you both, sorry I didn't tell you."
"Don't be, it's a lovely surprise, I enjoy having Saki with us." Kotori said as she turned to look at the two.
Umi turned towards the garden to see the two girls play fighting with sticks at air likely at imaginary people "Saki, Umiko be careful!" said as she watched the two even though a smile crept on to the blunettes face.
"Yes Aunty!"
"Yes Papa." the girls shouted back before carrying on swinging at her imaginary targets.
"Aw, don't ruin their fun Umi."
"Sorry I just don't want them hurting themselves."
"They'll be fine." Kotori smiled.
(Two hours later)
Umi had just finished setting up the extra futon right next so it was right next Umiko's while Kotori had been watching the two from the doorway.
"Umi!" Kotori said in a whisper beckoning the blunette over to the garden.
Umi walked to the garden and was met by the sight of Umiko and Saki asleep at the far end of the garden leaning on each other having worn themselves out.
"We should get them to bed." Umi whispered.
"Ok, I'll get Saki."
"Up we go sweetheart." Umi whispered as she picked up Umiko gently in her arms as the young girl moaned slightly at being parted from Saki who did the same.
Umi slowly carried her daughter through to her bed before laying her down with Kotori doing the same for Saki "It's nice they are so close." Kotori whispered.
"Our families have always been close." Umi smiled "I'm glad these two will carry that tradition on."
"It is." Kotori smiled "Saki really does look like you, you know."
'And she's starting to act like me.' Umi thought to herself worried.
"Something wrong?"
"I just hope Saki doesn't take up my family sword." Umi muttered 'I don't want that burden on your shoulders.' Umi thought to herself, only to feel a pair of soft arms wrap around waist.
"Kotori?"
"Relax, they are still kids, you don't need to worry just yet." Kotori said kissing the blunettes cheek "Let them have their fun for now."
"Sorry." Umi sighed as she melted into Kotori's touch, resting her back on Kotori's front "The burden that sword brought me was heavy and I never realised it till I gave it up the weight it was around my neck, I don't want her to go through that."
"Relax, Umi." Kotori said giving Umi a tighter squeeze "its just them living up to their idol."
"Sorry." Umi said looking down "I'm just glad they haven't done some of the things we did as kids, I must remember to keep a close eye on them when they see Honoka."
"You're never going to let Honoka live the tree incident down, are you?"
"I can't help it, I was scared."
"You didn't show it."
"I was more worried about you at the time, especially when you were clinging to me."
"Umi!" Kotori pouted.
"Sorry." Umi smiled before looking down at the two girls.
"I love you, Kotori." Umi said giving the ashen girl a kiss.
"I love you to, my little samurai." Kotori said returning the kiss.
So this is a Alternative timeline to the Ronin war story where Umi and Kotori have nothing bad happen to them, as i've put them through a bad time in the main story so far and i feel they need some happiness.
