Years later, in Fukuoka,
For the millionth time that day, Ren was looking at her old sword. Secretly and silently, she missed her old shinobi life, but that life was way behind her now. However, it was not the sword she missed but her clan, her family. Ren did not have to give up being a shinobi, she and her family could easily rebuild the clan if they wished to, but Ren did not.
She was a shinobi to her uncle's clan and her uncle's clan only. If she would rebuild the clan, it just would not be the same and besides, she has much more important things to focus on.
"Mama!" A ten-year-old girl who looked much like Ren, chirped as she barged in the room. The girl had dark brown hair, light skin, and gold eyes. She was wearing a pink dress and a white headband. Ren looked to her, smiling and held out her arms for the girl to immediately run into. "Hello, Shen, did you have fun at school today?"
Shen pulled away and nodded. "Yes! Today, my friends and I went to the museum! You should have seen it mama! There were all kinds of beautiful paintings!" Her daughter exclaimed before rambling on excitedly. Ren chuckled and patted her daughter's head, stopping her ramble. "It sounded like you had quite the adventure."
"I did! Oh! And do you know what else?!"
"What?" Ren urged.
"My teacher told us about America, especially this city called New York! She said she visited it once when she was younger, and she can safely say that it was the greatest city in the world. She said it is a place where people go when they are searching for something. It is a place for endless opportunities and possibilities. With all different kinds of people and cultures! Do you think we could go there someday?!"
Ren smiled in full amusement at her daughter, loving her curious and adventurous spirit. "We will have to wait and see, Shen." Ren was not against visiting America. She herself has never been, so she was also very curious about it but right now, money was tight, and she had other plans in mind.
"Ren! Shen!" Kenshin's voice called and Shen quickly went to wrap her arms around his waist as soon as he came in. "Papa!"
Kenshin stumbled a bit with a hearted laugh and smiled down. "Hello, Shen." He picked her up and kissed her forehead. "Did you miss me?"
"Yes!" Shen said while wrapping her arms around his neck, making him chuckle. Ren smiled warmly at the scene. In her old life, being a mother and a housewife would have never been her first choice but now, she is very happy with how her life turned out.
It was only a year after the war when the two found out that they were pregnant with Shen. Ren did not know how to feel about it, she had still not been over her grief but when Shen was born, Ren felt like she could be happy again. Though...she did have to make a few hard decisions.
Before Shen, Ren was determined to make things right, to bring justice to her family and clan. She planned to even convince her family to join the Hamato Clan so they could help anyway they could, just in case anyone who was loyal to Oroku Keiji came to attack but then Shen came, and her safety as well as her needs became priority.
Ren remembers herself as a child, with her father always too busy to spend time with her because he was always off on the field. Ren did not want to do that to Shen, she wanted her to grow up with both her parents and have a normal life. So, Ren decided to officially retire from being a shinobi.
Somedays, she finds herself regretting the decision when she hears people getting hurt on the news because no one was there to protect them...just like no one was there to protect her clan. As a mother, yes, she knows she made the right decision but as a shinobi who vowed she would give her life to protect someone else's...she was not sure. Ren became a shinobi after her mother got attacked by a Foot ninja. She never wanted to see someone so innocent and sweet, get hurt like that ever again. So, she instantly demanded her uncle and father to train her.
Fu, of course, was against it. He never wanted Ren to follow in his footsteps, but she somehow convinced him anyway. Ren did not enjoy fighting; she did not enjoy the field. She simply just wanted to protect those who could not protect themselves but as her father always reminds her, you can not save everyone.
Ren never was a warrior, not like her father but she was for sure a fighter and she will fight till her very last breath for her daughter. The whole world can burn but Shen will not burn with it. Ren will make sure.
"Are you looking at it again?" Kenshin asked suddenly, startling Ren a bit. She looked at her covered old sword and sighed, "Yes."
Kenshin put Shen down and smiled. "Do you regret it?"
Ren smiled at him and stood up before kissing his lips. "Never." She then kissed Shen's cheek as she looked at her parents quizzically. "What are you two talking about?"
"Nothing, my daughter," Kenshin answered. "Why don't you help your grandmother prepare dinner."
"Ok!" Shen ran out of the room, her parents watching her go before Ren turned to her husband. "Are we still going out tonight?"
"Of course. Why would we not?"
"Perhaps because I am still against it," A stern voice said and Ren looked to see her father, who was frowning in full disapproval. "Baba, Kenshin and I have not gotten a chance to spend some time alone since we moved here. We will not be gone long."
"I just worry for your safety, Ren. The war may be over, but I still fear that there is still danger," Fu warned her. "Oh Fu," Lin chimed in as she walked into the room. "Ren and Kenshin will be fine."
"Yes, and it is not like we are going anywhere far."
Fu still did not look satisfied. "Ren-"
"Baba, please!" Ren pleaded, giving her father puppy dog eyes. Honestly, Ren hated to resort to begging. At the end of the day, it is her decision and a grown woman like herself should not have to ask her father for permission to spend some time with her husband but still, Ren wants there to be no arguing when she leaves tonight.
Fu opened his mouth to protest but the look in his daughter's eyes, he just could not bring himself to do it. He sighed and glared at Kenshin. "You protect my daughter, Kenshin."
"Yes, sir." Kenshin nodded, nervous sweat falling from his head as Ren looked at her father a bit annoyed. "I can take care of myself, father."
"I never said you could not," Fu noted. Lin sighed. "Look at us, it feels like we are back to how things used to be when we were living in China."
"You are from Fukuoka as well, aren't you, Miss Tang?" Kenshin asked.
"I grew up here, yes but Fukuoka was never really my home. No, I did not feel like I had a home until I met Fu," Lin said, smiling at her husband who could not help but smile back. "I always wondered, but how did you find yourself in China?" Kenshin then asked and Ren gasped. "Oh yes, tell the story, mama! I always love that story..."
Lin gave a hearted smile. "Very well. Long ago, I was a young ribbon dancer in Fukuoka. I performed for many people, at many different kinds of occasions but the dance I did in China, was the one I most treasured. The Ancient one, had just gotten married and he asked for the best dancers to be found for his grand party. I, somehow, was one of the many women that got chosen. It seemed like a great opportunity, one I could not pass up so of course, I said yes. To say I was nervous was an understatement, I had never performed in a room full of great masters and shinobis, but I was also very excited for the new experience. The girls and I danced our hearts out, smiling as everyone cheered and clapped for us but in the middle of our performance, Fu, accidentally stumbled on the floor and bumped into me."
Lin paused to laugh lightly at the memory. "He was a very nervous and awkward man back then." Fu gave her a not too serious scowl at that as Lin continued, "He offered me his hand to help me back on my feet...our eyes locked and I asked him if he would like to dance with me. He nervously said yes and the two of us danced on the floor. I felt as though no one was in the room but us. The whole dance floor was ours to take, and one thing led to another, I ended up being the wife of a noble shinobi warrior."
"Then a year later, our little lotus blossom was born," Fu added, smiling warmly at Ren who smiled back. "And now, so is Shen," Ren said.
"Yes, three gifts I would never trade," Fu said genuinely as he looked between his wife and daughter. Kenshin cleared his throat, "Dear, we should start getting ready?"
"Right."
"You two have fun and do not worry about Shen, we have everything under control," Lin said with a big smile as she left the room to go back to her granddaughter. "You know her schedule, right?" Ren asked her father, a bit nervous about leaving her daughter for the first time.
"Shen will be fine, Ren. Trust us." Ren nodded as Fu left and the two couple immediately started to get ready.
...
Later,
Ren was dressed in a nice purple dress, with her hair all tied up and a little make up on her face. After checking herself a few times, she sprayed a little perfume and nodded to herself in the mirror for approval. It has been a long time since she has dressed up like this and she wanted tonight to be special since it is the first time, she and Kenshin have gone out alone since they've been married.
Ren walked out of her bedroom and smiled when she saw Kenshin waiting for her. He was dressed in a nice brown suit, with his hair nicely combed and she detected the smell of cologne. "You must be taking me somewhere very fancy," She compliment as she took her husband's hand.
"You will just have to wait and see," Kenshin said, smiling. "And you look beautiful," He added, kissing her hand, making her smile more. She looked at her parents and waved. "We will be back soon."
"Have fun, dear/Be safe," Lin and Fu said at the same time and Ren chuckled at her parents before she and Kenshin walked out.
...
"Wow, Kenshin!" Ren awed when she and her husband stopped at a fancy restaurant. Kenshin smiled. "Do you like it?"
"I love it! You really put a lot of effort into this!" Ren exclaimed as they began to walk in. "Well, it has been years since the two of us were able to go out to dinner."
"I suppose that is true."
The two went to sit by a fancy table, clothed table, soft music playing in the background and a single lit candle set in the center. Kenshin smiled at the amazed look on his wife's face and looked at the menu. "I think I will get the sushi."
Ren beamed. "Oh, that sounds good! I would like that too!"
When the waiter came, the two immediately said their order and they waited while settling on two glasses of wine. Ren sipped her wine as Kenshin sipped his. Ren set her glass down and drifted off to look out the window.
"You know, the cherry blossoms will bloom soon."
Kenshin nodded. "Yes, I know. Shen can not stop talking about it. She loves watching those flowers spring out."
"I was thinking this year, we make it one to remember."
"Oh? How so?" Kenshin asked curiously, taking another sip from his glass. Ren hesitated. "Well...why do we not take her to China this year for the spring festival?"
Kenshin gave a blank look before frowning slightly. "You really want to do that?"
Ren sighed. "I know what you are thinking and yes, I too, am a little worried about enemies still searching for us but...I want Shen to see where I grew up. Even though I am not a shinobi anymore, I still want her to know about the clan. It is her heritage, after all. I want her to know what a great uncle I had and the cousin she could have grown up with. I want her to know all of it, so that...it is not completely gone. So, it is not forgotten."
Kenshin stared at his wife and considered it. He was a little worried about their safety, but he can tell how important this was to Ren. Kenshin was not a shinobi; therefore, he can never truly understand the ways of a clan and the bonds they share. All he knew, everyone in that clan, was like family to Ren. They were her brothers and sisters. Her teachers and supporters. The clan and all the people in it were family to her. She did not want them to be forgotten and Kenshin can understand that.
"If that is what you really want then we will make it happen," Kenshin promised and Ren looked a little aback, expecting him to protest. "Really?"
"Really but...I think it will be hard to convince your father that it is a good idea."
Ren smiled confidently. "Leave him to me. I know how to deal with him."
"Can you do me a favor though?" Ren tilted her head as nervous sweat started to pour down Kenshin's face. "What?"
"Don't tell him I agreed with you. He will have my head for encouraging you instead of talking you out of it." Kenshin shuttered and Ren giggled. "I do not think so. I know he gives you a hard time, but I think he secretly likes you, Kenshin."
Slight hope flashed through Kenshin's eyes. "You think?"
"Of course, if not, he would have beheaded you a long time ago." Ren said, honestly and Kenshin tensed, fear all over his face. "Sometimes I wonder why I married you."
"Because you love me," Ren said with a loving grin which Kenshin slowly returned once he relaxed himself. "Your parents' love story truly sounded like a magical one. Do you think ours is the same?"
"No," Ren said honestly. "But what does it matter? We do not need a great love story to prove we are in love with each other, right?"
"I suppose that is true."
...
After dinner, the two decided to call it a night and walk home. They made plans to talk about their plans to visit China with Fu and Lin later. Ren sighed in content as she leaned her head on her husband's shoulder and looked up at the stars. "The stars are beautiful tonight but I still miss the stars that I would see in China. They were so much brighter there."
"You will see them again, Ren," Kenshin promised and Ren grinned. "I can not stop imagining Shen's face when she sees the festival. I can not wait to take her." Kenshin laughed. "Yes, neither can I."
As the two continued to walk down the sidewalk happily, both anxious to return back to their beloved daughter, figures were hiding in the shadows, watching the two of them closely. "Is that them?" One of them asked in a whisper as the one next to him pulled out a photo of Ren and Kenshin. "Hai, it's them. Tang Ren also known as Lotus Blossom, the fiercest shinobi in China and her husband, forensic scientist Kobayashi Kenshin."
His partner grinned cruelly. "Can you imagine the kind of money we can get from the woman? The last survivor of the Lotus clan and she is a beauty too. As for the scientist, I believe the boss can find some use for him, no?"
"That is for him to decide, from what I heard, he already has plans for them and did you not hear what they said? She is not the only survivor, I think she might have a child too and the boss suspects her parents are alive as well."
"So, should we wait and follow them to their home?" His partner suggested but he shook his head. "No. You must remember, we are dealing with shinobis here. Some say that the Lotus clan have unimaginable gifts. Dealing with one will be difficult but if her parents are alive, we will be dealing with more, making it much harder. No, we must take them down one by one, starting with her."
Ren and her husband were just nearly home when Ren suddenly halted and let out a sharp gasp. "Ren, what is wrong?" Kenshin asked. Ren had fear all over her face and she took a shaky breath, "Something is wrong."
Suddenly, two men dropped from out of nowhere and surrounded them. "Who are they?!" Kenshin gasped as he backed away, pushing his wife behind him. "Who are you?!" Ren demanded but they did not answer, they just drew their guns. "You two are coming with us." Ren's eyes widened and she looked to her husband. "Run!"
He did not need to be told twice, the two quickly bolted, ducking and wincing when they heard gunshots being fired at them. "Who are they?! They do not look like Foot!" Kenshin shouted as they ran for their lives.
"I do not know, just keep running!"
"What about Shen?!" Kenshin called worriedly. "If we go home, we will only lead them straight to her and I am sure my father will protect her, don't worry! We must focus on ourselves right now!" Kenshin nodded at his wife while Ren tried to figure out what to do.
She had no weapons, no way to contact her father and the enemy was shooting firearms at them. If she fought, she would risk getting herself and Kenshin shot. What could she do? She could use her chi but...it has been so long. Can she even pull it off?