"Mama, tell dad I'm going to train with Uncle Sano and Asuma today. See you at dinner!" My 17 year old daughter Izumi called from the front door and closed it behind her running down the street heading for Sano and Megumi's place. She had grown her hair like she wished to when she was younger at it rested against her lower back. She always wore it in a braid or in a low ponytail. Izumi's eyes grew intense like Aoshi's and they sparkled with happiness and she too was full of energy just like me. She looked like my twin only younger. Our daughter was popular with all the boys at her high school and mucked around with them heaps. She was very bright and studied hard like Aoshi but she knew when to relax and have fun. She wasn't really one for girlie things and enjoyed going on camping trips and adventures with her best friends. I had been a little reluctant to send her off with teenage boys but one day I had seen how hard Izumi trained and how good she was and knew she was able to take care of herself. I noticed that everytime Izumi spoke to one of the boys, Asuma was his name and she would turn a little red when they talked. Izumi was a very outgoing and outspoken young lady but meek and shy around this teenage boy. Izumi was experiencing another crush she had on a boy but I knew she was more serious about this boy then any of the others she had eyed off.

"Where did Izumi go this time?" Came Aoshi's quiet deep voice as he walked into the kitchen. I knew he was watching me curiously as I peered out the window into the back yard. I brought up my hand shooing him off as though telling him to quiet down. Aoshi stepped into the kitchen moving closer towards me to see what I was spying on.

"Misao you shouldn't be spying on them!" Aoshi spoke harshly into my ear but stood behind me and watched as well. Outside, in the backyard our daughter Hana and Shujinko Sagara both 13 years old were walking around softly chatting to each other. They had become the best of friends; myself predicting right that something would happen between our daughter and Megumi and Sano's son. We both watched as Shujinko picked one of the flower buds twirling it nervously in his hand but jerked it up in nervousness for Hana to take. I smiled lightly seeing her small blush, her lips making out a thank you.

"She went to train with Sano, but I know she mainly went because of Asuma. She has become very attached to that young man." I spoke softly turned slightly and jabbed my husband in the side, as he wasn't even listening to me. Aoshi grunted lightly, his eyes dropping from the scene to stare down into mine.

"And you say I'm noisy. Admit it that you want to know what will happen also." I knew Aoshi was trying to make up some excuse and instead I kissed his lips and moved away speaking once more.

"Just face it that you are a little scared, because you feel you are loosing your baby girl. Now you'll have to share her with Shujinko." Aoshi tensed behind me and he turned me around to face the window again and whispered into my ear.

"Be quiet and just watch Mrs Know-it-all Shinomori." I giggled lightly, my arms wrapping over Aoshi's as he wrapped them around my slender waist. We both held our breaths as Shujinko stopped Hana from walking and placed the flower into her jet-black hair. Her blush came back, her eyes glancing down in nervousness then back up to stare at a younger version of Sano, spiky brown hair and all but with Megumi's mysterious dark eyes. I felt Aoshi squeeze me a bit tighter knowing his eye sight would catch everything that was happening. We watched as Shujinko's hands clasped Hana's softly, her creamy skin contrasting with his rough tanned skin. They stepped closer together, each staring into the eyes of the other, then closing them as their lips drew closer for their first ever kiss.

"That little sneak!" Aoshi spoke into my ear watching just as intently as I did. I smiled happily my arms wrapping over Aoshi's in comfort as he wasn't too good with seeing his daughters growing up and knowing they would leave home one day.

"He is Sano's son remember." I spoke my heart bursting with happiness at the clumsy kiss Hana and Shujinko shared together. They parted quickly, both faces blushing red at what they experienced. Again they kissed, this time not so much awkwardness and a little longer too. Shujinko pulled away from Hana, his hand going to the back of his neck as he spoke again, giving her a lob-sided grin making Hana turn as red as a tomato.

"You shouldn't spy on Hana-neesan like that." I gasped and Aoshi tensed as we turned abruptly around to see our 10-year-old son Hannya, who had caught us red handed. His hair fell into his eyes; much like Aoshi's still did but was blue-black like mine. He grew his hair as it was placed into a small ponytail that brushed over his shoulders. His blue-green eyes stared accusingly at us as he scooped the last mouthful of ice cream into his mouth. I knew both Aoshi and myself had to wait for our hearts to return to normal at being crept up on by our sneaky son. He was exactly like Aoshi and we watched as he placed his bowl on the counter, crossed his arms over his chest waiting for us to speak standing in a posture much like Aoshi used.

"I'm waiting…" He spoke with much maturity. He looked and acted a lot older then a ten-year-old boy. He wasn't one for silly games, but was a little more serious, but he still trained with his Aoshi and mucked around. He had a close nit bunch of friends all whom looked up to him as though he were some sort of leader, which I thought was quite funny.

"What makes you think we are going to cut you a deal?" Aoshi spoke crossing his arms over his own chest looking down at our son. It was clear to me Hannya was going to be tall like his father, maybe even taller. He was ten and nearly up to my shoulders already! Izumi was my height and Hana and Seki were going to be short as well, which made me feel better. I watched as father and son faced off against each other once more. Hannya placed himself in a defensive stance, his hands fisting slightly as though he were going to battle even though he and his father challenged each other like this everytime he found out something he wasn't suppose to.

"I'll tell Hana-neesan what you two were doing. She'll believe me because I've never lied to her before and I never will." I observed as Hannya gave a small smirk knowing he had won over his father yet again. He stepped slightly back when his father dropped to his knees in front of him and clasped his shoulders lightly. Older blue-green eyes stared into young ones and Aoshi smiled at him and a small grin broke out onto Hannya's lips also.

"You always have one up on me in the household…" Aoshi spoke softly, his hand moving up to ruffle Hannya's hair as he always did. Hannya groaned trying to get out of the hold his father had him in but was unsuccessful.

"Come on dad…stop that! I'm not a little kid anymore." Hannya spoke breaking free, his hands on his hips, his blue-black hair free from the tie and brushing over his shoulders rather messily.

"Yes you are and know matter how old you get you'll always be our little boy." I spoke stepping away from the kitchen window and kneeling behind Hannya to place his hair back in a ponytail once more. Hannya turned his slightly angry eyes towards me but I watched them softened, as he could never show anger in front of me over anything.

"No chores for two weeks." I spoke softly, my eyes glancing over at Aoshi to see him nod once in agreement. Hannya pursed his lips, his head turned to look at his father in front of him and then back to me and he nodded his head walking out of the kitchen towards the front door.

"I'm going to see Beshimi, Hyotokko and Shijuksho. See you at dinner." I blinked a couple of times watching his retreating form and hearing the door open and close as he left the house.

"Is he becoming softer with us at accepting our small bribes at not telling the others we were spying on them?" I spoke a little confused and watched as Aoshi crawled closer, his arms wrapping around me and then standing up taking me with him. I sighed contently being cradled against his chest and snaked my arms around his waist to hold him close.

"No we aren't trying hard enough to win against him. Although it seems he doesn't miss anything in this house so it is very hard to get one up on him." Aoshi replied back placing a kiss on my forehead.

"Just like you…" I mumbled and looked up to see a confused look cross over Aoshi's facial features.

"Don't give me that look anata, I know you and I've heard all the stories of you growing up. Hannya is a young version of yourself just the way you hoped." Aoshi chuckled lightly, letting go of me when we heard the back door close as Hana and Shujinko walked into the room.

"Don't make dinner for me mama, Shujinko is taking me out." Hana spoke in excitement, moving over to kiss my cheek as she always did. Shujinko chuckled lightly as did I when she dragged a chair over standing on it to kiss her tall father. He smirked down at her his fingers brushing lightly over her cheek. I knew Hana was growing up way too fast for his liking. She jumped down, placing it under the table and walked out of the room to race upstairs to grab her shoes.

"Take care of her Shujinko." Aoshi spoke seriously but I watched amazed as Shujinko didn't flinch or anything at the way Aoshi was being very protective of his "little" girl.

"I always will Uncle Aoshi, you know that." He smiled a cocky smile much like Sano always did and waved goodbye to wait for Hana at the door. Silence filled the whole house after the door closed shut as Hana and Shujinko left for their dinner date.

"Izumi's out with that Asuma boy she likes, Seki is on a camping trip with his friends, Hannya will probably be staying at Hyotokko's and Hana is with Shujinko for a number of hours. Shall we adjourn to our room Misao-mine?" Aoshi spoke huskily into my ear, my heartbeat racing and I squealed as he picked me up carrying me upstairs towards our room.

"I thought…Megumi was coming over?" I spoke against Aoshi's neck holding him tightly while brushing my lips over the bare skin I could reach.

"No…she's got two bratty girls to look after since Sano will be busy with Izumi for a while and then Sano was taking her out for a surprise dinner. Let us enjoy the rest of the day and all through the night shall we?" I nodded my head as Aoshi closed our door, lying me gently down on the bed and kissing me softly but rather possessively.

"I love you my wife..." Aoshi spoke softly into my ear and I wrapped my arms around his neck, my eyes glistening with tears and passion, replying in kind before we continued long into the night.

"I love you too my husband…"

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Now it is THE END!

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