Finding herself standing on a ship, Chizuru got more and more excited the closer the shores of Japan got. It has been two years since she and Souzou left for China. They were going to give it at least a few more years, but then Kenshin found them and told them that all the members of the Shinsengumi were presumed dead, as well as the Seikihoutai. So now it was time to come home.

Of course he did bring a little bit of bad news along with him. Some of it she was elated to hear. Like about Heisuke. He has a wife named Mitsu and a son named Taisei. According to Kenshin, Mitsu was being abused by her father and Heisuke stepped in. After that the two were never apart, and married. Soon after she was pregnant and they just had their son not long before he came to get them.

Toshizo had also done well for himself. He found a small town that was growing and started his own dojo again. Just like the one that he and Isami used to run before the war.

Isami and Sanosuke however didn't have such luck. Isami tried to change his appearance, but he was spotted and captured in Tokyo. Thanks to Kenshin speaking on his behalf, he was not executed but instead will spend the rest of his life inside a prison cell. She hated that, but at least he was still alive.

Sanosuke was the only other one he could find any information on. He was in a small town outside of Okinawa when some men figured out who he was somehow. They got him drunk and the second he let down his guard they killed him.

Feeling movement she looked down and smiled as her eyes half closed. She lay a hand on her very large pregnant belly as she let out a sigh. She was so large now, she could swear that she was going to have twins. Even feeling like she has more than just a couple places moving at one time.

However she was hoping and praying that either one large baby, or twins, she wanted boys. Souzou, Sanosuke and Katsu all wanted girls, but she wanted boys. That way, while they were going to be half demon, sons would not become a target for other demons. Her daughters might.

Hearing laughing, Chizuru looked back to see Souzou with the boys and smiled as they practice sword play. They wanted girls but didn't care either way so long as they were healthy and she was alright. All of them searing that they will make sure even if they are girls, they will be able to stand toe to toe with anyone and won't be pushed around ever. Feeling the wind blow Chizuru turned her smile back toward the growing land. 'Home.'

X

Walking up behind his wife, Souzou wrapped his arms around her and let both of his hands rest on her belly. As she leaned back against him with a sigh, he smiled. "And what is going through that head of yours?"

Looking up at him, Chizuru laughed a she smiled. "I was just thinking about what Kenshin told us about everyone. Or at least the ones he knew about. I do wonder how everyone else is doing." Though two full years have passed since the end of the war. Referring to the Shinsengumi in anyway but with hate and malice was looked down on. Even in China people were beaten or killed if they said a thing nice about them. So Chizuru was always careful not to mention the name.

Kissing the top of her head as she turned her smiling face back toward Japan, Souzou sighed. "I understand. I wonder about them too." But then he gave her a rather serious look. "But I do not want you to work yourself up over it either. You are due any day now, and I would prefer it be on solid ground at least when it happens."

Laughing Chizuru rubbed her stomach as she looked down with a bright smile. "Indeed. I would too actually. Though I do hope that they at least wait until we get away from the docks too. I still can't believe how big I am."

"I don't care what you have so long as they are healthy and you stay with me." But when he got a half glare Souzou laughed as he shook his head. "Alright. A couple of girls just as beautiful as their mother wouldn't be bad."

Turning back to her stomach, Chizuru sighed. "I know. I would love to have a little girl. But we are going back to my family's home where we will live from now on. Everything that happened with Kazama because of what I am. I don't want my daughter's to have to become a target as well."

With a laugh as he also looked at his home growing larger and larger, Souzou moved his hands from her stomach and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "My daughter's will be no push over. They will go toe to toe and come out the victor no matter who they face. Be it a stupid man that thinks they are property. Or a demon who wants to use them for what he thinks they can do. They won't be weak by any means."

Leaning her head back as he bent his to kiss her Chizuru smiled. "That would be wonderful." Though she did still hope that she was having boys.

X

Helping Chizuru walk off of the gang plank of the ship, Souzou looked up to find not only Kenshin there waiting on them, but Master Hiko as well. He gave them an odd look at first. "Master Hiko? I figured you would have force Kenshin to learn the ultimate technique by now. What are you doing here?"

With a glare for Kenshin that made him flinch, Hiko crossed his arms. "Oh I did force him into it. About three weeks after you four left. But he used his reverse blade and pulled back on each attack so he wouldn't kill me." But then his eyes softened as he turned to the very pregnant woman next to his student. "Enough about me though. It looks like you have been busy boy."

Turning and urging Chizuru on Souzou sighed as he glared. "Master I am not even going there. And you don't need to go there either."

With a laugh as the boys walked past, Hiko and Kenshin both reached out and grabbed a boy by the collar and threw them over their shoulders. "At any rate, you need to lift your wife and move with us. There is a surprise waiting for you at home now."

"Surprise?" Souzou just looked at them odd then looked down at Chizuru who smiled and nodded. "Alright then." Gently lifting her into his arms, the three of them walked just out of sight of everyone else and then they were off, using the speed of their technique to carry them quickly from town to the home that Chizuru was born in.

Sitting her down, both Souzou and Chizuru were amazed at how nice it looked. Looking back at Hiko, Chizuru had tears rushing down her face. "You…."

"We all did Chizuru."

Hearing the sound of her name, both Souzou and Chizuru turned and gasped to see who was walking out of the front door! Sen the demon girl that befriended Chizuru, Toshizo, Souji, Yamazaki, Shinpachi, Hajime, Heisuke and his wife and kids. They were all there but Sanosuke and Isami!

Watching with a smile as Kenshin came up next to him, Souzou crossed his arms as Chizuru greeted everyone with Katsu and Sanosuke at her side. "You found them then?"

"I did. Once she made up your mind for you, I set out to find Souji, Hajime and Shinpachi. I figured it would be a nice home coming gift." Kenshin then smiled as he looked up at his friend.

X

Once all the greetings were done, Souzou sat in a circle with everyone else. Chizuru next to him, Sen next to her and Kimigiku just behind her. Next to him was Kenshin, then on around from him, was Kenshin, Shinpachi, Mitsu who held Taisei, Heisuke, Yamazaki, Souji and then Toshizo. But right now his full attention was on his wife. She was tense and kept her hands at the bottom of her stomach.

"Souzou?"

Blinking as he turned his eyes to Toshizo, Souzou sighed. "I am sorry what was that?"

With a smile as he glanced at Chizuru who was talking to Sen now, Toshizo sighed. "When is she due?"

Looking back down at his wife, Souzou blinked. "Any day now. Chizuru." When she turned her eyes to him, he gave her a stern look. "Are you alright? Ever since we all sat down you have been tense."

Laughing, Chizuru smiled as she closed her eyes. "I am fine Souzou really…." But then her eyes went wide and she froze. She had felt stomach pain on and off for weeks now. But that was stronger than anything before.

His eyes full of worry now, Souzou turned to face her fully. "Chizuru?"

Seeing the look in her eyes, Mitsu smiled as she handed her two month old son over to his father. "Mind him." Moving next to Chizuru, Mitsu smiled as she held her hand out. "May I?" When she got a nod as one of her eyes closed and she held her breath, Mitsu touched her stomach and then smiled. "Everyone except for Sen and Kimigiku need to leave. Now."

His eyes wide, Souzou was breathing hard. It was time! But he knew he couldn't be with her. "It's alright." He then leaned in and kissed his wife, grabbing the boys as they tried to rush past him, he headed out the door. "Don't think so you two."

Both dropping their heads, Sanosuke and Katsu had been quiet since they got back. But they wanted to help their mother! "But dad! Mom is going to need help!"

Dumping them in the court hard Souzou sighed. "That is why we let Mitsu who just had a baby and Sen and Kimigiku in there with her."

"But dad!"

"Enough."

X

Groaning as another contraction ripped through her, Chizuru held onto Sen's hand so she could squeeze as hard as she could. "I knew it was going to hurt but not this much!"

Laughing as she let her head fall back on the pillow, Sen reached out with her free hand and whipped the sweat from her brow. "But when you have your baby in your arms it will be so worth it Chizuru."

"I know. I do hope I have a son though." Seeing the look in her eyes, Sen knew that they adopted Sanosuke and Katsu. But this was a different reason. "I would love a daughter. But I do not want my daughter or daughters to become a target for a demon like Kazama was."

With a smile as she groaned out another contraction, Sen shook her head. "You wouldn't have to worry about that Chizuru. A half demon is less likely to have a full demon baby. Because of the human blood in them. You could have fifty girls and they would not become a target just because their father is human."

"That is wonderful." Looking up as Mitsu checked her progress, Chizuru was breathing hard. "Is it time?"

"It is. Let's see what you have."

X

Stopping his pacing outside, Souzou froze when he heard Mitsu tell Chizuru to push. It was now or never. After a long tense moment he smiled as he went near fully limp with a smile as a loud and healthy wail echoed from behind the door. His eyes flicking to the boys who laughed as they threw a fist up in the air each saying they were finally big brothers.

"Here comes the other one!"

Flinching and looking back at the door Souzou was pale. Chizuru was right! Thy were having twins. In what seemed like seconds there was yet another wail. Falling to his knees he smiled as he looked up at the sky. "Finally. Now the only question is what did we have."

Hearing foot steps, Toshizo smiled. "You are about to find out Souzou."

Jumping to his feet, Souzou rushed to the door just as it opened to find Sen and Mitsu standing there holding a baby. "They are?"

"You have two wonderful daughters." Sen carefully helped Mitsu place a baby in each of his arms. "Names? I asked Chizuru and she said to ask you."

Looking down from one face to the other Souzou sighed. "We talked about names. One will be Saya. Not sure about the other. Chizuru will pick that one as well." He then nodded to Sen and walked in to his wife as she took one of them. "Well what name do you want for who? Who is going to be Saya?"

Laughing as she looked at her daughters, Chizuru took a deep breath as everyone else moved around them. "They are a perfect mix of us. Saya starts with S like Souzou. So this little one will be Saya." She then turned her eyes to the daughter she held."

"And what about this one?" Souzou looked down at the little girl he held. She had his black eyes, but her mother's brown hair. Saya had his black hair and her mother's light brown eyes. "What shall we call her?"

Thinking for a moment, Chizuru couldn't really think about another girl name. "Nothing is coming to me." She then turned to the boys as they looked at their new sisters. "So how about the two of you name her? What name will your other sister have?"

Blinking as they looked at the sister that their father held, they gasped along with everyone else as a bright blue butterfly flew in the room and landed on her nose pulling a giggle from her and then flew off. "Cho!"

Laughing Souzou nodded. "I like it. Chizuru?"

Reaching over and taking her other daughter in her other arm, Chizuru nodded. "Our little Cho and Saya."

X

By that evening, Toshizo found himself standing off to himself by the door to the main room of the house. They all worked to get it in running order for Chizuru and was now glad that they did. She was now a new mother. His eyes never left her. At one time he could have let himself fall in love with her, but seeing her with Souzou and the kids, this was what was meant to be. She was happy and they were perfect for each other.

Stepping out on the porch for a moment, Toshizo looked up at the full moon and the clear night. Every star in the sky could be seen. Much like the night before Isami was arrested. 'It is strange isn't it Isami. I wish you could be here to see her happy and with her children my friend.' Looking back in the door when he heard her laughing, Toshizo smiled. 'After all. Who would have thought that one lone woman would change the lives of so many for the better like she has.'