Ehh…I promise I’ll try to update PONR and OLAR, but it seems I just CAN NOT for the life of me think of how to start them! Don’t worry! I’m NOT quitting them. I only quit LIH because I simply didn’t have the desire to go back to such an early work, but I WILL make another Highschool fic after I finish PONR and OLAR.

:Begs for forgiveness: Don’t die Insane Reader! See? I’m writing! Mysterious Samurai: Yeah, I had a pretty hard time writing a happy married couple, but I’ve seen enough chick flicks from my mom to get an idea lol. Somnus: Thanks! Yeah, I’ve been on a reeeaallllyyyy long one-shot spree lately, so here’s the sequel!

Sequel to Winter Evenings. It’s rated pg-13 for a reason folks, MILD lime content within.

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Misao awoke slowly, her mind drowsily dragging in information as her senses heightened. Her head was pillowed on something soft and warm, Sou’s arm her mind supplied silently, and she felt her lips curl into a small smile. She was warm, wrapped loosely in her husbands’ arms, one of his hands resting on her hip softly. A comforting weight pressed into her body, signifying the slight leaning of his frame into hers.

Her legs lay atop of his, bent at the knee and giving warmth to them. Everything was perfect…….only….her nose was cold. She wrinkled it, burying her face into his chest as she sought comfort from the winters’ cold lips. She felt him shift slightly, snuggling his face into her shoulder with a mumble. Misao bit her bottom lip, stifling the sounds of giggles as she wrapped an arm around his waist.

Misao nuzzled the skin behind his ear, laughing softly, “Ohayou Soujiro.” She felt him shiver lightly, drawing back and looking at her, adoration shining in his sleepy indigo eyes. “Ohayou..” Misao let out a tiny laugh, burying her face into his Yukata garbed shoulder with a sigh of contentment. Opening eyes heavy with rest, Soujiro stared down at the woman in his arms, allowing his body to warm her own like so many fiery nights after their marriage.

She shifted slightly, mumbling something as she wrapped her arms around his neck to draw him closer. “I didn’t know it would be this cold, it’s a good thing Kenjiro has extra thick blankets and robes.” His shoulder, teased by her tepid breath and cheek, muffled her quiet ramble. He unconsciously tightened his tender grasp on her, chasing away the cold from her flesh and the worry from her mind by doing so.

Misao had often wondered, what it would feel like to be held securely in another’s welcoming arms; how many times in her mind did she imagine warm blue eyes gazing back at her? Replacing those cold blue ones that looked at her as sister instead of a devoted lover and husband?

Soujiro shifted again, tilting his head down slightly to grant her forehead an affectionate caress, running his fingers through the loose wave of her hair. He heard her melodious laugh as he did, teasing her more and ran his lips down to her rosy cheek, then finally meeting his mouth with hers to share something more. So this is what it’s like to be a Tenken’s wife. Misao’s mind supplied, his hands were always gentle, the desire to explore and touch was always unyielding to his sense of protection. Tender, beguiling actions and words, a sense of unrelenting demand and fondness.

It was enticing, the whole control he had over both her and himself assailed her even at his most seductive moments; The ways he could exhaust her capability for pleasure, seeking his own at the every last moment of bliss, controlled her-and thrilled her that only she could awaken that feeling inside him.

Soujiro ran a thumb over her cheek, rasping her bottom lip softly with his teeth; clasping her nape gently to tilt her head back. Mewling beseechingly, she lifted her arms to loosely clasp his hair, capturing his tongue with eager want.

Misao trailed her fingertips from his hair, to his nape; slipping under his yukata to track ticklish brushes over the smooth, warm muscles of his back. She felt him move under her hands, until she felt knowing arms wrap around her in a gentle grip as clever lips and fingers courted her.

They finally parted with labored breath, hers drawing in a sharp gasp as he painted a feverish trail down her throat with his mouth. Misao arched her neck, begging without words for more of his undivided attentions to her. She felt a rush of warm air by her ear scant seconds later, his amused laughter filling her ear and tickling her neck with its’ vibrations.

“What’s so funny?” she breathed with slight frustration, the fingers on his back clenching tighter. She felt him shake his head against her throat, his hair a ticklish brush on her skin. “Nothing.” Misao began to loosen her grip on his back gradually, reducing it to a soothing stroke as he lifted his head to be eye level with her.

She recalled that feeling, the often-visited pinnacle they shared together, that one place where they were both whole as she floated down with delightful exhaustion; shuddering and resting languid and dewy in his comforting, warm embrace.

She smiled as he leaned down to rest his head near her exposed collarbone, the convivial pressure of his weight and bodily heat lulling her as her eyes drooped shut. Her hand stroked lazily over his hair, the other twined with his fingers as her slow, even breath joined his own rhythm.

“We should get up..” he murmured against her skin, enjoying the pleasant sensation of her hand caressing his hair. “Mmm.” Was the only sound she made, rumbling lightly against where his cheek rested on her collarbone.

“In a little while..” Misao said quietly, protesting softly when he moved from her, shuddering from the sudden chill. She heard another chuckle, sighing slightly when he settled beside her again, pressing his chest comfortingly against her back, wrapping his arms around her waist warmly. He nuzzled the side of her neck, laughing softly when she tried to slap his head away. “At least you’re awake.” He muttered, granting the curve of her jaw a kiss.

“I suppose..” Misao nodded, tired jade eyes fluttering shut, the muscles in her body loosening in his comforting embrace. Despite his regard, Soujiro’s eyes closed also, resting his cheek on the curve of her shoulder.

But of course, with a child such bliss simply cannot last long now could it?

“Okaa-san!”

A shrill squeal filled the room, followed by the slapping of bare feet on tatami mats and a sliding door. “Looks like he’s awake…” Soujiro muttered as he slowly sat up, one hand rubbing his eye as Misao slumped back into the double futon.

Sure enough, there stood Kenjiro in the doorway, a happy grin from ear to ear, both sleeping robe and hair tussled from sleep. He bound into the room, throwing his little body onto the forms of his parents to give them hugs.

The toddler threw small arms across them, tiny fingers gripping the cloth of their robes tightly. Soujiro laughed, bringing a hand up to ruffle the boys’ hair as the five year old clung to his arm. Misao granted his a peck on the forehead, slapping her husband’s hand away exclaiming it’ll get messy.

Kenjiro sat on his legs, giggling as his mothers unbound hair tickled his face as she got up to stretch. He was scooped up to Soujiro’s shoulder, one arm under his legs and Kenjiro’s arms wrapped loosely around his neck.

The sun was already out, piercing through the cold air that never seemed to let up, random patches of snow still evident on the street, water dripping off of rooftops to plop on the ground below.

Despite this, the city of Kyoto was alive with life, some food carts and stalls already set up to sell goods such as food, cloth, and dishware. The area around their house was relatively quiet, save a few innkeepers shouting out advertisements and an occasional group of people passing by.

Misao walked down the stairs tiredly, Soujiro going into their sons’ room to get the active toddler ready for the day. Misao fiddled with her hair, grumbling when she came across a knot and running her fingers through it roughly.

She then separated it into three locks, weaving them together tightly so they wouldn’t come undone as the day went by. She finished it off with the usual metal clasp, flipping the braid back over her shoulder.

“I guess I’d better get out of this.” She clarified, fingering the yukata and wrinkling her nose. She began up the stairs again, laughing when a giggle and a yelp reached her ears from where Kenjiro’s room was. The boy wasn’t an easy one to handle, he often got into mischief, when he wasn’t doing that he was releasing his seemingly infinite amount of energy.

He wasn’t fond of taking baths either, Misao noted with an amused grin. The poor boy would run and hide somewhere whenever the word ‘bath’ was uttered. The times that the rest of the Oniwa or the rest of their friends back in Tokyo would visit, they would be more than happy to play or joke around with the toddler.

Aoshi, too, seemed to enjoy the boys’ company, he would be seen making paper cranes for him to play with, all the while the frost eyed man would be smiling. He frequently told Misao of how he reminded him of herself when she was young, and that it felt good to have someone to make paper cranes for again.

Okina liked to tell stories of when he was a young ninja, of how he completed his first mission or the battles he and his comrades would fight. He would take the boy out for walks, pointing out all the pretty ladies to the boy so he can “get the good ones when he’s older” as the old man exclaimed with laughs.

Okon and Omasu would sometimes buy the five-year-old new clothes or sandals, since he would often ruin the other ones with much wear. Kaoru too, would come to Kyoto with the others with something for the boy, as her and Kenshin’s son played out in the yard together. Sano or Yahiko both weren’t much for children, although Misao caught the rooster head teaching Kenjiro fighting moves with pride.

With so much attention it was surprising the boy wasn’t overly spoiled, partially due to Soujiro’s lectures about politeness that Yumi had taught him years before. She was suddenly cut from her musings when the sound of a door being slid open reached her ears, looking up to see her son bounce down the stairs dressed in a fresh pair of dark blue hakama and gi.

Soujiro followed after, one hand rubbing his head where Kenjiro had previously flung his arm up and hit him by accident. “Why don’t you play with that paper ball we got you Kenjiro? I’m sure it’s where you left it earlier.” Misao suggested warmly, shooing him away as he went in search for the ball.

Misao turned to Soujiro, giggling as he rubbed his head in vain. “I swear that child gets stronger everyday.” He said jokingly, leading the way up the stairs and sliding the door open for her. “Maybe, with all that running around it wouldn’t surprise me.” She chuckled, reaching over to pull a dark turquoise kimono and blue obi from the kimono rack.

A soft thud of cloth hitting floor from behind her alerted her, a sudden thrill running up her spine. Misao shook her head, untying the belt at her waist to let the robe drop as she proceeded to get into her kimono.

Finishing it, she turned around and nearly burst out laughing if she didn’t bite her lip first. “What?” he questioned, lowering one brown eyebrow as her face turned a whole new shade of red as she gazed at him.

“What are you wearing!” she managed to choke out, holding her sides in slight pain. “This? I bought it two days ago, what’s so funny about it?” Soujiro quipped, pinching the hem of his bright green gi between his fingers. “You look horrid! I demand you take that monstrosity off now and change into something else.”

Soujiro pursed his lips, shrugging off the gi and reaching for a pale indigo colored one. “Fine, I thought I looked good in it anyway.” He muttered as he pulled the other on, looking to her almost crossly.

“Better…much better.” Her laughs died down, taking his hand in hers, she opened the door as they started down the stairs. Kenjiro’s giggles echoed through the house, they saw him in the middle of the floor, sitting on his bottom and throwing the paper ball in the air to catch it and repeat.

“Come on now Kenjiro, we need to go to the market to get some fish.” Kenjiro got to his feet, holding up his arms cutely, signifying he wanted to be held. With a chuckle, Soujiro bent down and scooped him up, placing him atop his shoulders as he did the other evening.

The three eventually made it to a stand selling fish, Misao reaching for some coins in her obi to purchase five fresh fish, nodding to the vendor respectfully. “Paku!” Kenjiro exclaimed gaily, drawing his lips out and popping them to simulate a fish.

Some people around them smiled fondly as they passed, pointing out the toddler and whispering to the person next to them. They would often get comments about how beautiful or adorable their son was, and how fitting the husband and wife seemed to look.

Kenjiro forward slightly as something glistening caught his eye, peering at it with wide green-blue eyes. It was a vendor selling windmill fans, the slightly glossy finish of the wings sparkling under the suns rays.

Both Soujiro and Misao noticed this, the raven-haired woman picking one up to examine it. “Would you like one Kenjiro?” He rolled his eyes back up, pushing his pink lower lip out in thought. “No thank you.” He said, shaking his head slightly. Misao lowered an eyebrow, smiling and turning to the shopkeeper. “I think I’ll get this one, thank you.” She handed him some coins, turning to the two with a grin. “You might change your mind Kenjiro, but at least I like it hum?” Misao wagged a slender finger in front of his face playfully, pinching his nose and shaking it gently.

Soujiro chuckled quietly, stealing glances at his wife as they proceeded down the road back to their home. It was slightly warmer than it had been that morning, the sun coming out with heat in vengeance.

It stayed like that for the rest of the day, like many days before it, the afternoon filled with kindness, and the nights filled with happy dreams and embraces.

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.HELL. I know, but at least this one was longer ne? Six pages O.o;;;; hope you enjoyed:Hint hint nudge nuge: Lord only knows what might happen if I make a “Winter Nights”? Lol.