Next morning, Kenshin and Ichiro headed to Shukuba. Aya fretted over her son venturing out for the first time; Kenshin just rolled his eyes and chuckled quietly, making Ichiro blush and fidget.
"Mom, stop!" he said, ruffling "three-year-old" Keiji's hair before bolting out.
"Be safe," Aya said, kissing Kenshin on the lips.
"Yep. All good. Don't let this rascal have too much coffee or he won't sleep," Kenshin smiled, picking up his son.
"And you, little bandit, obey Mom, got it?"
"Yes!" little Keiji declared.
Kenshin laughed, handed Keiji to Aya, and left, meeting Ichiro at the cave exit.
"Don't resent Mom. She loves you, that's why she worries," Kenshin said, adjusting his backpack and heading down the mountain.
"I know... But damn, I'm grown, and she treats me like a kid!"
"Because you are a kid. To her, you'll always be, even at fifty. Hold back your grumbling, okay?"
"Yes, Father..." Ichiro sighed, following.
By one p.m., father and son reached Shukuba and headed straight to the wine shop. The seller recognized Kenshin instantly and greeted him warmly like an old friend.
Five minutes later, Kenshin and Ichiro left the wine shop and toured sights, mostly to broaden Ichiro's horizons.
Ichiro gawked like a country bumpkin in a big city, mouth agape at everything.
After an hour wandering, they hit needed shops, buying from spices to clothes, then a local eatery for food. But Kenshin caught an intriguing talk and listened closer.
"I'm not lying. Why would I? Everyone's talking—by evening, it'll be on every lip!" a middle-aged man with a red booze-flushed face declared.
"No way! Uchiha Clan—one of Konoha's pillars—wiped out overnight? Bull!" a sturdy forty-ish man with short thick beard scoffed, disbelieving every word.
"Don't believe me? You'll see! You'll be ashamed you doubted an old friend..." the red-faced man sighed, downing another sake cup, chasing with something like sauerkraut.
"Stop making up tales so often, then your words might carry weight!" the broad-shouldered man laughed, downing sake too.
"What?! Uchiha Clan massacred?! Itachi's left Konoha, Naruto and Sasuke are ten... Canon full steam ahead—no one's waiting!" Kenshin thought, shocked.
"Come on, Ichiro. No time to lounge," Kenshin said, paying the flirty waitress and heading out.
On the way back, they stopped at the village again, buying 20 wine bottles, nearly emptying the shop.
By seven p.m., they returned home to Aya and little Keiji, who squealed into Dad's arms, then reached for big bro.
Ichiro laughed, picking up little Keiji and playing briefly.
Then Kenshin and Ichiro showered in turns. Kenshin first pondered their apartment growing tight. He could expand the Haven with more simple showers but held off—space sufficed for four.
Post-shower, all gathered at the Table for dinner. Aya made rabbit in the "oven" with wild potato tubers, nearly identical to regular.
After, Aya and Kenshin went to the Bedroom, enjoying each other. Long without alone time, they just cuddled, kissing and caressing. Kenshin wisely figured sex was premature—cheerful Keiji might burst in anytime; the Bedroom was his room too.
Ichiro washed dishes while Keiji looped from Living room to Kitchen, then halted, eyeing the table's vase of city-bought candies hungrily.
Ichiro, seeing his little brother's gaze, gave him a few, sparking joyful squeals.
"Thanks, big bro!" little Keiji said, hugging Ichiro.
"Ha-ha, no prob, Keiji. We're brothers—we help each other!" Ichiro laughed, ruffling his hair.
"Yep!" Keiji agreed happily, dashing to the Bedroom yelling, "Mom, Mom, Ichiro shared candy! Look, I brought you some!"
On the fourth day post-Keiji—or Kenshin's thirty-fifth in this world—the full family, after lunch, went to the river to relax from routine and give little Keiji happy childhood feels.
Keiji adored big bro, mimicking him constantly. Unable to swim, he flailed to cross with Ichiro but got instantly nabbed by watchful Mom and spanked on the bottom.
By evening, Kenshin and Ichiro taught the tot to swim; Keiji refused to leave his new fave river.
They dined and bedded. Last night Keiji could sleep in parents' Bedroom—he milked it, begging Mom for their Bed. After much pleading and Kenshin's grumbling, happy Keiji snuggled between parents and conked out fast.