AN: To battle our writers block, me and my friend Chie came up with a challenge: we take turns to prompt each other to write drabbles. Within 24 hours of receiving the prompt, the writer must write 100-1000 words for any fandom they want.

In this collection are my works.

These drabbles were first posted in Tumblr, in blog: "drabblers".

Prompt: Nightfall

Fandom: Rurouni Kenshin

Setting: Canon (after series)

Characters: Kaoru Kamiya, Kenshin Himura

Word count: 738

For some men, old age brought a presence of authority, of wisdom and refinement. Not for Himura Kenshin, Kaoru thought with a fond smile and continued to stroke the soft auburn mane of her sleeping husband in fading light of nightfall.

No one would claim Kenshin the proper image of a traditional family's patriarch and that suited them both just fine. Her house-husband delighted in looking after their children, and keeping their house in order. And though that raggedy old pink kimono had been shredded to cleaning materials years ago… well, perhaps it was inevitable, Kaoru scoffed and glanced at the shoji screen, over which a purple kimono with large, simplified geometrical patterns was hanged.

It shouldn't have been a surprise to learn that the old pink Kimono hadn't been bought because of its cheap price, nor because it was a reject of bad dyeing attempt… but rather because the odd color had pleased Kenshin's eye. If he had a choice in clothing, he tended to always pick bright colors never once stopping to think how they matched the rest. Because of this, unfortunately, the only darker shaded clothing Kaoru had managed to get her husband to wear was a formal, dark green kimono for more solemn occasions.

Good that I didn't marry you for your fashion sense, Kaoru smiled and continued her idle petting. It was a marvel that she was never going to get tired of, that she actually could watch Kenshin to dream. Especially like this; curled on his side, faintly snuffling in deep sleep. In their early years together, this little joy would have been impossible, for the former swordsman had been always a light sleeper, often plagued by nightmares and regrets. It had taken years of love, of trust… raising a family. It was the children that had changed him the most, in truth.

Kaoru had known her husband liked youngsters, ever since he had rescued Yahiko from the gangsters. But seeing Kenshin take their firstborn son into his arms the first time – seeing his tears of amazement, and she had known that she had given him the best gift there was. Even though, Kenji had been a true rascal, eagerly using Kenshin's soft heart to his advantage. Good that at least she had been able to set their son limits or god knows how much more difficult young man he would be now.

Oh well, Kenji will be Kenji and if nothing else, the summer at Hiko's will be able to straighten him out, Kaoru nodded and let a faint grin to rise to her lips. Kenshin's old Master was gaining on years and could use a strong pair of arms helping on the chores. And even better, Kenji needed someone he couldn't mouth of telling him a few facts of life. And Kenshin, too, could use a break of rebellious teen's temper tantrums.

Good idea, all around. It truly had been one of Kaoru's more inspired decisions. Some peace and quiet in the house, some time to brush up their younger son's training… and maybe a little bit privacy with her husband. After all, I'm getting older too. And I would like to have a daughter as well. A little girl with Kenshin's beautiful eyes, before it's too late. Kaoru paused, briefly and then resolutely continued with strong smooth strokes, moving to gently massage his back.

These twelve years of marriage had peppered Kenshin's hair liberally with gray and brought him crow's feet and deep lines to his face. His was a face of a man who spent his days laughing and smiling, and Kaoru couldn't be happier about the development.

Though, sometimes the signs of the decade Kenshin had on her, brought her worries. The constant pain in his back, the aching old scars on rainy days, the slight limp from joints getting stiffer – all kept reminding her that no matter how she wished, time didn't stop to wait for one man.

"But it is not a worry for tonight, not for years to come. You have brought me so much happiness, so much joy – it shouldn't be possible to fall in love with you more at each nightfall, but how else could I describe this feeling?" Kaoru whispered, and kissed her husband's cheek, at the crossroads of old faint scars. "Sleep well, my love – and let me watch over your dreams a little longer."