On my and my fellow Oniwabanshuu's way back to Kyoto a few months later, I thought bitterly about what happened after running from the burning mansion.

When we returned to the Kamiya household, I instantly asked Kenshin and Kaoru for some private space in the dojo to speak with my fellow members of the Oniwabanshuu. They graciously gave it with Kaoru saying she would prepare the bathhouse for when I would like to wash up after her household would do so. I thanked her graciously and apologized for killing despite her wish for another way. She said it was fine as long as I didn't do it again within her knowledge. This was not her condoning more killings of mine, she just was warning me she didn't want to know of any future ones.

Once Kaoru, Kenshin, Sagara, Megumi, and Yahiko left us in the dojo, I immediately started into my rant.

I told them of my disappointment in their treatment of my father and grandfathers' morals of the clan. I explained to them how they abandoned those morals when they decided to protect such a man as Takeda Kanryuu.

I also told them of my disappointment in protecting a man knowing how deep a criminal he was when the Oniwabanshuu's whole purpose is to "PROTECT THE PEOPLE" and they spat in the face of that principle.

I, therefore, told them that until they could live by that principle, I would be the leader of the Oniwaban.

Aoshi did not take kindly to that notion, but I quickly shot down his pride by stating how back home, I already was the leader for two years. I explained how advanced and important our Oniwabanshuu has gotten back home. I also explained that it was expanding its reach not only into the far territories of Japan but now we are working, in secret, with the government to abolish as much crime as possible. Only the high government official named Fujita Goro, otherwise known as the wolf Hajime Saito knew of our clan's base, name, and members.

My final blow to all of their pride together was my question on how expanded did the Oniwabanshuu become after they left. "What was the point of leaving if leaving did nothing but dim the light of the Oniwabanshuu in Japan?"

I could see how my speech won each of them over, with Aoshi waiting until that final blow. He hung his head in shame and knelt on both knees in front of me and said, "My life is in your hands now Makimachi-san. I've failed the name of the Oniwabanshuu and failed as Okashira. Do as you must with my life."

Tears filled my eyes at his display. I quickly got a hold of my emotions before kneeling down to his level and said, "Rise Shinomori-san. You shall live another day, but you shall be at my side in order to make up for the wrongs committed. All of you shall make those wrongs right. The first way you can is to apologize to Megumi-san and aide her until she forgives. Until then, we are not going home. I'll warn you all. I'm tired and impatient and if you can't fulfill my first wish to make the wrongs committed by you all here in Tokyo right, don't even bother following me home."

With that finished, I left them all with their mouths dropped open and went to take a bath.

Five minutes later I was taking my ruined uniform off my body in the bathhouse.

I cursed myself for getting blood all over and ruining my uniform.

It would be unsalvageable.

Wondering how I could get some more clothes, I called out Hannya-kun's name.

He hovered by the door and before he could speak of his presence, I asked, "Would you please ask miss Kaoru if she has a spare yukata I could have? I seemed to have ruined my uniform to the point of no return."

I could sense his shock at my ki-sensing skill and explained again before he could ask, "I learned it with Okina but enhanced it only just recently. I can sense presences over a long distance. This is only one of my many specially enhanced skills."

I imagined him nodding before he left. He would soon know the extent of my training, but never would he know what had happened to cause such training.