28

We remained in hiding for a week trusting those who took care of us not to alert anyone about remaining samurai. When Nathan could walk, I helped him dress in his uniform and watched the wagon take him into Tokyo. I knew Simon would make sure he was not harmed. As for Ujio, Nobutada and the rest of the samurai, we made our journey back into the mountains. I knew Nathan would return to me. I knew Emperor Meiji would do what was truly right for his people.

It was a slow ride, but with no one after us, it was a much needed time for reflection for everyone. Ujio and I rode side by side. He rode tall and proud still, his wound healing as it should. He honestly acted as if he was not slowed down by it. The other cuts and bruises on his flesh would heal and he would be a new man in a matter of weeks. Nobutada led his samurai into the mountains. He was the lord of the village and I knew soon Ujio would dedicate his life to protect him. The young lord looked back at us and he nodded at me. I merely smiled and looked up at the sky for a moment. It was over, the killing and the bloodshed, for now at least.

9 months later

The sun was warm against my skin as I looked up at the sky. Cherry blossoms fell from the trees and were carried away by the wind. Children were playing out in the field and I smiled as my hands were pressed to my back the weight of my stomach fighting me some. I could see Higen and Magojiro amongst the group. They saw me and yelled my name as they all ran up to me. Before they looked at me curiously never before seeing someone like me. But now they cling to me when they are not with their mothers who were used to me being around their kids. I smiled and took their hands laughing as they all tried to tell me about their day at once. Now something catches their attention and they all run off. Higen pauses and looks back at me some with a smile and I just smiled warmly at him. His little brother comes and takes his hand and runs with him as they wave at me. I wave in response and watch them happily. I rubbed my stomach gently as I did.

To the left side of the field I saw men, both old and young, training with wooden swords while men on the right side of the field were shooting arrows into straw targets.

"What are you doing on your feet!" I hear my loving husband's voice boom and I turn to see Ujio approaching looking at me with mild scolding eyes. He was in his usual black kimono his hair in its usual top knot. "Taka says you need to be resting! My son will be here any day now and I will not have you falling or injuring yourself!"

Already he was taking my hand and gently guiding me back into the village. I gently laughed letting him guide me.

"You mean our daughter will be here soon!" I replied. He snorted some.

"You are carrying low you will be having my son!" he argued. I smirked.

"And when we look between the legs and see she doesn't have a thing like yours you're going to feel very silly." I said. He kept his hand in mine as we walked. He just shook his head smiling.

"Boy… girl, I don't care. They will be ours." he said with a firm nod looking at me. I waddled slowly and nodded at him in agreement.

When we returned to the village months ago, we all mourned the loss of Lord Katsumoto and those who had fallen with him. Nobutada became the new lord of the village and together we all bowed in respect to him. And like this life went on. Everyone went on with the tasks at hand.

Taka was very sad for a long time due to losing her brother. But when Nathan and his horse came through the village entrance the village was brought back to life. I remember watching he and Taka embrace lovingly before I took her place and hugged him. He had gotten through to Emperor Meiji. He had held Japan.

Lord Nobutada bowed to his toes and Nathan did the same. Ujio of course just watched with his arms crossed and gave a curt nod of respect to him.

Two months after our return, we married and celebrated together. A white kimono was made with red cherry blossoms sewn into it. Taka argued with the other women who were trying to get me ready. My hair would not do what they wanted and they did not know how to prepare it, so Taka told them to get out and took over. She braided my hair down my back and rolled it up in a nice bun putting some long pins in it. Ujio was in a black and white kimono. I had never seen a man look as handsome as him. Nathan was behind him as Taka was behind me as Lord Nobutada married us. Ujio didn't smile, but as we stare at each other, I could see the warmth in his face as watched me. I could see the warrior in him standing tall.

Wedding gifts were given as well as things needed for the baby which was greatly appreciated. Ujio and Nathan worked together to make a crib and somehow, they still managed to not see eye to eye on it. Taka and I would just stand there shaking our heads as they bickered like children, but the job got done.

Later on that night, there were a few fires made outside as people gathered to eat and drink and talk about the past. I was sitting on the many different blankets in our room humming gently as Ujio lied on my lap. His eyes just stared at my stomach as my fingers gently grazed through his long locks. He looked so mesmerized by my stomach. I still was not entirely used to being so big.

"Am I fat?" I asked down, to him and he grinned some giving a mild laugh.

"You are big and beautiful as you carry my child." he responded pressing his lips to my stomach and gently kissing the spot beside my navel. Good answer. I grinned before feeling the baby move inside me and a small bump presses out on my stomach where Ujio's lips were. His eyes widened some.

"He is strong, he hears my voice!" he said with glee as he gently raised his hands to gently caress my stomach. I refrained from rolling my eyes as I kept smiling down at him. I would let him believe whatever he wished. He gently whispers a soft prayer into my stomach and I smiled watching him now. He finally looks up at me and raises himself up finally sitting before me.

"Have you thought of any names?" he asked. I looked up some in thought before shaking my head.

"No. And we will need to think soon. You have any thoughts?" I asked. He looked down at my stomach for a moment before tilting his head some.

"Hiroshi." he replied. I tilted my head some in thought before looking down at my stomach.

"What do you think, little one? Hiroshi?" I asked and he smiled and watched me do this. We placed our hands on my stomach to see what we could feel and when he kicked my stomach again we both looked up at each other and I nodded. "I think he likes that name… it brings him honor." He smiled and leaned in to me kissing me passionately in response. I let my hands raise up to caress his face some. We let our lips linger against each other before slowly pulling back.

"I love you." he says softly against me, and I smiled gently remembering the first time our gazes met, his serious and dangerous eyes meeting my submissive and fearful gaze. His cold gaze met mine, when Katsumoto "introduced" us when Nathan and I were taken captive. Through time I watched as his rough exterior softened and broke as his eyes looked at me no longer as an enemy, but as a love he could not live without. I sighed with content letting our hands curl together.

"And I love you." I responded as he nuzzled his forehead into mine. And together we welcomed Hiroshi into the world five days later and with his birth our two completely different worlds would forever be sealed…

The End