Yoyo, Han Han here. I thank all the reviewers with deepest sincerity. You guys are a really good help, especially Saitouu Ryuji. I'll make it a point to follow your advice in later works. I wuw u!
To Bobette: I'm sorry that I didn't do deeper research for the Shinsen-Gumi. I didn't know those guys were so important to the story… Gomen nasai! On the oni/onii side, I'm just a bit unsure about the spelling. Isn't the latter pronounced as oni-i? Well, sorry if I offended you, though, no offense. Wait, isn't demon, "yokai"?
To Patience Halliwell: Ryumiko is a name I made up using kanji, which are literally Traditional Chinese characters. Traditional Chinese characters are still being used in Taiwan, although the rest of the world is using the Simplified version. These characters are: 龙 美 子. 龙 meaning dragon; pronounced as "Ryu", 美 pronounced as "Mi" and 子 pronounced as "ko". Hope it was helpful.
3. Marlingirl: Glad to hear that there's a fan of Hiko around! Thank you for your support.
"Did she say anything else?" Hiko asked as Saito delivered Ryumiko's bell to him. It was a gift he'd given to her, made of copper with a silver clapper. The sound produced was a clear ringing, like jade on stone.
"No", Saito replied, "But I can only tell you that she gave Okita her position as the leader of the First division and that she has voluntarily given up her life as a Hitokiri"
Still, it was news to Hiko's ears. As long as she wasn't harm's way, he was happy for her. Deep in his heart, he knew that Ryumiko would somehow find a way to see him again. The only question that remained was, when?
The bell rang as the wind came and embraced the woods just as Saito left the clearing. The latter felt that Ryumiko was a fool to betray her own heart for his life, and thought that she was an even greater fool when he saw Hiko, whom he only thought as an ordinary potter. He'd heard from those in the Shinsen-Gumi that Ryumiko was often beaten by her husband for not doing as hid wont, and that she did not dodge his blows or strike back when he did.
Saito did not understand why she wanted to keep her suffering a secret from Hiko. Wasn't it better if he knew what was going on, so that he can save her from the nightmare she's going through? I guess I'll never understand women and their principles towards love, he thought.
As he stepped into the head-quarters of the Shinsen-Gumi, he saw Akurou at the door with Akarou his father. Ryumiko was seen kneeling beside them; her white, flawless face was stained with tears while her entire body was covered with scratches and bruises. She saw Saito but did not greet him. He decided to go through the back door while he was still unidentified by the two men that seemed to have a deep sense of hatred in their eyes. Ryumiko is a proud woman, why is she subject to this? He thought.
When Okita opened the door, he was shocked when he saw Akurou throw Ryumiko into the foyer. She gave no level of resistance, but her eyes spilt hatred toward him. All of her brothers in arms there knew that she agreed to the marriage in order to fulfill her duties as a daughter and lover to Reiji and Hiko. Still, like Saito, they didn't understand why she didn't fight back Akurou's oppression over her.
Ryumiko, she remembered her mother's teachings before she died, you must honor your husband and your parents. Never say no to them, and they'll never say no to you. Her upbringing made her the woman she was, disciplined, and honored in every aspect of the Samurai, despite her open-mindedness. She was a proud woman, and would kill anyone who made her kneel, but this time, she must withhold her own code of ethics for the sake of her father's honor.