The sun shined on her face as Ryumiko woke up one morning. She found herself to be in Hiko's humble cottage, and saw his large, muscular form next to her. His calloused hands were holding her white, soft ones. (Which according to Ryumiko, was the benefits of using gloves while training, you won't injure the skin on your hands)
"Hiko-sama…" she said faintly, trying to sit up, "How long have I been in here?" Her chestnut eyes gleamed with confusion. Questions filled her head, questions that were too painful to be asked or answered.
"Well, you've been asleep for three nights and days on end" he replied, smiling, "You had me worried, right there, Ryumiko"
"Gomen…" she said, bowing her head, and flung herself into his open arms. She missed him sorely, as she had not seen him since the day before her wedding. It has been at least half a year since then. "I wish I hadn't come here, the first person my father will seek out is you…"
Hiko put a finger onto her lips and said, "I'll have nothing of that, Ryumiko. You've done enough for me by consenting to be wed to your husband, so that I can live by the principles of the Hiten-Mitsurugi- as a free sword without any master, be it the Shogun or the Emperor. You suffered so much for me; I don't know how to repay you"
"Don't" she said softly, "I consented to marry Akurou wasn't only because I could protect you if I did, it also meant that I could maintain the Shinsen-Gumi by ensuring my father was with good ties with any arms dealers who will bring in more money to fund the organization"
"But still, Akurou shouldn't have beaten you like he did" Hiko said, inspecting the bruises on her arms. All of them had gone black, but the whip scares were most saddening. Every stroke was driven deep into her skin. He could almost feel her shock and pain when she received those wounds. His fingers traced them tenderly, and said, "Why didn't you tell me that you were under so much pain?"
"If I did, you'll have to cast away the principles of the Hiten-Mitsurugi and your life" she replied, "I can't risk that, Hiko-sama. Akurou may be my husband, but my heart belongs to you. I will kill him myself if he does any harm to you"
"And I you, Ryumiko" Hiko said, "and I you". He tipped her chin, and kissed her. Every passing second brought forth seas of raging emotions. Passion, love, grief and a sense of protectiveness overwhelmed them. No words can describe how safe Ryumiko felt when she was in his arms, she wished that she could be with him forever, but she knew that she would have to return to her husband's house no matter what.
Then, they heard a loud knock on the door, and quickly broke off the kiss. Hiko, albeit annoyed and a tiny bit angry went to open the door. He saw Okita and Saito standing at the entrance, each holding two sets of kimono for Ryumiko.
"Oni-san, Okita!" she greeted joyfully the moment she saw them. "How did you get this?" She asked when they gave her favorite sets of kimono to her. All of them were embroidered with butterfly and eagle motifs, most of all they were the only remaining items that reminded her of her mother, a master seamstress.
"Well, we had to sneak into your room to get them" Okita chirped awkwardly. The thought of seeing Saito and Okita, leaders of the Third and First Divisions of the Shinsen-Gumi rummaging through a women's wardrobe in the dead of the night made Hiko smirk, much to the displeasure of the child.
"Oni-san how is Otou-sama?" Ryumiko asked Saito softly. "Is he well?"
"Reiji-sama fainted the moment you left, but a doctor is taking care of him now"
Guilt touched her heart. If she hadn't declared that she hated Akurou and loved Hiko so openly, her father wouldn't have fainted. She wanted to return to the head-quarters of the Shinsen-Gumi as soon as possible, but given the fact that Akurou and Akarou were still on the prowl looking for her, she feared for her own safety.
"Don't worry, Ryumiko, we'll find a way to get you back" Okita said, before leaving the mountain.