"I will not give Ryumiko to another man other than me!" Akurou shouted at Reiji when the latter went to his house to talk things out with him. "You do know that we are bound by wedlock"
"Well, if you insist that Ryumi-chan to be returned to you, you will treat her fairly, and allow her to continue her services with the Shinsen-Gumi" he added, "Lay a hand on my daughter again, and I will kill you personally"
"You're kidding me, right?" Akurou asked, "She is my wife, and I can do anything to her at my will. I can even sell her to the nearest Geisha parlor if I want to"
Reiji was enraged by this remark, and laid the blade of his katana on his neck. "Ryumi-chan is a Samurai warrior with noble linage and a high sense of honor. Moreover, she is my precious daughter; therefore I will not suffer you to sell her to such a disgraceful trade. This blade will slit your throat if you dare to do as much as bring her within the vicinity of any Geisha parlor"
Afraid for his life, Akurou fell on his knees and begged for mercy. "Please, I'll do anything, Reiji-sama, just don't kill me!"
"As I knew, you're nothing but a witless man who fears anyone who are stronger and more powerful than you are" Reiji said. "Now, to your request before, I only want some divorce papers signed from you, and I will spare you"
Akurou could not do anything lest he lost his life, and hastily signed the papers given to him by Reiji, who walked away in the calm manner from whence he came with. The leader of the Shinsen-Gumi was glad to see that the tide of suffering for Ryumiko has been turned and headed for Hiko's place to see her.
An hour later, he arrived at the foot of the mountain when he was being confronted by Tsubasa Akarou, who wanted compensation upon his son's previous shock and Ryumiko's absence. "Akarou, we both know that it is not Ryumiko's fault that she was abused by your son"
"But it is hers that she ruined my family's honor by running off to her former lover's house a month pregnant" Akarou said. "I've heard word on the streets that that man was a mere potter living on this mountain"
"So what if he is, at least he isn't an opium addict with a tendency to hurt my daughter at the slightest fault and let his father watch him dishonor the woman that is his wife"
Having enough of Reiji, Akarou raised his katana in order to attack him. The former was quick to dodge the attack, and stabbed him in the shoulder with a well-aimed Gatotsu Sanshiki. Akarou quickly recovered from the impact of the stroke and swung his katana at Reiji's head. With his deft reflexes, Reiji slashed off the arm, leaving a huge pool of blood splashed upon the green grass.
"Serves you right for trying to attack me and ill-treating my daughter" Reiji said in content, and went his way. Then, he felt a sharp pain of his neck that seemed to seek to consume every inch of his body. The pain became immensely unbearable and knocked him out cold.
"You are wrong, Reiji" Akarou said, triumphantly, taking out the blow-pipe from his mouth with his remaining hand. "It serves you right for severing my right arm and not complying with my wishes. Once the Shogun hears about your sneaking into his archives, you will even lose the privilege to commit seppuku"