"Oni-san, Okita, I need your help" Ryumiko said woefully as she sat down at a renown Soba shack in Kyoto, Aoiya.
"What is it?" Saito asked, "I thought you were living joyfully with that ceramics-artist of yours, but by the looks of your face, you don't seem quite happy"
"Otou-sama had a fight with my father-in-law, and severed his arm. Now, Akarou wants to report a certain crime of his to the Shogun in revenge for the former, and the divorce between me and Akurou, who was forced to by Otou-sama"
"We'd like to help, but you must tell us everything in detail" Okita said, "Moreover, we must inform Kondou-san and Hijikata-san"
"No, please don't. The Tsubasa clan's spies will be alerted if the two main leaders of the Shinsen-Gumi move as well", she said, looking around as though there were actually spies around them. "Otou-sama will tell you everything once we get back to the head-quarters"
Thus, the three of them left the shack after paying the bill. On the way, Okita decided to lighten up the mood by saying, "Hey, Ryumiko, how's your baby?"
"It's fine, of course, what if Otou-sama bringing me herbal tonics every other day. It just loves to kick me, that's all" she smiled.
"What do you plan to name it when it's born?" Saito asked. "More importantly, whose surname will you give it to?"
"Tsubasa" Ryumiko answered, "I still want it to know that it came from a well-respected Samurai clan, no matter how they look down on me. As for the name, it's Miryu for a girl and Kenshin (1) for a boy. Hiko-sama and I talked it over at dinner not three weeks ago"
"Wow, you do know how to choose a name" Okita said. "I wonder if I'll live to give your child kenjutsu lessons"
"Okita has your bronchitis worsened?" she asked in a concerned manner. "Did you even take your medication?"
The boy was silent. Ryumiko looked at Saito for some answers, but he just shook his head. Fifteen minutes later, they reached the head-quarters, were Kondou and Hijikata were waiting for them. The worried expressions on their faces were signs that Reiji had already told them of his plan to get rid of Akarou, which was, of course, a dangerous task, even when Hiko was there.
"We know of your plan, Ryumiko" Kondou said the moment they went indoors. "I still think that it is suicide"
"We shall see, Kondou-san, but first, let's talk it over with some Sake" she said, her voice was now filled with its former authority known to every member of the Shinsen-Gumi, down to the freshest recruit.
"Welcome back, Ryumiko-san" said Takada Kanryuu, leader of the Fifth Division.
"It's good to be back, Kanryuu" she replied.
"I see that the Iron wolf-maiden of Mibu has gained her former strength" Saito teased. "Albeit the fact that she is now the mother of another future-prodigy"
(1): I played on this, because it was Hiko who gave Kenshin this name. Don't sue me, please!