Slight sexual content warning for this chapter

"That night, Hotaru wanted Kyojuro to stay with her in her small home. The plan was for him to leave early in the morning and go to his family home to say goodbye to Senjuro and his father before heading to the train.

"I just can't help but worry about you in your condition alone. Please take it easy on yourself," Rengoku said. They both were laying naked in each other's arms after having been intimate.

"I promise I'll be careful," Hotaru rested her head against his chest. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes again at the thought of losing him.

"Please be safe, my love. We need you," one of Hotaru's hands lowered to cradle her belly. Her stomach was not yet very big but upon closer inspection a small bump was formed.

Kyojuro kissed the top of her head burying his nose into her hair. "I will come back home to the both of you and we'll be together," he said, hugging her. Rengoku brought his hand lower to cover Hotaru's hand on her belly.

The next morning Rengoku woke up before his lover did. The sun filtered through the window. He looked lovingly at Hotaru who was still asleep. His gaze traveled down to her abdomen where he could see a small bump where their unborn child was growing. As much as he hated waking his lover up this early in the morning he had a long journey ahead of him. Kyojuro gently rubbed Hotaru's belly to try to wake her up. He then pressed his lips to the back of her neck while embracing her closer, inhaling her scent for the last time before he went on his mission.

"Mmmm," Hotaru slowly woke up to see her lover. She turned toward him and embraced him. Rengoku pressed a chaste kiss to her lips. His kisses then trailed down her neck and to her chest. He kissed each of her breasts gently, Hotaru sighed in pleasure. His kisses then trailed down to her belly.

"After the two had gotten ready it was time for Rengoku to leave. He was fully dressed in his Hashira uniform with his flame cape and sword.

"Please be safe," Hotaru said with sadness in her voice.

"I promise to fulfill my duty and return safely to you," Rengoku said gazing at her with earnestness.

Kyojuro embraced her tightly. Hotaru couldn't help but let her tears fall. He wrapped his arms around her torso. One of his hands lowered to caress her belly lovingly. He kissed Hotaru on the lips savoring the taste of her before having to leave.

"I'll be going now. I'll be back soon," Rengoku said with one of his confident smiles.

Hotaru felt a deep loneliness after his departure. Of course she had been alone many times in life. However this loneliness had reminded her of her deceased mother. It had been just her and her mother for all of her life that she could remember. Hotaru's mother did whatever she could to survive but never could find consistent work. She remembered her mother having to resort to "selling the goods" to put food on the table for the day. Hotaru remembered sitting outside under her mother's instruction to not come inside until she said it was ok to. Sometimes the visitors were mean and she would see her mother with a bruised eye or an injury but she always smiled and brushed it off.

However, after some time she noticed changes in her mother. What started off as a cough, turned into a much more serious illness and with no money there was no treatment options. Nobody was interested in helping a penniless single mother who barely could keep a roof over her child's head. Hotaru's mother passed away not long after leaving her to fend for herself. She managed to scrape a living by doing odd jobs and moving around.

When Hotaru woke up from her nap she had tears in her eyes. She prayed for Kyojuro's safe return from his mission so he could see his impending child. Hotaru couldn't go through with the 'procedure' because she wanted to carry Kyojuro's baby. span style. Please return safely, Kyojuro Hotaru thought.

Rengoku's POV
Rengoku was lost in his thoughts on his way to his family's estate. His usual confidence a bit diminished out of concern for his pregnant lover. He knew that the demon that he would be facing would probably be one of the Twelve Kizuki. Shinobu's words stayed in his mind "do be careful". Her words added an unspoken extra pressure of the other Hashiras and Ubayashiki's expectation that he'd be able to handle the demon. Added to that there was a possibility at some point that he'd have to look out for the three new corps members one of them being the boy with the odd earrings and the box who caused all that trouble at the Hashira meeting. If he-no, when he returned from this mission he would take Hotaru away from the poor living conditions she lived in and bring her home to wed. He had thought of marriage even before she told him she was pregnant. However the unexpected news of his child was a confirmation of a desire to marry. Hotaru had been to his estate a good number of times and got along well with Senjuro but father barely acknowledged her existence but oh well.

Once Rengoku reached his family's estate he knew he couldn't linger around because he had a ways to go. He headed to his father's room. Shinjuro was in his usual spot lying on his side in his bed with a jug of sake close at hand. After knocking and announcing himself, he entered the room.

"What do you want?" Shinjuro irritably asked his eldest son.

Kyojuro simply replied with, "I'll be heading out now Father." When he got no reply from his father, Kyojuro exited the room.

Senjuro was sweeping the room nearest to the entrance at that moment.

"Aniue (Elder brother), are you heading out soon?" he asked, approaching his brother.

"Yes, I will be heading out very soon. I've already told Father," Rengoku said.

"Ah I see," Senjuro frowned slightly knowing how their father was.

"Senjuro, there's something I'd like to discuss with you before I leave," Rengoku said to his brother with a bit more seriousness in his voice.

Awhile later

"Please take care of yourself, Aniue (elder brother)," Senjuro said, hugging his brother.

"I promise I will," Kyojuro said, returning his brother's hug.