The next few weeks, the Rengoku household was on baby watch since it was close to Hotaru's time. Even Shinjuro had started to pitch in around the house a bit. Hotaru insisted on still doing as much as she could but was ordered to be off her feet most of the day by Senjuro. The doctor's visits became more frequent as time passed. The whole house was on edge awaiting for the arrival of the newest Rengoku.

However at dinner Shinjuro had his own surprising news.

"I've decided to take up the sword again," Shinjuro announced one evening at dinner.

"What do you mean, Chichue?" Senjuro asked his father.

"The situation with the demons is getting more dire. I've decided to come out of retirement as the flame hashira so as to not dishonor the Rengoku name," Shinjuro said decidedly with a serious look on his face. I've already brought enough shame he thought privately to himself.

"Are you sure about this, Chichue?" Senjuro questioned his father.

"Yes I've already made up my mind," Shinjuro said. I now have Kyojuro's child and their mother to protect as well, he thought to himself. I know I'm past my prime but I have to do this.

Hotaru didn't know how to react to the news. She felt concerned that Shinjuro was putting himself in the line of danger again. Her knowledge about the hashira was limited but she knew that Senjuro was in no position to take up the flame hashira role as he confided in her he couldn't.

As it was almost time for Hotaru to give birth, everyone was sitting on pins and needles, especially dear sweet Senjuro. He kept a watchful eye over her making sure her needs were met and that she wasn't over exerting herself. There were a couple close calls one time being when she leaned over the kitchen counter in pain. The local midwife had told them that there were such things as false contractions. Hotaru had started to get impatient because she wanted to finally hold her baby plus it was very hard to move around.

One night

Hotaru had risen to use the facilities and was on her way back when she started to feel waves of pain. Initially she had brushed them off since she had started feeling pains earlier that day but assumed it was a false alarm. However now this pain felt different and more intense than earlier. Walking back to her room, she felt wetness between her legs. Oh gosh not now baby she thought leaning against the wall. Slowly she made her way to Senjuro's room. Stopping just short of the door she knocked as loudly as she could.

"Senjuro!" she called kneeling over holding her belly.

A few moments later a door slid open revealing Senjuro in his night robe.

"Hotaru! Is it time?!" he asked, kneeling beside her. Hotaru nodded.

He helped her get to her room and lie down.

"I'll wake Father and have him get the midwife. I'll be right back," Senjuro said with a panicked look on his face.

Senjuro hurried to his father's room, shaking him awake.

"Chichue, wake up!" he yelled.

"What is it, Senjuro?" Shinjuro asked, sitting up, still laden with sleep.

"Hotaru is going to have the baby! You gotta go get the midwife," Senjuro hurriedly explained to his father. The two heard Hotaru cry out in pain next door.

"Alright I'll be back," Shinjuro said, throwing on a robe over his night clothes.

Senjuro hurried back to Hotaru's room.

"Father went to go get the midwife," he informed her.

"Senjuro please don't leave me," Hotaru said crying.

"I'm right here," he said, soothingly rubbing her forehead comfortingly.

A while later, Shinjuro returned with the local midwife, and she started to set up her things.

"Senjuro-san, fetch me some warm water and some towels please," she instructed him.

He returned shortly after with the items she requested.

"Now I need you two to leave the room," the midwife said, then seeing the anxious look on Senjuro's face she added reassuringly, "she'll be ok."

Father and son waited outside in the hallway, an awkward silence hung in the air as they listened to Hotaru scream every so often. Senjuro had this worried look on his face and winced every time he heard Hotaru scream.

"This may take awhile," Shinjuro commented to his son. He had been through this twice so he knew that babies took awhile to be born.