Author's Note: It's still May 14 where I am, so I did make it! Please let me know what you think!

The calendar had not been changed yet.

Koshijiro noticed this, as he was about to leave for the station. From today, it would be exactly one week since Minister Okubo and the commissioner had visited. At work, Fujita had not explained his injuries whatsoever, and the officers muttered hypothetical scenarios to each other. The wildest so far was that he had been attacked by a wolf. Fujita had heard that one and gave a mean-spirited laugh. Only Koshijiro understood the irony, because as a member of the Shinsengumi, the man was once a wolf of Mibu. But most of the time, Fujita was absent, probably on the next mission he was given.

In the Kamiya household, it had been calm. Their typical routine had continued, although Sagara and Takani were stopping by more often. Kaoru was now practicing with the naginata, testing Yahiko's capabilities against a long-range weapon. And Himura seemed to be fine, if a little quieter.

Minister Okubo should prepare to be disappointed.

With a slight tug, Koshijiro tore off the calendar's page, so today's date was properly shown.

May 14, 1878.

His prediction was given further support by the scene outside. Although they should have begun lessons, Kaoru and Yahiko were lingering in the yard. Sagara was madly pacing back and forth, circling the well and the tub of laundry. Amidst them, Himura was the picture of tranquility, and he even smiled as he lifted a spotless cloth from the soapy water.

"You're not gonna accept, are you?! You can't trust government officials." Sagara was saying. "They only care about themselves."

Himura chuckled. "So, you still despise the Meiji government."

"I'm from the Sekihoutai, nothing wrong with that!"

"No. However, if Okubo-dono was corrupt and self-serving, then Saito would have killed him. This one knows you do not like him-"

There was a grumble from Yahiko. "Yeah, he's rotten."

Himura's smile grew tight. "He holds a high standard of justice, and he believes wholeheartedly in the instant elimination of evil. It is also why he is hard to get along with…"

"Got that right." Sagara scoffed.

Kaoru's eyes darkened. "I hate him."

Koshijiro hoped that somewhere, Fujita was sneezing his head off.

"Now then," Himura stood and handed the tub of laundry to Yahiko. "Please hang these on the clothesline. This one will go to see Okubo-dono."

Koshijiro took the opportunity to inform him. "He should be going to Akasaka, to meet with the Cabinet. Or at least, that is what Commissioner Kawaji told me yesterday." The balding man hadn't concealed his desperation, repeating that Shishio's army was growing by the hour. Instead, Koshijiro had replied that if it was, then efforts would be better spent on mobilization.

"Thank you, Kamiya-dono."

"Hello?" A voice sailed through the air, accompanied by light footsteps. Takani was rather cheerful, and she lifted one hand in a wave. "Oh, you're still here. Good morning, Ken-san!" At her greeting, Sagara rolled his eyes, and she flashed him a glare before continuing. "Today's the day, so I brought this!" With a flick of her other wrist, something flew from her sleeve. Chain links gleamed, and a leather loop slipped around Himura's neck.

"Oro?"

"With a collar, Ken-san can't go to Kyoto. I also brought sleeping powder, if it comes to that…"

Kaoru stepped in, visibly struggling to contain her irritation. "Thanks, but it isn't necessary. And don't you have patients?"

Starting the day like this was too much to handle. "Well, it's time to leave for work." Koshijiro muttered to himself.

During this exchange, Himura had unbuckled the collar and unceremoniously dropped it. As Takani gasped in protest, he walked towards the gate. "If Okubo-dono is in Akasaka, this one will meet him in Kioisaka to ease his journey. And this one will do so alone."

The others looked as if they disagreed, but Kaoru lifted her chin and calmly said. "Kenshin, please return safely."

He smiled. "Yes, Kaoru-dono." Then, he turned to the road and disappeared from their sight. In retrospect, Koshijiro would remember Himura was wearing the red gi that had become his favorite.

"What if they're going to ambush him and smuggle him to Kyoto?" Yahiko's overactive imagination was on display.

Sagara scoffed. "Come on, have some faith. He could take on all of them."

After a few minutes, it was clear Himura was gone and Koshijiro headed off. "I'll see all of you at the end of the day."

"Have a good day, Otou-san." Kaoru said. Her earlier brave face had given way to a worried expression, and he gave her shoulder a quick, reassuring squeeze before he departed.

The morning's delay meant that he had to walk briskly. He was focused on the path to the station, considering a shortcut when someone appeared in his peripheral vision. He did a double take. "Himura-san?"

Himura held up his hands in apology. "Ah, this one had taken a wrong turn, so this one will walk partway with you."

"That's fine. Would you like directions?"

"This one knows the way now."

They walked in silence for about a block, before Himura said. "The woodpile is low, so this one will cut more when he returns."

"Yes, that can wait. I hope your meeting with the minister goes well and that he respects your choice to hold to your vow."

Himura's jaw tensed. "In the fight with Jin-e, this one came close to breaking it."

"Did you?"

"It was to protect Kaoru-dono. She was caught in the Shin no Ippou."

Koshijiro furrowed his brow. "I didn't hear about that before. This was the 'mind trick' that killed people, wasn't it?"

He immediately responded. "Kaoru-dono did not want to worry you, and in the end, Jin-e killed himself so the danger was gone. She had a strong will and broke free from the technique."

"But you were prepared to kill Jin-e if she hadn't."

"Yes. Her voice called this one back. It did not, when this one was fighting Saito. He was very close to achieving his goal. Despite ten years, this one still holds the madness of an assassin from the Bakumatsu. If such chaos begins again…" He trailed off.

"To me, it's as if Minister Okubo is using you as a shield. He has wealth, connections, and resources. But to use them, he would have to acknowledge the existence of Shishio and thus, his sins of the past. You desire to be a good man, to learn from your mistakes. That should be your priority, before you try to atone for his mistakes as well."

They paused at the intersection leading to Kioisaka. "Those are strong words, Kamiya-dono."

"Well, it seemed like you needed another reminder, to be certain of yourself."

"And thank you." He was serious this time, and he bowed. "Until later, Kamiya-dono."

"Until later." Koshijiro echoed, and once again, he watched Himura leave.

At the station, work continued as usual. Fujita was out again, a stack of files in his stead. It was a quiet morning, and Koshijiro was in the middle of organizing his papers when the announcement came out. Chief Uramura usually bought a newspaper before his lunch break, and he was holding a fresh one, as he entered the room. His face was drained of color.

"Minister Okubo is dead."

Koshijiro's ears filled with white noise, and he shook his head just in time to hear the chief continue.

"He was assassinated, while traveling to Kioisaka this morning." So, Himura never had the opportunity to meet with him. "The commissioner has ordered that all available and able-bodied men to be out on patrol."

That did not include Koshijiro, but after the men filed out, he found he couldn't concentrate on his tasks. It was the shock that a public murder could happen in broad daylight and that only a week ago, the minister had been speaking in the dojo. Now, he was gone and Koshijiro wondered how the loss of his leadership was affecting the Cabinet. Already, the people were concerned and their clamor seeped through the walls. Very slowly, the end of the day approached, and Koshijiro was about to quietly leave.

"Excuse me, is Kamiya-san here?" An unfamiliar man had entered. He wore a Western suit and he had a carefully trimmed mustache.

Koshijiro raised his eyebrows. "Yes, I am Kamiya."

"Ah, I'm glad I caught you. I am Governor Yamayoshi from Fukushima; I was the last person to speak to Minister Okubo this morning."

"My condolences. I was sorry to hear about his death."

Yamayoshi nodded. "It is difficult right now. However, the reason that I'm here is that he mentioned you during our meeting."

"I'm afraid I was rude to him and I sincerely regret that." His last words to the minister had been of adamant refusal.

"I don't think he took offense. In fact, he seemed to have great respect for you. He was surprisingly forthright, and he confided his plan for the country. He believed that the next ten years were crucial, to build Japan as a nation-state. His goal was to have a democratic government, so that the people could decide their own fates. His exact words were: 'It will take thirty years, perhaps too long for Kamiya-san to appreciate, but if I meet him again, I hope that we can find compromise.'"

Koshijiro bowed his head. That wish would forever go unfulfilled. "Thank you for telling me this, I will pay my respects later. Please give my regards to his family."

"Of course." The conversation ended, and Yamayoshi opened the door for him. The sunset was the color of blood. Koshijiro could not help superimposing the swath of red onto the late minister.

At home, the pile of wood had doubled. It could only have been Himura who had cut enough for the week, yet no one had seen him. There was no other sign of his presence, and his shoes were gone. They did hear of Okubo's assassination, and the atmosphere at the dinner table was somber. They were waiting for Himura to return.

"At least, whoever took out the minister didn't get him." Yahiko was focusing on the replenished woodpile. "He could be out drinking."

"That sounds more like Sano than Kenshin." Kaoru protested. "And Kenshin will come back. He promised."

Silence fell over them and lingered, until the dishes were cleared and Koshijiro suggested. "I'll leave a lantern outside."

The night air was cool, and he had just transferred the flame from a match when there was a rapid series of knocks. "Someone's at the gate." He alerted the others, and they dashed over in a mad scramble.

However, it wasn't Himura but a young boy, who was fourteen or fifteen. His expression was full of urgency. "Please, my father's collapsed! I heard that a doctor was here?"

Takani pushed forward, quietly inquiring about the father's condition. "It sounds like appendicitis…I have to do an emergency surgery." She sighed.

"I'll escort you." Sagara volunteered, and not even Takani could mask her surprise.

"Oh…thank you. Let's go."

"Take care." Kaoru called out, and the three figures hurried off. A strong wind blew in their wake, sending green leaves cascading to the earth.

Another hour of waiting passed. Yahiko had tried in vain to stay awake, and now that he had fallen asleep, Kaoru draped a blanket over him. "I can't sit still, I need some fresh air."

"Don't be out alone. I'll go with you, to check around the house."

"Okay." She agreed. While she maintained a position near the sign for the dojo, he paced up and down the road. There was nothing to be found, but he was becoming very concerned that Himura had disappeared.

"I'm going to inspect the back, it should only take a minute." It was mostly for his piece of mind, that their boarder was not lying injured in the vicinity.

"Do you want to take the lantern?"

"I know my way. Shout if anything happens."

The grass rustled with every step, but that was the only noise. Upon closer inspection, any foreign shape turned out to be a shrub. A gust swept through while he walked on. Koshijiro watched as a firefly blinked into existence, then another, until their numbers rivaled the falling leaves.

He circled around to the front gate, and noticed that Kaoru was on her knees, facing the road. Further down, Koshijiro caught a silhouette just before it melted in the darkness. He ran over to his daughter, helping her up. "Was that Himura-san?"

Kaoru nodded once and whispered. "He's gone, Otou-san. He left. For good."

He couldn't hide his surprise. "Can you tell me what happened?"

"He was going to become a rurouni again, and…he said goodbye." She clutched herself, gripping her own arms. "He's going to Kyoto, to stop Shishio."

If such chaos begins again…

With Okubo's death, that was much more likely. Himura must have thought he had to interfere, even though he did not want to break his vow. It was a shame.

"Kaoru…"

She hiccupped. "I'm sorry, Otou-san. I think I have to sleep."

"Yes, it's been a long day. We can talk it over tomorrow."

Before he led her inside, he glanced one last time into the night. Only the fireflies were present, their lights strangely sad and cold.

The next morning, Kaoru was feverish and unable to leave her bed. Perspiration glittered on her forehead, and her eyes were glazed over with delirium. Feeling alarmed, Koshijiro summoned for Takani to examine her. But after ten minutes, the doctor was already repacking her bag.

"It's stress. There are no signs of infection, so medicine won't help." Takani stated with complete authority. "Just give her time."

"Thank you, Takani-san."

The gate abruptly slammed, as Sagara stormed into the yard. "Bastard! Asshole! He's really gone. How could he leave like that? Without saying goodbye?"

Now that Koshijiro recalled, Himura had only said goodbye to one person…and that was Kaoru.

"That's it, I'm going!"

Koshijiro's forehead creased. "Where?"

"To Kyoto! I'm his right hand man, I have to be there when he needs help. He should have taken the Tokaido road, so I'll catch up to him."

"Good luck with that." Takani delivered a parting shot.

"I will. And I'll haul him back after this is over. You can count on me." He nodded, as if reaffirming his resolve. "I'll get supplies in town and stop by the Akabeko to tell Yahiko. Give my regards to Jou-chan. See ya!"

"Have a safe trip." Koshijiro hoped that he knew where he was going. "Don't hesitate to ask around if you need directions."

"Come on, old man, I know that."

"Oh, here." Takani exasperatedly threw a bundle, and he caught it with ease. "That has enough bandages and salve for your next injury. Be careful with your shoulder."

"Thanks, fox. I'll see ya in a month or two!" With a wide grin, he gave a two-fingered salute and didn't look back. Takani left afterwards, saying that she would visit the next day.

Koshijiro laid a damp cloth on Kaoru's forehead. Her eyelashes stirred, but she didn't wake.

"I'm back." Yahiko called out. His footsteps grew louder and he opened the door to Kaoru's room. "How is she?"

"Still not well. Did Sagara-san tell you he left?"

"Yeah, he did. I followed him because I thought he didn't say goodbye to everyone. He visited Tsunan again, he got some money and stuff. Then, he fought Saito or Fujita or whoever he is. The police officer thought he was only going to weigh Kenshin down. But Sano's stubborn, so he got a few strikes in. He's on his way to getting even stronger, lucky him."

There was a lot to unpack in those few sentences, especially the fight with Fujita, but Koshijiro decided that it all paled in comparison to his daughter's well-being. "Well…I'm glad it all worked out."

"Me too." With a huff, he seated himself next to Kaoru's futon. "She's gotta eat something later. I can't cook though. Can you?"

"Not even with two hands."

"Hmm. We need help."

They didn't have to search very far. In the evening, Tae and Tsubame stopped by, to provide food and company for Kaoru. By then, she could sit up, and Koshijiro brought out the small table they had used for meals when Kyoko was bedridden. There were bento boxes for Yahiko and Koshijiro, and a small clay pot for Kaoru.

"Tsubame cooked the porridge. She did an excellent job." Tae beamed, while the younger girl blushed.

"It's not much." She shyly said.

Kaoru tried a spoonful. "It's good, thank you." After another, she paused. Koshijiro flashed her an anticipatory expression, and didn't lift his chopsticks again until she continued eating. Gradually, she finished most of her share, and Tsubame offered to wash the dishes. Yahiko tagged along, claiming he had to check their current stock of ingredients. It was rather obvious that he wanted to talk to her.

"Please feel better soon, Kaoru." Tae folded her hands in her lap. "Is there anything else you need?"

"…um, just the outhouse." She slipped free of the covers. "I'll be right back." Her steps were barely audible, and her form seemed terribly small.

Koshijiro didn't feel angry at Himura, he could understand why the man had to stop the threat. It was just unfortunate for everyone else involved, and he didn't know how he could fix any of it.

It's only been a day, but it feels so long.

"We were so surprised to hear that Kenshin left. I thought he would stay for good…" Tae trailed off. "It was right for us to visit."

"We're very grateful, although if you'll excuse me, I have some work to take care of." Given that it was a family emergency, he had permission to take reports home for the week.

"Of course. We'll stay until Kaoru falls asleep."

He was about to exit, when his attention was drawn to the corner of the room. There were two cloth dolls, propped up against each other. He recognized one of the dolls, a miniature replica of his daughter. Ever since she was very young, she usually had a sewing piece, and he and Kyoko had encouraged her little projects. This doll was the latest he knew of; she had finished its kimono, before he left for Satsuma. But the other one…

"That's a doll version of Himura-san." He said in disbelief. It was even wearing a little red gi! "When did that get there?"

"Oh, well," Tae's eyes nervously darted back and forth. "About two months ago, Kaoru did mention she had a new sewing project."

The stitched round eyes stared at him. "Perhaps, we should take it away. It would only remind her that he's gone."

"She'll notice if you do. And what if it comforts her?"

He couldn't see how, but his daughter would probably notice if the doll was missing. In the end, he pretended he had never seen it.

Kaoru's fever broke by midnight, and the following day, she seemed perfectly healthy. She had made breakfast, and the overdone fish caused Yahiko to stick out his tongue. She hung the laundry out to dry and waxed the dojo's floor. Overall, she was keeping busy.

She was keeping quiet. She insisted that she was fine, but she had acquired a perpetual slight frown. Whenever the gate opened, she automatically whipped around and slumped in the next second, obviously disappointed. She seemed to be enduring each day, up and about but without her usual enthusiasm.

After six days, it was clear her melancholy only had one cure. Koshijiro couldn't ignore it, so he had formulated an idea, rethinking it over and over.

It's far from ideal, but if it can make her feel better, it would be worth it. It's worth it.

That afternoon, he peered into the dojo, using the wall to shield the rest of his body. "Kaoru, Yahiko, I'd like to speak with both of you."

According to Yahiko, lessons had been adequate, but his teacher had been 'spacey'. He was right. Kaoru slowly turned her gaze towards the open door. "Oh. After this kata."

"We just finished it." Yahiko nudged her.

"I guess we did, huh?" Her nervous laugh didn't settle right with Koshijiro.

They set aside their shinai and gear, following Koshijiro to the dining table. The whole time, he held his arm close to his body. When they were all seated, he released his armful onto the table.

A coin purse and wallet. A map. And three train tickets. He pointed to them first.

"These are tickets from Shimbashi Station to Yokohama. It will take about one hour, before we reach the port city." He unfolded the map, and traced the coastline with one finger. "Then, from Yokohama to Kobe, it will be three days at most. At Kobe, we will pay for tickets to take the new train line to Kyoto."

"We're going to Kyoto?" Yahiko blurted. "Really?"

"Yes. I heard from a colleague that it will be two hours, so if you're seasick, we can stay the night in Kobe and travel in the morning to the Shirobeko, which the Sekihara family runs. I've calculated it, and this amount of money should be more than enough. If it isn't, Sekihara-san said that her sister would appreciate extra hands at the Shirobeko. You can help out, to repay them for your stay while I'm gone."

"While you're gone?"

"I can't leave my job for too long, Kaoru."

"R-right." She looked over the items again. "But…are you okay with leaving us in Kyoto?"

If he had to be honest, he was not totally comfortable with the situation. However, for their sakes, he couldn't neglect his professional responsibilities for more than a week. He had to trust his daughter and Yahiko would be safe at the Shirobeko. That would be the hardest part, but instead, he asked. "The question is, are you sure of yourself? Kyoto is a large city, you may not find Himura-san." You might never meet him again, he thought but didn't voice it.

Kaoru straightened, and some of the fire had returned to her eyes. "I am. I want to see him, and I want to bring him home."

"That's right! No more excuses." Yahiko vigorously nodded. "You're the only one Kenshin said goodbye to, it was hardest for him to part with you. So you have the best chance of bringing him back, right?"

"I'll definitely try."

And so, they prepared to depart. The dim morning sun and Takani saw them off at the train station. "I'll keep an eye on the dojo while you're gone."

"Thank you, Takani-san." Koshijiro said. "And please, thank Dr. Gensai for informing me about the new train line to Kyoto."

"Certainly."

"Do you want a souvenir?" Yahiko offered.

"That's quite the loaded question!" She tittered, and coyly, she hid her smile behind her sleeve.

"Is that all you have to say?" Kaoru furrowed her brow.

"Oh, please. I just woke up so early this morning so I could laugh at all of you." However, she handed over a small container, its surface painted with a flower pattern. "This is a medicine developed by my family. I'm sure Ken-san will be injured, so give it to him when you meet him."

"You could come with us, to Kyoto." Her tone was a little grudging, but her eyes were honest.

"No. Ken-san showed me that to live on, I need to atone. I can only do that as a doctor." She paused. "It was hard for me, not to hear him say goodbye at all. You're fortunate."

"Megumi-" Kaoru started, but then, the train began to move forward, and Takani vanished into the crowd. "She wanted to go to Kyoto."

"But she has a duty to care for her patients." Koshijiro reminded her.

"I know." Outside, the trees had blurred together. "She said I was fortunate, yet I didn't think so at first. When he said goodbye, I felt like I was chained from head to toe. But not anymore. Now, I understand. I'm through with being sad, I want to keep moving forward. That's what the master of Kamiya Kasshin would do."

"Well said." He leaned into the cushioned seating, and for the first time in a week, he contentedly closed his eyes.

The journey was like a whirlwind, and Yahiko may have vomited into the sea once or twice, but after a night of rest in Kobe, they arrived in Kyoto. It wasn't Koshijiro's first time in the city; however, it was his first during peacetime. This clamoring, mundane Kyoto was nothing like how it had been in his memories of the battle of Toba Fushimi. Of gunpowder, shouts, and fresh blood…

"Are they speaking Chinese?" Yahiko's wide eyes were focused on three girls cooing over a dog and chattering amongst themselves.

"Yahiko, don't stare." Kaoru admonished and steered him away. Despite her best efforts, her attention was also drawn to the new sights and sounds.

"The Shirobeko should be this way." Koshijiro adhered to the directions Tae had provided, and in ten minutes, the building loomed over them. It was quite similar to its sister restaurant, and he did feel somewhat better, seeing their accommodations in person. Sae and the staff were pleasant, eagerly welcoming them. The guest room was clean and neat. There was nothing to find fault with, except in Koshijiro's own reluctance.

"How are you going to find him? I refuse to let you wander into the street and ask complete strangers."

"Otou-san, don't be ridiculous. We'll put up flyers."

"Yeah, good ones." Yahiko chimed in. "Red hair and scar and everything. He's hard to forget."

"And what if Shishio's men come here?" He mulled over it. "That settles it. I'll send you the shinai, bokken, and practice naginata. And your uniforms. However, don't engage them, it's too dangerous. You should only use what you have to defend and run away."

"Otou-san…" But his daughter didn't sound angry.

They saw him off at the train station, yet Koshijiro wasn't finished. "One more thing. I would like to receive an update every week, by letter. It may only be a sentence or two, but as long as I know you're alive and well, I'll be at ease."

"It'll definitely be a page, at least." Kaoru promised. "We'll both write. Yahiko needs to practice his kanji anyway."

"Ugh." He made a disgruntled expression. "Fine."

Koshijiro exhaled. "Then, this is where we part. I wish I could stay." He couldn't help adding.

That seemed to increase Kaoru's concern. "Will you be alright, Otou-san? You'll be alone in Tokyo."

"I'll manage." He clasped her shoulder. "But most of all, I want you to be like yourself again. And…I also think Himura-san wants to be home."

"I think so too." Then, she smiled, a true one. He had missed her happy face. She flung her arms around him, in a tight embrace. "Thank you. Really."

"Be good." He gruffly said, and after she pulled away, he gave a pointed look to Yahiko. "Yahiko, I trust that you'll be responsible."

"I will." The boy grinned. "I want to see Kenshin too. We'll get him back."

The conductor called for the passengers to board, and he chose a seat beside the window, so they could watch him leave.

"Write!" He reiterated.

"We will!"

Then, the train picked up speed, and he craned his head out the window. He kept his eyes wide open, burning the sight of their waving figures into his memory.

The return trip was lonely but smooth, and when he crossed the gate at last, Takani had just arrived.

"Thank you for watching the house."

"It's not a problem. I'd be happy to do it again, if you want to visit them."

He doubted that would be before his next paycheck. The travel fees had dealt a hefty hit to their finances. "I'll consider it. Please, have some tea."

She opened the dojo's doors. "Tea would be nice-no!" Her sentence morphed into a bitten off scream, and Koshijiro looked past her to see the flash of two blades, in the hands of a tall figure approaching Takani. She collapsed, trembling.

"Where is he? Battousai?" Shinomori Aoshi stalked out of the dojo. Somehow, he had broken in.

Takani shook her head. To her, the man was associated with her former exploiter, and she was rightfully terrified. Koshijiro stepped between them, meeting Shinomori's flat gaze.

"Are you asking me to kill you?"

Koshijiro did not answer him. He knew very little about Shinomori, and any wrong move could set him off.

A voice drawled from the gate. "You're too late, he's on his way to Kyoto by now." Fujita pulled a lit cigarette from his mouth, letting the smoke escape into the air. He marched over to them with a grimace.

Shinomori tilted his head. "And you are?"

"Fujita Goro. A policeman. Since you've been holed up in the mountains, I'll bring you up to speed. Himura Battousai has gone to Kyoto, to defeat Shishio Makoto."

"If that's so, I'll come again when he has returned."

"Maybe he never will, if Shishio kills him first."

"No. I am the only one who will kill Battousai." With utter confidence, he strode out. A tense minute followed.

"He's gone. Hm…" Fujita had an unbelievably thoughtful expression.

"Why did you tell him that? He'll kill Ken-san!" Takani hissed. "And Kaoru and Yahiko are in Kyoto!"

"Kyoto's a large city, and they're not his targets." Fujita shrugged, and Koshijiro desperately wanted to shake him. "We have greater concerns at hand. Shishio's army is marching upon villages, at least ten have fallen to his control. Dissenters are executed, and all the policemen I've sent have retreated."

Koshijiro clenched his teeth together. "And so, the army would be helpless as well?"

"It hasn't even been a year since we suppressed the rebellion in Satsuma. If we need to use the army against our own citizens again, how would that look to the rest of the world? Also, no one in the Cabinet wants to share Minister Okubo's fate. How can you prevent an assassination? That's why people like Himura and I are necessary, and why we could use Shinomori. Don't you understand?"

"Of course. I only lost my arm, not my mind." Koshijiro curtly said.

"You could have fooled me." He thrust a slip of paper to Koshijiro. "Check on this address occasionally, in my absence. I'm going to Kyoto, to make sure Himura does his job."

And to keep Shinomori at bay, if it comes to that, Koshijiro thought. He read over the paper; the address was in a residential area. "I assume this is the location of your family."

"That's for you to find out." He raised a gloved hand in parting. "Goodbye." He didn't even wait for a reply, closing the gate behind him.

"What a frustrating man." Takani pursed her lips. "Are you going to that address?"

"Perhaps." But first, he had to make his own house more secure. No one else would be breaking in or making unwanted entrances.