"Wake up, Miryu" Hiko said, pulling off her blanket while she was still sleeping. As much as he hated politicians, he couldn't help the fact that Miryu was caught between the conflict of the two sides in the rising war, and that one of her superiors are at his doorstep right now. He was already pissed to find her half-dead with exhaustion and merely survived a Shin-No-Ippo attack when she knocked on his door just a few hours ago.
"Shishou, it isn't even dawn yet…" Miryu grumbled, pulling the blanket back from Hiko. "I've barely gotten any sleep"
"What if I told you that the leader of the Choushu Ishin-Ishishi is only fifty paces in front of you?"
"WHAT!" Miryu exclaimed and hurriedly went to get dressed. Ten minutes later, she appeared before Katsura in a yukata that accentuated her curvaceous figure perfectly, with her long, flowing hair cascading to her waist.
"Tsubasa-san, forgive me for disturbing you at this time, especially after what happened in the Ikeda House" Katsura said, "You must've received quite a shock"
"I received a shock because you disappeared without giving us any news, Katsura-san!" she exclaimed, but quickly calmed down. "… What I meant to say that you should've informed of your moving from the Ikeda House"
Hiko could sense that she was extremely angry, still, embarrassed, for the most part, because Hiryuko saved her. That girl is just so stubborn, he said to himself, as memories from the days when the three of them still lived under the same roof. She would always insist that she learn the techniques by herself, as she grew up watching me fight. She practically knew every single attack before I even started to train her… Now, she wants to do her own part in this war, guarding it like her mother did hers…
"Forgive me, Tsubasa-san" he replied, "I came here to inform you that Himura-san and Tomoe are now heading to Otsu for reasons of safety, and you, too, are to remain here at least until the end of next month"
"But… I want to fight" Miryu said, "Katsura-san, please…"
"Tsubasa-san, you are a very important person for Choushu, until the time is right, I will not have you throwing your life! Going out at this time is suicide, the Shinsen-Gumi will definitely know that you are the daughter of the Iron Wolf-Maiden of Mibu, have you forgotten your promise to me?"
"Hai…" she said in a small voice. Defeat, she hated it. She has won Hiko and Kenshin in many arguments, killed many men three times her size, but never has she lost a battle of words. Katsura had a point, and she knew it… But her desire to take her vengeance was now stronger than any force on the world.
"Miryu, if you do not live, you will not have the chance of taking your vengeance" Hiko said, chugging down a large gulp of Sake. "Then my efforts of raising you and training you would all go to waste"
Miryu knew that she had more open choices, and decided to back down, "Hai…" she replied again. "But… I wish to see Kenshin and Tomoe one-san…"
"You will have that chance soon enough, Tsubasa-san" Katsura said, then he turned to Hiko, "I almost became a victim of the woman that you loved, Hiko Seijurou-san. When Miryu came to Choushu in search of Himura, I wanted to kill her for murdering my mentor. Now, I see her differently not because of her power, but because the strength of her heart… You have a very brilliant pupil here…"