Over the next few weeks, Hotaru was frequently at the butterfly estate becoming acquainted with the people who worked there as well as the other three young slayers who were at Kyojuro's side when the demon attacked them. She enjoyed chatting with Tanjiro the most and he told her of his adventures and how he met Rengoku.
Additionally, she helped the nursing staff care for Kyojuro's wounds, lovingly and carefully changing his bandages and cleaning his wounds. She would always find time to sit at his bedside to talk to him as if he could respond. As each day passed, she kept her heart burning with hope that someday he would wake.
Not even Shinjuro's cruel words to her one day could deter her from believing he would wake, "Give it up already. He won't wake up again."
She didn't respond, reminding herself that he was speaking from a place of unresolved grief, and chronically drunken state of mind. Every day she hoped that there would be a glimpse of life from him besides stable vitals. Given her current, pregnant state the others wouldn't allow her to do too much work and encouraged her to rest. Senjuro was the worst of these, constantly fretting about her and his impending nephew or niece.
One day, she had just finished cleaning and changing his bandages when she saw something. Hotaru was leaning over him applying the last bandage when she saw a finger twitch. Of course he still remained unconscious but this small incident gave her so much hope.
More weeks passed by, then it happened. Hotaru had found him sitting up in bed appearing to be a bit disoriented. The young woman rushed to his side.
"Kyojuro, my love!" she exclaimed. However he didn't appear to recognize her which broke her heart. He didn't seem to recognize Senjuro either.
"Aniue, it's me. Don't you recognize me?" Senjuro asked.
Kyojuro appeared to have a puzzled look on his face.
Another concerning thing was that it appeared like he couldn't talk very well or respond to Hotaru much verbally.
Hotaru voiced her concerns to Shinobu.
"I'm so happy he's alive but he doesn't seem himself," Hotaru said. "He seems disoriented and his speech."
"He's suffered a lot of trauma which also includes probable trauma to the head known as a traumatic brain injury. Depending on which areas of the brain are affected, that affects his cognition and other brain functions connecting to speech and other functions of the body. Each person recovers at a different rate. With patience and therapy and the brain's ability to repair those lost connections we should see some progress," Shinobu explained.
Hotaru explained what Shinobu said to Senjuro.
"I guess that makes sense, but we don't know how long it will take for him to recover," he said.
More weeks passed, with therapy services visiting every so often. Kyojuro slowly but surely was able to regain his orientation and was able to recognize who Hotaru was.
"Hotaru, I have come back," he said slowly. His speech was still spotty at times.
"Yes my flame," she said, caressing his face.
"Our child," he said looking at her. Perhaps he was unaware of how much time had passed and thought that his child would have been born by now, Hotaru thought.
"They haven't been born yet," Hotaru said patiently, "put your hand here." Hotaru gently placed his hand against her stomach where their child was still growing.
His eyes widened and a happy expression crossed his face. Kyojuro leaned forward and pressed the side of his face against her abdomen.
"Our child," he said again. Hotaru let a few happy tears slide out.
One day, Senjuro and Hotaru were with Kyojuro at bedside when they received an unexpected visitor.
"Chichue?" Kyojuro asked looking up. Hotaru and Senjuro also looked up in surprise.
In the doorway stood Shinjuro, his face a mixture of disbelief and regret.
"Chichue," Kyojuro said, reaching out to him. Once Shinjuro reached his son's bedside, everybody held their breath, not sure what he would do next.
The former hashira leaned forward and hugged his son tightly, letting tears fall from his eyes. Hotaru and Senjuro were taken aback. They had never seen the Rengoku patriarch show emotion so easily.
"Kyojuro forgive me for the harsh words I've said," he said, his voice breaking.
"It's alright, Father. You need not to ask for, for forgiveness," Kyojuro said, returning his father's hug. He reached his hand toward Senjuro and the three of them were enveloped in a hug. Hotaru smiled at the reunited family.