Well assuming your all still reading after last chapter let's see whats going to happen now.

Hope you enjoy.

Kotori sat by the tree Umi had been sitting holding the side of her head as her tears kept falling. The sound of footsteps made Kotori look up to see Eli looking at her, the blonde kneeled in front of the blonde "She stop the conversation?" Eli asked.

Kotori nodded before she tackled Eli and wailed into the older girl's shoulder "Eli, what do I do?" Kotori asked.

"I don't know Kotori, I wish I did, but I'm as lost as you are."

"She hates me." Kotori choked.

"She doesn't, she's just lost, I just wish I knew how to help her find herself again."

(Umi – Just after leaving Kotori)

Umi's walked quietly down the path 'Stop thinking about it, you can't accept that request, it would not be showing respect to your ranks now and that would be dishonrable.' Umi's honour sighed in her head.

"Lady Eli." Umi bowed as she saw Eli walking up to her "Is there something you need?"

"Yes, Nozomi wishes to speak to you, also have you seen Kotori?"

"Yes I did, Lady Minami is that way, excuse me." Umi bowed before heading off to Nozomi, leaving a sighing Eli.

After a short walk Umi came upon Nozomi and Lady Minami talking, Umi was about to turn and leave and come back at another time till Nozomi spotted her and beckoned her over.

"Lady Tojo, Lady Minami." Umi Bowed "I hope I'm not intruding."

"Not at all." Nozomi smiled to the blunette though Umi noticed the sadness in Nozomi's smile.

"Please come, we have something to discuss."

"We, my Lady?"

"Yes, we, we both have something to tell you."

Umi followed the two Daimyo's in silence as they walked into the chamber Nozomi had greeted the party before, as they entered Umi noticed a black blanket covering something in the corner.

"I'm sure your wondering what we're doing?" the older woman asked.

"I am my Lady."

"All will be clear soon, but I wish you would stop calling me that and use your old title for me."

"I'm afraid I can't do that My Lady."

Lady Minami looked down at the ground for a second before looking back "I see, still not forgiven us for what happened then."

"It's not that Lady Minami, you're a samurai, I'm a ronin, it's improper for me to address you like I did before."

"I told you Umi, you can be a samurai in my land at any time."

"You know I cannot accept Lady Tojo."

Nozomi sighed "In any case, I'm sure you've noticed the object in the corner?" to Umi nodded in acknowledgement "Would you mind lifting it?"

Umi lifted the black blanket to reveal a suit of blue and white armour, a familiar blue and white armour, in front of the armour was a Katana and Tanto blade with their blue sheaves with white wave designs "That's…"

"Yes, your armour and sword." Nozomi said.

"But I left them with my sister, why are they here?" The two older women said nothing, not that it was needed Umi got all the information she needed from the pair's faces "When?" Umi asked her knees shaking and her hand clenching.

"A few days ago, Kira's forces attacked your sister and her husband at the Sonoda castle, I'm sorry Umi."

"Where…"

"I'm sorry Umi, we have not been able to get to the castle, my forces are on the retreat constantly."

Umi dropped her head, biting her bottom lip "Is this all you wanted, My Ladies?"

"No, owning to the rebellion Kira's crimes have come to light and we have proof, as such your exonerated of the crimes he accused you of."

"What do you mean, Lady Minami?"

"I mean you're not a Ronin anymore, your honours restored, you can come back, you can wear your armour again, everything you once had can be yours again, all you have to do is accept."

Umi turned to look at the armour again, she took a step towards it and reached her hand out towards it, her hand was about to touch when she withdrew it, like the armour was burning in anger at the thought of Umi touching it 'You have no right to that armour.' A voice in Umi's head whispered.

"I am grateful Lady Minami, but I cannot accept."

"Why?"

"The same reason I can't accept Nozomi's offer, I have no right to wear that armour, my honour is still tainted."

"But I just said Kira's…"

"Kira's accusations are not the only thing that stained on my honour and until I have removed that stain, I cannot accept the armour, or my title back."

"And what will it take for you to accept the armour."

"Kira's death." Umi sighed as she looked back at the armour missing Nozomi's down cast look "Will there be anything else?"

"Yes, one more thing." Nozomi answered. "Wait here."

Nozomi left the chamber a moment, as she did Lady Minami answered Umi's question "When Kira's force attacked your sister, there was two survivors of the attack, they also brought your armour."

"Who?" Umi asked.

"You will see."

Umi watched as Nozomi entered the chamber with Tsubasa who was carrying something in her arms.

"Umi, I'm glad to see you." Tsubasa smiled.

"And I am glad to see you to Lady Tsubasa."

Tsubasa smiled and came to Umi, Umi saw the thing Tsubasa was carrying was a baby wrapped in cloth and sound asleep.

"Lady Tsubasa?"

"Umi, my I introduce your niece Saki."

"Pardon?"

"Your sister's daughter, did you not know?"

"No Lady Tsubasa, I asked her not to write to me till I had restored my honour, why bring her here?"

"Your sister told me to take her and leave so she would be safe, Tatsumi and Lady Minima thought she would be safest with you."

"But…"

"You're her only family Umi, she needs you." Tsubasa pleaded.

"I don't know how care for a child and the war…"

"Will be sorted, it will not be over tomorrow, right now this little girl needs her family and you're the only one she has."

Umi looked at the child confused, she had the blue hair of Sonoda, she also seemed to have her sister's inability to stay still for long periods if the movement under the cloth was anything to go by. Tsubasa took the opportunity to hand the baby to Umi, who almost trance like accepted the baby who immediately stopped moving and made a babble sound as she got comfy in Umi's arms.

"It seems she likes you." Tsubasa smiled at the sight.

"I'm still not sure about this." Umi said as she kept her eyes on Saki.

"Umi, she needs you."

"But Kira…?" Umi started to ask, but Saki made a whine, silencing the blunette.

"Looks like she doesn't like the idea of you leaving her." Nozomi smiled "You will have your chance at Kira, but for now take some time, you need to take in all that we've told you and get to know her, we will let you have your justice Umi, I promise."

Umi was to argue again but Saki's wriggling made her stop almost as if the little girl knew what she was thinking 'She's right, they both are.' "Very well, I will be in my room if you need me, with Saki." Umi bowed before leaving with the little human still in her arms, who was doing their best to snuggle into her.

"What am I to do now?" Umi asked herself as a tear come out her eye.

Once she reached her room, she saw a small cot had been left in the room near her futon 'Must have been Tsubasa.' Umi sighed and put the sleeping child in the cot, as Umi started to move away Sakura started whined and wriggled "Its ok, I'll still be here, I just need to do something, I'll still be here I promise." Umi whispered to Saki. The small girl settled at Umi's hushed words.

Umi went to the shrine and kneeled before it, silent tears rolling down her cheeks "Mother, Father, forgive me, forgive me please, I failed Tatsumi, help me help Saki please." Umi choked out.

(Kotori)

Kotori walked with Eli her eyes still puffy from crying 'What do I do?' Kotori thought to herself. Just then the pair came across the rest of their friends.

"Kotori are you ok?" Hanayo asked seeing Kotori's red eyes.

"Yes, I'm fine." Kotori smiled trying to reassure her friends.

"You saw Umi didn't you?" Maki asked.

Kotori nodded and looked down at the mention of the blunette.

"Quite distant, isn't she?" Maki asked to which Kotori nodded.

"She might change now though." came a voice behind the group.

"Tsubasa!" exclaimed the group.

"What are you doing here?" Honoka asked.

Tsubasa smiled and put three fingers under Honoka's chin "Well, I could always say to surprise you." Tsubasa smiled at the blush she got from the ginger "But, while that is an added benefit, I'm actually here under a secret duty."

"What duty?" Honoka asked still blushing.

"And what's it got to do with Umi?" Kotori asked.

"Well I suppose I can tell you; do you remember Umi's sister, Tatsumi?" Tsubasa asked, to which the group nodded.

"Well you see Kira's struck Tatsumi's castle, I was there on business from Lady Minami when the attack began." Tsubasa sighed as she went to the railing "However just before the attack she told me to leave and take their daughter, under her and Lady Minami's instruction I took her through back roads to here so she could be safe and with the only family she has."

"Daughter, Umi has a niece Nya?" Rin asked.

"Yes Rin."

"Did Umi know she had a niece?"

"No, she hasn't spoken to her sister in years, per Umi's instruction."

Just then a servant arrived and asked the assembled girls to meet Nozomi and Lady Minami in the chamber they had been in before. All the while back to the chamber Kotori kept thinking about Umi.

As the girls took their seats Tsubasa nodded to Lady Minami who nodded back in return "I take it your all aware of Umi's niece then?" Nozomi asked the group to which all the girls nodded.

"Well, before discuss that, let us discuss the other business, as you are all aware both our clans have been extremely close in the past and have come to each other's aid and we shall not be changing that now, Eli, Maki I want you to start assembling out warriors as soon as you can, we'll make fuller plans later." Eli and Maki both nodded though Kotori was sure Maki was clenching her jaw in frustration "I also want it to be made clear, everyone is to put the past aside for now till we are finished with the war, understood."

Kotori heard Maki clear her through before speaking "My lady I must ask is Umi coming with us or not?"

"She shouldn't, she was shocked at the news of having a niece, plus she's likely trying to get her mind sorted on the matter." Tsubasa replied

"Her minds still not sorted on the last time Kira destroyed her life, this is likely to make it worse."

"Maybe not." Eli spoke up "She always threw herself into the fray because she felt she had nothing to live for, now she does, maybe she will be less reckless."

Maki sighed "It won't stop her; she may decide she has to restore her honour now making her even worse."

"Ladies please." Nozomi interrupted "I have already made up my mind on the matter and no I will not change it, she will be coming with us."

"Nozomi, this is a bad idea!" Maki shouted. Kotori felt she had to agree with Maki, Umi clearly had a lot on her mind right now with being told she had lost her sister and now had to looked after her niece.

"Calm Maki, I know your concerns, but as I said before, I have made my decision Maki and it will not change."

Maki held her tongue, Nozomi smiled as she looked at the others in the chamber "Now if there is nothing else, Lady Minami we are holding a celebration tomorrow, it will be a good way to relax after your long trip, will you and your party join us?"

"Of course, thank you Lady Tojo."

"Your most welcome, Eli would you be kind enough to find our guests some places to stay."

"Yes My Lady."

"Good that will be all."

Kotori remained quiet on the walk to her and mothers' quarters, her mind constantly on Umi and how she would say when she tried to talk again. She was also wondering what on earth to say about Umi's sister and her niece 'I wish I knew what to do.' Kotori sighed to herself as felt a small tear roll down her cheek.

Aw, Poor Umi.

Also Maki don't push Nozomi we all know what happens.