"Sumiko-chan, how are you feeling?" I opened my eyes to meet a set of purple eyes...that scared the crap out of me.

I immediately sit up as I yelled out, "Kyojuro! Shinobu-sama's gonna kill me-"

"I'm not going to hurt you. I just came to check on you, since you took the last dosage of the medicine last night." She took the covers off the bed and looked at my right leg, "Looking good! I daresay someone will be able to walk at the festival. Maybe tonight will be her lucky night?"

"What are you implying, Shinobu-sama?"

Her grin on her face...it wasn't sweet as she spoke, "You two are a thing now. I can smell his scent all over you."

My face started to heat up as I spoke, "He's letting me sleep in here while I heal up, so that's probably where I picked it up from-"

She flicked my nose and shook her head, "You can't hide your ailments from me. Now, if you need anything else, you know where to find me. Just don't overdo it tonight!"

I placed my head in my hands, feeling the increased heat on my face. This time, it wasn't from an infection or anything like that. One of these days, I'll get the courage to face her-just not today.

Especially not after I heard Kyojuro and her laughing. I quickly laid back down and threw the blanket on top of my head. I don't have to get out of bed quite yet...right?

Wrong. Kyojuro came in a few short moments later to rip the blanket off of me as he spoke, "Get up! Shinobu-sama approved of you being able to move around again, and the sun is about to go down soon! Time to get you ready!"

"Five more minutes?" I quickly shut my pale eyes in an attempt to fake being tired.

Instead, I was hastily pulled up into a sitting position...as I faced the very person that Shinobu-sama talked about earlier. My face started to heat up as he spoke, "You feeling okay?"

I nodded as I tried to pull my hand away, "Just a little spooked after being awoken like that-"

"Let's get ready to go!" I looked at him as I felt confused. I had plenty of outfits, so why was he hustling me to get ready? Kyojuro sat next to me and started to rub my hand lightly, "I told my dad and brother that I would be coming over early, so we can all go over together. So that's why. Do you know how to do your hair up in a bun?"

"That won't be a problem, but why-"

Kyojuro quickly got onto the ground and started to put the apparatus on my right leg, "You'll see." I quickly grabbed my comb, which, when did I put it on my nightstand is beyond me, and started to brush through my hair. It didn't take me long to put it into the requested hairstyle, and once I did that, I was pulled to my feet by Kyojuro.

The sudden force of being pulled up and not being used to walking caused me to stumble, but Kyojuro caught me. This only caused him to laugh as he said, "I didn't mean for you to fall for me literally!"

My face heated up as I spoke, "Next time warn me when you want me to stand up!"

"But that wouldn't be fun now, would it?" Kyojuro's eyes met my own pale eyes as he looked at my hairstyle, "Perfect. Would you mind if I helped you get changed?"

"I think I can handle that myself..." I cannot handle any more embarrassment today, so I needed to save some pride.

"Let me at least choose your outfit, okay?" He went over to the closet and pulled out a white kimono with fires around the edges of the sleeves and bottom, with a matching maroon belt with golden flames on it.

I quickly spoke out, "Isn't that one of yours-"

"I wanted us to match tonight. After all, this is the first time you're going to be around my family as my girlfriend."

"And you're the one that says I'm moving too fast?"

"I thought it was obvious when we sealed your promise with a kiss. Do I have to be so formal with everything to impress you?" Kyojuro laughed as he kissed my forehead, "Go get ready now."

He shut the door, and I quickly changed into the kimono, shaking my head all the while. I removed the cover from the mirror and all I saw against the dull background was a flash of white, with fire rising from the ground...like a phoenix rising from the ashes. I was so memorized by my own reflection that I didn't even realize Kyojuro had entered until he spoke in my ear, "You look radiant."

I smiled at him as I turned around to hug him, "Thank you, Kyojuro. You didn't have to do this for me-" I was cut off by feeling Kyojuro put something in my hair.

My pale eyes looked up at him as he spoke, "Now, you're ready to go." I tilted my head to the side, only to be met by the faint sound of bells.

He carefully helped me to face the mirror again, and that was when I saw what was making the noise-a hairpin. From what I could see, bells were hanging off of it, tied on in an intricate pattern, and where my hair met the pin, there was a small flame symbol. My eyes started to tear up out of joy. Not the false joy either- but because I was truly happy. Kyojuro wrapped his arms around me, and when I looked back in the mirror, both of us were smiling. Could this be...my future?

Kyojuro chuckled, "I could stand here all day admiring you as well, but we need to get going."

And just like that, my face started to turn red again. I hid it by grabbing my coin purse, and placed it in a pocket on the robe. I turned around and quickly retorted, "You need to get ready too."

"Please, I'm just fine in my uniform. It is a symbol of pride for my family, plus, I'm not the star of the show here." He kissed my cheek slightly, "That's you, my dear."

Before I could say another word, Kyojuro picked me up in his arms and started to walk out of his home. I was about to protest, saying that I could walk, yet, Kyojuro read my mind as he spoke, "Nope. You need to save your strength for tonight. I'll let you start to walk once we get closer to the festival and my family."

This was going to be a long night.

____________________________________________________________________________

"Senjuro-chan! I'm here!" Kyojuro had just helped me stand on my feet as we approached his family's home. From afar, it looked the same- the trees were bright orange to match the season, and the house still seemed to loom in the distance. Since the last time I visited there...it still had this aura of sadness over it. Senjuro said that the sadness could never go away since his father still mourned the death of his mother.

Though, he did say I brighten the mood a bit because I was happy and not fearful of Shinjuro-sama. Plus, I was the one who taught him about beauty in life after a tragedy. I recall telling him that every time he looks up at the sky, there's always going to be a red star out there for his mother. I think all living members of the Rengoku family still suffer from the loss of Ruka-sama. Then again...her death was caused by sickness, so I would bet they still bear the burden of feeling guilty for not healing her and not being able to alleviate her pain.

I heard Senjuro cry out, "Aniki! Welcome home! I just served dinner, you're going to be in for a treat! I made your favorites-sweet potatoes, salt grilled bream, and rice as well! Is it okay if we get dessert at the festival, between sumo matches?" I peaked around the fence to see Senjuro's bright smile. Good. He never lost that smile.

Kyojuro knelt down and ruffled Senjuro's hair, "Of course. Did you happen to make extras, like I asked?"

"Absolutely, but are you that hungry tonight? Have you been neglecting to take care of yourself? You're not...like Father now?"

Kyojuro shook his head, "No, but I'll show you why I wanted extras." Kyojuro then turned towards me and spoke, "Show yourself."

I stepped into the light of the house and saw Senjuro's jaw drop. Slowly, I walked over towards him and spoke, "Do you mind if I eat with you all too?"

Senjuro's eyes started to tear up as he ran towards me, yelling out, "ONEESAN!" I was able to brace myself quickly as he flew into my arms. Senjuro had gotten stronger too, as he almost knocked me over.

I couldn't help but laugh as I just managed to stand up, "I didn't expect you to miss me so much, Senjuro-kun. You've grown a lot too."

Yet...his heart never changed. I couldn't help but pull his head into my shoulder as I felt him sobbing. His eyes met mine as he spoke out, "Aniki...all he said was that you were hurt badly...and I really wanted more updates, but Father wouldn't give me any, and I thought you were dead!"

I shook my head as I rubbed the back of his head, "I can't be taken out that easily. I'm here today, and that's what matters."

"Father...told me to stop worrying about you. It did no good to cry over you, but even Aniki was down mood-wise-"

"I'll go tell your father that I am okay, alright? Go make sure Kyojuro doesn't eat everything."

Senjuro nodded at me, and went back into the kitchen. Meanwhile, Kyojuro quickly ran up to me and growled at me, "You're mean, keeping me from eating."

"You're mean for not even waiting for everyone. Now, if you don't mind, I must say hello to one other person."

"Are you sure you want to face him alone?"

"I've done it before. Besides...after what he said to Senjuro-kun...I won't tolerate that." I started to walk over to where Shinjuro-sama spent his days. I had forgotten that the house was raised, and...I hadn't really practiced stairs with my new right leg.

I stood in front of the porch and sighed softly, however, I gasped aloud as I felt someone pick me up and jump onto the porch. Kyojuro smiled at me and spoke, "When you're done, come meet us in the kitchen, and ask for help next time, okay?" He kissed my forehead once more, and before he pulled away, he whispered, "Good luck, my Suta."

I nodded as I watched Kyojuro walk towards the kitchen. I quickly held my hand up to the door and knocked three times, like I had done when I served as a maid here. I heard Shinjuro's voice mumble out, "Come in, and make it quick."

I opened the door and walked in calmly, bracing myself for his mood. I looked around...and sure enough, there was a bottle of sake next to him. Shinjuro took a deep breath and spoke, "Kyojuro, you have some nerve showing up in here once more-"

"Shinjuro-sama, it's me, Sumiko." A soft gasp came from the man in bed as he turned to face me.

"My word...you're alive still. Kyojuro said you were hurt, and you got Senjuro all worried about you-"

"That's exactly why I came in here to talk to you."

"What is there to talk about, Sumiko?"

"The way you're treating Senjuro...not giving him updates when he asked, and scolding him when he gets worried and shows emotion. A child like that shouldn't be told to bottle up their emotions, especially since Kyojuro knows my caretaker, and knowing her, she would have told him updates about my condition." I saw Shinjuro stand up, and before he could throw in his two cents, I spoke aloud as I saw the condition of the room, "While I didn't know your wife, after all, she had passed long before we ever crossed paths, do you think she would want you to be drinking all the time and hurting yourself like this?"

"Sumiko-"

"No! She would want you to be happy and living your life to the fullest and being there for your sons! No matter what they do, good or bad, you have to guide them to be their fullest potential! Ruka-sama wouldn't want you to be furious at them when they've achieved their dream or realized that they want to go down a different path! Shinjuro-sama...if Ruka-sama were to be here...she would want all of you to be happy and living life-not drowning in your sorrow and taking it out on your sons. Please, if anything...live the life she wanted you all to have."

Shinjuro started to approach me, and I braced myself for a good smack to the face. Instead, I smelt sake and sorrow as Shinjuro spoke menacingly to me, "Who are you to tell me how to live my life?"

"Not only am I your former student, but I also am a Hashira, just like you were and just like Kyojuro."

"There can't be two Flame Pillars-"

"I'm the Celestial Pillar. Yes, I may have been wounded severely enough in battle that I can no longer fight like the other Hashiras, but I won't give up helping them! And that includes me trying to help you. After all, once a Hashira, always a Hashira."

"What do you mean wounded severely?"

I pulled up my kimono a bit, just enough for him to see the wooden leg, "After all...a Hashira needs both legs to fight...and I lack that."

"Why didn't you just give up and die?"

"Because I knew I had people counting on me. Just like you have people counting on you, Shinjuro-sama. Yes, I'm not ever going to be whole again physically and mentally, but if I gave up...and stopped living life...so many others would be worried about me. We can't live life in fear, Shinjuro-sama. Please...try to have the life that not only you would be proud of, but one that Ruka-sama would want you to have."

"Leave, Sumiko." Fearing the worse, I quickly left the room and heard the door slam behind me. So much for trying to get him out of his funk. However...I heard soft crying on the other side of the door. That made me think of the reason why Shinjuro-sama chose me to help Senjuro-kun- my eyes were similar to Ruka-sama's. It took me forever to try to get him to teach me Flame Breathing, and even then...most of my training was spent working with Senjuro-kun to improve his Flame Breathing and sword skills.

I looked out into the sunset and sighed to myself. Did I do the right thing...talking to him like that? I don't think any of my words got through to him. I was about to walk over to the dining room once more when I was hugged from behind! I quickly looked around and saw Kyojuro grinning at me, "Don't get lost in thought so close to a meal!"

"Why do you always have to scare me like that!"

"Because I hate to see you not paying attention to me or having your thoughts stray from me." He quickly picked me up, "Now let's go eat, I'm starving!"

"Put me down, I can walk!"

"Nope. I don't want your thoughts straying again." Kyojuro kissed my forehead, "We'll be there shortly." He then walked into the dining room carrying me in his arms. Senjuro-kun was there, waiting to eat, and my face started to heat up.

Senjuro even asked, "Aniki...can't Oneechan walk?"

Kyojuro laughed, "Sure, but it is easier for me to keep an eye on her like this." He then sat down near where the food was set up, with me in his lap. I was about to move, but his arm held me fast as he spoke, "Don't move. I'm rather comfy like this."

"I'm not a table, you know, and am plenty capable of-" I was quickly silenced by some rice in my mouth.

"Dig in, Senjuro. You've got to be fueled up for the festival. You too, Sumiko."

____________________________________________________________________________

Kyojuro, Senjuro, and Sumiko had just gone off to the festival. Shinjuro heard their footsteps fading in the distance, and decided to go grab another drink for himself. However, as he approached the kitchen counter, he saw a plate put aside for him. Did Senjuro do this?

No, as the boy would have brought it to him. He looked around the plate and saw a note. Carefully, he picked it up, his hands trembling as he read over it.

Start taking care of yourself too!

~ Sumiko

Tears fell from Shinjuro's eyes again as he quietly picked up the plate, muttering, "Damn you, Hoshiko."