Chapter 3: The small bud

As the couple of days had gone by, Hanari then sat by the door waiting for her husband to come home. She waited from the beginning of the day, till dusk. She sat on that floor all day waiting for Muichiro to come home safely. It had been hours that she sat there, constantly almost forgetting about eating or getting enough sleep. It was normal for her, but for some reason she felt something slightly off about her. Her head was even getting hot and warm. She wiped her head to remove the sweat on her forehead. Her eye getting slightly blurry. Was she coming down with something? She couldn't have been, right? She was being completely normal like she has had this entire time growing up. There was no way she could be getting sick. She had to be a perfect wife. Even if she had to clean and cook for him. Cleaning while he wasn't here. She had to have this mansion tidy. It had to be. She had to fulfill her role here, or else she had no purpose here and was a waste of space. Her eyesight was getting completely hazed, as she started swaying and then falling over to her side, sweating severely, and body feeling severely heavy. Her eye barely catching sight of long hair and cyan eyes staring at her and her body being lifted up. She struggled to see, but just blacked out and fell limp.

Hanari whimpered a little as her eyes slowly opened. She looked up to see a ceiling and herself laying in a futon. Why was she there again? She remembered being at the front door waiting, but after that it was such a blur. She groaned as she felt a cold cloth on her head, as she sat up and holding it in her hands. She looked around and noticed it was midday. She saw herself in Muichiro's room once more. Wondering how she got there, she looked over to see Shinobu standing in the door with a smile. "Good morning, dear." she hummed while walking up to Hanari with her fake, happy self. Hanari nodded hello, as Shinobu sat beside her and taking the cloth from Hanari's hands. She dipped it in the ice water beside the futon and turned to the girl. "Please lay down once again, dear. You aren't well enough yet. You need more rest. The kakushi is making your lunch at the moment." she hummed as Hanari laid down. Shinobu placed the cold cloth on her once more, before sitting with her hands in her lap. "Can I ask you why you over worked yourself, dear? The kakushi warned me that you were doing so since you arrived here at the mansion. It has been a week since you been here, and you are now barely getting well." she said as Hanari frowned and looked up to the ceiling. She tried her best to explain what happened after the first night and how she is trying to fulfill her role the best she can to have Muichiro at least acknowledge her. 

Shinobu laughed quietly, and Hanari looked over to her once she was done talking. She was curious on why the insect hashira would be laughing, but the older girl calmed down and spoke. "It isn't that he isn't acknowledging you, Hanari. He has amnesia. So, he forgets a lot of things almost instantly. He has always been that way since I have met him. It has been three years now. He was such a small thing, and the master took him in under his wing. I don't know much else from that. He had a traumatic past, but I know nothing of it. I am certain his brain is forcing him to have amnesia, so he doesn't remember his past. It isn't that he doesn't know who you are or on what you two have been through together, he just forgot. If it isn't exactly tremendously important, he forgets. It is how he is. He does care about you, but it is deep down. Lost in a small part of his mind that is locked away. Once he regains his memories, hopefully things will change for you two." she said as Hanari finally understood why their relationship was so tense and awkward now. She hasn't done anything wrong to disappoint him in any way. He only forgot who she was due to his mental state. It all made sense now to her. 

"He was also the one who found you by the door. He picked you up and carried you here, as he sent a crow to fetch for me to help care for you. When I arrived, he had you in lighter clothing and a cloth on your head to help lower your fever. He was even sitting beside you, waiting for you to wake. It has been three days now, but he was called to the master's right now. He should return shortly." Shinobu continued as she then grabbed a medication from her pocket, handing it to Hanari, "Please take this pill, Hanari. It will help with your fever." Hanari nodded as she was faintly blushing at the thought of him actually caring for her even though they have barely spoke to one another. Handing a glass to Hanari, Shinobu helped her sit up slightly to take the medication. Once taken, she laid Hanari back down and stood. Shinobu then waved as she turned to leave. "Have a good night, Hanari. I shall have Muichiro come in to help you take your next medication in a few hours. I will be back to check on you tomorrow." Hanari waved as the insect hashira closed the door. Hanari looked back up to the ceiling and closed her eyes. A faint smile on her face. Maybe this marriage wasn't so bad. She can make it just fine here.

It was late at night that she finally woke again. She opened her eyes to the ceiling once again, yet when she looked over to her right by the cold water, she saw Muichiro sitting there with his eyes closed. He was sitting with her arms crossed and head hung forward. Was he asleep? He must have been if he was waiting all day for her to wake. It made her faintly blush as she looked up to him and then slowly moved her arm to reach over and try to hold his. Yet his eyes opened just as quickly as she moved. He must have heard her move or wasn't fully asleep. He looked down to her with his normal face. Hanari, on the other hand, was blushing from his sudden wake. She slowly raised a hand to say hello, and he stared quietly. He must have forgotten why he was there if he wasn't saying anything to her on finally being awake. It was awkward once again. What was she supposed to say to him? Wait! He just got back from his mission! She could ask him about that! Yet just as she was going to speak, he stood and then turned to leave the room. Ah, there he goes. She thought as she was too slow, yet as he stopped at the door, he turned to look back at her again whispering. "Don't do that again." as it sounded cold and like he was barking an order, she knew he meant well. Then he was gone out of the room for the night. 

The next day, Hanari was up and moving around. She wasn't allowed to clean or cook, so the corps gave her a few things to try and pass the time. Knitting or sewing. Either or, she didn't know how to do either of them. As she sat in the living area on the floor with her items, she pricked her finger a couple times. She whimpered a little in pain from the needle, yet she continued her work. It was so quiet, since she was alone again, she didn't know what to do with no one here to keep her company in such a huge building. The kakushi was gone for the day and she had no one that she knew. When she thought that she knew everything, next thing that was happening was that Muichiro came into the home with an even darker look on his face than normal. She quickly worried about him and walked up to him. She whispered to him on what happened, yet he remained quiet and walked to his room. He shut the door and there was nothing that was said from him. It was only silence. Let alone, she didn't find out till the kakushi came by later, that Rengoku Kyojuro had fallen in battle. She felt so heartbroken that her savior had fallen, and she didn't properly have a chance to thank him.

The times were quiet between the two for a good while. It was a month that had passed when she then heard more news of Usui Tengen was then retiring. It was sending Muichiro on a small, angered trip that the hashira were falling and on his last mission. He accidentally chipped his sword, and his swordsmith had also fallen from heart disease. So, as he was leaving once again, he looked to see Hanari standing by the door with a gentle smile to send him off on a safe trip. He only remained quiet, as she bowed to him and waved. It was like this all the time. Muichiro wasn't bothered by it, but he also thought that she could have been trying to do something else than waste her time on him when he leaves or come home. She was always there when he arrived and left. It was weird to him, since he was used to being alone. No matter what he told her, she wouldn't listen anyways. She was always there, so he gave up on trying to tell her to try and do other things. 

As the day passed, Hanari went to speak with Shinobu. She had become good friends with her and Mitsuri, but Mitsuri was also away on a small trip for her sword. Hanari was always so admired of Mitsuri's strength and surprised how a girl like her could be so strong. She was also jealous on how Shinobu was so smart. It was like the girls here were all so smart and Hanari felt like she was barely even scratching a surface for any talent. Yet Mitusri and Shinobu both told her that she was an amazing cook and that Muichiro has liked her food. He just didn't know how to tell her. That alone made her smile and flush from knowing that she was actually doing something correct for him. It made her heart flutter a little. "So, Hana-chan, are you with child yet?" Shinobu asked as she sipped on her tea. Hanari gasped and coughed on her own tea. She didn't even think that she had to be with one yet. She looked so confused to Shinobu, but the hashira looked back to her seriously. "You do recall that is your own mission, correct? The master told you to be with child as soon as possible." 

She shook her head rapidly in embarrassment and set her tea down, before covering her face. Her face was so red that she almost forgot that she did have to be! Shinobu shook her head while tapping on her shoudler. Hanari looked over to the hashira while still wanting to hide her face. "You better hurry up. The master won't be pleased if anything happens to Muichiro and there is no heir. I mean, I don't see how it is your fault, as you are both still young and that boy isn't the one to be romantic in any way. Only if he is ordered to do so." she said as she saw that dusk was arriving. "Well, you may stay here at the butterfly mansion and arrive back home tomorrow." she said while Hanari nodded. She couldn't think of anything else in her mind. Was she going to be with child soon? How could she be with Muichiro being the way he was? Shinobu was correct. Muichiro won't do anything unless ordered to do so. How can she tell him that she has to be with his child as soon as possible, without sounding like she wants to be! It sounds so wrong in so many ways that she couldn't think right.

The next day, she slept in a little accidentally, so when she got up it was almost noon. She stood and changed into her kimono, setting the night ware she borrowed nicely on the foot of the bed. She smiled as Muichiro should be home soon. So, she had to return home quickly for him. As she exited the small room she borrowed, she saw the small three girls walking quickly down the hall to the entrance. They looked worried, as Aoi was following after them. "Ah, perfect. Mrs. Tokito, we have recieved word that Mr. Tokito is back, but he is in ill condition. He just arrived at the entrance." she said quickly and it made Hanari pale. She quickly turned to follow after the girls and watched kakushi carry Muichiro in. He had bandages on his face and wrapped in a few bandages on his body. She almost cried as she also saw Mitsuri arrive with bandages around her head and body. There was also two boys and a box that arrived after them injured badly as well. She didn't know what had happened, but she quickly ran after Muichiro into a medical room. He was laid down on the bed and changed into a medical outfit. Hanari let them care for him, before she walked up to sit beside him. She held his hand in worry.

After a few hours, Muichiro stirred as he felt a new cloth being placed on his head. His eyes opened to look over to see Aoi placing a new rag on his head. Aoi smiled, "Good Morning, Mr. Toktio. I'm glad you're awake now. I shall tell Ms. Kocho immediately." she said as she then quickly walked off. His eyes followed after her out the door, till he saw a little bit of black hair on the bed beside him. He sat up a little to see Hanari in a chair beside him with her head on the bed. Her hand holding his and a few tears in her eyes. He blushed faintly before having a gentle smile on his face. The blush faded by the time he fully sat up and reached over to pet her head. It made her flinch and slowly lift her head. She cried more as she saw him awake. Hanari was so worried for him, since his fever was so high for a few days now. They told her that he had poison coursing in his body and that Tokito was doing his best to slow the poison down with his breathing techniques. He was unconscious due to that. She choked on her words for saying how happy she was that he was awake and okay now.

It only made Muichiro continue smiling, and Hanari shocked from his genuine smile to her. He never smiled to her before. He never looked to her in such a kind and loving way before. It wasn't what she was used to. Not even as he reached up to hold her face and then pull her closer. He placed a kiss on her lips, that was soft and sweet, yet so strong that she couldn't fathom what was happening. He was kissing her! Kissing! On his own choice! What happened to him?! He is acting so different now! What happened to her cold husband?! He parted his lips from hers and spoke calmly, "Hanari, thank you. I missed you so much." Her eyes were wide open from the shock. It was the first time he called her by her name without asking for it again. "W-wait, what did you say, Muichiro? D-do you really remember who I am?" she asked to try and clarify. He nodded to her and it made her start her tears all over again. "Y-you remember me? Really?"

"I remember everything now. My past and present." he said as she then jumped up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He was shocked at first, but then embraced her back. Hanari smiled so brightly for the first time in years. "I'm so happy for you." she said as he held her close. It was a miracle that he remembers who she was and who he was. It was sucha  miracle that she kissed him once more. He was still surprised from the sudden affection, but he returned it with no hesitation. It was just then that Shinobu and Aoi had returned to witness what was happening. Aoi was flustered as she left. Feeling like she shouldn't have seen what she did. Shinobu, on the other hand, walked up and coughed for their attention. It made Muichiro stop and look over to her and then Hanari followed after, turning to see the female hashira. She blushed madly to correct her sitting in the chair and hiding her face. Muichiro went back to being straight faced and cold as Shinobu had interrupted them. "Please do that in your own home. Not mine. I need to make sure you're are well enough to go home, Muichiro." the hashira said to the other in a slightly annoyed tone.