Hirabayashi Research and Training Facilities

Ryo lowered her blade. Her eyes narrowed toward Sajin as parts of her uniform began to burn away. "How what?" she asked.

"How were you able to deflect my bankai without releasing your own?" Sajin raised Tenken, pointing at his wife. "How?"

"Is it so terrible that I am stronger than you?"

"Only if it is anger that fuels your power."

Ryo shrugged her shoulders, as she raised her blade pointing at Sajin. "Then, it is a very terrible thing, isn't it?" Shunpoing toward Sajin, Ryo jumped in the air. Coming down knee first, Ryo landed on the forearms of the beast below her. Sajin pushed her into the air again.

Ryo dodged Sajin as he jumped into the air after her. His claws tore into her arm as she spun to avoid him. Growling beneath her breath, Ryo swung her blade, catching Sajin right beneath the chin.

Ryo groaned as she lifted herself slowly. "Feel better, now?" Ryo pulled her aching arm into her lap. Blood blurred her vision as she looked to Sajin. "You're a...a jerk..."

"I didn't mean it, Ryo..." whimpered Sajin.

"Of course not." Ryo wiped the blood from her face. "Like you didn't mean to leave me with that asshole for almost a year." Rising to her feet, Ryo held her arm by her side. "You have a knack for doing things you don't mean."

As Ryo walked toward Sajin, Sakuma slid on the heels of his feet coming in between his parents. "Cut it out!" he growled loudly.

"You two are acting like children." said Shunsui, walking over with his hands in his pockets. "Being angry doesn't help anything."

"And, beating each other up won't help either!" Sakuma growled, baring his fangs. "We get it! You two are angry. And, hurt! And, STUPID!"

Shunsui put his hands on his brother's arm as he shook his head. "What would Kyo-jii and Take-jii say about this?"

"They'd say you were being stupid!" Sakuma growled again, crossing his arms over his chest and stomping a foot.

Shunsui scratched the back of his head with a sigh. "Something like that."

Ryo chuckled slight as she looked away, tightening the hold on her arm. "I get it, guys..."

"You've spent the last year thinking about me. Now that I am here, you don't know what to do with me. This isn't just going to go away, Sajin." Tears ran through the blood staining Ryo's face. 

"I am terrified that he is going to come back. And, all you're worried about is having the three of us under your watchful eye. I don't need you to smother me with your worry. If you want to help..." Ryo turned to look at Sajin, her eyes narrowed. 

"Ask me why I would now rather sleep alone! Or, why when I'm alone, I sit by a window waiting for you to come get me! Ask me why I would have rather died beneath him than have his child."

Ryo stepped toward Sajin, stopping only when a pair of arms wrapped tightly around her. "I sit with you...in silence hoping you would be the first to talk..."

"Sakuma..."

"About anything. It doesn't have to be that...It can anything, Mom. Tell me that you don't like my tea. Or, that Shunsui always smells like wet dog. I don't care. But, you not talking to us is just as bad as what you're yelling at Dad about."

Shunsui rubbed his chin. "He's right. Except about the wet dog part." He shook his head as he walked over and placed his arms around his mother. "We love you, Mom."

"Sakuma..Shunsui..."

"A Captain's Deal": (Continued)

As Ryo and Sajin came to the gates of the Training Facilities, they were greeted by their sons. "What are the two of you doing here?" she questioned as the boys looked to each other.

Sakuma shook his head as he stretched his arms out, stopping his mother from entering the gates. "No. You two aren't doing this."

"Not at all." grunted Shunsui.

Ryo looked to Sajin with a confused look, then back to her sons. "What are you two talking about? We're just training. This is a training facility."

"Yes." said Shunsui. "And, the last time the two of you were here, it ended in divorce."

"Guys..."

"This is different, boys." said Sajin, stepping around the boys. "If you want a good show, go sit on the hill and watch."

Ryo followed behind her husband. "Yes. Go up on that hill and watch your father get the ass whipping of a lifetime."

"Ha!"

Ryo smirked. "Go. Get up there."

Ryo waved a dismissive hand as Sajin growled at her. She turned her back to him, resting her blade to her shoulder. "At least make it fun, Sajin." Before she could turn back around, Ryo had been tackled by Sajin. He lifted her from the ground by her throat and threw her to the ground. He pushed her deep into the earth as he put all of his weight into his attack.

Sajin growled, baring his fangs as he pulled his arm from the hole in the ground. As he rose to his feet, a blast of fire shot out of the hole. "Damn it, Ryo."

Waves of fire ripped through the training grounds as Ryo appeared in front of Sajin. "You're an ass!" she grunted.

"You said be quicker." groaned Sajin, looking at the burns heal on his arm.

"Quicker. Not take cheap shots."

"How is that any different than what you did?!"

Ryo grunted. "Fine. Fine!"

Ryo twisted free of Sajin's hold, grabbing hold of one of his arms with both hands. She flipped the beast over her head and onto his back. She watched as Sajin stumbled to his feet. Her eyes narrowed as he attempted to stand to his feet. Quickly, she shunpo'd over to him. Ryo hit Sajin with two kido and fire laced punches to the chest. As he fell back to his knees, Ryo kneed Sajin in the jaw, knocking him backward.

As Sajin fell onto his back, Ryo's flames died down. She began to laughed as she leaned over, placing her hands on her knees. "Come one, Puppy." she grinned. "IS that the best you've got?"

Sajin rose slowly, rubbing the back of his neck. "You've grown slow in your old age, dear."

"Slow?!" shouted Ryo. "Do you not realize I just had you on your back?!" Moments later, Ryo was forced to the ground, Sajin on top of her.

"Who was on their back?" he grinned.

"Cheap shot."

Ryo chuckled as she looked across the field at her husband. "I can use her. But, this is far more fun."

"Mom!" howled Sakuma. "Kick his ass!"

"Watch your mouth!" shouted Ryo, covering her bare breasts with an arm. She rolled her eyes, letting her arm fall to her side. Ryo walked over to her blade resting in rubble. She picked up both blades and walked over to Sajin. As he shed his haori, Ryo stepped closer and rested her forehead to his chest. "I don't want to kick your ass anymore."

"Are you giving up?" chuckled Sajin. "This means I won."

Ryo nodded her head. "I'll go to the Captain Commander tomorrow." she whispered as Sajin draped his haori over her shoulders.