Komamura Manor - Master Bedroom

Sajin wrapped his large arms around his petite wife as he chuckled. "Not until you agree to speak with me." He growled playfully as his wife struggled in his arms. "Why don't you want to talk to me?!"

"I. Am. Mad. At. You!" groaned Ryo. She twisted in Sajin's arms, trying hard not to laugh as he did. "Please, Puppy. Let me go."

Sajin relaxed, keeping his wife in his arms. He looked down at the petite woman. "Why are you so upset with me? As your husband, it is my job to annoy you. It was in our vows."

Ryo chuckled as she climbed out of his arms. "Were they? If we're amending our vows to suit our current situation, I do recall that our vows mentioned not trying to smother me with your massive body."

"Smother?!" Sajin sat up with a huff. "You say that as if I'm fat. Which I wouldn't be, if you followed the part of our vows that says you must tend to my needs each night." He raised a brow with a chuckle as he looked to his wife. "On a more serious note, dear. I would like to talk to you about coming back. You are the Captain of the Ninth Division. Take your place. Stop running from what is no longer chasing you."

"I dare him come." growled Sajin, pulling Ryo closer. "I dare him. You're my wife. And, Saburou is my son. I dare him to come for either of you." Sajin rested his chin to her shoulder and placed a gentle kiss to her cheek. "You are mine, Ryo Komamura." He chuckled as he pushed Ryo from his lap and rose to his feet. "Let's make a deal."

"A deal?" questioned Ryo, looking up to her husband. "And, just what deal are we making?"

Sajin walked over to where his zanpakuto rested beside his wife's and picked them. "Fight me. When I win, you go to the Captain Commander and relieve Lieutenant Shuuhei of his duties as acting Captain."

"And, when you lose?"

Sajin gave a toothy grin. "I won't." He gave Ryo her zanpakuto. "I expect a good fight. It's been a while since I've seen those tattoos."

"A few hours ago is a long time?" laughed Ryo. "Well...I supposed in dog years, yes..."

Sajin grunted as he secured his zanpakuto to his side. "You're funny. Very funny."

"Together Again":

Ryo woke, finding herself in a familiar place. The moonlight shed some light in what she recognized was her bedroom back home in the Soul Society. She gasped, bringing a hand to her chest as she rose to her feet and stepped toward a slightly open door. A tear rolled down her cheek. “Is this a dream?” she whispered.

“No.” answered Sajin, his voice a low whisper. “I don’t think that it is.”

Ryo turned at the sound of his voice, finding the giant of a man sitting on the edge of the platform bed. “Sajin…” She stood there for a moment unsure of what to do. “Oh, Puppy…” Ryo ran into her husband’s arms. She was swallowed up by his massive frame.

Ryo cut Sajin off, placing a hand over his mouth. “Don’t. Don’t make that promise...”

Sajin pulled away from Ryo’s hand. “Ryo, I am so sorry I was not able to protect you.”

“But, you did.” Ryo’s face was wet with tears. “You protected me. You did.” Sajin wiped Ryo’s face. “But…”

“No buts…” Sajin kissed the top of Ryo’s head. “I don’t want to talk about that. Not right now. You’re here. You're home and we’re together again.”

Ryo pushed away from Sajin in a moment of panic. "The boys! Where are the boys?! Are they okay?!" She took a few steps towards the door, stopping as it slid open. Ryo's teary eyes widened at the sight of her children. Sakuma gave a toothy grin as he looked to his mother. 

"Mommy!"

The baby beast clung to his mother, gently growling as she held him in her arm. "Hi, baby!" Ryo extended a hand to a timid Shunsui who was still standing by the door. When he took her hand, Ryo pulled him into the embrace she shared with his brother. "My babies." cried Ryo. She kissed their cheeks and the tops of their head. "Hi!"

Ryo nodded in agreement. But, before she could say another word, Sajin had managed to push the boys out of their bedroom and into their own. He slid the door shut behind them.

"Ryo Komamura..." He walked over to the petite woman and knelt down in front of her. He leaned over and kissed the top of her head. "Ryo...I can not begin to imagine what you went through while a captor of Sousuke Aizen." Sajin shook his head. "I don't want to think about it. Or, talk about it. But, I will when you are ready. This will not ruin us."

Ryo smiled, placing her hands to Sajin's chest. "Promise?"

Sajin nodded. "I promise. We are Komamuras." He flexed and gave a toothy grin. "You might be the smallest of us. But, you are, like the rest of us, strong!"

"And, stubborn..."

"And, stubborn!" laughed Sajin. "Strong and stubborn...and beautiful...the mother of my children...my wife..." Sajin pulled his wife close. "This is a new beginning. For all of us."

"All of us..." Ryo smiled and nodded. "I suppose, at some point we'll all need a Captain's Meeting. Get the Gotei sorted. The realms have been through so much. And..."

Ryo laughed, falling into her husband's massive frame. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. "It may be a while before you feel the heat from those flames, Puppy." She sighed into his chest. "It may be a while. "

Sajin sighed and said nothing. 

Ryo looked up at Sajin. His silver hair fell over his shoulders as he pulled her closer. "Be patient with me, Sajin."

"I would wait forever."

"Liar..." Ryo and Sajin shared a laugh. "You're a spoiled puppy." Ryo turned in Sajin's arms, putting her back to his chest. "And, I love you."

"Lighter": (Continued)

Still following her lead, Sajin followed his wife through their home to the bedroom he shared with her. She let go of his hand as she entered their bedroom. Sajin locked the door behind them as he watched Ryo walk over and sit on the bed. "My love," he said with a smile. 

Ryo smiled as she removed her haori and folded it beside. "Come here, Puppy." she said with a beckoning finger. Sajin knelt down in front of her, resting his arms to the bed with his hands to her hips. She blushed at his gentle touch. "Stay with your wife, today."

"I would love to stay with my wife, today." admitted Sajin. "But, we both have work to do."

"Oh, please!" protested Ryo. "Other returning Captains have spent more time alone or with their familiar than I have with mine. I think that I am entitled to this time."

Sajin nodded, moving a hand to the opening of her shihakusho. "Yes, but I am not among the returning, my dear." he whispered, leaning forward and placing a gentle kiss to her chest.