"Ah Ryouji.. you're here to pick up Megumi? That's early!" Hyoga greeted him wth a smile. "I think she's still at the dojo."
Ryouji smiled at his brother inlaw.
"I thought of surprising her. I came off my meeting early and cancel my other meetings tonight. I thought a family dinner with you all would be a nice change. I missed your mum's cooking."
Hyoga grinned at him and patted his back. "She's your mum too now. Come anytime. You don't need to have Megumi around to drop by."
Ryouji nodded gratefully. Megumi's family truly welcomed him like their own son. He's very grateful for it.
"Hikata is coming over to drop Megumi when they're finish. Do you want to wait here or..?" Hyoga asked.
"I will go to the dojo and pick her up, thanks. Want to tell me where is this dojo located? Is it far?" Ryouji asked making Hyoga laughed.
"You can walk there if you have the time. I can walk you there or just tell you and you can drive there if you want. But it might be quicker and easier to walk unless you have motorbike. Actually take my motorbike."
Ryouji nodded instantly at the offer. It's been a while since he was on motorbike. He missed it.
After getting the address from Hyoga, he left Ogawa's house and headed for the dojo. To his surprise, the dojo was bigger than he's expected. He could hear Megumi's loud kiai. A sound he was used to during Goggle V recording times. He smiled at the sound and park the motorbike before walking in.
He wasn't prepared for the sight that took place. Megumi had a full grown man locked up in her arms as her body weight trying to stilled him on he ground. It took a while for them to be in that position before the guy tapped and she let go.
"Again!" The guy raised his hand and took a stance when Megumi looked amused but nodded anyway.
Ryouji looked around and saw Hikata stood not far from them observing the sparring. Hikata was a tall guy but in karate gear, he looked even more intimidating.
The guy let out a strong kiai and went for the attack which Megumi blocked and easily deflected. She twisted his arm on his back. Ryouji winced at the sight. That must be painful judging by the amount of pressures she put on his elbow.
Megumi grinned as she heard the double tap on the mat. She let go her opponent and watch the guy wiped his smug smile earlier from his face as he stood up. He was breathless and he glared at her but she returned his glare with a smile.
"Again?" She asked sweetly.
He nodded almost instantly and launched an attack. She side stepped him before sweeping both his legs and throwing him to the floor in the process.
He looked bewildered.
"Again?" She smiled.
"That's enough, Megumi." Hikata called. "I think you taught him well today."
Megumi nodded and took a step back.
"Thank you for today." The guy called Hiro bowed at her before stepping out of the mat and head over the changing room. He didn't wait for her response.
Megumi watched him walked away and caught Hikata's glance before she broke into a wide grin.
"Is he always that cocky?" She asked Hikata making him chuckle.
"Bested by a girl half his size, I think you managed to reduce his arrogance by few notch now." Hikata smiled at her. "So, what do you say? Will you help out regularly?"
"I'm not a girl!! I'm a woman!" She protested. "Hiro might not like the idea."
"It's good balance to have you around. Hiro scarred everyone here. He struggled with the kids classes too."
"He actually reminded me of Ryouji when I first met him. Deep down, that guy is all heart. He just never think I would beat him well. So he's your dad's successor for the dojo eh?" Megumi asked when suddenly he noticed Ryouji.
"Ryouji!! When did you get here?" Her face beamed with full surprise.
Hikata followed her gaze and smiled at him. "Did you get to see Megumi sparring just now?"
Ryouji nodded without a word. He didn't like what he saw and he wasn't sure what to say and definitely need a talk with his wife after. He noticed Megumi was gauging his reaction but he didn't give her any.
"I'm here to pick her up. Is she done yet?"
Hikata chuckled.
"She can go anytime she wants. It's not like she's working here or anything. But it's nice to have her helping out when she can. That guy sparring with her was one of the instructor. The way it is made me worry to leave the dojo in his hand when we have to go back to UK."
The guy called Hiro came out of the changing room all changed with a gym bag sling on his shoulder. He gave a polite nod to Hikata before approaching them.
"Thank you for today, Miss Ogawa. I always heard about you for the other instructors, Hikata and master but only had the pleasure of sparring with you today. I guess it's true what they said. You hold your own."
Megumi smiled and about to reply when Ryouji scowled at him.
"Miss Ogawa?? She's Mrs. Akagi to you. Best to remember that." He grabbed Megumi's hand and pointed at her wedding ring only to find it not there.
"What happened to your ring?" He glared at Megumi ignoring Hiro's face who suddenly blushed with embarrassment while Hikata tried his best not to laugh.
"It's karate dojo. We don't wear any kind of jewellery here." Hikata said. A clear amusement twinkled in his eyes.
"So you take it off?" Ryouji's voice was louder by the minute. Megumi pulled her hand down from his grip and shook her head in disbelief.
"Ah... Anyway, nice to meet you Mrs. Akagi. Until next time." Hiro said quickly and excused himself as he walk out off the dojo.
"You better get change and don't let your husband wait any longer or else I might lose students and instructors soon from his overbearing presence." Hikata told Megumi. She nodded in full agreement without a word to Ryouji. Leaving him stood there with Hikata.
"Before you said anything to stop her from coming again, think about her. I haven't seen her at usual self since she came back to Japan again. Today for the first time, I felt like she found herself back in the mat. She was confident, happy and just back to her usual self. Karate is part of her. The world she knew well." Hikata said softly. "So think twice before you try to take that away from her."
Ryouji said nothing. His eyes appraising the dojo and recalling the way Megumi look at the mat earlier. it brought back memories of Goggle V days where she took his breath away. She was all smile. A smile from within. A smile that tells she was doing something she enjoyed. A smile that lately seemed forced.
He hated to admit that Hikata was right. It would be cruel to stop her when this was something that she enjoyed. He hated that he wasn't the one she was showing that smile to.
"I'm done. Ready to go?" Megumi's voice made him turn to find her stood next to him. Gone was her radiant smile and replaced with another forced one. He glanced at her hand and saw she has put on her wedding ring once again.
He didn't like the fact that she could take off the ring so easily no matter what's the reason. It made him worried that one day she would take it off permanently.
"Thanks for letting me participate today." Megumi said to Hikata.
"No worries at all. Anytime. This dojo will always welcome you. The UK one too. Whenever you are there." Hikata smiled at her.
Ryouji said nothing but walk out first. He couldn't hear another word from their conversation. He walked over to the bike and turn the engine on.
"Oh wow.. you already went to the house?" Megumi asked as she came out and grabbed the helmet off his hand.
He nodded without much word and waited until she was behind him and felt her hands around him before he drove on.
Megumi smile against his back. It's been a while that they rode a motorbike together. It was a total surprise to see him at the dojo. From his reaction, she knew he would most likely stop her from coming over to dojo again.
She could think the list of things he would argue against it. Too many guys, no wedding ring, it's not a proper job.
She let out a sigh. It was all true, yet for a short time she felt like she was home. She felt like she could be just herself. Where who her husband didn't matter. Who she was didn't matter.
Once everyone was in their gear, nothing outside the mat matter. Social status, gender, personal background. Nothing matters. Everyone was equal and everyone has fair chance to learn something from each other and there for their love of the martial art. So for one short moment, she forgot her problems and insecurities until Ryouji brought her back to reality.
"We're here." Ryouji said as he park the motorbike infront of the house.
"Thanks for picking me up today. I didn't think you would come so early. What happened to the meeting?" She asked.
"I cancelled it. I thought it would be nice to have dinner together with your parents. It's been a while." He told her as they walked together inside the house.
"Ahh you're back! Just in time." Hyoga greeted them stopping Megumi from saying what she was about to say to Ryouji.
"I need to shower!" Megumi said and headed towards her old room. "I won't be long."
"Is everything ok?" Hyoga asked.
"Yes. Why do you ask?"
"It's just that you were so cheerful earlier. But somehow you both walk in a bit tense."
Ryouji shook his head and forced a smile. "Ahh we're ok. I just had few things in mind. Work .. you know."
Hyoga smiled. "Don't work too hard. You should remember to slow down and enjoy yourself too once in a while."
Ryouji smiled at him. "I should huh? I couldn't agree more."
"I know Megumi said you're busy but it's not too late to change your mind and join our family's outing this weekend."
Ryouji turned to Hyoga. "What outing?"
"I thought Megumi already tell you. We're planning to go for a family outing to Karuizawa together with Hikata's family. But Megumi said that you can't make it with work and all that."
Ryouji's eyes widened in surprise. Megumi never told him such thing. He would never turn down anything that involved her or her family. Why she didn't tell him?
"And was she planning to go?"
"She wanted to but she said since you wouldn't be able to take time off work, she might do a day trip instead. She would come by herself." Hyoga told him.
"Well, well... looks like your sister and I need to talk before family dinner start. Do you mind?" He glanced at her old room.
Hyoga looked confused but he finally nodded. "Ah sure. I will let my parents know. I'll call you both when dinner is done."
Ryouji nodded and turned to her room before letting himself in. He sat himself on her bed and wait.
It wasn't long until Megumi stepped into the room. She had towel around her neck and her hair already dried and let looose. Ryouji waited for her to notice his presence and probable felt his penetrating gaze on her back. She turned her gaze towards the bed and almost scream when she found Ryouji sat on her bed, his eyes staring straight at hers.
"Ryouji!!! What are you doing here? I thought you're in the living room. You're scaring me!" She closed her eyes and blinked hard.
"Why are you scared? Could it be guilt?"
His voice was low and his eyes was searching hers.
"Guilt? From what?" She blinked a few times.
He stood up and started to walk towards her. All the while he didn't take his eyes off her. She backed away each step he made, automatically. He was acting very oddly.
"Why are you backing away? Is there anything you need to tell me?" He kept on taking a slow step until her back was against the wall.
"Ryouji..?"
"I'm giving you chance to tell me if there's anything that you suppose to tell me but didn't."
"Wait.. what are you talking about?"
"Is there anything that I suppose to know? Anything that you didn't tell me?"
Megumi tried to push him away but he plastered her hands against the wall securely. What was up with him? Why was he acting that way?
"I don't know what are you referring to.. what happened? Why are you like this?"
"Start talking... don't let me be the one who tells you what you suppose to tell me.." his voice was full of threat. So cold and emotionless.
She raked her brains for what possibly he was referring to but she could hardly think. He was too close. Breathing down her neck and looks like he's about to explode any minute.
"Is this about Chiemi? Hiro? What are you talking about?" She wriggle her hands but he pushed his body against her, stilling her.
"What about them? Tell me.. " he raised his eyebrows in a new surprise. Seemed like there's more that she didn't let on and maybe this was one way to get her to confess.
"I can't talk like this... let me off. I will tell you everything."
Ryouji smirked at her. His eyes was cold.
"Oh... you can talk.. and I'm running out of patience, Megumi. So stop wasting our time with excuses and start talking."
"I didn't use Akagi because I have always used Ogawa at the dojo. I didn't think it was a big deal. I'm sorry. I momentarily forgot that I'm no longer Ogawa. I didn't do that purposely to mislead anyone into thinking I'm single. But .. "
"But..?" Ryouji shook his head in disbelief. His interrogation seemed to open a different kind of pandora box.
"I just want a place where I can forget everything. And when I arrived at the dojo earlier I felt as if I could be just myself for that time. A place where no one knows anything about me. I can be me. Not attached to anyone or to any status or any social pressure. And I got carried away. I forgot myself for a moment. I'm sorry..." her voice was strained. Ryouji said nothing. He didn't expect those confession from her. He would like to ask more but they only had little time before dinner and that conversation required more time.
Instead he asked, "What else?"
"What else?" She sounded confused.
"What other things that you've been keeping from me?"
"I was upset earlier and let Chiemi got the best of me. She hinted on how you couldn't get enough of her intimately and made me questions how many girls around you.."
Ryouji cursed under his breath. "Ahhh let's skip that one.. what else?" Ryouji cut her off.
But suddenly she glared at him. Her eyes flashed with anger. She shoved him with her body making him lost his grip on her. Before he could do anything, she grabbed his arm, twisted it behind him and slammed him on to the wall with a thud.
"Ahhh." He yelled out but she was onto him. He tapped few times but she didn't let go.
"My turn... tell me what exactly you couldn't get enough of that woman huh?"
Ryouji let out a string of curses at the change of control and conversation.
"Trust me, you would rather not knowing.. " he grumbled and yell out when she applied more pressure.
"Are you trying to break my arm?"
The door opened and Hyoga walked in and pulled her away.
"What's going on? What are you doing?" Hyoga scolded her while Ryouji massage his shoulder with a scowl on his face.
"Don't tell me ..This is all because of karuizawa trip?" Hyoga sounds bewildered.
Megumi's face lost some of its anger as she turned to Hyoga before turning to Ryouji.
"This is all about Karuizawa trip?"
Ryouji glared at her. "What trip? Care to tell me?"
Megumi sighed as she finally get what made Ryouji was upset with in the first place.
"I didn't bother telling you about it because you already busy as it is. Family trip is probably the last thing you want to do and .."
"How do you know what I want if you never care to ask me and tell me about it in the first place." Ryouji said accusingly.
"I thought I saved you from feeling oblige to it." She returned hotly.
"What did I tell you earlier today? Stop hiding things from me and taking matters into your own hand. The last time you did that it cost us years. I'm your husband. Just tell me everything, why can't you?" Ryouji sounded hurt. "If you never tell me and ask me, how will I ever know how you feel? I'm tired of knowing everything from others but you."
"I... I thought... I.." Megumi lost of words as she realised just how disappointed and hurt he sounded. She didn't think it would even matter.
"You always made decision on your own. You never care about what I think or even bother to tell me any of it."
Hyoga cleared his throat awkwardly and rub his neck uncomfortably.
"Let's have dinner guys. Father is waiting." Hyoga said before he turned and left the room.
"Ryouji .." Megumi placed her hand on his arm but he didn't even look her way as he followed Hyoga before muttering, "later.."
They sat through dinner awkwardly and not speaking to each other. Apart from Hyoga who was aware, her parents was oblivious to it.
"I know you have a lot going on, but I think you're being unfair to Ryouji too. Don't keep things to yourself and talk to him like you would do when you dating. Just because he's a big boss now doesn't mean he's not the same guy you fall in love with. " Hyoga told her while Ryouji bid his goodbye to her parents.
Megumi said nothing but just nodded. She's been feeling miserable throughout dinner. Ryouji was as always polite to her parents and her brothers but she knew he was deeply hurt by her.
Despite the music that played in the car, she was getting more and more uncomfortable with the tension between them.
"Ryouji ... I'm sorry." She broke her silence. "I didn't mean to hide it from you. I really don't. I didn't think it's a big deal. It's my family affairs after all.."
"We're married, Megumi!" Ryouji cur her off sounding frustrated. He tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "Your family is now my family too. Until when will you finally get that? What concerns you or your family become my concern too."
"But .. I thought you're busy and didn't think you would like to go. So.."
"I am busy. Just like today and any other day. I will always be busy. That's sadly won't change. But I will always make time for you .. if only you ask me to."
"That's the problem... I don't want to burden you.."
"You're never a burden!! Don't you try to think what I think of you or anything else. Talk to me! Ask me! Find out exactly what I think. Don't just assume and make decision on your own."
Megumi bit her lip and said nothing.
"I'm sorry. I will come to you for every single minor thing from now on. Happy?"
Ryouji said nothing. He seemed to be lost in his own thoughts.
"What are you doing tomorrow?" He asked changing the subject suddenly.
"Nothing much, I thought I'm going to the dojo to see .."
"Come with me to the office tomorrow." He cut her off before she finished her sentences. She glared at him but he didn't take his eyes off the road.
"If I'm going to Karuizawa, I need your help with my workload. Having you will cut back many hours. So come tomorrow and help me out will you?"
"Are you sure i can help and not be in your way instead? And please don't think you have to go with my family.. it's just a family tradition thing..you might get bored.." she tried to explain wondering if Ryouji truly wanted to go. She could imagine being around her parents for the weekend and the things they will make her do each time they go. And this time Hikata's family will come along too. How could he possibly wanted to go?
"I want to go!" He said in a loud voice. He looked frustrated. "I want to go, ok! I never been on a family trip before. I want to go."
Megumi was taken aback by the sadness in his voice. She almost forgot that Ryouji didn't have a normal family growing up. What's boring and normal to her was something that Ryouji didn't even have the opportunity to experience. She felt so bad suddenly for trying to stop him from knowing let alone going.
"My dad always busy working .. my mum.. well you know she's in her own world most of the time. And then Ryoko not exactly the kind of mum who would care about family trip .." he laughed without a trace of humour in it.
Megumi stared at him as realisation hit her. But the last thing she wanted to show him was pity. He didn't need her pity. So she let out a heavy sigh making him glanced her way.
"Let me know what i can do tomorrow. We'll work hard so you can go this weekend then. But don't complain if you find it tedious and boring ok." She said making him smile finally.
"You'll come with me in the morning and come home with me when I'm done. I will get a desk prepared for you in my office."
Megumi shook her head in disbelief.
"Seriously, Ryouji. You gotta do something with you possessive nature. You might as well put a collar on me."
"Don't tempt me!" He laughed and grabbed her hand making her smile.