R & R longer note at the end

Ikaruga smiled to herself as she stood in front of the school gates of Hanzō academy, the feeling of happiness slowly warmed her body after spending her time away she realised how much she had missed this place, her friends in the elite class, the laughter they had shared day after day. She was finally back, walking through the campus she kept a tight grip on her shopping bags, taking a small detour through the shopping district she had picked up some snacks as an apology for her sudden departure.

Walking the familiar route to the old building at the far end of the campus she couldn't help wondering what her friends where up to, Katsuragi was most likely being her usual groping self, Asuka would be telling her off as usual, Hibari would be laughing at the two while Yagyū sat quietly trying to meditate. A small chuckle escaped her lips as she walked through the halls to the common room, she stopped outside the doors as she took a deep breath prepared to face her friends.

"Ika-" came a voice behind her as she felt a chill run down her spine "Ruga's back!" The black haired girl jumped as two hands found their way around her sides to her chest, the door slid open as two girl's looked out their faces lit up with a large smile, behind them sat the ever stoic Yagyū who merely nodded at the black haired girl's presence.

"We'll help you with your bags" Asuka said as her and Hibari grabbed a bag each entering the room as the blonde continued her routine, the black haired girl tried to break free of Katsuragi's relentless torture as she looked to her friends for some support.

XXX

"W-was that really n-needed?" Ikaruga asked panting as she sat down five minutes later trying to fix her now ruffled shirt "Why d-didn't any of you help me?"

"You deserved it" Asuka replied as she placed a bottle of water in front of the class representative "You left us without a word so consider it payback". Hibari nodded in agreement as she rummaged around the bags taking out the sweets the black haired swordswoman had bought them, the girl smiled as she began to laugh a little at her friend's antics, she had really missed them all, Katsuragi sat with a smile on her face as she reached over taking the sweets Hibari had passed over to her.

"So, did you find your answer?" Yagyū asked as the others in the room turned to face her, they couldn't deny they had been wondering the same thing but they hadn't been sure how or when to ask, Ikaruga opened the lid of her bottle before taking a large gulp trying to collect her thoughts.

"I did" She said finally as she looked to each one of them in turn "I'm sorry I left you all without a word but I needed to take this time away to fix my mind, to restore and reinvent myself so I could be better". The girl's smiled as Ikaruga told them about her journey to the shrine, the battle she had gone through to earn the right to see Kagura, the harsh training she had put herself through with Naraku. As they all sat listening Katsuragi couldn't help but feel there was something the girl was hiding, slowly getting to her feet she looked at her long-time friend a serious look in her eyes as everyone turned to look at her feeling confused.

"Ikaruga" Katsuragi said as the black haired girl turned to face her "Fight me". The joy seemed to have been sucked out of the room from these words, Asuka made to say something before Ikaruga held a hand up to stop her before getting to her feet locking eyes with the blonde in front of her.

"As you wish" Ikaruga said as the others watched on.

XXX

The group climbed the mountain at the back of the school, Katsuragi and Ikaruga at the front neither saying a word, Asuka looked ahead at her two best friends unsure what this was all about. They had been so happy to see their class president back but now it felt like a strange storm was about to begin brewing, as they reached the top they stood catching their breath before their eyes fell on the solitary figure who stood atop the mountain almost like its guardian.

"I never sent for you" Daidōji said as she opened her eyes looking at her class, her eyes slowly lingering on Ikaruga for a few moments "You've returned". The girl nodded as she bowed respectfully to her teacher, Katsuragi stepped forward as the raven haired girl's eyes slowly drifted in her direction, she flinched a little before she bowed respectfully.

"I'd like to ask a favour instructor" she began as she slowly looked up seeing the woman nod slowly she continued "I would like to request you to observe and referee a match between myself and Ikaruga". The others watched on as Daidōji slowly nodded her approval, Katsuragi and Ikaruga bowed to her before taking positions neither one letting their eyes leave the others as Ikaruga drew her sword pointing it at her friend.

Katsuragi concentrated as she summoned her black and gold iron greaves, the two had fought against each other numerous times in training but Asuka and the others could feel it, this was something more a more serious aura surrounded the two as they waited for the signal to begin Hibari clasped her hands together as she hoped her friends would be ok after the dust had settled.

"Ready?" Daidōji said as she stepped forward raising her arm as she looked to the two girl's in turn who nodded "Begin!"

Ikaruga is back at Hanzō and everyone is very happy to see her but Katsuragi is determined to see just what exactly the black haired girl learned. What better way to do that than to fight your best friend one on one