Chapter 4 [Dojo]

Even as Ron worked things out for himself, Yori sparred by herself in the Dojo. She still felt confused by Ron's inability to open up and trust her. She had no doubt he loved her with all of his heart. She knew he appreciated and respected her fighting skills.

Yet he couldn't trust her to hold up her end of their marriage? Or maybe he didn't trust himself?

"That is such rubbish!" She delivered a punishing kick to the padded bag to her left. "Why can't Ron San respect himself? Why can't he respect me?" She vented for a good five minutes on that poor bag releasing her inner anger and frustration. She finally burned off those feelings and looked over the banged up example of her own handiwork. "I cannot lose control. I must focus." She turned to Rufus and bowed to him. "Forgive my outburst, Rufus San."

"Okay," he squeaked with a big grin. He certainly understood how disjointed his humans were getting. He hoped Ron would work on his own inhibitions. He saw Ron slip in through the sliding straw door. "Look!"

"I am sorry for the display," she apologized before turning around.

"You're all good in the hood. It's me that needs a harshing," Ron countered albeit sheepishly. "Hiro just drilled that lesson into my hard head."

While she was heartened by his realization, she bristled. "He did not hurt you, did he?"

"Whoa! Whoa! Hey!" He looked her in the eye purposefully. "Yeah he did pick a sparring match. He gave me a point. Guess he had an honor debt with me."

She quirked an eyebrow. "Honor debt?"

"Yeah." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I laid some serious convag on him after Miranda kicked his booty in the courtyard a while back. He was doing the same for me."

She relaxed. "If he helped you, Ron San, I will not challenge him. I do not want you hurt."

"I don't wanna see you hurt either," he declared. "I just want you safe."

"Our lives are anything but safe, Ron San. We have to trust that we can handle that. We also need to accept the risk. Miri Chan advised balance. We are not machines. We have duty to the school and ourselves," she insisted.

"Yeah. I wish it weren't so hard, ya know?" he supposed.

"I understand." She locked eyes with him. "I accept us. I accept you. You accept me?"

"Yeah. Why?" His eyes squinted in confusion.

"I feel left out. I love your caring heart. But I am your wife. We share good things. I want to share your bad things too. Please do not leave me in cold," she pointed out.

"I know." He bowed his head. "I'm a heel."

"No you are not. You are overprotecting me. I am not a glass doll. I am partner. I want to be best partner to you," she corrected him. "Please allow me to share your life."

He felt the gears in his head creaking to a halt. "We go on missions and stuff. You just saved me."

"But you had no choice." She looked at him sadly. "I wish to be included. Please, Ron San, do not shield me from your problems."

He took a deep breath. Then he turned to Rufus. "You think it's that bad, Buddy?"

"Uh huh," Rufus affirmed with a demonstrative nodding of his head.

Ron stopped allowing himself to soak in the point. He paced about the parameters of the space. "Yeah you're right. I'm afraid that if you know, you'll run away." He turned toward her and grimaced. "I hurt you and Kim, Yori. I can't believe I kept you chained up like that! I nearly killed Miranda's uncle! Geez!" He broke down.

She embraced him. "Zorpox did that. Not you. You would never hurt me or anyone we love. And I will never run away from you." She kissed him demonstratively. "Never. Promise me, Ron San. Promise you will not leave me out."

He could see Hurt and Pain clouding her almond irises. Despite her usual resolve, he saw the tears welling up there. "No more. I promise. I wanna do better."

She nodded and gently brushed his cheek with her lips. "I know. I have faith in you."

He kissed her back and smiled. "I don't deserve you."

"You are most deserving. I choose you. I am happy you choose me," she noted warmly.

"Every day. I love you," he affirmed.

She smiled at him. "And I you, Saiai."

Hearing her call him 'beloved' warmed him immensely. "Yeah me too. Come on. Let's go and have a talk with Sensei. That is if it's okay?"

"Hai. Let us do so," she concurred while taking his hand.

"Hey, Rufus, can't be leaving you behind, Bud," he acknowledged while holding open his own belt pouch with his free hand.

The smallest member of the trio rushed toward them and climbed into his carrying pouch. "Okay!"

"Let us speak with Sensei now. Domo, Ron San." She smiled warmly at him.

"For the prettiest ninja on the planet, it's beyond cool," he told her without hesitation as they walked out and across the square for their audience with Sensei.

At least they had acknowledged and moved ahead in one facet of their relationship. How they progressed would affect the road ahead of them indeed.