Chapter 94 - Late night talk

In the heart of the training ground, Yoruichi stood tall and determined, her sword gripped tightly in her hand. The majestic afternoon sun cast golden rays that filtered through the lush canopy of leaves above, casting a breathtaking blend of light and shadows across the scene.

As Yoruichi swung her sword with intense precision, her muscles flexed and rippled beneath her skin. Each strike was accompanied by the sharp, crisp sound of steel slicing through the air.

The warm sunlight illuminated her body, highlighting the beads of sweat that clung to her skin. Each droplet caught the light, causing Yoruichi to shimmer like a warrior bathed in liquid gold. Her dark hair was slicked back from her face, damp with sweat, yet her eyes remained fiercely focused on her practice, never wavering for an instant.

"Guess who's back?" Ryu called out playfully, imitating Yoruichi. "I hope you've got some water, I'm dying of thirst," Yoruichi retorted, her eyes gleaming with amusement as she grinned.

"Naturally, Heads up!" Ryu exclaimed, launching a water bottle toward Yoruichi with astonishing velocity.

With a swift, fluid movement, Yoruichi reached out and caught the water bottle in mid-air, barely even shifting her stance. Her fingers wrapped around the cool bottle as she gave Ryu a mischievous wink.

"Show off," Ryu scoffed, shaking his head in mock disapproval. He walked over to a nearby log and took a seat, wiping his own brow with the back of his hand. The sun's golden rays illuminated him as well, highlighting his muscular form.

Yoruichi twisted the cap off the water bottle and took a long, satisfying gulp. The cool liquid quenched her thirst, and she could feel her energy returning. She tossed the bottle back to Ryu, who caught it effortlessly, mirroring her earlier display of agility.

"So, what do you think of my progress?" Yoruichi asked, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of curiosity and pride.

Ryu took a swig from the water bottle before responding, "Well, you know how to swing a sword, though I'm guessing that it's nothing new. Why aren't you practicing the new move I showed you?" Ryu asked curiously.

"I was having some trouble with it, so I figured I'd switch until you came back," Yoruichi shrugged. "Do you want me to demonstrate it again?" Ryu asked.

"Yeah, I wouldn't mind a hands-on approach~," Yoruichi said with a teasing smile. "No problem. But be warned, I'll make sure to correct every single mistake." Ryu teased back with a smirk.

"You're trying to beat me at my own game? You're on," Yoruichi chuckled as she excepted the challenge, letting Ryu position behind her as she got into one of her sword stances.

"Ready to learn?" Ryu's voice was as smooth as silk, barely above a whisper as it carried a seductive undertone.

"I can't wait~," Yoruichi replied, a twinkle in her eye matching the playful daring in her voice.

Their bodies flowed in a rhythm as fluid as the water, their movements a carefully choreographed dance. Ryu's fingertips traced the path her blade should take, his touch a featherlight guidance that Yoruichi met with equal grace.

Yoruichi, ever the instigator, leaned into Ryu, their bodies moving in tantalizing proximity. The warmth of his breath caressed her neck, and the corner of her mouth twitched up into a smirk, wordlessly taunting him. To her amusement, Ryu chose to continue his lesson unperturbed, guiding her through the intricate sword movements.

Yet Yoruichi, unsatisfied with the lack of reaction, decided to up the ante. During a momentary pause, she flirtatiously ran her hand through his while repositioning her sword grip. The action earned her nothing but a light-hearted chuckle from Ryu, spurring her competitive spirit.

Not one to be outdone, Ryu seized his turn to play. When a turn in the routine came, he settled his hand on Yoruichi's hip with the pretense of guiding her through the motion. Her answering smile was broad and toothy, conveying her entertainment.

Their dance escalated, becoming a teasing back-and-forth that Yoruichi enjoyed far more than she'd imagined. As Ryu's lesson concluded, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment – she was having far too much fun with this routine.

"Tch, I can't believe that you're more thick-skinned than me," Yoruichi clicked her tongue in frustration, though amusement was prevalent in her voice.

"Don't take it personally, you didn't stand a chance from the beginning," Ryu chuckled, intriguing Yoruichi.

"What do you mean?" She inquired.

"My feelings are suppressed, so it's only natural you lost. Truth is, the game was rigged from the start," Ryu shrugged as Yoruichi adopted a more serious face.

"Again, what do you mean?" Yoruichi repeated herself.

"Do you really want to know?... Well, you told me about your past, so I guess I should return the favor, though it'll be a bit depressing," Ryu warned.

Seeing Yoruichi stare at him intensely, Ryu sighed before beginning to talk.

---

Yoruichi listened intently as Ryu recounted his experiences. His cheerful demeanor had vanished, replaced by a solemn, almost distant expression. She could sense the gravity of his story and gave him her full attention, silently encouraging him to continue.

Ryu delved deeper into his story: the effects of his Mangekyo abilities and how they affected him. He explained all about the traumatic memories that were forced into his brain. He continued by explaining how the constant barrage of emotions from different people had been unbearable, and in order to cope, how he had learned to suppress his feelings.

Yoruichi's initial disbelief gave way to a deep sense of compassion. Ryu left himself completely vulnerable by telling this story to her, it was a show of trust that she couldn't ignore.

As Ryu concluded his story, the air between them was heavy with unspoken understanding. Yoruichi reached out and gently placed her hand on his arm, offering her support without words. Ryu looked up, meeting her gaze with a faint, appreciative smile.

And as Yoruichi retracted her hand, she gazed up, towards the sea of stars that had emerged in the sky while the two were talking.

For a moment, they sat in silence, their hearts beating to the rhythm of the night.

"Ryu," Yoruichi finally broke the silence, her voice soft and thoughtful. "I'm not going to pretend I understand what you've been through. It's unlike anything I've ever experienced myself. But... I do understand the concept of bearing a burden."

Ryu turned to her, a smile flashing on his face. "Ha, that much is obvious."

"Tch, you weren't kidding about the emotions, seeing as you can't even get invested in the conversation," Yoruchi grumbled jokingly, drawing her knees up to her chest. "But anyway. Did you talk about this with anyone else before, or did you keep it bottled up?" Yoruichi asked, her serious tone returning.

"Well, there was one time, but I don't count it. I just snapped out in anger so it didn't mean anything," Ryu responded casually.

"What made you snap?" Yoruichi delved deeper as her eyes locked onto Ryu's.

"Well, I read through someone's memories. I saw how broken he became, how broken I became through him, and I lost it. 'I finally get something, and this is what I feel?' was what went through my mind at the time. I was so frustrated," Ryu sighed as he explained.

"For someone whose emotions are suppressed, you sound pretty angry. Did you ever try to channel your emotions through something? Like now: You're talking about your own experience and the frustration and anger I'm hearing sounds like your own. If you talk about your own experiences instead of keeping it all bottled up, you can channel your emotions more efficiently," Yoruichi explained as a gentle smile spread across her face.

Ryu looked at her, surprise and recognition in his eyes. "I guess...," he hesitated. "I never thought about it like that."

Yoruichi chuckled. "I can see that. But if you start now, who knows, maybe you can differentiate the different emotions completely one day."

Her words echoed in the night, and Ryu found himself pondering her point of view. Up until now, he had mostly kept his inner struggles to himself, but now, he wondered if it would have been easier if he'd shared them with someone else.

"That's... very insightful," he admitted, his voice barely more than a whisper. "Then, can I talk about it with you from now on?"

Yoruichi smiled at him, her eyes filled with warmth. "Sure, sounds like a fun time."

"Thanks, I mean it," Ryu said with sincerity as Yoruichi jabbed his arm lightly before gazing at the stars.