The Wayne family was all down in the training hall except for Bruce who had not yet returned from work and Alfred who was occupied elsewhere. Sayuri had also come to stay for the weekend and was currently in the combating ground having a sword fight with Damian. 

The rest of them had gone to the acrobat area of the training hall. It was the day when Richard was finally allowed to get back to his normal routine and he was practically jumping from excitement.

"Easy there, Dick, don't get so fidgety on the trapeze," Steph remarked, "or maybe you won't be so lucky this time."

"Too bad, I forgot to remove the nets."

"Jason!"

"Oh come on Steph and Jay, don't say that. Let me live," he replied with a bright smile dancing on his face.

Jay gave him a fist bump, "let the Flying Grayson fly, soar up high in the clouds."

"Indefinitely. And then I will finally be back on patrol," he remarked.

Barbara smiled, "soon hopefully. I miss listening to your hilarious commentaries. Timmy is too serious on patrol and Jay has a I'll only talk when I really need help attitude."

"Now that's highly unfair," Jay piped up upon listening her remark, "I don't do that. I tell you stuff which is necessary and leave out the rest."

"The rest usually includes details of how Jay tackles the poor victims," Steph too joined in on the conversation.

Jay's steely eyes widened as he leaned back dramatically, "victims? Really, Steph, I expected better from you."

"You forget I fail expectations on an hourly basis," she remarked with a playful smile an d a wink, "seems like I'm following in your footsteps. You should be proud of that but instead you're disappointed."

He ruffled her head affectionately but disguised the move by clapping his hand on her back hard such that she almost stumbled forward and grabbed Tim's arm to steady herself. "Oh but I am proud, if you turn out well you could join me in my missions other than patrol. We could give you a new name but Spoiler fits already. Or you could use Red Renegade, if you changed your suit colors. Now that I think about it, we would make a great team."

Her eyes sparkled in excitement, "I think so too. Gotham better watch out for this iconic duo."

"Heaven forbid," Barbara and Tim remarked in unison which made them all burst into laughter.

On the other hand, Sayuri and Damian had just wrapped up their sword fight. Dami had gotten much better than last time and she appreciated him on the improvement.

"You're getting better," she remarked, "I almost didn't see this coming."

He smiled slightly, "Todd taught me that move."

"Really?"

"He's unpredictable and he uses that to his advantage even in his fight strategy," Damian elaborated, "Grayson on the other hand is a huge distraction."

She laughed lightly, "how so?"

"He does those extravagant somersaults in the air that either astound or distract the opponent. He uses that to his advantage."

"Looks like you've been observing their fight strategies a lot," she placed back her sword in the case on the display and Dami did the same.

"Have to. Might come in handy if I have to fight any of them some time."

She shrugged, "why would you have to fight them in the first place?"

"There are certain situations when the need arises," he remarked, his smile widening a bit, "such as when Drake can't get his daily dose of coffee. Or when Todd suddenly feels the need to practice shooting in the house."

"And what about Grayson?"

"I won't fight him, he hardly gives any reason to do so. But I might have to if he tries to give me a hug. Last time I had almost suffocated."

"Best of luck for that buddy," she replied before leaving for Dick's circus area where almost everyone was crowded in.

***

Sayuri's head rested on his arm instead of the pillow as she turned over, her hand reaching out to gently trace the V-shaped scar that was etched deep from his shoulders and down to his chest. He left the book he was reading out to her, looking down at her, blue eyes locking with her grey ones.

Her fingers that lingered at his shoulder, traveled up to his cheek stroking the skin gently.

"Sayuri, what are you thinking?" He asked at last, tilting his head closer to her, his hand gently entangling in her soft brown tresses.

She pondered a little on her words before answering, "I'm just thinking that this is life. Unpredictable. Sweet sometimes, sometimes bitter. But life, nevertheless."

"And...?"

"And we're lucky to be alive; breathing and together at this moment."

He gently cupped her face and kissed her rosy lips, "for me, life is very sweet right now. I wouldn't trade it for anything."

A smile danced on her features as she went in for a kiss as well but ended up cupping his face in both hands, her eyes taking in the soft loving look in his eyes and the genuine smile that played upon his lips.

"Me neither. You know what, you're rubbing off on me," she added with a short laugh, "I'm beginning to grow optimistic."

A slow smile tugged up on his face, hearing her laugh, "but isn't that a good thing?"

"It is. I've started to dream about the future again," her voice grew slightly low and she curled closer towards him, "I've started to think about stuff other than just surviving on my own."

"What kind of stuff, if I may ask?"

"You. Your blue eyes, your smile, your voice. Just you close to me," her reply was immediate as if she didn't need to think longer to give her answer as it was that clear and thought out.

Her finger traced his cheekbone and she lifted herself a little so that she could place a tender kiss at his jawline. But his hands encircled her from the waist and he pulled her close, deepening the kiss.

When he pulled apart at last, she was rendered breathless but her grey eyes shone with an adoring sheen.

"I've started to think how life will be like with you and Tim and all of you people," she mumbled, taking in a deep breath as she inhaled his scent settled comfortably around her, "before I had always felt afraid of allowing myself to imagine a future, scared that it would get ruined. But now I want to dream again, I want to imagine everything without the fear of it getting snatched from me."

He entwined his fingers through hers as he brought her hand up to his mouth, kissing her knuckles, "it will not be ruined this time, instead it will be worth living, that's for certain."

"I hope so," but then she added, "I wish so."

"I do too."

She smiled, resting her head back on his arm, pupils dilating in the dim light, "you know when I look at you like this, I understand what people mean when they say that they are at the right place."

"Your right place is in my arms," he replied, "close enough for me to hold you and kiss you and ensure you that I will stay by you through everything."

She nodded, marveling at the truth of his words, "I love you, Richard."

His finger tugged at a loose brown strand of hair that framed her cheek and he leaned forward, capturing her lips once again in a sweet lingering kiss.

Her eyes fluttered shut and behind closed eyelids she could see the Manjushage fields again and Ryuu's words echoed in her head once again.

After such a long time of battling and struggling against her own life and traumas, she had finally reached peace. She was at the right place, with the person who loved her and with her little brother safe and sound with no fatal threat hanging over her.

"I love you too, Sayuri," he mumbled against her lips, not breaking off the kiss just yet, "with every part of my heart and soul."

***