Just A Name

By silenthero

Hi everyone! Everyone? Is someone here? haha. This is my first School Rumble fanfic so any reviews would be greatly appreciated. Yakumo is my fav SR character so of course I would make a fanfic about her.

This is just my take when Yakumo helped Harima in his comic in episode 25, 26 of Season 1 and the episode 2 of the OVA. You must have first watched those episodes as this story was based on it. Everything is in Yakumo's perspective. Her thoughts is in italic. RnR

The rain was starting to get stronger as the night goes by, Yakumo noticed. The sky was clear and cloudless when she first arrived in the apartment with Harima. The weather quickly changed from a serene afternoon to a raging evening in a couple of hours. The winds howled and the rain unleashed its torrential downpour. Instinctively, she thought about her sister's welfare. Tenma was staying in school to watch the band, specifically Karasuma, practice. For how long she didn't know but she knew Tenma was completely capable of getting home by herself. The only thing was if she got hungry and tried to cook for herself.

That would pose a problem.

She, too, didn't know how long she'll stay here. This was the first time she ever visited a boy's room. She thought a boy's room was synonymous with a trash heap. Dirty laundry hanging from a drawing, a forgotten slice of pizza peaking out from under the bed or an awful aura radiating from the bed itself. This room, however, looked tidy and quite presentable. Books were neatly arranged in a shelf or desk and electronic devices such as radios or TV and some decorations were tastefully placed around the room. TV cliches must have gotten into her.

Never would have guessed Harima was such a neat bug. And also, there's Ms. Itoko.

Actually, this was Ms. Osakabe's apartment. It was quite a stretch for Yakumo: Harima having a cousin like Ms. Osakabe. That cool, level headed teacher having a rambunctious delinquent. Guess having her around kept Harima from thrashing the place. It was also convenient she was here, now that she thought about it. She felt it should be more easier to explain away to people. They do have adult supervision after all. People might get the idea they are...

Yakumo banished the thought quickly. She blushed as the thought skittered out of her mind. Why would she think of this of all of the sudden? There was a brief silence after she asked Harima what its like to be steady with someone. It just occurred to her. Where did that question come from? Have she just asked out of curiosity or - was she now entertaining this notion?

The answer to her dodgy question was more of surprise to her than her reasons for voicing it. Harima took it quite seriously, not that she wasn't expecting it. He didn't wonder why she was asking nor did he start teasing her like she expected people when asked questions about relationships. It was always a volatile subject when people starts to talk about matters of the heart, giving senseless statements like "you'll know it when you see it" or "a magical and surreal time of life" – whatever that means.

His explanation was very simple and yet very effective. It was heartfelt, something you don't expect someone like a delinquent to come up with, despite the fact Harima didn't seem to have been steady with someone else before. It wasn't vague, contrived nor pretentious like the ones Yakumo had heard multiple times in TV. He put it into terms that was easy to understand, easy to relate to. It was like hearing poetry.

Could this moment also count the experiences he was referring to?

Yakumo blushed even more as ideas in her mind acted on its own. She looked at Harima. The shaded man was engrossed in his work and didn't seem to notice her. He suddenly stopped drawing and stared at his fishbone pen. Shy in being caught staring, Yakumo went back to the paper she was working on. She took a peek and saw Harima with a look of determination on his face. His lips were moving like he's mumbling something.

"Did you say anything?" Yakumo asked, breaking the silence between them.

"Uh, no. I'm sorry." Harima replied warily. "Could you please pass me that French curve over there?" Yakumo was confused about his tone. It felt like he was hiding something. She couldn't ignore a polite favor, though. She stood up and picked up a French curve from a desk near the wall. She went back to Harima and leaned to pass it. Harima held out his hand to receive it.

"Thanks, Yakumo."

Yakumo's eyes widened. It was always the odd "Tenma's sister" pet name, but now...

Did - did he just called me by my name? He-he called me 'Yakumo'? Shocked from being called by her name, she couldn't release the french curve into Harima's open palm. A thunderous crash from outside brought her back to reality.

"Ahh!" the red eyed girl screeched, dropping the french curve to the floor. "I'm sorry. The thunder scared me."

"No. Don't apologize. I'll get it." Harima replied. This, however, went unheard. Absorbed in correcting her clumsiness, Yakumo quickly began to pick up the french curve, not noticing Harima was also doing the same thing. Both their hands reached the object the same time, their fingers crossing each other. The lights chose that moment to stop functioning, engulfing the whole room into darkness. A lightning flashed across the sky, highlighting their still form. Before Yakumo noticed it, Harima picked up the french curve and thanked her. Wondering about the timing of such blackout he stood up, and went to a desk, searching for any means to lighten the room. Yakumo was left alone in her thoughts.

I just touched his hand. Yakumo thought. With just a few seconds of contact she could feel callouses, a grim badge of many brawls and street fights he encountered. But she found out his fingers were quite delicate. They were long and thin, not something you might expect from someone who's always involved in fights and heavy labor. There was this softness that gave him a talent for drawing. A hand borne out of the hardship of life but with the gentleness of his golden heart.

This man was full of contradictions and paradoxes.

Yakumo stared at her hand a midst the darkness. Is that the feeling of holding someone in your hands? She thought, her blush hidden in the dark. Harima set up a candle and placed it in the center of their work station. Both started their work without any more clamor.

Silence reigned between the both of them. The sketches of pencil, the flickering of the candle and even the mechanical ticking of the wall clock were the only sound in the room. The rain was starting to weaken into a lulling echo as the darkness helped the choking silence. Minutes passed and Yakumo glanced up at Harima.

Why is he still wearing his shades? She wondered, her brows slightly knitting. It's dark as it is. Should I point it out? Maybe I should do some small talk? "It's so quiet," Yakumo said, breaking the still silence.

"Should I turn on the radio?" Harima pressed the on button on the radio nearby. Yakumo slumped back in her work, slightly disappointed. Making small talk wasn't her strongest point. Her attempt of making small talk by pointing out her sister's similarity in Harima's comic turned sour really fast. With nothing else for a good distraction, she tuned it to the radio and was welcomed by a rather flirtatious DJ.

"... make the best of it. It's the perfect time to find a cute girl and cuddle up with her!"

What? Yakumo questioned in her mind. Is this what Harima listens to in his radio? The obnoxious DJ continued his flirtatious ramblings.

"...just listen to me now and I'll tell you how to put the moves on!" Harima suddenly turned off the radio.

"I think I work better when it's quiet," he said nonchalantly.

Yakumo mentally thanked him. The subject matter is as awkward a topic as you can get. So he's not into cheesy radio talk shows. Cuddling. Isn't that what couples usually do? I wonder...

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did you want to listen to it?"

"Uh? No." Yakumo managed to reply. She wanted nothing out of it of all things.

"Oh, hey. I wanted you to know I appreciate you helping me like this. I mean, it's so late." Harima started talking. And just like that, he changed an awkward situation into a normal one.

Yakumo quickly composed herself and replied, "No, I like helping you and I'm anxious to see your work as soon as it's finished." She stared at Harima and started probing his mind to know if he really did mean it.

Nothing.

This was one unusual case. Well, this wasn't usual to begin with, reading minds and all. Yakumo could read a person's mind who has feelings for her, familial or otherwise. Even so, given enough effort, she could see a semblance of "surface thoughts" from anyone. Their thoughts were plastered above their heads like a comic, revealing their true intentions. She can outright pluck what's false and what's true as easy as reading the time. The compliments and praises gone her way were always stained by their thoughts.

But this one. She couldn't read this man at all. Harima even accidentally deduced she has some psychic powers and tried his darnedest best not to let his mind be read. But still, his mind was blank and unreadable as ever to her mind's eye.

This man was a total enigma to her.

"Woah, wait a minute." Harima started.

"What?"

"Stay right there. Just like that." Harima stretched his thumbs and index fingers to form a box and looked at Yakumo through it. "I see. It's the lighting. I get it now. So this is how it supposed to look." He touched his beardless chin in thought.

Huh? Not seeing a thought bubble above Harima, Yakumo began to guess what he was thinking. Lighting? What about it? She glanced at the candle and a thought hit her. It does looks like we're in a candle light dinner. Yakumo began to blush again. She suspected she was beginning to lose her mind with how it automatically wanders of its own without her realizing it. It must be because it's so late, she reminded herself.

Just then, she saw Harima handing her a paper. "Would you mind reading some lines from this scene? I think it'll help me see it better."

"Sure." She looked at the lines in question and read it. "Finally we're totally alone in this deserted island."

"That's it!" Harima suddenly shouted, startling her. "That's the feeling!" He stood up and put a hand on his chin in a thinking manner. "Yeah, yeah. This is really helping me. You're a good little actress there."

"I – I am?"

"Do you think you could read some more for me?"

"Uh, oh, sure." She stood up to level with Harima. "I'm really glad that it's just the two of us." She heard Harima's approval and told her to keep going. "But, how are we going to survive here?"

Again, Harima replied with such ferocity, "Don't worry! You're safe with me!" he replied, pumping up his fist. "I will always protect you!"

"Huh? Harima?" Yakumo murmured. Is that included in this scene? I don't see that line here. Should I keep on reading this? Searching the lines Harima was saying, she found her next line and her whole body tensed. "I – I – I love you," she mumbled. Yakumo was near her breaking point. She didn't even act in this line unlike the previous ones. If she did, she might, she might...

However, Harima was still in his euphoria and said, "Alright! And I love you, too!" He suddenly grabbed Yakumo's shoulders and continued. "I promise you I will make you very happy!"

"Huh, Harima? I think that..."

"We will start a perfect family together!"

What's happening? Yakumo thought, panic slowly creeping into her mind. Is he aware this is not included in this scene? He's not even - should I remind him?

Just as suddenly, Harima let go of her shoulders and moved a step away, his gaze never leaving her. He stood there, his mouth agape. A second ago he was shouting his heart out but now, he became so still and silent. It was unnerving.

He's so quiet all of the sudden. Did I do something wrong? Yakumo thought. She recalled the lines she read, looking back at anything she might have misread. She looked at Harima and saw something floating above his head.

C- Cute. T...

I see... Yakumo peered closer to see what's more behind his mind but Harima woke up from his dazed state, erecting invisible barriers around his mind. His thought bubbles vanished from Yakumo's view.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Harima said warily.

"Uh, nothing."

"Ah, sorry. I got carried away there." Harima apologized. "Come on, let's keep working." He went back to his work as if nothing happened. Yakumo followed and went back to her work.

She raced her mind back from that strange moment. Did I just saw Harima's thoughts just now? Was I imagining things? If I read his mind did he mean what he just said earlier? Is he... starting to like me? All of these questions and yet the answers were evasive as ever. All of it was drowned by another silence as they went back in their work. No more words were spoken as both realized the urgency of their situation.

The lights went back after their impromptu performance earlier. It made their work faster as working with just a candle was quite a challenge. She couldn't even imagine how it was for Harima who's wearing shades while working in such conditions.

It also helped that their little charade earlier waked their spirits considerably.

It was close to 11:30pm when they finished the comic. The deadline of submission was midnight to give more time for newcomer artists. Without further ado, Harima grabbed the whole manuscript and gingerly placed it in a large manila envelope.

"Congratulations, Harima," Yakumo said smiling. "Now all you have to do is bring it to the publisher in time." Harima stiffened as the words "in time" left Yakumo's lips. She caught herself too late. Her intention was only to congratulate and not put anymore pressure.

"Oh, crap!" Harima cursed, realizing they're still not out of the woods yet. "Okay! Let's go and bring this to the publisher!" He stood up to get his jacket. "But before that, I'll drive you home."

"No, Harima. I can go home by myself. You must - "

"After all you've done for me? It's the least I can do." Harima replied with a smile, catching Yakumo by surprise for the umpteenth time. His tone of voice could change in a blink of an eye. He could be raging like a lion and be gentle as a sheep the next.

They went out of the room without any more interruption. Harima went to the living room to get his bike keys and stumbled upon his cousin. "You're finished, huh?" The purple haired teacher said, turning off the TV. "I can finally go to sleep. Lock it up for me, will you, Kenji." She tossed the keys of the apartment and Harima catched it mid-air. Yakumo thanked her teacher, bidding her goodnight. She briefly wondered what was her teacher doing all this time, even in that brief blackout. Harima just sheepishly bowed to her, almost looking afraid as Yakumo noticed. Harima took the key of his bike and both left the apartment.

Harima started the bike and both secured their helmets. He lend out a hand to her to Yakumo's surprise. "Let's go."

There it was again. The thought of holding his hand again made Yakumo's heart race. Without any ado, she took his hand and rode the bike gently.

For a man who was hurrying for a deadline Harima sure rode smoothly, Yakumo noticed. She went back how she was surprised by something as simple as holding a hand. More importantly, how Harima could touch her without her reacting. When it calls for it, she can counter with lightning speed reflexes whenever some wayward boy touched her. She easily dispatched Hanai, a black belt in kempo, with a decisive take down. Her cat-like reflexes was always on overdrive, even in her sleep, as Hanai could attest to that. But to Harima. He touched both her shoulders and hands on the same day without her reacting first to any of it. Of course, Harima has no intention of ever harming her but the thought of letting her guard down was alarming to her. She even felt secured, somewhat.

The only one she knew who could do this to her was her father.

They drove silently through the streets. The lights from various buildings and posts shone like a billion jewels from a black landscape, passing by her view in varying colors. The hum of the bike was soothing to her ears. The cool breeze of the night wrapped around her like a blanket. Through it all, she clutched the back of Harima and laid her head, reminding her very much of her beloved father, and closed her eyes.

Harima stopped the bike a few paces away from Yakumo's residence to hide from her sister's wary eyes. They're sure Ms. Osakabe would not spill it to anyone, but to the outspoken Tenma it would be quite problematic. Yakumo hopped out of the bike and removed her helmet. "Thank you, Harima. I hope I was not a bother to you." Yakumo politely said.

"Not at all." Harima replied, taking Yakumo's helmet. "Take care now. And thank you, Yakumo." He beamed at her and then careened in the street, driving like a madman who was being chased by the devil himself.

Leaving her in her thoughts, Yakumo realized Harima drove smoothly for her sake. He was thinking of her security in the midst of making a tight deadline. This gentle side of Harima of putting other's welfare first before thinking of his own never seizes to amaze her. And then, Harima thanked her using her name.

How silly it is, being so happy to hear your name? From a voice that made her feel secure. From a man who look pass her outward appearance for what she truly is. It was not just a name. Yakumo thought back on it, emotion so different and yet so familiar coursing through her.

If this is one of those experiences you will cherish with another person, she wouldn't mind being in one.

Read and Review. (^^)