A NEW CHAPTER IS DONE! I can't even believe it myself XD Enjoy and review on your way out! Thanks 3
I felt as if I had just woken up from a thousand year sleep. Every inch of my body was sore and stiff. The excuse of a bed in which I was lying was not helping, either. I struggled to sit up, and when I finally did, I had to lay back down before throwing up whatever I had in my stomach. God I felt shitty. Then I noticed the sound of slow breathings around me. It was Haru and Aki, sleeping soundly in some uncomfortable looking chairs. Purple bags under their eyes told me they hadn't been sleeping properly since a few days ago. Was it because of me?
"Haru, Aki. Wake up guys. Go sleep in the inn." I said softly. Haru began to open his eyes, but Aki just shifted a little and went right back to sleep.
"Haniel..." whispered Haru with a tired smile. "I'm glad you are up." He took a blanket from a shelf and placed it on top of his sister. Then moved his chair closer to me and sat back down.
"How long has it been?" I asked while stretching my arms a little.
"Two days." He answered with a chuckle. "You are quite a sleeping beauty."
"Funny. It feels like two millennia." I slumped. "So. Anything good happened while I was sleeping?"
"Nah. After your fight, the others seemed...outshone."
"Really." I tried to remember all I could about the fight, but truthfully I couldn't recall much. I just remember feeling pissed as hell, then a great flow of power, and finally blackness.
"Speaking of which," Haru leaned closer to me. "what was that attack all about? When have you been training?"
"Well, I kinda came up with it right at the spot."
"Are you serious?" Shouted Horo Horo as he walked into the room.
"Lower your voice, Horo Horo. This is a clinic, not a madhouse." Lectured Anna.
"Everyone!" I was surprised to see them visiting me. I sat up quickly, but once again I felt dizzy.
"Don't be reckless, Haniel! You are still pretty weak." Said Haru as he held me by the shoulders and lowered me slowly.
"So, how are you feeling?" Asked Yoh as he pushed through the crowd along with Horo Horo. Now they were both standing right next to me.
"I've been better." I replied.
"Where you serious about making up your attack? That's just too amazing." Horo Horo held one of my hands tightly. "We have to train together one of this days."
"Um, sure, I guess."
SMACK!
Two punches hit Horo Horo in each side of his head.
"Don't get too carried away, stupid." said Ren with his fist still up.
"Just what do you think you are holding." threatened Haru while rubbing his knuckles. Then a rain of insults and comebacks flooded the room. Suddenly, it became too noisy.
"Everyone! OUT!" I shouted. "Ren and Horo Horo, you guys are just too noisy. Haru put your swords away, please. And Ryu, I know you don't have anything to do with this, but your cologne is an insult to my senses. So could you all just leave?"
"Fine..." Everyone muttered while leaving. Horo Horo peeked through the door once again before leaving. "So. How about training in two days from now?"
But before I could answer, Haru grabbed him by the shoulder really hard.
"Horo Horo, how about we have a little chat?" He asked with a smile.
"O-okay." Replied Horo Horo as he tried to get loose from Haru's grip. I'm pretty sure I heard something crack.
Now it was only Aki and I in the room.
-Horo Horo's POV-
"So what do you wanna talk about? Oh, wait a sec. I have to tell everyone to go on without me. Since I'm already here I might as well get my shoulder checked. I'm pretty damn sure you broke it, asshole!"
Haru dragged me all the way to the waiting room while reducing my bones to dust.
"I'll just say this straight. Stay away from Haniel." He said. There was a death glare in his eyes.
"Come again?"
"You heard me. I don't know what your intentions are with her, but don't."
"Okay, Mr. All-that-and-a-bag-of-chips. Who the hell do you think you are to tell me what to do?"
"SHE IS MY FIANCE SO JUST BACK OFF."
For a second time, he lost me.
"Excuse me?" I'm pretty sure I heard wrong.
"That's right." He answered smugly.
"And does she knows?" I asked.
"N-not yet." He stuttered. "But she will, soon."
I burst in laughter.
"What's so damn funny?" He was angry.
"Holy shit, dude!" I was laughing so hard my stomach hurt. "When she finds out, she is going to-I don't even know what she's going to do."
"Shut up. You don't know what you're talking about." A vein in his forehead popped.
"Do me a favor. Before telling her, pack your stuff before hand, fugitive-style. You'll be lucky if she doesn't kill you before you get the chance to run away."
"She will accept it. I know it." It's like he was trying to convince himself.
"Are we talking about the same Haniel? I mean, she cares about you a lot, but she doesn't love you." I may not know a lot about love, but I have master's degree in rejection. Trust me, I know what I'm talking about.
"You don't know her the way I do for as long as I have. You don't know the first thing about her." He punched the wall so hard that his knuckles got engraved in the cement.
"Whatever, man. The outcome will still be the same. You just wait." And then I left.
Poor bastard.
-Back to Haniel's POV-
After half and hour Haru came back to the room.
"What were you doing?" I asked innocently.
"N-nothing, just, you know, taking some air." he seemed agitated and nervous. Now that is suspicious.
"Haru, you never go out and 'take some air'. What were you really up to?"
A sweat drop ran down his temple.
"Don't concern yourself with something like that. Where is Aki?"
"Why are you changing topics? You're freaking me out, Haru. This is not like you."
He stood there frozen for a minute, and then he turned around and sat next to me. He took a deep breath and swallowed.
"Haniel. There is something I have to tell you." He held both of my hands and looked at me straight in the eyes. Strands of black hair fell messily over his pretty face. Wow, he is just too handsome.
"What is it?"
"Remember that time that we cancelled our engagement?" He began. "Well, it wasn't exactly cancelled."
Silence.
"That would be impossible, because then, we would be-"
"Engaged." he finished my sentence.
"That can't be. You need the approval of the main house for something like that." I shook my head.
"Your grandma accepted the engagement. She told you it was cancelled because you were still too young."
"Since how long have you known?" He just dropped his head. I raised his chin with one hand and asked him again. "Haru. Since when?"
"Since always."
"I can't believe this! I can't believe you! What was exactly your plan, Haru? Telling me right before the damn ceremony? Or maybe tie me down to the altar?"
"I'm so sorry, Haniel."
At this point I didn't really cared about my physical condition. I stood up from bed and stormed to the door. When I opened it as hard as I could, Aki was there, about to enter.
"Hey, you're up! Wait. What's wrong?" She asked.
"Why don't you ask my 'hubby' over there?" I tried pronouncing hubby with all the hate I could.
"Hubby? What happened here?" Aki looked as confused as I looked angry.
"Leave me alone for a while." Then I slammed the door closed and left the clinic.
Maybe it was a bad idea to leave with only a white robe on. It barely covered my tights and it wasn't that thick. Whatever, I was trying to make a point back there.
I can't believe Haru would lie to me like that. He is the one I trust the most in this world. I thought about it over and over again for hours. When I realized, it was already getting dark. I made a small equation in my head.
Cold night + skimpy white robe = no way in hell.
So where do I go? I'm not going back to Haru, that's for sure. Well, looks like I'll be paying a visit to 'The Ren'.
After asking around a bit, I finally found their room. The lights inside were on, so they must be there.
Knock, knock.
After a second, the door opened.
"What's up, Hani? What are you-wow, what are you wearing?" He blushed, which made me blush.
"Can I come in?" I asked while clearing my throat.
"Um, s-sure." Then he moved from the door so I could come in. Inside was warm and cozy. Chocolove was already asleep and Ren was sitting around shirtless with a towel hanging from his neck. He was drinking from a bottle of milk. When he noticed me he chocked.
"Hi?" I greeted while he coughed.
"W-what are you doing here?" He tried to catch his breath. "And what is that?" He referred to my outfit.
"Well, I came straight form the hospital and-"
"Whatever. Here. Cover yourself." He handed me a blanket from one of the beds. "Now, why are you out of the clinic?"
-Ren's POV-
Okay. Haniel visiting at night with that white robe on was the last thing I expected.
"Well, I left the clinic earlier and didn't return." she said while cuddling in the blanket I handed her. "Haru and I argued and things turned pretty bad."
"Argued about what?" I was more and more curious. Especially since it involves her and Haru.
"Um, well, today he told me that he is my...fiancé." she answered shyly.
I felt my stomach sink. Then I heard a loud cracking sound and realized I had just smashed the milk bottle I was holding.
"So that means that you and him are getting married?"
"Yeah right. When hell freezes over. Twice." She answered with a smug smile. I felt a little relieved. But her smile vanished and she had this sad expression I've never seen before in her. "I thought we were best friends. That he would tell me something big as this. I guess I was the only one who thought that way." A tear ran down her cheek. "And now I'm crying. Could I be any stupider?"
I dried her cheeks with the towel I had around my neck.
"Don't be stupid. Crying is normal for everyone." She seemed surprised by my gesture, but then softened her face and touched my hand softly.
"Thank you, Ren." She smiled sweetly. Oh my God. I'm loosing it.
After hours of talking, I learned a little about the ways of Haniel's family. Apparently, she is the heir of the main house. She was kind of forced to participate in the tournament and doesn't really like to fight.
But now everyone had fallen asleep, including Haniel, who was curled in a ball next to Horo Horo. He had an arm around her. I simply walked over and kicked him away from her, then covered her with a blanket.
Fiancé, huh?
KNOCK, KNOCK
More visits? I went to the door.
"What?" I asked before opening.
"Is Haniel here?" Asked a girl's voice.
"Who is asking?"
"Aki."
"Is your bastard brother with you?"
"No."
I opened the door and there she was.
"She was pretty upset." Was the first thing I said.
"Is she okay?"
"She's sleeping."
"Not anymore." Haniel had woken up and was standing a few feet behind me.
"Aki? What are you doing here?" Asked Haniel. Before anyone could answer, Aki threw herself to the floor and bowed in front of Haniel.
"Aki, please don't." Said Haniel softly.
"I, Akira, apologize for my brother's behavior." Said Aki firmly. Haniel kneeled down and grabbed her by the shoulders. "Stop it, Aki. This wasn't your fault."
"I'm so sorry, Haniel. The greatest lack of respect towards our lady is lying, and yet he-"
Haniel placed a finger on Aki's lips.
"Shut up. I'm fine now, so lets head back." Smiled Haniel. The both stood up and headed for the door.
"Oh, and Ren?" said Haniel before leaving.
"Hm?" She walked back and wrapped her arms around me.
"Thank you." She whispered.
On the exterior I might have seemed like a confident young man with confidence in what he was doing, but my insides were something like this: THISREALLEYHAPPENING?WHATTHEHELLDOIDONOW?
"I-t's f-fine." I said. I couldn't make coherent thoughts any more.
When she finally let go and left, I stood there for about five whole minutes, registering what just happened.
"Way to go lover boy." snickered Horo Horo from under his covers. "And by the way, nice kick you gave me back there."
"Humph." Then I went to sleep.
-Haniel's POV-
"So did Haru made you do this?" I interrogated.
"No. He kind of disappeared right after you left. He seemed really frustrated."
"He better be."
When we got back to the clinic Haru was at the door waiting for us.
"I'm glad you're back! Were where you? Are you okay?" He ran to me and hugged me.
"Wouldn't you like to know." I said as I moved away from him.
Aki stood there awkwardly.
"Um, I have to go to-you know, um. Whatever I'll leave you two alone." Then she pushed open the door and went in.
"Haniel."
"Haruto." It felt really weird using his real name.
"I know you think I did this just to take advantage of you."
"And did you?" I took another step back.
"Yes."
Well, I wasn't really expecting this kind of answer.
"But not for the motives you think. Look, Haniel. I've cared for you for the longest time. If there is a chance for me to prove that to you, by any means, I wouldn't hesitate to take it."
"Haru, I-"
"But do not worry. I called your grandmother and cancelled the engagement myself. Only under one condition. Promise you'll think about it until the end of the tournament. Promise you'll give 'us' a chance."
"Haru, I'm almost certain that I won't be able to think of you in the way you want me to. You're like a brother to me, and I'm sure you feel just the same way about me." I tried to calm him down.
"Just...promise." He insisted.
I thought about it for a moment.
"Fine, I will. But I can't assure you that-" He hugged me tightly. This hug felt more intimate that the others he has ever given me. Am I being self-conscious?
"Thank you." he whispered in my ear.
"Let's just go in."
For the next two days things went smoothly as before. There were almost no traces of my last fight and my strength was coming back slowly. Now I could finally return to the inn.
"So," Aki barged in into my room. "What are we doing tonight?" She sounded like we were normal teenage girls hanging out a Friday night.
"We are training with everyone at the woods, remember?" I answered.
"By everyone you mean The Ren and The Funbari Onsen team, rgiht?"
"You got it."
"Great. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get ready to kick ass tonight. Or get mine kicked. Which ever it is, I'm looking forward to it." The she skipped out of the room.
Silly girl, I thought as I went down a small table to reach for my lost shoes.
"You should be careful when doing that. You can't be sure of who is watching." A voice startled me. I stood up quickly while still being under the table. You can imagine that I hit myself in the head pretty damn hard.
"Shit!" I rubbed my head. "What the hell, Hao? Being an asshole prevents you from using the door?"
He just gave his usual grin.
"Would you have answered the door if I had knocked?"
"You've got a point there." I opened the door for him. "Now leave. I'm busy."
He came closer and with a single kick he slammed the door shut.
"You won't be busy for my new proposal." He said.
"Whatever it is, my answer in still no." I answered before hearing him out.
"Oh, trust me, you just won't be able to say no." He smirked.
What he said next made me swallow my words.
Cliffhanger! This is a little something for you to look forward to my next chapter, which is halfway done, by the way. Please review!
