Chapter Twenty
"Hey, Mori-senpai, Honey-senpai!" Haruhi greeted as she entered the training field. It was the weekend, and Mori had invited her to train some more. She had a feeling Honey put him up to it, but she was grateful none-the-less for a chance to work on her hand-to-hand skills. Now they were in the dew covered grass of the Morinozuka outside training field.
"Haru-chan! Haru-chan!" Honey yelled as he bounced into her arms. "Usa-chan couldn't make it today, but he says 'hi'!"
"Oh?" Haruhi asked, looking up at Mori questioningly. Mori shrugged.
"Mitsukuni," Mori silently scolded his cousin. "Haruhi came to train."
Haruhi gave a soft smile and set Honey on the ground. "Well, I suppose we should start then."
Honey bounded off to the side to the field, and Haruhi turned to Mori.
"Do you remember your stance?" Mori asked.
Haruhi vaguely remembered going over the subject. Legs apart, not too far, knees bent. Stand firm. Haruhi angled herself, left foot forward, right foot back.. Arms up, elbows bent and locked, not too close to your chest. Haruhi raised her arms into position.
Mori walked up to her, taking one of her loosely made fists in his hand. "You'll break your thumb that way," he said, moving her thumb outside of her fist so that it was resting against her index finger on the outside. He tapped the outside of her left foot, signalling her to move her legs a titch closer.
"You want your weight spread, but balancing is harder your legs are too far apart. It's easier to fall over," Haruhi mumbled to herself, remembering what he taught her.
Mori nodded once her stance was corrected. "Good." He stepped back a good distance, and got into position. "Ready, start!"
Haruhi prefered to play defense, but Mori wasn't having that this time. They circled each other: his movements smooth and precise, her movements graceful and focused. That was the one thing that came naturally to her, the movement. But then, that was something she learned when it came to fighting with elemency. It was strange, she thought, how fluid the movement was. Almost like a dance.
They looked into each others' eyes, and in Mori's Haruhi saw what he wanted her to do. She had to take the lead.
Haruhi charged forwards, and as she grew closer she saw him swing an arm. She ducked and rolled out of the way. "Always be prepared," Mori told her. His foot found its way to her side mid-role. She jumped up, clutching a hand to her side, and they started the cycle again. This time Mori struck out, sending a fist her way, but she ducked and slid behind him. She aimed a kick for his side, but he turned and caught her foot.
"Haru-chan!" Honey called out in concern for his friend, causing Haruhi to turn her attention to him.
Mori twisted her ankle, flipping her over and onto the ground. "Stay focused," he instructed, a grip still on her ankle. She jerked her captured limb towards her, and put her other foot on his stomach and pushed him back. He stumbled, but regained composure as she jumped back to her feet. Mori struck out again, and Haruhi was surprised to see that this time it was charged by his elemency. She managed to block it with a shield of ice just in time. "Expect the unexpected." His free hand slipped around her shield and stuck her side. Haruhi collapsed.
…
"Haruhi!"
"I'm going to go get some ice, Takashi. Keep an eye on her."
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"Here, Takashi."
"I didn't mean to hurt you."
"I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry."
"Haruhi…."
Voices floated around in her head as Haruhi slowly came to. One imparticular stood out as it kept apologising. Her eyelids peeled open, and she focused on Mori's stoic face. His eyes betrayed him, however, with the concern they carried. She felt a small weight on her chest and arms, and saw that Usa-chan had found his way tucked in her arms. She was laying on a small bed, like the ones you find in fancy infirmaries.
"Haruhi!" Mori gave a small shout when he realised she was awake.
"Mm, Mori-senpai," Haruhi groaned. She sat up slowly and clutched Usa-chan close. Mori, who had been standing fittingly next to the bed sat down on the edge and stared at her.
"Haruhi, I'm so sorry."
"What?"
"I didn't mean to hurt you."
"Of course you didn't!" she exclaimed. What is he- "Senpai, it wasn't your fault that I collapsed. I was done in the minute I used my elemency instead of dodging. You can't hold yourself responsible for that."
"But- Wait! Your power was low still after training with Renge, wasn't it!?" Mori exclaimed in realisation. Haruhi gave a meek nod. "Haruhi, you could have hurt yourself. I could have hurt you! What were you thinking?"
"I didn't think it'd take that big of a toll on me! I'm sorry!" she defended herself and apologised. "I'm sorry."
"It's ok. I'm just glad you're not seriously hurt."
"Haru-chan!" Honey bounced in.
"Ah, Honey-senpai," Haruhi greeted.
"I'm glad you're ok, you gave Takashi and I quite the scare! Especially Takashi, you should have seen him."
"Oh." Haruhi looked back and forth between the two of them. "Sorry."
"It's ok, we're just glad that you're ok."
Haruhi swung her legs over the side of the bed, and handed Usa-chan back to Honey.
"Usa-chan made it just in time to see you after his bath."
"Oh? Thanks Usa-chan." Haruhi blushed, slightly embarrassed by the fact that she was thanking a stuffed rabbit. It seems only right after Honey-senpai was as nice as to loan him to me.
"Mitsukuni," Mori spoke.
"Haru-chan, why don't we take you home."
"Yeah, thanks." Haruhi forced a weak smile.
...
Haruhi wasn't surprised when it was a limo that drove her home, she supposed she had gotten used to it. Honey insisted that they accompany her-she was their guest, after all-and she ended up next to Mori and across from Honey. She wasn't sure how that happened, though she supposed the cousins weren't quite as inseparable as they first seemed.
She was thinking about that, and other things, as she nodded off. Mori didn't notice she was sleeping until he felt a soft thud on his arm, and saw her leaning on it. A soft smile escaped before he could hide it. He hoped Honey didn't see, he'd never hear the end of it.
"Haru-chan's kinda cute, isn't she?" Honey murmured. He saw, Mori sighed.
"Mmm."
"I like her. She's nice. Like a sister."
"Mmm."
"Don't you agree?"
"Mitsukuni."
"We've arrived," a voice sounded overhead.
"Don't wake her up," Honey told his cousin when Mori turned to the slumbering girl.
"Alright."
Mori lifted Haruhi in his arms, carrying her out of the car and to her apartment.
"Huh?" Haruhi asked with a start, still quite out of it.
"Haruhi, do you have a key?" Mori asked her when the door was locked. She fumbled for a bit before a silver key surfaced in her hand and made its way to his. He wiggled with it for a bit until the door opened and he stepped inside. "Where's your room?" She pointed to a room, and he ducked through the doorway into it. A small futon sat in the middle of the floor. A small desk was in one corner, books sitting on it nice and tidy, and a small wardrobe was on the wall across from it. Mori laid her down gently, but her arms made their way around his torso, and she wasn't letting go.
"Haruhi," he whispered, surprised. She was asleep. "Haruhi," he said a little louder, a little more urgently. He was starting to get nervous. "Haruhi, you have to let go." No response.
"Takashi?" Honey called.
"In here!"
"I was starting to get worried, so I came to check on you," Honey told him as he entered the room. "This is her room?" he asked in surprise. Mori nodded. "Wow." He looked at Mori and his situation. 'What's going on?"
"She won't let go."
Honey gave a soft laugh and told him, "Why don't you just stay? I would hate to wake her up after what happened today. She must be exhausted."
"But-"
"No buts. It won't hurt anyone. Besides, look how cute she is when sleeping! I really don't want to wake her up. Imagine if I was in her place!" Mori gave an involuntary shiver. "No, let her sleep. Maybe tomorrow you can slip out while she's still sleeping."
Mori sighed and gave in. Tucking her in as best as he could, he climbed next to her on top of the covers. "Good night."
"Good night!"