Haruhi had been with us for a week now and she was still sharing our room since there were none available. She was still a bit difficult at times but she was improving. Her cooking was terrible though and she was often trying to switch with someone when she was on kitchen duty. She prefered the cleaning and laundry and most of the time, the captains were gladly exchanging with her. She was always running everywhere, trying to be useful and she reminded me of Chizuru when she first joined. She was also cleaning Souji's room everyday because that stubborn idiot was letting her do it without any protestations, while Chizuru and Yamazaki always had to trick him to take care of the cleaning.
Chizuru didn't have any chores duty anymore because she couldn't fit anything else in her schedule now that she was also teaching Haruhi to read and write. I was glad she was taking care of it because I feared I lacked patience and pedagogy for this kind of task. For her lessons too, Haruhi was making a lot of effort. After a week, she could read and write in hiragana. I didn't know if it was the sign of a fast-learner or a slow-learner. I couldn't remember my lessons as a kid. I wasn't fooled by her attitude though, I knew she wasn't making all these efforts for herself but more for me, trying to show me that she was worth to learn how to fight. I haven't allowed her yet but I spoke about it with Harada and he agreed to teach her how to use a spear, an honorable weapon for a woman.
After lunch, I was enjoying a cup of tea with Chizuru in our room. It was calm and peaceful, just what I needed. What we needed.
« What's your schedule this afternoon ? » she asked me while sipping her tea.
« I have a round in about half an hour. Then I'll be teaching in the dojo. » i answered.
« I'm free until Haruhi's lessons and... I think you owe me a date night. » she replied with a smile.
I knew that smile and what it implied. I continued sipping my tea calmly.
« It's not the night. » i answered in my toneless voice.
She put her cup on the ground and came closer to get on my lap.
« Does it matter ? » she whispered in my ear and my whole body shivered from the temptation.
It's been so long that we hadn't been together... Nearly since the wedding. With her schedule, my schedule and now our lack of privacy... It was hard to find a moment.
« Saito Chizuru... » i whispered « you are a real temptress, you know that ? »
My hand came snaking behind her neck while the other dig itself inside her kimono and I kissed her with all the passion I had refrained these past weeks... When the shoji slid open.
« Ah ! Fuck ! » said Haruhi as I parted from Chizuru's lips who got away from my lap, arranging her kimono with a face red with embarrassment.
« Haruhi.. » i said, annoyed « rule number one : respect. Ever heard of announcing oneself before entering ? »
« But that's my room. » she protested and Chizuru chuckled nervously. I threw daggers with my eyes but she didn't seem to calm down.
« And the cursing. » i added in order to regain my composure.
« Shin... Nagakura-san curses all the time ! »
« You're not a Nagakura, you're a Saito. And a Saito doesn't curse. » i replied firmly.
« Speaking of rules » she replied, crossing her arms with a foxy smile « what happened to the one about physical intimacy ? »
I opened wide eyes and Chizuru's chuckles turned into laughter.
« But... That... That's my wife ! » i answered, feeling the heat on my cheeks.
« Whatever » she just said with a wave of a hand « I finished all my chores for today so I was thinking about hanging out with you OR I could leave you alone and ask Sou... Okita-san to teach me sword fighting. Pleeeease, Hajime-niichan ! »
She was never calling me Oniichan, except when she wanted to make fun of me, be insolent or when she really, really wanted something. But I couldn't ignore that she was making a lot of efforts in the headquarters and so, she deserved to have a lesson if she wanted it that much.
« Ask Harada » i surrendered « a spear suits a woman much better than a sword. And Souji's teaching will only leave you in tears and bruises. »
« I don't want to fight like a woman. » she said firmly « and I want to learn with Okita-san. »
« As you wish. » i sighed « but I don't want to hear you complain afterwards. »
« Thank you, Hajime ! » she yelled, jumping to put her arms around my neck.
She got off immediately and grabbed a kanzashi to tie her long ebony hair in a high ponytail « I'll go find Souji ! » she said in excitement and she ran outside, slamming the shoji.
« Truly, this kid will be the end of me. » i sighed.
Chizuru was still chuckling in a corner and that was annoying me more than it should. I turned my head to her, asking her to stop with my gaze.
« I should probably take her back to Shimabara » I muttered.
« Don't say this, Hajime ! » she chuckled some more « I know you love her. »
« I just wish she had some manners » i muttered again.
« I don't think your rules are a very effective technique... » she replied playfully.
« Maybe I should just land a bokken on her until it sinks in... » i continued, lying on the tatami and resting my head on Chizuru's lap.
« I think that sounds more like Okita's parenting technique » she laughed, passing her hand in my hair and taking my kanzashi away.
She grabbed a comb to brush my hair and I closed my eyes, letting her. I used to let them live but since the wedding, she saw what they looked like when they were combed and so, she was often doing it for me. I didn't mind. In fact, it was nice to have her taking care of me. I enjoyed these moments even if I never told her. I think she could sense it.
« Souji's going to break her in half. » i said.
« Failure is also a part of learning. » she said gently.
« No, i mean, literally. » i corrected.
« Is he really that bad ? » she asked with a smile.
« You never trained with him. »
« Stop torturing yourself, Hajime. » she said.
She couldn't understand. She never saw Souji train people. She never trained with him. He was a sadistic monster. Even if he didn't have the physical force he used to, he would go full strength against Haruhi, who was a nine years old girl with no constitution yet. He was going to kill her on her first lesson. Chizuru probably knew what I was thinking about because she chuckled some more.
« Well, if he kills her, you'll have one less problem on your mind. And maybe we could have our intimacy back. » she said with a playful smile and I smirked in return.
I took my head off her lap, grabbed her hips to bring her atop me and I snaked my hand back behind her neck to pull her closer to my lips. I kissed her with all my passion renewed and parted, plunging my saphir eyes into her sparkling chestnut one.
« I still have about twenty minutes. How about we take a head start on that date night ? » i asked in a whisper.
« I thought you'd never ask... » she replied before kissing me again and the twenty minutes that followed were the best I had in a month.