We woke up in the morning with our bodies still entangled and I carressed her skin with the tip of my fingers from her shoulder to her hips, following the natural curves of her body.
« It tickles... » she complained, opening her eyes.
I stopped and rested my hand on her hip, looking at her sparkling hazel eyes, and I smiled to her. Smile that faded away as quickly as it appeared when I noticed that Haruhi's futon was still folded and that she wasn't there.
« He's a dead man. » i said, getting up in a hurry and putting my kimono on.
« Hajime ! » said Chizuru, confused. « What's the matter ? »
I didn't answer and tied my obi quickly before grabbing my swords, furious. I didn't even take the time to tie my hair.
« Hajime ? »
« Haruhi hasn't slept here. » i said as I slid the shoji open and ran outside, to Souji's room.
« Hajime ! » i heard her shout in my back but I kept running.
« Souji ! » i called in anger.
I didn't wait for an answer and I came in. Haruhi was there as expected, wearing only a nagajuban and rubbing her eyes with her fists. I probably had woken her up. Souji was lying next to her, in a nagajuban as well and he was looking at me with a sleepy, confused expression.
« Dress yourself. » i said Haruhi in a harsh voice « and get back to your room. » I saw her open her mouth to explain but I cut her with a threatening icy gaze « Now. »
I unsheathed my sword and stared at Souji, waiting for Haruhi to get decent and exit the room. She looked at my blade in fear but did as I said and she ran outside, closing the shoji behind her. Souji, still in bed but now fully awake, crossed his arms and served me his usual grin.
« The Code of Conduct forbids any personal conflict. » he said with a playful voice.
« What was she doing here ? » i asked coldly.
« Sleeping. » he answered with a shrug.
« You touched her ? » i asked, pointing my katana at him.
He exploded in laughter and I waited for him to calm down, still in a fighting stance.
« Hajime-kun, she's nine ! » he said with a smirk.
« Answer me. » i replied, my voice as frozen as my eyes.
« Of course not... » he answered, laughing some more « chill out, okay ! She's a child ! She's probably too innocent to think that something could happen when she sleeps with a man ! »
You want to bet ? She probably has more experience than you do.
I sheathed back my sword but the anger wasn't gone when I spoke again.
« Why did she sleep here ? It's inappropriate. »
« Ara, Hajime-kun. » he said with a wry smile « you really think you are the only one to notice when Chizuru-chan's not well ? Even Shinpachi was concerned. That girl never had been very good at hiding her emotions... You two are newly weds and that kid is taking a lot of space in both your lives. You needed to have a proper conversation with Chizuru-chan and I didn't know how long it could take and what the outcome would be. Must be difficult to share something with your spouse when there's a child always next to you. That seemed like a logical choice. You shouldn't be so angry. It was an innocent sleepover. »
It was indeed logical but I couldn't tell him that. If I started to allow that kind of behavior, things would get out of hand very quickly. She was under my responsibility and I won't let her act as she want. There were rules.
« I see. I don't want this to happen ever again. » i said in voice that left no room for discussion and he nodded with a wry smile.
Since there was nothing more to say, I went back to our room to find Haruhi crying in Chizuru's arms.
« You killed him ? » she asked me, sobbing.
« No. » i answered, putting my swords down.
« Is he hurt ? » she asked again.
« No. » i sighed « But I am disappointed, Haruhi. I gave you my trust and you betrayed it. I told you there were rules. »
« But... I didn't... »
« Sleeping together IS physical intimacy. » i said coldly « As a punishment, you are no more allowed to learn sword fighting until you can show me that you deserve my trust once more. »
She looked at the ground sheepishly and nodded vigorously.
« I will not disappoint you again, Hajime. » she said in a shy voice « just... Don't take me back, please... I meant no harm and I don't want to be intimate with anyone... Please, don't take me back... »
My eyes met Chizuru's who smiled at me genuinely, asking me silently to be a little less severe with Haruhi. I crouched and wiped her tears with my thumb.
« I won't. You are a Saito now. » i said gently.
« I'm not a whore. I didn't choose to be one, I didn't enjoy my previous life and I'll never be one again. I know that I sometimes break the cursing rule or the respect rule a little but the one about intimacy, i'll never break it. It's a promise. » she said with eyes full of will.
I nodded, acknowledging that I heard her and that I would remember her words and she wrapped her tiny arms around my neck while i put mines in her back. She let go after a few seconds and when she parted, I only saw a sad little girl, not a former prostitute. I never had.
« Can I go help for breakfast ? » she asked and Chizuru chuckled.
« Alright. » i said and she stood up and bowed in respect before exiting the room, leaving me alone with Chizuru. I turned to my wife and asked her « Do you think I overreacted ? »
« Maybe the sword thing was a bit too much if Haruhi's report is true » she answered with a smirk and I felt the tip of my ears becoming red. I didn't like her to make fun of me. « But no, I think you are right to set some boundaries. I agree with you, she shouldn't have slept in Okita's room. »
I nodded, reassured. I was happy to have her insight on the subject. I've never raised a child before... and a girl... That seemed even more difficult.
« You're a good father. » she told me.
« I'm not her father. » i answered but I said it with less conviction than the previous times. I think the idea was starting to make its way in my heart.
« I'm sure now that I'd prefer a boy » she chuckled « if you are going to barge sword in hand in our daughter's room when you suspect her to have a lover. »
« My daughter, and Haruhi, will do whatever they like when they have an appropriate age. » i answered very seriously, tying my hair in a side ponytail. « And that's not nine. »
She kept chuckling and I headed out, not enjoying to be the subject of mockery. When I stepped outside, I saw Haruhi running my way.
« There's someone with Kondou-san ! » she shouted « She wants to take away Chizuru-neechan ! »