« So... » said Souji with a smile, turning to Haruhi who was still panting, her gaze locked on the ceiling « how was it ? »
« It was okay... » she answered.
« Ara, that hurts... » he groaned, faking agony « my pride just got stabbed... »
« No ! » she flushed, flustered « I meant... It didn't hurt... »
« I told you it wouldn't. » he said with a smile « I'm a bit vexed you didn't enjoy it more than that, though. Sorry I'm not a more experienced lover. »
Lover ? That meant he loved her ? It wasn't only lust and desire ?
« It's... Sorry » she muttered « I'm weird I guess... Something's wrong with me, it has nothing to do with you... »
Souji laughed gently and Haruhi blushed some more. Part of her was angry to have him mock her that way in her most vulnerable state. It wasn't really nice of him.
« Look at us » he commented, still laughing « we just had sex and instead of savoring the moment, we're apologizing to each other. »
Haruhi said nothing, still flustered. She couldn't detach her gaze from the ceiling. Was Souji satisfied with her ? Did she please him enough ?
As she was staying silent, Souji's hand came brushing on her cheek, forcing her to look at him.
« I liked it. » he stated as if he had deciphered her inner turmoil « It'll get better with time. »
« You mean... you intend to do this again ? » she asked shyly.
« Don't ask questions like this with this cute voice, Haru-chan » he chuckled « or that might happen sooner than you think. »
She became totally red under his amused gaze and he brushed his fingers on her lips and neck before talking again.
« It's not a problem if you can't let go and relax for now. » he said gently « I might not know where you're coming from but I have a vague idea of what happened to you. You don't need to tell me. ». He added when he saw her ready to speak « But don't think I'm defeated, Haru-chan. I'm bull-headed, I like challenge and I hate to loose. » he chuckled « I'll win eventually, be prepared. »
« O... Okay... » she stuttered.
It sounded like a threat but Haruhi knew it was Souji's way to show he cared. Even if he could be sometimes harsh and cover her in bruises during training, he took the time to reassure her and made her experience a non painful sex. That was already a first for her and it was enough. Plus, she did experience pleasure before he entered her so it wasn't that much of a defeat for Souji.
« You know, Souji... » she whispered « the things you did with your tongue... That was nice. »
She felt the heat on her cheeks and Souji chuckled again, his hand quitting her face to brush on her body and carress her under her navel.
« You mean down there ? » he asked snidely.
« Yeah... » she blushed « and... everywhere... I liked it. »
It was strange to admit it like this. If Souji hadn't talked first and told her he enjoyed their embrace, probably she wouldn't have had the courage to share her feelings about it.
« I'll keep that in mind. » he smirked before yawning « but not now. I'm drunk, I'm satisfied and I'm sleepy. »
Haruhi suddenly realized she was on Souji's futon and that he was half on the tatami. Ashamed, she stood and picked up her yukata to get back to her room and let him sleep now that he was satisfied.
« Where're you going ? » he asked her, confused.
« I'm not of use to you anymore so I'll let you sleep. » she answered, putting on her yukata and searching for her obi.
« Stay. »
« I really can ? » she asked, perplexed.
Now that it was over, he didn't need her anymore. Why would he want her to stay ? She would be a bother for the quality of his sleep and his futon was narrow.
« Stay, Haru-chan. » he ordered « come back here. »
She obeyed and he got her rid of her yukata again before capturing her in his strong arms, holding her tight and close.
« I'll sleep better that way. » he stated.
Haruhi wasn't sure she could sleep that way though. She was against Souji's skin and smelling his sent, feeling his breath slightly tainted with alcohol... She was feeling happier than ever, here in these arms, against this hard chest. It was the answer to her prayers, finally to be with Souji. She closed her eyes and felt his breath steady before she heard his familiar small snores. She missed them. She got used to hear them when they were traveling together but now that they weren't sharing the same room anymore, her nights were feeling too silent. In his sleep, Souji tightened even more his grip on her and she felt like she could suffocate only by knowing he could be so drawn to her. He did tell her how much he wanted her and he showed it to her... She never suspected he could feel that way about her. She was pretty sure her love was one-sided.
Haruhi snuggled into Souji's arms, getting as close as she could. The room was hot even if the window was still open and Souji's body was pretty warm too but she didn't care for the heat. She wanted to make the most out of it in case Souji would have a different opinion in the morning, when the sake wouldn't cloud his judgement anymore. She wanted the morning never to come, feeling safer than she had ever been in Souji's arms. Yet, she couldn't fight the tiredness forever, especially with her body sore from their embrace, and she eventually fell asleep.
In the morning, Haruhi slowly fluttered her eyes because of the already high sun. Souji was still holding her tight and she met his gaze, sparkling with amusement as he was looking at her.
« Did you know you snore ? » he asked her with a sly smile.
« I don't ! » she protested, embarrassed « I do ? »
« Who knows ? » he shrugged, smiling.
« That can't be true. » she stated « because we already shared rooms before and if it was true, you would have commented on it way earlier. By the way, Souji, YOU snore. »
« you also make cute little faces. » he continued, unfazed.
« Have you spent all night looking at me ?! » she replied angrily.
« A rather pleasant sight. » he nodded.
Haruhi pursed her lips, not in the mood for Souji's teasing so early in the morning. Even if the sun was making her acknowledge that it wasn't that early. Not like it mattered anyway. The kids were all going to school in the morning and Souji's lessons were only in the afternoon and evening. She passed a hand on her eyes and face to wake up and sensed a faint pain in her neck. She passed her fingers on the painful area and Souji commented again.
« Yeah, you might have a small bruise... »
« It doesn't feel small. » she muttered.
Souji brushed his fingers on it too and traced its contour. She was right, it was far from being small.
« You're a brute... » she complained.
« I prefer the term passionate. » he chuckled.
« Then you're a passionate brute. » she muttered.
He seemed to have no remorses at all for that giant hickey but could she really expect Souji to have remorses about something like this ? He leaned over her and kissed the lovebite, easing the small pain with his lips. The sensation electrified Haruhi and her body started craving for more, happy to see that nothing had changed now that morning came and Souji was sober. Her breath quicken almost immediately after his first contact and she put her palms against Souji's chest.
« Is that to touch me or to push me away ? » he chuckled, licking her neckside.
« Depends... » she muttered while she still could, loosing her mind little by little with Souji's teasing.
« Damn... » he whispered in her neck, making her skin turn into goosebumps « Hajime really is gonna kill me. Maybe I should stop leaving so obvious marks on your body. »
But instead of doing so, he bit her and suckled at the junction of her neck and collarbone, making her escape a ridiculous sound.
« That's cute... » he chuckled.
She could already divine that there was another lovebite near the painful one and she sighed, between delighted and exasperated.
« I don't think you value your life very much. » she stated.
« Maybe... » he chuckled « Ne, Haru-chan, that futon is narrow. »
Haruhi tried to detach herself from Souji so that she would be less of a bother to him but he wouldn't let go of her. Instead, he held her even tighter.
« We need a bigger one. » he said very seriously « you should bring yours here tonight. »
« You... You want me to share your bed again tonight ? » she asked, not sure she understood correctly.
« Yeah » he nodded « tonight and all the nights afterwards. I think I got quite used to have you near me. You don't wanna share with me ? »
« No ! Yeah ! I... I want to ! » she stuttered before she passed her arms around Souji's neck « I love you, Souji... Thank you... »
Souji smiled and carressed her side with his fingers, leaving a tingling sensation on her skin, before he kissed her, biting gently on her lower lip as he weaved his fingers in her long ebony hair. Suddenly, they were interrupted by his growling stomach and he parted, a very concerned look on his face.
« Ne, Haru-chan... What's for breakfast ? » he asked and Haruhi smiled to the man she loved before he let her go.
« I'm gonna prepare something right away ! » she nodded, putting her yukata on « you want me to bring a tray to you here ? »
« Nah, I'm getting up... » he stretched his arms « I'll join you shortly. »
She bowed and headed towards the kitchen to prepare a nice breakfast. There were still leftovers of Tama's mochi and Tsune's manju and so, she added some on Souji's tray with tea, rice and a miso soup. Just as he said, he joined shortly after in his grey yukata, yawning while scratching his head. It was pretty obvious that he was still hungover but it wasn't severe enough to be an obstacle to his afternoon lessons. He ate like an ogre and she had to prepare another full tray for him.
After the breakfast, Haruhi went to move her futon from the dorm to the dojo master's quarters and it felt like a big achievement. From now on, she'd share all her nights with Souji. Part of her couldn't wait for the day to be over so she could be in his arms again.
Kitten update : TW death
Chizuru, Haruhi and Ayame are in difficulty. They are now 11 days old and I'm trying my best to save them but I think Chizuru and maybe Haruhi aren't going to make it. I have more hope for Ayame since he's still eating. I feed the girls with a seringue to « force » them but they spit it all out. A kitten who doesn't eat dies very quickly from dishydratation. Chizuru hasn't gained weight in four days and now, she has started to loose weight and that is a very bad omen for a kitten. Also, she doesn't meow anymore, she doesn't have the force. Hajime and Kaede are both fine and growing strong. Now all the kittens except Ayame have their eyes open.
Second update : We lost Chizuru. We knew she only had a few hours left. She managed to find the force to yell and call me in the middle of the night and I came to the cage like « Kaede, fuck ! Shut up ! » but for once, it wasn't him. I think Chizuru wanted to be reassured in her last minutes and I craddled her in my hands and brushed her fur until the end. That's the best I could do. Now I need to be strong for Ayame and Haruhi, who are probably gonna be next. It's always hard with kittens that young who don't have a mother.