Just as planned, Tsune and Tama came to Haruhi's aid for the cooking. She was relieved to have the two women to help her since cooking for so many people was going to take her a lot of time. Plus, she used the opportunity to pay extra attention to Kondou-san's family culinary skills. She wasn't sure if Souji was just teasing her or if her cooking was really that awful but a bit of improvement surely couldn't be bad.
Souji didn't bother them. He came to salute the two women and thank them for their help but then disappeared in the training room to celebrate his mini-Tanabata with his students, hanging their wishes to the walls. They would burn them or throw them in a river tomorrow so they could become true. All his students were very excited about it and many of them shared their wishes with Haruhi : become a talented swordsman, get a little brother... all the happy things they wished for themselves if the kamis were kind enough to answer their prayers. They asked her what she wished for and she said she didn't have time to think about it yet, but that she'd find ideas before tonight.
« You should ask for Souji to marry you ! » said Ichirô, who was always the quickest to speak.
Haruhi chuckled to keep her composure in front of Tsune and Tama and shook her head.
« I said I haven't thought about it yet ! » she protested gently.
« That's not a refusal ! » he grinned « I'm gonna whisper the idea to Souji ! »
« Leave your sensei alone ! » she protested a bit more vehemently « That's not your business ! Now out of the kitchen, you have nothing to do here ! »
« Souji asked us to take the konpeito bag... » added another boy. That one was new and Haruhi didn't know his name yet.
« Okay... » she sighed, opening the cupboard to hand the bag to the boys « now out ! »
The boys thanked her and ran back to the training room, silence invading the kitchen once more.
« Do you think Souji wants to marry you, Haru-chan ? » asked Tama with a smile as she was making dumplings.
« I don't think so... » chuckled Haruhi even if she couldn't help but feel the heat on her cheeks.
« Do you think he has strong feelings for you ? » she continued, visibility curious.
« He never mentioned anything of the sort to me. » said Haruhi.
That was part a lie. Souji may never had mentioned it, but he did have strong feelings for her, just she wasn't sure if they were of an amorous nature. He liked her, a lot, that was for sure, and for the moment, that was enough.
« Tama. » scolded her mother « stop being nosy. You're embarrassing Haruhi-san. »
« It's fine Kondou-san. » nodded Haruhi, a bit flustered that her friend was scolded on her account.
Tama apologized and kept working in silence. Tsune was a very kind woman but a strict mother and she was always pushing Tama towards excellence. Haruhi couldn't blame her though, Tama was fifteen and soon to be married if she were to find a suitable suitor. A strict education could maximize her chances to attract a good husband. Haruhi was glad that her father never put that kind of pressure on her. He did try to marry her to an Aizu retainer but the choice was hers and he accepted her refusal with calm and mesure. Haruhi would never marry anyone else than Souji anyway. If she were to fail, she'd get back home and work at the inn all her life and she would never marry neither bear children if they weren't Souji's.
When the cooking was finished, Tsune and Tama headed back home to prepare themselves for the party. Haruhi bowed to thank them and she also took notice that she needed a bath, her hands, hair and face nearly covered in a thin layer of flour. She should really stop touching her face while cooking.
She headed to the bathroom and peeked inside the training room on the way but the boys were all long gone. When she entered the bathroom, she got surprised to find Souji in there and she bowed frenetically, flustered, under his amused gaze.
« Ara, a ghost... » he commented.
« I'm sorry, Souji ! » she apologized « I didn't know you were in there ! I'll leave you alone ! »
« And keep your face and hair covered in white ? » he chuckled « stay if you like, I don't care. »
Showing her that he couldn't care less about her presence, he grabbed a soap and scrubbed it on his body, ignoring her. Haruhi couldn't stop herself from staring. Even if she was quite familiar with Souji's body now, she couldn't help but be amazed all the time about how attractive he was. His well defined abs, his large and muscular chest, his arms where she could see the muscles rolling under the skin, his strong hands... really an handsome man in every way.
Suddenly, she felt the coldness of water as Souji threw the content of a bucket at her face, drenching her from head to toes.
« Souji, what the fuck ?! » she yelled « my yukata's soaking wet now ! »
« Sorry but it seemed to be an emergency. » he said snidely « you were so red while looking at me that I feared you could overheat. »
« Stop teasing me ! » she yelled again, inspecting the drenched yukata glued to her body.
Another icy bucket was poured on her face and she widened her eyes, pouting.
« You were still overheating » shrugged Souji.
Haruhi didn't answer and instead, she threw the content of another bucket at Souji, which caused him to laugh.
« Ara, thank you for helping me wash the soap off... » he commented « are you gonna help me wash my back too ? »
« In your dreams ! » she yelled with a mischievous grin, throwing water again.
Souji counterattacked and since all the buckets were now empty, he took the water of the bath to fill one and splash at her. In no time, the both of them were splashing and wrestling in a weird mental state of love-hate until Souji eventually pined her to the floor, hands held above her head.
« Let me go ! » she wiggled, angry, but Souji had no intention to do so.
« Ara... Your attire is totally unworthy of a lady, Haru-chan... » commented Souji, pitching her perking nipples through the thin fabric « it's completely see-through ! What would daddy say ? »
« Leave my father out of this ! » she yelled « and it's see-through because YOU threw water at me ! »
« Details... » he shrugged playfully, leaning over her to kiss her.
Dammit, she couldn't win with Souji... He kissed her with a fierce passion, making her melt and squirm on the floor under the heat of his soft lips, pressing on hers with urge. She opened her mouth slightly and let him in, his tongue exploring the territory behind her lips, that was his and only his, just like the rest of her body.
« Haru-chan... » he whispered, parting way « there's something important I need to tell you... »
« Something... important... ? » she repeated, surrendering to Souji's strong hand clenching to her waist, the other still holding her hands above her head.
« Yes... » he whispered again, his mouth moving towards her ear, leaving trails of burning kisses.
She felt his breath in his ear, that short respiration, terribly hot, that was making her loose her mind in desire.
« The flour is supposed to go in the dishes, not on your face... » he murmured and Haruhi saw red, her anger burning.
« That's the important thing you wanted to say to me ?! » she yelled, not believing her ears.
« Well, of course. » he said with a smile, wiping the flour of her face « Your face's a nightmare. »
« You're a nightmare ! » she protested.
Souji, unfazed, chuckled and got up, leaving her confused on the ground.
« Guests are gonna arrive, Haru-chan » he said with a smile « You should get up and prepare. »
No, come back... kiss me again...
« I lost way too much time because of you already... » she muttered angrily.
Her body was burning because of the brasier Souji had awoken in her but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction to see it. He could dream ! Frowning, she removed her yukata and started to clean herself, especially her hair which had wet flour glued to it now. Souji smirked and got out with a wave of the hand. Mumbling, Haruhi finished cleaning her body and hair and got out, hoping not to come across Souji while wandering the Shieikan naked since he ruined her clothes. She was in luck, she managed to reach the dojo master's quarters without being bothered and she lengthily brushed her long ebony hair before making a big bun. She planted the sakura comb in it even if it was off season but unfortunately, she didn't have much accessories. She also planted the sakura hairpin and the one of her mother, with the fox. Satisfied, she put on a light pink yukata with blue bellflowers.
When the guests arrived, the Shieikan filled itself with joyful banter. Shinpachi's wife was very nice, not the demon he described. If he wanted to see what life with a real demon was, he should witness Hajime's life when Chizuru was pregnant. Now that, was a demon. His son Sanosuke was very nice too and Haruhi was enchanted that he gave the name of such an exceptional man to his son. She told him she'll pray for him to live up to that name.
Tsune and Tama were very pretty and Tsune spent nearly all evening with Shinpachi's wife, with whom she perfectly got along. Tama served food to the guest very politely and everyone praised her on her beauty which was well deserved. Even if she still had the round face of someone who just quitted childhood, she was very cute and her vibrant orange yukata was suiting her well.
Souji seemed very pleased to have everyone under his roof and he was of excellent mood. When Tama offered him the yukata she weaved, sew and dyed, he thanked her genuinely and disappeared a few minutes to put it on. He came back with the tanzaku for the wishes and some brushes and ink.
« Okay, let's go ! » he grinned « who has a wish ?! »
Everyone took some and started exchanging on their wishes and writing them down. Souji had prepared a bamboo tree outside to hang them and one after another, people placed their wishes in the tree. Tomorrow, it'd be thrown in the river.
« What did you wish for, Shinpachi ? » asked Haruhi with a smile.
« Time and volition to write my memoirs » he laughed « So that the Shinsengumi would be remembered as the honorable men they were. »
« That's amazing ! » she yelled, enthusiastic « I didn't know you could write, Shinpachi ! »
« This wish will never come to fruition if he spends more time in Yoshiwara than at his desk. » commented Nagakura's wife, which caused both Heisuke and Souji to chuckle.
« Watch your tongue, woman. » frowned the target of the quip.
Yet anyone could see that it was only playful banter between the two, their affection for each other true. Shinpachi just had trouble to be the man of a single woman. That didn't mean he didn't love his family.
« That's gonna be my wish, then » she added with a grin « may Shinpachi spend more time with his family. »
« I wished for a puppy ! » said Sanosuke, hanging his wish.
« Oh, that's unfortunate... » sighed Shinpachi « I heard the kami aren't granting wishes to disobedient sons... »
« What about you, Heisuke ? » asked Haruhi, turning to the Rasetsu.
« I wished for the decay to stop » he laughed sadly « only the kami can save me now... »
He showed her his hand where three fingers fell off already. It was a painful sight yet he seemed at peace with it, laughing instead of crying. Haruhi felt uncomfortable but she smiled with him and made that wish too, tying it to the bamboo tree, saying that two wishes were more powerful than one.
« I'm wishing for Haruhi to learn how to cook ! » chuckled Souji, tying his wish near the bottom and others followed him in laughter.
« You... »
Fucking. Cunt.
« Ne, Tama-chan ? » he said, turning to the girl who was also tying her wish « what's yours ? »
« Hum... love... » she blushed.
« Ara, is there someone you fancy ? » he smirked.
« Not yet. » she smiled in return « I'm asking to meet a man I'll love. »
« Hear that, Tsune-san ? » called Souji « Tama-chan's growing up ! »
« Well she is a woman, Souji-kun » she laughed, tying her wish « I hope to marry her soon. »
« Man'll be lucky. » he nodded « Ne, Haru-chan ! You're asking everyone but I haven't seen your wishes yet ! »
« I'm wishing for health for my family. » she replied, shrugging.
« Hey, there's another one ! » added Shinpachi, taking it off her hands.
« Shinpachi ! » protested Haruhi but the big man was way too tall and he read her wish with a puzzled expression.
« Souji... » he asked, confused « are you still ill ? »
« What do you mean ? » replied Souji, lifting an eyebrow with his arms crossed.
« Haru-chan is wishing for you to keep living. » he frowned.
« That's cute. » he smiled « but I have no intentions of leaving the world of the living before I'm a very old man. »
Haruhi grabbed back her wish and tied it to the bamboo tree when she noticed that Souji's one next to hers wasn't at all about her cooking in the end. On it she could read « may Haruhi stay by my side. ». Warmth invade her heart and she smiled uncontrollably. Souji really was bashful about his affection but these little evidences were a lot too sweet. It was even a pity that these wishes would be thrown in the river. She would rather had kept that one and held it close to her heart.
Kitten update :
I still have four and they seem to all be out of danger even if Haruhi is a lot smaller than her brothers... Boys are around 250g, a weak weight for fifteen days old kittens. Haruhi is 196g. They are supposed to be between 250g and 320g. Yet, they all eat well and move well so I have hope. Kaede is probably gonna be longhair. The others are all shorthair.