August 1874
« Haru-chan ! » called Souji « mail for you ! »
« Really ?! » she yelled, terribly excited « from my father ?! »
She ran down the stairs and nearly tripped due to her speed. Arrived in the common room, she jumped to try and catch the letter that Souji was holding high, a grin on his face. She wasn't short, already a lot taller than Chizuru-neechan and nearly the same height as Hajime, but Souji was taller and also stronger. Impossible for her to grab his arm and make it bend. Pouting and mumbling, she put all her efforts into catching the letter under Souji's laughs.
« Say please, Haru-chan, and maybe I'll be kind enough to give it to you. »
« Give it ! » she yelled, jumping.
« I still haven't heard the magic word... »
« Please, Souji » she begged, knowing that this bull headed idiot wouldn't flinch.
He handed it to her and she looked at the unsealed letter, disgruntled.
« You read it ! » she yelled, outraged.
« There's not much in it anyway. Daddy has never been very prolific with words. » he shrugged.
She opened it and read. She was so happy to get a reply. It had been a month but mail wasn't known to be rapid. To carry a letter all the way to Kyushu must have been way worse.
Haruhi, I am relieved to know you are well. We are all fine. I am glad to learn that Souji survived in Itabashi and that he is still alive although I can devine him weak, with his tuberculosis. Try to be useful in the Shieikan so that he would not tire too much but I don't want you to nourish him with blood as you used to. Try to be an asset and be effective to support him. I believe you remember the rules.
About Toudou, Chizuru sent a letter to her brother. I have been cured by his remedy and I hope Kaoru can send a vial to him and to Souji. Unfortunately, we are unable to travel to Hino so we will wait for your return. If you choose to come and spend New Year's Eve with us or even come sooner, our door is open either for you or Souji.
Ps : the incoherent drawing at the bottom of this letter was made by Ayame. I can't fathom what it's supposed to represent.
Fujita Hajime
The letter warmed her heart. She was so relieved to know that they were all well and that her father was cured. She didn't like Kaoru very much but he did prove himself useful in the end. She hoped she could receive the vial to cure Heisuke before he passed. That would be amazing ! Would his fingers grow back ? She wasn't sure... The Ochimizu was a mysterious thing.
Ayame's drawing was... abstract... Surely her brother would never be an artist. Just like her father, she couldn't decipher what it was supposed to be. She was proud to see the 菖 kanji next to the drawing, showing that her brother was learning kanji now and knew how to write his name. His brush wasn't assured and there were drawing mistakes but for a five years old it was already great ! Haruhi learned how to read and write a lot later than that, at nine, when her father took her in. Ayame would be six in a few months... and Kaede one next month ! She was very curious to see him again and see what kind of child he was.
She felt Souji's gaze over her shoulder and turned to him, on the defensive.
« Seems like sucking at letters is a family thing. » he sighed « still no emotions whatsoever. »
« You really expect a man like my father to write heartfelt words ? » she chuckled.
« Not really. » he muttered « but he could at least try. »
Souji skimmed throught the letter again pensively.
« He still thinks I'm ill... and a Rasetsu. » he muttered.
« Yeah, it's only logical... Both are supposedly incurable. » she said softly.
« I still don't understand... » he whispered « Why am I not dead ? If I failed to rescue Kondou-san and survived it, at least one of these two ailments should have ended me... »
Haruhi didn't answer. She thought for some time about telling the truth to Souji about his condition. Now that they were in a relationship, keeping it a secret wasn't really nice of her. Yet, she kept it secret for so long that she feared his reaction. Maybe he could be very mad at her for not telling him or maybe he could be beaten, realizing that he only got five months left.
« You used to feed me your blood. » he continued « I have trouble imagining that I'd be okay with that. »
« You weren't. » she smiled « You sent me back to my father and kept living alone. That's where my arm scars come from. »
« Yeah, I noticed them. » he nodded « but I never thought I could be the cause of it. »
« It was more my fault anyway. » she shrugged, blushing « You never hurt me. I did these scars myself. »
« What's the rules ? » he asked bluntly.
« What rules ? » she asked in return, perplexed.
« It's said here 'I believe you remember the rules' » he pointed on the letter.
« It's more like a code of conduct. » she laughed « He made them for me when I joined. »
« What are they ? »
« Show respect, help around, no cursing and no physical intimacy. » she replied grudgingly.
« You've already broken all of them. » he laughed.
« Not the one about helping around ! » she protested « but yeah, I might curse a bit too much... »
« Maybe if I tell Hajime how you broke all of his rules, he'd kill you instead of me. » he chuckled « I might survive after all. »
Haruhi sighed with a smile. Souji could try and tease her, she was in the best of spirits with that letter.
« Souji-kun ? »
« Hai ! » he answered « come on in, Tsune-san. »
Tsune got in and bowed to the both of them.
« Haru-chan » ordered Souji « make some tea. »
« That wouldn't be necessary, Souji-kun » refused Tsune politely « I was just wondering if I could have a word with you. »
« Sure. » he nodded « But you don't want tea at all ? I was gonna ask some for myself so I'd be honored if you'd share a cup with me. »
« In that case, I gladly accept » she bowed again.
Haruhi went to the kitchen to prepare some tea for the both of them and added a small plate with sweets, knowing that Souji would probably be pleased with it, even if he would eat all of them. Tsune wasn't really eating sweets, she was far too disciplined. She brought the cups to them on a tray, putting them on the table before bowing and heading out. Souji didn't require her presence, neither did Tsune, and the topics they needed to discuss, supposedly Shieikan related, were of private matter.
Instead of staying with them, she put on a training kimono and went outside to practice. She could have gone in the training room but the weather was so nice that she'd rather be out, under the shadow of a tree. Repeatedly, she practiced all her Tennen Rishin Ryû moves with her wakizashi. It had been some time she hadn't practiced alone and with steel. Now, most of her training was with Souji and they were using bokken all the time. He was a bit more gentle and wasn't marking her body with as many bruises than before. There were still some but he was more careful. Maybe seeing her naked more often made him realize how much he was marking her skin.
Souji joined her after a while. He gazed at her, arms crossed and back leaning against a tree. He didn't say anything and more unsettling, he wasn't even smiling.
« Are you okay, Souji ? » asked Haruhi, concerned.
Souji smiled and she thought that maybe she had been stupid to think that something bad happened.
« Lost in thoughts again. » he shook his head « You move well. »
« Any advices ? » she asked, happy to be praised.
« No. » he shook his head again « It's perfect. Seems like there's nothing left for me to teach you anymore. »
« Don't say that, Souji ! » she protested « I never beat you once. »
« Yeah but that's because of our differences in speed and strength, not in technique. » he smirked « Yours's as good as mine. »
« Thank you... » she blushed.
« You're a lot too cute... » he commented with a smirk « makes me think of sinful occupations... »
Haruhi held her sword in a defensive stance with a smile, provoking Souji, and he took his own sword off his scabbard.
« You'll have to earn me. » she stated playfully.
« Consider it done. »
He came at her with force, clashing his blade against her own. He was still a lot stronger than her but she learned to use it at her advantage, deflecting his blow in the direction she wanted so she could have access to his defenseless flank. Souji wasn't fooled though, and he evaded her blow with inhuman velocity, as if he was still a Rasetsu. Their swords clashed against each others with that characteristic sound of metal until, of course, Souji got the upper hand on her.
« You're dead. » he stated « I guess I earned my reward. »
Haruhi put her sword back in her scabbard with mixed feelings. She was disappointed not to be able to win against Souji after all this time but she also was glad to see him happy, his earlier mood forgotten. He was back to the same old Souji. He lifted her up in his arms and took her back inside all the way to the dojo master's quarters where he kicked the futon open and laid her down.
« So... my reward... » he murmured, his lips inches from hers.
She wiggled under him and managed to escape, leaving him confused. He turned over, on his elbows and adressed her in a puzzled voice.
« You don't feel like it ? »
« I thought you wanted a reward. » she grinned mischievously before her hands started to untie Souji's obi.
« Ara ? » he smirked « you have my full attention, Haru-chan... »
Haruhi crawled between Souji's legs and started to kiss him on his thigh and through his underwear, biting a little. She felt him harden under the fabric, slowly, but she didn't remove it, keeping teasing him.
« Haru-chan... » he said faintly and if look could burn, Haruhi would be set ablaze by the intensity of his gaze.
She lifted her eyes and traced the contour of his shaft with her lips, making him escape a groan. Caressing it with her fingers, she kissed the tip and bit it a little. Souji's face was a reflexion of frustration and that made her a lot too happy.
« Okay, Haru-chan... » he whispered « teasing is bad, I understand. »
« Teasing ? » she repeated innocently « but that's only the beginning. »
« Haru-chan... » he threatened in a low voice.
She pulled on the ties of his underwear, releasing his manhood, which was stiff with desire. The skin of her lips entered in contact with the side of it and Souji escaped another groan, satisfied to sense that skin to skin contact after so long of feeling her through the fabric.
« Fuck... » he whispered between his teeth and that delighted her.
If someone ever suggested her that one day she'd want to do this to a man, moreover that she would have fun doing it, she would have killed that person on the spot. But with Souji, everything was different. She didn't want to please him because se had to but because knowing that he was enjoying it was the best feeling ever. She wasn't even doing that for him alone, but for them, getting satisfaction from Souji's pleas and groans. For once, her skills were actually put to good use, pleasuring the man she loved.
She nipped on the side on all the length of it, slowly going from bottom to top, and her lips faintly brushed against his tip, ghostly, before she started doing the same on the other side. She knew that these featherlike touches on the top of his shaft were making him loose his mind in anticipation of the moment she'd eventually take him in.
« Please, Haru-chan... » he muttered « If you keep teasing, I'm gonna get revenge. »
She silenced him with a lick on his underside, making him escape a satisfied hiss. Souji was now uncontrollably panting and whimpering under her touch and she could finally understand why he liked her little sounds so much when she was in his place.
« You want me to stop teasing you ? » she asked innocently.
« Yes... » he whispered with hope.
Haruhi took his tip in her mouth and slid down on all the length of it before she quickly pulled off and resumed kissing.
« Fuck ! » he hissed « Do it again... »
« Say please. » she grinned.
« I thought this was supposed to be a reward, not torture. » he complained.
« You deserved it. » she stated « this is revenge. »
« I'm never gonna stop teasing you if your revenges are that sweet. »
« I still haven't heard the magic word... » she murmured, still kissing him.
« Dammit... Please, Haru-chan... » he panted.
Now who's got the other in the palm of her hand ?
Haruhi did it again and Souji hissed in response, completely in awe. The teasing made him build up in anticipation and his agap mouth and squeezed eyes were delighting Haruhi as she moved with more amplitude. Souji eventually opened his eyes and they met hers, two emerald burning comets that seemed to be aiming straight at her. She could feel the heat of them, growing in intensity as if she could be turned to ashes.
« Fuck, Haruhi... Stop... » he begged.
She didn't though and helped him reach that sweet extasy he was craving, keeping moving even a bit after to make him reach even higher peaks of pleasure.
« Shit... » he panted, catching her to bring her into his arms « I want that reward every time I beat you. »
« Keep dreaming. » she chuckled « that's not gonna happen. »
« You're so mean to me... » he complained, holding her tighter « Ne, Haru-chan... Will you stay with me always, whatever the odds ? »
« As long as you will have me. » she replied with a smile.
« I don't know what you see in me, but I'm blessed to have you... » he muttered, closing his eyes.
« Souji... » she said before repeating it louder, shaking him « Souji ! It's the beginning of the afternoon ! Your students are gonna arrive ! »
« Tell them I'm sick. » he snuggled against her.
« That's not serious, Souji ! » she frowned « You're the sensei ! »
« Not today... » he yawned « take my place, You're qualified enough. Congratulations, Haru-chan, you're instructor of the Shieikan now. »
« What ?! »
She startled at the news. Souji was finally giving her her chance as instructor ! The excitement to take back her former position was overwhelming.
« Even if that's true, Souji » she added, regaining her composure « you still need to see if I'm fit to teach ! Get the fuck up ! »
Souji opened his eyes and sighed, rolling to face the ceiling which he looked at lengthily. His expression was sad again, lost in thoughts and Haruhi couldn't help but feel worried.
« Is everything alright, Souji ? » she asked, concerned.
Souji sighed again but he didn't even turn to look at her.
« I don't know... » he replied « I'm not sure... Please replace me for today, Haru-chan. I think I need some time to ponder and some rest. »
« Okay... » she said, puzzled.
She got up and grabbed her wakizashi to put it back in her obi.
« If you wanna talk, Souji, I'd be happy to listen. » she said softly « Maybe I could give you insights... »
« I'm fine. » he replied, still gazing at the ceiling « just... When the lesson is over, come back here, okay ? »
« Okay. » she nodded « thank you for trusting me with your students, Souji ! »
He didn't answer, closing himself like an oyster and Haruhi got out with a heavy heart, hoping that Souji's mood wasn't because of something she did or say.