Haruhi didn't have to wait long before Souji was back with her. He seemed pleased that she ate all the food he prepared and he sat back.
« Souji » she asked « if I promise not to run away, can you not lock the door ? »
« Impossible, Haru-chan » he shook his head « You'd go. »
« Souji, trust me okay ? » she tried « I promise I won't flee and I'll still be here in the morning. »
Souji seemed to hesitate, his face unreadable again apart from a small sulky pout.
« I think I know what to do, okay ? » she smiled « I'll stay. »
« You will ? » he asked, frowning.
« Yeah. » she nodded « I'll stay, I promise. »
Souji avoided her gaze and seemed to think for a minute that felt like an eternity for Haruhi. He eventually smiled and nodded.
« Okay. » he said « I trust you. Don't you dare betray me. »
Okay. One step taken. Now the second one.
« I'm gonna consider the job you're offering me. » she said.
« Really ? » he lifted an eyebrow.
« Yeah. » she nodded again « Can't give you my answer now but I'll think about it, okay ? »
Souji crossed his arms and looked at her with the darkness back in his eyes.
« What are you trying to accomplish, Haru-chan ? »
« What do you mean ? » she asked, confused.
« Don't think I'm an idiot. » he stated « You promise to stay, you'll consider my offer... an hour ago you wanted to be out of here. Why are you lying to me ? »
« I'm not lying, Souji. » she said, ready to grab her kaiken if Souji were to loose his temper « If I tricked you and ran, in your current state, you'd probably kill me. »
« I'd kill the old man first. » he stated as if it was normal « so you couldn't run back to him. »
« I don't want you to kill anybody » she said, cautious « I'm sure we can find a way for us to avoid that. »
« It's easy, you just have to stay, take the job and live here. » he smiled sarcastically.
« That's right. » she nodded « So first, I'll stay. For the rest, we'll see. »
« Haru-chan... » he said, getting closer.
She shivered but didn't budge. Souji may be lost in the darkness but he was still the man she loved. He wrapped her in his arms desperately, nesting his head in the crook of her neck.
« You're not lying ? » he asked faintly.
« I'm not. » she said, closing her arms on him too and strocking his hair.
Souji didn't say anything for a while and he just let her run her fingers through his hair. Being here, in Souji's arms, surrounded by Souji's scent, her hand dug into his mahogany mane, was like everything was back to normal. Except it wasn't. She was captive and in a few weeks, Souji would marry Tama. Not the best situation ever. Yet, if she stayed in the Shieikan, she would have opportunities to talk to Souji but also to Tsune and Tama and try to make Tsune confess that she lied. For Haruhi, it was clear that Kondou-san couldn't think about marrying Tama to Souji back then. First, because she was way too young and his mind was occupied by greater things than Tama's marriage. Second, even if he thought about it, he couldn't make arrangements because Souji was dying of tuberculosis while Tama was eight or nine. No way Souji could have survived long enough for him to marry Tama and build a family with her. So that left only one possibility : Tsune was lying and Haruhi would find a way to prove it.
Challenge accepted, you snake. You'll find out that I can be cunning too and giving up isn't really something I've been raised into.
« Souji... » she whispered with a smile « everything's gonna be okay. »
« I know. » he chuckled « It lifts spirit, to find you near again. »
He kissed her cheek and she blushed, not expecting him to act like this when they were supposed not to be involved anymore. He really had a problem with rejection and abandon. Now that she was there again, he seemed completely soothed, as if his darkness hadn't been more than a fleeting emotion. It was unsettling but conforting at the same time, even if she kept her guard up, aware that the darkness could come back any moment like a wild horse. Souji had that bipolar personality, induced by the rejections he suffered in his childhood and the way he was bullied. He became stronger than any other man so that no one could ever beat him up again and he put his sword in the service of the only soul who ever stood up for him. That was the Souji she loved, the one who stood for something and who cared about the others. The one who wouldn't hurt her.
He eventually let go and he smiled, laying down to put his head on her lap, silently asking to be pet. She ran her fingers in his hair again and he closed his eyes, pushing his head towards her hand. Souji wasn't much more than a cat in the end, one with very sharp claws and a killer instinct.
« Ne, Haru-chan... » he asked « you'll sleep with me tonight ? »
Haruhi sighed and Souji opened his emerald eyes to plunge them in hers.
« No. » she shook her head « I won't. »
« I won't touch you. »
Haruhi chuckled sadly. First, there was a great probability for this to be a lie. Second, Souji seemed to be quick to forget that he was soon to be a married man.
« I can't, Souji. » she said firmly.
« Why ? »
« You're getting married ! » she sighed heavily.
« I'm not married yet. » he pouted.
« You're engaged. » she frowned « I'm not gonna share your bed in these conditions. »
« You already did... » he smirked wryly.
« Souji ! » she scolded « I wasn't aware, it doesn't count ! Now I know, I won't share it. »
« An honorable decision... » he sighed « I respect that even if it doesn't please me. »
He closed back his eyes, snuggling his head on her lap.
« You wanna sleep here or in the dorm as before ? » he asked eventually.
« I don't care. » she stated.
« I'll bring your futon here. » he said with a smile.
« Thank you, Souji. » she nodded, pleased that he wasn't pushing the subject of her sleeping with him.
« I'll also pick up your stuff at the potter's house. »
« Can I go myself ? » she asked.
Souji frowned and pouted, his eyes still closed, and he shut himself like an oyster.
« Souji » she repeated « can I ? »
« You'll betray me. » he said softly « You'll flee and I'll go mad. »
« Souji... » she sighed « I might accept your offer. »
« You will ? » he asked, opening sparkling eyes.
« If we agree that I do not share your bed. » she frowned.
« Okay. » he nodded.
« And I live at Kurozawa-sensei's house. » she added.
« No. » he shook his head, pouting « that's a no. »
« Souji, I'm trying to compromise » she said firmly « this way, I'm not there at night and there is no temptation. I'll come and work in the Shieikan but I won't live there. »
« I want you here. » he stated.
« That's the best I can offer, Souji. » she affirmed « If you're not happy with it, then you'd better lock me up because I will try to escape. »
Souji didn't talk and gazed into her eyes, searching for traces of betrayal or deceit. He eventually smirked and nodded.
« You'll come to work here ? » he said.
« Yeah. » she nodded « as instructor. »
« That's great. » he smiled genuinely « I signed up way too much students because I thought you could take half. I had my hands full. »
« I'm happy I can be of some aide to you. »
Souji seemed pleased with the turn of event and he raised his hand to brush it against her cheek. That simple gesture was tender and warm and it was enough to show her that was in better spirits now. Haruhi knew that the upcoming marriage would probably have the worst impact on Souji for the next weeks but at the present time, both of them could enjoy that little moment of peace. After a while, Haruhi dared to speak again.
« I should go. » she said « Kurozawa-sensei is probably worried. »
Souji grabbed her hand and held it tight, keeping her from standing up, his head still heavy on her lap.
« Don't. »
« Souji, it doesn't make any difference for you since I'm not sleeping with you. It doesn't matter if I sleep in this room, in the dorm or at the workshop. I'll be here tomorrow to be instructor. » she stated.
« Don't. » he repeated « tomorrow. Not tonight. Stay here tonight. »
« That's not what we decided. » she frowned.
« It doesn't matter. »
« Souji, you have to be reasonable. » she scolded « you'll see me everyday from now on ! »
It was getting harder and harder to keep her cool now that she was so close to be free and that Souji seemed soothed. The old man was probably worried sick about her and she wanted to reassure him as soon as possible.
« I agree to everything you asked. » nodded Souji « Just stay with me tonight. »
« We already had that conversation, Souji » she frowned again « I'm not coming back on my decision. »
Souji's fingers twitched on her wrist and he eventually loosened his grip, releasing her hand. He took his head off her lap and Haruhi felt that absence more than she would have wanted to.
« Go. » he just said, his eyes dark again « but if you're not here tomorrow, I'll kill you. »
« I'll be here. » she bowed, getting up « I won't deceit you. »
« You could try. » he said coldly.
« Thank you, Souji. » she said, ignoring his threat « see you tomorrow. »
Souji didn't answer and Haruhi walked out the room and the Shieikan with a lighter heart. She thought that it would take her days to eventually be released and it only took her a few hours, thanks to Souji's love for her. She'd find proof that Tsune was lying, she'd save Souji from that marriage he had no desire to submit to and she'd pull him out the darkness. When she passed near the Kondou house, she couldn't help but look and see the two women cooking together in a peaceful calm.
Wait and see, you snake... You'll soon have to find a plan B because Souji's not marrying anyone but me.
Author note:
Thanks Guest 1 and Yoruichi for your support and following this story !
Kitties update : Today, Hajime and Kaede tried to cleaned themselves for the first time ! They are super cute when they do ! Haruhi is finally gaining weight and Ayame, who was the weakest, is now two times the size of his brothers ! Kaede still has a lot of voice lol.