« You expect someone ? » asked Souji, lifting an eyebrow.
« I don't think so... » frowned Haruhi.
« You visibly sent a letter. » he insisted.
« Not since the one to my family but that was months ago. » she thought, lifting her gaze.
Could it be my father ? Oh fuck, I hope it's not my father...
Yes, she missed him, and her entire family, but she'd rather keep him in the dark. He was too perceptive, would surely notice the attachment Souji and her had towards one another and probably put two and two together. And with Souji married to Tama... No really, she wasn't ready to have her father here at the door... Plus, if he indeed was there because of a letter, it was probably one sent by Kurozawa-sensei explaining how she was in danger with Souji. That could be a total mess.
« What's'he look like ? » asked Souji to Tama.
« Hum... Long hair, ponytail, dressed in black... »
Fuck...
« Hey ! Haru-chan ! » smiled Souji « sounds like it's Hajime-kun ! »
« No... » said Tama, shaking her head « It's not Saito-san. He's about our age and his skin is dark. »
« Daisuke ? » asked Haruhi, astonished.
« Who the fuck is Daisuke ? » asked Souji, crossing his arms, pouting.
Haruhi didn't bother to answer and she put her shinai down, tidying herself.
« Hey, Haru-chan. » repeated Souji « who's that guy ? »
« Remember Shiranui Kyô ? » asked Haruhi, crossing her arms.
« Nope, who's that ? » he shrugged.
« An Oni. »
« Oh yeah ! » he smiled « he's the cocky bastard who was with the Kazama prick. »
« Yeah. » chuckled Haruhi.
« And so, who the fuck is Daisuke ? »
« His son. » replied Haruhi with a smile « Shiranui Daisuke. »
« So there's an Oni at our door... » frowned Souji « is he here to kidnap you or something ? »
« No. » chuckled Haruhi « I highly doubt that. »
« What's'he want then ? » he asked, visibly annoyed « Oni are no good. »
« My father's wife an Oni. » she protested « and my brothers too. »
« Half Oni. » he corrected « and Chizuru-chan doesn't count. »
« Yeah, well Daisuke's a eighth. »
« So you're a specialist in Oni, now ? »
« Hum... I'm sorry to bother you while you fight but I still don't know if I should let him in... » said Tama politely.
Souji and Haruhi gauged themselves and sighed, still frowning.
« I'm gonna see that guy. » said Souji with a pout « and I'll decide. »
« I'm coming with you. » protested Haruhi « he's here to see me. »
« As you wish. » shrugged Souji « but if something's fishy, I'm killing him. »
They left together to get to the entrance of the Shieikan, Haruhi rolling her eyes at Souji who wouldn't stop pouting. Tama followed them a bit behind, still confused about the right behaviour to adopt. Souji opened the door with a threatening expression and the boy smiled to him genuinely before his dark brown eyes sparkled at the sight of Haruhi.
« Haruhi-senpai ! » he bowed « I'm so glad to see you again. »
« H... Hi... » she replied, all flustered by the boy's enthusiasm « Daisuke, you grew. »
« Yeah ! » he chuckled « I'm less of a boy now. You still look as stunning as I remembered. »
Daisuke was two years younger than Haruhi and last time she saw him, a bit more than a year ago, he was still shorter than her. Now he was taller from a full head. How could someone grow that much in a year ?! He really was looking more like a man now and his musculature was also more developed, sign that he was still practicing swordsmanship. He now had the two swords of a samurai on his hip and also a gun in a holster. Guess the new weapon regulation laws didn't apply to Oni. His hair were longer too, still curly and with blue highlights just like his father. They were tied in a high ponytail going to the middle of his back. If they were straight, their length surely would be impressive.
Souji snarled with disdain and smirked with crossed arms before he spoke.
« Ara ? An ex-boyfriend, is it ? »
« I wouldn't dare ! » he bowed again with wide eyes « It was just an honest compliment without any ulterior motive ! I did ask Fujita-san for the right to court his daughter but she refused my proposal and I have a lot of respect for Haruhi-senpai and her family ! I promise I always behaved with honor ! »
« Don't pay attention, Daisuke. » said Haruhi, her eyes throwing lightning bolts to Souji's laughing eyes « Just ignore anything he could say to you. »
« You must be Okita-san ! » bowed Daisuke with courtesy, realizing he hadn't saluted the man yet « I'm sorry for my poor manners, I got carried away by seeing Haruhi-senpai again. It's a pleasure to meet you, it's the first time I meet someone from the Mirror ! It's exciting ! I'm pretty sure no one in my clan never met anyone from the Mirror either. We know it works but no one dared crossing it since a very long time. »
« The what ? » asked Souji with wide eyes but before the boy could answer, Haruhi cut short in the conversation.
« What are you doing here, Daisuke ? » she asked « How did you know I was there ? »
« Yuk...Fujita-himesama sent a letter to Yase for her brother, Yukimura-oujisama, asking for the Rasetsu cure. I was there and I volunteered to deliver it. »
« Why were you in Yase ? » asked Haruhi.
« Hum, Haru-chan... » said Tama « Maybe your friend would be more comfortable inside ? »
« Souji ? » asked Haruhi, turning to him.
« Whatever. » he shrugged « he can get in. But if I witness a suspect behaviour, he's dead. »
« Thank you, Okita-san » bowed Daisuke « I will be worthy of the trust you put in me. »
Souji didn't bother to answer and turned to Tama, ordering her to bring tea and sweets. She agreed with a giant smile, happy to be of some help, and disappeared in the kitchen while the others guided Shiranui Daisuke inside the Shieikan to a more private room. They sat together, waiting for the tea. The boy was sitting in seiza, back straight and hands on his thighs, in a very formal posture while Souji was nearly turning his back on him, on the other side of the table, one knee up and his head resting on his palm, elbow on the table. He looked particularly bored and his pouting face was annoying Haruhi, since he was clearly disrespecting her friend. Yet, she decided to ignore him and started the conversation when Tama brought the tray in.
« How's your family, Daisuke ? » asked Haruhi politely.
« They are well, Haruhi-senpai. » he nodded with a smile « we quitted the Kazama clan of the west to take refuge in Yase, not long after we visited you. We met my brother Akira and his wife on the road and they convinced us not to return since we were branded as traitors. My mother already lost her tongue for that vain conflict, I wasn't ready to make her loose her life. Yase is smaller and not as wealthy as the Kazama clan but we live happily here. Having Akira's wife originally coming from Yase did help. »
« What about your father ? » asked Haruhi.
« You don't really express yourself like that cocky asshole. » commented Souji, still pouting.
« Oh you know how he is. » smiled Daisuke, ignoring Souji's insult « He's probably out there somewhere, maybe even in the West. I've never seen him much in my entiere life, he's always in a hurry to somewhere else. Sometimes I wonder how he managed to make my mother two sons ! » he chuckled.
« You'll have to send them all my regards. » nodded Haruhi, taking a sip of tea.
« Okay, great. » said Souji, annoyed « Courtesies, nice to see you, blablabla... What are you doing here ? »
« Souji ! » scolded Haruhi, brows furrowed « Can you be a bit more polite ?! That's rude. »
« He's not my friend. » he stated, crossing his arms « neither is his father. »
« Well, he's mine ! » frowned Haruhi « and if you can't behave, maybe you should go somewhere else. »
« That's my home. » he stated, pouting.
« Yeah well then maybe Daisuke and I should go somewhere else. » she said angrily, getting up.
Souji caught her hand though, still pouting, and he sighed, pulling her down.
« It's fine. » he said « You stay here. »
Haruhi sat down but she wasn't in the mood to forgive Souji's rudeness.
« Apologize. » she ordered.
« What ? » asked Souji, eyes wide.
« Apologize to my friend. » she repeated.
« Haruhi-senpai. » said Daisuke « It's fine, I didn't take any offense ! »
« You heard him, no offense. » said Souji.
« I understand your jealousy, Okita-san. » smiled Daisuke genuinely « but I assure you that Haruhi-senpai's heart has always belonged to you, even when she was a kid. My intentions towards your loved-one aren't dishonest or wicked. »
« I'm not jealous. » protested Souji.
« Souji's married. » stated Haruhi, looking at Souji's reaction from the corner of her eye.
He gritted his teeth and squeezed his eyes but his facial features quickly softened to paint a wry smile on his face.
« Yeah, married to the cute little lady who brought us tea. Your intentions towards Haruhi are none of my business, I believe. »
« Married ? » repeated Daisuke, astonished « after all Haruhi-senpai's been through to bring you back ? »
« What ? » asked Souji, squirting his eyes.
« Are you here because of the cure, Daisuke ? » asked Haruhi.
« Yes. » he nodded, even if his face was still flustered by the discovery of Souji's marriage « I brought it with me. I have two vials although I doubt Okita-san still needs one. But I have it for Toudou-san at least. Is he around ? »
« He lives in Tokyo. » smiled Haruhi « I'll take you to him tomorrow morning before my courses. »
« Thank you, Haruhi-senpai. » he bowed « I never saw Toudou-san before so I wouldn't recognize him. I am glad you can guide me. »
« It's getting late. » stated Haruhi, looking by the window « Daisuke, I can't really offer you a proper accommodation but I live in a pottery shop not very far. Would you like to stay there ? I only have a futon in the common room so there's not much privacy but there's room for me to put another one. »
« That's not necessary. » cut Souji « he can stay here. We have plenty of room. »
« You're sure, Souji ? » asked Haruhi, suspicious « Why would you host him, considering how rude you've been ? »
« There's been a misunderstanding. » stated Souji « he's your friend, we will offer him shelter. Plus, you're gonna bother the potter and there's a lot more accommodation here, privacy, a bathroom, Tama's cooking... He'll be more comfortable. »
« What do you think, Daisuke ? » asked Haruhi, not sure she wanted to leave the boy in Souji's clutch. A sudden change of mood in Souji was never of good omen.
« I gladly accept Okita-san's invitation. » he smiled before blushing red « I wouldn't like Fujita-san to learn that we shared a room, Haruhi-senpai. He has been pretty clear about it in the past. »
Souji chuckled and Haruhi's eyes threw daggers to him.
« Ara, Hajime-kun sure is scary. » he stated.
« I respect him. » corrected Daisuke, all flustered.
« So do I. » winked Souji in Haruhi's direction which confused the boy and caused the girl to frown angrily « Tama-chan ! You're around ? » he yelled.
A few second later, Tama politely entered the room, bowing.
« Do you need anything else, Souji ? » se asked.
« Prepare a room for our guest, please. » he smiled « and show him around. He's gonna stay the night. Prepare the bathroom too. He has travelled, surely he'd like to get fresher. You can lend him one of my kimono if his clothes need laundry. »
« Alright. » she bowed « if you may follow me, Shiranui-san. »
« Thank you, Okita-san. » said Daisuke to Tama.
« Tsunashi-san. » corrected Haruhi « they don't use Okita anymore. »
« Just like Saito and Fujita then » he smiled « I will not make mistakes. I'll follow you, Tsunashi-san. »
Souji and Haruhi watched the two of them go away in silence and the girl turned to him with a threatening expression.
« You pick on him, you hurt him, you harrass him, you're dead. » she warned.
« Normally, death threats are kinda my thing, Haru-chan. » he replied with a sly smile « but you have my word. I won't hurt him. It's cute how you protect him. »
Haruhi looked at him, suspicious, and Souji leaned over to whisper in her ear.
« Already in love with another, huh ? » he asked « You don't waste time... »
« You're stupid. » she backed off, frowning « I don't love Daisuke. »
« Oh, Daisuke... » he mimicked, fluttering his eyes « Come and share my futon tonight... It's narrow but surely we can fit together... »
« That's not what I said ! » she protested « You're just jealous and twisting things ! »
« Maybe I am jealous... » he said with a predatory smile, carressing teasingly her cheek « Or maybe I am just perceptive. »
« You're making things up. » she frowned, slapping his hand.
« Is he the one who took your precious flower ? » he asked wryly.
« No ! » she yelled « and that's not your business anyway ! »
« So sensitive. » he chuckled « I was joking, that guy's clearly still a virgin. He can't make you scream like I do. »
« That's inappropriate, Souji. » she scolded « Don't make that kind of comments in front of him. »
« But it's true, isn't it ? » he whispered, his face inches from hers.
« Maybe one day he will. » she smiled, not falling into Souji's trap and instead, reversing the situation. « The man I love is married anyway. » she shrugged « I should think about the future. »
« Haruhi... »
It was limit an animalistic growl, Souji's eyes two emerald flames burning with jealousy. He didn't like at all the idea of her being with another man and he had trouble hiding it, his fury unleashed in his eyes and threatening to take over his body. Haruhi stood up, breaking the eye contact and she put all the teacups back on the tray.
« I'll clean this. » she said « and I'm going home. I'll see you tomorrow and I expect to find Daisuke in one piece. »
« Oh, don't worry, you will. » smiled Souji « no missing body parts, not even an injury. I won't even test his swordsmanship. Baby boy will be well cared for. »
« You know, he's fourteen. » replied Haruhi « he's a man. »
« I see no man. » shrugged Souji « he has the manners of a lady. Maybe that's why he's so attracted by your boyish attitude. »
« Souji, you're going too far. » she warned « stop insulting my friend. »
« Okay. » he winked « I'll be a gentleman with Shiranui-chan. »
Haruhi didn't bother to answer the quip and she headed out. Tomorrow morning, she'd come back early to be sure Daisuke was okay. If they were to go to Tokyo anyway, the earlier the better. Heisuke could finally be cured, and the Rasetsu cursed, destroyed at last.
Author note :
Souji calls Daisuke « Shiranui-chan » to annoy Haruhi. Chan is usually used with small kids and young girls. It gives a « cute » trait to someone. Using it on a grown man can be a way to make him look « womanly » or considering him a baby. I have already seen it used without bad intentions between two gay men but I'm not sure gay people use it often so I won't generalize about it. It is kind of an insult in Souji's mouth even if it's only a suffix because it is heavy with meaning.