Haruhi skimmed through her outfits to find one to wear at the party. Of course, she wasn't gonna wear a training kimono or hakama so there were a lot less options since that was the only thing she had, except from the two gorgeous furisode that she brought for Souji's wedding. It was maybe a bit too much but she was still young and unmarried so she could put a bit of fantasy in her outfit without it being inappropriate. She took the yellow furisode which was the most beautiful one, the one she initially brought before Souji said he'd like to see her in blue. She didn't have any occasions to wear it yet so fuck it, it'll do for tonight. She put it on, being careful to wear it tight and not make the back of her neck visible so it wouldn't be sexy.
That done, she took care of her hair. She wanted to do a simple side braid but with a kimono that formal, it would have looked strange so she did a bun. She took Souji's silver kanzashi out of a cupboard and looked at it lengthily before she put it back. Her hair didn't need accessories. It was fine as it was.
« You're all dressed up. » commented Kurozawa-sensei, making tea « Let me guess, something at the Shieikan. »
« Yes. » she answered grudgingly « But I onky have this and training kimonos. It's too cold to wear yukata now. »
« The blue one is less flashy. » he said.
« Yeah but... » she muttered, embarrassed « Souji said that he'll know I'm wearing it to please him... and I don't want him to think that. »
« Would you ? » he asked.
« What ? »
« Wear it to please him. » he specified.
« No. » she shook her head « but he wouldn't believe me. He's stubborn. »
« Are you seeing your friend tonight ? »
« Yes. » she nodded « and others too. »
« Have fun. » he muttered « tea ? »
« No, I'm gonna go. » she said, taking a last look in the mirror « see ya. »
She headed to the Shieikan and walked at a quick pace so that less villagers would see her. Tsune had been calling her a whore behind her back for so long that now, it was an established fact amongst the townsfolks that she was one. Dressed with such a beautiful fabric, she would make them talk a lot too much. She announced herself and got in, closing the shoji behind her and leaving her sandals outside.
Inside, Shinpachi and Heisuke were already there and she saluted them with a wide grin, even if she saw them earlier today.
« Haru-chan, thank you again ! » said Heisuke « I spent all afternoon outside, walking in Tokyo's crowded streets. I even found a marketplace with all the colorful products and the scents ! Haru-chan, it might seem childish at my age but it was awesome. I missed the day so much that I never wanted it to end. Now that the night's back, I feel a certain melancholy. »
« We're gonna party until dawn and find a cool view point for Heisuke's first rising sun in an eternity ! » said Shin, patting his friend's back.
« I'm so glad you're human again, Heisuke ! » smiled Haruhi genuinely « Kaoru has done wonders with his formula ! »
« I knew I was right to save his life back in Sendai » chuckled Heisuke « It's the third time that boy save my life. »
« Third ? » asked Haruhi « I didn't know there were precedents... »
« You should ask your father to tell you the story ! » he chuckled.
« No way » she shook her head « either he would not answer, either he would say something like "I went there with Toudou, we fought, we won. The end". Otousan sucks at stories ! »
« Oh there's not much about it anyway. » he laughed « Kaoru gave me blood to give me strength, allowing me to fight. Then, he killed a fox who had bewitched me. And the formula is now the third time. »
« Good evening everyone. » said Daisuke, getting closer even if he still looked flustered about their earlier argument.
« You'll have to tell me the whole story later, Heisuke ! » said Haruhi « I wanna hear it ! »
« What story ? » asked the Oni, curious.
« About Kaoru saving his life. » explained Haruhi.
« Yukimura-oujisama did this ? » asked Daisuke, eyes wide « I have trouble imagining it... In Yase, he lives in Sen-himesama's shadow. »
« Sen has a lot of personality. » chuckled Haruhi « A lot more than Kaoru, so I can understand that. »
They got interrupted by Tama, bringing sake cups to everyone with a smile. Shin and Heisuke departed to join Souji at a table who waved at Haruhi with a sly smile as he stood up. She couldn't help but blush, even if there was so reason. She wasn't wearing the kimono he liked, his kanzashi... She had done nothing to send him signals so she shouldn't blush like this, dammit !
« Haruhi-senpai » said Daisuke « about what hap... »
« Hey, Shiranui-kun » said Souji, putting a hand on his shoulder « would you mind helping Tama-chan with the service ? She seems to need some help. »
« Oh ! Okay, Tsunashi-san ! » bowed Daisuke « no problem ! »
The Oni bowed to Haruhi too and went to help Tama. Souji watched him go, amused, and turned to Haruhi.
« Join me. » he ordered before he walked towards the balcony outside.
He sat there and Haruhi sat with him. For a moment, he didn't say a thing, looking at the horizon.
« I used to come on this balcony a lot with Kondou when I was a kid. » he said « can you see that light over there ? That used to be my house. I liked to look at it. I ran back there quite a few times, the Shieikan feeling like a prison. »
Haruhi didn't answer and Tama arrived with a tray with a bottle of sake and two sake cups. She left the tray between them and went away. Haruhi recognized it, it was the sake service she offered Souji for his birthday. He nonchalantly served two cups and handed her one that she brought to her lips, thanking him.
« Ne, Haru-chan » he asked with a teasing smile « are you all pretty for me or baby boy tonight ? »
« I'm not wearing blue. » she stated on the defensive « if that answers your question. »
« What if it doesn't ? » he asked.
« I'm not pretty for you. » she shook her head.
« That's a pity... » he sighed playfully « Am I that easy to forget ? That doesn't really flatter my ego. »
Haruhi didn't answer. She was still loving Souji. Yet, she couldn't have him so there was no point in telling him. The only thing that would come out of it would be the return of an ambiguous relationship and that wasn't what she wanted.
« So... You're pretty for Shiranui-chan ? » he asked, hot breath in her ear.
That made her face flush and her heart pump madly, all her body pulled to Souji so that she could feel his warmth directly from him. She looked at the horizon and tried not to stutter when she answered.
« Why do you care ? » she asked.
« If you give me an honest answer to my question, I'll give you an honest answer to yours. » he whispered, his lips dangerously brushing on her ear shell.
« I'm not pretty for him either. » she said, wiggling to get out of Souji's reach « I'm not pretty for anyone. Daisuke's a friend. »
« The boy did a nice thing at the dojo. » stated Souji which surprised Haruhi, not expecting him to praise Daisuke « it was quick thinking and it saved us a lot of trouble. »
« I know. » she replied, still cautious « I'll apologize for yelling at him. Now, if you'll excuse me, I don't think it's proper for us to be alone like this... »
« Wait. » he ordered, catching her hand « Sit down. I didn't come to tease you in the first place. I want to know everything there is to know about us. I want you to fill all the gaps in my mind, each one of them, from our real encounter to the one on that cliff in Oita. »
« Do we really have to do this tonight ? » she asked, confused.
« Yes. » he nodded « Sit down. Tell me. »
And she did. From their first encounter in the Shinsengumi headquarters, her first lessons of Tennen Rishin Ryû, their sleepover and the way her father was furious, Osaka, the puppets, the betrayal of Kaoru, Edo, the clinic, the paper cranes to cure him, the Ochimizu, the blood she was feeding him, the sword of Kondou-san, Itabashi, the dust... All their life in common. She said it all and Souji patiently listened.
« I feel like... » he muttered when she was finished « like a conundrum in my head, slowly putting all the wooden pieces back together... All the gaps that didn't make any sense... It was because you were there. I forgot everything related to you but kept the rest and sometimes... It didn't match, because I was missing a piece of the puzzle. And you, you're the cornerstone of my memory. »
« I'm sorry... » she said « I can tell you but I can't make you remember. I'm not even sure you'd get back those memories after the outcome of my bet with the kami. »
« So there's a chance I get them back ? » he asked seriously.
« If... If you survive...Maybe... » she replied, blushing.
« Oh, don't worry about me. » he winked « I'll survive. There's no way I could die again. »
Is that a way to tell me you still love me while respecting my choice to stay away from you ? Or am I just imagining it ? I miss you so much Souji... Even if you're not with me, I hope you'll survive and be happy.
« Tsunashi-san » said Daisuke behind them « your mother in law's here. »
« You invited Tsune ?! » asked Haruhi.
« Ara, I'm out. » said Souji with a grin, getting up. He probably didn't want Tsune to see the both of them alone together « Enjoy the party, Haru-chan, Shiranui-kun. »
Souji got back inside, whistling joyfully, and the two friends watched him go away. Daisuke sat next to Haruhi on the balcony and handed her a plate of dumplings.
« You should put a haori on. » he stated « the night is getting cold. And I also noticed you only drank sake. If you don't eat, you're gonna get ill. Try these, it's delicious. »
« Tama made them ? » asked Haruhi, taking one.
« I think so. That woman is an amazing cook. » he smiled.
He was right. These were the best dumplings she ever tasted. Damn, Tama was so perfect as a spouse... She had all the qualities to make a man happy.
« Daisuke... About what happened this afternoon... »
« It's okay » he shook his head « There's no problem. »
« I still want to apologize. » she said « I overreacted and it was nice of you to try to protect my job and reputation. »
« You'll win next time, Haruhi-senpai. » he smiled « You're still a lot better than I am. »
« I won't underestimate you then. » she smiled in return, taking another dumpling.
« And I won't let you score the point. »
« Deal. »
« Let's go back inside. » suggested Daisuke « You're gonna catch a cold. »
« I'm fine here. » she protested.
« Please, Haruhi-senpai. »
« Okay... » she agreed grudgingly.
They got back in the Shieikan. Souji was with Heisuke and Shin, drinking and laughing while Tama was with her mother, looking all flustered and uncomfortable. When Tsune saw Haruhi, she couldn't resist to come and salute her.
« Haruhi-san. » she said with a bow « Always unexpected to find you here but always a pleasure. »
« Good evening, Kondou-san. » bowed Haruhi in return.
« Would you introduce me to your friend ? » she asked with a smile.
« My name is Shiranui Daisuke, Kondou-san. » he bowed too « I am a friend of Haruhi-senpai. »
« Of course you are. » she smiled wryly « Haruhi-san always finds ways to surround herself with friends. »
« Something I learned from you, Kondou-san » smiled Haruhi « You are a master in the art. »
Tsune snarled and went away, intercepted by Souji. Although they were a bit further, Haruhi could hear that Souji was scolding his mother in law for disrespecting her. A nice gesture. Too bad that snake couldn't care less.
« Okay, now that everyone's here. I'd like to say a few words ! » said Souji with a smile when he was done, turning to the assembly « First of all, thanks for coming. We are here to celebrate a few things ! First, Heisuke's recovery from a long illness. It's a relief for all of us »
Heisuke flushed like a teenager, not aware that he was gonna be put in the spotlight like this but all the cheers put a smile on his face.
« Second ! » continued Souji « We have other motives to celebrate and a big surprise ! Tama-chan ? »
« Hum... Yes, Souji ? » she blushed, embarrassed.
« Care to share the news ? » he smiled.