« You want Haruhi's hand ? » frowned Hajime, repeating Souji's words as if it could make them easier to swallow.
« Yeah » grinned Souji « I already have the rest but I'd like to have it all. Would you mind ? »
Haruhi widened her eyes and became blushing red, her father's piercing blue eyes plunging in hers as if he could read her mind. Damn, Souji had been so polite and restrained she thought it could go smoothly in the end, but Souji without snide comments wasn't Souji...
« You touched her ? » asked Hajime, his gaze back on Souji.
« Does it really matter if I'm asking to marry her now ? » he shrugged.
Her father didn't reply but his eyes were shouting « answer me. » in a commanding way, visibly not in the mood for his friend's bullshit.
« I don't know... » smirked Souji « does it count if we touched each other or are we only speaking about me touching her ? That formulation is confusing... »
Hajime let down the bowl of porridge and the spoon and turned to his older son.
« Ayame. » he ordered « my swords. »
« Ha... Hai... » stuttered the boy, running to the decorative weapon rack « both ? »
« Ha. » nodded Hajime, his eyes not quitting Souji's.
« Otousan ! » said Haruhi « Souji's injured ! »
« Easier to kill. » nodded Hajime « I told you once, you touch her, you're dead. »
« Ara, Haru-chan... » smiled Souji genuinely « you forgot to mention that to me. »
« I didn't know... » she muttered as Hajime was putting his swords in his obi « Otousan ! You said if I had an appropriate age, I could marry Souji if he had lived ! »
« Don't worry, Haru-chan » smiled Souji, standing « He'll calm down in a minute. I'm gonna kick his ass. »
« You're fucking injured ! » she yelled.
« Haruhi. » ordered her father « take Kaede. And don't curse. »
She obeyed immediately to his commanding voice and cradled the one year old baby in her arms. Her father stood up and Souji followed him with a wry smile in the garden. They positioned themselves at duel distance and Souji unsheathed his sword, Hajime keeping it in his scabbard.
« They... He's really gonna try to kill him ? » asked Tama, wondering if she should hide her eyes.
« They're both idiots. » hissed Haruhi, fulminating « Souji shouldn't do this when he's already injured and my father... He shouldn't react that way ! Fuck... I just hope they won't harm each other... »
The two swordsmen were gauging themselves. Hajime had concentration painted on his face while Souji... Well, Souji had fun.
« Are you sure you wanna do this ? » asked Souji with a predatory grin « I'd rather not kill the father of my bride yet. Besides, you already look like an old man. Aren't you supposed to be thirty ? Your hair will soon be totally grey ! You don't really age well. Do you need a cane to walk ? »
Hajime didn't even bother to answer and just waited. They both knew he wouldn't deliver the first blow. Souji soon would be out of patience and would attack first, excited to finally have an opponent of his level.
« I thought people were getting wiser when they were getting old » continued Souji to provoke Hajime « in seven years, no one told you that hairstyle was shit ? »
Even if she was annoyed by the reaction of the two men, Haruhi was fascinated. These were two of the three most gifted swordsmen she knew and she never saw them cross swords before, Souji being too weak to fight at that time. That duel was sparkling interest into her warrior's heart, eager to learn from their prowess.
« What is happening here ? Hajime ? Okita ? »
« Okaasan ! » said Ayame, running to his mother « Otousan is gonna kill the strange man because he wants to cut Haru-neechan's hands off ! »
« Maybe we can avoid killing and removing body parts in front of the children, Hajime ? » frowned Chizuru, looking at her husband.
Hajime's eyes left Souji's to look at his wife and he quitted his fighting stance.
« Ara... What an obedient puppy ! » commented Souji sarcastically.
In response, Hajime drew his blade and it clashed on Souji's, already laughing.
« The first one who draws blood is gonna regret it ! Duel with bokkens for gods's sake ! I don't want that in front of the children ! » scolded Chizuru.
« Take them inside. » said Hajime, unfazed, as he evaded a blow of Souji's katana aiming at his neck.
« Okaasan, look ! » said Ayame, pulling on his mother's kimono « Otousan is good. It's like at the dojo. »
« Otousan is way better than the guys at the dojo. » chuckled Haruhi, fascinated by the scene in front of her eyes.
« It's... they're so quick... » commented Tama.
Even if Hajime had asked them to go back inside, no one listened and the duel even attracted other curious townsfolks and Inn customers, recognizing the taciturn innkeeper who never once spoke about being able to fight. The duel went on until Souji eventually stopped his blade against Hajime's neck, not smiling anymore.
« You're rusty. » he commented « I'm injured, you should have won easily. »
« I don't get many occasions to practice. » he nodded, sheathing back his katana « especially since Haruhi is gone. »
« Speaking of which » grinned Souji again « have I won her hand ? »
Hajime didn't say anything and looked at his daughter still holding Kaede in her arms. He sighed and didn't even look at Souji when he answered.
« She decides. »
« Great ! » he smiled widely « then it's all settled ! Hey, Haru-chan ! Guess what ? We're getting married ! »
« You're what ? » asked Chizuru with wide eyes.
« Ma~rry~ing » sang Souji playfully « Ha~ru~chan ! »
Chizuru seemed to need a moment before she turned to Haruhi and Tama.
« You're getting married with Okita ? » she asked, confused.
« You could say welcome home first you know, Chizuru-neechan... » pouted Haruhi.
Chizuru chuckled and took Haruhi in her arms, being careful not to squeeze the baby.
« Welcome home Haruhi. » she said gently before she bowed to Tama « and welcome to you friend. »
« My name is Tsunashi Tama » she bowed in return « I was Kondou Isami's daughter and now I'm Souji's. It's a pleasure to meet you, Fujita Chizuru. »
« It's an honor to finally meet you, Tsunashi-san. » she smiled genuinely « I remember how elated Kondou-san was when you were sending him letters. So, Haruhi, what's that about marriage ? »
« Hum... I... I love Souji... » she blushed.
« Isn't she cute ? And I love her too. » said the latter, passing an arm around her shoulders « so we came to ask Hajime-kun for permission. »
« And that's why you both drew swords ? » she furrowed her brows.
« Ara, more or less... » chuckled Souji.
« Let's go back inside. » said Hajime in his toneless voice « It's cold and Ayame and Kaede don't even have a scarf on. »
They all obeyed and the inn customers got back in too. Hajime warmed Ayame's hands with his own and gave everyone a hot cup of tea after he put a bit more wood in the hibachi.
« You lost, Otousan. » chuckled Ayame « you're not very strong. »
Hajime smiled to his son and ruffled his hair, making him giggle.
« Are you planning on staying here at the inn ? » asked Chizuru after she put her doctor bag in her room.
« Yeah » nodded Souji « We're gonna need two rooms, one for Tama and one for Haruhi and I. »
« Haruhi has her own room. » stated Hajime.
« Great. » smirked Souji « then we only need one for Tama. »
« Haruhi's not sharing her room with you. » stated Hajime again « It wouldn't be proper. »
« Why ? » pouted Souji « You're too strict, Hajime-kun.
« You're not married yet. »
« Ara... let me tell a story... » grinned Souji snidely « once upon a time, there was a blue eyed uptight warrior who was sneaking out every night to join his vice-commander's page... »
Hajime blushed and became all flustered to be put that way in front of his own dishonorable behavior. It was true that Chizuru and him hid their relationship to the rest of the Shinsengumi and that he spent most of his nights with her long before getting married.
« You did that, Otousan ? » asked Haruhi, eyes wide.
« You're still not sharing her room. » he shook his head, ignoring his daughter's question.
« I'll sneak in then. » winked Souji.
« Ayame's sharing with his sister. » smiled Hajime.
« Otousan ! » complained Haruhi, holding her head in her palms at the table.
« I can share my room with Haru-neesan ? » asked Ayame, sparkles in his eyes, turning to his sister « You room is my room now because I am old enough to sleep alone but you can come back ! »
« Ara... Isn't he a bit too young to be a bodyguard ? » smiled Souji.
Hajime didn't answer and Chizuru just crossed her arms with a smile, looking at her uptight husband.
« Chizuru-chan... » complained Souji, leaning over to grab her by the shoulders « do something... Hajime-kun isn't nice... »
« His daughter, his rules. » chuckled Chizuru « sorry Okita ! »
« I shouldn't have come here... » he muttered « I'm gonna precipitate this wedding so we could be over with it... »
« You want to do it here ? » asked Chizuru, eager to know every details.
« First at a temple. » he smiled « old school shintô ceremony. »
« You've never been religious. » frowned Hajime « neither is Haruhi. »
« People change » shrugged Souji « We owe the kami. We'll make them witness our union, okay Haru-chan ? »
« Okay. » she nodded, smiling.
« We'll marry after new year's eve, probably a few days after. » continued Souji « so you see, that means two long months... Surely I can share Haruhi's room ? » he fluttered his eyes in a seductive way. Yet, Hajime wasn't really sensitive to his charm.
« No. »
« Kondou-san let you... » pouted Souji.
« I'm not Kondou-san. » stated Hajime. « You want my daughter, you follow my rules until the wedding. Then you'll do whatever you like. »
« Can't believe he's lecturing me... » Souji widened his eyes, looking at Chizuru who was gently giggling, taking Kaede off Haruhi's arms « I should have tell on you both eight years ago. You're supposed to owe me, Hajime-kun. »
« Chizuru-neechan » cut Haruhi, knowing that Souji's pleas could go on for hours without her father changing his position on the subject « Souji's injured, can you look into it ? »
« Where's your injury, Okita ? »
« Shoulder. » he answered « I'd appreciate if you could control Haruhi's work on it. »
« Okay » she nodded, getting up and giving the baby back to Haruhi « follow me to our room, I'll look at it. »
« Ara, I knew you always had wanted to strip me. No need to take me somewhere private, Chizuru-chan, my heart is already taken. » he smiled widely.
Chizuru lifted her gaze to the ceiling, rolled her eyes and closed the shoji behind her and Souji. When he was gone, Hajime sighed lengthily.
« Souji's been here less than a day and I'm already exhausted... » he muttered before he sipped in his tea, reporting his attention on his daughter « Haruhi, are you sure that's what you want ? »
« Yes. » she nodded, trying to keep Kaede in her arms as he was wiggling to escape her grip « I... I've always loved... Souji, so... »
« Let him crawl. » ordered Hajime and she put the baby down who started crawling around at a frantic pace « Ayame, you're not finished with the broom. »
Ayame stood up and took the broom to clean the common room, extra careful not to move the dust around, as his father told him. The latter nodded in approval and reported his gaze on his daughter.
« Souji is a good man. » nodded Hajime « but he gets bored easily and sometimes can be childish or get into furious anger. Are you sure he's serious enough to be your husband ? That he can provide for you and your possible children ? »
« As you said » she muttered « he's a good man. I lived with him for a year and he did provide for me. I know how he is but he never hurt me or anything and I wanna make him happy. »
« Does he make you happy ? »
« Yes. » she smiled « I've never been happier than with him. »
Hajime gazed into his daughter's blue eyes, lighter than his own, and seemed to be searching an answer to a silent question in it.
« Alright. » he nodded « You have my blessings to marry Souji. »
« Thank you, Otousan » smiled Haruhi genuinely « it means a lot. »
« I'll see with Chizuru what we can pay for and also what we can offer as your trousseau... » he muttered, more for himself than for her « we're not really prepared, marriage didn't seem to be in your immediate plans. I guess we have two months to get ready if you want to marry in early January... »
« I don't want you to pay for everything. » said Haruhi « Souji has some money from the Shieikan and I'm gonna try to get back my position at the dojo. I also have this. » she said, getting the pouch her father gave her, one year ago « I didn't use it, as promised, and I found my way back home. »
« Keep it for the wedding. » Hajime smiled « I never expected to get it back. »
He turned to Tama and adressed her with a very serious expression.
« If you are looking for a job, I can give you a chance. Do not worry, my employees aren't for sale in this inn. I have to warn though that I expect you to be hard working, polite and efficient. You may be Kondou-san's daughter but you will not get special treatment from me. »
« I... I can work ! » bowed Tama, blushing « I can cook and clean and everything you expect from me ! I can even help with the children. I won't be a nuisance. »
« Good. » nodded Hajime « Momoiro is working in the evening but having an aide for the day would be of great help. Thank you, Tsunashi-san. »
« You... can call me Tama, please Sait... Fujita-san. » she stuttered.
« Alright, Tama it is. » he nodded again.
The two girls smiled at each other, that was a new start for the both of them and it seemed to be a good one. Haruhi couldn't wait to marry Souji, especially if she was going to be chaperoned for two long months when she already missed him so much. That year had been rich in events, good and painful, but the end of it was promising. Maybe she'd also try to speak to Chizuru-neechan about the herbs that kill... Maybe there was a way for her to bear again and make Souji happy with children of his blood.
Kitten Update : A new challenger enters the fight !
So, my little kitten Family have a new little brother : Vitis !
Vitis is three weeks old and has been found at 4am in a bin tonight by the owners of the Vitis bar, the wine bar where i take my morning breakfast every morning. (Coffee, not wine ! I may be french but it's early ! Lol)
They put him in my care this morning because they know I rescue so I gave him the bar's name : Vitis ! For the moment, Vitis is quarantined to be sure he can't transmit diseases to the other kittens.
The other boys are doing well ! Ayame, Hajime and Kaede are super big and strong ! Haruhi is still so small but she is vigorous. She is also blind ! We noticed a few days ago. She can see shapes but not very well. It's not a problem for her though, she doesn't know she's supposed to see so she doesn't miss it. She's running everywhere just like the others.