Hajime had no complaints about Tama. The girl was really hard working and she was of good help at the inn. He asked Chizuru if she could show her the accounting so she could take care of that. He personally was shit with numbers and with Chizuru working as a doctor again, she had less time to do it.
Since Tama was working at the inn and Haruhi was also helping, he had more time to help Souji with his little house. The latter brought a crop with the Shieikan money not very far, on the other side of the village, and he decided that Haruhi and him would marry when he'd be finished constructing their home. All the time spent renovating the Shieikan made him acquire some skills and same for Hajime, who got the inn as a ruin at first. The both of them were working there in the daytime, Haruhi and Tama taking care of the children and the business.
Ayame was never far from his sister, following her around like a duckling. He was happy to have her back. Just like her father ordered, she was also sharing her room with him at night. At first, Souji was disgruntled and he complained a lot, trying to sneak in, but Haruhi didn't let him. First, she wouldn't disobey her father, not under his roof, and second, she had kind of... trust issues. She couldn't sleep with Souji, even if he wouldn't touch her, not when he was Tama's man only weeks ago. Part of her feared Souji would use her and disappear again, leaving her with nothing but regrets and a shattered heart, and she wasn't ready to go through this again. He tried to reassure her, objecting that if it had been his intentions, he wouldn't have come all the way to the Fukushima prefecture to ask for her hand. Yet, he understood where she was coming from and that the only culprit was himself. Even if it was unintentional, he played with her feelings before and her mistrust was only natural. He agreed that he wouldn't share her room, neither touch her, before the ceremony, so she could be assured of his feelings and his intentions to stay by her side. Besides, if he were to run away now, Hajime would probably hunt him down, he joked.
Even if they were engaged, they weren't seeing each other very much, working in different locations and not sharing their nights. Souji had planned on a wedding date and they sent the invitation, Hajime making sure that he would have enough rooms for the guests even if they weren't numerous, only Shinpachi, his family, Heisuke and Daisuke's family. Haruhi also invited Kurozawa-sensei but not sure he could travel. Maybe Shin could pick him up ? Surely the big man could carry him... She should write to him about it.
Planning the wedding was kinda hard, first because there were a lot of things she never thought about like what should they eat ? Was there a party ? Where ? After the shintô ceremony ? Before ? Who was coming to the temple with them ? Everyone ? Just Hajime ? Her entiere family ? Would the kids behave ? Where was the closest administration to register their wedding afterwards ? So many questions and for most of them, she didn't really know... Plus, Souji was not easy to catch, neither her father, and so, it was hard to find a moment to think together about it. Another thing annoying her was that sometimes, she was discovering that Souji and Hajime already agreed on something without even asking for her opinion. Okay, they were always taking good decisions but still, it was annoying not to be even consulted.
When they were coming back in the evening, as if they weren't exhausted enough, the two swordsmen were fighting each other. Even if Hajime wasn't really a talkative man, anyone could see he had been pretty vexed to be bested by an injured Souji. Living a peaceful life made him rusty and he was eager to come back to his former level, so he could protect his family in case of danger, let it be simple burglars or an entire Oni clan.
Souji's shoulder was healing well but Chizuru was often scolding him. She ordered him to take some rest and he obeyed but only a few days. Now he was working with wood all day and crossing swords with Hajime in the evening. She was worried his shoulder could heal badly and that he would keep suffering of it for years but Souji just wouldn't listen. He had no time to rest, there was too much to do. She should be happy that he was actually taking some rest at night at least but that was the best he could do. He was impatient to finish that house and to get married but for some reason, he wanted to wait after New Year's eve. Haruhi told him as he was complaining again that the time was going too slow that maybe, if he was so sure of his feelings, they could marry before the end of the bet with the kami but Souji shook his head and refused. If he was making a mistake, he wouldn't bear to make her a widow. Haruhi wasn't sure how to feel about that. Did that mean he was still unsure of his feelings towards her ?
She told her story to her family. They had trouble believing her at first but in a world with Oni and Kitsune, why not the Mirror ? Everyone knew Souji had a chance to die at the end of the year and her father was atuned with him, they should marry after the risk is passed. He was also reassured. If Haruhi really was to marry Souji, it would be because they truly love each other and not because Souji was selfishly manipulating her. That was the best he could wish to his daughter. Souji bragged about being young. A lot. He was once two years older than Hajime, he was now four years younger with a ten years difference with Haruhi. Not that much in the end.
« Ne, Hajime-kun ? » asked Souji at the table while they were all eating dinner together in the common room, the kitchen too small for all of them « When I'll be married to Haru-chan, will you honor me by letting me call you Otousan ? »
Hajime didn't even bother to answer and kept eating his food, oden, a new recipe that he wanted to try. The food was delicious as always and it was the first time for all of them eating that dish.
« It's really good, Fujita-san ! » praised Tama with a smile.
« I'll learn you. » he nodded.
« Could you learn me too ? » asked Haruhi, embarrassed.
« Alright. » smiled Hajime.
« The kami have answered my prayers. » said Souji, looking at the ceiling.
« My cooking's not that bad... » muttered Haruhi « it's still better than yours. »
« Nevermind, we'll just come eating here. » he shrugged.
« If we don't have jobs, I doubt it. » she muttered again « Ne, Otousan. Will you still need my help here when you're finished with Souji's house ? »
« Our house. » pouted Souji « and Tama's if she wants. »
« I... I'd like to stay here... » she blushed « if... If it's okay... »
« Sure. » smiled Chizuru « I'm very happy to have you here, Tama. You can occupy a room as long as you want. »
« Can she share mine ? » asked Ayame « and Haru-neesan too. »
« Haruhi won't share your room after she's married. And Tama won't do it either. » stated Hajime « You're old enough to sleep alone and you'll go to school in the spring. »
« He's already six, why is he not going now ? » asked Haruhi to her father.
« Aya-chan is still getting ill easily in the winter » answered Chizuru in his place « and coughing isn't good for his lungs. He'll go to school when the weather is better. »
« You know you can't pull him out of school every time there's snowflakes. » frowned Haruhi.
« We won't. » nodded Hajime « We're just gonna let him take his marks in a more comfortable weather. »
« I don't want to go. » pouted Ayame « I want to work here with Tama and Haru-neesan and cook with Otousan. »
His parents just ignored that last line, probably because they heard it way too often already and recentered the subject on Haruhi's earlier question.
« You don't want to keep working here ? » asked her father.
« I want to take back my position at the dojo. » she explained « I met with the dojo master and it might be possible in spring but I need to give him an answer quickly. »
« I think we'll manage in spring. » nodded Hajime « Ayame will be at school, I will be there in the day and Tama and Momoiro are enough workers for now. »
« Hey, Haru-chan » asked Souji « do you think I can get a position too at your dojo ? »
« I don't know » she answered genuinely « it's a small one, we don't need that many instructors. »
« Maybe if I show how good I am, I can get the position in your place then. » he smirked.
« Don't even dream about it. » she frowned « find your own job. You're not really husband material right now. »
« Yare, Yare... » he chuckled « can you hear how mean she is to me ? I may not marry an Oni but I'm getting myself an Oni Yome ! »
« You're... » started Haruhi before preventing herself from cursing « you're too much. »
« Thank you » he smiled « by the way, I think it's a bit ungrateful to say I'm not husband material when I'm currently constructing our home. »
« Argue somewhere else. » ordered Hajime, annoyed « We're trying to eat. »
The both of them shut their mouth and kept eating in silence. Even Kaede was more or less silent, drinking from a wooden cup. Chizuru had fed him already and he also ate some oden but not that much in the end.
« Are we doing New Year's eve here ? » asked Haruhi out of the blue.
« Where else ? » frowned her father.
« I won't be coming. » smiled Souji faintly.
« Wh... What ?! » asked Haruhi, astonished « Why ?! »
« In case something happens, I don't want to ruin your evening. » he shrugged « I'll see you the next day for the temple visit and the omens. »
« You can't do this, Souji ! » yelled Haruhi « You can't ! »
« Don't worry, Haru-chan » he smiled again genuinely « If the kami didn't cheat you, nothing's gonna happen. But in the case it made a prank on you, I don't want you to see me die. And maybe I'll get my memories back too ! Expect me to tease you with childhood memories at the temple. »
« We'll speak about that later. » she stated, knowing that her father disliked meals to be disturbed.
« As you wish. » he smiled faintly « Ne, do you wanna come and see the house afterwards ? »
« At night ? » she frowned « I won't see anything... and I need to work here. »
« It's fine, Haruhi » said Chizuru with a smile « I didn't have a lot of work today and I'm not tired. You can go on a stroll with Okita and join later. »
« For the last time Chizuru-chan, call me Souji or Tsunashi... » complained Souji « You're gonna ruin my cover one day. »
« I'm not sure Tsunashi is a good cover either... » muttered Haruhi « you used it in Oita, in Hino... »
« Yeah, but it grew on me » he chuckled « I like it. Get used to it, you'll be Tsunashi Haruhi soon enough. »
« I think I prefer Okita Haruhi than Tsunashi... » she muttered again « You're only using it to annoy me with my coworker calling you mister Ten. »
« Why mister Ten ? » asked Chizuru, curious.
« Yeah, Haru-chan... Why ? » asked Souji with a teasing smile.
« Ask Souji. » she frowned « thank you Chizuru-neechan. I'll go and see the house. »
« Is it okay, Hajime-kun, or does she need a chaperone ? » asked Souji wryly.
« It's fine. » answered her father « she can go. »
The both of them finished eating their meal and took their tray back to the kitchen before they headed out. They walked in silence for a while and that wasn't really Souji-like. Something was bothering him.
« Are you really not gonna spend new year's eve with us ? » asked Haruhi after a while.
« Yeah. » he nodded « But I thought this through. I'll tell Hajime-kun where I am. That way, if I don't survive neither turn to dust and just have a stroke or something, he could get my body back to bury it. »
« How can you be so calm speaking about something like this ? » she asked, tears invading her eyes.
« Maybe because I'm certain to live. » he winked « but I need to be prepared to any eventuality. »
« Can I stay with you ? » she asked « that night. »
« Not sure it's a good idea. » he smiled, taking her hand in his « The thought of you witnessing me at my worst... Nay, I don't like it. »
« You asked me to stay. » she said faintly « when you were with Tama. That can't be worst. I want to be with you at that moment and if something happens, I don't want you to go... alone... »
« Haruhi... » he whispered, eyes wide before he regained his composure and his smile « aren't you cute ? You really are something, Haru-chan. »
« You'll let me stay ? » she asked again.
« I'll think about it. » he evaded her question « it's here. »
It was still far from finished and at night, she couldn't see much but it was her home and she felt some warmth in her chest, picturing her and Souji living there peacefully. It was small from the outside but it did look a bit bigger on the inside, probably because it was empty. There was a common room, a kitchen, two bedrooms and a small bathroom.
« Hajime insisted for the second bedroom and the bathroom. » shrugged Souji « I don't think we'll ever need the first since... anyway if you're mad at me, you'll have somewhere to sleep. And for the bathroom, I thought the public bath was fine but he wanted to make one so yeah, that's pretty comfy. »
« It's... It's great. » she smiled, turning to Souji « I can't wait to live there. »
« Hajime's still working on the roof and there are no tatami or shoji yet, as you can see. We had a problem with the isolation but Hajime says it's okay now. » he continued, proud « So, am I not husband material ? »
« Maybe. » she chuckled « As much as I am wife material I guess. »
« My, we're in trouble then. » he laughed before changing the subject bluntly « you really don't like Tsunashi ? »
« I... I don't know... » she muttered « it's not... It's stupid okay but it's not your name and... it's the one you used to marry Tama... »
« Would you like me to marry you as Okita ? » he asked very seriously.
« I... I think so but it would be stupid. » she stated « if you get to the administration as Okita Souji, we'll have cops at our tail. It's not worth it. So, I'll marry you as Tsunashi. »
« I see. » he nodded « Yeah, I think it's best too. But if you want, we can be Okita here and just register as Tsunashi. I don't care. No one would tell on us here anyway. »
« That's what you thought about Hino. » she protested.
« Tsune indeed gave us a hard time. » he sighed « but she's gone now. And we deserve to be happy, don't you think ? »
He came closer and grabbed her by the waist with that characteristic sparkle of amusement dancing in his emerald eyes, and her heartbeat quickened in response.
« Ne, Fujita-chan » he chuckled « I know I have to wait for our wedding night but would you mind if I stole an early kiss ? »
« N... No... » she stuttered, flustered as the heat was already invading her body because of Souji's high proximity.
« Not a word to daddy... » he whispered in her mouth before he closed his lips on hers.
They were hot, as usual, soft and moist... Maddening... But somehow, the kiss was restrained. Souji didn't bite, his tongue didn't ask for entrance, no. He was just working his lips on hers chastely, like a shy boy dating a a shy girl for the first time. She was feeling like porcelain in his arms, draping her, one hand stroking her untied hair. When he parted, there was an absense, something missing.
« Just a tease » he smiled genuinely, weaving locks of her hair in his fingers « don't expect me to have the same restraint when we're married. »
Haruhi looked up to him, the only man she ever loved. He hurt her more than anyone before him and yet, he was also making her happier than anyone before him too. Love was a strange thing... Or maybe she really was a masochist in the end. A smile, a touch from Souji could ease any pain, even the one he was inflicting on her himself.
« I love you, Souji... » she whispered, loosing herself into these green orbs.
« I love you too. » he whispered « thank you, for coming to pick me up in Yomi. »
« It was cold and dark. » she smiled « it wasn't suiting you. »
« I see. » he chuckled « Thanks anyway. »
Haruhi tiptoed and kissed him again with the same restraint, hoping Souji wouldn't go back to Yomi in a few weeks. It would be wonderful if he also could get all his memories back... She'd have to wait anyway... There was no way to know before the last minute.
« Please, don't leave me Souji... » she whispered when she broke her kiss.
« I'll never leave you. » he smiled « you're stuck with me now, sorry. You made poor life choices. »
« Look who's speaking. » she chuckled and he joined her laughing, here in front of what would soon be their home. They would never be separated again.
Author note : Oni Yome
Oni Yome means « demonic wife » litterally or « ogre wife ». It is used for very bossy women, mean women who are making life impossible for their husband.