As she opened her teary eyes and screamed his name with all her heart, she was greated by Souji's mocking gaze. He was still there and she was confused for a second before she saw that he was throwing the floor's dust at her with his fingers.
« So... Souji ! » she scolded, still confused and resentful to have been tricked that way.
« You're way too cute. » he commented, chuckling, pulling her back in his arms « I told you I wouldn't die. »
« That was super mean, Souji ! » she pouted, fulminating « I really thought you were... you were... »
« Dying ? » he laughed « that was the point, otherwise it wouldn't be a good joke. »
« It wasn't a good joke ! » she yelled, wiggling to escape him, vexed to have been played that way « Can't you imagine how I felt ?! »
« It didn't last long » he smiled genuinely « Come on, it was a once in a lifetime joke opportunity. Couldn't let that past. »
Haruhi was still grumbling angrily and she took another sip of sake, disgruntled. She wouldn't stop pouting but it was more for the show that because she was pissed. Well, of course she was pissed ! But she was even more relieved that he was still there. She looked up at the sky again. Could Souji still disappear or was the danger gone ? As if he was deciphering her inner turmoil, Souji kissed her neck and reassured her.
« I think I'm here to stay. » he stated « congratulations Haru-chan. Okita Souji's in love with you. You won. »
« You really think I won ? » she asked, unassured.
« I don't know, you should know. » he shrugged « You made the bet with the kami. He said one year right ? Well the year is now ended so I guess that's it. I'm disappointed I didn't get my memories back though. »
« I'm not. » she muttered.
« Why ? » he asked, lifting an eyebrow.
« I don't want you to remember the kid in me. » she muttered again, embarrassed « You already treat me like a child way too often. Maybe it would have changed the way you perceive me. »
Souji chuckled in her neck, making her get goosebumps and he detached his arms from her.
« Go back to daddy, Haru-chan. » he ordered with a smile « this house too cold for you to spend the night there and I'm not sure my heat would be enough to warm you up. »
« If you come too. » she stated.
« Don't worry about me. » he smiled « I'll be here first thing in the morning. »
« Because you still think something can happen. » she frowned « I'm not going anywhere without you. »
« You're gonna freeze to death. »
« If it's too cold for me, it's too cold for you. »
Souji chuckled again and passed a hand in his mahogany mane, sighing.
« Hijikata who was always saying that Edo women were the most stubborn clearly never met a Kyoto woman like you. »
Haruji chuckled with him and got up, giving a hand to Souji so he would get up too.
« That's cute but I don't need your help and I'm not going anywhere. »
« Kyoto women may be stubborn but Hino men are even worse. » she sighed « if you want to isolate yourself for the rest of the night, I won't oppose but please, do it in your room, at the inn. If you catch a cold, I'm gonna panic that it may be something worse. The kami said you won't be ill anymore but I don't think it meant for the rest of your life. »
« Alright. » sighed Souji, getting up « I'll listen to you for once but only under one condition. »
« Which one ? » she asked, cautious.
« Stay with me. » he ordered.
« Otousan forbade it. » she stated « not before the wedding. »
« Daddy is quick to forget what it's like to be in love. » he chuckled « besides, I'm sure that if you are here tonight, it's because he gave you permission. »
« Hum... Kind of... » she thought for a moment.
« Therefore, he did give you permission to spend the night with me. » winked Souji.
« I guess... » she muttered « but I'm not sure he'd appreciate us betraying his trust. »
« It's not a betrayal if we have permission. »
« Our marriage is in three days now. » she frowned « It's not that long to wait. »
Souji pouted, not happy to be put back in his place but it was necessary. Haruhi wouldn't betray her father's trust and she wouldn't give herself to Souji before getting the insurance that he'd stay hers this time. She had been played one, no, even two times, before, and she wouldn't bear to be played again.
« Okay... » he sighed « I won't force you to join me. You'll go downstairs and enjoy yourself. »
Haruhi smiled and nodded, taking his hand in hers as he got up. Before they exited the house, Souji looked around him and closed the window.
« Three days... » he muttered « if we don't wanna spend our first night at the inn, we'd better hurry with the tatami and the rest... Probably we'll need your help. »
« I can help. » she assured him, happy to finally be asked.
« Or maybe Shin and Heisuke... » he muttered again « anyway, we'll see... Let's go. »
« But I really wanna help, Souji... » she complained softly, following him outside « I helped at the Shieikan... »
« Yeah I know. » he smiled « It's not that I don't want you to, just that we can't leave the inn solely into Tama's hands. Shin and Heisuke would probably be useless too there and I need Hajime here so there's only you that he can trust enough to replace him since Chizuru is so often out. »
« Yeah... I know... » she muttered.
« Don't worry. » he patted her head while walking « I'm sure there'll still be a lot to do after we live inside. Dusting, decorating... Minor things but you'll have your hands full. I want it to be your house and to feel at home in it. »
« I'll feel at home anywhere. » she smiled in return « as long as you're with me. Our home in Sendagaya was only one room you know, and I was happy there too. »
They arrived back at the inn and the party was still lively inside. She slid the shoji and a sigh of relief seemed to erupt from everyone at once when they saw Souji's face.
« It's too cold outside. » he complained without letting anyone talk before him « I'm gonna go to my room, don't disturb me. » he put the empty bottle of sake back on the table and took another one, with a cup this time « I'm taking this. »
He disappeared nonchalantly upstairs and Haruhi didn't follow him, staying with her family.
« Is he out of danger ? » asked her father, blue eyes piercing her.
« I'm not sure... » she confessed « I think he is. »
Hajime nodded and Heisuke served a cup of sake to everyone, smiling widely.
« To Souji ! » he said « and that year starting well for all of us, except Shin ! »
« My year is starting well too ! » laughed the big man « Surrounded by friends, what more can I wish for ? »
« Maybe not being dumped. » grinned Heisuke.
« I'm not dumped ! » protested Shinpachi « She's gonna cool down and come back. What do you know about women ?! »
Haruhi smiled at the playful banter and swallowed her sake cup with her father and Chizuru. Tama wasn't drinking alcohol, saying that she didn't really like it.
« Ne, Ne, Haru-neesan. » asked Ayame « you come and play with us ? »
« You play ? » asked Kaede.
« What are you playing ? » asked Haruhi before her father cut the conversation short.
« I think it's time for the children to go to bed. » he stated « tomorrow, we'll go early to the temple. Chizuru ? »
« Don't worry, Chizuru-neechan. » smiled Haruhi « I'm on it. »
« Me too ? » asked Sanosuke to his father.
« Yeah, you too. » he patted his head « I'll join you later. »
« Come, Aya-chan, Kae-chan. » said Haruhi, taking their hands « Sano-kun ? »
« With Sano ? » asked Kaede.
« What ? »
« Sleep with Sano. »
« I... I don't know... » confessed Haruhi, looking at the two fathers, waiting for their instructions.
« Why not ? » shrugged Shinpachi « they're good friends. »
« Are you sure Kaede wouldn't be a bother to you ? » asked Hajime.
« No, he's a calm kid. » he said « and it'll give you the opportunity to take a good start on the year. »
« What do you mean ? » frowned Hajime.
« I'm sure Chizuru-chan can explain it to you later in the night. » he winked.
Hajime blushed, understanding what Shinpachi meant. He should have understood it sooner but maybe he drank a little too much.
« We don't need you assistance on that matter... » he muttered, embarrassed.
« In fact » chuckled Chizuru « We're expecting again. »
« Whaaat ?! » asked both Shin and Heisuke.
« Congratulations, Fujita-san. » said Tama with a smile « may it be healthy ! »
« What does that mean ? » asked Ayame, pulling on Haruhi's kimono.
« It means another brother or sister. » explained Haruhi with a smile.
« Another Kaede ? » asked Ayame, excited « Can I choose the name this time ? »
« We're not sure we're keeping it yet. » said Hajime, cautious, to calm everyone's enthusiasm « there is a lot to pounder financially and with both our works and Ayame going to school, not sure we have either the ressources and the time to care for a third child. We might send it back. »
Chizuru nodded. It was a logical choice. Although she would never take the herbs because of the damage it could cause on her body, that didn't mean she would keep every child. It was common to end a baby's life just after his first cry if people knew they couldn't care properly for it. Before three days after the birth anyway, it wasn't really killing it since it was still linked to the realm of the spirits. That's why names were given only after three days.
« You'd have the nerves to do that, Saito ? » asked Heisuke.
« Fujita. Or Hajime. » corrected the innkeeper « I'll do what is necessary but we aren't there yet. Decision hasn't been taken. »
« When is it due ? » asked Haruhi.
« June. » replied Chizuru « I wanted to announce it since my body is starting to change but with Souji and your return and everything, I didn't really get the occasion. »
« Congratulations. » she smiled « I hope everything will go well ! »
« I hope I could count on your help when time will come. » said Chizuru, taking Haruhi in her arms.
« Don't worry. » she closed her arms on her big sister « I remember what to do. I'll do it. »
« Thank you. » said Chizuru with a smile.
« That deserves another toast ! » yelled Shinpachi.
« First, children in bed. » ordered Hajime.
« I can do it, Haru-chan » suggested Tama « if you wanna take the toast. »
« No, I'm tired. » she smiled « I'm gonna go to bed too. »
She took Ayame and Kaede up the stairs and Sanosuke followed. First stop at Shinpachi's room where she read a story to the three kids and then, Ayame and her took the direction of their shared room. On the way, she slid a little Souji's shoji to see if he was there and she saw him at the window with a sake cup in hand. She closed it back, reasssured, and put Ayame to bed before unfolding her own futon. A little drunk, she had no problem to fall asleep even with the laughter coming from downstairs and the smalls giggles coming from Shinpachi's room.