Haruhi woke up at the chirping noise of birds outside her window. Yawning, she stretched and basked even more into Souji's tight embrace, agreeably keeping her warm.
Souji ?
« Souji ! » she whispered-yelled with a look in her sleeping little brother's direction « What the fuck you're doing here ? »
« Hum ? » he asked, waking up « your bodyguard let me in. »
« What ?! »
« Come on, Haru-chan... » he complained, pulling her closer « it's too early. Let me sleep a little bit more. »
« Go sleep in your room ! » she protested « you have no right to be here ! »
« Shhh... » he complained again « you're gonna wake your brother up. »
She took a look at Ayame's sleeping face. Nothing seemed to be able to disturb the child's sleep but she decided to be cautious anyway.
« You have to go. » she stated.
Souji opened his eyes and plunged them in hers and she wasn't that sure of herself anymore. He smirked and kissed her forehead.
« Sorry, can't do that. »
« Why ? » she asked.
« Will you believe me if I say I got scared ? » he answered seriously « dunno if it was the sake or what, but I got terrified to die alone in the end. I needed to be with you so I rushed here. Now I'm there, I have no intentions of moving until Hajime throws me out. »
« You were afraid ? » she asked, surprised that Souji could admit it that easily. Maybe he was just lying to justify his presence.
« Yeah, don't repeat anyone or I'll need to kill you. » he stated « and I'd rather not kill my future wife. Don't wanna live old and alone. »
He wrapped his arms tighter around her and pushed his head against hers like a demanding cat.
« I missed that. » he commented « you're so warm, Haru-chan. »
« That's not a reason for coming in here with your futon and everything while I'm still sleeping. » she frowned, not leaving him any opening « Ayame's gonna tell Otousan and you'll be in trouble. »
« I'm never in trouble with Hajime-kun. » he stated, breathing hot air in her neck « and Aya-kun won't say shit. »
« How can you know ? » she whispered.
« Because I asked him not to. » he shrugged « everything's under control. Now, come and cuddle me. »
« I'm not gonna cuddle you just because you ask for it. » she furrowed her brows « how long have you been here ? »
« Hum... » he rolled, looking at the ceiling « nearly the same time as you. I knew you went to bed because you peaked in my room. I didn't expect to find you asleep already when I joined you, your brother wasn't. He told me I could stay and here I am. »
« So you spent all night here ?! »
« A big word. » he yawned « night was already more than advanced when you went to bed. You had a good time downstairs ? »
« Yeah... » she sighed « yeah, it was nice but it would have been better with you there. »
She realized that she was unintentionally petting Souji's hair and took her hand away. He looked at her for a while and his smile disappeared.
« Something's bothering you. » he said.
« Yes. » frowned Haruhi « there's a man in my bed. »
« Our marriage doesn't present itself well if you are bothered by my presence. » he chuckled softly « but no, it's something else and you are thinking about it... now. What is it that popped in your head ? »
« Chizuru's pregnant again. » she answered.
It was true, it was the thought that popped in her head when he asked her but it wasn't bothering her. She was happy for the both of them and hoped they could keep the child. Maybe what was bothering her was precisely that they were anticipating not to keep it.
« Being a big sister again bothers you ? » he asked, his fingers brushing on her cheek.
« No. » she shook her head « but maybe they're not gonna keep it, that makes me a little sad. »
« I don't understand you. » he sighed « When it's yours, you get rid of it, and when it's someone else's, it makes you sad. »
« The father was marrying another woman ! » she punched him « what was I supposed to do ? Bring a burden back to my family ? »
« Yeah, I know. » he sighed again « that guy's the biggest jerk alive. I thought about killing him. »
« Don't do that, Souji. » she muttered.
« You know, if you want, maybe Hajime would let us take the baby if we ask him. » he said seriously « if you wanna be a mom, that said. »
Haruhi widened her eyes. She hadn't even thought about it. Yeah, maybe she and Souji could care for the child... but that meant that she could have Souji all to herself only six months and then, she'd have to care for the baby, probably she'd need to quit her position at the dojo and anyway, Chizuru would still need to feed it because as much as Haruhi would want to care for it, she couldn't have milk... and the baby wouldn't be hers, neither Souji's... wouldn't that bother him in the end ?
« You really want children, don't you Souji ? » she asked.
« I'd be happy without, I already told you that. » he shrugged « but yeah, if I can get the chance, I'd like some. Not sure I'd be a good father but if you're here, it may grow up to be a good person. »
« I think you'd be a good father. » she said, smiling « You're naturally good with kids. »
« Maybe because I'm more of a child myself. » he chuckled « I'm more worried about not being able to keep it safe or to scold and set boundaries, all the boring necessary things parents need to do. »
« Maybe... » muttered Haruhi.
She wasn't sure if these kind of things were naturally in everyone and if Souji could find it within himself if he had to raise a kid. Could it come to the surface if it wasn't his kid, anyway ? Or was it a blood thing ?
« Anyway » continued Souji « We're not there yet but if Hajime-kun doesn't want it and you wanna keep the baby, I'd be happy. Just think about it, you have time. »
« Wouldn't it bother you that it'll not even be our blood ? »
« How do you feel about Hajime-kun ? » he asked.
« What ? »
« He's your father, right ? » said Souji with a smile « and he feels the same way even if you are not related by blood. »
« Yeah, you're right. » she smiled « but it's a little different this time. I never really met my parents, even if I saw my mother in the Mirror. This child will see Otousan and Chizuru often and Ayame and Kaede would know it's their sibling. There might not even be space for us to build a relationship with it. »
« I think you're overthinking it. » yawned Souji « You really are Hajime's daughter. »
« And it'll be an Oni. » she continued « I thought you despised Oni. »
« Some of them aren't that bad. » he muttered « Chizuru, Shiranui-kun... At least, it wouldn't get hurt easily. We'll see in time. We're speaking about children when we're not even married yet. »
Souji's hand cupped her cheek and he smiled genuinely. She couldn't help but reply to that smile with one of her own. Three days and Souji would be all hers.
« What was it like, seeing your mother ? » he asked out of the blue.
« In the Mirror ? » asked Haruhi « strange... I didn't even know what she looked like but I recognized her... She was beautiful. »
« Of course she was » nodded Souji « otherwise she wouldn't be your mother. »
« Nonsense... » frowned Haruhi « she was far prettier than I'll ever be ! Her skin was pale as milk and her kimono the most gorgeous I have ever seen ! I'm sure even daimyo wives don't have kimonos as beautiful ! And her hair , like a butterfly ready to spread its wings... »
« No shit ! » cut Souji, eyes wides « It's an oiran ! »
« Yeah. » she nodded « that's what Otousan told me. »
« You're a Shimabara kid ! » he continued.
« Yes. » frowned Haruhi « why ? Does it changes anything ? »
« No. » Souji shook his head « of course not. But I didn't expect that coming from Hajime... »
« Because a Shimabara kid isn't good enough to be adopted by a samurai ? » she furrowed her brows, angry.
« Hey, don't put words in my mouth. » he pouted « I'm just surprised he did this and that Chizuru-chan was okay with it. If your mother was an oiran and Hajime's friend, he probably fuc... Wait ! It's the one that looks like Chizuru ?! »
« Like Chizuru-neechan ? » asked Haruhi, confused « I ... maybe but now I've seen her, I don't think so... »
« You know her name ? »
« Yuki. » she answered.
« Yeah, that's the one. » he nodded « So yeah, I'm even more confused Chizuru was okay with that... considering... everything... Anyway, it doesn't matter that you're originally a Shimabara kid, you're a samurai daughter and fit to marry a samurai. »
« Good. » she said, still frowning. She looked at the ceiling and Souji started pocking her cheek with his finger « what ? » she asked, annoyed already.
« So you were a kamuro when Hajime-kun adopted you ? Where ? The Sumiya ? Hanamado ? Have we seen each other before you became Hajime's daughter ? »
« No. » she stated harshly, cutting the conversation short « Don't you think we should get up ? »
« I think it's still pretty early. » he said « the inn is all silent. »
« You should use that opportunity to get back to your room stealthily. » she suggested.
« Nay, I'd rather stay here... » he smiled, cuddling his cheek against hers « I'll be gone in a few hours. »
« Gone ? » she asked « to the house ? »
« Nope. » he yawned again « I'm going away, I have stuff to do, matters to take care of... I'll be back in time for the wedding. »
« Are you telling me you'll be gone for days ?! » she whispered-yelled.
« Yeah. » he nodded « about three days but don't worry, Hajime knows and he's gonna finish everything without me. You'll just have to wait for me here like a cute little wife. »
« Where are you going ? » she asked, part of her soul anxious at the idea that Souji could be abandoning her again.
« Here and there. » he shrugged « not important. I'll go after the temple visit. That's why I wanted to be with you even more. »
« Can I come ? »
« No. » he said firmly « Hajime needs you here. I'd be back even before you notice I'm gone. »
« I doubt that. »
Haruhi heard before she felt Ayame, climbing on her.
« Good morning. » he said with a smile, laying on her.
« Good morning, Aya-chan. » smiled Haruhi in return.
« Good morning, Aya-kun » yawned Souji.
« You feel better So-ojisan ? » asked Ayame, climbing on Souji now.
« Yes, thank you, Aya-kun. » he nodded.
« You're not feeling well ? » asked Haruhi.
« So-ojisan is ill. » stated Ayame.
« What ?! » she gasped « are you coughing again ?! »
« I'm fine. » he smirked « it's a severe but fleeting illness. »
« So-ojisan can die. » nodded Ayame, arms crossed on top of Souji's chest « It's a heart disease but you can help him get better and so he don't die. But it is a secret so we don't tell anyone even Otousan and Okaasan. »
Souji smirked wider and Haruhi's eyes threw daggers at his, screaming « stop lying to my brother to get your way ! » but before she could say anything, she heard her father's voice behind the shoji and a shiver crawled down her spine uncontrollably.
« Haruhi. Ayame. Get up. We are going to the temple. »
« Hai, Otousan. » she replied in chorus with her brother.
« Souji. You too. »
« Hai, Hajime-kun. » he grinned « I'm coming. »
Haruhi punched his shoulder and whispered angrily.
« Well done ! Very stealth ! »
« Not my fault if he's that perceptive. » he pouted « I'll talk to him. He didn't seem that angry. »
« He could be. » she pouted, getting up « and I'm not even accomplice ! If he's mad at me, you'll regret it ! »
« You would rather had me die of my terrible heart disease ? » he fluttered his eyes tragically.
« You're not nice, Haru-neechan. » stated Ayame « If So-ojisan dies, I'll be sad. »
« Truth from a child's mouth. » commented Souji.
« There's not even a word true ! » she complained « Aya-chan, come put your kimono and your scarf. And you, go back to your room and get dressed. »
Both complied and Haruhi put Ayame into his thick layers of kimonos and his scarf before she dressed herself.
« I'm too hot. » he complained.
« Yeah, well you won't be cold outside. » she stated.
When she was ready, they joined everyone downstairs and they all headed to the temple for benedictions and predictions. No one got the bad luck and Haruhi and Souji were both very happy to get the best luck, Souji bragging a lot about how the kami were blessing their union. They all drank the toso, the sake mixed with blessed medical herbs, so they could be healthy this year and some of them made wishes, Chizuru about her pregnancy and Ayame too, asking for another brother, Shinpachi for Heisuke to ask the candy shop girl out and Heisuke for Shin's wife to come back... The both of them began fighting in the temple until Hajime stepped in to calm them down. Haruhi wished for hapiness in her upcoming marriage and for Souji to really come back. The latter was already gone, just after drinking the toso, and she hoped he'd be on time, whatever business he had to take care of.