July 1875
Seven months of marriage. Haruhi still couldn't believe it. She lived here with Souji for seven months already, more than half a year... It had gone in a blink. She was happy. In march, she took back her position at the dojo and she even got promoted to teach the more advanced students. Thanks gods for Aizu and their respect of onna-bugeisha, female warriors. The west had a lot to learn, or remember, about the way Aizu treated their wifes and daughters. Souji somehow managed to keep his job as a policeman. Honestly, Haruhi thought he would be fired pretty early because he killed someone or took advantage of his position to bully or something. But no, he was a respected incarnation of the law and she had to admit, he was rather sexy with his black form-fitted uniform. The first time she saw him with it, the blood flowed to her cheeks instantly. She was a bit jealous though... he was the only one required to dress like that in the village, and the villages nearby which also were under his jurisdiction, the other men dressing more in japanese fashion, and she could witness girls and woman gazing at him, whispering and chuckling. Souji was a very good looking man, he always had been, but his uniform seemed to have a daunting effect on females. He'd better not stray from proper path or she would slit his throat in his sleep.
Yet, she knew deep inside that there was no reason to worry. Souji was never out partying, he was coming back to her every evening and he was pleasing her way too often for him to have mistresses. Seven months of marriage didn't change a thing at how demanding her husband was and she wasn't gonna complain about it. The only problem was that there was no heir but they both knew there wouldn't be. Chizuru talked to her about it, from woman to woman, asking her if they had regular intercourses, if he was going to prostitutes, if there was an impotency problem or if Souji was making her have sexual practices that couldn't lead to procreation. Haruhi was feeling very uncomfortable while having that conversation with her Oneechan but she reassured her and eventually told her about the herbs she took. Chizuru scolded her a lot. A lot. She had been warned, asked to throw them away and never to take them, she hadn't been raised that way and her father wouldn't be proud. She should have brought the child home and if she didn't want it, they would have send it back. She robbed Souji of any future descendants. She was lucky Chizuru wouldn't tell her father. Yet, it was too late now. She asked her if she was still bleeding every months and Haruhi said yes, ashamed of herself, but Chizuru saw that as a good omen. Maybe there still was a chance.
Chizuru had her baby and they didn't send it back. It was decided early in her pregnancy, after a lot of negotiations, that it would be sent to Kazama to soothe relationships between the two clans and keep the family safe. But when the child entered the world, it was a daughter and Chizuru begged Hajime to keep it. She didn't have to insist much though. When he saw that little girl with a round face and wide chestnut eyes eating half her face and when she smiled to him, he turned to mochi. She was looking way too much like the love of his life for him to send her to a demon clan. He would raise her and provide for her. They would find a way. They called her Tsubaki, camellia, to represent spring and a link to the kamis, blessing them with a female Oni, so rare.
The Kazama clan sent Amagiri Kyuju, Chizuru's uncle, to collect the child. When he saw that Hajime was ready to fight to protect her, along with Souji, he calmly looked at the baby and declared that he had witnessed with his own eyes that the child was born dead but that he would bring wishes of peace and good faith back to his queen. That declaration surprised everyone. No one could ever fathom where that man's loyalty truly resided, neither what was his sense of justice. Yet, Hajime and Chizuru were thankful for his discretion and they happily kept their daughter.
« I'm back ! » said Souji, removing his boots and leaving them in the entrance along with his jacket.
« Welcome home. » smiled Haruhi « Do you want me to make you some tea ? »
« Yes, please ! » he answered, getting behind her in the kitchen and circling her with his arms.
« I'm not gonna be able to make you tea if you hold my arms like this. » she frowned.
« Find a way. » he smiled, nesting his head in her neck « I missed you. »
Haruhi managed to free one of her arms to take a plate out of the cupboard and Souji let go of her to take a manju cake.
« You're smart. Tama made these ? » he asked, bringing it to his mouth.
« Yeah. » nodded Haruhi « I went to the inn this morning to walk Aya to school. Chizuru is too busy with Tsubaki and Kaede. She doesn't even have the time to work anymore and the pharmacist only calls her for emergencies. And in spring and summer there are so many people at the inn that Otousan, Tama and Momoiro have their hands full. I'm not busy in the morning so I can at least do this. »
« That's cute. » he commented « and these are delicious... hum, gods... I should have kept Tama... »
« You do realize I have sharp knives just here at the grasp of my hand ? » she muttered angrily.
Souji chuckled and nimbled on her neck. He took some of the red bean paste off the manju with a finger and put in on her neckside before he licked it off.
« Hum... that's perfect... »
« Stop playing with food. » she stated « there are people starving. »
« Poor them... » he muttered, putting some more red bean paste on her skin « nothing peculiar at the dojo today ? »
« No. » she answered, pouring the tea while ignoring him « same old story. There's a new girl student though but for naginata so I don't get her as a student. I'm thinking about learning naginata too, what do you think ? »
« Do as you wish. » he answered « you have some time on your hands and I'd rather have you occupying it with a spear than with another man. »
« Why would I see another man ? » she smiled « when I have you ? »
« I'm out all day. » he pouted « Sometimes I think about what you could be doing and it drives me crazy. »
« Thanks for the trust. » she stated.
« Can't help it. » he muttered « I still trust you though. I know you're faithful. It's just me and my stupid head, you know... I'm scared of abandon and the more I love someone, the worst it is. Anyway, don't pay attention to my nonsense. You smell good... »
« The house smells good. » she said, showing him the flowers in a vase « I got that from a student. Their scent is really strong. »
« Yeah, maybe. » he muttered, holding her « Which student ? »
« Akechi. »
« He's a boy, right ? »
« Yes. »
« Why is he sending flowers to my wife ? » he frowned.
« Souji, please stop. He's ten. » she sighed « It doesn't seem to bother you that much when women are offering you sweets. »
« They are thanking me for my good work. » he nodded.
« So are my students. » she stated « tea's ready. »
Souji let go of her and removed his swords and firearm before he sat at the table, waiting for her to bring the tray with the cups and, of course, the manju. She was using the teapot and cups offered by Kurozawa-sensei. She liked them a lot and was using them everyday. Souji brought the cups to his lips and sighed with content.
« At least, your tea is good. » he praised « and I must admit, you got better on the cooking too. »
« I took lessons. » she smiled « with Otousan and Tama. I'm glad you noticed. »
« You're a perfect little wife now. » he said with a wink.
Haruhi didn't answer and put some powder in her tea under Souji's interrogative gaze.
« What's this ? » he asked.
« Chizuru gave it to me. » she said, uneasy « it's to be more fertile. Maybe it can make me fall pregnant. »
« Really ? » he asked, lifting an eyebrow « It could work ? »
« I don't know but it might be worth a try. » she muttered « I mean, if you still want children... »
« Sure. » he smiled « I'm twenty-seven, should have been thirty-three... my age is so confusing... If I wait too long, I won't be able to see them grow. »
« Okay... » she whispered « then it's worth a try. I'll try not to disappoint you... »
« I won't be disappointed. » he smiled kindly « even if it doesn't work. But I am glad it gives me an excuse to undress my lovely wife everytime I feel like it. »
Haruhi smiled and raised her gaze to the ceiling. Souji always could find a way to make her worry go away. He was right, no pressure... They could keep living like this. He knew she couldn't bear before he married her, he never put the fault on her, he never regretted his choice. If it could work, it would be wonderful because she could offer Souji something he deeply wanted. But if it didn't, they wouldn't be less happy and she could keep him all to herself, which also was nice. The both of them drank their tea peacefully but Haruhi could see that Souji had something on his mind. Something he wasn't telling her.
« What is it you're hiding me ? » she asked with furrowed brows.
« I'm not hiding it. » he chuckled « it's a work thing. Don't want to bother you with that before I could get a full grasp on the situation. »
« What situation ? » she asked.
« Remember our time in Oita ? » he said and she nodded « the government has been very effective to hide a rebellion in a nearby prefecture. We didn't even hear about it when it went from February to april before getting crushed. Problem is, the dissensions are spreading in the west. Satsuma and other prefectures aren't happy with how the new government turned out. Funny, when they were the one to instore it in the first place. Anyway, we might have another war. The west prefectures are under high surveillance. If a rebellion breaks, the police and army will be the first sent to crush it again. »
« You're gonna be sent to war in Kyushu ?! » she asked, astonished.
« Not yet. » he stated, sipping his tea « but it might happen. »
« You can't go to war, Souji... » she begged « not now, not when you're back. »
« It's fine, kitten » he smiled « I'm not going anywhere yet. »
« Yeah, but... »
« Do you think your powder works already ? » he smirked, changing the subject.
« I don't know... »
« I'm pretty sure we should try now. » he nodded seriously « I have a very good feeling about this. If we wait, the effects of the powder are gonna fade. »
« You seem sure of yourself. » she smiled « apparently I have to take some everyday so I doubt it fades so quickly. »
« No, no. » he shook her head « I'm telling you, if we want that baby, it is now or never. I'm positive. »
« Are you doctor now ? » she chuckled.
« Yes. » he stated, leading her to their bedroom « And I need to examine you very closely. »
« You're an idiot. » she laughed as he pulled her to the futon with him, still with his uniform that she knew was going to be a pain in the ass to remove.
« Maybe. » he smirked while undressing her « but I'm your idiot. You're stuck with me. How does it feel to be married to an idiot ? »
« Maybe I should divorce... » she sighed « why not a younger man... »
« Wise. » he nodded « I have a young wife and that's the best choice I ever made. She's soft and firm... » he commented, caressing her skin with appreciation.
« I'm not gonna stay young forever, you know » she said, unbuttoning his shirt « I'm planning on growing old with you so don't you dare go to war. »
« That's what you think. » he said snidely « I tasted fresh meat, I'm not gonna eat old one. Let's see... How old are you ? Seventeen ? I give you ten or fifteen years at most before you'd start to get wrinkles. Thinking of which, Tsubaki will be in age to marry in fifteen years... I should maybe take another daughter of Hajime, what do you think ? »
« I think I'm gonna fucking kill you. » she answered calmly and her husband laughed, pulling her closer to kiss her.
« I love you. » he whispered in her mouth « today and forever. »
« Good. » she muttered, embarrassed « because if you try to run away, I will cut your goddamn legs. »
« What a couple we are... » he chuckled « our child will never be sane. »
« Hope we don't get one then. » she smiled.
Souji laughed some more and sat up to let her brush his shirt off now that it was completely unbuttoned. There was no pressure. Whatever was to happen, they would at least have had a good time.
Author note : Kitten update and this fic
So, chapters had stopped being daily because I was struggling with kitten Kaede. I'm not gonna explain what happened because it is very graphic, but Kaede's condition worsened very quickly. He had always been the strongest, since day one. He was enormous, had a lot of voice, was eating a lot... He was also beautiful. The only longhair and all my friends's favorite. I never questioned he would survive. We had to take the difficult decision to put him to sleep after his condition worsened. He was doomed to suffer a lot. I still have Haruhi, Hajime and Ayame (and Vitis, the younger one) which are doing well.
Now about this fic... Everytime I'm trying to end it, I'm like getting in another plot... I never thought it could be this long ! Thanks for keeping reading this story ! You are more followers in « The Mirror » than the prequel and I hope you don't feel completely lost with the new characters if you haven't read the SaiChi ! I also wanted to speak about the sex scenes. They are a bit more... detailed... and rough... here that what I usually write but that is how I imagine Souji. When I was writing on Hajime's POV, it was more bashful and tender. I wonder if some of you think that it is too detailed ? Are you bothered by it ? Please let me know.
Anyway thanks for following ! I'm gonna try to end that story one day hahaha.