January 1876
« I'm home ! »
« Welcome back, Souji. What... what's that ? » asked Haruhi, confused, as Souji was bringing home a long spear with a blade.
« Are you blind ? » he asked with a shrug « it's a naginata. »
« Yeah, I can see that but... Why ? »
« You said you wanted to learn and you didn't do it yet. I haven't forgotten. » he smiled « I got this one for you. Consider it an anniversary present. »
He handed her the spear and she was careful with it so that she wouldn't pierce a shoji or knock over some furnitures. It was very long and she wasn't used to that. It was the first time she had one in hand.
« You brought that... For me ? » she asked, unsettled.
« No, I stole it at the precinct. » he chuckled « from confiscated weapons. I saw it and thought it would be perfect for you. »
« I can't accept something you stole, Souji ! » she frowned « take it back ! You're gonna have problems ! »
« It's fine. » he smiled « honestly, everyone saw me take it. They don't care as long as I don't kill anyone with it. A naginata isn't easy to get out stealthily you know. »
Haruhi carressed the wooden rod pensively and handed it back to her husband.
« I still can't take it. » she stated.
« Come on » he lifted his gaze to the ceiling, sighing « you kaiken was stolen, your smith and wesson was stolen... and now you're gonna say that a stolen naginata isn't good enough for you ? Would it really have made a difference if I had paid for it ? Apart from our finances getting lower ? »
« It... » she stuttered, shaken by Souji's monologue « It... I don't know... »
« You wanted to learn. » he stated with a smile and a kiss on her forehead « now you can. Simple as that. Why aren't you happy ? »
« I... I am... happy... » she said « But... I don't want you to be in trouble. »
« I won't. » he smiled « please accept it. »
Haruhi looked at the weapon. It was feeling so different from a sword. What if she sucked at it ? What if everyone were to mock her ? That was the real reason why she didn't try the naginata yet. She was afraid to try something new, thinking that maybe, she wouldn't be good at it. Her sword was a good companion. Especially since Souji gave her back Yamashiro no Kami Fujiwara Kunikiyo, or rather, never asked her to give it back to him. A spear... That was both exciting and frightening.
« Haruhi... » he sighed « do I suck so much at being a husband that even my presents are making you sad ? »
« No ! » she shook her head « no, you don't suck ! And it's a very good present, thank you Souji. »
« So you accept it ? » he asked, his smile back even if shy and unassured.
« I do. » she smiled in return « I just hope I'm not gonna be terrible with a spear in hand. »
« From my experience, you're doing pretty well with a spear in hand. » he winked.
« I'm gonna kill you one day, I hope you know that. » she muttered angrily.
« Ara, why do you think I'm offering you weapons ? » he chuckled, pulling the naginata out of her hands « Can't wait to see you try. »
He put the spear on the side and removed his own weapons before getting back to her.
« Even if you suck, we'll hang it somewhere for decoration, no problem. Where's my present ? » he asked out of the blue.
« Your present ? » she asked.
« I'm giving you an anniversary present, I surely deserve one too. » he winked « In fact, you owe me two since it was my birthday two days ago. »
« Our anniversary isn't today and your birthday's in june. » she frowned.
« Yeah but thanks to you, I have two birthdays now. » he chuckled.
« So you're getting older twice as fast ? » she asked playfully.
« No, but I do get two presents. » he smiled, holding her.
« Okay. » she chuckled « then maybe I have a present for you. »
« What is it ? » he asked, curiousity dancing playfully in his eyes.
« You're gonna be a father. » she said.
« Finally. Who are we adopting ? » he asked with a smile.
« No one. » she stated, a shy smile and a trace of blush tainting her cheeks « It worked. You're gonna be a father for real. »
« for real... » he whispered, shocked « like... For real ? A child of my blood ? »
« Yeah... » she answered, embarrassed.
« I thought you weren't taking the powder anymore. » he said, astonished.
« I'm not » she nodded « I don't know why it's working now but anyway, I wanted to wait tomorrow and tell you for our anniversary but since you're so impatient... »
« It's... mine ? » he asked.
« You're really asking me that question ? »
« No, I mean... Yeah, obviously it's mine but... This is so sudden... » he muttered, hand drawn to her belly « it's not a joke, right ? There really is a child of my blood in here ? If you're toying with me, I'm gonna kill you. »
« Yes. » she said with a smile « I will talk about it to Chizuru-neechan, be sure to maximize our chances to keep it and I'm probably gonna work less at the dojo when I will be tired and my belly will grow so I'm not sure I can wield a naginata but I don't really know how I'm supposed to do so I feel quite lost but I'm happy I can offer you a child after all and... »
Souji silenced her with his lips, working on hers with passion. She could feel how happy and excited he was at the idea of finally becoming a father.
« You're not that useless as a spouse in the end. » he chuckled in her mouth before claiming her lips again « I fucking love you, Haruhi... So much... Thank you... Thank you... »
« You... d... don't... have to thank... me... Souji... » she managed to say when Souji was letting her breathe between his insatiable passionate kisses « I... didn't do... anything... »
« The Kamis are answering my prayers... » he whispered « I've never felt so happy before. »
He was elated and it was communicative. Haruhi however was full of anguish and anxiety. Her maternal instinct was quite low and she wasn't feeling anything special about the life growing inside her. She was happy, but because she was making Souji happy, not because she desired to be a mother. In fact, the feeling dominating all the others was an intense fear. I mean, if everything were to go well, the baby would need to crawl out after a few months. She witnessed it on Chizuru three times already and she wasn't really ready to go through it... Plus, if her maternal instinct wasn't awakening now, would it one day ? What if she was a bad mother ? She took care of her brothers but that wasn't the same. Now the baby would depend on her and solely her for months, maybe years... She won't be able to work anymore, just like Chizuru-neechan. Souji would work and come back only in the evening. He would see all the good sides of being a parent and she would see all the rest, taking care of it days and nights... That was freaking scary in the end. She felt guilty for months about not being able to offer a child to Souji and now that it was there, she wanted to take the herbs again and never have it. Seriously, what was wrong with her sick mind ?
« What's the problem ? » asked Souji seriously, plunging inquisitive emerald eyes into her saphire ones.
« I'm... It's stupid but I'm scared. » she blushed.
« Good. » he chuckled « that means I'm allowed to freak out too. »
« You don't look like you're freaking out. » she protested.
« Oh but I am. » he smiled « Seriously, this is goddamn scary. I'm not even capable of taking care of myself. »
« You... You don't want it ? » she asked shyly « I mean, it's okay if you don't want it... You don't have to pretend anything... »
« I'm happy. » he repeated « I'm happy and I want that baby. Don't you dare get rid of it. »
« I wasn't planning to... » she muttered.
« Good. » he brushed his fingers on her cheek « You kill it, I kill you. By the way, is it only because I'm so happy that I find you even more beautiful than before ? And can I still touch you or would that hurt the baby ? Damn, I have so many questions... but one is really more important than all the others. »
« Which one ? » she asked, unassured.
« Can I be the one to tell Hajime-kun ? » he smiled wryly.
« If you do it right... » she shrinked her eyes, suspicious « If you're only gonna pick on him, don't even think about it. »
« I'll do it right. » he winked « trust me. »
« I don't. » she frowned.
Souji kissed her forehead and looked at the naginata he brought home for her before he sighed heavily.
« My present sucks so much compared to yours... Are you gonna quit at the dojo ? » he asked bluntly.
« At some point, I think I'll have to... » she sighed unhappily « but for now, I feel pretty well. My body hasn't really started changing. »
« You should quit now. » he stated « I don't want you to do anything that could endanger the child. »
« It's fine. » she frowned « I still have time. »
« We need to go and tell Hajime-kun now. » he said, pulling on her hand while putting his boots back on.
« What ? Why ? » she asked, confused « We should maybe wait. It's too early to tell everyone... »
« I've seen Chizuru loose the first. » he stated with a somber expression « I was there and I helped her hide her pregnancy to everyone. I saw her push herself too far. You're gonna be under high surveillance and not only by me. No way I let you act recklessly and I have no idea what you might be doing while I'm at work. This is my child we're talking about. »
« Our child. » she corrected.
« Yeah. » he smiled, his expression softening « Yeah, our child. I love you... Thank you... Put your sandals on or I'm going alone. »
« Souji... »
« Don't 'Souji' me... » he ordered softly « not this time. Please. »
« But... »
He pulled on her hand again and she followed him to the inn. She knew there was no point in arguing. His mind was set and she was already lucky he wasn't having a more extreme behaviour in his desire to protect his child. An afraid Souji was scary, he could go to lengths considered abnormal and immoral by the common sense. His fear of abandon was now directed on his child. If it were not to survive, Souji would turn to beast, no doubt in that. Maybe she shouldn't have told him.
« Welcome ! » greeted Tama with a smile « you're here early. Do you want some tea ? »
« Yes please » smiled Souji « and can I see Hajime-kun ? »
« He's in the kitchen. » she bowed « I'm gonna ask him to join you. »
Souji thanked her and sat at a table with Haruhi.
« Is tea okay ? » he asked, concerned « wouldn't plain water be better ? Do you have cravings ? »
« I'm fine... » she sighed « everything's fine ? »
« Are you hungry ? » he continued « You need to eat for two now. Do you want something sugary ? Salty ? Maybe just rice ? »
« I'm fine, Souji ! » she yelled « Gods, will you just leave me be ?! »
Souji frowned and closed himself like an oyster, pouting.
« Sorry... » she muttered « Just that... I'm already putting a lot of pressure on myself okay ? And I don't need you to add some more... »
« I was just supportive... » he pouted « sorry for caring. »
« That's not what I mean... » she held her head in her palms, elbows resting on the table « Just be normal... »
« Souji, Haruhi. » said Hajime, putting the tray with the two teas on the table.
« Ah ! Hajime-kun ! » smiled Souji genuinely « sit with us. »
« I'm afraid I am quite busy at that time of the day. » he said calmly « I unfortunately have to decline. »
« You're gonna be a grandfather. » said Souji without preliminary small talk.
Hajime froze, his expression unreadable and he took a few seconds to let the information sink in himself. He turned to his daughter, a silent question in his gaze, and she nodded with a small smile.
« How long ? » he said as first words and his voice was a bit bitter than usual but still toneless.
« I don't know... » she confessed « a month for sure, maybe nearly two. »
« Good. » he simply said.
« Oh ! Look how happy he is ! » grinned Souji, taking his friend by the shoulders « My assiduous incessant efforts are finally paying, isn't that great ?! »
Hajime didn't answer and got out of Souji's grip to get back to the kitchen.
« Well done, Souji ! » said Haruhi.
« Don't worry, kitten. He's beyond happy. » he smiled.
« It doesn't seem like it ! Did you really have to mention 'assiduous incessant efforts' ?! »
She was cut by the small clac of a tray carrying a sake bottle and cups that Hajime had brought to their table.
« Drinks on me. » he said in his deep toneless voice « it is a blessing. May it be healthy. »
« Thanks, Hajime-kun. » smiled Souji widely.
The latter nodded and poured sake for everyone, including Tama and Momoiro and Chizuru who joined later. Even the seven years old Ayame got the right to taste. The boy spitted it all out and Souji mocked him. Turned out that Hajime really was happy to become a grandfather. Who would have guessed ?