November 1876
Tensions in the west were growing stronger. Souji told her there had been battles already with rebellions in various prefectures. Kumamoto, Fukuoka and Yamaguchi all rebelled and were crushed pretty easily by the imperial government. For the moment, there was no need for reinforcements. Haruhi feared Souji could go to war and leave her alone with Katsu. What if he were never to return ? Would the kami allow her to get back to the mirror a second time to get him back ? Or would Katsu have to grow up without a father ?
She was a nice child. One month old and not a bother at all. She was sleeping a lot, crying only when she was hungry or had other needs. Her eyes, they truly were something. They were sparkling all the time with humor and curiosity, as if she was mocking everyone already. Her father was right, she was Papa's girl.
Haruhi loved her, more than she thought was possible. She knew that when the child would be there, she would mean the world to Souji. Yet she never expected that she could mean the world to her as well. She never thought she could love someone as deeply as she loved her husband but that was before she met Katsu. In the end, she wasn't sucking that much at being a mother.
Souji was often complaining that his daughter wasn't growing fast enough. He wanted her to walk and speak already so he could play with her and do all sorts of things. Haruhi was gently chuckling and telling him that he was saying that now, but soon enough, he would complain that she was growing too fast. Maybe they'll marry her to Ayame or Kaede one day, she commented snidely, they had no link of blood. Souji frowned at the idea and told her that he'd rather not kill these poor boys but that he would, if one of them dared lay his hands on Katsu. That girl would stay a virgin all her life and care for her Papa. Period. He would be the only man in her life. Funny for a man who was about to offer in marriage his « daughter » Tama but Souji's possessiveness was old news.
Tsunashi Tama and Mouri Takashi's wedding had been prepared for a long time but since Souji was supposed to go as Tama's adoptive father and Haruhi was pregnant and assigned to the house, it had been delayed. Now that little Katsu was there, the ceremony could be held.
The Tsunashi family went to the farm to meet the Mouri and make arrangements for the wedding. Unlucky coincidence, the groom's father was the farmer whose Souji cut down a pig at the market, which didn't really help everyone to feel comfortable. Takashi's parents apologized hands and knees on the ground for their son to be undisciplined enough to ask for a woman like Tama, out of his league, and thanked Souji for not killing him for that affront and accepting the marriage. Haruhi talked in his place most of the time, her husband absently looking at the window where he could see the chicken and the porks, clenching his fists but dominating his rage. He owed that to Tama after what he did to her. In the afterlife, he probably would have to face Kondou's wrath. Perhaps making things right now could make the latter less angry that Souji forced himself on his daughter.
Just like the first time, Haruhi helped her friend to prepare. Souji payed for her attire and her trousseau even if he was very disgruntled to offer a samurai daughter trousseau to a mere farmboy. Haruhi tried to reassure him, telling him Kondou would have approved and that it was wonderful that Tama could marry for love, but nothing could soothe his worried mind.
Tama was radiant. She sewed herself her wedding attire with the fabric she chose. She was really happy to marry Takashi and was coping perfectly with Souji's pouting attitude. Her wedding outfit was simple and that annoyed her adoptive father even more but he guessed she wouldn't need an ostentatious kimono in a farm. It wasn't a furisode with long sleeves since she was a divorced woman and it was red, orange and yellow with autumn leaves all over it and a simple orange obi that she would easily reuse on a daily basis.
The temple ceremony went well although Souji nearly strangled himself with the sake and the words offering his daughter to Takashi. The step family, although unassured, didn't stutter when they accepted Souji's gift. When they were over with it, he was the first to get out, needing a bit of time to realize what he just did. Haruhi, holding Katsu in her arms, came to join her husband under a red cherry tree, leaves dancing in the wind as nature was slowly dying, ready to be born again in the spring.
« Are you okay ? » she asked, taking her husband's hand in hers.
« Yeah... » he sighed « Now it's done anyway. Tama better be goddamn happy otherwise I will never forgive myself for giving her away like that. »
« She'll be happy. » smiled Haruhi « She's in love. »
« Porks... » muttered Souji « fucking porks and chicken... For Kondou's daughter. »
« I know... » she sighed « you repeat that everyday. »
« Yeah, well, fuck these porks. » he stated.
His gaze traveled to little Katsu and he took her off Haruhi's arms, putting her face in front of his.
« You never do that to Papa, you understand ? » he warned « You choose a samurai. No. You don't choose anyone and you stay with Papa. You bring a man home and I kill you both. »
« Souji ! » scolded Haruhi « don't tell your daughter you're gonna kill her ! »
Katsu giggled, completely oblivious to the death threat and just happy to have her father smirking at her. Faintly, the same smirk drew on her face and Souji grinned wider.
« She's too perfect. » he chuckled, looking at Haruhi « Ne, when are we getting back to work, Haru-chan ? I want a thousand of these. »
« Hum... I don't know... » she blushed.
Although it had been weeks, Souji and her hadn't been intimate yet. She wasn't feeling ready, in her flesh and in her mind. She was afraid it could not be healed enough and it was difficult to feel desired in her new role as a mother. Souji was telling her he loved her despite this flaccid belly and that she was still as desirable as before and yet, part of her wasn't really believing him when she was seeing herself in the mirror. She tried to get a flat stomach again, training restlessly when her daughter was sleeping but even if she got her abs back and lost some weight, the skin was still so loose... Not like the firm, soft skin she had before and that Souji used to compliment. She was feeling ugly.
She tried to speak to Chizuru about it, asking her if it was normal that she wasn't desiring Souji's touch anymore but Chizuru was an Oni. Her body had never been impacted by her pregnancies and she healed very fast. For Ayame, she made love only four days after the birth, for Tsubaki, it was the night after. She told her not to worry though, desire would come back and her ugliness was only in her head. In fact, she told her lots of men were thinking their wives were even more desirable with that little pouch, proof of their mother status.
« Ara, I'm joking, Haru-chan » smiled Souji, rocking Katsu in his arms « What would I do with a thousand babies ? That would be exhausting. We'd better wait a little. »
« O... Okay... » she stuttered, eager to change the subject « we should get moving, Souji. I wanna go back to our home first to check if Katsu needs changing and feed her in peace. We are gonna get late to the party already. »
« At least, the party's food will be good... » he sighed, playing with his fingers, Katsu catching them in reflex « porks and chickens... »
« Stop it... » she complained, lifting her gaze to the sky.
She extended her hands for Souji to give her their daughter but her husband just huffed and started walking. Haruhi smiled and followed, listening to him talk to the small being.
« Grow up, you little rat ! » he was ordering her « Even a dog knows more tricks than you... Maybe I should sell you and take a dog instead... »
« Souji ! » she scolded again.
« Oopsie... » he whispered like a conspirator « Mama heard us. »
Haruhi knew he was joking but it was still annoying her. She had been sold as a kid. Making jokes about selling their daughter wasn't funny. They arrived to their home and Souji gave her back the baby so she could take care of her needs. When they were ready, they took the direction of Mouri's farm for the party.
« Congratulations, Tama. » smiled Haruhi to her friend.
« Ah... Thanks... » she smiled shyly, playing nervously with her hands « thank you for... Letting me... »
« No problem. » replied Souji with a nod « I owed you one. »
« We... can say we're... even... now. » she chuckled nervously.
Tama seemed happy but there was something sad and melancholic in her gaze. She was looking around her everywhere, scrutinizing the guests. The Fujita were there and also her collegue, Momoiro, but she wasn't searching for them.
« Is there a problem, Tama ? » asked Haruhi, concerned.
« I... no. » she shook her head « it's stupid but... I sent a letter to my mother and... I hoped maybe she would have come so we could... you know... get along again... but... she didn't even reply... »
« Ara, she's probably still mad. » shrugged Souji with a smile « don't worry about her Tama-chan. It's a happy day. »
Haruhi looked at her husband from the corner of her eye but said nothing. His assurance was impressive. He really was a good liar, she should keep that in mind. He didn't even flinch when he said that to Tama.
« I'm worried something happened to her... » continued Tama « we burned the Shieikan, that left her with nothing... How was she supposed to survive, without ressources, without a husband, a son or a daughter to marry ? »
« Ne, you know what ? » said Souji with a smile « I'll go check on her from afar, okay ? I'll tell you if something happened. »
« You would do that ? » smiled the bride, enthusiastic « that would be wonderful, Souji ! »
« Then it's settled. » he grinned « I'll go back to Hino as soon as I can and bring you back some news. Now smile, Tama-chan. You're prettier when you do ! »
« Okay ! » she chuckled « thank you very much, Souji ! »
Tama took him in her arms and hugged him. At first startled, he patted her head like a big brother and she detached herself to greet the Fujita, leaving the Tsunashi to enjoy the party.
« I know what you did. » said Haruhi, just so it could be clear between the both of them.
« Don't tell her. » he said calmly as if he always knew « some people are too pure for this world. Tama is one of them. »
Haruhi nodded even if she didn't like the idea to hide something like that to her friend but she knew that it would destroy her.
« What are you gonna say to her ? » she asked « You're not gonna go to Hino. »
« Nope. » he shook his head « I don't know yet but I'm probably gonna invent an illness of some kind. Otherwise, she might wanna come back to Hino at some point to reconcile with her mother and then, she'll find out. I haven't been very discreet. »
« Okay... » muttered Haruhi, cradling her own daughter in her arms.
Even if Tsune had been a snake, her reasons were understandable. Part of Haruhi couldn't help but wonder if she could share the same fate one day, especially if Souji was sent to war. Could she then fall low enough to use her daughter to insure her own survival ?
« You have nothing in common with Tsune. » stated Souji as if he had deciphered her inner turmoil « and I forbid you to give her to anyone. »
Haruhi raised her gaze and smiled to her husband who passed an arm around her waist, holding close the two women of his life. Grinning, he guided her to the banquet so they could feast on these damn porks and chickens, that Tama seemed to like that much.