A/N: plaid skirts are always in style around these parts
…
He was always doing this to her-this push and pull routine that reminded her so often of the waves on the beach. Her lover was patient in the beginning, hesitant after awhile, and an official tease as of today. Chizuru was at a loss with trying to figure out what was going on in his head. She didn't know how to explain the coiling of heat in her belly everytime she found herself along with him-her homeroom teacher. Her boyfriend, Harada Sanosuke. She didn't know how to ask for something she didn't know she might want, after all. But this pace was starting to drive her insane with anticipation. Was it intentional?
Her mind was wandering again but her lips were growing accustomed to this routine well. Harada liked to nibble on her bottom lip a lot, and he liked to hear her make noise. The house was quiet-so today as she found herself under this man again, she let herself be vocal. Anything to make sure he wouldn't stop touching her like this.
A movie, that's what he'd suggested. They couldn't be outside much like other couples, after all. ("Unless you had plans?" "N-no, it's fine...Kaoru's studying with Saitou-senpai until seven.") She didn't know if Heisuke had practice still though, so they entered the Yukimura residence sneakily through the back like love-stricken teenagers.
He brought her a popular, expensive cake she had mentioned last week with him as a present and they made a lofty lounge space out of her bed cushions on the floor. To his credit though, they actually did watch the film the entire way through the first time. It wasn't long-more of a documentary than an actual film, and lasted only 45 minutes so they decided to replay it again since they ended up doing so much talking on the first viewing. It was the kind of movie that Chizuru typically didn't care for but her boyfriend actually was a history buff outside of school too, and she found it much too endearing not to indulge him a bit.
Indulge. Is that what she was doing, even now? She could feel the fabric of his pant leg slide so evenly between her two bare thighs that the sigh escaping her mouth allowed enough space for his pressing tongue to slip in. Chizuru's hands went up and encircled around his neck, encouragingly. She opened her mouth, and didn't resist the hands on her face, neck, and shoulders. It was as far as he dared to go and she shamefully was already feeling electrified by it.
He had said it was her fault for so casually her legs over his while they watched the screen, chatting. She told him that it had just slipped her mind-she didn't mean anything by it, really. He was just comfortable to lean on. ("Oh, is that so?") Then he tugged on the hem of her skirt, told her how good she looked in it. ("Do you watch me?" "Sometimes.") Did she care to watch the entire movie over again, truly? She told him no, of course not.
Was he distracting her? Yes. ("O-of course not!") The magic answer to the question in his eyes, he needed permission first always. Didn't he know already how devoted he had made her become already? She was utterly his. How else could he be so able to roll over on top of her easily and fit their bodies together like puzzle pieces. She was even bold enough to kiss him him first now.
It was getting easier to do. The first time Harada-sensei was bold enough to steal a kiss from her in that classroom that fateful Valentine's Day she was so nervous her lips had quivered under his before she went completely still. Sometimes he'll tease her about it. He was still ever so patient with her though-if not a bit pressing to teach her how to kiss him properly. Chizuru was already in too deep, even then. And now, she folded easily beneath him on instinct. A simple look from him gave her heat now. She craved it.
"Ah-ah!" Chizuru's mouth widened enough for small moans to slip through as she squirmed against the warmth of his thigh. "I-"
"No, no-don't," her redheaded lover murmured in-between kisses. When he pulled back from her his golden eyes shone with a gentle understanding swirling in a whirpool of lust. "Not yet."
Chizuru bit back a whine and pulled down on his shoulders. He wasn't moved. She started blinking the passion out of her eyes to see him clearly. Strands of errant red hair stuck to his forehead damp with perspiration and more strewn about from her absent finger combing, but his eyes remained as piercing and unobstructed. She blushed under his gaze, and wiggled against him again looking for a reaction. When she found the evidence she was searching for she giggled softly, small puffs of air hitting his face only inches away from hers still. At least she could confirm she wasn't the only one feeling this way, too.
His face started to color as he clicked his tongue at her in reprimand. It wasn't fair. He was heavy to hold like this, Kaoru would come home soon, and she was being pliant enough to learn to melt like butter in his embrace-why did he still treat her like such a child sometimes? She never protested, but it did wound her ego some that this was usually as far as he would take it. Always bringing her to the edge, and never over; this compressional rhythm Chizuru found herself in nearly every evening after school was starting to drive the girl insane. But even so, any attention from him she ate up greedily. She wanted his notice now at all times. She hated being at this disadvantage and yet she allowed herself over and over to be led to the edge of the cliff. This had to be on purpose. He could feel it too, couldn't he?
Her head tilted against the pillow he had so lovingly cradled underneath her head before they began. Something in her mind clicked. "'Not yet'?" She echoed, confused. "Then...when?"
His blush darkened, and she took the opportunity to gently entwine her fingers in his red locks as he stammered out an answer. "W-When? Well, I mean, uh-"
The moment was interrupted by gunfire exploding across the screen, making them both jump instinctively. Harada turned his head towards the television, the blood and gore splashing across the screen. A perfect way to break the tension it seemed. He turned back towards Chizuru, and they shared a laugh...and a few more kisses.
"Over here - pass it!"
"-Oi! Let's pick up the pace here - you're letting him run circles around you! Where's the passion!?"
"Y-Yes coach!"
Sanosuke's eyes followed with mild interest as the lanky, sweaty basketball team members danced like bees around each other from either side of the court with grunts or yells, and that ever present squeaking of sneakers that was beginning to grate his nerves. He was itching to leave, but…
Gold eyes flashed upward in his friend's direction with a guilty irritation. "How long do I have to sit here with you, Shin?" It was humid and boisterous in the gymnasium, and here he was propped up against the wall sunk down to the floor lazily after accepting that this surveillance by Shinpachi was not going to end anytime soon. Of all people. He had been trying to avoid this for days. It was inevitable, though. There was no way his best friend was not going to ask why the only female student in the school got caught straddling her history teacher after-school.
Can't blame him.
The brunette in question snapped his head around to Sanosuke with lightning speed. "Until you tell me exactly what the hell has been going on?! When are we gonna talk about-"
"Shh, damnit!" Sanosuke interrupted harshly, his eyes pacing back and forth to spot any potential listeners. "Not here we aren't, moron!"
"-Huh? Ah, oh, don't worry about it, they can't hear you. That's why I chose basketball practice, duh. Besides I'm broke until Thursday so no bar hopping for me until then." Shinpachi patted his chest with pride. "Smart, right? Now spill the details-how the hell did you even convince someone like her to choose you? Heisuke will die."
The redhead rolled his eyes in exasperation, then flustered slightly. For the first time, he actually felt like he was in high school, gossiping about girls with Shin like this. It didn't settle right with him to be discussing Chizuru like this though...damn him for not checking that lock first.
"Why do you gotta know so bad?" He replied testily, his gaze downcast. He wasn't in the mood for a lecture; especially not from his best friend. He wasn't good at explaining his feelings all that well, either. But Sanosuke has always had a reputation for being somewhat of a "loverboy"-why is it unusual for him to have a partner? Because she was younger this time? It was Chizuru! They all loved her-she was a good girl, and a perfect partner for him! Why couldn't he just understand?
Shinpachi narrowed his eyes. "'Why?!' I can't believe you'd keep something like this from me! Aren't I your best friend? Have you even thought about the consequences of something like this? Or explored the reason why you decided no one your age was good enough so you had to risk your entire career for-"
"-for Chizuru? That's simple." Sanosuke finished firmly with lips drawn tight in a hidden snarl, daring the brunette to say something disparaging about his 'secret' girlfriend. "She's mine now."
He ignored the exasperated sigh out of his friend. Everything Shinpachi had said up until then wasn't wrong though, technically. This type of information in the wrong hands would cost them both-dearly. And he didn't want to jeopardize anything for Chizuru, of course. But what else was he supposed to do? He had fallen for her too quickly and too intensely, as if he had known her forever the second she arrived on the first day of his homeroom class. But the minute she expressed that she could return his feelings made all of the trouble seem so insignificant to the opportunity to make her his. This was both risky and dangerous and exciting and-worth it.
Shinpachi stared at him hard for a moment, then sighed. "Hijikata is going to skin you alive if he finds out before graduation." The brunette's blue eyes flashed towards something in the corner of the gymnasium.
"Oi! Did I say it was break time?! Get back in there!"
He was right-Hijikata would rip him a new one after probably yanking the thing off him for good measure. And Serizawa? Forget it. He'd never work in this city as a teacher again. Sanosuke ran a hand through his hair with force, pulling on the ends. It was getting long again, but he didn't want to trim it just yet-Chizuru was fond of pulling on it lately. A sneaky smile tugged at the edge of his mouth at the memory that he quickly smothered when Shinpachi's focus returned to him.
He sighed. "What are you going to do now?" His arms made a vague gesture.
Sanosuke shrugged. "I'm going to ask her to marry me when she's done with school. Until then...wait, I guess."
Shinpachi crossed his arms and closed his eyes, considering the answer. It was a weak answer, Sanosuke knew that, but the truth nonetheless. He wouldn't lie to his friend.
When he spoke again, his tone was unusually clear, and Sanosuke knows he only ever used this voice when he was being absolutely serious. "I've ain't never known you to be a patient one, Sano."
This made the history teacher give a snort of laughter unexpectedly. "Maybe so." He intended to try, at least. He decided to change the subject for now.
"Why are we even here in the first place?! Do they even know you aren't a real gym teacher?"
Shinpachi grinned. "No-and don't blow my cover, either. Hijikata never looks for me here and I can gamble in peace!"
"Idiot."
these are cross posted on ao3 net too, and on my other account i do have other stories in different fandoms to check out as well! in case anybody was interested. i know the hakuouki fandom is kinda small so sometimes its weird posting all my plot bunnies at once, but there is more diversity on other sites, so you are a hardcore fan like myself - don't stop searching! we're out there :) as always, notes and kudos are appreciated ! ~SQ