Haruhi grunted in pain as she was slammed to the floor on her back. She looked up and Mitsukuni who was grinning at her. She moaned in pain as she rolled to her side and got back up. She was currently at the Morinozuka/Haninozuka dojo, going through the paces with Takashi and Mitsukuni.
They had been teaching her martial arts for the past three years. They decided to train her when she was attacked at the beach in Okinawa.
Haruhi was a fast learner and was very dedicated.
"Nice try, Haru-chan. Do you want to try again?" Mitskuni grinned down at her. Takashi looked across the room with his father and uncle and moved to join them.
"She is getting better." Yorihisa Haninozuka, Mitsukuni's father murmured as he watched Haruhi get back in her fighting stance.
"She had a lot of spirit, I will give her that. For someone so tiny, she never gives up." Akira Morinozuka, Takashi's father chucked as he watched Haruhi attack Hani again.
They continued to watch as Haruhi twisted her body, avoiding Mitskuni's attacks. She was focused on what he would do next. She had yet to best him or Mitsukuni, but she had only been doing this for three years and they have been doing this all their lives.
Mitskuni lunged forward and Haruhi jumped into the air, and flipped over his back, using him as a springboard to land behind him.
He chuckled as he faced her. "That's much better, Haru-chan."
Haruhi grinned as she stayed in her fighting stance. There had been times when she relaxed her guard and they would attack her again. "Thank you, sensei."
Akira snorted as he watched Haruhi. "She may be tiny, but she will be fierce someday. What do you think, Takashi?"
Takashi watched them, and he nodded his head. "Yes, father. She does not have the body size, but I think it works in her favour. She is able to use that to her advantage now. Mitsukuni and I have been working hard with her. She wants to top out in martial arts, and we are willing to take this as far as she wants to go."
"Excellent. I believe she would make a fine Morinozuka someday, what do you think Yori?" Akira looked over at his brother-in-law with a grin.
"Agreed, we need to see how this plays out. I'm sure Takashi is smart enough to want to claim her as his"
Yarihisa slid his eyes over to Takashi who stiffened."Father."
Akira raises his hand to keep him from speaking. "I know, we just wanted to let you and Mitsukuni know she has been accepted into this family, and our hopes are she will become a true family member someday," he said with a chuckle.
Akira watched his son closely to see what his response would be.
Takashi kept his face blank, but his heart was thundering in his chest. Had he shown his true feelings for Haruhi where his father and uncle had noticed? He thought that he kept those thoughts and desires under his control.
His father nodded once, his eyes sliding from his frozen form, and then back to Haruhi.
The sparring session came to an end and Mitsukuni pulled Haruhi into a tight hug. "You did well, Haru-chan. Now go change and we will go to the hot springs out back together and loosen those muscles."
Haruhi chuckled as she rubbed her shoulder. "Thank you, sensei. I will be out shortly." Haruhi bowed and jogged to the changing area.
Mitskuni walked up to where his uncle, father and Takashi were standing to the side. "Did you see how much she has improved, father?" he grinned.
"Yes, Akira and I were just talking to Takashi about her becoming a permanent part of the family." Yori raised an eyebrow at his son.
He chuckled at his father. "Father, who said anything about that? Haruhi is our best friend."
Yori snorted. "Say what you like, but Akira and I have both seen the way Takashi looks at her. Do you not approve?"
Mitsukuni looked at him for a moment before he looked at their fathers. "I do. Now that I'm dating and have a contract to marry, I think it's time for Takashi to find his happiness. I no longer need him to watch over me."
"No one has ever needed to watch over you," Yori said with a small chuckle. "But, yes, I think it's time, son, for Takashi to find a wife."
Takashi swallowed reflexively. It was true that he had deep feelings for the tiny host, but he didn't want to speak those words and ruin everything. He wanted her any way he could get her. If that was only watching from a distance, and being there for her as her best friend, then so be it.
He turned the others out as they spoke about her, his eyes trained on the room she slipped into to change. He didn't want to chance her overhearing them and yelling at him when they were alone. She had a spirit about her that he loved. He knew she didn't wish for her life to be dictated.
He frowned. He highly doubted he would find anyone else like Haruhi. His family and Mitsukuni accepted her. He knew that he would have to get both families' blessings for any wife he would want. It was the way things were for him. Should he try to follow his heart and let her know that he loved her?
He didn't care about her commoner status. He loved that she worked hard, and was compassionate to everyone, even the rich bastards, that he was part of. She didn't judge anyone on their status or upbringing.
"Takashi!" His father's voice was a reprimand and a command.
He blinked and turned his focus to his father.
"I said this weekend may be a good time to let her know. Perhaps you could set up an appointment with Ranka to let him know your attention?"
His face was smooth when he answered, "Ranka is going out of town this weekend, and he'll be working all week."
"Hmm," his father said. "Perhaps when he comes back then."
Takashi gave a shot nod and Mitsukuni grinned at him. His cousin knew of his feelings of course and had encouraged him, too. Haruhi loved them both, but as what? Friends, best friends?
"Here she comes. Go and relaxed," his father said. "We'll discuss this further when you return from your trip."
Takashi bowed shortly and with Mitsukuni guided Haruhi to the small hot springs they had on their property.
He had some thinking to do.
