The Ordinary Life of Chizuru Yukimura

Disclaimer: Hakuouki isn't mine.

Chizuru woke up the next morning with a pounding headache and a tight grip around her waist. What with Souji's weirdness and all, she had been unable to stop her frazzled brain from going into some kind of embarrassment-induced meltdown. This would lead to a problematic enough awakening, but when she opened her eyes and discovered that the grip on her waist was Shin, then she really lost it.

What is he doing? Why is he nuzzling me? Wait… Won't he be able to feel my… err… parts? She really hoped not. No matter how small they were, they could not be mistaken for muscle if you touched them.

Shin was making grumbling sounds and drooling slightly on to her shirt. It was one of those days when Chizuru knew she was going to hate getting out of bed. As far as she could tell, everyone else was still asleep so there could be time to extricate herself before anyone noticed. Easier said than done when the guy had a vicelike grip.

Trying to wriggle her way out made no real difference to the situation and his hands were firmly locked in place so shifting him wasn't really doing much either. It appeared she had to wake him up. Without waking up anyone else. Great.

"Shin? Shin? Please wake up." She tried poking him lightly, shaking him a little, even slapping him. He shifted and she waited hopefully.

"Mm… Kaori-chan…" Ugh. This was really not a good time to be mistaken for her brother. Even if the fact that he was clearly having dreams about him was pretty funny.

"Shin you brick! Wake up!" Why me? Heisuke is right there!

At this point she gave up trying to be gentle with Shin. OK he was asleep and this would hurt him but she was stuck in an awkward situation and he was the cause of it. With both hands gripping each of his arms, Chizuru started pushing on them, trying to loosen the hold enough for her to slip out safely. It wasn't really doing much since he was so damn strong.

Chizuru suddenly froze. There was a prickling sensation at the back of her neck as if something was watching her. Slowly turning her head, she saw Sano, sitting up in his bedroll and staring at this weird display.

"Sano-senpai!" she whispered desperately. "Help me!"

This was too much for Sano who had to bury his face in his hands to avoid the explosive laugh from bursting forth. Chizuru scowled as her face heated up from the humiliation of being caught. But at least it was him and not-.

Click. Chizuru had not seen Souji coming until he had appeared at the end of the bed with a phone in his hand and a smirk on his face.

"Stop doing that and help me!" I can barely look at him right now… Why did he have to say that last night?

"Help you say?" Oh no. That was not a good smile that he was doing. Souji cleared his throat. "Shin! Wake up you lazy shit!"

Yes that was technically doing what she had asked him to do. And yes, he did get the desired result in awakening the sleeping chokehold. But did he have to shout so loudly?

"What the hell?"

"What are you doing?!"

"I was helping Ruo of course." Shin had released her by this point and she had flung herself to one side. This only drew more attention.

"How?" Hijikata looked pissed. That wasn't good.

"Shin had a hold of him. And he called him 'Kaori-chan'." You were listening this whole time? Heisuke immediately started laughing while Shin turned a rather spectacular post box red colour.

"Shut up Heisuke!" Shin and Chizuru temporarily made eye contact and then quickly shifted away.

"You really thought he was his sister?"

"I was asleep! I don't know!" Curse you Kaoru, you devious shit! And you! She glared at Souji. I will get you for this! As if he was reading her thoughts (possibly something he could do), Souji smirked.

"So what type of dream were you having? Was poor Ruo about to lose his innocence?" Sano smirked and Chizuru bundled herself under the covers.

"I was just dreaming about the date! God, you guys!" She really had to feel for Shin at this point. It was not easy dealing with these assholes.

"Aww… Shin is in love." She couldn't help the pang of guilt that hit her at this. If he really cared about Kaoru, he'd be crushed when he found out the truth.

"Sh-Shut up! At least I have a girlfriend!"

"And he admits it! You have become conceited."

"Yeah, show off jerk!"

"You asshole!"

"Ugh. Guys, just stop. It's too early for me to be mothering you." And even Hijikata had given up on them.

-Page Break-

"Ow!"

"Oops. Sorry about that."

"That's OK…" Damn. Wake up! A hard hit to the arm had been a good reminder that sleep deprivation was a terrible idea on a school trip. Luckily Saito wasn't taking the piss out of her for it; she had been fortunate enough to get a considerate sparring partner.

"OK, time for a break guys." The timing could not have been better and she slumped down with a sigh. Her muscles were so achy and she could barely lift her arms while wearing the armour.

"We need snacks!"

"Shut it Heisuke."

"What kind of school trip doesn't have snacks?!"

"Such a brat."

"You can go get them then."

"But my legs hurt!" Sano threw an empty water bottle at his head. "Hey!"

"If you want it, you get it!"

"I don't mind going." Chizuru was tired but she could get out of the armour. And she could escape from hearing about how cute her 'sister' was.

"Love you Ruo."

"At least one of our first years is reliable." Heisuke pouted.

"You guys are always picking on me!"

Although it was hot as hell today (especially in the practice rooms with faulty air conditioning), there was a light breeze today that made walking outside a pleasant experience. Chizuru just felt pleased to be out of her heavy clothes. And she could have been alone too. Though she knew that one of them would have followed. They didn't have to jump out from a bush though.

"How did you get there?"

"Climbed a wall. It was worth it." Sano did have to pick bits of hedge from his hair. "I need the break, let me come with."

"I won't complain." It wouldn't do any good to complain. And Sano wasn't too bad to be around. "So, what's bothering the lovely lady then?"

"Don't call me that!" He just laughed at her spluttering.

"Sorry. Couldn't resist. You just looked so out of it."

"Didn't sleep."

"Yeah, no one can when they're being smothered by Shin. I feel sorry for 'Kaori-chan'."

"Yeah…" It wasn't Kaoru she felt sorry for. Though if Shin gripped him with a death grip in bed, it would make her smile.

"Is that bothering you?"

"A little bit…"

"Shin probably won't be too angry when he finds out."

"It's not that… What if he gets hurt? And I didn't tell him." From what she could tell, it had been really hard for Shin to tell Kaoru he liked him. Once he found out the truth, he could be really hurt. What if didn't trust anyone again?

"Shin isn't that weak. And if we tell him the truth, Kaoru will know what happened."

"Exactly my problem." Chizuru sighed. "What do I do?"

"You could talk to Kaoru?" That had been something she didn't want to do. "He's your twin, right? Aren't you close?"

"Sometimes…." She was never sure nowadays since he had gotten quite moody lately. "What would I say?"

"How would I know?"

"Good point…" They walked past a pair of girls chatting and once again she felt envious. It was nice to just be yourself; something she had always taken for granted.

"People are gonna think you're weird if you just stare at them like that." The girls did look confused and Chizuru quickly looked ahead, blushing a little.

"I was just a little jealous… They get to be themselves…"

"Hmm… Well, do you still act like yourself?"

"What?"

"I mean, has your personality changed?" Chizuru blinked.

"No…" She hadn't really had to change herself at all.

"So you're still yourself, you're just dressing differently."

"That's a nice way of thinking about it." It did make her feel more positive about the situation.

"I am nice! Don't sound so surprised."

"Sorry…" She was just too used to him being rude to people. But then, he could be sensible really.

"Maybe you should find out why Kaoru is dating Shin. Like does he like him or is it just for cover?"

"I think I'll try that." It was doubtful that she could persuade him to break it off if it wasn't serious though.

"Any more problems while we're at it? Any traumas?" He looked strangely excited.

"You like gossip don't you?"

"A bit… Keeps me amused, y'know?" Sano had the decency to look a little ashamed of his motives.

"I get what you mean…" She did it too.

"Right? So? Why are you avoiding my bro Souji?" He noticed. Without much time to stop herself, she started to blush. "Was it the bath thing? He was pretty close?"

"Kinda…" This was, after all the only person who understood the situation. "Have I been obviously avoiding him?"

"Only if you know what to look for."

"Or if you're nosy."

"That too." Sano grinned. "Anyway, what's the deal?"

"I haven't been that close to a naked guy since my brother and I were tiny kids and had baths together. So that's kind of it… I guess?"

"Ha. Well my bro is pretty fine. If I wasn't so into women, he could turn me." Chizuru snorted at the image of Sano and Souji together. It would be a terrible combination.

"Yeah it is funny."

"Sorry… I just imagined how much you guys would screw with everyone."

"Oh a lot. It would be fun~. So any other reason?" Chizuru gulped.

"Umm… It's stupid…" She was just over-reacting really. Souji was always making comments like that.

"Continue." She sighed.

"He, err…. Said I wasn't too bad to look at…. I know he probably does it a lot but it surprised me…" And then she braced herself for teasing.

"Aww. That's kind of cute."

"Shut up Sano."

"Heisuke is such a bad influence on you."

"I also got it from Shin." Not really something to be proud of.

"Not used to being called pretty then?"

"Not really." She didn't care too much usually.

"I guess it is weird if you're not used to it."

"And I never know what Souji is thinking. Or why he's doing it."

"Yeah he's a bit of a troll. Hijikata knows him best and even he struggles so I wouldn't feel bad."

"So I shouldn't take it too seriously?"

"Maybe? Hmmm… I'd ask him."

"How?" It could be embarrassing if he'd just forgotten.

"Go over and ask? Seriously, he's nice enough, he'll tell you."

"I'll try…" When hell freezes over maybe.