Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or the Prince of Tennis!
...
...
"Uh-oh," Momoshiro said. "This is bad."
"Mm," Hari nodded and frowned a little. "Ryo-chan needs to think of something quick."
She had a feeling that they hadn't even seen Seiichi's tennis yet either, until now he had just returned what Ryoma did and focused on that. Had Seiichi's talents always been that overpowered?
"But to think Echizen is using the aura at will." Fuji commented. "That's impressive."
Hari smiled a little as she looked at her brother. He was impressive, she thought.
...
Seiichi watched Ryoma with a calculating look. He knew the younger boy had talent, it was obvious. He could see the will and determination in his eyes as he stared at him, but would it be enough?
Watching Ryoma struggle and fall earlier reminded him of how he had fallen when he first got sick. How weak he felt… how desperate… until he had met Hari and things started to get brighter, more interesting. How close had he been to giving up before he met her? Too close, really.
Yet, this wasn't the same. But the feeling was there, and Seiichi couldn't help but remember it. He swallowed as he watched Ryoma. It was time.
Time to start his own tennis, and show just what he could do. He owed this boy to show his best, and not hide away. Ryoma deserved that respect.
...
"What?" Hari frowned when Ryoma missed a ball that he seemed to have control over after having rallied the ball back and forth for a little while. "What just happened?"
Nanjiro leaned back and hummed as he glanced over at Seiichi.
"He's taken his sense of touch," Nanjiro said calmly.
"Eh?" Hari frowned at him, "and why are you so calm about that?"
Nanjiro just smiled and shrugged making Hari sigh exasperatedly. Their father really had faith in Ryoma to figure it out.
"Taken his sense of touch?" Oishi repeated.
"Yes," Inui answered when it was clear that Nanjiro wasn't going to say anything. "The sense of touch includes the sensation of pain, perception, pressure and impact, as well as the structure of somatic sensation that includes the discernment of solid form. Yukimura has taken all that from Echizen."
"That can't be possible!" Momoshiro denied.
Hari looked over at Seiichi not sure how she felt, but she could see how he had gotten the nickname Child of God now.
"I think it is possible," Hari said quietly. "Otherwise Ryo-chan wouldn't have missed that shot."
They continued to watch how Ryoma and Seiichi rallied the ball back and forth again and she could tell that Ryoma struggled. While he hit the balls, he seemed to almost hesitate at times.
...
"Hm," Fuji frowned. "It seems almost like yips."
Tezuka nodded, "it does."
"Yips?" Kawamura asked worriedly.
"Is that why Ryo-chan is almost hesitating when hitting easy balls?" Hari asked.
"Yeah," Fuji said. "Yukimura is going after his emotional state, it makes Echizen unable to play normally."
"This could get…bad," Hari frowned.
"A severe form of yips can create a delusion of losing all five senses," Inui said somberly.
Hari swallowed as she frowned.
"Can it be beaten?" Hari asked.
"Of course," Nanjiro said. "Let's watch how the brat will beat it, eh?"
...
"He can't see," Hari said worriedly.
"Eh?"
"Look at his eyes," Kawamura said having picked up on what Hari had seen.
"There's no focal point," Momoshiro said.
"He can't see anymore?" Kaido asked gruffly.
...
Ryoma mentally huffed. Even if he lost his sense of touch and his sight, the movements for tennis are ingrained in his body…as long as he could hear then everything would be fine…
Eh?
What was that?
The sounds…disappeared?
...
"ECHIZEN?!" Momoshiro yelled.
Hari covered her mouth with her hand as she watched Ryoma walk aimlessly around the court. Her heart felt like it would break as he looked so lost and small. For a moment she felt anger at Seiichi for making her little brother look like that. How could he?
But a rational part of her mind said it was part of the game and right now Seiichi wasn't her boyfriend, but an opponent.
"Has he lost his hearing as well?" Momoshiro asked.
...
Seiichi felt a little bad, but he pushed it away. There was no place for this now. This was his way of playing, and he would show respect by seeing it through.
He served the ball and hid a wince when the ball hit Ryoma in the face making the younger boy fall to the ground.
"ECHIZEN?!"
"Ryo-chan!"
Seiichi refused to look at Hari when he heard her calling out for her brother, but it was hard.
...
Game, Rikkaidai: 4 – 0
...
"Fault!"
"Double fault!"
...
Rikkaidai: 15 - 0
...
It hurt to watch as Ryoma stepped on the ball and fell face-first to the ground and stayed down. Hari wanted to look away, but she couldn't. Her brother was struggling, but he wasn't giving up. She ignored the others around her as she watched. She wanted to tell him to stop like she heard Horio and Kachiro say, but it would do no good. Ryoma didn't know how to stop, not even facing something like this.
...
Was he going to lose?
No way! He refused.
But…why was he suffering like this?
Was tennis so insufferable?
*Tennis? I haven't played before, is it fun?*
Hari?
*Is it fun?*
Oyaji?
*Ryoma? Tennis, is it fun?*
That was Oyaji.
He remembered when he was younger and was learning tennis. Even when he was around four years old (or was it five?) Nanjiro refused to go easy on him and kept peppering him with balls.
"Oy, Ryoma? Have you had enough already?" Nanjiro asked.
"Not yet!" Ryoma yelled having gotten back to his feet and put his cap on as he stared determinedly at his father who smiled proudly at him.
"You're quite tenacious, aren't you?" Nanjiro asked while Ryoma laughed.
"Here I go!"
Then…
"How do you do that?" Hari asked.
"Come on, Hari," Ryoma said. "You can do it."
"I'm not like you who never gives up," Hari pouted. "What good does it do?"
Hari looked away from him and he could see a bruise on her arm that she claimed had happened in an accident, but Ryoma knew it was her cousin.
"At least you will have tried," Ryoma said. "Losing knowing that you could have done more… that is worse."
Hari looked at him.
"Do you like tennis that much?" she asked. "Is it that fun?"
Ryoma blinked as he felt something shift. He remembered talking with Nanjiro the day before.
"If you are captivated by what you see then you still have a long way to go, Ryoma," Nanjiro said seriously. "Look past the reality in your heart."
...
Seiichi knew it was over. Ryoma hadn't moved and it was too much for him. He turned away and started to walk away when he heard it.
"Tennis is…"
Seiichi felt his eyes widen as he turned around and saw that Ryoma was getting up again. How?
...
"Why is he going so far?" Jackal asked.
"He can't see or hear, right?" Marui wondered. "Even then, he's going to continue?"
Taruyama smiled a little, "he loves tennis that much."
"Eh?"
"Coach?"
"Watch," Taruyama said. "He will prove more difficult now. Echizen is a strong kid."
...
Ryoma staggered a little before he managed to steady himself and smiled, clearly shocking Seiichi and most of the crowd.
"Tennis is fun!" Ryoma stated.
Hari let out a relieved laugh as he finally seemed like her little brother again. He was back!
"What's happening?" Momoshiro asked when Ryoma suddenly stumbled forward and just barely managed to keep standing. What seemed like a bright light burst out of Ryoma, and Hari would have said it was magic if she hadn't known better. What was that?
"This is the inner self-actualization," Fuji said.
"The final forbidden door," Nanjiro added sounding pleased. "He did it."
"Tenimuhou no Kiwami, eh?" Tezuka said.
...
"Are you going to call that?" Ryoma asked calmly as everyone seemed stunned when the ball suddenly was past Seiichi. Seiichi seemed just as stunned and could just stare at Ryoma.
"Uh…" the referee blinked. "Monitor!"
Hari suddenly felt lightheaded and leaned against the fence in front of her as they waited for the call if the ball was in or out. She closed her eyes for a moment as she fought the dizziness. Not now… She had until tomorrow…
"In! It's in!" someone called.
...
15 – 15: Ryoma
...
Hari gritted her teeth together as she focused her magic on the shield around her mind. It felt solid enough, but she was tired.
"Wow… He can turn this around," Momoshiro said awed. "Echizen!"
"Echizen is strong;" Horio said.
Hari focused on their voices and let them ground her, it was easier to focus on them and she allowed them to soothe her. She was fine.
...
Game, Seigaku: 1 – 4
...
Oh, Ryoma managed to take a game by the time Hari managed to focus back on the game again. She was pleased that no one seemed to have noticed her slip, everyone focused on the game.
She smiled proudly as she watched Ryoma. He had turned this around!
She looked over at Seiichi and felt a stab at the lost look on his face as he lost a game. He looked stunned. She pushed the worry she felt for him away because right now she couldn't be worried about him.
...
"What is happening?"
"Yukimura lost a game?"
Sanada watched his best friend stoically while the others talked around him. He had to admit that he was impressed by Ryoma. He didn't think he would be able to do anything like this.
...
Game, Seigaku: 4 – 4
...
"Are you enjoying tennis?" Ryoma asked a stunned Seiichi.
Seiichi was feeling lost. He had never felt like this playing before. He knew that there were no balls that were unreturnable, but it sure felt like it right now. He couldn't predict where Ryoma would hit next.
The crowd was going wild with excitement as they watched and were captured by Ryoma and his tennis.
...
"History will change," Keigo said making his team turn to him and blink surprised when they saw him.
"Atobe? When did you arrive?" Otori asked, but Keigo didn't answer as he stared at Ryoma and smirked.
"Seigaku will prevent the emperor, Rikkaidai, from taking their third consecutive win," Keigo said.
Keigo felt his eyes drift from Ryoma to Hari who was standing beside Fuji. She looked happy as she watched her brother.
"Hn," Kabaji said and Keigo glanced at his friend and wasn't surprised when he saw the concern there. He had a feeling that Kabaji had known that he had been there (almost) the whole time.
...
"That's indeed Tenimuhou," Inui said. "The power of self-actualization gathers within the body. Then right before one's eyes, without any energy wasted, it explodes. In other words…"
"Hyakuren Jitoku," Fuji said. "It's a series of techniques that enables you to move to the correct places at the right time. Or something like that, right?"
"What we're trying to explain based on our guesses is something beyond our imagination," Inui said.
"Oy, you guys," Nanjiro interrupted them making them all look to where Nanjiro leaned back in his seat. "You're making this much more complicated than it is. You talked about Tenimuhou no Kiwami, right? It's not something just Ryoma has, you know. Everyone has it."
"Eh?"
"Think about how it was when you first started to play tennis," Nanjiro said. "You were so engrossed in learning that you forgot everything else, right? No matter how much you were beaten, you couldn't help having fun. At that time anyone would have Tenimuhou. Then you start to learn how to play safe tennis for the sake of winning, and forget what is in your hearts."
Hari arched a brow in surprise but found it made sense. She could tell that the others also were stunned by what Nanjiro just said.
"Actually, almost everybody in the world is like that," Nanjiro said.
"So, basically…" Momoshiro started.
"…enjoying tennis, eh?" Kaido asked.
Nanjiro shrugged and smiled a little, "sounds simple, right?"
"Simple," Hari repeated. "Right."
...
Game, and match, Seigaku: 6 – 4
...
"Ya, Ochibi! Bravo! Bravo!" Kikumaru cheered excitedly as he jumped over the fence while Momoshiro and Kawamura already had gotten over and were running toward Ryoma who hadn't moved from where he stood.
"Echizen!"
Hari grinned as she stood still for a moment and just watched Ryoma being surrounded by their team looking happy. The sounds of cheering surrounded her, from the crowd but also from her friends, and she couldn't help but take a moment to take it all in.
She wanted to remember this.
She didn't want to lose this…
"Hari?" Nanjiro placed a hand on her shoulder.
"He looks happy," Hari said.
"Mm," Nanjiro said. "Why don't you join them?"
Hari swallowed back all the emotions that suddenly filled her as she stared at her brother before she glanced over at Seiichi who still looked stunned by the last move Ryoma had done. How he had returned a split tennis ball on either side of him making it impossible for Seiichi to return.
"Go on," Nanjiro urged. "You should join them, Hari-chan."
Hari nodded, and she felt almost dizzy with happiness as she grabbed the fence so she could jump over it and join the others.
...
Ryoma smiled as he was hugged by his team feeling excited and happy. It had been a difficult game and he hadn't thought he would be able to win there for a moment, but he had. He'd done it!
"You did it!" Momoshiro cheered.
"Yes! We won!"
"We won! We won!"
He laughed before he looked around for Hari who he released wasn't there. But just as he realised that he saw her jump over the fence and met her eyes. She was smiling, and she looked proud as she came closer and he pulled away from the others without a word. He knew… he knew that this could be the last time he… No, he wasn't going to think about it. Not now.
"You won;" Hari said when she reached him and he realised that he had moved toward her without really meaning to. "I knew you could do it. It's your best game yet!"
"Hn," was all Ryoma managed suddenly feeling the need to cry. He didn't know where the sudden yet strong emotions came from as he looked at his sister. His sister was smiling so proudly and happy at him, despite everything going on.
Hari seemed to understand as she pulled him into a tight hug and he hid his face against her shoulder
...
"Congratulations, Echizen-kun," Seiichi said holding out a hand over the net. Hari had pulled back from Ryoma now and was just keeping an arm around his shoulder as the others crowded around them again.
Ryoma reached out and shook the hand as he looked up at Seiichi who was smiling softly despite the loss.
"We should play together again someday," Seiichi said. "You reminded me of how tennis could be fun, so let's play fun tennis."
Ryoma looked a little surprised for a moment before he smiled.
"Yes!" He said.
Seiichi looked away from Ryoma and met Hari's eyes and she saw the pain from the loss but also concern for her. She smiled softly back at him telling him that she was fine, and he nodded shortly. They didn't say anything, not now, before he turned to go back to his team that had entered the court behind him.
She smiled softly as she watched how Sanada held out a towel for him before she turned back to her own team which was still cheering.
"We did it," Fuji smiled.
"Mm," Hari grinned. "I can't believe it!"
Right now, she felt like she could do anything. Nothing could beat her!
...
Hari stood back watching how Ryoma was pulled away from her by the rest of the team. She laughed when she saw the shocked look on his face when they lifted him off his feet and started to throw him up in the air before catching him and throwing him up again as they cheered.
"Hari."
Hari turned when she heard the familiar voice and blinked shocked when she saw Sirius and Remus standing just behind the fence. Both smiling at her.
"Sirius," Hari smiled. "Professor Lupin!"
"Congratulations on your win," Sirius smiled. "You were amazing!"
Hari pulled herself out of her shock as she rushed over to them and threw herself at her godfather who caught her easily despite the fence.
"I didn't think you'd make it," Hari mumbled.
"I'm here," Sirius reassured her. "Nothing was going to keep me away."
Hari's laugh was muffled against his shoulder, "good. How are you feeling?"
"I'm good," Sirius said pulling back. "Don't worry about me, Hari."
Hari just smiled before she looked over at Remus who was smiling as he watched them.
"Professor," Hari said. "I'm glad you made it too."
"I told you to call me Remus, Hari," Remus smiled. "I'm not your professor anymore."
Hari laughed as she pulled away from Sirius and hugged Remus as well.
"Okay, I'll try," Hari said. "It's harder because I'm so used to calling you professor."
"Well, congratulations on your win," Remus said as she pulled away from him. "I'm happy I got to see you play."
Hari grinned feeling happy and lighter despite the exhaustion that was lingering just beneath everything. Right now she could barely feel it.
"Hari-chan," Nanjiro called. "You need to get ready for the medal ceremony."
"Okay," Hari smiled. "I'll see you after, okay?"
"Sure," Sirius smiled.
...
Seiichi looked over and saw Hari hugging or being hugged by two men he didn't know who was. He blinked confused. Who were they? She clearly knew them. He watched for a moment longer taking in the smile on Hari's face as she talked to the strangers and couldn't help to feel a little relieved.
It hurt to lose. It hurt more than he thought it would. To disappoint his team and friends like this was not fun, and he hated the feeling of losing. Yet… he felt content and pleased with the match he'd just played. He had meant what he told Ryoma. He wanted to play him again and have fun.
Tennis should be fun. That was why he had started to play in the first place, but he had lost sight of it with everything going on. Even before he got sick, really. Winning had become the most important thing, everything they did, he did, was for the sake of winning. Not because tennis was fun.
He really owed Ryoma for making him realise that again, Seiichi thought as he looked over at the younger boy who had been put down on the ground again but was still in the centre of his team.
He sighed as he pulled a hand over his face feeling tired and a little lost.
...
Sirius waited patiently (at least for him) as Hari and her team went through the medal ceremony along with the other teams. It was a rather long process, and it felt like it lasted forever, though it really didn't.
"Her boyfriend is on the other team, right?" Remus asked making Sirius frown.
"Hm," Sirius said. "It's the boy her brother played against. Yukimura Seiichi, I believe."
"Ah," Remus said. "He knows, doesn't he?"
"She said he did," Sirius said quietly.
They fell silent as the cheering picked up again as the ceremony wrapped up and they saw Hari being hugged by the hyper boy again and how she laughed as she allowed him to hug her.
"She looks like she's really a part of their team;" Remus said.
"Eh?" Sirius looked at his friend and found him watching Hari.
"They treat her as one of them," Remus said. "Back at Hogwarts… she always seemed like she was on the outside of the team. Only the twins really treated her like one of them, but the others… there was always a distance. I didn't really notice it until now, watching her with them…it makes it so much clearer."
Sirius frowned a little. He had not really seen her together with the quidditch team much, so it was hard for him to tell.
"They do treat her like one of them," Sirius said. "I noticed last time I was here as well. Or I should say, they don't just treat her like one of them, she is one. She is a part of their team, and they are her friends."
"Good," Remus said.
"Hello again, Sirius-san," Nanjiro greeted as he came over to them stopping their current conversation.
"Nanjiro-san," Sirius smiled politely. "Good to see you again. This is a friend of mine, Remus Lupin."
"Ah, Hari-chan's old professor," Nanjiro said. "She's told us about you, Lupin-san. Thank you for looking out for our girl."
Remus smiled mildly, "no, it's I who should thank you for taking care of Hari. She's so much happier with you than I ever saw her at Hogwarts. And call me Remus."
Nanjiro's smile tightened for a moment before he relaxed a little.
"She's ours," Nanjiro smiled. "We will protect her with everything we have."
Sirius and Remus both nodded and smiled a little. They were happy Hari had someone like that around her, even though they felt the absence of James and Lily.
"Hari-chan told me you had been freed," Nanjiro said looking at Sirius.
"Yeah," Sirius said. "It's much because of Hari and how she used the paper to put pressure on the ministry."
Nanjiro gave a proud smile, "that's my girl. Congratulations. I am pleased you have been found innocent, and I know Rinko is relieved as well. She hates when justice is messed up like that."
"Thank you," Sirius said.
...
Hari inhaled deeply as she tried to focus her magic again. She needed to remain focused and she would, but it took a lot out of her. She knew that the others wanted to go and celebrate with dinner or something.
"How are you feeling?"
Hari turned and saw Seiichi having come over to her and she smiled tiredly at him.
"I'm fine," Hari said. "Just tired. You?"
"I'm fine," he said.
She frowned a little, "you sure? I understand if you need…."
"No," he interrupted her. "I am not going to pull away now. Not…not now."
Hari was quiet for a moment before she nodded and reached out to take his hand. She understood and she was happy he didn't need time right now.
"I was very impressed watching you play, Sei-chan," Hari said as she leaned against him and rested her head on his shoulder and her eyes closed. He pulled her closer making her take a small step closer to him. "You're amazing. Watching you and Ryo-chan play was…amazing."
"It was a good game," Seiichi agreed quietly. "I knew he was talented, but he surprised me."
"Ryo-chan is good like that," Hari smiled making Seiichi laugh softly. "You too."
"Are you falling asleep?" Ryoma asked making Hari startled slightly but she didn't open her eyes while Seiichi chuckled amused.
"No, go away," Hari said.
"Can't," Ryoma said. "Oyaji said you need to get home to rest if you're going to be meeting the team for dinner. And Black and the other man are waiting for you."
Hari groaned and opened her eyes to glare at Ryoma who just arched a brow at her.
"Fine," Hari muttered.
"Besides shouldn't you introduce them to Yukimura?" Ryoma said. "I'm sure he's curious about who the men glaring at him are."
Hari blinked before she looked over at Sirius who was glaring. Remus wasn't glaring, but he was watching them with a calculating look. She groaned.
"Honestly;" Hari sighed making Ryoma laugh.
"Hari-chan?" Seiichi looked at her.
"Do you want to meet them?" Hari asked. "I will understand if you don't because they are… a lot."
"Who are they?" Seiichi asked.
"Oh," Hari blinked. "Right. They are my godfathers, well, technically just Sirius is my godfather. Sirius Black, that is. Professor Lupin, or Remus, used to be my professor at Hogwarts last year. He was the best teacher I had, really. They're friends with my biological parents."
"I see," Seiichi said. "I remember you mentioning them, but you didn't say they were coming."
"I didn't know they were," Hari said. "I didn't think they would make it in time… there's more to the story, but we should talk about that later."
"Okay," Seiichi said. "Let's go then."
Hari looked at him for a moment before she squeezed his hand and started to move over to the two men.
...
"Stop glaring;" Hari said making Sirius give her an innocent look.
"Eh? Glaring?" Sirius asked but Hari just gave him an unimpressed look making Remus smile.
"Ignore him," Remus said pleasantly as he smiled at Seiichi. "I'm Remus Lupin, nice to meet you, Yukimura-san."
"Nice to meet you too, Lupin-san," Seiichi said politely.
"I'm Sirius Black," Sirius said. "Hari's my goddaughter."
"Nice to meet you, Black-san;" Seiichi said meeting Sirius' eyes.
"Hm," was all Sirius said.
Hari rolled her eyes, "ignore him, Sei-chan. He's a child."
"I'm not," Sirius denied, but Hari ignored him.
"As I told you, Remus was my professor at Hogwarts," Hari said. "He's brilliant really, and I'm sure he can answer any question you have about our society."
"You're exaggerating," Remus denied. "Though, I would do my best to answer any question you may have."
"What are your plans now, Hari?" Sirius asked before Seiichi could answer.
"I need to rest for a moment," Hari shrugged, "then I'm going to meet my team to eat. They're going to Kawamura's place like normal, but I need a moment to rest."
Both Sirius and Remus looked at her worriedly, "are you in pain?"
"No," Hari said, "just tired."
"Okay, then we'll see you soon, okay?" Remus said. "Nice meeting you, Yukimura-san. I look forward to getting to know you."
Seiichi nodded and watched the two men turn and leave (though Sirius gave Seiichi a glare before he left).
...
Hari was frowning after Sirius but looked away from him when she felt Seiichi squeeze her hand. She turned her attention back to him and smiled a little.
"Maybe you could come over when I'm done with the team thing?" Hari asked. "I…I know you probably wouldn't want to join us today…" åp
"If you wouldn't mind me coming later, I would like that," Seiichi said.
"Of course I wouldn't mind," Hari said. "I…I want to spend more time with you, and I don't really want to leave now, but…"
"I know," Seiichi said. "I feel the same, but you should spend time with your friends too. I… you need to see them as well."
Hari swallowed thickly before giving a shaky smile.
"Yeah;" she said. "But I need a moment to rest before…"
"You sure you are okay?" he asked unable to help himself.
"I'm really fine, Sei-chan;" Hari said. "The charm is working and my shield is strong."
He still felt worried but allowed her to calm him down.
"Okay," he said.
"What will you do now?" Hari asked.
"I will probably spend some time with my team;" Seiichi said. "Maybe find somewhere to eat or go back to my aunt and uncle's place."
"Good," Hari said.
Seiichi didn't want to let go of her hand, but he knew he had to. He could tell that Nanjiro was waiting on her behind her and her team was right behind him again looking excited, but they kept sending looks to Hari. Probably wondering why she was with him and not with them celebrating.
He knew it had to look strange.
"Go," Seiichi said reaching out to push a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Call me when you are ready, okay? And have fun with your team."
"Okay," Hari said. "I'll call you."
She gave a small smile once more before with what seemed like a great effort turning and walking away. He felt the need to run after her, to hold on to her, but he remained standing where he was.
...
"Ready?" Nanjiro asked when Hari reached him and she nodded.
"Mm," she said.
"Are you okay, Hari-chan?" Fuji asked.
"I'm fine," Hari said. "Just tired."
"Echizen said you needed to go home to rest a little before joining us," Fuji said.
"Mm," Hari frowned, "I don't…"
"It's fine," Fuji said. "We want you to take care of yourself too, and I've noticed that you seem tired. So, rest and come and join us when you can, okay?"
"Okay;" Hari said. "Thank you."
Fuji smiled but he was watching her with a searching look. She knew he suspected something, but there was no way that he knew. She felt a stab of guilt for not being able to tell him the truth.
"See you soon, Hari-chan!" Kikumaru cheered. "We're waiting for you!"
"Come and join us when you feel better!" Oishi smiled.
The others also expressed similar wishes and Hari swallowed back her tears as she nodded and smiled back at them, promising that she would.
"Ready?" Nanjiro asked again and she nodded.
They walked toward that car when Hari paused as she noticed Keigo standing by the exit.
"Keigo;" Hari said.
"Hari-chan," Keigo said. "Congratulations on your win."
"Thank you," Hari said. "…I thought you didn't come."
"I wasn't going to, but…" Keigo frowned. "I..."
"Why don't you come home with us?" Nanjiro offered. "You can talk more then."
Hari glanced at Nanjiro before looking back at Keigo.
"Keigo?" Hari asked hopefully.
"… Okay," Keigo agreed, making Hari smile a little.
...
Keigo wasn't sure why he had agreed to go home with her. He wanted to turn around and run. He didn't want to face this, but… he would regret it if he did. He watched how Nanjiro made sure that Hari was settled on the sofa before leaving the two of them alone together.
"Are you okay?" Keigo asked after a moment of silence.
"I'm fine," Hari said turning slightly so she could look at him. She seemed tired, and sad as she watched him. "I'm just tired. I need a moment to centre my magic again and rest a little before I join the others again."
"Centre your magic?" Keigo asked as he walked over to the chair next to the sofa and sat down. He didn't like feeling hesitant, but he couldn't help it now.
"Mm," Hari nodded. "How to explain it… I have to work on closing my mind, and I've worked with a monk to help me do so. I told you about that, didn't I? Well, anyway, I have been learning how to use the magic around me to make my shields stronger, but… it takes a lot. I feel spent, I guess. Like I'm stretching over too much, so I just need a moment away from too many people."
"I'm confused," Keigo admitted.
"Me too," Hari smiled a little. "I'm not explaining this right, I'm sorry."
"It's fine," Keigo said.
"I'm sorry, Keigo," Hari said. "I know I hurt you, and I wish I could go back and do it differently. I'm sorry."
Keigo knew she meant it.
"Are you scared?" he found himself asking.
He glanced over at her and saw that she was frowning slightly at the ceiling.
"Yes," she whispered. "I am."
Keigo sank back into the chair a little lost on what to say or do now. He wanted to say something that would make it better.
"Me too," he said. "I'm sorry for how I reacted."
"It's not your fault," Hari said. "I should have told you. You have a right to feel upset."
"And you have a right to decide who you want to know or not," Keigo said. "I…can't demand you to tell me. You have enough to deal with without me being a brat."
"I'm not angry," Hari said softly. "I know I would have reacted similarly if the situation was reversed, so I understand."
Keigo smiled a little and settled in to just watched her as she rested (it wasn't creepy, okay? It wasn't.)
...
"Hari-chan is here!"
Hari smiled as she stepped into the sushi restaurant where the rest of her team was gathered. She had heard the laughter and chatter from outside telling her that they had a good time. She ignored the knot in her stomach as she joined them.
"Finally," Hari grinned.
"We won Nationals, Hari-chan!" Momoshiro beamed.
"We sure did," Hari smiled back.
"I can't believe you beat Nio, Hari-chan," Yoshida smiled. "He's so strong. You played very well, and I was impressed."
"Thanks, Yoshida-san," Hari smiled. "And thank you for your support. It means a lot, and I hope you know that."
Yoshida looked a little surprised but she smiled pleased making Hari feel a little guilty for not making sure that the other girl knew that they appreciated her work.
"Well, I think we need to play again soon, Hari-chan," Fuji smiled as he joined them. "You stopped Nio as me all too easily."
Hari rolled her eyes, "well, he was tired by then and it wasn't like he used your more complicated moves. Though, I would like to play you again soon. I have to beat the official you too."
Fuji laughed, "really now? Can't have that."
Hari just smiled and looked away from him to where Ryoma was seated with Horio and Kachiro. She looked around and saw Mizuno making his way to their table with Sakuno and Tomoya. It looked like they were enjoying themselves.
Hari walked over to where Kaido was seated and sat down beside him knowing that Fuji was following behind her and sat down close by (where he had been seated before she had entered she realised).
"Hey, Ka-chan," Hari smiled. "How are you?"
"Good," Kaido said gruffly before looking at her. "You?"
"Good," Hari said with a small smile.
He nodded and she loved how he never pushed for answers. She asked him about his match and how he liked playing Kirihara and Yanagi and listened as he talked. Inui also added some things as Kaido talked making Hari nod and smile.
"Here you are, Hari-chan," Kawamura's father said as he put a plate of sushi in front of her. "I made sure to save some of your favourites."
"Thank you!" Hari grinned. "You're the best!"
Kawamura's father laughed good-heartedly as he thanked her and made his way back to the food station. She saw Ryuzaki and Nanjiro seated there talking quietly together.
Hari swallowed back the emotions that threatened to take over as she looked down at the plate of sushi. Something so simple and she felt like crying…
"Good food," Fuji said and she blinked before looking up and finding him watching her.
Har he said something to distract her on purpose?
"Mm," Hari said with a slightly forced smile. "It really is!"
...
"Who were the men you hugged after the Ryoma-sama's win today?" Tomoya asked curiously.
Hari turned so she could see Toyama and Sakuno more easily, both having come over to talk to her.
"Eh? Oh, my godfathers," Hari said. She skipped the explanation of Remus, it was too complicated to go over now anyway. "They just arrived from England."
"Oh," Sakuno blinked. "They looked nice."
"Mm," Hari nodded. "They are, though Sirius can be…a bit childish at times."
"I take it he doesn't like you having a boyfriend, nya!" Kikumaru said, "if he was the one glaring at Yukimura."
Hari rolled her eyes, "he'll get over it."
"Yukimura-san seems nice, though," Sakuno said shyly. "He was very polite to Ryoma-kun after the loss."
Hari nodded, "mm, he is. And yeah, Sei-chan was impressed by Ryo-chan. He won't hold the loss against him, and I know he will want to play Ryo-chan again someday."
It was so easy to forget everything as she was just hanging out with them all like this. How easy would it be to just pretend that everything was normal and that this was just another party celebrating their win?
Hari felt warm and happy as she took in everything around her and made sure to talk to everyone. She didn't want to think about how it might be the last time she saw them, and a small part of her wondered how they would explain it to everyone if she died… would they say that she had an accident? Or that she was sick?
She pushed the thoughts away as quickly as she could as she just watched her friends as they talked and laughed. How they teased each other and were just bursting with life. So innocent and happy.
So…important in Hari's life. It felt strange knowing that she had not known them for even a year and it felt like they were the most important people in her life, that she had known them forever and that they belonged with her.
That she belonged with them.
While she loved Hogwarts (the school not the people in it), she never felt like she completely belonged there. Only Ron and Hermione (and sometimes the twins) had made her feel like she really belonged somewhere while she had been there. She had tried to fit in, and sometimes even managed to trick herself into believing that she did.
Yet…being here with Ryoma, having been adopted into his family and making friends of her own. Friends that didn't see her as the Girl-Who-Lived, but rather as Hari… it made her realise that she never really did fit in or felt like she belonged at Hogwarts. Not like this.
...
Nanjiro watched Hari as she filtered through her friends, talking and laughing like any normal girl after a victory. Just celebrating and enjoying the feeling of winning together with her friends. He wished he could prolong this moment forever and just make it last.
He had never wished for a day to last forever like this before, to not have to face the next day and what would happen then. It was…almost too much for him to just sit there and watch, pretending that everything was fine.
Still, watching Hari talk with Tezuka and Kawamura with a soft smile on her face made his heart swell with pride and happiness. He saw Ryoma joining them and how Hari grabbed him so he was settled close to her. Nanjiro was sure he was the only one who noticed how Ryoma kept glancing over at Hari, just to make sure that she was there. Just like he did.
"You okay, brat?" Ryuzaki asked.
"Hm?" Nanjiro said lazily turning his attention back to his companion.
"You looked to be lost in thoughts," Ryuzaki said.
"Ah, I was just thinking about how it feels like Hari-chan always has been here," Nanjiro said with a small smile. "She fits so well in with everyone here."
"She does," Ryuzaki agreed. "It has been a pleasure watching her grow these last few months. I don't think I've seen anyone grow and develop as quickly as she has. Also, how well she has settled with the others."
Nanjiro nodded and took a sip of his drink and pushed the worries about tomorrow away for now. He knew it would be back, but right now… he would just enjoy watching and listening to his two youngest children having fun and enjoying their victory.
...
...
AN: So, what do you think? XD
This is why I had to split the Final into two parts. I wanted to have Seiichi and Ryoma's match in the story as more than just a side note, so I realised that I needed to make it into two parts. Hope you liked the match between Seiichi and Ryoma. I love that match in the anime, it is so much fun. :)
And the ritual is getting closer now! Only a day away, so the next chapter will be going into all that... and who knows what will happen then?
I am curious, do you think Voldemort will feel the destruction of a Horcrux? I know he doesn't in the books, he didn't know the diary was destroyed until Malfoy had to tell him. But I'm curious to know if you think he should know. Especially given the fact that there has been some connection between his mind and Hari's.
I have some ideas (of course), but I wonder what others think:)
Thank you so much for reading and I hope you liked it! XD
(And I am sorry for the very late update. I really didn't mean to go that long without updating this story.)