Chapter 9, The Markets
The wind was playing with tufts of my hair and if I weren't in such a complacent mood I probably would have been annoyed by it. Hikaru would look down at me and smile every now and then and I couldn't help but blush and look up every time he did, not because I liked him that way but just because it was nice. It was only a short walk down to the markets but I made sure to slow the pace and soak up every second of the sunshine through the shadowing trees. Hikaru sighed and swung our hands together.
"Hey, you alright?" I asked and squeezed his hand in mine.
"Yeah, I'm just…just thinking you know," he then went quiet and mused some more silently until I prompted him again.
"Just things Haruhi, just things," he smiled down at me relaxed but catching glance at my exasperated expression laughed and continued, "fine! So pushy for someone so small!"
"You'd never say that to Honey Sempai."
"That's because Honey Sempai could kill me, you on the other hand…" I made an effort to look up at him with my meanest scowl. "..could probably kill me too, but it'd be a nice death. You'd make sure I was comfortable and well rested and probably sing me a song if I was scared".
We laughed and I nudged him with my shoulder, he wasn't changing the subject that easily, "so…what were you thinking about?"
"So persistent," he muttered under his breath. We were approaching the outskirts of the market now and instead of going in, he turned around to face me and look me in the eye. Pinching my chin between his fingers to raise my head up, I blushed again and smiled a little at the bemused expression on his face.
"I was thinking about how messed up Kyoya must be to treat someone as wonderful as you like absolute crap. I'm thinking about how Kaoru must be feeling and ultimately fighting the urge to run back to console him, but at the same time there is nothing more that I want than to be here holding hands with you and walking into a commoners market." He smiled and shook his head.
"And then I'm thinking why, why on earth that is so? What is it about you that draws people in, how have you managed to bewitch two hosts? There is nothing significantly special about you at face value. No offence Haruhi, you're adorable but you're not the prettiest girl in our school. Especially since you are pretending to be a boy 90% of the time.." he sighed and kicked dust up with his black converse.
"But… you're really special Haruhi, I know that because I know people. I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it. You are brilliant to me".
Not really sure what to say I shook my head and opened my mouth to speak before closing it again. He chuckled and winked at me before pulling my hand hard, I gave way and we ran down the hill and into the markets. Before I could object I found myself immersed into the beautiful world of these rural markets. The colours whirled around and I was in a thousand places at once. One minute we were laughing and comparing fruit, feeding one another and then the next sprinting off to be draped in fine silks and trying on tribal hats. Hikaru picked me up on his shoulders I felt the flags strung across the streets brush the top of my head. We charged straight past a few buskers playing violins before backtracking and dancing a kind of improvised foxtrot together, Hikaru flicking coins into their upturned hats, I was surprised at how well Hikaru danced, bouncing up and down before twirling me around and around. Eventually we collapsed on some soft grass at the edge market place. Panting and laughing we rolled onto our backs and again the back of our hands were pressed together.
"You're a good friend Haruhi"
"Yeah, you too Hikaru"
We lay there for a minute letting our breath come back and staring up at the cloudy sky that was slowly becoming overcast.
"Oh, what's that over there?" Hikaru asked and motioned his hand to a stand-alone tent that had fairy lights draped over it. I sat up and squinted my eyes, there was a sign that said 'Madame Lumar Future Reading".
"It's just a future reading tent, you know they're just mumbo-jumbo"
Hikaru laughed, and laughed, and laughed.
"What? What is it? WHAT?" I yelled hitting his curled over body shaking with laughter. He sat up and wiped away his tears.
"Humour me Haruhi, here's the money. Please go participate in the mumbo-jumbo and then report back, I think this will be a good investment."
"Why? You know there is no merit to it? It's just lucky guessing..."
"Maybe, it'll be fun though" he smirked with a devious look in his eyes. I groaned and he nudged me forward, wrapping my hand around the money I slumped forward and made my way to the tent.