Disclaimer: Hakuouki is a visual novel game by Idea Factory. (They make a bunch of cute guys! Drools. So I always look up new series just so I can stare at them~) Hakuouki then was adapted into an Anime by Studio DEEN. And today, the Anime series is licensed by Sentai Filmworks in North America. (I got this information from Wikipedia and I believe the information is accurate. I wouldn't know though!)

Author's note: Sorry for disappearing. …For like… over a month? XD I was busy writing other stories and completely ignored this one. On purpose. Haha! Again, my apologies. If you're still keeping up with this fanfic, thank you so much for coming to check up on this. :)

"Forever" will not keep us connected

Chapter 31

The next day…

Outside in the front of the inn, Kanon was standing with her arms folded to her chest. She was sulking while Yuma was on her right and Souji on the other. The two men were giving each other silent looks and Kanon tried to show she was annoyed with it, however it seemed they did not care about the distress she was openly having.

Akio was at the doorsteps of the inn and let out an obvious loud and annoyed sigh. Wordlessly, Yuma and Souji slightly gazed to the older men. "Look," Akio frowned at men. "The girl doesn't have time to wait for you two to decide who is going to go with her to the hospital. Why don't you both go? I'll be here with the child."

"No, one of them is staying behind," Kanon stated as turned around to face Akio. He was about ten feet from her and she pointed to his face. "You alone might not be able to fend off enemies if they show up."

Yuma's silver eyes were now on her, "Then allow Akio alone to accompany you." He would not stand to have Souji to be alone with Kanon.

"Haha, no way," she gave Yuma a frown. "You're an Oni and Souji's a Rasetsu. I need at least one of you to stay here with both Akio and Little Fukui."

As Souji grinned, he said, "Kanon, let's go."

She turned her head to him and then Yuma refused by saying, "You are not the father, Souji."

Kanon's mouth partly opened as she slowly gave Yuma a sighing look. She could not believe he said the word 'father' and was having this pointless conversation.

"I can be and I will," Souji smirked toward Yuma, his own eyes almost glowing with quiet rage. "There's no place for you here."

In response, Yuma lightly glared. Before he could speak though, Kanon let out a vexed shout to stop anyone from starting a stupid argument. "Okay, shut up!" she exclaimed, giving Souji an upset glance. Souji blinked, seemingly unfazed as Kanon then fixed her eyes on Yuma. "You, stay here! At least I can trust your abilities to protect both Akio and Little Fukui!"

Unable to object, Yuma stayed quiet. He did not wish to upset her any further. At the same time, Souji felt offended and said, "What's that supposed to mean? Are you saying I'm too weak, Kanon?" He should be happy Kanon finally decided on him, but the way she phased ruined his ego.

Sharply rotating her body to leave, Kanon waved, "Hurry up or I'll leave you behind!"

With disapproval, Souji grunted and stepped to follow. 'Oh well,' Souji let go of his question. At least he was able to go with her instead of Yuma. Right before leaving through the gates though, Souji flashed a smirk at Yuma's calm expression and left with Kanon.

The Oni sighed softly and watched the two leave together. "We could have just invited the doctor to come here too," Yuma said out loud, realizing the option.

Akio glanced to him silently and saw Yuma was still staring out even when Kanon and Souji were gone from sight behind wooden fences. The two of them were still and wordless. '…I can't believe Haru-san did so many horrible acts on these people,' Akio thought bitterly to himself. He had heard some things from Yuma before sleeping last night. And Akio was unsure how to really feel about all of this. 'To think I was listening to Haru-san and assisting her…'

Like Yuma, Akio felt he should do something to rid of his sin.

"Yuma, tell me more about the reason why Haru-san is after Kanon-san." The Oni blinked first before turning to face Akio, who seemed rueful and serious. Then Akio stated, "I would like to know, because in this way, I will not have any hesitation to fight Haru-san… who once saved my life."

Akio must be in a dilemma to say that, Yuma understood. Would a person fight together with with a person who saved them? Or fight for what was right?

Faintly smiling, Yuma inquired the older man, "Would you fight alongside the Oni who played with people's lives… or fight for a princess who had been left behind to shoulder the burden all alone, Akio?"

The man kept his eyes with Yuma's silver eyes. The gentle wind and distant voices filled the silence between the two of them. And the only thing that seemed to have process Akio's mind was 'princess.'

[…^…]

Kanon was still displeased and Souji simply guided her to find the hospital. They did not exchange words for a while and he rather not hear her whine about happened back at the inn. After they spotted a small hospital, they went and did what they wanted right away. There was only a small fee, but it was the last of their money too. They paid anyway because Souji insisted.

"You just need plenty of rest," the female doctor kindly noted. In a small room, Kanon was sitting on her ankles on the floor while Souji was at the door watching them. The middle-aged doctor had long black hair pulled up into long large bun and the color of her eyes was black. She wore white attire and in her hands was a piece of paper. Offering it to Kanon, who took it with her right hand, the doctor smiled, "Just make sure to take this prescription twice a day and you should be fine."

While Kanon had no idea what she was exactly holding, Souji stepped in softly. "So, do you know if the baby's all right?" he asked with his eyes directed to the female doctor.

Smiling, the doctor stood up straight and said, "I found nothing unusual."

That was because Kanon and Souji could not tell her about what the baby had been doing to Kanon. Even if it was not the baby, they probably could not explain it to the doctor anyway.

Then the woman chuckled, "Do not fear, the medicine should help the child in your wife as well."

Unexpectedly, Kanon blushed while staring at the piece of paper in her hand. Souji was smiling to the doctor after taking a glance to Kanon's red face. "Thank you for your time," he bowed.

After they were done, Kanon stormed out of the front door of the hospital. She was just embarrassed about being called someone's wife. Just many thoughts crossed her mind and she was bewildered. When she thought she had escaped, Souji had grabbed her left wrist and stopped her in the middle of the street.

"Kanon, wait, give me that prescription," he said.

She turned and shoved the paper in his chest, keeping her eyes on the ground. He took it, but still held onto her wrist. "We don't have money anyway, just throw it away," she kept her head lowered, using a harsh tone.

Souji raised an eyebrow as Kanon began to twist her wrist around to be freed from his grasp. "I can work and get us the money," he told her rather casually as if there was no big deal. He was confused about how she suddenly seemed reluctant. Was she thinking about getting rid of the baby again? Or was the 'wife' part making her like this?

His grip was tight and Kanon relaxed herself without struggling now. Her eyes were glaring at the ground. "Work for money? Are you kidding?" she grumbled.

His eyes turned dark and he asked, "What is it now? Don't tell me you don't get why I would do that for you." She grew quiet and spoke no words. Souji heaved out a sigh and wanted to grab her and hug her. But he restrained himself and said, "I like you. I promised to be with you. So, will you just… accept that already?"

Kanon's ears turned red, he could tell. When he squeezed her wrist, she lifted up her eyes to meet his. "Do you expect me to just go along with it?" she uncouthly asked. He glared to her and she added, "I didn't want the baby in the first place."

"If you want, I'll kill that bastard right now," he offered with a shrug. He did not want to get mad about the way she was speaking with such a tone. That was why he tried to make this conversation more positive. Or something like that. He did not like Yuma anyway.

"No, don't kill anyone," she frowned. She shook her head to erase the negativity out of her mind. "Sorry, Souji. …I'm still shocked about the baby and what's… happening to me… I wish none of this happened." She remembered she agreed with Souji's promise. And if she went back on it now, what would that make her look like?

However, there was still Yuma. She feared of hurting him when Haru had already done enough damage to him. Yuma was even cursed by his own family. Kanon did not want to leave him out since he was the father. That was the reason when she thought about these two men, it frustrated her when they were fighting for her.

She wanted a happy ending for everyone. She was wishing it so bad to the point it made her so upset that many thoughts ran through her head. Not everything would go her way. Nothing would be the same again since the moment she lost Ayumu.

"I… want to go back in time," she whispered, shutting her eyes closed. Souji seemed surprised when she said it. "If only I never met Haru… and Aunt Akiko… Saburo, Yumeko… and… you."

There was a long silence. Kanon opened her eyes and timidly stared at the right side to the dirt on the ground. Souji said nothing and kept holding onto her wrist, never wanting to let go. A few people were walking by and had stolen some glances at them. The sound of Souji gulping made her nervous.

"…You did not just say that, Kanon." She pouted, feeling slightly guilty now. He sounded mad… and maybe he was hurt.

Her eyes widened when he unexpectedly pulled her into a hug, his arms tightly around her body. 'Wait, what the hell!' she blushed, trying to push him away with her hands pulling on his clothes.

"If you went back in time and if we never meet again, I will still remember you, no matter what!" he scowled. Trying to be gentle, he did not want to harm the baby between them. She was now tugging on his clothes on his arms, giving no other reaction. "Don't you ever, ever say never wanting to meet me again."

Did she even understand how it felt to hear such a thing? Was it not obvious how much he had come to care for her? Souji could feel his heart racing with anger and more anger. And he began to hate her. Why was she even having those kinds of thoughts? What was he doing wrong by supporting her?

…His friends and Kanon were all he had left. And he was not about to let them go. "I'm never letting you go, Kanon."

Struggling to free herself still, Kanon was raging with fury herself. "Souji, stop it!" she demanded. It was suffocating. His embrace was annoying her. Why was he so nice to her? She felt she had forgotten why they both ended up with this mess.

He would not let go. She tried harder and he gritted his teeth. When she called his name again, to be freed from his arms, he loudly told her, "Kanon, why don't you get it?! I love—"

Chills ran down her back and her whole body. And she was reminded about that night at the brothel. She feared from Souji's touch. Her head ached with pain and her stomach felt weird. In that instant, her left eye converted from blue and to a golden color.

Black wind was released all around her and forcefully pushed Souji away. His body flown back a bit, however he got his footing back on the earth and slightly lowered his body to keep himself from being blown away. "Kanon?!" he shouted, using his right forearm to cover his view from the flying dirt.

There was fear in her eyes. Just like the other time… although, this time, the wind was even more powerful. The black storm roared as she covered her ears and her eyes searched for Souji, but she could barely see him in front of her.

People were screaming with the wind. The sky seemed to have turned dark. The wind had torn down houses, fences, trees, and streets all around her. She could feel as though she was ramming the place herself. "Stop it!" she exclaimed, closing her eyes. She wanted the storm to end. What was triggering this power she could not control?

Still unable to see Souji, Kanon tried to calm herself. She rushed to find her own power to gain back control. Her mind led her into darkness. The sound of the wind was still there and she could scarcely concentrate. Focusing again, something seemed to have cloaked over her.

And for some reason, she could felt it smiling sadistically.

'This power…' Kanon gradually opened her eyes. Her heart dropped at a mere thought. And she could not stop herself from fearing it. 'Ayumu's power…'

It was the baby.

There was no proof, but Kanon could feel the baby had made use of Ayumu's power. With the blood from Yuma's origin, and Kanon's origin… just what kind of child had been created? And how was it even using Ayumu's power?

More than ever, she wished the baby would just go away.

'Aunt Akiko… help me,' Kanon pleaded, feeling faint. Her hands left her ears and the wind started to die down. Her heart felt emptied and she was so tired. Of everything.

Just as her body fell backwards, someone had caught her with their arm around her shoulder.

"Kanon!" Souji called.

She heard footsteps and her vision blurred. As it came back, she saw it was Yuma who caught her. His usual calm expression showed anxiety. He helped her stand and she tried to find the strength to get back up on her own two feet. 'I feel so drained…' she sighed. It must be her child, taking every bit of her life, like Yuma had explained before.

The child probably wanted her to die while she wished it would go away. So… they both did not want each other? Kanon felt horrible. Feeling unwanted was the most enduring feeling. Had the child felt the same then, to be unwanted by Kanon?

Just as Souji approached them, Kanon had closed her eyes and lost conscious. Again.

Nearly half of the town was damaged by the black storm. Yuma ignored the surroundings and he lowered his other arm to sweep Kanon's legs up, carrying her into his arms.

"Kanon," Souji called again, his hand reaching out.

"It's best if you stay away from her for now."

Souji instantly glared, pausing in his steps. He was merely two yards from Yuma, who gave Souji a grave look. Then Souji retorted, "What gives you the right to decide that?"

The silverhead closed his eyes and let out a sigh. He had to tell this human something. Perhaps Souji would understand why Kanon was like this. "Do you really believe she will love you back?" Yuma inquired, meeting Souji's green eyes yet again.

No words were exchanged from Souji. He only gave Yuma a serious look, but at the same time, he wondered where Yuma was going with this.

"Because when I made love to her that night, can you imagine what she was saying during the entire unfortunate event?" Yuma continued to question. Souji glared and still said nothing. "She begged, 'Souji, stop it. No more. Stop, Souji.'"

Slowly, he gave the Oni a blank look. And in the inside, Souji felt… bewildered. And then the thought discomforted him. 'Does that mean…?' Souji grasped, his fingers twitching at his sides. '…That I am the only one she refused to get close to?'

Kanon's trauma of being close to men… only applied to Souji? Was that why Kanon did not feel anything when Saburo held her? This reason alone could enlighten it all.

Wanting to curse Yuma for creating this misunderstanding in Kanon's unconscious reaction to Souji, the Oni stepped back and leaped once into the air. Souji rushed forward and shouted, "Hold on, where are you going?!" Was Yuma going to take her away?

Yuma had already gone high up and out of Souji's reach. The human of green eyes ceased from running and could only glare daggers to the silverhead. "If Kanon wants to see you, I'll bring her back," Yuma coolly told him. Souji's chocked on his words, unable to do anything but watch Yuma take Kanon. "For now, I can't let you be close to her. I won't allow her to suffer as long as you are around."

"What—" Souji uttered, but Yuma had disappeared with Kanon in the sky. There was no more trace of them.

Trying to breath normally, Souji was seriously losing his mind. What gave Yuma the right to decide that for Kanon? Why did Yuma think Kanon was suffering because of Souji? It was Haru's fault and Yuma's too!

Souji bit his tongue and lowered his eyes. His hands turned to fists and he wanted to curse loudly. He bit his tongue again from doing so. 'I did nothing wrong,' he mentally stated to himself. 'I did nothing wrong!'

It was Yuma, he was wrong. It was Haru, she caused pain to Kanon and her friends and brother. It had nothing to do with Souji. Nothing at all.

And when he sees Yuma again, Souji will prove that to him. And he will prove it to Kanon. And that she meant so much to him.

"…Kanon," he murmured, gritting his teeth hard. The thought of not being by her side troubled him. They had been together ever since they met in that nameless village. To be away from her drove him impatient.

As he relaxed himself as quickly as possible, he raised his eyes to the town around him. People had walked about and started to help one another. No one had seen what actually happened and where the black wind came from. Souji softened his eyes as he saw a little girl helping her father out of the broken house.

For now, Souji would do what he can. He walked forward and hurried to aid the townspeople. And later, he would go and meet up with Akio, assuming that older man was still with Little Fukui.

After that… well, he would see to it soon enough.

Author's note: Sorry for any mistakes you see! Next update might be slow again too. XD More apologizes in advance!

Thanks for reading!