Of Tea and Roses

Chapter Three - The Cousins Reunited!

Mitsukuni lowered himself down from where he clung to my torso. I noted the height difference and smiled down at him. Last time we met we'd been the same height and now I was a good two or three heads taller than my cousin. But that didn't stop the huge grin on his face, his pearly whites showing. Inwardly I sent out a thanks to Takashi for keeping such a close eye on our cousin, Lord knows he wouldn't brush his teeth without some reminding.

"You're really staying, Hiromi?" I smiled a little wider and nodded. I swear his grin got bigger. I wasn't even sure how his face wasn't ripping in two. "That's awesome! Otou-san said you'd be going to school with Takashi and me! We can drive to school together!"

I chuckled softly and nodded again.

Takashi was Mitsuki's cousin on his father's side. I was his cousin on his late mother's side. Takashi was kind of like Mitsukuni's self-appointed caretaker and he went everywhere with him. I don't think there was a memory anywhere in my mind where Takashi wasn't watching over Mitsukuni.

He grabbed my hand and started pulling me away from the entrance. I glanced over my shoulder at Eriko and she waved her hands forward in a 'shoo' motion. So I sighed and let Mitsukuni drag me along. It wasn't like I'd be able to pull away if he didn't want me to anyway.

"Chika-chan is at the dojo right now, but he'll be back for dinner. Otou-san will be back by then too. He's teaching at one of our local dojos."

I listened with half an ear as I watched the halls, making sure I could remember the way back to the entrance. I probably wouldn't be able to remember the layout of the house well. Actually, I'm pretty sure I got lost more often than not last time I was there.

"So you're home by yourself?"

I turned to look down at the back of Mitsukuni's head as he shook his head. "Nope! Takashi is here to visit. He's really excited to see you too!" He turned slightly and smiled. "We're your welcome party!"

I raised an eyebrow. Takashi being excited wasn't something I could really imagine. The teen was more the calm, silent type who stood quietly in the background and observed. You'd see more expression on a rock than on Takashi.

Mitsukuni pulled me into a familiar room - the family living room. One wall had a collection of family photos - Mitsukuni fighting in one of his first martial arts competitions, Yasuchika being held in his mother's arms, Mitsukuni, Takashi and me sleeping in Takashi's bed when we were little and many more. The picture frames were organized nicely in a diamond shape behind the couch across from the doorway. Two love seats sat diagonally from the couch, tilted towards it for better seating arrangements. An old coffee table sat in the middle and on the wall, beside the door, was a large bookcase filled to the brim with various books about almost everything.

Mitsukuni let go of my hand and launched himself onto the couch where the stoic Takashi sat. He happily tucked himself into a ball and rolled back and forth across the remaining cushions. Takashi lifted his head and the corner of his mouth turned, bringing to light to his normally neutral expression.

"Hello Takashi," I greeted and walked over. He stood, careful not to knock Mitsukuni off the couch. He met me halfway and easily enfolded my small body in his tall embrace. Takashi was much taller than I was, having to lean down a little to be able to wrap his arms around just my shoulders. "Long time no see, huh?"

"Yeah."

I smiled and pushed my face against the older teen's chest, wrapping my arms around his torso.

It was nice, being with the two cousins again. Five years ago we'd been drifting apart - or at least it felt like it to me. Mitsukuni was so engrossed in forcing himself to stick to his martial arts that he started drifting from everything else. Takashi was always so quiet and at that point I'd needed someone to fill in the space the little chatterbox had left.

Now though, everything just felt warm.

Takashi let go, but kept his hand on my shoulder. He led me over to the love seat on the right and sat back down in the corner of the couch closest to me.

"Did Obaa-chan tell you about the club we're in, Hiromi?" Mitsukuni asked, rolling and unfolding so that his chin was resting on Takashi's leg.

I shook my head. "She only told me that you left the martial arts club."

He nodded and gave a sheepish smile. "Yeah, Tama-chan helped me see that I was forcing myself to do something I didn't love."

My head tilted a little. "Tama-chan?"

Mitsukuni nodded eagerly. "Yeah! Tama-chan is the king of the host club that me and Takashi are in!"

Wait... Host club?

"You're in a host club," I repeated slowly.

"Yep! I get to eat lots of cake and make pretty girls smile!"

Well that explained it. This 'Tama-chan' lured my cousin in with sweets. But, knowing Mitsukuni, there was probably more than what he was saying. I could still remember how sad the little teen was when I left five years ago. Maybe this Tama-chan helped him get over whatever it was that was bugging him. He seemed happier and brighter now.

"You should come and visit Takashi and me at the club sometime! You can come meet Tama-chan, Kyo-chan and the others."

I chuckled. Mitsukuni always loved his nicknames.

"I'll have to thank Tama-chan for helping you out," I said and Mitsukuni's smile softened.

"I think Tama-chan would like that."

"Yeah," Takashi added.

"Hiromi, your mother tells me that you haven't been involved in clubs lately."

I looked up from my rice bowl, towards where Yorihisa sat at the head of the table, and shrugged. "There weren't any clubs at my school that interested me. They were all little clubs like choir or yearbook club. And I'm not very interested in western sports."

From across the table Mitsukuni tilted his head, looking very cute. "You don't do martial arts any more, Hiromi?"

I shook my head. "I haven't participated in any martial arts since I left. And they don't have kendo over there."

What can I say? I'm related to the Haninozula family. I don't know anyone in my family who doesn't know at least a little judo or karate. Even Eriko learned when she was engaged to Eiji. It was good for a girl like me; small and unintimidating. It'd be a surprise for any guy who tried to mess with me.

"Will you be taking up martial arts again?" Yorihisa asked, his narrow blue eyes trained on me.

My uncle, Yorihisa Haninozuka, was a very stern man. His wild mane of greying blond hair made him seem ferocious and when he looked at you, it was like he could see everything you were hiding. But when he wasn't concerned with the future of his family, Yorihisa was a fun man who loved talking. It was probably where Mitsukuni got it from.

"I don't think I will be. I'd like to focus on my education. Maybe in the future I'll start again or maybe I'll join the orchestra again."

Mitsukuni jumped up, startling his brother beside him. "You still play the violin?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Of course."

"I didn't know! You were so good when you left, Hiromi. I can't wait to hear you play again." From Mitsukuni's other side Takashi nodded.

Yasuchika cleared his throat. "Are you planning on going into a music career when you finish school, Hiromi? Or are your interests somewhere else?"

I blinked at the youngest Haninozuka boy. Between the two siblings Yasuchika was the more 'normal' one. He preferred to keep a good head on his shoulders all the time. Mitsukuni on the other hand was much more fun-loving and childish, but he had his moments.

"I haven't really thought about it," I told him and finished what was left in my rice bowl. "I have more than enough options that I need to take into consideration."

I really hadn't. After high school there were so many possibilities that I could be looking at. I could do modelling for Eriko's company, which would pretty much land me a job for the rest of my life. I could go to college for business and take over the company once Eriko retired. I could also go to school for music - something that was as much a part of my life as martial arts or modelling.

"And you have to think about the engagement!" Eriko reminded, like I had somehow forgotten.

Ha. Like I could just forget that little detail of my life.

Three pairs of chopsticks fell onto the table.

"You're what?!"

I met the shocked eyes of my two cousins and Takashi's mildly startled ones and shrugged. "Okaa-chan got me engaged to some guy who's the son of her rival. I don't have a choice in the matter."

"Boys, don't let your chopsticks sit on the table like that," Yorihisa scolded, but there was an amused smile on his face. "I don't see why you're all shocked - Hiromi is a pretty young woman that anyone would be lucky to have."

Mitsukuni grabbed his chopsticks while he spoke, "I didn't think Hiromi wanted to get an arranged marriage."

I let out a soft sigh before moving on to the grilled fish on my plate. "I don't want to be married, but I'm only sixteen and Okaa-chan has already arranged it with the approval of Otou-san."

I wouldn't say out loud how much it irked me that she hadn't spoken to me before settling the matter. Here I am, sixteen and already engaged to a stranger.

Eriko huffed and jabbed her chopsticks in the air, their points directed at me. "Don't act like it's all my fault, missy. You should be happy I was able to hold off your grandmother as long as I had. She wanted to have you engaged the moment you were walking."

Well, that was something I hadn't heard before. "What do you mean?"

Eriko picked at her food for a second before shrugging, her long hair falling over one shoulder. "Your Obaa-san on your father's side, Makoto, wanted to engage you to Takashi over there. I refused and she said that she wanted you engaged, at the least, by the time you were eighteen."

"So why now?"

Eriko grinned. "It was the perfect opportunity!"

"For fashion," I continued with a blank expression. Blank was an easy thing to accomplish and it hid the irritation sparking in my chest.

Eriko nodded happily and let out a long, dreamy sigh. "For fashion."

I turned to Yorihisa, trying not to roll my eyes. "May I be excused, Ojii-san?" I hoped he didn't notice my clenched jaw or the way that my shoulders were tense and pushed back.

He nodded and I quietly said my thanks for the dinner.

"Ah, we'll be being excused too, Otou-san!" Mitsukuni announced with a smile.

I didn't bother waiting for them, there was no point to it. They both knew where I was going and could easily catch up if they wanted to. So I quickly made my way down the hall and stopped at the entrance of the house. I tugged on my flats and quickly fled from the Haninozuka house.

Hello there guys!

I'm really sorry for the delay in this chapter. I've got a long story about it, but the basics are that I wasn't inspired and then I didn't have a laptop. And you know what the crappy thing is? This new latop doesn't have any writing programs besides freaking wordpad! So, that's why chapters are taking so long.

You guys will have to tell me if I'm getting the characters personalities right or not. I have a habit of getting a little OOC without meaning to.

Now... For the review answers!

Babygirlz - I'll be introducing Kaoru in a little bit, but I really want to get into Hiromi's character first. So hopefully you'll put up with a little bit more of a wait.

Molly Grace 16 - Kaoru is one of my favourites too... But then again, I love all the Host Club members with all my heart. Hopefully you'll like my portrayal of all the characters.

Enecs - I'm glad you like it! And here you are, a new chapter :)

Alright my lovelies, I'll be heading off now.

See ya!