Well, first of all, I'd like to apologize for leaving you hanging with this story. It's just life has been hard, but I survived. And I hope everyone else, is doing okay.
For some reason today, this song wormed it's way to my playlist and brought back every emotion I had for this ship. Please listen to it before reading this chapter, it's one of the ending songs in the anime. Flower by Back On.
The underlined italicized lines are English translations of the song.
xxXxx
There's no way that you and I met by mere chance.
I can't even remember for how long I've believed so.
On the endlessly stretching road of our journey,
before I could notice, a flower was already blooming between us.
If you'd ask Hiruma what physical part of Mamori he liked the most, not that he'll answer the question if anyone would ever dare ask him, he just knew in the back of his mind that the answer will always be her hands. He heard that Agon had once complimented how nice her legs are back in highschool during the Oujo game, sure it was nice too but for him nothing would beat Mamori's hands for him. The same hands that would send him signals from the bench; signals that helped them secure their victories. So, when he felt those hands tremble as she secured the bandages on his arms in the infirmary after Gaou took him down, he felt a pang of guilt of what he knows he is putting her through. They were both smart, and he's sure it was ages ago since they realized these feelings that they were putting on hold because they had a goal; the Christmas Bowl.
She was silent all throughout the ordeal of wrapping his arms and when she finally boiled over once he said he'll come back to the field, he tricked her with the third question, because he's a little shit like that and told her she promised to work obediently. She'd told him that he's an idiot with tears on her eyes but was already picking up his gear and uniform to put it back on him. He smiled, genuinely, even through the pain on his right arm as Mamori carefully slipped his shirt back on him.
They were on their way back to the field with his walking ahead of her when he felt her hand again, fisting on the back of his shirt. Reluctance. It's trembling again, fear. Hiruma turned back and gently pried her hand with his left, he held her wrist as she looked up to him. Dread.
"Do you trust me?" he rasped, voice quiet, physically pained, only for her to hear despite being only the both of them in the hallway. Baring his vulnerability in front of her.
Something in her eyes changed, hope. She whispered a "...yes." Before straightening herself, releasing his shirt and adjusting a firm hold on his helmet she had on her other hand.
Hiruma smirked, the devilish glint back in his eyes like he was not a dead man just minutes ago, "Then let's fucking kill them."
I wasn't able to honestly say "Thank you" to you...
I hate that hesitant self: it's only one single phrase!
Unable to get it out of my mouth, I look for an exit in my heart.
The crowds are chanting their name, Deimon Devilbats, as the rest of the Kanto players entered the field to celebrate with them. They won the Christmas Bowl. There were laughter, smiles, tears as the brats crowd around Sena who eventually broke down after it him like a truck that everything they worked for as a team finally paid off.
Hiruma looked around expecting everyone to have their attention to their running back, their MVP, the glue that stick the rag tag team together. But instead, he found himself locking eyes with his Fucking Manager, her attention was on him. She had a smile small on her lips, pride. He smirked, he felt it rising in his chest, longing.
That very same night they both crossed the line they shouldn't have.
I rewind my clock and play back every day
Even when I scream with frustration, I'm merely chasing after a shadow day by day.
Are you ready? The goal is over there. We stubbornly had one foot race after another.
We always made some noise everywhere...
"I want you Mamori." he slurred. No, he is not drunk, he did have a glass or two of the liquor the Huh huh brothers had sneaked into their after party but he isn't a lightweight. But his mind is hazy from the overwhelming emotions he couldn't quite put a name on. They were the only ones left in the clubhouse after the motherhen ushered everyone and made sure to clean up the mess the brats left after they went home. He could tell that Mamori also had alcohol with the way her cheeks has a soft tint of pink but he sure as hell she is thinking straight either.
Maybe it was the alcohol, but they both took the courage to stop dancing around these feelings let the fire consume them, burn them. The first kiss felt like a bomb, it exploded through his veins. It's intoxicating, something that he never felt before, it's making him dizzy. His thoughts was only to hold her. Touch her. Consume her. Devour her. Own Mamori.
They made love.
"I love you." Hiruma murmured it against her skin like a prayer. Making sure her breathing was evened out before saying those cursed words that's so hard to say in front of her pretty face. Making sure she's asleep. Making sure she did not hear. Tracing every bite, bruise and marks he left on her body, bestowing small kisses as a form of apology that she don't have to know. Whispering sweet nothings and unsure promises to her ears as she sleeps soundly. All of which he could keep to himself, like a wimp, she will never know any of the things he said.
The very next day he got tied to promise he did not made, a debt he has to pay. He said things he thought she was strong enough to handle. He told Suzuna once that she's not a weak woman. But even the strongest tree has a weakest branch. It was her heart, which he tore piece by piece with every word that left his mouth; his throat constricted with every word. That was the last time they saw each other, he lost her.
"We are no longer back then." You softly spoke.
Your last words were so short and yet so agonizing,
that I could only force out a smile and say to you "Do your best!"
We sowed the seed, watered it, gave it light, and made it bloom into a flower.
That's right, that flower will never wither.
Then he found her, everything happened so fast and they were a team again. She's so near but also out of reach, untouchable, different. The air around her changed, the motherhen and easy to tease Mamori was nowhere to be found, all that's left was that cold piercing glare of her eyes that seems to render Hiruma exposed, bare, like she is reading him like an open book and knows exactly what he is thinking. He hates it, staring at those blue eyes with zero emotions, he hates that he can never read her mind like he used to. Like a starless sky in the dead of the night.
Then there's a flicker. That little fire that set his heart ablaze with the familiar emotions he dreaded to tell her. The moment she told them why she left, "I can't take away the sport they love so much." I can't take away the sport you genuinely love so much.
"Make it up to me, by winning the Rice Bowl."
Another goal, and Hiruma was once again ready to conquer the field again. For her.
It might have become scattered, or crushed, or about to perish.
But still, I firmly believe in the days we spent together.
There is something that will never change-our flower.
"Dadddddyyyyy!" Mari squealed as she catapulted herself at Hiruma as Mamori opened the door of her dorm room. He is thankful for his fast reflexes and swiftly caught a giggling Mari who immediately snaked her chubby arms around his neck to hug him. She furrowed her brows as she examined his busted lip. Fucking Cute. She really does look like a little version of her mother.
"Get in, be quiet though." he heard Mamori said as she let go of the door and walked to the couch. Hiruma swung his leg to slowly close the door as if to comply to her demand, Mari still on his arms she has his face squished between her chubby hands. He doesn't mind at all, this kind of physical touch was different for him, he kinda like it.
Yuu was sitting silently on the floor, brows furrowed as he stared at the chess board in front of him. Mari put a finger in front of her lips as if to shush him even though he hasn't uttered a word the moment he stepped inside, she whispered, "Nii likes it quiet when he is strategizing his next move."
Hiruma glanced at the board, the current play is a complicated one and the opponent is clearly at an advantage. He cackled, "Kekeke, you've got a nice move there Mari."
Mari looked at him dumbly, as if a question mark popped up beside her tilted head and then suddenly it poofed and is being replaced by a light bulb. "What? Nuh-uh, Nii is strategizing against himself!"
It dawned to Hiruma that his son is playing a chess against himself, he can't help but feel a swell of pride that bubbled in his chest. Remembering his younger self do the same, hearing a distant echo of is old man saying that as long as he find loopholes in his own calculations he'll be able to perfect them. The reason why he can strategize different kinds of plays within seconds. Practice does makes perfect.
Then the girl on his arms huffed, he looked at her and then she pouted, "I always lose when I try to challenge him at chess."
An evil grin spread into Hiruma's lips, Mamori raised a brow. "Yuu.."
Yuu looked up and finally noticed Hiruma in front of him, he has Mari in his arms and she was pouting. "Oh, hey dad."
"Wanna play against me and Mari?"
Both of the twins eyes lit up. Yuu already rearranging the chessboard as Hiruma sat on the opposite side with Mari perched on his lap. She was already helping his twin brother arrange their pawns when Hiruma caught Mamori's eye, she had already made herself comfortable at the couch. She signed, a small smile on her lips as she looked at the excitement the twins are emanating. Talk can wait.
Twins/Daddy bonding it is.
Picking up the fragments you dropped into my palm,
I tried to put them back together like a jigsaw puzzle...
Uh... we made a harmony, just like a flower's melody
Our shine is almost like a diamond ring, so I wanna say to you...
Soon enough, Mamori's room was filled with giggles, courtesy of Mari, and smirks from the two boys each time they outplay each other's moves. In the end, Mari and Hiruma won, with Mari squealing praises and peppering small kisses onto Hiruma's cheeks and Hiruma reaching out to ruffle Yuu's hair. Yuu was smiling, clearly enjoying the power struggle even though he lost. It's the widest smile Mamori has ever seen Yuu give, even showing those little canines that mirror to Hiruma's own.
Hiruma took a moment to look at the twins, they were made of him, his blood, his flesh, and of Mamori's. He can't believe he made something as beautiful as these two, him, Hiruma Youichi, the devil incarnate. It's not been a full day since he met them but he knows in his heart that he will conquer or burn the world if they ask him to.
I wasn't able to honestly say "Thank you" to you...
I really really like you, so the memories of you and me
will always be radiating deep in my heart.
Mamori stared at Hiruma while he seemed lost on his thoughts as he watched the twins. She can see it as clear as day. Something that Hiruma thought he was not capable of himself, love. The small smile on his lips looks so genuine that it hurts to look at. She felt guilty of the years with the twins she took away from him.
The twins yawned at the same time. Pulling Mamori and Hiruma out of their thoughts. "Sleepy?" Mamori asked smiling, the twins nodded in chorus. Though both heads instantly turned to Hiruma with question in their eyes. It was Yuu who spoke for the both of them. "Can Dad stay here?"
All three heads turned slowly to Mamori, two pleading eyes and one a calculating gaze. Mamori could almost hear the gears of Hiruma's head, wanted to give in to the twins, but reluctant, he does not want to cross his boundaries with her. The twins are already giving her their deadly puppy dog eyes which they knew she wouldn't be able to resist.
Hiruma opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by Mamori, "I don't think I-"
"Of course." Mamori smiled at the two as Hiruma felt his brain break. The twins happily tackling him then ushered him to Mamori's bedroom.
I wasn't able to honestly say "Thank you" to you...
I really really like you, so no matter how much time lapses,
I will continue making flower bloom at this very place, like always.
Talk tomorrow.
Was the last thing Mamori signed to him before sleep consumed her. They had the twins in between them, Mari refused to let go of Hiruma as soon as he lied down on the bed and Yuu was beside Mamori, contented with holding Hiruma's hand as it draped over Mari and half way his boy's stomach.
Soon, all three of of them had their breathing evened out, a clear sign that they're all asleep. Hiruma's let his eyes trace the three figures beside him on the bed, that's when he decided, it's time to stop being a coward. If this the reward awaiting for him he would do everything in his power to make everything right. Fuck debts of gratitude, he can be an ungrateful piece of shit for everyone else if he had to. Whatever this he will let this bloom and will not let anything or anyone destroy it.
As he closes his eyes to succumb to sleep, he tightened his hold to Yuu and Mari. Swore to himself that he'll be a good father to them, simply because, he finally admits to himself, that, he loves them. Hiruma Youichi is not afraid to love anymore.
xxXxx
Uhh, Merry Christmas I guess? :)
I really hope you enjoy this chapter. Please leave a review and tell me your thoughts. It really helps with the writing inspiration. :)