Surgery
Hariel knocked softly. She waited for Yukimura’s permission before entering. Slowly opening the door, she blinked as she was confronted with a room full of boys. His team?
“Ah, Hariel-chan. How was your first day of school?” The navy-haired boy seemed tired, but it didn’t look like he was in too much pain. “Okay.” She mumbled awkwardly. She dropped her bag next to his bed in the usual spot. For lack of something to say or do, she went over to the plant she had given him. Checking the soil and then taking it over to the sink to water it.
“Eh, you are that girl who visited buchou...” Kirihara recognised her easily enough, she had made an impression. Sanada merely nodded at her, greeting her in his own stoic way.
“Kirihara-san, Sanada-san, nice to see you again.” She said softly. She wanted to leave and yet also support Yukimura.
The violet-eyed boy gently patted the bed next to him. She looked at him, raising an eyebrow. He merely nodded. She bit her lip, then she pushed through the barrier of boy softly, hopping into the bed with him.
She curled up to him easily, climbing into his lap and hiding her face against his neck. She could hear him chuckle, but so sue her she was still pretty shy with strangers.
“Team, this is Echizen Hariel. I’ve been tutoring her. She’s become a very close friend of mine." Yukimura introduced her gently. Hariel glanced up at them shyly. “Nice to meet you everyone.” She whispered, bowing her head a little.
She ignored the veritable waterfall of reactions with ease. Yukimura only patted her head softly, dealing with the situation for her, which was only fair since he had created it in her humble opinion.
By the time his team had left she would be happy to never hear the word girlfriend again.
“Why does everyone assume that we’re in a relationship.” She grumbled against his warm skin. His chest vibrated with the chuckles he was trying to stifle. “Laugh it up, Seiichi-senpai...”
“Thank you for coming.” He merely replied softly. She sighed. “Of course.”
“Will you sit for a painting some time?” He asked out of nowhere. Hariel blinked, what was it with people wanting to capture her image.
“Ah.... okay.” She mumbled sleepily. She put a careful hand over his throat, calling up the runic ritual she had enacted. She carefully boosted the runic enchantment. Eventually the ritual would fade, but for now she could keep boosting it to help him out for a little while longer. It couldn’t hurt to up his chances for tomorrow.
“Are you ready?” He nodded distantly. She pressed a very soft kiss to his forehead. Taking his face into her hands she kissed him, a feather soft touch. “You will be okay.” He nodded, obeying the unspoken command behind it.
“I’ll be here tomorrow, as soon as you wake up.” He smiled at her, glad. “Alright.” He squeezed her hand gently, worried and tense.
Hariel left late in the evening, after her senpai had fallen asleep. She couldn’t be there the next morning, but she would look out for him however she could.
Hariel got dressed in a haze, she had gone for her morning run with Kaidoh but she was distracted and couldn’t seem to keep up. Eventually her grumpy classmate had simply plucked her up and swung her onto his back. He had delivered her back to the temple, and then stalked off to talk to Echizen.
“She’s distracted, take care of her.” Then he had nodded brusquely and walked off.
Hariel blinked down at her uniform, vaguely noting that she had finished getting dressed.
Ryoma sighed, he knew why she was distracted it was understandable... “Come on Hariel. I’ll ask Momo-senpai if he’ll take you along on his bike. I don’t trust you not to walk into something.”
She merely blinked, not even hearing him. She was focussed inward, on the faint link she could feel tying her to Yukimura.
Momoshiro rode up to them on his bike soon after, she had missed breakfast entirely. “Yo, what’s going with Echizen-chan?” “Her tutor is undergoing surgery today. She’s worried.” The tall second year nodded seriously. “Oh, I hope everything goes well.” Ryome swallowed. “So do I.” He didn’t particularly want to know what would happen if Yukimura died. Hariel was incredibly attached to the older teenager after all...
Ryoma guided the still out of it girl towards Momoshiro. He took her bag from her lax hand and then lifted her onto the back of Momoshiro’s bike. Automatically she clenched a hand into the back of his uniform but otherwise she failed to notice.
With worry in his eyes Ryoma followed behind them, taking in her distant posture and the nearly always fixed on nothing eyes. She was so far away like this...
With steadily growing worry they guided the girl around campus between them. Momoshiro had a steady grip on her shoulder as he made his way to the second floor, nodding goodbye to a worried Echizen in the process.
“Oi, mamushi. Take care of her.” The surprised second year turned around when he heard Momoshiro’s call. Spotting Hariel his grumpy expression sharped further. Carefully he took her hand, gently tugging her along. “I will. Momo.” He said shortly, leaving a slightly stunned amethyst-eyed teen behind. Carefully he guided her towards her seat, spotting the teacher’s frown he made his way to Tanaka-sensei's desk.
“Her tutor is going through surgery today. She’s worried.” He mentioned softly. The stern woman nodded thoughtfully. She would let the girl be for today.
The bell rang and Hariel blinked around in surprise. She hadn’t noticed the day flying by, no memories or any clue how she got here either.
She gathered her stuff and quickly left the room. She was halfway down the stairs when a sharp pain tore through her chest. She gasped in surprise, starting to crumble to her knees. Ryoma, coming down the stairs right after her, immediately caught her collapsing frame. He’d been looking for her.
Her eyes were narrowed in pain and she was clawing at her chest. “No.... no nonono." She whispered desperately.
Ryoma frowned, he scooped her up bridal style. Tears were trailing down her face, soaking into the black curls by her temples. Her face was pale and her hands were tearing into the skin by her throat now.
He pulled her into a classroom, refusing to allow others to see her like this. He was worried, she seemed to be utterly unaware of his presence. Hariel was crying, her bond with Seiichi was... dissolving.
The pain was indescribable, but she refused to let go. Desperately she threw all of her magic into clinging to him.
Blood was starting to leak out of her mouth, crimson trails dripping down her pale skin. Her face was pained and now she was whimpering as well. Then, while Ryoma was staring at her in worry, wondering what he should do her eyes flew open. Wide green met startled gold as she screamed.
“SEIICHI.” For one moment Ryoma could see the boy in front of them. He pressed a kiss to her lips. ‘I promised didn’t I. I will always be here for you.’ Then, he was gone. Ryoma prayed feverishly that he wasn’t dead.
Dazed green eyes blinked up at him. A bloody smile was shining up at him. His eyebrow rose in question. “Fine, he’s fine now. He’s okay.” She muttered dizzily. Her magical core was utterly empty. It felt a little bit like she was missing one of her limbs. She was so incredibly relieved though, her bond with the navy-haired senior was pulsing reassuringly, healthy and stronger still then ever.
Fuji opened the door, his eyes widened as he spotted Hariel, collapsed against Ryoma with blood dripping from her mouth. “Ah, Syusuke-san. I had a little accident.” She told him the truth, or as much of it as she could safely reveal.
“I was calling to check on Seiichi-senpai and for a moment I thought he was gone, I fell down the stairs. Turns out, he’s fine.” Fuji breathed out slowly, she seemed to be alright, in spite of the blood. Carefully he kneeled next to the siblings. Taking out his water bottle and a spare handkerchief he slowly dabbed away the blood.
“That’s good. I’m happy for you." He murmured kindly, heart still in his throat from the scare.
Hariel tried to sit up, but ultimately would have collapsed to the floor again if not for Fuji’s quick reflexes. Ryoma’s hands shook, he could have lost her today. What she had done was dangerous, nobody started coughing up blood from their mouth if it wasn’t. He knew just enough about magic to realise that she had risked her own soul to keep her senpai alive.
“I want to see him.” She whispered in a daze. Fuji frowned, looking at Ryoma in worry. The team’s baby sighed, before nodding. “We will take you, right Fuji-senpai?” The tensai nodded slowly. “If that is what you need...” She nodded still out of it.
The honey-haired teenager swept her up bridal style. “Taxi.” Hariel muttered slowly. She had the money for it and she desperately wanted to see Yukimura. Fuji frowned, but nodded slowly.
Frightened still, hands clenched tightly enough that his nails were biting into his palms Ryoma followed the two out of the school. It was lucky that there was no club to go to today.
Fuji opened the door, easing into the cab with Hariel dragged along into his lap. Ryoma joined them, stoically telling the driver the address of the hospital.
Hariel was staring ahead without seeing, she seemed to have taken one of Fuji’s hands hostage, clinging to the pale slender boy with all of her might. She was shivering, her temperature dropping with her lack of magic.
Ryoma was carefully monitoring his little sister, after her stunt there were still a lot of things which could go wrong after all... Perhaps going to the hospital was the right thing to do, she needed a check-up herself.
Fuji was confused, for all that her words hadn’t sounded like lies, it was still a strange situation. Why did she seem so sick and weak herself so suddenly? He resigned himself to not knowing and cuddled his obsession closer. Serenely he told himself that at least now he would get to meet Yukimura and see with his own eyes whether he was... a threat.
Ryoma, seeing his senpai’s sharp blue gaze caught on Hariel, again, groaned. Perhaps he should resign himself to having the tensai as an in-law. The mutual obsession/attraction whatever it was they were building between them was a force all to itself. He’d never seen anything like it.
He thanked the driver and paid with Hariel’s money before exiting the vehicle. Fuji followed, somehow managing to appear graceful even though he was slithering out of the door with a girl in his arms.
He led his senpai through the white hospital maze. He still remembered the way. Absently Ryoma reminded himself that he had to call his family. Just as soon as his own heart rate was normal again.
He opened the door without so much as a by your leave. Yukimura was in his bed, just like the last time he met the older teen. Several teenagers were surrounding him, along with what seemed to be his parents and, little sister perhaps?
“Thanks everyone, for coming. I’d like some time alone now.” His soothing voice rang out smoothly, he looked just tired and overwrought enough that it was believable.
Fuji, always clever and quick on the uptake kindly spoke with the Yukimura parents. “We only wish to say hello for a short moment. We won’t bother him for long. Hariel-chan has just been very worried all day.”
The adult's eyes softened. That they could understand, and despite only meeting her now, they’d heard about her enough from Yukimura to recognize her on sight. Spotting their worried look, Ryoma spoke up to shortly speak in an effort to get them to go away. “She’s just tired because she worried instead of sleeping last night. My imouto isn’t sick. She would never risk Yukimura’s health.”
They nodded, finally leaving the room, ushering the Rikka Dai team along kindly.
As soon as the door clicked shut, Yukimura pinned his intent violet gaze on the slack form of his friend. She was hanging limply in Fuji’s arms and he just knew that it hadn’t been a fever dream at all. She had done something. He held out his arms, and she almost threw herself at him.
Fuji, anticipating this event, moved with her, neatly depositing her into the navy-haired boys embrace.
“Seiichi... Seichii....” She sobbed into his neck. “I almost lost you.” Yukimura tightened his hold on her further. “I’m sorry.” He whispered mournfully. He never meant to scare her, had never meant to do anything except hang on. He just hadn’t been strong enough.
He could feel her tears burning a path down his own skin. As if by divine punishment. He carefully cradled her face, pressing soft kisses over her mouth, her cheeks, her eyelids, her forehead, as if repenting.
“I’ll never leave you. I promised didn’t I. I will always be here for you Hariel.”
Fuji looked at the two intertwined teenagers. He didn’t feel even the slightest twinge of jealousy. He could almost see the way they fit together. It was like they were half of each other. As if they had been meant to be one entire person. It looked more like a twin-bond then a romantic one. They weren’t each other’s other half. They were half of one whole split too soon. If there was such a thing as a platonic soulmate, they were it.
Eventually Hariel seemed to fall into an exhausted sleep. Ryoma had left the room for a short time, to call his parents and Ryoga. They had been worried, but seemed willing enough to leave this be until Hariel was ready to leave Yukimura’s side after the scare with his operation.
Yukimura had suspiciously wet eyes as well, but he seemed to be at peace with himself. Hariel was sprawled all over the tennis captain, clinging to his taller frame even in her sleep. He was softly rubbing her back, soothing the girl in her sleep.
Eventually violet eyes took in the slender frame of Seigaku’sTensai. “So you are Hariel’s Fuji-kun. Or at least one of them.” The captain needled gently. He was curious whether this boy really was as alike with him as Ryoma and Ryoga had implied.
Fuji’s eyes opened, sharp blue eyes catching and holding his violet gaze. “And you are Hariel-chan's Seiichi-senpai.” He smiled gently, eyes curving shut in his signature smile. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Yukimura almost smiled, oh he was good. He didn’t even twitch at the mention that his brother might also be romantically attached to Hariel. Almost like a mirror, near unreadable. Counter tennis indeed...
“I’ve heard a lot about you Fuji-kun. Tell me, what do you think about Hariel-chan? I think it’s important that my beloved kouhai has good senpai to take care of her at her new school.”
Fuji observed the famed tennis captain with interest. He could see why they had been compared. The other tennis player also had a gentle demeanour which hid a very shrewd mind.
“Saa, isn’t it more important what Hariel-chan thinks of me?” Yukimura smiled, and Ryoma looked on in horror at the clash of the pretty, dangerous teenagers. Yukimura nodded thoughtfully. He liked Fuji. He wasn’t immature, and he seemed genuinely attracted to Hariel, more than that he cared a great deal and he was allowing it to be seen because he had already noticed that Yukimura cared for Hariel as well, and not in a way which was threatening to him.
“I think we will get along very well Fuji-kun.” The tensai smiled as well. “Likewise, Yukimura-kun.”
Ryoma nearly sighed in relief that they weren’t going to fight. Then he shuddered, he did not want to know what it would look like if these two ever decided to ‘share’ a target.
“I fear for my mental sanity, and especially the sanity of anyone who looks at Ri wrong.” He mumbled under his breath. The two seniors looked at him at the same time, gentle smiles on their pretty faces. “Echizen-kun, thank you so much for the lovely compliment.” Ryoma eyed the captain with some trepidation, he wasn’t going to tease him right?
“Saa Echizen, it is always so nice when you compliment me.” Fuji added cheerfully. He leaned closer to the bed, gently pulling the scrunchy from black curls, carding his hand through her hair carefully. Hariel sighed, and subconsciously sought him out, curling towards him without letting go of Yukimura. She caught his hand with one of hers, resting her face against the warm hand as if looking for reassurance that he was there.
“Hmm, Fuji-kun. Come here for a moment, I can’t support Hariel-chan for much longer.” Fuji looked at the strong arms cradling the girl, not trembling in the slightest. Lie.
He nodded kindly. “Of course Yukimura-kun. I wouldn’t want to separate the two of you though.” He joined the two teenagers and Ryoma rubbed his eyes against the headache threatening to bloom behind his eyes.
Fuji pulled Hariel down between the two, curling around her back as he carefully shielded her petite shape. Yukimura smiled sharply at the shorter teen, looking Fuji right in the eye over Hariel’s head.
Ryoma sighed, his sister was such a trouble magnet. He did not think this combination was a good idea at all. He looked at her relaxed frame, cradled between the two teenage boys peacefully. The things he did for her...
Hariel woke up shivering. She opened her eyes and the first thing she noticed was Yukimura’s intense violet gaze. She breathed out in relief. She frowned slightly in confusion when she noticed that, while they were partially intertwined, it wasn’t his arm her head was lying on. Not his arm curled around her waist.
She felt someone behind her shift, looking at her carefully as she looked behind her. She blushed as she realized that it was Fuji who was holding her. He’d been curled around her sleeping frame protectively. Her head on his arm and her back pulled to his chest. “Saa, did you sleep well Hariel-chan?” He asked kindly. She nodded vaguely.
“Fuji-kun carried you here, do you remember?” Yukimura asked softly. She blinked at him, thoughts still slow and sluggish. She nodded again. “Mmh, thank you.” The blue-eyed Fuji merely smiled soothingly. “It was no problem.”
“Hariel. We are expected home by ten at the latest. It’s about eight o’clock now.” Ryoma stated bluntly. He was sitting on a chair next to them.
Slowly Fuji sat up, Hariel resisted the urge to cling to him. She could see Yukimura smiling at her slyly from the corner of her eye and tried not to blush. The honey-haired senior didn’t go far. He sat up against the headboard. She already missed his body heat and didn’t even try to protest when Yukimura pushed her closer to the Seigaku student.
It was subtle motion, though he didn’t need to bother with that. Fuji caught it instantly and accommodated for Hariel’s frame easily. Making the whole manoeuvre seem entirely smooth and natural. She ended up sitting in his lap, her legs slung over Yukimura’s waist. It was soothing for her magic, the small amount of the dense power she had recovered with her nap flowing freely between the two teenagers.
She nearly started crying again as the close call started to sink in. She rubbed her face against Fuji’s neck as if she was a cat marking her territory. Inhaling the scent of rain and spice was soothing. As a slender hand wound into her curls at the base of her neck the tight claiming grip and Fuji’s own personal scent worked easily to calm her down.
Yukimura watched with interest as Hariel calmed down. She was obviously tired, but the emotional strain on her was slowly disintegrating as if skin contact with the interesting prodigy was enough to help her centre herself. He hummed thoughtfully. Fuji would make for an interesting acquaintance which was good, since Hariel would likely bind them together for the rest of their life.
His eyes drifted off to the other Echizen in the room, he would need to get to know him as well. Hariel was the link between them, and nobody wanted to break her.
“Saa, Echizen, if you had told me sooner that Yukimura-kun would make such a delightful friend I might not have needed to entertain myself with you...” Fuji commented slyly. Watching golden eyes widen in dread and irritation was always funny. “Fuji-senpai. I still think that the two of you meeting at all is a disaster. Your entertainment usually means being embarrassed, or passing out from Inui-senpai's juice.” He turned to face the other senior as well. “And Ryoga-nii has complained about you enough that I don’t trust you not to tease me either.” Golden eyes were narrowed suspiciously at the bed-bound tennis player.
Yukimura chuckled. “Hariel told me about Inui-kun's juice. Is it really that bad Echizen-kun?” The stoic face of the male Echizen cracked slightly as an expression of horror formed. “Can’t be that bad, all he adds is vegetables and protein right?” Hariel mumbled softly against Fuji’s throat. The boy shivered slightly at the feeling of her cold lips. Hariel only smiled softly against his neck when she felt him tighten his grip on her hair in response.
“I think Inui makes wonderful juice.” He said softly. Ryoma frowned indignantly. “You have weird taste buds senpai. Everyone else except for buchou always ends up fainting.”
“And to make it worse, you always keep up during our laps because you want to watch everyone else drink. You like his stupid juice, you don’t even want to avoid drinking it. You just want to watch us suffer.” The grumpy first year continued, on a roll.
Yukimura smiled, they were funny. “Inui’s juice is good for you Echizen. Perhaps you will even grow a little.” Fuji stated serenely, not even bothering to deny his slight sadism.
“Oh is that why you are so small Echizen-kun. Did you not eat healthy enough?” Yukimura teased gently. The boy sighed, there was no winning against two of them, besides he was the normal height for his age.
“I think nii-chan looks cute surrounded by his senpai.” Hariel spoke up, voice light and happy. “They take such good care of him. He isn’t nearly as distant with them as he was with all the other kids back in England.”
Ryoma sighed, there went his reputation. “Oh, so Echizen likes us. We’ve tried to be good senpai but he always seemed so stubborn and distant. It really is just his personality then. I’ll have to tell Eiji that you really do love us, he’ll be ecstatic.” Fuji told the freshman kindly with a soft smile on his face. Eyes curved shut in little half-moons.
“Hariel... don’t tell people that. I don’t want Eiji-senpai to suffocate me.” The golden-eyed teen complained grumpily.
Hariel fell back asleep with a smile on her face, drifting off to the sound of three of her most precious people. Fuji pressed a soft kiss to her forehead and his “Sleep well Hariel-chan." Guided her into murphy’s embrace gently.
Hariel had no idea how she ended up back home. Ryoma mentioned over breakfast that she’d fallen asleep again and that he had called Nanjirou to come and pick them up. “Bishoujo, that brat was awfully close to you.” The Samurai whined. The green-eyed girl only smiled. “I like Seiichi-senpai and Syusuke-san, of course they are close to me, they are my friends.” She only stated, unconcerned with her dad’s outburst.
Ryoga frowned down at Ryoma. “Keep an eye on chibi-chan. She has way too many boys close to her.” He stated seriously. Nanako and Rinko hid smiles at the silly behaviour. “Alright.” Ryoma stated slightly mockingly.
Hariel giggled at her older brother. It would take a little longer for the panic to die down but for now she was okay.
“Bye everyone, have a good day.” She called out as she followed Ryoma’s sleepy form out of the door. “Ah, hello Momo-chan.” She greeted the second-year student cheerfully. “Ah Echizen-chan, are you alright today? Did your senpai’s surgery go well then?” She nodded happily. “Seiichi-senpai should recover entirely before nationals take place.” She stated, pleased.
Momoshiro blinked down at the smaller second year. “Your senpai plays tennis?” It might be some other sport but he was curious now. Hariel nodded cheerfully, easily steering Ryoma away from his impending meeting with a metal fence. “Ah, Seiichi-senpai is Rikka Dai’s Captain.”
Momoshiro blinked down at her, shocked. “Your senpai is Yukimura from Rikka Dai?” He asked, stunned. Everyone knew that school. They were a national level team after all.
She skipped ahead, incredibly relieved and still bubbling with the happiness of Yukimura being cured. “Yes. I met their team too, but I didn’t talk to them much. They all seemed nice though.”
Ryoma yawned. “Momo-senpai, don’t trust Yukimura.” He told him seriously. Momoshiro frowned, amethyst-eyes serious and focussed on the freshman. “What is wrong with him?”
Ryoma looked up at his friend, golden eyes unusually focussed. “He’s like Fuji-senpai, a teasing menace and probably a sadist as well.” Hariel promptly started giggling while Momoshiro sighed. “Is that all, I was worried there for a second.” Then the power player started thinking about Fuji, and the one time he had seen the older boy talking to one of the people who had driven his otouto away. He shuddered. “This is bad.” Ryoma nodded. “I know.”
Smiling slightly, Hariel left the two of them to it. She knew that they weren’t really afraid. They were just a little wary of being teased.
She slumped into her seat next to Kaidoh’s desk, who appeared just before the bell. “Fsshhh, hello, again.” The grumpy boy stated humorously. They had run together just before going to school. “Good morning, again, Kaoru-kun.” She whispered softly.
English was boring, and Hariel spend most of the lesson either helping Kaidoh out or staring out of the window. “Thanks.” Dark green eyes looked at her thankfully, a small blush colouring his cheeks. He really is very sweet, the emerald-eyed girl thought fondly. “Anytime.”
“Ne, Kaoru-kun what do you usually do during lunch?” The petite cross-dressing girl asked softly once the bell rang. “I have a bento, and I usually eat here.” The brunet answered easily. Hariel nodded thoughtfully. She packed her own bento as well, and she was getting used to Seigaku slowly. It was only her third day but she liked school well enough.
She stood up and patted his shoulder in passing, waving as she left. Kaidoh waved back awkwardly, blush once again almost invisible but there. She grinned as she left the classroom. The snake specialist already knew where she would go.
She took the stairs two at a time as she made her way to the roof. “Niichan.” She called softly, before flinging herself on top of the sleeping boy. “Hariel.” He said lowly, blinking awake. Ryoma grunted, sitting up with Hariel still plastered over him. The door opened again and Fuji and Kikumaru stepped onto the roof.
“Ah, o-chibi, Hariel-chibi.” The redhead cried excitedly, before flinging himself all over the two Echizens as he hugged them tightly. “Eiji-senpai, I can’t breath.” Hariel flailed awkwardly under the older boy's assault. Ryoma had long since resigned himself to this and merely waited patiently.
“Saa, Eiji, don’t suffocate our cute kouhai.” Fuji spoke up, after watching the funny trio for a second.
“But Fujiko-chan, I haven’t seen the chibis all day.” The blue-eyed boy sat down next to the tangle of limbs. Hariel finally succeeded in shoving Eiji entirely onto Ryoma, who shot her a golden-eyed glare. She smirked at him, shifting away from the two to sit next to Fuji.
“Eiji-senpai how was your morning?” Hariel asked softly, he was the only one she didn’t really know here but she wanted to be friends with him. The older boy was just so nice and bubbly. For Hariel, who had never really been allowed to be a child his energy was amazing.
“Good, good. I’m looking forward to the end of the school day though.” The acrobat stated cheerfully. Hariel smiled at him tentatively. “Me too.” She confessed shyly. She leaned a little closer to the tensai, it wasn’t even a conscious decision, her body just swayed towards him.
“Do you have tennis practice today, Hariel?” Ryoma asked, calmly eating his lunch as he leaned against the wall. She nodded. “I do.” A dark look appeared for a split second on her pretty face, before it was hidden again under more stoic behaviour.
“We can walk home together.” Ryoma said indifferently, but all three could see he was pleased. Hariel merely nodded in confirmation.
“Hariel-chan, what type of racket do you use? I’ve seen it before, but I was wondering what tension you use.” Fuji asked curiously, redirecting her attention as he shifted closer to the girl. She leaned against him without even noticing, missing Kikumaru’s curious look and Ryoma’s resigned glare at the tensai completely.
Fuji nearly smirked at Echizen, but instead turned his attention to her answer. “Balanced.” She pronounced shortly, contently leaning against her senior while drinking from her water bottle. “I need the power from the lower tension, but I play a very controlled type of tennis so I have a fairly high tension on my racket. I could go even higher with my control but I won’t because power is my weakest area.”
The older tennis player nodded thoughtfully. “That makes sense, you have a very difficult style speed demon-chan.” Kikumaru blinked. “Did you play a match against Hariel-chibi Fujiko-chan?” He asked curiously. “Che, he played against Hariel and oyaji, but Fuji-senpai won’t play against me.” Ryoma complained half-heartedly.
Fuji smiled at him serenely. “Saa, I’m sure you will have your chance too some time Echizen.” The genius peacefully declared, utterly ignoring once more that he could easily play against him any time. Hariel hid her face against his shoulder, giggling lightly.
“So, did Fujiko-chan win?” The redhead asked the girl who was by now plastered against Fuji’s side. She didn’t even seem to notice, but Kikumaru had caught Fuji smiling down at the girl softly. He wasn’t known for allowing girls close but Hariel was clearly different. “6-4. He didn’t play seriously though.” Hariel pouted up at him, she knew that it hadn’t been an insult, but one day she wanted to be able to keep up.
Fuji opened his eyes, staring down at the petite shape leaning against him. Roughly he tugged on her hair. “Don’t put yourself down. I was serious against you. I used my counters and you broke one of them. Maybe I didn’t go all out, but I was closer to it then you seem to think.” She flushed as she felt the grip of a powerful slender hand clenched into her hair. It made her feel important, as if he had intentionally claimed her attention.
Kikumaru looked on, wide-eyed. That... was interesting. He hadn’t seen Fujiko-chan so invested in someone before, or so sharp without someone running away almost. Instead o-chibi'simouto seemed to like his sharp gaze, nodding softly as if accepting the reprimand.
Fuji never really played seriously, he was so good that he didn’t need to. For Hariel to have broken one of his triple counters... The redhead wanted to see her play tennis.
The warning bell rang and the four tennis players quickly left the roof. Hariel nodded to Eiji and hugged Fuji fleetingly as she smiled up at him before following Ryoma down the stairs.
The two seniors went to their class, Fuji smiling gently, happy to have seen Hariel, and Kikumaru intrigued.
Once more piercing hateful eyes tracked the girl, nobody noticed.
Calling softly for the older Black blooded wix, Hariel waited patiently until his face appeared. “Hey Sirius.” She said shyly. She knew that what she did had been dangerous. Messing with bonds and souls always was. She just prayed that Sirius wouldn’t get too angry. The idea terrified her.
Still, Seiichi-senpai was alright, so all was right in her world.
“Hello fawn." “I uhm... I told you about Seiichi-senpai right? He was in surgery yesterday.” “How did it go?" The Black lord asked curiously. She didn’t seem upset, so he wasn’t worried.
“I uh, the bond was... dissolving at one point. I clung to it, and I drained my core." Seeing his grey eyse widen in panic Hariel hastened to add. “It was fine, I’m fine, completely recovered even.”
The wizard let out a slow controlled breath. “That’s good fawn... I can’t say I’m glad that you risked yourself, but I understand." Kind sympathetic eyes met her nervous green. “I would have done the same for James." He smiled ruefully. “I’d be a hypocrite to get angry at you now so... please just be careful."
Hariel frowned unhappily, there was a subtle glimmer in her godfather's eyes. “I can’t lose you to fawn...”
The green-eyed girl flopped back on her bed, tired and emotionally wrung out from the call with her godfather. She reached out and scrawled a few reassuring sentences to the English witches.
Then she curled up, and fell straight asleep. She was still magically exhausted, so for once there were no dreams and she slept peacefully.