Romance
The ice-cream store was busy, and nobody felt like leaving straight away. Fuji pointed to a tiny table hidden away from the rest of the room, around a corner. Meant for people on a date, it only had two chairs crowding against the plastic table top. “Let’s go there.” Kaidoh and Hariel stared at him incredulously... “There are only two chairs, Fuji-senpai...” Kaidoh pointed out slowly.
The prodigy herded his two kouhais along never the less. “Saa, are there?” He asked teasingly. Dropping his bag, he sat down almost daintily. Then he reached out and laced his fingers through Hariel’s claiming a petite hand. He tugged very softly, and she went willingly.
Kaidoh sighed, of course Fuji would consider that to be a perfectly good solution. He should probably just be thankful that the older boy hadn’t decided to cuddle with him instead. She sighed, setting her bag down next to his and slowly sitting down. She was perched on Fuji’s lap almost daintily, legs crossed at the ankles demurely.
Sneakily he wrapped an arm around her waist. Looking up at her with twinkling eyes, his fingers, hidden below her tank top trailed teasingly along the line of her shorts. She tried not to react to the subtle questing fingers. It felt good though...
The three teenagers ate their ice-cream mostly in silence. Comfortable and familiar. “Fsshh, thanks." Kaidoh stated gruffly. Bidding the two goodbye, the teenager left them to continue his run. “Stamina monster." Hariel murmured fondly as she waved him goodbye.
She leaned her forehead against Fuji’s neck. She inhaled his scent, he smelled like spice and rain just like always, but also something undeniably Fuji... and very obviously male, it just made her relax against him.
“Do I smell nice?” The prodigy asked curiously, a soft mutter unnoticed by anyone else in the shop. Hariel smiled, he could feel her lips curling up against his neck. Without a hint of shame, and mostly by instinct she licked him. “Yes, you taste nice too.” She whispered in his ear.
Hariel was treated to the rare sight of a speechless Fuji, while his cheeks slowly turned red. Did she have any idea what the feeling of her hot tongue was doing to him? He recovered from the shock, tilting his head to the side to look at her with vivid ocean eyes. “You are so tempting...” He told her in a soft murmur, lips pressed to her neck, fastened over her pulse point.
She swallowed under the sensation. She sighed, biting her lip when he returned the favour. His hot tongue licked a strip up the side of her neck. Hariel muffled her moan with a small hand. She could feel heat flaring to life in her stomach, her cheeks warm and her eyes darkening as she looked at him.
“My house is close by, will you come over?" Wide green, pupils blown wide, she looked far too tempting for a public setting. She nodded slowly. He set her on her feet and pulled her from the store. With a grin, he challenged her. “Run, Hariel-chan."
With a light heart, she chased after him, smiling widely. She followed him into the sun. Golden light dancing around the two teenagers as they ran together.
“Syusuke?” Yumiko blinked as her usually calm younger brother barged into the house. She shook her head when she noticed the small girl on his heels. “Ah, hello again Hariel-chan.” Panting for breath Hariel bent over, trying to recover from the flat-out sprint. “Hello Yumiko-san.” She eventually replied.
“Maybe next time, speed demon-chan." Fuji murmured softly, patting her head gently. Green blazed up at him as she lifted her head. “Someday.” She promised seriously. Fuji privately thought that day might not be as far off as she thought. She really was fast...
Yumiko shook her head. “It’s the weekend, you two are way to active. Aren’t teenagers supposed to laze around in bed all day?” Fuji cocked his head to the side, softly curved half-moons turned in her direction. “Such amazing advice, well if nee-san says so we simply have to. Let’s go Hariel-chan.” The petite girl squeaked as she was suddenly swept up bridal style.
Reflexively clutching at his shoulders, she looked at Yumiko wide-eyed. “Eh?” She asked, from where she was being carried away. “Use protection." She called after them teasingly, as Fuji kidnapped Hariel to his room. “Eeeeeh...” Hariel squeaked again, turning bright red. The young woman snickered, watching her otouto carry Hariel off fondly. Unfortunately for Yuuta, she had the exact same sense of humour as Fuji.
“Syusuke-senpai... c-can you put me down?" She asked softly, huge green eyes staring up at him imploringly. Somehow managing to open the door despite his precious burden Fuji gently smiled. “Saa.” He hummed at her, before dropping her on his bed.
Hariel blushed, shyly turning away from him as she registered her position. “Do you want to shower?” He asked gently, trailing a warm hand over her skin. Hariel’s mind conjured images of the older boy... naked beneath streaming water. Her cheeks burned, giving off enough heat to tempt him into stroking her soft cheek gently. “Naughty naughtyHariel-chan.” He murmured softly.
He could almost see how the question had led her to a fantasy and had to concentrate on not blushing as well as the images also danced in his mind. He wanted that, wanted to pin her to the cold tiles of the shower, wanted to feel her warm naked body against him, see the water streaming over her strong frame. So much desire...
Turning around in an attempt to control himself, he snatched a few things from his closet. Handing her the clothes, he tilted her chin up. Once more giving her time to react he slowly came closer. He really couldn’t resist anymore...
Slotting his mouth over full pouty lips he kissed her. It was wet and deep and she moaned, hands reaching up to clench into the fabric of his shirt, as if the anchor herself.
He licked her bottom lip, then he sucked on her tongue. She shivered, panting slightly as he dominated the kiss. His hand was holding the back of her head, cradling her close. With the fire between them the kiss deepened quickly. Becoming impossibly world consuming. Everything faded away from her, as her world narrowed down to him and him alone.
When the kiss ended, she was dazed, her mouth was red, glistening and swollen lips. She looked thoroughly debouched. He wanted her... “I... I should shower.” Hariel spoke up softly. It was overwhelming, and she didn’t know what they were doing. What did he see her as? What did he think of her? Because she was... very quickly falling for him.
Fuji watched as she fled from his room. He’d need to tell her, to reassure her. He didn’t want to leave her with the impression that he was only fooling around. Burning, laser-focussed blue eyes were shown to the world for a moment. He was far more serious than he had ever been before. He wanted her, wanted to be with her. And unless something changed catastrophically, he was playing for keeps.
Hariel leaned her forehead against the cool tiles of the Fuji’s shower. Hot water streaming over her naked back. What if he doesn’t want anything more with me... What if I was only convenient... As soon as the painful thoughts entered her head though, her magic twisted in on itself. As if rejecting the mere idea. It occurred to her that without a magical bond, she likely would have doubted everything upside down and sideways for good measure.
Sighing the girl stepped out of the shower, towelling herself off roughly. I’ll just have to ask. She pulled her panties back on slowly. She looked at the clothes Fuji had given her before she fled. Grabbing the soft worn t-shirt, she smiled when she realised it smelt like him. The scent of rain and spice swirled around her. It was too big on her, falling to midthigh easily. Glancing at the sweatpants, she sighed.
Too warm really, once more glancing at her legs she decided that since he had already seen her in a shorter dress then this, overheating herself wouldn’t help her any.
She unlocked the bathroom door, stepping into the hallway while glancing around shyly. She opened the door to his room. “S-Sorry.” She whispered, when she saw him. He had his t-shirt halfway down his arms, naked torso on display.
Fuji turned around, dropping the t-shirt to the floor in the process. “Hariel-chan...” Pulling her into the room, he gathered her into his arms. She was just too cute, wet curls still dripping with water, clad seemingly in only his t-shirt. His possessive side purred in satisfaction. He closed the door, pinning her up against it.
With one hand buried into her hair, he tilted her head up. Hariel glanced up into darkened sharp blue, and she didn’t feel frightened in the slightest. Her arms coming up to hug him tightly around the waist. She laid her head against his chest. The feeling of his skin, warm and human and bare against her was reassuring.
He leaned in to kiss her, and she tilted her head up. He slanted his lips over hers, kissing her with passion, fire and heat. She moaned into the kiss, heat quickly coiling deep inside. Arousal flaring to life. She whined high in her throat when his leg pressed between her thighs.
He groaned when he felt her nipples brushing against him through the soft t-shirt. They were pebbled into hard peaks. She was turned on and that was doing things to him as well.
He trailed messy wet kisses down the side of her neck, pausing the suck a deep red mark onto her shoulder where his shirt had slipped down. Her head tilted back to lean against the door with a soft thunk.
Her whole body felt hot and tingly, she shivered under his touch, yearning for more and not quite knowing what. When he shifted, raising his leg slightly to grind harder against her she whimpered, instinctively clamping her thighs together, moaning when his leg rubbed against her at the apex of her thighs.
A pale slender hand wound tighter through her wet hair, the contrast of the cool water dripping onto his warm fingers only highlighting how heated things were turning between them. Pulling her head to the side, he kissed her again. Hot and wet, plundering her mouth until all she could do was moan beneath him.
The soft noises coming from her were just fuel for the fire in him. Hariel’s hands scrabbled down his back reflexively as his clever tongue stroked against hers in maddening ways. The kiss turned slick and soft, lips wetly sliding sweetly against each other.
He was so hard for this maddening beautiful alluring girl. Her body was soft and hot against him. The intense deep green of her gaze was reduced to only a thin ring. Her pupils blown wide open in clear desire.
Slender fingers wove into his hair, pulling him back to her for another kiss. Hariel bit him softly, licking into his mouth wetly, pulling a soft moan from him.
When his knee pressed against her hot centre, she sank further against him, knees trembling as the heat flared higher and higher in her tummy. She squeaked softly when she felt his hard cock settle against her hip. It was empowering, but slightly frightening to realize that she turned him on that much.
She wanted to touch him... but she was still too shy to dare. Fuji groaned, he could see that she was becoming overwhelmed. Bending down, he swept her up again, one arm under her knees and one around her back.
He sat down, then he flopped back against his mattress. Pulling her along, he easily controlled their fall to make sure that he ended up beneath her. Hariel was sprawled beside him, half on top of him. His pale arms were wrapped around her waist tightly, as he slowly pressed a chaste kiss against her wet curls. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have gone so far.” He said softly. Her arousal was fading, her mind clearing up quickly, her questions rising to the surface again.
She was grateful that he seemed to have an internal radar for what was too much for her. She had... honestly loved what he was doing to her, the feelings and the sensations. The exact moment it became too much for her too fast he had stopped and she smiled, curling up against his naked chest. “No, thank you, for looking out for me.”
“Syusuke-senpai... what are we doing?” She asked, voice tiny and nervous. Immediately blue eyes were drawn to her nervous expression. His heart sank in his chest, arousal utterly doused out beneath rising anxiety. “I like you and my feelings for you are becoming deeper every day." He prayed that his lapse of control hadn’t given her the wrong idea.
He sighed, watching in relief as a happy smile appeared immediately. She ducked her head shyly when she saw him watching her intently. “I... I like you too." She confessed shyly in return.
Fuji curled around her, enveloping her tiny frame entirely. Hariel smiled, crawling on top of him completely, arms hugging him tightly as her cheek was smushed against his naked chest. “I’m glad.” He whispered softly. They stayed that way for a long time, tightly intertwined, as close as possible.
“Hariel-chan?” She hummed as he called her name, she was warm and safe and not sleepy but never the less utterly relaxed. She could hear his smile when he spoke again, the words spoken against her hair from where he was curled around her tight enough that they were almost one being instead.
“Will you be my girlfriend, please?" There was hope in his soft voice, a hint of nerves, and overwhelming need and desire. He wanted her so much...
Hariel bit her lip, fiddling nervously with her cast. “I... I have secrets. I don’t know if it’s fair to say yes when you don’t know enough about me...” She glanced up, wincing when she saw his devastated expression, which was quickly shuttered away and hidden behind his usual smile. So plastic and painful...
She grasped his shoulders tightly, tears already dripping down her cheeks. “I want to, I want to be yours but you don’t know nearly enough about me, and I don’t want you to change your mind once you do.” There was something ancient in her green eyes. Something cutting, sharp, painfully broken.
“Hariel...” Fuji’s too clever sharp gaze roamed her face. “I don’t think there is anything you could tell me that would make me regret knowing you.” He told her, almost obsessively. Hariel blinked, she could feel her magic ringing truth, could almost sense the way all of his immense focus, that incredible mind was focused on her.
Almost like self-sabotage, she blurted out the most horrible truth she knew about herself. “I’m a killer, and I don’t regret it." She wanted him, but she wanted to be left even more. It was always better than being left when she was in to deep. Hariel held on to her stark denial. Truth was, she was already in too deep when it came to this brilliant, sly, maddeningly clever beautiful boy.
“Why?" The question was simple, and beyond a minute widening of those ocean coloured orbs he didn’t even react at all. He trusted her, knew the most fundamental truth about her. He had been watching her, observing, greedily taking in every stray bit of information about her. How could he not know. Hariel loved life, and she did so fiercely.
Curling in on herself defensively, so sure that he would hate her, would get mad eventually and judge her for her past. “Self-defence. He worked for the man who killed my mom and dad, and when he tried to strangle me, I fought back...” She still hated herself for not feeling anything. For not being more upset over this.
“And I didn’t stop until he died beneath my hands, even though I could have.” Quirrell had died because she wanted him to burn and even when he started disintegrating under her touch, even when he was no longer a threat, she did not stop...
A soft whisper of his breath skated over her cheek as he exhaled in a rush. There were hands on her face, cradling her close as kind blue met terrified green. “Thank you." Her eyes widened in surprise. “What?” She blurted out, completely shocked. “Thank you for fighting back. It must have been so hard...”
Hariel remembered almost blacking out under his hands, and how for a split-second she had thought about just letting go... She had dreamed in a delirious haze, for a short oxygen deprived moment, of meeting her parents again.
Hariel wasn’t just crying in a vaguely aesthetically pleasing way anymore. There were tears streaming down her face, and her chest was heaving with big ugly sobs. She was crying so hard that she was nearly hyper ventilating and she was sure that she was getting tears, saliva and snot all over him. He didn’t care.
The hand in her hair, so familiar by now, was grounding. By the time she came back to herself, she was draped over him, cuddled close to his warm protective frame. Fuji had managed to wrangle the blankets around them, creating a safe cocoon for her.
When she finally, finally lifted her head to shyly meet his gaze again, she wasn’t pretty. Her eyes were red-rimmed, her nose red, her lips chapped and bitten almost clean through. Her hands were clenching and unclenching anxiously, slender fingers topped by ragged anxiously bitten nails.
His gaze softened, she was beautiful just the way she was. “Be mine.” He told her, a wealth of emotion bound in the short command. This time there was no denial. “Yes.”
Hariel woke up to soft morning light. She was still in bed with Fuji, who was peacefully asleep. He was lying flat on his back. She was curled against his side, with a steel bar parading as his arm around her waist. Watching the golden light dancing over his face, she wanted to draw him. Wanted to spend hours drawing every minor detail, the unfairly long lashes, the delicate curve of his ears. That sharp tempting mouth. The pointy chin and the softly arched eyebrows.
She wanted to capture this moment. Glancing around his room, she slowly slid over his body, pausing for a moment to softly kiss his cheek, delighted that she was allowed to do this.
Printer paper... pencil. She curled up in his desk chair, tucking her slim naked legs beneath her. She didn’t think about the fact that it was a school day. Didn’t bother wondering why she had woken up here. Didn’t consider who might have found them, or what her mom and dad would even think about her now...
She sketched in the peaceful quiet, lost in the strokes and shades. The portrait was soft, the light warm and full in her drawing. She shaded softly and left his hair, curled around his face sweetly as mostly shadow and suggestion. It was one of her best works ever, but then Fuji made a very inspiring muse.
When the portrait was finished, she sat it down on his desk. Padding over to one of the shelves, she picked up the camera he had taken with him to the river. She turned it on, looking at him through the lens. She adjusted the lens to focus on the pretty lashes fanned out over his pale skin. Letting the edges become soft and unfocussed, she clicked a picture.
Slowly Fuji woke up, from a distinctly familiar click. Eyelids slowly fluttering open, he made a sleepy noise in protest when he noticed her across the room. Making grabby hands at her, Hariel merely laughed sweetly, coming right back to his side.
As soon as she was within touching distance, he snaked a pale arm around her waist and drew her down on top of him. “Hey." She grinned back softly, setting the camera down carefully. “Hey."
“Syusuke... it’s nearly time for breakfast, and Hariel-chan needs to go home to change after that." Yumiko’s soft voice called up the stairs. Fuji sighed, sitting up slowly. The changing position forced her to spread her legs wider to straddle his lap. He reached over to pick up his camera, curious about the photograph she took.
“Saa, did you sleep well?" He asked her softly, while he turned on the device. Hariel took the opportunity to run her hands all over his skin. He still hadn’t put on a shirt and now she didn’t have to resist temptation. She explored his upper body, the dips and valleys, the sharp collar bones. Slowly she started following the lines her hands were drawing with her mouth. It was sensual, but more than that it was connection.
It was skin on skin contact, and something sweet and soft which was the exact counter to loneliness.
Fuji shivered under her hands. “If you don’t stop that, we might not be leaving this bed." The tensai captured her wandering hands to press a soft precise kiss to the centre of her left palm. And then he kissed all five of her slender fingers, of her right hand, which was still in a cast. Hariel merely grinned at him. “We will, because I’m hungry and you aren’t nearly as cruel as you pretend to be."
He huffed out a breath of laughter. Then his breath caught in his throat as he saw the picture she had taken. Blindly he pulled her closer. “You have talent. I don’t feel anything for my own face, I see it every day in the mirror after all, but this picture still touches me." She glowed at his praise.
“Will you print me a copy?" She asked softly, somewhat nervously. The picture wasn’t indecent, but it was very personal. He was asleep and he looked soft and sweet, open. The picture was mostly of his face, but also of the naked slope of his neck and parts of his shoulders.
Fuji nodded, modesty wasn’t for him so he was mostly just very pleased that she cared so much and wanted that picture. “Syusuke, Hariel-chan!" Yumiko’s voice pulled them out of their own world.
He kissed her neck, then unexpectedly he tickled her sides and she shrieked with laughter. Pressing one last kiss to her bright red cheek he regretfully stood up, placing his girlfriend, and that was amazing indeed, on her feet easily.
Hariel blinked, then she turned bright red. Cheerfully arranged near the window were her own clothes, sports bra, tank top and shorts. They had obviously been washed and they even seemed to be dry by now. Still, to have her underwear hanging there out in the open... Strong arms caged her in, as the older teen pressed a soft kiss to the side of her neck. “I’ll get dressed in the bathroom.”
As the door closed behind him, she tugged off the shirt, putting on her sports bra again, which flattened her bust by an almost uncomfortable amount. Tugging on her shorts, she looked at the sleep warm t-shirt still grasped in her hands. “Fuck it.” She muttered, tugging the warm fabric over her head again. She could always claim that it was too cold for a tank top.
A soft knock alerted her that he was done, and she opened the door, following him down the stairs. Seeing Yumiko’s knowing expression turned her bright red, even though they hadn’t actually done anything. “Good morning.” The oldest Fuji sibling nearly sang the words to her. “O-Ohayo.” She mumbled out. Fuji smiled, pulling out a chair for her like the gentlemen he never really was for literally anybody else.
“Help yourself." The young woman said kindly, waving at the available food. “Thank you.” A brilliant smile was sent her way and Yumiko was glad that this girl was so close with her little brother. She’d be good for him.
Before she could warn Hariel though, the younger female already had one of Fuji’s preferred creations on her plate. Biting down on the incredibly spicy bread Yumiko watched wide-eyed. The one (and only) time that Yuuta had made this mistake he had nearly fainted, gulping down glass after glass of water.
Hariel breathed out slowly, then she hummed, shrugged and ate the rest of the bread. Fuji, seated right beside her, spoke up cheerfully. “Nice, isn’t it?” Hariel shook her head. “It... has a lot of flavour.” She said diplomatically. She didn’t necessarily like it, being partial to sugary confections herself, but she didn’t hate it either. It was a blazing sensation in her mouth, sort of like nibbling on the sun might be, but she didn’t mind.
For someone who had gone hungry far too often, flavourful food was no problem. Tasting anything at all was to be savoured after that gnawing hungry ache.
Yumiko smiled. ”You are lucky, Syusuke. Most people run for the hills when they come across your peculiar taste." Fuji leaned over to kiss Hariel’s cheek, like it was the most natural thing in the world. “I am lucky.” He agreed seriously. Hariel blushed, but despite her mild feelings of embarrassment she was happy.
Yumiko’s eyes softened. “You two look good together.” She told them seriously. Fuji smiled his trademark smile at her, visibly pleased, while Hariel ducked her head shyly but never the less seemed grateful for the compliment as well.
“Hariel-chan, I called your parents to let them know you fell asleep here yesterday. They were fine with it." She hummed gratefully. “Thanks.” The young woman smiled slyly, setting Hariel on edge slightly. “I forgot to mention that you were sleeping in Syusuke’s bed... with him." Hariel’s cheeks blazed bright red. “T-Thanks.” She stuttered.
The female Fuji grinned, but let it go without teasing her further... for now. She glanced up at the clock, then started putting her dishes in the sink. “Let’s go. I will drive you home. You should have enough time to shower and change this way.” Hariel added her dishes to the pile. Then she bowed politely. “Thank you.” Yumiko merely patted her head gently. “It’s no problem.”
Fuji, already dressed in his uniform, tennis bag slung over his shoulder and school bag ready, followed the two out the door.
In the car, Yumiko smiled when she spotted Fuji raising Hariel’s hand to kiss her palm softly. It was nice to see her usually so closed off little brother happy.
Fuji waited in the living room as Hariel went upstairs to shower and change. “Saa, good morning Echizen." Ryoma, still in his pyjamas paused halfway to the kitchen. His sleepy eyes widened in mild horror, which Fuji did not take pleasure in at all... “Fuji-senpai..." He muttered. Then he seemed to decide that this could not be expected of him in the morning and promptly ignored the older boy, walking away calmly.
With a sly, entertained smile Fuji followed him. Ryoma nearly groaned. “Did you sleep well?" Came the irritating singsong voice of the menace currently crowding way to close. The golden-eyed Echizen leaned back a little as his senpai leaned closer to him. “Fine.” He muttered, warily watching Fuji.
Ryoga breezed into the kitchen, and spotting the strange scene, snorted rudely. “Yo, Fuji. What are you doing here?" He was feeling merciful enough to distract the tensai from his kid brother while the boy was obviously still mostly asleep.
“Well, I’m not very tall, but it still wouldn’t work well to dress Hariel-chan in my uniform. So we came back here.” He answered vaguely, on purpose of course. “Eh?! Why was Hariel-chan with you in the first place?” Ryoga demanded loudly. Startling Ryoma in the process, who, freed from the too sharp focus of the third year had been well on his way to dreamland again.
“Hmm.... this morning, or in general? Because those reasons might be different...” Ryoga’s jaw tightened in irritation. “This morning Fuji." He ground out. “Well, I’ve never seen her teleport before, so it makes sense that she would still be where she was yesterday evening.” Ryoga nearly wanted to strangle the too smart irritating teenager.
“Fuji..." How was a middle school kid so good in getting on his nerves? Fuji, meanwhile, smiled in delight. Ryoma snorted, looking at Ryoga with a smirk. “Mada madadane." He uttered nonchalantly.
Hariel appeared in the doorway, looking at the three of them with a raised eyebrow. She hadn’t felt like showering, so she was dressed in her uniform. Looking like a very pretty boy with long hair. As she dropped into the chair next to Ryoma Fuji smiled, and came to stand right behind her. When Hariel felt strong fingers combing through her messy hair, she knew where this was going.
“Where did you learn how to braid Syusuke-senpai?" She fiddled idly with her cast, glad that it would be removed any day now. “Yumiko-neesan.” He murmured. He pulled her long hair into a loose braid, starting at the top of her head, only to keep adding more of her glossy curls as he went.
Ryoma blinked. He blinked again, nope that was still his little sister, currently looking more like his very pretty little brother, having her hair styled professionally by their senpai. His head hit the table top as he considered the fact that yes, one day Fuji would be his family most likely. He was the first person Hariel had allowed so close, so soon, and who she trusted so completely whom she was also attracted to.
With Yukimura it was different, there was no romantic spark there. “Nii-san, madamadadane." He murmured again. Fuji had clearly been the only one for her all along. That his older brother had been so busy ranting over Yukimura seemed silly now.
Ryoga eyed his little brother, wondering where that came from. “Yukimura was never a threat.” The boy muttered at him, gleaming gold mocking him casually. “Shut up chibisuke.”
Fuji smirked at them from behind Hariel as he suggestively trailed a hand down her throat. Both male Echizens frowned when Hariel only leaned into it. The boy was needling them. Without opening her eyes, Hariel spoke up softly. “Stop tweaking their nose Syusuke-senpai.”
The tensai smiled, leaning down to kiss her cheek softly. “Gomen, gomen. They are just too cute when I ruffle their feathers.”
Ryoga frowned melodramatically. “Don’t come so close to chibi-chan.” Hariel smirked, glancing back at him. She had wondered how she should break the news, but since he provided such a lovely opportunity... Ryoma sighed, he had spotted the mischievous gleam in her eyes.
“I’d say senpai isn’t nearly close enough. He’s mine after all.” She sashayed out of the kitchen, leaving behind a shocked stone statue, an entertained boyfriend and a smiling brother. It was good to see Hariel happy.
Two sets of golden eyes were staring at him, as if they were trying to set him on fire with the power of their minds alone. “If you hurt her, nobody will ever find your body.” Ryoga stated softly. It was a good effort of trying to appear menacing. Ryoma stared at the older boy seriously. “If you ever seriously hurt my imouto, I will take her away from you for the rest of our lives."
Fuji had to admit, he found Ryoma’s threat far more serious. Opening his eyes, he answered them completely serious. “I won’t hurt her. I promise.” Ryoma took him in, and then nodded once. Ryoga sighed, but then also nodded approvingly. “I suppose it is her choice...”
Hariel’s voice floated back to them from the front door. “We’ll be going now, bye nii-san.” Ryoga grunted, calling out a goodbye as well as he waved the two younger males away.
Momoshiro blinked up in surprise when he spotted Fuji walking beside the Echizen siblings. “Good morning.” He said cheerfully, curiously eyeing the older boy. “Hello Momo.” “Ohayo, Momo-chan.” “Hn.” Ryoma grunted, while he yawned. Hariel carefully steered him around the lamp post. He seemed to have managed to go mostly back to sleep in the few steps they had taken away from their house.
Fondly she treaded her arm through his, to keep him on track and away from traffic. Momoshiro laughed. “Echizen, at least try to wake up before we get to school.” “Hn.”
“Saa, we could just let him sleep. He has English first period, right?" Fuji hummed slowly. He was near fluent in English, and he considered his teacher in the subject to be fairy incompetent. He probably didn’t even want to know what their teachers sounded like to Ryoma and Hariel, who were both bilingual.
Hariel nodded. “He does. So do I, funnily enough. I don’t disrupt the class, and in return Tanaka-sensei usually just leaves me alone. I think she knows that she can’t teach me anything in this.”
Momoshiro blinked. “Are you fluent in English as well, Echizen-chan?” Fuji nearly giggled. “Hariel-chan is from England Momo. I’d be worried if she didn’t speak her mother tongue well." He tugged fondly on her long braid. She smiled up at him, and then she turned back to Momoshiro. The amethyst-eyed boy spluttered. “Wait, you are English?! How did you even end up in Japan then?” He looked curious. “You are very good at Japanese though..."
Hariel, fondly tugging Ryoma away from yet another obstacle for a moment, answered lightly. “Ryoma lived down the street from me in England for a while when I was younger. That’s both how I ended up here, and why I speak Japanese pretty well. They taught it to me almost accidentally. I picked it up easily because I was still very young back then. I kept practicing because... I wanted to be close to Ryoma.” She whispered, soft pink dusting her cheeks.
Fuji nearly smiled. She was too precious sometimes. “Echizen, you are lucky to have such a sweet imouto. I wish Yuuta was so attached to me.” There was a tiny note of real longing in his voice. For all that the worst cracks had been mended, his relationship with Yuuta was still awkward and painful compared to how it had once been. He was afraid to push too much, afraid that Yuuta would one day disappear again from his life.
Hariel thoughtlessly took his hand, stroking calloused fingers over the soft skin of his slim wrist. She leaned over to softly talk to the tensai. “Yuuta-kun is just awkward. He looks up to you very much you know.” He hoped so.
“Yeah Ri-chan is a great sibling. Sometimes I wished I could have traded Ryoga for her.” Ryoma stated stoically, prompting a giggle from Hariel and a quick-silver smile from Fuji. “Wait, you have more siblings Echizen?” Momoshiro asked loudly.
Ryoma nodded. “Sure, I have a really irritating older brother as well." Fuji cocked his head to the side. “Just imagine an older Echizen, only sillier... that’s pretty much who Ryoga-san is.” The third year stated off-handed.
Momoshiro sighed as they reached the school gates. It was still early and the school grounds were mostly deserted. “Anymore surprises anybody wants to spring on me?" Fuji leaned over to kiss Hariel square on the mouth. The kiss was over almost before it began, a chaste warm peck. “Ehh, you’re dating Fuji-senpai?!”
Hariel embraced her boyfriend, something soft and warm squirmed in her tummy. He had no intention of hiding then... “Hmm, yes." She answered almost dreamily as the tensai embraced her. She leaned into the warm sheltering hug. Drawing strength from him, to go ahead and face the day. She still had tennis practice this afternoon...
“Lunch on the roof?” The question was innocent, but the delivery was anything but. Fuji had leaned over to whisper in her ear, soft lips grazing her ear. Momoshiro abruptly turned red, as Ryoma sighed. The witch smiled up at him. “Hai.” She answered cheerfully.
Tightened his hold on her waist for a moment he buried his face into her neck. “Okay, see you later.” With one last lingering kiss pressed to her forehead, the tensai tennis player was gone.
Momoshiro whistled. “Good for you, Echizen-chan.” She smiled shyly. “Thanks Momo-chan.” Ryoma split away from them next, negligently waving at them as he walked away without a backwards glance. “Later.”
Momoshiro and Hariel took the stairs up to the second floor. “He never changes, the anti-social brat.” Hariel smiled briefly. “I know, but would you really want him to? You have to admit, Ryoma-niichan can be very funny." Momoshiro guffawed. “Haha, that’s true I guess." He glanced at his classroom door. “Well, this is me, bye bye.” She waved back at him and then when he was gone she let the smile slip from her face.
In her locker she had found more razors, she had managed to avoid cutting herself this time, but the fact that somebody deliberately wanted to hurt her was... upsetting. She frowned, her desk had been defaced with slurs.
Sighing, she took a rag from the sink in the back of the classroom and started scrubbing. It took her until just before anybody else entered the classroom to clean it, and even then, she only managed it because Petunia and Snape had given her ample of practice.
Hariel spent most of her morning trading notes with Kaidoh as they did their assignments. She helped him out in English and flew threw her school work in the other subjects as well. Being tutored by Yukimura had a lot of benefits. He was a perfectionist, even if he wasn’t particularly harsh on her. Hariel, he had found out, responded very well to positive reinforcement. He always praised her for the things she did well, and so she worked hard.
Yukimura’s calming presence and undemanding teaching style were a good fit for her, she had been very skittish at the start.
When the bell rang, she patted Kaidoh’s shoulder and smiled at him, then she left her classroom.
In the hallway, a few girls from the tennis club jeered at her from behind their hands, hateful eyes tracking her every move. Hariel frowned, steeling herself. She quickly escaped to the roof. One of the regulars, a third-year girl, tripped her halfway up the staircase. Hariel ended up smashing her knee into the edge of one of the steps to keep herself from falling. “Oh I’m sorry.” The girl spoke up with a blatantly false kindness in her voice. “I didn’t see you there.”
Hariel smiled tightly, merely brushing past her. She wasn’t quite fast enough not to hear the girl. “How rude, and I even apologised." The smirk was clear in her voice and her heart ached.
Plastering on her best smile, she opened the door to the roof. Fuji and Kikumaru were already there. She bit her lip, there was nothing she wanted more then to crawl into Fuji’s lap, but she didn’t want to be clingy and weak.
She sat down next to Fuji, and she wasn’t hungry. She opened her bento, and swirled her chopsticks through the rice idly. She’d never waste food, but she really just did not feel like it. Forcing herself to swallow, she slowly reached out to take his hand. Why was this so hard... He had asked her, she knew he liked her, could feel it sometimes, the intensity almost alarming.
Fuji frowned minutely, something was wrong... He couldn’t put his finger on it, but he just knew it. Hariel likely wouldn’t even consider telling him, not even because she didn’t trust him or anything like that but just because she had grown up like that. She was self-sufficient to the point of obsession in some ways. It was engraved in her. Carved into her by cruelty, it wasn’t her fault. Though it was still an irritating personality trait.
He laced their fingers together easily. Kikumaru stilled for a moment. “Fujiko-chan? Hariel-chibi?" He asked curiously. Fuji cocked his head to the side. “Eiji..." He answered calmly. Then he leaned over to Hariel, pulling her into his lap easily. “I want to cuddle with my girlfriend... Indulge me?" He asked sweetly. Hariel smiled, setting down her bento to turn around. She curled around him, hiding her face against his neck.
“How were your classes?” She asked inanely. “Not at all inspiring. I enjoyed reading The Little Prince in English though.” She hummed, rain and spice and something just plain Fuji making her relax for the first time since she split ways with her friends that morning. The tensai was glad when he felt the petite girl melt against his frame.
“I’m happy for you two nya.” Kikumaru piped up hyper but incredibly sweet. “Thank you Eiji-senpai.” Hariel said, chin hooked over Fuji’s shoulder to talk to him. With her body plastered against Fuji’s she was slowly relaxing. She was nibbling on her food, listening to the conversation going on over her head.
“The Tokyo District preliminary is coming up soon...” Fuji nodded. “Ah. Tezuka will likely announce the line-up soon.” Hariel grinned. “Ryoma-nii will probably be excited. He loves playing against new people.” She blinked and then added almost arrogantly. “And then grinding them into the dirt."
Kikumaru grinned at her. “O-chibi is good, I hope we can go to the Nationals this year... Ne, Hariel-chibi, are you going to be a Regular for the girls? Their tournament is a little later right?" Hariel kept smiling, and it was only Fuji who could feel her tensing up. It passed so soon that he almost thought he was imagining things, but no...
“I uhm, I don’t think the tennis club likes me very much... So I might not stay in the club.” It was said with enough self-deprecation that it almost didn’t seem serious. Kikumaru still frowned, the redhead was annoyed and confused. “Why not, aren’t you really good at tennis? And you’re so nice too...” She smiled sadly. “I don’t know Eiji-senpai. I never know why... people just don’t like me.”
The cat-like boy reached out to grab her hand, holding the tiny but strong pale digits in his carefully. “I like you.” He told her earnestly and she almost cried. He was just so nice and sweet, almost recklessly open and genuine. With a thick voice and a soft large smile she answered. “I like you too Eiji-senpai."
Fuji grinned as he watched his girlfriend and one of his best friends. It was nice to see them getting along. He hoped that they would become friends, the mischief they’d create together would be hilarious.
He tuned into their conversation again when he felt Hariel laughing, the sound tinkling through her. “Really? I can’t imagine that it tastes good though...” She commented teasingly. “No no Hariel-chibi, you don’t understand. Toothpaste can be fascinating. You should branch out more.”
She smiled gently at the redhead. “I might, do you have any advice on which type would be best?” She wasn’t mocking him, and he knew that. Kikumaru happily told her about the pros and cons of several flavours and types.
Their discussion was cut short by the bell, and both of them were kind of sad. Kikumaru wanted to know more about her. She was after all important to both Fujiko and o-chibi, and even more importantly, she herself was very nice and sweet.
Fuji helped her up, and then kissed her on the mouth. Kikumaru only smiled, somehow it didn’t even make him uncomfortable. That kiss looked like comfort and sweet attachment to him. He patted Hariel’s head softly. “Bye Hari-chibi.” He smiled at her, and waved brightly further down the hall. She smiled. “He’s nice, Eiji-senpai. I can see why Ryoma-nii likes him, even though he usually appreciates silence.” Fuji nodded with a gentle smile, eyes hidden as they always were at school.
“Hariel-chan... tell me if you have any trouble, please?” The witch hesitated. She didn’t want to burden him. She definitely wasn’t going to lie to him though... “I...” She was abruptly cut off by the bell, and awkwardly waved at him before taking the stairs down to the second floor two at the time.
In class, she took out Luna’s gifted dairy. She already knew the equations, and she easily hid the book behind her math text. Keeping an eye on where the lesson was going wasn’t hard and in the mean time she wrote her girlfriends.
‘He kissed me. He told me he liked me and asked me to be his girlfriend.' Her cheeks burned, but her smile was stretched wide enough that it almost ached. ‘Your wedding will be amazing. I like him already, Fuji Syusuke has never been mean to me.' Hariel was happy to hear that. It was obvious to her that Luna had been having visions of Fuji for a while already and she was glad that they promised a good bond between the two.
She honestly thought that Luna deserved to have more friends. The blonde was so kind and accepting...
‘Hariel... I’m happy for you.' Hermione’s neat black letters were printed in straight lines beneath Luna’s swirling purple circles. ‘I also wanted to say that, I don’t think you murdered Quirrel. You killed him, but it was self-defence Hariel... Nobody can blame you for that. It wasn't your fault, his own actions led to his death...'
Hariel bit her lip. ‘One day I will believe that, but thank you for always telling me.’ Hermione’s amber eyes closed in resignation for a moment, before she opened them again, burning with determination. ‘I’ll keep saying it until you do believe it.’