Third Year Rumble (Fanfic)

Chapter 1: The Party

"Like I said…why do I have to go to the stupid party with you?"

Harima's deep, irritated voice resounded inside the wood-paneled room of the old, Japanese-style house. The proud blond girl standing in front of him cast him an annoyed look. That Hige…why did he always have to make everything so difficult?

"As my fiancé, you are supposed to escort me to these kinds of things. It's not like I want to drag you around with me." She looked straight at him, her amber eyes shining defiantly. "You are the one who told me I can depend on you. Was I wrong to take you at your word?"

Harima's black eyes glinted dangerously. "I don't go back on my word, Ojou," he said, his voice shaking slightly with restrained anger. Then he sighed, resigning himself to the inevitable. "All right, I'll go and get dressed. You wait here."

"As if I'd ever want to follow you!" shouted Eri, blushing furiously. Harima did not deign to give her an answer, just turned around and stalked out of the room.

Eri turned her attention to Yakumo and Sarah, who had been watching them silently all the while. "I'm sorry for barging in like that, Yakumo," she said apologetically. "It is absolutely necessary that he comes with me tonight, otherwise I would never impose on you."

"It is quite all right, Sawachika-senpai. I know that Harima-san has certain obligations, being your fiancé," replied Yakumo with her usual calmness.

Eri directed a glance at the unfinished manga draft Harima and Yakumo were working on when she intruded on them. She asked hesitantly, "Will he have enough time to finish this? I wouldn't want Hige to miss his deadline because of me…"

"There is still plenty of time," Yakumo assured her. "Harima-san can afford to take one night off. He has been working very hard ever since…" Her voice trailed off.

Eri nodded. She knew what Yakumo was referring to, the departure of her sister Tenma to America. Harima had been hopelessly in love with her for two whole years but his feelings never got through to her, because she in turn was in love with another man. In a final display of self-sacrifice, he had sent her off with his own two hands to America to be reunited with her beloved, leaving him behind alone and bereft of hope. Eri and Yakumo had helped him pick up the pieces of his broken heart and move on; but they both knew the wound was still far from healed. It would take a lot more time for Harima Kenji to become whole once again.

"Alright, I'm ready," Harima's voice sounded behind them. Eri turned to look at him, and immediately flushed with anger again. Was he making fun of her or what? When he left he was wearing sweatpants and a faded T-shirt; now he wore jeans, a slightly less faded T-shirt, and a leather jacket. "What the hell do you think you're wearing?"

"What? These are my best clothes, you know. I wear them when I go to the editor's and everything."

"This is a CEO's party we're talking about! Do you really expect me to show up with you looking like this?" Eri exclaimed, livid.

"Well then, what would you have me do, Ojou?" Harima shouted back. "Do I look like a guy who keeps tuxedos in his closet to you?"

A polite cough behind them defused a situation that was getting rapidly out of control. It was Eri's impeccable and devoted butler, Nakamura, who had been standing discreetly in the doorway for a while now. "Excuse me, Ojou-sama."