Something To Protect (A Hakuouki Story)

I'm Not A Child Anymore

(Harada's POV)

As I approached Mitsuru's room, I could hear voices coming from inside. "You should do it." It was a young boy's voice, so I assumed it was Kazuto.

"Kazuto-"

"We're not little children anymore!" The boy interrupted Mitsuru before he even had a chance to argue against what it was he wanted her to do. "You don't have to protect us."

There was a sight before, Mitsuru started her argument. "Takeshi wouldn't want me to abandon you," she said, her voice slightly raised. "What would I tell him if he came back and you weren't here?"

"Sis-"

"Kazuto, don't." She sounded just like a mother scolding a naughty child. It was almost funny in a way. Only the fact that it seemed to be something serious kept me from laughing at the argument I was overhearing.

"I'm thirteen now; I can take care of Yukina and myself!"

"And I suppose you've become a master swordsman since my injury?" Mitsuru was almost yelling now. Kazuto may have been learning to fight from us captains, but he still had a long way to go. "You can't learn to defend yourself that quickly. How can you expect to protect her if you can't even protect yourself?"

Kazuto didn't answer. The door slide open and he came running out, pulling his twin sister along behind him. With a sigh, I entered the room to see Mitsuru with a very annoyed expression on her face.

"That was a bit harsh." When I spoke, she turned towards me with a scowl on her face. It was actually sort of cute. "Don't you think you were a little too hard on him?"

"Kazuto knows that I was right; he just didn't want to hear it." Considering I had no idea just what it was that the argument had been about, I was in no position to argue with her. "And just what do you think you were doing listening to a private conversation?"

Her voice was harsh, just like it had been when she'd been yelling at Kazuto. And I saw just a fraction of that fire in her eyes that she'd had when we'd first met. "I was only passing by and thought I'd pay you a visit," I said calmly, trying not to irritate her any further. The last thing we needed was for her to get mad and tear open her wounds a second time. Not after she'd been healing so well. "But I thought it would be rude to interrupt a woman lecturing a child."

Mitsuru stared at me quietly a moment, the scowl never leaving her face. What was she thinking right now? It clearly wasn't something good, but it didn't seem like it was that bad either. My question was soon answered when she finally spoke. "You're one of those types, aren't you?"