Transferred into Hakuou!? (Hakuouki Fanfiction)

Replay 8: Open Clubs

I look up from my ankle to see Souji with a bamboo sword by his side. The man is kneeling and clutching the back of his head in pain. I gawk stupidly as Souji pull the man up by his collar and hiss something at him. The creep's face pales, and he hastily stumbles away. When he disappears around a junction, I jerk my head at Souji.

"I don't actually need your help," I murmur. "But thank you."

Souji doesn't say a word. He goes to my side and pull me up to my feet, surprisingly gentle. I look up from my bandaged ankle to thank him again when I meet his eyes. Those emerald green eyes are emotionless and cold, and I think that he is mad at me for letting him walk me home.

Suddenly my vision blurs, and instead of Souji standing in front of me there is a man with white long hair smiling down at me. His crimson eyes are so inhumane I begin to doubt my own sanity. I can hear crazed laughter echoing a distance away and the man brings both of his hands up to the sky. It is then I see the sharp gleaming sword.

I feel my knees buckle despite Souji's firm grip, and crumple to the ground like a doll. Souji, without even a reaction, swiftly scoops me up in his arms and hurries along. He is trying his best to be as gentle as possible while he runs, likely back to our home.

As I drift away into the darkness, I think that his embrace is really warm and nostalgic, as if something like this happened before. But I can't recall anything, so I surrender to the swallowing abyss instead.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When I awake, I scold myself for being a weakling again.

Souji had apparently exaggerated the incident with the man when I was unconscious. My father was babbling about me walking home alone late at night, and no matter how good I am in acting as princes I am more like a princess. I pouted and glared at Souji the entire time my father was giving the lecture, but he seemed unfazed. Soon I lost my temper too, and both my father and I quarrelled.

"Don't you dare raise your voice in front of me!"

"And what are you going to do about it?"

The argument ended abruptly when Mitsu pushed him out of my room, leaving Souji and I. There is an awkward silence before I decide to thank him for saving me again.

Souji is faster than me. "You're still planning to break the two of them up."

It isn't a question, and I blink in astonishment. How does he know what I am thinking? Either he is a psychic or an absolute stalker.

"S-so what if I do?" I stammer a little, suddenly fearing for my life.

A smirk is plastered on Souji's face. "I wonder what your father will think of your future plans." Seeing my horrified expression, he lets out an evil chuckle. "Furious? Sad? Disbelief?" His smile twitches. "Only one way to find out."

I watch in horror as he creaks open my bedroom door. Immediately, I jump out of my bed and grab hold of his sleeve. Souji looks down on me with a glimmer in his eye, and I know that I have walked into his trap.

Nevertheless, I continue to speak. "I'll do anything, so please don't say a word." No doubt that when my father hears of this, he will burst a blood vessel and cry for a month. "Please."

Souji sighs as if he has no choice. "Anything?" He asks.

"Anything," I reply. "Anything you want."

It is a big mistake, and I regret it right as the words leave my mouth. Both of us know it is too late though--for I have already sold myself to the devil.