At Last, Home

Golden afternoon light filtered through the tree leaves hanging above the door as Harry inserted the key. He had stopped at the 7/11 on the way home to pick up some essentials. Egg sandwiches, ice cream and beer. He even got some for Reo and Hinata. He did not expect intense gratitude, though he would certainly accept it.

“Hey! Reo! I’m back! Brought you some goodies too! Figured we could celebrate my miraculous survival!” Harry called out as he beelined towards the kitchen. “Still don’t know how I’m standing, but after five days with a catheter up me, I’m looking forward to enjoying my…”

“Reo went to the station.”

Harry turned slowly. In the half dark of the afternoon, Hinata stood in the living room. Her two fox tails twitched behind her, and the fox ears were low and flat against her head, though he couldn’t tell if it meant she was angry or worried. She was glaring at him, her face showing an emotion he couldn’t place.

“Oh. I’ll…go upstairs then,” Harry said, softer and somewhat harsher than intended.

“Sit down on the couch, Harry,” Hinata said.

Harry’s gaze drifted to the couch, knowing sitting meant talking, and talking wasn’t something he wanted to do. “Look, I’ve had an incredibly rough couple of days, Hinata, and so have you. So why don’t I go upstairs and…”

Her glare deepened.

“I don’t have to take this! I nearly died! I deserve relaxation!” Harry insisted.

“Sit,” Hinata commanded.

Harry found himself on the couch, barely understanding how he had gotten there. The afternoon had been going so well. Suddenly he felt like he was about to be scolded by his mom. Hinata sat down next to him, slowly and cautiously, closer than necessary but still not touching him.

“I watched you die, Harry,” Hinata said softly, not looking at him.

“I know, Hinata,” Harry said, not looking at her either.

“I’m sorry I disappointed you, Harry,” Hinata said. This caused Harry to shift his eyes to her.

“Disappointed?” Harry asked.

“Yes. For becoming a monster. I grew up seeing you and Reo fighting demons, and I took one to save myself,” Hinata said. She let those words sit a moment. “I’m not sorry I did it. I’m sorry it made you hate…”

“I’m not disappointed with you, Hinata.”

Her ears shot up. Harry was looking at some far off point away from her. “What?” she asked, not sure if she heard him right.

Harry gazed at her intently, tracing with his eyes the parts of her he remembered. Her eyes, which always seemed to be looking for some way to be included no matter how ill her body seemed. Her hair, black and silky and long, which he remembered being so annoyed by as she spent forever getting it right for when the three of them went out. Her lips which could give the most adorable smile when he hadn’t been wiping blood she coughed up from them. Except now they had tiny little fangs behind them. Her hair was parted by fox ears atop her head. Her eyes could see better than a human.

Because she wasn’t human.

Because…

“I’m disappointed with the world,” Harry said. He finally looked at her, still not knowing what she was thinking.

“But…you’ve acted like you hate me,” Hinata said.

“No I don’t,” Harry said.

“You hate demons.”

“Yes.”

“I’m a demon.”

“Yes.”

“So you hate me.”

“No.”

“You make no sense!”

“You think I don’t know, Hinata!” Harry said, getting up and beginning to pace around. “Demons are evil! I know it for a fact! But suddenly people are taking them in like they’re life savers! And you, you were a kid…”

“I’m not a child anymore, Harry,” Hinata said sternly, crossing her arms.

“Don’t I know it…” Harry said. He caught Hinata’s look and sighed, turning away from her. “Sorry. Came out wrong. I didn’t mean…crap.”

I’m screwing this up, Harry thought, rubbing his eyes with the heels of his hands. He had no idea what to say to make it better. He hated demons. He felt how he felt. The world was screwed up and because of it he was going to lose…

“Please listen to me, Harry.”

Her arms were wrapped around him, holding him tight as her face pressed into his chest. A fox ear twitched against his cheek. Not sure what to do in response, he slowly lifted his arms and put them around her. Her two tails rubbed against the backs of his hands. He pushed the thought away. This was not a kitsune demon. This was Hinata.

“Harry…I love you,” she said softly.

The house was still. The fridge kicked on, humming a bit too loudly. Somewhere down the street a dog barked.

“Huh?” Harry finally managed to croak out.

“I know the world can suck, Harry. I totally understand,” Hinata said into his chest.

“But…” Harry started to say.

“Still talking,” Hinata said. Harry’s jaw snapped shut. “My parents. My heart. Reo dying in front of me then coming back and risking his life daily. But then you came. You didn’t ever lie. You said to the world, yeah, you suck. But screw you, I’m still here. It’s why I accepted this.” Hinata stood back from Harry, gesturing to herself. Her gaze was stern, daring Harry to see her as anything other than a fellow fighter now. “I’m kicking life’s ass, Harry.” She went quiet, waiting for him to respond, fearful of what the response would be.

He wasn’t sure what his response would be until it happened.

Harry’s laugh burst out before he could stop it, long and heavy and heaving, leaning against the counter of the kitchen. Hinata frowned, not sure if this was a good reaction or a horrible one.

“Harry, what…”

“Yeah, okay. Kick ass,” Harry said, a huge and toothy smile on his face.

“You…you mean it?” Hinata asked, barely believing Harry was accepting her. But there he was, laughing like a madman, as if all his emotions had broken free from a damn he had built and he was finally letting go.

“Absolutely. Kick life’s ass, crazy bitch,” Harry said, slugging her lightly in the shoulder. He then reached out and grabbed her, hugging her now, though his was much harder, strong and supportive as he twirled her through the air. “Look. I hate demons. But I like you.”

“Like?” Hinata asked as he set her back down on the ground.

“I’m not gonna judge how someone deals with life’s bullshit. If this is how you survive, I’m gonna have to deal with it,” Harry said. He was clearly flustered, not used to grand displays of emotion. But there was an expression on his face close to relief, like he had been waiting for something horrible to happen and found out it never was going to. Hinata had been thinking Harry had been furious with her, considering her a traitor or a monster. But the relief in his eyes…he had never been angry. It had been fear.

“Want to walk to the park?” Hinata asked, extending one of her furry, clawed hands. After all this time, she still wasn’t completely used to seeing it, and she saw how Harry’s eyes lingered on it. She was about to pull it back when his large hand wrapped around hers. Firm. Protective.

Unafraid.