Hiya ! here's yet another new one I started. I know , I should finish my other babies before but this haunted me like a plague. So here it is. Please tell me if you like it, might motivate me to continue
When we met
Hitsugaya sipped an espresso as he stared at his Sony VAIO's screen and waited in Café Noir –one of the most popular coffee shop at Ginza. Occasionally, he would peer at the street through the huge glass.
There was a huge open entrance door and all seating arrangements were made in such a way to prioritize comfort and privacy with corner sofas, partially hidden from each other by potted plants and some narrow wooden barricades.
It was a Sunday afternoon with a cool breeze keeping the place well-ventilated.
This was Hitsugaya's usual haunt, he liked the place…and felt most at ease here. After all, his first day job was here.
But that was 5 years ago. And he had come a long way now. Long way enough to hold 80 ownership of the shop. Being under 21 had its disadvantages. He couldn't buy property, without some help from an adult.
Still, he had a dependable supporter and thanks to that, he has back up. He could afford to take a drastic step now.
He had decided.
He wouldn't care about being disinherited anymore. He wanted his freedom.
Though it would be a shame to give up after holding on for 13 years.
He eyed his iphone's screensaver and wondered how more tardy was his friend going to be.
Better give her a call before I ...
His thoughts were interrupted by a scream of delight; he almost dropped the handheld in shock.
Women can be so shrill.
He eyed the occupants of the previous table. There seemed to be three women. Two were facing him while one was obscured by the palm leaves between them as well as the thin bamboo divider.
"Hush!", the screened woman begged.
Oh! Older women, Pah!
One of the women he could see seemed excited and bossy, "Oh! Geesh, you could've told us before. My God! Such luck! Dont you think so too, Isane?"
The next woman who seemed younger than the one beside her, 22 at most, if not less, nodded a bit hesitantly or rather shyly , Hitsugaya couldn't gauge.
The woman in question seemed unhappy about the news as she protested,"Yeah! But Shiho, I really don't want to-! I think I am too young to.. "
"Oh! Pish! Tosh! You are 23!"
Hitsugaya smiled absent-mindedly as he searched for his friend's number in his contacts, he could feel the woman behind the plant wince.
23, huh? Thats 5 years older than me, almost as old as ...
He stopped scrolling down his list of contacts for a second and glanced with a bit of wonder at the three women who weren't near enough to notice him staring.
If they were near enough, they would have inevitably noticed his appearance. Hitsugaya was inviting stares anyway from the other tables around him except for the one. They seemed a bit too caught up in their conversation anyway.
And Hitsugaya with phone in hand was drawn in to theirs.
Shiho piped again," No matter what you say, this engagement is pretty useful to you. Now Jun-kun's debt will be cleared and he can pursue his modeling career with no more hindrance. You have done enough as his sister. It's time to have your own life."
Timid Isane tried to put her thoughts across," Bu-but,Shiho-chan don't you think she should at least kn-know this man. I mean, she-she hasn't even seen him! "
Shiho shrugged her shoulders and then looked at the prospective bride pointedly.
"Listen, if you keep on moping about that stupid man, you will never get married. Besides, you are beautiful and young now, not forever, yeah? and this is the time to bag the rich ones. If he is younger, all the more easier, you can play him in your hand. You can't be heir to Kawasaki Motors, Jun-kun might still have a chance and you know your uncle will keep him well since he doesn't have any son. You can cement your.."
" Shi-Shiho-chan, you mustn't!"
"I know- Shiho- I know..Thank you so much, Isane."
Hitsugaya heard the sigh in her voice and from Shiho's quite long lecture, he understood the situation.
He heard and saw the lady get up with her back still towards him, giving him time and sense to draw his eyes back to his PDA.
Shiho looked at her and said,"Ah! wait-I "
" I need to freshen up a bit, Shiho- Isane, 'll be right back"
As he punched the buttons looking at the small screen, he whispered under his breath,
" Fear not, Madame. This problem of yours will soon disappear-" He glanced up as he felt a breeze blow through door as the woman approached to pass him by. He heard Shiho calling,
"Ran, I'll order for you then.."
His fingers stopped working and for a split second, his thoughts too.
The woman was tall, had long strawberry blond wavy hair and one of the most curvaceous figures he had ever seen. The summer afternoon breeze threw the locks of her hair around and the faltering rays of sunlight haloed her form. But that wasnt the only thing that caught his eye. -
Turquoise eyes...and upturned lips with a hint of pale pink gel, sharp features with a slightly tanned skin gave her a striking appearance.
She was an extremely beautiful looking woman.
It took Hitsugaya 2 seconds to return his gaze to the i-phone in his hand.
His thoughts didn't follow his eyes though. They were pretty much blank.
The woman who passed him by looked straight ahead as she walked past.
Hitsugaya's phone rang.
"Yachiru? You finally called-"
"Wow, mister! You sure you want me to drop in?"
"Eh?"
"That woman, who passed you by, it was like you guys were talking to each other through your eyes or something..You were so staring at each other.."
"Wha-t are you talking about? Is this the time to…--Wait! was she looking at me??"
Yachiru didn't answer, she just laughed.
"…………-- why is your voice echoing?"
"'Cause I am right in front of you, genius!"
Hitsugaya instinctively looked around and spotted his friend pop from behind a separator screen with a huge knowing grin.
Hitsugaya was the third grandchild of the head of the Seireitei Business Group (SBG). From the day, his mother died, when he was just five, he was picked up by his grandfather's men and henceforth, grown to be the heir of the thriving corporate empire and though he had two very "eligible" much older cousins, he knew he was due to be the main predecessor of his grandfather , his rebellious mother being his favourite.
Too bad, that his grandfather didn't pamper those he 'liked'.
Living in another person's shadow wasn't easy, though Hitsugaya did surpass his mother in all the expectations his grandfather had of him. However, in his heart, he knew his grandfather didn't want an heir, he wanted a puppet.
And added to that, Hitsugaya was keenly aware of the fact that his two older cousins didn't like his presence. One was hypocritically affectionate of him while the other was icily cold since day one.
And Hitsugaya grew up by himself under these amiable circumstances.
His one oasis for the longest time he could remember was Hinamori. His childhood friend, support and then fiancé.
He had been looking forward to this day in his adulthood. Until, his grandfather announced the engagement was off. Hinamori had strangely disappeared from any contact point or medium, even her parents never said where she was, her friends didn't know. It was since then, Hitsugaya planned to really leave SBG behind. He knew his grandfather had something to do with her disappearance.
In one of the most expensive mansions in Tokyo, there was a private party going on. A chosen few notables of the Tokyo business world were wining and dining. Along with some members of the SBG.
Upstairs, in one of the huge palatial suite-like bedrooms, Hitsugaya tried to loosen the collar of his tux while standing in front of his tall bedroom mirror. He managed to fiddle with the bow enough to twist it completely crooked until his much older butler/attendant/friend refixed it for him.
" Master Hitsugaya, I understand that you are nervous but I am afraid, you really must concentrate. "
Hitsugaya, distracted and irritated complained, " Not you too, Ukitake-san. You know I plan to reject the proposal. And also, Ukitake-san, whats with the 'Master'? I always tell you to call me Toushirou."
Ukitake raised his brows and tilted his head, "Master, I have always also said it isn't very advisable to create a commotion in front of Yamamoto-sama."
Hitsugaya tried to calm himself down, "But that old coot gets deaf with every protest I make, he believes marriage and business are the same. I have no problem doing business deals but this is preposterous! Why doesn't he use Sosuke-nii or Byaku-nii?"
Ukitake continued, " The thing is that Yamamoto-sama is very old school and tonight, its just the announcement, that you would be a part of SBG formally since you are of age now."
Hitsugaya braced himself.
Calm down, I can still work out something.
Hitsugaya came down the stairs through a sudden reduction of chatter as if he were a princess in her first ball. He found it embarrassing but he knew more such moments were still to come. The good thing was he knew some people here and he had been in such parties before.
However, the one thing that was on everyone's mind was that he was the only one his age there.
There were some who were close to his age though. Namely- Ichigo, Renji and Hisagi–they all worked in SBG but actually were owners of three businesses respectively- all co-owned by Hitsugaya in partnership with each.
They met at the buffet table.
Renji:"So- Toushirou, big day today, huh?"
Toushirou: "Hardy-har-har"
Ichigo: " Say, weren't you going to get cut off soon?"
Toushirou: "Not until Grandpa drops the bomb."
Hisagi: " Hmmm…Hitsugaya-san, wasn't this party supposed to be exclusive, there weren't any celebrities invited, were there?"
Toushirou looked up from the punch bowl in mild surprise and caught Hisagi staring at something open-mouthed. He followed Hisagi's line of sight and saw the object that caught his attention.
Oh my God! What is she doing here?
Renji piped up: Not bad, Shuuhei, though I have to say for a first time interest, she's way above your league. Aim lower, the possibility of a catch is greater.
Hisagi blushed.
Hitsugaya scolded: Cut it out Renji, this one's for me.
All three stared at him wide eyed.
6 hours earlier.
Waiter! Waiter!
Yes, ma'am.
Who was that guy that was here?
Which guy, Ma'am?
The young guy who sat there a moment ago and just left, he had white hair, he had laptop and --he looked…...presentable.
Oh, You're talking about Hitsugaya-san, ma'am. He just left with his girlfriend.
Matsumoto's heart sank at the sound of his name and the word 'girlfriend'.
The waiter's call brought her out of distraction.
Will that be all, ma'am?
Thanks!, She barked, irritated, and don't call me ma'am.
Ran Matsumoto returned to her seat. Shihoin Yoruichi asked her, "wassamatter, hon? Found someone you like?"
"What are you talking about, Shiho? I ...-I just-"
"He-h", Yoruichi teased, "you seem to hold on to that waiter quite tenaciously, dear. you were quizzing about that boy, weren't you?"
Matsumoto looked up surprise and then feigned composure, "what boy? "
Yoruichi merely looked at her.
Matsumoto then scratched her head and mildly blushed, "I just had a feeling that he was the one."
Yoruichi raised one eye brow.
"Not the one- one. I mean, he was – you know- the guy I was supposed to get married to."
"We-ll, is he?"
"Nah"
"That 'nah' sounds prêt-ty disappointed."
"Yeah,…… and he was really cute too."
Back to now ...
...Matsumoto had been wondering why Yamamoto called her to the party and imagine her surprise when she saw the same guy there – staring back too.
Hitsugaya saw Matsumoto for the second time that day and the first thought that struck his head was..
She looks great even at night.
Matsumoto was wearing a dark red party gown with her hair done up. For some reason, her skin looked much whiter esp with her dark red lip stick.
She looked as breathtaking as Hitsugaya remembered her.
And before Hitsugaya knew it, he was already approaching her.
And years later, Matsumoto had told Hitsugaya that had he turned his back then, she never would have ever spoken to him again.
(..to be continued...hopefully.. please do tell me if you want to know more...)