Kuchiki Rukia felt like she is experiencing a déjà vu. Just a week ago, she was also sitting at this same room, at this same office, discussing this very same financial workbook – only this time, the person she is talking to happen to listen to her very attentively. And so far – if its any consolation, this guy, is not as annoying as the orange haired idiot she used to orient.
Oh damn, my mind is wandering to that stupid two timing jerk again. She thought frustratedly as she tries to focus on the figures she is presenting.
"Ruki.. I guess I can call you Ruki, can't I?" a deep baritone voice suddenly erupted, making her go back to her senses.
"Y-yeah. Ofcourse, S-sure. I.. err.. I guess you could call me whatever you like. I'm you're fiancée right?" Rukia stammered, slightly blushing from the embarrassment of being caught spacing out (or should she say – making murderous plots to a certain orange haired bastard) in the middle of 'work'.
"Oh.. yeah. THAT." Kaien , her fiancé amusedly said. Fiance. Geez. And I never imagined having a fiancé without even the proper romantic proposal. Rukia thought, spacing out again.
Rukia heard the black haired man clear his throat, catching her once again drifting attention. "Oh.. s-sorry K-Kaien-san.. I.. I am just thinking about a lot of things lately and to tell you honestly, this.. this engagement thing really caught me off guard. I mean, I never really thought I'd be engaged this soon.. and.. Nii-sama.. Nii-sama hadn't told me anything up to this moment. I really don't know what's happening. I wish he could atleast tell me what's going on" Rukia cannot control herself anymore, she found her self at the edge after the oh-so-many emotional things that are bottled inside her.
Shiba Kaien stared at the raven haired girl who seemed so troubled with her life. Truth be told, he wasn't expecting her to be this like this. Upon agreeing with her brother on the nuptial agreements – and knowing that he is going to marry a younger woman, he was expecting for the worst despite Byakuya's assurance of his sister's compliance. He was prepared for an emotional breakdown, sudden disappearances and rebellion and heated discussions. So when he saw Rukia's reaction to her 'engagement', he was intrigued. The petite girl acted so composed, and in a very graceful manner, she was able to thank the people who congratulated her with a very flawless smile plastered on her lips – as if she knew all along that she was going to get married. And even when Byakuya wasn't able to explain the whole situation to her because of an urgent meeting in Paris (their private jet is already waiting at the airport by the time they finished their meeting), she just nodded to her brother and wished him goodluck, she then guided him - her newly discovered fiancé to her office for a 'briefing' that they have been doing for the past three hours.
"I… I'm sorry. I.. I shouldn't have…" Rukia embarrassedly said as she reached for a tissue paper to wipe the tears threatening to fall.
"Listen.. Ruki..." He softly said as he reached for the smaller girl's tiny hands. "I know for a fact that I am a total stranger to you, but I want you to know that I am not here to make your life miserable. I cannot say that I understand your situation or the crazy things that is happening to your life right now, but I can assure you – I am assuring you, that no matter how ugly or how stupid arranged marriages are, I.. – we, atleast have the option to make it less hideous as it already is, ne?" He said, looking at her with the tenderest expression in his deep black eyes. "So I guess I won't be bad if we would start liking each other as friends, what do you think?" her fiancé said, smiling affectionately at her.
A rare genuine smile flashed Rukia's face as she laid her cheeks on his hands that are now clasping hers on the table. "I don't think it will be difficult to start as friends.. Kaien-san."
"Oh.. and another thing. Please don't call me Kaien-san. I sounds soooo.. errr, I dunno. It sounds so weird and 'improper' – we wouldn't want your brother catching you calling me, your dashing debonair fiance in an inappropriate manner, won't we?" the black haired man replied, replicating Byakuya's stern and unsmiling face which had earned him appreciative giggles from the raven haired woman.
"Call me Kaien – or Baie" he added, winking at her.
"Baie?" What does it supposed to mean? She asked curiously, finding herself smiling at the older man's funny antics. He may not have that electrifying effect Kurosaki Ichigo has on her, but Shiba Kaien has a certain charisma that wouldn't be easy to ignore as well. Maybe, just maybe, being engaged to him isn't such an awful thing at all.
"It means that I'm you're "Shiba-babe" and I'll call you "Baie" as well because you are Shiba's babe. How about that?" He replied teasingly at her.
Rukia laughed. "Fine, So "baie" it is" she said, unbelieving that she had just agreed to have an official endearment for each other.
"So, Ruki baie.. how about we grab some dinner before we you continue your 'orientation'? Those numbers and figures are making me hungry" Kaien suggested as he closed the big work sheets in front of him.
"Yeah, I guess I'm starving. I hope Chef Omaeda have something special in his menu today." She said, walking towards the tall man who is still smiling at her, and unconsciously, she automatically accepted his right arm which is now placed securely on her shoulders, while her left hand held unto his waist.
They looked like a very happy (and not to mention REAL) couple as they walked out of Rukia's office.
Kurosaki Ichigo has been in a sour mood the rest of the day , after the board meeting, he went straightly to his office and instructed his new secretary to not to bother him with anything unless it has something to do with Rukia.
Damn her. Damn that brother of her. Damn that bastard who is supposed to marry her. Argh. Damn them all!!! He thought, griping his orange hair out of frustration. Never in his entire life had he felt this kind of stupid knot gripping his chest every time he thinks of Rukia and her fiancé.
No, she's not going to marry him right? Why didn't she even told me she's getting married anyway?? Ichigo's head is now spinning, he doesn't how to think and what to think anymore. He would glance at her office every three minutes to check whether or not Rukia and that Shiba guy have gone out or not.
What the fuck is taking them so damn long? He lividly thought. Various images of Rukia and her black haired fiancé kissing and making out kept crossing and taunting his mind. She's not even supposed to kiss anyone but me!! He murderously thought.
Just as he was about to close his eyes to shut the vivid images his crooked mind is creating, He saw Rukia and her freaking black haired fiancé stepped out of her office, with their arms around each other.
He felt his left eye twitch. Rukia in another man's arms is just so damn wrong, and no, he isn't going to tolerate that. The moment Kuchiki Rukia kissed him in that damned bar two years ago, he knew that Kuchiki Rukia was his – just freaking HIS.
Rukia casually is talking to Kaien about random things and trivias about the restaurant when she saw a certain orange haired man walk towards their table. Oh God. What is it this time Ichigo?!! She frustratedly thought.
"Rukia" Ichigo said in a very stoic manner.
"Oh, hi Ichigo-san!" Rukia cheerfully replied, trying to hide her nervousness and uneasiness with her co owner's presence. The furious glint at his amber eyes is so much of a give away for her not panic.
Huh? And since when did I become Ichigo-san?? Ichigo thought, keeping his hands inside his pockets before he does anything that would put Serietei on the headlines of tabloid papers tomorrow.
"Oh, I believe the two of you haven't been introduced. Ichigo-san, this is Shiba Kaien, my fiancé" Rukia looked tenderly at the man sitting across her before continuing. "And Baie, this is Kurosaki Ichigo-san, my business partner here in Sereitei" she now turned to Ichigo's direction, glaring – as if warning him not to do anything despicable.
"Pleasure to meet you, I believe Ruki and you are working together perfectly eh? The restaurant has never been this good I guess." Kaien pleasantly said, offering his hands for a handshake.
Perfectly huh. Perfectly until a certain son-of-a-bitch fiancé came along. Ichigo badly wanted to strangle the man eating comfortably beside his Rukia, but he has no choice but to look friendly, otherwise, he would probably be having his funeral before night time. Rukia's glare is more than enough proof of that. In the end, he have decided to remain civil (as for the moment) and accepted the black haired man's handshake. "Yeah, same here."
"You were about to say something Ichigo-san?" Rukia then caught his attention upon seeing the deadly handshake grip he is giving Kaien.
"Uh.. yeah. I just want to remind you of the meeting we are supposed to attend later.. uhh.. the uhh.. new supplier of our linen napkins" the orange haired man said.
"Oh, really? I didn't know we had a new supplier for that." Rukia answered thoughtfully, trying to recall whether they are really scheduled for a meeting this afternoon.
"WE.CERTAINY.HAVE." Ichigo said, glaring at the raven haired who is now taking her damn time to recall that specific "meeting".
"Uh.. I'm not sure but I can check my schedule later. What time was it supposed to be anyway?" Rukia unassumingly asked.
"9:00 pm" Ichigo irritatedly replied. "If you're too busy, I guess I can go there on my own. It's just that I don't freaking see the difference between peach, off white and cream colored napkins, well, I guess I can always choose the first thing I see." He then added nonchantly, shrugging his wide muscular shoulders in the process.
Ichigo grimaced secretly as his 'plan' seemed to work. He saw an annoyed expression flash through her luscious violet orbs as she opened her mouth to speak.
"Would you like to go with me, baie?" she said, turning to the black haired man who is watching them with curious eyes.
Ichigo almost screamed. Like hell that bastard's going to go with us tonight! He thought as he fought the urge to kick the table Rukia and that Kaien bastard is eating at.
Kaien looked at Ichigo and then to his fiancée, "I would love to, but my sister's insisting that I drop by her house tonight. Maybe I could fetch you later?" he said, reaching for Rukia's tiny hands at the table, holding it tenderly.
That was all Ichigo could take, he looked away before he could do something unfriendly. "I'll see you later then. Let's bring my car since Kaien-san will be bringing you home." He said formally before turning to the black haired an who is now looking lovingly at the woman seating beside him. "Nice to meet you Kaien-san, I'll see you around I guess" he said in a higher tone to catch the man's attention.
"Oh, yeah.. yeah. Ofcourse, We'll be seeing you Ichigo-san." The other man chuckled as he looked at him.
Damn right. Ichigo thought as he headed back to his office.
Ichigo decided to wait for Rukia inside his car, he don't think he can handle another smooching festival from the two 'love birds' – no, he can't trust himself to remain civil and harmless especially when his Rukia is practically being groped in front of him.
He groaned unbelievingly as he saw Rukia and Kaien walked out of the restaurant. The black haired man whispered something at the raven haired woman's ear that had made her giggle. She then tip toed, playfully messing his hair with her hands. The black haired man laughed as he scooped the smaller girl for a hug, kissing her hair in the process.
Ichigo wanted to bang his head on anything hard. Damn. He wanted to forget what he saw. He wanted to be eased from that gripping pain twitching his chest. He wanted Rukia away from that fucking bastard NOW. His reverie was cut but a tap on his door. There he was, the object of his murderous plots, smiling pleasantly at him, with Rukia still giggling, his arms wrapped around her small delicate shoulders.
"Take care of my baie, Ichigo." He said as he opened the passenger door for Rukia.
"Ofcourse I'll be safe. Come on baie, I can take care of my self." Rukia said playfully, her attention still with Kaien.
"Okay, If you say so" Kaien smiled as he leaned down to kiss Rukia in the cheeks. "See you later baie"
"Thanks. You too." Rukia beamed before closing the door.
Kurosaki Ichigo didn't even made an effort to acknowledge her, he just gripped the car's accelerator and drove the fastest that he can.
Kuchiki Rukia didn't even wince at the speed that they are going. Really, she can barely see the buildings and the roads that they are passing with the speed that they are going, but if Kurosaki Ichigo thinks that she is going to freak out, he better think again.
When she noticed that they are heading towards the country side, reality finally hit her. Kurosaki Ichigo had tricked him to go out tonight. Oh shit.
"There isn't really a meeting with the supplier, isn't it?" Rukia said in the coldest voice that she could mutter.
"I thought you would figure that out earlier" the other man retorted, coldness also present in his voice. "But I guess you're too busy smooching with your fiancé that you have forgotten how to think logically." He added, sarcasm obvious in his voice.
"Yeah, what kind of supplier would meet up with their client at 9 in the evening anyway" She said, shrugging. "So what's your plan? You're gonna abduct me? Is that it? What made you think my brother wouldn't be able to find you?" she continued as she started to taunt him.
"LIKE HELL I WOULD!!!" the orange haired man snapped, looking dangerously at her. "You are getting married, and you didn't even tell me! You think I'll just sit in the corner to watch you get hitched just like that?!" Rukia can sense Ichigo's fury and… pain. Pain? She confusedly thought.
"Look who's talking, aren't you the one getting hitched first?" Rukia then said, crossing her arms around her chest.
Ichigo stared at her for a second as if he had totally forgotten about his fiancée. With a straight face, he turned to what seemed like a summer house, over looking the lights illuminated by the city. "That is why we are going to talk"
Well?
(Sorry for keeping you waiting, I just came from the trekking – it was great by the way, a lot of future stories came to me while I was enjoying the beauty of Mother Nature – anyway, I did my best to write and upload as soon as possible, I hope it was worth the wait)
My body's still aching from walking and climbing, but I still wrote this chapter knowing that you are patiently waiting for the update.. so I hope it isn't too much if I ask for a review? Please…? For my swollen and aching knees? (insert pleading smiley here)
Oh, thanks for the reviews from the last chapter by the way. It made me happy. (smiles)