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NEVER HAD A DREAM COME TRUE
CHAPTER ELEVEN
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"Kisuke..."
The lady called her date and the man sitting across from her looked up, confused, "I'm sorry?"
"No, I'm sorry." The woman apologized, "I was thinking about having some sake later. Kenneth, I haven't been here before and you have. You must know which is good, so why don't you decide what to order for us?"
Her date was a Caucasian white male, who didn't seem to have any knowledge of Japanese to distinguish between Kisuke and sake. Or the smitten man just didn't care and only had eyes and ears for his date's allure and naturally seductive voice. As if the lady's praise gave him the boost of confidence, he went on telling her what the restaurant was famous for. He then ordered their dinner and the conversation started to go down hills. The lady only nodded and offered one or two syllables responses.
It looked rather awkward, the observer felt bad for the man. Luckily their dinner came then the one-sided conversation ceased altogether. The couple ate in silence. Neither of them noticed the man at the table next to them, observing their date night.
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Hisagi heard her call her date Kenny by someone else's name. The other person's name was unique yet sounded familiar. So he asked his grandfather for a favor and look up that name for him. From what his grandfather gathered, he knew who the man was and what he'd done in his life. The man was Kisuke Urahara, one of the esteemed graduates from his own training camp and later served the tours before he himself joined. Kisuke was a war hero and veteran and at the moment, he was on some sort of special mission. A highly classified operation and top secret one that even his grandfather as a military commander couldn't even unseal the file.
But what puzzled him was the connection he felt between Yoruichi and that known yet unknown highly regarded man. Who was he to her? What was so significant about the relationship between the two for her to call another man-her date-by his name? And if they had a thing together, then why weren't they together? Admittedly there was gap between their social statuses, but he was a man of honor and his family name was flawless if not glorified with dedicated servicewomen and men before him.
Meanwhile, Yoruichi didn't seem like the kind of girl who'd choose money and fame over love. Even if she acted-and probably was her inborn nature-like a noblewoman, she wasn't snobbery or vain in any way after getting to know the other side of her. She had her social mask, an honest person only needed time and patience to spend with her to see she was special among her upper class peers. That was why he decided to delve deeper into their personal lives and play matchmaker for them. He only did it because he was bored and had nothing better to do to pass the time before his off duty days were over. He couldn't wait to get back on his ship and do his duties while enjoying his carefree spirit.
What would his potential bride candidate think of him if she knew he wasn't just another member at her studio? Would she be shocked but pleased to know he wasn't trying to woo her to have her accept his proposal when their families dictate them to marry? Or would she be angry as he came to her studio under false pretense? He suspected the former was more likely be her reaction, for she didn't act like an enthusiastic young woman looking for the favorable bachelor to snare for a husband. He saw her reluctance when she went on a date with other men as he watched them from afar. He followed her long enough to see how she reacted when her dates attempted to kiss her, she always avoided their advances.
So, the lady was ticklish when it came to other men, wasn't she? He mused himself for he was able to catch up and talk to one of the couple's mutual friends. From that mutual friend, he knew Yoruichi and Kisuke had been friends since preschool and probably had become something more. That explained why she turned the cold shoulder when other men stepped over the line she set out between them and herself. Loyal friend and faithful girlfriend. He liked that very much about her and would beat that Kisuke and go for her himself. Too bad, well, not too bad since he found something special and more to his taste somewhere else. And while waiting for the chance to fry his own fish, he'd appoint himself as their Cupid. He was going to shoot the arrow and reunite the young lovers.
How old was she anyway? He saw Kisuke's military records and knew the man was thirty five. But she looked too young to be in the thirties as well. And why was she still single if she was already in her thirties? She led an active life like other women her age, who had been busy dining, wining, and flirting since their teen years. He knew because he was of those young people her age. How old was the other lady? He had to wonder for he saw the two ladies together and later found out from his consistent tailing of the other lady; they were good friends since school days. Unlike his upperclassman's lady, the lady he was interested in didn't have much of a social life. A more interesting fact about her was she herself in the military like him.
And as if magic were at work, he saw the center of his thought walk through the door from the corner his eyes. When she crossed the threshold and walked down the hallway, heading for the studio's owner's office in back, other male members whistled to praise her cold beauty as well as to get her attention. He wanted to punch those other men in the face and knock their lustful stares from their eyes permanently. He actually had to take hold on the weight machine to stop himself from doing just that.
While lifting weights, he felt someone's eyes on his back, observing him. He subtly searched for the cause and saw her gaze sweep over the other men and him before heading off the hallway. He thought he saw her give him the once-over then said something to herself as she huffed, picking up pace. He was dying to know what she'd said, but of course there was no way to find out.
Deep in thought, she almost walked into her friend, who either saw or was expecting her arrival as she opened the door, greeting her. She started at something her friend said and he had to turn away as he saw her friend lift her gaze to look at his direction. Did he get caught? Hope not. He still had a lot to do before he could show the lady of his thoughts his cards. So he decided it was safer for him to take his leave for the day and left the premises.
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posted 29 November 2013
