Chapter 7: Skimpy Towels and the Pink Diary
Later that day, Bill sat alone on the porch his Hanzo sword lying across his lap. This was indeed his favorite time of day, dusk. It was as if the sky hadn't quite decided what to do there was some uncertainty to whole thing. He liked that. It was only in flux that things were truly interesting. Insects buzzed around harmlessly. The sound of crickets dominated the still hot air punctuated now and then by the soft sound of a distant car of plane. The tightly rolled joint hanging in Bill's right hand only helped to enhance the whole experience. It was at times like this, and his daily meditations that he could really step back and look at things from a different perspective. Of course, Bill had had a lifetime of substance abuse...he knew his limits more than enough nowadays. He took a long drag, staring across the back garden. He never really thought much about all of the lives he had taken.....he had learned from a very young age; to completely un-attach himself from that. It was the only way to mentally survive in his line of work. He was the fittest, thus he survived. It was that simple. If somebody were to best him, then he would no longer survive. That didn't bother him at all. He had survived this long he considered he was doing something right. Some day his luck would run out. But, he wasn't really thinking about that at all he'd worked all of that shit out years ago. Instead, his thoughts jumped around the events of the past few months. They had been financially profitable; there was no doubt about that. At a certain point, when one had enough money, it was just a matter of getting more mostly for the hell of it. Backing O-Ren had been expensive, but it was nothing to worry about. He leaned back in the patio chair. No, it wasn't the money that was even really thinking about. It was something far more personal. Something had been nagging at him for sometime he could only place it as loneliness', but despised that word so much he had a hard time considering it. Was he becoming the foolish old man who desperately needed companionship? He certainly hoped not. Foolish lonely old men always got fucked over and no woman was ever going to fuck him over. He'd die before that happened. Bill snorted at the mere thought, going back to his joint. Perhaps he had overdone himself. Suddenly, he snubbed the joint on the nearby ashtray. Faces of all the women he had ever known in his life flashed in his mind (and there were A LOT, he couldn't even remember half of them). But the train of faces always ended with the same one. "Shit!" He stood up, clutching at his sword. Enough of that.
"Mm, no better way to fuck away your troubles," came that more than familiar voice, always mixed with a warm and cold temperature but at the moment it was wavering towards luke-warm. Beatrix Kiddo was leaning against the door frame that led out to the patio. She was scantly clad in a bath towel, wrapped around her slimming figure, covering everything between mid thighs and up to her collar bone. Locks of blonde hair had been recently blown out giving off that appealing result of just being washed. Her head cocked to the side, blue eyes taking on their familiar sparkle as she got the man's attention. Or more of it than intended. "Yeah, anyway, Vernita isn't around, she usually changes the bandages for me, since I can't reach all the way back there. I'd ask O-Ren but hell knows where she is." She paused. "Mind giving me a hand?" By the way she spoke and explained all this it was obvious she wasn't too keen on the situation. She'd let it slide and wait till Vernita arrived but she had been healing so well she'd hate to fuck it up by not tending to a wet bandage.
When Bill was 13 years old he had choked for his first time on pot smoke....he had always thought it would be his last....until now. He exhaled a large puff of smoke, hacking simultaneously. He rarely lost composure and knowing this, he quickly attempted to recover it...not entirely successfully. For probably longer than he should have Bill stood there, sword in one hand....he took in Beatrix attire..or lack their of. Oh....she was good...he had to give her that. Placing a familiar smirk on his face (anything to cover up whatever stupid schoolboy expression was there at the moment) he replied, "Of course Kiddo," he leaned over and opened the door. He followed her to the spare room she had been using. Her clean set of bandages were laid out on the bed. He realized halfway there that he was still holding his sword. Placing it gently on the dresser drawer, he turned to Beatrix. Jesus, she looked sexy. It wasn't just the towel and the wet hair it was her. Her everything. Bill cleared his throat. No doubt she was getting allot of amusement out of this. "Alright....sit down....." he patted the edge of the bed.
Bare feet padded against the floor as Beatrix followed Bill back inside and to the bedroom. She held her own facade of amusement at his reaction but she couldn't deny her feelings of discontentment. She slipped onto the side of the bed, her back turned to him so he could access the wound easier. Feeling the bed shift Beatrix quickly turned her head to peer over her shoulder at him. "Keep this in mind, Bill. If you touch me in any manner other than what is needed I WILL harm you." Yes, that was a threat and one that was needed no matter the consequences.
Bill threw his hands up, "Hey! Promise! Believe me, I've seen enough tits in my life.......as Elle would say 'I'm immune'" Ok, that was somewhat of a lie and Beatrix knew it.....but it was also somewhat true. Bill, despite what some of his mentors had preferred, was no grabbing rapist. He much preferred seducing women......it had such a greater amount of satisfaction. And Beatrix, at the moment, was far from willing material. He respected her, he knew that......that didn't mean that he didn't find her immensely attractive...but it also meant he would respect her wishes. "I'm a murderer Kiddo..not a rapist," he quipped.
She couldn't have felt more uncomfortable or embarrassed as she shifted the towel down to reveal the small of her back. The bullet wound, a pinkish red in color, settled a few inches above her hips, it wasn't a pleasant sight; the wound, but it was healing. This went beyond keeping a professional relationship between herself and her boss. But as much as she didn't want to somewhere deep down she desired it.
"Yeah...that's pretty nasty," Bill commented at the site of the wound. "But...good news..it looks like it's healing pretty well," he pressed a hand softly near the wound, "...there's no swelling. That's good. Here, hand me the clean bandage." He reached an arm around her shoulder. His tone was completely professional. Hearing Bill's promise and comment the sudden anxiety she had been feeling subsided. She was growing more comfortable but that didn't mean much.
Beatrix felt an unfamiliar sensation tingle her skin as his hand touched to the wound. Dismissing the thought that crossed her mind as well as feeling she extended her hand to grab the bandage. She placed the bandage into Bill's extended hand before dropping her hand back to her side. Her head was slightly turned to the side, blue hues side glancing but she wasn't able to see much considering her position. "I really appreciate this," she piped up, words unsure as she was immensely unsure of her emotions at that moment.
"No problem Kiddo. I know it's a real pain in the ass." He took the bandage from her outstretched hand. "Once," he bit off the bandage at the excess point, "I got stabbed through my upper leg.....now that was a real pain in the ass.." Ok, well maybe that was a bit too much but Beatrix was so tense he could literally see the muscles balled up in her neck, she needed to chill out. "Take a deep breath Kiddo this might string and you need to relax..jesus...." He swabbed the area with some rubbing alcohol. Starting the bandage at her back he began to wind it around and stopped..."Here..." he handed her the roll so she could continue around her front. He wasn't about to go there she'd probably reach back and jab out his throat. She took it and they continued this winding process a few times until it was well wrapped around her torso."That should do...." Bill went to the task of securing the end. "....I just need to secure it and you should be good to go."
Beatrix had settled down somewhat. The muscles had loosened a little and her breathing was less labored as it had increased due to the stinging pain or at least she thought it was only the stinging. The second Bill finished playing doctor, Beatrix tightened the towel back up to cover herself. Why she was so embarrassed around him in this situation she had yet to figure out. She had all the sex appeal she'd ever need. Blinking her thoughts back to reality she swiftly turned around to face him. Her current facade didn't hold much emotion but blue hues sparkled with a mixture of gratitude, surprise, anxiety, and perhaps lust, but that was buried deep. "If someday you get tired of being a murdering bastard being a bandage wrapper holds a lot of potential for you," she suggest, a smirk tugging at her pink lips.
Bill was a little surprised when she suddenly turned around. But he hid it the best he could which was pretty well. He smiled, "I'll remember that but highly unlikely. Once you're a murdering bastard you can rarely go back. It's far too exciting." He gave her a feral grin, but quickly dropped it, realizing that Beatrix, in her tense mood would probably misconstrue that comment. "When you've wrapped as many wounds as I have Kiddo, you get pretty good at it." He leaned back on his palms, giving her some space. Bill had not forgotten that little kiss that had turned into such an ordeal awhile back. In fact, he thought of it quite a bit it was no wonder he thought of it now.
The conflict on her face was quite something. It was pure and hot and cold...mixed in a most intriguing manner. Her large blue eyes stared back at him......a man could easily get lost in those eyes....lost, and never come back. Bill let out a long breath, suddenly staring up at the ceiling, "I'd better leave you be.....I'm afraid if I don't, I may attempt to break that little promise I made." Beatrix might find that confession repulsively blunt, but he was at least being completely honest.
As repulsively blunt as that was Beatrix was glad he was being honest about. Honesty was a rarity for both of them but it was more than welcome when it occurred. If she wasn't so tense about the whole thing she would have found it even amusing. She idly canted her head to the side, a few locks of blonde hair falling into her line of vision. "Yeah, you better." There was hesitance in her response. A hidden desire lingered in her eyes, a mixed desire that wanted him to go and break that promise but at the same time there was a stronger desire against it.
If anything was there it was broken in seconds when a low grumble at the door could be heard. It was Budd. Wearing a pair of saggy blue jeans held up with a black belt and a white t-shirt stained with mud. Budd was standing in the door frame; for how long was unsure. That sent Beatrix's temperature up a few notches. She bolted from her position on the bed, hand clinging around the towel as if it were a safety net. She glared in Budd's direction. "Shit Budd, don't you knock?"
Budd replied with a shrug of his shoulders and pushed off the door frame. He gave Beatrix a coy smile and attempted to check her out. Beatrix scowled at this and flipped him the finger."This isn't a fucking peep show. Both of you, out. Now." She hissed between clenched teeth. The same glare taken towards Budd was exchanged to Bill whether it was intended or not. Bill looked more than a little annoyed by Budd's sudden appearance. Not only because he had been interrupted but also because he had managed to sneak in so deftly. "Very well," Bill replied smoothly. He could hardly blame Beatrix for her reaction, especially when it was Budd who looked so fucking sleazy at the moment! Bill got up, not risking at glance at the towel clinging blonde, and shooed his brother out of the room.
He shut the door, giving Budd a deadly look. He stalked back into the living room. Shit! He'd left his sword on Beatrix's dresser. Bill was highly protective on his Hanzo sword he would just have to trust Beatrix with it for the moment. That in itself was a big step for him. Bill sauntered over to the couch and casually flipped on the TV. "Goddamnit Budd," he gave his brother a sidelong glare, "....you look so fucked up. What the hell were you doing this time? Cow tipping? Violating sheep? Rolling in pig shit?" He flipped channels with a vicious flick of his wrist.
Budd sat himself down on the arm of the couch. "A little bit of each," he admitted with a lop-sided grin. Bill's brother could be an asshole and do a large amount of stupid things but today he had been behaving. It was obvious Budd wasn't faltered by his brother's harsh judgments and glaring looks. Budd was use to it. What he wasn't use to what was spotting his brother in a room with a half naked women. Actually, it could have been a usual sight if the woman wasn't Beatrix Kiddo. He wove a dismissive hand at Bill and changed the subject. "I heard O-Ren was in town. I wanted to come by and say hi." He glanced to the television taking note to the shot-em-up western Bill had paused on.
Bill ignored his brother for a few seconds, apparently more interested in what on the TV. He then waved a hand of his own, "She came in earlier. She probably ran off somewhere mentioned something about going out with a few of her friends. She got to see a nasty little fight between Elle and Beatrix earlier and probably wanted the get the hell away from this place for awhile." He leaned back, "I can't blame her really. She'll be back eventually. I'm sure she'd love to chat with your charming self." Bill was literally counting down the seconds before Budd made some smart ass comment about what he had just seen. He placed his booted feet up on the coffee table, "So..seriously Budd, what's the deal with the little 'rolled around in dirt' look you've got goin' on here?" Actually, Bill really didn't give a shit, but whatever distracted Budd from his inevitable probing questions. Budd responded with another shrug of the shoulders. He knew Bill didn't really care how he looked or at least not when they weren't out in public. He glanced down to the white t-shirt that was splotched with dirt, elbow grease, and some peculiar looking auburn shit. "Huh? This, not entirely sure myself. I thought I'd--"
But his words had trailed off as the sound of bare feet padding against the wooden floor could be heard. Clad in a pair of slimming black jeans and a white baggy t-shirt painted with the Japanese symbol for death on the upper corner. In her hands Beatrix Kiddo was carrying in the most delicate and sacramental posture she could muster, Bill's Hanzo sword. Her expression was placid as she didn't exchange a glance to either of the men as she gingerly settled the mystic weapon in its resting place; on the ledge opposite the television and living room. She than turned swiftly and headed back to her room. The closing of the door could be heard.
Bill turned as soon as he heard Beatrix's padding feet and Budd's sudden drop in speech. What he saw nearly did him in. For some reason that image would always be one of his favorites of Beatrix Kiddo. Even in the years to follow when things were...different...he would still often return to that moment. There was something amazingly sexy in it and he didn't even mean in lustful way. The way she held the sword. She knew that Bill's sword was something of an extension of himself a part of who he was, his soul so to speak. Not only that but the way she completely disregarded their presence....the look on her face. Even the small Kanji for death on her shirt seemed to fit perfectly. She was innocent, deadly aware of her every movement. Bill watched her intensely, his hand holding the remote control frozen in mid-air.
Budd blinked a few times registering what just occurred. He snuffed a laugh and pointed a single digit. "That was scary," he remarked in a blunt tone. "You know why?" he turned to his brother, thick brows narrowed. "Because that woman looked damn good with that sword of yours." Once Beatrix returned to her room, Bill stared at his sword. When Budd spoke he blinked. "That she did Budd." he replied, still staring at the sword. She had even placed in on the stand the exact right way.
Budd took notice to the expression on Bill's face. He shook his head slowly in a momentary disapproval. His hand slipped upward to run through his messy locks of dark brown hair. He was about to speak up when the soft chime of the doorbell echoed through the halls followed by the opening and closing of the front door. Soon to appear in the entrance to the living room was O-Ren Ishii. She was wearing a pair of black leather jeans tight to her form and a black long sleeve shirt to top it off. Locks of raven black hair came down just to her shoulders, and layered in the back and front to shape her face nicely. "O-Ren, hey." Budd gave a mocking salute gesture to the woman with a more or less warm smile of greeting. O-Ren returned the smile and took a further step into the room. Her dark brown eyes darted between the two brothers, her expression calm and collected. "Has the bitch fight come to a close?" Her question directed towards Bill but her gaze had fallen to the television screen. Bill's odd reverie was broken by O-Ren's appearance. He smiled. There was something very calming about O-Ren that he had always liked and respected. Well that and she was one hell of a killer. "Yes," Bill looked grateful, "....thank God...or Satan..or whomever.....Elle took off in a huff. She'll be back soon. This isn't the first time she's done something so stupid nor no doubt, the last," he mumbled. "Oh, and Kiddo's back in the spare room she was looking for you earlier." He said it as nonchalantly as if he was ordering dinner. Lying, like killing came like second nature to Bill. There was no need to tell O-Ren anything more not that there was really anything to say and none of her damn business anyways. Bill turned back to the TV, feeling oddly defensive best to shut up, besides O-Ren was a woman of few words except when she was pissed. If she wanted to speak, she would.
Now it was time for Budd to ring in his smart ass comments. Still seated on the arm of the couch as if straddling the furniture his own eyes came back to O-Ren. "I gotta tell ya O-Ren if you came here just five, ten minutes earlier you woulda seen something..well..fucking..I can't even put it into words." This caught O-Ren's attention. Her head canted to one side. "I've recently witnessed one of Beatrix and Elle's qurrels. What could be better than that?" Budd slapped a hand to his knee ignoring Bill's evident glare. "This is much better, sweet'eart. I came in to see my dear brother Bill sitting in the spare room with Kiddo--wearing only a towel." O-Ren's always soft appearance hardened but it was not out of anger. "Oh, really?"
Budd didn't get a chance to reply as Beatrix had made her pressence known. She was standing behind the television, arms crossed across her chest, her appearance quite haughty. "No, not really," she spoke up in bitter tone. "Budd here just has a fucking sick imagination."
"My imagination may be fuckin' sick but that doesn't contradict that I saw what I saw."
Bill turned an extremely angry glare on Budd. His younger brother had his moments all those years of Bill's smart ass remarks and put downs did, at times, catch up with him. Budd's moments were few and far between but they were always zingers. But this one was particularly low.
"Budd." Bill's voice was a low growl, as he stood up. He gave Beatrix a quick glance attempting to convey something along the lines of 'I didn't say anything I swear!' He wasn't used to giving this look so it may not have worked.
This was a no win situation. There was no point in freaking out. That was simply not his style. If Budd wanted to fuck with him so be it. Bill shrugged, "You know me always been a sucker for blondes." Nobody was going to argue with him there. "And Budd has always been something of a pervert." He flashed Budd a large smile. There was so much material for ammunition on that one, but Bill would not stoop so low not right now. Budd through up his arms up and said, "Hey, I'm not going to deny that. But, what I don't want ya denying me what I saw."
The tall blonde rolled her eyes in frustration. She caught Bill's look and registered it. She wasn't blaming him for this, she was blaming his brother. "We aren't denying anything Budd. I just don't want you to go start a fucking rumor that isn't true." O-Ren decided to put in her two cents on the present subject. "I do have to agree with Budd on this one." Both Budd and Bea gave surprised expressions in the half breed's direction. Her expression remained placid. "We are all one big family and like all families we should share our secrets." No one said O-Ren couldn't have her own fun sometimes.
"Oh my fucking-god!" Kiddo exclaimed, her features turning flabbergasted. "Nothing happened. Nothing. Dammit, Bill." She shot a cold gaze in his direction. Maybe she was blaming him now but it was hard to tell. Alright, that was it. Bill was not "the man" for no reason. "Well now...." he slowly sauntered away from the couch, "...who runs this show?" He gave a threatening little glare around the room. "I don't remember a single time that anybody ever dared to question nor dare what woman I was currently sleeping with." He ignored Beatrix's glare. "But," he held up a finger, still sauntering around slowly, "..since the supposed...er....victim was one of our own...I'll enlighten you..." He walked over to Beatrix putting an arm around her shoulders, "As we all know Kiddo here was shot in the back over a month ago. I think we all know how awful that is." He gave them a knowing look. "And we all know how difficult changing bandage wounds can be. Yes? Well, Budd, what I was doing there, in that spare bedroom, was helping Beatrix change her bandage." He held a hand up, "You can take that for what it's worth. I'm not so stupid as to get involved with somebody under my employment." That was a big lie but, fuck it. "Now, Budd if you want to continue to believe something happened, go ahead. I know you're running out of material to jack off to nowadays. And O-Ren, personally I thought you had more sense to care about such trivial things." He raised his eyebrows, "Does anybody want to contradict me?"
Beatrix had remained standing there and let Bill do the talking. She knew he would be able to handle this. Actually, what she found more reassuring was that his arm happened to be draped over her shoulder. That was supposed to be a friendly gesture, correct? Perhaps her own feelings were going in opposite directions. She did tend to believe her own lies. She blinked hard, casting such foolish thoughts aside. Seeing the expressions on Budd and O-Ren's faces she casually leaned into Bill's form, taking the moment for all it was worth.
A hand came up and rubbed at his forehead as Budd stared at his brother and Beatrix after receiving the whole story. He finally spoke up, "Okay, you got me there Bill." He paused. "But standin' there. You two make any awfully cute couple." This was stated in the most mocking manner a man of Budd's stature could supply. O-Ren just grinned wide at the two with her own satisfaction. Bill was more than happy, not to mention relieved, that Beatrix was playing along. It had been sometime since he'd actually made any real physical contact with her. She'd been pretty physically distant since the little 'kiss' disaster. Before that, they had often been very physically friendly with each other. Weird how things change.
When Budd replied with his "awfully cute couple" comment, Bill had to make a quick and nearly seamless recovery. "Really?" He shook Beatrix's shoulder, "Do you think so? Beauty and the Beast? Ricky and Lucy? Sonnie and Cher? Bonnie and Clyde? John and Yoko? Young sexy thing and old guy twice her age? Why," Bill cocked his head to the side, in a mocking sweet little gesture, "...that's an awfully acute observation Budd...I'll make sure to write that down in my little pink dairy before I go to bed." His sarcasm was laced with deadly undertones. Beatrix couldn't help but laugh at that bit of sarcasm. She turned her head to Bill, a smirk wide across her face. "Wow, Bill. I never knew that about you."
Beatrix couldn't help but laugh at that bit of sarcasm. She turned her head to Bill, a smirk wide across her face. "Wow, Bill. I never knew that about you."
Budd was feeling a little shot down by Bill's words of sarcasm and resisted to make a further smart ass remark to it. "Pink dairy?" O-Ren spoke up. Her own facade laced with amusement. Bea nodded in O-Ren's direction. "I know. That's one hell of a secret."
She casually draped her own arm over Bill's shoulder, seeing she wasn't that much shorter than he was, to play along further. "No, but, honestly, I think Budd is right. We do make a cute couple." Beatrix gave a tight nod. Budd blinked and O-Ren made swift strides to take a seat on the couch. A leg crossed over the other, her eyes narrowing. "Oh yes..." Bill played along, "I'm a dark man with many dark secrets.....It adds to my mystique don't you think?" He pulled a dramatic face. "You should see me at night lamenting in that diary."
She casually draped her own arm over Bill's shoulder, seeing she wasn't that much shorter than he was, to play along further. "No, but, honestly, I think Budd is right. We do make a cute couple." Beatrix gave a tight nod. Budd blinked and O-Ren made swift strides to take a seat on the couch. A leg crossed over the other, her eyes narrowing.
Bill laughed, perhaps a bit too loudly, smiling a bit too widely, "Well, I certainly am not going to argue." This was all very amusing but Bill knew that this was leading to somewhere bad. O-Ren was finding this conversation a tad too amusing and O-Ren wasn't amused by many things. She leaned back in the chair and began to examine 'the couple' as if they were an experiment to be tested. "As I look at it, look at you two. I can only imagine what type of cross-breed you two could make."
A light chuckle came from Budd's side of the couch. "Yeah, put the two deadliest people in the world together. Have 'em fuck and damn."
Beatrix knew this was all meant for fun and games but this part wasn't settling with her. She hesitated to pull away from Bill but she didn't knowing that would show her uneasiness on the subject. Instead she turned her facade placid and serious. "As stated before, you, Budd have a sickening imagination and O-Ren, I'm surprised that you do too," she growled. "Oh come on Bea," Budd began but she cut him off. "No, dammit, you're sounding just like that bitch Elle. My job is to kill not fuck."
The "bad" had some sooner than he thought and Bill was not amused at this new turn. "I think," he said coolly, his smile turning brittle, "That you two need to get laid more often." He removed his arm from Beatrix's shoulders. Fucking he could handle but talking about children that was wrong. Perhaps, more than anything, this struck a cord with Bill because he had never known his own father. The whole concept of fatherhood was extremely uncomfortable to him. He was not born to sire children, he was born to take life, not create it. Beatrix knew the moment had turned uncomfortable and she felt rather let down that it didn't last that long. Hands slipped to her pockets as she gave a silent debate on the question of what she was doing. "Alright, the fun is over." Bill was back to his grumpy self. "I was watching TV, what the hell were you three doing?"
"I'll be off in the backyard if anyone needs me," Budd declared as he rose up from his seat and trudged outside. The man felt a tad low for mentioning kids in front of Bill. Unlike his brother, Budd wasn't as sentimental when it came to his own father figures. O-Ren casually rose from her seat as well. Slow steps were taken across the room. "I'll be around," she stated gently. Her steps stopped as she came up to the side of Beatrix. Both women's facades remained unmoved as they stared down at one another. Not in threatening manner. O-Ren leaned into Bea's ear, words came from red painted lips in a deathly whisper, "Silly rabbit. Trixs are for--"
"Kids" Beatrix chimed in with O-Ren giving her a venomous glare. O-Ren flashed a smile before she resumed her steps down the hallway.