Asunder
Chapter 2: In the Sun I Fell as One
Karakura Town
Monday 26 January 2015
09:02am
He left. He's gone. I won't see him… for a while. I mustn't cry, he wouldn't like that. Every time he leaves I tell myself I won't become a mess, I won't let it affect me.
I know I'm really only lying to myself.
I pick myself up from the tangled grey sheets, pushing with my arms to raise myself into a sitting position. I glance over to the bedside clock, fingers pulling at my toes; 09:03am. I should've been at work 33 minutes ago. Dr Ishida Senior will not like this. Grumbling to myself at the thought of his coldness and tendency to be less than enthusiastic to tardiness, I think I'd better hop to it.
I drag myself out of that wondrous bed and make my way towards the opulently fitted and ultra-luxurious ensuite. I don't really want to lose his scent from my skin, but I must be presentable, professional. Trudging begrudgingly across the plush navy carpet and through an attached short hallway, I step onto the pearly white Spanish tiles. Walking straight to the glass shower doors, I open them both outwardly, turned the water temperature to scalding, before stepping inside the cocoon of warmth.
As I bask underneath the welcome torrent of water, I think back to him. He will be on his way to Yokohama, his town car likely weaving through the early morning traffic in order to get to the airport's business lounge before his scheduled departure. I try not to let any tears escape, although it's become increasingly difficult to not give in to my feelings. I can't help but think that I've always been such an emotionally expressive person, quite the opposite to my Dark Lord, as the water beats down hard against me. My skin has turned red from the combination of the water's pressure and temperature.
Making sure that all bodily fluids have been thoroughly cleansed from my person, I turn off the water. I let myself just stand still amongst the steam to clear my tears and my head for a few moments. That is enough for today, Orihime.
I will not dwell on negatives, I will only look for the positives. With a new resolve, I open the glass doors, step onto a fluffy white cotton bath mat inscribed with the initials K.B. and walk to the towel rack, pulling a matching fluffy white cotton bath sheet down and wrapping myself in it. The initials K.B. sit neatly folded against my right breast.
As I dry the remaining droplets of water from my body, I walk back through the small hallway into the master bedroom, taking note of my wrinkled skirt, navy blouse and underwear strewn across the carpet. This will not do – I can't possibly front my place of employment in wrinkled attire, Dr Ishida Senior will not be happy.
Decision made, I walk over to the nightstand and pick up my mobile phone. I unlock the screen and search my contacts for Ishida Memorial Hospital, Department of Records. Locating the correct contact, I touch the screen and dial, nervously waiting and hoping for either Nelliel or Tier to answer.
Brr brr.
Brr brr.
The recorded robot voice of the voicemail message sounds – You have reached Ishida Memorial Hospital Records Department. We are unavailable to take your call. Please leave your contact information. Beeeeep.
'Uh hello,' my voice faltering in my guilt. 'This is Inoue Orihime, I am unable to come to work today. I am unwell. I apologise for the inconvenience.'
Today is my first "sick day". I don't like the fact that I've called in, but I just can't face working today. I need to take control of myself.
I need to talk to Tatsuki.
:
Monday
11:47am
The chime of the doorbell interrupts my persistent thoughts. I get up from my position on the large grey suede sofa to answer the door. Flipping the latch on the security peephole I peer through, happy to see my very best friend, Arisawa Tatsuki, standing outside the apartment, her gaze set tightly with determination. I quickly unlock the security bolt, and punch in the "open" code on the state of the art secure pad. The heavy industrial door clicks open inwardly, I motion for Tatsuki to come inside.
'So, he's gone again?' she asks as we make our way past the apartment's entrance, and into the less formal lounge. I take my seat back on the sofa, folding my legs underneath me, making myself comfortable.
'Yes. This time for a month. I called in – I'm just not up to it today,' I tell her the truth. I can't lie to her.
'How long have you been doing this now, Orihime? You can't keep doing this to yourself every time he leaves,' her voice and face full of concern from her position on the opposite side of the sofa. Her brows are wrinkled and her eyes are trying to search mine, 'You've never called in before.'
I'm not sure how she wants me to respond. I feel as though the little blue men have packed my brain with cotton wool. Everything feels dull.
'I know,' I really do know.
'I just want you to be happy. You know that, right? I know he makes you happy when he is around, but is this really how you want to spend your life – just waiting around for him?' Tatsuki all but demands. She really wants answers. Deep down I know that she must be sick of this.
I've been involved with Kuchiki Byakuya for ten months now. I've lived with him in his exquisite penthouse apartment in Karakura Town's CBD for the last two months. All of our time together, our relationship has been kept secret.
He is ten years older than me at 36. He was widowed at 24. He is the owner and Chief Executive Officer of Admiral Kuchiki, an internationally successful investment and consultancy firm. He is the last Lord Kuchiki in his family, Japan's most noble house with one of the longest lines of succession in this country's history. He has many enemies not only in his business world, but in his most noble of house.
I am Inoue Orihime. I am basically an orphan. I was physically and sexually abused as a child by my biological parents. I was taken away from our biological parents by my older brother, Inoue Sora, 15 years older than me, when I was 3. I lost my brother at 12 to a motor vehicle accident. I was placed with a distant relative until I was 18. I didn't go to college. I am office supervisor in the Medical Records Department of Ishida Memorial Hospital, a post that I have worked my way up to attain within the last five years.
I am no one. I am not meant for him. The tears start to fall down my face, my festering negativity simply too much for my brimming lids to hold.
'Tatsuki-chan, I love him,' I can't help but admit.
'I know 'Hime, I know that you do. But honestly, all of this secrecy is killing you – I can see it. You can't hide it from me,' she desperately pleaded, conveying what I know and what I'd been denying for months.
I looked away from her knowing gaze, focusing on my hands in my lap. I don't want to admit the truth, because if I admit it, it means something will have to change.
'Have you brought this up, your relationship and what it's doing to you, with him?' she quietly asks me, her voice a husky whisper.
I don't answer her straight away, I'm not sure what to tell her. I hear her quick exhale of breath. I brace myself for what I know is coming, exactly what I don't want to hear.
'You need to tell him,' are those simply yet damning words, spilling from her mouth and wounding my heart, my resolve.
'I'm scared,' I admit, my voice barely audible. I curl my knees up to my chest, hugging them to me. I drop my chin to rest on my knees, focusing on breathing, focusing on staying calm and not shattering into a million pieces at the very thought of telling him how unhappy I have become being his secret.
'He is in a very public position,' I manage to get out. 'If you only knew what his house would say, no what his house and his business associates would say, if word got out of our relationship, Tatsuki-chan,' the words tumble from my lips, my fears verbalised.
'My Dark Lord would have his image tarnished, his noble house would disown him – I just can't, I just can't…bare to have that happen because of me. B-b-because of who I am and what I come from…' and there it is. I've laid my cards on the table before my very best friend. I bury my head in my knees, not even able to stop myself from sobbing.
My sobs turn into dry-heaves. I feel Tatsuki-chan move from her position on the sofa, a dip in the cushions letting me know that she is moving towards me. I feel her arms wrap around me as I am engulfed in her warmth. She is not one to touch, but she gives me what I need, stroking my hair, rubbing my long burnt-orange hair – supporting me.
Support is something I had never known until I met her, 14 years ago.
'I don't want to taint his good name,' my words broken, my pain evident.
'Your Dark Lord should be here, comforting you through this, not me,' she says gently, still continuing to soothe me with her touch.
'He should be the one to reassure you, let you feel needed, wanted, loved, never ashamed of who you are,' she continues. 'If he is truly the one for you, he won't care, 'Hime. You need to talk to him,' and those are her final words to me, as I feel myself drifting off into a world of sleep, the darkness beckons to me.
:
Monday 26 January 2015
11:28pm
My body is awoken by pleasure-filled touches. Strong hands moving deliciously up and down my spine. My silk chemise has been pushed up my back, exposing it and my royal blue underwear. I can feel the cool night air against my skin, contrasted with the heat of his hands. I groggily open my eyes and try to turn around to see who is working my body into such a state of bliss…Surely this is just a dream…
'What are you doing here?' I all but scream, not in the least expecting my Dark Lord back so soon.
'I couldn't stay away,' is his reply as he trails his fingertips across my back. I'm fairly certain he is spelling out 'Kuchiki', as if branding me as though I'd ever forget. My body succumbs to his touch. I am helpless to his clever, expressive fingertips – to him, really.
As I crane my neck to get a good look at him, I drink him in. He is straddling my thighs, his only article of clothing are his black cotton boxer briefs – Ralph Lauren adorning their waistband, low on his hips. His toned stomach and built chest is draped over me as he places butterfly kisses from shoulder blade to shoulder blade. The warmth of his skin emanates to mine, my body's base desires well to the surface.
A sigh of utter contentment escapes my lips as he drapes his torso over mine, bracing himself with his arms either side of mine, settling his weight over me. His beautiful dark hair tickling my back as his kisses become more fervent, his lips moving rapidly from my right shoulder blade to my neck. I can't help but feel that he wants to devour me.
'I couldn't stay away, my sweet,' he repeats as he lifts himself up slightly and turns me around, so that I am underneath him, facing him. His dark violet eyes peer with such lust, such ardent intensity into my own stormy orbs. He moves his head lower, his lips search mine, tentatively sucking my bottom lip and nipping it playfully with his teeth.
I reply with a kiss of my own, gently probing against his mouth with my tongue, begging for entrance. He accepts my silent request, and our tongues meet in an age old battle. His kisses are divine. I moan into his mouth as he sits up, pulling my body to him, arranging me in his lap. He guides my legs around his waist, making sure that my ankles are locked in securely against the small of his back.
My sex is right over his. I shameless grind myself against him, my fingers digging into his shoulders as the intensity of our kisses increase. His arms wind themselves around me, one hand embedded in my hair, delicately holding the base of my skull, keeping me in places, as the other makes its home at the small of my back, pushing me into him. We're chest to chest, heat to heat.
I need to be closer to him. I need him inside me. I gently push against his chest, breaking our kiss and creating a little distance between us. As if he can read my mind, his eyes look to mine and his hands move to the straps of my chemise. He slides the material down my arms, moving his hands down the sides of my body with such dexterity. His hands caress my hips, giving them a gentle squeeze, then move to my ass, kneading the flesh a few times before sliding down over the material bunched on my thighs.
He moves his hands underneath the silky material, delicately running his hands over each of my inner thighs. A demure mewl escapes my lips at his intimate caress. My gaze reaches his, only to find that earlier fire burning more intensely. 'Please, Byakuya… I need you, t-to...' my words are silenced with a passion fuelled, open mouthed kiss full of promises of what's to come.
'I know exactly what you need, my 'Hime,' he breathes out huskily as he places my arms above my head, then expertly trails his hands leisurely once again down my body, stopping along the way at all of my favourite places, before sliding the chemise up and over my head. The silky material feels exquisite as he drags it sensuously up my body. The garment is thrown haphazardly over his shoulder as his hands are once again on me, sliding from my waist to touch me more intimately, sliding the material of my underwear aside, and exposing me to his questing fingers. My body is his to enjoy.
In the sun I feel as one, are my final thoughts before all of the fun begins.
:
Thank you very much to those that reviewed, favourited and followed :) Your feedback makes me so happy.
Thank you in particular to nypsy, Sakura.T.18, and the boulevard for your kind reviews.
To those that read this chapter, thank you as well.
livingdeadclaire.