The first night
Another chapter for you ^_^ Thank you for the favs! This time I tried to put in more descriptions, since I really suck at it please bear with me! Also, please review and let me know what you think about this! :)
The day went on quickly, Hitsugaya and Karin didn't meet again, though she kept an eye on him the whole time.
-Good work today- Hinamori, right beside her, smiled sweetly -Are you alright?-
Karin barely hid a yawn -Yes, I'm just a bit tired- she stretched her arms.
-It's normal, you'll get used to it the brunette said as she packed her stuff -See you tomorrow then, Yagami-san- she waved goodbye and went off.
Hinamori was always the last one in their office to leave, she was a quiet and hardworking girl of 28 who kind of knew everyone there. Karin managed to chat a bit with her and her division's co-workers during her coffee and lunch break, getting to know them better.
At 6PM everybody went home (some later than others) and the company was almost empty. Karin went up to the 5 floor, where the president office was, but he still hadn't come out, so she waited for him hidden in the bathroom. She didn't want anybody to see her, so that was the only place and she really needed to go anyway.
-Damn, what a workaholic- she snorted, she checked her phone but there were no news from the police station. Hisagi was already stationed in front of Hitsugaya's house, he had the first night-round.
Almost one hour later he came out of his office, stretching his neck, visibly tired, he greeted the few people who were still there and got on the elevator. There, he met Karin who had been following him, again.
-Good work, President- she smiled.
He winced a bit, giving her a bad look and didn't answer, he almost forgot about her during the day..
Without speaking, they each went to the underground parking at the bottom level of the company. The executives and the president had their car in a different level than the normal employer, so Karin had to wait for him at the exit, in her old grey BMW. Karin expected him to have a driver, but he was the one driving his black shiny Mercedes.
She followed behind him, until they both arrived at the same location: Hitsugaya's villa.
"Of course it wouldn't be a normal , it's huge" she thought as the metal fence gate opened. Hisagi, hidden in a spot around there, gave her the ok beforehand with a light signal.
The high wall-fence covered part of the house and behind it a long row of threes blocked the view. Right after she entered there were two paths, one stretched to the right until it leaded to an indoor parking, encircled by evergreen threes. The other was a long straight, elegant stone-trail, all lit up on the sides, surrounded by a beautiful english garden. Little flowerbeds grew here and there making a romantic and dream-like setting. The house was a combination of modern and Victorian style, in two floors plus a basement and a big attic, all in bricky beige and white. All around there were security-cameras and two big dogs patrolled the area, they barked when Karin got near the front door.
-It's ok, it's ok- she tried to shush them.
-It's useless, they're trained- Hitsugaya appeared in front of her and calmed down the dogs.
He let her in, without talking, the light turned on automatically.
-So then.. make yourself at home- he said, coolly and half joking. He was still standing near the door and made way when she bypassed him for a second.
Karin was now in front of him. For that split second she looked at him, he was taller than her but not that much so their eyes could meet and be almost at the same level.
-Um.. so, did the police already check up your place?- Karin quickly looked away, she felt nervous for some strange reason.
The inside of the house seemed all painted with a light ivory color and had a dark parquet. The lobby was neat and bare, except for a painting and a fancy hanger, then it split in two hallways: the one on the right and the other on the left that led to a staircase.
-Yeah, they did. Roughly- he answered, closing the front door. It was an european style's house so they didn't need to take their shoes off, but Karin still took her heels off since they were killing her. Both hanged their jackets in the hallway and remained in their work-attire, just with shirts on.
Hitsugay lead her to the right hallway, the passage was long and narrow, with huge windows on the side and full of paintings on the walls, discontinued by a few doors here and there. Every space was calculated and well-used.
-I see.. - Karin breathed in and studied her surroundings, curious. She tried not to look at him, because he made he feel even more nervous than she already was. She was staying at his house for free after all. Wait, she was just doing her job, "Calm down Karin!"
She regained some sort of composure -Ok, I'll do another check then. I need to see the main rooms-
Silently, he took her to the end of the hallway where the living room was. Karin stopped to memorize the space, all the room was occupied by two blue sofas, a huge tv-console between them on the wall, and a bar far on left side. Yep, a bar. Behind the bar counter, a wall divided the living room with a kitchen and a in-between a little corridor connected it with the dining room next door.
They went upstairs, using a staircase between the two rooms. There, through a large hallway, he showed her his office and bedroom, with bathroom attached.
Hitsugaya's bedroom was as big as Karin's whole apartment, maybe even bigger, with a huge king bed in the middle, surrounded by tons of shelves and libraries on the sides and a walk-in closet. Another door revealed a secondary entrance to the indoor gym next room. There was also a big round balcony with an outlook on the huge backyard garden. From that spot, a large pool surrounded by lights, could be seen from above.
She thoroughly checked out the room, but other than the security cameras she found nothing. Nothing interesting either, a super boring room, almost sterile.
"Does he really live here?" not one thing out of place, all perfectly well-ordered, like an hotel. Not even one photo-frame that indicated someone actually spent time there.
-Well, seems like it's all clear here- Hitsugaya was watching her, silently, leaning on the balcony window.
Karin fixed her eyes on the bed.. now that was the only thing left to check, but feeling his gaze on her while doing it was.. weird. Why didn't he go away? It made her feel like she was doing something wrong and inappropriate.
-All that's left is.. this..- she avoided looking at him and got near the bed. She lifted up the while sheets carefully, then the pillows and even the mattress. He didn't have a bedside table but a built-in cabinet on the head of the bed, where just a book and a lamp laid. She later noticed a drawer on the side, that had no handle and was almost invisible to the eyes, where she found an i-pod, a pack of cigarettes and another one of... condoms (!?).
Karin turned bright red and slammed it close, Hitsugaya chuckled (that was the first time she heard him doing something even close to smiling) and raised an eyebrow -What, you never saw them?- provoking.
Karin blushed again, furious and embarrassed. He was mocking her, a police officer, while she was working to save HIS ass. She decided to ignore him -I need to see the control room, where you keep all the camera recordings. I bet you have one-
-This way- he passed her, a smirk still on his face.
"Fuck you!" she thought, pissed off, looking at his expression.
The control room was really small and full of screens, computers and technological stuff. Karin scratched her head -This look like a lot of work. Who checks all the videos? - Hitsugaya was always behind her -Me- he just answered, smoothly.
Karin looked at him, perplexed, where did he find the time to do it? Whatever.
-I'll have someone check everything here, tomorrow morning, from the tech team- she said -Make a list of all the people who came here in the last month, including maids and their shifts-
Hitsugaya nodded, distracted, then sighed. It was dinner time, he figured he had to eat with her.. that too. While he was deciding on what to do and not, Karin had a call.
-Yo Hisagi, still out there?- she grinned -Yeah... All clear here. I just checked the main rooms, I'll do the rest tomorrow.. Ok, fine. Bye then she looked at him -Can we eat now? I'm starving-
-Make yourself at home- he scoffed, when she opened the fridge nonchalantly.
-Listen she put down some ingredients We can make it awkward or get along until we find out the culprit. Your choice. But we have to stick to each other until then- and his annoyed look she replied -Trust me, I'm not happy either- then she shifted her attention on the stove and started cooking.
Hitsugaya frowned -Are you sure you know what you're doing?- he got behind her, once again, checking the content of the frying pan, worried.
-I'm making us ramen- implying behind the lines 'it's easy' and 'thank me'.
Hitsugaya smirked, she was the strangest cop and woman he'd ever met. Sure, he hated her guts and attitude, from start he intended to treat her coldly and make her go away. He loved to have his own space and bearded no patience to outsiders. Also that forced cohabitation was already driving him insane, but maybe.. just maybe, he could cut her some slack.
Her shoulder seemed small from behind, as she was cooking -This better taste good- she muttered, making him smile a little. Not that he would have showed it to her.
-Oi- something smelled weird -OI!- he yelled, noticing a piece of her sleeve was on fire. He forcefully grabbed her arm and pulled it away, then got it under cold water.
-Are you fricking insane?!-
Karin seemed more puzzled than shocked, she didn't even had time to realize what was going on.
-Sorry- she simply said, looking him into the eyes 'So he can yell' she smiled -Hope the food is till edible- she got away and looked in the frying pan. -All's ok!- she made a V sign with her hand.
Hitsugaya sighed heavily, that was the police who was supposed to protect him? Yeah sure.
-Put something on that later- he ordered, pointing her slightly burnt skin.
-It's not a big deal, it barely touched my skin- she commented, more worried about the burnt sleeve than her arm. After inspecting the kitchen for few seconds, she took out two plates and put in the veggie noodles she made.
-Let's eat now-
Dinner was quiet, Karin was focused on every noise and beat, while he just sat silently, sometimes looking at her.
After dinner, without a word, Karin got up and washed the dishes. Hitsugaya was smoking a cig in the kitchen, head out of the window, thinking about the weird situation he was in.
-You can use one of the guest room- he just said.
-Is there an empty room next to yours?- Karin turned around to look at him.
-Mn, yeah- he leaded her to a room next to his, with a double bed and a private bathroom -Here- it was big and fancy, just like an hotel room.
-Ok, thanks, I'll take a bath now- she announced, taking her suitcase/bag in. -Please act as if I'm not even here-
-That would be kind of hard- he muttered, provoking her again.
-Well, try- she clicked her tongue, he was going to get out of the door when she suddenly grabbed him by the edge of his shirt.
-I know this isn't an idyllic setting, letting a stranger into your home..must be weird. I'll do my part. Thank your for hosting me in the meantime.. - finally she muttered -I'm not even gonna repeat this again- embarrassed.
She sounded so serious and sincere, Hitsugaya didn't know what to say. He was so puzzled, he didn't even turn to see her face, thinking it would be too awkward.
-It's ok.. for now..- he added, then took his leave.
Karin didn't sleep much, she was nervous and formally 'still working'. She got up every 3 hours to check on the video recordings, eating or drinking something, then going to sleep and getting up again. At 4AM she was in the control room, snacking on chips, and activated the camera in Hitsugaya's room. He was sleeping, half the sheets were thrown away from his body showing his bare chest and a pair of black pants.
He kept the window tents open and the moonlight was shining upon him. Karin kept staring at him for a while, intrigued. Who was Toushiro Hitsugaya? Undoubtedly he was an handsome man, but she still couldn't figure him out. The movement of his fit chest kept her hypnotized for a while, somehow his breathing was mesmerizing. She kept gazing him when, like a flash, that box of condoms appeared in her mind and made her snap out of it.
Why now, and why the condoms?
'Dammit, what was I doing?' she blushed and thanked the gods he could not see her.