Chapter 2- Confrontation
"And what did you do next my dear?"
Hisana wearily sighed at that particular question and comfortably folded her feet atop the sofa where she was presently seated. She hugged a soft pillow against her chest and buried her face deep into it.
"I gave him his drop to the garage Unohana… what else could I do…" she pathetically trailed off.
The older woman smilingly stared down at the small framed girl before her and chuckled a bit before sipping her tea. "Well you shouldn't worry about such offending young men, you won't have to see him again unless of course he contacts his insurance company and they stipulate that you dish out some cash…"
"Oh dear, you think he would do that…?" Hisana anxiously raised her head and grimly eyed her aunt.
"Well if he doesn't seem to like you as much as you suggest then maybe he won't, hmm?"
Hisana drearily observed her aunt for a moment before once again heaving a huge sigh. "Just before getting out he made a stinging comment about my driving capabilities and then shut the door in my face."
Unohana frowned at that revelation before thoughtfully closing her eyes and sipping her tea. After a brief silence she sympathetically smiled at the young girl and gently said,
"Oh Hisana, you poor thing, don't fret about it. You're in one piece, he's in one piece and everyone's alive right? So count your lucky stars. Now forget that incident ever happened and tell me how things have been up in Tokyo…"
Hisana lugubriously smiled at her aunt quite grateful for the distraction and began her small narration (skilfully evading any topics containing Shiba Kaien) to the older woman. Her aunt always did have a knack for making her feel better, even if it were just a little.
Unohana actually owned a guest house in the sleepy old village and seeing as the tourist season seemed to be out, she only housed one guess presently; Hisana. So the latter was perfectly grateful for the quiet that seemed to be afforded to her. It would do her some good and it would be especially helpful in mending a broken heart…
And so the two souls contentedly sat in between the cosy sofas and pillows, both relaying bits and pieces of information from the time they had last seen one another almost five years ago.
Hisana was just about to relay a small joke to her aunt when there was a sudden rap at the front door. They both exchanged confused glances at the sudden intrusion and curiously swivelled their gazes towards the hall.
"Perhaps a lonely soul needs some dinner and bedding during this rainstorm Hisana?" her aunt mused as she rose to her feet. Hisana also rose to her feet and firmly tugged at the sleeping robe she presently wore. "I should go slip into something a bit more decent if there's a guest tonight."
"While you're at it, could you whip up some coffee? You can never be sure during these rainstorms…"
Hisana obsequiously nodded as she slipped into the kitchen. She could hear her aunt's soft voice drifting across from the tiny hall as she conversed with the assumed guest. It would have been nice to have some more company now that she thought about it. What was that well known saying…? Ah yes, the more the merrier… or something along that line.
As soon as Hisana was done pouring the steaming coffee into three mugs, Unohana came bustling into the kitchen, a soft flush upon her weathered cheeks.
"Hisana could you serve the coffee, I have to prepare a bed and sheets…" Hisana watched in mild amusement as her aunt fiddled up the stairs and she softly chuckled to herself. Hisana hadn't even changed into something more fitting, but she supposed it would have to do for now. Her aunt did seem to be in a hurry to get the room prepared and besides her sleeping robe was still decent enough. Satisfied that her appearance was at least appropriately respectable Hisana finally whisked the three mugs onto a tray and with a pleasant smile entered the living room.
"Here you ar-"
Ah but the moment she did so, she almost collapsed into a muddled heap upon the floor. "Y-you!" she weakly gasped in belated astonishment.
The composed frame of the man comfortably sitting before her had sent her whirling into a state of semi shock. It-it didn't seem plausible!
"You indeed…" he softly murmured as he glanced up at her, his eyebrow cocked in mild amusement and surprise.
Hisana was by now openly staring, her mouth framed into a small o. She was reeling in disbelief.
"W-what are you doing here!" she bemusedly exclaimed. Oh she most certainly had not expected this development.
The stranger closed his eyes at her query and heaved a soft sigh. "You rob me of a car and ask such a silly question woman?"
"I…" Hisana closed her eyes in sudden defeat and weakly sunk onto the sofa opposite the stranger. She was in no mood for arguing and as much as she wanted to dump the entire tray of coffee over the man's insolent head, her quiet nature prevented her from engaging in such a trifling activity. She nervously bit her bottom lip and opened her eyes as she observed the man seated before her. The frigid aura that had initially surrounded him upon their first encounter seemed to have dissipated even though his countenance was by no means readable. His face was expressionless, his black tresses falling elegantly into his smokey eyes and his lips furled into a mere line.
Maybe she should apologise for her earlier disrespect? It seemed the only sensible thing to do, after all he didn't seem as half as irate as he had earlier… and that was probably a good thing, well at least for her…
"I-I am terribly sorry about the car episode sir and believe that I owe you an aplo-" she had begun in a small voice as she finally rested the coffee tray upon the centre table between them. But her effort was a wasted endeavour as the rude man insolently interjected,
"Do not waste your efforts on an apology. I do not believe you are truly sorry for your despicable driving this evening."
Hisana was now openly gaping at the man's unexpected comment. "E-excuse me?" she stiffly muttered in displeasure.
The man tiredly glanced over at her before sighing. He closed his eyes then and comfortably leaned back into the deep sofa.
"Please forgive me woman, but I have no intention of arguing with you presently. What's done is done hmm?" He quietly murmured. Hisana felt her blood beginning to boil. Had this man just casually brushed her off, entirely? Polite people listened when others were speaking for goodness sake! This man was truly insufferable! Hisana could hold her tongue no longer.
"H-here I am attempting from the-the bottom of my heart to apologise to you and you shrug me of-!" She had begun to sputter in anger.
"Please," he wearily murmured, "Not now…"
Hisana's violet eyes widened in utter shock and she was almost shaking in rage. "How dare-!"
"What are you doing here anyway?" he expressionlessly cut her off. His eyes were still closed and he was by now softly blowing at the mug held in his hand.
"Huh?" Hisana looked on in blank confusion at his sudden digression and tiredly leaned back in defeat once again. What was the sense of arguing with him? It was obviously not even cracking his emotionless armour. She angrily glared at him for a moment before heaving a defeated sigh and contorting her features into a sour expression.
"I-I'm spending my vacation with my aunt…" she stiffly murmured after a stony silence. She didn't see why she had to present a reason for being here, she was fully entitled to.
He continued to blow at his coffee before taking a small sip. "We're presently experiencing an economic boom and you choose to engage in leisure?" he calmly queried.
Hisana raised her eyebrow at that before trailing her gaze to the ground. "I-I'm out of a job…" she regretfully muttered after a moment.
"Oh?"
"I quit actually… things weren't going all that well…" She was by now absently playing with her fingers as the real reason for her present unemployment skated through her mind.
"A fine tempered girl like you should be working…" He thoughtfully murmured. He had opened his eyes as he intently observed her from beneath his lashes.
"Well, I thought the quiet would do me some good…" Hisana softly admitted.
The stranger eyed her a little longer before closing his eyes and calmly enquiring, "Are you currently in search of a job then?"
"I… well yes..."
"What kind of work do you do?"
Hisana curiously eyed him from beneath her lashes, uncertain of where all this interrogating was supposed to be going. "I do secretarial work." She revealed.
The man opened his eyes then and swiftly locked her gaze with his own. "You are in desperate need of a job then?" he mused.
"I- uh… if you term it so… well-"
"Here." He had fished out a small card from within his coat pocket in businesslike efficiency and handed it over to Hisana. "Call me if you still find yourself jobless after you leave here."
Hisana incredulously stared up at him, still uncertain of how to interpret his unexpected kindness. He had been so… frigid to her before.
"Why are you helping me?" she curiously asked.
The man cocked an eyebrow at that and slowly sipped his coffee. "It is as I said before, a fine tempered woman such as your self should be with work."
"But it doesn't make sense for you to help me if you dislike me…"
There was a sudden pause in the room before the man quietly replied, "I don't recall ever using those words ma'am, however if you do assume that much then that is your concern."
Hisana stared at him in surprise and averted her gaze when she realised she had been gaping. She began to listlessly tug at the folds of her sleeping robe.
"I… I will consider it, thank you…" she meekly murmured as she lowered her head before him. The man expressionlessly observed her and narrowed his eyes upon realisation of her sudden humility.
"Your name woman?" he curtly queried.
Hisana blinked in confusion at his sharp and frank questioning. "Hisana." There was a sudden look of surprise etched upon his face before it quickly disappeared and he closed his eyes.
"Well then, it has been a long day and I am a weary man." He placed his mug soundly onto the centre table and glanced up at her before rising to his feet.
"Good night…Hisana…" He softly murmured before politely nodding at her and making his way from the room, his leather shoes neatly echoing from his steps. Hisana watched his retreating frame, her mind still swirling in shock from his confusing behaviour. Rare indeed were the persons who considered hiring someone who had entirely ruined their car. This man was quite…peculiar… Hisana heaved a weary sigh then as he disappeared and closed her eyes as she leaned back into the sofa.
How strange her entire day had turned out to be… oh how very strange.
ooooOOOoooo
(Later that night)
Kuchiki Byakuya was restlessly turning upon his futon, his mind somewhat confused and his eyes easily flinching as that name constantly resounded in his head…
Why was it so difficult to find sleep tonight? Why did he let it bother him so much? Surely it was mere coincidence that her name was Hisana. There were many women who hailed with that name. So surely it was only natural that she would have a name as peculiar as that one…
Ah but he could bare it no more. The fitful man breathlessly shot up on his futon, his eyes widened and his mouth open as small puffs of breaths heavily escaped his lips. He dazedly glanced around the simple traditional Japanese styled room and heaved a final breath before pressing his face deeply into his palms. That dream was on the brink of his consciousness again… those tears… those lips… those eyes… the warmth from a meaningful embrace…
Who was this faceless woman who haunted his dreams? Why did she recur all so often? And why… why did he have to meet a woman today who coincidentally bore the same name that was always warm upon his lips every time he woke from that peculiar dream…?
What exactly was going on?
ooooOOOoooo
The next morning had greeted the small country side village with abundant sunshine. The rains had been brushed aside by the wind and the sunlight seemed more intense than was perhaps necessary. Hisana had awoken with the sun and had by seven thirty found herself groggily flopping down the stairs to meet her aunt who was already washing the dishes as she hummed along to an old song.
"Oh good morning Hisana!" The older woman cheerily greeted upon ascertaining her guest's presence.
"Good morning Unohana." Hisana smilingly returned. She glanced around at the cosy and tidy kitchen and noted an empty mug rested against the counter. "The man from yesterday, he's already up?" Hisana curiously asked as she sleepily placed herself upon a seat before the counter.
"Oh, the nice gentleman from last night? He already left."
"He did!" Hisana exclaimed, "Already?" He was quite an early riser.
Her aunt shot her a sly glance before focusing her attention once more upon the dishes. "Were you hoping that he would have stayed…?"
"I- what? No! no I didn't-"
"He was rather handsome you know…"
"That doesn't say anything." Hisana furiously protested.
"Whatever you say my dear…"
Hisana frowned at her aunt before shaking her head and glancing down at her fingers. Well, at least they were alone again so she supposed the quiet wouldn't be all that bad. She had a full two weeks to spend in the sleepy old town and perhaps… perhaps when she got back to Tokyo she would be able to begin her new life once more…
She would put the past behind (car accident included) and shuffle her way forwards. It was all a start right? It was all just another beginning.
Author's Note: I know we're not exactly in an economic boom… more like a recovery but um we'll just stick with the idea of a boom in this story ^^