Chapter 5- Tea or Coffee?

Hisana had been certain to adhere to her boss's request and had obsequiously declined any visitors for the rest of the day. Of course these visitors were a lot more professional and had politely accepted the reasoning behind Kuchiki Byakuya's assumed absence, unlike that obnoxious woman who had almost unleashed Byakuya's wrath upon his innocent secretary.

So Hisana continued with her typing and filing and other necessary duties for the day. She had been so engrossed in her tasks that when she glanced up at the clock she was shocked to see that it was already 4:50pm. She usually terminated a normal working day at four, so she had really worked past her limit today. She attempted to stifle a small yawn then as she began to stack up the papers on her desk and clear out the other folders that would receive her attention the next day. She quickly touched up on her light make up, locked the drawers and cabinets and finally eased her handbag upon her shoulder. Just as she was about to rise from her desk however she was stayed by superior's voice,

"Hisana…?"

Hisana looked around in surprise to observe her boss curiously eyeing her from his door. He had slung his jacket over his shoulders and his ebony shoulder length hair still seemed as though it hadn't been combed for the day. (something Hisana suspected had to do with him constantly and agitatedly running his fingers through it)

He began to approach her, "Why are you still here?" There was a small frown upon his lips.

Hisana politely smiled at him and replied, "I was trying to finish up some work and hadn't realised how quickly the time had flown sir."

"I see…" He was still curiously eyeing her and Hisana averted her gaze when she realised his eyes had locked with her own.

"Well…" she began to nervously finger the edge of her coat, "I'll be going home now…"

She lowered her head ever so slightly before him, before beginning to make her way towards the elevator.

"Wait…"

Hisana stilled in her tracks before slowly turning around and uncertainly regarding her boss with raised eyebrows. There was still a concerned frown upon his lips as he began to near her.

"Let me drive you home."

"I-what!-no!" she instantly began to protest.

"You travel to and from work, am I right?"

"Yes- but that has nothi-"

"Well then allow me the pleasure of driving you." He softly murmured, "Besides I don't believe I've ever been able to return the honour…"

Hisana felt her cheeks turn a vivid shade of red as the memory of their initial encounter went playing through her mind.

"Oh-well-um…" she was bemusedly stuttering and had missed the small smile that had graced her boss's lips.

"I really don't mind Hisana." He quietly stated this time.

Hisana was helplessly staring up at him, her pink lips twisted into an uncertain frown. "But, how can I allow you to do that…" she doubtfully trailed away.

"Easy, just say, 'yes Mr. Kuchiki,' like you always do." He was gently eyeing from over his shoulders, an imperceptible smile still grazing his lips as he began to make his way ahead of her. "Now come on…" he softly commanded. Hisana blinked in bemusement for a moment before shaking her head in disbelief and following him out of the room into the elevator. He really didn't have to go that far; she was positively able to find her way on her own…

As they sat in the car about ten minutes later Hisana hesitantly leaned back in her seat and heaved a soft sigh as the vista began to blur past her window. She began to relax as the journey wore on and was quite surprised to find herself completely at ease after a few minutes. And then Kuchiki Byakuya wasn't a bad driver… well most of the men Hisana had ever known in her life had always been good drivers, so…

The drive had been a silent one nonetheless, minus the few minutes when Hisana had indicated which turns and streets to take. Byakuya had tacitly nodded, with perhaps one or two questions regarding directions and not long after they found themselves parked before her apartment building.

She shyly glanced up at him then only to notice he was quietly observing her from beneath his lashes. She averted her gaze upon that realisation, a faint blush staining her cheeks. She trailed her eyes atop her lap and with a soft voice she murmured, "It's the least I can do to thank you for everything Mr. Kuchiki… but would you like some coffee…?"

Byakuya expressionlessly eyed his subordinate for a minute before closing his eyes in apparent contemplation. After a few seconds of silence he opened the car door and quietly returned, "Would tea be alright…?"

Hisana smiled at him and nodded, "Yes, I think tea is better sir…"

Hisana dutifully led him up to her floor as she rummaged in her bag for the key. She could have stayed in one of those fully automated apartment buildings but they were a tad bit too expensive and she preferred the normalcy of having a key and lock. She wasn't one of those 'techy' persons so this suited her simple tastes quite fine.

Upon reaching her door she turned around and with a meek voice she humbly addressed her superior, "It's not much but I humbly welcome you to my home. You have been so very kind to me and it's the only way I can think of repaying you for even bothering to bring me home Mr. Kuchiki."

Byakuya narrowed his eyes at her address before allowing his gaze to soften. "It's not mandatory for you to call Mr. Kuchiki you know…"

Hisana raised her eyebrows in surprise. "But-"

"We're out of the office presently, so just Byakuya will do."

"H-how can I address you so intimately…?" Hisana shyly murmured, "It is not appropriate."

Byakuya closed his eyes then as he shoved his hands into his pants pocket. "For now it is…" he softly asserted.

Hisana silently lowered her eyes before turning the lock on her door. She had never expected him to be quite so… well quite so nice to her, considering how they had met and everything. She wearily sighed at the thought and decided to let the formalities rest if only for today since he had specifically requested it.

Upon entering Hisana was suddenly bombarded with two heavy paws pressed against her chest and the soft cheery whining and barking of an excited lulu-chan. She good naturedly giggled at his playfulness and carefully eased him away from her as she dusted her blouse and made her way further into the apartment.

"Uh- Byakuya…" she blushed as she pronounced his name upon her tongue, "This is my dog, lulu-chan."

Byakuya glanced down at the black dog mindlessly wagging its tail at his feet and his features softened if only for a moment.

"He's quite a lively one." he expressionlessly commented as he placidly stroked the dog's head.

"Yes… he is…" Hisana softly returned.

She rested her bag upon her kitchen counter before indicating Byakuya to have a seat upon the sofa. "Just relax there for a bit while I get the tea ready." She began to rustle a small tea pot from within her cupboard before filling it with water. "Is there anything you'd like to eat?" she kindly queried, "I can rustle up a nice meal if you want."

Byakuya was calmly watching her, his hands still buried within his pockets as his eyes closely followed her every small, domestic movements. "No, just tea…thank you."

By the time Hisana had finished she had placed two sandwiches onto two small tea plates each as she made her way towards the living room.

"Here you go." She softly murmured as she rested the tea cup and sandwich onto the table before Byakuya. She then settled herself into the cushion opposite his and sank back as she began to undo the straps upon her working shoe.

Byakuya was quietly eyeing her from where he sat, his hands easily stroking lulu-chan's head as the dog had comfortably rested itself upon his lap. He tacitly observed as Hisana eased her shoe out and he wearily closed his eyes when he realised that his gaze had been unconsciously slinking further up her creamy legs beneath her longer than was perhaps necessary skirt…

"So, is the tea good?" Hisana politely asked as she innocently broke his daring thoughts. She was expectantly eyeing him, her violet eyes swimming in anxiety as she awaited his verdict. He raised the tea cup with his other hand and lightly blew before sipping.

"Yes." He murmured, still silently troubled by the fact that he had dared to even allow his eyes to linger.

Hisana broke into a grin and comfortably relaxed into the cushion. "Oh, I'm so glad that you like it, my sister often tells me that I make the most horrible teas. She says my coffees are good though…" she softly chuckled at the thought as she began to much into her own sandwich.

Byakuya was still intently eyeing her beneath hooded lashes and he softly sighed as he lowered the tea cup.

"You know…" he mused, "you'd make a good wife…"

Hisana felt her heart skip a beat at that and immediately lowered her gaze as she felt the heat of his stare warmly bearing down upon her. "I'm not sure many would agree with you…" she darkly muttered as she recalled her broken engagement with Kaien.

"Oh?"

"I don't know…" she sighed as she spoke, "I'm just a normal girl really…"

Byakuya silently regarded her for a moment before speaking. "And don't normal girls usually marry and settle down…?"

"I… uh… well yes they do…" Hisana was mindlessly twirling a strand of her hair around her fingers as she thought over his comment. "But I don't have anyone to get married to…" she modestly murmured as her cheeks heated somewhat.

There was another soft silence from Byakuya before he slowly responded. "In that case, would you mind if I stole you away from here and married you then…?" he quietly asked, "I would carry you to my home and perhaps we may find…some semblance of contentment…" he had lowered his gaze as he continued to stroke the dog's soft fur, his expression unreadable beneath his stoic mask.

Hisana smiled at him and jestingly returned, "What about lulu-chan, he has to come too."

Byakuya thoughtfully eyed her then and replied, "Hmm, I hadn't thought about that…I suppose that would be alright…"

"I'm sure he will enjoy himself." Hisana laughingly replied.

"But where would he sleep?" Byakuya quietly asked.

Hisana twisted her lips in thought and rested her index beneath her chin as she mulled over the question. "Well… he usually sleeps with me." She mindlessly returned.

Byakuya observed her for a moment before closing his eyes. "But you will be married Hisana," he pointedly returned "You will have to share a room and bed with me."

"Oh… I-I um I hadn't thought about that…" she blushingly returned. "You-you don't like dogs in your room?"

"That isn't the problem," he murmured as he sipped his tea once more, "What if we surrender to physical love during the nights…?" "He softly asked, "What will he do?"

He had finally raised his eyes then to fully appraise the reaction those particular words had elicited. He had been curious to see her response…

Hisana's cheeks had flushed a deep crimson and she was nervously fidgeting with her fingers as she purposefully avoided his gaze. She was unsure of how to respond to that; she had not bargained he would have spoken something like that so brazenly, as a matter of fact she had not even expected him to say that at all! He was taking their bantering to a completely different level. Physical love..? dear god…

"I- well…" she was blushingly stuttering.

"I would like to believe that my wife and I would wish to enjoy each other's…company." Byakuya's gaze and voice had sensuously softened as he lowered his eyes once more to his task of stroking the dog, "It is natural after all."

Hisana's eyes widened at that comment and she immediately raised her gaze to Byakuya's. Her heart was already uncontrollably pounding in her chest and the tea cup she held in her hands was slightly shaking. What on earth was he saying…?

"Surely you would allow me the pleasure of making love to you…?"

Her heart had wildly begun to palpitate in her chest and a soft shiver ran through her body as the image of an aroused Byakuya lingeringly trailing his lips along her skin and slowly claiming her began to paint her mind. She tightly shut her eyes to rid her head of the arousing thought because that-that was very dangerous…

"Well?" his was voice was quiet, almost emotionless.

"I…um… would-would you like some more tea…?" she helplessly stuttered, her cheeks glowing an intense scarlet. Byakuya smiled an indiscernible smile as he glanced up at her. "Why are you so flustered Hisana?" he softly queried.

"I-I'm not flustered…" she chokingly managed, "It's-it's just that…well…"

"Well?"

"Um…it's a little strange…" she weakly mumbled.

Byakuya quirked an eyebrow at her choice of word before closing his eyes and resuming his tea. "I was merely jesting…" he finally replied "I would never do that to you." His voice had resumed its usual expressionless tones and he was scratching behind the dog's ear. "So where did you get lulu-chan?" he easily digressed. He had resumed conversation as though he had never even probed Hisana with something so intimate…

Hisana shyly lowered her gaze and nibbled a small bite from her snack. How could he switch conversation so simply? "I-I got him as a gift from my grandfather a long time ago." She mumbled.

"You're lucky." He quietly stated.

Hisana raised an eyebrow at this, her previous embarrassment momentarily forgotten. "How is that lucky?" she curiously asked.

Byakuya was by now gently stroking the dog's fur as he thought Hisana's question over in his mind. After a moment he said, "My grandfather thought boys and dogs were a childish mix. He insisted I take up kendo instead and I was forced to fight my way around a dojo with a bamboo sword."

"Oh… that must have been quite challenging," she softly answered. Byakuya narrowed his eyes at her response. "The training I mean…" she quickly added as she registered his terse gaze.

Byakuya observed her for a minute before closing his eyes and sipping his tea. "He believed boys should learn discipline, not prance around with puppies…" His voice had darkened somewhat and Hisana felt her heart soften towards him.

"You wanted a dog…?" she uncertainly asked.

"Not particularly," he mused, "But I have been training all my life for this position that I currently hold so dogs really couldn't have been an option."

Hisana sympathetically smiled at him and folded her hands upon her lap. "Well if anything, you're entitled to treat lulu-chan anytime you like." She kindly offered.

"So you will marry me then?" he slyly asked.

"What!" her cheeks reddened once more, "s-stop teasing me!" she shyly murmured.

Byakuya closed his eyes as he smiled. After a small moment he reopened them and intently observed his secretary.

"Thank you, Hisana." He softly murmured. "You really are an efficient assistant aren't you?"

Hisana lowered her gaze and absently ran her index finger against the fabric of her skirt, "I guess I am Mr. Kuchiki… here to please, that's what I'm here for… after all…"

And Byakuya continued to sip his tea in the companionable silence of his assistant.

ooooOOOoooo

And what of our dear Matsmoto you ask? Well that evening she had impatiently rang Byakuya's phone on numerous occasions. She had been seething by the time she realised it was too late for him to escort her to any descent restaurant and she reluctantly stifled her anger with a shot of whisky before angrily snapping at her butler and slamming down the phone for the tenth time. Maybe she would finally take a hint and come to the cold realisation that she was unwanted by the handsome CEO. Well whatever her thoughts, she did not bother him again for fear of ruining her reputation amongst her companions and other social affiliates. Pushing falsehoods about having a close and intimate relationship with Kuchiki Byakuya could land her in some serious social woes and she was certain she would not be able to bear the ignominy.

Now, although quite popular with the female population, Byakuya did not harbour a reputation for being a playboy; quite the contrary, he was known for being a private, silent and stolid individual. If there had ever been women in his life, they had not been publicly acknowledged (or had been well hidden from public eye) and well, quite frankly the entire business world and his family was patiently awaiting the day this brilliant business man would tie the knot in marriage with a suitable girl. The family elders were constantly upon his back to select a appropriate bride, get married and finally produce an heir to the Kuchiki Family empire…

Well only the future would tell who that lucky girl would be right? Who would be the fortunate maiden to share his life, his wealth, his bed and ultimately his love…?

Who indeed?

Author's Note: I for one can't imagine Byakuya being the playboy type… it doesn't suit his personality, but maybe there are some who beg to disagree with me… lol.

Hope this chap was enjoyable, i had fun writing the conversation between these two.