Chapter 6- Oh! The Dilemma…

The months that Hisana had spent thus far at the company had flown by with alarming speed; something that had both surprised and pleased her. Her interactions with Kuchiki Byakuya had also increased (due to immense workloads and deadlines) however they had never been as personal as the evening tea that had once been shared between the two some time ago. Byakuya never offered to drive her home again and she had never asked, for as far as she was concerned that would be a safer arrangement. So nothing but business and work had been exchanged between the two in the longest while.

Now Hisana was quite surprised when Byakuya had asked her one day to join him on a weekend trip to the Maldives. She had blinked in rapid confusion at that and was immediately notified that it was solely a business expedition and nothing more. When she had interrogated him further on the intent of such a trip she was informed that there was to be an auto manufactures expedition and trade fair of which the company would be participating.

"But why will the two of us be going?" she had asked.

Byakuya had quirked an eyebrow at her question before focusing his attention on the pile of sheets scattered before him on the desk. With an almost disinterested tone he murmured, "Because it is our duty to market the company."

"Well why don't you send someone from the marketing department?"

"Because there are also some potential investors with whom I will be holding discussions." He then raised his eyes to intently observe her, "Any more questions?"

"Uh-no…no Mr. Kuchiki…"
"Good. We leave Friday morning."

Hisana didn't think it appropriate to question him any further especially when his voice had sounded so final so she placidly accepted the task at hand and went about her errands at the office. When she had gone home later that evening though, she had found herself mindlessly grinning from ear to ear as the idea began to gain further root in her mind; she had never been out of Japan before and had thusly found herself jumping around her apartment in jovial excitement at the thought of actually visiting a lush tropical haven in the Indian Ocean (even if it were for a business meeting). She had always wanted to do something as exciting as that.

That Friday morning turned out to be quite a crazy one however; Byakuya and Hisana had to take two flights, one from Tokyo all the way to Singapore before switching planes and getting themselves aboard a flight to Male in the Maldives.

The flights were lengthy but nonetheless survivable and it was with a breath of relief that Hisana and her boss finally cleared the airport in Male.

When they finally arrived at their hotel, well, Hisana couldn't contain her excitement. She had felt her eyes swimming with stars at all the luxury seeping in around her and she had almost clasped her hand against her chest and spun around like a childish idiot. She had to severely remind herself that she was a professional woman with a job that needed attention and not some teenager who had been allowed to go amuck in a tropical paradise.

She had almost been drifting about behind Byakuya in a dreamy daze as they were led to a private villa (one of the hotel's primary luxury suites) on a beachfront. It was apparently big enough (perhaps an understatement? It was huge!) for both her and Byakuya to share and they each had their own rooms within the villa.

Hisana had been guided to her room by a surprisingly small white haired boy who, much to her amusement did not seem to be a local at all…

"How old are you?" she had asked.

He carelessly eyed her and shrugged, "17, why?"

"Y-you speak Japanese…!"

"Uh- duh, I'm from Japan."

Hisana narrowed her eyes then as she observed the child more closely. "What are you doing here, in the Maldives then?" she curiously queried.

"Working, what else could I be doing?" Hisana focused her attention on the small name tag pinned onto his butler's uniform and squinted as she tried to decipher the writing,

"Hitsugaya Toushiro…" she murmured, "Well then Toushiro-chan, thank you for bringing me to my room, it's lovely!" she kindly exclaimed.

The boy's eyebrows immediately began to twitch at that particular address as he retreated from the room, "Any time…" he coldly scowled as he nonchalantly waved his hand behind him.

After finding a comfortable cotton sun dress to slip into Hisana donned a holiday straw hat and white flip flops before gingerly making her way towards the living room so as not to arouse Byakuya's attention in her guarded movements. She was however a bit too late…

"Hisana…!" she was immediately stopped in her tracks by Byakuya's dangerously quiet voice. She turned around to observe him still decked in his travelling suit seated before a laptop. "Where do you think you're going?" his voice was low and ominous and Hisana uncertainly smiled at him as she nervously began to fidget with her fingers.

"Umm… to see the beach…"

"Hisana, this is not a vacation."

"I know… but well… we just arrived and well the expo doesn't start until tomorrow and you don't have anything for me to do right now… so well I thought it wouldn't hurt…" she was by now mindlessly doodling with her foot.

Byakuya sighed and agitatedly closed his eyes as he focused his attention once more upon his computer. After a heavy silence he stonily murmured "Just don't be too long… we have a speech to write out…"

Hisana obsequiously nodded and bowed before him, before exiting the villa by the front porch and making her way down towards the talcum white shores bedecked by the sapphire blue waves of the Indian Ocean. Well she would just bask in the beauty that it afforded her for now before allowing any callings of work to stir her, after all, they had had a long journey; she deserved a tiny break… didn't she?

And besides the wind had never been so sweet before…

ooooOOOoooo

Later that night as Hisana sat before Byakuya at the dinner table she couldn't help but feel the stirrings of restlessness slowly engulfing her; her mind was preoccupied by some rather worrisome thoughts... She listlessly stirred the martini that Toushiro had brought her before glancing up at her superior. They had finally finished work on the speech and Hisana had swiftly but neatly typed it out before printing it and presenting it to Byakuya. He was currently reading it through to ensure it seemed appropriate and with a final sigh he rested it down and closed his eyes. "Good work Hisana." He tiredly murmured, "You may now leave if you so desire" Hisana perked up at his words.

"Leave?" she curiously queried.

"You seemed rather distracted a moment ago." He quietly stated as his eyes narrowed.

"Oh…" she hadn't realised that her feelings had been openly aired on her countenance. After an awkward silence she softly murmured, "I'm sorry if I offended you sir, but I assure you I was-"

Byakuya raised his hand and shook his head as he rose from his seat. He had not let her finish her sentence. "No." he shortly muttered. "I am not offended; I understand you wish to have fun."

"But I-!"

"You would prefer to spend your evening out of your superior's company. That is I suppose only natural." His voice had sounded rather harsh however. He then gave her a somewhat cold over the shoulder glance as he began to make his way towards the stairs and his room, "There's a bar not too far from here, you can check it out if you want, just be sure to be sober and well by morning." and with that surprisingly biting sentence he disappeared from the room.

Hisana blankly stared at him and blinked in confusion for a moment before shaking her head in utter disbelief. Byakuya had clearly been offended why else would he throw something like that in her face. What kind of person did he think she was? A senseless alcoholic who was just out for a good time?

No, she was quite frankly not like that, she was your average every day, little Jane who had not even the slightest idea about alcohol, drinking and the like. That had been very rude of him, how dare he speak to her like that?

Sure she had been excited about coming to the Maldives and sure she was rather taken with the entire atmosphere but she knew where her priorities lay. She was quite aware that she had come here for work and she intended nothing else. She had only taken the small liberty of spying the beach earlier that morning and that had been it. Byakuya had hurt her by even saying something like that…

Hisana finally sighed and with a sour frown sulked her way towards her own room. 'Oh so pathetic Hisana…' she angrily murmured to herself 'He hurt you…? Pul-lease…'

Even if she had reinforced in her mind the notion that she would not let his words affect her, the effort had been a wasted endeavour. While changing into her sleeping gown she had found the conversation replaying in her mind and even when she had thrown the covers over her head she could still hear his deep voice resonating in her head.

The words he had used had so obviously indicated offence so why did he deny it? She was his secretary and she would stand firmly by his side like any good secretary would… didn't he know that?

And besides her restlessness had absolutely nothing to do with wanting to have some 'fun' as he had so rudely termed it. She had received a call from Ichigo and Rukia as a matter of fact indicating to her that for some strange reason or the other lulu-chan seemed to be unwell. Rukia had said it seemed to be food poisoning and she wasn't sure and then Ichigo had given an entirely different prognosis. She had begged them to carry lulu-chan to the veterinarian and call her back tomorrow as soon as they reached home. Ah, but she had perhaps let her entire restlessness about the situation unconsciously play out on her visage and Byakuya had interpreted it all so wrongly! Why did he always take things in a totally different light?

Hisana wearily sighed before uncomfortably shifting her position on the bed once more. She was by now absently staring up at the white ceiling of her room feeling more awake than she had when she had come to bed almost two hours ago. Sleep evidently seemed to be the furthest thing from her mind so she finally decided to cool of her head with a relaxing stroll down on the beach. The moon was out, she could see it through her window and besides it would give her some much needed tranquillity at this point. They did say that the ocean could work miracles so it wouldn't hurt for her to try. She might be able to get both Byakuya and lulu-chan out of her head…

She neatly wrapped a night robe around her and shrugged on a light slipper before carefully and silently making her way down and out of the villa. She didn't want to wake Byakuya at all…

The night was slightly cool against her pale skin with the soft iridescent glow of the stars painted upon the calm serene waters of the sea. She could hear the soft lull of the quiet waves as they bathed the powdery white sand and she could hear the dull throbbing of music from a party not too far in the distance. Hisana sighed and pulled the robe more tightly around her frame as she raised her eyes out to the ocean. It was all rather soothing.

After walking for perhaps fifteen minutes, she spotted a lone silhouette comfortably seated on the sandy shore. She narrowed her eyes in curiosity and slowly stopped in her tracks as she observed the crouched figure. Who in their right mind would be sitting out on the beach and this time of night…? But then, she really shouldn't have been one to speak because after all she was engaging in something quite similar. She was mere meters from the frame and upon gingerly approaching, she immediately felt recognition flood her body in cold thick streams. She gasped in surprise and before she could turn away to flee she heard her name in a low expressionless monotone...

"Hisana…"

She stilled in her tracks and closed her eyes in defeat before slowly turning around to see that Byakuya had risen from his seat on the sand. His back was still towards her and she gave a soft sigh as she reluctantly began to trudge towards him. She uncertainly stopped beside him and carefully glanced up at his countenance, but it was nigh indecipherable.

There was a thick silence hanging between them with only the soft washing of the waves as they kissed the shores being the only decipherable sound at all. Hisana closed her eyes then before opening them and peering out at the glistening heavens. She hated awkward silences…

"So you couldn't sleep either?" she softly asked after a moment.

Byakuya silently glanced at her before focusing his gaze back up to the stars. "No."

"I-I think it really is the jet lag…" she lamely murmured.

Byakuya didn't think her comment merited a response so he continued to absently peer up at sky.

"How long have you been down here?" she quietly asked.

"Long enough." He cast her cursory glance then before shrugging his hands into his pockets, "You've been in your room all this time?" he quietly asked after a minute of silence.

Hisana lowered her gaze and slowly nodded. "Where else could I go Mr. Kuchiki?"

Byakuya trained his gaze upon her and silently eyed her figure beneath the silvery glow of the moon. She looked almost…ghostly.

He remained silent as he observed her and softly sighed. "Forgive my unexpected lapse in manners earlier this evening." He quietly murmured, "I was perhaps very tired…"

Hisana looked up at him in astonishment then before allowing a smile to lengthen her lips. She had not expected that at all. It was the closest thing to Byakuya giving an all out apology and she appreciated it. He believed her and for some reason it seemed like the most beautiful thing at the moment. She exhaled in relief.

"It's alright." She lightly whispered after a short pause. "I-I think I understand…" Well at least he had taken the initiative… so it was alright, she could live with that.

They both continued to silently stare up at the stars until much to her surprise Byakuya turned and indicated for her to follow. She fell into step beside him and curiously asked, "Where are we going?"

"For a walk."

"Oh…"

"Do you mind?"

"N-no Mr. Kuchiki… I don't mind…"

They slowly strolled upon the sands then, the soothing chorus of waves gently panning the shores and the almost salty taste of the sea upon their tongues. The night was clear with the soft land breezes gently caressing their skin and hair as it fluttered by. The faint silhouettes of palm trees bedecked the moon lit shores with their fringes slightly rustling beneath the wind.

"It really is beautiful here isn't it?" Hisana peacefully asked after a somewhat comfortable silence had settled over them.

"Yes."

She glanced up at her superior then for a small moment. "I-I remember when we were younger, my sister and I would often be given the treat of visiting the sea side." Hisana smiled to herself and lowered her head as the memory began to resurface, "It was always so much fun…"

Byakuya quietly looked down at her and allowed a small smile to lengthen his lips. "I suppose you combed the shores for sea shells, built sand castles and engaged in many other girlish trivialities… am I correct?"

Hisana gave a short laugh as she covered her lips. "Well, yes…" she giggled, "But it's what made it memorable. I'm sure you have some pleasant memories from the sea side too."

Byakuya looked up at the heavens as he pursed his lips in thought. "I'm not sure…" he slowly began, "I was once told I was too pale for the beach."

"What?" Hisana fondly exclaimed, "That's not true, who told you that?"

Byakuya smiled down at her before shoving his hands into his pockets. "A very old friend of mine…" he softly murmured.

"Well your friend really loved to tease." Hisana smilingly returned as she looked up at him.

Byakuya remained quiet for a moment before allowing a very small chuckle to escape his lips. "I suppose she did…" he whispered.

Hisana's ears perked up at the pronoun that was used and quite suddenly felt a small stab of jealousy as it unexpectedly pierced through her heart. She lowered her eyes then and quietly murmured, "Is-is she still around?"

Byakuya thoughtfully regarded his secretary before nonchalantly shrugging his shoulders. "She is but we rarely speak."

"M-May I ask why?" she uncertainly queried.

The CEO curiously blinked down at Hisana before narrowing his brows as he spoke. "She's married and lives pretty far away." he softly murmured.

"Oh…" Hisana fidgeted with her fingers then before averting her gaze and quietly mumbling, "Y-you…um like her?"

Byakuya's eyes widened in surprise at the question, "No," he surprisingly returned, "Why did you think that?"

"You speak of her as though she is special."

"No," he murmured as he ran his hands through his hair, "She was only a playmate, nothing more, nothing less." He thoughtfully glanced down at the woman beside him and quite softly asked, "Are you perhaps… envious?"

"I-what?" She vigorously began to shake her head as a blush lighted her cheeks, "No, no, I was just wondering… that's all…" She bit her lip then and shyly averted her gaze to the ground. "And besides, why would I be jealous…?"

"Hmm… good question, why would you?"

Hisana blinked in surprise then. "Are you asking me?"

"Yes."

"I-I don't know…" she weakly mumbled, "Maybe, maybe because I'm a devoted secretary…" she lamely finished.

"You're right, may be you are."

"You-you think so?" she hesitantly asked then as she surveyed his unreadable visage. "You really think so?" She was frankly quite taken aback by the fact that he had sounded so serious. She had only said that to… to… why had she said that?

"Yes I do." He softly murmured after a while, "I think you're pretty good." He paused for a minute then and closed his eyes, "After all, it's why I hired you, isn't it?"

Hisana gaped up at him in astonishment and felt the small traces of a smile beginning to light her lips. Byakuya could be so… so unexpected at times. Hisana couldn't help but give a soft chuckle at his question as she felt herself suddenly relaxing in his presence. "I suppose you did." She softly replied then as she hugged his generosity to herself, "I suppose you did…"

And they both fell into a companionable silence once more as they continued to mindlessly stroll along the private beach, just digesting the humble sights and sounds around them. The silence was welcoming and the soothing crash of the waves only added to the serenity that was part of the hypnotic ambience.

Walking beside Byakuya was pleasant and he was undemanding company so… it wasn't all that bad. Not long after however, Hisana suddenly felt herself awkwardly stumble forward as her foot hooked upon the strap of her slipper. Just as she braced herself to feel the coarse bite of the sand, a hand had been swiftly wrapped around her waist to prevent her imminent fall.

"Oh…" she breathlessly murmured as she surprisingly found herself intimately pressed against Byakuya. Her hands were upon his chest and her eyes were widely staring up into his own smokey ones in blatant confusion. How exactly had this change in position come about so swiftly?

Byakuya in turn had simultaneously lowered his head and they both stood perfectly rooted against the other at their sudden proximity. It was then that Hisana felt a strange tension gripping them and she nervously gulped as it slowly began to intensify…

"Byakuya…?" she softly whispered as she realised their dilemma. She was finding it so beautifully difficult to break from his spellbinding gaze and she nervously swallowed as she felt her lips beginning to tremble.

"What's wrong…?" he thickly murmured after a moment. He seemed rather unsure as he looked down at her.

"I… you…"

She had never been this intimately connected to him before and she found his scent slowly beginning to intoxicate her.

Hisana could feel the rapid beat of his heart beneath her hands and she felt her own beginning to throb in pace with his. She unconsciously began to grip the material of his shirt beneath her fingers, her skin becoming almost electrified with awareness as he slowly began to lean in… oh dear, oh dear… oh good god…

She opened her mouth then to whisper some other unintelligible phrase but was suddenly silenced as Byakuya hesitantly brushed her lips with his own. Hisana blinked in bewilderment as he stilled the unexpected touch and she found her hands unconsciously running around his neck as he finally forfeited the hesitation that had stopped him previously and fully arrested her lips in a passionate assault.

Hisana almost felt her feet give way beneath her as he probed her mouth and the sensation of him moving against her was all so…oh so beautifully alluring.

She moaned ever so slightly as he deepened the kiss and she found her tiny digits slowly inching their way up into his thick tresses. How long had she been unconsciously dreaming of his kisses she was unsure but the present experience was robbing her of all coherent thought and so she allowed the motion to sweep her away…

His kiss was warm and thorough as though he too had perhaps wanted to taste her for an unspecified length of time. Hisana could feel his arms as they slid down her shoulders, fall upon her hips and then slide around her waist. She felt a soft shiver running down her spine then as he began to run his hands up her back, the heat from his touch almost unbearable. She could feel his urgency rising as he gripped her more tightly in his arms and she shyly pressed herself closer against him as the tension increased…

She felt at peace even if it were the most absurd way to describe the kiss for she had never felt so at ease in a man's arms before. Not even Kaien had made her feel this way…

"Byakuya…" she throatily moaned out his name as his lips began to descend and she firmly twirled a lock of his hair around her fingers. The feel of his lips upon her bare skin was so… so pleasurable; oh he could have done strange things to her thinking process. She lightly gasped as he began to make his way down the base of her neck now but, oh dear, the moment she had tilted her neck to grant him more access and the moment his lips had begun to probe the creamy skin upon her throat, she felt him stiffen…

His intimate caresses ceased and his breathing stopped. He alarmingly raised his eyes then and stared down at her in absolute bewilderment. His hands were gripping her shoulders and his lips were slightly parted as his breathing became somewhat heavy. He was eyeing her just as though he had never seen her before and he suddenly closed his eyes as a feeling of confusion erupted deep from within his soul.

"H-Hisana…" he whispered as he eyed her with a look akin to absolute horror… "Hisana…forgive me…" he regretfully murmured before sighing and reluctantly pulling away. He stepped away from her in obvious withdrawal and focused his attention up into the skies, his hands pressed deep into his pockets as he was swept into a silent but deep contemplation. Dear God what had he just done...?

Hisana on the other hand felt as though she had just been slapped in the face.

She was confusedly staring up at him, her fingers unconsciously tracing her throbbing lips where his had been pressed only seconds ago.

"B-Byakuya…?" she softly whispered his name in uncertainty. He looked almost conflicted in the moonlight with his brows uncertainly knitted in confusion, so she nervously averted her gaze when he glanced down at her.

"Forgive me..." he wistfully murmured after a moment of silence, "Forgive me for me being so forward…It will not happen again Hisana."

Hisana pulled her sleeping robe more tightly around her as she trained her attention upon the sand.

He had by now closed his eyes, his countenance resuming its usual impassivity.

"I-I understand…" she mumbled, feeling the sudden stinging sensation of tears at the corners of her eyes. And before she would allow herself to break down before him she whispered an almost inaudible, "Excuse me…" and began to desperately flee as the tears finally broke and the sudden realisation of a growing emotion took root in her mind. She couldn't let him see her shed her tears of realisation, she couldn't let him see what he had done to her; what he had been doing to her all this time…

She couldn't let him know that she had helplessly fallen in love with him.

I'm sure you guys were expecting that... I know, I know, Byakuya's the man right? XD

Oh and i must mention liian risera who re read this for me. I appreciate it.