Chapter 7- So close, but still so far…

The rest of the night passed on in a restless fervour for Hisana; she found it near impossible to fall into slumber for she could still feel the throbbing heat of Byakuya's hands and lips upon her. She had flung herself into a crumpled heap atop her bed and had thrown the sheets over her head as she succumbed to the wail of tears that racked her small body. How could this have happened?

But oh dear she had done it again, the one thing she had sworn she would resist, the one thing she was certain she could have resisted at any cost; love. She had fallen in love with Byakuya and the emotion was so much more different from the one she had thought she had known formerly. This love was quite more intense than any feeling she had previously harboured for Kaien; Kaien whom she had thought she had been in love with, Kaien whom she had sworn she could not live without. What were her feelings for the latter presently? They were so very trivial compared to the colossal emotion she felt for Byakuya, so very trivial… Ah but alas, it seemed to be her inane trademark, falling for all of her bosses, helplessly falling for those men who would never be able to give her what she so deeply craved.

And what of our Byakuya you ask? The said gentleman was at this point the most conflicted he had ever been in his entire life and he was unsure of how exactly to deal with the situation at hand. Uncertainty had led him to the very same bar he had recommended to Hisana only earlier that night, where he recklessly doused his confusion with several bottles of beer much to the immense surprise of the bartender and himself. Kissing Hisana had not been something he had anticipated at all and regardless of the fact that she had been quite responsive in his arms he could not allow himself to drunkenly fall prey to her womanly charms… how could he after all? She was his secretary and strictly out of bounds.

The next morning both parties quietly dressed and silently engaged in their breakfast without so much as a word to the other. Their brief and awkward walk towards the conference hall of the hotel was broken with speech that was seen only as necessary and after their meagre exchange they conversed no more.

Hisana watched in absent minded interest as the whirl of activities swirled around her that day. She was the ever charming and dutiful secretary of Kuchiki Byakuya and she ensured that she played her role to the best of her ability throughout the expo. Whether Byakuya was grateful for her calmness or not she was unaware but she quietly watched as he too carried out the duties that were befitting of his role in the trade fair. No one would have guessed that this ever dutiful pair had even shared a forbidden pleasure earlier before and why should they? It was not their concern in any case.

The two days flew by with astonishing rapidity and it was not until the end of the trade fair on the Sunday did Byakuya actually approach Hisana with what could have been described as a fairly decent attempt at conversation.

"Hisana?"

Hisana raised her head from the papers she were attempting to sort out and impassively focused her attention upon his taller frame from her seat. "Yes Mr. Kuchiki?" she evenly responded.

"There will be two gentlemen whom we will be entertaining tonight; the potential investors of whom I had informed you about when we were in Japan. Please be sure to be ready by eight o' clock this evening. I will tolerate no tardiness." His voice was crisp and pointed.

Hisana blinked at his emotionless address and with a deep scowl pressed upon her lips, she lowered her head and resumed her work. "Yes sir, I will keep that in mind."

Byakuya expressionlessly observed her from beneath his lashes for a minute before tiredly closing his eyes and making his way from the room.

When Hisana was certain he had disappeared both from sight and earshot she rested down her pen and buried her face deep into her palms as a heavy sigh of frustration escaped her lips. The atmosphere was too tense between the two and Hisana would have to find some way of returning to their initial working relationship. Any feelings for Byakuya would have to be duly squashed and crumpled deep at the bottom of her heart if any success were to be made from her endeavour. But how possible that attempt of forgetting her love for him would be, she was uncertain. Daily contact with him only increased her longing and the intensity of her feelings, so if anything, she knew it would be quite a challenge. "Oh, what am going to do?" she helplessly moaned.

Later that night, just as Hisana had finished bathing she walked into her room and carelessly flumped down on the edge of her bed as she examined the evening dress that was hanging from the rack before her. There was a lone, long zipper running down the back of the outfit and she was certain that any attempts to properly zip it all up would have been nigh futile. She heaved an exasperated sigh and raised herself as she began to sort out her other articles of clothing.

She carefully applied a touch of eye shadow upon her lids before lining them with a thick black liner. She added some mascara and a touch of gloss before critically eyeing herself in the mirror and nodding in satisfaction. She then focused her attention upon her dress and shuffled forwards as she began to step into the simple silk creation.

Much to her dismay however the moment she attempted to right the zip, she could only have gone up midway and no further no matter how much she struggled with her hands and fingers and pulled and tugged at the cloth. After perhaps ten minutes of her useless efforts she heaved an agitated sigh and threw up her hands in frustration. She had no other dresses which she could have worn and she was presently loath to even consider asking Byakuya to help her in her current predicament. Oh but how odd fate seems to be; as unfortunate as it may seem, she really didn't have much of a choice.

She was pacing her bedroom in restless rounds, her arms folded and her eyes closed as she tried to think of a logical way to approach him. Her grunts and grumbles of anger weren't actually getting her anywhere and she wasn't sure about what to do again. She was both horribly afraid and nervous and she would have preferred anything else to asking him for help.

After another ten minutes of restless pacing she pressed her hand against her chest to still her madly fluttering heart and quietly left her room if not a bit gingerly. She nervously gulped as she timidly approached his door and clenched her fists in nervous anticipation as the ominous object of her secret longing loomed ever closer. She raised her hand with great effort as she bit her bottom lip and with as much strength as she could possibly gather she lightly knocked on the door. Oh dear she could have died…

"Please don't let him laugh at me, please don't let him laugh at me, please don't let him laugh at me…" she continually pleaded in her head.

After what seemed like an eternity, she heard a light click and almost fainted as she beheld Byakuya's handsome frame curiously observing her, his eyes narrowed as she weakly grinned up at him.

"Um… I need some help…Mr. Kuchiki" she helplessly mumbled in a small voice as she fidgeted with her fingers.

He quirked an eyebrow at her and closed his eyes as he turned, silently beckoning her into the room with his hand.

He was still in the process of dressing, his white shirt carelessly thrown over his shoulders and his dampened hair falling indolently into his smokey eyes. He was standing before the mirror and he was absently staring at Hisana's reflection as she nervously twiddled with her fingers and bit her lower lip.

"Well, what do you want?" he quietly asked as he began to button his shirt.

Hisana's face reddened at his address and she immediately averted her gaze. "Um… my zipper… could you help me…sir?" she managed to choke out in a very small voice as she continued to uncertainly play with her fingers.

Byakuya turned around to better observe her, his brows knitted in almost imperceptible amusement and his hand pressed into his pockets. How interesting…

"Can't you adjust it yourself?" he softly asked.

"I-I tried… but the task… well it's impossible for me to manage alone …" she feebly returned. He must think her such a colossal idiot…

"Come." He softly commanded after a momentary silence.

Hisana felt her heart beginning to throb as she tentatively made her way over to him, her eyes shyly lowered and her cheeks somewhat heated. She could feel as he lightly gripped her shoulders and turned her around and she could feel the lingering touch of his hand upon her skin as he finished the zip. She involuntarily shivered then when his hand brushed her exposed skin and she nervously gulped when the heated touch lingered a little longer than necessary. Why had she even asked him to do this…? Oh dear…

He finally lowered his hands after a few seconds and softly muttered, "Finished…"as he regarded her somewhat stiffened shoulders.

Hisana apprehensively glanced at him for a moment before turning around with an uncertain smile uneasily playing upon her lips.

"Um…thank you…" she softly murmured with lowered eyes.

Byakuya emotionlessly eyed her for a minute before raising his hand with a black silken tie lazily dangling from his fingers.

"Now you'll help me." He pointedly muttered as he presented her with the tie.

Hisana raised her eyes in surprise but quietly acquiesced as she threw the silken material around his neck. Before she could properly knot and adjust it however she needed to finish the buttons that he had left unattended. She hesitated if only for a moment before nervously glancing up at him from beneath hooded lashes as she began to attend to them one by one. She could feel the searing heat of his skin beneath her fingers and she was certain that she could almost feel his warmth flowing through her own body. Her fingers momentarily brushed against his bare chest then and she quickly withdrew as though she had been stung. A small gasp escaped her lips and she pressed her trembling fingers against her chest as she shyly avoided his gaze…

Byakuya remained silent as he watched her, his heart madly pounding at her nearness…

"Aren't you going to…finish it?" he slowly asked, still intently observing her flustered cheeks.

"I-yes…" she nervously stuttered before tentatively stepping forward once more to complete the task.

As soon as Hisana was done however, she quickly increased the electric distance between them and with a rather high pitched voice she managed to choke out, "Well um…all done!" She nervously laughed at him and blinked for a moment at her sudden idiotic behaviour. How could she be so ridiculous?

Byakuya expressionlessly watched then as she almost stumbled out of the room, her silken dress madly fluttering behind her. He heaved a heavy sigh as he combed his large hands through his thick, long tresses.

Good Lord who resided in heaven, she looked absolutely stunning tonight, but then even in her modest working suits Byakuya had always thought her demurely attractive.

And then there was her girlish naivety; she did look really beautiful when she was flustered and she was doing things to him that even she had absolutely no idea about... Was it fair that she should hold that sought of control over him? He didn't think so, but he was unsure of what to think anymore. No woman had ever ever done things like this to him.

And thank god he had some semblance of self control otherwise he was certain she wouldn't have had much of a dress left on her tonight. He had longed, unavoidably longed to run his hands over her smooth skin; her porcelain smooth skin. He would have done anything to reel her into his arms again and press his lips upon her own soft ones… but he couldn't do that, no God so help him he couldn't afford to do that… could he?

ooooOOOoooo

(later that night)

The preparations for the small dinner were well underway with Hisana meekly offering to help Toushiro to at least carry the small trays in and out after the discussions. The two gentlemen had arrived not long after her awkward encounter with Byakuya earlier that evening and although she had not been able to glimpse their faces she was well aware that the three business men were presently shackled in a room and deeply engrossed in whatever discussions and arrangements they were trying to work out and establish.

She of course had tried very hard to push away the thought of her evening encounter with Byakuya and even if she did appear to be perfectly unaffected on the outside it really wasn't how she felt at all… Having Byakuya so near and still feeling the invisible barrier that separated them was perhaps the most she could bear. Smiling with Toushiro and gently answering his biting remarks had taken all of her trembling control and she wasn't sure she could go on much longer.

She had been in the villa's kitchen for most of the evening and even though Toushiro had grumpily muttered that her presence was somewhat of a hindrance she had simply smiled at his somewhat childish comments and snaps. She politely apologised then for keeping him back and calmly protested nonetheless that she really didn't have any other duties to play until they all engaged for dinner.

She had initially thought she would have been involved in the discussions, well not to discuss but rather to jot down and record any important notes that would have seemed significant to Byakuya. He however had informed her that presently, that scheme was unimportant and that she wouldn't be needed until the second meeting or so. She was somewhat relieved though because she knew that being in the same room with him wouldn't have been healthy for her at all. So maybe, maybe that had been a good thing after all…

So it was not until Byakuka had come into the kitchens later that night to alert them about fulfilling the request of some drinks did Hisana and Toushiro finally oblige him. Toushiro (somewhat reluctantly) handed over a tray of wine glasses to Hisana all the while suspiciously eyeing her.

"Please be careful woman." He stonily warned.

Hisana pleasantly smiled at his childish frigidity and elegantly waved him off. "Of course I will, I'm certainly no klutz you know."

"Ahh…" he grumpily mumbled, "Klutz or not you're wearing stilettos and I am very suspicious of those things ability to carry a woman's weight."

"Don't worry Toushiro-chan, I'll manage." Hisana smilingly reassured him as she exited through the door.

"Right…" Toushiro murmured when she had left the room. His drinks were at stake, he couldn't risk them spilling all around the floor and then… and then… Hisana hadn't been her usual bubbly self all night… Surely she would be able to effortlessly carry some drinks…

Hisana was by now gracefully making her way towards the living room, the small tray gracefully balanced upon her hand. She tried her best to appear as calm and unaffected as she could and warmly allowed a humble smile to grace her lips. She was entertaining this evening and as such she had to ensure that all personal emotions were squarely out of detection. Furthermore, she certainly did not wish to arouse any suspicion on Byakuya's part; no she could not let him see her at her weakest. She would never be able to forgive herself.

She finally opened the door to the living room then, the sound of light male laughter warmly greeting her ears.

"Well, here are your dri-" ahhhh, but she immediately paused in mid sentence however as her eyes bemusedly fell upon a particular figure comfortably seated upon one of the sofas. It was too much to take in. Her eyes widened as realisation hit and she had to struggle to stifle the huge gasp that was threatening to escape her lips. How could this be possible? How could this be happening now? She shakily tried to cover her immense shock by swiftly falling into a low bow, her heart madly pounding in her chest as she finally closed her eyes in maddened frustration.

Why now? Dear God why now?

Why did he have to show up now?

Hisana felt her throat running dry and she nervously grasped the tray harder than before as she resumed her upright position. She could feel the burn of three pairs of eyes upon her and she nervously shuffled her feet. The silence in the room was overwhelming.

"Um, h-here are your drinks gentlemen." She quietly muttered once more, her earlier enthusiasm squarely crushed as she sought to conceal her confusion and unexpected frustration.

"Why thank you…" a silky male voice suddenly responded as his eyes interestingly lingered on her. Hisana apprehensively locked her eyes with his own and narrowed her brows in muted agitation.

Shiba Kaien, her ex-fiancé was here.

A/N: A small twist…