Chapter 12- The Love Hotel

"Byakuya!" Hisana half exclaimed, half choked out in utter astonishment, "W-what on earth are you doing he-"

Before she could finish however, Byakuya had gripped her shoulders even more tightly as he glared down at her. "What am I doing here?" he scathingly interjected, "No, not at all." He coldly snarled, "The question my dear woman is what are you doing here."

"E-excuse me?" she bemusedly returned, "I had some business-"

"No, no, no NO!" Byakuya angrily growled. "You're lying Hisana!"

"Wha-!"

She was unprepared for his next course of action then when he unexpectedly gripped her wrist with his fingers and began dragging her into the edifice of the Love Hotel rearing before them. "Byakuya! What is wrong with you?" Hisana desperately cried.

"We need privacy to talk and I am not going to hold a conversation with you in the middle of a teaming street." He dangerously murmured.

"B-but this is a Love Ho-"

He shot her contemptuous glance that instantly belied the fact that he really couldn't have cared any more or less and was immediately rewarded with a hushed and trembling silence from the young woman. He swiftly booked a room on the automatic system before angrily tugging Hisana along behind him.

"Why so innocent Hisana, wasn't this your initial destination?" he nastily spat. Hisana's countenance broke into an appalled grimace at the venom in his words and she blinked in confusion.

"How did you-?" she confusedly began.

"That does not matter…" he icily cut her off.

They had reached the door to their room by now and Hisana gasped as she was roughly pulled into the capacious bedroom. Byakuya wasted no time in dumping her against the soft satin sheets before pinning her down with his body on the mattress. Hisana terrifyingly looked up at his foreboding figure looming above her, his knees pressed on either side of her hips and his palms above her shoulders as he leaned closer in.

"Byakuya…?" she nervously whispered when she realised the intimate position in which they lay. "W-what is wrong with you…?" Her heart was madly throbbing from his proximity to her and she could smell his clean, masculine scent as it slowly began to wreck shambles with her thinking process. It was all sensory over load because every fibre of skin, nerve and cell within her body was acutely aware of where his own skin met hers…

Byakuya coldly eyed her then, his brows narrowed and his lips twisting into an ever deepening scowl. "Why…" he dangerously muttered, "Why were you going to do this to yourself woman?" There was a note of almost indiscernible desperation tinting those words and Hisana raised her eyebrows in astonishment. She bemusedly blinked up at his surprisingly conflicted features and wearily eyed him for a moment before heaving a tired sigh.

"Kuchiki Byakuya," she softly murmured as she calmly closed her eyes to rein in her emotions. "I don't know how you found me, but if you're here for the reason I believe you to be then listen to me when I tell you that we just can't work together anymore… it's-it's impossible…"

If Byakuya had chased her all the way to Kabukicho to confront her about her resignation then he was dealing with the situation in a highly unorthodox and unprofessional manner. She would calmly explain to him her reasons for resigning and she would do so without telling him anything of her love… in any case he wouldn't have cared if he had even known about it…

Byakuya's eyes widened at those words and his face darkened. He had almost forgotten about that resignation in his flight to find her before she did anything stupid. He closed his eyes then and agitatedly shook his head. That matter was of little importance presently. Losing Hisana in the workplace could always be remedied but losing her from his life most definitely could not…

"No you ignorant woman…" he angrily grunted between gritted teeth. "I couldn't have cared less if you resigned from my employment twenty times over. In any case I would have never acknowledged it. It is impossible for you to leave my side unless I say otherwise. So that isn't problem."

Hisana was gaping up at him in bewilderment, her eyes widened in surprise. "W-what do you mean…?" she breathlessly whispered.

Byakuya lowered his face mere inches before her, his black tresses pleasurably falling against her cheeks and tickling her skin. He firmly cupped her cheek then and narrowed his eyes as he quietly began to speak. "The problem woman, is why you decided to throw away your innocence with a man who cares nothing for you-"

"What!" Hisana cried. "What are you talking about Byakuya?" she confusedly exclaimed. "I never intended to throw away anything with Kaien-" Hisana suddenly stopped and incredulously narrowed her eyes as a sudden splash of realisation suddenly hit her in the face. "Wait a minute…" she slowly mumbled, "How did you find out about th-"

"That is irrelevant." Byakuya quietly retorted.

"How is that irrelevant? Byakuya you-"

"HISANA! Listen to me!" he furiously roared as he angrily heaved. His eyes were dangerously flashing and there was an almost tangible rage flowing from his person. He looked down at the trembling frame of the woman beneath him and heaved a tired sigh at the sudden fear that had tainted her visage.

"Kaien doesn't love you, he never will." He slowly and almost pleadingly began. "Why are you falling for his vacant promises? He's a married man, weren't you bred with any kind of morals woman?"

"Byakuya…"

"What can he give you Hisana? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. You tell me you no longer love him and yet I find you here, shamelessly waiting for him in a Love hotel! What is wrong with you?"

Hisana was astonishingly blinking up at him, her lips unconsciously trembling at the rage of words that poured from his heart. Had he been this affected by all of it…? And then she had never seen him react so beastly with her before, never speak, no never shout at her like this. Had she been the one to trigger this behaviour…?

But had she known his deeper emotions she would have been aware... oh it just couldn't be helped. Even he couldn't believe he had been reduced to doing this…

He closed his eyes in frustration then and carefully removed himself from over her before placing himself in a seated position on the edge of the bed and away from her. His shoulders were hunched and his head was lowered as though in defeat. He felt so… so pathetic and so helpless. He had no right to chase Hisana all this way and he probably didn't have any right to accuse her about her life either. But the thought, oh God help him, the thought of any other man laying a finger upon was tearing him to agonising shreds…

Hisana slowly and uncertainly eased herself up from the sheets as she was now freed of his larger frame. She unconsciously tightened her grip on the soft satin beneath her and helplessly lowered her head as the magnitude of the entire situation cascaded down around her. There was a heavy, awkward silence stifling the room and Hisana apprehensively raised her head after a moment as she observed Byakuya's back that was towards her on the bed. She tentatively began to inch closer to him upon her knees until she was mere centimetres behind him.

"Byakuya…?" she nervously asked after a while. There was no response and Hisana lowered her gaze to her folded hands upon her lap. He didn't react but she knew he was waiting for her to say something, she could sense it.

She took a small gulp then and softly began her defence. "I…" she was fidgeting with her fingers by now, an uncertain flame of hope flickering in her heart from the behaviour she had witnessed mere seconds ago. Maybe he did feel something for her after all…? "I-I never intended to have sex with Kaien… if that's why you're so angry…" she softly murmured in a small voice. "I did ask him to meet me, yes…" she paused for a minute before taking a deep breath, "But that was only to lure him here so that his wife would see him…"

Byakuya's back stiffened at those words and he shot Hisana a wordless and cutting glance from over his shoulders. He narrowly eyed her for a moment before focusing his attention forward once more. He had been prepared for any other explanation but oh, he most certainly had not expected to hear that…

"You tricked him." He expressionlessly stated after a very long while.

"I-I yes, I did…"

"You weren't interested in sleeping with him…?" He curiously and slowly asked.

"No, I never have been. I told you before didn't I? He means nothing to me. Byakuya I really feel nothing for him." Hisana softly murmured.

"Has he… has he ever touched you before?" he quietly queried. Hisana looked at the back of his head in astonishment at those words and slowly shook her head. "Besides some very unassuming kisses… no we have never made love…"

"You are a virgin." he softly murmured. It wasn't a question and it had been addressed more like a statement. Hisana lowered her gaze once more and shyly mumbled a small, "Yes…"

"You do not love him." He quietly stated again, as though for confirmation this time.

"No." she firmly murmured. "I do not."

There was another soft silence that lingered in the room after that as both parties quietly assimilated what had just been exchanged between themselves. It wasn't until a minute or two had gone by did Byakuya finally break the silence.

"But Kaien was once a man you were in love with… you're saying that you feel no flare of attraction for him, no emotions, nothing?"

Hisana softly eyed his back and slowly shook her head. "I wouldn't have done this if I had wanted him to remain fixed in my life. I would like to think that I do have some knowledge of what is wrong and right. I feel nothing for Kaien and in any case I would have never associated myself with a man who already has another woman in his life."

"You had me fooled…" Byakuya softly murmured. He paused for a minute then before surprisingly adding, "But then maybe I was blinded by envy…"

Hisana's eyes widened in astonishment and her heart immediately began to pound. "Byakuya…"

"Hisana, why have you plagued me with all this unnecessary strife? What was your purpose woman?"

"I-I intended no one strife!" Hisana cried, "My actions were performed because of self preservation and my own frustration. I acted in my best interest."

"So you deny that emotions were not involved in your decision?" he quietly asked.

"I-my emotions were… what are you trying to say?" Hisana confusedly asked.

Byakuya remained silent for a minute or two as a tension filled Hisana nervously eyed his back.

"Are you in love me…I wonder?" he softly queried after a while. He was quietly eyeing her from over his shoulder by now, his entire countenance unreadable.

Hisana's eyes widened at his question and a sudden heat began to creep into her cheeks. She gave a small gasp at the unexpectedness of the query and immediately averted her gaze from his own alluring one.

"I-I of course not-" she helplessly stuttered, "You're my boss, I-I care for you- like an assistant would care for her superi-"

"Liar…" he softly hissed.

"I-I'm not lying-" she weakly retorted.

"Then explain all that you've done. You don't love Kaien so aren't you in love with me…?" he quietly murmured.

"You-you're insufferably arrogant Kuchiki Byakuya!" she blushingly cried as he turned around to fully face her.

He expressionlessly observed her for a moment his eyes lingeringly taking in the faint blush upon her cheeks and the way her violet eyes seemed a little brighter than usual. An indiscernible smile graced his lips then as he closed his eyes for a second and suddenly began to advance towards her on the bed.

Poor Hisana gasped at his unexpected action and was shyly inching back from his advances on the satin spread sheets, her hands fumbling and shaking as she tried to evade his capture. He finally gripped her wrist however and silkily drew her in against him. And the moment his hands had but touched her she lost all sense of preservation and drunkenly melted in against his chest, his arms securely wrapped around her as his chin was pressed atop her hair.

"I am so sorry Hisana…" he raggedly whispered as he buried his face into her dark locks.

"W-what for…?" she softly murmured, his scent and warmth making thinking so blissfully complicated.

"For shamefully pushing you away the way I did." He eased her at arm's length then, his eyes intently searching her own.

"I- I don't know what to say…" she confusedly mumbled as she peered up at him with her watery violet eyes. She had not expected him to say this and she most certainly had not anticipated all that he was telling her. She truly was lost for words.

"Hisana…" he deeply murmured then as he cupped her cheek, "I am truly sorry for my behaviour, for all the times I've ever made you uncomfortable, made you hurt."

"Byakuya…do you-do you mean that?"

He gently held her face in his hands next and hungrily probed her countenance. "Yes." And somewhere within those steely, grey depths she knew, she just knew he was being sincere.

"But-" she lowered her eyes and uncertainly blinked as his words resounded in her head. "But why…" she whispered as she gripped his wrist, "Why did you do all of this today? Why did you run half way across the city just for this today?"

"Because I want you…" he thickly muttered, his heavily aroused eyes deeply inching over her skin. "I want you Hisana, I need you… I always have…"

Hisana's face was drenched in crimson by now, her cheeks severely heated and her veins thrashing from the roar of blood in those blood vessels.

"I cannot stand the thought of you in another man's arms." He roughly continued then, "I will not stand by and let you be taken so easily from beneath me."

"Byakuya…" she weakly whispered, her head spinning with dizziness.

"And you don't love anyone else…" he softly asserted as he grazed her cheek with his index, "That's what you said so you're all open for being preyed upon…"

Hisana nervously gulped. "I-I…"

He silently observed her for a moment before gently capturing her chin between his fingers.

"Perhaps this is all very sudden but I am finding it inexorably difficult to conceal my emotions Hisana."

"B-Byakuya, what-what are you saying?" Hisana faintly whispered.

"We have known each other for several months now… Am I correct?"

"Y-yes…" Her voice was quivering.

"We know each other well enough… we're attracted to each other… we want each other…" Hisana's eyes expanded in bemusement. "Perhaps, we should delve a little further…" he softly continued.

Hisana nervously gulped. "M-meaning…?" she shakily asked.

"Meaning I refuse to have any other man lay a finger upon you and I refuse to have any other man look at you. I cannot live with that thought and I will tolerate no such impudence towards something I consider mine. I will make a very suitable offer presently and therefore have our relationship officially sealed.

"Byakuya-"

"Marry me…" he softly commanded.

"What!" she bemusedly exclaimed, her heart pounding in her chest and the blood almost searing her veins. This was all too quickly!

"I'm saying it again Hisana, I cannot stand the thought of you in another man's arms and therefore I am asking that you remain only in mine. Are you that difficult of hearing?"

"N-no but, but Byakuya…" Hisana paused again and closed her eyes as she disbelievingly shook her head. This was-this was too much to digest. "What did you say again?" she breathlessly asked.

He expressionlessly eyed her then, his index lingeringly tracing the skin upon her cheek and lips.

"Be my wife, is that so difficult to comprehend?" he softly asked.

"But- but how can I?-want and love are two very differ-" she had begun to helplessly stutter.

"Are you really that ignorant woman? He tiredly muttered as he cut her off. He gripped her shoulders in an almost pleading manner then. "I do, I do love you Hisana. Have you not witnessed my apparent fall from grace? I chased you half way across Tokyo. You should count yourself lucky that you're even hearing me beg." He had reeled her into his arms by now his lips softly bestowing light, breathless kisses upon her face. "Please Hisana…" he thickly murmured as he brushed her lips, "Marry me…" there was an open hunger in those words and Hisana could have sworn that her limbs had turned to jello.

"But why…?" she breathlessly mumbled as his hands began to rove around her before slyly inching its way beneath her blouse. "Why were you so cold previously- Byakuya!" A soft pleasurable gasp escaped her lips then when she felt his hand brush against the swell of her breasts beneath her bra. He was lingeringly tugging at the lacy material and Hisana was certain her face had been transformed into a violent shade of vermillion.

"Hmm?" he sensuously murmured as he pressed his lips against the throbbing pulse upon the base of her neck. "Why you ask…?"

"Uh huh…" she drunkenly mumbled as he began to undo the buttons upon her blouse, slowly guiding her frame down onto the soft sheets beneath them.

"It is against my family's honour to marry a woman whom they have not chosen for me…" he whispered as he slowly began to part her attire from over her. His hands were slowly and lingeringly running down the front of her in almost silent revere.

"Oh… my…" Hisana gasped as his hands began working upon the zipper of her skirt next. She felt a sudden wetness between her thighs and she instantly stilled Byakuya's fingers with her own. They couldn't do this in here, not like this, not now… it was all too quickly…

"We- we should wait Byakuya…" she whispered as his lips descended onto her exposed stomach. She gave a soft moan and openly responded to his caress as he trailed his lips lower and dangerously lower yet again…

"You really are a chaste woman…" he thickly mumbled as his lips were dangerously trailing the exposed skin upon her lower abdomen. "Aren't you Hisana…?" Ah but how long had he wanted her like this, oh dear god how long?

"Byakuya…" she breathlessly whispered as she passionately gripped his hair in her hands. "We really- oh!- we really should-oh my!…um wait…"

He eased the intensity of his explorations then and thickly surveyed her as he raised his head. He gently brushed away the strands of hairs that had fallen into her eyes and passionately arrested her lips once more between his own. "You're right…" he breathlessly murmured between deep, sensuous kisses, "We should shouldn't we…?" He rested a final kiss upon her lips before reluctantly easing himself off of her and carefully helping her to redo the buttons upon her blouse.

She shyly eyed him as he finished the last button and lowered her gaze when he locked his own with hers. "So…um… you um mentioned something about marrying being against your family's honour…" she hesitantly whispered after an awkward silence on her part.

Byakuya softly eyed her before peacefully closing his eyes and lowering himself down onto the pillow against the sheets. He rested his hands beneath his head as he spoke, "They have been bringing various bridal candidates for me to meet these past few months." He quietly murmured. "But I've wanted you for some time now and I was afraid to admit that... even if it were to myself…"

"You- you really wanted me…?" she uncertainly mumbled.

Byakuya smiled at her and gave a slow nod. "Yes, but it's not every day a man falls in love now is it? I needed some time to come to terms with these feelings, to ensure I wasn't going crazy, to ensure I wasn't officially insane." He peacefully closed his eyes and continued, "You are my secretary, and you are my co-worker and therefore, when I realised I was attracted to you… well let's just say it wasn't very reassuring."

Hisana's eyes widened in surprise.

"I had assumed that you would have made an extremely efficient secretary, however I did not bargain that I would have…fallen for you…" he had abashedly averted his gaze by now and Hisana found the spectacle almost unbelievable.

"But what of your family?" she wearily asked. All this information was mindboggling.

"Aaahhh," he murmured then as he drew his eyes to hers once more "I've actually reached a point where I really couldn't care anymore about what those old men have to say. I will marry you whether they like it or not."

"But won't your marrying me be violating your family's code of honour…" Hisana softly murmured.

Byakuya quirked an eyebrow at her question, "Not when the woman in question is one that I desire…"He paused for a minute then and quietly added for further explanation, "I had initially wanted to adhere to the rules of my family as well, that is another reason as to why I was reluctant to encourage you. Of course I did not anticipate all that was going to happen between us; I would have never suspected for a moment that I would feel this way for you. You were supposed to be my assistant after all and I had assumed you would always remain just that, but I suppose…" he lightly smiled then and exhaled a tiny breath, "I suppose sometimes you can't just trust that life will always run smoothly."

"I know what you mean…" she murmured as she smilingly looked down at him.

"I tried my best to keep you away though, I tried my best to avoid it all and I thought I had been successful, however…"

"However?" Hisana softly prodded.

Byakuya sighed as he turned to look at her from upon the pillow. "However your little escapade with Kaien began to change things. When I realised what you were going to do this evening, well" Byakuya gave a slight smile as he closed his eyes, "Well that about decided it. Hisana," his voice softened as he slowly regarded the woman before him, "Hisana I am so terribly sorry for my previous behaviour but please, I don't think I can…I don't think I can live without you…"

"Byakuya…"

"Is it all perhaps a little to cliché?" he wearily sighed "Perhaps, but I really don't know how else to express myself."

"I-I see…" she blushingly murmured.

"So what will your answer be?" he quietly asked as he pensively observed her. "You've yet to accept or decline my proposal." He was expressionlessly watching her once more, masking those unreadable emotions beneath his impassive facade.

"Well… I-I…" Hisana lowered her eyes and absently began to fidget with her fingers. What else could she say? She had had absolutely no idea that Byakuya had felt that way and she was quite frankly, astounded. "Well…I-I yes…" she finally stammered out with flaming cheeks. How could she deny him? He was giving her everything she had ever dreamed about.

"Oh…?" He muttered as he thoughtfully regarded her, "I thought your feelings for me bordered on the platonic?"

Hisana hid her face in one of the pillows at that, too shy to confront the man before her. Why was he teasing her?

His eyes softened at her display and he tenderly reached out a hand as he began to stroke her hair. "I wonder…is it because of the underlying promise of sex that you've accepted?" he quietly whispered.

"No! It does not!" she alarmingly exclaimed then. She had raised herself up once more, a firm resolve written in her eyes.

Byakuya watched her in silent amusement.

"I do love you Byakuya." she softly said from the core of her being as she averted her gaze. "I really mean that. I was just afraid that you… you wouldn't have reciprocated my feelings…"

"Oh? But then, I really was horrible wasn't I…?" he quietly trailed away.

Hisana smiled and neatly began playing with her fingers. "You were, I suppose, acting in what you assumed would be the most appropriate manner."

His eyes softened at her words and he thoughtfully regarded her for a few full seconds. "You know," he quietly began "I thought you were truly immune to me…"

Hisana looked at him in surprise "Honestly?"

"Yes… I was doubtful as to your feelings, but then…"

"But then?"

"Then you began acting quite strangely…"

Hisana quietly chuckled at that and peacefully closed her eyes. "I suppose your physical proximity is to blame…

"Ah, so you did decide to marry me for the sex then?" he slyly asked with a glint in his eyes.

Hisana gasped at his words and blushingly lowered her eyes. "That isn't true Byakuya,"

"Oh?"

"Of course not! How-however,"

"However?"

She shyly smiled and carefully met his eyes "However if sharing my body with you is a means by which I can express my devotion to you then I will do that as well..." She blushed some more before finally snuggling herself against his frame and resting her head upon his chest. "I care for you so very much and no matter what happens to you I will always be by your side…"

"Do you mean that, Hisana?" he softly asked as he pulled her more closely against himself.

"Yes… yes I do mean that." She mumbled against his chest.

"You won't ever leave me?" he quietly asked this time.

"No, why would I ever leave you Byakuya?"

"Other men…" he breathlessly whispered as he began to trace his lips along her cheek and her neck.

"No, there will only be you." The meek girl softly replied as she melted into his caresses.

"Even if I happen to lose the company…?" he silkily mumbled as he began to nibble the lobe upon her ear.

Hisana giggled at the pleasurable sensations his tongue was working into her skin and she gripped a handful of his hair as he continued his exploration. "Yes…" she moaned against him.

"Even if we have to live in a cramped apartment…?"

"Uh huh…" she breathlessly managed to whisper, "As long as you don't go bald I'll stay with you…" she teasingly mumbled as his fingers were beginning to inch upon an exposed thigh beneath her skirt.

"Oh…? He slyly queried as she began to whimper under his touch. "So you're marrying me for the hair are you…?

Hisana laughed, moaned and gripped him even more firmly all at the same time. "Yes…" she fervently whispered. "I love your hair…"

"I love it too, you devilish woman…" he breathlessly rattled as he captured her lips between his own. After perhaps several minutes he eased the intensity of the exchange and murmured just against her,

"Thank you Hisana…"

"No…" the young girl whispered as she lovingly cupped his cheek, "Thank you Byakuya for absolutely everything that you have ever and will ever do for me."

He tilted her face up to his own then and suavely captured her mouth with his own. "Touché…" he thickly murmured as he slipped his tongue between her lips and fully embraced his betrothed in his arms.

Hopefully they would have a lifetime of happiness to share between themselves… hopefully this time…

Wow, I feel as though I've written a mills and boon novel or something… maybe I read too much of them, I've like loads of them stacked all over my house, lol. But I really wonder what these 2 would have been like in the real world together? Oh well, that is something I s'psoe we can only imagine. Hope this was enjoyable for you... I hope you had fun :)

Well one more chappie and it's a little peek in on their married life… so maybe you can look forward to that? I hope so... :)