The room was simply, yet elegantly decorated. There was no more furniture than was necessary; two worktables on opposite sides, a painting and a clock. A window opened a view over tall buildings and busy streets crowded with people. The floor was covered by a light gray mat. Only audible voice was the ticking of the clock.
By the two tables sat two men who seemed to have nothing in common. On the right side sat a red haired man, constantly stealing glances to the clock. He was a young, barely over his twenties and obviously impatient to get away from the office and to enjoy the slowly but steadily falling Friday evening.
The man on the other side was older, closer to thirty than twenty. His hair was black and neatly combed and his skin pale, as his appearance was as different as possible from the other on purpose. He was aware of the desperate calls of boredom, but he was determined to hold the other on his place till five o'clock. In the name of good work moral, of course.
There were still twenty more minutes to go. Even more to Byakuya, who had work he refused to finish when Renji was still present. Whether this was because of his own stupid, slightly paranoidic reasons or common sense he wasn't sure.
Byakuya's pencil kept moving on the surface of paper, drawing flawlessly shaped numbers and letters. The words he wrote were empty and meaningless, he knew this. He merely pretended to be working, filling out files that weren't worth of his attention. He could give them to any other lower ranked office worker. Or Renji.
Then he would be forced to deal with his real work, the case he know he was going to win if he put his mind into it. He didn't want to do it. Even these last few minutes, he wanted to postpone what had to be done.
The clock was nearly five.
Byakuya looked at Renji, and sudden envy and bitterness twisted his heart. The younger man was looking out of the window and wore a dreamy expression on his face. No doubt he was thinking about the night to come and the adventures it held for a young person like him. Byakuya wasn't that old himself, but his life held no adventures. He was going home to keep company to his sickly wife. When she would fall asleep he would stay alive and fill out more papers, read reports and make phone calls.
Renji looked away from window, catching his boss staring. He grinned embarrassedly and scratched awkwardly the back of his haid. "Umm.. it has been a long day?" He offered as an excuse. Not minding the fact that Byakuya's day had been as long if not longer.
Byakuya sighed and let go of his pencil. "It has", he agree with a deadpanning voice. "Maybe we should call it a day. Feel free go home, Abarai."
The man's expression brightened, even though it was exactly the time he was supposed to be free from his duty. The look he gave to Byakuya made the older man turn away, confused. He never knew how he should face those eyes that held such a deep respect towards him, among other things. Things Byakuya would like to keep unidentified, but he unfortunately was aware what they were.
He was a married man. He couldn't encourage the feelings which he could never answer. Even if... but that shouldn't be even considered.
Renji blushed and tore his eyes away from the pale man. Quickly, he gathered his belongings and was off, stopping only to a small bow and quiet 'have a good evening, sir' before he was out of the door.
Leaving Byakuya alone with his depressing thoughts. The man slowly let his forehead to fall into his shaking hands.
From his point of view, the world was falling apart. Hisana's life was slipping away, now faster than ever. No matter how much money Byakuya had, he couldn't pay himself free from this. Even the best doctors of the world couldn't save Hisana. She would die.. so young...
On top of that, her husband was hoping for her death. He wanted it to happen quickly, before this case got out. Slowly, like he was handling something utterly disgusting he opened a drawer from his desk and pulled out a paper with a picture of a girl about Renji's age.
He stared at it with a growing desperation. Rukia, why it has to be this way?
The file held no answers. It was a case about smuggling of illegal weaponry. According to it the girl, his wife's younger sister he knew very well, had successfully delivered a nuclear bomb to a criminal organisation.
Byakuya was sure she hadn't do it. In his heart he knew that this was all such a big misunderstanding, even though there was evidence. It had to be a set up.
What could he do? It seemed to be a clear case. He couldn't save her. If Hisana lived to see this her heart would shatter. And what about Renji? Could he forgive him for this?
Byakuya stared at the empty seat. The law is absolute, Renji. I cannot, we cannot, fight against it and win. I hope I could tell you this.
And when Hisana was finally gone, free from her suffering, maybe he and Renji could... someday, in the faraway future...
No. He shut his eyes to prevent the escaping of the tears. He couldn't think it, hope something that could never happen, and on the expense of his wife who was still bravely clinging to the last strands of her life. He was a horrible person.
Maybe I really do deserve this.
The sun was setting, and he had not left his place. The last warming, orange beams of sunlight revealed the sad scene of a lonely man who had apparently fallen asleep, forehead still resting on his hands.
Then the darkness fell.