(Authors Note: This chapter will not be seen from Kisara's point of view, but rather it will be seen through the eyes of Seto Kaiba. Thanks for sticking with me so long on this story and I hope you'll continue to read to the end. Thanks again! And please enjoy!)
I couldn't believe it when I saw her on that night. I thought it was a joke. I wanted to talk to her, only to find out who put her up to it... and even more so, who the hell brought her to my dinner party? She did, however, look just like her. That girl from that hallucination from nearly six years ago... But we all know it was just some stupid, rather pathetic play.
That's why I had to interrogate her. "I don't recognize you. What department are you in?" I was the boss, so why shouldn't I be able to get what ever answers I wanted?
But then she mentioned Fujiyama. That was shocking. From what I had heard about him, he was nothing more than a flirt. Workers around his office said he was constantly flirting with all of his female colleagues. Why did she say yes to that mutt? Not that it mattered. But... That still doesn't explain a motive. Who really put her up to coming, and why?!"
"Ah. Are you upset with my decision to buy out the company?" Shin Industries was where her "fiance" worked when I bought the company. I'm pretty sure that Tristan Taylor works there now too. Perhaps the whole plan was his idea. What a ruse, and a pathetic motive... He should be thankful that I bought up that dying company.
But this woman didn't even seem to care that I bought the company. She wasn't phased at all about it. She didn't even care what Fujiyama chose to work in. She didn't mind how much money he brought home, and even missed working? Why did I bother to care? She just kept talking, even though she apologized for her rant.
And that's when she said the name "Kisara." I felt my head pounding as my stomach sank. Really? They even used her name? Are they trying to tick me off? Yugi and his little posy were definitely going to have it in when I next see them.
I kept lying to myself, saying in my mind over and over that I just didn't care, that I really didn't give a damn. I just wanted her to leave my sight... Butt something tugged at me to keep her around. I wanted to keep my eye on her. I wanted to know more.
And then I have her a business card. I even offered her a job. What for? What the hell was wrong with me? I called over a server, getting more wine for the two of us. And yet, I ended up not getting any at all. I just waved him over and let him fill her cup.
God, I remember everything from that night... It wasn't like me, but all I thought about was that damn girl. She was a leach in my thoughts for a good two weeks. When she never called regarding the job offer, I pushed her image out of my head, just as I had done when the whole trip to Egypt thing took place with Yugi's "Hocus Pocus Magic Trick" happened.
Another month or so later, I got that damn voice mail:
"Hi, I'm calling for a Mr. Seto Kaiba, in regards to a job offer. I'd like to speak more on this opening for a maid position. If you could, please give me a call back, and ask for Mrs. Hues. Thank you for you time."
With that, the woman left a number, and ended the call. Mrs. Hue? Who is that? The only job offer I had personally given... was to her... So I asked Fujiyama about her, and asked how she felt about the position I offered. Like he did with his flirting at work, it seemed Kisara too had her secrets that she kept from him. Fujiyama knew nothing of the job offer. My suspicions only grew about her intentions at that point. So we discussed arrangements for her to work as a cleaning maid.
And today is the day I come home to find the new maid. The only trouble was... I couldn't find the damn woman. When I checked the rooms she had been assigned to for the day, she wasn't in any of them.
"Mizuki!" I called to the nearest maid.
"Yes, Mr. Kaiba?" She bowed her head before walking to me.
"Where is the new maid?" I scoffed, "She's not at her assigned halls..."
"She's already finished..." Mizuki could see the anger brewing in my expression, "She's still here though... I showed her around since you were unable to give her the tour. I walked her to the music room since she's finished, and I believe she's still there. Apparently, she's quite taken with your collection—"
I didn't need to hear any more. I didn't say anything as I walked around her, storming down the hall. Mizuki sounded worried with her gasp, probably wondering of my "sudden" concern of the woman. It didn't take me long to get to the room. All was quiet until I swung the open the door. It was only opened a slight amount, enough for me to peer in. This silver haired woman was... Singing as she played my piano.
"—so stay in my memory.
You can hide out there...
Don't take all my thought today,
So I can start to begin again..."
There was a pause as she played the piano diligently.
"And you and I... We had the stars...
And you and I, we had the stars,
That you left over and over again..."
I was absorbed in her voice as she continued. Opening the door, I stepped into the room, as if almost in a trance. For some reason... I was beginning to feel like she wasn't a part of some trick. That she may have just been some woman who happened to look a mirror image of the pale Egyptian woman, with the same name. Utter coincidence...
"I don't want to be left with all this...
I plan to be right by your—"
She was startled by my appearance, silencing her voice as she pushed herself up from the piano. "I—I'm so sorry..." She hung her head low and held her hands together, "I felt... drawn to your collection."
I didn't know what to say. I just stared at her. The maid outfit she wore was tailored to suit her body, and the light blue color with the white seams complimented her eyes and frail skin. She really did look like the woman who once wore rags in a delusion I had so long ago.
"What song was that?" I don't know why I cared to ask. I just felt like I needed to say something.
"Oh, uhm... It... it's called... 'Stay in my Memory.' It's... By Bim, an English band." Kisara blushed heavily.
"You sang it nicely..." I turned around, ready to leave the room. "You play the piano? When did you learn?"
As expected, she followed me out of the room, closing one of the double doors behind her. "One of the foster homes that I stayed at when I was younger had a piano. The father at that household often played it for the family, and taught me the notes. I... I can't read music very well... I just play by ear..."
"That's quite the hidden talent you have..." I had to admit. "Any other instruments that you play?"
I looked over my shoulder to her as we walked down the hallway. She held her hands together, gripping each one tighter that she had been before. Her eyes were locked onto her feet as she walked. Her face was tinted with a pink tone. Perhaps she was really just embarrassed. She began to twiddle her thumbs.
"V—violin..." She mumbled. "I've dabbled in playing the violin... But Kojiro... He detests the instrument. He—he made me stop playing it, and had me give it away..."
"How... odd? Why does he 'detest' it to the point of forcing you to give it up?" I don't know why I kept asking. Perhaps it was my secret pleasure of liking the classical music?
"He would never say..." Her eyes looked weary, "But he would get angry any time I would mention it. I decided it was best not to bring it up again... Though, I do prefer it over the piano."
"Interesting..." I murmured.
"Where are we going?" Kisara questioned.
Where are we going indeed? At this point, we were walking towards my study. It was a habit for me to go there straight after work. I used to come home and check on Mokuba first thing, but about three or four years ago, he threw a tantrum, saying he didn't want nor need to be treated like a kid anymore. I was always pretty fatherly towards him, and over protective throughout the years. I admit, I wasn't seeing things through his eyes, mostly because I wanted him to have the life that I didn't get to have. I wanted him to have a good childhood, where I really didn't get the choice.
But in a strange way, Mokuba was a LOT like me, other than our personalities. He was only nineteen, and was getting ready to graduate with his masters in accounting, with a minor in business management. That's why I bought Shin Industries, so that for a graduation gift, Mokuba could own his own firm. That's why I've been stepping out of the spot light and letting Mokuba steal the show. No, I don't plan to retire my business as rumors say. Nor do I plan on giving up playing duel monsters, but rather I'd just take an ever so needed extended vacation from it.
Not that the world needed to know.
"Mr. Kaiba?" Kisara again asked.
"Sorry, I was spacing out a bit." Why did I confess it?
Kisara ran up to my side, instead of slacking behind me, "Are you feeling alright? I can get you some water, or medicine. Perhaps you might be hungry?"
"I'm fine. There's drinks in my study. I was just thinking is all." I checked my watch as we turned the corner. "Shouldn't you have been off by now."
Why did I feel the need to rush her out now? It was, of course, my fault she was there in the first place. I never did look up her file or anything... I just assumed the dweeb patrol were just playing a hokes on me. But now... I didn't feel that way. I, myself, didn't even know why my view towards her changed. She was just some stranger who I had let into my home. My suspicions faded the more I had her around... But my thoughts of her ran wild when she was gone.
"Actually, I was asked by Rolland to stay..." Kisara blushed.
"What?" I stopped, turning to face her.
Shock seemed to take over her expression. "He... didn't want me walking home in the storm... But... The rain should pass in about an hour... Kojiro won't be home until around midnight anyway..."
Midnight? The firm was only opened until ten? "Why don't you have your driver get you?" I sounded so eager...
"Momoka called to let me know he got ill, and had left for the night... I didn't want to ask any of the other maids or butlers to fill in, since Daisuke already has to pick up Kojiro with the family car..." Kisara stared to the floor again, twiddling her thumbs once more, "our mansion is out of the was from Shin—Kaiba Industries. So, I don't want to be a burden..."
"But, that's their jobs?" I questioned her motives.
"Yes... But, at one point, I worked among them... I hate that they 'work for me' now... They were always kind to me... So I hate asking them for anything." Kisara's voice began to tremble.
She really is too soft at heart. "Heh..."
I turned the corner, now walking the opposite way from the study and back to the entrance hall. I could tell that Kisara was confused when we reached the hall that was over seeing the foyer. She stared at me as to ask why I walked her this way, not that I ordered her to do so.
"Are you leaving again?" She questioned me in suspicion.
"No..." I said forwardly, "I'm having my driver Hyosuke take you home."
"Please, Mr. Kaiba, I couldn't ask this of you."
"Seto..." a reflex in me had popped up out of no where, "Didn't I tell you at the banquet to just call me Seto?"
She didn't reply as I continued to guide her to the oversized closet where all the guests, maids, and butlers kept their coats, assuming that they hadn't already been given a locker. "Mizuki, have Hyosuke pull the limo around."
"Yes, Mr. Kaiba." She bowed and obeyed as always.
Kisara gathered her things and stepped into the nearest bathroom. It wasn't long before she was back, dressed back into the nice black pants and white blouse with a black shawl over it. She had her new maid outfit folded in her hands, as well as one that I presume she had brought from when she was a maid for her now fiance's home. She bowed her head respectfully to me.
"Thank you, Seto. I'll be off now..."
"See you tomorrow." I closed my eyes and turned the other way.
After the doors shut behind her, I found myself walking to the window to watch her walk away. She ran to the drivers side door, holding her old maid outfit over her head to block the rain. Before Hyosuke could even step outside of the car, Kisara was at the window, talking to him. I rose my brow in curiosity as I saw her bow with an apologetic look to her face.
"You've got to be kidding me..." I scowled, sighing.
"What seems to be the problem, Mr. Kaiba?" The familiar voice of Lucina rang in my ears.
My eyes never left the sight of Kisara running off down the drive way, further into the storm. "Fetch me my jacket and my keys."
Her eyes flared with anger. "Right away, Mr. Kaiba..."
I let out a small chuckle. It was amusing that she was jealous of the small, feeble girl. Though, Lucina should know better by now. No one would ever swoon me, not even the girl who was supposed to portray the delusion of a woman my so called "past life" had fallen for. Lucina was a good maid however, always quick to please me and my guests. She always tried so hard for a promotion, and she constantly tried to become my personal maid. I did not need, nor did I want a personal maid. Stella was the closest thing I had to one, and she was now back in America, tending to her ill father.
In a flash, Lucina was back. "Here you are, sir."
"I'll be back. Tell everyone not to wait up. Especially Mokuba." I grabbed my jacket, throwing it on me before I grabbed the keys and headed out the door.
By the time I was outside, I couldn't tell which way the blasted woman went. She was quick on her feet. I waved over Hyosuke as I reached the bottom of the stairs. He got out of the car, running over with an umbrella. He held it over my head, though the rain didn't bother me. I planned on showering when I got home anyway.
"Yes sir?" Hyosuke smiled, his attitude often reminding me of Mokuba's own personality.
"Did you happen to see which way Mrs. Hues was going?" I questioned over the sound of the rain hitting the pavement.
A smile and a nod earned him a chuckle, "I actually gave her directions for the quickest route home. You going after her?"
"Unfortunately..." I sighed, "She'll catch her death in this rain. I don't want to be held responsible."
"Uh-huh. Sure." He didn't sound too impressed, "But, she's gonna take Orchid to Crab Apple, and cut pass the Shadow Hills neighborhood. The Fujiyama residence is about a mile if cut through Summerlin and come out through the park that's over there."
"Thanks." I scowled, and walked to the parking garage, looking at the few cars, debating on which I wanted to take.
Something fast? Fierce? Sharp? The black stingray corvette caught me eye. Two seated, so no one else could get a ride. Fast, to get her to her home as quick as possible and get myself back in time to eat a decent meal and retreat from the world to my study. Best of all, the car was sharp. Yeah, that will do nicely.
I unlocked the car and hopped in. It wasn't long before I pulled onto Crab Apple, just to see Kisara standing at the end of the street, staring up at the street sign at the end. She looked lost. Pathetic. She could clean two halls of the mansion in only a couple hours, and then get lost just minutes later. I nearly laughed at the girl, but I couldn't help but hold it back. It's not like she knew the neighborhood. I pulled up next to her, rolling the window.
"Get in." I yelled over to her.
She jumped in surprise, turning to face me. "Oh! Mr. Kaiba! What are you—"
"I said, get in..." I said again.
She blushed brightly, slowly approaching the door. She was already soaked, as well as both of her maid outfits. I sighed and leaned over, pushing open the door for her. Kisara sat in the car, shutting the door as she did so. I stared over at her as I rolled up her window. She didn't look back at me, she just sat there, with her uniforms and her hand in her lap. She was too bashful.
"What's your address?" I demanded, turning up the heat.
"Really... Mr. Kaiba..." Kisara pushed a lock of hair behind her ear, "I don't want to be a burden."
"You're being a burden by not letting us help you." I gave a sigh and began driving aimlessly without an answer. At the least, I remembered that Hyosuke said that her mansion was out near Summerlin Park, so I drove in that direction. "When someone offers you assistance, you should just take it. And it should bother you that you former coworkers now work for you. It's their jobs to help you out. Don't deprive them of their work, especially if it's going to make you do reckless and stupid things that can either hurt you, or get you sick..."
Kisara's blush became more vibrant. "But... it's not your job... Why did you... Why did you come after me...?"
I pondered the thought myself, no clear answer coming to mind, but an excuse of course made a prominent tone, "You're right. It's not my job. You wouldn't allow my help, so now I'm forcing it. You're too scared to face your old colleagues to have them help you, so now I have to drag myself into this."
"I'm sorry..." Kisara whispered. "Mr. Kaiba, I... I don't want to—"
"You're not a burden..." I nearly made myself shout. "And for the last time... It's Seto. Just call me Seto."
Needless to say, the rest of the ride to her mansion was rather quiet. I did manage to get the address out of her though. As we pulled to the Fujiyama's mansion, I couldn't help but smirk at how rather pathetic it was in comparison to my home. No wonder she hadn't wanted to leave. This place was dreary. It's gardens were poorly tended, and the fountain needed some work. Moss was beginning to climb it's way up some of the brick walls. The home looked poorly managed, and just unwelcoming.
Pulling next to the stairs, the door to the mansion opened. A red headed woman came running out with an umbrella. Kisara stepped out of the car, shutting the door behind her. The red head was so loud, that I could hear her through the closed window. I rolled the window down as the red head bowed in respect.
"Thank you for driving milady home. We apologize for the inconvenience and wish you a safe and pleasant drive home." The woman stared up with me with her purple eyes.
I sat their silently, staring at the two woman. Kisara still tried hard not to look at me. She was quiet since I lectured her. I sighed and rested my elbow on the door, then placing my cheek in my hand, I waited. I was her boss now, and even though we were now at her household, I deserved the respect she should have given me from the start.
"Thank you..." Kisara turned to the car after a minute, bowing with her full body. "Thank you for driving me home in this storm, and for the insight you have given me. I will do my best to better myself. I hope you can forgive me for acting out against your aid."
"Much better..." I smirked.
My cheeks felt a little warm. Perhaps I was letting this weather get to me?
"Thank you for everything that you've done for milady. Have a good evening, Mr. Kaiba!" The red head smiled brightly.
Her voice was familiar, "Excuse me ma'am, could it be that you're the one who had called and left the voice mail on my phone for Mrs. Hues?"
She jumped a bit in surprise, "Why—why yes. That was me."
"May I ask why you called for her?"
"But of course!" She grew eager, the excitement showing in her voice, "You see—"
"Momoka! Hush!" Kisara's face flourished red in embarrassment.
The woman laughed, "She was too shy to call, sir. Kisara had been tipsy at your banquet, you see, so she had nearly forgotten about the job offer. When she found your business card, she brought it up with me, and I gave her my honest opinion. The girl's quite stubborn though, and I knew she wouldn't call you without a push. But, I didn't feel like going through all that trouble, so I skipped the push and called for her."
"Momoka..." Kisara mumbled, clearly embarrassed.
I couldn't help but chuckle, "How amusing. Well, I'm glad that you called. I can tell that she will be a great addition to the household maids."
"You know it!" The girl was a bit too peppy for my liking. "And if you ever need another helping hand, just have me tag along! Ha ha!"
"I'll keep that in mind," my eyes drifted back to Kisara, "Well then, see you tomorrow, Mrs. Hues."
"Kisara..." she whispered with a blush.
"Pardon?" I rose an eyebrow.
"You... you told me to call you Seto... So in return... Please, just call me Kisara." The feeble girl stared to the ground again.
With a sigh, I revved up my engine, "See you tomorrow then, Kisara."
She stared up at me, giving me a weak smile. Damn it. I felt my cheeks giving off a slight burn. I pressed my foot down on the gas and drove off. In my rear view mirror, could see the two girls bowing to see me off.
Damn it... Damn it. Why? Why? The girl was pathetic, so why did I treat her with kindness? She's just some girl. And why the hell did I lecture her in the first place? I should have just let her walk home in the rain...
"Hey Seto!" Mokuba walked into my study, "How ya' doing bro?"
"Shouldn't you be in bed?" I mumbled, taking a swig of of my drink as I typed on my laptop. "You're going to school in the morning and then work, right?"
"Does it really matter how late I'm up now?" Mokuba reached over and took the glass from my hand. "I'm not a kid anymore. Know my limits... You seem to have lost track of yours though... Is this bourbon?"
I rolled my eyes, "Yeah. And I know my limits."
"Something must be wrong. You only break out the bourbon when you're stressed." He stared at me, intent of finding out why, "Wanna talk about it?"
"There's nothing to talk about..." I rubbed my temples.
Who was I trying to convince? Him? Or myself? All I was trying to do is figure out this stupid woman. Was she really Kisara Hues? Some girl who is marrying that idiot Kojiro Fujiyama? Some girl who just happens to bare the same face and carry the same name of a delusion I once knew? Or was she an actress, and Fujiyama was a part of it? Was he just the newest member of Yugi's little parade of fantasy believing geeks?
And why did this all bother me so much?
I reached out to take my glass back from Mokuba, but he only held it further from my grasp. "I think you've probably had enough."
"You don't get to tell me when I have had enough..." I stood from my desk and leaned close enough to snatch up the drink. "You want something? Why are you in here anyway?"
Mokuba's happy-go-lucky attitude has been long since replaced with a kind and serious gentle man. Sure, he put on a playful mask when around others, but he was always his true self around me. He did, however, grow up to be like me in some sense, but that didn't stop me from seeing the kid in him. He was too much like our mother, where I was too much like our father... Which I always detested."
"I just wanted to check up on you..." Mokuba stared as I drank the glass empty. "You've been cooping yourself up more often, and you've been in here basically all night. Is this..."
He stopped for a moment, leaning up against the wall as he thought his word carefully. He knew how testy I could be, and with me drinking we both knew that I could be loud and very angry when provoked. I rubbed my eyes as Mokuba rubbed his chin, a little scruffy from not having shaved in the morning.
"Seto... Is this about that new maid of yours? Kisara?" Mokuba was getting a bit brave. "She... sounds like the woman you described to me back then... When you—"
"No." I cut him off, spinning in my chair to grab the bottle of bourbon from the shelf to refill my glass.
He really was the only person who could ever read me. When everything had happened all that time ago, Mokuba was the only person I would talk to about those "visions of the past." I told him about the girl with the blue eyes and pale white skin, who carried in her the soul of the blue eyes white dragon. I told him how I was apparently the reincarnation of a priest who had fallen in love with the poor girl, before she had been killed. I told him how I was supposedly give then title of pharaoh when Yugi's "other spirit" had been gone. I told him that when the woman died, the person back then had lost all of his happiness, and vowed to never know how to be happy again without her. In the end, I convinced him that it was nothing more than a bunch of bull shit fairy tales that Yugi had tried to feed me.
"You know," Mokuba continued again, a smirk stretching across his face as he walked over next to me in order to spy on my work. I shut my laptop and looked the opposite direction. "She's pretty attractive, that Kisara girl... It surprises me that she looks just like the girl you described so well. It's even more surprising that her name is Kisara, and that she's alive. I wouldn't mind getting to know her a bit more."
Why was I getting angry. "She's getting married, so don't bother."
"Nothing is set in stone."
"Except her soul—"
I cut myself off before I could finish the thought. I didn't believe in it then, and I don't believe in it now! I turned back to Mokuba, expecting a smug look on his face. Of course he had been messing with me, just to get me to talk, but I never would have said something like that. I couldn't even think of an excuse as to why I said it. The reply was base entirely off of a hallucination. Just a mere story of fiction, just like the creatures of duel monsters cards. Her soul was NOT some dragon. She was NOT a prisoner to stone. She was NOT real.
Mokuba didn't make a crude remark as I expected from him, only instead he walked back to the door, ready to escort himself out. "Must be a different girl then..." He looked back over his shoulder before taking his leave, "If you don't try though, I may."
"She's engaged." Why was I even still talking?
He didn't reply as he finally left the room, leaving me to my own thoughts. I cupped my face in my hands, letting my elbows fall to rest on the desk. Like hell I would try. She is just some girl. She's just some girl, and there was no way I'd be swooned by her. She's just some girl... Some girl who is getting married...
So why is it getting to me so much? Why the hell was she even stuck in my head? I think I have a migraine...
It was several weeks later, and things had been falling back into a normal routine. Seemingly normal anyway. The girl hardly ever crossed my mind at this point I looked more into Kisara's file that night.. She really was Kisara Hues, once an orphan, now engaged to Kojiro Fujiyama. That was good enough to end my suspicions, for the time being. (Though it didn't hurt to investigate and see if she was associated with Yugi or Tristan, which came up negative on both ends.)
"Hyosuke, can we make a quick stop for some food? Your pick, dinner's on me." I sat back in the limo, releasing the button that let me call up front.
"What for? I can pay for my own, sir." He called back.
"It's the least I can do for making you work late today. Sorry the meeting went on longer than anticipated." I buzzed back.
"If you insist, sir. Thank you much!" Hyosuke's accent was showing a little more than usual today. It must be since he saw his parents over the weekend.
"Not a problem." I replied.
It wasn't long before the limo came to a stop. Hyosuke ran in to get himself something to eat, and I let him order for me as well. Everything was charged directly to Kaiba Corp. so I didn't mind whatever he got for the two of us. Eventually, he was given the food and ran in out to my door, handing me my food through the window. There weren't too many people in the Domino area that had limos, so Hyosuke tried to avert from the crowd that started to gather. As he got into the car, I sighed and opened up my container that he had given me. He must love Italian food, because whenever his meals were on my tab, he went to this Italian Restaurant, and always got me something different. Today's choice: Chicken Alfredo.
I didn't much care for it, but I may as well eat it. As the car began to pull forward I started eating, occasionally looking out the window. And of course! There she was, walking in the direction towards the mansion. Tucked under her arm was her purse. Shouldn't she be on her way home? And didn't I just lecture her some time ago about walking when she has a personal driver?
"Is that...?" I found myself talking out loud as I noticed her maid's uniform in her hands, "Ugh."
Hitting the call button, I awaited Hyosuke's answer. "Yes sir?"
I chuckled as he sounded like he was trying to swallow a large bite of his food, "Can you pull over? That new girl is walking to the mansion..."
"Sure thing!" He suddenly sounded excited.
As the limo pulled over, I rolled down my window, "Miss Hues?"
I must have startled her, because he nearly jumped back five feet in the air. The surprise caused her to drop her uniform. She nearly panicked as she picked back up the uniform, swiping her bangs out of her face as she did. After picking herself back up, she trotted over to the car door, looking a bit red. I couldn't help but sigh at her clumsiness.
"H—hi Seto. How can I help you?" Kisara questioned with a flustered voice.
"Didn't you work the morning shift today? You're walking the wrong—"
She interrupted me, "No, no! I switched shifts with Akkiko. I guess her kids had a... Um... Oh... I forgot what it was..." Kisara stood there, her index finger pressed to the bottom over her chin as she started down at her feet. "Well... Whatever it was, she needed to be there this evening for them. So she took my morning shift and I will be working her night shift."
"I see..." I was a bit bothered with this, "Well then, why are you walking there?"
"I was out shopping today, so I figured I'd just walk... since it's nice out." Kisara flashed a gentle smile. "I had Momoka with me at the time. She took my bags home for me, and then she's dismissed for the night to spend time with her husband and son.
I found myself reaching for the door handle. Was I really about to mindlessly open the door for her and just give her a ride? What would that benefit? Especially if there had been a reporter about... I took a look around. Why was I even still considering giving her a ride? I opened the door and slid over to the opposite side of the limo.
"We will give you a ride, if you'd like..." It's like the words were just forming on their own and falling from my mouth uncontrollably.
"Oh... um..." She seemed to think about it before giving a weary nod, "Sure, if I'm not intruding on anything."
"Nonsense." I said, again picking at my food.
So Kisara hopped in, shutting the door tightly behind her. It took a moment for the limo to start pulling again. I began to eat a little faster. I have always, for some reason, hated eating in front of others, so I scarfed it down quickly. Kisara appeared to try not to stare, her cheeks again a bright pink. She sure did blush a lot.
"A school play...a recital... a game?" I could hear her whispering to herself, trying to again remember where Akkiko was going with her kids.
A chuckle left my lips, and I finished up my last bite. "I appreciate your availability."
Where were these words coming from?
"It's no trouble at all. I just have to let Kojiro know that I'll be home late, and he will just have to deal with it." Kisara smiled, making me wonder just how good of a relationship the two of them had.
"Either way, thank you." I felt my lips curve to a smile.
"Not a problem at all. And I'm sorry if this came as a surprise." Kisara yawned. It was the evening, so why is she tired? "Akkiko was supposed to tell you that we switched shifts. Next time, I'll let you know, so it won't be a shock."
"I'm not too worried about it." I put the empty container in the bag, placing it on the floor by my feet.
Kisara smiled, and the rest of the car ride fell silent. It wasn't too long before we arrived home. Like always, I had retreated to my study. I didn't stop to listen to the woman thank me. I dismissed Hyosuke for the night and now here I was, again just sitting at the desk, staring at the red wood, hands folded together and pressed to my chin. I questioned why I always seemed to change around her. I always became someone that I know that I am not. I need to fix that. I need to become numb to her presence.
I spun around in my chair, sliding it over to the rack of alcohol that stood just next to the book shelf. The glasses sat on top, and the mini fridge had it's own place in the bottom right corner to hold the ice. But what did I want? I had no idea. What would just make me so numb?
I just... want to be numb again...