65LS: Hello readers! Long time no read. Since I've been away for so long, I felt so guilty having you guys hang in there like that. I highly suggest rereading the last chapter, seeing as I edited a part or two in order to continue a better flow for the story. I hope you all can forgive this long wait.
Sitsumi…
I fell backwards onto the snow that did little to pillow my fall. I stammered out apology after apology as I looked up from my bleary eyes, the wind picking up my hair from beneath my hat as the fluttering flakes were pulled away, and I saw a beautiful tall woman standing before me.
"M-m-miss Takayama." I stammered out with a hitch in my voice, the surprise quite apparent.
She looked down at me with an unimpressed stare, my face and hair probably a mess. Then, seeming to realize who I was, gave a small smile. "Ah, I remember you now. You were the secretary who didn't know her boss's first name."
My face flustered at the memory. It's not my fault that no one referred to him by his first name at all in the office! I probably looked absolutely stupid to her then… and maybe even now. My eyes are probably all red and puffy from crying.
A small amused chuckle escaped her lips before reaching out a hand to help me up. I tentatively took it as she asked, "What's the matter? You look as if you got dumped."
I nearly fell back over at the bluntness of her comment. "N-no! It's nothing like that." I tried covering my face, anything, anything to help me hide the shame. "I don't have a boyfriend." I admitted, I don't know why I thought I needed to share that information with her.
"Oh? That's quite a surprise." I glanced back in her direction. She patted my head. "That someone as cute as you are doesn't have at least one boyfriend." The way she said it… didn't sound like a compliment… more like she was talking to a lost kitten. She gave a sigh. "Now what to do with you?" She said to herself under her breath. I was too stunned by the pat on the head that I didn't even realize she was talking about me. "I may as well get you out of the cold, seeing as I practically threw you to the ground."
She lightly grabbed my arm and towed me away without another word. Even if I had the courage to say it, I don't think she would've taken no for an answer.
Hiei…..
I laid on the couch contemplating what to do with the situation at hand. Naoko will be furious once she finds out, Yukina is already angry with me, and I don't know what to think of how Miss Sai is feeling right now. I gave a long deep sigh as she came crawling back to my mind.
She ran away.
That was the only way to describe it.
She ran.
Was it from me? Was she running from me? All I could think of is that she regretted last night. Did I do something wrong? I don't think I did. I don't think I did anything she didn't want me to do. She kissed me back after all. She agreed to stay the night. I can still remember how her skin felt between my teeth, and how her breath hitched at every touch.
Hn, I guess I was right. It was a mistake. I was so focused on Yukina's feelings that I didn't really consider what Miss Sai could've wanted. I can't possibly know if what happened last night was what she wanted, and not without asking her, but I'm certain she doesn't want to talk to me now.
Why are women such an absolute pain to deal with?
My arm was resting over my head, shielding my eyes from the afternoon sun that lit up the apartment. The room was unbearably cold as I laid there as if to contrast my current bitter loneliness to the heated closeness of last night.
What on earth was I thinking?
As I continued to contemplate what I should do, I heard an incredibly annoying and bubbly ringtone go off from a phone that wasn't mine. I uncovered my eyes to see a little blue cell phone on the kotatsu lighting up and vibrating to announce its presence.
Miss Sai must have forgotten to take it with her when she ran out the door.
Sitsumi…..
Miss Takayama, or should I say, Mukuro, took me to a little boutique cafe that was close by. It was bustling with the life of the city, as patrons poured in to get a steaming cup of coffee to fight back the biting cold of winter. The moment I stepped through the door, I was hit with the aroma of freshly ground coffee beans and swirls of chocolate with a small bite of cinnamon to enrich the smell. It was heavenly. I was so caught up in the moment, I had forgotten all about why I was so upset.
"Are you enjoying your hot chocolate, Miss Sai?" She asked in that cool unwavering tone.
"Oh, uh, yes, ma'am, thank you." I blurted out.
She chuckled lightly at my response. "Ma'am? I didn't think I looked that old."
I blushed a deep red as my eyes became wide at the horror of what I just said, "I didn't mean to offend you, I'm so sorry. I just..." My voice died in my throat.
She merely took a sip of her black coffee before asking, "How long have you been working for Mr. Minamino?"
I felt my shoulders relax as she seemed to brush my comment away. "A year now, actually. I was working in the mail room until recently."
"Oh?" She pressed. I don't know why but I felt so compelled to answer.
"Uh, yeah… uh… I got promoted to a secretary position underneath Hi-uh… Mr. Jaganshi." I don't know why but I didn't want her to know I was on a first name basis with Hiei-sama. Why do I feel so uneasy with her? I feel the anxiety in my stomach start to pile up. It's almost like how I feel… when Hiei-sama is around.
"It must be difficult working under someone as… difficult to please as Hiei." She stated.
"It's alright I guess." I said, maybe a little too melancholy. I desperately wanted the conversation to shift to something else, something that didn't involve my boss. I didn't want to think about Hiei-sama. I didn't want to think about how much I screwed up. I didn't want to think about how much I could be hurting Yukina and Naoko or even Mr. Minamino. Worst of all, I'm probably hurting Hiei-sama.
If it got out in the office that we slept together, I don't think it would go over well. I don't think I could take the gossiping or the sideways glances. I don't think Hiei-sama would want me there anymore. I'd be alone again.
I shouldn't have run away.
I saw a little light blue handkerchief come into view. I hadn't realized I was crying. "I'm so sorry, I must look like such a mess." I said as I started to wipe away my tears with the small piece of cloth.
"He must have done quite a number on you." She looked at me solemnly.
"I-I-I…," I stammered. I didn't know what to say.
"Trust me, he may seem abrasive and insensitive and inconsiderate and infuriating and…," she thought for a moment before looking to her cup of coffee contemplatively, "hm, I've completely forgotten where I was going with that."
I was so taken aback by the contrast of her cool demeanor and what she had just said that I couldn't help but laugh just a little.
She gave a small smile in my direction. "In any case, I'm sure that whatever you did, it isn't as terrible as you think it is." She took another sip of her coffee.
My smile faded away. "I think it is." I muttered. "Uh, Miss Taka-uh… I mean… Mukuro-san." She looked in my direction. The blue of her eyes framed by the sunglasses she wore were hypnotic. She was so pretty that I find myself grasping for words as I look at her. "Why... did you take me out for coffee? I mean… you don't even know me, not to say that I'm not grateful, I just…" I trailed off again.
She gave a small earnest smile before getting up from the table we were seated at. "My, would you look at the time. I need to be heading back to work." Before she headed towards the door, she looked back to me and said, "I'll see you around, little kitten."
As she slipped through the doorway of the cafe, leaving me there to my own devices. I sat there, wondering why on earth she wanted to have coffee with me. I wasn't anyone special. I wasn't anyone important, especially not within the company. I was left alone in a part of the city I didn't really know. I needed to get to a train station.
I reached inside of my pocket to get my phone to try and google where I was exactly but my phone wasn't there. That bubbling pit of anxiety was starting to spill over as I fumbled through each of my pockets from my jacket to my pants. I have no idea where I might have put it. I have no idea if I might have dropped it when I ran into Mukuro-san.
What am I gonna do?
tbc…..