Our Hope

Chapter 4

"Kirigiri," Byakuya leaned on the table, "I need your...expertise". He tried to avoid giving attention to the peeping Toko behind the dining hall door.

Kyoko glanced away from her manila folder. "What's this about?"

"I need you to obtain information about our Division leader," his voice lowered.

"That would surely have consequences. Besides," Kyoko closed the folder, staring up at Byakuya, "what business do you have with her?"

"Don't interrogate me. I need basic information by the end of the day," Byakuya left Kyoko to ponder her "options".

Kyoko turned her gaze back to Makoto, who had been sitting silent during the conversation. He shrugged, "At least he's getting better at asking".

She sighed.

Waiting outside of Karen's room, Byakuya acknowledged Kyoko.

"What are you doing here? I thought you wanted me to investigate".

Byakuya grinned, "I want to see for myself what is setting Karen off". He waited for Kyoko to slide her key card across the reader.

They took careful, slow steps around the room. Most Future Foundation rooms looked similar, if not the same, but Karen's room was more decorated, though darkly. The walls were painted a light grey with the floor covered in charcoal carpeting. Her desk was cluttered with papers and binders, laptop, and an office lamp. Byakuya turned towards her bed and dresser, noting the wine-red sheets and boxes on top of the dresser. 'Dark, almost sultry' He thought, turning back to Kyoko, who was observing the corkboard above Karen's desk.

"She's no stranger to loss," Unpinning a picture from the board, Kyoko handed it to Byakuya. He stared at a happy couple; Karen standing next to a man who was kissing her cheek. He was blond, around six foot, and had a lean figure and sharp facial structure. "You share quite a few similarities. She was probably confused by thinking you were him," Kyoko re-pinned the picture on the corkboard and investigated the other side of the room. Her eyes landed on a necklace on the dresser. "Byakuya, come here".

He noticed plenty of jewelry spread out on the dresser. Several rings and necklaces, some embedded with precious jewels. "This a genuine pearl necklace," He couldn't grasp how Karen had managed to keep such an item. Kyoko directed his gaze to the least flashy item; a silver ring on a worn chain. The same ring she wore in the picture, the matching half of a set. "I have my answers," Byakuya left Kyoko standing by the dresser, stopping in the doorway, "I appreciate your help".

I opened my eyes to the rich aroma of coffee being placed next to me. Byakuya sat at the edge of my bed, staring at me. I stared back. "Do you recognize me now?"

I scrunched my eyebrows, "Now? What are you talking about?" He didn't answer, just nodded slowly. I pushed myself up slightly, taking a long sip of the coffee.

"I want to talk about you," he sat straight, his arms crossed loosely. I could punch him from the arrogant vibe he gave off. Clearing my throat, I waited for him to begin speaking. "I'm going to take silence as permission. Do I remind you of anyone? Is that why you find me irritating to be around?" He wasn't phased by my hard stare.

The hammering in my chest was triggering my fingers to tap the bed. "Why do you care?"

Byakuya paused, his stare re-directed to the floor, "I don't need your emotional turmoil to interfere with my work," he shifted his legs, crossing one over the other.

"What work? Division 14 shouldn't be going anywhere without my order!" I tugged at the sheets, pulling myself forward. The stitches in my back were tugging at the skin. It caused so much discomfort that my arms began to shake. Byakuya was immediately at my side, easing me onto my back. Being this close to his face, I noticed the shadows of freckles just below his eyes, where the frames of his glasses covered. His lips were thin, the lightest shade of natural pink. His eyelashes were longer than most guys' I've met. That's when I realized that we were staring at each other. His hands were still gently wrapped around my arms. I felt as if I was suffocating on the fluttering in my heart.

Noticing this moment, he quickly removed his hands and stepped away from my side. "Answer my questions. I have other business to attend to," his hand covered the red in his face, adjusting his glasses.

"My boyfriend. You look almost just like him, almost like brothers," I picked under my fingernails. "We even exchanged promise rings, before the despair set in," I muttered to myself. Glancing back at Byakuya, he was looking away still but no longer covering his face. "He disappeared shortly after the despair spread. I searched as far as I could before Future Foundation found me, so I never found him". I couldn't cry even if I wanted to; my eyes were too dry, and I wanted to keep a sense of dignity around Togami.