In your heart

Hisana knocked on the door hesitatingly, as if she was having second thoughts about what she was about to do. However, the silence from the other side was re-assuring-as if it said “Come on, come in, there is nobody in here to scold you, you’ll be done here before you know it.”

Hisana swallowed hard and went in the apartment, intending to leave the scarf on the bed and sneak out as fast as she could. But just as she was setting it down, a tall, slim figure stood in the doorway, preventing her from escaping.

She bolted up, noticing the person in the door, and her back immediately straightened up as she was bowing, mumbling excuses under her nose. Mentally, she cursed herself for being so stupid as to forget the bathroom. Byakuya, wrapped in some bed sheets, looked like a Roman emperor with a really confused expression. At first he had barely noticed the girl in his quarters, and then without getting a good look at her face, thought that she had come to bring him fresh towels or something.

His ears picked up some words from the muffled noises that came out of her mouth, something about ‘scarf’ and ‘giving it back’. Slowly, very slowly he remembered the events of the previous afternoon, that had led him to take a warm bath, and he bent down slightly to look at the girl’s face.

“Hisana?” he finally asked and she froze in mid-sentence, expecting some sort of order or a scold. “You can stand up now, bending around like that is not good for your back.

“Um, I…” her face was red like a cherry, but she still mustered enough self-confidence to look at him in the face “I…I wanted to thank you again for…for your kind consideration for my sister, Kuchiki-sama….and…and to return your scarf….” Even when he was standing half-naked in front of her, he had that masterly air that made people understand clearly how low they stood.

Byakuya was still looking at her sheepishly, as if he was wondering what she was talking about….or maybe he wasn’t seeing anything extraordinary about that…no, no, that was not possible. Or maybe he was regretting that he gave it to her and was now revolted because she was touching it with her unworthy hands.

“I…” Hisana bowed again “I’m sorry, Kuchiki-sama, that I haven’t washed it, I was just so worried that I don’t have the skills to treat such a fabulous scarf that I completely neglected that duty…” her voice cut as Byakuya approached her and gently took his scarf from her to examine it in the fading winter day’s light. He was so absorbed in his employment that he wasn’t noticing that his naked chest was barely inches away from Hisana’s face.

Hisana, however, was noticing that very clearly and was, amongst other things, extremely intimidated. But what was even scarier was the fact that behind that intimidation was actually lurking some sort of….interest. No, no, that was wrong, that was sick. Servants were not supposed to think about their masters in any way-the masters gave orders and the servants obliged. This was the natural order of things and anything beyond that was abomination. “KNOW YOUR PLACE!”, the everlasting credo of the whole servant guild resonated in her head like a giant gong.

“I don’t see any stains on it.” Byakuya said, completely oblivious to her state.

“Stains?”

“Why would you want to wash it if it isn’t stained.” He explained, while he was turning to look at her, clearly amused. Just then he realized the way they were standing was pretty…close to the line between acceptable and scandalous behavior. A big part of his brain was telling him to send her away and get dressed, while another, a part whose existence he usually neglected, was mesmerized by the innocent, simple beauty of her features, of the wonderful spark in her dark eyes….apparently, that part also controlled his movements because he didn’t move.

“But…but…” despite the awkward moment she owned him some sore of explanation, so she swallowed hard and summoned all the courage in her soul to stay calm and professional. “But your scarf was on my shoulders. Your Excellency must not wear something that has been polluted by my skin. My sole touch is an offence to you and I should’ve cleansed it before bringing it to you.”

“And then lash yourself for your frivolity?” even though he was joking there was something about her eyes that showed him how terrified she was. “Do not worry, your touch is not the least bit offensive. And don’t whip yourself afterwards, that’s an order.”

He finally gained control of his limbs and went behind a screen to change into his night robes.

“We’re all human. We’re all made by the same material.” He came out and looked at her “There is no need to be that humble, Hisana, you are not just any servant.”

“But…” she tried to come up with a reply, but her brain had become soft like cotton.

“You did the right thing when you didn’t clean it-it’s a very old piece of clothing and it needs to be treated in a….special manner. If it bothers you so much I’ll have it washed, but I don’t regret throwing it on your shoulders today.”

She stared at the floor, he looked out the window. For a while, both of them were lost in thought, trying to compose themselves. Then Hisana turned to leave.

“Are you going yet?” he asked.

“If Kuchiki-sama doesn’t need me, then I must go. You need your rest and I shouldn’t disturb you.”

“No…” he said “You do not disturb me…” however, something about her air was making him a little worried. He approached her once again and touched her forehead.

His hands were cold, but that was not the reason why she almost jumped at his touch. No, it was because Byakuya was once again so close to her, and he was actually making contact with her filthy skin. Ashamed, she blushed and tried to back away, but his other hand rested on her shoulder. It was not menacing, but it held a promise to hold her down lest she tries to run.

Byakuya chose to ignore the way the air around them suddenly got hotter, and concentrated on her temperature.

“You feel a little feverish.” He said “And your face is pale. Are you unwell?”

“I’m fine, Kuchiki-sama, really…”

“You don’t feel fine. You must’ve caught a cold from running around in that cold so much.” Without a warning, Byakuya picked her up and carried her to his private study, and rested her on the couch. Ordering her not to move, he went down to the kitchen to get her some blankets and summon a doctor.

Nanao was just about to go asleep when she heard a tap on the door. Stopping, as she was undoing the strings that held her gown together, she threw a shawl over her shoulders to keep from the cold.

“What is it?” she asked Shunsui, who was leaning on the doorframe. “Is somebody hurt?”

“No, I just wanted to ask you something about the wedding….” He said, inviting himself in “Do you know any word that rhymes with ‘wine’, Nanao-chan?”

“Is that for your poem?” Nanao blinked “I hope you are not trying to compare me with alcohol.”

“Oh, but Nanao-chan, you are unfair. There is a lot in common between you and alcohol, you both make me so dizzy I can’t think straight.” He laughed at the face she was making “Come on, I was joking…”

“It wasn’t very funny, if I must say so.”

“Oh, Nanao-chan, everybody compares their bride with a gentle flower that needs protection from the wind, and we both know that this does not suit us. I just wanted to make this original and realistic.”

“By comparing me with wine?”

“You have to admit it caught you off guard.”

“If I must be honest, yes, it did.”

“Ah, a victory over my persistent Nanao-chan. How about we run to the kitchen to celebrate it?”

“I don’t think it would be appropriate. I was just about to go to bed.”

“But you’re still in your dress.”

“Yes, however we shouldn’t bother the cook at this hour.”

“Come now, nobody sleeps at this hour. Besides, I was talking about celebrating it with wine.”

“You are impossible.” Nanao sighed “Please leave my room so I can get some sleep, I am tired and I need some rest.”

“Oh, but of course. Anything for my Nanao-chan’s comfort. How about I get you a hot cup of tea to help you sleep? Or should I unfasten those annoying strings of your gown.”

“Wha…no, no!” she tried to object, but he was already behind her. “Please, this is most embarrassing. What if somebody comes in?!”

“And who would do that, Nanao-chan? You’re not expecting someone, are you?”

The garment was already loosing up and was threatening to pile in her feet. Desperate to avoid the awkward situation she turned to him, flushing.

“Please, I am not comfortable with this.”

“But Nanao-chan, you are so pretty? I’ve told you this before, right? Why are you feeling ashamed of your own body?”

Indeed, she shouldn’t be, and yet…

There was a tap on the door and before she could stop him Shunsui went to get it. Byakuya looked at them both, Nanao, half-dressed and dumbstruck with surprise, and Shunsui, looking like everything was just fine. The nobleman sighed-not in anger, since everybody saw this coming, just in slight irritation. There were more important things to be attended.

“May I come in?” he waited until Nanao straightened herself up in the other room and wrapped the shawl tightly around herself, before speaking.

“Hisana-san is ill, and the doctor says it’s a very dangerous fever.” His voice was stiff, cold, straight to the point, but his eyes betrayed that he was worried about her. “It’s contagious, and would probably turn out for the worst if we get it out of hand. Shunsui, take Ise-san and the servants in the North Wing, and do everything in your power in order to avoid any contraction of the illness.”

“Alright…but what about you, Byakuya-kun?”

“Although I am not contracting it, I have been exposed to the disease. It is best for me to stay with Hisana-san in this wing, under quarantine.”

“Is there anything we can do?” Nanao asked, not bearing the idea of standing back helplessly.

“Keep Rukia and the other kids away from us, for their sake. And try not to panic.”