My Boss, The Scrooge.
Chapter 1.
Godiva Can't See Me.
There was a sturdy pounding at the door.
The noise disturbed the raven haired girl occupying the virtually empty queen sized bed. She stirred slightly, jarred from her slumber. The incessant knocking wouldn't diminish. Said girl groaned out in protest, groping around for an alarm clock that didn't even adorn her night stand. Realizing that there wasn't any such alarm clock to turn off the young woman's eyes snapped open. Her lips curled slightly over her bottom lip. The pouty expression didn't waver, especially not when the pounding intensified. "Is that my head, or is that the door?" She whispered out into the empty room.
"Open the door Kagome!" She heard a baritone shout erupt through the entire house. Whomever was knocking on the door was now rattling the entire structure. She winced at the contact. 'Guess it was the door after all.' She mused before trudging towards the door to greet her unwanted visitor.
Kagome aggressively swung the door open to where it smacked against the wall, making strange feral noises erupt from her throat. Her persona might have been deadly, but matched with her navy blue penguin pajamas and monkey plush slippers, it was hard to be intimidating.
"Finally." The man heaved, doubling over to catch his breath.
"What is it now Miroku?" Kagome sighed, rolling her eyes. She should have guessed that he'd make such a ruckus so early in the morning. "It better not be work related!" She retaliated quickly before allowing him in to make him a cup of hot chocolate. Miroku plopped down on her favorite fluffy couch. Ignoring the rules of the house he propped his feet up on a nearby coffee table. Kagome merely glared at his feet, murmuring under her breath.
"Unfortunately it is. Boss man has gone completely berserk!" He held his head shaking it frantically. "If he doesn't stop. I will hang myself from his office ceiling."
"Don't talk like that Miroku." She chuckled, setting the cup of warm liquid in front of him. "Who else is there to terrorize with you out of the way? Surely you wouldn't leave me to fend for myself." Quirking a brow at him she stirred her hot chocolate vigorously.
Miroku took a ginger sip of his own, being an avid drinker of anything warm. "It's not just me he's terrorizing Kagome. It's everyone in the building this time. I don't know how you're so patient with him." He eyed the heart shaped container that decorated the center of the table. "Is that candy by chance?"
"It sure is. Kouga brought them over. They're gourmet, apparently." Kagome nodded urging him to have a piece. "So how can he possibly terrorize everyone at the same time?"
After shoving the candy into his mouth, Miroku sighed, leaning back in his spot on the couch. "We don't have Christmas off this year." He paused, making a face. "This candy couldn't possibly be gourmet."
Kagome huffed, slamming the cup down onto the table. "When did we ever have Christmas off Miroku? That guy is like the ice king."
"You might be able to talk him out of it! He seems to listen to you. . .on occasion." He added the last part quickly.
"Yeah, very special occasions. He's not going to listen to this request though. I'm lucky to have today off. First vacation day I've had in years." She rested her elbow against her knee, her palm supporting her head. "It's like trying to pull teeth, I had to almost beg for today off. What makes you think he'll give us holiday?"
"I'm not even asking for holiday with pay! I just want to spend a Christmas with my family. I don't want to have to tell Sango that I can't show up again because of work. I thought she was going to maim me last time. You know how touchy she can be." He gulped just thinking about the mental images of last Christmas.
"I'm just his secretary." Kagome threw up her hands in mock surrender. "You're his personal assistant! If anyone you should be able to convince him."
"Actually, Miss Kagome. You're more like his personal assistant. I'm his man slave. Which would be alright if he had a slightly altered anatomy. Only slightly. . ." He trailed off, obviously thinking of something perverted.
Kagome thwacked him on the shoulder to rattle him out of his colorful musings. "Anyway, is that what you came all the way over here to say? You could have just called me, you know?"
"Your phone kept picking up your voice mail. And that's not the only reason." He looked nervous all of a sudden. Kagome briefly wondered what he had to be nervous about, but didn't really care to find out. As it was probably bad news. He continued anyway. "About your day off today. . ."
"Oh Miroku." Kagome let out a noise of disapproval. "Don't tell me. . ."
"I think you can guess what I'm going to say." He looked serious, his eyes gleaming at her with pity. "He claims that there is work to be done pronto and you're the only one that can do it."
"Why?" She nearly screamed exasperatedly. "There are thousands of people in the same building. He just wants to pick on me! He can't just go back on his word!" She ranted intelligibly.
He just shrugged, nonchalantly. "Since when has he ever kept his word?"
"Of all the indecent. . ." She went off on a tangent in front of Miroku, who merely glanced into his hot chocolate wishing it were some type of bomb, so he could blow up his workplace. He didn't blame Kagome for venting, but he had heard it all before. Most of it coming from his own mouth. It was neither the first, or last time he would hear such an aggravated choice of words.
He cut her off abruptly after checking his watch for the time. "You should go get dressed. Unless you want to show Mr. Leader-Of-The-Free-World your penguin pajamas. And I'm sure he'd especially admire those ape slippers." Kagome was even more irked to realize that he had said the snide remarks with a straight face. Instead of commenting on the matter she threw the nearest object at his head and fled from the room.
Miroku remained unfazed. Having suffered almost permanent brain damage from his wife Sango. Who had the uncanny ability to knock him over the head for whatever might displease her. He only suspected that his immunity for pain had led him to become a personal assistant. His boss was a proclaimed leader of one of the seven hells. Miroku often wondered if his wife and his boss were related. They both dealt out a lot of physical pain and mental trauma. Perhaps he'd never know.
He didn't much enjoy the task of "collecting" Kagome on her day off. In fact, he would rather pull out his own hair than disturb her on a day where she was suppose to be resting. Lord knows she didn't get much of that. Kagome and himself took the majority of the damage from their boss. If he was about to blow they would get the initial first impact. Softening it for the others in the office. Kagome seemed to be a little less bothered by their boss' ways. She was always patient, attentive and ready to lend a hand to him. Although Miroku always found it odd how the boss demanded so much attention from her. Even if it was something mundane.
The boss frequently asked Kagome to cook him food, and run to the grocery store for him. Things like a maid or a chief would do. There were no such qualifications when they had sent out the applications for his secretary. And yet – without complaint – Kagome would do it. Smiling. Miroku was still astonished by her patience and good nature.
After a few short moments Kagome came bolting into the living room. Her hair was wet, and her clothes were only partially on. Her blazer was carelessly flung over her shoulders, one of her pant legs drew up farther than the other, and her ankle length boots were unzipped. Wordlessly Miroku shot her a wary look.
"I'll fix it in the car." She explained giving him a weak smirk. She had the good mind to blush, not liking it one bit when Miroku spent more than five seconds looking in her direction. She knew how his mind worked, married or not.
"Let's just get this over with." Kagome threw a look over her shoulder at Miroku. Said man was rummaging around in the candy once more, shoving pieces into his mouth. "What's wrong with you? Didn't you get a lunch break yet?"
"You mean people get lunch breaks?" Miroku demanded, some candy almost falling out of his mouth. "When?"
Kagome sighed, her shoulders sagging. "Touche."
Kagome was far from pleased, returning to the office. For some reason the sky looked gloomier and angrier than ever before. The people in the office slugged about, lifelessly. She was on auto pilot, walking and breathing but not really alive. She didn't want to be cooped up here today. Not when she had slept so beautifully. She hadn't the opportunity any other time.
"I knew I should have just been a doctor." Kagome grumbled to herself, dropping her bag by her desk and slinking into her chair. She let her forehead drop to the surface of the table. The back of her hands caught most of the action. She heard people murmuring, most of them nasty remarks about her boss. She heard things like 'slave driver' and 'Scrooge.' It was nothing out of the ordinary. She wondered with her boss' superb hearing if he had ever heard the terrible things people say about him. She was sure he had. Apparently he didn't care. He always remained unchanged. Heartless, cold, sharp as an icicle.
Did the man not have a family? Granted he was very young to be in such a prestigious position. But he had to have a girlfriend, a mother, a brother. Something. Why did he not visit with those people on Christmas instead of hanging about the office like it was his home? But judging by his attitude, she doubted that his family actually even wanted him over for Christmas.
A sharp beep made Kagome snap upright in her chair. Startled she looked over at the phone on her desk. It was blinking rapidly. Anxiously she hit a button. And abruptly wished she wouldn't have.
"GOD DAMNIT!" Blared out of the speaker. "It's about fucking time you answer!"
"Good afternoon Mr. Takashi." Kagome bit her lip trying to sound as cheery as possible. Being use to the foul language helped, she ignored it wonderfully. "I trust you're having a good day?" Kagome asked him the same question every day.
There was a brief pause.
"Why are you so late?" And he ignored it. Just like any other day. Kagome smirked, rolling her eyes when his voice went down a few octaves. His mood swings were incredible.
"You said I could have the day off, sir." She informed him curtly and politely.
"What?" He snapped outraged. "Why would I say a stupid thing like that? A day off." His last statement made him sound almost puzzled. Kagome bit back a dramatic sigh. Of course, he conveniently forgot.
"Yes Mr. Takashi. I asked you for a day off several weeks ago. You said today would be acceptable. I had written it down in your planner. That's why Yura has been taking the majority of your messages." She pointed out, aimlessly playing with the buttons on her jacket.
More silence ensued. Her boss had no retort. He swayed the subject expertly.
"Higurashi." He said firmly, his smooth voice pouring out of the speaker.
"Yes, Mr. Takashi?"
"Bring me some coffee."
"Yes, Mr. Takashi."
The blinking seized, signifying that he had hung up. Kagome scrambled out of her seat to bring him the requested beverage.
Nervously Kagome tapped at the set of mahogany doors. The big gold name plate reading 'Takashi.' She didn't have to wait long however.
"Hurry up, Higurashi!" Came the muffled shout from the other side. Frantically she opened the door gently and skittered in. Coming into his office for the first time after a weekend sort of grated her nerves. She wasn't sure why. It wasn't as if she were exactly scared of him, or even intimidated. It was just a bizarre feeling she had acquired.
Sure enough he was sitting at his large desk. Tapping away on a laptop. He didn't even look up when she entered. Kagome let her gaze wander around the contents of the room. Remarkably it had gotten messy again. No matter how many times she ordered it to get cleaned, or even picked it up herself. It would always be messy a few hours later. "Sir! I just had this room cleaned." Her eye ticked, agitated at having to call someone in again.
He didn't provide an answer. He just snorted, rolling his amber eyes with distaste. Kagome's own eyes stopped on the coffee laying forgotten at his side. She put the cup she had retrieved for him beside it. Why had he asked her to bring coffee if he already had a cup? It was still warm too. She observed the steam rolling out of both cups. However he picked up her cup and sipped at it, never uttering a sound. Disgruntled, Kagome went to his side, and opened his top desk drawer, retrieving a pad of paper and a pen from his mess on the surface of his hurricane stricken desk.
He didn't question her antics, still ignoring her. Kagome jotted down a quick 'to-do' list adding the number for a cleaning service. The pile on his desk disturbed her. Praying that there were no dead bodies in the wreckage she began to sift through his papers. He was still typing away, engrossed in whatever work he was doing.
She organized his papers perfectly. Making four neat piles of papers in alphabetical order in order of relativity. She placed the pens, erasers and highlighters back into the pen holders and placed some more important documents into her bag to be laminated. She pulled out her cell phone, quickly punching in the number for her desired cleaning service. "Yes, this is Higurashi Kagome speaking." There was a pause. InuYasha's ear twitched slightly, but he continued to fix his gaze on the screen.
"Yes, I'm calling again." She made sure to emphasize 'again.' Earning a 'keh' from her boss. "Same location. Same time." Kagome said, twirling the pen in her hand. "Thanks, Yumi." She smirked recognizing the voice of the girl on the other line. "I'll probably be talking to you again soon. Happy Holidays to you too." Kagome snapped the phone shut to continue with her duties.
Kagome began jotting down another to-do list. But this time for her boss. She spoke out loud as she wrote, as to inform him properly. He seemed to forget things rather easily. Such a smart man, it was a shame he was also scatter brained. "12 is lunch. Don't forget you promised to send flowers to Rin as a 'Get Well' gesture. 2 is the usual meet and greet with the executives. 2:30, you have to get back with Jeninji. Apparently they have a new bail-out plan that might or might not prove beneficial. Um." Kagome paused racking her brain for anything else. "Yura also mentioned at 3:30 someone might possibly drop by from Shinagawa Corp."
This seemed to catch his attention. He stopped his infernal typing and looked her dead in the eyes. "Shinagawa?" He threw her a confused look. 'What the hell for?"
"How am I to know sir? I'm only your secretary."
"I know that!" He growled baring his pearly white canines. "Didn't they leave a statement?"
"Well you know Yura has issues concentrating. She doesn't have anything written. It's hard to say with Shinagawa, too. They're not very informative in their phone messages. They just pop up unannounced whenever they please." Kagome tried to reason with him.
"Keh. That fucking Yura, and those Shinagawa bastards!" He seethed, taking an infuriated gulp from his coffee. "I should fire her ass!"
"It might not be all her fault, Mr. Takashi. They make a habit to drop in at their leisure. I think that Naraku just likes to show off. He gives me the creeps." Kagome said absentmindedly, shivering at the thought.
Mr. Takashi regarded her for a moment, silently. Kagome ignored him, putting all of her efforts into the remaining mess he left on the floor. She picked up a few wrappers of god knows what and discarded them into the trash bin. Finally she set her sights on the couch that he apparently slept on every night. Blankets were thrown in every direction, the cushions rearranged in a disorderly manner. She folded the blanket as neatly as possible, placing it onto of the couch so that it could pass for a decorative throw. After putting the cushions back into place she pushed the couch back into its initial position with great effort.
And just like every morning, she turned to his alarm clock which was nearly smashed to pieces. She threw it in along with the other trash and pulled a new one out of her bag, having already calculated such a thing from repeated offenses. Kagome set the clock for the appropriate time and laid it on the stand next to the couch.
"I think that about does it." The fatigued secretary patted her forehead with the back of her sleeve. "I'll be taking your messages now. I've had Yura switch the direct lines. So if you need anything, just buzz." Kagome didn't even have to turn around, for she knew he would never acknowledge such a thing. Instead she strode to the door ready to rest for a few minutes.
"Uh, Higurashi." Kagome stopped in mid step and turned to him giving him an inquisitive look. "I need. . .you to come down with me to the cafeteria for awhile."
"Of course, sir." Kagome sank inwardly. She had completely forgotten about that. The man seemed to have trouble eating lunch alone. She usually got his lunch for him, He would pick an isolated table, and she would be forced to eat lunch in complete and utter silence unless by chance Miroku would pop up. Which was a rare occurrence. "I will wait for you until you're ready."
"I'm ready now, actually." He rose from his seat, as gracefully as ever. His steps never missed a beat. Perfect, elegant and strong. That was InuYasha Takashi. Too bad his attitude wasn't as such. Though for the life of Kagome, she couldn't make him out to be the horrid person everyone said he was. She knew he was extremely rough around the edges. But definitely not evil. He was just stubborn and didn't easily take into consideration other people's thoughts or feelings. Did that make him selfish? Kagome wasn't sure. But he was definitely misunderstood.
The trek to the cafeteria was always an adventure. Numerous people would huddle around the boss, asking for direction or advice. He would just bark out orders like a deranged Nazi until they ran off in an uproar, or even sometimes on the brink of tears. Kagome just stood by idly, watching the display. It use to make the color drain from her face, but now she could easily predict the heinous actions.
"Yura! You incompetent slag!" He shouted in her face. She just continued to play with her nail file, chatting on the phone with her boyfriend.
"I miss you too sugar-wugar lumps!" She cooed into the line, pressing soft kisses onto the reviver. Kagome stifled a laugh with her palm as her enraged boss ranted like a possessed man. "Hmph. Hold on dumpling. The mean doggie man is shouting something!" Yura pressed a button presumably to put the phone on hold. She glared up at Mr. Takashi, unimpressed by his onslaught of choicy words. "What do you want now, Doggie?"
"Stop calling me that! You daft, hair wench! I will have your job! I will make sure you can never work again!" His fists balled up at his sides. Seeing the action Kagome quickly intervened so there would be no blood shed.
"Come along, sir. I'm sure you're feeling famished. Not to mention you have a lot of meetings to attend to this afternoon." Kagome said in a sing-song voice, lightly shoving her boss in a different direction. He was still cursing up a storm, promising to fire Yura and threatened to make sure her boyfriend can never breed properly. No matter how many times he said it, he never actually followed through, thankfully.
"What a mean, old dog." She heard Yura comment when they were a safe distance away. Kagome released her boss quickly when they reached the elevator. He glared at her impatiently when the device didn't open right away.
"Can't you make this thing go faster!" He shouted in her face.
Kagome blinked and tapped on the down button. "No sir, I'm afraid I can't."
"What did I hire you for?" He had the habit of taking out his anger on the wrong people. Kagome was use to it, so it didn't effect her as much as it should have.
"I often wonder that myself, Mr. Takashi." She said simply before the elevator made a sharp 'ding' and opened up to reveal a crowd of people shoving to get out. Once everyone had gotten off they made a quick move to get in. Kagome pressed the button that would lead her to the lobby, while still listening to her boss grumble obscenities underneath his breath.
The elevator ride was never awkward. As he was always having some type of conflict she amused herself with his gruntings and tantrums. Stepping off the elevator he gave a deep yawn. Kagome noticed the sets of bags resting under his vivid amber orbs. "Perhaps it's in your best interest to get more sleep, sir."
"It's in your best interest to mind your own damn business."
"As you wish, sir." And so she did.
They walked into the cafeteria in painful silence. As usual all eyes were on them. Kagome didn't dig the limelight. But she knew her lunch partner was the opposite. He was in all of the business magazines, and the media followed him constantly. After all. He was one of the most 'eligible bachelors' in the entire country. The fact that he was a bachelor didn't really shock her. What girl could put up with him without getting a salary in return? Very few.
"Same old crap." He said before stalking off, presumably to their secluded table. She saw his dog ears disappear into the crowd and let out a sigh of relief. A path had cleared for her, since everyone knew that she also retrieved lunch for Mr. Takashi. Instead of waiting in line like everyone else, she skipped ahead to the front. The lady serving the food gave her a grin.
"Hello Kagome. How are you today? I didn't think I'd be seeing you around." The woman greeted while plopping some food onto the tray. "Some day off, eh?"
"Well not all wishes come true." Kagome said miserably, watching the strange food concoction pile up onto the plate. "But at least I get to see you today." She offered.
"Shameless flattery gets you every where dear." The woman chuckled giving Kagome an extra serving for the compliment. "Eat and stay strong. You'll need it." A glint of mischief sparkled in the server's eye. Kagome frowned unsure of how to retort. Instead she waved her farewell and proceeded to pay for the food. The greedy guy never even offered to pay for the lunch. Kagome always had to pay it out of her own pocket.
Someone as rich as him bumming off of someone with her salary? She shook her head but smiled at the cashier nonetheless. After paying for the food she grabbed some napkins and straws and a few condiments. When the table was in view she saw dark hair bobbing about enthusiastically. "Miroku. You decided to grace us with your presence this afternoon?" Kagome plastered a big smile onto her face, almost mockingly.
She gently laid the tray down. "Here's an extra large bowl of beef ramen, a cup of tea, coffee black no sugar, an 8 oz glass of water with crushed ice, three napkins and two straws." The secretary laid said food onto the table for her boss. Similar to what a waitress would do. Miroku sniggered under his breath. Kagome shot him a warning glare before sitting down in her own seat. She nibbled at her lunch half-halfheartedly listening to Miroku prattle on about affairs in the workplace. He was a sucker for gossip. InuYasha appeared to be ignoring the conversation, taking large bits of his food and knocking down his water.
Kagome noticed Miroku eating the candy from this morning. She eyed him suspiciously. "Just how much of my candy are you stealing?"
This seemed to catch InuYasha's attention his ear flicked towards Kagome listening intently. Miroku feigned innocence holding his heart over his chest.
"You think I would steal from you Kagome? And gourmet chocolate nonetheless!"
"I thought you said it wasn't gourmet." She glanced over at him, her features scrunching up.
"I can't believe that failure didn't buy the right chocolates. These are obviously Godiva rip-offs. What kind of man gives a girl imitation candy?" Miroku chuckled, eating more of the generic treats.
"How do you know they're imitation?" Kagome said defensively, completely forgetting about her boss until he cleared his throat. Her gaze shifted to him.
"Feh. I can tell if they're imitation or not." He finally spoke up.
This shocked Kagome and Miroku. They stared at him as if he had grown a second head. Miroku's mouth was agape like a fish out of water. Never had their boss attempted to have a civil conversation with them that was non work related.
"Okay." Kagome recovered, not wanting to make a big issue out of it. Perhaps she could get him to open up more by not making a scene. "How can you tell Mr. Takashi?"
"Give them to me." He demanded coldly. Miroku fumbled with the heart shaped box, quickly placing it in front of him. He gave them a tentative sniff, ignoring the strange looks he was receiving. He sucked in a breath of air before plopping one into his mouth. He started to chew, it seemed like it was taking an eternity for him to swallow. His eyes filled up with something akin to disgust. Finally he finished, his jaw set. "Throw them away."
He shoved the box into Kagome's direction. Kagome stared at the chocolates, thoroughly puzzled. "But sir, this was a gift. I can't possibly throw it away."
"I said throw them away!" He all but barked, his eyebrows knitting together.
"But I can't. . ."
"Then I will." He snatched the box up once more and stomped over to the trash can. Carelessly he threw them into the garbage without a backward glance. Kagome let out an outraged squeak.
"Sir! How could you throw away my present!" She got to her feet, her lunch forgotten.
He tossed his hair back, throwing a look over his shoulder. "They ain't real. If you're going to accept presents from a man make sure he has the decency to be honest about his inadequacies. If he cannot afford to buy you the real deal he should stop fucking about and say so. Pathetic." He called before disappearing from the cafeteria. Kagome stared after him completely flabbergasted.
"I was going to eat those!" Miroku shouted at his retreating form. He sulked in the corner, but not before stealing one of the muffins on Kagome's
tray.
"Finally done." Kagome lounged back into her chair. Exhaustion hit her full force. "Miroku, I need to get a ride from you tonight."
"I remember." Miroku assured her, collecting his things and putting them into his briefcase. "Oh, I almost forgot. I have to deliver these papers. It'll only take a few minutes." Kagome nodded her understanding and went to pack up her possessions as well. Miroku darted out of the room, eager to get home.
Kagome hummed an offbeat tune to pass the time. A knock on the door made her go off key even more. She paused her packing. "Yes?" The door clicked open to reveal a middle aged man with graying hair.
"Oh, it's you Myouga. What brings you here?" The ancient flea demon glided along the floor with a package in hand. "What's that?"
"From Mr. Takashi." Was all he said, before he smirked and excused himself from the room. Bewildered and slightly mortified that her boss might have sent her a C4 she examined the package to the best of her abilities. She poked at it, and shook it. Kagome doubted that he would do her serious bodily harmed, and proceeded to open the elegantly wrapped box.
Carefully she peeled the tape away to reveal. . .
A box of chocolates? In a language that she couldn't even comprehend. The secretary rubbed at her eyes, wondering if they had gotten foggy all of a sudden. But the same image sat before her. With extreme precision she removed the note that was placed underneath the purple ribbon. Unfolding it she began to read to herself.
Higurashi,
This is not the cheap shit. These are real gourmet chocolates. Don't eat the other kind or you'll get diarrhea and you won't be able to work.
If you're late again, I will fire you.
Sincerely,
InuYasha Takashi
Kagome just didn't understand men. Especially not Mr. Takashi. She plopped a chocolate into her mouth. Swirling it around she decided that she didn't have to understand it. Because damn it, this was the best tasting chocolate she had ever had in her entire life. She banged her head against the desk, still managing to somehow savor the taste.
Quick Note: This is going to be a really short fic. I'm just not in a Christmas mood. So in order to get festive. I'm writing this wisp of a Christmas fic. If it's not up to par, I'm sorry. And I'm sure it has been done, somewhere. SOMEHOW. I also apologize. The same old, InuYasha as a business guy. It has been done COUNTLESS TIMES. Am I right? But I don't really consider shaking up the plot significantly as taking away from a unique storyline. I just read the guidelines. And giggled for a few seconds. How are we to possibly go through every single piece to make sure that something hasn't been done before? And more importantly. Since virutally everything has been done in some form, what would be the point in writing? Some grammatical errors are likely to be present. I've re-read this repeatedly, and every single time I do. I find a new mistake. So please try to humor me. For some reason my OpenOffice is not detecting everything.