Summary: Its one hundred and sixty years in the future and the corporate world is a killer. Literally. Demon control now powerfully permeates the existence of mankind in spite of the human figureheads present to placate the race. Within this setting, a troubled young woman tries her best to make a living, all while avoiding the dangerously attractive sexual advances of her demon boss.
Chapter 1 Ain't Nothin Goin On but the Rent
No one needed to know just how dire her situation was. She was three months late on her rent and she would be spending the last of her money on her utilities today.
It was not as if she did not have a job. Indeed, she worked for a highly reputable corporation that dealt with the consolidation of power for the Western Lands. There was an overwhelming need for those companies, as the time when humans reigned on earth was long gone.
Because humans had been so busy fighting amongst themselves, it was painfully easy for the demon world to rise to power. Jordan overheard one human woman berating another small pretty woman with glasses and long red hair for a handsome demon's interest her. The shy girl looked utterly miserable. Jordan's disdain for showing emotions wouldn't allow for any pity towards the weak creature. The shy girl heaved a shuddery and somewhat tearful sigh as the spiteful shrew supervisor sauntered arrogantly away.
Jordan frowned inwardly. Why the small redhead allowed such disrespect was far beyond Jordan's understanding. Such cowardice only invited more cruelty. Had it been her in Ayame's shoes, she would have taken Yura: the slut, into the bathroom and calmly snapped off all ten of her fingers. Then she would have stuffed them all down her throat, and would still have had time for a late lunch. Indeed, their bitch of a supervisor wasn't even a demon. She was merely a some human slut who was jealous of their demon superior's attentions.
And it seemed as though some things never changed.
Demons played on such human weakness like vice and jealousy and it took no more than a decade of both sophisticated politics and brutal suppression from demons to become the undisputed leaders of the world. Most denied the existence of these powerful creatures until the very end. Others simply saw little hope. Thus, they gave up before they even began to fight.
Rather than enforce direct rule over the weaker race, demons were content to leave them to their affairs. Thus, provided that the human race always remember who was truly in power, they were allowed to keep their figurehead rulers and in this way, demons and humans lived in uneasy coexistence.
Yes, human rule had gone and gone with it was the need for sly and secret attempts to gain world power through subtle means, such as wealth or technological sophistication. With the domination of demons, it was made clear that only the strongest survived and ruled. Strength was the sole foundation of power. Other wants such as wealth, came only as a result of one's power. Money was no longer enough to lead one it.
Indeed, to rely on such to bring one power was dangerously considered a weakness. Many weaker demons had been disposed of (oftentimes, promptly at the major power business meetings) for attempting to use such means as a way of threatening other powerful demons. After all, what good was wealth when you are dead? Thus, the strongest lands were run by the strongest demons: individuals or clans whose power was so formidable, it could wipe out a small nation if provoked.
It just so happened that Jordan worked for one of these powerful corporations. WesternTaiyoukai was by far one of the most powerful corporations in the world. It had a number of specialists from biology to warfare weaponry. Thus, one would assume that Jordan would have no problems making ends meet as an employee of such an institution. However, this couldn't be farther from the truth.
These days, humans were paid far less than demons. Such a policy was the result of demonkinds' perpetual disregard for the human race. After all, it isn't too wise to give too much money to children. They would only squander it meaninglessly. By operating under that premise, demons justified the significantly lower wages humans received.
To add insult to injury, prices rose tremendously, as a result of the change to demon currency. Moreover, prices rose because the value of items rose. More and more work was being put into goods to emphasize longevity. This better suited the long lifespan of demon consumers and it helped demonkind undo some of the hurt humans had inflicted upon the land as a result of their wasteful nature.
Foreveria an locatious Earthius. This Earth will last forever.
Consequently, the quick demon mind was swift to delve into the scientific realm to search for substances one could use that would be durable enough to withstand centuries of use, all while avoiding the human tendency of stripping the land of its much needed natural resources. Moreover, because demons did not have the difficulty humans had with reconciling science with spirituality, they combined some of the most powerful elements of both in many areas. One astounding example of this was the infusion of demon youki into common goods. Such energy ensured the prolonged existence of the object. This ultimately led to a tremendous rise in the prices of common, everyday items.
Needless to say, jobs were hard to find. Although there were many who could seemingly be trained to manipulate youki power to specialize for employment opportunities, many more were still too spiritually closed to accomplish such feats. Thus, much potential was wasted and many humans struggled in this cruel new world.
As harder times dawned on humanity, it seemingly sold its soul so to speak. Humanity paradoxically became the very thing the demon race accused it of being: depraved. Consequently, nearly every reliable (or at one time) honest job came into the jurisdiction of crime lords and other unsavory characters. Those opposed to such conditions were killed and others sought employment within the demon businesses, where you might be afforded some protection, if you proved yourself to be a valuable asset.
However, one need not mention many opportunities for long term employment within the demon world. Few humans rarely earned the respect of demons enough to remain safely in their positions for long, and many human employees were often disposed of on the spot for any insubordination ranging from "attempts" at physical aggression to even the most minor verbal responses. Because demons did not have emotions, they were highly unsympathetic to any outbursts resulting from them.
Thus, it was within this setting that Jordan worked as one of the rare human beings who could draw on demon youki and manipulate it. Even more rare was the fact that she could do so even if the demon was unwilling. In short, she could injure and kill a demon with his own power- and she had done so many times.
Yet, no one needed to know that either. Besides, none of that mattered because 1.) she lived in a tiny, yet expensive ant demon apartment colony, and 2.) her wages at WesternTaiyoukai were only enough to pay for rent and two other bills. Consequently, Jordan was one of many humans who were struggling economically.
She looked around. WesternTaiyoukai had hundreds of employees that were both demon and human, and it boasted a great deal of diversity from both races.
A flourished gesture of the Japanese female supervisor caught her attention out of the corner of her eye. Jordan covertly glanced over from beneath her long black eyelashes. Following the flamboyant movement of her hand, the female let out a high pitched laugh in response to a joke that had been told by the darkly handsome executive wolf demon, Kouga. He escorted Yura up the stairs to his office and the door was promptly shut. Jordan winced at the sound of her irritating laugh and bluntly reflected on what would probably happen now.
They would probably fuck now.
Jordan raised a dark eyebrow at herself as her thoughts seemed to have lingered on that option. She promptly shook the thought out of her head. She was aware that many human females made up for their lesser wages by offering sexual services to demon bosses. It probably explained why she seemed to be the only one at her job struggling with bills. It seemed that everyone else had found a way to supplement their income—by any means necessary.
In any case, despite her meager earnings, Jordan considered it her duty to do her job as efficiently as possible. But, she couldn't be too good at it or she would attract the attention of others. For two years now, she'd worked at this company and she did her job. Nothing more, and nothing less. She didn't make friends. She didn't hold conversations with anyone, much less the demon workers. She certainly didn't invite any romantic attentions, and her persona helped her with her deliberate avoidance of social interactions. At best she was know to be a loner. At worse, she had never ever blinked when some muttered "bitch" under their breath. Let them think what they want, as long as they didn't lose whatever little sanity they had, and attempt to attack, she was fine. Had she always been so defensive? She answered the question with a definite wry "yes." And it paid to be in this world. Sometimes it could mean the difference between life or a miserable death. She didn't have time to engage in trivial relationships. Instead she directed her primary fa
Thus, all in all her two years at WesternTaiyoukai had been lonely and uneventful—and that was exactly the way she wanted it. She'd been able to miraculously manage her own expenses on her meager paycheck and she'd never needed to rely on anyone else, or deal with the debts that always came with contingency. Even if it meant going hungry every now and again. And yet, with the recent 30 youk raise in her colonies' already ridiculous rent, Jordan was beginning to wonder if it was time to make some new friends…
A moan came from Kouga's office.
Then again, homelessness might definitely have its perks.
Author's Notes:
Okay, I took economics six centuries ago and so my evaluation of inflation when changing currencies might be a little mucked up. If we've got some economists in the house, please stand up.
1 youk6 dollars
Also, I'm so sorry for the people who originally read this fic and were rendered blind because of the messed up format. As I said before, I'm in Japan and I know very little about computers. I saw Microsoft Word and I went to work. Thus, I had no idea how crazy it looked… and the preview I saw in was fine before I uploaded it. Gosh! I would like to extend a huge thank you to the people who reviewed and told me about it. I would have never known. (Runs up to those individuals and gives them a huge bear hug…)
Anyway, the story is here and all criticism is appreciated.
I've read stories with Sesshy in the business setting and I've always been intrigued by that. I mean, you've got to admit, he'd probably kick ass in the corporate world. I think I want to explore Sesshy's intelligence in this fic. You know quiet ones are always very perceptive. I'd also like to delve into perhaps some of his philosophical views on power.
Also, I hope you will enjoy my original character. She's got some issues she'll have to deal with…especially when she comes into contact with a certain arrogant dog demon.
Her pride will be her biggest problem, and she has a habit of being very cut and dry. This characteristic will give her numerous problems in this crazy world.
Enjoy.
(Oh yeah, if anybody is still looking for an update to "All You Wanted" in the Cowboy Bebop section…it's coming soon. No, really…it is!)
D