'Chapter 1 - So We Meet Again'
"Oh shit, I'm going to be so late!" A young woman spoke handing over some money to the taxi driver and got out.
"Thank you but I'll run from here." She spoke and shut the door running down the street. There was a large traffic jam and the young woman began cursing the gods of how they could do this to her at such a crucial moment in her young life.
"Excuse me…sorry…" The young woman spoke as she pushed through the large crowd trying to reach her destination on time. She lifted the folder she carried under her arm up, to secure it more but gasped when a large man, whom was running by knocked into her almost knocking her to the ground, but she watched with wide eyes as the contents of her folder spilled onto the street. Papers of drawings and sketches fell into puddles of water from last night's storm.
"My work!" The young woman screamed in horror. Tears glistened in her ocean-blue eyes as she got down on her hands and knees trying to save five years of her work, from drawings when she was in high school to ones where she was in college.
The young woman tried patting her work dry watching them smudge slightly, but she delicately placed them back into her folder knowing there wasn't anything she could do. She had turned around to pick up her most prized creation of all, one that actually won her first prize and money in numerous competitions, but a large perfectly polished black shoe stood on it crinkling and tearing it a little. She gasped in surprise at her drawing being trampled on and her eyes lifted up travelling over perfectly pressed dark grey trousers. Her eyes floated higher, looking at the matching dark grey coat stopping below the man's rear end and her eyes landed on thick and shiny jet-black hair swaying softly in the cool breeze. He held a leather black briefcase and she watched the man lift up his hand, the one that held the brief case, as he eyed his expensive watch. His right hand dug into his pocket and flipped out a cellular phone placing it to his ear.
"Where are you?" The young woman heard the man question to whoever was on the other end. His voice was rich and deep…very masculine she concluded. She finally stood up and poked the man in the back, trying desperately to get his attention.
"Excuse me Sir?" Her voice was soft, but she knew it could be heard. The young woman was completely ignored by the man and her blue eyes flashed angrily as she poked him a little harder this time. She watched as the tall man turned half way around, cool green-grey eyes stared down at her for a mere second, but he went back to talking, his back turned to the young woman once more.
"I realise there is a traffic jam, but if you are not here within ten minutes consider yourself fired!" The young woman watched as he hung up and she opened her mouth wishing to get his attention once more.
"Sir, please move your on my stu-"
"Tae it's me. I'm stuck in traffic again so make sure Kenshin starts interviewing, even if I'm not there. I'll try and make it to at least one bu-" The man had stopped not being able to continue with whatever else he was about to say as his cellular phone was snatched from his hand.
"WHAT ARE YOU HEARING IMPAIRED!" The young woman spoke in anger and threw the cellular phone onto the road; a car speeding by crushed the expensive piece of technology. God she hated cellular phones! Her ocean-blue eyes stared angrily up at green-grey ones; a couple of tears falling down her already flushed cheeks.
"I SAID GET OFF MY DRAWING!" The woman bellowed loudly. Other pedestrians stared at the two of them as they walked passed, she creating the commotion. She watched the man look down to where she was pointing and he lifted his leg watching the feisty woman bend down and snatch up the wrecked piece of paper and then observed as she turned around racing down the street, running away from him.
* * * *
The young woman raced down the street after she passed a coffee shop and got herself a takeaway coffee. She needed something to calm down her nerves and coffee had been the thing. If she smoked then she would have had a cigarette.
* * * *
The young woman stared up at the large building, which read:
"Himura Designs & Co."
The writing was bold and large displaying to all of Tokyo that this company was the leader in the fashion industry. The young woman took a deep breath and walked up the steps heading for the lobby. She made her way through the electronic doors and walked towards the reception counter.
"Good morning and welcome to Himura Designs & Co, how may I help you?" The young woman spoke from behind the counter in a friendly and extremely professional manner.
"I-I'm here for the interviews which start at 8:30 this morning. The company is looking for a new designer in women's fashion." The young woman replied while she struggled to hold her folder, her carry bag and her cup of coffee at the same time.
"The elevators are just around the corner. Please ask the gentleman to take you to floor 20." She smiled her thanks and made her way towards the elevator and pressed the button. Her eyes blinked in surprise when the doors opened immediately and a young man stepped out. He was dressed in black trousers, white long sleeved shirt, maroon vest and tie and clipped onto the vest was his gold plated name tag which read 'Yahiko' in bold black letters and the companies name just under it.
"Going up Ma'am?" He questioned and the young woman nodded her head and stepped into the elevator.
"Which floor?" He questioned again waiting for her reply.
"Umm, floor 20 thank you." The doors had closed and he pressed the button, but had to stop numerous times picking up other employees in the building. Misao had been pressed against the back wall of the elevator; her eyes were wide with worry as the coffee was dangerously close to spilling.
* * * *
"Anybody for floor 20?" The young man spoke up gaining the woman's attention. She had begun to mutter 'excuse me' here and there as the employees of the company where not moving out of the way.
A bright smile was placed over her lips as she finally made it and she hadn't even screwed anything up…
The young woman gasped in complete horror, her foot tangling with an employee's coat and she stumbled slightly, her hand instinctively gripping her coffee cup, the contents spraying everywhere and then…she fell to the carpet landing on top of the mess. She could hear a few coughs from the people in the elevator as they tried to cover up their laughter. The young woman stood up with the help of Yahiko, but she shrugged him off feeling completely humiliated already.
"Young lady, perhaps you wish to clean yourself up." The woman behind the reception desk on floor 20 spoke. The young woman's ocean-blue eyes followed the receptionists pointed finger and found it pointing to the female bathroom. She hurriedly raced towards it and stared at her 'tragic' reflection in the mirror once she was inside. Not only had she ruined the new top she had bought yesterday, especially for the interview, it was now covered in coffee stains. She had become the klutz she was known as when she was younger and permanently damaged the maroon carpet on the 20th floor of Himura Designs & Co. To top it all off she had made an idiot of herself in front of other employees and had thrown a complete strangers mobile phone onto the road, watching it being crumpled by a speeding car and not caring that it was one of the most expensive brands. The young woman shook her head of thoughts and spoke aloud before trying to look more respectable.
"This is it Misao, don't screw up your dream…"
* * * *
Misao stepped out of the bathroom and walked towards the sofa lounges and sat down in an unoccupied one. A man and two women eyed her up and down and then went back to reading the magazines, which were supplied to them by the company.
* * * *
Time passed as Misao's hands began to sweat, as she was the last one sitting in the waiting area, the other applicants already having completed their interviews and left. She looked up at the clock reading the time: 10:30
"Misao Makimachi?" Misao jolted at her name being called out and she stood up silently following the woman towards a closed door. The receptionist knocked once and opened the door waving her inside. Misao sat in a brown leather chair and watched the young woman place folders in front of the four interview panelists. A fifth was not present but the folder was still placed at the vacant spot, on top of the other applicants.
"Good morning…Miss Makimachi." The one in the middle spoke after he scanned the information in the folder obviously being her resume.
"My name is Kenshin Himura and I'm the founder of Himura Designs & Co." The redheaded man spoke a small comforting smile spreading onto his lips making Misao relax.
"It's an honor to meet you Sir. Your companies designs have been like a mentor to me." Misao replied a bright smile forming on her own lips returning the red headed mans gesture to silently relax.
"I see you have brought in your own folder as we requested, May we take a look?" He questioned and watched Misao pick it up with shaky hands.
"Mr Himura, Sir, there was a bit of an accident concerning my work so the-"
"Sorry I'm late." A deep voice interrupted Misao and she jerked her head up, her eyes following the tall man in a grey suit as he now occupied the seat besides Kenshin Himura. His face was turned to the Kenshin's but then he faced Misao and she began to sweat.
"We meet again." The man replied as his gaze fixed onto Misao's.
"H-Hai." Misao had squeaked in nervousness and wished for the floor to open up and swallow her whole. She was ready to end her humiliation and face her doom.
"Miss Makimachi, your folder please?" Kenshin insisted and Misao got up walking towards the long desk and shakily handed the folder over.
"As I said before, they have been involved in an accident and I apologise for the state they are in." Misao spoke and turned around heading back to the leather chair and sat down closing her eyes in mortification.
There were mumbled and hushed comments as the panel looked over her work. Misao opened her eyes and stared over at the tall man she had yelled at in the street earlier and watched, along with the other four on the interview panel as her most prized design ripped in half, he only holding the top of it now. Misao fisted her hand and bit her tongue knowing it was not wise of her to voice out it had been his fault for ruining it in the first place.
"Your work is…interesting Miss Makimachi." Kenshin spoke, but Misao heard the hidden message and voiced it aloud.
"But not what you are looking for right?" Misao's wide eyes stared into violet one's as the founder of the company was trying to make something up but the room fell silent as the man in the grey suit voiced his opinion.
"That's correct, thank you for coming, but you should look for another line of work." Misao bravely held the tears at bay, not wanting to cry at his harsh words. She stood up, grabbing her things and walked to the desk to grab her folder from Kenshin.
"Before you go Miss Makimachi, I was admiring the halter top you are wearing. May I ask were you purchased it from?" Misao's eyes focused on the halter-top she wore. It tied around her neck and the middle of her back, showing off her creamy skin.
"I-I made this myself Mr Himura…" Misao stuttered becoming embarrassed. Her stomach began churning in nervousness but she began to slowly explain.
"My mother taught me dressmaking and sewing at a young age and I liked it very much so I continued onwards in that field of work. A family friend helped me design and make the beads myself. They glitter every now and then turning a really deep shade of blue, but as you can see they are quite light at the moment. I placed them on a dark background, the halter being jet-black silk and sewed them on by hand myself." Misao turned half around to show them the back, her long braid flipping over her shoulder so they could see what she was talking about.
"The ties are complete beads and have been sewn to look like they have been tied in a bow. In fact there is a clasp fitted in the seam of the halter top for someone my size and so the beads are not disturbed at all." Misao watched as Kenshin nodded his head and she took her drawings, thanking them for their time and she walked dejectedly from the office closing the door silently behind her.
* * * *
(Inside the Interview Room)
"Her work was quite interesting, rather fresh looking too. I know you knew that Aoshi, so why did you turn her down?" Kenshin spoke to his colleague and good friend for over ten years now.
"Give me your phone." Aoshi spoke and Kenshin handed it over, it being identical to the one Aoshi used to have, but was a different colour.
"Where is yours?" Kenshin questioned, as it wasn't like his friend to leave it behind. His cellular phone was like the most important thing in Aoshi life…or so Kenshin presumed.
"Lost it in traffic…so to speak." Aoshi replied while dialing a number and placing the mobile to his ear.
"Lost in traffic? How'd that happen?" He questioned once more but listened to Aoshi's conversation, as he didn't answer him back.
"Tae its Aoshi. Get in contact with Kamatari and tell him to contact me on Kenshin's cell phone, thank you."
"Aoshi?" One of the panelists questioned wanting to know what he was up to. All four turned to Aoshi wanting to know exactly what he was thinking.
"She won't be our newest designer, in fact she'll be our newest model."
"WHAT?" The other four spoke loudly and slightly bewildered at Aoshi's assumption. They watched as he picked up his briefcase, placing the folders of the candidate's for the new designer job into a pouch and closed it once more while talking to his fellow colleagues.
"We are lacking young, high spirited talent on the catwalk these days. Megumi keeps pestering me that one day she won't be around to keep the audience in awe. I assume she wishes to start a family sooner then I thought. The other girls that model for us prefer to be the backdrop to Megumi and Kaoru. We are going to have to speak to Kaoru about becoming our main model, but this time she won't have Megumi besides her. This young woman, Misao Makimachi has got some spunk. She seems a little immature and may need work, but she's what this company is looking fort and we can change her to the way we want her." Aoshi picked up Kenshin's mobile when it started ringing, as he knew exactly who it would be.
"Kamatari, I need you to get in touch with a Misao Makimachi. Ask Tae for her information and give her a call. That's correct, Miss Makimachi has just become your newest assignment." Aoshi hung up ending the conversation.
"Aoshi I'm not sure I follow what you are planning, but I've always trusted your judgement and I will support your decision 100%." Kenshin spoke as Aoshi handed him back his phone.
"Trust? You haven't trusted everything I've said. What about the warning I gave you about Yukishiro Tomoe at saying she was no good because there was some connection between her and "Shishio Enterprises"? You never took my advice then. What about my support of telling you to take out Miss Kamiya. She's been waiting for a long time too. She's a wonderful woman by the way, I ought to know after all…" Aoshi stared into wide violet eyes and a bright red face.
"This meeting is over, hire that gentlemen you had listed before he goes to Shishio Enterprises, a Soujiro Seta. Don't worry Kenshin, Miss Makimachi will be back and working for the company in no time, I guarantee it." Aoshi stood up with his briefcase and left the room closing the door soundlessly behind him, he having the last words of the morning.
* * * *
To be continued…
* * * *
Author's Notes:
MINNA-SAN! Help! I've got no title! Does anyone know a good one for this? Please help me? I've got a chapter title but no main!*Dodges the throwing kodachi's and kunai's at creating another story*
I know its another one, but I couldn't help it. It just popped into my brain and I had to get it down. I sort of got this idea from watching too much of 'Pretty Woman', 'Miss Congeniality', 'One Fine Day' and 'What Women Want'. I've got Aoshi being the full ladies man and stuff…and the workaholic too, but don't panic Misao's not a prostitute or anything. ^_^
She's actually quite the klutz and not too good in high heels or wearing dresses, or showing off a lot of skin etc. She pretty much speaks her mind and blows her top if she becomes frustrated and stuff.
Fortunately for her she has a professional helping her out, that being Kamatari…the gay modeling professional, who always refers to Aoshi as Aoshi darling or Aoshi sweetums, no matter how much Aoshi hates it.
Yes Aoshi's the "lady-killer" where they have to fit around his schedule and has practically dated (slept with) most of the single woman in the company (the ones he considers good looking that is). Yes that does include Kaoru, Megumi and Tokio who are models, but don't worry that is now in the past and won't be mentioned too much…
There is surprisingly a huge twist in this story, well not really a twist more like a complete and utter discovery…one that no one would have guessed.
Yeah so Aoshi's arrogant so far, but he'll mellow out. Guess who does that? Sure it may seem obvious but hey there are problems like love rivals and work. Of course there is the clincher of Misao getting hurt, by Aoshi…what a dummy! And where does she go…well…what about Shishio Enterprises? Hmm I feel a plot for the ending coming on right now… Well can't tell you now, you'll find out later on…