Author's Note: I do not own Inuyasha by Rumiko Takahashi or Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi by Shungiko Nakamura. This is a fan based fiction piece written in my spare time. I am not getting paid to write this. Please review and let me know if I should continue writing or let it collect internet dust.

CHAPTER 2: SAY YOU LOVE ME

KAGOME

Ten years ago…

"Takahashi-senpai...I love you." His eyes widened but his expression seemed unchanged. I waited for what felt like hours for a response but more realistically only a minute had passed.

"Ah...what I meant was...uh…" words, words, oh God I couldn't find words to take what I said back.

"You want to date me?"

Now…

They better open up a position in the literature department soon. I probably won't make it.

I sat in the breakroom with a cup of coffee. I already felt exhausted emotionally. The first day hadn't even ended and already I have been traumatized by the graveyard that is the office and sexually harassed by my boss. What I know so far: The Emerald section is full of weird men (and now me) as their editors. They really love shoujo manga (enough to use themselves as models for the artist).

All I wanted to do was edit literature…

Two months ago…

Before my father passed away, I remember reading books with him every night. He helped nurture my love of reading. With my grandfather being in publishing, it just seemed like destiny. When I started at his company, there was a lot of pressure placed on me. I was put on some big-name accounts with famous authors. Even though I was stressed I loved my job. It seems to differ from manga. It takes a long time to publish novels and you have to work a lot with the authors. I put everything into my job and was doing well which made me happy. But I couldn't change how others saw me.

On my last day of work, I was in the break room getting coffee when I overheard my coworkers talking in the hallway.

"The best-seller this month is another book that the Higurashi heir worked on."

"You've got to be kidding me. Again?"

"Well of course the granddaughter of the company gets special treatment. I've been here for two years and never get to work with important authors."

"We're always stuck with the authors no one has even heard of. I bet she doesn't even do much work. All she has to do is send the manuscripts to printing and gets high praise. It makes me sick!"

"She's worthless."

I never wanted to use my family name to my advantage. I just wanted to do work that I loved.

That day, I walked into my grandfather's office and put in my resignation. I promised to come back when I had proved my worth. My grandfather was reluctant but understood. He was more upset that I would be moving out of the family home.

Now…

"Hey." the voice came from behind me. I turned to see Tanaka staring at me with a cigarette in his mouth.

"Yes?!" I heard my voice crack. Damn it, why does he make me nervous? I started to get irritated. I hope you're hear to apologize for that stupid kiss.

"Did you send the manuscripts?" I asked giving him a slightly bitchy look.

"Yeah, this month's issue is done." He sat down in front of me and my eyes immediately shifted to my coffee. There was no way I was going to look him in the eye. "So I just talked to the higher-ups. You're the heir to Higurashi Publishers?" I looked up and knew he saw my face change.

"I'm not related to that company at all." He could see through my facade.

"Are you mad that you're forced to work on manga instead of literature?" He crossed his arms and looked at me with his cigarette dangling out of his mouth.

"No." I sighed. "It's just...well...isn't shoujo manga all about romance? Love?" I looked back down. "It's just not my thing. Not that I have any negative ideas about it. I just don't understand it."

"If you hate this job then just quit. It'll be a burden for my group to carry you." He said so bluntly. "There are lots of people who can do jobs they actually like."

"But that's-" I could feel my eye twitch. Calm down! Calm down!

"Everyone starts out as a rookie. There's no way to tell if your time here will be worthless since you have editing experience." Is he trying to encourage me? "Well…"

"Useless people are always useless." That's it, I'm going to murder him. "Everyone has left for the day so you can too." He put his cigarette out and stood up to leave.

"You can call me by my name you know."

"What?"

"My name is Higurashi."

"Oh yeah that reminds me." He looked me in the eye. "Have I met you before?"

"I doubt it." I looked back down. There is some familiarity I can't seem to shake though. He shrugged and turned around to leave. I decided to get up and pour my coffee out in the sink.

I made my way back to the office. Saw that my desk was the cleanest part of the office and it made me feel a little better about this place. It's still a garbage dump in here. I went to the bookcase in the back where they keep the printed copies of their best sellers. I guess I need to do some research. I picked the first ten from a series and made a stack on my desk. I can't give up on my plan. If I am useless after giving my best effort then I only have myself to blame. I refuse to be called useless before I have even started.

I'll show everyone what I can do.

TANAKA

"Going home?" asked a passing employee.

"Have a meeting. Have a good night." She gave me a smile as I waved. I started to put on my coat. This fall is starting to feel like an early winter. I made my way past the Emerald section and paused at the door. At the corner of my eye, I saw the new editor. What is she still doing here?

She was reading manga and had a stack of them on her desk. She looked stressed as she read the book.

Why do I feel like I know her?

The next day…

"Why is it so hard to get rid of fruit flies?" asked Sohei as he placed a fly trap by the window.

"It's because for a whole week we eat nothing but ramen and don't bother cleaning up after. This place becomes a total sty." Saito said as he tied off the last bag of trash.

"It was fine when it was just us but now we have to keep it clean for our new editor." I said while opening the blinds. The light filled the room and made it seem less like a cave. Hopefully this will put her in a better mood.

"The secretary said she's on her way up." said Sohei while looking down at his phone. "She just got into the elevator."

"Don't scare her off." I sat down at my desk and lit a cigarette.

Saito held the gift basket while Sohei prepared the confetti cannon.

KAGOME

I'm exhausted. I kept my head down as I walked out of the elevator. I guess reading almost fifty volumes of manga in one night was over my limit. It doesn't help that I was dreading coming to work in a pigsty. How can they concentrate while working in that mess?

"Good morning." I said dreadfully.

"GOOD MORNING HIGURASHI!" It happened so fast. Bright lights, confetti being shot out of a mini cannon, and a gift basket being put into my arms.

"I'm sorry, I must be in the wrong office." I tried to turn around but had myself spinned around by one of the editors. The one I only half met yesterday.

"Oh come on now. We're sorry for neglecting you yesterday." More like scaring and traumatizing me yesterday. "It gets crazy here during month end."

"We heard it's your first time editing manga. We hope you can come to us with any questions." a younger man said as both he and the other editor smiled. I saw Tanaka standing in the back inhaling his disgusting cigarette.

"Uh...thanks?" I need to get out of here!

"Oh where are my manners? I'm Sohei Miroku and this is Saito Shippo. You've already met our leader Tanaka."

"Oh um...nice to meet you." They guided me to my desk and I saw that I sat next to Saito while Sohei sat across from me.

We spent the first hour going over how the month's schedule goes and why they seem so dead to the world by the end. First week is checking the plot of the manga and going over the outline. At this point they're at their best with the most energy. Second week is going over the rough sketch and finishing the first rough draft of the manuscript. A little stressed by this point but they still stay positive. Third week is going over each page and at this point they are not sleeping (or showering). The final week is the final proofread where they are on the verge of dying. I took notes but could see that this job was going to be harder than what I did at my grandfather's company.

The next few hours were spent in training. Saito gave me some phototypesetting practice. I haven't had to use an xacto knife since high school.

"Be careful to stay within the lines here." Sohei motioned with his finger.

"Okay." I said concentrating carefully. Why does this seem so much harder when people are watching me.

"They say if you don't stay within the lines, your love life is out of line."

"Saito, you went outside of the line the other day." Tanaka said not looking up from his paperwork.

"What!? No way! Why didn't you tell me?" Saito stood up from his desk and faced Tanaka.

"It was this month's issue. Page thirty, second panel on the first speech bubble."

"If you noticed why didn't you tell me to fix it before it got printed?!" He yelled.

They continued to bicker as I went back to my practice work. I paused at the last panel.

"Something wrong?" ask Sohei.

"Oh no. It's just that this panel seems so empty. Like the author couldn't decide what to put so they just left it as text."

"NO!" yelled Saito across the room. "That scene is intentional!" He's very passionate.

"But why is it intentional? It seems like a wasted frame."

At this Saito stood straight and puffed out his chest. Sohei leaned over to whisper in my ear.

"Prepare for the theatrics."

"In every story," Saito started. "There is the build up of emotion." He walked back and forth while gesturing with his arms.

"It builds to this very scene which you find empty or lacking. It is the scene where the main character and her partner finally admit their feelings for each other. The ultimate love confession is expressed after they had fought it for so long." Saito clasped his hands together and put them next to his cheek. "It's heart-grabbing!"

I laughed nervously. How is it heart-grabbing? Saito sat down at his desk and turned to me.

"It's easier for the readers to relate to our heroine. That's why we show the readers that it's coming. We let the anticipation build and build until the final panel appears! DON'T YOU LOVE THAT FEELING?" He hugged himself. I wanted to laugh but…

I don't understand at all.

Not that I don't understand what they are trying to say, I don't understand those kinds of scenes. Why do they always have white backgrounds and have to use so many tones? I don't really understand why they always make everything from the hair to the clothes flutter when there is no wind and things for some reason have sparkles. I know it's just manga but why do the characters get happiness so easily?

I think I'm just jaded. I've only ever been in one relationship and it wasn't even a long one. I don't think it makes me pessimistic. I just prefer to move forward without looking back.

A hand on my shoulder pulled me out of my thoughts. I turned to see Tanaka as he gave my shoulder a small squeeze.

"I'm telling you, I feel like we've met before. I just can't recall where."

Don't touch me like that. "Well we're both in publishing, maybe we saw each other in passing without realizing." His expression showed slight disappointment at my answer. What is with this guy?

"Yeah." He turned around and walked back to his desk. "You're probably right."

TANAKA

Why do I feel like I know her? It can't be just a coincidence.

Saito who sat backwards in his seat scooted his chair closer to Higurashi.

"Hey Kagome-chan. What are you planning to do with the company's manga catalog?"

"Oh well since this is my first time working in manga, I wanted to familiarize myself with the books the company has published. I hope to have them memorized." she had made a copy of the catalog and had already made marks of books she has read.

"Really?! You know our company has thousands of books published right?"

"Well I'm not just going to memorize the titles, I want to read them all."

"Wow, you're dedicated! I could never do that."

"Oh it's not too much trouble for me. Besides, I used to read all the books at the library when I was in high school. It was my only hobby."

At that moment I knew.

KAGOME

"What's wrong?" Tanaka had a look on his face that had the staff worried.

"...It's nothing." He quickly turned back around and went back to his desk. His face back to the cold look he seemed to always have.

What's with him? I didn't have time to dwell on it. I needed to get back to work but I couldn't shake the feeling of Tanaka's eyes on me.

Three weeks later…

I get it now. This is the worst week of my life. It's been a hard three weeks at my new job but now I can understand why everyone looks dead at this point. Even my cleanliness has taken a back seat to my many anpan wrappers and paper cups of old tea bags.

"Ueno Publishing, this is Tanaka."

I tried to stay awake as I continued with the phototypesetting. My adrenaline started pumping when a yell was heard.

"WHAT?! You're not done yet? You said yesterday that you would have it done this morning! When can you get it done?" Tanaka yelled into the phone. His lit cigarette practically falling out of his mouth. "You don't know?! WHAT THE HELL?! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST TO PUSH BACK THE DEADLINE?! THE PRINT OFFICE IS ALREADY PISSED OFF AT US!"

I feel bad for whoever he's talking to.

Tanaka hung up the phone and put out his cigarette. He grabbed his messenger bag and started heading towards the hallway.

"Higurashi, come with me. We're going to the author's place."

"Right now?"

"Grab the phototypesetting sheets. We're going to do them while we're there. Don't forget your supplies because we'll probably be there all night."

"All night? I can't do that."

"You're the only one who is free right now. We'll have to work from there. I'll hold the elevator for you." He dialed a number on his phone and put it to his ear. "This is Tanaka. There's a problem…"

I didn't try and argue because I honestly had no energy to do so. I grabbed my things and followed him the to elevator.

"Thank you for doing business with us." He hung up his phone and put a cigarette in his mouth.

"You know smoking is bad." I said between yawns.

"Give it six months, you'll be chain smoking just like me."

Some time later…

Even here at the author's place, everyone looks like they're dying. The author sat in the back while four artists rushed to get the pages inked. Tanaka made a b-line towards the author who seemed to be crying.

"Ta-Tanaka." she looked up.

"IF YOU HAVE TIME TO CRY OUT OF GUILT, WHY CAN'T YOU USE THAT TIME TO MEET YOUR DEADLINE?!" he screamed.

"I CAN ONLY WORK SO FAST, I AM ONE PERSON!" she yelled gripping her pencil in her hand. She looked like she wanted to punch him. I don't blame her.

"I'M THE ONE THAT SHOULD BE MAD HERE. NOT YOU!" Tanaka put his stuff down at an empty table and I did the same. I felt awkward just standing there.

"I know I'm causing a lot of trouble but I want to make sure this page is drawn well. This is the highlight of the chapter. I can't just be lazy by saying I can fix it later when it's compiled into a book." she said as she wiped the tears from her eyes. A pile of used tissues could be seen in the waste basket near her table.

"If you can't allow yourself to be lazy then don't miss your deadline. You have no right to make requests so early in your career."

"I know that!"

"How many pages still need to be drawn?"

"Five pages." she said as she put her face in her hands. They all looked exhausted. How can they work like this?

"You're unbelievable! Hurry up and start drawing."

"You don't have to keep telling me that!" You're not helping.

Tanaka started laying out his work on the table and grabbed an ashtray from his bag. He carries his own?

"Is my work any good?" the author asked. I don't know who she was asking as she was staring down at her hands.

"What?" Tanaka looked up.

"Do I have time to fix it? I don't even know if my work is good or not. What if I'm just doing this for nothing?"

"It's too late to think about that now." Tanaka lit a cigarette.

"I want to fix it."

"You need to keep drawing."

"Tanaka, I…"

"Don't waste even more of our time." Tanaka said coldly. He sat down and started working on the phototypesetting.

The author started to tear up again. I need to do something.

"Excuse me," I put my hand on her shoulder. She looked up at me and I could see how dark the circles under her eyes were. Poor girl. "I...I really enjoyed your last book."

"What?"

"I mean..well…" Take a deep breath Higurashi. "I'm new to the manga editing department but I'm currently reading all of the books the company has published. I really find your work very interesting. I even purchased last month's copy."

"But doesn't the company give you free copies?"

"Well yes they do, but I think that buying it myself makes it more worthwhile for the author. Just because I can get it for free shows how much I actually enjoy it if I use my own money for a copy."

"You use your salary from Ueno to give money back to them." Tanaka said bluntly looking at me over the rim of his glasses. I kept still as my eyes widened a bit.

"You're just realizing that now aren't you?"

"Don't belittle what I'm trying to say!" I turned to him and gave him an annoyed look before going back to the author. "I'm just saying that I really enjoy your work and I understand how much pressure you're under. I want to help and together we can get this done."

"Oh my, that's so sweet." Her eyes began to tear up again. Please be crying for happiness this time.

Tanaka put a hand on her shoulder giving her a chance to wipe her eyes and look up.

"Have I ever been wrong about your work before? Higurashi is right, your stuff is good. I've spoken to the printing agency. We got the deadline pushed back to tomorrow morning. Higurashi and I are here to help you get it done." he said nonchalantly.

So that's who he was talking to on the phone. He was talking to the print agency in the elevator.

"But you said I had to have it done by this afternoon."

"I can't make you work any faster and no work is worse than late work. Don't forget that things like this can only hurt your reputation so learn from this."

"I will! I will!" she said having found a new rush of adrenaline.

"Then let's get to work!" he exclaimed.

"Yes, sir!"

So even if I didn't try and cheer her up, he was going to let her finish her work.

We worked into the night monitoring the progress of the artists while also proofreading the pages. By seven a.m. we had finished the last page and Tanaka called the printing agency to let them know we were dropping it off. We got back to the office at nine a.m. and I couldn't even make it to my desk. I collapsed on the couch in the lounge realizing that I had been awake for over twenty-four hours. Tanaka finished the last cigarette in his pack and let what was left of the butt dangle in his mouth.

"You've worked hard, I'm glad we somehow made it in on time." Tanaka said. "You really helped a lot."

"Huh?" I asked suddenly having a short burst of energy.

"You helped by cheering her up. She's usually not down like that."

"Oh." I said sadly. "I wish I could have been more encouraging. I just didn't really know what to say and kind of blurted out something without thinking first."

"Well anyway," he handed me a cold can of coffee. "Good job." I looked up to see his smiling face. My face became flush. So he can smile. Wait, why am I embarrassed? Is my heart pounding?

I took the coffee and opened it while looking away. "Thank you." I sipped the coffee. It was the best tasting coffee I had ever had. Probably because I was delirious from lack of sleep.

"You know I think it's good to be honest and straight-forward. Saying that you enjoy their work is really encouraging."

"If that's true then that makes me feel better." I laughed nervously then shifted my gaze to him.

Oh why am I nervous? I watched him smoke his cigarette. Maybe I need to change my opinion about Tanaka. He's not a total jerk, he works hard to bring out the best of the authors and create something good. The kind of thing I've been dreaming about, he's actually doing. My heart started beating faster. I quickly turned away.

"You're still the same." he said putting out his cigarette. I looked at him but couldn't read his expression.

"What do you mean?" I looked at him blankly.

"You don't remember me." he said disappointed.

"I don't think we know each other."

Something in the air shifted and I didn't get a chance to react as Tanaka grabbed my shoulders and pushed me onto my back.

"What are you doing?"

"Maybe you'll remember this." He took off his glasses and flung them across the room. He climbed on top of me and pressed his lips against mine. I quickly turned my head to free my mouth from him.

"Tanaka! What the fuck?" I tried to get out from underneath him but he grabbed my mouth and kissed me again. I have to escape.

I slapped his face and got off the couch when he pulled back.

"Ouch." he said nonchalantly.

"What the fuck? Nothing gives you the right to just kiss me!" I rubbed my lips with the back of my hand to get the feeling of his lips off of me. "Do you think this is funny? Am I just a joke to you?"

"Joke?" he stood up from the couch. "Have I always been funny to you?"

"What? I should be upset here, not you."

"You look older, but you're still the same person. The only thing that has changed is your attitude."

"What are you talking about?"

"It's nice knowing that you can easily dump me and then not even remember me."

"Dump you? I don't know what-"

"My parents divorced when I was a senior in high school so my family name changed." he grabbed his glasses and his bag and walked towards the door. He turned and looked at me as his hand turned the knob.

"My name used to be Takahashi Inuyasha." he left the room and I sat there with my mouth open.

Takahashi Inuyasha…

That name...how do I know that name?

Takahashi Inuyasha…

Memories are flooding back. The library, the rain, the confession...

Takahashi Inuyasha…

"Do you love me?"

TAKAHASHI-SENPAI?!

I quickly got up and ran out the door to chase him.

"Wait, Takahashi!" I caught him at the elevator. Takahashi = Tanaka. My first love from high school. The one who broke my heart? Why did I have to see him again? Why do I have to work with him?

"Don't you walk away from me! How dare you just announce who you are and runaway? After what you did to me?"

"What I did? You're the one who slapped me then disappeared without a word!"

"What the hell are you talking about?!"

"What? Do you have selective memory or something? You're a piece of work!"

"You're one to talk! It might have just been a stupid school girl crush but I actually cared about you! And you just threw me away like I was nothing!"

"I did no such thing you wench!"

"It wasn't a hard question to answer! I just wanted to know if you loved me and you laughed at me!"

"I don't remember laughing! And even if I did, you didn't think that maybe because I was a teenage boy I laughed from being nervous?!" What? That stopped me.

"Did you seriously hold this grudge for ten years? Over a misunderstanding?" he calmed down enough to wait for my reaction. My eyes started to water. God damn it, I'm so angry.

"Are you a moron?" he said blankly.

"You-you're the moron!"

"Good comeback."

"Fuck you!"

"Well mystery solved, guess I can come onto you from now on."

"What?!"

"You messed me up. No matter what kind of relationship I try to have, my thoughts always come back to you." his eyes changed from anger to determination and he entered the elevator.

"For that reason, I'm gonna make sure that you say you love me again. You better get ready." the elevator closed and he was gone. I sat there dumbfounded listening to the pings of the elevator as it reached its destination.

Author's Note: Any review is appreciated!