Chapter 1: Expectations and First Impressions

(Fruits Basket isn't mine. And the story view alters between third person accounts of Mii's POV and Shigure's POV. And Ages I'm guestimating Mii at about 3 years younger than Shigure. So she's like, 22 in the flashbacks, and he's 25.)

The young editor approached the large house. She was slightly nervous to be honest. Not only was this her first assignment, but the others in the editing department had told her this particular client was quite handsome. She was replacing his last editor, who had retired shortly before her arrival at the company, and being a novice herself she was hoping she could handle the job. Working with an established writer, however, she was certain he would at least prove to be a very professional man.

The woman wore a pale blue skirt suit, it was a little tight on her, and she would need to get another one, but it was her best outfit, and she wasn't willing to part with it just yet. The tight fabric of the outfit hugged her curves; her light brown hair fell halfway down her neck. She wore no makeup; she had never liked the way it looked on her. Her large brown eyes surveyed the vast expanse of land that belonged to her first client.

She soon found herself at the front door to the house. It was a rather large and quite delicate looking building. She brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear, took a deep breath, easing it out in a long soft sigh, before she reached out a hand, rapping softly on the door.

A man's voice from inside called out in a singsong way, "Cooooomiiiing!" The young girl standing on the porch shifted nervously as she waited for someone to answer the door. After what seemed like forever the door opened and the woman found herself staring at a tall man, with shaggy black hair, and bright playful eyes. He leaned against the doorframe, looking at her, his glasses perched on his nose, and a cigarette dangling from his lips. He wore a traditional style Japanese garment rather than the more modern clothing that one might expect.

The young woman blinked a couple times drawing her hand back and held it to her chest. This man was handsome, as she had been warned, but even more so than she had expected, a slight blush crept its way across her cheeks as she stared up at him, lost for words. He simply stared back at her, as though trying to figure out what she was doing knocking at his door. It was the man at the door who finally broke the silence, "Can I…help you?"

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There was a soft knock from the front door as Shigure sat in his office. He glanced towards the door and called out in his usual giddy singsong tone "Cooooomiiiing!" He turned his attention back to the phone that he held to his ear, "Hey, Ha'ri, someone has just arrived…and I'm expecting my new editor, so I must be going now to see if this is her….tell Kana hello for me…bye."

He hung up the receiver and stood, slipping a cigarette it between his lips and lighting as he made his way to the door. Opening it he found a bright eyed young woman in a rather form fitting blue outfit. He leaned against the doorframe and let his eyes scan her over as she pulled her hand back. The poor girl seemed startled by something…surely this shy young woman could not be his new editor. He waited for her to introduce herself, but she merely stared up at him.

Shigure blinked and decided that if she wasn't going to tell him who she was, he should break the silence. The cigarette still hanging from his lips, he inquired, "Can I…help you?"

The young woman blinked and then blushed, although he thought she may have been blushing already. "Oh! I…I'm sorry…" She held out her hand to him, "I'm Mii…and am I correct in assuming you are Shigure Souma?"

He gave her a small smile. She was rather cute, and only a few years younger than himself if he was guessing correctly. This could prove to be fun, he thought as he took her hand in his and his smile became a grin, "Yes…I'm Shigure…you must be my new editor…"

"Yes…I am…" she replied and continued to look at him. He grinned some more and kissed the back of her hand softly. This would indeed be fun…he noticed that her eyes widened some at the kiss, and chuckled silently.

"Please, come in…" He led her into the house and too his office, where he gestured that she should sit down. After she had taken the extra seat that was in the room, he sat at his cluttered desk. One thing about his house, it was always a mess, the typical bachelor pad.

"So….Mii, is it? You look to be fresh out of school! You must be quite excited to be out in the field…" Shigure pushed aside a small bowl of badly burned rice and propped an elbow on the desk, resting his cheek in the palm of his hand and looking at Mii.

"Well, of course I'm thrilled. Especially to be working with someone who is supposed to be as talented as you are!"

"Ah! So people say I'm a great talent! Well I must admit that I do have a bit of a knack for the job…but still…it is quite flattering to hear it from someone else!" Shigure beamed and straightened in his chair, his arms tucked in his Yukata sleeves.

"Well…what is your latest manuscript…may I see what you have so far?" Her eyes shined eagerly as she asked the question.

A sly little gleam shone in Shigure's eye, and he simple leaned back in his chair as he nonchalantly stated, "Oh…yes…I haven't begun it yet…."

He watched as Mii's expression changed to one of disbelief and shock, "B-but aren't the first 7 chapters due next week! You can't finish 7 chapters in a week! I don't care how talented you are!"

This reaction greatly pleased Shigure. This was quite fun…she was cute when she got flustered. "Yes well…I shall need an extension I suppose…"

"A-an extension? Well…I suppose…but Sensei! To ask for an extension my first time working with a client…I mean….it would simply be embarrassing!"

"Are you putting your pride before the quality of my work then? Tsk tsk…shameful, Mii…"

"B-but…." She was looking at him with huge watery eyes on the verge of tears. Ah…he took such joy in her adorable state of panic.

Shigure blinked and looked down at his desk, and as though seeing the manuscript sitting there for the first time in his life, he picked it up and looked at it "Hmm? What's this? Oh, my! It appears I've had the first 5 chapters done the whole time! How silly and forgetful of me!"

(Well, that's all for now till Chapter 2, which I will actually post shortly. Oh, does anybody know when Yuki moved in with Shigure? I think I might have the timeline a little messed up. Was Shigure living away from the main house yet when the Hatori/Kana thing happened? Well…for my story he is, cuz it suits my purpose. I jut need to know if Yuki would be around. Please Review and let me know.)