Title: The Long Meeting
Author: Ree
Theme: Minor Characters (Shaw quote)
Genre: General
Version: Anime or Manga
Rating: G

All characters from Sailor Moon belong to Takeuchi Naoko, I'm just borrowing them for awhile.

Kenji sat politely listening to the speaker that the company had brought in to help motivate them. So far everything he had said made sense, but Kenji had heard most of it before. He figured that this was more like a refresher for the older folks and an introduction to the newer ones. 'Not too much information, not too little information. Just right if you don't want to scare anyone off.' He just wish that there was more new information for him. These meetings were slowly becoming very boring the longer he was with the company. He knew that the bosses did not mean for them to do so, as they had to sit through them, too. And he was glad that the speakers were normally at least entertaining, but this one wasn't. And so today, he just wished he could have stay home and been with Ikuko while the children were at school. He figured that would be a lot more fun, and maybe more productive.

Without meaning to, Kenji started thinking of all the things he'd be doing at home. 'I could have watched the kids go out the door this morning, and maybe have helped get Usagi moving early enough to not be late for school. Then Ikuko and I could have cleaned up the breakfast mess together like we used to. After that, I could help her with the chores, after all I am good with the vacuum. And I am willing to help with the laundry. Then we could talk about us, all the things we want, and places that we would like to go to. And talk about things we would like to do someday. Some might just be air castles, but it would be more productive and enjoyable than sitting here.'

Snapping his attention back to the meeting, Kenji hoped that he didn't miss anything important. Surreptitiously looking around, no one seemed to notice that he had mentally left for a moment. Focusing again on the speaker, he spotted the clock above the gentleman's right shoulder. 'I still have to listen for three more hours?! I hope that they serve lunch soon.' As the speaker droned on about how to motivate the workers underneath you, Kenji wished he would practice what he was preaching. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a skirt move and it caught his attention. 'Ikuko! What is she doing here?' Very cautiously, he tilted his head so he could spot the owner of the dress. It wasn't Ikuko. It was a member of the catering staff. 'Should have known better. Maybe they'll start serving soon. Ikuko would have already given everyone a cup of green tea to tide them over while we listened.' Focusing once again on the monotone speech, he wished with all his might that he had a cup of Ikuko's tea in front of him.

The speaker suddenly changed his pitch, and Kenji wondered what was coming up. "Okay, as we are about to break for lunch, I would like to give you a quote to discuss during your meal."

Kenji stifled the groan that was trying to escape. He was sitting with Matsushite, Yamamoto, and three new people whose names had not stuck in his brain. He was sure they would want to discuss all the fine points of the quote.

"This was said by the Irish playwright, George Bernard Shaw. "A lifetime of happiness! No man alive could bear it: it would be hell on earth." So discuss what you think of this man's idea, and how it applies to your work."

With that, he finally sat down and the caterers finally served lunch. Kenji looked over at his table companions. All of them were looking at him. 'I can't believe it. We have to discuss that! I guess it's so we won't experience "hell on earth". I would love to try a lifetime of happiness and see though.' He wondered if his face looked as shocked as his table companions.

Focusing his gaze on Matsushite and Yamamoto, he let all the previous training start working. "Do you think Shaw-san is right?" His question helped to focus them, as he knew it would.

Matsushite shook his head no. "I think a lifetime of happiness is a dream that all struggle for."

Yamamoto narrowed his eyes in concentration. "I think that if all you had was happiness in your life, then you would have no sense of accomplishment. So ultimately, you would not be happy. What about you Tsukino-san?"

Kenji thought for a moment. Would he have understood how lucky he was to have found Ikuko if he had not experienced unhappiness before? And would he have comprehended just how much of a miracle it was that Usagi and Shingo were in this world if he did not fear for them and Ikuko before their birth?

Yamamoto and Matsushite patiently waited for his answer. The three whose names he didn't know were eying their food impatiently. He wanted to be like those three, but he had learned to hide it a long time ago. He once was a dad of little kids, and now he was a dad of teenagers. He knew that children and new employees would learn a bad habit quicker than anything he said. He caught Yamamoto and Matsushite glancing at the three as well. 'They are both dad's of teenagers as well. Leave it to the parents to set good examples.'

All three of their eyes met briefly. In each of their gazes was the acknowledgment that they understood each other. Kenji knew then that they also wanted to dig into their food, but also knew that they had to set a good example.

In his most business like tone he finally spoke. "I agree with Matsushite-san. That a lifetime of happiness is what we all struggle for, but I think that the struggle is what allows us to be happy. If we had nothing to compare the happiness to, then how could we know that we are happy. Some of the happiest moments in a persons life comes right after some of the darkest or scariest."

Looking at his two conspirators, he watched to see if that was enough. Both of them were nodding in agreement. Yamamoto summed it up for them. "So you need both to really be happy. The more extreme to one side something is, the more extreme the other side is going to appear."

Matsushite smiled slightly. "Sounds almost like Newton's law. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction."

The three pairs of eyes met. Each one did a mental checklist. All three of them barely kept the crestfallen look off their faces. They hadn't discussed how it applies to work. Then they heard one of the other three speak up.

"So then, the more we struggle to achieve things at work, the more we enjoy the success when we succeed."

Looking at the one who spoke up, Yamamoto nodded. "That is right, Tsushiro-san."

Kenji managed to keep his smile down to the acceptable business level,even though he felt like clapping and laughing. Looking at his fellow conspirators, they all agreed. Now they could eat lunch. 'And maybe I can keep my tea for the second half.'