Standard disclaimers apply.
A/N: I apologize for the long delay in updating! Finally, I am done with the evil evil exams, and have hence returned to the world of fanfiction! Also, I'd wish to thank all of you who voted for this story in the Single Spark annual awards! This story wouldn't have been able to win the third position for "Best Angst/Drama fic" if it wasn't for you guys! I am really honored, and hope you guys will keep supporting this story.
Please do enjoy reading, and review!
Title: Loss after Loss
Chapter 29: Too much at stake
"Ni-Nishimoto Yutaka?" Kagome said shakily, unable to believe her own eyes. A split moment passed, and she hurriedly realized how rude she must have appeared, staring at him and calling him by his full name.
Bowing hurriedly in greeting, Kagome added an apologetic "sumimasen", while her heart continued pounding with the sheer excitement of this little miracle.
"Iie…" Nishimoto returned the bow. "I am Nishimoto Yukata. I have heard a lot about you from my grandmother, Higurashi-san, and please allow me to treat you to lunch as a way of showing my gratitude."
"Oh, it's alright, I-"
"I insist, Higurashi-san." He interrupted in a slow, firm tone, which instantly made Kagome pause and nod with a smile.
"Thank you very much then."
Despite the calm tone she employed, Kagome could not help but feel like diving into the topic of the business dealings between Nishimoto and Taisho Holdings instantly. Such opportunities do not come by often.
Her brain worked furiously, mapping out lines and openings to her little mental script. Where should she even begin from? The suddenness of the situation was making her a little helpless, and very nervous.
However, her experience in this field served as a strong anchor, constantly reminding her of how haste would only lead to nothing in the end. She would wait patiently for now, and play this game of tactics right. She had to, in order to save herself, Sesshoumaru and Taisho Holdings. On top of all that, they still had Rin and their unborn child to worry about.
Nodding politely as Nishimoto Yutaka opened the door for her, Kagome stepped into the almost chilling interior of the car, giving Kaede a smile which did not quite reach her eyes.
To Kagome, it was now or never. She had to prove her worth, as a wife, a previous employee and also a mother.
He checked his email for what seemed to be the tenth time since he sent the email two hours ago, hoping in vain to see an email from Nishimoto company.
But all he saw was "No new mail". He was almost getting accustomed to seeing that.
Suppressing the sigh which threatened to escape his lips, Sesshoumaru closed the window for his email, leaning back into his chair to take a deep, controlled breath.
There was no reply for his request for a meeting with Nishimoto Yutaka. Casting a glance at the time indicated on the screen, Sesshoumaru tried to reassure himself of the fact that Nishimoto might be out for lunch at the moment.
He did not even have the mood to have lunch now, not when the burdens of his job are weighing so heavily on his chest. It was no longer for him, but also the painstaking efforts his father, Inuyasha and all the employees, new or old, put in for the company.
Everything was coming to him like a tidal wave, and it did not help that Rin's illness was not showing signs of improvement. Feeling like a failure seemed almost common to him these days.
But as he told Kagome, even if he had a second choice in this, Rin and she would still remain his topmost priority. He had no regrets as to how he made his choices.
However, just thinking of Naraku and the underhand means he applied to snatch the entire business dealing from right under his nose made Sesshoumaru want to bash something, but other than that, he was really at his wits' end on what to do. In order not to alarm everyone working for the company, he had kept tried to keep the loss of the agreement under wraps, but he knew very well that it was only a matter of time before his father and Inuyasha would find out about it.
Till then, he would stall for time and try his best to arrange a meeting with Nishimoto Yutaka.
"Higurashi-san, I understand you are working at Kinokuniya?" Nishimoto Yutaka asked politely when the two of them were sitting at a table in a quaint Japanese restaurant, waiting for their orders to arrive. Kaede had just excused herself to the washroom, leaving Kagome alone with her grandson.
"Yes," Kagome replied formally, keeping polite eye contact. "I've been with Kinokuniya for almost two years. It's quite a stressful job, but I enjoy the environment and the rapport I share with the other staff."
"I see…" Nishimoto continued, his tone still giving Kagome the impression that he was not very much interested, and was simply making small talk for the sake of keeping tension out of the atmosphere. "So that wouldn't be your first job, would it?"
"You're right, Nishimoto-san. I used to work at…" Kagome add a very slight, subtle pause, before drawing her eyes back to his face. "Taisho Holdings."
Nishimoto's eyes, which were initially somewhat tired and distant, suddenly held an interested sparkle which he professionally kept under control. "Really? Then I am quite sure you know of the recent business dealing which my company was involved in with Taisho Holdings, if you still update yourself with their reports, that is."
"I am well aware of that, Nishimoto-san. I am also aware that the business dealing seems to have fallen through." Kagome spoke up slowly; keeping herself alert yet falsely relaxed at the same time. It would not do much good to herself if she appeared too enthusiastic or anxious in front of this stranger who could determine the success or failure of her ex-husband's career.
That sentence from Kagome seemed to have captured Nishimoto Yutaka's attention fully. His eyes, which shone with wisdom far beyond his age, narrowed in interest as he asked with a smile. "Higurashi-san, you were working as…?"
"I used to be the chief marketing officer of Taisho holdings." She replied politely, well aware that Nishimoto Yutaka was holding on to her every word intently. "I joined Taisho Holdings upon graduation from college."
"That's very impressive for a lady of your age, Higurashi-san." He remarked, taking a sip of water from his glass. Peering over the rim of the glass, he studied the woman sitting in front of him, before replacing the glass on the table. "And if you do not mind, can I know the reason behind your departure?"
"I divorced Taisho Sesshoumaru." Kagome replied casually, hiding her nervousness behind her cool, detached façade. Nishimoto Yutaka was a friendly young man, but still, his professionalism and gaze unnerved her slightly. "…and it simply became rather awkward for me to continue working there."
Surprise was an understatement for the expression on Nishimoto's face. "So you were Mrs. Taisho…Mr. Taisho certainly has good taste, to appreciate not only beauty but talent."
"Thank you for the compliment, Nishimoto-san. Sesshoumaru is truly a very impressive character in many aspects."
"Indeed. I've only met Taisho-san for a few times, but even in those hastily concluded meetings, I've found him to be an extraordinary character. A rare talent in today's corporate world, I would say, and a very worthy competitor and business partner."
"I have to admit, his talent is undeniable. And Nishimoto-san," Kagome took his common appreciation of Sesshoumaru's talent as a cue to continue boldly. "Do you have any idea why those meetings you had with Sesshoumaru always ended abruptly with him leaving halfway?"
Nishimoto Yutaka looked puzzled for a moment, before shifting his eyes back to meet Kagome's and shaking his head slightly. "No."
"It was because of our family." It was indeed a dreadfully bold move on Kagome's part, to delve directly into the reason behind the calling off of the business dealing. It was just like scaling a mountain – one either gets to the peak, or falls off and dies a horrible death.
"Your family?"
"Yes, Nishimoto-san. Sesshoumaru and I are seeing each other again." Kagome replied truthfully, deciding that it was now or never that she got to the point. The stakes were high indeed, but she was confident she will play this well.
"You see, we got together once again partly because of our daughter. I sincerely hope you do not see this as a pathetic excuse which I'm using to make you listen to me, but instead, I would greatly appreciate it if you give me the opportunity to explain things."
Nishimoto Yutaka did not reply, but instead, simply settled for regarding her attentively. That alone, was sufficient to elicit a smile from Kagome, before she bowed her thanks.
"For all those times Sesshoumaru stood you up, or left halfway during those meetings, he had a reason. He had to go to the hospital to see our daughter, Rin." Kagome paused slightly.
"Rin is severely ill…she has acute myelogenous leukemia. She is only five this year." Kagome continued, repeating constantly in her mind that she had to deliver the truth to Nishimoto, and pray that he understands the conflicting situations Sesshoumaru was faced with. "I've been working under Sesshoumaru ever since I joined his company, and if he can be said to be unprofessional, no one else will be professional."
Nishimoto nodded once in silent agreement, before casting a warm smile at his grandmother as she joined the table once again.
"As we know very well, work is a priority to him. But when faced with our ailing child, he had to make a choice, and he told me it was without the slightest hint of regret that he chose to rush to Rin's side instead. Rin is very attached to her father, just as Sesshoumaru is to her."
Kagome couldn't help but notice that Nishimoto's eyes had softened, and they were staring deep down into his glass of water, as if the clear liquid held replies to his unspoken questions. Kaede was right; Nishimoto Yutaka was a man who valued kinship as well.
"I am sure you remember as well, Nishimoto-san. The last conference scheduled before final notes were to be added to the contract…I was with Sesshoumaru. He accompanied me to the clinic."
"That was the time when you saved me from getting hit by the books, wasn't it, my child?" Kaede interrupted softly, smiling at Kagome.
Kagome nodded modestly, before adding, "Sesshoumaru could have simply dropped me at the clinic, but he chose to stay with me and send me home, because we found out I'm pregnant with his child and he thought it was unsafe for me to walk around alone in the night."
"He is a caring husband, Kagome-chan."
"Yes, he is, Kaede obaachan. He hides it under a mask of indifference, but deep inside, he is a doting father and a loving husband." Kagome smiled to herself as she thought of Sesshoumaru. "And I have to do Sesshoumaru justice...he does not know of this meeting, and will definitely not allow it if he knew, but all I wish to say is that if he seemed insincere at any point during your talks, it would not have been deliberate."
"Higurashi-san." Nishimoto Yutaka spoke up, his voice clear and strong. "I understand it might have been assumptions on my part regarding Taisho-san's sincerity that led to the calling off of the contract. However, we are already in the stage of finalizing details with Kurotani Holdings-"
"Nishimoto-san. I do not expect just a little talking on my part to change your views. I am also well aware of the heavy stakes involved in this entire business dealing. However, I would be so bold as to point out to you that you are running a biomedical technology company. Behind all that technology and products you sell, doesn't the will to help the sick and needy prevail?" Kagome interrupted firmly yet still keeping the polite, professional edge to her voice.
"And on top of all these, doesn't the love of a united family serve as the best drug for these patients whom you are trying to help?"
Nishimoto Yutaka could not answer to this, for Kagome was pointing out to him the undisputable truth.
"I'm not begging you to cease the talks with Kurotani Holdings immediately, but all I am asking for is a second chance for Taisho Holdings to present its case to you. Also, I will volunteer myself in helping with the marketing of your company's products at the upcoming fair at the Central Hospital next month. I hope you will reconsider your earlier decision then."
To be continued…
A/N: Tada!!! That was chapter 29 for you. I can't believe how long I left this story hanging, but I am really glad I am back on it again! Woohoo!! Feels SO good to write. Merry Christmas once again, and do review to keep me going!
Also, I have a new story named "Starshine", which once again, involves our dearest Sesshoumaru and Kagome. Do check that out too!
