I know, I know I'm really late but hey it was the holidays. Here it is now and my fingers hurt so the next chapter isn't coming out till tomorrow. Do you guys like my new story picture? Summerneverlasts drew it for me I love it!
Chapter 37
The last three board meetings went flawlessly, with large amounts of praise from many of the members that had attended. It seemed that I was beginning to get a feel of things as my role of Tsukasa industries president. At the very least I no longer felt overwhelmed when heading into conferences with the group of directors.
I now worked full time in the company since I had already graduated a year early, thanks to my tutor and yet even with the end of the week and the feeling of being drained, I was feeling incredibly excited for weeks of work ahead of me. I had just left the research and development labs, heading to my office to retrieve my things before going home. The Alpha and Beta teams had proposed their anticipated projects for the upcoming new stock that would hit the shelves at the end of the month.
The elevator dinged at the top floor, and I stepped to see my secretary secretary on the phone with a perplexed expression. She was only a few years older than I was but she had proven herself incredibly capable, having formerly been my mother's aid, knowing the normal schedule of the business end's agenda.
"Good afternoon Marie." I smiled.
"Good afternoon." She held the phone from her head. "I hate to bother you when your about to go home, but it seems there's a woman on the other line claiming to know you."
"Is that so?" I tilted my head sitting down. "What is her name?"
She spoke into the receiver waiting for a response. "She says her name's Genkai." She finally answered.
Grandmother? I slammed my hands excitedly on my desk standing up. "Well what are you waiting for patch her through!"
"Y-y-yes." She blinked a little taken back.
I shut the conjoint doors between us and waited for my own phone to ring.
"Grandmother." I smiled. "What a surprise I didn't expect you to call me at work."
"It'll probably be the last, I had to go through 5 people just to reach the front desk." She grumbled. "But I didn't call to chat, I need you to come to the temple today."
"Today?" I furrowed my brows. "That's such short notice, what's going on?"
"You'll see when you get here." Then she hung up without another word. I sighed in exasperation, last time something like this happened I got "kidnapped'. What was it this time?
"Come in." I called when I heard a soft knock at my door.
Marie opened the door stepping in. "About the proposal format I'll have it by Monday for you to look over."
I nodded noticing someone standing behind her. A few more moments I realized it was Mr. Minato, the assistant of my Financial adviser. "I just brought up the quarterly sales to Marie for you to look over, but I assure you it can wait until after the weekend."
"That's wonderful I'll look them both over Monday." I grabbed my things walking out. "You two can leave early today thank you for you're hard work."
I ran hoping I could still catch the train. Grandmother hadn't informed me of the time to be there so I didn't want to have to wait for my driver. When I got there I leaned against the pillar panting. I just had to wear heels today.
"Yumi?"
I paused looking up. "Shizuru?"
"Hey it's been a while." She waved with her free hand.
I smiled walking over to her. "Yes what are you doing here?"
"Were going to Genkai's are you?" She asked.
I nodded my head. "She called me so I rushed here as soon as I could."
"It's not like family trip sis you can't make us late!" kuwabara called. "Oh Hey Yumi!" He greeted spotting me.
Both Carrie and Kurama were here as well as Kuwabara and Keiko. Turns out Grandmother had called us all, though they had more of a heads up than I did.
"Yumi I'm so glad to see you!" Carrie pulled me into a bear hug.
"Carrie!" I hugged her back. "How long are staying?"
"For good this time!" She grinned wildly. "Suichi said the threat is over now so I can go home!"
"Really?!" I exclaimed.
"Yes! Demon world was awful you should have..." She stopped looking me up and down. "Why are you in a business suite?"
"Yeah I almost didn't recognize you." Shizuru looked up from her paper
I laughed. "I was at work when I got the call so I didn't have time to change."
"You work?" Kuwabara asked opening his lunch box. "I thought we were the same age."
I shook my head. "No Carrie and I are a year older, plus I graduated early so I could learn the to take over my parent's business."
"Oohh." He said picking up his chop sticks. "Thanks for the grub, I don't care what the other guys say about you, you're a pretty decent human being." Kuwabara grinned at Shizuru, stuffing his face. "Oh by the way guys do you want any of these cause I don't mind eatin em if you don't."
"Eat bro I got it so you wouldn't talk all the way there." She answered reading her paper before stifling a laugh. "Your not gunna believe this."
"What'd you find?" Keiko peered over her shoulder.
"The center page is always alien sightings and stuff it isn't true." Kuwabara dismissed.
Keiko gasped. "Oh my gosh Hiei in here!"
I jumped hearing his name. It had only been two weeks since that night and ever since I had tried to emerge myself in work to keep my mind busy.
"What!" Kuwabara exclaimed grabbing the paper. In the middle of the page was a picture of Hiei that looked like a 3 year old had drawn it. I covered my mouth to keep from giggling, I could just picture his face if he saw this.
"Short three eyed alien sighted." Kuwabara read out loud. "I thought he was in demon world?"
"Hiei is serving on a patrol duty right now." Kurama told him. "A human must have stumbled into demon world since the barriers been down and somehow escaped with his memory. I doubt that will happen again."
"Let me see." Carrie snatched the paper. Her shoulders shook and she burst out laughing. "It looks exactly like him! Oh I wish I could show this to him!"
"Ugh he's on patrol?" Kuwabara shuddered.
"It sounds bad, but trust me he's doing quite well." Kurama assured.
Carrie snorted. "Yeah following Makuro around like a lost puppy."
"Makuro?" I blinked.
Carrie nodded. "She's one of the former leaders in demon world."
So that's why he wanted to say goodbye. I realized staring at my lap.
Kurama nudged her and she gasped. "Umm sorry.. I meant uh."
"It's okay you don't have to spare my feelings." I reassured her. "I haven't seen Hiei in three years, honestly it was just an infatuation." It was expected, Hiei never felt anything for me in the first place, I was glad he found someone who could finally understand him.
"So did Genkai tell you the reason for this whole meeting?" Kuwabara asked after a while of silence.
"No she just said she wanted all of us to visit her together, I have no idea what it's about." Keiko admitted.
Kuwabara made a gross face. "She wanna show us her new set of dentures or something?"
"We'll know soon." Kurama shrugged.
I really just had to wear heels. I thought after walking up the steps inside the gates.
"Not a bad place she's got here." Shizuru commented.
"Yeah coming here always calms me down." Kuwabara agreed.
The door to our left slid open revealing Yukina on the other side. "Hey you guys." She had her hair in a braid and swapped her kimono for a pink summer dress.
"Yukina!" Kuwabara ran over to her.
"Hello Kazuma." She greeted. "Hello everyone how have you all been?"
"Still alive." Keiko laughed.
"And what about you I figured you'd be bored out of you're mind just living here with Genkai." Shizuru chuckled.
"Oh we get by." She smiled. "Besides Kazuma comes by pretty frequently to visit."
Kuwabara chucked embarrassed giving the excuse he was just relaying news.
"Yukina is master Genkai still here?" Kurama asked.
"Of course she's right here." She tuned to her right where grandmother came out.
"Your late." She smirked.
"I see so Yusuke still hasn't come back." Grandmother mused. "What the hell is he working on?"
"No one is really sure specifically.." Kurama sighed.
"Oh come on we all know what he's doing he's picking fight it's not like he cares about anything else now." Kuwabara rolled his eyes. Shizuru nudged him with her elbow motioning to keiko.
"You don't have to protect me guys." keiko spoke. "I'm just glad to see Genkai lets just focus on that."
"Yeah me too." Shizuru agreed. "It's a relief to see you so well."
"I'm happy every day your alive." Kuwabara pointed to himself.
"Well that's a peachy spot I'm in." Grandmother scoffed. "Sticking around so you don't have a bad day."
We all laughed as Botan came up behind us. "Well I didn't know all of you would be here."
"Hey Botan." Keiko smiled.
"Hello Keiko." She waved. "love the hair."
"That's convenient I guess Genkai called you the same time she did us." Kuwabara said.
"Me too." Koenma appeared beside us.
"Koenma where'd you come from?" Kuwabara asked.
"Well that's a lengthy story you'll just have to ask my dad." Koenma joked.
"You cheese ball." Kuwabara grunted.
"Good your all here now sit down." Grandmother ordered. "I asked you all to come because these recent years have caused me to think about my legacy and so I want to tell you what to do after I die."
"Genkai you shouldn't talk like that." Kuwabara laughed shakily.
Shizuru nodded. It brings bad luck.
"Don't say that grandmother." I begged.
"You won't die soon." Yukina argued.
"You look good." Kieko added.
"You look better than I do on some days." Botan insisted.
"Just shut up and let me get this done." Grandmother stood opening the sliding doors. "Once you've given me a teary eyed funeral, I'll be leaving this whole estate to you're group. That includes this temple and all surrounding land, a shore on one side and a stone wall on the other leave nature as it is. It takes several hours by car to reach the closest town. Not a convenient place for humans but perfect for apparitions. The kekia barrier is gone but it will take years for humans and demons to live in peace. I spent my life trying to understand a demon, and failed make this a safe house to bridge the gap as I never could."
"Amazing as far as the eye can see belongs to her." Kurama marveled at the sight of the forest.
"Yeah definitely something we won't be chopping down." Kuwabra nodded. "We'll do a lot of good stuff here."
"Hey we have time we could go down to the shore." Shizuru suggested looking at her watch.
"Yeah lets go!" Kuwbara grabbed Yukina's hand. "Yukina it's guaranteed fun."
"Sure." She smiled.
The water crashed into the beach as the sun set, lighting the sky with vibrant colors.
"Oh my perfect ending to a perfect day." Botan shielded her eyes.
"A sunset by the ocean is the most romantic thing I've ever seen." Yukina sighed.
"Wanna get you're feet wet Yukina?" Keiko asked.
"Yeah!" She exclaimed, shooting down any chance Kuwabara had.
"Best take advantage while the suns out." Botan removed her shoes.
"I will." Kuwabra followed. "I'm gunna find me a star fish."
Everyone else seemed so happy playing in the water and I had and urge to join them but before did, I glanced at Kurama and Carrie standing together while he tried to touch her without her noticing.
She did and tensed her shoulder moving subtly away. It was strange I hadn't heard her try to argue or call him names once, which I suppose spending three years with a person can do that. I felt a little sorry for Kurama, Carrie was a great girl, but if he wanted to be with her it was going to hard.
I gazed at the sunset I wondered if I ever crossed Hiei's mind or I if I would ever amount to be the leaders my parent's were or the person my grandmother was and still is. I shook my head and ran out the waves with Yukina and Botan looking for shells.
"THIS IS THE END!" Keiko screamed, drawing our attention. "I'm tired of waiting for you Yusuke, half my life I've waited for you to come around! Even when you were here you weren't really, you weren't here for me. Go on fighting, but this time I get what I want!"
Poor Keiko.
"I don't want you to wait either." A very familiar voice answered. Yusuke walked forward smiling. "See you don't have to."
A shocked Keiko stepped forward breaking into a sprint. She jumped into his arms knocking him down. She looked deep into his eyes before planting her lips onto his. A wave crashed over them and they blinked at each other before smiling.
"Oh your gunna pay for that one Keiko!" Yusuke stood up taking his jacket off to chase her. "You stole that lip time from me now come here!"
She giggled having a splash war with him.
Yusuke shot Kuwabara in the face with water, invoking a wrestle match. Kuwabara succeeded in throwing him before Botan knocked him down.
"Come on Yumi!" Carrie grabbed my hand running into the water.
I smiled if only things could stay like this forever.
"Are you sure you have to go?" Keiko asked for the 5th time.
"Yes." I smiled. "Tonight my parent's are hosting a party with some of the higher-ups, to anounce my official place in the company. It'll give me a chance to get to meet the board directors I haven't spoken to informally yet."
"Wow aren't you moving up in the world." Carrie winked.
"What about you?" I furrowed my brows. "I don't think they have school in demon world."
"That's one of the perks of being stuck with a genius for almost three years." She sighed. "Suichi taught me the rest of sopnmore and all junior year so I'm all set to go back to finish the last of senior year."
"That's great I hope you enjoy the last two months of school." I said to her as I began to walk to the car. "Bye everyone see you all soon!"
"Invite us to the next one!" Yusuke called out.
"I will!" I yelled back out the window. "You'll be the first to get an invitation!" I waved, keeping my head out until they disappered from my sight.
What will happen at the party? Tomorrow I promise It'll be done, mabye even today just stay tuned!