Ch 56

Two years late is better than never, right?

Goto's secret Endo Industries project turns out to mostly involve cleaning up the front end of an interface Goto's designed and doing some testing. For a while he isn't sure what the big deal is, but as time goes on, it becomes clear this is all part of a pitch. Goto has put together a few small things for the company over the past year and now Professor Tanaka has some big scheme in mind.

Chouko doesn't understand anything else Kurama does at work, but she understands perfecting everything before showing it to the prospective clients.

"Of course they're nervous," she says over dinner at an Italian place down in Minato.

They've been varying their restaurants since the trip to Genkai's. Two paranoid old demons with a killer on the loose agree it's better to deal with a few extra metro trips than get caught establishing a pattern.

"You only really get one shot with these types of things and he's an academic," she adds. "They're not used to running businesses."

"He worked for several very successful companies in the US before returning to Japan," Kurama says in defense of his professor.

"He teaches software engineering, Shuichi," Chouko retorts, waving a teacup at him. They've also cut back on the drinking, not wanting to get caught muddled-headed. "He wasn't running those companies. You might have to help them smooth talk these clients." She gives a slight snort. "Scratch that, you'll be looting everyone's IP the moment they turn their backs. They should leave you at school."

Kurama realizes as she scoops up some pasta, that's he starting not to notice her horrible chewing as much. But the thought brings his attention straight to the way her jaw is moving and he has to look down at his plate or laugh. It might be her lack of incisors, he thinks as he tries to focus on his own food.

The new semester is about to start and Professor Tanaka asks Kurama if he would consider working during the school year. Kurama accepts immediately. If only things were going so well in the search for the demon behind the ward leaders' murders.

More runners have disappeared and all the ward leaders are antsy. Three have gone on semi-permanent vacation and Chouko worries this will destabilize their wards. Kurama's had his people check out the portal location and none of them have found anything to report about. Hiei insists there are no clues on the demon world side either. All Kurama can do is think about it in his free time and try to keep his routine slightly erratic. And repeatedly remind Chouko to do the same.

"Minamino should come with us." Goto sits back in his chair and twirls his glasses.

Professor Tanaka pauses and looks up from the slide deck he's reviewing. A red pen dangles over the print outs.

"He's been working diligently, I think it would be beneficial for him to see what all his work has gone towards."

And someone has to carry all the computers and files, Kurama thinks, but he tries to look competent and unobtrusive.

"Well," Tanaka drawls, "I suppose he can help you carry the files."

Kurama suppresses a chuckle while Goto nods.

It's finally time for their big presentation and Kurama has a laptop bag over each shoulder and a large briefcase in hand as he follows Goto and Tanaka across Minato. The two men have impressive restraint, but Kurama can still read the nervous tension in their movements as they stand stiffly at each crosswalk, and hurry down each street. Kurama knows his role is to set up the equipment, then stand out of the way, and for now he's comfortable with that. But the longer they spend walking around the ward, the more a creeping worry begins to bother him.

When they reach their destination, it's like a punch to the gut with a slight undercurrent of 'I should have known.'

The name on all their files is Endo Industries, but the name on the building is Allied Consolidated. Kurama tenses and looks up a long way at the building, which is impressive even by Tokyo standards and seems to be all windows. The mon emblazoned over the main doors is instantly recognizable as the one from Chouko's private jet.

He knew Jiro was the Chairman of Allied Consolidated. He even has the address somewhere. But he hadn't seriously considered the possibility that Tanaka was using a code name and he was working for him—however distantly. Kurama represses his youki slightly, he doesn't want to act like he's hiding, but he really doesn't want Jiro to notice him.

They're greeted politely at the security desk. The lobby stretches up and around them, a glass walls and grey floor. Wood panels on the wall behind the desk giving the concrete and glass space some warmth. A pair of complementary, but not matching, flower arrangements sit on either end of the desk. The shallow, round vases hold a few delicate sprays of flowers and greenery, bringing and subtle touch to the space.

Some low-level salaryman comes down to meet them and lead them to their meeting. Jiro hasn't set the dogs on them—yet. The three of them are shown into a small conference room mid-way up the building. Everything is perfectly squared off: long, rectangular table, large display screens, the light sconces, the backs of the chairs, the pattern in the carpet. Kurama has to wonder if this is an unsettling insight into Jiro's personality, or that of whatever interior designer they hired. A small bonsai on the counter under the window is a welcome contrast to the rest of the industrial, modern shapes in the room.

Kurama sets everything up with Goto hovering over his shoulder, asking the same questions in a variety of ways. As he's finishing up a few people file in. They all bow their way through introductions. Kurama does his best to be the good, unobtrusive junior, but humans always take notice of him.

Everything seems to be going fine. The slide deck loads, Tanaka gets his tendency to clear his throat too much under control, Goto's heart rate finally begins to even out.

Then Kurama senses Jiro, irritated, close, and getting closer. There's no escape, no way to excuse himself, absolutely nothing he can do except sit there and wait for whatever's going to happen.

Jiro strides into the room, swirling with youki, strong, confident, at the seat of his power. Everyone gets to their feet and the head of the business team meeting with them, Ota-san, begins a hurried and quite nervous greeting.

Jiro's eyes fix on Kurama immediately. He stops to listen to his underling's greetings and explanations. A flustered assistant rushes into the room after him, a stack of papers under his arm, but he's too polite or frightened to try to interrupt.

"What a pleasant surprise," Jiro says dryly. No one else seems quite sure who is being addressed.

"Good to see you. We missed you at dinner the other night," Kurama says and the room goes eerily silent as if all the humans are holding their collective breath.

"You know how work is," Jiro says with an expansive gesture around the room. His room. His building. His company. His ward. "What brings you here, Minamino-kun?"

"Did Chouko-san tell you about my summer job?"

Jiro's mouth twists slightly. It seems he is equally caught off guard by the turn of events. "She mentioned you were working for a professor."

"Endo-san, might I introduce Professor Tanaka? And his graduate student Goto-san?" Kurama says with a gesture at the pair, who begin bowing. "They have been kind enough to let me help on some aspects of this project."

Jiro cuts the introductions as short as possible without being rude. "So," the tengu says, turning away and addressing his underlings. "What project is this?"

"The new security software," the woman in the navy suit says. "After last year's breach—"

"Yes, yes," Jiro waves off the rest of the sentence then turns back to Kurama. "You're asking me to turn over all of my company's secure data and trade secrets to you?"

"Not quite," Kurama says, speaking completely out of turn, but it's clear to everyone that he's the one Jiro's talking to. "Professor Tanaka's system would be to prevent access to these things. We are not reviewing them, or storing them off site."

"And you're working on it."

"Yes, but if that is a problem I would be easily replaced on the project. You should hear Professor Tanaka's—"

Jiro waves him into silence. They're all holding their breath as he turns to Ota-san.

"Give them the contract," he says.

"But, but Chairman," Ota stutters out but Jiro is already turning and walking towards the door. He pauses as his assistant jumps to get the door and glances back.

"Don't disappoint me, Minamino-kun."

Then he's gone.

"Well, well," Ota–san says, eyeing Kurama. "The Chairman seems to have a great deal of faith in your abilities."

"Any chance you're going to explain what just happened?" Goto says as the elevator doors close on them.

"I'm dating his younger sister," Kurama says. Professor Tanaka and Goto stare at him. "I knew the family was wealthy but not quite—so. He doesn't particularly like me, but he also seems like a person who will set aside personal differences if it will benefit him."

Chouko knew where he was going and didn't tell him. She probably thought it was hilarious.

"He doesn't like you?" Goto demands. "He just gave us the contract solely on the basis of you being in the room!"

Kurama shrugs, then is embarrassed he did it. Now that he's picked up the habit, he can't seem to drop it. "He has strange moods. It is quite possible he gave us the contract thinking we would not be able to complete the project to his satisfaction, and that he could use this as grounds to show me in a bad light to Chouko-san."

"Gods." Tanaka takes off hid glasses and runs a hand down his face.

"You're dating a member of the Endo family," Goto says in shock. "Minamino-kun, you'd better propose to her quick."

With a wry smile Kurama says: "My mother thinks she's to old for me."

That really leaves them puzzled.

Kurama lets himself get caught up in the work. Classes resume and he finds his time disappearing into the library and Professor Tanaka's lab. Chouko reminds him repeatedly to vary his routine more.

"What about you?" he texts her back one day. "You work the same hours every day; you need more security at the flower shop."

She doesn't answer him for two hours, and he can't decide whether she's irritated or taking his advice.

Early fall slides into Tokyo, bringing a cooling edge to the sweltering days and plenty of rain. They city fills with black umbrellas and the occasionally typhoon warning.

Aside from the looming threat of a horrible death, everything is going smoothly. The project is going well, and despite his fears, Jiro's underlings are doing their best to be helpful and provide whatever access Professor Tanaka needs. Some of his classes interest him too. And Chouko hasn't dumped him yet. He never realized that, leaving aside all external threats of violence, being in a relationship would be the source of so much anxiety. Now that he feels like he has her he fears he might do something to lose her.

"I'm not going anywhere," Chouko calls from her bathroom one morning.

It startles Kurama out of his thoughts. Some days it almost seems like she can read them.

"You are getting dressed right now to go somewhere," he remarks, while watching the plants on her balcony. They grow and shrink, waving long fronds at his direction.

"You know what I mean," she calls back. He hears the squirt of some makeup bottle and the sweep of a brush across her skin. "And unlike some people here, I have clients to meet with."

He makes a noncommittal noise.

"Shuichi, what's wrong?" Chouko appears in the doorway, expression concerned.

"Things are going so well, I can't help anticipating the worst."

She frowns and heads into her closet.

"Chouko, sing me one of your old fashioned American songs," Kurama teases. She snorts.

"Don't you have to get to work?"

"Not for another hour."

There's a low note from the closet then he hears her start singing, low and throaty. "You had plenty money, 1922," she croons and he hears her moving toward him. "You let other women make a fool of you." She slinks into view and leans back against the doorjamb, sliding down a few inches. "Why don't you do right, like some other men do?" she sings, looking at him through lowered lashes. "Get out of here," her arm flicks and Kurama's pants hit him in the face, "and get me some money too."

Laughing, Kurama gets out of bed. "I never suspected you for a gold digger, Chouko."

"You're sitting down wondering what it's all about," she keeps singing, striding through the room, hips swinging. "You ain't got no money, they will put you out. Why don't you do right, like some other men do?"

He tries to grab her as she goes by but she dances out of reach and across the room.

"If you had prepared 20 years ago, you wouldn't be wandering now from door to door. Why don't you do right, like some other men do?"

He finally takes the hint and heads in to work.