Disclaimer:
Don't own Ranma and Kasumi neither Hitomi nor Van of Escaflowne fame as well...they are owned by their respective owners not me...
A/N:
Having only posted this fic out for a while now and after reading all your reviews I am glad that I've still managed to keep some of my old readers with me and added few new ones as well...a big thanks to you all who have read and commented...you know who you people are :) Hontouni Arigato Gozaimasu
From the reviews I also know that I still and will continue to make mistakes and I admit some of them are easily avoidable but I'm human and will err but I'm glad that you the readers can overlook that.
Looking back at my other RK fics I know I tend to leave the other characters from Ranma a little behind instead just giving them brief mentions or none at all as in the case of this fic as you will read in the next few chapters hope that doesn't put you guys off...
My explanation is that I simply intend to work on Ranma's and Kasumi's character more solely to make this fic short and simple straight to the point. If I didn't I will dally on and on until I cannot possibly finish it the way I had envisioned it so please forgive me once again.
My new RK fic which is still in progress I pray will hopefully correct this flaw of mine as each character that is worth mentioning is mentioned and has a vital role to play...so please bear with me until that fic is finished.
A few things will be cleared up with this second chapter of four like how old Ranma and Kasumi actually are and also who is the new Operations Director of the department store but a few of you have already guessed... ;p
Anyway my humblest apologies to keep you waiting with my babbling and to end I wish that all of you readers would continue to like how the story is progressing so far with this second chapter.
H.A
Chapter 2
- -
"Director?" gasped the two girls from behind Kasumi's table.
As the rather dejected looking Mr. Matsu hastily sauntered back to his office Ranma slowly went up to Kasumi's table and sat down near to its edge.
"Kasumi...there's a job opening within the store for a new secretary if your interested." He said while looking down to her.
"Uh...I haven't heard of it..." Kasumi replied him, only glancing briefly up to him now knowing of their huge positional gap.
"It sort of just came up...it's the secretary job for the new Operations Director."
"You think I should take it? Is he a nice person to work with?" Kasumi didn't understand why she was asking Ranma this question anyway.
"Well I dunno...you think I'm a nice person?" he asked her brandishing an impish grin.
Kasumi didn't get it at first but Hitomi who was standing beside her all the while quickly got his hint and whispered into her ear.
As Hitomi whispered on Kasumi's eyes grew wider and wider with each word. After Hitomi had finished, "Ranma...you're the new Operations Manager of this department store aren't you?"
Ranma childishly beamed at Kasumi as if he had just been caught with his hands in the cookie jar, "Yup and the job's open yours if you want it...I'd even adjust your current terms of employment to your liking...just as long as you take the job."
"Err..." mumbled Kasumi who then received a little nudge in the shoulders from Hitomi to wake her up from her daze.
Ranma laughed at the sight, "Kasumi do you want to take the day off to think about it carefully or how about we discuss it over lunch...if Hitomi wants to come she's more then welcomed to."
Hitomi was nodding her head while Kasumi was just silent, "I don't know..." was all Kasumi managed to say out.
"You don't know if you want the day off or the lunch offer?" queried Ranma looking rather confused.
"Sir...why don't you let me have a little chat with Kasumi here for a while...just give us girls ten minutes..." said Hitomi flashing Ranma one of her cutest smiles.
Ranma agreed stating that he needed to attend to a small matter anyway but he'd be back soon. Hitomi then dragged a still bewildered looking Kasumi up to their usual spot on the roof.
"Kasumi...why are you being so hesitant? It's not everyday that you get rescued by a handsome young man who not only happens to run this whole place and not only that he offers you a terrific job which if I heard him correctly you can state your on it's too sweet of offer to turn down." Hitomi was out of breath after stating to her how she looked at Kasumi's current situation.
"I'm not being hesitant...it's just I don't want to be..." Kasumi then continued on with her words inwardly while she remained silent outwardly.
"Pitied?" Hitomi continued Kasumi's sentence for her as if she could read her mind and in a way she could, Hitomi understood clearer then anyone else how she thinks.
"I bumped into Ranma yesterday and then while I was working late he came up to me and gave me back my purse...we had supper and we sort of talk. I didn't know who he was then but we sort of talked about my job was going and also how I was being treated and all. He then even accompanied me home back to my apartment. I know I ain't rich Hitomi, I know I just manage to make a decent living but I don't want to be giving charity..." explained Kasumi to her friend.
"Kasumi...this is a good chance for you to improve on your on just listen to him and what he's offering...it might help your kid sisters out if not your own sake..." her best friend sighed.
Kasumi looked at her best friend and smiled weakly, "I guess it wouldn't hurt right?" Kasumi acted as if she didn't know what she should do next and really she didn't.
"Of course and besides it's a free lunch with a cute guy no less..." exclaimed Hitomi very happily while dragging Kasumi back up to her feet.
"But Hitomi how about your gaijin boyfriend...Van?"
"Of course I love him to death Kasumi...I'm stating that this Ranma guy is cute for your sake...silly. It's been ages since you last went out on a date." she smiled.
"It's not a date..." rebuffed Kasumi, looking back at her friend who just kept on slyly grinning.
As the two girls went back down to their office they found Ranma was already there waiting for them and seeing the two he stood up, "So do I get the chance to treat two very beautiful ladies out to lunch?"
"No...sadly I have a previous engagement but Kasumi here is more then willing to have lunch with you and besides she's the prettier one among us two right...Kasumi?" Hitomi meanwhile was pushing Kasumi ever so closer to Ranma.
Kasumi was blushing like mad from hearing her best friend comments and found she was at a lost of words when Ranma gave her his full attention by gazing down at her. "So it's just you and me again...I think after last night's supper how about you recommend a place for us to eat this time around?"
It took her a while but Kasumi managed to get a few words out which barely told Ranma the place that she wanted to go, "Okay then I'd pick you up in an hour let's say 11.30am then we'd go on from there..." Ranma then left her office with a smile.
- -
Kasumi then spent the next few minutes chatting with Hitomi through her messenger. She hated how Hitomi teased her to no end about the 'date' which she boldly puts it but Kasumi preferred to call it simply lunch.
Other then a few high school dates Kasumi as she was now didn't have much time to date period, Hitomi knew this perfectly well for she had always tried to set her up with a few of Van's fellow English teacher friends. Each time though she rejected it flatly bringing up her sisters as an excuse.
Even so Kasumi should be proud of herself for she single handedly managed to put her two sisters through high-school and now University. The whole process left her sadly though with not much time to socialize and truthfully she hadn't had a real date since she was 20 and that was five years ago.
As she absentmindedly sat down on her desk going over her report, the same report which she and Ranma and gone through last night Kasumi's mind couldn't help but wonder why he would even want to help her the way he did.
While reveling in her own thoughts, Kasumi never noticed Ranma walking in and that he was now leaning on the back wall of her cubicle behind her. Ranma just stood their while he studied the girl who was blankly staring at her computer screen but her eyes were barely blinking.
"You know that's not good for your eyes..."
Kasumi hearing his voice double blinked then looked at her computer clock and after that shot up from her seat and apologized for not keeping track of the time in one quick fluid motion.
"It's okay...don't worry about it. Come on...I'd drive us there..." laughed Ranma out loud while holding up a set of keys for her to see.
After taking her purse Kasumi began to walk awkwardly beside Ranma down the corridors and took the elevator down towards the basement parking. She couldn't help noticing though how the others employees they had passed earlier were looking at them.
Walking pass the many different brands of parked cars Kasumi realized she never been here before but then chided herself for the fact that she didn't own a car in the first place so why should she be here.
With a loud beep of a car alarm disarming, Ranma graciously held open the passenger door for Kasumi to get in. Kasumi had never seen a car like this one before much less get to ride in one.
Ranma's car was a stylish 4-door black sports sedan and inside of it Kasumi surprisingly found the seats to be more comfortable then her own couch at home. As the engine revved up Ranma changed into gear and drove off up to the city streets.
- -
"So this place we're going to have lunch in you go there often??" causally asked Ranma while making a right turn off an intersection.
"Well...you can say that...I used to wait tables there while I was in my final year of high-school..." she replied.
"Hmm...guess I should have gone there a lot earlier...then we could have met a lot earlier too eh?" said Ranma while stopping at a stoplight and quickly gave Kasumi a wink from under his sunglasses.
Kasumi cheeks faintly reddened, countering it she quickly stared right onto the awaiting traffic outside in front of her, after a short wait and a few turns later Ranma found the restaurant and after finding a parking he once again opened the door for Kasumi to get out.
The restaurant itself was a quaint restaurant well hidden among the modern buildings which towered over it threatening to swallow it some day. Entering there were very few customers bar a few elderly couples slowly enjoying their cup of coffee or tea.
"Kasumi...dear how nice to see you...again." greeted an elderly lady taking Kasumi's hands into hers before enveloping her into a hug.
"And I see you've brought your boyfriend here as well..." she continued with a huge smile.
This made both Kasumi and Ranma blush, "Grandma...please he's not my boyfriend...he's a friend from work."
"Well doesn't it all start out like that?" laughed the old lady as she brought the two to a nice empty seat by the window.
"And what shall the two of you youngsters have?"
"How about two bowls of your special beef ramen?" Kasumi glanced over to Ranma who nodded and after writing their orders down the smiling elderly woman skipped off into the kitchen with a big smile plastered on her face.
"I'm sorry about Grandma's comments just now..." apologized Kasumi.
"Nah its okay...I sort of like her...she reminds me of my own grandmother before she passed away...full of spunk and life. Is she your real grandmother?" Ranma asked with a laugh.
"I'm sorry to bring that up Ranma and no she's not we just all call her Grandma around here." she apologized firstly before answering his earlier question.
"It's okay really...anyway this looks like a nice place...at least you had a friendlier boss here." Ranma then took off his sunglasses to look at her.
Kasumi couldn't help but stare into his now exposed eyes she could help herself but to feel so lost looking into them. She picked up a feeling as if they were hiding something rather sad behind them.
"Kasumi is there something on my face?"
Quickly realizing what she was doing Kasumi shook her head and averted her gaze aimlessly around the small shop fighting the warmth growing around her cheeks.
"Anyway...about the new job I'm serious about offering it to you. I've already seen your current contract and well I'm willing to double your salary, give you a housing allowance and also give you an increased overtime pay. So how about it...Kasumi please say yes." Ranma asked her with hopeful eyes.
As their bowls of Ramen were presented to them Kasumi remained numb on her reply and this worried Ranma a bit but he didn't want to force the issue any further so he allowed her to answer him on her own accord.
"Why me?" he heard her faint voice asking him.
Looking up Ranma noticed how Kasumi was looking at him as if she didn't want to believe that he was offering her this chance.
"Why you? Well...why not you...I mean I just arrived and don't know my way around the store. You're the only one I know so far and well seeing how badly your previous boss was treating you and since I needed a secretary I thought of you. I know how hard you work so I just decided to ask you better then to let your talents go to waste being a part time servant and I'm sure this new job will help you out greatly." he honestly replied her.
Kasumi digested his reply and saw the one feeling she didn't want to feel...pity.
"I don't need to be pitied Ranma...I'm sure there are a lot of more qualified people out there to become your secretary...so I'm declining your generous offer." she answered flatly.
Ranma had been enjoying a sip of his tea but hearing her answer he gently placed the cup down and looked out of the window for a while before affixing his gaze back to Kasumi's delicate face.
"Kasumi...I may be the Director of a large departmental store and I may be young but one thing I do not do is pity people. My father had thought me to look at someone's potential and work ethics and regardless if that person was a lowly office boy if he knows what his doing and can do it better then the other person then he should get the job. I saw you that night doing all the sales figures by yourself and you did it pretty well. To top it off that was supposed to be your supervisor's job..."
Kasumi had wanted to speak up but Ranma lifted a solitary finger up to his lips.
With her understanding silence he continued. "But you managed it by yourself with no previous formal training. I see the potential inside you so if you don't want to be my secretary then would you want to be my personal assistant? I want you to be with me to help me out not because I pity you because I know you can carry out the job. The salary increase fits the job scope and the housing allowance comes with the job as well. I don't blame you for thinking that I pitied you but Kasumi remember this I may be well to do but I ain't trying to rub it in your nose...which by the way is a really cute nose but I ain't trying to show I'm superior."
After hearing each word Ranma had spoken out, Kasumi slowly took it in and after getting his compliment of her nose she blushed again in front of him. She didn't know why she was acting like this way in front of him...a virtual stranger. Ranma just had something about him that just made her feel so unsure and uncertain of herself.
"How old are you?" Kasumi offhandedly asked him with a smile.
"Huh??"
Kasumi laughed a bit, "I mean when you said that you were young, I thought all Directors had to be really old and you certainly don't look like you are in your late forties..."
"Oh...I'm just 23 this year, I graduated from university last year and went straight away worked with my dad for another year before I was assigned here." replied Ranma sheepishly.
'I envy him...he's still young but already has his future is set out before him...' thought Kasumi.
"How about you Kasumi or is your age some national secret or something?"
Kasumi gave Ranma a wide contradicting smile, "I'm 25 later this year...you're lucky Ranma you've already have your future quite laid out for you..." she almost said it out like as if she was getting depressed by comparing her life with his.
"My life isn't laid out for me Kasumi...I still have a long way to go and so do you...but what I am offering you is a fresh start in it. If you want to study more maybe improve yourself I am more then willing to send you to a few courses if you want to company's account." Ranma stated.
She didn't know how but Kasumi was quietly thanking which ever Kami up their in heaven that had listened to her prayer and then answered her by sending Ranma. "I'd accept your offer then..." she interrupted Ranma while he was still going on with how the job was good for her.
Taking a moment to understand what she had just said a wide smile etched itself on Ranma's face, it was so wide that it could have split his face into two. "I'm glad...we'd do the paper work later at the office when we get back..."
"You already have the paperwork drawn up?" gasped Kasumi to which Ranma replied with just a wider smile.
"Saotome Ranma...do you always get what you want?" play pouted Kasumi.
"No...not always I just had it drawn up because I would have bugged you to come and work with me until you finally did..." he replied her.
- -
By late afternoon Kasumi found herself sitting in a large room which surprisingly was designed differently from the rest of the managers' room. Usually they would a wall dividing the manager and his or her secretary but Ranma's office was just one big open room.
It had the cityscape surrounding its large windows while a long meeting table occupied the far left corner. Ranma's desk was on the far right corner while Kasumi's own desk was adjacent to his.
Kasumi having just packed her belongings into a small photocopier A4 paper box and with the said box sitting on her desk Kasumi looked around herself as if she was lost. Ranma couldn't help but smile at the young lady who was looking as if she was Alice in wonderland.
"You look surprised...you're now my personal assistant and I don't expect things to be kept from you. What I hear you hear simple as that or are you not comfortable with this arrangement?" he asked with a hint of worry interlaced into the question.
"No...I'm just not used to this that's all..."
"Anyway...if I mess up feel free to bite my head off...but that's rather unfair though as I don't think I can bring myself to bite yours off for I'm sure I'd make more mistakes that you do..." Ranma was about to continue when his phone rang.
Kasumi taking the time while Ranma was busy tried to collect herself. She didn't expect jump head first into this mess but Kasumi felt excited over the new job and how everything had changed for her in just one day. Looking over to Ranma who smiled back at her Kasumi couldn't believe that by just bumping into this young man her life would be changed so drastically.
Ranma was taking his time to slowly explain to Kasumi on what would be her scope of work being his assistant. She couldn't feel but the least peculiar about it all for Kasumi would usually get very anxious when she was dealing with upper management and Ranma was as high as they come in terms of managers.
But here she was their arms within touching distance and yet Kasumi felt nothing but calm as she listened to what Ranma was explaining to her. Kasumi was glad that the work she was going to do was no more different then her old job but this time around she was authorized to deal on his behalf if Ranma was unavailable.
"Kasumi since tomorrow's a Sunday how about we go look around for a new apartment?" notioned the young man beside her while typing on his keyboard.
"New apartment?" she puzzlingly asked him back.
"Yeah...well I was thinking maybe you would like to move into a more comfortable apartment then your current one that is if you want to...cause well you'd be given a company laptop later and may need to bring home your work I thought you might need a study room for yourself or something..." Ranma was feeling that he had just put his foot into his mouth by looking at Kasumi's rather unreadable expression.
"How about letting me settling into this job first...before going onto other issues..." answered Kasumi in an emotionless tone.
"Okay...sorry..."
The two continued to work in silence until Kasumi noted the time on the wall clock that read 5.10pm. Since she had to make up to her sisters for not making dinner last night as it had been her turn she decided to leave for home.
"Leaving...? You need a ride home or something?" Ranma instantly perked up when he saw Kasumi stand up taking her bag in stride.
"Thanks but I need to shop for dinner first...I'd see you on Monday." And with that Kasumi bowed lightly and left Ranma looking rather disappointed.
With the door closed behind her Ranma slumped down to his seat and turned around to face the reddening skyline.
'Ranma...your pushing it you know on give her some space you acting like some crazed teenage boy with swarming hormones. You're scaring her more often or not...' Ranma criticized himself inwardly.
Even Ranma himself couldn't understand why he was going all out for this one girl he had met only two days ago. When he was working with his father he never needed to have a personal assistant he never had the need. He was more then competent in managing his own schedule and also workload but he wanted Kasumi to be part of his working life even though he never did like working in groups.
Ranma recalled the time when he was in university where during his final year thesis while all the others students of his class were busying working in a group Ranma was the only one working alone.
He had offers to join the other groups but he wanted to be alone, he wanted to prove to himself that he could succeed alone. It would make his father proud of him like how he did once before, alone with no one else help.
After he had graduated his father then sent him straight to work in one of his less then profitable assets alone and asked him to make it profitable within half the year. It was as if he was testing him and Ranma passed with flying colors for he managed within four months to bring the factory back into profit.
Even the executive board members of the parent company were impressed with him but they always said that he was a recluse. Ranma never worked well in a team he was too hotheaded and sometimes unwilling to share his problems for he rather solved them by himself. But here he was now trying hard to involve into his own scheduled life this young lady whom he only met less then 48 hours ago.
Closing his eyes Ranma remembered back even further into this life back to when he was about seven waiting for his mother to pick him up at the bus station from his first day of school. Ranma's mother then came up and seeing her Ranma was ecstatic and ran up to her but as soon as the rest of his classmates saw his mother they began to laugh.
Ranma's mother was dressed in a white apron dirtied with huge grease spots, her hair a wild frizzy mess from keeping it under a paper hat too long and she was wearing rather oversized cleaning boots. His mother was a dish washer at one of the trendy restaurants in town and since this was his first day in school she decided to pick him up. It would have been Ranma's father but he was too busy working at the construction site to pick him up.
His thoughts then jumped forward to when he was about 18 with his family name so well known he had no problems with girls. He had tons of them hanging off his feet but his heart was smitten by his old childhood friend Ukyo Kuonji. She had been his neighbor once when he was 5 and the two of them were close childhood friends.
Ranma had lost track of her when he had moved out of their old apartment, Ranma was 7 then but one day while he was returning back to Japan after a business trip and of all the places to meet her back...it had to be on that faithful flight.
She was working as a stewardess and after looking at the long brown haired girl asking him if he liked a drink Ranma thought she looked familiar. After a brief reunion of 'hey aren't you...' and 'that's right...I'm her/ him' the pair quickly renewed their friendship even way past after the plane's landing. They soon began to date each other and pretty soon the two of them were even engaged by the time Ranma was 19. But that all came crashing down when she left him.
It was a Thursday evening after Ranma returned home from a short trip to Tokyo, standing inside he found their apartment bare and surprisingly at that moment a real estate broker was inside it trying to sell it to another couple. After some investigation Ranma found out that Ukyo had already emptied their shared bank account which they and also sold off their shared apartment just the day before his return.
When Ranma had tried calling her on her cellphone but all he got was the computerized voice saying 'The number you've dialed is no longer reachable' It broke his heart when Ukyo, Ranma's first love had used him only to get to his money.
- -
Kasumi now back home in her apartment with her sisters were enjoying themselves with a special dinner of Sukiyaki. She had just told them of her promotion of sorts and well she had decided to celebrate it.
"So how's the new job so far?" Akane asked while gulping down the piece of sliced beef.
"Ya...hope your boss this time is a lot nicer..." added Nabiki. The two of them knew how badly Kasumi was being treated by her old supervisor.
"I only started today...so I don't know how the job is but it's pretty okay so far and well my new supervisor is an okay guy..." she replied.
"So what nickname does this old guy have? Hitomi has the weirdest nicknames for all the store's managers..." laughed Nabiki as she remembered the few nicknames Hitomi had come up with in her head.
"Well...Hitomi doesn't have one yet for him at least I hope not..." just then the phone rang beside her. The caller ID blinked Hitomi's home phone and pressing the speaker button for Kasumi had her hands full with stirring the pot.
"Yeah...Hitomi what's up? Shouldn't you be on a date with Van?" Kasumi voice called out.
"That could be the same said of you Kasumi...shouldn't you be having a romantic dinner with Director Prince Charming... don't deny it woman! I see how you two acted this morning he's crazy for you I just know it. If I didn't have Van I'd go for him myself...even though he does looks a tad young but still he's damn cute..." Kasumi quickly picked up the handset and brought their conversation out of the prying ears of her two younger sisters who were now grinning ear to ear and eyes wide open.
"So how was the lunch?" came Hitomi's voice over the line.
"He drove me to Grandma's. We talked a little that's it..." replied Kasumi rather too briefly for Hitomi's liking.
"Are you holding out on me on there's got to be more then that!!" demanded Hitomi.
"That's it seriously..."
"Kasumi...do you know the rumors about you two that are going whirling within the office just now? Ranma here seems to be famous as a loner...he never asked anyone to help him before no matter how hard it gets plus he doesn't stick his neck out to help anyone too. And once he sees you in distress he swoops down on you save you from the wicked dragon and right into being his assistant like some Knight in shining armor. He likes you Kasumi for sure and I say you go for it..."
Kasumi for one wasn't listening to Hitomi going on and on how she should take the opportunity to date Ranma, she was too busy thinking of what really motivated Ranma to take her as his assistant since knowing that he is more than capable of handling things by himself.
"Hitomi...I got to go...why don't we talk on Monday...sorry." with that Kasumi hung up and went back to her dinner with her sisters.
Kasumi then spent the next few minutes telling both Akane and Nabiki that Hitomi was playing a joke on her and there really wasn't anyone who liked her.
After cleaning up Akane and Nabiki were huddled by the TV set while Kasumi sat down on her bed thinking about the many reasons what a rich guy like Ranma saw in her...an ordinary office lady. She went over it countless time over and over in her head and it always came back to only one conclusion.
Kasumi had fallen in love before with a senior from her high school, a baseball jock by the name of Ono Tofu. He had been so good playing the sport in fact that he was selected by the Nerima Giants professional baseball club as their first draft pick. After then he went on to be quite a successful rookie player with them.
Then one day while Kasumi was about to pay him a visit in his new apartment she was distraught to see a half naked young lady opening the door for her. He had just promised her that he would propose to her after his rookie year and not let his new lifestyle corrupt him. But that was a week ago when he had tried to get intimate with her in his parents house and Kasumi then brushed him off saying that she wanted to wait for marriage.
Now seeing the almost naked young woman with dyed blond hair wearing only his baseball jersey standing in his apartment door Kasumi ran off with tears in her eyes. Her heart was so far broken that she even refused to speak to him when he tried to call her.
"Is that all men ever think off?" she sadly asked herself.
Kasumi had never once considered that she was that even remotely attractive of a woman...simply she just didn't have time to think of it all. The only thing that remotely showed her figure was the store uniform she wore to work everyday. She had been just going on with her current responsibility that was to support her family dutifully up till now. Kasumi had no choice in the matter after all she was tragically left to bear that heavy responsibility alone now for so long.
- -
Intermission for Third Chapter that is if I've kept a decent continuum...for it is up to you, my much treasured readers to request for the next chapter...
Cha
H.A
Don't own Ranma and Kasumi neither Hitomi nor Van of Escaflowne fame as well...they are owned by their respective owners not me...
A/N:
Having only posted this fic out for a while now and after reading all your reviews I am glad that I've still managed to keep some of my old readers with me and added few new ones as well...a big thanks to you all who have read and commented...you know who you people are :) Hontouni Arigato Gozaimasu
From the reviews I also know that I still and will continue to make mistakes and I admit some of them are easily avoidable but I'm human and will err but I'm glad that you the readers can overlook that.
Looking back at my other RK fics I know I tend to leave the other characters from Ranma a little behind instead just giving them brief mentions or none at all as in the case of this fic as you will read in the next few chapters hope that doesn't put you guys off...
My explanation is that I simply intend to work on Ranma's and Kasumi's character more solely to make this fic short and simple straight to the point. If I didn't I will dally on and on until I cannot possibly finish it the way I had envisioned it so please forgive me once again.
My new RK fic which is still in progress I pray will hopefully correct this flaw of mine as each character that is worth mentioning is mentioned and has a vital role to play...so please bear with me until that fic is finished.
A few things will be cleared up with this second chapter of four like how old Ranma and Kasumi actually are and also who is the new Operations Director of the department store but a few of you have already guessed... ;p
Anyway my humblest apologies to keep you waiting with my babbling and to end I wish that all of you readers would continue to like how the story is progressing so far with this second chapter.
H.A
Chapter 2
- -
"Director?" gasped the two girls from behind Kasumi's table.
As the rather dejected looking Mr. Matsu hastily sauntered back to his office Ranma slowly went up to Kasumi's table and sat down near to its edge.
"Kasumi...there's a job opening within the store for a new secretary if your interested." He said while looking down to her.
"Uh...I haven't heard of it..." Kasumi replied him, only glancing briefly up to him now knowing of their huge positional gap.
"It sort of just came up...it's the secretary job for the new Operations Director."
"You think I should take it? Is he a nice person to work with?" Kasumi didn't understand why she was asking Ranma this question anyway.
"Well I dunno...you think I'm a nice person?" he asked her brandishing an impish grin.
Kasumi didn't get it at first but Hitomi who was standing beside her all the while quickly got his hint and whispered into her ear.
As Hitomi whispered on Kasumi's eyes grew wider and wider with each word. After Hitomi had finished, "Ranma...you're the new Operations Manager of this department store aren't you?"
Ranma childishly beamed at Kasumi as if he had just been caught with his hands in the cookie jar, "Yup and the job's open yours if you want it...I'd even adjust your current terms of employment to your liking...just as long as you take the job."
"Err..." mumbled Kasumi who then received a little nudge in the shoulders from Hitomi to wake her up from her daze.
Ranma laughed at the sight, "Kasumi do you want to take the day off to think about it carefully or how about we discuss it over lunch...if Hitomi wants to come she's more then welcomed to."
Hitomi was nodding her head while Kasumi was just silent, "I don't know..." was all Kasumi managed to say out.
"You don't know if you want the day off or the lunch offer?" queried Ranma looking rather confused.
"Sir...why don't you let me have a little chat with Kasumi here for a while...just give us girls ten minutes..." said Hitomi flashing Ranma one of her cutest smiles.
Ranma agreed stating that he needed to attend to a small matter anyway but he'd be back soon. Hitomi then dragged a still bewildered looking Kasumi up to their usual spot on the roof.
"Kasumi...why are you being so hesitant? It's not everyday that you get rescued by a handsome young man who not only happens to run this whole place and not only that he offers you a terrific job which if I heard him correctly you can state your on it's too sweet of offer to turn down." Hitomi was out of breath after stating to her how she looked at Kasumi's current situation.
"I'm not being hesitant...it's just I don't want to be..." Kasumi then continued on with her words inwardly while she remained silent outwardly.
"Pitied?" Hitomi continued Kasumi's sentence for her as if she could read her mind and in a way she could, Hitomi understood clearer then anyone else how she thinks.
"I bumped into Ranma yesterday and then while I was working late he came up to me and gave me back my purse...we had supper and we sort of talk. I didn't know who he was then but we sort of talked about my job was going and also how I was being treated and all. He then even accompanied me home back to my apartment. I know I ain't rich Hitomi, I know I just manage to make a decent living but I don't want to be giving charity..." explained Kasumi to her friend.
"Kasumi...this is a good chance for you to improve on your on just listen to him and what he's offering...it might help your kid sisters out if not your own sake..." her best friend sighed.
Kasumi looked at her best friend and smiled weakly, "I guess it wouldn't hurt right?" Kasumi acted as if she didn't know what she should do next and really she didn't.
"Of course and besides it's a free lunch with a cute guy no less..." exclaimed Hitomi very happily while dragging Kasumi back up to her feet.
"But Hitomi how about your gaijin boyfriend...Van?"
"Of course I love him to death Kasumi...I'm stating that this Ranma guy is cute for your sake...silly. It's been ages since you last went out on a date." she smiled.
"It's not a date..." rebuffed Kasumi, looking back at her friend who just kept on slyly grinning.
As the two girls went back down to their office they found Ranma was already there waiting for them and seeing the two he stood up, "So do I get the chance to treat two very beautiful ladies out to lunch?"
"No...sadly I have a previous engagement but Kasumi here is more then willing to have lunch with you and besides she's the prettier one among us two right...Kasumi?" Hitomi meanwhile was pushing Kasumi ever so closer to Ranma.
Kasumi was blushing like mad from hearing her best friend comments and found she was at a lost of words when Ranma gave her his full attention by gazing down at her. "So it's just you and me again...I think after last night's supper how about you recommend a place for us to eat this time around?"
It took her a while but Kasumi managed to get a few words out which barely told Ranma the place that she wanted to go, "Okay then I'd pick you up in an hour let's say 11.30am then we'd go on from there..." Ranma then left her office with a smile.
- -
Kasumi then spent the next few minutes chatting with Hitomi through her messenger. She hated how Hitomi teased her to no end about the 'date' which she boldly puts it but Kasumi preferred to call it simply lunch.
Other then a few high school dates Kasumi as she was now didn't have much time to date period, Hitomi knew this perfectly well for she had always tried to set her up with a few of Van's fellow English teacher friends. Each time though she rejected it flatly bringing up her sisters as an excuse.
Even so Kasumi should be proud of herself for she single handedly managed to put her two sisters through high-school and now University. The whole process left her sadly though with not much time to socialize and truthfully she hadn't had a real date since she was 20 and that was five years ago.
As she absentmindedly sat down on her desk going over her report, the same report which she and Ranma and gone through last night Kasumi's mind couldn't help but wonder why he would even want to help her the way he did.
While reveling in her own thoughts, Kasumi never noticed Ranma walking in and that he was now leaning on the back wall of her cubicle behind her. Ranma just stood their while he studied the girl who was blankly staring at her computer screen but her eyes were barely blinking.
"You know that's not good for your eyes..."
Kasumi hearing his voice double blinked then looked at her computer clock and after that shot up from her seat and apologized for not keeping track of the time in one quick fluid motion.
"It's okay...don't worry about it. Come on...I'd drive us there..." laughed Ranma out loud while holding up a set of keys for her to see.
After taking her purse Kasumi began to walk awkwardly beside Ranma down the corridors and took the elevator down towards the basement parking. She couldn't help noticing though how the others employees they had passed earlier were looking at them.
Walking pass the many different brands of parked cars Kasumi realized she never been here before but then chided herself for the fact that she didn't own a car in the first place so why should she be here.
With a loud beep of a car alarm disarming, Ranma graciously held open the passenger door for Kasumi to get in. Kasumi had never seen a car like this one before much less get to ride in one.
Ranma's car was a stylish 4-door black sports sedan and inside of it Kasumi surprisingly found the seats to be more comfortable then her own couch at home. As the engine revved up Ranma changed into gear and drove off up to the city streets.
- -
"So this place we're going to have lunch in you go there often??" causally asked Ranma while making a right turn off an intersection.
"Well...you can say that...I used to wait tables there while I was in my final year of high-school..." she replied.
"Hmm...guess I should have gone there a lot earlier...then we could have met a lot earlier too eh?" said Ranma while stopping at a stoplight and quickly gave Kasumi a wink from under his sunglasses.
Kasumi cheeks faintly reddened, countering it she quickly stared right onto the awaiting traffic outside in front of her, after a short wait and a few turns later Ranma found the restaurant and after finding a parking he once again opened the door for Kasumi to get out.
The restaurant itself was a quaint restaurant well hidden among the modern buildings which towered over it threatening to swallow it some day. Entering there were very few customers bar a few elderly couples slowly enjoying their cup of coffee or tea.
"Kasumi...dear how nice to see you...again." greeted an elderly lady taking Kasumi's hands into hers before enveloping her into a hug.
"And I see you've brought your boyfriend here as well..." she continued with a huge smile.
This made both Kasumi and Ranma blush, "Grandma...please he's not my boyfriend...he's a friend from work."
"Well doesn't it all start out like that?" laughed the old lady as she brought the two to a nice empty seat by the window.
"And what shall the two of you youngsters have?"
"How about two bowls of your special beef ramen?" Kasumi glanced over to Ranma who nodded and after writing their orders down the smiling elderly woman skipped off into the kitchen with a big smile plastered on her face.
"I'm sorry about Grandma's comments just now..." apologized Kasumi.
"Nah its okay...I sort of like her...she reminds me of my own grandmother before she passed away...full of spunk and life. Is she your real grandmother?" Ranma asked with a laugh.
"I'm sorry to bring that up Ranma and no she's not we just all call her Grandma around here." she apologized firstly before answering his earlier question.
"It's okay really...anyway this looks like a nice place...at least you had a friendlier boss here." Ranma then took off his sunglasses to look at her.
Kasumi couldn't help but stare into his now exposed eyes she could help herself but to feel so lost looking into them. She picked up a feeling as if they were hiding something rather sad behind them.
"Kasumi is there something on my face?"
Quickly realizing what she was doing Kasumi shook her head and averted her gaze aimlessly around the small shop fighting the warmth growing around her cheeks.
"Anyway...about the new job I'm serious about offering it to you. I've already seen your current contract and well I'm willing to double your salary, give you a housing allowance and also give you an increased overtime pay. So how about it...Kasumi please say yes." Ranma asked her with hopeful eyes.
As their bowls of Ramen were presented to them Kasumi remained numb on her reply and this worried Ranma a bit but he didn't want to force the issue any further so he allowed her to answer him on her own accord.
"Why me?" he heard her faint voice asking him.
Looking up Ranma noticed how Kasumi was looking at him as if she didn't want to believe that he was offering her this chance.
"Why you? Well...why not you...I mean I just arrived and don't know my way around the store. You're the only one I know so far and well seeing how badly your previous boss was treating you and since I needed a secretary I thought of you. I know how hard you work so I just decided to ask you better then to let your talents go to waste being a part time servant and I'm sure this new job will help you out greatly." he honestly replied her.
Kasumi digested his reply and saw the one feeling she didn't want to feel...pity.
"I don't need to be pitied Ranma...I'm sure there are a lot of more qualified people out there to become your secretary...so I'm declining your generous offer." she answered flatly.
Ranma had been enjoying a sip of his tea but hearing her answer he gently placed the cup down and looked out of the window for a while before affixing his gaze back to Kasumi's delicate face.
"Kasumi...I may be the Director of a large departmental store and I may be young but one thing I do not do is pity people. My father had thought me to look at someone's potential and work ethics and regardless if that person was a lowly office boy if he knows what his doing and can do it better then the other person then he should get the job. I saw you that night doing all the sales figures by yourself and you did it pretty well. To top it off that was supposed to be your supervisor's job..."
Kasumi had wanted to speak up but Ranma lifted a solitary finger up to his lips.
With her understanding silence he continued. "But you managed it by yourself with no previous formal training. I see the potential inside you so if you don't want to be my secretary then would you want to be my personal assistant? I want you to be with me to help me out not because I pity you because I know you can carry out the job. The salary increase fits the job scope and the housing allowance comes with the job as well. I don't blame you for thinking that I pitied you but Kasumi remember this I may be well to do but I ain't trying to rub it in your nose...which by the way is a really cute nose but I ain't trying to show I'm superior."
After hearing each word Ranma had spoken out, Kasumi slowly took it in and after getting his compliment of her nose she blushed again in front of him. She didn't know why she was acting like this way in front of him...a virtual stranger. Ranma just had something about him that just made her feel so unsure and uncertain of herself.
"How old are you?" Kasumi offhandedly asked him with a smile.
"Huh??"
Kasumi laughed a bit, "I mean when you said that you were young, I thought all Directors had to be really old and you certainly don't look like you are in your late forties..."
"Oh...I'm just 23 this year, I graduated from university last year and went straight away worked with my dad for another year before I was assigned here." replied Ranma sheepishly.
'I envy him...he's still young but already has his future is set out before him...' thought Kasumi.
"How about you Kasumi or is your age some national secret or something?"
Kasumi gave Ranma a wide contradicting smile, "I'm 25 later this year...you're lucky Ranma you've already have your future quite laid out for you..." she almost said it out like as if she was getting depressed by comparing her life with his.
"My life isn't laid out for me Kasumi...I still have a long way to go and so do you...but what I am offering you is a fresh start in it. If you want to study more maybe improve yourself I am more then willing to send you to a few courses if you want to company's account." Ranma stated.
She didn't know how but Kasumi was quietly thanking which ever Kami up their in heaven that had listened to her prayer and then answered her by sending Ranma. "I'd accept your offer then..." she interrupted Ranma while he was still going on with how the job was good for her.
Taking a moment to understand what she had just said a wide smile etched itself on Ranma's face, it was so wide that it could have split his face into two. "I'm glad...we'd do the paper work later at the office when we get back..."
"You already have the paperwork drawn up?" gasped Kasumi to which Ranma replied with just a wider smile.
"Saotome Ranma...do you always get what you want?" play pouted Kasumi.
"No...not always I just had it drawn up because I would have bugged you to come and work with me until you finally did..." he replied her.
- -
By late afternoon Kasumi found herself sitting in a large room which surprisingly was designed differently from the rest of the managers' room. Usually they would a wall dividing the manager and his or her secretary but Ranma's office was just one big open room.
It had the cityscape surrounding its large windows while a long meeting table occupied the far left corner. Ranma's desk was on the far right corner while Kasumi's own desk was adjacent to his.
Kasumi having just packed her belongings into a small photocopier A4 paper box and with the said box sitting on her desk Kasumi looked around herself as if she was lost. Ranma couldn't help but smile at the young lady who was looking as if she was Alice in wonderland.
"You look surprised...you're now my personal assistant and I don't expect things to be kept from you. What I hear you hear simple as that or are you not comfortable with this arrangement?" he asked with a hint of worry interlaced into the question.
"No...I'm just not used to this that's all..."
"Anyway...if I mess up feel free to bite my head off...but that's rather unfair though as I don't think I can bring myself to bite yours off for I'm sure I'd make more mistakes that you do..." Ranma was about to continue when his phone rang.
Kasumi taking the time while Ranma was busy tried to collect herself. She didn't expect jump head first into this mess but Kasumi felt excited over the new job and how everything had changed for her in just one day. Looking over to Ranma who smiled back at her Kasumi couldn't believe that by just bumping into this young man her life would be changed so drastically.
Ranma was taking his time to slowly explain to Kasumi on what would be her scope of work being his assistant. She couldn't feel but the least peculiar about it all for Kasumi would usually get very anxious when she was dealing with upper management and Ranma was as high as they come in terms of managers.
But here she was their arms within touching distance and yet Kasumi felt nothing but calm as she listened to what Ranma was explaining to her. Kasumi was glad that the work she was going to do was no more different then her old job but this time around she was authorized to deal on his behalf if Ranma was unavailable.
"Kasumi since tomorrow's a Sunday how about we go look around for a new apartment?" notioned the young man beside her while typing on his keyboard.
"New apartment?" she puzzlingly asked him back.
"Yeah...well I was thinking maybe you would like to move into a more comfortable apartment then your current one that is if you want to...cause well you'd be given a company laptop later and may need to bring home your work I thought you might need a study room for yourself or something..." Ranma was feeling that he had just put his foot into his mouth by looking at Kasumi's rather unreadable expression.
"How about letting me settling into this job first...before going onto other issues..." answered Kasumi in an emotionless tone.
"Okay...sorry..."
The two continued to work in silence until Kasumi noted the time on the wall clock that read 5.10pm. Since she had to make up to her sisters for not making dinner last night as it had been her turn she decided to leave for home.
"Leaving...? You need a ride home or something?" Ranma instantly perked up when he saw Kasumi stand up taking her bag in stride.
"Thanks but I need to shop for dinner first...I'd see you on Monday." And with that Kasumi bowed lightly and left Ranma looking rather disappointed.
With the door closed behind her Ranma slumped down to his seat and turned around to face the reddening skyline.
'Ranma...your pushing it you know on give her some space you acting like some crazed teenage boy with swarming hormones. You're scaring her more often or not...' Ranma criticized himself inwardly.
Even Ranma himself couldn't understand why he was going all out for this one girl he had met only two days ago. When he was working with his father he never needed to have a personal assistant he never had the need. He was more then competent in managing his own schedule and also workload but he wanted Kasumi to be part of his working life even though he never did like working in groups.
Ranma recalled the time when he was in university where during his final year thesis while all the others students of his class were busying working in a group Ranma was the only one working alone.
He had offers to join the other groups but he wanted to be alone, he wanted to prove to himself that he could succeed alone. It would make his father proud of him like how he did once before, alone with no one else help.
After he had graduated his father then sent him straight to work in one of his less then profitable assets alone and asked him to make it profitable within half the year. It was as if he was testing him and Ranma passed with flying colors for he managed within four months to bring the factory back into profit.
Even the executive board members of the parent company were impressed with him but they always said that he was a recluse. Ranma never worked well in a team he was too hotheaded and sometimes unwilling to share his problems for he rather solved them by himself. But here he was now trying hard to involve into his own scheduled life this young lady whom he only met less then 48 hours ago.
Closing his eyes Ranma remembered back even further into this life back to when he was about seven waiting for his mother to pick him up at the bus station from his first day of school. Ranma's mother then came up and seeing her Ranma was ecstatic and ran up to her but as soon as the rest of his classmates saw his mother they began to laugh.
Ranma's mother was dressed in a white apron dirtied with huge grease spots, her hair a wild frizzy mess from keeping it under a paper hat too long and she was wearing rather oversized cleaning boots. His mother was a dish washer at one of the trendy restaurants in town and since this was his first day in school she decided to pick him up. It would have been Ranma's father but he was too busy working at the construction site to pick him up.
His thoughts then jumped forward to when he was about 18 with his family name so well known he had no problems with girls. He had tons of them hanging off his feet but his heart was smitten by his old childhood friend Ukyo Kuonji. She had been his neighbor once when he was 5 and the two of them were close childhood friends.
Ranma had lost track of her when he had moved out of their old apartment, Ranma was 7 then but one day while he was returning back to Japan after a business trip and of all the places to meet her back...it had to be on that faithful flight.
She was working as a stewardess and after looking at the long brown haired girl asking him if he liked a drink Ranma thought she looked familiar. After a brief reunion of 'hey aren't you...' and 'that's right...I'm her/ him' the pair quickly renewed their friendship even way past after the plane's landing. They soon began to date each other and pretty soon the two of them were even engaged by the time Ranma was 19. But that all came crashing down when she left him.
It was a Thursday evening after Ranma returned home from a short trip to Tokyo, standing inside he found their apartment bare and surprisingly at that moment a real estate broker was inside it trying to sell it to another couple. After some investigation Ranma found out that Ukyo had already emptied their shared bank account which they and also sold off their shared apartment just the day before his return.
When Ranma had tried calling her on her cellphone but all he got was the computerized voice saying 'The number you've dialed is no longer reachable' It broke his heart when Ukyo, Ranma's first love had used him only to get to his money.
- -
Kasumi now back home in her apartment with her sisters were enjoying themselves with a special dinner of Sukiyaki. She had just told them of her promotion of sorts and well she had decided to celebrate it.
"So how's the new job so far?" Akane asked while gulping down the piece of sliced beef.
"Ya...hope your boss this time is a lot nicer..." added Nabiki. The two of them knew how badly Kasumi was being treated by her old supervisor.
"I only started today...so I don't know how the job is but it's pretty okay so far and well my new supervisor is an okay guy..." she replied.
"So what nickname does this old guy have? Hitomi has the weirdest nicknames for all the store's managers..." laughed Nabiki as she remembered the few nicknames Hitomi had come up with in her head.
"Well...Hitomi doesn't have one yet for him at least I hope not..." just then the phone rang beside her. The caller ID blinked Hitomi's home phone and pressing the speaker button for Kasumi had her hands full with stirring the pot.
"Yeah...Hitomi what's up? Shouldn't you be on a date with Van?" Kasumi voice called out.
"That could be the same said of you Kasumi...shouldn't you be having a romantic dinner with Director Prince Charming... don't deny it woman! I see how you two acted this morning he's crazy for you I just know it. If I didn't have Van I'd go for him myself...even though he does looks a tad young but still he's damn cute..." Kasumi quickly picked up the handset and brought their conversation out of the prying ears of her two younger sisters who were now grinning ear to ear and eyes wide open.
"So how was the lunch?" came Hitomi's voice over the line.
"He drove me to Grandma's. We talked a little that's it..." replied Kasumi rather too briefly for Hitomi's liking.
"Are you holding out on me on there's got to be more then that!!" demanded Hitomi.
"That's it seriously..."
"Kasumi...do you know the rumors about you two that are going whirling within the office just now? Ranma here seems to be famous as a loner...he never asked anyone to help him before no matter how hard it gets plus he doesn't stick his neck out to help anyone too. And once he sees you in distress he swoops down on you save you from the wicked dragon and right into being his assistant like some Knight in shining armor. He likes you Kasumi for sure and I say you go for it..."
Kasumi for one wasn't listening to Hitomi going on and on how she should take the opportunity to date Ranma, she was too busy thinking of what really motivated Ranma to take her as his assistant since knowing that he is more than capable of handling things by himself.
"Hitomi...I got to go...why don't we talk on Monday...sorry." with that Kasumi hung up and went back to her dinner with her sisters.
Kasumi then spent the next few minutes telling both Akane and Nabiki that Hitomi was playing a joke on her and there really wasn't anyone who liked her.
After cleaning up Akane and Nabiki were huddled by the TV set while Kasumi sat down on her bed thinking about the many reasons what a rich guy like Ranma saw in her...an ordinary office lady. She went over it countless time over and over in her head and it always came back to only one conclusion.
Kasumi had fallen in love before with a senior from her high school, a baseball jock by the name of Ono Tofu. He had been so good playing the sport in fact that he was selected by the Nerima Giants professional baseball club as their first draft pick. After then he went on to be quite a successful rookie player with them.
Then one day while Kasumi was about to pay him a visit in his new apartment she was distraught to see a half naked young lady opening the door for her. He had just promised her that he would propose to her after his rookie year and not let his new lifestyle corrupt him. But that was a week ago when he had tried to get intimate with her in his parents house and Kasumi then brushed him off saying that she wanted to wait for marriage.
Now seeing the almost naked young woman with dyed blond hair wearing only his baseball jersey standing in his apartment door Kasumi ran off with tears in her eyes. Her heart was so far broken that she even refused to speak to him when he tried to call her.
"Is that all men ever think off?" she sadly asked herself.
Kasumi had never once considered that she was that even remotely attractive of a woman...simply she just didn't have time to think of it all. The only thing that remotely showed her figure was the store uniform she wore to work everyday. She had been just going on with her current responsibility that was to support her family dutifully up till now. Kasumi had no choice in the matter after all she was tragically left to bear that heavy responsibility alone now for so long.
- -
Intermission for Third Chapter that is if I've kept a decent continuum...for it is up to you, my much treasured readers to request for the next chapter...
Cha
H.A