The sun shined through the windows, illuminating the plants in the room and giving the room inside a very warm glow. It was a sunny day, birds were chirping outside, squirrels were fighting each other in a one on one death match, and everything looked picturesque. Maybe everything except for the squirrels, that is.
It would be the epitome of a good day in Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.A, if Lee H. Higurashi wasn't bogged down with work from last month. She sat stationary on the couch, typing away at her laptop, chewing at a pencil that she took out of her hair and trying to use her foot to press the remote control on the coffee table nearby.
Her face twisted up as she got an email from her boss. She was going to be laid off, again, because of some stupid unknown reason that the uppers wouldn't let out to the regular workers. She kept working, however, determined to get her last report done and keep a good working record. She tapped her foot against the couch quickly as she filled in the last few values on the form, e-mailed them, and fell back on the couch with a huge sigh of relief.
"Feels good. " She congratulated herself on a hard day's work and shut her eyes, allowing the sun's rays from the window behind her to bathe her face gently. With only a half effort behind it, she pulled the laptop higher up on her and began to check her alternate email account for another job offer. She had saw the lay off coming, and even though she didn't like the fact that it would be done at all, made preparations for a change. With a blinking light and a giant 'New Mail" symbol by her inbox, she logged in and saw something that made her sit up straight.
"Takumi Corporation?!? No way...It's impossible. They...want me?" She coughed from the saliva being caught in the back of her throat and got to her feet. "These guys are the elite in electronics these days. Forget Micro-" She paused and sat back down, reading over the email.
"Lets see, they want me in for an interview today at 4:00. That seems doable- TODAY?!" She jumped up once again, but tripped over one of her college history books. She grabbed onto the arm of the sofa and narrowly escaped the fall, bouncing back up and staring at the clock on the wall. " 3:20. I can just make it downtown." She sprinted towards the bathroom, avoiding the textbooks on the floor this time, only to find it occupied.
She banged on the door. "Shane! Shane open up! Now. I have to get to an interview."
Her younger brother Shane stood in front of the mirror,with a bathroom, towel, and slippers, slicking back his hair with gel and combing it through for the 20th time. "If you had an interview, you should've gotten in here first."
Lee clenched her fist and pressed her head against the door. "Don't make me call mom on you! We are taking care of this house, and Im the major source of income here. If you wanna eat, you will get out and let me prepare for my interview."
"I have a date. That's important too." Shane calmy replied.
"You ALWAYS have a date! If you think I care about your stupid date, think again. Its not like you are not going to sleep over there anyway. Open up."
Shane smiled at Lee's annoyed tone, and grabbed his black shirt off of the hanger on the back of the door. "Fine. Allow me to get dressed, dearest sister."
"Thanks for the sarcasm, now HURRY UP!" She snapped.
A few minutes later, Shane emerged. He was wearing all black, as usual, with the usual skulls, flames, and snakes on his shirt that he always sported in some fashion. He had his comb still stuck in his hair, and his shoes in his hand. "Are you happy now?"
"Yes. I'm very happy."
"Do you have your clothes picked out?"
"I- crap." Lee hurried to her room to pick out one of her business suits. When she arrived with her clothes in hand, she found that the bathroom door was shut, and Shane was on the other side of it.
"YOU LITTLE-"
The door opened and Shane came out smiling, "Just a jest, Lee, just a jest." He walked right by her and Lee rushed in.
"Thats right...Lee I forgot my magazine."
Lee opened the door and attempted to throw it in his face, but Shane caught it before it hit and bowed to her. "Thank you." He left the hallway right before Lee could slam the door in his face.
One of the largest buildings in town was now operated by Takumi Corporation. The company had earned great respect in the city and beyond, but today something different was going on. Limos lined the entryway to the building and several people had gathered around. A few cameras went off when a very young looking, distinguished gentleman got out. He had long white hair and a dark suit that made his hair stand out even more. He walked towards the entrance, a few ladies walked behind him and of course, the suits, stood guard.
One reporter finally broke through the crowd, and reached out with her microphone. "Mr. Sho, what business do you have with --"
One of the suits stopped her persuit and lead her away. Mr. Sho, which most assumed was short for his real surname, stopped and looked at the people gathered. His golden eyes blinked and the sighs and gasps from the women in the crowd could be heard. He shook his head, not impressed with any of it, and made his way into the building to the disappointment of everyone outside.
Back at her home, Lee was almost done getting ready and was putting the finishing touches on her hair. She was wearing a dark blue pantsuit with simple pearl earrings. After slipping her feet into her high heels, she darted out the door, briefcase in hand and her laptop in the other. She wasn't sure what she had to present or how to present it, but that wouldn't mean a thing if she didn't get there on time. At her arrival she noticed the small crowd in front of the building and pushed her way through rather aggresively, even past the suits, inside.
"Lets see, it was the sixth floor." She got to the elevator and pressed three, then took the time to catch her breath as she waited for the elevator to get to the ground floor. She took out a pocket mirror and combed back into place any strands that went awry, and took the time to quickly, but neatly, put on a light pink shade of lipstick. "There." The elevator bell sounded and she dashed through the double doors, straight to the back of the elevator and shut her eyes just so she could calm down.
"Hard day?"
"Huh?" Lee turned her head and saw her. A young woman with long black hair, a red blouse and skirt, and white high heels was standing there, smiling at her. "Oh, yeah. Was in a mad dash to get here."
"Let me guess. Interview?"
"Yep. Might get a good position here if I play my cards right." Lee returned the smile.
"Good luck. I'm here with Sho Electronics?"
Lee held back her gasp and her crossed arms dropped to the side. "Sho Electronics? Here? I thought they were based in New York City."
"Well they may be based here from now on. There may even be a merger, or at least some sort of cooperation between Sho Electronics and Takumi, but its too soon to say now. Either way, anything happening is a long way away."
"Wow." Lee held her head. "That is pretty amazing. But if there is a merger, then maybe my new job isn't as secure as I'd hope it would be.
"Well are you good?"
"Hm." Lee wasn't sure how to answer the question without seeming like she was bragging, so she took out her old business card and gave it to the woman.
After a quick inspection the young woman smiled. "You were pretty high up, I see. I also heard there were financiail problems, so that must be why you are here."
"You pretty much summed it all up."
The elevator stopped at the fifth floor and the doors opened. The woman handed her a card. "You never know when you might need a friend in this business. Talk to you later okay?" She walked off and the doors shut again.
"Oh- Okay." Lee looked down at the business card and read off of it, "Rin Morioka.." The doors opened again and she shoved the card into her pocket, heading down the hallway.
It had been dark out several hours before Shane had gotten home from his date. He wiped the lipstick off his neck and dumped the chili-cheese fries on the floor and crashed on the couch. "There is never nothin on," He mumbled to himself as he turned the TV on. "Wonder where Lee is?"
It wasn't like Lee to just disappear, and he knew the interview couldn't have lasted this long. He searched the house, upstairs and downstairs, but his sister was nowhere to be found. With another annoyed grumble, he pulled out his cell and called her.
"Lee, where are you?"
Lee had been sitting in a small office ever since the interview. When they told her she could get to work right away they meant it, and she was very excited at what she would be doing there. She picked up the phone, already knowing who it was, and repled. "Shane Im fine. They wanted me to work the rest of the day. You won't believe what happened! I may be doing work for both Takumi Corporation and Sho Electronics. In fact, the owner of Sho Electronics will be working in the new building downtown as soon as its opened. But right now he is here and-''
"Okay that's enough." Shane rolled his eyes, "I just wanted to make sure you are not dead. Remember, the relatives are moving in so you have to prepare for that as well."
"You? Remind me? Well Shane I approve you on remembering something that wasn't on an MTV countdown. Tomorrow I'm gonna start preparing the rooms. You could always help by cleaning up. Shane? Hello?" By that time Shane had hung up on her, and Lee sneered. "Little immature brat. "