Fatum

by: Enchanted Kagome

Summary:

She claimed to have done it for the sake of completing the jewel, but in truth she did it to save herself the pain of knowing. She may question the what ifs of life every day, but ignorance, whatever it's price, is bliss...but destiny cannot be deterred.

Chapter One—MergingCompanies

Kagome jerked awake, breathing raggedly, her hand still reaching out for the non-existent…no, no more thinking about it. It's been seven years… Yet, it never stopped haunting her—there was always the echo of a "what if…" within the walls of her mind.

"I need a drink," she half-whispered to herself, getting up and heading for the kitchen. The kitchen light was on. Probably Seiko-chan, she thought with a smile. Seiko Yumeno was a girl she'd befriended during high school…after the whole Shikon no Tama saga. At the time, Kagome had felt like an outcast, unable to forget everything and everyone in the Sengoku Jidai era, and Seiko was the New Girl. Their situations had seemed so similar that Kagome was sure Seiko would need an understanding friend as much as she did. She was wrong. Although willing to be friends, Seiko's independent personality never lent much to the thought of needing a friend and much less needing to fit in. As they got to know each other better, Kagome became more aware of how much Seiko was like her friends in the Warring States Era. She was independent and practiced martial arts, sword fighting, fencing, and archery. Kagome could only match her in archery competitions. At the same time, Seiko carried an aura of mystery around herself, much like Miroku, Sango, InuYasha, and even Shippou when Kagome first met them. So alike that it comforted her a lot.

"Hey, Seiko-chan. What are you doing up so early?" Kagome asked her roommate. Knowing Seiko, if it wasn't something really important, she'd have to be dragged out of bed at eight…if that's even possible.

"The merging deal," Seiko replied, eyes not wavering a minute from the contents of the thick manila folder.

"Oh, the one with the Taiko Corps?" Kagome asked. She was still too stuck in her dream and reminiscence to think too clearly. That's right, Seiko had said something about merging…only two million times a day…but what was it again?

The two friends had decided to go to the same college and started their own technology corporation, as co-owners. At the age of twenty-two, they are the owners of one of the most influential companies in the world, and the biggest technology corporation in Japan—Kakera Corps. Seiko was in charge of what Kagome called "foreign relations" and Kagome was in charge of what went on inside the company. Course, both were well aware of all the happenings, but it was usually Seiko who negotiated the trades, the prices, the products, the merging, the…well that stuff. And Kagome who decided the expansion, or reduction of a department, the laying-off (definitely her worst job) and the…you get the point.

"Taisho Corps. Not 'Taiko.' Unless you're thinking of Techno Roi, that French company that went bankrupt about half a year ago," Seiko said, more annoyed at having woken up so early than at Kagome's obvious inattention.

"The one you forced into bankruptcy, you mean," Kagome corrected. Even now, she still gets surprised by how forceful and brutal Seiko is in the corporate world…the Seiko who wouldn't even kill a fly…Ok, that was an exaggeration, but still…Seiko seemed to be able to guillotine all those poor innocent company without flinching—their only crime being that they stood in the way of Kakera Corps.

"It's all the same. If I didn't do it then they would've done that to us," Seiko replied defensively, still perusing the merging contract and scribbling little notes here and there.

"Yeah. I thought you said their products and prices couldn't even compare, let alone force us out of business," Kagome said.

"Well, it's the thought that counts. They were trying to…and the fact that they couldn't even begin to compare just makes them extremely pathetic," Seiko replied, taking a sip from her teacup while still reading the merging deals.

"So…'Taisho Corps.' Hm…interesting name," Kagome mused.

"Yeah…'Kakera Corps.' I dare say quite interesting as well," Seiko shot back—still in a bad morning mood. Then, hitting upon a particular offensive paragraph in the merging deals, or so it seemed, she jumped up and started shouting, "Who does he think he is the…" some very wonderful curse words…again all products of having woken up so early. "Like I would ever give him that!"

"What?" Kagome glanced at the portion of the merging deals. "A quarter of the production and advertisement departments. Doesn't seem that bad to me. I mean, that's usually what we give to other companies, isn't it?"

"It is…when we buy them, not when we merge! It's the point that persuades the owners to sell it to us for lower prices. They want the new owner to care for the old employees' well-being. Besides, those were old, trustworthy companies that are easier to buy than compete with and trying to put them out of business. This newbie company is demanding that we give up more than a third of our total workforce! That's preposterous! As the significantly larger company, we have much more rights in a merging deal," Seiko explained.

"Um…of course," Kagome quickly agreed. Yep…she was definitely clueless about the company's "foreign affairs." "So tell more about this foolhardy new company that dares invoke the wrath of Seiko the Powerful!" Seiko hit Kagome lightly on the arm before sitting down again and waited until Kagome sat down to start talking.

"Well, we currently own 72 of the market and the next biggest owner would be Taisho Corps, with 19. The remaining 9is a potpourri of different companies, ranging from a miniscule store, to a small corporate, but nothing that presents much of a threat. Taisho Corps, or rather, Taisho Tech, has only been in the market for a little more than nine months and it has already risen from nobody in the business to the second biggest business. It may not be much of a threat now, but it definitely has potential. If we were to merge now, together, we have about 91 of the market, almost total monopoly," Seiko said.

"What's so special about Taisho Tech?" Kagome asked. It seemed incredulous that a company could possibly gain so much influence in the business in less than a year. (It had taken loads of work and more than three years to gain the influence they had now and that was mostly due to Seiko's ability to drive so many other companies bankrupt or somehow cajoling owners to sell their companies at the lowest prices possible.)

"Actually, as I said before, Taisho Tech and Taisho Corps are two very different, yet closely related things. You see, Taisho Corps is actually the 'big umbrella' over a chain of businesses that are all pretty much at the top or among the top of their industries. It ranges from clothing to food to toys. So, their background and available resources definitely helped Taisho Tech. And even more, with established backgrounds and influences in so many other industries, Taisho Corps is an established name, so another 'branch' or business under its name is bound to be more trusted," Seiko said.

"If they have so much potential, then why merge with us?"

"Their company's products are mostly sold and accepted by European countries and the Americas. However, we have a much bigger advantage in the Asian countries. There is also so much more room for expansion and much more hopes for the future in Asia, as it is beginning to catch up with the rest of the world. Instead of trying to undermine our influences here, which would take a lot, their owner probably decided that it was best to merge with us, better for both companies. Merge, not sell," said Seiko.

,p>"This Taisho Corps seems amazing. When did it start?"

"I think about four years ago or so. Before we started Kakera," Seiko replied, thinking for a minute. Yawning again, she finished her cup of tea before closing the manila folder. Placing it on the counter as she stretched, Seiko suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, by the way, Kagome, you'll have to deal with the placement of people...we may have to layoff a few in the researching department, because that's TaishoTech's strong point...basically, their section will deal with research and technology advancement while our original sector will deal with producing and marketing," Seiko said.

"They won't be happy to hear about the layoffing...though I have to say that our researching department consists of the best of Tokyo," Kagome put in.

"I know, but I've got to make compromises. Besides, TT's researching department is world-famous...so it can't be behind ours," Seiko replied grimly, thinking back to all the times the conditions of merging had been sent back and forth between her and TT's owners, the InuTaisho brothers. "Be comforted. That was as much as I could probably get from Mr. Stoic Face. But no way am I backing down about the production and advertising departments! Anyway, I have to go and make sure that these changes are written up and in legal terms too."

Kagome glanced at the kitchen clock. 5:02 am. "Why don't you have Kohana do it instead?"

"Kohana won't get in until around 8:30. Secretaries. Absolutely useless when it comes to typing these stuff up anyway. No idea how to term it. And besides, I think Mr. Terrorize and Conquer has scarred her for life. She'd probably faint when she finds out she's making changes to his terms from fear," Seiko answered distastefully, while grabbing her keys and looking for her bag.

"Really…" Kagome said. For a moment, her thought went back to a certain hanyou who often used the same tactic, but she shook herself out of it. "What happened?"

"Oh, bad day for me. Told Kohana that no one was to disturb me, or she loses her job," Seiko replied, still looking for her bag.

"Let me guess, he went in and demanded to see you," Kagome asked.

"Well, how as I supposed to remember that I had told him to come at 'anytime' the day before. Fucking bastardtook it seriously and made a point of purposely misinterpreting my words—where's my bag?" Seiko asked, racing around the apartment.

"Tried the couch?" Kagome offered. "It was there last night. So, what did Kohana do? Guard your office door loyally and then—"

"Got scared out of her mind when stoic Mr. InuTaisho came and demanded to see me," Seiko muttered, getting her bag. "Thanks for telling me where this stupid bag went. I'm heading to work, k?" Seiko waved goodbye before shutting the door.

"Just where you left it last night, Seiko-chan," Kagome said. Something echoed in her ear, 'InuTaisho.' Wasn't that the name of InuYasha's…no nevermind. It's probably a semi-popular name…right? Setting her own cup of coffee down, she turned around, only to find Seiko's manila folder.

"Seiko-chan's going to go crazy when she finds out she doesn't have her folder," Kagome thought to herself. "Better bring it to her...mergings have always been a big thing and she's been wanting this Taisho Tech for almost as long as it existed..."

Kagome yawned as she dialed Seiko on her cellphone.

"Hello?"

"Seiko-chan, you left your documents folder on the kitchen table."

"Did I? Never was a morning person. Good thing I don't need it immediately. Can you bring it when you come to work?"

"Sure thing. Ja ne."

"Ja!"

--Click--

Kagome took a quick shower, which was cut even shorter by the fact Seiko took a shower before and used up a lot of hot water. She made a mental note to herself to discuss the water problem with Seiko again and see what they could do about it with the landlady.

While waiting for the elevator, Kagome decided to skim the files. Her eyes fell on the title of the branch of Taisho Corps. in charge of Entertainment.

"Kazaana Entertainment..."

Author's Note: Yeah, I decided to change the plot of my story a bit, and rewrite it. This is the new version. I'm going to add in some new twists to this one and hopefully write longer chapters! Hehe...yeah, I'm back...I've decided which stories I'm going to update first. My other IY fanfic: The Other End of Tokyo's Sky and my SM ff, When the Act Becomes Too Real. Hope you guys liked this chapter!

Please Review!

Oh...while I was reading some other IY fanfics, I saw a "quote of the day", etc. at the bottom of each chapter. I was wondering if people would want me to do that, too. If you do, can you review and tell me so, and maybe include a suggestion in your review?

Enchanted Kagome