Um... nope, didn't really have anything useful to say...Oh, wait, the disclaimer:
I do not, do not, do not, do not, do not own Ranma ½ Really I don't.
And now, what you've all been waiting for...
The next Chapter of 'Cupid Inc.'!
Cupid Inc.
CHAPTER 3 Cupid Inc.
Okay, Phase 1 accomplished.
The woman in the white robes walked into an office. The walls were painted a dark blue and lined with dark wooden panels. She walked to one of the many cabinets, pulled one of the drawers open and started thumbing through the folders. Halfway through, she pulled out a thin one out and ticked the box next to the line 'Phase 1' on the front. She grinned down at it for a moment, before putting it back.
This is going to be so easy, if they just cooperate a little bit. She walked over to the large dark wooden desk that occupied most of the room, sat down in the leather chair and leaned back. She was just about to make a milkshake appear, when someone spoke up.
"Mayami? What are you doing in my chair?"
A stern looking older woman in similair white robes was standing in the doorway. Mayami quickly got up and felt her cheeks heat up.
"Nothing, Madam."
"What were you looking so smug about?" Madam asked as she moved towards her desk.
"Nothing, Madam, I was just working on the qualification for the new clients... and I've found the perfect job," Mayami looked at her feet and was by now convinced she much resembled an overripe tomato,. 'I... I was hoping that... that maybe I could try it."
The last few words were almost whispered. Madam turned around by her seat and gave her a look that seemed a cross between pity and annoyance.
"You do remember what happened last time, don't you? I don't think we can trust you with a new assignment already, I'm sorry."
Mayami just looked down and nodded, struggling to keep the dissapointment from showing on her face, "I understand."
When will they trust me again? Even worse, when she finds out I already started the assignment there will be hell to pay.
Mayami made her way to the door. Just as she was about to open it, she was called back. "Mayami?"
She turned around, swallowing hard. She had hoped she wouldn't have to explain right now. "Yes, Madam?"
"What's bothering you? You know I can read you."
Here goes nothing. Mayami fingered the sleeve of her robe as she looked at anything but her boss. "Well, it's just that I kind of already started the job." Mayami looked back towards the desk and gave Madam a quilty smile.
The woman stayed quiet, yet her repressed anger was evident on her face. Mayami had heard about and been victim to Madam's wrath before and it wasn't pretty. In this business, insubordinance or mistakes weren't taken lightly.
Mayami began to back away towards the door, hoping she could flee the office and hide in the toilets while Madam cooled off. No such luck. She barely had her hand on the doorknob when Madam unleashed her anger and started shouting.
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When Mayami finally came out of the office she was burned out. She walked past the main hall, where her colleagues were standing on their break, drinking coffee and talking. She heard parts of conversations, mostly about their current jobs. By the time she reacher her own cubicle, she was so depressed she felt to call in sick and just go home. Mayami looked up at the logo of her company. A heart and two arrows. Cupid Inc., specialised in matchmaking.
Some Cupid I am, I'm not even allowed to do any love stuff. I could be an intern for god's sake.
She turned on her computer and while she waited for it to start up she glanced around the mostly empty cubicle. Most of the space was taken up by her desk. Some of the other cubicles were decorated with posters and others with work-related items, but hers was completely bare. She smiled as her wallpaper appeared on her screen, a photo of her with a group of friends at some birthday party or other. Back to business. She looked around to see if no one was near and opened a file.
Ranma Saotome
Age: 16; Relatives: Genma Saotome (father), Nodoka Saotome (mother); Nationality: Japanese; Eye Colour: Blue; Hair Colour: Black as boy, red as girl; Curse: Turns into a girl by cold water; Girlfriends: None; Fiancees: Akane Tendo, Ukyo Kuonji, Shampoo ( + Kodachi Kuno as a rival); Occupation: Student at Furinkan High; Hobbies: Martial Arts, pissing off Akane.
Akane Tendo
Age: 16; Relatives: Soun (father), Nabiki (middle sister), Kasumi (oldest sister); Nationality: Japanese; Eye Colour: Brown; Hair Colour: Navy Blue; Curse: None; Boyfriends: None; Fiancees: Ranma Saotome; Occupation: Student at Furinkan High; Hobbies: Martial Arts.
Mayami leaned back in her chair. She'd made the files from the information the girl on the phone had given her. She'd said she was the girl's sister, Nabiki. The girl even gave solutions for some of the obsticals in the way and there were a lot of those.
The girl had been right about those two. When Mayami had observed them this afternoon, she'd taken a look inside their hearts and while they were certainly not in love, there was a fondness, which could be nurtured into something more and if they, as the sister had said, could at least become some sort of friends, the fights would diminish and that would mean they wouldn't wreck the house that much anymore.
Mayami smiled. She loved her job, when she was allowed to do it that is. After the first add in a soppy magazine, the phone had been ringing off the hook. Mainly what they did was accept assignments from clients, who had friends or family that they knew really liked each other, yet just wouldn't confess it to the other person. So, because most of their clients don't have the time to do it themselves, they would seek help here. Most clients were tired that the assignments wouldn't just admit to each other that they loved each other, and get it over with.Since business was booming, almost every Cupid had jobs lined up for them, but not Mayami. She'd screwed up her last job, and wasn't allowed another one since then.
I know I'm not that good, but how am I ever going to improve myself if they don't give me a chance?
That was when Nabiki Tendo had called. No one else was around, so it was the perfect opportunity to finally get a job.
Suddenly, Madam appeared next to her. "You've already started it?" she asked, still steaming. Mayami confirmed it, and her boss went on, "And you've completed Phase 1?" Mayami nodded again and wondered why she was asking all this again.
Madam sighed.. "Then there's nothing I can do. You'll have to finish the job."
Mayami celebrated inside. I knew it! Once Phase 1 is complete, no one else can take over. If they do, the couple will never find true happiness, and that's not good for our reputation, now is it?
"So, who's the lucky couple then?" Madam looked at the screen and gasped, "What? You've got to be kidding. Those two? We've had a call about them before, a bunch actually. Two old men kept calling saying we had to do something. I had the best Cupids check them out, and they didn't see work in them, too much trouble. They refused the job. And you think they're perfect?" Madam shot Mayami an horrified look.
Mayami decided just to nod. "Yeah, I mean, they like each other, the signs are there. The feelings just have to get to the surface. The girl that called about them, Nabiki Tendo, is the girls sister, so she would know. She told me every time there was any kind of danger for one of them, the other one would immediately jump in to save the other She even gave... um... wait a sec, where are they?"
She began to rummage around her desk. "Here they are!" Mayami pulled out another pair of papers. "The girl gave information about two other couples, one Ryoga Hibiki and Ukyo Kuonji, that's one, and two people called Shampoo and Mousse," Mayami made a face. "What idiot parent came up with those names..." She shrugged and continue,"Anyway, that Ukyo and Shampoo are fiancées of Ranma, and she said that if we coupled them, they would be out of way."
Madam nodded, "And she will pay for those too?"
Mayami nodded too, "Yeah, she said something about getting free food."
"Okay, hand those papers to me, I'll find suitable Cupids for those jobs."
Mayami straightend the papers and gave them to her. Madam still looked a little doubtful. "What method are you planning to use on them?"
Mayami snapped her fingers and her chart appeared again. Showing it to Madam, she started to point out her plan.
A/N:
Another one finished...
Await the next one soon...
PLEASE REVIEW!
Till next time,
Ameko
