Disclaimer: I do not now, nor have I ever owned Inuyasha, but one of these days, my pretties... :cackle: One of these days...
Reviewer Comments:
JediK1- I know I haven't said much on Sango-chan, Miro-kun, and Kirara yet, but I'll get around to that, soon, I promise. There is an explanation to what happened in the past with the two of them, no worries.
SilverontheRose- Thank you! I'll do my best when it comes to college! And I suppose Inuyasha will never get over that side of himself when it comes to Kagome. lol. He's just a puppy at heart.
Mini Nicka- You'll have to wait just ONE more chapter to really know what it's for!
BunnyKat- I've picked up the pace again with this story, so I don't think there should be too much worry about my taking too long between chapters. Here's chapter ten for the time being, though!
TennyoKameko- Am I really that evil? ...Okay, well, I suppose I am. You're going to think I'm even worse after the end of this chapter! hehe. There's definately more evilness to come!
Puchu-chan- :blinku: Yeah, I thought one-liners were supposed to be... one line... But maybe that's just me? Glad you liked it!
Kumoritora- That's a secret, but we'll find out, now won't we? Truthfully, I'm still decided myself. We'll see by the next chapter!
Miyomi- Same as before: it's a secret! You might be right, you might not be. :shrug: For now, I think I like leaving everyone in suspense.
Lonely Youkai-Well, Sessh-sama IS Killing Perfection, after all. Perfect destruction? Destruction of Perfection? Hm... Ah, the riddles of a name...
To Everyone- Yay! Chapter 10! Kago-chan goes job searching! This is reflecting my experiences from the past couple of weeks, mind you, though to the extreme and with vast amounts of exaggeration. Either way, I'm with Kagome when I say that I hate job interviews! Enjoy!
Chapter 10
Kagome yelped as she almost fell headfirst down the stairwell before catching herself on the railing, her stockings forgotten on the landing and her brush clattering noisily down the remaining steps to await her at the bottom. She had been trying to make her way downstairs when the pesky rug had dared to get in her way and trip her up. Someone was laughing at her this week, she was sure, and part of that laughing was in making her perpetually late for every job interview she had arranged in the past day and a half.
Oh no!Suddenly remembering the reason why she had been dangerously rushing downstairs in the first place, the once-more frantic girl emitted yet another high-pitched yelp and threw herself back up the stairs to snatch at the discarded pantyhose. Once retrieved, it was back to her original descent (this time without hazard) to snatch up the fallen brush as well before barreling towards the front hall. There was no time for any breakfast if she was going to catch her bus.
After her return from the Inu household, Kagome had pushed the matter to the back of her mind in place of finding a job. A job was essential. A job paid money, money that could buy her things- like an apartment of her own. She had promised her mother that she would be out by the first of the month, which gave her about that much time to find herself suitable employment, obtain her first paycheck, and slap down a security deposit on one of the cheap, but decent apartment buildings she would soon be looking at after said job was procured. But first: the procuring part.
After waking from her early-morning nap, she had preoccupied herself with searching through the classified section of every available newspaper she could find. In the end, she was actually rather amazed at the demand for licensed physical therapists, and had circled at least a dozen ads. Of course, a good amount of those had been crossed out after initial phone calls to the company or organization requesting them. People these days were seedy, to say the least, and after living in America for four years Kagome had come to be wary of opportunities that seemed too good to be true. They often were.
She had all but forgotten about the incidents of two days ago, but upon searching through her clothing the day before she had rediscovered the address she had stowed away, and was now determined to track it down after she finished with her interviews for the day.
…Interviews, right…
Pulling on her stockings as hastily as possible without tearing the thin, filmy fabric, Kagome started the rather skilled task of brushing and braiding her hair while pulling on her shoes and tying the laces. It was a feat that only a panicked twenty-something female college student could achieve, and she performed beautifully, much to the dazed surprise of her brother and mother as both stared from the doorway. They had come in somewhere around the time when she had righted herself on the stairwell, but were amazed by the bullet of motion that was Kagome. She saw them only fleetingly from the corner of her eye as she grabbed for her jacket off the coat rack.
"Bye Mama, bye Souta, I'll be back this evening, save some dinner for me and wish me luck!" Quickly checking her pockets for the address and newspaper clippings (complete with interview locations and times), and snatching up her old school briefcase armed with resume and references, she was out the door before either had a chance to respond and off sprinting down the shrine steps in her haste. She saw the bus approaching down the street and broke into a full run as it screeched to a halt.
How she hated buses! For the first interview she was leaving an hour and a half early just in order to catch the primary shuttle and transfer three different times. She needed a car if she were ever to make it around the city in a time-conserving and useful manner, but that was a pipedream for now when she barely had enough money to get on her feet.
She let out a screech as she saw the door open and begin to close almost as soon, and nearly tripped at the same while pumping her legs as hard as possible. She was only vaguely aware when she finally reached the bus and pounded insistently upon the glass door. A moment later, the door slid back open as she stepped on with a sigh of relief.
Yes, she hated buses with a passion, and they were no better in Japan than in America.
Kagome was not looking forward to spending her day on one. But, for now, she would endure.
The building smelled of Clorox and antiseptic- a combination of scents that had been part of the reason Kagome avoided going into medical school and had opted for a PT major. She had done her best to compress her schooling into as few years as possible, taking as many summer classes as she could to fill an entire semester. She had managed to compress six years of college into four. Now, she found herself surrounded by the very thing she had avoided from the beginning: a hurried, medically run hospital space. Walking towards the receptionist desk, Kagome tried her best not to wrinkle her nose.
"What can I do for you?" came the bored, feminine voice. Kagome looked over the tall desk to catch a glimpse of the older woman, her head still directed at the keyboard and computer screen before her. A plump, gray-haired older woman, the receptionist did not bother to look up and greet her.
"Yes, I'm Higurashi Kagome. I'm here for an interview regarding the position for a physical therapist," she said with a smile. Unfortunately, the woman still did not pay her any heed, and Kagome felt the smallest twinge of irritation. "Ma'am?"
"Yes, yes, Higurashi-san. Please have a seat, Kotoko-san will be with you soon." And that was it. With a miniscule frown, Kagome followed the request and walked across the waiting room to find a seat. She found it rather rude when current employees could not respect the patrons who entered the workplace- potential co-worker or not. Kagome had been taught that such an attitude expressed the idea that the company did not care whether or not it had customers, that other people were just a bother. It was a horrible way to go about a job, as those customers were the very things that kept any company running. Already, she did not like the clinic.
As she heard the antisocial receptionist finally call down to the woman named Kotoko, and saw a militaristic-type woman emerge from an office down the hall, Kagome knew she was in for one hell of a time.
She walked into the office with a smile on her face, gripping her briefcase until her knuckles threatened to turn white. She hated interviews almost as much as she hated buses! She remembered why she had worked so hard to keep a steady job in America- she detested looking for a new one and having to go through the entire process all over again! It was the most terrible event a person could experience: face-to-face interviews.
Her last three had been mediocre at best (if not downright horrible), one done by a cut-throat businesswoman looking to eat the bones of small children (the memories that thought caused to surface were unimaginable), while the second was a perverted old man who had looked far too low to see her face, and the third a decent looking, and yet seemingly bored former police officer. She had endured everything from lustful glances and suggestive tones to being forced to ramble aimlessly when the officer simply sat at his desk and played paper football. How she had managed to acquire such a strange array of people on her list for scheduled interviews, she would never know, but she was now overly exhausted and more than happy to be on her last interview of the day. She had done more than her share of smiling and groveling, Kagome was sure.
Taisho Corporations (Yes, we've all seen this before, but if you do a literal translation it actually is quite fitting and I have this pet peeve about using names that at least make some sort of sense, instead of making one up.) was an ancient but powerful company that had been quite literally built from the ground up by its original CEO and his successors. It was a company well known throughout the world, even mentioned here and there in the States, but was centered mainly in and around the various parts and islands of Japan. It was impressive, to say the least.
Kagome had, at first, been more than puzzled as to why Taisho Corp. was putting an ad out for a physical therapist, but the general secretary had politely explained that in such a cutthroat industry, many employees often required and appreciated a PT. Sadly, this only confused Kagome more, as she had no idea what kind of business was run by Taisho Corporations that would leave its employees in need of someone with her skills. What did a person do in a corporate office that caused bodily and psychological trauma?
Well, she supposed it did not matter as long as it provided her with employment, but even so the thought and wonder nagged at her. She would most definitely have to ask about the situation during her interview.
The office space was surprisingly large as she entered, a single desk sprawled across the opposite end of the room and overflowing with stacks of papers, a computer, and more than one person's share of memos and office supplies. A woman sat in the midst of it all, a phone receiver pressed to one ear and balanced against a shoulder while two pale hands worked to take notes of whatever conversation she was having. Kagome approached quietly, not wishing to disturb the woman who she assumed to be the secretary and examining her all at once.
She was a slight woman with pale skin and traditional black hair tied back into a crisp bun, her eyes an unusual but stunning green that were intent on the papers before her. She was the type of woman whose age was impossible to determine unless asked. Lithe, spindly fingers worked rapidly at their task, jotting notes in some form of abbreviated notation that Kagome could not read, her hands adorned by nothing but a simple, lone bracelet of silver that caught the sunlight beaming in through a nearby window. She wore a traditional westernized business suit of pinstriped black, crisp and perfect even from across the desk, and Kagome could not help but notice the nameplate that sat amidst the mess of papers and files.
Madori Kimiko, Executive Secretary.
Finally, the conversation on the phone came to an end, and, with a quick goodbye, the petite woman laid the phone to rest on its receiver. She continued to concentrate on the notes, seeming to be reading them over and making a few corrections before nodding in self-approval and placing the paper aside. Then, she glanced up.
"HOLY-!" Both secretary and miko jumped at the same time; the woman from fright while Kagome from surprise at the sudden outburst. Two sets of wide eyes stared at each other, one jade, one brown, Kimiko half-standing from her chair while Kagome looked ready to bolt from the room. Suddenly, the former grew calm and cracked a smile, taking a steadying breath and resting a delicate hand upon her heart. "You scared me there for a minute! I didn't expect you to be standing there. Pardon my rudeness."
Kagome breathed her own sigh of relief, certain for a split-second that she had somehow already managed to crash and burn during this interview as well. "No, it was my fault. I didn't want to disturb you while you were on the phone. I'm sorry for startling you."
Both women smiled amiably at the other, accepting both apologies, until the silence became awkward.
Kagome began to fidget, before realizing that she had not yet introduced herself. "Oh! I'm-"
"Higurashi Kagome-sensei, right?" Kagome blinked, then blushed, and finally nodded in confirmation. She had never had anyone refer to her as 'sensei' before. After all, she was just out of school, barely a professionally certified therapist. The title of sensei seemed somehow absurd attached to her name. "I'm Madori Kimiko, secretary to the CEO of Taisho Corp."
"It is very nice to meet you, Madori-san, but Kagome would be just fine. Titles aren't really my thing, you see…"
"Oh, no! Taisho-sama would never allow it, he demands professionalism from all his employees, especially those he's going to interview." The words made Kagome's heart sink. Another arrogant businessman? Kimiko seemed to see this, and quickly amended, "Oh, no, no, no! It's not like that. Taisho-sama is very strict, but he's very perceptive. He'll give you a fair chance." The small, green-eyed woman smiled kindly, and Kagome nodded hesitantly. "Now, if you'll take a seat, Higurashi-sen- …Higurashi-san, I'll tell him you're here." Grateful for the change in honorific, Kagome smiled and bowed slightly before retreating to find a chair against the wall.
At least the secretary was pleasant this time around. Kimiko seemed the type of person that was easy to get along with, and that was a reassuring aspect of such a rigid-looking business.
"Taisho-sama, Higurashi Kagome is here for her interview," she heard Kimiko say into a small device on her desk. A moment later, there was a gruff, muffled reply, and Kimiko glanced back at Kagome with a serious, but bright expression. "He'll see you now. Good luck."
Kagome rose with a nod of thanks and moved towards a pair of double doors that she had not previously noticed at the far wall, beside the cluttered desk. Kimiko motioned towards the doors gracefully, and the nervous miko followed the gesture with as much confidence as possible, stopping to knock on one of the doors and wait for a reply.
"Enter."
The voice, though muffled, sounded deep and commanding, almost familiar, but Kagome quickly pushed aside any doubtful or curious thoughts as her hands did the same with the door, revealing the room beyond. Her breath caught, and she hesitated just long enough to take in the sight of the office.
One wall was complete glass. It was the first thing that caught her attention. The sun streamed in blindingly from directly in front of her, penetrating every corner of the vast room and reflecting off more than one metallic article. The view beyond the window, seen just barely below the haze of light, was breathtaking and distant, the building and office stretching so far into the sky that it made some of the other skyscrapers look inferior in height and the lands beyond only a misty blur of green and blue. The rest of the walls, once one was able to draw herself from that first amazing sight, were plain and white-washed, totally without color or paint save for the variety of weaponry and ancient artifacts that acted as decorations: the startling red of cloth against the black backdrop of a sword hilt, or a colorfully-made clay pot that rested on a pedestal. It was simple, but calculated. The room was balanced, all things laid out at odd intervals, but to a point where one artifact or object complemented another. It was the most precise office she had ever seen.
And there, located in the middle of the vast window and stretching across a good portion of the room, was a polished black marble desk, complete with computer and papers and office supplies that were arranged in a much more organized fashion than that of Kimiko. It also, much to Kagome's discomfort and anxiety, housed a tall leather chair and a similarly tall longhaired businessman who was staring right at her.
She froze like a deer in headlights.
"Higurashi Kagome?" Luckily, the clean-shaven, severe-looking businessman decided to speak first. The sound of the deep, silky voice forced her into reality, and Kagome approached the desk with a bow of respect.
"Yes, I'm Higurashi Kagome. Pleased to meet you," she said quietly, not daring to raise her head up too far after greeting him. Against the will of her pounding heart, she did force herself to look him in the eye as she had been taught to do, and gaped.
The man was intimidating enough from far away, but up close he was like a bad omen, staring at her with unwavering arctic-blue eyes that were crystallized ice against a black backdrop of long, silky hair tied up in a high ponytail and a somewhat tanned complexion. He was more than handsome, with a strong jaw and delicate but powerful features, but the expression on his face and look in his eyes made her shiver. He reminded her of someone…
"I am Taisho Aoi, the leader of this corporation. Have a seat and we'll get started," came that handsome tone yet again. Kagome obeyed with a meek nod and seated herself across from the imposing man, sitting rigidly in what would normally be a comfortable leather-cushioned chair so that her back was ramrod straight. The man seemed unaffected by her obvious state of nervousness, but she supposed he might have been getting a few good laughs for himself internally. What boss did not love watching interviewees squirm?
For the first minute or so, the stoic CEO seemed to be ignoring her, paying attention to a file folder that was opened in front of him. Upon closer observation, however, she realized that it was information about herself- including a faxed copy of her resume. Kagome blinked. How had he managed to get a hold of something that she had barely gotten time to distribute? …And why was he already investigating her life when she had just walked into his office!
"So, Higurashi-san, you attended college in America, am I correct?"
She was startled by the sudden question, but moved to reply, "Y-yes, that is correct."
"You finished in four years?"
"Yes, I took classes through the summer. My degree is complete, I assure you."
"I see," he mused, turning to the next page of her resume. Then, "This job would involve dealing with employees who require both mental and physical recuperation, sometimes due to severe accidents and trauma. It entails knowing and being able to deal with extreme cases of injury and the resulting psychiatric damages that occur with such ordeals. The person who will take on this job will need to be aware that it will not be easy, and some cases may be more horrific than others. This is not a desk job, Higurashi. So, knowing this, what do you think qualifies you for this position?"
Kagome was sure her face was stark white, but she tried her best to keep her expression neutral. "Well, while schooling in America I took psychology courses, as well as a few classes that coincided with the pre-med students. These allowed me hands-on experiences as an upperclassman to watch other PTs, as well as certified doctors, work with trauma patients after they had been released. I have experience in assisting in the care of such patients, as well as knowledge from these experiences in how to deal with those who have been deprived both physically and mentally. Also," she paused, not sure if she should include her final piece of information. It was not something she could truly explain, but, "-also, I have personal experience as a teenager of working in this sort of area. I was faced with many situations where I became both confidante and healer. I believe I have a great deal of preparation for this type of employment, and I understand fully and completely that it is not a 'desk job'."
Her mild retort seemed to please the man, as he leaned forward in his chair and rested his elbows upon the desk. "It is good that you think so, I would expect no less. Now then, if you were to receive this position, would you have reliable transportation?"
"I'm adept at taking the city buses, it would not be an issue. I make it a point to arrive on time wherever I go." Well, at least she did now. She had been notorious for being late or absent during her school years during which she traveled with Inuyasha.
"Good. What of your residence, then? I see that you still reside at a family shrine. I assume you are still housing with your parents then?"
Kagome internally frowned. What did it matter where she lived? "I'm planning on renting out an apartment within the next month."
"I see… Do you have any questions of your own, then?" Kagome blinked. The man certainly rushed through an interview. She was used to taking at least half an hour to discuss the job requirements and her own ability to complete the work, but so far this had taken less than ten minutes and he already seemed to be drawing to a close… Not really a good sign.
"Yes, well…" She did not want to ask the question. What kind of person came to an interview not knowing about the company she was trying to work for? It would look bad on her, certainly, but at the same time she could not just stay in the dark about it. Even if she would not get the job, Kagome found she wanted to know about the mysterious company. "What exactly is it that you do here, Taisho-san? Excuse my asking, but it certainly seems odd for a corporate company to require a physical therapist with the ability to deal with trauma victims. I might expect this of a hospital setting, but I'm sure you understand my concern over these circumstances."
It was bold, she knew it, but at least she was getting the question out of the way.
"It is a valid question, I understand. Taisho Corp. is a company that deals in arms service, as well as criminal justice. We work directly with distinct branches of the government. Many of our employees are independent contractors who work out of the office as private detectives, police officers, firefighters, security guards, and even lawyers and prosecutors. You can see, then, in supporting men and women of this caliber, why we might hire a PT. My company offers a lifetime guarantee of protection against injury and death on the job. We accommodate for what happens to our employees, no matter how foolish or brave the action, while they work to protect civilians. That requires being able to mend their injuries both during and after an incident, no matter the state of being. If we happen to lose an employee, his or her family is compensated.
"Our last physical therapist could not endure the job and the things that were seen. Some rare cases are very difficult to care for. Understand this now, before you go any further in this interview. This is not for the weak-minded." He sat back then in his chair, observing her from across the desk as a hawk might watch a snake; calculating her strengths and her weaknesses to see if he should strike or keep his distance.
Kagome mulled over his words carefully in her mind. She had seen many things during her time in Sengoku Jidai, and many things since. She still remembered Inuyasha wandering around with a hole through his chest from Sesshoumaru's hand, and the innards that fell like rain from the sky when Naraku's demon hordes were cut to pieces by the Kaze no Kizu and Hiraikotsu. In school, she had seen a man who was mentally a wreck after getting his leg blown off by a careless firework. She had worked as an assistant with patients who were depressed to the point of suicide. In her mind, Kagome had seen more than one person's worth of horrific disabilities and terrible deaths, and she had learned over time and with much heartache that people with her abilities were needed to mend the broke spirits and bodies of the victims of such horrors. Having the background she did only reinforced her desire to help those who were far past helping themselves.
"My apologies, Taisho-san, but I would not be here if I did not fully understand the implements of my occupation. I would not be what I am if I did not know what I would be facing when I invited patients into my office. So, please do not chastise me or accuse me of being naïve when coming here. It would be pointless if I did not know what I was getting myself into." She spoke steadily and with confidence, looking him boldly in the eye as she addressed him to show that she meant every word. And she did. This was what she had trained to do.
Taisho Aoi did not reply immediately, but continued his apparent survey of her person a moment more before standing suddenly and turning away towards the window.
"I expect you in my office Monday morning. Kimiko will make arrangements for your office and necessary supplies. I will contact you before then for case files, and I expect you to review them before you step back into this building. Work will start promptly at nine; you should arrive at seven that first day so that the schedule and guidelines of the corporation can be explained to you. I do not tolerate tardiness, and neither do my employees and clients."
Kagome's jaw dropped, quite literally. "Y-you mean I've got the job?"
"I would hope you are not backing out already. I do not like having my time wasted with useless interviews."
"N-no! No, not at all! I'll be here!" Excitement and relief rushed through Kagome, her face breaking out in a beaming smile. She had a job! "Thank you very much, Taisho-san! You won't be sorry, I promise!"
She bowed as low as possible to his jacket-clad back, assuming that he would know what she was doing, before almost skipping out of the grand office with a farewell. She took the time to informKimiko and greet her properly, the small woman just as ecstatic as Kagome herself. The two spoke briefly to discuss Kagome's new position that would start the following Monday before the gleeful miko parted from the secretary as well and rushed off and out of the tall office building.
She could barely contain her joy over her sudden rush of luck, and took the liberty of bouncing around the sidewalks on her way to the bus station, much to the dismay and confusion of numerous passersby. Kagome ignored them, and was back on a bus before she realized it, the address in hand.
Her employment high seemed to keep her thoughts detached from her body, because she was walking in the direction of the mysterious location before she even knew where she was heading. She found herself surprised when she suddenly stopped in front of a strip of condos situated beside a nearby forest and just at the edge of the ocean.
Why was she here?
Glancing as a watch she kept in a pocket of her briefcase, Kagome blinked as she realized it was almost an hour since she had left Taisho Corp. Had she really been on the bus that long without realizing? Where was she?
It was then that she realized she was still gripping the address in one hand, and she looked down at it before glancing back up at the condos.
Why would Sesshoumaru want her to come here of all places?
Pondering the thought, she pushed on ahead towards the nearest residence, figuring that it was best to finish out her mission while she was here. There was no point in coming all this way only to go home again without finishing what she had started. Or, for that matter, what Sesshoumaru had started.
She looked curiously down the line of housing complexes until she spotted the correct number, jogging her way over and entering the small lobby area where a group of mailboxes were drilled into one wall. Scanning them, she located the address she had been given, and read the names.
C15, Mori Kawa, Mori Ki.Neither rang true in her mind, and she was puzzled even more than before what exactly it was the Sesshoumaru was playing at. Who were these people?
Shrugging, she ascended the stairs in search of the specific condo, stopping finally on the third floor halfway down the hall. C15.
Well, this was it.
She knocked gently on the door, listening for an approach and greeted only with a few muttered grumbles from somewhere inside. Still, no one answered the door, an annoyed Kagome knocked again, harder and louder. She did not like being ignored.
This time she heard muffled curses, followed by a very clear, "I'm coming, damnit!"
Footsteps stomped towards where she stood, and the door opened in a rush. She could only stare at the person who suddenly stood before her, all semblance of irritation forgotten.
AN: Okay, so that was cruel of me, I know it, but hey! You've got to put in your cliffies every once in awhile. That, and I'm still not sure who exactly IS behind that doorway. Sure, you have names, but that could be virtually anyone! So, if you have a preference (I was thinking either Kouga-kun or Inu-kun, of course, or maybe even a new character that would know something about the past) don't be shy to tell me what it is. I'll be waiting to see who you think should be there!
Ja!
-Sar