I don't know how business actually works so sorry if this isn't accurate.
Chapter 39: Insomnia
Misaki's work phone rang again. Apparently after Ruri, Sakura and her found Risa a job, a lot of people were calling and asking for their help. Misaki couldn't even get any work done with the constant phone calls.
"Ruri," Misaki said, calling her friend. "I really can't keep up with everyone asking for help. It's not even asking for jobs anymore. I've got calls about divorce, child custody, and all sorts of things."
Ruri sighed. "We might as well quit our jobs and just open up an agency to help people find jobs," she muttered.
Silence.
"What did you say?" Misaki asked.
"I said, we might as well start an agency and spend everyday just helping people with their life," Ruri repeated. "I can't get work done with everyone calling."
"How hard would it be?"
"You're not being serious, are you?" Ruri asked. "Open up our own agency?"
Misaki seriously contemplated it. "How hard would it be?" she asked again. "I know I'm not going to keep a full time job when my baby is born."
"Hmm…" Ruri said. "Realistically, with our skill set, I don't think it would be that hard," she said, slowly. "Besides, we'd have plenty of people to help."
"This might work…" Misaki said, tapping her pen on her notepad. "Call up Sakura," she said. "I'll meet you at Rose Latte in an hour."
"Okay," Ruri agreed. "It's not like I can get any work done anyways."
Misaki hung up and slowly eased herself out of her chair. The baby started kicking a few days ago. It had been a shock though. Misaki had been pouring herself a glass of water when she felt it for the first time. Weak at first but stronger as the days passed. She quickly called Takumi downstairs and had him feel it too. It had been such a special moment. The life growing inside Misaki was really starting to take form. In a few short months, she was going to be born.
"Leaving early?" Mira asked as Misaki slid her coat on.
Misaki nodded. "I have everything done on my desk. If you need anything, feel free to go get it."
"Have a good day, Mrs. Walker," Mira teased.
Misaki laughed. "You and our family," she said. "What's my daughter going to be called then?"
"Miss Walker, of course," Mira joked.
"Lovely…so did you like meeting my husband?" Misaki asked.
Mira nodded. "He's terrifying."
"He is not!" Misaki said, trying to hold back laughter.
"I think he does it on purpose," Mira said. "That way no women can approach him."
Misaki shrugged. "I wish he would act more serious around me."
Mira snorted. "I can see why he can't. I'd never even dreamed of one day seeing someone throw Mr. Walker, CEO of Walker Corporations, out of their office the way you did."
"Only me, huh?" Misaki mused.
Mira nodded. "I can understand why he loves you so much. You can tell by the way he looks at you that he's madly in love with you. I think its because you're one of the few people that treat him for who he is."
"A pervert…"
"What?"
"Nothing," Misaki said, smiling. "I've just always had a weird connection with him. He had a very good yet untouchable rep at our high school too. He didn't really have friends. Actually, I don't think he had any friends."
"That's kind of sad," Mira said, frowning. "Friends are one of the best things in life."
Misaki nodded. "Yeah…" she said, placing a hand on her belly. "He really only has me...me and this daughter."
Mira sniffled. "Your story is so beautiful!" she said, wiping her eyes.
"Um…"
"Sorry," Mira said, wiping her eyes. "It's just so touching."
Misaki smiled. "So, when am I finally going to hear your touching story?"
Mira clenched her fist. "I will work towards finding love like your's," she said, firmly. "I won't let you down!"
"Sorry, I'm late," Misaki said, walking over to her two friends.
"No harm done," Ruri said, pouring Misaki a cup of tea- earl grey. "I just caught Sakura up on what we were thinking."
"So what do you think?" Misaki asked, blowing on her tea.
"I like the idea," Sakura agreed. "Once, the kids are old enough, I want to keep working."
"Should we wait until after the kids are born?" Misaki asked.
"I think we should look into the plan before they're born," Ruri suggested. "Besides, I think a lot of our friends will be willing to join in. There's only so many jobs for housewives out there."
Sakura sighed. "I think in order for it to open up more smoothly, I think we're going to have to ask for help…"
"From who?"
"You can't just open up a company," Sakura said. "I work in business. You need a lot of funds and people to back you up."
"You think the best supporter will be…" Misaki said, slowly.
"Walker and Igarashi Corps," Ruri filled in.
Sakura nodded. "I know we hate getting them involved with work but this transition between jobs and the babies will just go much more smoothly if we just ask them for some help. I certainly don't have the time to campaign for funds. I got a son coming on the way."
Misaki shrugged. "I didn't study business," she said. "I'll listen to you, Sakura."
"I say, let's ask Takumi and Tora what they think," Sakura decided. "If they think its a profitable idea, we'll go from there."
"What would we need?" Misaki asked.
"A headquarter first on all," Sakura said. "An agency isn't simple. We need a web designer, jobs filled, enough companies to link with us so they will take our recommendations."
"You think company's would actually take our thing seriously?" Ruri asked.
"I think they would," Misaki said. "Over these days, I learned that many of these women are smart and well educated. They're not all designer shoes and fluff as I thought."
"I'm excited!" Sakura said, clapping her hands together. "This calls for a toast," she said, raising her tea cup.
"To the Housewife Club?" Ruri asked, laughing.
Sakura snapped her fingers. "No," she said. "To the Housewife Corps…"
Misaki tossed and turned that night. She just couldn't find a comfortable position to fall asleep. She switched from her side side, to her left and then onto her back.
"What are you doing...?" Takumi mumbled, woken up by Misaki's constantly shifting and groaning.
"Nothing..." Misaki said, rolling on her side.
"Get some sleep," Takumi said, patting her arm.
Easier said than done...
Misaki screwed her eyes shut tightly and tried to think of peaceful things.
"Peaceful..." Misaki thought to herself. "Peaceful. Peaceful! PEACEFUL!"
"Ugh," she groaned grabbing her phone off the nightstand.
With nothing better to do, Misaki checked her email and did some work. Usually that always made her sleepy but tonight she was wide awake. Takumi opened his eyes slightly.
"Sweetheart..." he said, rolling over. "What are you doing...?"
Misaki turned off her phone. "Nothing."
Takumi held out his hand. "You can't be working this late," he reminded her. "The baby needs you to sleep."
"The baby is what's keeping me up," Misaki muttered, handing him the phone.
"What's wrong?" he asked, placing a hand over her stomach to feel the baby.
"I can't sleep," Misaki admitted.
"Why not?"
"I don't know," Misaki sighed. "I just don't feel comfortable."
Takumi sat up. "Do you want me to draw you a bath? Shoulder rub? Snack?" he suggested.
"Can you talk to me?" Misaki asked, hugging her pillow.
"What do you want to talk about?" Takumi asked, laying back down.
Misaki rested her head in the crook of his arm.
"I don't know," Misaki said. "Tell me some good memories of us."
"Everyday is a good memory," Takumi said, kissing her forehead.
"Pick your favorite then," Misaki said.
"I liked marrying you. We had a very nice wedding. There were our old high school friends, the maid latte crew, your family, some of my business friends, Sakura and Kuuga."
"Yeah, I remember," Misaki said. "We promised to be with each other for the rest of our lives."
"And we had original vows," Takumi added.
Instead of the usual, for rich or for poor, for health and in sickness, Misaki and Takumi wrote their own vows to read to each other.
"Do you remember yours?" Misaki asked.
"Yes. I, Takumi Walker," he recited. "Promise to always love you with everything I have. I swear from this day forward to always be there when you need me. Whether it is a shoulder to cry on, a friend to talk to or someone to make you dinner, I'll be the one there beside you."
"The cooking one really does ring true," Misaki agreed.
Takumi smiled and continued. "In all my life, I've only had this special connection with one person and that is you. I don't know how you did it but I trust you with my deepest secrets and opened myself up like I have never had before. I will always treasure this. I will also treasure the moments when we argue and bicker because I know we'll always make up afterwards. I promise to never take your love for granted. Each day with you will be special and that specialness is something I won't ever forget. My happiest moments in life have been with you so I look forward to our future that will have many more moments. Never again will I be alone because you will be with me. Misaki, you make me a better man though you have a temper and like to be very stubborn, your kindness and passion really touches me. You're willing to put yourself out there for friend or foe which is not something everyone can do. From this day forward, I will hold tightly onto these vows and use the rest of my life to love and care for you."
"You're a charmer," Misaki sighed. "You use all this pretty language and everyone cried."
"Recite me yours," Takumi murmured. "I liked your's better."
"Uh... I, Misaki Ayuzawa, stand here today as a bride. Not just any bride but a bride about to share the rest of her life with a man she loves..."
"Continue," Takumi said, brushing his lips on her temple.
"I suck at lovey dovey things so I'll be very straight forward. First off, I promise to always stand with you through hardships and joy. I promise to always protect you. I promise to always support you like you support me. I promise to always forgive you when you're being annoying."
Takumi quietly laughed.
"It's a hard vow..." Misaki sighed. "Speaking of support... How would you like to do something you've always wanted to do?" Misaki asked, slowly.
"Oh?" Takumi asked, stroking her cheek with his thumb. "Do tell."
"So you know our baby is coming soon right?"
"What? What baby?"
"Takumi..."
"Sorry, do continue."
"Okay," Misaki said, sitting up. Lying down seemed so informal. She turned on the lamp and winced at the light. "I don't have the time to work a full time job anymore," she explained. "I don't want to hire a babysitter. I want to take care of my baby."
"Understandable."
"I was thinking of switching a job."
"What job?"
"I want to open my own agency," Misaki stated.
"An agency?" Takumi asked, surprised. "Interesting. Tell me more."
"So, you know how Risa was looking for a job right?"
"Yes,"
"I rang up a few places and had them look over her resume and she found a job. Well, she must have told people," Misaki explained. "Because all these women are asking us for help. Whether it's finding a job, fighting for child custody, or just looking for support, they keep calling us. There are some people that I don't even know."
"Uh huh,"
"Ruri, Sakura and I were thinking we could open up an agency to help them," Misaki said. "How likely would that be?"
"Well," Takumi said, running his hand through his hair. "You first need sponsors. Opening up anything needs money then you need to hire enough people to get a system running. Website designer, secretaries, coordinators, managers...and from what you're saying you would also need lawyers, counselors and maintenance. These people all need salaries. You also need to partner with networks so they can call you if they need a manager or a designer so then you can recommend one of your clients."
"Would that be really hard?"
"It doesn't have to be."
"How so?"
"You could let me help," Takumi said, serious.
"You would help?"
"Of course," Takumi said as if it were obvious. "I'm guessing Sakura and Ruri are going to join in as well?"
Misaki nodded.
"I can sponsor," Takumi said. "We then can all partner with your agency to give you a headstart."
Misaki sighed. "It just seems so unfair," she said, biting her lip.
"Business isn't fair," Takumi said, shrugging. "Besides, think of all the people you would be helping. All those people could get a job at your agency or find a job through your agency."
"I suppose…"
"I'll talk with Tora," Takumi said. "Besides," he said, poking her furrowed brow. "I can't have you stressing right now. Overstress is bad for the baby."
"Okay," Misaki said, pulling the blanket around herself. "Are you ever sad?" she asked.
"I think everyone has sad moments," Takumi said, turning off the light.
Misaki told him what Mira said. "Are you ever lonely?"
"Not anymore," Takumi said, placing a hand on her stomach. "I have a family."
"But don't you ever wish you had more?" Misaki asked.
Takumi smiled and pressed his lips to her ear. "Let's have a lot of kids then," he whispered. "Then I'd have a lot of family."
"You're so weird," Misaki grumbled, resting her head against his arm. "Go to sleep."
"You too, my love."