A Kludge of One Shots by tenchi no mai
Fortune Is In The Eye Of The Beholder
Theme: Fortune
Due: June 14th, 2009
Required Word Count: Minimum 800
Actual Word Count: 954
Universe: Alternate Universe - Modern Era
Bonus Karma for use of the word perky
Rating: T
Warnings: None, unless you are not a fan of legal dramas.
Disclaimer: The characters of InuYasha are not mine, they are the property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, Sunrise, and Viz Media. Only the plot to this story and my original character, Shun, are my intellectual property. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Fortune Is In The Eye Of The Beholder
I must have been standing here for longer than I had thought. This was the third time Sessh had walked through the kitchen asking me if everything was okay.
Yet here I still stood gazing out out the window at our beautiful mate. I knew my somber mood was affecting both Kagome and Sessh, yet I was unable to move from underneath the shadow of the catastrophe that seemed to be hovering over my head.
After being served with the court papers for the unwarranted legal suit that was being pressed, I had become withdrawn and preoccupied. Both Sessh and Kagome kept saying to not worry about it and let the lawyers handle the atrocity.
The entire scandal went back to the installation of the security system at the diamond exchange. Mr. Yomiuri had wanted to stop the thefts of the diamonds, but was refusing to have his long term employees fingerprinted and background checked. When I spoke to him of it probably being an inside job, then firmly suggested he consider allowing, at a minimum, the background checks, he refused to continue speaking with me. Sessh took over the negotiations, and the security system was eventually installed.
Within a week, the thief was caught on film, and arrested. However, Mr. Yomiuri wasn't pressing charges, the thief was his uncle who worked as a diamond cutter. It turns out he had a rather large gambling problem as well as had been frequenting high end prostitutes, and owed an exceedingly large sum of money to the Yakuza, an organized crime syndicate.
This is the vermin that has brought the nuisance lawsuit against me, personally, claiming slander, libel, invasion of privacy, defamation of character and causing unjust termination of employment. I still can't believe he actually was able to dredge up a lawyer to take on the suit.
Times like these make me long for the old days. Back in the Sengoku Jidai this would have been taken care of immediately and with a finality that brooked no insubordination. This fiasco has been dragging on for months, trying my patience with motions for delay, invasions of our privacy, attempts to blackmail Taisho Enterprises, and when that failed, stirring up adverse publicity.
I have had to apologize to both Kagome and Sessh numerous times as my temper has been rising almost uncontrollably, especially the last few weeks. Finally there is a definite court date set, as the plaintiff's attorneys have run out of reasons to file motions for delay. I just can't wait until this is over.
They have both been doing their best to help me get through this interminable passage of time until the court date. This is the first time in my long life that I have actually wished for time to fly.
Physical activity seems to help alleviate some of my anger and aggression. I have been sparring with either Sessh or Kouga daily in the dojo. They are the only two fast enough to keep from getting injured. It was a very unfortunate instance, but several weeks ago Bankotsu broke his arm in several places when we were trying to work off some of my not so latent hostilities. Kagome was furious with me, and it was the first time I had been witness to the full extent of her infamous temper. I had heard enough stories about it, but to see it firsthand, and directed at me, was somewhat intimidating. I hadn't realized that human females could get that enraged. I suppose I was lucky she didn't try to purify me on the spot. The question of how she had been able to purify Naraku was answered for me after seeing her raw and untamed powers surface in defense of one of her friends.
Our little mate... she has been my rock during this entire debacle. She seems to be the only one who can calm me down enough to keep me from going and tearing the elder Mr. Yomiuri and his lawyers into a million pieces, then feeding them to Kouga's wolves. As Kagome has said several times with that perky, never say die attitude of hers, she has no doubt the case will be dismissed, it is just the last ditch effort of a delusional old man to try and save face. I wish I had that much faith in a judge and jury.
Bringing my gaze back to the scene in the garden, I watch as Sessh walks up to Kagome and they kiss. Anyone with eyes in their head can see the love they have for each other. It is as beautiful and shiny as their auras as they embrace. I have often wondered how one tiny female can have so much love for so many beings contained within herself.
A split second later, she has disappeared from my view, and I feel her arms wrap around my waist as she hugs me tightly, leaning her forehead against my back. "Shun, I love you more than you will ever know." Turning towards her, I pull her into a snug embrace and tilt her head up so I can look at her beautiful face. "No, Kagome, I love you more than you will ever know."
As I gaze down into her love filled cerulean eyes, I have a sudden epiphany and realize two things. One, I could lose my monetary fortune as well as all my worldly possessions, yet still be able to love and be loved. But more importantly, without her love I would be bereft, deprived of all happiness, unable to continue living. The old saying was true... a man can lose every material thing of value, but he who has love has fortune beyond measure.
~*~
Fin