TIme Warp by Ko Torii
Danish
THIS IS A RESPONSE TO SKYE'S WEEKLY CHALLENGE ENDING JULY 26th: FAIRY TALES
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A lovely young woman was sitting alone at a table outside of a small, city café. She, like many other customers that morning, was sipping her coffee while looking through her phone. She was in a smart and flattering pant suit and her sunglasses pulled back in hair so she could see the screen of her personal “everything device” better. With a huff at her full schedule, she pulled down her shades and looked around the patio area. There were several other people there. She even recognized one or two vaguely from work, but then again, her office building was right down the block. There was one older man using a traditional, leather bound calendar, and she couldn’t help but think cheekily, “Who really uses those anymore?”
After setting out a tip for her attentive waitress she grabbed her purse and began her short walk back to her office. Working in the tallest building in the city had one distinct advantage: she could never get lost on her way there. Unfortunately, that meant she could never blame the roadways for her morning tardiness even in the first few days on the job. Being the new manager of the marketing department came with perks, but having people watch your every move was frustrating! She treasured her morning ritual greatly, and would even live with the reprimands about wasting “company time” just to leave it had always been.
The second her delicate heels hit the polished floors of HimeCorp’s main lobby she had several aids fluttering around her flashing important documents and files that needed her attention and calls that were waiting for her specific attention. She did not pause her walk toward the elevators, nor did she remove her sunglasses. She merely waltzed into the elevator and waved the crowd off with a quick flick of her hand. She hated to be so patronizing, but if she were too friendly they would walk all over her and nothing would get done the way it should. Once the mahogany paneled doors closed on her rabid crowd she leaned against the railing and put away her glasses, to only take her phone once more. Although it did not reach her expression, the sadness that suddenly engulfed her was obvious in her shlumped posture. He still hadn’t replied. “Three days Sesshoumaru. I gave you three days, and now I’m done.” She spoke to no one, but the words resounded just the same.
Pulling herself up to her full height of only 5’3” once more, she exited the elevator after the soft ding signaling its arrival to the eleventh floor. Nodding once cordially to her secretary, she received a calming “Good morning Miss Higurashi,” in return.
ONE MONTH BEFORE
“Oh! I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you there. Thank you.”
Kagome’s face was as red as a cherry as she maneuvered herself around the tall man she had just run straight into. She was thinking so deeply about whether or not to apply for the new manager position in the marketing offices that when she heard the elevator ring she reacted instinctively. Without looking up she went towards the doors only to crash into another body. The person had caught Kagome by the hand and steadied her on her feet. She’d run into an unfamiliar colleague and now she was not only extremely embarrassed by her brainless behavior, but also acutely aware of exactly how handsome said stranger was. The one quick glance she took of him revealed that right away. He was also extremely tall, and that was daunting enough on its own.
“Do not worry yourself. You looked deep in thought.”
“Ye….Yes I was, actually.”
With a small smirk the man turned toward her. He looked positively impish.
“I do hope however, that whatever it was you were thinking of is no longer the center of your attention. I’d rather not be trampled a second time.”
Kagome could only huff in indignation and mumble under her breath, “Well…that wasn’t very polite.”
“I suppose it wasn’t, but then again, if I was nice I couldn’t exactly ask you out to lunch so you’d forgive me now could I?”
“Probably not.”
Thinking that was about the stupidest, and least smooth response to flirting she’d ever made Kagome almost slapped herself. Where was the confident cool woman who wanted to move up in the world? Where was the experienced woman who had no trouble attracting men to her like moths to the flame? Well apparently, she had gone on an impromptu vacation to Boca and had left the embarrassed version in her place. Quickly scrambling for a recovery once she spotted the humor in his eyes she quipped back.
“But then again, I’m a very busy woman. What if I already had plans for lunch oh so Clever One?”
In her mind Kagome was doing a happy dance. ‘Ten points for Me!’ She had leaned one shoulder against the wall and crossed her arms stubbornly across her chest during her question. However, when it appeared the man had recovered from her unknowingly provocative movements, and was again going to reply, the elevator rang its chime once again. The man hesitated once then stepped off the elevator and turned back to face her.
“In that case, I’d leave you my card and ask for a rain check.”
With a quick movement Kagome had not seen coming, the strange man had taken her hand and placed something in it. He then spun on his heel abruptly and disappeared as the elevator doors closed in Kagome’s face. Looking down she finally absorbed what the man had been saying to her a moment ago. He had given her a card! She flipped it over only to find it blank.
“Is this some kind of joke?!”
With an anger grunt she blew some of her bangs out of her eyes and turned the card over once more. She finally found some writing in the far left corner. It said simply, “Sesshoumaru” and then a phone number. In Kagome’s mind this was not only an egregious waste of heavy-duty paper, but also an extremely vague business card. Did he really make business contacts with something so unprofessional? There was no title, no last name, not even a business extension! This was a personal number! What was he, a gigolo?
“I didn’t realize we had a division for that,” Kagome intoned sardonically.
She blindly stepped of the elevator, once again, and entered into the lobby. Kagome left notice with the building’s doorman as she prepared to leave for her lunch at the local café. It was so peaceful, and always so sunny. With sunglasses firmly in place and her iPod playing soft tunes in her ears, Kagome was ready to go. So what if she really didn’t have any plans other than eating? This ‘Sesshoumaru’ character seemed a little odd, so she decided that wasn’t going to call him. However, contrary to her defiant ideas she diligently plunked the new number into her cellular. After all, no true businessman or woman would really turn down a phone number. Who knew when you’d need it again?
As she put the new contact in her address book she crossed the street. Now please take note that no, Kagome was not ditzy or unaware of the world. She knew she was crossing an intersection with moving vehicles with no way to notice them. However, there was always a crossing guard due to the heavy traffic that plowed through the business highways. The older woman knew Kagome, and would always stop the traffic for her, no matter the trouble it caused. It was probably not truly legal, but Kagome thought it was sweet of the woman. She made sure to always wave and give her a muffin on her way back to work. It was unfortunate that Kagome was not aware that her favorite crossing guard had recently rolled her ankle and was not able to report in for duty today. The higher-ups had not had time to process a replacement yet, and found no real harm in letting the traffic take control of itself for just one more day. So Kagome was slowly rambling to her death while she placed Sesshoumaru’s number in her phone. She was abruptly tugged backwards by the scruff of her suit coat. Turning around to give the rude person a piece of her mind she felt a strong wind pass to her left. Without facing her ‘attacker’ she looked out onto the street. Kaede was not in the crosswalk with her stop sign, and the traffic was not slowing down.
Realization came to Kagome immediately and she turned to her newly labeled ‘rescuer.’
“Thank y….It’s you!”
Her attitude quickly flipped back to agitation as he reacted only by raising an eyebrow in her expense. He then pointedly looked at the street with all of the busily speeding cars and trucks. Taking the hint that anger was not the response he was expecting Kagome turned to Sesshoumaru in resignation.
“You know, if you weren’t so darn full of yourself I might start having to call you my knight in shining armor. That’s the second time you saved me. And yes, this is the only thanks you’re getting. Now come on let’s go get some lunch.”
“As you wish.”
With a smug look of satisfaction on his face, Sesshoumaru shrugged both of his hands into his pants pockets and strolled across the street. The only difference was, the cars actually stopped for him.
AT THE RESTAURANT
They both sat inside the café near the deli counter. After all, Kagome didn’t want to be seen with a man she didn’t know and Sesshoumaru had no idea what they served, so sitting right near the food was the best plan. Unfortunately, Kagome’s plan was backfiring. Every time a person came in to order they inevitably stopped to look at their table and gave them this ‘look’. Kagome wasn’t quite sure what it meant, but she was getting the eerie feeling that it boosted Sesshoumaru’s ego a little bit every time while simultaneously squishing hers. Almost as if to say ‘What on earth is that beautiful man doing with a ragamuffin,’ or ‘Wow, that’s one heck of a Cinderella story.’ It was seriously pissing her off.
“Is their something bothering you Miss….?”
“Higurashi, and no. I’m perfectly fine, thank you.”
“Does your ‘knight in shining armor not deserve a first name? After all I did give you mine.”
“Yeah, you sure did. What kind of business man are you; giving away your personal number?!”
“The kind that gets things done.”
Sesshoumaru leaned over the table slightly and looked her straight in the eye while he said this. Of course, being the mature adult that she is, Kagome started to giggle like a high school girl getting asked out for the first time in a completely adorable, yet extremely condescending way. She failed to realize that by making the innuendo he completely sidetracked her mind from his extremely vague answer.
“Haha…you realize how perverted that sounded right…ahaha….I mean, that’s not just me right?”
Leaning back in his chair once again, Sesshoumaru stiffly replied, “I can assure you that I am a complete gentleman in all situations. I have been told so many times.”
With a quiet snort Kagome simply caught his eye once again and drawled out, “Oh yeah, I bet you’re a real Prince Charming.”
Filing that charming comment away for later use, Sesshoumaru helped Kagome pay the bill, since he was of course a gentleman and she was very stubborn. Going ‘Dutch’ wasn’t ungentlemanly after all….. just ….modern. He stood and helped her from her seat and they moved toward the street once again. They still had half a day of work to get done.
When she made a move to step through the doorway she got caught on the uneven linoleum flooring and began her descent forward toward concrete. Since Sesshoumaru had exited first to help her down the uneven stairs, he failed to recognize the danger the floors could cause. He ended up catching Kagome in his outstretched arms anyway though. It was at this moment Sesshoumaru saw fit to remind Kagome of her earlier joke.
“You know I can’t be Prince Charming until I get a kiss from the Princess.”
“Yeah…”
She was still panting from the rapid pace of her heart. The adrenaline from her fall kept rushing through her system as Sesshoumaru’s lips came closer to hers. When they touched, she swore she had a small heart attack.
PRESENT TIME
Sure they’d been going to lunch everyday since, but they’d never kissed after that. Kagome had convinced herself that it was just part of the act, part of the whole fairy tale joke. No matter how badly she’d tried, her lunch partner would never agree to do anything other than eat lunch with her, or even tell her his last name and occupation. It was almost as if he didn’t trust her, and that really hurt. Their last conversation went south very quickly for that very reason. Was she wrong to want to know? Is it really so outlandish as to ask what someone’s last name is? Sesshoumaru seemed to think so because ever since lunch two days ago he had not only not returned her calls but had had the number disconnected, and had not shown up for lunch since. He once told her that she was important to him, important enough that he would never hold her calls. He was always so eager to talk to her. That was the only connection they had outside of the little street café, long nightly phone calls.
The first night she went without talking to him Kagome broke down and cried. She didn’t want to know anymore, she just wanted Sesshoumaru back. If he would just pick up the phone and say it was all going to be okay she would never ask him another question more outlandish than ‘How was your day?’ There was no point in their association at which she could say when it happened, but Sesshoumaru whatever his name was became a staple in her life, and living without his presence was painful.
Kagome looked gloomily around her bright office space. She tried telling herself to brighten up a bit. Sesshoumaru had a life outside of their rendezvous and he probably just got back to it. It was good while it lasted…whatever it was. No it was time to face reality.
Sitting down at her desk, Kagome noticed something out of place. There was a small envelope propped up on her phone. She picked it up and flipped it over, looking for a name or address for the returnee. What she did find at first confused her. The envelope was not closed with a seal, but instead a sticker. Was this a joke? It was a little frog with a crown. Who on earth made this, a child?
She carefully pulled the card out of the small envelope. It was completely blank when she looked at it, but upon opening it she placed a hand to her mouth to cover the shock. She knew the handwriting immediately, and the signature sealed the deal.
“Sesshoumaru.”
Once upon a time, there was a lovely young woman who trusted a charming young man. They lived happily as friends and confidants, for a time. It could not be a happily ever after no matter both their wishes otherwise. The fair Prince was not his own to command and the beautiful Princess could not take him at his word. Trust is the biggest fairy tale of them all Kagome.
Sincerely,
Sesshoumaru Taisho.
“Tai…sho?”
Kagome sounded out the word as it was foreign to her very soul, but she knew it. Oh, did she know it. How did her life get to be such a cliché? She had been going out to lunch with a member of the board of trustees. No wonder he didn’t have an office extension! He didn’t work here! He worked privately and only had to come here for meetings. But if that was true….why was he here everyday? Her mind finally betrayed her by whispering ‘To see me?’
Shaking her head she replaced the card in the envelope.
“This is it then. Goodbye Sesshoumaru…Taisho”
On the front of the envelope Kagome quickly wrote the words she felt in her heart at the moment. They might not be polite, but it was her first thought. To react. She placed it in a more professional envelope and licked it shut. When she left for a cup of coffee she dropped it into interoffice mail and waited. She knew he would get it today, he was a beg wig here.
IN SESSHOUMARU’S OFFICE
He quickly ripped open the mail without reading the name. He did not want to be here at the moment, as his heart was just not in it. He knew nothing could happen between him and an employee, but friendship was too hard to stand without pushing further. This was the best plan. Really.
He finally got the damn envelope only to find another one, his own. Once he processed the words he dropped the small card like it burned him. He knew she would not react very well but this…this hurt, and he knew that wanted it to. He had been practically lying to her; he probably deserved it, but still….
He picked it once more and gripped it firmly, there had to be something else. This couldn’t be it.
Sesshoumaru~
You will remain a frog ever after, for you are no prince of mine.
Kagome Higurashi.
He looked once more into the envelope and there was in fact something else in there. A tri folded piece of paper, and it looked frighteningly official. When he opened it he was surprised and completely speechless once more. There, in black and white, was the full resignation of Kagome Higurashi; manager to the best marketing department he’d ever put together. He had hired her, without ever seeing her picture. Her name had been familiar, but only slightly. Now hearing that this was the extraordinary woman he had found for a very important job he was torn.
Did he go argue with her to take her job back, or did he go and argue with her to take him back? He didn’t know quite yet, but he knew he had to do something. Grabbing his suit jacket, Sesshoumaru ran to the elevator. As soon as the chime rang he jumped in without looking.
Their collision was ironic in the worst of ways, but Kagome couldn’t begin to express her shock at seeing him. She had definitely pressed Lobby, not up. The higher floors must get priority or something.
‘Crap.’
He hadn’t noticed her yet, and she wanted to keep it that way, but fate was not on her side. Sesshoumaru slowly turned once he recognized the presence in the elevator compartment with him. Not wasting a moment to think on his decision, Sesshoumaru went in for the kill. He grabbed her to him and kissed her; deeply. When he finally decided to let go of her, she had only one thing to say. He wanted to yell at her, ‘Is that all you can say to me?’ but it was too much for him at the moment.
“What, no poof?”
“No Kagome, I have not changed. I am still the same man. Not a prince.”
“Good.”
Kagome practically pounced on him after pressing the automatic stop button. Perhaps fairy tales weren’t all they were cracked up to be anyway. Kagome liked reality just fine at the moment.