The Greatest Wealth by volarelibre

Email Correspondence

Chapter One: Email Correspondence

Frustration. A word he was used to but not one most people would have associated with him. The business he'd grown into had shown him from a very early age that to display too many emotions was to let too many people have a power over you. Let one person know what or who you care for and the next minute you find it dangling in front of you, in a threatening manner. Yes, he had learned very early on to keep hidden his emotions, other than one: indifference; if it could even be described as an emotion that is.

Currently, he was frustrated with just about everyone. His Father, for beginning a project that he hadn't had the foresight to see would need a translator, which in turn, had resulted in him going through countless interviews, last second. Procrastination was absolutely not something he practiced. Also, his younger half brother for bailing on him, leaving him to deal with the countless annoying, completely unqualified useless interviewees. Yes, he would tuck that away in his mind and remember to give his brother a thorough beating next time they sparred in the dojo. But, mostly he was frustrated with the fact that he had gone through at least 50 candidates and not a single person suited what they needed for the project. He rubbed the bridge of his nose with clawed fingers, letting out a barely noticeable sigh. Honestly, was it that difficult to speak three languages? Obviously, it was.

Standing from his desk, he looked around his office. It was clean and crisp; just how he liked his thinking to be. He abhorred clutter. One's surroundings, he firmly believed, reflected your thinking. Still, even with his all white, immaculate office, his thinking wasn't taking him where he needed to go. He didn't have a solution.

Irritation. Now, a new emotion blossomed. Still, one could not tell from the outside. Plucking his cellphone from the pocket of his pants, he quickly (for he never did anything quite slow) dialed the number he was looking for.

"What the fuck do you want?" Gruff, crude, obnoxious. There were many words to describe his dear half brother but eloquent did not happen to be one.

"I still have yet to find a suitable translator for this job. You, brother, wouldn't happen to have a solution, with the consideration you failed to show up for the interview process?" He curtly replied, a slight hint of his irritation slipping through.

A groan, "Feh! I'll figure something out! You went through a shit ton of people and you couldn't find ANYONE?"

"That is correct."

Another groan, "Whatever asshole, I have an idea. I'll call you back in a few hours."

Holding back a sigh, he closed his eyes and snapped his phone shut. No need to tell the half breed goodbye. He would, unfortunately, either see or speak to him at a later time. Smoothing his business suit, he packed up his briefcase and headed towards the elevator, finally ready to go home.

---

A loud buzzing noise alerted the sleeping raven haired woman that, while not time to wake up, but at least time to pick up her loudly ringing phone. Letting out a yawn, she reached for the phone sitting atop her nightstand, smiling when she saw the caller ID. "Hey 'Yasha."

She could hear the smile in his voice and knew he was internally laughing. She knew she sounded sleepy and disoriented. Without waiting for a response, she reprimanded him, "Don't make fun of me! You realize it's 2 AM here don't you? Do you know what I like to do at that time? Oh, I don't know, sleep!"

"Ok, ok!" she smiled as he relented. "Hey, I'm sorry, I forgot you're in a different time zone than me. It's weird. Anyways, I need a favor."

This caught her attention, it was extremely unusual for her furry eared friend to ask a favor. Disregarding the fact that he couldn't see her, she had a suspicious look and tone, "Which is?"

He laughed out loud this time. "Don't be like that. It's just, we really need a translator. One who can speak English, Japanese, and Spanish. We've gone through at least 50 people but none of them are good enough-"

Before he could finish, she interrupted, "You do realize what it would take for me get to Japan from Pennsylvania don't you?"

Now, he sighed. "Yes, look if I give you an email to at least look over what we need and what benefits you would get, would you at least consider it?" He was using that voice, the one she knew made his furry ears twitch and she knew she had to at least consider it.

Growling into the phone, "Fine. Give whoever my email and I'll let them know whether I'll do it or not. Got it?"

Over 6,000 miles away, a certain hanyou was pleased. "Thanks 'Gome!"

Clicking to end that call, he quickly redialed his elder brother, who as always answered the phone call with an arrogant, "What did you mess up now?"

"Nothing you fuckin' asshole! I think I got someone who could translate, there's just one problem."

He knew this wouldn't be well received, but he felt confident he could coax his sibling into at least listening. He knew it would be an easy choice once he heard him out, so flipping his white hair he began to explain. By the end of the conversation, he knew he had won and Kagome would be getting an email.

---

Sitting in front of his computer in his personal office at home, he felt a twinge of annoyance. Seesshoumaru was used to getting what he wanted. What he was not used to was having to ask for help or even needing to convince someone to help. Still, he had to admit the female his brother had recommended met even his qualifications. She was a college grad, with a masters in business. Experience? Plenty. On top of that, she spoke a total of five languages: Japanese, English, Spanish, German, and Italian. It was an impressive resume indeed. Internally, he growled and ran his clawed fingers through his silver locks. Bracing himself, he began his email to this Kagome Higurashi.

To: Kagome Higurashi 

From: Sesshoumaru Taisho 

In regards to Kagome Higurashi,

I have been recommended by an associate of mine to request your help for a project for my company. The job would have an estimated four month timeline and once the job is complete we would no longer require your service. If you accept, please reply to my email.

Sincerely,

Sesshoumaru Taisho

He was surprised when a few minutes later he received a response back. This pleased him, punctuality was something he greatly approved of.

To: Sesshoumaru Taisho 

From: Kagome Higurashi

Thank you so much for the email, unfortunately I am going to have to decline for several personal reasons as well as the fact, for me to cross the ocean for a job, it would need to be permanent. Thank you so much for your time.

Kagome Higurashi

His eyes flashed red. Growling he picked up his cell phone and dialed his brother, snarling once he answered, "She has declined. Why did you not inform me she did not live in Japan?"

"Why did she decline?" it irritated him to no end when his brother ignored his question.

"Do not ask a question in response to a question! As to why she declined," he snarled again here, thoroughly at the end of his wits with everyone, again, "she said personal reasons and the fact that she would need a permanent job."

He could hear Inuyasha sigh, "She really needs a job. You should offer her a full time position, WITH benefits here. She should be home anyways. I'll pay her plane ticket, but say you're including it. If she gets it, she'll stay with me until she gets a place."

"Why?" Suspicion.

"Why what?"

"Why do you want her hired so badly?"

Inuyasha laughed, "You really don't recognize her name do you? Did you hate me that much?"

Now he was confused, not that he would allow anyone to know that. "What are you blathering about fool?"

Again, his brother laughed, "Holy fuck! Look, she's an old childhood friend. She's the hardest working person I know and I'm not going to tell you her personal problems because that's not your business, but just hire her, I promise you won't regret it."

Usually he didn't allow his brother to con him anything, but it wasn't usual for his brother to vouch for anyone. His brother had a tendency to dislike just about everyone and it took an extreme amount of time and patience to garner his trust. For one, his brother was not a person easily liked and for two, he had experienced a rather rough childhood which made him mostly unable to trust just about anyone. He growled, something he seemed to be doing a lot of that day and responded, "Fine."

To: Kagome Higurashi 

From: Sesshoumaru Taisho 

In regards to Kagome Higurashi,

I am prepared to offer you a full time job, with benefits as well as accommodations until you are established. I will also have you transported. Will this suffice?

Sincerely,

Sesshoumari Taisho

He knew the message was short and quite possibly rude, but surely it was all it would take to have her on board with the project. Clicking send, he wondered if she would be prompt again.

Twenty minutes later, he was pacing and glaring. She had responded so quickly the prior time! In the waiting time frame, he had received two text messages and a phone call from his little brother inquiring if he had messaged her. It annoyed him to no end that his brother was so insistent and that supposedly he knew this person. He had an impeccable memory and surely he would remember someone who so obviously meant a lot to Inuyasha. Knitting his brows together, he went through his memories of Inuyasha. Honestly, there weren't many. Most of his life had been spent being groomed to take over his Father's company and he spent as little time with his annoying half breed of a brother.

Growing restless, Sesshoumaru made the decision to revisit his emails in the morning and went about his usual routine of getting ready to sleep.

---

Across the Pacific Ocean, Kagome opened her email. Scrolling through the smiled at the amount she had received from her Mother. Oh how she missed her! All were normal, save for one. She hadn't expected a response so quickly from Sesshoumaru, if to even receive one at all. Raising an eyebrow, she clicked on it and read. Well, this was a surprise. There had not been an expectancy for him to offer her anything else to coax her into coming to Japan. Frowning, she looked at the time. The email had been sent several hours prior. She glanced down at her wrist where a white medical band from earlier still was. Thinking she should probably remove it, she decided to do so after she responded to the email.

To: Sesshoumaru Taisho

From: Kagome Higurashi 

My apologies for not responding sooner. I spent several hours in the hospital earlier for my son. I must also advise I do have a son to be concerned about. Would travel for him and myself be provided or would I be expected to pay for his airfare? I would like to accept and if I do I would need a time frame to make the necessary plans.

Again, thank you for your time.

Kagome Higurashi

Sending the message, she chewed her lip in anticipation. Glancing at the time, she realized it was not an appropriate time to have sent the message and she knew she shouldn't expect a response until much later. Shutting her computer down, she stretched and decided to check on her son.

He was downstairs, in the same t-shirt and jeans she had brought him home in. Scowling playfully, she tugged on one of his puppy ears. "Don't you think a change of clothes would make you feel better?" He too still had on his bracelet from the hospital.

"No, Mama. I just wanna play!" She sighed before retrieving a pair of scissors. She removed his bracelet first then her's.

Placing a kiss on his forehead, she asked him, "Do you feel better?"

"Yes mama. I'm ok! Don't worry about me. I'm fine!" She nodded in response. As long as he felt ok, that was all that mattered.