Trying From the Start

YEARS EARLIER: September 3rd, 2000

An extremely frustrated young woman pulled her oversized luggage case from the trunk of the taxicab. After several unsuccessful tugs, she took a deep breath, and pulled with all her strength. She was successful; but the force easily pulled the luggage from its holder, and the woman, along with her luggage flew back, crashing unladylike against an unfortunate young man standing behind her.

"Oh my god! Gomen ne-" her words were cut off as soon as the two stood and she realized the enormity of the man whom she had landed on. As she forced her head up to look at the face of what she thought seemed like a seven-foot tall man, her mouth opened in shock. 'He's so…so beautiful.'

The aristocratic looking man looked at her boredly. The man's long silver hair was tied back in a low ponytail, and his golden eyes peered at her, his cold face expressing none of his feelings. "Have you no manners? It is rude to stare you know." He told her simply, and so a flustered Kagome was quick to comply, breaking the stare, and then angrily telling him, "Why you… just-" He cut her off, by simply turning away, and told her over his shoulder as he walked away, "I've no time for such childish affairs."

Kagome was fuming, 'Who does he think he is?' and with a slam of the trunk, sent the cabdriver on his way. Pulling her luggage in one hand, while holding a small matching luggage carrier along with a black hand purse, she strode into the hotel which she had not noticed, but the young man had also went into earlier.

Walking up to the receptionist's desk, the young woman dressed in a pair of comfortable pair of jeans, and a loose tank, told the young girl, "Hi, I am Higurashi Kagome, the company which is hiring me, told me I would have a room reserved here under Maayuka Incorporated."

As the girl looked at Kagome suspiciously, Kagome began to acutely be aware of how fancy the hotel was, and how unfit her clothes were for such a place. The girl soon looked back to her computer screen, and with a few taps on her computer, the young girl left to go behind a door, reappearing a few seconds later, bringing with her a room key and folder. "Yes," her nasal voice droned, "we have a key here for you for the President's suite, and Maayuka-san also left us a folder and a note for you."

She retrieved the items, bowing to the girl gratefully. As she went up the elevator, she pondered about the room that she had been given, 'President's suite? Inu Yasha's brother can't be as mean as Inu Yasha described him.' A small 'ding' pulled her from her thoughts, and the bellboy opened the gated door, telling her that her room was the second to the left.

Upon, opening the door, Kagome gasped at the sight of the spacious apartment. With long chapel-like windows, and a beautiful chandelier in the middle of the living room, the apartment, to her, was a dream. 'Beautiful!' were her only thoughts. Remembering her folder, she closed the door, comfortably sat herself languidly on the luxurious couch, and began reading the note.

To Higurashi-san,

By now, you should have already seen the residence that we are providing you. Of course, this is only temporary until you find a housing of your own. Be aware though, not all new employees are treated thus. If it had not been for your accomplished resume and my brother's pleading you wouldn't have even been considered, for you are a human. Be that as it may, you will be treated no differently, and will be expected to work diligently as the head of our research and development department, there will be no tardiness, whether in work or arriving, no disrespect, and no laziness upon your part, else you will be dismissed. I hope you will review the files that I have left for you, and I will be waiting for you in the hotel's lobby at 8 o'clock sharp.

As Kagome read the letter, she wanted nothing more than to laugh in the writer's face. 'Maybe Inu Yasha is right. This guy sure sounds like an ass, and I haven't even met him,' she thought. As she skimmed through the files, she scoffed at the simplicity of it all. The folder contained nothing but the company goals, affiliations, and so on.

'What does this guy think I am, an idiot? I did do research.' "If it had not been for your accomplished resume and my brother's pleading you wouldn't have even been considered, for you are a human," Kagome said, trying to mimic the voice of what she thought the cranky young business tycoon would sound like. She scoffed once again, as she thought, 'Because I'm a human indeed, what a jerk.'

Looking at the clock on the wall, she read 7:45 AM. 'Oh crap,' she thought, and rushed to release her possessions from the bindings of the luggage holders.

Sesshoumaru leaned against the lobby stand, impatiently tapping the gold Rolex watch on his arm. 'Where is that girl? If she is an idiot, there is no doubt that my brainless brother will pay for wasting my time and money.'

Kagome rushed down to the first floor, and gasped for breaths while she straightened her clothes. She walked out and gasped at the sight of the only person in the lobby. 'That's Inuyasha's brother? Oh god! Okay, you can do this, just breathe,' she thought while she walked to the young man she had seen before. "Excuse me, Maayuka-san?"

Sesshoumaru turned around upon hearing a soft voice. He was surprised to see the same girl from before, but tried not to let it show. "Ahh, Higurashi-san," he drawled and then continued after taking a noticeable glace at his wristwatch, "not only can you be incredibly clumsy but you can also be very tardy. Hopefully, none of these qualities will appear while you are working, correct?"

He smirked slightly when her face flushed with embarrassment. Almost biting her tongue to keep from yelling at her new boss, she ground out, "Of course, Maayuka-san."

"Come now, you wouldn't want to be late for your first day of work, would you? That will leave a nasty impression on your co-workers," he said snidely. Kagome took slow breaths, staring holes into his back as she followed him to his car.

After giving her a short tour of the huge building, Sesshoumaru introduced Kagome to the workers working under her in her department, and with a curt nod, left to his office. Unlike she had thought, her co-workers were all very friendly and accepting. Most of the employees were demons, but the few that were humans, were very accomplished.

"So, Kagome-san, how did you get such a high position? Here, of all places?" Kagome looked up from her plate of food, and thought about the question before answering with a confused, "What?"

Her new friend, Sango, chuckled, and shook her head at Kagome. "I mean, can't you see the few humans working here? Sesshoumaru-san has very high standards, I'm surprised you've attained such a high position here." Kagome's mouth formed an "o" as she finally understood. She shrugged, and answered nonchalantly, "He told me, and I quote, 'If it had not been for your accomplished resume and my brother's pleading you wouldn't have even been considered, for you are a human.' How discriminating is that?"

Sango chuckled once more, and informed Kagome, "Sesshoumaru prefers demons because he believes they are more efficient, and I can't say I don't agree." Kagome gasped, "Sango, why would you say that?" Sango leaned closer to Kagome, and whispered, "It's true, you know, especially here."

Kagome, unsure of this new information, just nodded. "On a lighter note, Kagome, you said you know Inu Yasha?" Sango asked. Kagome nodded and told her he had recommended her to Sesshoumaru. Kagome focused her attention back at her plate, and began moving her food back and forth with her fork again.

Unable to keep the question inside, Kagome blurted out, "Is Sesshoumaru always so rude?" Sango giggled slightly, and answered, "Oh, that's just how he is. Believe me, I prefer his rudeness and curtness to his coldness." She shivered, emphasizing her words.

"Well, I just can't stand the man, literally. I mean, did he wake up on-" Kagome said, stopping when she saw Sango's slow head shake, a silent sign for her to quit talking. Kagome's left eyebrow rose and she froze, hearing a familiar voice say, "Really, Higurashi-san, pray tell, where did I wake up on?"

Sesshoumaru had gone to the 22nd floor where the research and development department was located to search for Kagome when he heard her talk about him inside the break room. Unable to resist embarrassing her, he asked her why, and smirked as she froze.

Meanwhile, Kagome was silently praying as she turned to face the speaker, 'Please don't let it be him, please.' Sesshoumaru's smirk grew as Kagome turned ten different shades of red as soon as she saw him. "Come, Higurashi-san," and looking at his wristwatch, then back at her again, "we have much to do, and I believe you are done with lunch."

Kagome nodded slowly, still embarrassed at having been caught talking about her boss. 'Great job, Kagome,' she thought to herself, 'and it's only your first day, you'll be lucky if you don't get fired. I mean why did you even say that, it was so rude.'

The two walked in silence to the elevator. When the door closed, and Kagome stood next to him in the elevator to go to his office, she couldn't help but apologize. "I'm sorry, Sesshoumaru. It's just you were so rude, and-" Sesshoumaru cut her off with a curt, "It is fine, I understand. Because you work for me does not mean you cannot have your own opinion, you need not apologize."

However, Kagome was stubborn, and rambled, "No, really, I'm not saying sorry because you're my boss. It was really inconsiderate, and I would never say anything like that, to other people, I just was frustrated I guess." Kagome smiled brightly, when Sesshoumaru gave an exasperated groan and said, "Fine, I accept your apology."

Sesshoumaru looked at the girl, no- woman beside him, and shook his head. 'She is entertaining, as if I care of her opinion of me. However, I do believe if I had not said yes, she would have most likely kept talking and talking. Gods, I have a pounding headache.' The elevator bell dinged, signifying they had arrived at the 28th floor of the building, where Sesshoumaru's office was located.

Before entering the main conference room, Sesshoumaru and Kagome stood outside the closed doors and listened to the angry shouts and growls coming from inside. She stifled a giggle when she noticed Sesshoumaru tiredly rubbing his forehead. "Come, Higurashi-san, prepare yourself," he warned her, as he opened the door.

Silence was heard throughout the room when the door slammed shut behind the pair. The occupants had immediately quieted as they watched their new co-worker. Kagome watched them as the silence ensued. Not surprisingly, all his workers were male, save her, and all were demons, save her and two others.

A/N: Hey ya'll, long time no update. Get it? Never mind, anyways, I am so, so sorry, you wouldn't even believe. I don't know, I've been a little out of it lately. This chapter has been worked on since September, but I am constantly tweaking it, so you can guess my reluctance to send it out. But reviewers were starting to scare me, so yeah… I hoped you enjoyed it.

Kudos and Credit to my Beta-reader, Asian Eyes, for correcting my many spelling mistakes.

I love my readers and reviewers, thank you for the encouragement, ya'll

Love and More,

Aimee