HOME | DD

Description
Disclaimer: I do not, unfortunately, own Yu Yu Hakusho, its origin, characters, and anything else for that matter.  All rights belong to its creator, Yoshihiro Tagashi.  I claim only meager rights to my creations, and the plot behind this point of fiction.

Chapter 1: Life As It Is For You

You shoved your pillow over your head, as you were taken from blissfulness by an insistent buzz.  It was the same every morning.  The early bird catches the worm.  That was a load of crock.  With a groan you sat up and switched off your alarm.  The house was quiet which meant your mother was most likely gone at work and your father was sulking somewhere in a corner.  To each his own you thought as you stumbled from your bed and groggily opened your closet.  Your room was small and sparsely furnished.  You had a bed, a dresser, and a desk with a small lamp.  Your parents never doted on you and were only concerned with the basic essentials, something that didn't bother you, most of the time.  You did own a couple of "frivolous" things as your parents called them; but they had been given to you by your best friend Miaka.  Your favorite was your mp3 player, and you took it with you everywhere you went.

You sighed as you ran your hand through your shoulder length blonde hair.  This would be a long day. The thought was prevalent in your mind as you pulled out the nicest clothes you owned.  They were a pair of black slacks, a button up white shirt, and a matching black jacket.  The shirt was fitted and had long sleeves that flared a bit at the wrists.  This was your "job hunting" outfit and today you were job hunting.  You slung your clothes over your shoulder and headed for the bathroom, which was located directly across from your room.  You lived in a tiny two story house.  The upstairs consisted of your bedroom, your little brother's bedroom and a bathroom.  You hurried into the bathroom and locked the door behind you.

Twenty minutes later you were showered, dressed and ready to face the world.  It would have been wonderful to have taken your time like any other teenager.  Time was money however and you did not have the luxury of either.  You rushed into your room, threw your dirty clothes in your hamper and grabbed your bag.  You closed your door and walked to your little brother's room.  You smiled as you saw his sleeping form.  He was the only joy that you had in your life.  You sat on the edge of his bed and ran your fingers through his silky black hair.

"Aiko, wake up."

He stirred and the seven year olds sleepy gaze met yours.

"Mornin', sis."

"Good morning."

You smiled as you pulled him into an embrace.

"Let's get you ready for school."

Fifteen minutes later you had him ready to embark into the world.  He held your hand as you walked down the stairs and headed for the kitchen.  Your father sat at the dining room table sipping coffee and looking sour.  You released your brother's hand to go to the cupboard and grab him a pop tart.  Like you he wasn't a big eater in the morning.

"Are you actually going to do something productive today?" Your father asked.

You flinched at the sound of his voice and turned around eyes downcast, pop tart in hand.

"Yes sir."

You had gotten a newspaper yesterday and circled several jobs that were possibilities.  You had also gone to the library and made copies of your résumé.  He gave you a look that said he highly doubted it.

"Don't come home without a job."

You could tell from the tone of his voice that he meant every word.

"Yes sir."

You walked out of the kitchen grabbing Aiko's hand in mid stride and tried to maintain your composure.  Your parents had both been very angry with you when you had come home early one day, and told them that your previous employer had let you go, due to absences.  Of course you were to blame for that.  You had been irresponsible and paid the consequences for it.  It had nothing to do with the fact that all they did was fight.  It had nothing to do with their lack of responsibility.  They always seemed to forget that it was you who took care of Aiko.  You who made sure that he was taken to school every day and picked up.  You who took him to the doctor and the dentist, you fed him, bathed him, played with him and saw to his every need.  Not to mention that you had your own school work and the house to tend to.  Yes, it was entirely your fault that you had lost your job.

You took a deep breath and opened the car door for Aiko. It wouldn't do to dwell on it.  You needed to have a positive attitude you reminded yourself as you settled into the driver's seat.  Anything else would not be beneficial to you, especially during the interview process.  You looked in your rearview mirror.  Your brother sat quietly in the back and munched on his breakfast.  You couldn't banish the resentment you felt towards your parents.  Nor could you ignore the wish deep down that you had not been robbed of such simple days.  When all you had to worry about was who you were going to play with at recess.  You did it again, thinking thoughts that you shouldn't.  With an attitude worse than you had had before, you slipped on your movie star sunglasses, and started the car.

* * * * * * * * * *

After having been allotted entry through the private gate, you pulled up to the last place on your list, and resisted the sudden urge to ram your head against the steering wheel.  Everything had gone from bad to steadily worse, and your pent up emotions were threatening to overrun your already strained control.  You snatched the newspaper from the passenger's seat and re-read the ad.

Wanted
Large home in need of a full time house keeper, to work Monday through Saturday, Must be able to cook, clean, do laundry, and open to other miscellaneous tasks.  The following prerequisites are required: Must have 1 year work experience, a resume, and good references.  Please call or come in person to…

You tossed the paper in frustration.  It wasn't fair this world you lived in.  There was always a list of requirements that had to be met, and if they weren't?  You did not want to follow that thought to its conclusion.  Your eyes began to burn and you shut them.  After a few minutes of silence and slow deep breaths, you judged yourself ready for one final attempt.  With what felt like the weight of the world on your shoulders, you got out of the car. The color drained from your face as you stood awestruck by the enormity before you.  In all your life you had never seen something so beautiful, or so utterly terrifying.  This house, or more accurately mansion, was immense as well as the lot of land it resided on.  Whoever was the proud owner was not likely to take pity on a poor girl like you.  What was the point, you wondered.  The only thing that pushed you forward in continuing this folly was the fear of being alone on the street.  For you knew that if you returned home tonight without a job your father would make good on his threat.  With this hanging over you, you straightened your shoulders and boldly approached the front door. Taking a deep breath, you pressed the door bell. Within minutes the elegantly carved doors opened, and you came face to face with the most beautiful red-headed boy you had ever laid eyes upon.

"May I help you?" He asked looking you over curiously.

You smiled trying to extinguish your nervousness.  It was definitely apparent that you were far from his stature. You were also sure that your car stuck out like a sore thumb next to the extravagant fountain. There was no hiding the ugly. This did not bode well for first impressions. You tried to ignore what you saw as your obvious downfalls, and removed your sunglasses, revealing hazel eyes.

"Yes, I am here about the ad in the paper."

"Oh, of course, please come in." He smiled.

You followed him inside and your eyes took in the indoor splendors. Everything was situated perfectly and you were sure that it would take hours to truly appreciate it all. You didn't realize that you were gaping until you heard a small chuckle.  This snapped you out of your reverie, and you met the intense green gaze of the owner? You weren't sure of anything beyond the fact that you were completely intimidated by that gaze. You were only able to keep eye contact because it was very important in any potential job opportunity, and you needed this job.

"You have a very beautiful home."

You complimented breaking the awkward silence, and trying to mask your embarrassment over your own naivety.

"Thank you."

He seemed inclined to give you a fair shot at the position or so you hoped.

"Well, shall we begin the interview, Miss…"

"Tenshino." You supplied. "Tenshino, Koe."

You answered holding out your hand. The red head smiled firmly taking your hand into his.

"I am very pleased to make your acquaintance Ms. Tenshino.  I am Minamino Shuichi."

He released your hand.

"Please follow me."

You followed him out of the vestibule into the hall beyond, if you could even call it that. It was, in the very least, ten of your home's halls put together. You briefly wondered why Mr. Minamino was only hiring a single housekeeper. Didn't a home like this require a staff of such to keep up on all the needed maintenance? You didn't have any time to consider this further however, since you had arrived at your destination. Double doors opened to reveal an immense study. It was very easily the square footage of your house put together.  This was definitely what you would deem a place for gentlemen. Shelves lined the majority of the walls with various leather bound volumes and memorabilia. An overstuffed chair and ottoman sat invitingly in a corner. An enormous window gave a splendid view of the drive, fountain, and your car. At this observation, a frightening thought overtook you, and you prayed that Mr. Minamino had not seen you make a spectacle of yourself. Thankfully, you were not afforded anymore time to worry over such possibilities.  As you were motioned to one of the two chairs that sat before the desk, you handed him your resume.

"Thank you."

He smiled at you again and you felt your stomach lurch.  You were suffering from both extreme anxiety and exposure to the fine-looking. You marveled at how those red locks fell perfectly about his face accenting his green eyes. You could almost say that it had a dreamy effect upon you. That is, of course, if you ignored the feeling that you were being dissected in the same instance. You preoccupied yourself by clasping your hands together in your lap to keep yourself from fidgeting. He was reviewing your resume, and the silence seemed to only heighten your feeling of dread. After what seemed to be an eternity, but in actuality was only a minute, he looked up at you.

"This is very impressive. Would you mind answering a few questions?"

Your breath hitched in your throat and you cleared it trying to cover your fright.

"Yes, of course. I would be happy to."

You tried to keep calm, but you could feel the muscles in your back begin to tense. Mr. Minamino leaned back in his chair, and gave you his undivided attention.

"I see that you are attending school. Could you tell me how it is that you are going to fill the requirements of this job, and still attend to your studies?"

Translation: how were you going to work here and go to school at the same time? The question hit you like a ton of bricks, and you felt your face grow hot. You had left one very important detail out of your resume.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" You quickly apologized realizing your mistake. "It isn't a problem I assure you. Have you heard, perchance, of the Hideki program? I was accepted into it. I thought for sure that I had included it."

You felt completely sick to your stomach. How could you have forgotten to add that?

"The Hideki program is very prestigious."

Green eyes regarded you with surprise.  You were very much aware of the stature of the program. It had been exceedingly difficult, but you had somehow managed to score high enough to be accepted. It had been that or quit school entirely.

"I can give you the number so that you can verify my enrollment." You offered.

"Thank you, but that won't be necessary."

You were not sure how to take that. It was so ambiguous that it could go either way.   The urge to tap your fingers, smooth out your clothes, or just do anything was overwhelming in the momentary pause.

"One more question. You've had quite an array of jobs over a short period of time, could you explain that please?" He asked.

"Um, yes, of course."

You hesitated, the last bit of your confidence smashed to pieces. Why did he have to be so thorough? Why did he have to be a smart pretty boy? You had been hoping that maybe he would just overlook that particular red flag and just give you the job. It was an insane hope, but seeing as you were left with nothing else, it had been the only one you had. Yesterday had been excruciating. You were exhausted, and your mind was a complete blank. Panic perched itself on your shoulder and began to utter its sweet nothings. Your discomfort permeated the room and Mr. Minamino raised a hand. You knew that he was going to tell you that you didn't have to answer the question. You stopped him before he could speak.

"I'm sorry; it is not the easiest thing to put into words. You however have been kind enough to allow me to clarify the one thing that is objectionable to an employer. Please let me continue."

You looked beseechingly at him, desperate for some way to rectify this. His expression softened. It was barely perceptible, and you did not notice. The only thing that registered to your stressed person was the nod that he had given to you. Now what? Were you supposed to vomit out the ugly truth and hope for the best? No. Gross dysfunction was not in an employer's best interest. It caused altogether too many problems and did not give birth to reliability. Why had you opened your mouth? You should have just bowed out respectfully, and apologized for taking up his time. You were about to do just that when you felt strangely comforted. You could do this. It was as if someone had spoken to you. That was impossible. There were only two people in the room, yourself and Mr. Minamino. Neither of you had said anything. Despite your confusion, your muddled brain began to formulate an answer.

"Due to extenuating circumstances I had to take sole responsibility for my younger brother at that time. He had become very ill while my mother was away, and my father's work was only able to be so flexible."

You felt odd, but you attributed it to the peculiar look in which you were being regarded. There wasn't anything out of the ordinary in what you had just said.  You didn't think you could have answered more perfectly.  It was the truth, but not so much of it that it hurt your chances of landing this job.

"I see."

His response was just as weird.  Those inquiring eyes were too much and you broke eye contact to look down at your hands briefly. It was a short respite. The sound of him rising from his chair recaptured your attention.

"Ms. Tenshino, I have no more questions, but could you wait for a few moments?"

His hand was outstretched toward a second door. You had thought it to be a closet or something of that sort. You rose from your own seat.

"I'd be happy to."

Very graciously he opened the adjoining door and you stepped through. You were left in a very eloquent somewhat smaller room. You passed up the comforts of the waiting furniture, and instead stood gazing out the window. You had found it impossible to gauge this Shuichi Minamino, and the uncertainty of employment was reasserting itself. You hated the interview process and you did not think well on how you had presented yourself. The only remarkable thing you had done was pull the answer to his last question from nowhere. You wished that you could have held onto the comfort that you had found moments ago, but it was gone. You were left in the lonely silence of failure. You assumed he was checking your references. They would praise your work, but that wasn't enough to over shadow your lack of dependability.  There was no way you could succeed in the face of that. You shut your eyes to stem the onslaught of tears that you felt building.

"Ms. Tenshino."

Startled, your eyes flew open. You had not heard him reenter the room. Quickly, you wiped at your eyes. You tried to pass off the motion as if you were pushing bothersome strands of your hair away, and turned around to face the inevitable. Shuichi Minamino approached you and held out his hand. You took the proffered hand.

"I would like to thank you for coming, and I very much appreciate you honestly answering my questions."

Easily your face fell into a practiced smile.

"If you want it, the job is yours."

Your smile gave way to a look of shock, and you stared. Was this really happening? The hand in your grasp felt real and the smile on his face seemed genuine enough. If you want it the job is yours. The job was yours. Your face broke into a dazzling smile.

"I can start whenever is convenient for you."

You answered eagerly.

"I look forward to working with you."

Why did that comment feel as though it had a double meaning?

* * * * * * * * * *

You walked back to your car. Shuichi, as you have resolved to call him in the privacy of your thoughts, had directed you to the use of a second drive. You had been given the entry pass code to this alternate entrance, and were free to use it as needed. He had also called his personal tailor and made you an appointment. That was where you were headed now. It seemed a little unnecessary but you were not going to argue.  You couldn't believe your luck.  Tomorrow you were starting a job that you never thought would be offered to you. Fortune had finally smiled at you.

* * * * * * * * * *

Shuichi watched as you walked back to your car.  He had not been entirely sure that he made the right decision when he gave you the job. It was almost an impulse of the moment, almost.

"I thought that you had decided against her."

Shuichi looked down at his short spiky haired friend.

"She changed my mind."

"Hn, you are too soft, fox."

"Perhaps..."  He watched you drive away in your car.

Description
Disclaimer: I do not, unfortunately, own Yu Yu Hakusho, its origin, characters, and anything else for that matter.  All rights belong to its creator, Yoshihiro Tagashi.  I claim only meager rights to my creations, and the plot behind this point of fiction.

Chapter 1: Life As It Is For You

You shoved your pillow over your head, as you were taken from blissfulness by an insistent buzz.  It was the same every morning.  The early bird catches the worm.  That was a load of crock.  With a groan you sat up and switched off your alarm.  The house was quiet which meant your mother was most likely gone at work and your father was sulking somewhere in a corner.  To each his own you thought as you stumbled from your bed and groggily opened your closet.  Your room was small and sparsely furnished.  You had a bed, a dresser, and a desk with a small lamp.  Your parents never doted on you and were only concerned with the basic essentials, something that didn't bother you, most of the time.  You did own a couple of "frivolous" things as your parents called them; but they had been given to you by your best friend Miaka.  Your favorite was your mp3 player, and you took it with you everywhere you went.

You sighed as you ran your hand through your shoulder length blonde hair.  This would be a long day. The thought was prevalent in your mind as you pulled out the nicest clothes you owned.  They were a pair of black slacks, a button up white shirt, and a matching black jacket.  The shirt was fitted and had long sleeves that flared a bit at the wrists.  This was your "job hunting" outfit and today you were job hunting.  You slung your clothes over your shoulder and headed for the bathroom, which was located directly across from your room.  You lived in a tiny two story house.  The upstairs consisted of your bedroom, your little brother's bedroom and a bathroom.  You hurried into the bathroom and locked the door behind you.

Twenty minutes later you were showered, dressed and ready to face the world.  It would have been wonderful to have taken your time like any other teenager.  Time was money however and you did not have the luxury of either.  You rushed into your room, threw your dirty clothes in your hamper and grabbed your bag.  You closed your door and walked to your little brother's room.  You smiled as you saw his sleeping form.  He was the only joy that you had in your life.  You sat on the edge of his bed and ran your fingers through his silky black hair.

"Aiko, wake up."

He stirred and the seven year olds sleepy gaze met yours.

"Mornin', sis."

"Good morning."

You smiled as you pulled him into an embrace.

"Let's get you ready for school."

Fifteen minutes later you had him ready to embark into the world.  He held your hand as you walked down the stairs and headed for the kitchen.  Your father sat at the dining room table sipping coffee and looking sour.  You released your brother's hand to go to the cupboard and grab him a pop tart.  Like you he wasn't a big eater in the morning.

"Are you actually going to do something productive today?" Your father asked.

You flinched at the sound of his voice and turned around eyes downcast, pop tart in hand.

"Yes sir."

You had gotten a newspaper yesterday and circled several jobs that were possibilities.  You had also gone to the library and made copies of your résumé.  He gave you a look that said he highly doubted it.

"Don't come home without a job."

You could tell from the tone of his voice that he meant every word.

"Yes sir."

You walked out of the kitchen grabbing Aiko's hand in mid stride and tried to maintain your composure.  Your parents had both been very angry with you when you had come home early one day, and told them that your previous employer had let you go, due to absences.  Of course you were to blame for that.  You had been irresponsible and paid the consequences for it.  It had nothing to do with the fact that all they did was fight.  It had nothing to do with their lack of responsibility.  They always seemed to forget that it was you who took care of Aiko.  You who made sure that he was taken to school every day and picked up.  You who took him to the doctor and the dentist, you fed him, bathed him, played with him and saw to his every need.  Not to mention that you had your own school work and the house to tend to.  Yes, it was entirely your fault that you had lost your job.

You took a deep breath and opened the car door for Aiko. It wouldn't do to dwell on it.  You needed to have a positive attitude you reminded yourself as you settled into the driver's seat.  Anything else would not be beneficial to you, especially during the interview process.  You looked in your rearview mirror.  Your brother sat quietly in the back and munched on his breakfast.  You couldn't banish the resentment you felt towards your parents.  Nor could you ignore the wish deep down that you had not been robbed of such simple days.  When all you had to worry about was who you were going to play with at recess.  You did it again, thinking thoughts that you shouldn't.  With an attitude worse than you had had before, you slipped on your movie star sunglasses, and started the car.

* * * * * * * * * *

After having been allotted entry through the private gate, you pulled up to the last place on your list, and resisted the sudden urge to ram your head against the steering wheel.  Everything had gone from bad to steadily worse, and your pent up emotions were threatening to overrun your already strained control.  You snatched the newspaper from the passenger's seat and re-read the ad.

Wanted
Large home in need of a full time house keeper, to work Monday through Saturday, Must be able to cook, clean, do laundry, and open to other miscellaneous tasks.  The following prerequisites are required: Must have 1 year work experience, a resume, and good references.  Please call or come in person to…

You tossed the paper in frustration.  It wasn't fair this world you lived in.  There was always a list of requirements that had to be met, and if they weren't?  You did not want to follow that thought to its conclusion.  Your eyes began to burn and you shut them.  After a few minutes of silence and slow deep breaths, you judged yourself ready for one final attempt.  With what felt like the weight of the world on your shoulders, you got out of the car. The color drained from your face as you stood awestruck by the enormity before you.  In all your life you had never seen something so beautiful, or so utterly terrifying.  This house, or more accurately mansion, was immense as well as the lot of land it resided on.  Whoever was the proud owner was not likely to take pity on a poor girl like you.  What was the point, you wondered.  The only thing that pushed you forward in continuing this folly was the fear of being alone on the street.  For you knew that if you returned home tonight without a job your father would make good on his threat.  With this hanging over you, you straightened your shoulders and boldly approached the front door. Taking a deep breath, you pressed the door bell. Within minutes the elegantly carved doors opened, and you came face to face with the most beautiful red-headed boy you had ever laid eyes upon.

"May I help you?" He asked looking you over curiously.

You smiled trying to extinguish your nervousness.  It was definitely apparent that you were far from his stature. You were also sure that your car stuck out like a sore thumb next to the extravagant fountain. There was no hiding the ugly. This did not bode well for first impressions. You tried to ignore what you saw as your obvious downfalls, and removed your sunglasses, revealing hazel eyes.

"Yes, I am here about the ad in the paper."

"Oh, of course, please come in." He smiled.

You followed him inside and your eyes took in the indoor splendors. Everything was situated perfectly and you were sure that it would take hours to truly appreciate it all. You didn't realize that you were gaping until you heard a small chuckle.  This snapped you out of your reverie, and you met the intense green gaze of the owner? You weren't sure of anything beyond the fact that you were completely intimidated by that gaze. You were only able to keep eye contact because it was very important in any potential job opportunity, and you needed this job.

"You have a very beautiful home."

You complimented breaking the awkward silence, and trying to mask your embarrassment over your own naivety.

"Thank you."

He seemed inclined to give you a fair shot at the position or so you hoped.

"Well, shall we begin the interview, Miss…"

"Tenshino." You supplied. "Tenshino, Koe."

You answered holding out your hand. The red head smiled firmly taking your hand into his.

"I am very pleased to make your acquaintance Ms. Tenshino.  I am Minamino Shuichi."

He released your hand.

"Please follow me."

You followed him out of the vestibule into the hall beyond, if you could even call it that. It was, in the very least, ten of your home's halls put together. You briefly wondered why Mr. Minamino was only hiring a single housekeeper. Didn't a home like this require a staff of such to keep up on all the needed maintenance? You didn't have any time to consider this further however, since you had arrived at your destination. Double doors opened to reveal an immense study. It was very easily the square footage of your house put together.  This was definitely what you would deem a place for gentlemen. Shelves lined the majority of the walls with various leather bound volumes and memorabilia. An overstuffed chair and ottoman sat invitingly in a corner. An enormous window gave a splendid view of the drive, fountain, and your car. At this observation, a frightening thought overtook you, and you prayed that Mr. Minamino had not seen you make a spectacle of yourself. Thankfully, you were not afforded anymore time to worry over such possibilities.  As you were motioned to one of the two chairs that sat before the desk, you handed him your resume.

"Thank you."

He smiled at you again and you felt your stomach lurch.  You were suffering from both extreme anxiety and exposure to the fine-looking. You marveled at how those red locks fell perfectly about his face accenting his green eyes. You could almost say that it had a dreamy effect upon you. That is, of course, if you ignored the feeling that you were being dissected in the same instance. You preoccupied yourself by clasping your hands together in your lap to keep yourself from fidgeting. He was reviewing your resume, and the silence seemed to only heighten your feeling of dread. After what seemed to be an eternity, but in actuality was only a minute, he looked up at you.

"This is very impressive. Would you mind answering a few questions?"

Your breath hitched in your throat and you cleared it trying to cover your fright.

"Yes, of course. I would be happy to."

You tried to keep calm, but you could feel the muscles in your back begin to tense. Mr. Minamino leaned back in his chair, and gave you his undivided attention.

"I see that you are attending school. Could you tell me how it is that you are going to fill the requirements of this job, and still attend to your studies?"

Translation: how were you going to work here and go to school at the same time? The question hit you like a ton of bricks, and you felt your face grow hot. You had left one very important detail out of your resume.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" You quickly apologized realizing your mistake. "It isn't a problem I assure you. Have you heard, perchance, of the Hideki program? I was accepted into it. I thought for sure that I had included it."

You felt completely sick to your stomach. How could you have forgotten to add that?

"The Hideki program is very prestigious."

Green eyes regarded you with surprise.  You were very much aware of the stature of the program. It had been exceedingly difficult, but you had somehow managed to score high enough to be accepted. It had been that or quit school entirely.

"I can give you the number so that you can verify my enrollment." You offered.

"Thank you, but that won't be necessary."

You were not sure how to take that. It was so ambiguous that it could go either way.   The urge to tap your fingers, smooth out your clothes, or just do anything was overwhelming in the momentary pause.

"One more question. You've had quite an array of jobs over a short period of time, could you explain that please?" He asked.

"Um, yes, of course."

You hesitated, the last bit of your confidence smashed to pieces. Why did he have to be so thorough? Why did he have to be a smart pretty boy? You had been hoping that maybe he would just overlook that particular red flag and just give you the job. It was an insane hope, but seeing as you were left with nothing else, it had been the only one you had. Yesterday had been excruciating. You were exhausted, and your mind was a complete blank. Panic perched itself on your shoulder and began to utter its sweet nothings. Your discomfort permeated the room and Mr. Minamino raised a hand. You knew that he was going to tell you that you didn't have to answer the question. You stopped him before he could speak.

"I'm sorry; it is not the easiest thing to put into words. You however have been kind enough to allow me to clarify the one thing that is objectionable to an employer. Please let me continue."

You looked beseechingly at him, desperate for some way to rectify this. His expression softened. It was barely perceptible, and you did not notice. The only thing that registered to your stressed person was the nod that he had given to you. Now what? Were you supposed to vomit out the ugly truth and hope for the best? No. Gross dysfunction was not in an employer's best interest. It caused altogether too many problems and did not give birth to reliability. Why had you opened your mouth? You should have just bowed out respectfully, and apologized for taking up his time. You were about to do just that when you felt strangely comforted. You could do this. It was as if someone had spoken to you. That was impossible. There were only two people in the room, yourself and Mr. Minamino. Neither of you had said anything. Despite your confusion, your muddled brain began to formulate an answer.

"Due to extenuating circumstances I had to take sole responsibility for my younger brother at that time. He had become very ill while my mother was away, and my father's work was only able to be so flexible."

You felt odd, but you attributed it to the peculiar look in which you were being regarded. There wasn't anything out of the ordinary in what you had just said.  You didn't think you could have answered more perfectly.  It was the truth, but not so much of it that it hurt your chances of landing this job.

"I see."

His response was just as weird.  Those inquiring eyes were too much and you broke eye contact to look down at your hands briefly. It was a short respite. The sound of him rising from his chair recaptured your attention.

"Ms. Tenshino, I have no more questions, but could you wait for a few moments?"

His hand was outstretched toward a second door. You had thought it to be a closet or something of that sort. You rose from your own seat.

"I'd be happy to."

Very graciously he opened the adjoining door and you stepped through. You were left in a very eloquent somewhat smaller room. You passed up the comforts of the waiting furniture, and instead stood gazing out the window. You had found it impossible to gauge this Shuichi Minamino, and the uncertainty of employment was reasserting itself. You hated the interview process and you did not think well on how you had presented yourself. The only remarkable thing you had done was pull the answer to his last question from nowhere. You wished that you could have held onto the comfort that you had found moments ago, but it was gone. You were left in the lonely silence of failure. You assumed he was checking your references. They would praise your work, but that wasn't enough to over shadow your lack of dependability.  There was no way you could succeed in the face of that. You shut your eyes to stem the onslaught of tears that you felt building.

"Ms. Tenshino."

Startled, your eyes flew open. You had not heard him reenter the room. Quickly, you wiped at your eyes. You tried to pass off the motion as if you were pushing bothersome strands of your hair away, and turned around to face the inevitable. Shuichi Minamino approached you and held out his hand. You took the proffered hand.

"I would like to thank you for coming, and I very much appreciate you honestly answering my questions."

Easily your face fell into a practiced smile.

"If you want it, the job is yours."

Your smile gave way to a look of shock, and you stared. Was this really happening? The hand in your grasp felt real and the smile on his face seemed genuine enough. If you want it the job is yours. The job was yours. Your face broke into a dazzling smile.

"I can start whenever is convenient for you."

You answered eagerly.

"I look forward to working with you."

Why did that comment feel as though it had a double meaning?

* * * * * * * * * *

You walked back to your car. Shuichi, as you have resolved to call him in the privacy of your thoughts, had directed you to the use of a second drive. You had been given the entry pass code to this alternate entrance, and were free to use it as needed. He had also called his personal tailor and made you an appointment. That was where you were headed now. It seemed a little unnecessary but you were not going to argue.  You couldn't believe your luck.  Tomorrow you were starting a job that you never thought would be offered to you. Fortune had finally smiled at you.

* * * * * * * * * *

Shuichi watched as you walked back to your car.  He had not been entirely sure that he made the right decision when he gave you the job. It was almost an impulse of the moment, almost.

"I thought that you had decided against her."

Shuichi looked down at his short spiky haired friend.

"She changed my mind."

"Hn, you are too soft, fox."

"Perhaps..."  He watched you drive away in your car.