Darling, don't you know? by MissTeak
Darling, don't you know?
Standard disclaimers apply.
A/N: Hi everyone! It's me again. I know I am supposed to write more chapters for "Love after Loss" and "Wisteria", but due to the lengthy nature of these two stories, I need more time than I can spare to flesh out the upcoming chapters. I'd rather sit down and make the plot better, than attempt to rush out a piece of sub-standard work. You guys deserve so much better, and my muse has decided to come up with this AU one shot, which happens to be very fluffy fairy tale-ish, very Japanese in its context and for those who understand some manga terms, it is basically very shoujo.
Enjoy!
Title: Darling, don't you know?
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"Higurashi-san...ummm...I...ummm...I hope you can be my girlfriend!"
A large, elaborate bouquet of luscious pink roses were shoved almost instantly into her face, and Kagome had to retreat a few steps hastily in order to avoid getting suffocated by the little garden of flowers.
On the other end of the huge bouquet was this colleague of hers named Yano Teruaki, who was working in the finance department. His face was hidden from her since he was bowing ninety degrees, and Kagome was glad he could not see the awkward expression on her face.
She knew this day was coming; she knew it from the very first time he asked her to join him for lunch during the break time.
"Umm...Yano-san, I really appreciate your admiration of me and your courage in telling me this, but..." She trailed off, and the noise from the passing cars behind them drowned the rest of her voice.
The little garden was removed from her face almost instantly, and a panicked expression entered her field of vision.
"Higurashi-san, is it something that you do not like about me? I...I can definitely change! Maybe you can tell me what it is...then I can change to suit you!"
Kagome suppressed an inward sigh. Yano was a good-looking young man, with seriousness towards work which she admired, but to put it simply, she had no feelings for him.
What should she do now? She was really bad at such situations...if only Sango were here. Kagome should really learn a thing or two from Sango on giving men the "no means no" attitude. Back in middle school, there was the guy named Hojo, and Kagome was already very weak at rejecting his advances. Almost ten years later, she was still as bad.
"No...there's really nothing wrong with you, Yano-san." Kagome tried explaining in a gentle, encouraging voice, waving her hands in emphasis. Seeing his downcast face, she lowered her voice apologetically. "It's just that...there's already a person whom I like."
As she watched the nth suitor walk away from her dejectedly, Kagome sighed, her shoulders slumped. Her rejection of Yano made it a whopping sixteen suitors rejected by her since she joined the Nishibara electronics multinational company.
She could not understand why she was so hung up on that man.
When there were so many who were willing to love and care for her.
But she only wanted that man.
The man who most probably does not know of her existence, not to mention her feelings.
'Darling,' she thought. 'Don't you know?'
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"Piang!"
"Stop it, Sango-chan..." Kagome gave her best friend a dead-pan expression in response to the latter's attempt at mimicking the sound of a breaking heart. "This is not helping at all."
Sango lowered her hands from her chest level, smiled playfully and put her arms around Kagome. "I saw Yano this morning, you know."
"And?" Kagome returned her attention to the human resource section of the proposal for the company's annual dinner function.
"Two words." Sango announced dramatically. "Totally devastated."
"Tell me you're kidding." Kagome gave a horrified expression, looking at Sango with hopeful eyes. "Please."
"Unfortunately, I am not. He looks half-dead. Honestly, girl, you'd have to stop butchering hearts here at Nishibara. I know we have many employees, but at the rate you are going...well, let's just say your name would be going down in history."
Kagome dropped her head into her hands, clearly in desperation. "You know I don't mean to hurt them."
"Well, that would only make you even more attractive to them." Sango concluded. "This is no wonder you're always in this sort of dilemma. And what's this?"
Kagome followed Sango's line of vision to a neatly wrapped bento box left on her desk by yet another anonymous suitor. Since three weeks ago, someone had been leaving these elaborately prepared lunch boxes on her desk every morning without fail. She had opened them up to see the nicely-prepared lunch inside, but had never took a bite in fear of sending the wrong signal to whoever placed it there.
"That's a bento. You can have it if you want, Sango-chan."
"No, thank you. I don't want to get killed by another of your dejected suitors!"
"Once again, I don't mean to hurt them. What should I do?"
"You're always asking me the same question. Men are dense creatures. You have to be meaner to them. You know...with a firmer stance." Sango suggested. "You have to stop being the smiley Kagome who is always unable to reject lunch requests!"
"But-"
"If not, maybe you should just find a boyfriend. That would solve everything!"
"You make it sound so easy." Kagome pointed out, looking up from her seat at her friend. "Just because you have such a great boyfriend like Miroku, you think all other girls are equally lucky."
Sango flashed a disbelieving look. "Do I have to remind you that I am not the one with sixteen suitors?"
"Well, yes...but you know I don't like them in the same way..."
"Wait a minute!" A palm was raised, cutting Kagome's sentence short. "Please don't tell me you are still waiting for him."
"I...yes." Kagome admitted. She felt lousy, weak and useless for being unable to conquer her feelings, but at the same time, she did not want to be a quitter. She believed in the possibility of love, and she was not about to give up her feelings. She had never liked someone in this manner before; she did not want to give up without even trying.
"Kagome-chan..." Sango's voice was lowered. "Is it really worth it?"
Sango did not want to hurt her friend, but it had to be done. In both hers and Miroku's opinion, Kagome was disillusioned, hoping for something which was virtually impossible. As good friends of hers, they had tried countless of times to talk her out of her dream.
But of course, they had failed too miserably. Kagome could be very stubborn if she wanted to.
There were so many guys out there who liked Kagome ever since high school, but her friend just appeared to be blind to their affections, claiming all she wanted was the one person she would truly love.
"Yes. It is worth it." Kagome replied softly, her eyes shining with hope and determination.
It was just too bad, Sango thought. That the guy whom she likes so much most probably does not remember she exists.
Sango nodded in mild exasperation. "I'll see you later then, OK?"
"Don't bother, I have to stay behind to finish some work today. Jaken made it clear to us this morning that everyone has to stay for OT."
"That old slave driver again." Sango commented on the human resource department head. "Do you want me to wait for you?"
"You have a dinner date with Miroku right? Go enjoy yourselves! Don't let me affect your quality time with him." Kagome smiled. "I'll take the train home by myself tonight."
Sango smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Kagome-chan. Do give me a call when you reach home, alright?"
"No problem. Now, you better run along back to the sales department before mean old Jaken spots you here!" Kagome laughed, shooing Sango away.
As she watched her friend leave as quickly as those heels could go, Kagome's thoughts went back to the man who haunted her thoughts.
Why of all men in the entire Nishibara company, did she have to like the CEO?
The very eligible, very handsome, very perfect and also very unattainable, Nishibara Sesshoumaru.
She liked him ever since the day he interviewed her during her job application. She liked him so much; she just felt as if she could have no other.
But he was the CEO, high up on the pedestal, while she was merely an ordinary OL in the human resource department. Sure, she worked hard, but she was nonetheless not an indispensible employee. There was no way she could have left much of an impact on him.
He reminded her of sashimi, the part cut from the blue fin tuna's belly. The prized cut...so good but just so rare.
It most probably sounds brainless and bimbotic, but there were really fireworks and sparks ricocheting off her mind when she laid eyes on him. Her heart constricted slightly painfully with the sudden attraction to him, her breathing quickened and her speech ability was almost impaired.
The overwhelming feeling of raw desire.
She felt hot all over, and her mouth went dry when he gave her a formal smile.
But that was only the physical attraction part.
Then the love came in. It was nothing that serious, really, but to her, it was a lethal combination of love when his little act of kindness met the physical attraction.
She remembered she was rushing to take the Tower 1 elevator up to the eleventh level where her department office was. But just as she was reaching the already rather packed elevator, someone called out to her from behind.
"Excuse me, Miss."
It was the same voice she had heard on the first day she came for the interview. She could not believe he was calling out to her. Suddenly, she felt regret at all the tiny little details of her appearance.
Why didn't she line her eyes with the neko-me fashion to look sexier? Why didn't she use a more pinkish, more girly blusher to look sweet? And worst of all, her lips. She had eaten all the gloss off it when she had breakfast...and had not bothered to reapply.
Cursing herself, Kagome turned to meet the man of her dreams. Nishibara Sesshoumaru. He looked even more charming and handsome close up. "Yes?"
"You've dropped your handkerchief." He extended the familiar cream yellow handkerchief with floral print to her.
"Ahh, thank you very much, Nishibara-san..." She hastily reached out with both hands to take the handkerchief from him, and in doing so, her fingers accidentally danced over his, creating the slightest contact. "I...I hope you have a nice day ahead."
Her cheeks felt warm, and she could only lower her head in a grateful bow after giving him a warm smile. His name sounded so nice on her lips, and it left a sweet lingering taste as if it was made of honey. She wished to talk to him more, but it would have been so weird, and that was the last thing she wanted him to feel about her.
He returned her bow politely, and strode towards to other elevator of Tower 2, where the CEO office was at the fiftieth level.
For that entire day, she seemed to be floating. Her footsteps were light, her laughter hearty, and even her mean old superior Jaken could not irritate her.
She had not interacted with him since then.
That was the one and only incident, and albeit it being a very big incident to her, it was most probably nothing to him. And she knew very well, there were most probably at least a thousand other female employees hankering for his attention like she was.
She lost count of the number of times she tried to linger around at the lift lobby area, hoping to catch an occasional glimpse of him. She always saw his back; she always saw him walking away from her.
If only he would walk to her. This thought always made her so forlorn.
Then there was Valentine's Day three weeks ago, and she had painstakingly made dark chocolate truffles with little pink heart candies all over, buying an expensive-looking box and leaving him a mini card with a self-written note to him.
All she had written was "I wish you love." And had signed off with her name.
She had wanted to write more, but she did not know what to write.
She had also placed the same cream yellow handkerchief he picked up in the gift. That handkerchief had been one of her favorites, but she thought it'd be nice that they owned something in common.
She just hoped he'd remember it and like it.
Of course, in order to conceal her love for him, Kagome had made chocolates for all the males, even Jaken, in the human resource department too. Such effort was time-consuming and draining, but it was worth it.
Summoning her courage, Kagome had gone up to level fifty of Tower 2, only to have disappointment engulf her like a raging tsunami.
Her eyes had widened at the mountain of Valentine's Day gifts piled up on the table at the side of the office's reception area. Many of those which looked a million times fancier and more elaborate in comparison to hers.
And as if disappointment was insufficient, the pretty receptionist, who was sour-faced from all the attention Sesshoumaru was getting, said while casting a disdainful glance at Kagome's gift, "Are you here to give Sesshoumaru-sama chocolates as well? If so, just find a space on the table and leave it there."
Saddened and highly embarrassed, Kagome had hastily dumped her gift on the impressive pile, making her escape from the awkward situation. She should not have even gone to the extent of making chocolates for all the other guys too...there was no need to conceal; liking Sesshoumaru was an open secret for just about every other girl.
Kagome knew she was pretty, but then again, there were many other prettier girls in Nishibara electronics. She was definitely not the brightest bulb in the box.
Inwardly sighing, she returned her attention to the computer screen and continued typing.
She had to get her mind off Sesshoumaru somehow, or she would go insane.
All she really wanted was for him to cast her a glance. Was that too much to ask for?
As she typed, she thought. 'Darling...don't you know?'
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Having finally met Jaken's harsh expectations, Kagome was ready to go home for the day. Stepping out of the main doors of Nishibara electronics, she grumbled at the sight of the heavily pouring rain. It was then when she remembered, her umbrella was left at home.
"Now, even you're picking on me." She said to the heavens, casting a glance up at the darkened sky as the strong winds whipped her hair back and sending an involuntary shiver through her body. It felt cold, with the raindrops hitting her randomly every time the wind blew.
It would do her no good to stand there waiting for the seemingly interminable rain to cease, since she was still getting drenched thanks to the gusts of cold wind. There was no one to ask for a ride home, as almost all of her colleagues have already left while Jaken insisted on making her stay behind. Instead of waiting for goodness knows how long, she might as well make a run for the nearby bus stop.
'Alright, here goes nothi-' She thought to herself, preparing to take the first step out into the heavy downpour when she suddenly felt as if someone replaced her blood with warm honey.
"Can I give you a ride?"
She gasped soundlessly, and for a while, all she was conscious of was the heavy pouring of the rain around her.
"Higurashi-san?"
He...he knew her name?
Snapping out of her reverie, she turned. "Nishibara-san..."
Illuminated by the lights at the porch, creating a stark contrast to the darkness of their surroundings, Sesshoumaru stood tall and ethereal-looking, exuding a powerful presence which took Kagome's breath away.
"It is cold." Sesshoumaru commented. "Here, dry yourself with this."
In his hand, was the very same cream yellow handkerchief she gave him for Valentine's Day.
"This handkerchief..."
"It is the very same one, Higurashi-san."
She smiled politely, feeling warm tingles in her fingers as she took the handkerchief. It was almost too romantic for her to bear. "I didn't think you'd remember it, Nishibara-san."
"There was no reason not to remember it." He replied, giving her a small smile which served to accentuate his perfection, however illogical that may sound.
She decided to make some small talk. "Do you always work till so late?"
"Not really. It was just for today."
"I see. It is the same for me; we hardly stay back till this hour in the office."
"I know. I made Jaken hold you back...there's something I need to ask you." He said casually, as if commenting on the weather.
Before she could respond to his words, he asked, "Have you had dinner, Higurashi-san?"
She wished he would address her by Kagome. If 'Higurashi-san' sounded so sexy coming from him, she could not imagine how she would react should he call her 'Kagome'.
"I've not had dinner yet," She replied dutifully, before adding with a small laugh. "In fact, I am starving right now."
"Hm. You wouldn't be so hungry right now, if...if you had eaten the bento I prepared for you."
Surprise was an understatement. At that moment, Kagome felt her head spinning, and the fluttery sensations of her blooming love blossomed in her frantically beating heart, making her smile involuntarily like a little girl who was presented with an ice cream cone.
He was the secret admirer who left a bento lunch box on her desk every morning?
She cast a sideward glance at his sharp profile. His expression was unreadable, but she could catch a hint of nervousness in those bright, intelligent eyes.
"Nishibara-san..."
He liked her too? That thought was unfathomable, but it...it was true.
The message was clear now, and she did not have to ask too much more. It would not be sweet any more if she were to expose the little open secret they now shared in that tender moment, and she was pretty sure it was not very Sesshoumaru-like to go on in dramatic declarations of love.
"Why me?" She asked with a lingering smile, her voice soft and joyous.
"An unexplainable attraction. I just found myself very drawn to your smile. It is very beautiful indeed," He replied, his baritone voice smooth and honest in his declaration of liking her. "Can you give me the chance to know you better?"
She almost laughed out loud at the situation. If only he knew what sort of effect he had on her sanity.
Nodding in agreement to his request, Kagome smiled the smile that stole his heart. "You can start by calling me Kagome."
"And you can address me by Sesshoumaru." He turned to look at her, seeing her beautiful eyes shine with an unspoken happiness. "If it is possible, can I have the pleasure of inviting you to the company's annual dinner as my dance partner?"
She smiled again, and nodded happily when the image of Sesshoumaru became blurry in her eyes.
As the first tear of joy fell, she thought to herself.
'Darling, so you do know after all.'
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The End.
A/N: How did you guys like that? This is my very first attempt at shoujo-style fluff, and I am pretty happy with how it is. Please review and tell me what you think!