Kingdom Walls- Chapter Nine

Comfortable: being in a state of physical or mental comfort; contented and undisturbed; at ease.

Knock Knock Knock

Sesshomaru looked up to see Higurashi-san bundled up in a trench coat. He saw her red cheeks as proof the cold chill of fall. She had returned from her meeting with the latest company to recruit for partnership.

"Shall we go?" she asked staring at his pile of paper in front of him.

Looking at his watch, he saw it was already lunch break. Saving the latest contract draft, he stood up grabbing his coat and walked towards Higurashi-san. It had become a ritual for both of them to go to the small café around the corner from the Tashio. He still remembered the first time, 7 months ago, this ritual began.

Flash Back

"Team! I'm back! And guess what? The Shikon Company agreed with the partnership!" Higurashi-san exclaimed the moment she barged into the office. Sesshomaru saw her look at him and blinked. As she looked around the room to find no one but Sesshomaru she asked, "Where is everyone?"

"Lunch" He replied not looking up from his work.

"Why aren't you having lunch then?" she asked.

"This Sesshomaru does not require food three times a day" he said as a fact.

"Oh…" pausing to look Sesshomaru over she saw his shoulders tense and stoic eyes revealing the slightest hint of exhaustion. "Well, you need a break Sesshomaru." She stated and walked over to him, "Let's go to a café, you can get coffee, probably black, and I can finally have some food!"

End of Flashback

The small café never had a lot of people, so Sesshomaru found it an acceptable place. They sat in their usual spot near the corner of the café facing the window, now revealing a scene of their garden covered with fallen leaves. While he ordered his usual black coffee, she ordered her lunch. Sesshomaru was usually unable to relax with another person in his presence, but he had become used to her. The scent of coffee and her natural jasmine scent filled the air. His tense shoulders began to ease. The slight exhaustion in his eyes Higurashi-san would always notice began to clear up.

"How did the meeting go?" he asked as it became a ritual question between the two.

"It went well of course! This company is an amazing opportunity, Sesshomaru! They take care of their employees, focus on motivation, values, purpose, everything! Anyways, the company is ready to sign the contract whenever you're ready." She responded with a dazed smile. "Ah… so everything finally ends, ne?" He heard her say, knowing that her contract with his business plan soon ended.

Higurashi-san sighed as she rested her chin against her hand and shared, "I'll miss the team, the work, this ritual of ours…" In the beginning, he had intended to just use her for his business plan, but her contributions became a great influence to the company.

"You will continue." Sesshomaru cut in.

"Huh?" which Sesshomaru noticed became Higurashi-san's infamous reply whenever she was pulled out of her daydream.

"You will continue to work for this Sesshomaru." He repeated.

"What will I be doing?" she asked out of curiosity.

"You will work with this Sesshomaru in continuing to maintain the partnerships and train the employees." He said without hesitation, proving that he had thought and planned her future position and her needed presence beforehand.

"Okay" she replied with a smile blossoming upon her face.

Satisfied, he felt his body begin to relax. He silently noted that Higurashi-san's extended contract was also because he felt he worked with more ease around her.

As Sesshomaru continued to sip his black coffee and Higurashi-san digging into her food, a comfortable silence fell upon the two. They continued their lunch break in each other's presence.

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