Title: Songs for the Sordid

Plot: Temari, a 20 year-old frustrated, rock artist was discovered by chance and signed to one of the largest recording companies. As the pressure of her career and personal life begins to weigh in on her, she turns to the least expected person for solace. Naruto Modern AU. Disclaimer: I don't own 'Naruto'. ShikaTema.

General Warning: There will be a lot of cursing.

Genre: Romance, Mystery, Suspense, Angst, Family

Foreword:

It's R Cleaver here!

I've always wanted to write a music fic using Naruto or One Piece characters but I never had a proper storyline. Well, for this one, I managed to think of a very rough framework. I am hoping that by posting chapters as I write along, I would be able to complete a long, overdue story.

I hope you'd like seeing Temari as a musician as much as I do!

Enjoii. :D

Disclaimer:

-I don't know the nitty gritty about the music industry but I have some knowledge about instruments and elementary music theory.

-Shikamaru would be about two years older than Temari. In addition, the Sand Siblings would have a different birth order: Kankuro (23), Temari (20), Gaara (19 i.e. Normal age). The other characters would remain in their "normal age" unless otherwise indicated. For example, Gaara and Naruto would still be of the same age i.e. 19.

Prologue

Plane flights to any desert during the summer are designed to be expensive. The law of supply and demand is invisible force behind it with the premise that no one is crazy enough to go to such an environment during the peak of summer. The same concept applies even to the capital city of the Wind Country, Sand City, in spite of its recent boom in industrialization. People opt to not visit in the Sand City and it is not because of exorbitant airfare prices charged by airline companies. Sadly, most people are not interested enough in the city. Tourism is not its main attraction since there is almost nothing to see except for buildings, sand and mining sites. But for businessmen, it is considered as an undiscovered mecca for mining. It's established and lucrative business in oil, gas, and gold mining allowed the Wind Country to become one of the top prospective destinations of capital investments however, not many people know about this. Logic will argue that these business people would rather visit Sand City in any season except summer.

The current developments about Kazekage Holdings Incorporated (KHI) is just one factor among many attesting to the Wind Country's recent boom. As one of the country's top corporations, KHI have recently developed a large-scale steel refinery as its newest addition to its broad line of businesses. Rumors had many spectators assume that it is their first step to enter automobile manufacturing. In terms of capability, analysts have argued that KHI is the best candidate to venture into a highly, capital intensive industry.

These events, if common sense would be permitted to function, is reason enough for the Sand City to have more incoming flights…though an investor or two visiting on rare occasions won't crash down plane ticket prices. Besides, outrageous plane ticket prices would be the least of their concerns since they're company sponsored.

Just like two representatives from Shinobi Records; an A&R and a lawyer.

Hatake Kakashi together with his colleague and long-time friend, Sarutobi Asuma, were talking about the unbelievable cost of traveling to and from the Sand City. Its poor tourism could be something their government could work on but both men could only come up with silly solutions like making a Sand Spa, life-size, Sand Castle attractions and smart camels. They make up two of the five poor souls aboard the lonely airbus in the middle of June.

The pair had a reason to go in the unlikeliest city to visit and it is related to the aforementioned corporation. Neither men discussed the topic in the airplane since it was highly confidential.

Seeing how strong the sun was through the airplane's window, Asuma took his Raybans before taking out his luggage. He can almost feel imaginary sweat forming all over his body even if the air conditioning of the plane was doing a great job. Kakashi had already taken his knapsack and Asuma's briefcase from the overhead compartments. The grayhead dropped Asuma's case on his lap.

"Come on." Kakashi said while yawning.

Asuma jerked as he stood. He hated the heat and the idea of speeding up their meeting is driving his system at a thousand horsepower. "I'm praying that everything will go well today."

Kakashi had walked down the aisle with the dark, burly man close behind him. They were in their business casual attires already. Asuma's wife had insisted for him to carry at least a change of clothes in case the meeting extends longer but based on his gut feeling, it won't; the deal would be inked at eleven o'clock that morning.

It had to be, Sarutobi Asuma thought.

"I think it will." The lethargic man agreed with the lawyer.

Their chauffeur for the day picked them up from the arrival terminal and immediately drove them straight to their meeting's venue: the Chrysanthemum Hotel. Kakashi was reluctant to reserve a table in such a high-end hotel for a rather, low-key but nonetheless, important meeting; but when Asuma had confirmed her background, he did not cancel the reservation. In fact, he was grateful that a reservation was made in a five star hotel since it would be most appropriate for a woman of her stature. Any less, she might be turned off. After all, the Temari they were meeting was none other than the Sabaku Temari, the second of three children and only daughter of the majority stakeholder and CEO of the Kazakage Holdings Incorporated, Sabaku Rasa.

When they had arrived in the agreed place, the men were impressed by her punctuality. At 10:45, she was already there waiting for them. It was an unspoken rule to arrive for any appointment early to have enough time for you to settle down but for negotiations, the first one who is seated has the psychological advantage. Her teal eyes looked a bit unsettled but she knew what she had to do. The blonde stood up and offered a handshake.

"Mr. Hatake, it's a pleasure to finally meet you in person. I'm Temari." Her voice and grip were both firm. If it was a board meeting, she'd be somebody to watch out for. But it wasn't aboard meeting. What she did was breaking news. As an artist, introducing herself first and approaching label representatives is a big no-no for impressions.

Temari's confidence surprised Kakashi. It was the first time he met an unsigned artist with an ongoing deal negotiation who treated him as an equal and not as a deity.

"The pleasure is mine, Temari. I'm with Attorney Sarutobi Asuma." Kakashi gestured a hand towards him.

"Temari, nice to meet you." This time, it was Asuma who offered his hand first. "Congratulations in advance too."

"Thank you Attorney Sa-"

"Just call me Asuma." The lawyer helped her back to her seat before seating beside Kakashi who was still calling for the waiter.

The gray-haired A&R sat on his chair as soon as somebody had seen him. First he observed her. Her two-year old footages showed that she preferred muted colors over anything else. She wore black often too but not in all her garments and accessories. That time, Temari wore the rock and roll standard, black. Her form-fitting, cotton black dress reached down the middle of her calves. A confirmed natural sandy blonde, she usually ties her hair up in four ponytails - an original idea that became her trademark.

"Thank you." She said to the lawyer.

"Miss Temari, would you like something to eat?"

"I'm fine, thank you." She replied as she straightened her back against the chair. "If you don't mind, I would like to hear what the label finalized."

"Right." Kakashi said, as if he was caught off-guard. "Asuma will explain the contents of the contract."

"Temari, you and Kakashi had been talking for quite a while but you never arrived at a consensus. The label is interested in having you in a maximum contract but you want something more temporary." Asuma took out an envelope in his briefcase. "Before I explain any further, I'll give you time to read it."

"Suits me fine." Temari took the file from Asuma and carefully took out the two page contract. She checked the envelope if she had missed a page. "Just two pages?"

"Yes." The lawyer confirmed.

"And one copy?"

Asuma's eyes widened. The way she scrutinized the contract and the deal was like a business negotiator. It could only be Sabaku Rasa's upbringing or maybe, her nature. The former is more realistic. If it's the latter, then she'll be quite a business partner. "For now."

Her teal eyes scanned on the printed legal document. She gave a few nods in some portions and had frowned in others. One thing was for sure; when Sabaku Temari placed the contract on the table, she had a lot of questions in her head. Just under two minutes, she had finished reading the whole contract. Asuma was bewildered of her speed in absorbing the words in a legal contract, considering that she even reread some sections.

"What's your deal with this 'modified maximum contract'?" Her cocked eyebrows looked at both the Shinobi Label employees.

"Shinobi Records wants to give you more freedom in your music career. You will experience all the benefits of an artist with a maximum contract while retaining your control over your future decisions." Kakashi paused. "It is not exactly written there but you can end your relationship with us as soon as you release your first full-length album."

"Yes, but the contract says you guys have the final say if I can end it. Also, even if I choose to go for the maximum contract, the label can drop me anytime. It doesn't look like a fixed deal to me. If I were to put it in my own words, it looks as if I'm on trial. Sounds scary to me."

Asuma noticed that the reason why the girl was particular about having a shorter contract term but a permanent status in the label was because she knows that there is a risk that her future releases might not be as profitable in the future as it is now. Temari was being safe and he sympathized with her. From his experience im the industry, Asuma was absolutely certain that dedicating yourself in this business meant that you can live and die at anytime of the day. He saw Temari knew that and she's fighting the stigma.

"The label won't drop you without your consent. It's true that we can deny your decision if you wish to terminate your contract but that would only happen if you did not meet the targets. You see, Temari, you're smart and I understand your position but we wrote this contract because we have faith in your potential. You can easily meet the target sales written on this paper if you cooperate. Come on, your songs, on average, have a hundred thousands of listens. Imagine if we could translate that to sales." Asuma smiled at her. "If you want out after a good album, the record label would have no choice but to part ways with you. On the other hand, if you don't meet your quota that's the only time we would drop you from the label. If I would throw in my words, I think this is less binding than a normal maximum contract."

"I see." She nodded but held a few words back from coming out. The blonde looked at the confident lawyer who thought that in the next moment, she would sign the contract. "That is not clearly written here though."

Kakashi laughed and Asuma's mouth hung open. She was too smart and cautious. A perfect example of a negotiator. The A&R thought to himself that if ever Sabaku Temari gets sick of music, she can have a wonderful career as lawyer or a diplomat. "Would you like Asuma to rewrite it?"

"If it's not such a bother." She shrugged her shoulders.

"Will you choose to work with us?" Hatake Kakashi knows that she'll sign it if Asuma reworded the contract but he had to be sure.

"As long as I see the written terms as clearly as how you said it, I'll sign it."

"Then you have yourself a deal, Temari." Attorney Sarutobi chuckled. He took out his laptop computer.

The girl watched him in disbelief.

"I shall revise the contract right in front of you." With what he said, Sabaku Temari smirked.