Disclaimer: It's all to Kishimoto_san's
Chapter 3
Offer
Shikamaru reluctantly pushed the door knob open and entered the office. Asuma, still seated in the unsound folding chair from before, sat across from Ken and Hiro who were seated on the couch that was pushed against the wall. Ken and Hiro both stood as Shikamaru entered.
"Boss we..." Hiro began.
Shikamaru waved him off. "Sit down. We'll get this all figured out." His glance was casual, his tone laced with the relaxed attitude that typified him. Pulling the leather office chair from behind the desk, Shikamaru sank down and sighed.
"All right, now that everyone is here," Asuma gestured toward the three other men, because Gorou is no longer with us, there's obviously going to be a shift in command." He glanced at Shikamaru.
Leaned back in the couch, Ken nodded slightly.
"Business is will continue, with Shikamaru as head." The older man stated, his tone daring anyone to contradict him."
A thick silence settled in the room as Asuma finished his words. Shikamaru's mind drifted as he tapped the desk with his finger in time with the methodic tick of the clock on the opposite wall. He was still a slightly dazed. He tried his best to avoid unnecessary things, but this was something even he could not escape.
"What happened last night?" The shadow wielder's voice manner was calm and held no intimation of reproof.
Ken raked a calloused hand through his raven hair. "Ayumi came, and after a few minutes he left with her."
"Where to?" Shikamaru questioned once more.
"The second floor."
Shikamaru glanced at the man quizzically.
"We were in the Satin last night." Said Hiro, noticing Shikamaru's puzzled face.
Shikamaru nodded in acknowledgement. Gorou had loaned Satin's owner a substantial amount of money when it appeared as though the establishment might go belly up. Since then, the owner had allowed Gorou to gallivant through the club as he pleased; even permitting Gorou access to the private rooms on the club's second floor.
"Go on."
"We waited about two and a half hours before Ken said we should go check up on Gorou."
"Is there any particular reason you waited so long?" Shikamaru asked, a new found pencil now twirling in his fingers.
"We didn't want to disturb him. With the looks he was giving Ayumi, it looked like he wasgoing to be busy with her for awhile." Hiro replied.
"Then what happened?" Shikamaru solicited more answers. Apparently, there was more to Ayumi than met the eye.
"Well, we went upstairs and knocked on the door. I just had this bad feeling, but we entered anyway." Hiro went on. "And there he was, as stiff as a board lying in a pool of blood on the floor."
"And Ayumi was gone." What subtle intonation Shikamaru held in his voice fell flat, resulting in a statement rather than a question.
Ken nodded while Hiro crossed his arms decisively.
Tilting his chair back, Shikamaru, deep in thought, unconsciously cupped a palm over his mouth. Asuma noticed Shikamaru's position and motioned for Hiro and Ken.
"You two are dismissed for now; lie low for the time being. Once it gets around that Gorou's dead, everyone will try to move in on our turf. You know someone will try to start something to take us down. They're probably under the impression that we'll be easy to take over right now, but that's definitely not the case." Asuma waved them out.
The two men nodded before exiting the room.
He turned his attention back to Shikamaru once Hiro and Ken were gone. Asuma wondered what possibilities were rocketing through the younger man's mind. Walking toward the filing cabinet, he retrieved a large brown envelope, the contents outlining the packages exterior.
"Our Ayumi is quite the actress." Asuma said, dropping the envelope on the table in front of Shikamaru. "She's not just a pretty face. She's a pretty face that's been working undercover."
Shikamaru opened the envelope, dumping its contents out on table. Thumbing through the information, a dark, grainy picture slipped out from between the papers. Almost instantly, a flash of gold caught his eye. He brought the dim photo closer, examining the woman in dark colored clothing that appeared to be exiting a building. Even in the dark, the honeyed locks that tumbled over her shoulders were inescapable.
"That's our girl." Asuma pointed to the woman.
A knowing smile curved up Shikamaru's lips.
"Find this woman for me. I've got business with her." Shikamaru said in an unusually clipped tone.
Asuma raised an eyebrow. "What's the rush?"
The smile on Shikamaru's face coalesced into something between a grin and a smirk.
"Just can't wait to see you again, pretty woman." Shikamaru murmured as he fingered the picture.
Pen in hand, Temari busily worked through the papers that had piled up in the office over the past few weeks. Her job was all fun and games until it came to the seemingly unending forms and files that had to be filled out after each mission she undertook. Setting her pen on the table, she sighed quietly.
Looking up from her paperwork, she saw Kankurou enter the room.
"Look, it's my favorite assassin." He teased. "Just the person I wanted to see." Kankurou placed a conspicuously large manila folder in front of her. Confidential was stamped out ominously in bloody red against the beige folder.
Temari rolled her eyes. "If that's more paperwork, I promise you Kankurou I'll shove it so far down your throat it'll end up in your ass." Teal orbs flashed warningly at him.
Kankurou chuckled darkly. "And people wonder why you're an assassin..." Leaning against the edge of the desk, he pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "It's more information on the Gorou group." His tone was serious. "I wish everyone had their work ethic." He said, sarcasm dripping from his voice.
"They're back at it without Gorou?"
Kankurou nodded. "They've got a new leader."
"Already?" Temari was surprised. Even in the highly efficient world of organized crime, new bosses weren't chosen so quickly. It had only been a little over a week since she'd killed Gorou.
"It seems Gorou already had a successor he'd picked out." Kankurou nudged the folder. "All the information you need is in there. Have fun on your new job."
"What about Gaara?"
"We already spoke about it. He wants you to take it over. You know how long we've been trying to nail this group." Kankurou's frustrated sigh filled the room. "I thought we'd closed this case for good but apparently not."
Tucking a stray lock behind her ear, Temari opened the folder. She knew this was one of their more important cases. Gorou had connections to almost everyone in underworld.
"You know that bastard was illegally selling weapons too?" Kankurou's brow furrowed as he left the large desk and sank into a leather couch. "I'm telling you Temari, there was more to this guy than we knew initially. I called in a few favors from Lee down in the police archives department and did some more research on everything for you."
"Thanks Kankurou." She smiled softly. "What have you heard on the new boss?" She asked while straightening papers on the desk.
"Not too much. He's a young guy, but he's being taken pretty seriously. Before his "promotion," he was second in command. Apparently, Gorou picked him off the street when he was teenager."
"Picked him off the street? Why would he single out him specifically?" Temari asked, browsing through the folder's contents.
"Don't get me wrong; Gorou wasn't diversifying into philanthropy." Kankurou snorted. "When Gorou was still just a small time dealer, he heard about Shikamaru. The guy's power is so rare, I'd never even heard of it."
"What is it?"
"He's a shadow manipulator."
"How appropriate." Temari murmured, sarcasm marring her tone.
"He could kill someone without even touching them. He's the perfect weapon." Kankurou mused aloud.
"This will definitely be interesting." Teal eyes flickered with careful excitement as she shut the folder. "I'll look at this more closely at home."
Kankurou eyed his older sister's motivated expression. "Be careful on this one Temari. This guy is dangerous."
The right corner of Temari's full lips turned down slightly. "They're all dangerous." She replied cynically.
His reply was a look of not so subtle look of contempt.
"Don't worry Kankurou." She replied with casual dismissal, her smooth contralto emitting all confidence. "I've yet to meet a bastard I couldn't take down."
"I know; I'm just reminding you. These guys play for keeps." He reminded her once more.
Temari had taken care of him and Gaara in the absence of their parents. He trusted his sister's abilities, but never once forgot how dangerous of a job she worked. Temari, always fierce, never took crap from anyone. Ever. But it was only natural for him to be concerned at times. Her ability to work under pressure assisted her exponentially, but even one mistake could be devastating.
"Have you got a visual on him?" Temari asked, curiosity leaking and mingling with coolness of her voice.
Kankurou shook his head. "Not yet. Shikamaru has kept himself pretty well hidden; the silent but deadly type apparently."
"We'll see about that."
"I'll get a picture for you A.S.A.P."
"Thanks."
"By the way, is Gaara in?" Kankurou jerked his large thumb in the direction his younger brother's office.
"He's been out for awhile. Last time I saw him was around one-ish this afternoon, and now it's," Temari's eyes flickered to her wristwatch, "six forty five."
"I guess he won't be back for the rest of the day then..." Kankurou sighed.
Straightening the last of the papers, Temari scooted out of the chair and stretched. "When you talk to Gaara, tell him we need better chairs in here." Temari said, massaging her sore back.
"Will do." Kankurou smirked. "It's coming out of your paycheck anyway."
Temari stuck her tongue at him. "I'm heading off for the day."
"Sure, see you tomorrow then." He waved. "Don't talk to strange men on the way home, all right?" He teased as she prepared to leave.
The familiar smirk she reserved specially for Kankurou instinctively set on her lips.
Menacingly brandishing the folder she'd dutifully placed under her arm, she smacked Kankurou with a little extra force on her way out.
"Bye to you too." Was Kankurou's defensive response.
Temari brushed straying tendrils out of her eyes as the wind playfully swept the blonde locks in every direction except for where she wished them to be. Her pace was unhurried as she made her way home under the evening sky. She stopped at an intersection, patiently waiting at the pedestrian crossing until the glowing green figure bid her safe passage across the busy Suna street. Her hand inconspicuously rested on the bag that was casually slung over her shoulder as it harmlessly rested at her hip. The folder Kankurou had given her was now safely stowed away in the courier bag. Holding the bag closely, she quietly wished the sign would quickly change. Pedestrian crossings like this were one of her least favorite things to deal with.
The man next to her smelled strongly of cigarettes, somewhere behind her, a child continued to wail desperately despite his mother's attempts to placate him, and in front of her, a business man's intense cologne menacingly wafted her way, pricking her eyes and veiling her lungs. In some way or form, everyone encroached on her personal space. The hairs on her neck stood as she continued waiting. Though she was surrounded by people, she could have sworn she felt someone's eyes watching her.
Diverting her attention, Temari watched the darkening canopy above. The last signs of the fleeting cobalt that had previously engulfed the sky had faded, giving way to smoky mauves set against burnt oranges. Finally, the green man appeared and Temari, jostling against business men and young mothers, made her way across the street.
Feathery clouds rolled along the smoldering pink undertones that bled into sky as Temari continued toward her apartment. Turning a corner, she quickened her pace. Her hand remained dutifully on the bag, guarding its contents. The mob that enveloped her was now gone, but her awareness of the presence at the crosswalk had not decreased. She walked slowly, listening to all footsteps other than her own.
Guiding her focus, Temari channeled out any unnecessary distractions. She saw her apartment off in the distance, but deliberately walked passed it. Soon enough, she heard the brusque footsteps that echoed her own. Someone was definitely following her.
Her fingers firmly clutched her bag's shoulder strap as she continued on, leading her pursuer farther than she'd planned to go. Dusk had withered away; robbing the sky of the sun's remaining rays while replacing clouds with starry companions that flickered against their dim backdrop.
Another handful of minutes passed as she kept on. Her footsteps, sure and steady, echoed softly in the darkened streets until she had confidently lured the person far away enough from the general residential and business areas in the city. Temari wasn't sure if she would need to use force with her pursuer, but at least their confrontation would be out of spectators. The last thing she needed were nosy people to compromise the situation.
From the looks of things, she had now entered downtown Suna. The scenery had changed from offices to the orderly disarray of desolate alleys only to be kept company by the graffiti that decorated their walls.
Temari gradually began slowing her steps until she straddled the entrance of an alleyway. She knew had no weapons on her, but she'd make do somehow. With her back to him, she paused. Her tracker hesitated slightly before Temari heard the muffled sound of his steps as he approached her.
She looked down, studying his movements from his shadow. His arm stretched out to touch her, but Temari reacted before he knew what had happened.
Reaching behind her, she forcefully took hold of his arm and spun the man in front of her. She quickly swept her leg under his, hoping to force him to his knees. Her pursuer caught her action and tangled his legs in hers, sending the pair to the ground.
"I just want to talk to you Ayumi!" The authoritative voice was set as he attempted untangling himself from her.
"What do you want from me?" Her voice was low and guarded at the mention of her alias.
"Let me go first."
Hastily, she released him, as she carefully studied his face. Beneath the filmy moonlight, she noticed the thick facial hair outlined his face. He was older but not by too much. His dark eyes, tired yet content, matched the man's spiky dark hair.
"My name is Asuma. I work for Gorou."
"Gorou..." She repeated the name softly.
"Well, I worked for Gorou."
"What do you want?"
"Our new boss, Shikamaru, has taken in interest in you, and he wants to meet with you."
Temari unconsciously clutched the bag closer. This was too good to be true. This couldn't true.
"He asked you to track me down?"
Asuma shrugged. "Something like that. Gorou was the only one in constant contact with you, and now he's dead."
Temari quickly weighed her options.
"Why does he want to see me?"
"He'll tell you all of his reasons when you see him."
"When?"
"Two days from now at the Satin nightclub."
"How should I approach him?"
"Don't worry. We'll find you when you show up." Asuma replied, dusting himself off. He sent her a farewell glance before he began walking away.
She watched his burly figure disappear into the night; all while marveling at the sheer irony of situation. Kankurou's teasing comment about not meeting with strange men somehow strayed back to her. She certainly had a story for him.
