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So I was thinking... I'm going to call it to a vote.
WHO DO YOU WANT THE MYSTERY MAN TO BE?
Please remember to vote, if you can after you finish this chapter. :)
(And try not to kill me. :D)
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My Boss The Genius
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PART FIVE
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The phone rang, and Temari sighed inwardly. It would have been just another day at the office except for the fact that people had been calling incessantly in the last few days. She wasn't exactly sure why Shikamaru was getting such a heavy influx of phone calls, but that was because she was just his secretary and didn't have high enough clearance to know. It wasn't too hard to guess, though. The news channels had been rampant with coverage about a new gang that popped up, called Red Cloud or something. Federal agents had been in and out constantly, looking to speak with her genius boss. They all left looking like they had bitten into something sour.
Yeah. Shikamaru had that effect on people.
"Good afternoon, this is Shikamaru Nara's office, may I help you?"
"Hi Temari!" Ino's voice greeted cheerily over the phone. Temari blinked, wondering for a moment why Ino was calling Shikamaru's work phone. Didn't she have his cell number? "Shikamaru shut off his cellphone, so I had to call his work line. Is he in?" she asked, answering Temari's question for her. Temari floundered for his schedule, thumbing through it.
"Uhh, yeah he is but—"
"Great!"
The doors burst open and Ino sauntered in, looking like the cat who got the cream. She headed straight for Shikamaru's office, rather unconcerned that she was about to interrupt a meeting Shikamaru had with the FBI. Panicked, but realizing too late what she was planning to do, Temari rushed to Ino just as she flung the doors open, her protest fading into Ino's exuberant yell. (She was so fired.)
"Sasuke-kun~!" she sing-songed, her voice suddenly sugary-sweet. Ino pranced into the room, fluttering her eyelashes at a dark-haired figure standing by Shikamaru's desk. "Oh Sasuke-kun, I missed you so much! How was your trip to Japan? Did you bring me back anything?" It was so surreal, Temari thought, watching Ino latch onto the arm of the stoic federal agent. He seemed to twitch a bit when she touched him, but was otherwise unfazed. As for Shikamaru, the lawyer rolled his eyes from behind his desk, surprisingly unconcerned with Ino's affection for this incredibly handsome man she apparently knew.
"Hey, what about me?" the man beside Sasuke asked, his hair a sunny blonde and curious thin lines across his cheeks. Ino smirked at him.
"I'm sure you already got an enthusiastic enough welcome from Hinata-chan," she teased, surprising Temari a bit. (This was her client's fiancé?) He sputtered in embarrassment, his face turning red and highlighting the lines on his cheeks (scars, Temari guessed).
"We… we didn't do anything! Hinata-chan wouldn't—she'd never—not before the wedding day—" he protested, waving his hands. It contrasted the stereotype of a professional, stoic FBI agent that he was supposed to be, which made Temari wonder if perhaps he was new to the whole profession. Still, despite his unprofessionalism, his flustering was amusing and a little bit endearing.
"I didn't say anything about the dirty deed, Na-ru-to," Ino teased, giggling. His mouth clipped closed, and he looked away, trying to hide the bright red flitting over his cheeks and the bridge of his nose. It made Ino giggle again as she cuddled Sasuke's arm. "Now then, where were we Sasuke-kun?" she cooed. The tall, dark, and handsome FBI agent looked coolly at her, his expression deadpan.
"Get off," he told her bluntly, and she pouted, cuddling him more like she was trying to piss him off. It made Temari wonder if Ino was as crazy as she was a nagger, trying to provoke a lethal federal agent who probably hid more weapons in his suit than Temari had collectible fans.
"Aw, Sasuke-kun! Stop acting so cold," Ino whined. "Or else I won't give you what you really want." She giggled and winked, sliding her hand down his chest. Disgusted, he plucked it off and tossed it away, untangling his arm from her two in the process. Shikamaru looked rather nonchalantly at the scene, despite the fact that it was supposedly the love of his life he was watching come on to another man.
"Sakura," Sasuke snarled out between clenched teeth, like a reminder. Possibly a girl he was dating? Apparently Ino seemed to know her, because she flipped her long blonde ponytail over her shoulder, smiling sultrily.
"I don't think Forehead Girl would mind," Ino said, reaching for him. He caught her advancing hand in his, moving faster than Temari could see. Obviously this guy was FBI to a T. He was stoic, didn't talk much, and was a total jackass. Temari wondered how he ever managed to get a girlfriend. Actually, she wondered who could actually put up with this guy past a one night stand, let alone one of Ino's peppy friends.
"Go. Away," he hissed, eyes narrowing warningly. Ino pouted, jerking her wrist out of his tight grasp. She held it delicately to her chest, almost cradling it. Temari was a bit surprised to see the red mark that Sasuke left. For it to have left an indentation meant that he had squeezed her wrist rather tightly, and it probably hurt. Shikamaru saw it as well, and his eyes narrowed.
"Fine," she relented, fake-sniffling and pretending to brush away a tear. "I know when I'm not wanted." Not feeling any pain (or just not showing it), she turned to Shikamaru, a bright grin overtaking her face as she pranced towards him. "Shika-kun!" He rolled his eyes and grunted when Ino plopped onto his lap, her legs hanging off the arm of his chair. She wound her arms around him, nuzzling her nose into his neck and blinking her pretty blue eyes up at him. "Shika-kun, Sasuke-kun was mean to me," she pouted, pretending to fake sniffle again.
"Tell me something new," he griped in annoyance, but Temari saw his left arm thrown loosely around her waist. One of Ino's hands came down to play with his shirt collar and Shikamaru's fingers gently massaged her new pseudo-bracelet. "Can I get back to work now?" he asked her, and she smiled brightly and nodded, burrowing further into him like she wasn't going to move. Shikamaru certainly acted like he didn't want her to move, his arm tightening around her waist.
Wait, what? Shikamaru was going to let her sit in on his private, confidential meeting? Were the FBI agents going to allow this too? They shouldn't, Ino was a civilian! She had less clearance than Temari did to listen in on such vital information. But there she sat anyways, all cozy and comfortable atop Shikamaru's lap, looking very much the cat that got the cream.
"That reminds me," Sasuke spoke, thumbing through the file spread out over Shikamaru's desk. He picked one up, holding it for Ino's perusal. "Yamanaka. Profile."
"Oh Sasuke-kun, your poeticism with words is so amazing," she sighed, pretending to swoon. He glared at her, causing her to roll her eyes before looking closely and seriously at the page. She hummed, resting her temple on Shikamaru's collar bone, frowning at what she saw… or didn't see. "This isn't going to be easy. You're not giving me a lot to go on, Sasuke," she told him, seeming unwilling to do the psychoanalysis. But Temari saw Shikamaru sweep his hand up her back, his head lowering ever-so-slightly to whisper in her ear. Apparently, what he was offering to her was something not to be missed, because her eyes brightened and she smiled giddily. "You do know this is going to cost you again," she informed the FBI agents.
Sasuke tensed. "Yes, we know that." Ino shrugged.
"Alright then. Give me a few days," she said, snatching the file from his hand and beginning to thumb through it in earnest. Shikamaru smirked a bit at her enthusiasm, his hand continuing up to tangle at the nape of her neck, strands of pale blonde entwined between his fingers. It was only after that did Shikamaru notice Temari standing in the doorway. His eyes narrowed.
Crap.
"Temari, can you go get us some coffee?" he asked, and she knew it was a way for him to send her away from the conversation. Her heart throbbed a bit, wondering why he didn't think her trustworthy enough to keep this confidential information to herself. She knew the delicacy of the situation; she handled this kind of top-secret information on a regular basis!
Ino's eyes lit up. "Oh, oh, oh!" she exclaimed, her hand shooting up. "Let me come! I'm craving a decaf cinnamon dolce double-blended Caffe Americano drizzled with caramel."
She was promptly met with four pairs of blank stares. "What?" she asked indignantly.
Shikamaru glared at her. "Again with the decaf? What is it with you and decaf?" he asked, and she glared back at him.
"Does that even taste good?" Naruto asked, looking thoroughly confused. Ino (faster than Temari could see) picked up the paperweight in front of her and chucked it at the blonde male. It hit the bulls-eye. (And what the bulls-eye is, you will have to use your imagination for.)
"Of course it's good!" she shrieked, baring her pearly whites like a vampire. "Why would you ask such a stupid question? God! Men!" Scowling, she crossed her arms and leaned into Shikamaru, who sighed and patted her knee, placating her. She shooed his placating hand away with hers, obviously not looking to calm down. Her childishness made him roll his eyes, but he took his hand away from her knee, redirecting it to cushion his cheek instead. Temari could just see the thought playing across his face, "What a troublesome woman."
"Temari!" Ino shouted, making the older woman jump a bit from the strength of her voice. The florist got off of Shikamaru's lap, her hands on her hips as she stalked towards the other female in the room. "Let's go get some coffee together," she said nonchalantly, twining arms with Temari. "We can leave the chauvinists to their boring meeting and not get them any coffee because we are empowered, independent women!"
Shikamaru rolled his eyes, but waved them away. Ino stuck her tongue out at him, unable to leave without the last word (or gesture) and slamming the door on her way out. Once the door was closed, Ino turned to her with a sunny smile. "So now that we've ditched them," she said, grinning so impishly that Temari started to have a bad feeling about this, "let's get my decaf cinnamon dolce double-blended Caffe Americano drizzled with caramel and get on with the girl talk!"
Yeah, Temari had a very bad feeling about this.
Ino yanked on her arm, dragging her down to the elevator despite the secretary's protests. The coffee shop was right across the street (Cocoa Bean Café, as it was aptly named) and Ino bee-lined towards it, her eyes glinting with something that Temari equated to being sinister… for her anyways.
The bell jingled invitingly as Ino pushed it open, taking a deep whiff of the smell of cocoa beans that permeated the air. She sighed in bliss, ambling over to the counter with Temari following behind her, a little more cautious. The barista and owner of the café, a middle-aged woman, smiled kindly at her. "Hello Ino, I haven't seen you here in awhile," she said. The blonde shrugged.
"I have a big client, so I'll be super busy the next few months," she said proudly, flipping her long ponytail over her shoulder. The barista laughed, moving towards the cash as she punched in a few numbers.
"But you found time for Shikamaru, yeah? How is he anyways?" she asked, before looking up from the register. "And what are you craving today?" Ino grinned at her light, teasing tone.
"Ready for this?" Ino took a deep breath. "I want a decaf, cinnamon dolce, double-blended Caffe Americano drizzled with caramel." The barista's eyes widened before she laughed, shaking her head and punching in the order. Ino looked over at Temari, her eyes sparkling in laughter. "What do you want Temari? My treat," she offered. Temari shifted, digging into her purse.
"That's not necessary," Temari protested finding some crumpled up bills. "I'll just have a large black coffee," she told the barista. Temari had a feeling she was going to need all that coffee. Maybe it was because she knew she was probably going to be pulling an all-nighter, or maybe it was to help her through the impending "girl talk". She had never "girl talked" with anyone before and had a feeling that Ino lived and breathed it, making her feel a bit inferior.
Ino shrugged as Temari paid her share, digging into her chic purse for her wallet, which also happened to be very chic. Temari looked down at her worn, plain brown wallet and grimaced a bit. She was dressed rather simply, in a white blouse and a black skirt, because she had never bothered to care about her clothes. But she looked at Ino then, who wore a pretty, feminine white business suit and a pastel purple blouse. The glow of the lights from the ceiling accentuated her soft features, making her the damsel-in-distress of every man's fantasy. She was not… manly… like Temari looked in her rather blockish clothes.
Temari pulled at her black skirt, hoping that maybe that little gesture would somehow make her look less like a rectangle and more like a curve. She knew it was probably useless, wincing mentally and the sneaks Ino got from the few men in the store. One of them was staring unabashedly at her, his head tilting to the side and a calculating look in his eyes. Temari hoped he wasn't thinking about hitting on the florist; or then again, if Ino took to it positively…
She squashed that thought quickly.
"One large black coffee," the barista said cheerily as she placed the steaming cup on the counter. Temari nodded thankfully at her, feeling the heat seep into her fingers as she picked it up. The barista turned around to begin Ino's order, and the florist turned to Temari with a grin.
"So you're from Australia?" she asked, and Temari nodded. "What brings you to New York, New York?" Her words were laced with mirth, finding amusement in the repetition. Temari shrugged.
"My brothers and I—" Temari started, her eyes roving over Ino's shoulder, to the man who was advancing towards them, that calculating gleam still in his eyes. Her words died in her throat when she saw him reach into his coat, pulling out a gun capped with a silencer.
Screams arose from around her, and Temari could hear them but for some reason they were not clear as she watched, horrified, when he squeezed the trigger. Ino turned as she heard the screams, and Temari could not see her face when the bullet pierced her shoulder, but could guess what it looked like when drops of her blood splattered onto Temari's cheek. She fell backwards, almost gracefully, into Temari and her weight brought the older woman to her knees.
Temari looked up at the shooter, at his sadistically grinning face, and saw him aim the gun again. Frantically, finding her senses, she pulled Ino backwards just as the bullet fired, grazing Ino's side. An agonized scream resounded through the room, ringing in Temari's ear. She only realized seconds later that it was Ino's scream, her small, pale hand coming up to cradle her side.
"FBI, hands up!"
Sasuke and Naruto burst into the coffee shop, their guns levelled on the man with that infuriatingly calm expression. Naruto's face was grave and serious, and it was then that Temari knew the sunny blonde man with the whisker marks was not, at all, a newbie. There was a war raging in his eyes, a war that bespoke of battle scars and survival. Fighting was not new to him.
Apparently, it seemed it was not new to Shikamaru either. He entered after Sasuke and Naruto, a gun gripped to his side in a tight grip. There was a fury in his dark eyes that she had never seen before, an ease with the way he held the gun. He gripped it like a lost lover, like an old friend. He gripped it as if it was the only thing keeping him sane. And maybe, Temari thought as his eyes flickered to Ino gasping in her arms, it was.
"About fuckin' time, Nara," the shooter smirked, his gun still aimed at the two blonde women on the floor. Shikamaru advanced forward, just past Sasuke and Naruto.
"Hidan," the lawyer replied coolly, not moving to aim his gun. "I thought I threw your ass in jail." Hidan snorted.
"I broke out a few years ago," he shrugged, smirking. "Fuckin' cells don't do it for me, ya know?"
Ino coughed blood on the floor, bleeding badly but the fire never leaving her eyes as she looked up at him with a mocking flash of her eyes. "Because you're afraid of being buried alive," she gasped out. Hidan's eyes narrowed dangerously at her, his hand tightening on his gun.
"You never knew when to keep your fuckin' mouth shut, Yamanaka," he snarled. Another round left his gun, but it only grazed Temari's cheek when she hurriedly moved the two of them. Hidan vaulted over the counter when Shikamaru took a shot at him, Sasuke and Naruto following close behind, their guns exploding loudly as they tried to shoot him. Shikamaru strapped his gun back in its holster, collapsing to his knees beside Ino.
"Oh god," he breathed, his hands hovering over her body, terrified to touch her. "Ino, what the hell were you thinking, provoking him like that?" Ino reached out almost blindly, her eyes glazing over with the pain. She caught his hand, squeezing it as tightly as she could with her pale one.
"It hurts," she whimpered, her body limp as she struggled to keep hold of his hand. He tightened his around hers, not letting it escape as the anguish swept over his face. "Shika, it hurts so bad, please make it stop." Temari let her hands fall to her sides as her boss took Ino off her lap, transferring it to his arms. He was careful not to touch her wounds, running his hand down her bloody cheek, the tears swimming in his dark eyes.
"I will," he promised fervently, continuing to stroke her cheek. "Just hang on, Ino, until Sakura gets here. Then everything will be better." Ino grinned faintly, her eyes starting to slip closed.
"Sak'ra?" she mumbled, her blood seeping out from under Shikamaru's shaking hand as he tried to quell the wound in her side. "Tha' For'd G'rl woul' jus' leave m'to die so I don'… so I don' flir' wi' Sas… Sas'ke." Her eyes fluttered closed, the rhythm of her breath slow and steady, unnoticeable when paramedics burst into the café, one of them sporting pink hair and striking green eyes.
"I won't let you die," Temari heard Shikamaru whisper into Ino's ear, a clear drop of water landing on her cheek. He could say no more when the pink-haired medic knelt beside him, taking Ino from his arms so she could transfer the blonde to the stretcher, barking orders all the while.
"Ma'am, are you hurt?" one of the paramedics asked, scanning her for injuries. Temari blinked, but shook her head.
"No, no I'm okay," she told them, and they took no time dashing into the ambulance to help the other paramedics. The graze on her cheek throbbed a bit and bled slowly, but she paid it no mind. She was okay.
But when she looked over to her boss, saw him hide his face in his slumped shoulders, hide his tears in the pool of blood on the floor, Temari did not feel okay. Because now she really wished that it was just another day at the office.
