Disclaimer: I don't own anything
Temari enjoyed meeting Shikamaru's parents. She enjoyed the visit so much so let Shikamaru stay the night at her place. Yoshino's cooking along with Shikaku's stories left her in a great mood.
The following morning Shikamaru expressed his gratitude for finally being allowed into her home.
Their morning started off fantastic.
Until Temari's front door was thrown open.
"Bitch wake up!"
Shikamaru certainly wasn't expecting the interruption. He jumped and fell off the bed in shock/fear. He scrambled to find his pants.
Temari closed her eyes and took deep breaths. She couldn't kill her friend on what would have been a nice Sunday morning. That didn't mean she wouldn't fight her.
"Tenten!"
Sensing the pure rage in her voice Tenten almost ran away. Almost. Clearly she interrupted something important. Tenten did not care. Weekends were supposed to be for hanging out with friends.
"Put your pants on. I can wait!"
Tenten proceeded to plop her butt on the living room floor. She gave her love to Gecko.
Shikamaru was able to calm down from his mini panic attack. At least it wasn't one of her brothers that stopped by. He would be dead if it was. Tenten, while he's never met in person before, seemed like a nice person. He's talked to her before when video chatting with Temari.
Still it would have been nice to finish what they were doing.
"You can use the bathroom first. I'll handle our rude guest."
"I'm ok. No point in delaying the introductions."
The couple stepped out of the bedroom together. Clothes on of course. Tenten grinned from her spot on the ground. Gecko barked a greeting.
"Good morning! And hello Shikamaru! Nice to finally meet you."
"Likewise."
"What the hell are you doing here?" Temari snapped.
"It's funday Sunday!"
Temari rubbed her temple. Of course it was.
"You could have-"
"I drop in all the time with no warning. I'm not gonna change that now!"
"Tenten-"
"How was I supposed to know he's allowed here now?"
That was a fair point. Temari sighed heavily. She turned to Shikamaru.
"Sundays are usually hangout days."
"Sundays are sacred!" Tenten clarified.
"Your welcome to join us. Or do whatever it is you do on a Sunday."
"We're pretty fun girls. You should hangout with us. Just saying." Tenten was grinning.
Well how could he turn down an invitation like that?
"How about we all go out for breakfast?" Shikamaru suggested.
"I like him already." Tenten laughed
Tenten happily waited for the couple to make themselves presentable. Shikamaru didn't mind that he was reusing his same outfit from the day before. Temari went with more casual clothing of jeans and a plain tshirt. Once everyone's hair and morning breath were in order, all three adults, and one dog went out to find food.
The car ride was anything but quiet. Shikamaru found himself mostly watching Temari and Tenten interact. Tenten was pretty bold, wild, and downright silly. Temari seemed more carefree and Gecko just drooled.
Yet he didn't feel out of place.
Once they found a place to eat, they took a table outside, and placed their orders. The adults chatted as they waited for their food. Gecko sat quietly and right by Temari's side.
"So how did you two meet?"
Temari groaned and Tenten's face lit up.
"Strap in your in for a treat."
~Flashback~
Temari was at her wits end. Gecko was about 6 months old and was getting bigger by the hour. Due to her hectic work schedule she couldn't always find the time to walk her puppy. This resulted in a bored and frustrated puppy. Temari has had to replace numerous rugs, furniture, and doors.
As much as Temari wanted to explode and blame the dog, she didn't. This was all her fault. She gave in to a crying child's demands. She is now the owner of a large puppy. So for the past month she has placed an ad for a dog walker.
It wasn't a very hard or demanding job. Or so Temari thought.
She first hired a relatively young man with dog walking experience. He had a list of previous employers who all gave him excellent reviews. And he has walked large dogs before. Perfect.
He quit after 4 days.
The next hire was an older man. He was a retired dog trainer. Great. Maybe he could teach Gecko some manners.
He lasted a week.
The next hire was a woman. Temari didn't want to discriminate but she was a bit worried the girl wouldn't be strong enough to handle Gecko. The girl assured her she could handle it.
She quit after 3 days.
Soon no one was answering the ad.
Temari was baffled. Was she not offering enough money? Was 2 walks a day too much to ask for? She was positive Gecko wasn't aggressive. The dog hadn't growled once since she had her.
What was the issue?
Temari, in an act of desperation, tripled the hourly rate. She even threw in a bonus. Anything to get someone to take the job.
Finally after 2 months since the whole ordeal started, Tenten answered the ad.
By this point Temari didn't care who it was. It was a miracle someone even bothered to talk with her!
"Gecko is a large dog."
"Ok."
"She will only continue to grow."
"Ok."
"She will outpower you."
"Sure."
Temari just stared at this woman. Was she even listing?
"Are you sure you're up for this?"
"It's dog walking. I can handle it."
"I've had 3 people quit on me."
"Oh is she mean?" Tenten asked confused
"No."
"Then we have nothing to worry about!"
It was the new girl's first day. Temari was hesitant to leave Gecko with Tenten. She met the energetic girl outside her building. Gecko waiting patiently to go for her morning walk. Tenten was very cheerful.
She took the leash from Temari's hand and walked off without a backwards glance. Temari worked the entire day with her stomach twisting in knots. When she got back home she was met with a sleepy Gecko and Tenten seemed in one piece.
Except her pants.
Her pants were caked in mud. But Gecko appeared spotless?
"Did everything go ok?"
"Yup! She's a hoot!"
Temari could only stare at her mud stained pants.
"If you're trying to get me naked it's not gonna work. You're a pretty girl but I don't swing that way." Tenten joked.
Temari dismissed her. She would ignore the terrible joke. Tenten was still willing to work.
Everyday Temari came home she found Tenten in a different form of disarray.
Large twigs entangled painfully in her hair.
Grass stains that would undoubtedly not come out of her clothes.
Clothes with minor rips, tears, or holes.
More mud.
Yet any time Temari asked if there were any problems on the walks, Tenten always said everything was fine. If Temari asked why Tenten looked like a mess, she would just laugh it off. Her reasons always sounded so far fetched.
"Oh we got into a tussle with a rat."
"Fell down."
"Got chased by a goose."
"She got spooked by a cyclist."
Temari always offered to pay for any damages caused by her dog. Tenten always refused.
"You're paying me triple. I'm good."
Temari felt bad. One afternoon she took a half day at work. She was going to follow Tenten and Gecko on their walk. She was going to see why Tenten always returned in such a mess. And maybe get an idea why the others quit.
As she followed the pair nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
A problem didn't surface until another dog walked by Gecko.
Gecko freaked the fuck out.
Her sweet puppy practically screamed and tried to run away. Tenten did a bang up job trying, but failing, to contain the large puppy. Temari couldn't stand by and watch anymore. She ran over to help.
Once she reached Gecko, Tenten was knocked onto the ground, in a jumbled mess with the leash. The owner of the other dog apologized profusely. Temari assured them it was fine and to please give her dog some space.
Upon seeing her owner Gecko ran toward Temari. Temari was smacked onto the ground also. The wind was knocked out of her. She and Tenten were a pile of limbs and leash on the hard concrete. Gecko was a trembling mess.
After that incident Tenten finally told Temari what happened on their walks.
Apparently Gecko was always a nervous wreck anytime she saw another dog on their walks. Tenten did her best to find paths that would limit their exposure to other dogs. But it was a large city and almost everyone had a dog.
Temari angrily demanded to know why she wasn't told about this.
"I honestly thought you would put her down."
That broke Temari's heart.
"You're obviously busy. Why else would you hire a dog walker? It just seemed like you wouldn't bother with trying to help her. So I never said anything."
Temari almost fought Tenten over that. She didn't. Tenten had received her full respect by taking abuse from her terrified dog.
"Honestly no one else has told you this? She doesn't act like this when you walk her?" Tenten asked, genuinely confused.
"No."
"Huh weird. So same time tomorrow?"
Shikamaru almost laughed. He thought it was a joke. Until Tenten started showing off some 'battle' scars from the walks. Temari looked embarrassed.
He just looked at Tenten dumbfounded.
"That actually happened?"
"Sure did!"
He turned to his girlfriend. "You had no idea?"
"Tenten is quite good at keeping secrets."
Amazing.
"What happened after that?"
"I hired a professional dog trainer. I worked with Gecko and Tenten for months. She is now able to walk with no trigger when she sees another dog."
"That's...that's insane."
"I love the giant goof!" Tenten scratched Gecko behind her ears.
Gecko ate up all the attention Tenten was now giving her.
"So now you're just paying your friend to take care of your dog when needed?"
"Great isn't it?" Tenten smiled brightly. "I get to walk a bear, I get paid great, and I get to bother Temari daily."
"I still question why I bother with her."
"Shit people skills."
Temari gave Tenten the stink eye. Tenten blew her a kiss and winked.
"I see why you two are great friends."
"Speaking of friends, you got any that don't work for her?" Tenten pointed at Temari. "I need some stress relief in my life too."
"You have no shame." Temari shook her head.
"Nope!"
Shikamaru laughed. "Sorry. Can't help you."
"You suck!"
"I was before you interrupted."
Temari flushed beet red while Tenten howled in laughter. She even smacked the table a few times.
"Oh man I really like him."
Temari was very happy that Shikamaru and Tenten got along so well. It would make Ryota's birthday party less awkward. She knew nothing would save her from her brother's being assholes. At least Tenten and Matsuri would be there to help distract them.
Monday morning work resumed like normal.
Naruto was in her office begging to be put back on the team.
Temari wasn't ready to forgive him.
"No."
"Please!"
"No."
"Come on Temari! I've been the best damn assistant you've ever had."
"You're the only assistant I've had."
"N-Not the point!"
"Besides, I think you're more of value as my assistant than a writer."
Naruto was almost in tears.
"I wasn't hired for this!"
"You were hired to do as I asked."
"But-"
"Naruto I will decide when I can trust you back on the team. I don't. Go back to your desk and finish emailing the copies I have sent you."
"Fine!"
Naruto stormed out of her office and back to his cubicle. He sat on his chair, crossed his arms, and pouted at his computer screen. Stupid boss.
"Struck out buddy?"
Naruto glared at Kiba.
"What do you think?"
"Sounds rough buddy."
Naruto threw a pencil at him.
Kiba laughed and walked back to his cubicle.
Naruto sighed. He opened up his email to find the files Temari was talking about. He sent the next 45 minutes attaching and sending the files to everyone on her list. What a stupid chore.
"Excuse me are you Naruto Uzumaki?"
"Huh?" Naruto blinked tiredly from looking at the same message over and over again. He turned in his swivel chair to see his guest.
"Who's asking?"
The stranger merely smiled politely. "I'm sorry. My name is Kabuto. I was told to find you. I'm new."
New guy?
He could already see his friends craning their necks to see what was happening.
"Oh you got an interview with Temari?"
"I wasn't aware Miss Subaku was on a first name basis with her employees." Kabuto pushed his glasses up the rim of his nose.
"Uh kinda?"
"How strange." He never dropped his polite smile or tone of voice.
Naruto blinked. "You're weird."
Kabuto chuckles. "Yes I'm afraid my people skills are a bit rusty."
Naruto stood from his chair. "Let me walk you to her office."
"No need for that. I'm here to shadow you for the day."
Now Naruto was confused. That's never happened before.
"Why?"
"It was in the message from the hiring manager."
"That doesn't sound like something Temari would say."
Kabuto held a twinkle in his eye. "Miss Subaku isn't the hiring manager."
Naruto's eyes went wide.
"Oh man you mean the old bats."
"I beg your pardon."
Naruto laughed nervously. He scratched the back of his head. "Sorry! You didn't hear that from me. What I meant to say was you got a message from the boss's boss."
"Yes."
Well there was no way he was gonna ignore an assignment from them.
"There isn't much to really watch. I'm just answering some calls, pushing some papers, sending emails. Boring office junk."
Kabuto tilted his head. "I thought you were a writer."
"I am! Uhh I'm just on a...break. Yea a break!"
"Why is that?"
"You ask a lot of questions."
"My apologies. I don't mean to pry. I'm naturally curious."
"You're gonna want to ask less questions. Boss lady doesn't like it when we ask too many questions."
"Well I wouldn't question any of authority. Nothing wrong with chatting with my future co-workers though."
This guy gave Naruto a weird feeling. He didn't seem bad. He was just...weird. He shouldn't be so quick to judge. He didn't want to crush this guy's spirits too soon. Temari would take care of that no problem.
"Since you're gonna be new here I'll give you some pointers."
"That would be appreciated."
Naruto spent the majority of his afternoon showing Kabuto what he did. He showed him some of his pieces he's been working on the side. The stories that Temari kept shutting down. He showed him what he normally would be doing when he was a writer.
He also gave tips about Temari as a boss. Once he reached this part of his advice, it was lunch time.
His friends all huddled around his cubicle.
"Guys this is Kabuto. He's gonna be working with us soon."
Everyone said their hellos and asked Kabuto about himself.
"There isn't much to share. I'm an aspiring writer. This is the best company to be at. Temari is a very respectable woman. I've read her work. It's incredible."
"Yea she's great in that aspect." Ino couldn't keep the venom out of her words.
"What do you mean?" Kabuto asked confused.
"How can we put this delicately," Sakura paused to think.
"The boss is an utter bitch." Sasuke held no problem with saything what was on everyone's mind.
Sakura did elbow him in the gut.
"Quiet! She has ears everywhere!" Kiba hissed.
"Ah I see now." Kabuto laughed a bit nervously. "So her reputation is true."
"S-She is tough." Hinata
"But her work is most youthful!" Lee
"When she's not running us and everything to the ground" Naruto
"So much for romance helping." Ino grumbled in misery.
Everyone gave her a wide eyed stare. Ino slapped her hands over her mouth.
Kabuto looked around in confusion. "I don't quite follow. Romance?"
"She just means with all the work we do, there isn't much time for romance." Sakura spoke in a tone that most would consider high pitched.
"Don't expect to have much of a life outside this place." Kiba scoffed.
"Like I said, complete bitch." Sasuke
"Hey did you guys see the ending of that hunter show?" Naruto quickly changed the subject.
As his friends began to animatedly talk about the show, Kabuto grinned to himself.
Romance, huh?
Employees call Temari by her first name.
A general hatred for their boss.
Very useful information indeed.
I had a sudden burst of inspiration. It came out of nowhere. But of course it happens when the site is having a freaking meltdown. I'm so sorry to anyone that had problems reading the last chapter. I hope it doesn't happen with this chapter but in case it does, I'm super sorry! Thank you for everyone who either reviewed or sent me a PM with their suggestions about the big reveal. It helped me a lot. I have a pretty decent idea how it's gonna go down. If you're able please review this chapter and tell me your thoughts! I appreciate all of you!
Thank you:
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JaiFei
AranyaDream