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Scammed
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Note: This chapter could've been uploaded exactly a week ago if FF(dot)com didn't go ape-shit on me.
Warning for this Chapter: Lots and lots of swearing. No place for kiddies.
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The strawberry blond whipped around in his stool, spotting the figure after giving Kiba a triple dose of the middle finger. "Hey, you're back, Gaara!" Bouncing up from his seat, Naruto had the redhead in a friendly head-lock, giving Gaara a noogie, "Took you long enough!"
A little bit disgruntled, the president of the Sabaku Cooperation shrugged his being out of the head-lock and straightens his already crumpled black suit. "The trip overseas took longer than expected." Noticing the pinkish hue in his best friend's blond locks, Shino's spiked hair, and Kiba's red streaked hair, a nonexistent eyebrow shot up. "Did you guys went out and jacked cars, again? Or felt like having a change?"
Grinning toothily, Kiba visibly knocked Naruto's head downward with his fist in payback for the finger. "Whichever you prefer, Gaara. How was the trip, anyways? Made any deals?"
Waving his hand dismissively, the asked teen made his way upstairs, intent on wearing his preferred clothing. "The usual."
"And what does that mean?" The naturally blond male queried as he elbowed his attacker in the solar plexuses. Howling in pain, the brunette glared death at his supposed companion while holding his abdomen and cursing quite loudly, "Son of a bitch! You fuckin' blond bimbo!"
The back of a tanned fist met red-marked face and a cheerful voice rang, "What was that? I couldn't hear you over the howling."
Glancing back, the redhead shook his head in disbelief. Even after spending the last several years living with the two, he still wasn't quite used to the 'friendly abuse' as Naruto jokingly called it one time. Sometimes it resulted in the two visiting the hospital at least twice a month. And Gaara was the designated person to pay the bills. Joy.
He and Naurto had been friends since they were little toddlers despite Gaara's parents' disapproval of having their son associate with a street rat. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the redhead's parents 'passed away' when in reality; he was the one who had murdered them at the tender age of seven. Of course, thanks to 'hush-money' the public knew nothing of this. He really didn't need them to know his seemingly Samaritan parents were horrid drug lords, away from the community's prying eyes. To be sure that the Sabaku Cooperation were truly a charitable cooperate, he had to 'dispose' his parents. Yeah, he had other options to do away with his parents, like sending them to rehab and counseling and such, but knowing them better than anyone, he knew they would only continue where they last left off. They were never the type to learn from their mistakes. From at that age and on, he had proved himself worthy to be the youngest president in the cooperate world and still was, thanks to his genius-like mentality, but because of that, the redhead had many sleepless night that he soon became an insomniac, doing his best to change things in the Cooperation for the better. Since then, Gaara invited Naruto to live in his modern and chic house, where, in replacement of sheet rock walling was mostly windows. Very modern.
As for the free-loaders by the names of Kiba, Shino, Shikamaru, and Chouji, it was by the request of the sunshine energetic blond. How the hell Naruto met them was anyone's guess, but even Gaara had to admit, the quartets were pretty decent and tame compared to the unpredictable blond. But then when Kiba and Naruto argued, it was best to have earplugs at the ready.
Naruto and his free-loading friends were experts at hijacking and scamming people of their beloved automobiles and personal identification, making a hefty profit in the black market. He knew they were being something like his deceased parents were, but in a round about way of them doing things, they were doing it for the good of the community. Almost like Robin Hood for a lack of better comparison.
The young Sabaku Cooperation President decided to turn a blind eye. If any of his employees had found out, he made sure they shut up with the threat of cutting their paychecks—not in half—but thirds. Yes, he was quite adamant about it.
A few minutes later found Gaara at the bottom of the steps, paying witness to another verbal competition Kiba and Naruto instigated. The duos were up in each other's faces, spewing out ridiculous insults that made no sense when one pondered on it. Lime green eyes swept about to spy the remaining three in the adjoining room.
Said eyes rolled in exasperation that bordered on annoyance prior to shoving their faces apart when he passed through with his hands. They were in the way to the fridge after all.
"Give it a rest," Gaara muttered as he poured himself a cup of orange juice and seated himself diagonally from his childhood friend.
"Oi, you didn't answer my question, Raccoon!" Naruto chirped after pushing Kiba away and into the living room. "Stay there, mutt!"
Comebacks on short supply, the brunette gave the too-cheery blond the middle finger before plopping himself right on Shikamaru's abdomen.
"Shit! Get off me! I'm not a damn cushion for your ass!"
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"Oh, hello there, Sakura-san--didn't expect you to come by." Itachi, being the ever-so-wonderful brother that he was, gestured for the girl to come in. Once she had done so, the older Uchiha led her to the ornate yet simple living room.
"I didn't. Something came up. Is Uchiha-san and Sasuke-kun here?" Verdant eyes glanced around a bit nervously, sitting down on the couch as she twiddled her fingers.
Taking notice of her apprehensive actions, Itachi had the slightest feeling that something had transpired as he casually replied, strolling over to sit beside the pink-haired girl, "Ah, no, they just left to close some deal over in Europe several hours ago. Sasuke holed himself up in his room." Face contorted in false concern, he continued, "Why? Is something wrong?"
"Did...did Sasuke-kun say anything when he came home?"
"Like what?"
"Like how he—" Before Sakura could finish her sentence, the raven-haired teen instantly appeared at the bottom of the stairs, stalking towards them.
"Like how I think you're such a fuckin' asshole, Aniki" Sasuke sweetly continued with daggered glares once he approached them. Before the older Uchiha could make a retort or comment of sorts, his face met one of the couch's pillows Sasuke had apparently thrown at him and dragged the girl up to his room. The young raven did not, by all means, need that lame ass brother of his to pry and weasel himself into his personal business.
"I hope your using protection, little brother!" Itachi cheerily chirped up the stairs.
A dagger narrowly missed his face and embedded itself to the marble white wall behind him.
"I won't miss next time!"
The older raven's mouth twitched prior to curling into a sly smile.
He's hiding something! His thoughts raced in a sing-song-like voice. He just had knacks for sensing this kind of stuff. He supposed it came along with being an older brother—one of the many quirks of being one.
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Rubbing his temples in circular motion in attempt to alleviate his headache with his forefingers, Neji did not expect what had happened a few minutes before at all. Apparently, he was expecting a lecture or reprimand of sorts from Hinata's father and his own. That was not the case. Instead, the two dominant male figures in the Hyuugas had been surprisingly understanding of the situation. Then again, their family name was prominent in the line of owning several famous and profitable valet parking...they understood that many scammers would rip potential customers off by using one of their companies' names or make it up and appear to be one of theirs.
Not one to question his fate, Neji left the main hall only to be greeted by his fidgeting cousin, Hinata, waiting somewhat anxiously in the entrance hall. Raising an inquisitive brow at her, his action prompted her to speak whatever was on her mind.
"H-how did it go?"
"Pleasantly well," he paused, recounting what had happened in lay man's term for the girl. "It seems that father and uncle have allowed it to slide. As for repossessing the stolen vehicles, they had suggested we handle it on our own."
Hinata blinked several times. "Re-really?"
"That appears so. It looks like Fate is being kind to us."
"Then, maybe we sh-should take advantage of it, Neji-kun."
"Of course."
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Really, one would think after living with Naruto and Kiba for a few years, one would get use to the loud constant bickering the two always seem to have. Sadly, that was not to be as was the case for the remaining trio in the living room, excluding Kiba who was still perched on Shikamaru's stomach despite his protest.
"Alright, alright! Don't have a fuckin' cow now!" Kiba stood up, glaring irritably at the annoyed brunette once he turned around with his arm half up in the air, surrendering.
"You were sitting on me, if you don't recall, for the past few minutes," Shikamaru rolled his eyes as he shifted his body to lie on his side. "'tch, troublesome."
The red-streaked haired brunette dutifully mocked his companion, adding on a scrunched up face and puckered lips with a high voice, "'tch, troublesome."
That earned Kiba an extremely fluffy pillow to the face, resulting in him to stumble backwards a bit to regain his balance. Tossing the cushion to the nearest place, which happened to be Shino, Kiba stuck up a finger before trudging back into the kitchen. The bug boy appeared to be the faintest indignant at having a pillow thrown his way for no apparent reason. Chouji continued on his munching as if he was watching a movie.
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"Oi, we got any sodas left?" Kiba chirped, plopping an arm on top of Naruto's head casually. "'Cause I'm thirsty for one."
Shrugging off the offending limb, the hyperactive blond smoothly, if not somewhat childishly, replied, "You got legs—put them to use before your brain forgets you even have them."
Before another round of verbal fighting commenced, Gaara swiftly stepped in with a stern even voice. If neither of them was going to have any sense to stop, he'd have to be one as reluctant as he was. "There are still some bottles left. Buy more if you happen to finish it all."
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"You didn't tell your brother, Sasuke-kun?" Sakura confirmed with a question once the raven told her to be quiet as he peeked outside his bedroom door.
"Of course not," the asked being responded with a derisive snort once he clicked the door shut and then neatly folded his arms across his chest, leaning against the door "Itachi will only make it a bigger mess than it is. Besides, I don't need my folks coming home and hounding me about responsibilities. I got enough of that shit what with me being the supposed heir to the damn company."
His fiancée had her mouth open, ready to say something but after a moment, thought it was best to keep quiet. Sometimes it was better to let the young raven to vent a bit than to confront him. That was only asking for pain—any type of pain.
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Okay, here's the 411: As some of you may know (either from my profile, or Predicament) I'm on vacation to the other side of the world for the whole month of July and return somewhere in August. I'll try to continue it in my make-shift 'Death Note' notebook. Heh. Don't worry, no one's gonna die on my watch...Not yet, anyways.
Enjoy your summer and see you all in August!
Review before I leave?