A/N: I'm sorry I've been absent for so long. Life has been crazy and I lost motivation to write my own stories. So much has happened and I'd rather not bore you with everything.
I want to finish this, so I'm trying really hard to get back into the story. Sorry if there are any inconsistencies, please feel free to point any out and I'll correct them.
Okaa-san is how one will address their mother in Japan, if you didn't know already. I don't normally like using Japanese, I just felt like it was fitting in the situation where I used it. I do use honorifics since they can portray so much about the relationship between people, and adds a bit more development, but other than that I try to keep Japanese to a minimum in my fanfics.
"Itachi's personal assistant quit." Izumi says as she waltzes into the room. She drops a ton of files on her desk. "Luckily, we've already found a new employee, but she needs training. So, while I train her, you're going to be Itachi's temporary assistant. If you don't mind, that is."
I stare at Izumi like she's grown a second head. "Huh?" I say, her words not quite making sense in my brain. She wants me to work for Itachi?
"You'll get a pay increase."
I frown at her. "I don't want a pay increase."
"Great! I'll let Itachi know you're up for the switch." Izumi begins to type on her keyboard. I stand up from my chair and cross my arms.
"Hey, I didn't agree!" I snap. Izumi pouts.
"Please? Pretty please?" I give in and nod, letting out a long sigh.
"Fine, I'll do it."
"Great! I'll let Itachi know." She finishes typing whatever she started typing before dumping a booklet on my desk. "Read this, and then sign it. It just lets the higher ups know you're cool for your position to be switched and all that jazz."
I sign the documents and hand it back to Izumi who tucks it away into a file. She stands up from her desk and enthusiastically ushers me from her office.
"I'll take you to Itachi's office and then he'll brief you over on what he expects you to do."
LNLN
I sit at my new computer and desk. I look into Itachi's office and see him typing away on his computer. Unlike Izumi's office, my area is its own room. The room is sparse, much like Itachi's office. My desk is sat in the middle of the room and there's cabinets full of files lined up across the wall opposite me.
I pick up my mug and take a sip, before tending to the next email and forwarding it onto Itachi for him to review it.
I then receive an urgent email from Shisui Uchiha.
Hanakawa-san,
If you could print the attached document and hand it to Itachi to look at, that would be great. I'd pass the document on myself but I am currently busy.
Sorry for the intrusion,
Shisui Uchiha
I open the document and send it to the printer in Itachi's office before standing up and going to retrieve it.
"How's everything going, Hanakawa-san?" Itachi's black eyes flick up from the computer monitor and meet mine. I smile and nod.
"Everything's going alright, Shisui-san just sent me a document he wants you to look at."
"Ah, I've been expecting that. Thanks, Hanakawa-san." Once the document has finished printing I gather it together and pass it to Itachi's who accepts it with a polite thank you. I head back to my office. "Wait, Hanakawa-san. Are you busy tonight?" I turn to face him, and he's staring intently at me.
"No. Why?" I ask.
"I was thinking of introducing you to Tsubaki. I don't know if you've been staying up to date with the gossip sites, but we should probably help shut down those rumours before they start to hurt Tsubaki." I nod in agreement.
"So, where are you thinking?"
"Just a small café down the road from the office, it's popular and should gain some attention from paparazzi." I nod. "I'll let Tsubaki know to meet us there after work."
Work passes quickly, especially since it was so much busier compared to what I'm used to. Soon enough, I'm sat in a café waiting for Tsubaki to make an appearance.
Itachi suddenly stands up from his seat and his arms wrap around a beautiful girl. She has dead-straight black hair and her figure is to die for. I look away and have a sip of my drink, my spare hand clenched into a fist.
I can't help but think ill feelings towards his girlfriend.
She sits down and she bows her head. "It's nice to meet you, Hanakawa-san, Itachi has told me a lot about you." I bow my head in return.
"It's nice to meet you too," I reply politely. I try to keep the cold edge out of my voice, but a little bit of hostility drips into my tone. She smiles at me before turning to Itachi.
We tell Itachi our orders and he goes up to the counter. He later returns with a tray full of drinks and food.
I can't help but feel like a third wheel as Tsubaki talks to Itachi animatedly.
"I really can't stand Rin, she's annoying." Tsubaki confesses. "If this modelling gig didn't pay so much I'd threaten to leave if they didn't fire her. I don't think any of the other models like her and she's so lazy."
Tsubaki turns to face me. "What would you do?" She asks, her brown eyes staring straight at me.
"Uh, I think I'd just be professional about it and just get on with it. It's work after all, you can't always choose who you work with." I say honestly.
"Have you had many jobs?" She asks, I can't help but feel like she's judging me. It's so painfully obvious I'm not from the same background as her.
"No, this is my second job. I used to work for my parents in their shop growing up." Her eyes narrow at me.
"And what sort of shop is this? Where is it based in Tokyo?"
"Ah, I don't live in Tokyo. I live in Chiisanamura, my parents' shop is there." Tsubaki puffs out her chest slightly and smirks.
"Of course. Beggars can't be choosers after all." I can't help but frown at her. Itachi chose this? He's so polite, I would have thought he'd have gone for someone similar to himself.
Itachi finally speaks up. "I agree with Akira-san. Being professional is key in any job. We're not children in school anymore." I can't help but feel warm at his comment, and at him using my first name.
"Hmph." She crosses her arms and scowls. I can't help but notice the lack of frown lines. She's had work done at her age? She must live a sad life if she's not entirely happy in her own skin, especially at her young age.
I still can't put together why Itachi is with her. There must be more to her if her work ethic isn't off-putting.
LNLN
20 years ago.
I look around the dango shop, everything towering above me. I tug on mum's hand and point towards the menu, at my favourite dango.
"Do you want that one Aki?" She asks, and I nod.
"Yes please!" I say and tug her hand harder. Desperate for her to buy my favourite food.
I look around the shop and see a tall man with dark hair and black eyes, his hand grasping the hand of a boy my age. The boy's black eyes watch me curiously. I grin, letting the smile envelope my face.
My mother tugs my hand. "Staring is rude, Akira." She scolds and I tear my eyes away from them.
"I'm sorry, okaa-san."
LNLN
I wake up, the sudden memory whirring around my mind. It's been years since I remembered that particular moment.
I check a gossip site and see if anything new has been posted about Itachi.
Itachi introduced Tsubaki to Akira!
Paparazzi spotted the trio at a café in Tokyo last night. It seems that Akira and Itachi really are just friends.
A close source to Itachi Uchiha has confirmed that Akira and Itachi are just close friends.
A/N: I'm sorry for the short chapter! I do plan on updating soon though.