0o0o0o0o0o Four months later 0o0o0o0o0o

Things were back to normal, and some things actually improved, especially at home. As much as I liked them, I was really glad when Kakashi and Iruka got an apartment right next door. Especially when Iruka cooked for me twice a week, much to my delight. Fumiko started her won company of computers and buisness was booming. She and Itachi were talking about becoming partners.

Gai and Fumiko were officially dating and he was preparing for his test to get into the policeman academy. Lee became Naruto's and Sasuke's good friend after they found out Lee didn't care they loved each other. They made the school buzz and I called them the three musketeers.

And things also improved at work.

0o0

I stretched happily and grinned at my new name plate on my desk that read, "Vice President." Humming proudly to myself, I got up, went out of my office and knocked before I entered Itachi's office. He stood as I entered and said, "I'm off to my meeting, if you'd like you can conduct your work from here until I get back."

I didn't even waste a second sitting in the Uchiha's very expensive and comfortable leather chair, letting out a breathy sigh. Itachi raised a dark eyebrow in amusement, "Is it so comfortable?"

I met the look with a grin and said, "Control is MINE! Go to your meeting, now. Scat!"

Itachi had approached his desk, more liked sauntered, really, and leaned in close to me. I continued smirking, not backing away from the challenge. He smirked back and said, "Don't get too comfortable. I'll be back." The smirking Uchiha walked out the door and the Vice President started working.

That was an hour ago and I hadn't seen him since.

I sighed slightly dreamy at the memory. Over the past four months I seemed to develop a crush on Itachi. Albeit, a very small one.

Well, that's what I kept telling myself.

"It has nothing do with his looks…well Itachi's looks make it worse. No one should be that handsome, but that is not the problem."

He was different from when we were kids. And after this whole Karin/Ling buisness and crashing my bike he was really different. More open and he smiled more. The Uchiha today was ice cold to everyone under the sun except for me, his little brother, Gai and Fumiko, Kakashi and Iruka and the Uzamaki's. I saw him sneer at the women that threw themselves at him.

I also saw when Itachi smirked coldly at associates that thought they knew more than he did or tried to pull an underhanded deal right under his nose. But when Itachi was alone with me, he virtually became a different person. Much like when we were kids. Even better then when we were kids.

The dark haired man was teasing, grinning smugly, and smirking playfully. And nice sometimes, when he wasn't shoving work on me and watching me scream at creepy crawlies. But that was what made the Uchiha endearing. I couldn't help myself, I got attached all over again.

When Itachi had announced to the board and everyone else in the company a month ago that I was his new Vice President, I had been very surprised. So when we were private I had asked the question that had been lingering in my mind.

Why?

The company owner simply shrugged his shoulders and replied with three simple words.

I trust you.

And with those three simple words, my like for Itachi had grown into something more.

With a glance at the clock, I let out a sigh. I really needed to stop thinking about this. "I can go home later and brood about this. Right now, I have to finish my work, namely signing those contracts."

About 15 minutes later, I heard the door open and raised an eyebrow in curiosity when it wasn't Itachi who walked in. It was four people who strutted up to the desk. One i recognized as Kabuto Yakushi, my previous boss and employer before i gave him a black eye.

The one on the left was was a blond haired woman with four ponytails sticking out the back of her head and wore a black skirt and jacket. Next to her walked a tall man with silverish hair and wearing glasses. His expression of surprise told me he remembered me.

The one in the middle had blood red hair, blue eyes and black eyeliner around his eyes. He wore a red suit.

The one on the left had spiky brown hair, purple make up on and wore a black suit with a purple tie.

I gave them a cold stare and said, "And you are?"

The silverish haired man said coldly back, apparently not liking my tone, "I am Kabuto Yakushi"

And the blond woman said stiffly, "I am Temari Sabaku-Yakushi and these are my brothers, Gaara and Kankuro."

My hazel eyes flickered in recognition, they were the famous siblings to own Sabaku-Yakushi Corporations. I placed the contract in my hand on the desk carefully. "Don't you know it's rude to come into someone's office without knocking?"

"Luckily for you, this isn't your office, so you can leave now. We're waiting for Uchiha. Get going." Kankuro said haughtily with a slight sneer.

I held down a sarcastic remark. "This guy was ordering me around? He has another thing coming!"

Kabuto added coldly, "And you had better now your place Ariana, or I will put you in it."

Wrestling down my anger, I smirked coldly, my smirk would have made the Uchiha brothers proud, "Since i am the Vice President of Uchiha Enterprrise and you barge in here without so much as a by-your-leave, you can go to hell."

He blinked in shock and disbelief, as did the Sabaku siblings. I leaned back in the comfy chair, and said calmly, "So why don't you two let the big kids talk huh? Have a seat."

Gaara and Temari sat but Kankuro and Kabuto remained standing. Kankuro's face told me he was ready to tear my head off, and Kabuto looked ready to tackle me before Gaara said calmly, "Sit Kankuro, Kabuto."

They took one look at Gaara's face and sat. Gaara turned back to look at me and said, "May we have your name?"

I said sweetly, my smile not matching my eyes "Ariana McKing."

Then in less than a second I was down to business, "Why are you here Sabaku?"

Gaara raised a thin red eyebrow at the red head's bluntness, and realization that she was related to the owner of Sannin Enterprises. He decided to answer her anyway. He was intrigued by this girl sitting before him. Plus, he wanted to know the history between her and Itachi. Just how important she was to him? Not to mention how Kabuto knew her.

"I'm sure you've heard that I've been expanding in the Americas, right?"

At my nod, he continued. "I'm planning to make a debut in Asia and take over the top spot that Uchiha seems to have here in Asia and the world. Eventually, I hope to merge my company with both Itachi Uchiha and Jiraiya McKing and become sole owner," he said calmly.

At first i stared at him, then smiled at first. Then i couldn't contain myself and started laughing, hard. "You think that you can waltz in here, tell me that you're going to take over Uchiha Enterprise and Sannin Industries? And expect me to do what exactly? Smile and say 'Good luck, I hope it all works out'?"

Emerald eyes glinted coldly and dangerously, "I was giving you a warning," Gaara said with low voice that had a hint of a growl in there as he stood to tower over me.

My laughing stopped immediately and I glared up at him coldly, "Is that so Sabaku? Well, let me explain something to you. In words even your puny mind can understand."

I straightened and said in a freezing temperature voice that usually made people turn and run, "I don't appreciate you coming in here like you own the place. I don't appreciate it when your little lap dogs come in here and try to tell me what to do. I like my job very much. It was always a dream for me to work from the very bottom and rise to the top."

I smiled coldly at their shocked faces, "I've done it and here I am. So if you think I'm going to let you take over. You, Kabuto and your siblings there have another thing coming."

My eyes flashed and I snarled, " I'll crush you!"

I glared into angry emerald eyes, which also flashed, but red like Itachi's. The atmosphere in the room took a freezing turn, despite it being a warm day outside.

Temari was surprised. She had never seen someone stand up to Gaara like that before. It was like the red head had a death wish. Kankuro was speechless as well. Kabuto looked beyond surprised.

The sound of the door opening eased the tension in the room a bit and Temari turned to stare. It was Itachi Uchiha. And he was glaring at Gaara and his glare shifted to Kabuto and the siblings, which caused them to shiver slightly.

The blond haired woman couldn't help but lick her lips, though. She had always found the raven haired man attractive; tall, muscular, and the dark hair. The Uchiha was an Adonis. Temari wished all the time that she worked for Itachi, so she could see him everyday. Ariana was so damn lucky.

A deep voice interrupted her thoughts, "Ariana, what's wrong?" Itachi asked almost gently.

Hazel eyes were still locked in a battle with furious emerald ones, "Apparently, we have some new business competitors. My old boss and his wife brought her brothers to see if we would roll over and give him what he wants."

The Uchiha frowned not liking Ariana's voice. He could hear the fury in it. Though he was used to hearing her angry, he had never heard her this pissed before. Not to mention the venom in her voice when she mentioned her old boss.

Itachi closed the door behind him, with more force than was needed. He walked forward, stopping at his desk, glaring at the pale man who was hovering over Ariana. Itachi didn't like the way this red head was staring down at his red head.

"Who ever you are, I suggest you have a seat. I don't appreciate you trying to stare down my employee," snapped the irritated Uchiha. Not only did he come back from a long meeting about nothing, but he was looking forward to teasing his Vice President.

Now he not only had to deal with Temari, who he wasn't fond of at all, but an angry red head that looked like he wanted to attack Ariana. The red headed man didn't seem to have heard him and was still staring at Ariana.

"Gaara―" Kankuro started, but was interrupted.

"I won't repeat myself. Sit. The. Fuck. Down." Now it was the Uchiha's turn for his eyes to flash red in warning.

Emerald eyes finally looked over to the dark haired man staring at him in cold fury.

After another second he finally backed away from the desk, he stood straight. "I am Sabaku Gaara and―"

Itachi snarled, "I don't give a flying fuck. If you ever come into my office again and disrespect any of my employees, there will be hefty consequences." The threat was there, plain as daylight.

I stared at the two men, well at Itachi, really. "Itachi looked so hot getting angry like that." I quickly snapped myself out of that thought and decided to calm things down before it came to blows. "Itachi."

Said Uchiha looked down into calm hazel eyes and instantly calmed down. Itachi grunted and turning back to Gaara, he said coldly, "Have a seat Sabaku and tell me what you're doing here." He then walked around to stand behind me.

For once Gaara listened and sat. "As I told your Vice President, I plan to eventually merge my company with both yours and Sannin's and be the sole owner."

Itachi blinked and turned to Ariana. "Is he serious?"

I shrugged and leaned back in Itachi's chair as he said, "What does he expect? For me to smile and say 'good luck, hope it all works out'?"

I giggled slightly and said, "That's what I said. I think they're smoking something, or Gaara is too busy fucking Kabuto Yakushi that he's lost most of his sanity."

Gaara's face turned to stone and Kabuto's eyes widened considerably and his siblings heads whipped around to stare at him. Temari looked furious and disgusted. And why wouldn't she, when she was married to Kabuto? I asked Itachi innocently, "Do you know how Sabaku got control over the Yakushi business so easily?"

Itachi raised an eyebrow in question. He had wondered about it, but never could find out how the two business's merged without conflict, "Didn't Kabuto marry Temari?"

I continued sweetly, "It's because Kabuto's Father had to cover up the secret that Gaara and Kabuto were having an affair. That's why Kabuto is Gaara's secretary, to cover up them spending so much time together."

Temari looked beyond furious, Gaara's stoic face told it all, Kabuto looked like he got caught with his pants down and Kankuro looked disgusted. Itachi said coolly, "It'll be such a shame if this ever got out, wouldn't it?"

Their heads whipped around so fast it must have given them whiplash. Itachi turned to me and grinned, "What do you think we should do Ms. Vice President?"

"You're giving me the option, Itachi-sama?" I grinned back at Itachi.

"But of course, Ms. Vice President."

Tapping a finger to my chin in thought I said sweetly, "I think they should leave right now, before I pick up the phone to call Kisame. He knows which people to talk to who would kill for a story like this." Both Gaara, Kabuto and his siblings knew when it was time to retreat. Gaara stood stiffly and headed for the door.

"McKing," Gaara turned and stared at the red head. Hard emerald meet met smug hazel ones. "You're a worthy opponent. Kankuro and Kabuto were fools to underestimate you." The red head opened the door and left.

Kankuro, Kabuto and Temari soon followed, but heard when I exclaimed in a happy voice, "It was nice meeting you Sabaku! Bye Kabuto! Tata for now."

The door closed and it was silent for a minute or two, before it was broken by Itachi, "You're not going to let them walk away, are you?"

Hazel eyes glanced at him then focused back on the door with a hint of malice in her eyes that made the Uchiha proud. Ariana truly was a good student and worthy to stand by his side. The Uchiha mentally patted himself on the back for making her his Vice President. No one else would do. Only Ariana.

"I'm afraid you know me too well, Itachi. But I'm not calling Kisame." Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out my cell phone. Pressing the button twice, Ariana put phone to her ear and once again leaned back in Itachi's expensive chair. She was quickly becoming attached to the chair. It made her feel powerful.

The red head's thoughts were put on hold as she heard a deep voice answer on the other line.

"'Sup, Uncle Jiraiya. How are you? Good? That's nice. Listen, I have a proposition for you. Yeah, you know that company that's been a thorn in your side?"

Itachi's smirk matched hers, as she explained things to her Uncle in America.

0o0o0o0o0o

Kabuto Yakushi had arrived back in the U.S. and his home in Los Angeles just a couple of hours ago, the whole trip being yelled at by Temari and listening to her demand for a divorce. Gaara calmed her down by lying, telling her that McKing was just pulling her leg. She had finally settled down but wouldn't stay in the same room with Kabuto.

So he was sleeping on the couch and was trying to get some sleep but his cell phone kept ringing. With a heavy sigh, he reached over and answered with a sleepy voice, "Hello?"

"Kabuto!" A voice boomed loudly.

This caused the man to sit up quickly, sleep gone. Shit, it was his Father. "Yes, sir?"

"What the fuck did you do yesterday? What the fuck did you and Sabaku do? " He roared angrily.

Kabuto swallowed inaudible. 'What happened? Was something wrong,' Kabuto thought. "We went to Japan to speak to Uchiha Itachi and―"

"Exactly! What the fuck were you thinking?"

"I―"

"Shut up, boy," Came the deadly voice of his Father.

Kabuto felt his stomach twisted nervously. He knew that tone of voice. It meant that he was in some deep shit.

"We've been bought out, Kabuto. Uchiha Itachi and McKing Jiraiya are now the owners of Sabaku-Yakushi Corporations. You moved without my say so before it was time!"

"Oh, fuck," Kabuto breathed.

What had he and Gaara done?

"Oh fuck is right, boy."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

In America…

Jiraiya smirked deviously as he signed the contract, making him part owner of Sabaku-Yakushi Corporations. His brilliant neice, Ariana was a genius.

Ariana had single-handedly with a tiny bit of help from him, brought shareholders of the company together, and had them turn over their shares to both him and Itachi.

Such a shame, really, that Ariana didn't want to work for him.

Jiraiya mentally shrugged. 'Oh, well'.

He was a quarter billion richer than before.

"Jiraiya, could you…I don't know? Stop smirking like that, it's kinda creepy," Konan said, taking a drink of her water.

The white haired man just raised an eyebrow, but he was still smirking, "How creepy?"

"Very, creepy."

"Konan, I'm rich. It doesn't matter."

"That's true."