I'm back! I liked writing this chapter. I took some artistic liberties so what. Enjoy.
"Pardon me, sir."
The raven gingerly tapped on the open door.
"Yes, Mr. Uchiha?"
The director of the tech department looked up from his computer.
"I know this is last minute, but I need to take a personal day on the 19th."
"Just the 19th?"
The other man quirked his eyebrow in question.
"Yes, sir."
"Alright, well you have eleven business days to make up that day's work. If you had asked within policy I wouldn't have you make up the work, but I can't have the department head thinking I'm letting employees violate policy. However, in the three years, you have had a perfect attendance record and your work is always done on time. So I am still permitting you to take the day off. Does that sound reasonable?"
"Yes, sir. Thank you for being so understanding. I will make sure that I do not disappoint."
"Okay, you may go."
The man shooed him away with the flick of the wrist. As Sasuke sat back at his desk he pulled out his list.
Request 19th off
Finish filling out lifestyle paperwork for the seminar
Pack
Finalize plane itinerary
Book hotel
Crossing out number one, he put away the list and resumed his work.
The next two weeks flew by in a whirl, coming to an abrupt stop as Sasuke found himself in his seat on the plane. Was he actually doing this? This was going to blow up his life he knew that, but he had to hold onto the hope something good would come out from this. He held his backpack tightly to himself as he thought of this upcoming weekend, losing himself in his thoughts once more.
The air felt so dry as he got off the plane, he instantly wanted to drink an entire lake. He gave his clothes a once over to make sure he hadn't wrinkled his professional clothes in his anxious twitching during the ride. Satisfied with it he headed towards the exit where his ride would be.
"Mr. Uchiha," a young brunette girl in business professional attire approached him.
"Yes. That is me," he held out his hand and she took it, giving a firm handshake.
"I am Ms. Matsuri, Mr. Baki's assistant. I will escort you to the office." she sent a pleasant enough smile in his direction, he returned it with a polite one.
"It's nice to meet you, miss."
"Do you need to get any extra luggage, sir?"
"No, ma'am."
"Then let's go to the car, we are running a little ahead so if you want we can make a stop to pick you up something to eat."
She turned swiftly on her heels and began walking at a pace that impressed Sasuke. He had to jog slightly to catch up to her. For an assistant, she was curt and to the point. He liked it.
"I'm not hungry but I could use some water."
"Given where you are from, I anticipated that so I brought water for you."
"Oh, thank you."
"Do not thank me, it is my job."
Once the sun of the desert hit the raven again his face he couldn't but crinkle his face. He knew it would be hot and bright, but his imagination did not do the desert justice. The sun was beating down on him in a way he had never experienced. His brow instantly adorned sweat. Holy fuck was he hot.
"Here."
It suddenly felt much cooler as he instantly was covered in shade. He glanced up to recognize an elegant black parasol over him.
"Thank you. It is much appreciated. I can hold it though."
He reached for the handle and the woman just slightly sneered at the hand.
"No, sir. I am an assistant. This is what I do. Don't try to stop me from doing my job. Also, the car is straight ahead so you will be able to get out of the heat soon. I apologize that we had to walk to it, the driver was taking his fifteen-minute break."
Sasuke nodded in acknowledgment. He assumed that keeping silent was the best course of action so he wouldn't be reprimanded by her again. The car he realized they were approaching was a sleek charcoal Rolls-Royce Wraith. When Ms. Matsuri held open the door for him, his brain finally recognized he truly was going to ride in that beauty.
As a man got into the driver seat and started up the car, a shiver ran down his spine. A true city boy, the Uchiha had never ridden in a car that wasn't a taxi. He wasn't super interested in cars, but he could still appreciate a nice car. And he most definitely appreciated the purr of the engine as they made their way into the city.
"Mr. Uchiha while I don't usually ask questions about anything I am not directly involved in, may I ask this one question?" Ms. Masturi asked from beside him.
"Fire away,"
He was barely paying her any attention as he was too busy reveling in the luxury of the car he was in. He couldn't help himself but molest the interior.
"Why did you go all the way to a different province just for this meeting? You could have stayed in Konoha and still had adequate services rendered."
"That's true but none as good as Mr. Baki."
The Uchiha tried to flatter. For the first time, Ms. Matsuri showed a semblance of a personality that wasn't all business. It came out as a slightly louder exhale. To someone lesser trained in the art of stoicism, it wouldn't even reach their radar. Sasuke, however, knew it as a hidden snort. She was saying she didn't believe him, which to be fair it wasn't the whole truth.
The city of Suna came into view quickly and it left the raven just awestruck. His home of Konoha was a giant metropolis of skyscrapers and buildings stacked on top of each other, some luxurious and some dilapidated. Sunagakure had the opposite aesthetic. As far as the eye could see all the buildings were attractive illustrations of affluence. All of them no taller than four stories, all but one. From what he guessed as the middle of the city a building stood at least three stories taller than the rest.
"What's that building there?"
"Not that being a tour guide is in my job description but that is city hall. However, the locals call it the Kazekage tower, as the top floor houses the kage's office."
"Oh."
"Mr. Uchiha we will be arriving at Mr. Baki's office in less than five minutes. I would make sure you have everything ready before we arrive as things will go rather quickly once we get there."
"Thank you."
He took the few spare minutes to once again adjust his clothes and mentally rehearse his pitch. As the car pulled to a stop in front of a clean office building, he paused.
In.
Out.
It was all okay.
Today was going to be good.
Today was going to be successful.
Pulling himself together, he followed Ms. Matsuri out of the car and into the building. He followed her onto the elevator and fixed his clothes one more time. As they found themselves at the reception area to a set of legal offices he watched as Ms. Matsuri explained that he was there for Baki. She turned back towards him.
"Wait here. I will be right back."
Nodding in response, she turned on her heels and flew down the hall out of view. She reappeared in front of him just as quickly.
"He is ready to see you. Follow me."
Following her direction they hurried down a small maze of halls eventually coming to a door with the placard "Baki" on it. She knocked quickly and firmly. A sound came from the other side, Sasuke had to assume it was affirming as she opened the door. She held open the door for him.
Alright, one more time.
In.
Out.
Mustering up all of his courage he crossed the threshold.
"Mr. Uchiha I presume?"
The man sitting behind the desk was clean-cut yet he gave the air of a wild dog. Cooperative if being fed but will turn on you when it is no longer is beneficial. He didn't attempt to smile as he held out his hand. He was a tad intimidating but so was this entire situation so really he needed to just suck it up. He walked right up to this man and shook his hand.
"Sasuke Uchiha."
As soon as the handshake was over the man returned to his seat, slightly motioning for Sasuke to follow suit.
"What brings you to the desert just to see a lawyer Mr. Uchiha?"
"Well I am sure you looked up my name when I booked this meeting."
The other man nodded.
"Yes the sole survivor of a family after your brother committed parricide. What does this have to do? Your brother died last summer and I don't work in criminal law."
"I know. Some information about my brother's crimes have come to light since his passing and I want to publish my father's journals so this information will become public record. I want to know the legality of publishing a dead man's journal without their consent."
"Well how did you come into possession of this journal?"
"It was given to me by my brother before his death."
"This journal belonged to your father, so how did your brother get it?"
"I don't know."
"See that will be our issue, we need to be sure that journal was legally obtained. Usually when there is only one surviving family member it wouldn't be an issue. However, since you flew all the way here, I am assuming some of these facts revealed would paint some living people in a bad light. Am I right?"
"Yes."
"How high on the political ladder?"
"Well after being discovered to be part of the mob this man no longer is on the political ladder."
A sign of surprise flashed across his face. Then it changed to utter vexation.
"This is going to be difficult for you to hear. You can't publish the journal. He will file a suit for defamation. Since you can't prove it is in your possession legally you will lose and it will be taken off the shelves before everyone knows the true story."
No.
No.
His family's truth had to come out.
It had to.
"But, there are options. This journal can be published anonymously. However, that alone won't get your point across. You should also write a book as a "reaction" to the anonymously published journal. This is a lot more work than just publicly publishing the journal. However, the people mentioned in the journal can't know who turned it in. After your parents died there was an estate sale where most of their possessions were sold right?"
"Yes?"
"Good. There's your claim to you not having possession of it. Does this all make sense?"
"Yes."
"Alright. Do you have any further questions regarding this legally?"
"How do I get it published anonymously?"
"That's a good question. Ms. Matsuri and I will look into our connections to find you a safe place. Any others?"
"No, sir."
"Okay, now I just have one for you if you don't mind?"
"Go ahead and ask."
"Why me specifically? I understand not going to a lawyer in your province as you never know who's under the mob's thumb. However, I just don't know why."
"I heard about you stepping down as a legal advisor to the former Kazekage about 19 years ago. I knew you had to be at least a slightly decent human being after that."
Utter shock fell upon his face.
"Is that all you wanted to know sir?"
Ms. Matsuri cut in. Finally, her boss shook off his surprise and began to resume normal cognitive functions.
"Yes. Now, Mr. Uchiha, it is safe to say our meeting has ended. We will be in contact again with further information regarding a publisher to go to. I bid you a good day and Ms. Matsuri will walk you out."
Sasuke stood shaking the man's hand once again. He made sure to thank him as he walked out.
"Do you need me to call a taxi service?"
"No, I got rideshare."
"Alright, well if you need anything else, call on the direct line number. Make sure it is the direct line, not the general office number. If anyone but me answers it was not the direct line."
"Isn't that the number I called when I set up the appointment?"
"Yes."
"Then I got it. Bye Ms. Matsuri."
"Wait, you still need your luggage bag from the front desk."
The woman quickly fetched his bags and brought them to him.
"Oh thanks."
With that, he got into the car waiting for him and headed to his hotel. A sigh of relief escaped as he finally took one step forward.
On a personal note, I hope you all are safe and healthy.