#and cracked myself up further by imagining it as their wedding photoshoot

[zephhhhh]

but you bet your life, every night while you're chasing the morning light you're not the only spy out there

[fortitude-sakura]

Noir [3/?]

“Promotions”, the ghost of past loves and family come to visit.

Rating: M

AO3

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SAI: When are you coming back to Konoha?

INO: august :) i can’t wait to see you

SAI: If you really can’t wait, why don’t you come back earlier?

INO: you know i would -kissyface-

INO: i have a few jobs booked until then

INO: gotta make that bank $$$

INO: sai?

SAI: I miss you.

INO: aw! i miss you too babe <3  

INO: i’ll bring back a big present for you

INO: promise!

SAI: I just want you all to myself when you’re here.

INO: haha of course ;)

INO: although I did promise sakura i’d have dinner with her as well

INO: that’s one dinner date I can’t miss.

INO: hey forehead :)

SAKURA: Hey pig. What’s up? How’s New York?

INO: Same old same old >_>

SAKURA: I’d hardly call it that, pig. It’s not as if every photoshoot you do is different.

INO: haha XD it’s not as glamorous as you think

INO: anyways i’m coming home in august

INO: dinner?

SAKURA: Sure, let me know closer to the date. Need a lift from the airport? I can borrow Tenten’s car.

INO: no it’s okay

INO: i have a ride

SAKURA: ;)

SAKURA: In both senses?

INO: you know it ;)

黑

“No personal texting when you’re on the clock, Haruno.”

Her Team Leader had been coming down on her hard since that meeting and everyone felt it. Sakura found it ironic that she’s being reprimanded for something as minor as sending a few texts and yet he had no problem sending her on personal errands for him (as punishment for the meeting).

Thankfully, next week that would be ending since the Intern Program forced interns to rotate departments to take on different work. ‘ To find the best fit for each candidate’ said the information packet.

She hadn’t told anyone what had happened. Not even Tenten, who would have fired up and told her to stick up for herself. As much as she would have liked to do that, she was only 3 months in to a 12 month internship and burning bridges now would only hurt her career long term.

She would however, have a glass of wine and watch reruns with Tenten when she got home.

黑

“You made it!” Izumi squeals happily, pulling Sasuke into a tight hug. “Come in!”

“Like either of you would let me live if I didn’t.” Sasuke says, as he takes off his shoes at the door.

“That’s for sure, little squirt.” Shisui says, taking advantage of Sasuke bent over and puts him in a head lock and ruffling his hair, “You know how much your brother loooooves you.”

Sasuke manages to get Shisui in the ribs, hard. Shisui howls in pain and Izumi laughs.  

The three of them had been inseparable since they were children and the bond between them only grew stronger. Both Shisui and Itachi were the kind of men who loved unconditionally, deeply and without restriction. Izumi had a big heart and wanted the best for his brother and Shisui. While Sasuke didn’t really understand how none of them imploded from jealousy (Sasuke himself was not the type of man to share), he couldn’t imagine them without each other - they were just that.

“Little brother.” Itachi says warmly, emerging from the kitchen.

Smiling, he walks into his brother’s embrace. “Happy birthday. I got you your favourite - 12 year old Kamazaki.”

“You spoil me. We’ll crack it open later.” Itachi says smiling, accepting the bottle of whisky. “Mother says she’s stuck in traffic. They’re going to be a bit late to dinner.”

Sasuke had known about the three of them for years but so had their parents. To his surprise, they had never made any off colour comments about their eldest son’s arrangement (as some relatives would call it).

Mikoto had been nonchalant about it - or at least seemed that way when Sasuke had overheard a hushed conversation between his parents.

“Anata, your son loves both Izumi and Shisui. You’ve known this ever since they were children. Was there ever a time they weren’t together?”

Fugaku hadn’t said anything - something he usually does when his wife is correct. Which is a lot of the time.

“Does his preference somehow change him?” she asked gently when Fugaku stayed silent a touch too long. “Does it stop Itachi from being the kind child he is?

“No.” said Fugaku firmly, “No, Itachi has always been a child that’s full of love. I hadn’t anticipated just how much.”

For Izumi and Shisui’s birthdays later that year, they were given with heirloom gifts - Mikoto’s pearl and diamond earrings and Fugaku’s sapphire and platinum cufflinks. Sasuke understood the importance of these gifts, especially the cufflinks from Father. It was their way of welcoming them into the family and to hell with the gossipy relatives.

The topic of weddings and children were never brought up - they all figured that they’d talk about it when they were ready to share.

Dinner consists of Itachi’s favourite dish - ochazuke. Even though technically it’s considered the kind of simple dish you make when you have next to nothing in the fridge but last night’s fish, Shisui’s version is anything but simple. The dashi is beautifully savoury and the fish fresh, the skin crispy. Shisui serves it with some of his homemade pickles, featuring vegetables he had grown himself. Sasuke doesn’t partake in dessert - unlike his brother, he isn’t much of a sweet tooth. Mikoto makes fun of Itachi and says that he’s eating too much of the Izumi’s Fluffy Cheesecake and that he’s getting chubby. Fugaku praises Shisui on the pickles and Shisui tells him to take some home with him as Izumi is getting sick of seeing all the canning jars in the fridge. It’s when Fugaku and Shisui are discussing gardening techniques (as Fugaku himself has taken to it) and Izumi is encouraging Mikoto to come to her yoga lessons that Sasuke notices his brother’s absence.

Sasuke finds his brother later in his study, nursing a glass of whisky. Escaping family gatherings for a few minutes with a glass of his favourite liquor was a habit of his.

Pouring himself a glass, he sits down in an armchair.

“Another year older.” Itachi muses. “You know, we’re thinking about trying.”

Sasuke raises an eyebrow. “Trying?” inviting Itachi to elaborate further.

“For a baby. Izumi isn’t getting any younger. She keeps making jokes about her body clock but I know she’s anxious.”

“Oh.” is all he can say. A million more questions flood his mind and he needs to ask the obvious.

“Whose?”

Itachi laughs. “Like I said, we’re just thinking of it. I know okaa-san wants a grandbaby to spoil.”

This was true. Mikoto had been teasing the three of them, asking them when she could expect a little bundle of joy. At first it had been just a casual question but the question was popping up with more frequency.

Itachi notices Sasuke making that weird frowny face. The one where lips make an almost frown and that frown line on his brother’s otherwise smooth forehead makes an appearance. He only makes this face when he wants to ask something but doesn’t know if he should.

“Go on, ask.” he says.

“Are you happy?” Sasuke blurts out and for a moment, he’s reminded of Sasuke as a child.  

“You’ll have to be a bit more specific.” Itachi says gently.

“Being here with Shisui and Izumi. Not having any part of the business anymore. Are you happy?”

Itachi smiles. Every once in a while, Sasuke would ask him about his lack of involvement in the company started by their father. He himself never once cared for business, although it so happened that he was good at people. All he ever remembered wanting was a quiet life with Shisui and Izumi. Business didn’t allow for that. Nor did it allow for Itachi’s softer, gentler nature. His little brother was much more suited to it. His stubborn streak, his eye for detail and his ability to remain collected in the face of difficult situations made him a natural candidate.

Of course, that’s not what the papers saw. The papers saw an ambitious younger son (indeed, Sasuke was ambitious in that he didn’t want to live in the shadows of his older brother) overthrow the elder son to take position as the Director of Uchiha Enterprises, leaving the elder to find a different vocation. What they didn’t know that Fugaku had never planned for Itachi to remain Director for multiple reasons. Fugaku only asked that Itachi take the role for a little while, so that Sasuke himself could learn about the business from the bottom up. Not to mention that Itachi’s complex relationship would be fodder for media vultures and he’d wanted to spare his elder son from the scrutiny. Fugaku knew his sons well and had enough faith in the both of them to run the business well (while he went with Mikoto on that trip around the world he had promised her when they had gotten married).

Itachi doesn’t think his father ever said any of that to Sasuke. Fugaku was never one for proud, sentimental words (at least not directly) even though he think that Father was secretly the most proud of his younger son. He does know that Sasuke does put a heavy burden on himself to uphold the Uchiha name and to run the business well - a self imposed burden.

“Yes, Sasuke. I’m happy.”

Time for you to find yours.

黑

From: Takaya Ito (itotakaya@uchihaenterprises.com) To: Sakura Haruno (harunosakura@uchihaenterprises.com) Subject: Internship Program - 2nd Quarter Placements

Hi Sakura,

I hope you’re enjoying your internship. As you are aware, interns will rotate roles and departments on a quarterly basis, with the eventual goal of finding the best fit for you at Uchiha Enterprises. The next quarter, you will be working under Director Uchiha as his executive assistant. Please see Keiko on Friday for handover.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Kind Regards,

Ito Takaya

黑

Sakura’s jaw clenches when she reads the email. Executive assistant.

She didn’t suffer through 3 years of university just to become someone’s coffee fetcher! This must be some kind of cruel and unusual punishment - from her Team Lead and from divine forces unknown.

The other interns organise a dinner, to celebrate getting through the first quarter of the program.

All the interns were being moved to various departments according to the disciplines they had majored in. Annoyingly enough, Toshiro is moved to a project team and was using the dinner to lord it over the other interns.

“No one fucking cares, Toshiro. So do us all a favour and shut up.” Ami says, having reached her patience quota for the night and downing her drink.

“Sakura, where are you going next?” Hiromi asks, leaning in.

For some reason, Hiromi reminds her of a vulture (a blonde vulture) and she isn’t sure if she doesn’t want to answer out of shame or because of Hiromi.

“Uhm, I’ll be working under the Director as his executive assistant.” she says quietly, moving the rest of her bean salad around on her plate.

She sees Hiromi’s jaw tighten. Sakura is sure Hiromi would have loved to be in her position, working under the Director and Sakura would have swapped with her gladly as Hiromi was also moved to a project team. The other interns are surprisingly sympathetic but she can’t seem to shake off Hiromi’s stares for the rest of the night.

When Friday morning rolls around, she heads to the 38th floor to find Keiko. She finds Akane at the front reception desk.

“Oh! Sakura! Welcome! My name is Akane. I’m the office manager here. We’ll be talking a lot. I organise meetings and run the office - make sure there’s enough ink in the printer that sort of thing.” Akane shakes her hand vigorously.

I hear you’ll be replacing Keiko. Director Uchiha’s office is that big one all the way out back. You’ll see Keiko at her desk just outside. Between you and me, as long as you get the Director’s coffee order right, he’ll be happier with you than with Keiko.” she says with a wink. “Good luck!”

Sakura finds Keiko at the desk, looking as bored as she did in that meeting a few weeks ago, flipping through what looks like the latest issue of Haute.

“Oh finally. You’re here. He’s not in yet.”

Keiko is blunt and to the point. There isn’t much to the handover - just the handful of appointments and a few dry cleaning tickets (although the pile of papers seem to suggest otherwise).

“Usually the Director already knows what meetings he has.” she says, shoving the last of her desk ornaments into a file box. “Thank fuck I won’t have to get any more coffee.”

“Where are you transferring to?” Sakura asks. She’s curious to know where on earth Keiko is going to warrant being replaced by an intern.

“Marketing. Anyway, good luck!” Keiko says with a smug, catlike smile before sauntering off with her file box, leaving Sakura at the desk.

Good luck, indeed.

黑

“Tenten-chan!”

“Yes?” Tenten puts down the fabric scissors and pokes her head out from the sewing room.

“Ah there you are!” the elderly Yoshikawa-san says, patting Tenten’s arm. “A very important customer is coming in this afternoon. Can I ask you to perform the fitting? Asahi is meeting another client.”

“Of course! Leave it to me.”

Tenten smoothed the suiting fabric she was working with that day. She hadn’t expected to find herself in this line of work - she had originally dreamed of becoming a traditional Chinese dancer. However a combination of lack of jobs and oversaturation of talent as well as her body proportions (she wasn’t the delicately emaciated maiden that most dance companies looked for) made it difficult. Luckily, over the years she had altered her own dance costumes and clothes which led her to  a part time alterations job at a dry cleaner’s to pay the bills which then led her here.

Sure, it wasn’t the career she had dreamt about, but it paid the bills and she was good at her job. She loved Yoshikawa’s little shop. It had all the original fittings - dark oak panelling, brass doorknobs and creaky doors with tinkling bells that chimed when customers walked in and out of the shop. On the glass window, ‘Yoshikawa & Sons’ was printed in a beautiful serif font.

Yoshikawa Inari was the best bespoke tailor in Konoha and Tenten considered herself incredibly fortunate that she works for him. Not very many bespoke tailors took on female apprentices but the Yoshikawa-san saw something in Tenten and decidedly hired her when no one else would. Yoshikawa-san was extraordinarily kind, humble and patient as he taught his craft to his grandson, Asahi. He treated Tenten as part of the family and would always give her a generous quarterly bonus.

She just about finished with the vest lining she was working on when the doorbell chimes.

“Ah welcome! I’ve been expecting you. Have you been well?” she hears Yoshikawa-san address the client. "How is your father?"

She hurries into the small kitchenette to prepare some tea while they make small talk. Placing two porcelain cups and the teapot on a wooden tray (all of which were antique), she walks out, almost dropping the tray in shock.

“Ah! This is my apprentice. She’s cute isn’t she?” Yoshikawa-san beams as he introduces them, “This is Hyuga Neji. You’ll be performing his fitting today. Tenten-chan? You look as if you’ve seen a ghost!”

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