Fanfic: The Office, Part 6
Title: The Office, Part 6/?
Author: meepers369
Summary: AU. Ino can’t help but feel miffed regarding Shikamaru’s duty to escort the Chicago representative around the office.
Read the chapter on Fanfiction.net
Read Previous: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
In the next few days, very little changed. Shikamaru still took Temari around the office, who continued sitting in on various meetings with her little black notebook and asking piercing questions. Ino didn't see Temari much except for the occasional meeting in the hallway.
She noticed, however, that Shikamaru seemed to be hanging around her department more. He still didn't come to their afternoon sojourns with Chouji, nor did he ever bring up her lunch invitation, nor did he stay late to offer her a ride home again, but he would stop by occasionally while she was working. Sometimes, he was silent and would nod when she looked at him, but other times he would stop and chat with her. One morning, he actually complimented her work.
"I saw the report. Congrats on the new product launch," he said casually. "You did good work." Ino was so surprised that she merely stared at him without saying anything for a few seconds. She felt a big grin working its way onto her face, and remembered her manners.
"Thank you," she said, smiling brightly. Shikamaru nodded awkwardly, then hastily walked away.
…
To his chagrin, Shikamaru began realizing how little time he got to see Ino around the office, and that he actually cared about not seeing her. Without being able to have his usual afternoon meet-ups with Chouji and Ino, he hardly saw either of them. This was a stark contrast to childhood, when the three of them were always together, whether they wanted to be or not.
So Shikamaru would casually drop into Ino's department when he didn't have to take Temari around. The Temari girl didn't need him with him, not really, but she nevertheless insisted he accompany her wherever she went. It was getting slightly annoying, but the quiet, disappointed look she would give him cowed him in a way not unlike Ino's fierce glare would make him feel. Nevertheless, in his sparing gaps of free time, he would casually pass by Ino's department, which would always happen to be on his way to Chouji's office. He would watch Ino scold an unwitting intern, seeing overlapping memories of himself and Chouji scolded in the same way, but softened into the current, adult Ino.
...
"May I present our next company social," boomed Gai to a room full of company employees, interns, managers, and a haggered-looking Tsunade. "The winter Semi-Formal Formal! The theme will be…" pausing for dramatic effect, Gai happily savored the expectant faces, gleeful at their sure-to-be enthusiasm and YOUTHFUL reactions…
"…HAREBELLS!"
At the word, Lee excitedly jumped on top of the table, wearing of all things, bunny ears. Even his usual green spandex was white. Gai stood beside him, flashing his unending grin and shoved a thumbs-up to the crowd. As if on cue, the rest of the social committee began ringing tiny bells.
Everyone gaped. Just when you thought you finally got used to them, they come up behind you and surprise you with a good kick to the frontal lobe...
"Does this mean everything is going to be RABBIT themed?" called out a loud voice crossly.
"Very astute of you!" Gai beamed at the young intern. Surely his loudness was a sign of his enthusiasm! "In fact, it is doubly themed! A clever wordplay, bringing in the hare from the Chinese zodiac calendar, the bells as a effervescent symbol of winter!"
"And the overall word sounding like hairballs?" A few snickers following the snide comment were silenced when Lee nodded enthusiastically.
"Wow! I didn't even think of that! Gai, our semi-formal Formal is going to have to be TRIPLE THEMED now! We must plan for this new clever angle!" The commenter looked appalled, the others around him laughed nervously. You just can't win with those two. Hares and bells, the company could take in stride, but hairballs?
"The date is set for Saturday next! We hope you can enjoy this weekend to plan and impress us with suitably themed costumes--"
"--COSTUMES?!" cried another unwitting intern before those around him shushed him and laughed quietly at his outraged expression...
"--of which, our department will of course have numerous suggestions! However, please keep in mind that this is a semi-formal Formal, which means you will need to dress PG." Gai glanced severely at Kakashi, who merely blinked one eye innocently back.
"Also, this semi-formal Formal will double a farewell party to our lovely Miss Temari, who will be returning to the windy city of Chicago!" Lee's bunny's ears seemed to actually droop as he made this statement. Everyone whipped their heads to look at her, who seemed faintly embarrassed by all the sudden attention. Lee's ears seemed to perk up and…waggle? "We have, of course, a surprise prepared for her!" Everyone immediately took out their iPhones, Blackberries, Androids, and antiquated notebook planners to input a reminder. When Lee and Gai threw a party, threw a party, it was worth it to go, even if it was strangely-themed. Particularly if it was strangely themed. Stories from the paper-mache party still was a popular topic around the break room; saying the word "balloons" with the proper pitch and intonation could melt a somber meeting into hearty laughter.
And if there was going to be a surprise involved…well, that guaranteed everyone's attendance.
...
Chouji found Ino consoling her interns. "No, you don't actually have to wear costumes. That's normally just a Lee-and-Gai thing," she soothed one skeptical intern. "Just wear what you'd normal wear to a semi-formal. A suit, nice dress…preferably find a good date…"
"And prepare to be spectacularly entertained," added Chouji, grinning wildly, jingling lightly.
"Chouji!" Ino grinned happily back. "Why are you jingling?"
"I'm here to deliver your invitation, ho ho ho. They have to be appreciated in person, we put may too much work into making these." Chouji reached into his bag and handed one to everyone present. Each invitation was simply beautiful, a calligraphic rabbit serving as the background, and a tiny bell attached by a silver ribbon on top.
"Some of us like to collect these invitations since they're so beautiful," admitted Ino to her interns, who were wonderingly jingling their invitation. "And you can be sure there will be good food, since Chouji's family is catering…"
"Of course!" Chouji's grin took on a dreamy look.
"But really Chouji, hairballs?"
…
Temari actually looked nervous, Shikamaru realized. When Chouji had stopped by to deliver their invitations, she had been stiffer than usual in thanking him. She had been graver than normal when she predictably questioned Chouji regarding the event, the expectations, and the choosing of the theme. When Chouji left looking a little dazed at the barrage of questions, Shikamaru could detect a faint sense of tension around Temari. He sighed loudly.
"If you're worried about Lee and Gai forcing some ridiculous hairball costume on you, don't worry. They're harmless. Usually."
Temari smiled slightly. She still looked apprehensive. Well, he did his consoling-by-cheering up part. Women were just too troublesome. They sat in silence, each sifting through their respective notes and paperwork.
"You'll escort me to this semi-formal, of course," stated Temari to the silence, rather loudly. Shikamaru looked up from his papers, startled.
"What?" Escort? Like a date? Is that what a semiformal entailed? Shikamaru groaned to himself. Of course something as troublesome as finding a date would come up. But here, Temari was asking for him to be an escort. He could be an escort. It was what he'd been doing all these days anyway. An escort wasn't something that would set off annoying things like rumors and stupid gossip, like a date would. Though he had been uncomfortably aware of the beginnings of gossip by certain silly giggles the intern girls would let out whenever the two passed by together. Maybe even being an escort wasn't safe. Maybe he better tell this girl, no, can't do it, not going to this thing at all.
Temari, meanwhile, took his silence as agreement. "Good. You'll have to come help me find proper attire for this event, though. I didn't bring anything like this. This way, I can ensure that we will match." Shikamaru gaped at her. Matching? Wait, this was sounding more like a date! And he didn't agree yet! He would agree to be an escort, but not a date. If he was supposed to get a date for this stupid thing, he would want…
"Pick me up Sunday morning at 10? We can probably finish by dinner." Temari looked at him with such a fierce look that he automatically nodded. In response, Temari revealed a soft, shy smile that looked almost out of place in her fierce persona. Shikamaru felt almost…well, felt something, at least. "See you then." With a final nod, Temari strode out of the office, leaving behind a very confused Shikamaru. Somehow, he felt as lost as a 16-year old boy, going to his first prom.
…
Meanwhile, two hallways down, a certain blonde was cheerfully skipping to his destination. It's going to happen today, he knew. He could feel that today was an auspicious day, that everything was going to work out like he hoped for.
"No Naruto, I will not go to the semi-formal with you."
"B-b-but Sakura! I didn't even ask yet!" With one menacing look, the pink-haired girl sent Naruto into retreat. So maybe today wasn't so auspicious. Another day, then.
…
…
…
Note: Thank you everyone for being so patient! I know I'm not the best with updating, but I've only been managing to be inspired by Naruto and write during my winter break. However, for those of you who treat incomplete stories with apprehensive-- never fear, I will see the story to the end, even if it takes me a few years to post the next chapter again. :P
Read the next part.
Author: meepers369
Summary: AU. Ino can’t help but feel miffed regarding Shikamaru’s duty to escort the Chicago representative around the office.
Read the chapter on Fanfiction.net
Read Previous: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
In the next few days, very little changed. Shikamaru still took Temari around the office, who continued sitting in on various meetings with her little black notebook and asking piercing questions. Ino didn't see Temari much except for the occasional meeting in the hallway.
She noticed, however, that Shikamaru seemed to be hanging around her department more. He still didn't come to their afternoon sojourns with Chouji, nor did he ever bring up her lunch invitation, nor did he stay late to offer her a ride home again, but he would stop by occasionally while she was working. Sometimes, he was silent and would nod when she looked at him, but other times he would stop and chat with her. One morning, he actually complimented her work.
"I saw the report. Congrats on the new product launch," he said casually. "You did good work." Ino was so surprised that she merely stared at him without saying anything for a few seconds. She felt a big grin working its way onto her face, and remembered her manners.
"Thank you," she said, smiling brightly. Shikamaru nodded awkwardly, then hastily walked away.
…
To his chagrin, Shikamaru began realizing how little time he got to see Ino around the office, and that he actually cared about not seeing her. Without being able to have his usual afternoon meet-ups with Chouji and Ino, he hardly saw either of them. This was a stark contrast to childhood, when the three of them were always together, whether they wanted to be or not.
So Shikamaru would casually drop into Ino's department when he didn't have to take Temari around. The Temari girl didn't need him with him, not really, but she nevertheless insisted he accompany her wherever she went. It was getting slightly annoying, but the quiet, disappointed look she would give him cowed him in a way not unlike Ino's fierce glare would make him feel. Nevertheless, in his sparing gaps of free time, he would casually pass by Ino's department, which would always happen to be on his way to Chouji's office. He would watch Ino scold an unwitting intern, seeing overlapping memories of himself and Chouji scolded in the same way, but softened into the current, adult Ino.
...
"May I present our next company social," boomed Gai to a room full of company employees, interns, managers, and a haggered-looking Tsunade. "The winter Semi-Formal Formal! The theme will be…" pausing for dramatic effect, Gai happily savored the expectant faces, gleeful at their sure-to-be enthusiasm and YOUTHFUL reactions…
"…HAREBELLS!"
At the word, Lee excitedly jumped on top of the table, wearing of all things, bunny ears. Even his usual green spandex was white. Gai stood beside him, flashing his unending grin and shoved a thumbs-up to the crowd. As if on cue, the rest of the social committee began ringing tiny bells.
Everyone gaped. Just when you thought you finally got used to them, they come up behind you and surprise you with a good kick to the frontal lobe...
"Does this mean everything is going to be RABBIT themed?" called out a loud voice crossly.
"Very astute of you!" Gai beamed at the young intern. Surely his loudness was a sign of his enthusiasm! "In fact, it is doubly themed! A clever wordplay, bringing in the hare from the Chinese zodiac calendar, the bells as a effervescent symbol of winter!"
"And the overall word sounding like hairballs?" A few snickers following the snide comment were silenced when Lee nodded enthusiastically.
"Wow! I didn't even think of that! Gai, our semi-formal Formal is going to have to be TRIPLE THEMED now! We must plan for this new clever angle!" The commenter looked appalled, the others around him laughed nervously. You just can't win with those two. Hares and bells, the company could take in stride, but hairballs?
"The date is set for Saturday next! We hope you can enjoy this weekend to plan and impress us with suitably themed costumes--"
"--COSTUMES?!" cried another unwitting intern before those around him shushed him and laughed quietly at his outraged expression...
"--of which, our department will of course have numerous suggestions! However, please keep in mind that this is a semi-formal Formal, which means you will need to dress PG." Gai glanced severely at Kakashi, who merely blinked one eye innocently back.
"Also, this semi-formal Formal will double a farewell party to our lovely Miss Temari, who will be returning to the windy city of Chicago!" Lee's bunny's ears seemed to actually droop as he made this statement. Everyone whipped their heads to look at her, who seemed faintly embarrassed by all the sudden attention. Lee's ears seemed to perk up and…waggle? "We have, of course, a surprise prepared for her!" Everyone immediately took out their iPhones, Blackberries, Androids, and antiquated notebook planners to input a reminder. When Lee and Gai threw a party, threw a party, it was worth it to go, even if it was strangely-themed. Particularly if it was strangely themed. Stories from the paper-mache party still was a popular topic around the break room; saying the word "balloons" with the proper pitch and intonation could melt a somber meeting into hearty laughter.
And if there was going to be a surprise involved…well, that guaranteed everyone's attendance.
...
Chouji found Ino consoling her interns. "No, you don't actually have to wear costumes. That's normally just a Lee-and-Gai thing," she soothed one skeptical intern. "Just wear what you'd normal wear to a semi-formal. A suit, nice dress…preferably find a good date…"
"And prepare to be spectacularly entertained," added Chouji, grinning wildly, jingling lightly.
"Chouji!" Ino grinned happily back. "Why are you jingling?"
"I'm here to deliver your invitation, ho ho ho. They have to be appreciated in person, we put may too much work into making these." Chouji reached into his bag and handed one to everyone present. Each invitation was simply beautiful, a calligraphic rabbit serving as the background, and a tiny bell attached by a silver ribbon on top.
"Some of us like to collect these invitations since they're so beautiful," admitted Ino to her interns, who were wonderingly jingling their invitation. "And you can be sure there will be good food, since Chouji's family is catering…"
"Of course!" Chouji's grin took on a dreamy look.
"But really Chouji, hairballs?"
…
Temari actually looked nervous, Shikamaru realized. When Chouji had stopped by to deliver their invitations, she had been stiffer than usual in thanking him. She had been graver than normal when she predictably questioned Chouji regarding the event, the expectations, and the choosing of the theme. When Chouji left looking a little dazed at the barrage of questions, Shikamaru could detect a faint sense of tension around Temari. He sighed loudly.
"If you're worried about Lee and Gai forcing some ridiculous hairball costume on you, don't worry. They're harmless. Usually."
Temari smiled slightly. She still looked apprehensive. Well, he did his consoling-by-cheering up part. Women were just too troublesome. They sat in silence, each sifting through their respective notes and paperwork.
"You'll escort me to this semi-formal, of course," stated Temari to the silence, rather loudly. Shikamaru looked up from his papers, startled.
"What?" Escort? Like a date? Is that what a semiformal entailed? Shikamaru groaned to himself. Of course something as troublesome as finding a date would come up. But here, Temari was asking for him to be an escort. He could be an escort. It was what he'd been doing all these days anyway. An escort wasn't something that would set off annoying things like rumors and stupid gossip, like a date would. Though he had been uncomfortably aware of the beginnings of gossip by certain silly giggles the intern girls would let out whenever the two passed by together. Maybe even being an escort wasn't safe. Maybe he better tell this girl, no, can't do it, not going to this thing at all.
Temari, meanwhile, took his silence as agreement. "Good. You'll have to come help me find proper attire for this event, though. I didn't bring anything like this. This way, I can ensure that we will match." Shikamaru gaped at her. Matching? Wait, this was sounding more like a date! And he didn't agree yet! He would agree to be an escort, but not a date. If he was supposed to get a date for this stupid thing, he would want…
"Pick me up Sunday morning at 10? We can probably finish by dinner." Temari looked at him with such a fierce look that he automatically nodded. In response, Temari revealed a soft, shy smile that looked almost out of place in her fierce persona. Shikamaru felt almost…well, felt something, at least. "See you then." With a final nod, Temari strode out of the office, leaving behind a very confused Shikamaru. Somehow, he felt as lost as a 16-year old boy, going to his first prom.
…
Meanwhile, two hallways down, a certain blonde was cheerfully skipping to his destination. It's going to happen today, he knew. He could feel that today was an auspicious day, that everything was going to work out like he hoped for.
"No Naruto, I will not go to the semi-formal with you."
"B-b-but Sakura! I didn't even ask yet!" With one menacing look, the pink-haired girl sent Naruto into retreat. So maybe today wasn't so auspicious. Another day, then.
…
…
…
Note: Thank you everyone for being so patient! I know I'm not the best with updating, but I've only been managing to be inspired by Naruto and write during my winter break. However, for those of you who treat incomplete stories with apprehensive-- never fear, I will see the story to the end, even if it takes me a few years to post the next chapter again. :P
Read the next part.