Friends & Family   von dragonfighter
                           (The Clumsy & The Lonely)
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                      Kapitel 7: Step 7 - Parents In Law
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Parents-in-law prove to be both friends and enemies in a marriage. As friends
and family, they come up with tips and tricks to help you with advices and
possibly show you the right way. At the same time, they also want to be seen as
part of the family and therefore try to invite the newlyweds to dinner as often
as possible or to attend events together. They show themselves as an enemy who
want to get involved in their married life by all means.
 
It is quiet in the office, except for a pen scraping softly over some paper,
while the air conditioner ensures that the room is at a pleasantly cool
temperature. Sighing softly, the black haired man picks up the post-it pad to
write a few notes on and then sticks it in on a certain place on the sheet of
paper in front of him, continues to write and places them in other places.
Sometimes the drawings of the Kaseguchi are such a mess and he wonders if she
does it on purpose or if she just doesn’t care about some projects at all.
Although he has to admit that she has developed quite well in the recent years.
 
Sasuke folds the DIN A3 sheet in the middle and puts it back into the folder.
His gaze falls on the darkened room. It is not even noontime yet, but the sun is
already heating up the city. The Uchiha moves back a bit with his armchair and
finally rises to his feet. Turning around, he stands in front of his large
window, behind his desk, and looks through a slit of the blind at the city and
its skyline. He can literally see the steam rising from the roofs. He smiles
slightly amused. He could have been with Sakura on their honeymoon right now,
relaxing in a distant island and having a good time, or maybe sit in his new
villa by the pool. But he decided not to take a break and keep working even on
such a hot day.
 
He has been married to the Haruno for 5 days now. They have been living in the
villa for three days and many more will follow after. He briefly thinks of his
wife, who will probably be lying by the pool at home right now. It seems his
mother has chosen a very special young woman for him. A pretty, cheeky, young
lady who apparently also has brains. No wonder that his father is so
enthusiastic about the pink haired woman. He shakes his head with a sigh. Can he
really fulfill his mother's wish? Will he ever be able to have children with
Sakura? Annoyed, he rubs his hair and sits down again. He still has some
sketches to work on.
 
To his surprise, the day before, when he entered the office in the morning,
there wasn't so much work on his table. So that he even had time for a lunch
break, which has not happened too often until now. Most of the time he eats
nothing all day, because he does not prepare food to take it with him in the
first place. Neither does he buy anything for lunch and he doesn’t want to
constantly have to send his secretary to buy him something either. He doesn't
even want to start with that. He knows, his mother doesn't like it at all when
he eats so little, but he just doesn't have time for it and so far he had no
problems with it anyway.
 
A knock on the door lets the black haired man give a quick and scrutinizing look
at his schedule, to see if he may have arranged a meeting in his office,
throwing the sketch aside. "Come in." He says coolly as he reaches for the next
folder with more sketches in them. The door opens and closes again. The heels of
high heels echoing quietly through the room. The dark grey eyed man looks up.
Surprised, he looks at his mother, who stands in front of him in a summer
costume. "Mum, what are you doing here? Have a seat.“ He says immediately and
rises to get a glass from a cupboard on the side and pours some mineral water
for his mother.
 
The beautiful Uchiha sits down on one of the armchairs, which are available for
business partners or employees, and looks at her youngest son for a moment.
Sasuke looks awaiting at her as she sighs and raises her voice. "I don't know
what to think of this Sasuke. You’ve been married with Sakura since Friday.
You didn't fly on a honeymoon, which I understand because of Sakura studying,
but that you don't even stay at home with your newlywed wife for a week or at
least a few days and spend some time with her...“ The black haired woman
shakes her head.
 
„What am I supposed to do with her at home, mom?" He sighs and leans back in
his armchair. "Get to know each other, Sasuke. After all, you both are husband
and wife. You know I want you to be happy. And I know that Sakura could make you
happy, but for that you have to get to know each other, talk to each other and
do things together. Living in the same house is not enough in order to form a
bond. How do you even handle that so far?” His mother gives him a counter
question. "Each of us sleep in a different guest room and treat each other like
roommates." He explains to her a little indifferently. Mikoto nods and sighs
again. "You see? That’s exactly what I’m trying to say. You shouldn't feel
so indifferent about this. Of course it’s clear to me that you won’t be a
perfect couple in such a short time. Forming bonds need time. But you have to
work on it, just like Sakura has to work on it. But most importantly is that you
both have to work on it together.” It comes from his mother with an uplifting
smile.
 
"I'm sure I won't change, and I don't believe Sakura will change either." It
comes over the youngest Uchiha's lips. "Sasuke. To be married means to stay
yourself, just with the difference that you will do it together.“ Mikoto
explains. Her son looking at her in confusion. A laugh comes over her lips.
“You shouldn't change, but stay the way you are. After a while you will start
to like some of the things she does. You will start to like her the way she is
and that is called love. Love is to like someone the way they are, love
doesn’t change ones personality. Through love you will finds sides on yourself
which you haven’t discovered on your own yet. It can be a little scary under
certain circumstances, but you will continue to be yourself nonetheless.” She
explains to him, but still he looks at her with an indifferent look.
 
She lets out a sigh. "Sasuke, the secret of a happy marriage is to enjoy every
minute you have together, no matter how short these moments might be.” She
keeps explaining, while looking into her son's dark eyes. “But father was
almost never there. Every day he came home so late. When I was very young, I
hardly ever saw him except on weekends.” Sasuke replies in order to refuse her
statement. "Unlike you and Itachi, he had to manage both parts of the company on
his own and still made sure that he was home by 8:00 p.m. at the latest. He
checked on you and Itachi every night when you were asleep. He spent time with
you two and me and still managed to make this company so successful. You will
notice that work is not the most important thing in life.” She smiles lovingly
at him. Her son snorts softly. "I remember Itachi telling me the same thing
before too.” Sasuke explains, watching his mother shaking her head with a
slight smile on her lips. "You will notice it yourself when the time comes. I
hope so. I wish for it. I hope you find out what it's like to be happy. To have
a happy, functioning marriage and to be blessed with children.“ She says a
little softly and looks up at him again.
 
The black haired man sighs and supports his elbows on his table. "I'll go have
lunch with your father later. Do you want to come with us?” She explores quite
hopeful. Sasuke only shakes his head briefly at her question. "No, I have a lot
of work to do. Have a nice time.“ He declines with a slight smile. He sees his
mother nod before she gets up and walks towards the door. His eyes follow her
until she disappears through the door. With a sigh, he drops his head onto his
desk. While he regains doubts that he can ever fulfill his mother's wishes. He
knows that she wants him to fall in love. But he has no idea what that feeling
is, how it comes about and how it feels. He never fell in love before, after
all. Snorting, he straightens up again and examines the drawing in front of him.
What is he supposed to do with such a feeling?


 
~> * <~
 


Humming a song in her head, the pink haired woman runs her fingers through her
hair, using the chrome doors of the elevator as a mirror replacement. A white
costume adorns her body. The skirt reaches her knees, the corresponding top
looks like a short-sleeved blazer, with a belt at the waist, over a green top.
In her free hand she holds her portfolio with application documents and the
handles of her handbag. With a slight smile, she straightens her white pumps
before the elevator stops and the doors open. She leaves the elevator a bit
unsure and looks around. Wide corridors lead down to the left and right and
another wide corridor leads straight out. Company employees walk past her. She
looks around briefly when she discovers the one she is looking for. "Hello,
Sakura. Nice that you're here." The older man comes up to her and gives her a
quick hug. "Glad to see you Fugaku." She replies with a smile and lets him guide
her down the corridor. "Everything on the right side of the building belongs to
Itachi's realm, everything on the left belongs to Sasuke." Explains the head of
the Uchiha’s with a slight laugh. "But the two are on the higher floors above.
The other two elevators that you saw, both lead up to their floors, from there
there is a corridor directly leading to the offices.“ The man reports proudly
and finally opens a door at the end of the corridor. "Please after you." It
comes politely from him and lets her enter before he follows her and closes the
door behind him. "Have a seat." He then points to an armchair and takes a seat
in his office chair. The Haruno smiles thankfully at her father-in-law and
settles on the armchair. She hands him her portfolio, in which her curriculum
vitae and drivings of her project work and sketch samples are inside.
 
The Uchiha takes a quick look at her CV before drawing his attention to her
drawings. The pinkette looks around the office with interest until the head of
the company draws her attention back to himself. "So. What do you expect from
this interview?” He begins. She looks at him a little perplexed before smiling
slightly. "I hope to find a job in one of the largest and most successful
companies in the whole country." The Haruno replies with a smile. Fugaku nods
and smiles slightly before looking back at her drawings. "You really have
talent. And this level of detail. There's a little perfectionist in you.”
Compliments the Uchiha, looking back at her. "Only at work. Photos of my clay
work are in the back of the portfolio.” She explains shortly. Her
father-in-law immediately searches for the photos she mentioned, in order to
examine them. “Talented drawer and also modeling talent. I am impressed. There
would be no better place for you than in our company, and no better employee for
our company.“ Fugaku explains and pride flashes in his eyes before he closes
the folder.
 
“Actually, Sasuke is the one responsible for the creative area, but if I hire
someone he can't do anything about it. So how about you start as an industrial
designer at Uchiha Corporation in early July?” He suggests, handing her
portfolio back. After all he is still the head of the company. "With pleasure,
Fugaku." Sakura smiles joyfully. "Of course we keep it all secret from Sasuke."
The Uchiha winks at her before looking at the clock. He clears his throat for a
moment. “Mikoto and I want to have lunch in about 45 minutes. Would you like
to join us?“ He explores and looks at her kindly. "I’d be glad to." The
pinkette agrees with a smile. "I will also ask Itachi and Sasuke." Her
father-in-law says. "Okay. Uhm, Fugaku. How is it that Naruto could spend so
much time on the wedding preparations? Doesn't he have a job or...?“ She asks
carefully. Fugaku laughs slightly at her curiosity. “No, no, Naruto works for
us as a software programmer. Itachi had released him from work for that period
of time. You can go to him. He has his office on this floor, down the corridor
to the right of the elevator, following the corridor, the second door on the
right.” Fugaku explains as he picks up the phone to call his sons.
 
"Then we'll meet down at 12.30pm." She smiles at her silent father and leaves
the office. Smiling slightly, she follows the directions and returns to the
elevator, follows the passage to the left and at the end of the corridor turns
left again and then knocks on the second door on the right. She carefully enters
the office through the open door and stands waiting in front of the desk. "Wait
a minute." It comes from the blonde, tapping focussed on his keyboard as he
looks at the two screens. After a few minutes he sighs contentedly and then
turns around with his chair. "Yes?" He finally turns his head too. "Hello." The
pinkette responds with a smile. "Sakura! What are you doing here?” It comes
happily from the blonde, who rises and approaches her to give her a hug. "I had
a conversation with Fugaku." She says with a shrug. "Come on, sit down!"
Smiling, he points to the free armchair at his table. Sakura is happy to accept
the invitation and sink into said armchair.
 
"I wanted to thank you again for helping me with the wedding preparations." She
smiles at him. Naruto laughs softly and waves it off. "No thanks! At least I got
the chance to know you.“ He tells her with a grin. The pinkette laughs softly
at his words. “A charming, cheeky, young lady. I hope that you will really
make him fall for you hard.“ He says appreciatively. "As if anyone could ever
make that refrigerator fall for themselves." The Haruno says with doubt and
rolls her eyes. The blonde laughs again. "Believe me, if someone can do it, then
it’s you." he continues. "You put a lot of trust in me." She smiles
flattered.
 
"Naruto, you are not paid for chatting." a voice sounds from outside and another
man enters the room. Sakura looks up in surprise at the man, turning out to be
her brother-in-law. Naruto looks briefly from Itachi to Sakura and back again.
Now the black haired man turns to her. "Oh. Hello Sakura. If it’s you, then
it’s different of course.“ It comes from the Uchiha before he approaches her
and takes her in his arms for a moment. "I see." The pinkette laughs amused at
his change of mind. "Well then, I have to go straight away. Lunch.“ He says
and takes a step towards the door. "Oh it's so late. I will accompany you,
Itachi.“ Sakura says with a smile as she takes her bag and her things. "Bye
Naruto." She turns to the blonde before she follows her brother-in-law out of
the office to the elevators. Together they drive down and meet Fugaku and Mikoto
in the foyer. "Sakura. Nice to see you.” The Uchiha approaches her
daughter-in-law with delight and gives her a warm hug. "Then we can go." Fugaku
says and puts an arm around his wife. "Oh, are you accompanying us to dinner? Is
Sasuke coming too?” Itachi asks surprised, looking at his brother’s wife.
"Yes, I will accompany you, but without Sasuke. He has a lot of work to do.”
He sighs and shakes his head at her words. "What a shame to leave his wife to
eat alone with his family." The long haired man complains before they start
moving. Together they walk into the underground parking lot, from where they
drive downtown to a restaurant. 
 
In the restaurant the four of them sit at their table in the shade of an
umbrella. "And Sakura? How does it look like? Are you on July's payroll as
well?” Itachi asks interested and supports his elbows on the table. “Sakura
is truly talented. Even you would hire her without hesitation, Itachi. And if
Sasuke wouldn’t consider hiring her after a look at her work, I would
seriously have to deprive him of his position as the designer departments
boss.“ His father replies for the Haruno, who felt kinder embarrassed.
"That’s so wonderful." Mikoto says happily and takes a sip of her cold soda.
“It's just not nice for a mother to see her son neglect so many things because
of work. He forgets to eat and sometimes even sleeps too little. There are days
when he stays in the office until 9 or 10pm and I hope that will stop when he
knows that someone is waiting for him at home.” Mikoto lets out a sad sigh.
"He doesn't even take breaks." Fugaku agrees to his wife’s complaint. Itachi
smiles slightly. "Sakura can do it." He says with confidence. "I hope so."
Mikoto says with hope, while smiling at her daughter-in-law.
 
“Has Sasuke already entered your graduation ceremony into his schedule?” Her
father-in-law explores in order to change the subject. The pinkette looks at him
from the waiter who is serving the food. "Is it that important that he has to
put it on his schedule?" She asks a counter question. Itachi laughs softly at
her question. "If you want him to come, you have to make sure that it is on his
schedule. Otherwise he will completely forget it as he will be drowning in work
again.”
 
After almost an hour and a half, the pinkette returns to the Uchiha Corporation.
Two food boxes in her hands, her wallet and her handbag under her arm. A slight
smile lies on her lips as she stands in the elevator and waits for the
transportation to arrive on the desired floor. When she finally reaches it, she
overcomes the few meters and enters the office of her husband's best friend. She
smiles and places one of the food boxes on his table. The blonde looks up at her
in surprise. "Thank you. What is that for?” He explores with curiosity and
opens the lunch box. He looks in with interest and smiles slightly. "As a small
thank you for your energetic support." Sakura answers and smiles gratefully at
him. "And the second? Is it for you, so you want to eat with me?” He asks
further, eyeing her up. She laughs softly. "No. I was just eating with Fugaku,
Mikoto and Itachi. It's for Sasuke. If I won’t bring him his food, he won’t
eat anything all day long.” The pinkette sighs with a shake of her head after
explaining him the reason. Naruto nods understanding.
 
"Yes, yes. Sasuke likes to forget things like that. It’s really nice that you
take care that he gets something to eat.” The Uzumaki says at her
thoughtfulness. "I just hope that at some point he will appreciate that." The
Haruno mumbles and turns around. "It will be fine." The blonde's voice sounds
reassuring. "Thanks Naruto. I'll see you around.“ She waves goodbye to him and
then leaves his office. Smiling slightly, she wants to set off on the way to her
husband when she thinks of something else. "Um. What is the best way to get to
Sasuke's office?” She explores somewhat embarrassed. The blonde grins at her
slightly. "The best thing to do is to walk along the corridor right up to the
elevator on the other side and drive all the way up, then all you need to do is
follow the corridor. But can you do me a favor?” It comes from the Uzumaki as
he watches his new gained friend nod with a smile. “Go into his office without
knocking. He'll think it's me. You have to tell me what he looked like when he
realizes that it wasn’t me.” He says and winks at the green eyed woman. She
laughs at his childish requests and nods.
 
Then she turns away from the man and follows his directions. She looks around
with interest. After all, she'll be going in and out of this building daily from
next month on. She smiles friendly at the staff and occasionally greets a few.
She follows the hallway to the elevator, which she then uses to go up the
floors. On her way to the office of the head of the creative departments, she
passes many offices, and many corridors separate from the hallway to offices.
Slowly she approaches the end of the hall and after a short knock enters the
room. A woman greets her inside, but Fugaku is there to surprise her. "Ah,
Sakura. I'm just making sure that Sasuke comes to your graduation.“ Her
father-in-law smiles as she has closed the door behind her. The pinkette nods
understandingly and briefly examines the secretary with whom Fugaku speaks about
Sasuke’s schedule. "Hello Mrs. Haruno." she smiles briefly.
 
The green eyed greets back friendly when she knows from where she knows the
face. She had also been at their wedding party. Sakura smiles and approaches the
second door in the room. She pauses briefly in front of the door, listening to
whether he's talking to someone. "You can go inside. He doesn't have a meeting
right now.” The woman explains at her hesitance. The Haruno smiles gratefully
and then opens the door without knocking, just as she had been directed by
Naruto. She quickly closes the door again and is careful not to draw attention
to her high heels. "What do you want Naruto?" The Uchiha asks without looking
up. He looks intently at the tablet and changes something in the file. "So
either you say what you want, or you go again. Pick one to choose.” He
continues. When he doesn't hear the door or his best friend's voice, he finally
decides to look up. Dumbfounded and perplexed, he looks at his wife, who is
standing in front of him and is definitely not his best friend. "What are you
doing here?" He asks surprised. The Haruno grins and presses the trigger on her
smartphone, with which she takes a picture of him. Confused, he shakes his head
and continues to watch her, awaiting her answer. "Making sure that you get
something into your stomach.” She explains and places the lunch box on his
table. Sasuke sighs. "I said you don't need to do that. You are not my
mother.“ He repeats his statement from a few days ago. The Haruno just smiles
at him. "If you want I can go back and give the lunch box to your mother, so she
can bring you the food instead." Sakura replies with a quick shrug.
 
The Uchiha raises his eyebrow questioningly. "What are you doing here anyway?"
He changes the subject. "I was eating with your family. Incidentally, on one
hand it is rude to refuse something like this and to let your wife go there
alone and on the other hand it also seems a bit strange in public when I go out
to eat with your family but you aren’t there.” She points out. "Nobody told
me that you would be there for the meal. You also didn't inform me that
something like that was planned.“ It comes from him now. "It was supposed to
be kind of a surprise, but it doesn't matter anymore. I didn't know that I had
to inform you so that you could eat with your parents.“ She sighs and shakes
her head. "And what did you take the photo for?" He asks now that he remembers
it. A grin settles on her lips. “I came to your office without knocking,
following Naruto's instructions. He wanted me to describe your facial expression
to him when you noticed that I'm not him. So yes. I think this photo expresses
your reaction very well. And besides, I will always have something to laugh
about when I'm bored or something.“ She says cheekily and slowly approaches
the door.
 
"So you’re welcome. And you don't have to appreciate it in any way that I
bring you something to eat.” It comes sarcastically over her lips as she puts
her hand on the doorknob. "I'll see you in case you should come home today. Or
if I’m even still awake at that time.” She says and opens the door. Without
another word, she leaves the room. Still looking a bit confused, he looks at his
office door before putting his documents aside and pulling the box towards him.
When he has removed the chopsticks above the closure and opens the box, the
steam hits him immediately mixed with the smell of the food. "Che. As if I would
starve to death if I don't eat from time to time.” He says as he picks up the
box and leans back in his armchair.

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