"All empty souls tend toward extreme opinion."

W.B. Yeats

Itachi stood in his room looking at his reflection in the mirror. Only one last thing missing. Opening the drawer at his left he grabbed the cufflinks made from black gold with the Uchiha emblem on them that his mother had given him the day he assumed the position of CEO in the company before she passed away.

He had never used them before; it was not the right moment.

Eight years ago he had promised himself that he would do everything to prove he was worthy of being in that position on his own merits and not only because his father had handed him his position.

It had been difficult to a point where he felt he wouldn't make it, with only twenty eight everyone in the board considered him more a liability than anything else, always pointing out his inexperience in the industry to try to bring him down, because it was no secret that the board wasn't very trilled to have him as CEO after he was abandoned the company for over three years when he had thought he really didn't want to follow on his father's footsteps. The thought of leaving everything behind to be with his lover had been a better choice for him at the time. Yet he had come back to do what his father asked of him.

And looking back, maybe that would be the only regret in his life. Walking away from his lover as if it had been the easiest thing to do.

Often he had thought of giving him a call, always trying to find the right words to apologize for what he had done, to ask him to go away with him like he had been asked in the past. But every time he picked up the phone his resolve shattered and he would promise himself that next time he would surely do it.

Now he didn't think the call would be answered nor returned. It made him wonder what had been of him after he left. Was he still the same person he was before? His dream of going away had become true?

But above everything, he always wondered if he had found someone else to be with...something not even he knew if he wanted an answer. He really wished he had explained why he left and why he married 'her', but he never got the courage to face him.

The echo from his brother's car caught his attention and instinctively he turned to look at the window. Seeing his brother car coming down the gravel driveway brought him back to the present. Now it was no time to dwell in the past, as sad as it was he couldn't go back to the happiest days of his live.

Checking his appearance, again, he was satisfied and turned around walking out of the room. Taking the stairs down he got to the foyer where one of the maids informed him that his brother had just arrived and was waiting for him outside by the party with his companion.

So he did bring someone. Itachi thought surprised and watched the maid leave with Sasuke' coat.

Sasuke had informed him he would bring someone special but Itachi had his own doubts, considering his brother had never showed interest in anyone before it was hard to believe that he would actually bring someone.

Itachi made his way out to the terrace that lead to the back gardens where the party was being held. Inside the estate it was easy to mute the sound of the music and the voices that filled the air, but once outside it was impossible to miss the celebration.

Today's event was not only to celebrate his birthday but his anniversary as CEO, so instead of doing the private celebration he always did, he had decided to listen to Sasuke's idea of making a bigger event. Which he had to admit was going better than he had envisioned.

Sasuke had taken care of everything, and Itachi had been surprised at the time his brother had invested on it. He didn't know when or how but his brother had managed to organize everything without a single detail being overseen. The champagne brought from a private France collection, the banquet done by one of the finest and more exclusive caterings in the country, the invitations handmade and crafted for each one of the guest. Sasuke hadn't spared a cent to make of this event the perfect one.

Once by the stairs he saw that Sasuke was standing just at the bottom of the stairs with a champagne glass for him on his hand that he extended to Itachi when he reached him.

"I feel congratulations are on order" Sasuke said lifting his own glass before taking a sip from it.

"I would like to say the same." Itachi answered and chuckled when Sasuke lifted an eyebrow in a silent question "Well, the party is obviously a success and it seems that I'll finally get to know who has my brother's attention to the point that he would come late for the first time."

"You were still inside when I arrived, don't tell me I was late" Sasuke rolled his eyes but Itachi could hear his amusement. "Fifteen minutes barely count as being late. And for the record he made me drive to the other side of the city to get a present for you"

Wait...He?

"It is thoughtful of...him." Sasuke hummed in agreement and Itachi was so glad he managed to hide his surprise about his brother's companion. "I didn't think you would leave him alone in between the so many guests we have today."

Sasuke chuckled at Itachi's comment. It was difficult not to think that leaving someone alone with the people in the party was dangerous, the people around them were more like vultures than anything else. Politician's, investors, shareholders and such were the people invited, people that valued the worth of a person by how much money they could make for them. Business was their motto of course Itachi would be concerned about someone being alone."Don't worry if it comes to that he is more than capable of holding his ground. I'd be more worried about them"

"You sound confident about it. Is this person that interesting?" Itachi didn't miss the way Sasuke smiled wickedly at his words and he wondered what kind of person this mysterious companion was.

"You will find out he is more than interesting after getting to know him" Sasuke said and drank the last of his champagne. Handing his glass to a passing waiter he turned around to look at the estate "I think he got lost on his way out from the rest room, I'll go find him"

"Go ahead"

Sasuke just nodded and climbed the stairs again. Itachi looked at his brother's back until he reached the top before turning his attention to the people in the garden. It was time to socialize.

After walking around greeting and being congratulated by some of the guests he finally got in conversation with Kakashi who instead of trying to talk about work was trying to gossip about Sasuke's date. No surprise on that, it was Kakashi after all.

"Rumor has it they have been together for a while. But how true could that be, Sasuke hasn't been here for too long after his stay in Australia." Kakashi said while eating one of the canapés by the table on his side. "Unless he met her in there, Japan and China are out of question considering the short time he spent there. Less than three months between them."

"It's difficult to say, I myself only knew about it until a few days ago when he mentioned he wouldn't be coming alone."Itachi looked once again to the stairs expecting his brother to be there already but there was no sign of him.

"You better than anyone know that he likes to keep almost everything to himself"

"And yet there are rumors about it."

"One of my colleagues affirms he saw him dining with a rather gorgeous red haired lady a couple of nights ago"

Itachi had to laugh at that comment. People would never end to amuse him. "And you believe that?"

"No, not really" Kakashi said taking one more canapé from the table looking at it as if it was the most interesting thing in the world. "Considering I also overheard one lady in the office gossiping about him having lunch with a brunette"

"You sure happen to know a lot of the gossip that goes around about Sasuke"

"Not hard to miss it when that's all everyone is talking about now. I think even the media got on that trend a while ago"

"It didn't lasted long considering Sasuke never gave them material to work with at the time." the raven shrugged, it wasn't even worth worrying about what the media speculated about his brothers love life, even Sasuke hadn't been worried at the time and had just brushed it off.

"And that's one of the reasons he is the center of gossip, always the mysterious one."Kakashi chuckled an accepted the glass being offered from one of the waiters. "I wonder what kind of lady he will bring"

"You will be surprised" At least it had been for him when he had heard it from his brother.

"Is she that bad?" Kakashi joked and he could see the amusement in Itachi's eyes.

"I haven't seen his companion yet. But for what he just told me I was surprised." Truthfully he had never expected for Sasuke to be going out with another man, not that he would oppose, it was just completely unexpected and to be honest it had caught him off guard. This meeting was going to be rather interesting.

Itachi turned around giving his back to the stairs when a waiter changed his glass for a new one, and he was startled when Kakashi choked with the canapé.

"Is everything okay?

"No wonder you told me I was going to be surprised" the man said ignoring Itachi's question looking to the far side of the garden where Sasuke had finally made himself present. And he was not alone.

Itachi considered himself a man ready to face any situation. He had proved that eight years ago. Cold minded, serious and with nerves of steel he had managed to become the man he was today.

Yet, nothing in the world could have prepared him for that moment.

He turned around seeing his brother walking to them, hands on his pockets with a smile itachi had never seen before. When he directed his look to the person that was walking by Sasuke's side his eyes widened and he did let his glass fall down startling the people around them, immediately two waiters were there picking up the broken glass.

This had to be a dream...a nightmare even...whatever it was, Itachi just wanted to wake up.

Hadn't he just been thinking about him?

Fate was such a cruel thing.

They came closer and there was no doubt in his mind that he already knew him. Itachi could hear them talking, surely introductions were being made, yet, his attention was completely focused on the other person, who until now hadn't spared him a glance.

It was then when those eyes turned to look at him and he realized everyone was looking at him.

"You will have to excuse my brother. I assure he is more talkative than now" Sasuke said and Itachi didn't miss the bitterness in his tone.

"You can't blame him for being surprised, even I find it hard to believe it" Kakashi laughed softly "I bet nobody here ever thought you would actually be going out with someone that is actually real."

"Don't get angry at him. I bet you would be the same if you had been on his place." The man said and extended his hand at Itachi "Uzumaki Naruto"

Itachi took his hand and gave it a shake. "Uchiha Itachi"

"It's a pleasure to be able to meet you. Sasuke has spoken very highly of you."

"I'm sorry I can't say the same about you."

"Don't worry, we decided it was better to keep it as a secret until we decided we actually were more serious about us."

"I feel like the father getting to know the future husband of my daughter" Kakashi mocked and Sasuke just glared at him, while Naruto laughed.

"Yeah, it certainly feels like that"

"So with what will you bribe me to get his hand? Because I can't let go of my precious daughter just like that."

"Well, I hear you are an avid follower of Jiraiya's work. I could get you a copy of the next book before it gets out, I got to know him a few years ago and that old pervert owes me a few favors"

"My my, you sure know how to get me on your good side" Kakashi turned to look at Sasuke who just looked annoyed at their conversation "Sasuke I believe Naruto will be a great husband for you"

"First, I'm not the daughter. If anything that's Naruto's role."Naruto rolled his eyes and Kakashi chuckled, Sasuke would always be the drama queen to his eyes" And second, where did you left the gift moron?"

"I placed it in one of the tables inside the house befoire going to the restroom, but I couldn't find on my way out" Sasuke looked at him in disbelieve "Hey, you can't blame me for that one, your house should also be on Google maps, i barely could find the exit on my own"

"Don't you say." Sasuke smirked and Naruto glared at him, something that made Sasuke chuckle "Just wait here, I'll go look for it"

Sasuke walked away and Kakashi took the chance to glance at Itachi who was giving an odd look to Naruto, as if expecting for him to say something in particular. Maybe he could find it out from Naruto."So how long have you known each other, Naruto?"

"For about three years" Naruto scratched his nose already guessing what they were going to say

"Three years already? And until now you both saw you guys were being serious about each other?" And he had been right.

"Well, we actually have only two years going out, but I met him in London and since then we kind off started seeing each other."

"London?" Itachi asked but even Kakashi could see he was surprised he had asked it out loud.

"Yes, I was doing some business there and we were staying in the same hotel so we ran into each other a few times."

"I never knew he had gone to London" Kakashi shrugged.

"Actually it was just before he went to Australia. I had another business there and he decided to accompany me." Kakashi was actually surprised about that but Naruto didn't seem to notice it and kept talking "After that we kind of followed each other around. My job is much more permissive on where I should be rather than his."

"You are an artist, right?" Kakashi asked more as a way to confirm it than anything else. It was hard not to think of Naruto as being an artist when he was dressing like that- in black suede trousers and an open-necked black shirt with a garnet scarf wrapped around his neck. It was all rather too arty type to think Naruto was a lawyer or something of the like.

"Is it obvious?" Naruto laughed feeling slightly embarrassed by what he was wearing. All around him, people were dressed in thousand dollar suits or dresses with accessories just as expensive. So his choice hadn't been one of his best ideas to fit in. "Sorry about this, Sasuke told me it was something casual. But it seems we have different notions of casual. Since he usually wears suits I couldn't tell how formal this event was."

"Well, it's not like you look bad like this. You just stand out; something I think is good for a change. People need to see what lies beyond their champagne glasses.

"Thanks for the compliment."

"So to what kind of art you dedicate yourself"

"Photography"

"Interesting" Kakashi said genuinely interested in Naruto. "I never thought Sasuke would end up going out with a photographer"

"That's one of his perks, Naruto is actually a lawyer, specialized in company takeovers. Harvard top students look like idiots beside him" Sasuke said handing the wrapped box to Naruto "Photography just happens to be his most beloved hobby."

"Hey, I told you to stop advertising me." Naruto said pushing Sasuke softly but Kakashi could tell Naruto didn't care who knew that about him, in fact he looked more than pleased that Sasuke had brought that up.

"So what is your actual major?"

"I have an MBA, my career actually started as broker, but after a few years I decided to study laws and it's how I became a lawyer. I actually was working on a takeover in London when Sasuke got to know me."

"I must admit I'm impressed Naruto, you sure have an interesting choice in studies. I see why you picked Sasuke's interest"

"I found out about all that until we were in Japan" Sasuke said smiling at Naruto who grinned in reply "We met during the meeting for the acquisition of that fashion brand we wanted to acquire in Osaka. Sadly I never expected for them to have such a skilled person doing the counter offer. He is the one who won over our offer giving the upper hand to the Chinese brand"

Kakashi's eyes widened and Itachi also felt like he had just been thrown into cold ice water. Naruto was the one that had forced them to back out from the company acquisition three years ago? That was impressive to say the least, Sasuke was not only great at takeovers, he was considered as ruthless and unbeatable in that field around the country, not many could say they had been able to surpass him. Sasuke had made sure to always be the best at everything he did.

"I just took you by surprise, ever since then we have met a few other times but I haven't been able to win over him again" Naruto said and Kakashi could swear he was pouting.

"I told you that would never happen again" with a smirk on his face Sasuke looked at the blond and Naruto just shrugged. Then Kakashi understood the complexity of Naruto's personality, he was a clear example that looks could deceive.

"One day I'll surprise you again, but leaving that aside." Naruto turned to look at Itachi and extended the box in his hand. "I brought this for you. Sasuke told me today was an important day for you, but he didn't tell me what it was. So I got you this, I hope it's of your liking"

"Thank you, I appreciate your gesture" He opened the box, and considering his size the only thing je could guess was inside was some wine. As soon as it was unwrapped he opened the lid and he was proven right. He recognized the wine right away an he looked up to Naruto expecting to see some kind of recognition on them, but the blond kept the same neutral look on his eyes.

"Sasuke told me you liked sweets, and although I'm not a wine master I knew someone who told me once that this wine was perfect to go with desserts, so I figured you would like it" the blond smiled at him and it was then when Itachi realized Naruto was playing with him. That smile could be seen as honest but Itachi could see the arrogance on it. Naruto knew he had the upper hand, nobody else knew about them, nor about their past. And he couldn't risk having it discovered, even less in front of his brother.

"Naruto this..." Itachi stood straighter and placed back the lid. He would not let the blond see how much he was affecting him. "I'm really grateful for the gesture, I'll be sure to let you know how it was."

"Yes, please do. Nothing would make me more happy. Maybe that way Sasuke will see it was worth going to the other side of the city for it" Naruto looked at Sasuke who just huffed.

"I'm sure it will be"

"We will leave you for now Itachi, you should enjoy the party" Sasuke said placing his hand in Naruto's lower back. "We'll be around"

The blond said his farewell and let himself be lead away by Sasuke.

"I never thought Sasuke would be with such a striking person like Naruto."

"Neither did I" Itachi answered neutrally still looking in their direction. "Naruto was the last person I expected him to be with"

"You say that as if you already knew him"

Itachi glanced at Kakashi and huffed "As if, I merely said that considering Naruto's personality. It's obvious that while my brother prefers to be left alone, Naruto is someone who constantly draws people to him. Both complete opposites from each other"

Kakashi hummed in agreement "Maybe that's what attracts them to each other"

"We shall see." Itachi replied and looked away. Somehow he didn't have a good feeling.