Title: in the spirit of giving

Summary: AU. He could only pray to the gods that this was the end of Naruto's wont to meddle with his love life.

Pairing: sasusaku

Rating: T

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto


Part One


The throng of suits impatiently tapped their polished leather shoes against the lobby floor, as if one second wasted was another dollar down the drain.

The lifts opened on the 32nd floor. The few who had their faces glued to their phones and ready to step into the lift promptly froze, quickly parting down the middle to make a path, letting one impeccably dressed man pass.

"Sir" they choked out. They could all tell he was in one of his moods again, and it wasn't even eight in the morning.

Kyoko, his assistant, seeing him head towards her, promptly stood up and ironed her hands over her skirt to straighten out the wrinkles.

"S-sir, Mr Uzumaki dropped by and asked that you call him back. And your mot-"

Sasuke ignored her, eager to get back to his office and throw himself into his work, eager to forget about the disaster of a date that Naruto had set him up on last night.

He pushed open his mahogany door, only to find his mother standing near the bookcases which lined one wall, back faced to him, perusing the few photos he had on display.

"Mother."

His mother turned around to face him. She smiled at Sasuke, smoothed over her tasteful navy suit dress before making her way over to him. Sasuke noticed the brief pause in her walk and the quick head-to-toe inspection to check he was in good health.

"Sasuke, there you are," his mother said whilst pecking him on the cheek. "Your father forgot to take his cholesterol medication this morning so I came to drop them off. He said you'd be in your office so I thought I'd drop in to see if you were eating well and not working too hard. I worry about you dear. You rarely come home now that you've moved out. So, where were you?"

"My driver was late in picking me up today," Sasuke explained whilst shutting his office door. Yet another reason why he was in a sour mood this morning.

"Naruto was loitering outside your office before. He told me something quite interesting."

At this, Sasuke raised an eyebrow at his mother.

"Imagine the surprise I got when he informed me that you were going on a date with 'the one' later this week. I didn't know you were seeing anyone special. Is that why you've been so busy lately?" His mother asked coyly, twisting her diamond wedding ring.

Sasuke froze.

Why had she said later this week? His date had been last night. Unless...what was Naruto scheming this time?

"That's because I'm not. Don't listen to Naruto. He's an idiot."

His mother looked amused.

"Well I wouldn't have to listen to Naruto if you gave me updates on your life every so often, Sasuke. I think it's about time you settled down. Your father and I are getting worried. Bring her home for our Christmas dinner. I want to meet her."

His mother pecked him on the cheek again, exiting his office without giving him the opportunity to deny the existence of a significant other.

Sasuke scowled. He was ready to murder his idiotic, big-mouthed best friend. He stalked over to phone on his desk, punching the button that connected him to the direct line of his assistant.

"Kyoko, get me Naruto. Now."


Naruto bounced into his office without knocking. By the time Sasuke had glanced up from his monitor screen, Naruto was lounging comfortably on his sofa, feet on the coffee table.

"Hey teme. Kyoko-chan said that you-"

"Naruto. You talked to my mother."

"Yeah! Your mum's the bomb. She invited me to dinner this–,"

"She somehow has the impression that I am in a steady relationship."

"Well are you? After last night's steamy date?"

Sasuke let out an exasperated sigh and raked his hand through his raven locks. "Naruto, it was unpleasant to say the least."

"She wasn't hideous! I'd totally bang her if I didn't have Hinata. Wait, don't tell Hinata I said that."

"That wasn't what I meant. I was referring to part of the night where the girl 'accidentally' dropped her purse under the table and then attempted to mishandle me in her attempt to retrieve it."

Naruto had the gall to laugh. "Well, at least you can say she's got balls. Get it? She literally had your balls in her palms!"

At this point, Naruto had doubled over, slapping his knee and was howling at the thought of Sasuke's ballsy date.

"Needless to say, my mother is clearly misinformed. I am not in a steady relationship with anyone."

"Don't know why you refused her, teme. She could have removed the stick up your ass as well if you had asked her nicely," Naruto snickered. Sasuke simply glared at Naruto in response.

"My mother also seems to have the misconception that I have a date later this week, whom I am also bringing to our family Christmas dinner, when I know for a fact that this date does not exist. So whatever you told my mother, fix it."

"Oh right. I might have let that slip a little prematurely. Well, at least your mum's right about one thing. You, my friend, have scored yourself one hot date courtesy of moi." Naruto leaned back into the couch, looking decidedly smug and proud of himself.

"No dobe. Just fix this problem."

"Look, don't be mad teme. This was the only way to make it happen. Just one date. You never know, she might actually be the one to melt that sorry excuse you call a heart."

"I'm not interested," Sasuke gritted out.

"Trust me this time. This time I'm sure I've got it right. My doctor friend would be perfect for you. She's the only girl who could handle you on your moody days, which is basically every day. And bonus, she's totally a babe. We went to the festival together last spring, I'll show you a picture-"

"What do you not understand about the word 'no'?" Sasuke scowled, trying to spell it out for thick-skulled friend.

"Seriously, this is the last one. If this doesn't work out, I swear on my love of ramen that I will never try to set you up again," Naruto bargained, pulling out all the big cards.

Sasuke paused to consider Naruto's offer, leaning forward to rest his chin on his knuckles.

"Fine. Last one."

"I knew you'd be game. Don't worry, you'll love Sakura-chan!"

Sasuke could only pray to the gods that this was the end of Naruto's wont to meddle with his love life.


tbc