Author's Notes: New stuffs! A couple of days ago I got this random inspirational spurt for some SasuSaku, and this is what came out the other end, I suppose. It's a little experimental. Different from my usual stuff, that is. Each chapter equals a single scene from the story and is therefore short and to the point. There is NaruHina in there and quite some TeamSevenGen, but mostly it's just SasuSaku. I really love writing this, I'm going to have to be careful that it doesn't interfere with Shukumei! Anyways, chapter two and three are already in the make. Updates will be a lot more regular than with Shukumei, 'cause it's a lot shorter. Expect around 8 chapters or so. Enjoy! Title means 'love' or 'awakening of love'. Is probably some seriously messed-up Japanese, but who gives?

Disclaimer:I don't own Naruto, unfortunately. Although in some ways it's a good thing. I mean, it would take years for the manga to update if it were, and don't even mention the anime!

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Koigokoro

"I like you most!"

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Naruto Uzumaki lifted himself from his bar stool with some effort. Maybe he shouldn't have had those last three bowls... But then again, how could one say no to ramen? Or to spending just a little more time with Hinata under the pretense of having another bowl, before heading off to train? Besides, what with the way Sasuke had been on fire during spars the past couple of weeks, he would need all the carbs he could get.

"That was an awesome lunch, eh, Hinata-chan?"

His female companion smiled gently and he was reminded of the sun peeking over the cliffs at dawn. "Yes, it was."

He held the flaps of the Ichiraku ramen restaurant out of the way for her and watched as she passed under. They had only been on their first date weeks ago, but Naruto already felt as though he had been seeing her for ages. There was something about Hinata that told him she accepted him for everything he was - nothing more, but certainly nothing less. He liked it. He also liked the way she shivered as he brushed his hand along the small of her back, following her out of the restaurant. His eyes swept up and down her back. He liked that too...

"Naruto."

He looked up to see Sasuke waiting, his left shoulder leaning against the restaurant's wall. Naruto had been aware of his friend's presence for some time, but he had ignored it in favour of staring at Hinata and shovelling down ramen. If the bastard couldn't wait any longer, he would just have to interrupt.

"Getting impatient?" Naruto asked, satisfaction curling in his chest when Sasuke averted his gaze and clenched his jaw.

"Let's go," he replied curtly.

Naruto held up a hand, shaking his head. "Na-ah. Gotta say goodbye to my girl first." He tuned Sasuke out and turned to her instead. "Hinata?" The blushing beauty lifted pale eyes to his smiling face, a small smile of her own tugging at her lips. It nearly undid him - her smile was the thing he liked most of all.

"What is it?" she inquired softly, tilting her head.

Naruto's grin widened at her soft tone. How had he ever not noticed her softness and sweetness and incredible courage, her lithe elegance and the way her fingers fluttered when she laid eyes on him, as though she meant to reach out and touch him? Hinata followed up on that apparent urge then, placing a hand flat on his chest. He felt his heart swell, tucking a strand of midnight-coloured hair behind her ear. "I like you."

Her hand on his chest twitched, fingers fisting in his shirt. She smiled up at him with irresistible, unbelievable faith and brightness. "Well, I like you more," she murmured, pressing her lips to his briefly before disentangling herself. "Um, I promised to meet my father at three, so..."

He brushed his fingers along her temple one final time before dropping his hands and taking a step away from her. "I'll pick you up for dinner, OK?"

She nodded with a small grin. "Okay, Naruto-kun. Good day, Sasuke-san," she bowed to Sasuke before turning and heading the other way. Naruto watched her go and put his hands around his mouth to serve as a megaphone. Sasuke winced involuntarily.

"Oi, Hinata!" Naruto cheered loudly. She turned around near the corner, watching him in confusion. Naruto took a deep breath and then declared for the whole town to hear; "I like you most!" He lowered his hands with a grin, giving Hinata a thumbs up. In spite of the distance, both men could see the red hue of her face as she waved at them and blew a kiss towards Naruto. Naruto's grin grew even wider as he plucked her kiss from the air. Sasuke shook his head with a mixture of reluctant disbelief and I-might-have-known.

"You," he stated factiously, "are an idiot."

Naruto nodded, blissfully unaware of the negative tone to Sasuke's voice as he watched Hinata disappear around the corner. "True, but you're an anguished, tormented chicken of woe who'd rather pine and eat his heart out than take a chance and live happily ever after, so I guess that makes us even."

Sasuke honestly didn't know how to reply to that.

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Reviews, anyone? (L)