"S…sorry." The blond man stated, nervously bending down to pick up the busted plates as a pink haired girl came out, shooing him away towards the customer as she bent down to clean the mess. As the blond came over to stand behind the counter in front of him, Kakashi could not help but stare. Those beautiful blue eyes, that thick, blond hair…even those odd whisker marks on his cheeks…they were there. This was truly his dream man in the flesh. Noticing the nametag, Kakashi cleared his throat.

"It's quite alright, Naruto." Kakashi looked up from the nametag and smiled. "I wasn't quite sure how this café worked, so I thought I would start in here." He had to restrain himself from grabbing Naruto's hand. "So, what do I need to do?"

It seemed to him as if the blond was staring at him, but surely Kakashi was mistaken. Kakashi was quite aware of his imperfections and surely wouldn't measure up to the blond and what he would want in a man…if Naruto even wanted a man. With Kakashi's luck, he would have this psychic link and attraction to a completely straight man. "Oh, uh, sure. Well, this is the café; you can order some light food or drink from the menu," Naruto hooked his thumb behind him at a chalkboard with items for sale on it. "You have to eat and drink in here, we don't want the pups stealing food and getting sick." Naruto grinned. "We only let so many people go in at once to keep it from being too crowded and to make sure everyone gets time with some dogs. It's full in there now, but I can check and see if there are any spaces available next hour?" Naruto asked, already looking down at a tablet and typing in some information. "Yep, we have 2 slots available. Would you like me to reserve one for you? The price for an hour with the dogs is 5,579 yen." The blue eyes seemed to bore into Kakashi's skull as Naruto looked up from the tablet. Suddenly, Kakashi was very self-conscious of his eye and scar and was glad his bangs were covering it.

"Um, yes, I would like that. Is there anything else I should know?" Kakashi asked, noting that it would be forty-five minutes until his slot was open.

"Well…" Naruto said, leaning on one elbow that he propped on the counter. "There is one thing…it isn't a requirement, but it's a really big help. Most people don't know it." Naruto said innocently and then stopped, waiting to see if Kakashi took the bait.

"Yes?" Kakashi asked, reserved but hanging onto every word Naruto said.

"Well…" Naruto looked around as if it was the biggest secret in the world he was about to share. He crooked his finger for Kakashi to come closer. Leaning in, Kakashi caught the scent of cologne that made his gut tingle. Keeping his composure, he looked at Naruto. In a whisper, Naruto confided, "You must love dogs."

It took Kakashi a moment to realize he had been played. When he did, he leaned back, crossing his arms and raising his right eyebrow. "Really? Thank you for the huge insight." Kakashi sniffed indignantly.

Naruto started laughing. "Oh, come on….they are just dogs. What is there to know that's not obvious? Don't pull their tails, don't bite them, and don't put the dachshunds in hot dog costumes. It's really pretty simple." Naruto winked. Kakashi couldn't help but smile at Naruto's infectious humor. "If you find one you bond with, you can adopt them."

Kakashi smiled. "That would be nice, but unfortunately my apartment doesn't allow pets. I've taken to going to dog parks to play with other people's dogs." A look passed Naruto's face and Kakashi was confused. It almost looked like anger. Had he said something wrong? As quickly as the look was there it was gone; so quickly that Kakashi doubted whether he had really seen anything. "Um, well…" Kakashi cleared his throat, "could I have a latte please, soy milk?"

Naruto smiled. "Sure, coming right up." Turning, he washed his hands and then started the machine. As he concentrated on his work, Kakashi couldn't help but stare at Naruto. He appeared to be in his early twenties. He could not believe his dream man was up close and personal with him. As Kakashi watched Naruto, he realized that he had to find a way to see Naruto again. He hadn't felt this happy or this…alive…ever. As Naruto set the cup down, Kakashi pulled out his wallet as Naruto waved it off. "On the house for you having to wait so long." Naruto winked. As Kakashi looked down, picking up his cup, he saw the foam in the shape of a pug. Smiling, his expression softened. He had a soft spot for pugs. What a serendipitous occurrence.

Looking up, he relaxed at the counter, watching Naruto work. Some others had come in and were requesting items. Kakashi had to be imagining it, but it seemed that Naruto kept glancing back at him. After a bit, Naruto came back over. "Want a refill?"

"No, thank you. I believe it is close to time for me to go in with the dogs, and you said no food or drink in there."

Naruto grinned. "You were listening." He winked. Looking up, he looked into the room with the dogs. Kakashi looked over his shoulder and saw a thin but muscular man with pitch-black hair stand and motion to Naruto. Kakashi saw Naruto nod. "Well, looks like you'll be going in with me with this next bunch. We switch out so each of us get play time with the pups." As Naruto took off his apron, hanging it up on a hook, he washed his hands again. Kakashi noted that the jeans hung well on Naruto's hips, and the dark blue tee-shirt accentuated those gorgeous eyes. Going to the door, Naruto motioned for Kakashi to follow.

Kakashi took the last drink of his latte and did so. As Naruto stood at the front of the growing group of people, Naruto set out the rules. No food or drink, no pulling tails or ears, no biting, let the dog sniff you before you go over to pet the dog. After making sure everyone took their shoes off (to protect tails) and put sanitizer on their hands, just in case, the group was let into the room. Dogs barked and rushed up to people playing and such. Kakashi looked around and saw this little pug just sitting in the corner. He looked to be no more than eight weeks old. As Kakashi walked over, the pug looked up at him.

Kakashi stopped, sitting down. Gently he reached out to the pup, who sniffed his hand then immediately trotted over and jumped in Kakashi's lap. Crawling up Kakashi's chest, he started yipping and licking Kakashi all over his face. "Well, I guess this pup has taken a liking to you." Naruto said, coming over and crouching down by Kakashi. Smiling, Naruto scratched under the pug's chin.

"It appears so." Kakashi chuckled. "What's his name?"

"Pakkun." Naruto said, an odd look on his face. "He's about nine weeks old. Still a pup."

Kakashi smiled and kept petting the pug as Naruto went about the room making sure everyone was okay. Somehow, though, it seemed that Naruto gravitated towards Kakashi. Kakashi didn't mind at all. At the end of the hour, Kakashi laid Pakkun in a little bed, as the pup had tired himself out playing with Kakashi. Standing and dusting himself off, Kakashi noticed that the others had left and Naruto was at the door. "Oh, I'm so sorry I am tardy. I can pay extra if that is needed." He bowed to Naruto.

"Huh? Oh, no…you are fine. It's the last group of the day. We always close early on Saturdays." Naruto said. Kakashi grabbed his shoes and started to put them on. Standing he smiled and pulled out his wallet, handing Naruto 5,600 yen. As Naruto made change, Kakashi noted his face was a bit red. Looking up as he handed the change to Kakashi, Naruto bit his bottom lip. As Kakashi felt flames shoot through his thighs at that lip bite, Naruto blushed. "Uh, w…would you like to go to a bar with me and my friends later tonight?"

Kakashi raised an eyebrow. Could I be this lucky…is he asking me out on a date?

"I…I mean, I…it's a bar…not a gay bar or nothing. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I mean, I don't know if you're gay or straight, so I mean, it's not a date really, just us hanging out…I mean, if you are gay or bi, I mean, I'm gay too, but that's not really what, I just…you seem cool so I thought it'd be nice to hang out with you." Naruto's face was flaming red by now and he was looking away at the dog room.

Kakashi smiled gently. "Naruto, I am gay. I would love to go out with you and your friends, but I have to work until about midnight tonight."

Naruto jerked his eyes back to Kakashi and smiled, hope filling his face. "That's okay…if you're up for it, you can meet us after? If…if you're not too tired, that is." Naruto added quickly.

Kakashi grinned. Thinking for a moment, the silver haired man held up a finger. "Make you a deal. You and your friends come and eat at where I work, on the house, and then I will go out with you afterwards. I'm a chef at Urietto."

Naruto's jaw dropped. That was an expensive restaurant. "Uh…oh…okay. But, uh…the club that we go to isn't that fancy."

Kakashi shrugged. "Come to eat dressed ready to go to the club. No one is going to throw you out."

Naruto shrugged. "Uh, okay. Deal." Smiling he let Kakashi out of the café. "See you tonight. What time do we need to come?"

Kakashi stopped. "We close at eleven, so come about nine-thirty?"

"You got it. It'll be me, Sakura, and Sasuke." Naruto had a big grin on his face.

As Naruto started to close the door, Kakashi called after him. "What's your last name so I can make a reservation?"

"Uzumaki." And with that, the sun went back inside, leaving Kakashi out in the cold gray afternoon.