Disclaimer: All things Naruto goes to the one and only Masashi Kishimoto

CHAPTER 4

"Did you want to get today's special with the stuffed crust?" Sakura asked, examining the menu.

"Do you think they have narutomaki flavored crust?" Naruto took a sip of his water.

"Ew, you're kidding," she replied with disgust. "Ooh, look. They have a rocky road pizza for desert, I want that one, too."

The waiter arrived with their previously ordered drinks and he took down what they wanted to eat. He took their menus from them and left with a wide smile. Sakura chuckled after he was out of earshot.

"Huh?" Naruto asked, placing a plastic straw into his cup.

"That waiter, he was um…a bit forward," she smirked.

Naruto looked in the direction the waiter left and back at his best friend. "What do you mean?"

She cleared her throat and leaned in, "What happened when he took your menu?"

"He took yours?" he guessed.

"Err, wrong. He brushed his fingers against your hand. Tell me you didn't feel or see that?" She tilted her head.

The blank stare was enough to convince her.

"You're so oblivious sometimes, Naruto. He was clearly into you."

He frowned, "Sakura-chan, what are you talking about? I think you have the wrong idea. And if he was checking me out, so does he."

"Just know that that big smile wasn't for me," she put her hands up, surrendering. "I'm only kidding, little ugly. Don't rip my head off."

Naruto rolled his eyes. "Anyways, finish telling me about the card."

She placed a straw in her cup and took a sip before explaining.

"Ok, listen closely. It's imperative that you don't let anyone look at your card. The only person who can break that rule is your soulmate. It's a big possibility that if someone who isn't your soulmate reads it, the card will be void. I've seen both cases in which someone did look at someone else's card and it either voided or was fine. But why take the risk?"

Naruto nodded, "Right."

"If you meet your soulmate, and they say the special words, they won't know that they are your soulmate until you tell them. They can't tell just by looking at you. You are guaranteed to meet that person in 3 year's time or less, emphasis on the less, regardless of age difference. Umm…"

"Wait, wait a sec," Naruto chimed in. "What if, I don't know, three months go by and I still haven't met the girl. How am I supposed to remember what the card said? I mean, I'll probably be really busy these next couple of months. I don't wanna meet someone and not remember if they're fated to me."

"You don't have to worry about that. Your soulmate's first words aren't something you could really forget," Sakura answered, swirling her drink around with the straw.

"Come on, you know me. I can't even remember what I had for dinner last night," he shrugged.

"No, you misunderstand, you literally cannot forget the words. I'm not sure what it is, but it's almost like a mind trick situation. When you first open the card, you automatically say it aloud, right? In the future, when someone says it back to you, it triggers that memory. It's weird but it makes sense, I guess. As I said, I'm not really sure how it works."

"Hmm," Naruto frowned. "Oh, and uhh, that last thing you said about the age difference. That's a situation that could go left really quickly, don'tcha think?"

"Oops! I meant to add in, the age difference can be up to three years apart. Sorry about that."

The waiter came back with two trays in his hands and laid them on the table. Naruto kept his hands in his lap to avoid unnecessary physical contact, while Sakura drooled over the dessert pizza. "Enjoy," he smiled and looked at Naruto. "I made sure the pizza was extra hot and ready for you, sir."

Naruto raised both of his brows at the seemingly nice gesture. "Uh thank you?"

"Anytime, sir…or place," the waiter said in a low tone and left.

Naruto's mouth opened in astonishment as he his eyes followed the man.

"I didn't know your boyfriend worked here. Do we get a discount on the pizza then?" Sakura was lightly hitting the table as she burst out into giggles. He took a few of the pizza toppings and flicked it at her. "Ok, ok I take it back."

After the meal, Sakura asked Naruto if he could take her shopping for a couple of outfits. She was determined to make this weekend one of the best that he's ever had. It was her job as his best friend, she explained her logic to him, but she couldn't do it looking like a trash bag. Naruto wasn't really the party type, in his opinion. He could stay at home, throw on a movie with snacks, and have a good conversation between three or four friends. It was inexpensive, comfortable, and he could use that time to grow a stronger bond with his precious people. That beats being in a congested night club full of sweaty strangers grinding on you any day.

He and, a close friend from high school, Kiba did their fair share of sneaking into a 21 and up club many nights. Being danced on by pretty girls in pretty clothes was fascinating at first but it got real old, real soon. It was pointless in them buying alcohol because they were overpriced and Kiba despised the smell. Naruto was paranoid that the bartender would spike his drink as punishment for sneaking into the club, so he never tasted any.

At any rate, he knew how much Sakura enjoyed doing stuff for him like an older sister would. Something about, her (and pervy Jiraiya) being the only family he needed since his real one couldn't be there. In some situations, the pinkette was very unsure of herself, however, when it came to Naruto, it was always a different story.

"Maybe I can't stop the downpour, but I will always join you for a walk in the rain."

He will never forget her words.

A/N: Reviews are the bomb!