Chapter 9

Itachi was going through some documents that his father had given him earlier,to make some copies and organize them. He had to have them ready for an important meeting Fugaku had with some new clients from Suna, tomorrow afternoon.

Finally after all morning of running around, he finally found some time to sit down at his desk and focus on them, reading everything with attentive care, making sure they were absolutely spotless, his father would give him hell of they weren't.

He had been there for about half an hour, when he felt someone touch his arm, and shake him lightly.

"Aren't we serious uh?" He couldn't escape his cousin all day it seemed.

Shisui could have appeared out of thin air for all Itachi knew, he was too occupied to take in his surroundings, or to pay any mind to his bothersome cousin, who just leaned on his small desk giving him a mocking glare.

"Look at you, you're already starting to act like a perfect Uchiha businessman" He had an annoyingly amused tone that made Itachi's eyes roll and pout at the idiot for disturbing him.

Madara would have his head if those documents weren't ready by evening. He really didn't care to fail his first important assignment on his first day.

"Uh? I'm working in case you didn't notice" the long haired man didn't even tear his gaze away from the papers, too concentrated to do so, he was a true perfectionist and did everything with a meticulous attention. Someone would call him paranoid for it, but he preferred being safe than sorry.

"Well mr. Perfection, in case you didn't notice, it's lunch break" Shisui snickered pointing at the clock behind his back, that was marking noon. Itachi just stared at it with slight confusion and wide eyes. Shit, he really had lost all morning?

"Already? I didn't notice at all" he muttered taking off his glasses and rubbing his tired eyes, under the amused gaze of the older Uchiha.

"Well, you know the saying, time flies when you're having fun"

"There is no fun in this place" he muttered, looking up at his cousin and best friend that simply smiled at him.

"What? Are you missing your college days already? People usually tend to do that when they're forty year old, bored businessman" He sighed, now, that wasn't a very bright looking future

"Whatever Shisui" he replied dryly, as he got up from his seat, as the other motioned to follow him.

"Come on, since is your first day in the sharks den, I will treat you to lunch" he explained with his smile glued to his lips.

He had to admit, he liked having his younger cousin around, even if he too was transforming into a brooding bastard like Sasuke. He would have to do something about, the world needed him, two brooding Uchiha were too much to handle.

"Thanks" Itachi simply noodded with not much enthusiasm, he really wasn't feeling that hungry. Shisui grabbed him by the shoulders and guided him out the office, both ignoring the rest of their colleagues.

"Come on cousin, I am the best company you could ask for! And now that we work together we will see each other everyday!"

"I will never be rid of you"

"Never" Shisui was smiling like an idiot, making Itachi giving shudder, well at least one of them would be happy.

They stepped outside, and immediately felt the summer heat that had enveloped Konoha the last few days. Making him scowl, he really hated the hot weather, it made him sweat and his long hair didn't help, maybe he would really cut it, for his mother's joy.

"Damn heat" he groaned loosening his dark blue tie and taking his jacket off, letting out a sigh of relief feeling a bit better.

He swung the annoying piece of clothing behind his back and followed his cousin into a little restaurant around the corner.

"Here it is, it's a nice little place"

he said with his cheerful voice as he pushed the door open, and let Itachi through, closing it behind him.

" I usually come here during break, nobody from the company comes here, they prefer the sushi bar next to our building and others go home. I like it here though it's quiet and the food is pretty good." He explained, as he took a seat at a small table on the far end.

"What about my father? Where does he have lunch?" the younger man asked as he gave a quick look at the menu a silent waiter had brought them.

He had barely seen his parent all morning, and he knew he didn't go home for lunch.

"Ol' Fugaku never gets out of the office, he and Madara have their food delivered. I guess it's that way when you're running a company" The brown haired man mused as he shrugged his shoulders.

"I guess you will find out though, that is your future after all" he added and he raised his eyebrows at the younger man, noticing his pensive expression.

"I'm not that eager to know, and after all, they could give that position to someone else...like you"

Shisui opened his mouth agape, in pure shock.

"No way! Everyone knows that you're Madara's favourite nephew" he blurted, he had already made clear to everyone that he was satisfied as a researcher and wasn't aspiring in becoming a high profile executive.

He snickered at Itachi's unimpressed expression. He knew that the younger man felt he had done nothing special to earn that position, and that he couldn't understand why the older Uchiha had such faith in him.

"He is retiring you know, he won't be around to dictate everyone around, in the office at least" He would simply continue to dictate everyone in the family.

"I have a feeling he will still try and control everything anyway, old habits die hard"

"So, if my father will become president who is going to be the second in command?"

Shisui raised an eyebrow at that question.

"You don't know? The mighty annoying Obito Uchiha, he is the only one that, according to Madara has the capabilities, besides you"

"And you"

"I am being offered a better position"

"And is?"

"Head of the research department, when Izuna retires"

"Hn, you deserve it"

"Yeah...but enough talking about business"

The long haired gave him a confused look.

"What else would you want to talk about?"

Shisui smirked, dark eyes shining.

There is something we could talk about"

He pierced the other with his slightly lighter black orbs, as if trying to read into his very soul. Itachi didn't like that look, it was bad news when Shisui got like that.

"Where did you disappear to last night? And, I won't accept a 'Mind your own business' type of answer"

Yeah, he had totally called it. Bad news.

He had practically locked himself in his room to avoid the questions he knew where coming from him and his brother last night.

He was really considering going into hiding, or throwing his menu at his best friend and flee from the restaurant and then still go into hiding. He really didn't have much options, Shisui was a curious bastard, worse than any gossip girl, there was no safe way to escape him.

"I might have walked home a certain person..." he trailed hoping Shisui wouldn't understand, it wasn't his lucky day, plus, it was obvious who the other person was.

"You walked Naruko home?" his cousin inquired narrowing his eyes as he looked at him.

He didn't answer, but the short brown haired man didn't need him to. He already knew that he was correct. After all, Sasuke's bad manners of eavesdropping did come in handy.

"Don't make that face with me, I know you did, we heard you asking her"

"Than why did you want to hear it me from me? Idiot" he groaned, thank God the waiter was coming by to take their orders, or he might've strangled the older male without remorse.

As soon as they were left alone again, the younger man sent an irritated look at the other.

"What? Why are you staring at me like an idiot?"

"You like her, don't you?" he had a knowing look on his face, that Itachi couldn't handle. Shisui was a master in making him waver.

It worked perfectly. Itachi's glare was nothing compared to Shisui's. He was such a kind looking person, but when he used 'the glare' no one was safe. He was the best in making someone feel guilty with just one look, and he didn't even feel bad for it, and would use whenever the situation required it.

"Just admit it, she has caught your interest"

"You're really a nosy bastard" He wouldn't give in that easily, he had gone through worse.

"Well?" he sang with an amused tone that was really grating at Itachi's abused nerves.

"I might feel attracted to her, but that's it" he finally admitted, hoping that know they could let the argument go. He sighed as Shisui beamed in triumph, and he understood that it wasn't happening.

"Ah ha! I knew it!"

"Did you make a bet with Sasuke or something?" now it was his turn to use the glare, even if it was rather pointless against him.

"You know we would never do something like that"

"But we so did! And I won!"

"Bullshit, I know you would"

"Itachi, the real reason I brought this up, is we have been best friends for years, and I know you better than anyone"

Shisui then got serious, all of a sudden. Itachi knew, that the conversation was going to take a turn he might not like.

"I am genuinely interested in your well being, you know, the last six months weren't easy for you" he trailed trying to be as delicate as possible, he knew the other male avoided the argument like the plague.

Itachi's eyes widened, understanding where Shisui was trying to go.

"I don't want to talk about it."

"I think it's time to. We haven't done so since it happened. You just pretended it didn't, but, I noticed during my stay in Ame just how bad you have reacted to the break up."

"Deidara tell you?"

"No, Sasori and Kisame. I didn't know you had turned to alcohol, and one night stands"

"It was for a short time, It helped me cope with it"

"Ok, so, do you want to talk about Izumi, Itachi?"

"I don't think this is the best of times"

"It is as good as any other. We don't have to get back to work till one thirty. It gives us one hour and a half."

Itachi sighed, there was no point in trying to make Shisui back off, he wouldn't listen.

"Why do you think now is the right time?"

"Because I saw you with Naruko yesterday."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

Shisui inclined his head a bit, scraping his neck with his fingernails.

"Look, I haven't seen you that relaxed and lovely with someone since Izumi. It must mean something"

"If you are trying to get me to confess feelings I don't have..."

"That's not it, I know you don't love her or anything like that, for now. But admit it, you haven't felt anything in months, and suddenly you met her, and you're the old Itachi, the one we all so badly want to see again"

Itachi simply battled his eyelashes, not getting what his cousin was pointing out.

"You deserve to be happy, but, for that, you have to let go of the past, or you will never be able to build another relationship with someone else. Naruko could be that person, but you have to overcome your fears, and to do that, you need to confront them"

"And how would I do that?"

The waiter came by again bringing their food, leaving the question hanging for a few moments, that unnerved Itachi endlessly. He was patient, but the stern look Shisui was giving him, didn't promise anything good.

"I think you need closure. You need to see Izumi one last time"

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Naruko looked at her watch impatiently, she hated when she had to wait for people, she herself wasn't punctual, but Ino was ridiculously worse than anybody else she knew.

She was at the bus stop, where she had to meet her two female friends. She was nervously fumbling with her loose strands of blnde hair, her blue eyes, searching for the two girls.

She was relieves when she finally noticed them in the crowd.

Konoha was hell to walk around at that time in the afternoon.

"Finally! Where were you guys?"

Tenten groaned and pointed at Ino

"Her fault! She takes forever to get ready!"

"Hey! It takes time to be perfect! Beauty takes hard work!"

"Yeah yeah beauty queen, let's go I'm dying for an ice cream, with this heat"

"You will have your ice cream, after I find what I need"

Ino had called Naruko and Tenten, with the excuse to spend an afternoon just between girls.

Naruko had accepted because she felt that maybe her friends could help her with her new unexpected problem.

"What are we looking for anyway?" Naruko asked as she peeked at a dress from behind the glass of a store. She couldn't figure out how it was made, it was really weird looking, and an ugly ochre colour. Who would wear something like that?

"Well, I need something for the Uchiha party"

Ino said, as she swayed her hair behind her back.

"Are you going too?" Asked Naruko with a hint of surprise in her voice.

"Of course, they invited half of Konoha"

"Oh, I didn't know"

It sounded like a big event.

She immediately wondered if Itachi knew, and if he would like something like that. He seemed like a quiet and reserved person, someone who didn't love attention, especially after what he had said to her the other night.

"They are really making a big fuss for a graduation" Tenten commented, she hated these events with a passion.

"Wait a minute! Are you dragging us around to shop?" the blonde girl jad a dreadful look on her pretty face.

"Of course!"

"You couldn't have chosen two worst people then us two"

"I know but Hinata was busy, not that would change much she dresses like a nun"

The pale blonde said with a frown, if only she had a friend that was on her same train of thoughts.

"Anyway, have you already found something to wear?" Ino asked the other two girls.

"I don't really care, I just want something comfortable, I would go in a track suit if I could"

Tenten said groggy , and Naruko couldn't agree more. Ino on the other hand, stared at them with a horrified look.

"I don't even know why we're friends"

"Because you love us despite our awful sense of style" the blonde winked at the other girl with similar hair colour as she hooked her arm with her own, and Tenten.

"I guess I do, anyway, what about you 'Ruko? Have you already got an outfit for Saturday?" she was secretly praying the girl would say no, she was thinking of forcing her in a dress.

"Yeah, my mother dragged me and Menma last Friday"

The pale blonde simply hummed, her plan had vanished.

"Well, then It's just me"

"Ino you've got plenty of dresses and formal wear, why do you need to buy another one?" the brown haired girl, whined, she was hoping Ino would change her mind, so she could have her ice cream sooner.

"They won't do, I need to find something fabolous, I have to attract someone's attention" she admitted, swirling her ponytail with her fingers.

"Not Sasuke again" groaned an annoyed Naruko. Not that she cared.

"It's not Sasuke, I have given up hope on that one"

The two other girls shared a look of disbelief.

"So, if it ain't Uchiha...who could it be?". Tenten glanced at her friend with suspicion, rubbing her chin as she thought about their male friends.

"Shikamaru! It has to be him!" Naruko exìclaimed excitedly pointing her finger at the pale blonde that was staring at them with a bored expression.

"Like I would actually fall for a lazy ass like him" she muttered, it was clear her friends didn't grasp her ideal type of man.

"Kiba?"

"No! I can't be with a guy that cares more about his dog than me"

"Ermmm...Neji! it has to be him!" she just couldn't picture Ino with Choji or Rock Lee.

"No! It can't be Neji!" Tenten almost shouted, her skin flushing beat red as she realized that she had practically said it out loud.

"Geez, don't worry, I won't touch your precious Hyuga" Ino smirked, and the other girl snorted, putting her hands on her hips.

"It's not like that!"

"Of course it is!"

"I didn't know you have a crush on Neji!" Naruko was shocked, she had never noticed!

"I don't!" the other replied, her tone aggravated.

"All right, geez don't get scary like that! So, if it isn't one of the guys who could it be?"

"Wait a minute! Didn't you maybe, I don't know? Set your sight on another Uchiha?"

Ino raised a brow.

"What do you mean?"

"We saw Itachi Uchiha a couple of months back, and you simply couldn't stop talking about him" Now it was Tenten's turn to laugh, and Naruko paled.

Itachi...if Ino liked him too...she just realized that it wasn't thay easy to set her feelings for the raven man aside.

"I just said he was hotter than hell! Oi Namikaze are you ok?"

Both girl looked at her, she had spaced out.

"Naruko?"

"Uh? I'm ok, why are you staring at me like that"

"Wait a second, do you know Itachi?"

"I-I no! Well yes, but...I...ugh" she covered her face with her hands, she couldn't even form a correct sentence, she couldn't be that far gone for the guy, she barely knew him!

"Oh my! I can't believe it!"

Ino's green eyes widened and Naruko felt the sudden urge to run for her life.

"Tenten! I think she finally grew up! I knew you couldn't be asexual!I mean, Sasuke is hot and you never gave him a second thought! Now I understand why! You're into older guys!"

The brown haired girl, simply nodded.

"Itachi Uchiha uh? I certainly didn't expect it!"

"What? I never said I like him! You two are crazy"

"You don't need to, it's all over your face"

"Just forget it, I met him and he's nice and everything, but it's simply that" she puffed trying to conceal her red cheeks behind her loose blonde hair.

"Don't bullshit us! You totally like him"

"But doesn't he have a girlfriend?" Tenten asked? Remembering Sasuke mentioning it once.

"Had my dear, she left him for another man, that idiot"

Naruko didn't listen to anything else after that, she couldn't, the only thing she had in mind where two dark eyes, and a gentle smile. Who would simply walk out on something like that?

A voice though broke her out of her thoughts.

"Naruko? Is that you?"

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Author's note.

Yes it's a long chapter, and I am not really satisfied by it, but I still hope you like it!

Anyway, we see Itachi opening up slightly to Shisui, this is a very important passage for me, because we understand that Itachi is simply attracted to Naruko, not in her. Naruko on tje other side is experiencing her first real crush, and all the sensations and emotions that come from it. One of them being teased by friends. Why I wanted to specify this, is because reviewer Nocloudypooh, notice that I had exaggerated Itachi's feelings, and it was a little out of place since he was supposed to be still heartbroken over Izumi.

To let go of the pass is step to healing, so we will 's progress and Naruko's way of handling a new .

I'm sorry for , I wil leave you know, but before I do, I just want to thank everyone who has added this story as favorite/followed and to those who have reviewed.