Chapter Fourteen New look, new things to worry about...

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Haku pulled the white button down silk shirt over his shoulders an stared at his reflection in the mirror, he sighed. Haku grabbed up his hairbrush and ran it distractedly through his long hair. He was still thinking about that strange and colorless man he had encountered in the hospital. The strange feeling that had come over him when he felt the man's tears against his neck, the way his heart had constricted when he looked into his eyes...

Who are you? Haku thought as he continued to gaze at himself in the vanity. It's like I know you, but I just can't remember who you are.

Haku turned when the door opened and Zabuza's huge profile filled it. Haku couldn't meet his gaze, so instead he just stared down at the buttons on his shirt and his fingers working them through the holes.

"Something wrong?" Zabuza asked his voice as gruff as it always was. He stepped inside the room his large frame hovering over Haku much smaller one. Haku shook his head, almost timidly and Zabuza frowned, unconvinced.

"Are you sure?" He probed. Haku didn't feel comfortable discussing something like this with his lover so he changed the subject.

"We should get going." Haku moved strands of brown out of his eyes and behind his ear. Zabuza was giving him a hard stare. Haku wished he wouldn't look at him that way. Zabuza turned towards the door:

"I'll be out in the car." He walked out the room.

Haku moved his hands tiredly over his face, ever since the hospital incident things had been overwhelmingly tense between him and Zabuza. He wished he could get the colorless, beautiful man out of his head, but he just couldn't, not until he knew for sure who this man was and what he had to do with his past.

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Naruto almost banged his head against his steering wheel when he pulled into work a week later. He had almost forgotten about Haruno.

What did I do to deserve someone like her in my life? Naruto moaned pathetically to himself.

Naruto groaned inwardly as he shut his car off, then in a moment of out of character-ness he checked his image in the overhead mirror. Naruto was never one to care about his appearance, but being the love partner of a drop dead gorgeous multi-million dollar man made Naruto a bit more self-confident. Using money from the whopper of a check he had received from Sasuke he had went out and bought himself as well as Gaara a whole new wardrobe, throwing away their old an worn clothing. Gaara hadn't been two happy, but eventually got over it once he realized that he didn't have any other choice, since Naruto had discarded his old clothes. Today, Naruto was dressed in a pair of ash gray slacks and a silk orange button down shirt, that accentuated his fine and rather muscular figure. He was also wearing a pair of orange dress shoes and a black tie. Naruto looked good and he knew it.

Naruto stepped out of his car just as Sakura stepped out of hers. The first thing Naruto noticed upon exiting his vehicle was Sakura's hair, which was a lot short than it was the last time he had seen her. It was about chin length and really brought out the fine lines in her face as well as the sheer green of her eyes. Sakura had also bumped up her wardrobe along with the hair style, as she was wearing a tight pink silk button shirt, a ash grey penchil skirt and some black heels. She looked like a woman on a mission and Naruto knew all too well what that mission was: Sasuke.

Sakura finally took notice of Naruto and locked eyes with him. Sakura had to admit, that cleaned up Naruto was a rather handsome man, but she still didn't like him. She crossed her arms over her chest and smirked at him.

"So we meet again Uzumaki?"

"Unfortunately." Naruto shot back with little cheer.

"Hmm?" Sakura hummed thoughtfully to herself, a nice gleam in her eyes. To Naruto's horror she started towards him that smirk ever the wider on her face. Naruto was too stunned to move and stood rooted to the spot like a dummy, even as Sakura invaded his personal space, close enough that their chests were touching. Naruto broke out into a full blush, and nearly exploded when Sakura placed on finely manicured finger on his chest and twirled a lazy cirle around his heart.

"This is a nice look for you... Naruto..." Sakura breathed huskily, pressing herself all the more tightly against Naruto's perfect body..

THE HELL!? Inner Naruto raged. Is Haruno flirting with me? Naruto felt a little faint and stumbled back. Sakura's smirk widened much to Naruto's chagrin.

"Nervous?" Sakura asked mildly.

Naruto gritted his teeth: "Is this another one of your games? If you haven't noticed I'm not Sasuke."

"I know that Naruto." Sakura countered with an exaggerated eye roll. "It just occurred to me suddenly when I caught sight of you that orange really looks good on you." She gave him a slow purposeful wink before walking off, high heels clanking rhythmically against the concrete. Naruto gaped after her.

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Sakura pushed through the glass doors of Inkwell oozing of importance, so much so that she nearly ran into another of the company's employees. A average looking woman with a twin bum hair-style. The two woman eye each other in nothing short of distaste,

"Do you mind? I have to get through." Sakura said, her tone irritated. The other woman however did not move. Sakura frowned wondering if she was challenging her.

"My name is Ten-Ten, I am one of Rock Lee's closest friends, you know the man you drop-kicked yesterday?" Ten-Ten said, her brown eyes darkening in disdain.

Sakura pretended to think this little bit of information over. Ten-Ten insulted tightened her hands around the binders she was holding to prevent her from smacking the annoying woman across the face with them. After a short while Sakura let out a little oh sound and smiled sweetly at Ten-Ten.

"I remember now... annoying guy with the hideous bowl cut? It was the least I could do for him, someone had to put him out of his misery."

Ten-Ten advanced towards Sakura, seething. "How dare--"

Naruto chose that precise moment to walk through the doors, his entrance distracting Ten-Ten enough for Sakura to slip away, chuckling darkly to herself. Naruto looked a bit off-kilter as he stared around the front entrance area with wild blue eyes; a few of the employees happening by through Naruto looks of unease, hoping that the orange shirt wearing man hadn't snapped.

"Hey, it's the new guy!" Came a booming voice somewhere from Naruto's right. Naruto barely had time to look in that direction before a muscled arm was slung around his nexk and he was pulled into a rough hug. "Hey man I finally caught you! I was thinking for a second that maybe the Uchiha was keeping you all to himself!" The brash man roared into Naruto's ear finally releasing him from the neck-crushing hug. Naruto cheeks reddened at the assumption, this man couldn't be more right, Sasuke actually was keeping him all to himself, the selfish bastard.

"No matter, you're here now!" The man exclaimed giving Naruto a hard slap on the back which sent stumbling forward a few inches.

"Kiba! Stop rough-housing!" Ten-Ten mock-scolded, she gave him a smile and went off to finish her job. Sakura not far from her thoughts. This isn't over Haruno, Ten-Ten thought menacingly to herself. You are officially my enemy.

Kiba frowned at Ten-Ten's retreating back an then turned back to regard Naruto who was rubbing his shoulder blades, a pained look on his face. Kiba grinned.

"My names Kiba!" He shouted. Naruto grimaced at the volume.

"Uzumaki Naruto." Kiba's grin faltered a little, but he quickly slapped it back onto his face before the other man could notice. He slung his arm back around Naruto and gave his shoulder a friendly squeeze.

"Are you going to be busy later on today, because if not we have to take you out for a drink, we do that for all the newbie's ya' know, so you can get to know us, how's that sound?"

"Well..." Naruto started, scratching his head doubtfully, him and Sasuke had a dinner date tonight to celebrate the publishing of his book which was doing moderately well in book sales. Sakura's book on the other hand was selling like the Bible. Naruto let out a dejected sigh, Kiba didn't seem to notice.

"So" Kiba roared at Naruto a little impatiently. Naruto didn't want to say no, it could possibly do him some good to mingle with someone outside of Gaara and now Sasuke. It also to Naruto seemed to be some sort of tradition to take out the new guy and get him hopelessly drunk. He wondered idly why they weren't asking Sakura, she was knew too.

"I'll think about it." Naruto finally said, hoping his strained smile was sincere.

Kiba clapped his shoulder. "Sounds like a yeah to me!"

Naruto gaped at him in shock, had he not heard him? Kiba took hold of his arm and started to drag him in the direction opposite his previous destination: Sasuke's office. Naruto tried to struggle --he couldn't possibly leave Sakura alone in the office with his Sasuke, who knew what she would try, especially with that outfit on-- but Kiba had no intention of letting him go and Naruto knew a lost cause when he saw one.

"I want you to meet some of the other guys, get a feel for them while they're still sober." Kiba threw Naruto a very endearing grin (Naruto swore he saw fangs) and pulled in around the corner.

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Haku watched with little interest as Sakura disappeared into Sasuke's office, she looked way to chipper for his sullen mood anyway. Haku's mood was so melancholic he hardly took notice of Sakura's now shorn hair and bold dress code. He looked down despondently at the papers he had to sign away to for Sasuke and let out a sigh. He'd rather be at home. Haku's mood darkened as he remembered how inattentive Zabuza had been with him while he dropped him off at work, usually they would take separate cars, but since today was Zabuza's day off he drove him. They had barely spoken two words to each other throughout the drive there, and the good-bye kiss they had shared... it was almost like kissing a stone statue. Haku didn't know why he was feeling so unsure all of a sudden about his relationship with Zabuza all of a sudden it wasn't like he didn't want to be with Zabuza, that wasn't the reason at all, it was just that he was all of sudden so doubtful. That man and the way his lips and his nose had been pressed up so intimately up against his neck, the tears against he shed, the poignant pain in his glass brown eyes... Haku closed his eyes, he had to flush this man from his mind, it didn't matter whether he remembered him or not, Zabuza was the only man that mattered to him.

Haku nodded his head as if to prove this in went back to signing the papers, ignoring how his heart thudded painfully in his chest.

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Kakashi helped Rin out the car as Iruka opened the front door to his home. Rin was unsteady on her feet, but Kakashi placed a strong arm around her waist and steadied her. Iruka returned once the door was open and assisted Kakashi in leading Rin inside.

"Do you need to lay down Rin?" Iruka asked. Rin shook her head.

"I'm fine, a little tired though." Rin motioned for them to sit her down on the couch.

"Soup?" Iruka wondered once she was situated.

"That would be nice" Rin smiled at him, her face still looked pale and her warm brown eyes looked very tired, but her smile made her beautiful in young. Iruka tore his gaze away from her in walked into the kitchen. Rin turned her attention to Kakashi once Iruka was no longer in the room.

"How have you been Kakashi? Not beating yourself up too bad I hope." She gave him a small grin. Kakashi looked at her sideways.

"Iruka and I have been managing just fine in spite of the circumstances." His eyes raked over her frail form. "It has not been easy."

Rin sighed and leaned into the cushions of the couch. "I expected as much." Her eyes hardened a little. "You haven't been too hard on Iruka have you?" There was an edge to her tone that nearly made laugh out loud, it seemed that his Iruka had charmed someone else. Kakashi couldn't blame her, even though Iruka was capable of taking care of himself he just gave off that need to be protected vibe, it couldn't be helped.

"I haven't been hard on him, in fact I've been quite gentle, either way, he's willing."

Rin gave him a blank stare before she broke out into strained giggles, Kakashi was instantly at her side his one visible eye wide with worry.

"I... I'm fine. It's just--that's so you Kakashi, poor Iruka!" Rin forced out more laughter and then sobered fixing Kakashi with a serious stare. "I've left you in the right hands, I know you love him and I know Iruka would do anything for and it goes both ways, I'm relieved."

"You talk as if you're already dead." Kakashi's tone was hollow, his blue eye dimming slightly. Rin looked away:

"I think Iruka heard our conversation, do see that he hasn't drowned himself, hmm?" Rin said and turned her attention to the TV. Kakashi hesitated for a second an then stood to go do just that. Iruka hadn't drowned himself of course, but he did look like he wanted to. Kakashi gave Iruka a soft smile.

"You all right?"

Iruka nodded his head slowly. There was a short moment of silence and then:

"If you were listening I was serious, I could be a little harder if you--" There was a loud and painful crunching sound, followed by Rin's gentle laughter.

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To Be Continued...