Naruto stared at Shion before he realized who he was with. He turned sharply to look at Hinata who was simply staring at the woman before him. He couldn't read her face but he hoped she wouldn't react badly. Good thing he talked to her about what happened this afternoon.

"I can't believe it's actually you!" yelled Shion before lunging at him for a tight hug.

He awkwardly patted her back before moving slightly away.

"Uh, Shion…nice to meet you again. This is Hinata, my girlfriend."

The young woman turned and smiled at Hinata. "Nice to meet you. Wow, she's really pretty."

"Thank you," replied Hinata. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Pleasure is all mine," said Shion with a large smile. "Of all people to see from high school, I did not expect to see you." She placed her hands on her hips. "Is Kiba around too?"

"Heh, heh…no he's, uh, somewhere I think." He was getting nervous. Sure, he's bumped into some of his exes throughout his life and for some forsaken reason, it will always happen when he has a new girlfriend. And, sure, he'll always shrug away the encounter because while it did hurt to see his past girlfriends', they didn't really leave an impact. But Shion was different.

She was his first girlfriend that completely broke his heart. The way she just came and left his life made him reevaluate the way he saw relationships. Were all women like this? It was a question that he'll ask himself a lot when he was younger. He was worried that Shion might do something to cause a drift in his relationship with Hinata. But she didn't seem like that kind of woman, despite doing what she did in high school. He only hoped she didn't turn out to be a crazy ex. After all, she dumped him.

"Hinata, um, is it okay if I talk to your boyfriend really quick?" Shion looked down and fisted her hands. "I need to talk to him about something."

"Um…" Hinata never doubted Naruto. When he told her about his relationship with Shion, she couldn't believe that there were actual women like that. But seeing the woman before her made her think that maybe she came to find closure. People would always scold her for her trusting nature but her gut was telling her that it was okay. Naruto would never cheat on her.

"Sure." Hinata smiled at the shocking look that Naruto and Shion showed. "I'll be in our favorite bakery down the street." After a moment of hesitation, she kissed Naruto's cheek and whispered, "I love you." She left and didn't turn back. She trusted Naruto.

She really did.

"What a lovely girlfriend you have," started Shion after a moment of awkward silence.

"Thanks. She really is." Naruto scratched the back of his head. He didn't know why she wanted to talk to him. "So, uh, what brings you back here?"

"Oh." Shion blushed and twirled a strand of her hair around her fingers. "T-There's some business I have regarding my dad's company. He's funding this business that seems to be gaining a lot of attention. So I came here as a representative since I'm planning on taking over our business once he feels I'm ready."

"Wow, seems like a lot of hard work. I'm sure you'll do fine, ya know."

Shion giggled. "You still have your tick."

Naruto pouted. "Yeah, of course I do! That's what makes me awesome."

Shion smiled gently and looked up at the night sky. "You've become really handsome."

He stayed quiet before narrowing his eyes at her. "Why do you want to talk to me after all these years?"

She shrugged. "I can't stay in contact with some old friends?"

He shrugged, just like her, and began walking away. "I guess. I have my girlfriend waiting for me. See ya!"

"Wait!" She grabbed his hand and he nearly pulled his hand away.

"What?"

"Here's my number." She handed him a business card. "Please call me when you can. I need to talk to you about something."

"Why can't you tell me now?" He gave her a confusing look.

"I want it to be a bit more private…" Her eyes glistened and she sniffed. "Sorry. But, please, just promise me that. I'm not trying to do anything fishy. Please trust me."

"Last time you said that you left me for someone else," he said bitterly but sighed afterwards. "But that was in the past. I'll call you when I have time."

"Thank you!" She hugged him once more before parting ways. "Tell your girlfriend that she's very lucky."

He simply waved at her before looking down at the business card.

"What does she want?"

Hinata felt fortunate to be working in the shop today. It was blistering hot outside and her AC was not working in her studio. She almost hugged her friends out of delight when they called her to tell her to come into work today. They had some important meeting and couldn't stay around to manage the shop. She didn't mind holding down the fort.

"I haven't seen you in a while."

Her heart sped up and she stared at Toneri who simply smiled at her.

"Toneri?!"

"Yo." He waved his hand and leaned against the counter. "How've you been?"

"Um…" She blushed. The last time they talked was when she told him that she was taken. She didn't know if he hated her or not. "I've been good. And you?"

"Good, I suppose." He stared at her before sighing. "That boyfriend of yours sure is lucky."

"Thank you."

There was an awkward silence before he cleared his throat.

"So…" He gestured to the shop. "How do you like working here?"

"It has its perks," she responded, nervous beyond belief. Why is he making small talk?

"I can tell that you're nervous. Don't be." He ruffled his hair and glanced at the side. "I did like you and I did get a bit sad once I found out you were taken. But I've been thinking a lot and if it's okay with you, I'll like to be friends."

She stared at him wide eyed.

"I know I can't change the past and what's done was done but you seem like a cool person to hang out with." He avoided eye contact with her. "What do you say?"

She took in a shuddering breath. "I'll like to but no funny business."

"Cross my heat and hope to die." He smiled as he crossed his chest. "You should tell your boyfriend this before he tries to kill me."

"Naruto wouldn't do that."

"Jealousy is a horrible thing that can even turn the nicest people into monsters."

She thought back about Shion and how she left her boyfriend and his ex alone. When he came back, he told her everything that happened. He asked her why would Shion want to talk to him and she couldn't help but think that maybe his ex wanted to steal him back. She immediately brushed it off, knowing that Naruto would never leave her. Or, she hoped he didn't leave her soon. Shion is beautiful and she couldn't imagine what emotions bubbled up when Naruto and Shion first saw each other.

"It was like a nervous feeling," Naruto told her when she asked what he felt when he first saw his ex. "It's a part of my past that was hard to deal with. She broke my heart and while I can't remember how it felt, I can remember how hard it was to get over it. It's a past I forgot so when I saw her, all of my memories—good and bad—that came with her hit me all at once. I didn't know what to do. So I ran." He chuckled then and kissed her. "But don't worry. I love you. I love you so much and an ex appearing won't change that at all. So don't worry, babe."

"Hey, earth to Hinata." Toneri waved his hand in front of the dazed woman.

"Oh, sorry, I was just thinking of something."

He hummed in response before stretching and moving away. "I'm going to look around. Hey, do I get discounts since I'm your friend?"

Hinata cracked a smile and shook her head.

"Wow, you're hurting me, Hinata."

Hinata simply giggled.

This was a good distraction after all.

"I need to talk to you about something."

Her words repeated in his head for a few days now. He was in his break and he stared at the business card Shion gave to him. What would she want to talk about? He didn't want to give her any hope but he'll feel bad if he didn't at least give her a chance to talk. She looked like she was about to cry, for crying out loud!

He sighed and dialed a number. It rang a few times before someone picked up.

"What do you want, Naruto?"

"Nice to know you care for me, Kiba." Naruto smiled. "You busy?"

"Well," there was a muffled voice and the sound of blankets being moved, "sure, anything for you buddy."

"I'm going over to your apartment later today so I can ask about this new woman of yours."

"Shut up and talk to me already!"

Naruto laughed but then fell silent. "Remember how I told you about Shion and how she wants to talk to me?"

"Yup."

"Should I do it? Should I give her that chance?"

"Honestly, Naruto, I don't know. Sometimes when an ex appears and wants some alone time with you, it usually means they want to get back together. They get all mushy and bring out the good points of your relationship with her and how it'll be a good idea to become a couple again. But there are a few exes who just want to be friends."

"I don't know, Kiba…Shion is something."

"I know." Kiba sighed. "Do you think she'll try something funny?"

"I don't know. But if she does, I'm going to stop her. She doesn't have a chance at all. But something in my gut is telling me that maybe she doesn't want to get back together."

"Your gut, huh?" Kiba chuckled. "Always trust your gut instinct. So you're going to see her?"

"Yeah." Naruto stared at the business card once again. "I'm going to tell Hinata too. Ask her for some advice."

"Naruto, just be careful. That woman hurt you once. I'm not going to let it happen again."

"You do love me."

"Yeah, yeah. Are you done?"

"Yeah. Go have fun having sex with your new woman."

"Very funny. Bye Naruto and good luck."

"Thanks man." They both hung up and Naruto sighed.

"What do you want, Shion?" asked Naruto as he dialed her number.

"What do you want from me?"