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Chapter 7: These Moments With You

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Naruto sat on his chair and prepared himself for a night of gaming. He had been pretty proud of their achievements for the week. And while his legal team is finalizing the contract, he figured he earned himself a little Rest and relaxation. He booted up his PC and slipped on his isolation helmet. He took in the familiar village that had been his second home for the past few days. Somehow, being with Taka felt like home, he was free to be who he was, who he really is without the influence of sub-sexes and pheromones.

He doesn't even know what sub sex Taka is in real life. And although he felt like he and Taka have something, something beyond that of gaming partners, Naruto has to remind himself that in Taka's eyes, he's nothing more than a quest giver, something that the Enigma knew when he signed up for this.

Though that didn't lessen the pang of pain that crept up to his chest. Throughout their time together, he realized just how much he loved being around Taka. Taka's unrestrained and uncaring attitude is in stark contrast to the self-serving sycophants he was used to. He cursed freely, laughed sadistically at every foe they slay and the longer they played, the more that Taka looked more alive, more awake than ever, loving every moment of their time together.

He grinned, excited what kind of adventures they would face together tonight. He ran multiple scenarios to himself. And once he knew he's ready, he made his way for the Hokage's door, aware that his favorite customer has just logged in.

-o-o-o-

Sasuke took in the familiar figure in front of him. Against his better judgment, he still logged into the game. While he wanted to confront the Namikaze about what his phone revealed, Sasuke was afraid… truly… that if he does so, all that they've built together these past few weeks would crumble, would disappear without a trace. So he decided to ignore it for now.

He's not yet ready to leave this life behind. Nor is he ready for the truth yet. And so he figured that he'd bide his time, enjoy this few moments with Narushiki as much as he can.

As he lifted his gaze to the NPC before him, or would it be more accurate now to call him a fellow player? Sasuke didn't know but the moment their eyes met, Sasuke knew he couldn't let this man go. Those eyes, despite altered by technology were so earnest, so open. And he recalled the very eyes he found in that board room. The more he looked at Narushiki, the more the resemblance dawned on him.

"Greetings, Hokage-sama. I have two targets for you today. A tailed beast was scouted to the west of Tea country's borders. A new area was unlocked following an altercation with two ninja clans there. Normally, crossing the borders would incite a military reprisal, however this time, the Daimyo of the land has granted special permissions. You and I can go immediately, if you wish. The second target lies further closer to Sound's borders and our excursion there could incite conflict with that village. However, I believe that with your military capabilities, your village is more than ready for the consequences. It's your choice."

Sasuke eyed Narushiki carefully. And while the revelations beforehand continued to gnaw at the back of his back of his mind, he wanted to at least enjoy this moment. So he steadied himself and swiped on his choice. The night flew by quickly for them both as they journeyed to Tea Country, a small squad of ANBU behind them.

"Taka, watch out!" He heard Narushiki yelled as he was suddenly pushed to the side. When Sasuke realized what had happened, the ANBU squad behind them were all lying on the ground. And in front of them a towering beast, one that they've never seen before roared.

Narushiki immediately moved in front of him, ready to protect him in a moment's notice, something that Sasuke found odd, especially for an NPC. This isn't the first time that Narushiki did this, too. In most of their time together, Narushiki has always placed his welfare before himself, even on their escort quests. But now if he thinks of Narushiki as a player, it suddenly makes sense. The A.I's actions has always puzzled him. Narushiki was too… human-like for a preprogrammed software. And Sasuke was reminded once again of the earlier revelations.

"Foolish beast. What can you possibly do against the two of us? Ready yourself Hokage, we will tame this one in no time!" Sasuke felt a chill at the smug smirk that Narushiki had on his face. The same smug smirk he caught Naruto wearing when Itachi lost in that board meeting. The resemblance was so uncanny that it disoriented Sasuke for a bit.

"Uhh Taka? Hello? You still with me?"

"Yeah… yes I am." Sasuke managed to choke out as he pushed himself off the ground, Sharingan eyes preparing to shoot a volley of black flames.

"Good, I'll distract him, you have your beast scroll with you, yeah?"

"Of course."

"Then let's not waste any more time. Here I come!"

Sasuke watched Narushiki flew with such speed that it blew away the trees around them. Narushiki floated in front of the beast's giant maw, hands glowing blood red as he shot rasengan after rasengan. The beast before them growled, it's HP dropping slowly with Narushiki's assault.

And despite his initial confusion and indecision, Sasuke decided to join in on the action too. He equipped his sealing brush and opened the scroll from his inventory. Sasuke noted six black floating balls on Narushiki's back, which parried the beast's tails that came after him. While Narushiki was busy distracting the beast, Sasuke unfurled the scroll on the ground.

"Activate Skill: Beast Trap." But nothing seemed to happened.

"Damn it, teme! We've done this many times before. We need to get his HP down to half before you do that, remember?" Narushiki yelled as he parried and evaded the beast's attack.

"Oh right. Sorry." Sasuke was too distracted with the man's identity that he forgot for a moment just how they do this thing before. So he summoned his own avatar.

"Activate Skill: Susanoo!" A large skeletal avatar materialized in front of him. And Sasuke joined the fight by first striking at the beast, directing the Susanoo's hand to grasp the beast by its paw before slicing with its sword.

"Don't kill him, Taka. We need to tame it, got it?"

"I know, dobe!"

And as they slid into familiar banter together, fighting and moving to the tune they've been dancing to before, it's as if the revelations of earlier was forgotten, Sasuke found himself enjoying his time with Narushiki once more. This is the moment he wish would never be taken from them. The rush of excitement, the sheer feeling of power and above all, the way their bodies move in perfect coordination, in perfect rhythm with each other's unsaid cues and silent signals is testament to their connection and growing friendship inside the game.

And whether Narushiki is really a real player or not, that would have to wait for a little while longer. For now, they have a beast to tame and to Sasuke, that's what he wanted to do. These moments with Narushiki, he'll relish, etching it in the deepest recess of his mind.

For he knows that no matter what happens, this is a memory he can always come back to… A fond memory that he'll revisit in days to come.

-o-o-o-

Dark eyes narrowed as the phone vibrated on his desk. It reminded him that who he's chatting with is a real person. But last night… last night was exhilarating, a rush like no other. Ignoring the Namikaze's phone on his desk, he instead focused his attention on his own phone. Because as hard as he wants to avoid it, chatting with Narushiki every lunch time had been a habit that Sasuke found himself into, and his day would feel incomplete without this routine.

HawkEye23: How's your night Naru?

Ramen4Lyf: You were there, teme. You would know. Have you eaten yet?

HawkEye23: I was just about to. Just about to finish this proposal and I'll be heading out.

Ramen4Lyf: Ahhh… One of those, yeah? Always found that a very tedious part of the office. Good thing I have someone who does that for me. And let me tell you, despite his lazy ass, I trust him with my life.

Dark eyes rolled. Of course. If this is really the Namikaze he's chatting with, rather than an A.I, it's understandable that he'll have his own employees under him. Sasuke frowned at the foreign sensation crawling its way up his chest… His chest felt hot for some reason… Could it be… jealousy? Just who is this man that his Narushiki trusted so much? Does that mean that there's someone else besides Taka?

HawkEye23: Who?

Ramen4Lyf: Huh? What do you mean who?

HawkEye23: You know what I'm asking, Naru. Who is he?

Ramen4Lyf: Oh, you mean my secretary? Very dependable. But he's lazy… beyond lazy. He once slept through a meeting. But when I asked for the minutes, it was detailed down to the seconds. Can you believe it? Man what a life saver. But it weirded me out. Why do I always attract weirdos in my life? I don't even know.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. He didn't realize his hands was shaking as his grip on his phone tightened golden eyes, furiously rereading the man's reply. So someone else is attracted to Narushiki? Sasuke doesn't know why but something within him raged at the thought. His inner alpha growled.

It wasn't until his phone vibrated again that he was pulled out of his self-induced rage.

Ramen4Lyf: Uhmm.. Taka… you still there? Sorry if I rambled a little bit there."

HawkEye23: Yeah… Sorry, I was preoccupied. I was preparing to head out.

Ramen4Lyf: Oops. Sorry. Are you busy? Am I bothering you?

HawkEye23: No… of course not. You're never a bother to me Naru. Sorry.

Ramen4Lyf: You don't need to apologize, Taka. I forgot that I'm on my laptop. So I type faster. I lost my phone, you see. Can you believe it? Good thing I had it synced to myCloud or I would really cry.

HawkEye23: You lost your phone?

Sasuke's eyes flicked to the giant phone sitting on his desk, taunting him. It had been vibrating non-stop, of course. But he was able to ignore its presence more or less, too absorbed with Narushiki's chats.

Ramen4Lyf: Yeah… Just my luck huh? It was a gift from a very special person, too, but it's so big that I always seem to forget to bring it with me always.

HawkEye23: And this person? The one who gave it to you? Who is he?

Sasuke clutched his chest. There goes that ugly jealousy again. He doesn't know where this surge of possessiveness came from. It's not like he knows for sure that Narushiki is Naruto. Okay maybe a big part of him was just in denial. But still, he can't really know that for certain right?

Ramen4Lyf: Pushy aren't we? Well… he's very special to me for sure. He's been with me since my childhood.

HawkEye23: Just tell me, Narushiki or so help me, I'll block you!

Ramen4Lyf: Geez. Fine. Don't know why it's important to you. But he's my childhood tutor. But he kind of acts like a foster father to me. Happy?

Sasuke relaxed. Okay, that's one less guy to worry about. But there's still this… secretary. He bit his lip. Why is he even feeling like this? It's not like he knew Naruto in real life. But… Narushiki… He found him first! He's Sasuke's alone. And he hated the thought of a competition, loathed the very thought of someone so close to earn the other person's trust that Sasuke hasn't began to earn first. It's not like Naruto know he's Taka, right?

Or maybe Naruto knew and he's just lying to Sasuke all this time? Sasuke gritted his teeth. This is beyond frustrating.

HawkEye23: Yes. Listen Narushiki, I got to go. My order's here. Talk to you later?

Ramen4Lyf: Alright. See you later Taka! Enjoy your meal.

As the screen turned dark, Sasuke stood up. He made his decision. He can't stay like this forever. He has to talk to him. He has to resolve these growing feelings within him. And regardless of the outcome, he'll face it without cowardice. Better that he knew now than spend the rest of his life regretting right?

He grabbed the giant phone on his desk and rather than heading straight for his favorite sushi bar, he inputted the address to Sannin Industries.

-o-o-o-

Sasuke scanned the simple building in front of him and frowned. The very same masked guards were on patrol. And from their scents, he knew they were Gamma. He saw the head of security, Neji was it? Neji wasted no time in approaching him.

"May I help you sir?"

"Is Namikaze-sama in? I'd like to talk to him."

"Namikaze-sama is not expecting visitors at the moment." Sasuke rolled his eyes, hating the man already. Neji was beyond condescending for a mere Gamma. "Oh wait… I know you, Uchiha-sama right? Alright… you can go in. But I would highly recommend you wear this mask, sir."

"No thanks, Neji. I won't be long. Just have something to deliver."

Neji smirked at him, as if thinking him mad for even considering it. But the Gamma said nothing as he unlocked the glass door. As soon as Sasuke stepped foot in the building, that scent assaulted him immediately, that scent that captivated him since the board meeting. He could feel the hairs on the back of his neck standing up and he turned to see Neji's smirk widened.

"Are you sure you don't want this mask, sir?"

"No." Sasuke said as he steadied his breath. His hand reached up to his cheeks, feeling it warm for some reason. Neji silently gave him a towel instead and he looked at the Gamma quizzically.

"What is this?"

"You're sweating sir…"

"Oh…" Sasuke said in a daze. And he realized that indeed, the back of his neck was wet, despite the cold airconditioning of the building nearly freezing against his skin.

"Look, I'm not that cruel, Uchiha-sama. So I highly suggest you take the mask. You're turning red, sir."

"I said I'm fine!"

"Alright, sir, if you insist." Neji sighed as he made his way to the woman on the front desk. "Ino… Our Naruto-kun has a visitor." Sasuke's eyes narrowed at the knowing smile on Neji's face. Oh how that face irritated him.

The blond-haired woman stood up, greeted him with a smile. Though because of the thick black mask on her face, it's not really that obvious. Still, despite Sasuke's life as a shut in, he's good at reading people. And he knew that beneath the thick fabric covering half of her face, Ino had a mischievous smile hidden.

"Alright, Uchiha-sama right this way."

-o-o-o-

The walk to Naruto's office was spent in a daze. The nearer they got, the fuzzier that Sasuke's head felt. But that smell… it's so.. addicting… so warm… so cozy… He can't help but breathe more of it. Ino said nothing as she watched the alpha sniffed the air aggressively. They're used to it. But they're surprised that the Alpha remained standing despite willfully breathing in their boss' scent.

Ino knocked on the mahogany door before announcing their presence.

"Namikaze-sama, Uchiha is here to see you."

"Ahhh… Itachi… Is there something else you'd like to discuss?" Naruto didn't look up from his desk, mindlessly tapping on his laptop. Sasuke chanced upon the secondary monitor on the man's side and his eyes narrowed at the familiar title screen of Bijuu Online. Still, he ignored it, he has one purpose in mind today.

"I am not my brother…" He replied as he entered the room. He could feel his knees weaken already. But held himself steady. He's not a damn omega that scent like this could incapacitate him.

"Ohh…" Naruto finally looked up. "How may I help you Uchiha-san?"

Sasuke could feel himself getting sucked up in endless blue. And for a moment, he briefly forgot why is it that he has come here.

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A/N: Yay, they meet at last. I wonder what will happen next? Hehe. Until the next update!