Chapter 3: Admire

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Everything I do is just borrowing okay?

Naruto rushed through the staff room door; shirt half buttoned and black vest flapping against his chest. He finished tucking in his dress shirt and buttoned his vest. His friend, Shikamaru, raised an eyebrow and shook his head.

"Troublesome...Why are you always running in like a bat out of hell?" he sighed, itching and adjusting his apron. Naruto shrugged and wiped the sweat off his brow.

"I was in my usual spot until trouble showed up..." Naruto sighed. Shikamaru just shrugged and went through the set of double doors that lead to the kitchen. Naruto glared after his friend and scoffed.

"Nice having friends who don't care!" he hissed, shrugging his vest up higher and attaching his red bow tie. He sighed sadly and wrapped one of his arms around himself. Rubbing his tense shoulder, he gripped and dug his finger nails into the fabric of his shirt. He felt a cold streak run down his spine and shivered a bit. He frowned and took a deep breath.

It sort of reminds me of how alone I really, truly am...

His other arm came up and wrapped around his waist, clutching tightly and willing away the cold.

I just will hope tomorrow goes better...Yeah right, that's what I always say...Every freakin day is the exact same...

Naruto slowly made his way into the kitchen. People were running around like headless chickens . . . Or someone won the lottery, either one was appropriate really. He put back on his happy facade and picked up his usual tray and check pad. Making sure he had his pen on him, he took a deep breath and entered the dining area, greeting people and taking orders.

Sasuke finally squeezed through a tricky fence and slid under it no problem, but the other problem was...

Traffic... he sighed.

Traffic during tourist season was the worst ever. Sasuke watched as cars and motor scooters zoomed by. Horse-drawn carriages heavily decorated with flowers, and streamers went by. The little rat's eyes darted back and forth, getting dizzy from watching them go back and forth past him. He took a deep breath and made his first few hops into the road. He dodged a simple car and quickly ran across a horse hooves. The horse swung its head and let out a loud neighing noise. It stomped its mighty feet, dropping a few flowers to the ground. Sasuke got an idea and quickly picked up a flower, stuffing it behind his ear and running back onto the side walk. He looked at the flower and practically did a dance in his head.

Perfect! It's the color of his eyes! I'll impress Naruto and let him know he has me! He won't have to fall for that ugly human now!

Sasuke trotted down the street and up to another storm drain. He was careful not to damage the flower when moving in and out of different shaped pipes. Finally, he arrived to the rook of the restaurant; the sun was setting now, and soon darkness would reside. He looked down through the large open sun roof with the brilliant designs of angels and flowers. He looked carefully, scanning the other familiar uniformed staff and seeking a blond head among the crowd. He finally spotted his blond, taking an order from a slightly thin man who appeared like he couldn't make up what he wanted. The blond stood there and waited some what patiently. Finally, the man spoke up and Naruto quickly took down the order before rushing away to the kitchen. Sasuke's eyes lit up, and his tail twitched in anticipation.

"Sooo...What is so interesting Sasuke?" a voice asked behind him. Sasuke almost jumped and in the process ruin his flower in his mouth. He turned and glared at Kakashi.

"Vhat var vu voing vere?" Kakashi smirked until Sasuke set the flower down out of his mouth to speak more clearly.

"What are you doing here Kakashi? Shouldn't you be dumpster diving?" Kakashi shrugged and padded over to the roof window. He looked down and whistled.

"That's a lot of people. Tell me, which one do you fancy Sasuke? You certainly have become more interested in these walking mammals lately..." Sasuke hissed and looked back at the tables of people. Naruto had walked to another table, setting down a tray of food and asking other tables if they needed anything. Kakashi watched Sasuke and frowned.

"You see some food you like? You could easily break in and steal it, you know..." Sasuke looked at him then, eyes smoldering with what looked like frustration.

"I don't want food, if I did, then why am I on the roof?"

"You tell me..."

"None of your god damn business!"

"If one of our own has a certain desire, that is what family is for, now fess up. What's on your mind?" Sasuke looked back at Naruto and gave Kakashi a glance. The little rat sighed and petted the glass Naruto stood so far away from.

"I'm in love . . . With a human . . . " Kakashi stood there and stared. Suddenly, Sasuke stiffened as he heard the gray rat behind him burst out in uncontrollable laughter. The black rat hissed and turned to face him.

"It's not funny! The worst part is . . . I may never be able to be with him!" Kakashi stopped and gave the other rat a once over.

"Maybe if you were taller!" Kakashi went back to laugh, and Sasuke only sighed and put the flower back in his mouth.

"Whatever, I have something I need to do, so I'll see ya around." Sasuke leapt to another pipe on the side of the roof and went down it. Kakashi went backward to the window and stared. Suddenly, a brown-haired man stepped out of the rest rooms and back to a table. Kakashi licked his whiskered lips.

"Ooh la la ...Now I see why Sasuke stares at them. Some of these human men are gorgeous!" Kakashi said, happily swung his tail around. He watched the brown-haired man at his table. Kakashi started humming to himself, tilting his head back and forth in his paws.

Naruto sighed and went back into the employee's locker room. A customer had gotten angry at a table mate and in a fit of rage, flung his arm out. Causing the soup Naruto was carrying behind him to splatter all over his front.

"Idiotic fat guys and their stupid skinny friends making fun of them . . . I could have burned my face off!" Naruto swore all the way back into the locker rooms. Careful in case his boss over hears his cussing and becomes appalled.

Like the guy isn't already appalled...

Naruto rolled his eyes and sighed as he turned the lock on his locker. He opened his door and stopped dead.

Sasuke watched from the top of a nearby locker. Far enough away, but close so he could watch what was going on. He watched as the blond came in, rather surprised at the colorful language the boy was issuing. However, Sasuke dismissed it as he held his breath as the blond opened his locker. It was easy enough...

All right, I managed to get through that small crack in the bottom of his locker. Getting the flower in was harder though . . . It almost broke! I would have been pissed! Then my romantic moment with Naruto would have been over...

Sasuke snapped out of his day dreams when the blond picked up the flower. Naruto brought the large violet to his nose and sniffed. Naruto looked around the room and saw no one but him.

"What the . . . ?" Naruto breathed, staring at the flower. The violet was a bright blue, almost the same color of his eyes. He looked around but saw no one in the locker room with him.

Did it fall in or something? No way . . . My door was closed the whole time! What if...No way...

"Do I have a secret admirer?"

Sasuke was doing cartwheels in his head.

TBC

R&R