Yes, I'm back. I'm really sorry I made you wait so long. The reason I didn't update sooner is because I didn't know where I was going with this story. Now, however, I made a storyline and I'll try to update more frequently (try, not promise).

I'm trying not to make them fall in love too easily because they've both been through something not so fun.

Disclaimer: The only character I own is Mai (and she doesnt even appear in this chapter) and the storyline is mine too...

The next day Sasuke went back to the cafe. He thought it would be the perfect place to eat breakfast so when he arrived there around 6:30 he didn't expect it to be still closed. "Shit" Was all that came out the ravens mouth, he wanted to hit himself for being such an idiot, after all, yesterday before he left he checked the opening hours that hung on the door and they clearly said the cafe opened at 7:30.

'Great, now what?'

"Bastard?" He turned around to see her standing in doorway. He let his eyes trail over her, taking in her baggy wine red sweater, that looked like she'd made it herself, above a black shirt with all the buttons closed and her dark blue jeans that was tucked into worn scarlet all stars.

She was looking at him with a confused expression and after a few seconds she voiced her thought. "What are you doing here so early?" His mouth fell open as if he wanted to say something but he closed it quickly, not knowing why he really was here. When he didn't answer she just chuckled and shook her head. "Well, it doesn't matter, do you want to come in?"

She stepped aside letting him pass her and closed the door behind him. "You're lucky I saw you standing, otherwise you would be walking back home right now." The place was completely dark, the curtains were closed and she hadn't bothered to switch on the light. "It's close by, so it wouldn't have been much of a hassle." He answered, following her into the kitchen.

She turned her head and lifted her eyebrow. "You say that now, but I'm sure you'd have cursed if I hadn't been here to let you in." Sasuke just 'hn'ed her and she laughed mumbling something that sounded a lot like, 'stupid stubborn bastards.' "So bastard." His brow twitched and he cut her off, "You seem to like calling me that, don't you?"

"Well, since I didn't have a name I just gave you one. It seemed to fit you, almost as if I called you that in a past life or something." When Sasuke didn't answer she continued. "You can't tell me you don't have a name for me?" It made him choke on his own saliva. Petting him on the back she said. "Aha, I knew it! Come on tell me, what are you calling me?"

"Dobe."

"I'm not a dobe, bastard!"

"No that's your nickname, dobe." She made a 'Aaah' face.

"But still, why in the name of the holy chocolate chip cookies are you calling me dobe? Did I make that impression? Cause if I did..." She trailed off.

"Seriously? Holy chocolate chip cookies?" She turned bright red and turned around pulling random stuff out of the cupboards. "Please forget that."

He chuckled. "Su~re, if you make me breakfast."

"You've got yourself a deal, but only if you help opening up this place." When Sasuke agreed she told him to do a few things like opening the curtains, grabbing some goods from the storage room or lift something to heavy for her. It was a quarter after seven when they finished and Sasuke was watching the blond bake pancakes. "You do eat pancakes, right?" She asked while throwing one in the air, making Sasuke stare in awe.

"Who doesn't?"

She shrugged and put the pancake on a plate on the counter. "I don't know, people allergic to eggs?"

"You've got a point." She shot him a grin after throwing another one up high. "So, what will I have to do in order to discover your name?" He asked while following the pancake with hungry eyes. "Can you drive, bastard?" He raised an eyebrow at the change of subject but decided to answer her anyway. "Yeah, I drive. Why?"

She opened her mouth and closed it again.

"You know you look like a dying fish when you do that, don't you." She snapped it closed and gave him a glare. "Will you learn me how to drive?" She still had that irritated look on her face while she said it and Sasuke almost didn't believe it. "You can't drive?" She shook her head. "It wasn't allowed because I-" She swallowed and averted her eyes. "Let's just say I never had the chance." She looked at him, silently begging him not to ask further.

Sasuke just smiled at her. "Sure, I'll teach you how to drive." She smiled back at him. "But I'm not telling you my name if I can't know yours, so, spit it out." She grabbed a plate from one of the shelves. "What do you want?" What did he want, it was a good question. He watched her walk around the kitchen until she turned around and gave him an expecting look.

"Let me think about that, come back in the evening and I'll tell you." When she nodded, he smiled at her and looked at the plate she'd put in front of him. Five pancakes were lying on top of each other and on the first one she'd written in chocolate sauce letters. 'For the Bastard.'

After that they talked for a while she'd made him hot chocolate and they agreed they would tell each other their names when he knew his condition. Hinata arrived 10 minutes later, giving Sasuke a strange look, and he left 5 minutes after that, telling them he had to go to work.

"So, Sasuke, are you going to the party or not." Suigetsu's loud voice cut Sasuke out his daze. "Party?"

"Don't tell me you forgot?" A long-haired blond asked. "Ino, leave him alone." The blonds best friend put a hand on her arm and shook his head. Sasuke silently thanked Shikamaru for that.

"Tell me about this party." He said pointedly looking at Suigetsu, his best friend. "The party we hold each year for the entire office." He laughed, as if remembering something funny. "I went with Karin last year, remember?" Sasuke absentmindedly nodded his head.

"I'm glad I got rid of that bitch. Drooling all over someone else," He shot a dark glare at Sasuke, who didn't even notice. "while she was on a date with me."

"What are you talking about?" Two other males sat down at their table. Neji, the one who asked, swept his long brown hair over his shoulder and nodded 'hello' to everyone. A bigger male sat down beside him, already eating while he also greeted everyone.

"The office party." Ino finally answered. "So are you going or not?" She added, looking at Sasuke. Ino had always been too brash to be considered polite.

"In fact, I am." Everyone whipped their heads in his direction. 4 pairs of eyes widened at a sight they hadn't seen in almost 5 months. Sasuke had a content look on his face, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I think I'll even bring a date." Four loud 'WHAT' 's could be heard all over the building.

Sasuke knocked at the door in front of him. Hearing Itachi's "come in", he opened it and smiled at his brother. "Sasuke," He said, a bit taken aback from his gleeful appearance. "what a pleasant surprise." He returned his smile.

"I have a little question." Sasuke seated himself in one of the chairs in front of Itachi's wooden desk.

"Go ahead."

"I'd like to make some designs for a personal reason." The tiny smile appeared on his face again. "Is that allowed?"

Itachi leaned back in his chair, observing Sasuke's demeanor. "If I ask why, you're not going to tell me are you?" Sasuke shook his head.

"No but I'll tell you soon enough. You and Mai both." Itachi nodded.

"Well Sasuke, honestly you can do what you want. Half of this company is yours. If you want to design something, you design something." When Sasuke just nodded and didn't move, he added. "It won't harm our business, we're doing great and you can certainly have a few designs for personal use. If you feel bad about it, just pay everything back with your own money, but you really don't have to." Sasuke nodded again. "Thank you, Itachi. I'm going home now, or is there something that you need me for."

"No, just go home. I'll be alright."

Naruto was closing up when Sasuke arrived. Hinata walked out and almost walked into him. "Oh Sasuke. I'm sorry I didn't see you." She was turning brighter red with every word she said.

"Don't worry about it." He looked over her shoulder to catch a glimpse of her blond boss. "Is the boss still here?" The small girl smiled and nodded. "You still don't know her name?"

Sasuke shook his head. "No but I think I'll find out tonight."

"Well, I have to go, someone's waiting for me at home." He stepped aside so she could pass him. "Goodnight, Hinata."

"Goodnight, and good luck."

When Hinata was gone, Sasuke walked inside. She was cleaning the tables and didn't notice him. He let a smile appear on his face as he watched the small girl work. "Hey."

The blonde violently jumped and turned around, eyes big and a bewildered look on her face. She slowly relaxed as she realized who it was that startled her. "You asshole, I thought I was being robbed." Sasuke walked closer to her. "Are you okay? You looked as if you were going to have a heart attack." He flinched when he realized what he had said. He didn't notice the blonde flinching too. "So bastard, if you don't have anything better to do than just standing here, you could help me just as well." He grabbed a brush that was leaning against a table. "Fine, but I'll have you know that I've been working all day."

"Yeah yeah, maybe you didn't realize it but I've been working too. Just as hard as you, maybe even harder."

Together they cleaned the room and after that she led Sasuke upstairs. "So this is my apartment." She spread her arms to the small living room but Sasuke didn't see it, he was staring in awe at the decoration of the room. Every one of her walls was covered with books. Bookshelves were standing against it, filled till the brim with all kinds of books. Sasuke had no idea what the actual color of her wall was. He walked closer to one of the bookcases and browsed through the tittles. "The wild Party", "Jane Eyre", "Pride and Prejudice". "You have very good taste."

She chuckled. "Thank you." The blonde took a book from the shelve and turned to face him, showing him the book. "Have you read this one?"

"'The wild Party' from Joseph Moncure March." He read aloud. "No I haven't."

"You should read it then, it's a book completely in rhyme." She stared lovingly at the cover. "It's awesome."

"I hate to disturb your daze but I know what I want."

She looked at him in confusion. "You know what you want, for what?"

"For your name."

She made a 'Aaaah' face again and chuckled. "Great well, before that please sit." She pointed to the couch in the middle of the room. When they were both seated, the blond leaning against the arm rest with her legs drawn up against her body, she asked, "So, what is it. Tell me."

"hn, you're curious. Maybe I should just come back later." He teased her. He was still thinking how to ask her and he couldn't think of anything. Maybe if she let him go home he could think over it somewhat longer.

Silence ruled the whole room.

"If you dare to walk away, you're going to die. Tell me." She demanded, staring into his eyes with her clear blue ones. She tried to hold up a serious face, but it failed. She grinned a bit.

"Come on, tell me! I'm so curious my toes are itching!" she said with a smile on her face.

Sasuke looked at her to see her expression but he couldn't really make out any emotions. He didn't know how to ask her. It has been a while since he asked someone out for a date. His fingers were trembling without his knowing.

"Would you mind being my date for a party?" He blurted out turning a bit red. He turned his face the other way as if he was reading the titles of the books on the shelve that was closest to him. Unknown to him, Naruto's eyes widened in definite shock. He wanted her to be his date? Her? Naruto? But she's never even been on a date. She looked at him and smiled when she saw he was still beat red. If it was with him she wouldn't mind. She would probably even like it. "I don't really know why you've picked me but…"

"It's a party my office will hold." He said quickly. "Don't worry we'll be going just as friends it's just that I'm tired to hear my friends worry about my lack of girlfriend." He rapidly told her. He hated himself for saying that. What was she supposed to think of him now? He would like the idea of telling everybody she was his but…

Naruto tensed. Friends. That was not completely what she had in mind. She quickly erased the hurt look on her face and gave him a smile.

"Yeah, sure. Why not? His heart felt relieved when she said yes. But he still wished he could take back what he had said. He shook the feeling of of him, it was a long time since he felt so at ease and happy. But somewhere he had to admit he had seen her hurt for a second.

"Now I'd like to know your name."

"Same here."

They stared at each other.

"Ladies first." Sasuke smirked.

"Urgh..Fine." She sat Indian style and smiled at him. She lifted her hand and said, "Naruto Uzumaki, nice to meet you."

Sasuke lifted his hand and took hers in his, smiling the whole time. "Sasuke Uchiha, it's a pleasure."

They both grinned at each other for a while, not releasing their grip on the others hand. He felt like a little child that just got an ice cream with his favorite flavor.

"Isn't Naruto a boy's name?"

She let her head fall and sighed. "Way to ruin the mood bastard." She let go of his hand and raked it through her hair, stopping when she realized it was tied up. "My parents were told they would be giving birth to a boy and eventually it turned out to be a girl. They kept the name they had even though it was indeed a boy's name."

"I think it suits you." Sasuke said.

"Why? Do I look like a boy?" she looked at him raising one brow.

"No it's different, like you. You're already out of the ordinary, and this only makes you even more extraordinary."

She stared at him with big eyes until she smiled. "I'll take that as a compliment." She leaned against the arm rest again and dropped her feet on his lap. Sasuke stared at them and then at her. Naruto was looking back at him, silently daring him to push them off. He let them stay.

With a content smile on her face she leaned her head to the side. "You're name sounds familiar, Sasuke." She let his name role around in her mouth, as if she was tasting how it sounded. "Am I supposed to know you or something?" She suddenly lifted her head. "Are you famous?"

He chuckled. "No I'm sorry, I'm not."

Naruto dropped her head back against the couch and 'mm'd. "It still sounds familiar."

Sasuke ignored her and looked around the room again, this time trying to avoid all the books. His eyes fell on a sight that made him chuckle.

"You seem to be kind of addicted to converse." Next to the door there were 13 pairs of converse shoes. Blue ones, brown ones, high and low ones. He recognized the ones she'd worn the first time, they were still way too orange for him to handle.

"Those aren't even all of them. There are a few in my bedroom." She smiled at him. "And probably in the kitchen and the bathroom too, I'm not exactly the neatest person there is."

"I can tell."

"Hey" She nudged him with her foot. "Be nice, or I'll kick you out."

Sasuke laughed. "No you won't, you are way too comfortable."

She laughed too. "You're right, maybe I'll just keep you so I can use you as a pillow." A large grin appeared on her face.

"What? A feet pillow? No thank you." Sasuke made a disgusted face. Her grin just grew and she gave a small chuckle.

"So Sasuke, tell me." She shifted a bit. "When is this party of yours?"

"Saturday in two weeks."

"WHAT?" She yelled, giving him a mad look. "That's in 12 days! How do you expect me to find an outfit and prepare myself mentally in 15 days?" When he didn't answer she continued. "And I'm working on each one of them asshole!"

"Uhm-"

"Don't you 'uhm' me, bastard! Besides don't forget you're learning me how to drive. When are you going to fit that in?"

"Well I was thinking-" He started.

"Yeah, tell me what you were thinking." Naruto interrupted him. "Let me finish dammit." He growled out, earning himself silence. When he was sure she would keep her mouth shut, he tried again.

"So I was thinking that we could combine those things. Did you do your theoretical test yet?" Naruto nodded.

"I'll take it you passed?" She nodded again. "Well, first I could show you the ropes in the first lesson. And in the second, if we agree that you are good enough, you could go on the road and drive us to the places you like, places to shop."

By the time he ended she wore a big grin on her face, when she didn't say anything, he sighed. "You can speak now."

She 'IEEE'ped and threw her arms around him. "Thank you Sasuke." He gently put his arms around her and hugged her back. He didn't say anything.

Yes I know, it's short and nothing special but hey, it's better then nothing!

If you did like it please review :D you'd make me very happy.

Codaline.