Shelly's Note: These start the 10 years later chapters

As always I own nothing, enjoy and please review...

I've got a lot to study for so this is going to be a quick update...

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Chapter 26: Who We've Become

TEN YEARS LATER

Sasuke POV

It was exhausting being Itachi's right hand man. Ever since he had taken over the company three years earlier, he had been working me extra hard. It wasn't that I had minded, has he knew that I didn't have much in my life that I cared about.

I had friends that I went out with every Saturday, because they forced me to. They refused to let me become secluded to just my work and myself. Itachi could tell that I cared about them even if I didn't show it or care to admit it.

I had a girlfriend, Aimi, who I had been going out with for four years. My parents set us up and I think I stayed with her more out of respect to their memory. Anyone could tell that I didn't truly care for her. We never even did anything that normal couples were supposed to do. Sure we made public appearances, or at least we used to, for the company. Many people even questioned if we were still a couple, most of my friends questioned why we were still a couple. Suigetsu always said that I couldn't have an actual relationship; I had left that part of my heart with Naruto ten years ago.

My parents had died in a car accident, which is why my brother took over the company. It was a day that brought mixed feelings for me. I was sad for losing family, and yet happy that I could finally be myself. They never understood me, with time I grew to accept that and keep my mouth shut. It was better to keep the peace than to be happy.

My friends thought that I'd break up with Aimi once they were gone. However, I couldn't do it. It was as if she was my last memory of them. For some reason I couldn't cut the ties, or maybe I just never saw a reason to do so.

"Sasuke," Itachi called out to me as I was walking down the hall to my office.

"What?" I looked back at him.

"Can you go get me coffee?" he asked.

I glared, "Are you serious?"

"You're the only one I trust," he said.

"Why can't Kisame get it?" I asked, annoyed.

"We're busy," he smirked.

"I'll take my time," I rolled my eyes as he walked toward his office. "You better be done when I get back." I walked out sighing to myself as I wondered how being his right hand man entailed being his coffee boy as well.

Naruto POV:

I kicked the filing cabinet, wondering why I chose this profession. I asked myself that on a daily basis: why had I chosen to go into business? The only answer I could think of was Sasuke. Just the thought of him still brought me shivers down my back, I tried dating other people, but none ever compared, so no one ever worked out. I wondered how a guy could make me fall so hard in such a short time and keep me holding on after breaking my heart. I knew it was because of him that I went to college for business and needed up working for the small company, Kyuubi. I said that I never wanted to see him again, but all my actions in life said otherwise.

"Why don't you take a break, Naruto," Iruka, my boss, suggested.

"Okay, thanks," I said. He knew that when I was frustrated I just needed to clear my head. "I'm going for coffee want some?" I asked.

"No, thank you," he smiled as I left.

I knew a great coffee place that my friend's mother owned. That was where I went whenever I got coffee. I was still friends with most people from that summer, almost everyone but Sasuke and his friends. I also had new friends as well. We all went out all the time and had a lot of fun. However, I was starting to feel weird, as I was one of the few people in the group who wasn't in a couple or even trying to be in a couple.

I walked into the coffee shop to see Tenten behind the counter, talking with Temari. "It's so obvious that he likes you," Tenten practically gushed.

"Are you guys talking about Shikamaru again?" I interrupted.

"Who else?" Temari smirked.

"You know he's with Ino, right?" I gave her a disappointed look.

"Yeah, yeah," she ignored me.

"Sometimes I wonder how you and Gaara are related," I shook my head.

"He'd get what he wanted too," she smirked.

"Don't worry Naruto, she's all talk," Tenten laughed. "What can I get for you?"

"My usual," I smiled.

"Coming right up she said as I quickly paid and walked to the other counter to wait for my drink. The door rang, signaling another costumer walking in, which caused me to look up as usual. However, I wished I hadn't this time, as standing at the counter was the one and only: Sasuke Uchiha. His looks were undeniably recognizable, as only he could look beautiful and manly, as well as flawless. Maybe it was just in my eyes that he was so and nobody else could stand out as he could.

"Good morning," he said.

"Good morning Mr. Uchiha, what can I get you?" Tenten smiled.

"Two black coffees and a bottle of water," he said as he grabbed a bottle of water out of the container in front of him. I almost died seeing him bend over in front of me with that perfect ass of his She rung up his order and he handed her a twenty for something half the price then told her to, "Keep the change." She smiled at him as he turned to wait for his drink, as most people don't usually tip her that well, though ten dollars to him is probably nothing. He walked over to wait for his order, freezing as our eyes met. It was obvious that I had been staring at him so I did all I could do, "Sasuke."

For a moment, he stood there, silent and staring at me, before he responded, "Naruto."

TBC....