Part VI

Naruto awoke the next morning in a fog, both literally and figuratively. The fog in his brain was caused by the little amount sleep he had gotten due to the certain person who was still sleeping on the opposite side of the double bed. The actual fog had settled over the city in a thick blanket, blocking out any trace of the sun.

Naruto, under the mis-impression that it was a regular work day for him, rolled over casually thinking he would check the time on his alarm clock. Instead, he was quite horrified to find a head of thick brown hair just inches from his nose. His eyes widened in alarm and then terror as the events of the past several hours came flooding back to the forefront of his mind. As quickly and as quietly as he could, he made for the opposite edge of the bed in order to flee as fast as possible. At the edge of the bed, he threw aside the comforter, realized he was naked, and fell out of bed onto the floor. He held his hands to his face hoping that he hadn't woken his guest.

After a moment of silence, he ventured forth again, standing up and hurriedly taking a shirt, suit, and tie from his closet and fled to the shower. He emerged within fifteen minutes, peeked into the bedroom, found Kiba still asleep. So he tip-toed down the hall, put his shoes on, and quickly went out the front door, locking it behind him.

Out on the street, he practically ran to the tube station, got on the train, and then suddenly felt ill at the full realization of what had happened. The rest of the train ride to Hammersmith was a study in despair.

# # #

Naruto emerged from the lift at the office looking as if he were dragging a ton of concrete behind him. Hinata looked up in surprise at seeing him, then her look turned to concern. She was about go to him when suddenly Sasuke opened the door to his office and stuck his head out.

"Miss Hyuuga, could you…," he began, then noticed Naruto. "Naruto, what are you doing here?!"

"Oh…ummm, I…" Naruto stalled.

"Where's Kiba? You didn't leave him alone did you?" Sasuke sounded panicky himself now.

"No," Naruto said. "I mean, he was still sleeping…"

"Well what have you come for?" Sasuke inquired.

"I…ummm, I realized I was supposed to meet Hatake this morning to get his new material…" Naruto lied.

"Oh, Naruto," Sasuke said with a chuckle. "You should have telephoned. You know Hatake likely won't show up anyway, and even if he did, I could have taken the material and kept it safe for you."

"Oh, you're probably right," Naruto said.

"Well, anyway, since you're here now, I'd like to discuss something with you. Please come into my office."

He turned and went back inside, leaving the door open for Naruto, who stood a moment with an agonized look upon his face. Finally he moved forward and entered the office, closing the door behind him.

Within, Sasuke was seated back behind his desk and Furuba was lying on one of the two chairs in front of the desk, curled into a ball with his tail resting over his face. Naruto sat down in the unoccupied chair and watched Furuba sleeping, not wishing to look directly at his boss.

"Well, how did things go after Itachi dragged me out last night?" Sasuke asked, his chin propped up on his two hands on the desk.

"Ohhhh…quite well I think. I can't think of anything to complain about anyway," Naruto said, then thought to himself except my legs hurt like bloody hell this morning.

"That's excellent to hear!" Sasuke exclaimed with far too much enthusiasm, causing Naruto to inadvertently look up at him and notice a peculiar gleam in his eyes.

Naruto shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

"It was so vexing to be hauled off like that," Sasuke continued. "Itachi didn't even have anything of real importance to discuss. Only a bunch of rubbish about numbers, letters, papers, contracts, and who knows what else. I'm not even really sure of anything he said. All I could think about was Kiba…"

"Really?" Naruto said, his unease multiplying with every word Sasuke spoke.

"Yes," Sasuke said dreamily, then suddenly became giddy. "Naruto, you likely won't believe this, but I think Kiba is the one for me."

Wha…wha…what?" Naruto could barely form the word and felt as if he might throw up at any moment.

"Yes, Naruto," Sasuke began nearly rhapsodizing. "I don't know what it was, but instantly I felt that he and I were meant to be together. I can't even describe to you what it was like…"

"But you only just met him…" Naruto really hadn't envisioned his boss's whimsical nature and fantastical thoughts to take this turn in the road. And after his night previous, he was not in any kind of mood to hear about it. He suddenly felt terribly guilty at not being able to show more restraint.

"Oh, I realize that," Sasuke said somewhat dismissively. "One can't help what one's heart sets itself upon however. And I definitely felt that Kiba likely felt the same thing…"

I highly doubt he felt anything for you if he could so easily jump into bed with me Naruto thought to himself and the let out a nervous, uneasy giggle realizing that Sasuke must never know what had happened.

"Anyway, Itachi has some silly meeting soon, so perhaps you had better get back to our mutual acquaintance," Sasuke said with a pointed wink as he got up from his chair behind the desk and began walking toward the door. Naruto rose to follow him. "And, confidentially Naruto, I hope you will keep all persons with ill intentions away from him. I don't want anything to spoil our first time, if you know what I mean."

They had reached the office door and all Naruto could do was grin uncomfortably as his guilt compounded. Sasuke pulled open the door and ushered Naruto through it.

"See Naruto, Hatake never did show up, did he," Sasuke said. "But I am awfully glad you came by and were here to listen to me. I'll never be able to tell you how much your loyalty means to me."

"Ohhhh," Naruto felt as if he was probably turning green. "Don't give it a second thought."

"Miss Hyuuga," Sasuke said to Hinata. "Itachi should be here soon for a meeting. Please let me know when he arrives."

"Y-yes, certainly, Mr. Sasuke," Hinata said.

At that, Sasuke returned to his office closing the door behind him.

"What is it?!" Hinata whispered urgently to Naruto.

"What time is it?" Naruto asked gloomily.

"It's twenty minutes to eleven," she answered. "Tell me what's wrong. I can tell…"

"I need you to meet me for lunch," Naruto said. "But don't tell anyone you're meeting me. Hinata, something awful has happened…"

"Oh no….Kiba's dead, isn't he?"

"What? No…" Naruto said. "It's much worse. Meet me at that little place around the corner as soon as you can. I'm going there right now."

"All right," Hinata replied as the telephone on her desk began ringing shrilly. She watched Naruto go into the lift and picked up the telephone to answer it.

"Uchiha and Sons, Executive Level," she said then listened a moment. "Oh dear, yes, certainly."

She put the phone down setting the call on hold and rushed around her desk, knocked on Sasuke's office door and pushed the door open. Sasuke was standing on the far wall, looking out at the gray day. He turned at the sound of the door opening.

"Mr. Sasuke," Hinata said. "Mr. Itachi is on Line 6 for you!"

"Line 6!" Sasuke exclaimed. "That's the crisis line!"

# # #

Hinata had returned to her desk once Sasuke had picked up the call from Itachi. A few minutes later, he emerged from his office clutching Furuba.

"I'll possibly be out the rest of the day," he said as he rushed past and onto the lift.

After waiting a good twenty minutes, she was sure he would not be returning and she put on her coat and picked up her umbrella and went to meet Naruto, who was now sitting across from her at a little delicatessen they would often go to at lunchtime.

"So, you see," Naruto said. "I'm certain to be fired…"

"Naruto, don't be so hard on yourself," Hinata said. "It was just a simple biological need…and while I must confess it is the last thing I would have expected, I don't see, really, what the big deal is. Afterall, two adults consenting to such a thing is the most normal thing in the world."

"What about Sasuke's confession though?" Naruto asked.

"Oh, I don't think it amounts to anything. You know how he gets. I'm sure he'll find someone new by this weekend. I think you forget how easily distracted he is."

"That is true enough," Naruto said, his spirits beginning to lift a little. "Maybe I just over-reacted."

"Yes, I'm sure that's all it was."

"I guess I should probably go back and ask Kiba to keep this to himself."

"I'm sure he will agree to," Hinata said with a chuckle. "After his indiscretion in Italy, I'd guess the last thing he would want to discuss with the Uchihas is his personal life."

"That's right," Naruto said. "I'm sure he'll be quite reasonable."

"Now, I'm literally dying to know…" Hinata said. "How was it?!"

Naruto grinned widely for a moment before answering.

"Hinata," he began, then paused. "It was….the best ever…"

"What?!" Hinata nearly screamed.

"I'm serious," Naruto said. "It went on for hours and this morning, my legs would barely move because they hurt so bad…"

"You don't say…" Hinata gasped.

"I do say!" Naruto said. "But it's best to not dwell on it I supposed. I guess I had better get back and clear things up."

"All right," Hinata said. "And I should get back to the office."

# # #

Naruto arrived back at his flat and found Kiba to be sitting on the sofa looking through some reference books that were spread out on the coffee table. He didn't look up when Naruto came in through the doorway.

"Hey…" Naruto said weakly. "I had to run to the office for a short meeting."

"Oh, you've managed to return?" Kiba asked without looking up still.

"Yeah," Naruto laughed, trying to make light of the situation. "Look, Kiba, about what happened last night…"

"Did something happen?" Kiba asked. "I'm not sure what you mean."

"Well, yeah, that's what I mean, let's just say nothing happened," Naruto said, thinking Kiba was meaning to tell him he would pretend their involvement hadn't ever happened.

"I still have no idea what it is you are talking about," Kiba said. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised though. You often seem to talk in riddles."

"You can keep your luggage in the bedroom if you'd like," Naruto said, noticing the three suitcases that had arrived with Kiba were now lined up near the front door.

"I think not," Kiba said. "I shan't be staying here any longer. I've already telephoned Itachi and he's sending a car to pick me up and take me north, where I'll be doing research for my next book."

"What?!" Naruto nearly shouted. "You aren't staying?"

"No, you fool," Kiba said, finally looking up. "I've just told you I have research to do."

"How in depth is this research and what is your subject?" Naruto asked. "I didn't know you were this far committed to your next project. If you have anything written, please send it to me to read through, just preliminarily for now of course. Since I'll be your editor…"

"I'm not sure yet who will be my editor," Kiba interrupted.

"Sasuke told me I would be your editor," Naruto protested. "Wait…does Sasuke know you aren't staying here?"

"Sasuke doesn't seem fit to tie his own shoes," Kiba said.

"That's isn't a nice thing to say about him," Naruto said, becoming slightly angry. "You hardly know him."

"He takes a feline with him wherever he goes," Kiba said. "Felines…really!"

There was a knock upon the door and Kiba got up to open it. It was the driver Itachi sent. Kiba indicated to him that he should take the three suitcases down. He then picked up the reference books and began to leave as well.

"Where are you even going?" Naruto demanded.

"Scotland," Kiba answered absently. "For research."

"How will I be able to contact you? Where will you be staying?"

"Itachi has all the necessary information," Kiba said as he left the apartment, pulling the door shut behind him.

Naruto stood staring at the door for several moments, still angry but trying to calm down. A few minutes later, his mobile started ringing and he answered it.

"Hello, Naruto," Itachi said. "Would you be available to come into the office for a special meeting right away?"

"Oh, yes, certainly," Naruto said. "I'll leave straightaway."

"Thanks," Itachi replied and the call ended.

Naruto once again began to panic thinking that Kiba might have told Itachi what had happened during the course of the past night and that now Itachi was summoning him in to execute him.

As he sat on the train back to Hammersmith, he decided to text Hinata to see if he could get any kind of information from her.

Hey Hinata, whats goingon? Itachi just called and told me to come back for a special meeting

After a few agonizing moments of silence, her reply finally arrived.

Nothing really too out of the ordinary. The only thing I know is from an email I. sent to S. earlier today. It appears K. is going to Scotland to do research and I. is concerned becuse K. has no signed contract yet. That must be what the meeting will be about. S. went out for a while but soon returned with I.

Tension suddenly released from Naruto's body and he slumped back against the seat.

Ahhh, that makes sense. Kiba did leave just a while ago in a car Itachi sent for him.

He left already? That seems sudden. Are you on your way?

Yes, be there soon.

When he arrived, he barely had time to take off his coat before Itachi came from his office.

"Ah, Naruto, thank you for coming in at such short notice. Please join me and Sasuke in the board room once you've deposited your things in your office."

The elder Uchiha brother then disappeared into the board room. Naruto turned to Hinata.

"No one seems enraged," Naruto commented. "I guess that's a good sign."

"Silly," Hinata said as she took his coat and hung it on the visitor's coat tree. "No one's going to bite you. Go on. Sasuke is already in there."

Naruto did and took a seat at the large, oval, mahogany conference table. Itachi was sitting at the head of the table and Sasuke was to his left, looking extremely bored. Furuba was asleep in the middle of the large table.

"Right, now that we're all here," Itachi began, "it appears that Inuzuka is rather more temperamental than we had bargained for. However, we've had several egomaniac writers in the past, and this one will be no more and no less than any of those have been."

"I think I ought to meet Kiba and speak with him…" Sasuke began but was cut short by his brother.

"When the time is right, I will travel to Inuzuka and have him sign the contract. Until then, any other contact should be kept to a minimum. Anything that happens now is freelance work until the contract is signed. And I dare say I needn't mention it, but I will anyway. I do not want Father to hear a word about this."

"Excuse me," Naruto spoke up. "But all Kiba told me was that he was going to Scotland to do research and that who would be acting as his editor was not settled yet. Is there anything else I should know?"

"You most decidedly will be Inuzuka's editor," Itachi said. "And it is true that he is going to Scotland to do research. It was a fortunately coincidence that our Grandfather purchased a castle near Lochinver, which is where Inuzuka will be staying. The book he is writing is regarding James IV and his mistress, Margaret Drummond, so it all works out quite well."

"I see," Naruto said. "Well, please let me know if there is anything I can do in the meantime while you are getting the contract finalized."

"Yes, thank you, Naruto. I will do that," Itachi answered and then turned to his brother. "Sasuke, I really do need you to go down to the Legal Department and get that contract completed. If at all possible, I'd like to see a draft copy before I leave for the day."

"Can't Miss Hyuuga do that?" Sasuke asked a bit sulkily.

"No, she can't," Itachi insisted. "Now run along and I'll take you out for a steak dinner tonight."

Sasuke got up and gave his brother a sarcastic look.

Once he was gone, Itachi leaned in toward his employee.

"Now, Naruto," he said gravely. "Let's you and I have a little chat…"