Written for Greatest-change. Previously posted on Y-gallery.


After work, Sasuke decided to take his team out to a nearby bar to celebrate the launch of their agency's newest campaign. They ate and drank for a while (on the company's dime, no less) before the group drunkenly decided to make their way to a club. Normally he would've refused, as those places weren't exactly his scene, but he could put aside his personal preferences if it meant a morale boost for his colleagues. The marketing agency was new, having just been established a couple of years ago. It was mostly young 20-somethings with backgrounds in business, design, web, and marketing. What set them apart from other agencies was that they did most of the creative work in-house instead of outsourcing everything but design.

Sasuke's role was in coordinating the projects. He met with the clients, found out their needs, and then distributed the work among his team. The agency chose to focus on bringing in the bigger clients, one at a time, instead of overwhelming their small staff with a high volume of work. Even in the short time the company had been around, they'd already won national awards, which meant the profit from each individual project was extraordinary. Of course, most of that went to the CEO, but Sasuke liked his job. He'd always been an organized person, and he liked working with the creatives even if it could proved frustrating at times. Creatives were very… eccentric, even at the best of times.

The group had found a cozy booth in the back corner of the club, where it was almost possible to hear every other word being spoken. The women had already made their way to the dance floor, but Sasuke wasn't much for dancing. It would take several more drinks before he could even consider being talked into it. Beside him was their web developer and IT person, Shikamaru, and two of the graphic designers, Kiba and Sai, who sat opposite them.

"Oh man," Kiba whined, "I love this song."

"We know you're just looking for an excuse to rub up on Ino," said Sai. "Go out there and ask her to dance already."

"What?" Kiba glared, and as he did, the designer reached across the table to grab a bright orange shot from the tray at the center of the table.

Sasuke frowned. "Kiba, I'd prefer you didn't. We can't afford to have HR get wind of you sexually harassing the women in our office."

"Sexually harass? Are you kiddin' me? I'm not interested in our girls anyway." Kiba pouted as he set the empty glass down.

"They're not interested in you," Sai replied.

"He has a point," voiced Shikamaru, his chin propped up by his hand.

"You two suck." Kiba, shoving Shikamaru out of the way and decided to march his way toward the dance floor.

"Do you two have to pick on him like that?" Sasuke asked.

"They say all artists are sensitive to criticism." Shikamaru shrugged.

"Am I sensitive?" Sai asked. "I don't think so."

"No, you're more of a sociopath," Sasuke answered, making Shikamaru laugh.

"It's funny hearing that from you," said Sai.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Now, now," said Shikamaru. "Don't pick on Sasuke. We're lucky to even get him out here tonight. Besides, his coolness is what brings the clients in."

"Coolness?" He ran a hand through his hair. "I think I'm offended."

"We know how hard you work," said Shikamaru. "Consider it a compliment. None of us could do what you do since most of us are too socially awkward to deal with people. Well, except Ino."

"Sakura's good, too," said Sai. "Too bad she left for another agency."

Sasuke grit his teeth. "Could we change the subject?"

"You're still not over her?" Sai asked. "I never saw you as the type to pine after a woman."

"I'm not pining after anyone." He shook his head. That name was enough to sour his mood.

"Now you've done it," said Shikamaru. "Why would you bring her up?"

"I don't know." Sai wasn't exactly the best at picking up social cues as before mentioned by Shikamaru. "Probably because I saw her the other day?"

"What?"

"Wow, she has a lot of nerve showing her face around here." Shikamaru shook his head. "After taking a couple of our better clients with her?"

"Where did you see her?" Sasuke asked.

"Here," said Sai. "Last weekend. She was with some guy. I only noticed because the two of them were all over each other. Everyone was watching." He smirked. "They left together, I remember that. I didn't recognize the guy, but my friend told me that he used to be some rich kid from around here."

"...What did he look like?" Sasuke asked, a sinking feeling in his stomach.

"Good looking, I guess. He could lift someone like Sakura, so he might be one of the strongest men in the world?"

Sasuke didn't even want to ask what he meant by lifting her. "Was he blond?"

Sai nodded. "I think so, yeah. Why? Do you know him? I'm not from here like the rest of you losers."

Sasuke remained quiet. He stared at the shot glasses. After a minute, he picked one up and swallowed the strong liquor. Then he picked up another.

"You're thinking it was him?" Shikamaru asked. "He hasn't been around in years. I don't think I've seen Naruto since high school."

Sasuke closed his eyes hearing that name.

"It's weird, isn't it? That he'd be in town but wouldn't call you. Oh, right," said Shikamaru. "You two had a falling out senior year, didn't you? Hm. Wasn't it over Sakura?"

"No," he replied. "It wasn't over Sakura."

"Oh, I thought it was." Shikamaru tilted his head. "Funny. My memory's usually pretty good."

"Either way, that was a long time ago. What the two of them get up to now is none of my concern."

"So you don't mind that your friend from high school is banging your ex-girlfriend?" Sai asked.

"They dated in high school," said Sasuke, picking up a third shot. "Technically I 'banged' his ex-girlfriend."

"Well, when you put it that way. I can see why you wouldn't be the first he'd call after coming back to town." Shikamaru got up from the table. "I'm going to join the others."

Sai got up, too. "If you're going, I want to go. This has turned into a buzzkill" He followed the other man to the dance floor, leaving Sasuke alone with all of these… shots.

Great. Now he couldn't get the image of Naruto and Sakura out of his head. It made him nauseated. They'd been at this club? Last he'd heard, Naruto was traveling around the world, investing in crap that would make him even more rich. After Naruto's dad died sophomore year, he inherited all of his money. As Sasuke recalled, he was fairly sure Naruto couldn't touch any of it until he'd turned 21. That would've been less than three years ago.

He leaned against the seat, thinking. Back then, when Naruto was rich enough to buy Sakura anything she wanted, they were together. It was on and off, but Naruto always seemed pretty serious about liking her. Because she was with Naruto, the three of them hung out at parties on occasion. Then, days after high school graduation, Naruto left town without a word. Shortly after college, Sasuke ended up bumping into Sakura. There might've been reasons he ultimately decided to date her. He got drunk one night, and she was really clingy. A relationship just sort of happened. It's not like he and Naruto talked anymore or were even friends.

Because they'd all grown up together and ended up returning to their hometown, a few people he knew - including Sakura - decided to take up job offers at this new agency. The CEO was a retired marketing professor who'd taught at the local university. He was well-known in town and personally sought them out to work for him. Sasuke had no other immediate prospects, so he'd agreed. He, as well as Sakura, were hired to be project managers. When she left for another job after less than year, a lot of people weren't exactly thrilled with her. She'd also taken a couple of the agency's major accounts with her: a surprise to several of their colleagues, but not really to him. He knew her personality well.

He did wonder how she happened to run into Naruto, though, and why he was in town. For all he knew, maybe she was interested in the money he'd recently acquired. In high school, Sasuke had thought her shallow. Even while dating Naruto, she'd hit on him from time to time, but if he brought it up, Naruto would just get pissed off and accuse Sasuke of being jealous. Those times were… well. He just needed to leave them in the past where they belonged.

Thinking about Naruto made him want to get blackout drunk. People talked about dysfunctional relationships. Whatever relationship the two of them had back then went well beyond "dysfunction." Naruto was the temperamental class clown who liked to party every weekend. He liked to drink and cause trouble and, if he could, he always wanted to drag Sasuke along for the ride.

His father used to threaten him about what a bad influence Naruto was, but Sasuke was also going through his own rebellious phase, so the last thing he wanted to do was listen to or take advice from an authority figure.

He sighed, having finished off all of shots by himself. The club was packed, and way too fucking hot. At least his coworkers looked like they were having fun. He could be a team player by joining them, but all he really wanted to do was go home, get in bed, and pretend he'd never heard anything about Naruto Uzumaki being in town again after all these years.


On Saturday morning, one of the few days of the week when Sasuke had a chance to sleep in, his phone started blowing up on the nightstand. He had a couple of voicemails, but there was one particular text from Kiba that caught his attention right away.

Look who I saw at the after-party. Too bad you went home early, huh?

Attached to the text was a blurry photo of a well-dressed blond man dancing atop a table with a curvy brunette in a short dress and stiletto heels. Unless Sakura had dyed her hair jet black in the last year, he'd say that was most definitely not his or Naruto's ex.

There were a few more photos that indicated Kiba was having fun playing stalker last night. Sasuke had gone home after the first club, but everyone else decided to continue on partying. Frankly, he was relieved that he hadn't been there. He scrolled through some more of the texts, a couple from Shikamaru basically reiterating the fact that they'd bumped into Naruto.

Speak of the devil. He came up to us and said hi, but he was pretty wasted. The women were all over him. He can't be too upset about you and Sakura, eh?

Ino's messages, on the other hand, were a series of barely comprehensible statements punctuated by an extreme amount of exclamation marks.

OMG, Sasuke. Naruto's here!
OMG, Sasuke. He's so hot!
OMG, Sasuke. He just talked to me. I didn't think he remembered who he was! He said he liked my boobs. OMG!
I told him I worked with you. He asked how you were, and then he left to go to another club! Do you still have his number? Was Naruto always that hot in high school? I can't remember! You were always at his parties. Can't you hook a sister up? Sasuke!

Sasuke made sure to delete each one of those texts. Kiba's, though, he tapped the photo to see if he could get a better look. He hadn't seen Naruto in more than six years. He looked about the same. Maybe taller? Hard to judge when someone was standing on a table. He wore a black button-down shirt, black pants, and a belt that probably cost more than Sasuke made in a month. Obviously he was still a playboy that liked to have a good time.

Well, whatever. They wouldn't have had much to talk about even if they had bumped into one another. Likely, he was only in town for a couple of weeks to fuck around with the local women. All Sasuke really knew was that he wanted to go back to bed, and, this time, he was going to turn off his fucking phone.


Sasuke woke up at 10 a.m. He didn't usually sleep in that late, but he'd tossed and turned after reading all of those stupid texts. Maybe once he did his usual workout he'd be in better shape. There was a list of things he had in mind to do today, including getting a haircut, going to the grocery store, and buying his brother an engagement present. Ino was supposed to help him with choosing a gift, but he wondered if she'd be in decent enough shape to go with him today.

He'd take care of all of his other business before giving her a call. They could do dinner tonight, too. She'd worked especially hard on their campaign, so why not? He just had this feeling that he wanted company, and Ino always made for a good companion. Most men fell all over themselves when they met her, but, to Sasuke, she was a close friend, kind of like a sister. She and Sakura used to be friends when they were younger, but not any more. In fact, there existed a tension at work when Sakura was still at the agency.

Ready to begin his daily routine, Sasuke went into the bathroom to relieve himself. Afterward, he put on a pair of running shorts and a t-shirt, grabbed a glass of orange juice and a piece of toast, and then was out the door - a playlist of his favorite Foo Fighters songs blasting in his ears.


When he'd finished his five-mile run, Sasuke cleaned himself up and headed out to his usual barber for a haircut. On the way home, he stopped at the grocery store to pick up some odds and ends. For some reason, his light bulbs kept going out. He wasn't exactly handy, so he should look into a local electrician that wouldn't charge him an arm and a leg to check out if his house had some faulty wiring. It was an older house, one he'd bought shortly after starting at the agency. Upon being hired, the CEO gave everyone a generous hiring bonus that Sasuke was able to put toward a downpayment. He was proud to be this young and also be a homeowner. It had three bedrooms, one of which he used for an office. Over time, he'd bought enough furniture so that it didn't look so bare. Every time his brother came to visit, Itachi was always buying him something. The most recent gift was a new garage door opener since it broke two weeks after he'd moved into the home.

At around three, Sasuke figured it was safe to see if Ino wanted to go shopping, or if they needed to reschedule. Or, he could go on his own. He was leaning against the kitchen counter, waiting for her to pick up. His eyes were focused on the glossy orange tea kettle set neatly on one of the back stove burners (another gift from Itachi).

"Hello?"

"How's your head?" Sasuke smirked.

"It's not great. But I'll manage."

"I've finished my errands. Are you still interested in helping me pick out something for Itachi's engagement party?"

"Oh my God, yes. I totally forgot, but yes! I wanted to go shopping anyway."

Sasuke could hear a tiny dog start to bark in the background.

"Hold on, Sasuke. Sadie is all - ugh. This dog, I swear. I'm going to let her out, just a second!"

Patiently, Sasuke waited. Only because Naruto had been coming up in conversation so much lately did he consider how similar Ino was to how he remembered Naruto being in high school. They were both loud, easily distracted, and incredibly charismatic. Ino, for all of her partying, was by far more well-behaved than his ex-best friend, however.

"Still there?"

"I'm here," he answered.

"Um. I need to shower and get dressed, but I'll be quick this time. Do you want to pick me up in, say, an hour?"

"Sounds fine. I can find something to do until then."

"You can always come here now and hang out."

"Why would I do that?"

"I don't know. You can play with Sadie. Hey, did you get my messages last night? I think I sent too many. I'm so embarrassed. I always drunk text you when I go out."

"...It's okay."

"It was so weird seeing Naruto again, you know? He looked the same. But, hotter? I heard Sai saw him last weekend, and with Sakura. Can you believe it? I know she's your ex, Sasuke, but she's such a bitch. So, I think it's kind of funny that Naruto's with a different woman this weekend."

"If you were that interested," he said. "Why didn't you ask for his number?"

"I don't know. He looked like he was pretty into her at the time, and then almost as soon as I mentioned you, he practically ran out the door. Maybe he found out that you dated Sakura?"

"I don't really care if he did."

"Ah, ok. Well. I can tell you more about it when you get here. Give me 90 minutes."

"You said an hour," he reminded her.

"Oh, sure. An hour, right! See you in a little bit."

"See you."

He hung up the phone, wondering if even 90 minutes seemed a plausible amount of time for Ino to get ready. Maybe if he drove over there in an hour, she'd be ready in 90 minutes. It's not like he had anything special planned for the evening, so there was no rush. In the meantime, he decided to do some work and read up on today's news.


An hour later, Sasuke was driving to Ino's apartment on the other side of town. As expected, she wasn't ready, but Ino let him inside. She set him up with a mug of tea while her damn little dog yapped at his feet.

"You're really not good with animals, are you?" She asked while towel drying her hair.

Sasuke continued to glare at the dog. He always hated the ones that looked like rats. What were they good for? They were loud and annoying, but women seemed to like the ones they could fit into their oversized purses. He would never understand it. Were they pets or accessories?

When Ino left the kitchen, her dog went with her, so he was left in peace. On the table were a couple of women's magazines, with headlines that talked about how to lose weight, how to achieve the best orgasms, and "Is Your Man Cheating on You? Here Are 10 Signs!". It was amazing that so many women bought into this trash. While waiting, he took out his phone to see if he had any new messages. He'd half-expected to hear from Shikamaru, but he usually went to visit his father on Saturdays.

Ino returned 15 minutes later, dressed in a pair of jeans and a pink sweater. Her straightened hair lay over both shoulders. She never wore too much makeup, which Sasuke liked about her. The only thing that stood out was the pale pink lipstick meant to match her top. She leaned against the table as she slipped on a pair of gray Converse sneakers.

"You ready?"

Sasuke gave her a droll look for asking.

Ino rolled her eyes. "I didn't take that long."

"I didn't say anything."

"You didn't have to! Your face always tells me everything you're thinking!"

"I highly doubt that." He stood up and helped her get into her jacket.

"Such a gentleman," she remarked. "Sakura was sure a lucky girl."

"She didn't seem to think so."

"Please. You were far too good for her. I wish I could've seen her last weekend. I have a lot that I've been wanting to say to her."

"I'd let it go," he said. "It wouldn't be worth it."

"But after what she did to the agency? I can't believe it. Or, maybe I can. You know, I always thought she dated Naruto because he had money. I bet she got wind that he was back in town and tried to get into his pants. I hope he had enough sense to turn her down this time around. I know he was always into her, but I didn't get it."

"It's all in the past." He set his hand on her lower back with the intention of getting her moving.

"Fine, fine. But can I just tell you how fucking hot he looked? God, his jeans were so tight, and you could see his chest when he unbuttoned the top of his shirt! He's a good dancer, too. Like a stripper. You should've seen all the women there last night, practically throwing themselves at him."

"That's wonderful," he said, unable to contain his sarcasm. He waited at her side as she locked the door. "And did you also throw yourself at him?"

"I tried! I don't want to say he seemed unfriendly, but he just seemed... different. Distant? You know? Like, um. Grown up?"

"I'm sure when you have that much money and travel all over the world, you tend to change. He probably thinks he's above us now."

"I didn't get that sense exactly." She held her finger to his lips as Sasuke opened the car door for her. "I'd say... he seemed lonely? It was weird. He was nice enough to all of us. He bought us shots and talked to Sai without punching him in the face. But... he didn't have much to say about his personal life."

He shut her door and then got in on the driver's side, starting the car.

"I thought he would've asked more about you," she continued. "I told him you'd just left about an hour ago."

"You said he left as soon as you mentioned me."

"He did, but I think it was because of the girl. She kept tugging at his arm and whining about leaving because she was so bored with the crowd. I wish he would've told her to shove off and stayed with us so we could catch up. Remember his parties? They were killer. He still owns that house, right? Maybe that's where he's staying. We could stop by."

"No." He said it immediately.

"Fine. Jeez. No need to bite my head off."

Sasuke was trying to keep his attention on the road. "I doubt he's staying there. That place has mostly been empty since Naruto's father died. He's probably staying in a hotel or... at a friend's."

"A 'friend's'?" Ino laughed. "What friends? We were his friends back then. You were his closest friend."

"We're not friends anymore," he said. "Now. Can we change the subject?"

Ino gave him a curious look. "Hmm. Sure. Of course. I see that there are still some hard feelings. Fine. What shall we talk about? Oh, do you have ideas for what to get Itachi?"

"Not especially," he said. "He already has everything he possibly could."

"Ugh, I know. His fiancee is so amazing, too. Like, when I think of Miss Universe, I swear she could run and win. Or, she's like George Clooney's wife, where she's this beautiful woman who also happens to work for the United Nations? It's amazing. Itachi's amazing."

Sasuke smirked. "Women have always loved my brother."

"Women love you, too," she replied breezily. "But you never seem to love them. I was always surprised you dated Sakura. Not that I completely know your type, even though we've been friends for years, but she's just so..."

"Sakura had her good points. I doubt we were compatible, but it happened."

"Do you ever wonder if maybe you were just getting back at Naruto by dating her? Like, because he left all of the sudden without even telling you?"

The tires screeched as Sasuke came to a sharp halt at the stop sign.

"Right," said Ino. "You said a change of subject. Sorry. I'm just so curious. You know me. I want to know why he's here and - "

"Ino."

Sasuke thought he was going to go insane if they kept talking about this.

"Sorry. Okay. A gift for Itachi. I have ideas. We'll check out a few stores and then maybe we can get some dinner? I promise to behave."

"I wouldn't make promises you're incapable of keeping," he muttered.

"Oh, don't be that way. I won't bring him up again." She touched his arm and smiled at him fondly. "Let's have fun today, okay?"

He nodded, tone sarcastic. "Yes. Shopping. Definitely an ideal way to spend my Saturday afternoon."


They were wandering the stores at the more upscale shopping center located just outside of the city. He and Ino had looked at ties, luggage, and kitchenware before ending up at a jewelry store.

"Can I help you with something?" The young lady behind the counter asked, and judging by the way her eyes kept flicking back and forth between them, she must've assumed they were a couple. "Are you looking for rings, maybe?"

Ino laughed at the notion that they were together. "No, no. We're shopping for an engagement present for his brother. We'd like to see your men's watches, please. Silver, don't you think?" She looked to him for confirmation.

"I think so."

"Over this way," the saleswoman beckoned them to another counter, and, unlocking the case from her side, pulled out a selection of watches. "To start, we have Fossil, Armani, Invicta, and Rolex."

"I think this one would be more in the range I'm looking for," he said, pointing at the Fossil. It was simple - a brushed stainless steel case; a round, blue-tinted dial; and silver links for the band.

"Of course, sir," said the woman, smiling brightly at him. "Do you need to get it engraved?"

"Do I?" Sasuke asked, turning to Ino.

"I don't know. I never think of Itachi as being especially sentimental?"

"He can be." He stared at the watch, but nothing in particular was coming to mind. He could put the date of the wedding, but that felt cliche. "If you'll just wrap it up for now. He might want to exchange it."

"He won't exchange it if it's from you," said Ino.

"Very well, sir." The woman whisked away the watch after putting the rest back into the glass case. She placed it in a box and even went to the trouble of wrapping it for him in a delicate gold paper.

"While she's doing that," Ino tugged at his sleeve. "Do you mind if we look at the rings? I always love looking at wedding and engagement rings."

"You don't have to ask for my permission."

"Come with me." She tugged him along, pointing out the ones she liked or the ones she thought too gaudy.

Luckily, Sasuke had never been in a situation where he needed to consider buying such a thing. Looking at the rings turned into Ino taking up a different sales person on the offer of trying a few of them on. In the meantime, Sasuke went to pay for and retrieve his purchase. Ino was still trying on jewelry by the time he returned to her side.

"See anything you can't live without?" He asked.

She sighed as she took hold of his arm. "I like the idea of a wedding, but I'm not really sure I'm sold on the whole concept of marriage."

"I'm not sold on the concept of either."

Ino looped their arms and gave him a placating pat. "I can see that about you, but you may change your mind some day. Itachi was able to meet someone, so you will, too."

"My brother's always been more of a homebody than me," he remarked. "Now, where do you want to go to dinner?"

"Somewhere expensive. Seeing all these nice things makes me want to treat myself."

He wasn't as interested in further indulgences considering he'd just bought his brother a rather expensive watch, but it was good to do these things every once in awhile. Plus, Ino was excited about it and already had her mind set. It wouldn't be worth the argument.

"Where did you have in mind?" He asked.

"I'm craving Italian. That new place downtown, maybe? Anima Gemella?"

"I've heard good things about it."

"Great!" Ino hugged his arm. "You really would make a good boyfriend, Sasuke. I'm going to have to think if I have any single friends that would be right for you."

"I'll pass," he said. "I'm perfectly happy with my life as it is now."

"We'll see."

Sasuke eyed her, and, just for the briefest of moments, wondered why the two of them had never considered dating. Ino was attractive, smart, and funny, but he'd never felt anything more than friendship for her; he thought she felt similarly. He knew she preferred more outgoing men. Someone who could match her wit and always keep her entertained.

When they reached the car, he opened the door for her. She took his bag and held it on her lap while Sasuke got in on the other side.

"I think he'll really like this," she said, playing with the radio dials until she found the station she wanted. "Although, the Rolex would've been nice, too."

Sasuke snorted as he began pulling out of the parking garage. "Maybe if you bump into Naruto again, you can mention it to him."


Needless to say, going out to a fancy restaurant required an outfit change so while Sasuke dropped Ino off at her house, he went back to his place to tidy up. Jeans and a sweater probably wouldn't cut it, so he found a pair of pressed charcoal slacks and a black button-down shirt.

By the time he'd put a little wax in his hair and applied some cologne, he miraculously received a text saying Ino thought she'd be ready in 10 minutes. That gave him just enough time to slip on his shoes and make the drive back to her apartment.


When they arrived at the restaurant, it was after six. The ambiance was warm and cozy. The lighting was dark, and it wasn't too crowded, but it was still early for a Saturday night. At the center of each table was small, lit votive candle. A pianist was placed at the corner of the room, playing Vivaldi at a soft volume. The hostess sat them immediately. Sasuke had already paid Ino his compliments. She looked beautiful in a pair of diamond earrings and a form-fitting black dress with long sleeves.

"It's always nice to have an opportunity to dress up," she said while they both picked up their menus.

"You looked dressed up last night."

"How often do we really go out like that, though? All of us, and you," she lowered her menu, smiling, "You never go out."

"You make me sound like a hermit."

"Aren't you?"

He didn't respond. Their waiter returned to get their drink orders. They both ordered wine. Sasuke knew what he wanted, but Ino needed a few more minutes.

"Everything sounds so good," she said. "What are you having?"

"The Veal Chop Milanese."

"Itachi would kill you."

"Good thing he's not dining with us tonight then."

"I wonder what made him become a vegetarian?"

"I couldn't tell you," he said. "But he's always had a fondness for animals."

"Unlike you." Ino slid her hair behind her right ear. "Sadie usually gets used to people after meeting them so many times, but she still doesn't like you. Maybe she knows something I don't?"

"It's very possible."

Their waiter returned. Sasuke ordered first and then Ino. They also opted to share a plate of calamari. Since they both hadn't eaten anything since lunch, Ino grabbed up a piece of the bread the waiter set next to her plate. She buttered a slice for him, too, without asking if he wanted any. They fell into an easy conversation. Ino was always good at that. They spoke mostly of work, about the campaign and how long they'd have a reprieve before the next big project.

Around the time the appetizer arrived, Ino excused herself to use the restroom. He decided to refill her wine glass while she was gone, and then did the same for his own glass. Sasuke's eyes strayed to the pianist, who was dressed in a tux, with dark hair slicked back and coat tails hanging over the edge of the bench. Itachi had a taste for classical music, so Sasuke wasn't altogether unfamiliar with the works of various composers. He watched for a while, sipping at his wine and feeling relaxed.

"Sasuke?"

Instantly, he looked up, recognizing that voice but not believing it to be who he thought until they made eye contact. Eyes, a devastating shade of blue, gazed back at him, uncertain and curious.

Sasuke didn't know what to say, nor could he have described what he felt at that moment.

It was Naruto, but something didn't feel right.

Sasuke remembered him as always smiling, always laughing - at least when his temper didn't get the best of him. But this Naruto was... different. Those six years had apparently left him a mature, grown man, and in that uncharacteristically stoic look, he saw someone who had become world-weary. Frankly, Naruto looked tired, but staying out late and having sex with a different woman every night could do that to a person.

"I was going to walk by," Naruto said. "I wasn't even sure it was you." He scanned Sasuke's face and then noted the purse hanging off the other chair. "You're here with someone?"

"I am," he answered, his voice rough. To anyone else, his response would've sounded cold and aloof.

Naruto nodded. "Okay then. Enjoy your dinner and your evening."

That's it?

While he had no intention of stopping Naruto from leaving after only saying that to him, he... certainly expected more from the encounter. An apology maybe? An explanation? He wasn't going to give chase, and no words were forming on his tongue. Whether it was good timing or not, as Naruto was leaving the table, Ino was returning from the bathroom. She immediately noticed Naruto and burst into a smile.

"Naruto," she said, and then apparently remembering Sasuke was there, glanced briefly at him. "What are you doing here?"

"Ah..." Naruto looked uncomfortable and sheepish as he scratched the back of his head. "I'm here with a friend."

Ino placed her hand on Naruto's arm. "Is it that woman from last night?"

"Woman...?" He appeared confused at first. "Oh, no. This is a, well, an investor friend of mine. He's friends with the head chef. I was interested in trying it out while I'm here."

"How long are you here? Apparently you've been in town more than a week! You should've let us know you were coming."

Naruto's cheerful facade faltered somewhat. "I didn't really know what anyone was up to anymore. I don't think I've been in touch with people since - " His gaze drifted over to Sasuke. "You two are together?"

It was such a sudden, such an abrupt question that Sasuke didn't exactly know how to respond. But, Naruto, having realized his social faux pas, attempted to amend his mistake.

"I mean, it's unexpected." Naruto offered a polite smile. "Good for you."

"Sasuke and me?" Ino sounded so amused that Sasuke probably should've felt insulted. "No. We're friends. We work together at the ad agency a few blocks from here. I thought I'd told you that last night, but I don't remember. Poor Sasuke. I must've texted him nearly a dozen times about bumping into you."

"Did you? I'm sure it was a surprise," he said, addressing Sasuke, "To hear that I was in town."

"Not especially," he answered. "You've always done as you pleased."

He thought Naruto understood his meaning.

"Of course." Naruto nodded. "I should get back to my friend. Ino," he gave her a hug, "It was good to see you. Sasuke."

As Naruto attempted to make his escape, Ino caught him by the arm and whispered something in his ear. Naruto's eyes widened, and his gaze shifted uneasily to Sasuke, then to Ino again.

"I'll think about it," Naruto appeared to say, if Sasuke had any talent for lip reading.

And then he was gone, returning to his friend. Friend, huh? What did Naruto know about friends? All he knew was how to abandon them. How could he possibly act that casual around Sasuke? How could he immediately not apologize? Get down on his knees, and -

"Sasuke." Ino took her seat, placing the napkin over her lap. "You look really pissed off right now."

"I'm fine. What did you tell him?"

"I said that," Ino bit her lip before continuing, "When he's done with dinner, he should have a couple of drinks with us."

"Why would you ask him that?" He felt betrayed. "If you want to be the one he takes to bed tonight, could you leave me out of it?"

"Why are you getting angry? And, can I just tell you how incredibly offensive that is for you to say? What is the big deal?"

"Big deal? He left. Without telling anyone, without giving any reason."

"Clearly he had his reasons," she argued. "I don't know what they were, but maybe if you hadn't been so rude, he might have wanted to apologize. Did you ever think of that?"

Sasuke glared, but he wasn't even mad at her. He was mad at Naruto. For changing. For forgetting their past. He'd always valued Sasuke's opinion when they were in high school. Naruto was forever asking him for advice and wanting them to hang out together. He always wanted to try his lame jokes out on Sasuke, and, now, he felt like -

Ino huffed, picking up her glass. "Clearly you two have unresolved issues that you both need to work out. You're 24. Why not make up like adults? I thought he was polite, but you kept glaring at him!"

"Was I supposed to get up and run into his arms like you did?"

"Oh, God. We were having such a nice time, too. I don't care. Let's just do it. You two sit at the table. I'll mediate, we'll have drinks. If you can't reconcile by the time we finish the bottle, then we'll leave. I want dessert, though. Just because you're in a bad mood doesn't mean I'm skipping out on the tiramisu."

He was aggravated, but she was right. At least about taking his anger out on her. Sasuke leaned back in his chair, fingering the stem of his wine glass.

"I'm sorry."

"I know you are. I understand what Naruto meant to you. Just tell him that you're still upset with him over how he left."

"What's the point?" He asked, running a hand through his hair, consciously putting effort into not searching out Naruto's table.

Although, he wasn't even sitting in the same room as them. There was probably some VIP room where the world's richest people could hang out and count their money together.

"The point is," she said, "You'll feel better after you get it out of your system. It's clearly something that bothers you. So, trust me, okay? I'm sure he wants to talk about it as much as you do."

"I don't want to talk about it. I spent years practicing not talking about it."

"I take back what I said about you being good boyfriend material," Ino remarked while picking at one of the few remaining calamari rings, "As obviously you'd hold a grudge for eternity if possible. Sometimes the bigger man is the one willing to let go of his pride. Naruto may have a totally legitimate reason for doing what he did. I'm only asking you to give him a chance."

"He'll probably leave out the back door," he muttered.

Ino grabbed the bottle of wine and topped off his glass. "Keep drinking. You'll feel much better after you eat and after you've had a few more glasses of this."


While they ate dinner, which would've been amazing under different circumstances, Ino carried most of the conversation on her own. It wasn't that Sasuke was particularly angry. He was distracted and confused. He couldn't stop thinking about how Naruto had changed. It made him wonder how much he'd changed, if at all? Sasuke, generally, thought he was the same as he'd been in high school.

"Ino," he said, setting his knife and fork down on either side of the plate.

"Yes?" She asked, even though he'd blatantly interrupted her in the middle of a sentence.

"You knew me in high school," Sasuke touched the tip of his finger along the curve of his water glass, "Would you say I've changed much since then?"

"Changed? What do you mean?"

He glanced at her without answering.

"I'd say not especially. We hang out more than we ever did then, but from what I remember, you used to let Naruto affect you a lot. When the two of you fought, you were inconsolable and moody. He was the only one I ever saw who could make you smile or laugh. Everyone always said you were inseparable."

Sasuke hadn't thought about those years for some time. He supposed they were relatively close back then. Besides Itachi, Naruto was the one he spent most of his time with despite his father's dislike of him. He remembered that Naruto changed after his dad died. He had a notorious temper. He got into fights, even with Sasuke. Sometimes they were physical, but it wasn't anything Sasuke couldn't handle.

Impulsively, Naruto might call him up at all hours of the night to see if he wanted to go for a drive or come over and shoot some pool or play video games. When Naruto started dating Sakura, their dynamic became more uncomfortable. He didn't want to say he was jealous of the time those two spent together, but he also didn't like the idea of being ignored just because Naruto had a girlfriend.

"What is it you're most mad about?" Ino asked. "What is it you want him to say?"

"Nothing," he answered and, having completely lost his appetite, crossed his arms.

"You know what you're acting like, right?"

"What."

"You remind me of women who, and I've done this before myself, but when a woman gets rejected by a guy, like, he stops calling her and texting her all of a sudden, and she keeps wondering what she did wrong."

He raised an eyebrow. "You're comparing me to a woman?"

"No." She dabbed her lips with a napkin. "It's an analogy. It's like you two had a bad breakup. Friends come and go over the years. It's not always this big of a deal, but if it still bothers you this much, talk to him. Put it behind you. I think you'll feel better once you do."

"Just seeing him again irritates me."

"I think you're afraid of being rejected again."

"I think you're reaching."

"That's it." Ino got up from the chair, and, at first, Sasuke thought she was storming out on him.

He watched as she approached their waiter. They exchanged a few words, and then he led her toward a hallway that Sasuke thought connected to the kitchen. He waited for some time, maybe ten minutes, before Ino returned. He'd just been about to go in search of her. She looked determined as she took her seat.

"There, it's settled."

"What's settled?" He asked.

"I had the waiter tell me where he was and then I went to speak with him. I told Naruto that the two of you needed to talk. He was with some good looking older guy, but they were almost finished. You can talk here, or go somewhere else, but please, for the love of God, resolve this, Sasuke. I hate seeing you upset."

"I can't believe you would do that," he said, annoyed at the way his heart started to race.

Did Naruto think he set Ino after him? What was he supposed to say? Did Naruto even care about their friendship from back then? What would be the point if all of these feelings were one-sided?

"Don't panic," she whispered. "He seemed... he was okay with it. He might not have wanted to at first, but his friend helped me convince him."

"Did he now."

"Do you want me to stay, or should I call a cab so you two can talk it out alone?"

"That's not necessary. This whole thing isn't necessary." Sasuke attempted to hail the waiter.

"Don't do that," said Ino. "I said I wasn't leaving until I got my tiramisu."

Feeling trapped and slightly panicked, he couldn't help but glare.

"Don't give me that look, Sasuke. This is for the best."

The waiter, having noticed his gesture, came by the table. As promised, Ino ordered her dessert, but Sasuke asked for the check. If this was really going to happen, he wanted to be able to leave immediately after it was over. The silence between them was uncomfortable, at least for him. Ino, on the other hand, appeared happy and content once she received her tiramisu. She was halfway through it by the time Sasuke spotted Naruto coming out of the hallway and making his way toward their table.

Naruto's expression was hard to read. He looked professional and well-styled in a pair of light khaki pants and a royal blue button-down shirt. His hair - shorter than when he was a teenager - was parted at the side and slicked back. While walking, he carried his hands in his pockets, an air of self-confidence and business-like aloofness surrounding him.

Sasuke still couldn't get over the adult version of his former best friend. It almost, perhaps, made him feel inferior to some degree, but he didn't want to believe that money could be the catalyst for such a big change in a person. He didn't meet Sasuke's gaze, which made him angry all over again. He hoped Ino hadn't laid it out that Sasuke, pathetically, needed Naruto's reassurance that he hadn't dropped him because he'd been on the brink of becoming part of the 1%.

"My friend had the tiramisu," Naruto was speaking soley to Ino, "But he wouldn't share it with me. How is it?"

"It's very good," she replied. "Would you like to try some?"

Naruto smiled - that old smile Sasuke remembered, the one that was genuine and real.

"I would. If you don't mind."

Ino sliced off a piece with her fork; Naruto took it from her hand and ate it with relish.

"It's good. I'll have to hit Kakashi later for denying me such awesomeness."

"Kakashi," said Ino. "Was that your friend? Have a seat, talk to us."

There were only two chairs at the table, and without asking anyone working at the restaurant, Naruto grabbed a chair from a nearby table and dragged it to the spot on Ino's right and Sasuke's left.

"How was dinner?" Naruto asked.

"It was very good. I had the pasta with the scallops and shrimp. Sasuke had veal."

Naruto's eyes landed on him. "And. How was yours?"

"Fine," he replied. "Until I lost my appetite."

"Sasuke," Ino scolded, and then sighing, set down her fork. "Naruto."

Naruto's gaze shifted slowly from him to Ino. "Yes?"

"I... we haven't seen you in some time, and, honestly, I won't pretend that I know you well anymore, but we all used to be friends, and I'd like very much if maybe you and Sasuke could have a talk."

"A talk?" Naruto crossed his arms. "Okay. What are we talking about?"

"Sasuke, don't you have anything to say?" Ino asked

The both of them looked his way, but he really didn't have anything he wanted to say. It felt more like they were ganging up on him. Like this was some sort of intervention. He didn't even want this.

"I don't," he replied.

Ino clucked her tongue. "I'm going to smack you. He's here. Just say whatever it is you want to say."

"I'm fine going somewhere else," Naruto said. "If you want."

"Don't you have somewhere you need to be?" Sasuke snapped, the bitterness clear in his voice. "Maybe you have a date you need to get to."

Rather than rising to the bait like Naruto would've done when they were 16, he simply stared back at Sasuke very calmly and assessingly. So, Naruto really did think he was better than him now?

"If there's something you think we need to talk about, Sasuke," Naruto said, his words coming evenly, further frustrating him. "I can clear my schedule."

"Thank you, Naruto. I think that would be really nice." Ino waved their waiter over and, without finishing all of her dessert, placed a credit card in the billfold.

"Should I have my driver take us somewhere more private?" Naruto asked.

"I have a car," said Sasuke. "There's no need to inconvenience your driver."

"Whatever you want," Naruto replied casually.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes, getting angrier at being unable to read him or his motivations. It almost felt as if their personalities from back then were reversed.

"I have an idea," said Ino. "Sasuke can drive us to my apartment. I'll make tea. You two can talk it out. That way you'll have a neutral place to work out your differences."

"Fine," he said.

"I'd love to see your place," Naruto told her, flashing a blinding smile.

Sasuke rolled his eyes. It was on the tip of his tongue to insult Naruto about having the need to flirt with every woman he came across, but it would've been equally insulting to Ino.

"I'm sure it's nothing compared to the places you've lived," Ino replied while signing the check.

Naruto didn't respond.

Ino was the first to get up, followed by Naruto, who moved the chair out of her way and helped her with her purse. Sasuke grit his teeth. Why is it that he was the one who looked like an asshole right now?

"Are you sure you're okay to drive?" Ino asked, turning to him when he finally stood.

He hadn't thought about that. Together, they'd split an entire bottle.

"I can drive," Naruto offered.

"I'm fine," he said. "I only had a few glasses."

While they were leaving, Ino touched him on the back. He took in a deep, calming breath. Ino was smart enough to walk between them as they headed to his car. Sasuke unlocked the doors with his fob and, out of habit, opened the door for Ino. She thanked him and shut the door once she was inside.

That left Sasuke standing next to Naruto, who had his hand poised to open the back door. There was a lot that seemed to pass between them with just that one look.

"Is this okay?" Naruto asked, keeping his voice low and his eyes on Sasuke.

"I'm not sure either of us has a choice at this point."

"I don't want to do anything you don't want to, Sasuke. I didn't exactly plan for this to happen. I didn't even know you were living here. I thought you would've moved out of this city after college."

"Just because this city wasn't good enough for you doesn't mean I ever had any intentions of leaving."

Naruto looked annoyed, and Sasuke felt some satisfaction in possibly having hit a nerve.

"You haven't changed at all." Naruto shook his head and opened the car door, but Sasuke, placing a hand to the window, forced it shut again.

"I see you've changed. Whether I've changed or not is irrelevant. I'm sure being able to say you've changed makes it easier to justify what happened, but I remember who you were before you inherited all of your father's money."

Naruto took a step forward, bringing them exceptionally close. "I see now that you remember things how you want to remember them. The fact that you're still holding onto some kind of grudge because I was a rich kid speaks volumes. I'm not that kid anymore, which is why I'm willing to sit down and talk to you. Maybe you don't realize just how busy my schedule is, or how difficult it is for me to siphon off a few hours to alleviate whatever temper tantrum you seem to be having after running into me."

Sasuke's hand tightened into a fist. "Very mature, Naruto. Provoking me, are you? As if I asked for this. I would've gone out of my way to avoid you if I could."

"Just like you avoided my ex-girlfriend? I know all about that. I bumped into Sakura last week as a matter of fact."

"So I heard," he replied. "Good for the two of you. I'm sure you'd make as great a couple as you did in high school. You both love money and attention. It's a match made in heaven."

Naruto laughed hollowly, his head tipping down for a second, only for his eyes to travel upward until their gazes were level again. But before either could say anything further, Ino opened the door to yell at them.

"Do we have to do this in the parking lot?" She asked. "My feet are killing me, and I just want to go home and put on some sweats."

"Of course," Naruto said, and moving out of Sasuke's personal space, took hold of the handle. He waited until Sasuke removed his hand from the door before opening it and then slamming it shut.

Sasuke glanced toward the sky and let out a quiet sigh. What the hell had he just gotten himself into? Oddly, that had felt familiar. Arguing with Naruto. They used to stay up late into the night, arguing passionately about the trivial and important. They both always had a different perspective on every issue. Sometimes they argued just for the sake of argument. Maybe because Naruto was bored, or maybe because he was lonely growing up alone in a large house with only maids and butlers for company. That's all Sasuke had been to Naruto at that time. He was a distraction, or just a playmate that was too stupid to see Naruto's true personality, and then when Naruto had the opportunity to leave for something bigger and better - he jumped at it. He'd thrown Sasuke away without any thought or hesitation.

Sasuke'd wanted to pretend that, all this time, it didn't bother him, but if it didn't, wouldn't it make him the same as Naruto?

He went around to the other side of the car and got in, buckling his seat belt. After turning on the ignition, he half-listened to Ino and Naruto's conversation about the restaurant and how Naruto had been served personally by the chef after getting a tour of the kitchen. Sasuke focused on the road, never saying a word in the 15 minutes it took to drive to Ino's apartment.