Author's note: Hello! This is not my first Naruto fanfic that I've written, but the first I am posting. I think this fic is one of the better ones I've written, so I thought I'd share it with others. This is an AU story and the main pairing is Hidan/OC with maybe a small hint of Itachi/OC later. I've tried to make my character, Natari, into a relatable and interesting person. And don't worry, Hidan shows up in the next chapter. With all that said, I hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: I in no way, shape, or form own Naruto. I own this story, the plot, and my character Mizuno Natari.
This Is Fate
Chapter 1: Blind Date
There's never a time in your life where you think about killing someone. Well, at least not normal, sane people. Mizuno Natari was what she'd like to call normal and sane. She had a job that paid well, a decent home, loving family. Really, what else could she ever ask for? Well, according to her parents, Natari needed to 'settle down.' She'd been single for a long time and it often reflected in her demeanor.
Natari shrugged off their plans to set her up. She was happy being single and alone. Well, so she said. Leaving work one afternoon, her friend stopped to talk with her. "Wanna hang out at the bar tonight?" he asked, chewing on what looked like a blade of grass.
Natari smiled and shook her head. "Sorry. I'm meeting my parents for dinner."
"Oh. Is it…that time again?"
She rolled her eyes. "I honestly don't know why they don't think I can't get a man for myself. They always find these pathetic guys who want nothing except a girlfriend who's got a steady job."
"They're looking out for you."
"I know that, Genma. It's just…annoying to be set up on dates by my parents."
He nodded. "I understand. But hey, maybe this guy's the one?"
Natari laughed. "Yeah right."
When she reached the restaurant, she took a deep breath and prepared herself for another pointless night with a guy she didn't know and didn't want to know. Upon entering, her parents ushered her over to their table. She saw someone else sitting with them. He had long silver hair tied back in a low-hanging ponytail. When he turned around, she saw dark eyes behind circular glasses and a smile on his face.
"Nice to meet you, Natari-san," he said holding out his hand. "I'm Yakushi Kabuto."
"He's a doctor," her mother piped up.
As Natari sat down beside Kabuto, he chuckled, "Well actually, I'm still just an assistant."
"So which hospital do you work at?" Natari asked.
"The Konoha Main."
"Ah. Your work load there must be tough. I hear it's really hard to get employed there."
"Well, it all depends on how well-qualified you are. I was one of the lucky ones."
Natari pursed her lips. "Yes you were." She picked up her menu. "So, Mom, Dad, how are things?"
"Oh absolutely lovely," her mother answered with a sweet smile. "We met this nice young man during one of my check-ups at the hospital, didn't we, honey?"
Her husband nodded. "Yep, and I noticed he looked to be the same age as our little girl and asked if he was seeing anyone."
"Dad!" Natari cried, turning wildly at Kabuto. "I can't believe he did that."
Kabuto smiled. "No, I didn't mind in the slightest. I told him that I was single and that's when they started talking about you."
Natari's cheeks burned. "And…what did you guys say?"
"Oh nothing embarrassing, sweetheart," her mother said with a wave of her hand. "We just said you worked at Uchiha Enterprises and that you were also single."
"Then they asked me to dinner so that I could meet you," Kabuto finished. "And I must say, you're a lot better looking than the picture they showed me."
"You showed him a picture?!"
"Yes, the picture of you at your sister's wedding," her dad explained.
Natari gaped at him. "I was drunk when that picture was taken, Dad!"
"Yes, but you were so lovely."
She resisted the urge to bang her hand against the table. This night was already giving her a headache. "Are you all right?" Kabuto asked.
"Yeah…I'm fine," she replied, wishing the night would end quickly. "Um…I just remembered I have an important…thing I have to give to my boss tomorrow and if I don't start on it now, I'll never get it done."
"What thing is that, dear?" her mother asked.
Natari glared at her from across the table. "A thing, Mom. A very important thing that Mister Uchiha needs for tomorrow."
"Oh, I see."
She stood up and said to Kabuto, "I'm sorry for this. It completely slipped my mind."
He shrugged. "Oh don't worry about it."
"Yes, we'll set up another dinner for you two," her mother announced, taking out her planning book.
Natari's eyes flashed angrily. She faked a smile. "That would be so sweet of you, Mom."
"How's Friday night?"
"Um…"
"Can't," Natari said quickly. "Plans with Sakura."
"Saturday?"
"Scheduled operation," Kabuto answered meekly.
"Sunday?"
"I'm free," Kabuto said. He looked over at Natari.
She looked like a gaping fish for a bit before nodding her head and saying, "I'm also free."
"Great!" her mother said. "I'll schedule you both in for 7 o'clock here Sunday evening. Don't be late."
"Right," Natari mumbled. "I'll be seeing you, Mom, Dad. It was nice meeting you, Kabuto-san."
As soon as she was out of there, Natari reached for her cell phone and called her friend Sakura. "Hello?"
"Hey Sakura, it's Natari."
"Oh hey, how was the…you know?"
"Well, I managed to get out of it."
"Really? How?"
"I told them I had to do a thing for Mr. Uchiha."
Her friend laughed. "Nice. So who was the guy? Was he cute?"
"He wasn't bad looking. He said he works over at the Konoha Main Hospital."
"Really? Maybe I know him. What's his name?"
"Yakushi Kabuto." There was a pause. "Sakura? You there?"
"You're not serious, are you?"
"Uh, yeah. I guess he met my parents when my mom went for her annual check-up there a week ago."
"Wow."
"What?"
"Well, Kabuto's a pretty popular guy here among the single nurses."
"So?"
"So that means he's been with them all at least once. He's not a steady boyfriend kinda guy, Nat. Are you seeing him again?"
"My mom set up another dinner for Sunday."
"Cancel."
"I can't; I already said I was free."
"Then…I'll find some way to have him cancel."
"Thanks, Sakura. You're the best."
"Heh, I know. See ya later."
"Bye." Natari hung up and got into her car. Man, what a night. When she got home, she opened the door and dragged herself up to her bed. Finally. Some relaxation.
The next day at work, Natari found herself retelling her story to Genma. Said person was laughing and attempting to hide it. "It's not funny!" Natari growled.
"I'm sorry, but the thought of your dad showing a drunk picture of you to your blind date is hilarious," he said, tears coming out of his eyes. "I imagine he was rather amazed that you actually can look decent."
She glared at him. "It's not like I was some swamp creature in that picture."
"No, but you were heading there."
"Genma, this is serious. My mom scheduled us to have another dinner date on Sunday. I called Sakura and she told me this guy is bad news."
"I'm bad news, but you hang out with me," he shrugged.
"And I wonder why every moment of my life," she drawled. She shook her head. That's when she noticed the son of her boss and Sakura's boyfriend walking by. "Sasuke!"
He turned around and nodded in her direction. "Yeah?"
"Have you talked to Sakura?"
He lifted an eyebrow. "Everyday…"
"No, I mean, have you talked to her about my…you know what?"
He blinked. "Your period?"
"No!"
Genma snorted into his coffee. "Ha! He said 'period!'"
"Oh grow up, Genma!" Natari snarled, before turning back to Sasuke. "I mean about my dinner date with Yakushi Kabuto."
"Oh," he said. "Yeah, she might have mentioned it."
"Well? Did she say anything about what she plans to do?"
"You'll just have to wait and see, won't you?"
"You're a very difficult man, Sasuke. I think I know why your brother left the company."
He smirked. "Why be simple when you can be difficult?"
"I hear ya, man," Genma stated.
"Ugh, men," Natari growled, stomping back to her station.
Natari stared at her phone Saturday night for a very long time. She didn't know if Sakura had already pulled the strings for Kabuto to cancel their date. She took a deep breath and grabbed the piece of paper her mother had given her with Kabuto's work cell. She dialed in the number. It rang a few times, before she heard the silver-haired man's voice.
"Hello? Yakushi Kabuto speaking."
"Hi Kabuto-san, this is Mizuno Natari," she answered back in her sweetest voice.
"Ah, hello."
"I was just calling to make sure you're still up for tomorrow."
"Ah…um…you see, I was going to call you later about that. It appears something came up and I've been put on the night shift Sunday. I won't be able to make our date."
Natari moved the phone away from her ear to give a triumphant air punch. Then she put the phone back to her ear and said, "Oh, that's a shame. I was really looking forward to seeing you again, since we barely talked the other night."
"Well, I am free Tuesday night."
Shit! Not good! "Uh, sorry. I've already got plans."
"Oh. That's fine then. Well um…I'll keep in touch."
"Okay. Bye."
"Bye."
She hung up and glared at the phone. "That was too close. Better call Sakura and tell her everything went well."
Author's note: So I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of the fic. I'll hopefully be able to post the next chapter soon. Hidan comes in, yay! Thanks for taking the time to read this. Please review if you can so I know if I should continue posting. Until next time!
Darkfire75