Riku: Greetings! Hi…so I am going to submit a NEW story again. (Yes, a new story and not an update to any of my past stories.) Sorry about that. I know I still need to update my other on-going stories but then…heh, I don't know why I can't. Please just try to understand, even just a bit. Well, in this new submission…I guess you will think it's kind of awkward for Naruto to be serious, knowing he is typically and normally loud in most of the stories. Here, it will be a little different regarding his 'normal' attitude. Please enjoy….!

Summary: Many say that arranged marriages or coercions don't work easy and good on the couple...it only brings despair and coldness in the relationship.--But what can you say if there is already love present before they knew and had the marriage? Will it be hard to express it?...or just as easy as managing a business? (Well actually in this story, Naruto and Sasuke are experts in managing their businesses; literally.)

It would be pretty interesting to know how they are going to live together as a perfect couple.

SasuNaru

KibaNaru

Title: After My Heart

"How are we going to deal with this?" An annoyed voice snapped worriedly to the woman beside him. His hair barely tousled to the side and its silvery tips made it obvious about his aging appearance.

"We have been friends with Uzumaki-san for years! How can I take to be his enemy?" He buried his head on his palms and leaned onto his clear fiberglass table.

"Daijobu Fugaku." A woman grinned and laid white palms over the hard clothed shoulders of her husband, tapping it a little.

"We have a better choice." She said.

"What is it? Can you think of one?" Fugaku spoke after reaching his head up to look at his wife with a raised brow.

"Let me see…" Mikoto tilted her head to the right and raised a finger under her chin; marching forward and backward as she thought of a plan.

"Ahh! What if we make Sasuke and the heir of Uzumaki Company, marry?" Mikoto's grin widened.

Fugaku's head jerked in shock, and then slowly sank down with a heavy sigh.

"It'll never work." He murmured as he rolled his eyes to his wife's uncertain suggestion.

"Oh yes it will! I'll handle our darling Sasuke." Mikoto praised herself and smirked inwardly.

xXOOOXx

"Uzumaki-san…" Mikoto started as she gazed smiling eyes to the Uzumaki Corporation President.

"Since our companies are both experiencing troubles, I have a plan to solve it."

Blue eyes told her to continue.

"Why don't we make my son Sasuke marry your only child…I was thinking of merging our company with yours in an easier way and with a good excuse to the people who will witness it. We will gain a large amount of benefit too." Her expression became serious.

There was a long pause.

"I'll agree…but there's a problem." The blond-haired President hesitated. "I don't have a daughter but a son."

Everything in the room seemed to stop and tension grew among the people who were inside the airconditioned room.

Silence came…

Then again silence…

Again silence…

Until a chuckle was heard under Mikoto's bowed head.

The two men exchanged glances before Fugaku asked his wife,

"Mikoto, is someth—"

"Kakoyi!" Mikoto stood up from the blue settee and threw her arms up, halfway on her chest.

"Isn't it great?" She said with glittering eyes.

"What's gre—"

"IT's a deal then?" She reached her hand to Uzumaki Arashii, unbreakably grinning.

"Ha—hai…"

"Yatta! I'll plan the marriage right away!" She exclaimed.

Chapter One: Totally Opposite

Mikoto stared the male standing in front of her, full of dignity and pride of an Uchiha.

He was a raving beauty.

The raven-colored hair that was being struck by light flashed with dark blue shadows all the way as it reached the pointed ends of its back; those pitch black orbs looking dangerously good when it lay on your figure; the pale skin tone that glowed because of its smoothness; the tall profile, and a toned figure shaping the expensive clothes perfectly.

"Do you need something from me, mother?" A deep voice hugged with a breeze of cold tone approached the female's ears gently.

"Sasuke darling…" She said in a happy tone and continuously beaming face.

"I'm going to ask you a very small favor."

"What is it, mother? Anything you ask." Sasuke replied monotonously.

"I want you to marry the heir of the Uzumaki Corporation."

There was no answer for a few moments…

"Why not Itachi?" Sasuke thought suddenly.

"Bu—"

"Oh no. There's no 'buts'. What I'm asking is very simple right?"

--OK so at that time, Sasuke is still having that 'dream' of overpowering his brother regarding the inheritance of their family company; which Itachi doesn't really want to achieve.—

"If you do that…you will have the position as the president of our company right after you marry. Also, we will be merging with Uzumaki Corporation and both you and your hus—future spouse will take care of the business."

Sasuke went in silence but it meant yes…He was desperate, not of marrying, but with the position he desires.

--Let's see how long will he think like that…(about the marriage…haha!)

xXOOOXx

Sasuke sighed.

"It's alright man. You may be lucky after you meet 'her'. She might meet your expectations for a future…partner."

Mist-colored eyes met with ash-shadowed ones.

"I promise you, after I meet whoever that person is, my world will collide."

"Maybe not." Neji, the name of his long-haired assistant, said.

"That person might be loud, childish, happy-go-lucky—"

"Like you?" Neji interrupted, then he received a glare.

"I am serious with everything so shut up." "Let me continue."

"Irritable, talkative, 'don't have any knowledge with business, a fli—"

"How can Uzumaki-san let that happen?" Neji cut his words once again.

"Think of the positives. As a very successful businessman, except for the leakage that occurred, Uzumaki-san won't give up his company to an irresponsible heir."

Sasuke thought for awhile.

"You may be right. But then—" (Another cut by Neji)

"However, why did you agree to the marriage?"

"I am desperate." Sasuke answered.

"With marrying?"

"No! It's the position I am going to get and not with anything else."

"I think she's here." Neji whispered, gazing at the woman who was talking with the manager of the restaurant and leaving him demands.

Sasuke directed his eyes to the bright woman. She was beautiful and smart-looking; a lady with short hair, dyed with sakura-color that resembles well with the jade shine of her eyes; a white skin unblemished with any scar; and a fitting body shape of a typical food-conscious woman.

An ideal bride for anyone, but for Sasuke, a disappointing one…Why?

"Hajime Mashite." The woman greeted as she approached the table where Sasuke and Neji stayed sitting.

"Watashi no namae wa Haruno Sakura desu." She reached her hand towards Sasuke frantically. He stared at the waiting hand for a moment and reluctantly took it. When Sakura felt the touch of the drop-dead-gorgeous man, she didn't let go and instead took hold of it while starting a conversation.

Conversations like….

What is your ideal spouse?

What are your hobbies?

Did you already have a girlfriend?

Do you like this or that?

What are your favorites?—But all these senseless questions were ignored and aggravated Sasuke's irritation from the very beginning of her appearance. But things didn't end immediately when one of her random questions made him think about something.

"Have you ever been in love?" That was the question.

Sasuke thought, from the very beginning of his life, he had only known the filial type of love or the family love…so when it comes to other people, he would feel awkward and quite curious about it. Since he had desired the position of being the president of their family company and doing almost beyond the tasks he was given, he had forgotten to enter a social or intimate relationship with people outside his high-society world.

Sakura still continued to utter her never ending babbles until an apologetic voice startled her.

"Gomen." The voice spoke and it was delivered by an executive man, standing behind Sakura.

He has the golden type of striking blond hair fixed in spike motion; glimmering sapphire blue eyes, looking quite tired from work but still pleasing; slightly scarred cheeks from both sides; flawless tanned skin; and extremely sexy body shape, almost looking like a woman's.

"I'm so sorry for being late in this meeting." He continued.

"I'm the heir of the Uzumaki Corporation. Uzumaki Naruto desu." He pulled an elegant smile, before speaking with the woman who stood, almost jumping, swiftly to his side.

"Thanks for keeping them up Sakura."

"Ha—hai….Uzumaki-san."

It was like a very sudden and unexpected moment for the two males who stayed in silence of awe.

They were indeed both astounded…or rather dumbfounded.

Owari! (for the first chapter)

OK so did yah like it? Does it have potential? Does it look interesting or good or at least satisfying? Tell me but please I don't like flames!

I hope you like it! (update will depend on the reviews…hehe)

Arigato!!!!