My...

Wah! I wasn't expecting this many hits so fast. ^^; Thank you all for giving it a shot, I really appreciate it! (:



Prism0467: Why thank youuuu! I'm trying to portray all the characters...well...like themselves, of course, but with certain quirks and twists. (: I'm glad you liked it! And thaaank you sooo much for reviewing! *tosses cookies*



Dar: GAHH! Thank you too for reviewing! *cookies* I really appreciate it! And I hope you like this chapter as well. ^^ GAH! In this chapter: Sasuke and Naruto's first encounter!!! *dundunDUNN!* It's a very brief encounter, but they'll interact more in the next chapter.



And I forgot to mention, the setting takes place around..eh..Mid-June. Juuust so you know.



+NOTE: The (third person) point-of-views switch back an forth between different characters, I dont bother to type out which character it is, because I'm sure you'll figure it out. ^^ Some people don't really like the..eh..switching back and forth and backandforthandbackand...(er..well you get it). But I think it's a more effective way of getting the emotions and thoughts across, so I'm stickin' with it. Sorry if you don't like it. ): Try your best to read through it all. ^^;



Once again, I'll apologize for my lack of...Beta. Hahh!



Read, Enjoy & (pleeeeease, oh please, oh pretty pleaseeee) RATE/REVIEW!

(I mean..come on...1000+ hits and only two reviews? Pfft.)

(^Not that I dont absolutely looove the people who bothered to leave them ^^ )

(^ AND thank you to all who rated!!) :D



-begin!-

------------------



"Umf!"

Rustle.

"...."

A tanned hand reached up to scratch a blond mess of hair.

"Ugh...Now...why did i just do that?" Naruto asked no one in particular as he lay on the cold floor boards with his blankets tangled around his legs. The blond stifled a yawn and arched his back in a, somewhat, restricted stretch. He could have sworn he heard a noise, thus causing a half-hazard attempt to get out of bed which in turn resulted, due to his half-asleep state and bed sheets being wrapped around his legs, in him flopping off of his bed and onto the hardwood floor. He blinked the sleep from his eyes and listened again for any sort of indication that there, in fact, had been a noise. When his small apartment stayed quiet, he dragged a pillow off of his bed and onto the floor, not bothered enough to get back onto his bed.



The blond slowly drifted back into sleep, comforted by shafts of sunlight peeking through the shutters and the warmth that they brought. He sighed contentedly and let every inch of his body relax when-



BANG. BANG. BANG.



Cerulean eyes snapped open and a tanned hand fluttered to his chest and gripped at his shirt, his heart practically jumped out of his ribcage. It was the noise that had woken him up previously, he was sure of it.

"OY!!! NAAA-RUUUU-TOOOOO!" A muffled, yet familiar, voice sing songed. Naruto huffed a sigh and relaxed a bit before he untangled himself and trudged down the hallway into the living room. He yawned and ran a hand through his sleep-mussed hair before pulling the door open.



"Ohayoooo, Naru-chan! Nice bed-head."

Standing in front of the dishevelled blond, was another blond, wearing a black undershirt and dark blue-jeans, with long hair that was tied up in a pony-tail and equally long bangs that covered one silvery-blue eye.

"You scared the shit out of me, Deidara." Naruto said with a smile as he scratched his head.

"Gomen, Gomen." Deidara said, waving his hand, as he scooted around Naruto and slid into his apartment. "'Tachi-sama sent me to retrieve you." The older male said as he wandered around the small, yet clean living room before flopping down on the couch.



"Huh?" Naruto said as he closed the door and leaned on it, "I thought he said that he'd send someone with information....yesterday."



Deidara chuckled, "Well, well, You know how things are, Naru-chan! Hmmm." He put one painted nail to his lips as he thought, "Oh. He wanted me to inform you that the event is a formal cocktail party that many very important business associates will be attending..." He snapped his fingers, "Ah, yes. And it will take place at the Uchiha Mansion. See? Simple information. It makes no difference if it were told to you yesterday or today."



"Huh? His house?" Naruto asked as he walked into the adjoining kitchen and poured himself a glass of orange juice, "Who's my client?"



Deidara smiled, "Uchiha Sasuke."



Naruto, almost having choked on his orange juice, gulped hard. "U-Uchiha Sa-Sasuke?!" he burst out.



"Haaai-hai." Deidara nodded, "Itachi is covering the charges himself! Isn't that awfully nice of him?", he added with another laugh as he held his hand out to study his painted, black finger nails.



Naruto stared down at his glass of orange juice. He had never actually met Uchiha Sasuke, but there was plenty of talk about the young prodigy around Kohona. Tanned hands moved the glass in a slow circular motion, sloshing the orange juice around, as the blond only half-paid attention to what Deidara was babbling about. ( "Ne, Naru-chan, do you think Black is a good color on me? Cause Karin told me it makes me look too pale. But she's just so full of shit sometimes, ne? I mean, come on.She's the one thats always dying her hair weird colors and all. And..etc.) It was strange, Naruto thought, that he had been inside the Uchiha mansion so many times, yet, he had never seen Itachi's younger brother once.



'Eh. Whatever.' Naruto thought as he lifted his glass to his lips, 'I wonder if he's anything like Itach-'

Naruto slammed his glass of orange juice back down on the counter as his thoughts were cut off and his head was brutally snatched into a head lock. Deidara's eye twitched agitatedly as he tightened his hold on Naruto. "Oy, you punk." Deidara hissed into Naruto's ear darkly as the aura around him seemed to darken and drip venom, "You shouldn't just go off and get lost in yer own thoughts while I'm trying to ask you for advice." He cackled as he gave Naruto a harsh noogie.



"H-Hai. G-Gomen, Deidara..!! My bad, my b-bad." Naruto wheezed trying to pull his head out of the headlock, "How 'bout you l-let me go now, ne?"



"Never!!!" Deidara shouted, throwing his head back and laughing hysterically. While laughing, his silvery-blue eyes shut - which was unfortunate for him, for he never saw the wooden sandal that was soaring through the air coming.



SMACK!



Deidara's hold on Naruto released instantly as he crouched down on the ground, hissing, and clutched the back of his head where a bump had formed.



Naruto gasped for air and first glanced at the offending sandal that head fallen on the ground by Deidara's feet, then looked up at the light-haired man leaning casually on the door frame wearing a purple hoodie, black jeans and only one wooden sandal.



"Yo." Suigetsu said, smiling.



------------------



After Deidara had finished yelling a long string of insults to Suigetsu, who calmly remained quiet, for throwing a sandal at him, Suigetsu explained that Deidara was simply "taking too damn long" which was reason enough for his interference. Which, of course, set off another set of insults aimed toward the blueish-white haired male who simply smirked, successfully belittling the blond male. Who, in turn, chucked the other male's sandal back at his face, but was agitated when Suigetsu caught the flying object with ease.



The battle between them continued on for another five minutes before Suigetsu's cell phone rang out. He used the palm of his hand to push Deidara's face as far from his own as he answered. Deidara, well past being just "agitated" fumed and attempted to shove Suigetsu, who side-stepped him easily, as a shrill voice screamed at him from the other end.

"Ah. Hai, hai. Understood. We'll be there soon." He said quickly before hanging up as the shrill voice intensified.



Deidara paused, "....Karin." He deadpanned.

Suigetsu nodded. "Yep."

"Guess we better get going."

"Hn."



Naruto shook his head, completely used to their on-and-off battling, not missing a beat he headed out the door right behind them, not bothering to change or fix his bed-hair.





---------------





Sasuke paused as he walked down the hallway to look out the tall window that stretched up to the ceiling. His dark eyes took in the slow moving, puffy white clouds that drifted across the blue, blue sky. The summer's sunlight streamed in and warmed the Uchiha's pale hands. He had spent such a long time away from home, yet, he didn't feel any sort of joy at being back at the large mansion.



For the past three years he had constantly moved around the country and across ocean waters, going to study at whichever elite school his parents had instructed him to go to. Countless times he had enrolled in different schools only to be bombarded with stupid love-struck fan-girls, envied by most of the boys and surpass the level of studies offered there. The only two people he considered his friends were Hyuuga Neji and Aburame Shino, who's parents had also decided to let their sons 'study with the best' as well as subliminally "advertise" the elegance and grace of their companies through their calm and intelligent sons. The three of them were different in many ways, yet similar in others. And, in the end, the three of them had all returned to Kohona around the same time, mid-june. For the three quiet, stoic boys, it would be their first summer, in a long time, that they could enjoy as they please.



But Sasuke was far from 'enjoying' his homecoming. Two years before, when Sasuke had first set off to study with experts in Tokyo, the Uchiha mansion was practically always empty. The only time someone setting foot in it, other than the maids and butlers, being when Itachi would return home briefly to handle Uchiha business matters. Fortunately, Sasuke had been far from home when Itachi began to really begin his 'Escort' company, six months after the younger brother's departure. Unfortunately, the mansion had now become the epicenter of all 'Escort' business and the younger Uchiha was stuck in the middle of it all.



He let out an annoyed sigh and closed his eyes. He could hear plates clanking in the kitchen as the chefs began to prepare the various exquisite dishes that would be served at the cocktail party later in the evening. He could also hear the voice of one of Itachi's escorts wafting down the hall. Sasuke recalled her name being "Karin", or something of the sort, and he only knew two things about her: She was strange, and she was loud.





He rubbed his temples as the Karin continued to chatter away to Kisame, oblivious to the dark thoughts that were being shot her way. He almost felt bad for the shark-like man if it weren't for the fact that Sasuke had to suffer through her loud voice booming down the hallway as well. He closed his eyes and let out an annoyed hiss as he continued down the hallway and stood in the open doorway that lead to the epicenter of the noise: Itachi's room. Itachi was nowhere in sight. However, he was greeted by the sight of Karin animatedly talking to Kisame. The shark didn't seem to be listening but was glaring at the woman instead, but she continued on, oblivious.



"Kisame." Sasuke said with a cold edge in his voice, "Where's Itachi?"



The shark-like male took his glaring gaze from the red-head woman, who had ceased talking to look at Sasuke quizzically, to shake his head and shrug.



The younger Uchiha growled under his breath, about to turn away when the pink/red-head spoke up, "I believe your brother is out, Sasuke-kun" she said in a quieter and less-annoying tone.



Sasuke looked at her with surprise, "O-oh." He said as she nodded and pushed her red-rimmed glasses farther up her nose, "Thanks." He simply said, before exiting the room.



Just as he was passing the stairs, the doorbell rang. He bit back a sigh and slowly descended the stairs.

He could hear bickering voices on the other side of the door.



'If she asks why we're so late, you take the blame!' Shouted one voice.

'Hn. Who was the one messing around?', Replied a deeper voice.

'Messing around?! WHO'S MESSING AROUND! You were busy chucking shoes at people.' The other replied indignantly.

'Hn. Sure. Think of it that way if you like.'

'YOU BASTARD, I'LL SHOW YOU-' The louder voice was interrupted as Sasuke, annoyed, ripped open the door, not wanting to hear their idiotic bickering any longer.



Standing there, were three figures. A familiar-looking blond with long, tied, hair and a blue-white-haired male. He could recognize these two as Escorts. And the third figure had his back towards Sasuke, looking up at the sky, just like he had been, spacing out. 'Tch. Dobe.' Sasuke thought absent-mindedly as he glared at the three.



The long-haired blond stuttered. The lighter-haired male just raised his pale hand in a greeting. "Yo."



Sasuke slammed the door closed and walked away from it, leaving the three outside, without another word. Why the hell would he want any more of those damn Escorts. From the looks of it, they were almost as loud as the red-haired female.



The typical Uchiha scowl found its way onto Sasuke's face. 'Damn Aniki.' He thought as he climbed the staircase, 'If he thinks this is some kind of funny joke-' His musings were interrupted as (speak of the Devil) Itachi entered the main hall through the kitchen, car keys in hand. The doorbell rang again just then. Sasuke watched as Itachi made his way to the door and open it, welcoming in his employees. Sasuke resisted rolling his eyes, he turned to walk back up the stairs before a disheveled looking blonde caught his eye. It was the third person, the Dobe;the one that had been staring off into space. He watched as the three interacted with the elder Uchiha, all in an easy-going and familiar way. He could sense a bad vibe creeping up along his spine.



"Otouto." Black eyes flicked to the owner of the voice that called. Itachi pushed the young blond teen in front of him, "Meet your Escort."



For a moment, just a moment, before any reaction could register in the Uchiha's brain, all Sasuke could see eyes. His eyes.

'So...blue.'



-------------------



Naruto huffed out a sigh as they made their way up the long driveway. All Deidara would do is hurl half-thought up insults at the other Suigetsu who, in turn, would always have a response ready. They fought the whole way here and, after a brief scuffle after getting out of the car, where Naruto and Deidara had tried to pin the other on the ground until Suigetsu pinned them both, they still weren't done. Naruto had sighed, but he laughed at the two as well as Suigetsu, who was ignoring Deidara, ruffle'd Naruto's already-mussed hair as he passed him.



He stared up at the beautiful blue sky and closed his eyes briefly, letting the sun warm his scarred cheeks. A gentle breeze passed and caused his hair to brush softly against his cheeks. Inhaling, he smiled. He loved the smell of the cool breeze on a hot day and the smell of the morning dew evaporating as the summer sun rose higher in the sky. He loved the smell of summer.

"Ne, Naruto. Hurry up!" Deidara waved him over from the front step of the Uchiha mansion.

"Un!" Naruto said with a bashful smile as he jogged over.



The two continued to bicker after they rang the doorbell. Naruto turned around and stared at the blue sky once more. He took in the Uchiha garden before him, illuminated by the summer's glow. Cerulean blue met sky blue as the breeze passed again, causing the vibrant green blades of grass to bend and sway and sluggish, fluffy clouds to move along. He inhaled and exhaled slowly, savoring the smell, onlyturning around when the arguing had abruptly ceased. He only caught a quick glimpse of a pale face as the door slammed closed. Naruto quirked an eyebrow, 'What the hell?' he thought briefly. Suigetsu scratched his head, at a loss for words.

"Huh, What a little prick," Deidara sniffed, "He caught me off guard! He opened the door while I was in the middle of a sentence! Why'd he have to go and slam the door in my face?! It's not like I had a chance to reply or anything!!" The blond yelled, fuming, as the door was opened a second time, this time by Itachi.



The three greeted Itachi jovially as they entered the Uchiha domain, Naruto laughed and pushed his bangs out of his face when Itachi commented on the length and overall slept-in look of the blond.



Naruto could have sworn things all moved in slow motion. He felt Itachi's strong arm circle around one shoulder and lead him forward a few steps, as the blond opened his eyes cerulean blue collided with dark obsidian.

"Meet your Escort" Naruto heard Itachi say, his voice directed at the pale teen before him. Naruto took in the pale Uchiha that had paused on the steps, body half-way turned towards Naruto. He studied the slender, yet lean body and inky black hair. Ah, yes. The famous Uchiha stoicism.



'Not surprising.' Naruto thought as he saw the black eyes harden their stare. 'He's got the Uchiha glare down too.'



----------------------



'So...blue.'

The young Uchiha thought as he stared into two incredibly blue irises. It only took a moment for his eyes to register the bright blond locks that framed a tanned whiskered face. His eyes briefly traced over the body dressed in a slightly over-sized navy blue sweater and gray sweats before he swept his gaze to the bastard that introduced him.

"Aniki." He gritted out coldly, "This is my Escort?" Sasuke asked incredulously, his dark eyes flicking over to the blond again.



Itachi wrapped an arm around the boy's shoulders from behind and leaned in close to him, he jutted out his lower lip and frowned, "What? Don't like blonds?" Itachi asked, his voice dripping with patronizing faux-sadness. "I mean, just look at him, how could you say no?"



"No." Sasuke deadpanned, "And this kid is a boy, Aniki." he added, turning his gaze briefly on the blond, "Did you think this is what Father meant when he said-" He cut himself off as it dawned on him. Sasuke took in the boy's sloppy appearance, other then his face, there was almost nothing physically attractive about the boy from what he could tell; From the way he dressed he could tell the blond didn't exactly come from a rich family which probably meant he wouldn't know how to behave at a high-class social event and if he was anything like the other Escorts, he would be loud and obnoxious. His father had said to bring someone, anyone, with him, a date. But he had never exactly mentioned any gender rules. A smirk found it's way to the younger Uchiha's face. What better way to indirectly defy his own father's demands then to twist the man's words.



Itachi smiled, "Ah, I see you've figured it out, ne?" he asked as His younger brother's glare lessened.



The stoic expression returned to the young raven's face, "Hn." He said simply, turning to continue walking up the stairs, not bothering to say anything more.



The room stayed quiet moments after Sasuke's exit. Itachi let go of the Naruto a smiled down at him, "That went well." He said with a smile.



-----



" ....'That went well'?!" Naruto turned to look at Itachi incredulously,"That bastard called me a 'kid'!" He pointed out indignantly.



"Cause you look like a little chibi!" Deidara explained with a suppressed laugh. Suigetsu chuckled.



"Shut up! At least I look like a boy-chibi!" Naruto quipped, "and that bastard and I look practically the same age." He added with a grunt as he crossed his arms, fuming.



Deidara's eye twitched, "...Are you implying I look like a girl? You litte-" Itachi waved his pale hands at the three, "Now, now." He said with a smile, "Settle down. You'll have time to argue later. I'll leave Naruto-kun in your hands, I need to go oversee the finishing preparations before the party." He said, flipping his long hair over one shoulder and walking towards the door that he had entered from.



"Hai, hai. Understood." Suigetsu said with a sigh, "But this one will probably continue throwing lame insults my way." He said pointing over his shoulder at Deidara.



"Nani?!?!" Deidara squawked as Itachi headed out of the room, "OY OY, KORRRRA!* Don't talk like I'm not standing right next to you, teme! 'Lame insults' my ass! You're just too lazy to think of-"

"Un, Deidara, Suigetsu." Itachi interrupted, pausing before the threshold of the kitchen.

Deidara and Suigetsu looked up at Itachi questioningly.

"You may have forgotton...but Karin is still waiting for you." He said looking back at them with a smile, "Well. Ja ne!" He waved before heading out of the room.

------



Itachi smirked inwardly as he walked quickly through the bustling kitchen and entered the parlor where buffet tables were currently being set up. He stood in the arching entryway of the kitchen and watched as various people re-arranged the long tables.



"Hn. You're back from the store?" A deep voice sounded from behind him. Itachi leaned into the man behind him as Kisame bent down to nuzzle his pale neck

lgb .

"Hai. I had to get various supplies for Karin. I figured she'd want to fix up Naruto-kun." He said turning to face the shark-like man, "I predict she was as chatty as ever?" He asked with a smile.



"Hn. All she does is chatter. Although I pity anyone who has to put up with her, I'm glad Sasori showed up." Kisame said, shaking his head in disgust, "Do you think Naruto-kun will fair well this evening?" his tone softened slightly. Kisame, as well as all the other Escorts and Itachi, himself, all had a soft spot for the loud blue-eyed blond.



"I'm sure he will. You may have graduated from the *E.E.C. but Naruto and the other's still have their monthly classes with Sasori." Itachi said, running a hand luxuriously through his long silky locks, "And, judging from my brother's reaction, I can see he expects very little from Naruto-kun." He smirked. "Socially...and physically too, it seems" He added, recalling his brother's unimpressed staring at the blond.



"Hn." Kisame smirked humorously. "Naruto-kun is not someone Sasuke, or anyone, should underestimate."



"Hai, hai." Itachi drawled mischievously, "Nor should he underestimate me."

Kisame nodded and followed Itachi as he turned and entered the kitchen.



"It seems as though Sasuke thinks that my intentions for assigning Naruto to him were to defy my Father," Itachi stated as he sampled an appetizer, "Which is true, but not exactly the point to all this." He said with a sly smile to his shark-like lover, "By the time Sasuke realizes what is happening, there will be no way out of it." The long-haired raven said as he popped another appetizer into his mouth, threw his head back and laughed loudly. Kisame joined him and snickered treacherously, successfully getting all the chefs and assistant cooks to all awkwardly stare at the two insane men standing in the middle of the kitchen, laughing loudly.



After a moment, Itachi stopped laughing and used his hand to smooth down his long locks. He turned and gracefully walked back to the parlor to finish overseeing the work being done, "Come, Kisame." He threw over his shoulder as he left.



Moments after the shark-like man left, all the chefs and assistant chefs (who only came during big events that were thrown at the Uchiha mansion) gawked incredulously at the maids and butlers who continued to work as if nothing happened, already used to catching the older Uchiha and his lover laughing crazily in the middle of hallways (seemingly for no reason, whatsoever). They learned not to question it, simply telling the chefs, kindly, to continue working.



-------------------



Naruto glanced around the large room, it seems as though everything had been rearranged, slightly, for the evening's event. Flowers were on tables, the already spotless marble floors seemed even more bright and shiny then usual.

'Heh. Must be one important party..' Naruto thought as he watched a maid wander by and place a vase of flowers on an unoccupied corner table.



All of a sudden, (From the kitchen) "MUAHAHAHHAHAAHAHAHA!"



Naruto quirked an eyebrow at the maniacal laughter he heard echoing through the kitchen before turning back to face the older two, whom had been silent since Itachi had left. He raised a blond eyebrow at the heavy, dramatic atmosphere that appeared out of nowhere. A look of realization and horror was frozen on both their faces and they stood stiff and unmoving. "Eto..." Naruto said scratching his head, "Hello? Anyone home?" he said uncertainly, waving a hand in front of their faces.



Simultaneously, the two broke out of their frozen states and each aggressively grabbed one of Naruto's arms and began to sprint up the long flight of steps, leaving a huge cloud of dust in their wake.



The surprised blond let out an 'umf' then an agitated 'OY WHAT THE HELL' as they sped down the long hallways, causing the maids' skirts to fly up as a blur of blond and blue-white flashed past.



'KUSOKUSOKUSO.' Deidara thought as he ran, 'That crazy bitch is gonna kill us!!!'



Suigetsu kept pace with the long haired blond as he thought, '....I'll blame it on Deidara' as the sight of Itachi's slightly ajar door came into a view.



--------------------------------------

-and cut!-



HOHOHOHO!



Like it? Hate it?

It was kinda rushed, as you can probably tell.

Heh. xD

I noticed the amount of hits and figured that maaaaybe people wanted to sink their teeth into the next chapter. Sooo here it is! ^^ (Not that there's much to sink your teeth into. T__T This chapter and the next one are very...fluffy? Not like...FLUFF. But more like..bland, tasteless flat soda. It fills the glass, but has no *POP*)



Sorrry about not condensing this &the actual cocktail party in one chappie. I had to split it or else this chapter would have made the first chapter look insanely short. From here on out, I intend on using the first chapter as a standard for how long my chapters are going to be. Heh. xD





*"KORA" kinda...er..Well its sorta difficult to get the direct meaning across. It kinda means like "HEY" and "LISTEN HERE"...maaaybe it could mean like.. "AYE!" in a humorously agitated way. Heh?



*Oh! And the E.E.C. are Escort Etiquette Courses. It's basically a Etiquette class (duh.) that teaches the Escorts how to act at high-class events and in general high-society. There are various different levels and the "Teacher" is Sasori. ^^

(I plan on adding an Escort information page later on. It'll provide all the basic Escort info, history, character profile and more detailed descriptions on the Escort courses and events. So, look forward to that!)





YOSH~ ONNN TO THE NEXT CHAPTER !

FIGHTING~!





Ja~

A.R.