Parent Trap

A/N: wow... it's been so long... there are almost no words... but i will say this ;P my surgery two months ago is still the bane of my existence. and this semester is the worst, most time-consuming semester i have ever taken at oniversity. but i felt i owed it to those who reviewed and asked for more. i've not given up on my fics... i just don't have the time right now. but i'm working on it :D

anyway, here's chapter 4, naruto's pov. it's not very exciting, but it's a building chapter. more characters are introduced, and a few clues here and there about the rest of the story are sprinkled throughout. i hope my next update will be faster.

enjoy!

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Parent Trap: Chapter 4
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Naruto smiled as June laughed at his joke with her whole body. One hand pressed demurely against her breast, while the other kept the wine glass close to her lips as she tried to stifle the urge to laugh aloud. Her frame shook slightly, making her black hair shimmer in the dim light. She was a sight to behold, a rare beauty that Naruto felt lucky to have in his life.

Another rare beauty giggled to his left, and he turned his attention to Ayame. He couldn’t imagine his life without his daughter, and he had June to thank for that. When Ayame’s mother had come fighting for the girl, it was June with a cadre of lawyers and private investigators that had saved Naruto from having to share the girl, or worse, give her up. He caught June staring at him from the corner of his eye, and he returned the look. She lifted a fine, dark brow in query, to which Naruto replied with a gentle smile.

The amused light in her eyes melted into a soft look, and she lifted her wine glass towards him. Naruto slightly inclined his head in acknowledgement of her cheers, giving his own silent thanks as June turned her attention on Ayame. The small blonde began asking for a sip of June’s wine, and Naruto snorted as he let the doctor handle telling the child no; it was entirely impossible for him to do so.

“Junie! I’m going to the bathroom!” Ayame proudly announced.

“Keep your voice down, Ayame,” June replied as she set her drink down and wiped at her mouth delicately with her napkin. “Let’s go, before dessert gets here.” June eyed him meaningfully, and Naruto chuckled as he reached for the menu.

“No, Junie!” Ayame exclaimed, though much quieter than before. “I’m a big girl and a ninja! Ninja can go to the bathroom without help!”

Naruto smiled at June’s raised brow. She hadn’t changed that mannerism at all.

“Very well. Your father and I will stay here and order dessert while you use the facilities. Just make sure to wash your hands.”

“Okay!” Naruto watched his daughter nearly vault out of her chair and dart across the restaurant. Somehow the orange jumper didn’t fit well into the intimate atmosphere. Weird. It had always been fitting for wherever he went as a child.

“I can’t believe you let her run around in that monstrosity. How old is it, anyway?” Naruto cut his eyes to June and saw the play of a smile at her lips.

“You can’t put a date on high fashion,” he nearly pouted. She smiled that smile that used to make his heart sing, and he couldn’t help feeling a bit sad.

He thought they’d been happy together. Or maybe that’s just what he’d wanted to believe, if he were being honest with himself. Of course, yes, they’d been happy in the beginning. June was just what he and Ayame needed in their lives – a smart, savvy, level-headed woman that could handle raising a small girl and taking care of a struggling dad that she’d apparently had feelings for a long time.

Naruto guessed that happiness was shattered when he realized June wasn’t the one he wanted, that she wasn’t the gender he wanted, and he guessed she had realized it, too. Or at least, she’d realized that she couldn’t make him as happy as she’d hoped, because she sure as hell had been shocked to hear about his relationship with Gaara.

Gaara. Now there was something he’d hoped to never explain to June. The anxiety over how she was going to react had nearly killed him, because, though he would have wished otherwise, he knew it’d be brought up at some point. There was no way that Ayame could keep quiet about her daddy being gay. She’d been a little too excited to find that information out for someone her age, and Naruto suspected he had Sakura-chan to thank for that.

“I can see what you’re thinking, Naruto, and if you think you’re going to get out of explaining about your past relationship with… him, you’ve got another thing coming.”

Naruto raised his eyebrow at her this time, but he obviously did something wrong for it had no effect. Damn. He sighed and reached for his glass of wine, hoping to stall for a little bit. Really, there was nothing more to say on the matter. He’d told her everything before they left – he and Gaara fucked and broke up. Pretty much it. Except for the part where Gaara almost refused to let him go, but that wasn’t something June needed to know. She was already scared that he interacted with Gaara, but if she got pissed enough, nothing could stand in her way.

“Naruto,” June said in warning.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. There’s really nothing more than I’ve already told you.” He sipped calmly at his wine.

“Yes, well, what I really want to know is, um, how long have you… have you had certain feelings for, well, feelings for that kind of…”

Naruto almost felt sorry for her. It wasn’t every day that June stumbled over her words like that. “You mean, how long have I been gay?”

June blushed, but her eyes sparkled in determination. She really wanted to know. Naruto sighed again. He wasn’t all that sure when he realized he was attracted to the same sex, but if he had to take a guess…

Naruto fought off the embarrassed blush that wanted to take over his face. “I don’t know. It was kind of gradual. But maybe it kind of hit home when you broke up with me.” He saw her wince, and he reached across the table for her hand. “Don’t be like that, June. I’m not mad or resentful that you broke up with me. I was hurt when you did, but that wasn’t so much because you were gone as I was alone again. I was lonely.”

“And when Gaara started his advances toward you… Was that because you were lonely, too, Naruto?” June’s eyes were swimming in the dim light.

“Not entirely, June.” He squeezed her hand. He sighed and let his eyes wander over the restaurant, seeing the different couples having dinner in the candlelight. His eyes landed on a man at the back of the establishment, the light shining off of his – he squinted – silver hair. The man was watching warily as a small boy with very dark hair waved a napkin over the candle.

“Naruto?”

Naruto snapped out of his contemplation and smiled sheepishly at June. “Sorry, easily distracted.” She smiled. “But no, it wasn’t because I was lonely that I went out with Gaara. It was because I was curious, I guess. Like I said, the attraction was gradual, and Gaara was the first person who had ever shown interest without knowing what my response would be. I took a chance.”

“But now that you’re done with Gaara, are you lonely again?”

Naruto sucked in a breath. He wasn’t expecting that question. Really, he’d never given it much thought. He was quite happy with his teaching job; those bright-eyed kids reminded him so much of himself back in those days, when Iruka-sensei was all he needed. His eyes caught sight of a mass of orange, and a huge smile split his face.

And he had Ayame now.

“No. It might be nice to have another person in my life, someone special for me, but I’m not lonely. I’ve got Ayame, and now I have you and Iruka-sensei again. And let’s not forget baa-chan. I’m sure she’ll get her claws into me at some point soon.”

This time, June squeezed his hand. They let each other go and reached for their glasses. But Naruto was wondering what was keeping Ayame when he’d just saw her walking towards them, and he scanned the restaurant. Before he could see much, a huge geyser of fire shot up from the dark at the back, and all the patrons’ eyes were drawn that way.

“It’s okay, just a small accident,” the silver-haired man from earlier said, trying to reassure the work staff as well as the diners.

“Kakashi-san?” Naruto blinked as June stood up, placing her napkin on her chair.

The silver-haired man looked over toward their table and smiled. “Ah, Fujimiya-sensei, indeed you are here again.” The man looked over at Naruto. “But where is your usual dinner partner?”

Naruto’s eyebrow rose in question. She had a ‘usual dinner partner?’

“Iruka-sensei passed this night so I could keep company with my old friend. Pardon me. Kakashi-san, this is Uzumaki Naruto, the new Leaf Academy teacher. Naruto, this is Hatake Kakashi-san.”

“So you are the one who took Kurenai’s position. Well, welcome to Konoha.” Kakashi crossed the space to take his hand. Naruto stood and accepted as he bowed. “But why does that name sound so familiar?”

“Kashi! Touya and Kei wanted to apologize for starting the fire.”

“Ayame!” Naruto stared down at his daughter as she trotted up to them. “Don’t tell me you had something to do with that fireball?” The little blonde rocked on her toes and put her hand behind her head, rubbing at the back of her neck.

“So you are Ayame’s father? Well, all the more reason to get acquainted with you. My wards and she seem to have made a fast friendship.”

“Wards?” June asked. As she asked, two little boys walked over to them, and June’s brow perked up in surprise. Naruto noticed a strange look Kakashi gave June at the movement, and then things were as if nothing had happened.

“It’s the pretty lady! June-chan!”

Ah. It was the two boys he’d seen with June earlier that day. He’d never gotten around to asking who they were.

“Kei, that’s no way to say hello to your benefactor. Anyway, Touya, Kei, meet Uzumaki Naruto. He’s going to be your new teacher.” Kakashi forced Kei’s head down as the two boys bowed, and Naruto inclined himself slightly in return.

June continued a conversation with Kakashi as Naruto stared at the boys. They looked so familiar, like he’d seen those eyes and that pale skin somewhere before. But he couldn’t recall and soon shrugged it off as being his imagination.

“If you’ll excuse us. I need to settle with the restaurant and then get these two home. It was a pleasure seeing you again, June-chan, and meeting you Uzumaki-san.” Kakashi bowed and turned away, telling the boys not to say a word about what happened tonight to anyone.

Naruto turned to Ayame. “Those are the new friends you told me about, the ones who just set the table on fire?”

Ayame smiled brightly at him. “Yep!”

Naruto deflated somewhat, and June let out a sharp laugh.

~*~

“Uzumaki-sensei.” Naruto looked up from his paperwork to find one of the other teachers at his door. The students were out for recess, so he smiled and motioned to one of the desks.

“Please, come in, Hyuuga-sensei.” The woman blushed and sat down nearest him.

“Please, call me Hinata.”

“Only if you call me Naruto,” he smiled at her.

“Of course, Naruto-san. Anyway, I wanted to welcome you to the Leaf Academy and invite you to a get-together tonight at my house. Most of the people I grew up with will be attending, and it will give you a chance to meet more of the faculty as well as some of the parents.”

Naruto chuckled. “I think I’ve met as many parents as I’d like, really. They’re very concerned about their children’s education. All accept one, though. I’ve yet to meet Touya and Kei’s father.” Naruto scowled slightly remembering all the times he tried to schedule a meeting with the man and was put off by Kakashi.

“Ah. Well, here’s your first piece of advice, Naruto-san.” Hinata giggled behind her hand before smiling at him. “It’ll be very hard to schedule anything with Uchiha-san. I’m not even sure he’ll be able to come to my party tonight. He’s a very busy executive; Uchiha & Sannin Inc. will always come first with him.”

Naruto didn’t like that thought at all. He knew first hand what happened to children whose parents were too work-oriented, and he didn’t want that falling on Touya and Kei.

“But for a whole week I haven’t been able to talk to him. I’ve even sent a note home with the boys and nothing’s come of it. At this rate, the first time I’ll get to meet him will be when the parents come in for a progress report.”

“Good luck with that, Naruto-san.” He sighed dramatically, causing her to giggle. “So will you be attending this evening?”

Naruto thought about it for a moment. June was doing a night shift at the hospital, though why an ophthalmologist was needed at three in the morning he had no clue. And Sakura, though she tried to call him every night, would more than likely be busy trying to finish her project before her deadline tomorrow.

“Well, I won’t have anyone to watch Ayame while I’m there…”

“Oh! Bring Ayame-chan with you! I’m sure she’ll be able to liven up the crowd, at the least. I always throw these get-togethers, but I’m always the first to admit they are a bit droll.” She laughed good-naturedly, and Naruto laughed in response.

“Well, if you put it that way, we’d be delighted to attend.”

“Wonderful! It’s at seven tonight.” She hopped up gracefully and walked to his desk. Picking up a pen and his Post-Its, she jotted down her address and handed it to him. “Bring anything you want, though don’t feel obligated. My friend Chouji is going to be there, and he’s a chef.” She winked at him. “And it’s nothing fancy, so you don’t have to worry about what to wear.”

That was a lot of information to take in, but Naruto just blinked and thanked her. Hinata bowed and excused herself as they both heard the sounds of children returning from the playground.

Naruto shoved aside his paperwork and brought out his lesson plan, ready to face the second half of the day.

~*~

“I’m sorry. Uchiha-san is indisposed this evening. But Kakashi-san will be attending the party at Hyuuga-san’s house. Perhaps he can set up a meeting time for you.”

Yeah right. Naruto thanked the maid on the other end of the line and hung up. Kakashi was the one he’d been dealing with the past week; he wasn’t going to get his hopes up.

“Tou-san! Is this alright for the party?”

Naruto turned to take in his daughter standing in the door that led to the bedrooms, her hands at the hem of a frilly orange shirt accompanied by light blue Capri pants. He gave her the thumbs up. “Cute as a button. You’re going to be the talk of the party.”

Ayame giggled and ran up to him. “Are you ready, Tou-san?”

Naruto looked at the phone in his hand and sighed. Placing it back in the cradle, he took Ayame’s hand and headed for the front door. “Yeah, short stack. I’m ready.” They exited to the hallway and after locking the door walked quickly to the elevator.

Naruto listened to Ayame hum the entire way down to the parking garage and then watched her skip to the station wagon when the doors opened.

The car was old and, even Naruto would admit, not very attractive. But he found he couldn’t part with it that easily; it had been the first car he’d bought. He’d saved so long to get his own ride, and in the end, the station wagon had been it. But despite its shortcomings, the orange monstrosity had seen a lot of action – his many girlfriends from high school, Ayame’s mother, June, and even Gaara. There were memories here. Yeah, he’d have to get a new car at some point, but for now he was fine.

It didn’t take long for them to arrive, or at least it hadn’t felt like it. But his attention had been more on Ayame and her day than driving. She’d had another fun day in her new class, and she was fast gaining a lot of friends; Naruto almost dreaded her birthday party this year.

The street was pretty crowded, and it took him a little while to find a parking place. When he did, he and Ayame hopped out and walked up to the building that housed Hinata’s apartment. It was very swank, and Naruto was left wondering how a teacher could afford such a place. He studiously ignored the voice that said he technically couldn’t afford his place either; it sounded suspiciously like June.

As they waited for the elevator car, Naruto took the Post-It out of his pocket to double check the apartment number. When they stepped into the car, he pushed the button for the sixth floor and watched Ayame’s grinning face appear across from him as the doors closed.

When they opened again, Naruto and Ayame could hear the music from the party all the way down the hall. It made it rather easy to find the right place, and Naruto knocked loudly on the door to be heard over the din. The door swung open, and Naruto was staring into the flushed face of Hinata.

“Naruto-san! I’m so happy you could make it! Please come in, come in!” Naruto shuffled Ayame in before him, and they both bowed.

“Thank you for having us. Pardon the intrusion,” they said together.

“That’s adorable, Naruto-san. This must be Ayame-chan.”

“Yes. Ayame, this is Hinata-sensei. Hinata-sensei, my daughter, Ayame.” Ayame bowed again.

Hinata bowed in return. “Well, how about I introduce you around, and then you two can get some food?”

“Sounds good to me,” Naruto smiled.

“Do you have ramen?” Ayame chirped. Naruto pat her on the head, and they followed Hinata into the main room. She took them around the room, introducing him to people she’d gone to school with and people that had moved to Konoha after he’d moved to Suna. And then, as she neared the bar, Naruto finally found someone he knew.

“And this is my boyfriend-”

“Kiba!” A shaggy haired brunet turned at Naruto’s exclamation, and the blonde saw the man’s eyes widen in recognition.

“Naruto!” Kiba moved to give him a manly embrace, and they both laughed. “Dude, I can’t believe you’re here! What are you doing here?”

“I’ve moved back to Konoha! I’m a new teacher at the Leaf Academy.”

Kiba turned his head to Hinata and pouted at her. “He’s been here, at your academy, and you didn’t tell me?”

“Now, how was I supposed to know you knew each other?”

“Whatever. You’re here now, dude; that’s all that matters. Man, we haven’t seen each other since high school! And now you’re a teacher! Hey, wait.” Kiba turned from him. “Shino! Shino, Naruto’s here! He’s here, man!”

“Shino, too?” Naruto turned his head, looking for his other friend excitedly.

“Tou-san! I’m hungry!”

Hinata giggled. “Naruto-san, if you don’t mind, I’ll take Ayame to get some food while you catch up.”

“That’s fine. Thank you, Hinata-san.” Naruto made sure Ayame didn’t run off without Hinata before turning his attention back to Kiba and now Shino, who’d joined them from across the room.

“Naruto, it’s very good to see you again.” He shook Shino’s hand and filled him in on his teaching job and new home. They began to reminisce and soon lost track of time. At some point Ayame brought him food and Kiba plied him with drink, and it was a wonderful night.

And then someone joined their small group that had added people to it over time, and Naruto noticed the surprised and somewhat fearful looks on their faces. He turned around and came face to face with one of the most handsome men he’d ever seen. And Kakashi.

“Ah, I thought that shock of brilliant blonde hair was you, Naruto-kun. Please, allow me to introduce you to the president of Uchiha & Sannin Inc., Uchiha Itachi.”

Naruto took a good look at the man. He was tall, taller than Naruto, with long, raven black hair tied at the nape of his neck. His eyes were a deep black that felt as if they were penetrating your soul, and Naruto almost wanted to shiver as they raked over him. The lips were drawn in a very small frown, though prominent enough to show his boredom or displeasure without much effort. His suit was finely pressed and clung to his body perfectly. That was the word for the man before him – perfect.

And then what Kakashi said made it through his brain, and the name ‘Uchiha’ rang in his mind. Naruto scowled at the man.

“Your maid told me you wouldn’t be attending tonight. I’ve been trying to speak to you for a whole week!”

The man raised a fine, black brow, and Naruto felt that it was very familiar. “If someone so eye-catching had been trying to get my attention for the past week, I think I’d know it.”

“I’m Uzumaki Naruto, and I teach your sons at Leaf Academy. Does that ring any bells?” He saw Kakashi kind of slump his shoulders off to the side and then shrug. The man in front of him stared for moment before a smirk took over those frowning lips.

“You must have me confused with my dear little brother, Uzumaki Naruto-san. I am Uchiha Itachi, and I have no children. If you want the heir creator, you’ll have to take that up with Sasuke.”

Naruto blinked as his friends choked on their laughs behind him. When what Itachi was saying finally caught up to him, a small blush lighted his face. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t realize there was more than one Uchiha. Forgive my assumptions.”

“There’s nothing to apologize for, really. My brother is a bit of a recluse, though I suppose we all are.”

“Naruto-san,” Kakashi interrupted, drawing Naruto’s attention from Itachi. “I would like to apologize for the incident. I knew you’d been seeking an audience with Sasuke, and it didn’t occur to me that you didn’t know the difference. Unfortunately, Sasuke’s time this week will be taken up by his parents that have come into town. But there is a free evening next week, if you’d like me to make the arrangements.”

Naruto chuckled nervously. “Yeah, sure. Just let me know when and where.” He would have said more, but at that moment, his cell phone buzzed in his pocket. “Excuse me, gentlemen.” He turned a little away from them. “Naruto here.”

“Jesus, Naruto, I step in here ten minutes before my shift, and it’s already a fucking madhouse! Half the patients I don’t even know what to do with! I’m an eye surgeon! What the hell do I know about gall stones?”

“Calm down, June. It’s okay. You’re a big girl, and big girls can handle tough situations.”

“I swear to fucking God, Uzumaki, that when I see you next, I’m going to wring your neck!”

“It was a joke! Don’t hurt me!” he yelled a bit too loud. The people around him stopped their conversations to stare at him.

“Sorry, I’m a bit stressed. I’ve been at this for a couple of hours. I only just got enough time to call you to say that our plans for breakfast might need a rain check. If I can wing it, I may need a nap before I have to deal with my regular patients. And I still need to pay a visit to the psychiatric department.”

“Gone a little crazy, there, Fujimiya-sensei?” Naruto noticed Uchiha Itachi go stiff next to him and spear him with those black eyes.

“If I have, you’re the one that drove me over the edge, Uzumaki.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard that one before. But that’s cool about tomorrow. We’ll just catch up when we can.”

“Okay. Thank you, Naruto. See you later.”

“Bye.” Naruto flipped his phone closed and turned back to his friends, stopping short when he noticed Itachi’s eyes still on him. “Yes?” he asked.

“I don’t mean to pry, but do you know Fujimiya June-sensei?”

Naruto smiled. “Yep. We go way back.”

Itachi looked like he wanted to say something, or at least, that’s what Naruto could have sworn he looked like. But before either could say anything else, Hinata’s cousin came up to Naruto. What was his name again? Neji?

“Excuse me for interrupting, Uchiha-san, but I believe it’s past Ayame-chan’s bedtime.” Naruto blinked, and Neji inclined his head to the side. “She’s asleep on the couch.”

Naruto gasped and then laughed nervously, moving to gather the girl in his arms. “Well, I better get home and put the angel to sleep.” Kiba drunkenly protested his leaving, and he smiled at his friend. “Careful not to get alcohol poisoning, Kiba. June’s the surgeon on duty at the hospital tonight, and she’s in a foul mood. Wouldn’t want to be her patient tonight or tomorrow.”

Naruto saw Kakashi eye Itachi, and then he said his goodbyes. Ayame was a minute dead weight in his arms down the hall and in the elevator, and then he had to struggle with the car door without dropping her. As he laid her in the car and saw her happy smile as she slept, he knew he’d made a good decision coming back. And when he looked in the rearview mirror, he saw the same smile on his face.


TBC


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and the plot can now move forward. i hope it wasn't too boring. poor naruto and his boring chapters. i'm not sure who's pov is next, but i'm thinking sasuke's. something's going down in the uchiha family; we've gotta be there to find out what, ne? :D

thanks for reading!