Second first meeting

It was one of those hot and quiet summer afternoons in the porch that Naruto suddenly remembered his first meeting with his long time lover, Sasuke. The unique overlapping sounds of the drones, the sound of water flowing and the rhythmic hitting of bamboo against stone were the only audible sound that Naruto could hear as he lovingly brushed dark strands of bangs from Sasuke’s sweat glistened forehead who was currently lying his head on his crotch between yukata clad legs.

Seeing Sasuke’s relaxed face and unembarrassed lying posture made Naruto smile a bit more as he turned his head to his right where there was a pond in the center of the traditional Japanese style garden, up above was the clear summer sky and the bright sun. It was only when Sasuke’s alone with him that he would see the usually stern man remove the wall surrounding him and his ‘fuck off’ image.

To others Sasuke’s the uptight CEO and president of the Uchiha technologies, the leading company for revolutionary technological developments in all things… technological. Cool, handsome, a ruthless businessman who’s got a thing for torturing his employees with intimidation and high temper and a lot more. But to him Sasuke’s a kind albeit mischievous man, mischievous in ways more than one, protective, possessive and stubborn, childish even, a little bit of a pervert but still… but he was Naruto’s lover and to Naruto, he’s just plain Sasuke.

Naruto felt the smoothness of the wooden wall behind him as his head followed his back from leaning on it, not at all perturbed at how awkward their position was, what with Sasuke’s arms hanging loosely on each of his parted thighs and Sasuke’s upper body the only thing blocking anyone’s view of Naruto’s privates. If there’s one thing a city guy like him would like living in a traditional house in the middle of the suburbs it was their privacy, after all, they’d spent half of the time of their relationship in the unwanted limelight and prejudice, he thought that quitting his hard earned job as EDGE’s department head was worth it, although he realized now that he thought about it that the reason why Sasuke wanted him to resign was because of Gaara.

And with the sound of the drones, the flowing water, the bamboo and their breathing Naruto closed his eyes both hands resting on Sasuke’s sloped shoulders.

And like an old motion picture the memory came back to him like it was just yesterday.

+++

Sasuke was pissed.

Sasuke was bored.

Sasuke was standing outside the church and holding an empty box of cigarettes which remembered was full earlier. Had he been smoking too much?

“Come on Sasuke, why be such a party pooper!?” A very lacy, very fluffy gowned Sakura continued to drag the stubborn brunette inside a large no doubt posh catholic church. The mass had already ended and the newly wed bride who was supposed to be doing poses with her husband was outside the church dragging her best man inside, a garter in her hand.

Her gloved arms hooked around Sasuke’s arm securedly, the idea of giving up not even crossing her mind.

“Sakura…” Sasuke groaned loudly, the thought of being groped and pulled by the mass population of rabid women in fluffy white gowns waiting in anticipation inside the church causing a shudder to run up his spine.

“Sasuke, come on cooperate with me here… you turned down on being my groom, don’t tell me you’re backing out on this one too.” Sakura fake-glared at him, pouting her glossy red lips from the make up, and when Sakura puts up that look, Sasuke would be left with no choice but to comply. Even when she was still his fiancée she seemed to always get to succeed in manipulating him one thing or the other, that was also the reason why he was wearing a black tuxedo without the tails in the first place.

“Sasuke!” The cold glare which was more venomous than the regular appeared to be the only thing that kept the women from ravishing him inside the church, or maybe it was the fact that the bride’s maid Ino’s men in black was keeping the girls at bay from eating him.

“Kyaaah it’s Mr. Uchiha!”

“Uchiha-sama take me!!!!”

The piercing sound of Sasuke’s name from Sakura’s best friend-slash-bride’s maid caused Sasuke to unconsciously take a step behind Sakura with a look of panic, the action making Sai, her husband standing beside her lift the corner of his lips, an amused look flashing on his face.

“I can see that you’re rather… having a difficult time Uchiha-shi*.” Sai said coolly, straightening his white tux which made Sasuke turn his glare towards him two-folds.

[*Intermediary form between –san and –sama. Used for professionals mostly.]

“Understatement.” Sasuke grumbled under his breath, taking the thought of staying in the farthest corner of the church to be a good idea while Sakura was gathering the giddy women for the throwing of the bouquet, that had apparently took the undivided attention of the girls from him. It was needless to say he was thankful, he only hoped that the flower would be torn enough for him to not do that infuriating thing anymore.

He didn’t hate girls, Sasuke just didn’t like them the way they wanted it to be.

“Ready girls!?”

The fact of him being an uninitiated homo getting into Sakura’s knowledge was also the reason why he was the one wearing the black tux and not the white that Sai was wearing right now.

“One!”

It was when he accidentally met a certain blonde working in the rival company which was based in Boston, while attending a business gathering in Hokkaido to welcome the Indonesian ambassador that he first felt a desire to be with a man.

“Two!”

He had never felt such a strong desire for anyone, he’d always thought that he was impotent since he’d never felt the excitement of seeing Sakura in the sexual way. Well there was that the marriage was just to put a good relationship between him and his business associate so they’ve never done anything beyond the usual greetings and quiet reluctantly put up dates, Sakura had never initiated for it and it was just a marriage for the benefits so physical contact wasn’t necessary.

He was the resident golden boy, a natural blue eyed blonde businessman in his mid-twenty’s with a cheery aura and a friendly attitude, how Sasuke confirmed of him being natural would just have to be left to imagination. His personality was something that can describe him as everybody’s Naruto, he heard his name frequently enough to remember him even though he suspected the popular blonde wouldn’t remember him with all Naruto’s attention directed to the annoying CEO of EDGE, Gaara.

>>>>

“Hey I haven’t seen you around here. Mind telling me your name?” Naruto took a glass of champagne from the roaming waiter and handed it to Sasuke, which the brunette took feeling the need for a refreshment after a long day of inspection in one of their subcontractors.

Sasuke couldn’t help but arch his brow at the smiling blonde while sipping the sweet champagne up the slim glass, whoever the attractive blonde was he’s certainly one of those interns since he looked a little young out of the rest. He practically didn’t know who Sasuke was, considering they have his picture all over billboards and business magazines.

“Oh I know that look. You’re thinking, ‘this guy’s an idiot, he doesn’t know me.’.”

“Exactly.” The brunette smirked feeling comfortable with the company.

“You’re Uchiha Sasuke right? Of course I know you. I just want to see your reaction, and it was worth it.” The blonde chuckled leaning his back on the balustrade of the lanai overlooking a rose garden.

“You are?”

“Uzumaki Naruto. EDGE. Sales Department. Head.” The blonde said with pride, shaking hands with the disbelieving CEO in front of him.

“Yeah, I know that look too. You’re thinking-”

“You look too young for the position.” The blonde nodded at him with a grin, chuckling after.

“I’m already twenty-six, but they all say I have a baby face. It’s a bit of a disadvantage but the female colleagues at EDGE dying to be in the same position makes it a little less depressing.”

“I bet. So what’s an EDGE representative doing talking to the rival company’s CEO huh?”

“Of course I’m spying. I was planning of asking you for a one night stand, get working on the laptop after the wild hot sex and scurry off with your company’s secret.” All the while that Naruto was saying it Sasuke’s face had gone from confused, shocked, and awkward until he could feel his face heating then pissed when Naruto burst out laughing.

“Oh my GOD!!!!!”

“What?”

“You believed that!?” Naruto had to brace his hand on the balustrade to prevent himself from collapsing in a fit of laughter.

“I never said anything of the sort.” Sasuke said curtly, not at all liking of being read.

“Well, yeah but it crossed your mind! Man I haven’t laughed like this for weeks!” From wanting to throttle the blonde he turned to laughing with him in the end, he admitted that for someone he had just met, he found himself feeling comfortable with the blonde. He wondered why not even in one conversation did they talk about anything but work.

They were having a contest on how many species of rose they could name when an icy voice interrupted them from behind, and the man coming from the hall made Sasuke’s body tense with the strong sense of competitiveness kicking in.

“Naruto.”

“Gaa-President.” The full grown smirk from the blonde toned down to a faint smile as Naruto bowed towards Gaara’s impassive appearance.

“What are you doing here? I’ve been looking for you.”

“Ah well, I felt suffocated inside so I thought I’d get some fresh air.”

“For three hours? If you weren’t feeling well then tell me so we could leave.”

“I-I’m sorry.” From Naruto’s apologetic face Gaara turned to the equally impassive brunette and nodded in recognition of his presence.

“President Sabaku Gaara. Aren’t we busy. You advancing to Asia, that’s odd, you stepping on the offensive line.” Sasuke cocked his head to the side, a smile playing on his lips, expecting for the man for a shot or two, but Gaara only said.

“Have a pleasant night Uchiha. Naruto, we’re leaving.” The redhead turned towards the same direction he came from earlier, only walking away when Naruto was already beside him after the blonde had said his parting remarks to Sasuke.

As Sasuke was turning his attention from the departing pair back to the garden of yellow roses down at the garden he couldn’t help pausing midway as Gaara wrapped a possessive arm at the small of Naruto’s waist, roughly pulling the blonde closer as they closed the distance between them.

“Gaara not here.” The rest of the conversation sounded inaudible to Sasuke’s ears but he was sure there was something troubling about what he had seen. Why he was feeling troubled at all, he didn’t know why.

Sasuke snapped off of his musings when he heard something loud, he heard it yes, but he wasn’t listening enough to hear the words form. It was too late when he realized that Sakura had just shouted ‘three’ at the top of her lungs and was now throwing the bouquet of yellow roses to Sasuke’s direction.

A mob of fluffy gowned girls soon raced and kicked their way towards the flowers, Sasuke knew of course why they were willing to pull at each others’ hair and rip off their rivals’ gowns for the bouquet.

The funny thing was that the bouquet of yellow roses instead of settling in a pair of victorious hands remained bouncing up and down various anticipating gloved hands. The competition was so tight that they hadn’t even noticed that they were just simply stepping at each others’ stiletto clad feet, the poor bouquet entirely forgotten when it was accidentally thrown off one of the windows.

Sasuke would have to admit, the scenery amused him.

“Get off me Ino-pig!”

“Shut up bitch!!!”

“My shoes!!!!”

“Where’s my necklace!!!!?”

“Where’s… the bouquet!?” It wasn’t until Sakura shrieked those words that the whole mob of girls which cascaded down to a considerable rate of three or four stopped still.

The entirety of the girls gasped in panic, hands leaving tangled hairs, eyes switching from a glare to the determination of finding it.

The sight only making the brunette fume made him walk outside the church again, heading in the direction of a vending machine for a drink. He really needed one right now.

The night was quiet as all any other summer nights, the chilling wind cooling his nape as he took a long intake of breath and closed his eyes, opening them to take in a kimono clad man sitting on the bench opposite the vending machine. He wouldn’t mind giving the brunette space would he?

And he stopped on his tracks.

+++

Naruto stared at the single ring in his palms already in the verge of tears. He thought he could bear it, now he regretted staying on Gaara’s side.

The first drops of tears dropped on the material of his yukata, the rest sliding down his palm and soaking the silver ring on it.

“God I am such an idiot.” He muttered under his breath as he lowered his head even more than it already was and his back slammed against the back of the cold metal bench. Naruto knew that staying with Gaara would only hurt him, even when they started their relationship he knew the risks of Gaara having to marry some rich business associate’s daughter sooner or later. But he just loved Gaara so much that it didn’t matter, they were happy, he thought he just needed that for their relationship but as all he did with the past decisions in the half of his life, Naruto had made a very grave mistake.

>>>>

“What?” Naruto whipped his head to the right to take in a red-haired man in a sleek black suit sitting gracefully on the leather arm chair at the end of the conference table.

“I’m saying that our relationship will stay as it is. I refuse to severe ties with you.” The man said coolly, so confident in his posture while skimming through the documents that Naruto brought in for him.

“Can you hear yourself Gaara?! You’re already married! And look at me when I’m talking! This is important!” Naruto’s voice rose to a considerable level as he slammed his palm on the laminate table in front of Gaara, mint green eyes gave one last look at the manilla folder before taking in the disgruntled look on his lover’s face.

“You told me that during the engagement party.” Gaara arched an eyebrow, resting his back on the chair and tangling his fingers in front of him while his elbows rested on the arms of the chair.

“Many people will get hurt Gaara… you already have a son…I’ve had enough. I’m sorry but I do not want to be a lover** anymore. If I can’t be your ***lover, then I want to be someone else’s.” Naruto breathed out those words, expecting them to be the last one to leave his mouth as he turned his back on Gaara to leave.

[**Naruto uses lover here as aijin which means mistress in Japanese, the second word ***lover means koibito which is used as an address for a significant loved one.]

“I told you there’re no feelings involved.” Gaara said slightly raising his voice. The finality of those words brought him to quickly stand up, the movement sending the chair to fall with a muted poof on the carpeted floor and put a firm hold around the blonde’s arm, wrenching it to force Naruto to look at him which the blonde was forced to do with a whimper.

“Then are you telling me that you got in bed with her because of what, physiological needs?” Naruto shot back, the sting on the accusation nearly making Gaara wince if not for the poker face he would always use at his wife.

And then the cool mask dropped off, to be replaced by a tender expression as he loosened his grip on Naruto’s arm and got in front of him, using his body to push the confused blonde at the rim of the table to prevent the expected escape.

“Gaara what-” Brilliant blue eyes widened in realization as Gaara’s face leaned dangerously close to his face, the CEO’s mouth whispering seductively in Naruto’s ear.

“I thought of you the whole time… did you know, I missed you… the expression on your face when you’re under me… the way you say my name…inside you I-” The wandering hands paused from kneading the heaving chest as Naruto stopped Gaara from teasing the erect nipples through the clothes with one violent push.

“Don’t touch me! Gaara-mmmffph…” Cornered between the conference table and Gaara’s body the following protests echoed muffled in the closed door conference room as Gaara tangled tongues with the reluctant blonde, engaging him in a lip lock of both tongue and teeth.

“The one you love wants to hold you. Can you refuse?” Gaara asked and Naruto found himself officially pinned at the table with two hands manacled by Gaara’s one hand and the other expertly unbuttoning the blonde’s disheveled shirt.

“… yes. And I will.” The grave tone in the blonde’s voice confirmed of the redhead’s greatest fear, because when Naruto used that voice, in whatever decision he was making there was no turning back.

Yes, Naruto can refuse, Naruto will refuse. Fine but Gaara won’t let him go. He can all but thrash and scream for all the CEO cared, but what Gaara wants he wouldn’t easily give up on. The same goes for Naruto as his lover.

“You won’t, I won’t let you. Three years ago you were just my secretary…” A panting mouth leaned close to the junction between tanned neck and shoulder.

“Gaara you… you wouldn’t-” A surge of panic mixed in the blonde’s voice as Gaara’s nose smoothed down from the crook of his neck down to the collarbone, the heated breath sending tremors all over Naruto’s body.

“Hmm…”

“Don’t worry… I can always change my mind. A little convincing wouldn’t hurt.”

“Gaa…ra…” Naruto squeezed his eyes shut, tears running down his temples down to the violated table.

When Gaara unzipped the blonde’s pants, Naruto realized that there would be more activities going on top of the cold and smooth surface of the wooden table.

<<<<

“But I don’t want to continue going on like this… I did all my best to get to the position I’m in now in the company. How could he…” His eyes got distracted for a while as he saw something being thrown out of the window of the nearby church, realizing that it was a bouquet of flowers he stood up the bench and slowly walked towards it.

“Really, people have no sense of appreciation these days. Throwing so many beautiful flowers like these…” Picking it up he put it close to his chest and walked back to sitting on the bench alone, staring blankly at the roses with a mournful look in his eyes.

“I guess…” He started smiling amidst the sadness. “Even beautiful things get thrown when they have no use.” Some of the flowers’ stems had been broken, the petals half of them were withered and dirtied from the grit it picked up on the streets.

But even though its appearance was already out of shape, the scent coming from it was still there, finding it calming for the blonde he brought it up to his nose, burying it and his tears showering bouquet of yellow flowers.

“Seeing this, it brings back memories.” Naruto muttered, hearing the footsteps from a passerby getting louder and louder.

“Naruto?”

+++

Sasuke didn’t know how long the two of them stared at each other, the blonde trying to remember the familiar face and Sasuke trying not to wince at the stains of moisture starting from his eyes down. He thought, that had Ino remained inside the church and didn’t shout at them they would have been in that state longer.

“Hey it’s there!” Ino hollered loudly, darting a manicured finger towards the bouquet of flowers in Naruto’s hands and looking like she had just found a goldmine.

Along with her shout was the other girls’ shrieks as the padded towards the confused blonde in earnest.

“That’s mine mister give it to me!” Ino demanded, palm shooting out on Naruto which made the blonde’s head jerk backwards for fear of being hit.

“Who told you!? Mister that’s mine, please…”

“I saw it first!”

“I got here first!” Three eager girls crowded over the flustered blonde panting and a look of desperation on their faces, uncertain of what to do, he suddenly blurted out his reply.

“No.” It earned a gasp from the three girls, then a hot wail from Ino whose patience had been wearing out. If Sasuke wasn’t there she would have just snatched it. Screw poise.

“You already threw it out. If this was really yours you’d take care of it.” Naruto said bravely despite the glares he was receiving.

“Sasuke, what’s going on?” Sakura then soon emerged out of the church together with her husband and the rest of her relatives and friends, the lacy garter still in her hands. From looking at Sasuke whose eyes were trained on the small group by the bench he followed it and gasped softly with an ‘oh my’, surprised at how demonic her bride’s maid can really be.

A soft grunt was the only thing that Sakura heard before the garter in her hand was snatched away by the brunette, ignoring her calls as he walked towards the group and left the mass of corporate socialites and elites to watch.

“If you like flowers so much then just go buy one for yourself! I’ll give you money for it even just give me tha-” Ino’s impending curse caught up in the middle of her throat making her cough as she was pushed aside along with the other girls by Sasuke.

“Uh…” From looking up at the brunette, blue eyes followed the blushing face as Sasuke slowly knelt in one knee in front of him and without any further ado parted the blonde’s yukata-clad legs almost roughly earning a yelp from Naruto.

“Wha-what are you doing!!!?” Naruto’s free hand shot straight down at the wide space in between his thighs to cover what was to be covered.

“Shut up.” Sasuke removed the zori on Naruto’s foot and raising it a little he slipped the garter up the blonde’s leg with one hand despite the blonde’s frequent squirming. He slid it up the thigh with two hands as he continued until he stopped, realizing that going any further would either lead him to a sexual harassment lawsuit or further embarrassment from the crowd watching with amusement, shock and curiosity behind Sakura and Sai.

Heaving a heavy sigh he looked up at Naruto, noting at how the blonde’s face was getting redder and redder by the minute.

“What’s wrong? Your face is beet red.” Sasuke casually smirked, as if what he’d just done was something normal for them to do.

“Y-you… why did you do that! P-pervert!” Naruto’s legs shut close, the silky feel of the lace tickling him a little.

“You got the bride’s flower bouquet. I got the garter.”

“W-what!? That doesn’t make you any less of a pervert you pervert!” Naruto was looking like he was trying to deny something, but in the end he sighed in embarrassed defeat. Double idiot. He branded himself at the back of his mind.

“So, what’s your name?”

“Eh? Ah… Naruto.” With that Sasuke stood up from kneeling, straightening himself up and noticing at how weirdly Ino and the rest of the others were looking at him, at them.

“Mine’s Sasuke. Care to join me for dinner?” From the outstretched pale hand to the brunette’s expectant face the pair of blue eyes repeatedly switched between the two, hesitation crossing from his face time to time every time he would do so until…

“Yeah. But I have a big appetite. Pervert.” Naruto finally said with a smile, taking the man’s hand at the same time as he stood up. The women automatically made way for them, their jaws threatening to fall off its hinges as they stared disbelievingly at the two.

“You can make do without the extra part.”

“I want ramen.”

“Eh? What?”

“Ramen. I know a good place near here, you know Ichiraku’s?”

“Uh… no.”

“You’ll like it there. Pervert.”

“I said-”

“If pervert’s no good then bastard’s okay.”

The two casually talked like they had known each other for a long time, the crowd could only watch their backs fade as they turned into a curb.

+++

“What are you thinking about?” Naruto’s feet slid backward against the smooth floor of the porch when he felt the pad of Sasuke’s thumb brush against the backside of his leg, making his knees bend in reflex.

“I was thinking of our first meeting.” Naruto answered truthfully, peering down Sasuke’s curious eyes that had curved into satisfied arcs as he smiled when the blonde fanned him with the uchiwa in his hand, the breeze cooling the both of them.

“Is that so?”

“Yeah.” Naruto said, a smile playing on his lips before he lowered his head down to give Sasuke a chaste kiss.

“I remember… those flowers…” Sasuke thought with a contented smile while curling the tip of Naruto’s hair through pale fingers, “How their beauty pale in comparison to you…”

“Yeah… Our second first meeting…” The fingers playing with bristly yellow locks move to cup the back of the blonde’s head, pushing it down to engage Naruto in another kiss.

END