Heart Strings

Naruto Uzumaki

Age: 21

Occupation: Literature Lecturer at Konoha University.

Relationship Status: In a relationship

Naruto sighed as he watched his class empty. He didn't particularly liked teaching Literature, in truth he is an anonymous, award winning author of many novels and manga. Sighing he shoved his books, papers and other stationaries into his bag. His phone buzzed.

"Hello." He answered tiredly. He wanted to go home badly.

"Hey, hun. Just letting you know tonight is your night to host the get together." Sai boyish voice drawled over his phone. Naruto rolled his eyes. He had no idea why he was even in a relationship with Sai. He didn't even love the guy.

"Yes, I am aware just, get there later than normal,-" he swung his bag over his shoulder "- say 2 hours later, ok?" Naruto walked through the door and into the hall, it was now empty except for a few persons going to their clubs and societies, he waved as he passed a few giggling girls. He smiled.

"Why? Don't tell me you forgot?" Sai asked. Naruto almost swore.

"Yes I did forget, I'm sorry, just tell the others. I'm heading out now." He closed his phone and head to his car. One of his many loves. His new Mercedes convertible responded to his call from his keys as he pressed the open button. He needed to go get some alcohol for tonight.

Every third Friday a group of his friends meet up and drink talk, make out, start relationships break up, argue and sleep over. Luckily he had moved into a much bigger house. He pulled out of the school parking lot and drove off to the liquor store.

Naruto grimaced. He should have taken a vacation.

Sasuke Uchiha

Occupation: C.E.O of Uchiha Inc.

Age: 22.

Relationship Status: In a relationship.

Sasuke stared blankly at his now empty desk. He had been stuck at his desk since he arrived early that morning. Karin was his secretary. She is a slave driver. She had thrown all the work he had shirked or try to shirk on him today. He stretched and swivelled in his chair to look out his glass windows. His office was on the highest floor, the view was beautiful. The sun was already beginning to set orange, yellow, red, and purple were splashed across the evening sky. Sasuke sat back in his chair and gazed, he absent-mindedly unbutton the top buttons of his shirt.

Then his personal cellular phone rang.

"Speak." Sasuke commanded without looking at the caller. There was a familiar low chuckle. Sasuke wish he had looked at the caller id before answering. His boyfriend Kabuto was on the line.

"It's just me oh mighty Sasuke." Kabuto teased. Sasuke rolled his eyes.

It's not that Kabuto was all that bad; he just isn't what Sasuke wanted anymore.

"Hi. Kabuto." Sasuke tried to sound friendlier.

"That's more like it, well I am inviting you out. My friends and I always hang out every third Friday in every month. You wanna join us?" Sasuke scowled.

"No." Sasuke bit out, it's not that he didn't like Kabuto's friends; it's just that he isn't one to socialize with loud and obnoxious people.

"C'mon hun, please, they are your friends too." Sasuke tapped his fingers methodically on his desk surface.

"Kabuto, I left this place in Middle School. I am sure no one remembers me, plus-"

"Ok, ok, I know, but I promise it will be fun." Sasuke frowned.

"Fine, one hour then we leave." Sasuke said hoping mentioning that they would leave together would make Kabuto change his mind.

"You'll enjoy it, I promise. Love you." Kabuto hung up. Sasuke stared at his phone with misplaced dislike. Sighing he stood then his door swung open.

"You have a meeting at 6-" Sasuke glared. Karin his secretary returned a stare, unfazed by his glaring.

"I am done for the day, I am going home." Karin face looked pinched at the command. She nodded then turned on her heels and walked out. Stuffing papers into his briefcase Sasuke left his office. Nodding goodbye at workers he stepped into his personal elevator. Sasuke ran his hand roughly through his raven black hair.

"I am an idiot." He mumbled to himself.

I should have ignored the damn call.

Gaara Sabaku

Age: 20

Occupation: Head Lecturer of the Business Department at Konoha University

Relationship Status: Single

Gaara was now frowning at the substitute student teacher. Gaara was a genius and considered everyone except his best friend Naruto to be beneath him.

"Does this make any sense to you?" Gaara was waving the cowering student teacher's paper in front of her face. She had tears in her eyes.

"N…no." she stuttered. Hands shaking she took the paper from Gaara. His glared became a smirk he sat down in his chair.

"Crying won't get you anywhere. I have pointed out the errors, correct them." She nodded and rushed out the room. Gaara sighed then chuckled. Simpleton. He thought.

He rose from his chair and packed his suitcase. He headed out the hall to his car. Naruto would be in class now at this time, he'll talk to his blond later. Naruto wasn't his, but he was his only friend so he considered the blond his. He seated himself in his convertible it was time to go home and change for the get together later. Before he could put his car in reverse, a red Porsche sped pass his car and Gaara glowered at the speeding Porsche. Reversing, he quickly drove out after the car. He knew the driver well, they both lived beside each other and there was always competition and borderline animosity between him and his neighbour, and some similarities, and they both were geniuses and taught at Konoha University. He caught up with the Porsche at a red light; there wasn't a lot of traffic, so this shouldn't take long. The driver of the Porsche honked his car horn and Gaara did the same. It was decided. They would both race to their homes just then the light flashed green and there was a screech of tires and both cars sped off.

Slipping in and out between the traffic, they were both neck to neck. Gaara saw the Porsche turn off. It was a short cut. Gaara pressed on the gas pedal and switched gears, the traffic was much lighter, and he would definitely win he thought grinning to his self. After a couple of minutes he turned onto his road, slowing down, there was no way his neighbour would make it home before him.

Just then there was a flash of red and his neighbour sped by his car, and drove into his now opened gate leaving a fuming Gaara in his dust.

"Shit." Gaara swore and drove into his home. Alighting from his car he saw his neighbour walking through his gate with a grin on his face.

"You were lucky." Gaara said. He disliked everything about his neighbour. From his stupidly long hair to his weird silver-grey eyes.

"Right, keep telling yourself that, also party will be at Naruto's." Neji walked over to Gaara's car and ran his hand over it.

"I want this." Neji was muttering to himself. Gaara watched his colleague running his fingers over his car and wondered what they would feel like brushing against his skin. Gaara blushed red and glared at Neji.

"Hands off Hyuuga." Neji turned to Gaara and smirked, catching the red hue on the other's cheek.

"What a nice shade of red Gaara would you like my hands elsewhere?" Neji had always flirted with Gaara, and the latter had learned to ignore his antics.

"Go home Hyuuga." Gaara sighed and walked off. He didn't bother to look back at Neji.

Neji jogged up to catch Gaara before his could reach his door. Gaara felt a pair of strong hands grabbed his waist and pulled him against a firm warm body, hot breath fanned against his neck and traced the back of his ear, and Gaara had to bite his lip hard to stop the moan that threatened to escape his lips.

Gaara's heart thumped when he remembered what he was thinking came back in a rush as the warmth spread from Neji's fingers to curse through his entire body.

"You should stop acting like you don't want me Gaara." Neji whispered. Gaara snapped out of his reverie at the mention of his name, twisting his body in Neji grip he pushed Neji away.

"How about you go hump a clone and leave me alone." Neji chuckled then walked up to Gaara. Faces mere inches apart Gaara watched Neji's eye roam his face, he could feel a blush tinting his cheeks. Leaning in Neji whispered.

"I'd rather be humping you beautiful." Neji grinned then kissed Gaara quickly on the lips.

Gaara watched as Neji walked away and through his gate, an angry flush crept up his neck as he turned the knob of his front door and entered his home. Unconsciously ghosting his finger over his lips he swore under his breath. Clutching his chest he tried to still his thundering heart.

Why Neji?

Hopefully the feeling would pass.

Sakura Haruno

Age: 22

Occupation: Intern at Konoha General Hospital

Relationship Status: In a relationship

Sakura sighed as she signed her name on her chart for the last patient in her clinic duty at Konoha's General Hospital. She loved her work, but the head doctor had it out for her and gave her tons of work. Sakura faked a smile and ushered her patient out. Then there was a knock at the door. Please let this not be Tsunade-sama, Sakura chanted in her head. The door opened and a slender pale hand with flowers pushed in. Sakura grinned. Ino. Sakura walked over to the flowers grabbed it and pulled her girlfriend in. Ino was smiling, Sakura kissed her hard, Ino giggled and pushed her away. She tugged on Sakura's now dark brown hair.

"I hate that you had to change it." Ino pouted and Sakura rested her head on Ino's shoulders. "I know hun." Sakura walked over to her charts and other paper work. She looked back at her blonde.

"I have to go sign out." Ino smiled. Looking sheepish.

"Done, I told the nurse that you aren't feeling well and called me to come get you." Sakura never loved Ino more. She nodded and they walked out together. Reaching Ino's purple Audi, Sakura sat in the passenger seat and sighed. Ino got in looking at her weirdly.

"Too tired?" Ino asked, Sakura nodded, she has been in that damn hospital for 22 hours, and she needed sleep.

"You know tonight's the get together right? Wanna skip?" Sakura looked at her blond.

"I dunno, I wanna go but I am so damn tired." Sakura groaned at the pain she began feeling in her lower back. She knew Ino looked forward to every moment she could spend away from her traditional home. Her parents were respectable Tea Ceremony masters and forced their only daughter, Ino into it. Sakura looked at Ino.

"I dunno, I haven't seen you in a while, I've missed you 'Forehead'." Ino chuckled and Sakura pretended to scowl at the childhood nickname.

"We'll do what you want, 'Ino-pig'." Ino touched Sakura's cheek.

Sakura leaned into the touch. She wanted to sleep but she loved Ino more, plus with their friends there is bound to be some drama.

Itachi Uchiha

Age: 25

Occupation: Owner of Uchiha Software

Relationship Status: It's complicated.

Itachi opened his eyes, and stared at the ceiling in his bedroom for a moment. He flung the sheets of himself to expose his naked body, another night, another one night stand. He looked back at the blond and cursed under his breath. He blamed his behaviour on a man named Deidara. Itachi walked over to the blond and shook their shoulder. The person turned to look at him lazily.

"Time to go." Itachi said. The person had the sheets clutched at their bosom. Itachi sighed. A female. She smiled lazily.

"Oh come on, after-" Itachi glared cutting her off.

"I said leave." Itachi watched her huffed and shuffled around the room. She rushed out and Itachi tugged on his robe. He walked her to the front door. She turned to look him expectantly.

"Could we-"

"No, it was fun but that's just it, leave and never come back." Itachi said tersely. She looked to be on the verge of tears. He slammed the door behind her, and walked to his kitchen to put on a pot of coffee.

It was always the same his one night stands either had blonde hair or blue eyes. Itachi cursed and yanked open his refrigerator door and stood there for a few minutes looking around for nothing when his doorbell rang. Itachi looked at his kitchen clock; it was now after 3 in the afternoon. He padded out to the door. He pulled it open. There stood the source of his wet dreams and his obsession for long blond hair and blue eyes.

"You should really settle down, un." Deidara said with a wide smile and walked into Itachi's house. Itachi stepped back just a little so Deidara had to brush pass him. Strawberries, Deidara smelled like strawberries, Itachi loved it.

"I would if I got who I wanted." Itachi said looking at Deidara's back. Deidara grinned. He was still wearing his shades. Itachi looked closely at his friend. No come backs this time, just a fake smile plastered on his face. Itachi stepped closer. He was merely inches away from Deidara.

"Take the shades off Dei." Itachi whispered. Deidara removed his shades; his side swept bang fell over his eye. Itachi reached up and brushed his hair gently away. He swore and Deidara flinched. Itachi's Angel was sporting a black and blue eye.

"What happened?" Itachi was furious. Deidara pulled his head away and walked away. Itachi followed. Deidara walked into the living room and sat in an arm chair he had claimed as his a long time ago.

"Can I stay here for a while, un?" he asked Itachi. Itachi nodded and walked over to him, kneeling so they would be at eye level Itachi nodded.

"Yea you can stay for as long as you like. Now tell me what happened." Deidara turned his attention out Itachi's window, he always loved it here.

"We had an argument." Itachi nodded urging him to go on. He could feel himself getting angry.

"Apparently I talk in my sleep and let's just say I didn't say anything nice about him, or called his name when I should have, un." Itachi looked at Deidara who returned his gaze. They spoke without words.

"I see, so he hit you for that?" Itachi wanted to ask who he was dreaming about having sex with but he supressed it.

"Yea, before I dislocated his shoulder and ran out, un." Deidara looked worn. Itachi ran a hand through his hair.

"I'm going out later; a junior from college called and invited me." Deidara looked up, Itachi continued.

"She still has a crush on me so I always get invited out to these things. Wanna come along? It would take your mind off things." Deidara nodded. Itachi grinned.

"Out of curiosity, who were you dreaming about?" Itachi asked, unable to hold back the question any longer. He looked at Deidara's blushing face.

"I'd rather you not know." Deidara could keep a secret to the death, Itachi knew better than to press the issue. He leaned closer and brushed his nose over Deidara's cheek.

"Was it me?" Itachi asked teasingly. He hoped the blonde would say yes. Deidara's face turned a brighter pink. He pushed Itachi away.

"Hell no, do not be creepy." Itachi looked crestfallen. Deidara rolled his eyes. If only knew how serious Itachi was.

"You are the only straight guy I know who flirts this much with me." Deidara said leaning over to Itachi,

"Are you a closet case?" Deidara asked and Itachi chuckled.

"Does it matter? Will I get a chance at what you have if I weren't?" Itachi leaned closer. He could see cold bumps all over Deidara's skin and this reaction only happen whenever Deidara was nervous, or the obvious cold and it was warm enough so it couldn't be the latter.

"Why should I matter?" Deidara inched closer. Itachi looked at Deidara's mouth. He leaned closer and claimed the plump flesh. Deidara closed his eyes, and responded to the kiss. Itachi pulled away and looked at a flushed Deidara.

"Does that answer your question?" Deidara blinked and moved away.

"Since when?" Itachi stood up.

"A long while now, I normally use girls as cover, you know paparazzi and all." Itachi stood up. Deidara followed him.

"And you said nothing to me? When I first had sex, hell, when I sucked my first dick I told you." Deidara pouted and crossed his arms.

"I am sorry, I am coming out to you now. Deidara, my friend, I am gay." Itachi grinned and Deidara's pout turned into a smile. He hugged Itachi.

"Welcome. Any crushes?" Deidara asked Itachi, just then Deidara's phone rang and Itachi watched Dei whisper work, and then walked out. Pouring himself a cup of coffee he watched Deidara's retreating back.

"Yup, my best friend." Itachi whispered, and took a sip of his coffee.

Itachi looked at this clock, 6pm. It was soon time to bathe and dress. Itachi sighed. He wanted to confess but if he did and Deidara didn't like him he would lose a friend. Itachi watched Deidara's face through the glass doors.

Life was so complicated.

Hinata Hyuuga

Age: 21

Occupation: Heir to Hyuuga fortune

Relationship Status: In a relationship

Hinata sat in her library at home. She was studying History, she hated her life, her cousin Neji deserved this more than her, and this wasn't what she wanted to do. She didn't want to become another stiff neck Hyuuga. Hinata had wanted to be a singer from ever since she could remember. She has a great voice and often snuck out with the help of her boyfriend to go to karaoke clubs. Hinata looked at her governess; in this day and age she had a governess.

"You can leave you know." Hinata smiled warmly at the middle aged woman. The woman looked at Hinata then shook her head.

"No, your father's will stipulate that you must-" Hinata banged her head against the pile of books.

"I know what father will said, I don't need to be reminded." Hinata frowned and rose from the table.

She walked to her room and threw herself down on her bed. She began crying. She missed her father, he was strict, but he had begun to change and she enjoyed every last moment with him. She buried her face in her pillows it's been two (2) years already still she couldn't let her dad go. Just then her phone rang.

"Hello…" Hinata sobbed into the phone.

"Hun, what's wrong?!" Her boyfriend bellowed into the phone. Hinata smiled weakly. Kiba was always over protective of her.

"Nothing, just, thinking about dad, and I started crying…" Hinata sobbed. Kiba was silent.

"I am sorry hun, I was going to invite you out with the guys later but if you wanted to, but if you rather we be alone-"

"I'll go, I could use the distraction." Kiba chuckled. Hinata blushed. He could always turn her to mush.

"Is Shino going to be there?" Hinata and Shino didn't get along well. Shino was too blunt for her and didn't deem her worthy of being Kiba's girlfriend.

"Yea, why?" Kiba asked. Hinata rolled her eyes. The tension between herself and Shino was apparently not obvious to Kiba.

"No reason hun, just wondering." Hinata smiled.

"Wanna go for a drive later?" Kiba asked after a few moments of silence. Hinata turned red.

"Yea, huh, sure."

"Awesome, be there in 20 minutes." Kiba hung up and Hinata squealed. She and Kiba recently became more that just friends, so things are kind of awkward between them both.

Hinata mulled for a minute about how to leave the house. Fake depression. It wasn't right but, it's the best she could do. Ruffling her hair she walked out the room to the library to put on the best performance ever.

Hinata smiled, for the night of actual fun to come.

Shikamaru Nara

Age: 23

Occupation: Head Agent at Konoha's Anbu Bureau

Relationship Status: It's complicated

Shikamaru stared out the windows has he swivelled in his office chair. He had just finished wrapping up a case. These cases keep getting easier and easier. Just then his partner and girlfriend walked in. Her hair pinned up in a lose ponytail. She wore a navy blue pants suit and flat shoes. In one word she was a tomboy. Shikamaru smiled it was at times like these he could feel his love for her grow, however she has a nasty temper. She walked in and took a seat and smiled.

"Hey handsome." Temari drawled seductively at the lazing Shikamaru who returned the smile.

"Hey yourself, beautiful. What's up for later?" Shikamaru asked. He couldn't be bothered with checking his cell phone.

"Location Naruto's house." Temari said. Shikamaru nodded. His thoughts were all over the place. Naruto, Kiba, Shino. Shikamaru sighed. Shino. Shikamaru has liked Shino since high school, they often gathered at secret location for brief trysts now and then.

Shikamaru knew he was using Temari, but couldn't bring himself to tell Temari about Shino, fearing what she might do to Shino, though Shino was patient with Shikamaru, he knew eventually the brunette would want Shikamaru to make a choice. Sighing Shikamaru turned his focus on a passing cloud.

"Are you listening?" Temari asked with a glare. Shikamaru looked at her.

"Huh, I was thi-" Temari stood and glared.

"This is what I hate about you, you never listen!" Temari walked out his office slamming his door.

"Troublesome." Shikamaru turned his attention to another passing cloud. Shikamaru stood and tossed his jacket over his shoulder. Just then his phone rang.

"Mm?" Shikamaru gave his signature greeting.

"It's me." Shino's low husky voice sent shivers down Shikamaru's spine.

"Yea, sup?" Shikamaru picked up his one strap bag and tossed it over his shoulder and walked out his door, avoiding running into Temari.

"So Naruto says to reach his place 2 hours later that normal," Shikamaru made it to his car tossing his bag in the back seat he slammed the passenger door.

"Wanna meet up at our usual spot?" Shikamaru asked, hopping into the driver's seat.

"I can't at least, not today." Shino said weakly. It was obvious to Shikamaru that Shino was hiding something.

"Why?" Shikamaru asked, pulling out of the parking lot and heading to a liquor store. Naruto always needed his help.

"I just can't," Shino said. Shikamaru frowned. He deserved a better explanation than just that. Even though they weren't official or even going out per se, he felt he warranted an explanation.

"Shino!" Shikamaru shouted. Shouting normally made the other stutter. This time it didn't work.

"Damn it Shikamaru, I am not your boy-toy, you can't just pick me up and expect me to go along with everything you say. Now I can't make it today, some other time ok? See you at Naruto's and don't press me any further." With that Shino hung up. Shikamaru tossed his phone out the window in frustration.

"Troublesome..." Shikamaru sighed.

What was Shino hiding?