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Shisui met her on one starry night, dressed in a simple burnt orange shirt and black cargo pants. She was staring at the night lights of the city below the quiet hill with a longing gaze and solemn look on her face. Her loose long blonde hair flowing haphazardly due to the violent wind, forming terrible knots at the end. Relaxed slender form leaning on the metal barricade separating the flat ground to the uneven cliff from beyond. He thought that was only a one time thing but was intrigued to find the blonde at the same spot, two weeks in a row, every time the clock strikes ten at night. It was the third week that month that Shisui’s curiosity grew and decided to approach her. At first, she had been wary. It was as if she didn’t realize that there was someone in the place other than her. She intrigued him. What could a maiden be doing in a quiet plateau devoid of a crowd, staring at the night lights of the city below with sorrow and grief? Was she the same as him? Someone who’s dealing with the loss of a loved one? “I’m Uchiha Shisui.” “My name’s Namikaze Naruto.” It had become a routine for both adults. Shisui and Naruto would meet in the same plateau, standing side by side in silence before parting after an hour of gazing at the lively street lights of Tokyo. They found comfort in the presence of each other, listening to the other’s steady breathing, neither talking. The tranquility of their established camaraderie brought them ease. It was as if their troubles would suddenly vanish, leaving them with nothing but nirvana. Eventually, the silent nights were broken with Shisui’s opening topic about constellations. “Did you know about the story of the Cygnus constellation?” Shisui opened for a conversation, one month into their routine. Naruto looked at him with curious eyes before shaking her head, answering the question with a silent no. One slender finger pointed at the northeastern night sky, “Cygnus translates as ‘swan’ in Latin Greek, as the constellation’s shape resembles that of a swan.” Shisui explained, before tracing the air in a recognizable swan pattern, the night sky functioning like an invisible canvas. Naruto’s ocean blue eyes followed his finger as he started outlining. “Albireo marks the swan’s head, Sadr is located near the center which marks the swan’s breast, the next one is called Fawaris then beside that is Alijanah, and Deneb marks the tail of the swan.” “Why is it called Cygnus?” Naruto asked, eyes gleaming with wonder as she stared at the large swan pattern that was formed by the bright stars. Shisui lowered his hand, resting it on the metal barricade. “The legend starts at the story of two friends racing each other in the skies.” He started. ”As their race got intense, their chariots got burned after they flew too close to the sun, and came crashing down back to Earth.” Naruto glanced at the man for a second before directing her gaze back to the constellation as she listened with interest. “When Cycnus regained consciousness, he found the dead body of his friend Phaeton at the bottom of the Eridanus River. Unable to retrieve the body, he made a pact with the God of Gods, Zeus. If Zeus would allow Cycnus to transform into a swan, he would live only as long as a swan usually does. Zeus honored the pact, and Cycnus was able to reclaim Phaeton’s body and gave him a proper burial that allowed him to travel to the afterlife. Zeus was touched by Cycnus’ actions that he placed him in the sky as an image of sacrifice and friendship.” At the end of the story, Naruto looked fascinated as she stared at the constellation with respect, and smiled. “Cycnus‘ a good friend.” Shisui chuckled before replying, “Yeah.” They fell into a comfortable silence before Naruto spoke, “When I was in high school, I had this close friend that everybody likes.” She recounted, mind drifting back to her days as a student. “He was this typical broody introvert with good looks , top of our class, and almost all of the girls liked him romantically.” She released a humorless laugh before continuing. “Since I was the closest female student to him, all the girls hated me. They would spread lies about how I slept my way into having good grades, how I whore myself around so I could afford all the nice things I have, and how much of a bitch I am because I was always with him.” Naruto’s grip on the metal rail tightened, “Fricks, all of them.” “Did you ever develop feelings for him?” “Ew,no! He’s like a brother to me!” “What did your friend do?” Naruto’s ticked off expression softened before answering, “The bastard humiliated those that would badmouth me. It was the nicest thing he had ever done for me, to be honest.” Shisui hummed, “Sounds like a good friend.” “Yeah,” Naruto agreed. “He is.” Shisui contemplated for a bit before deciding that it was only fair if he shared a story of his own. “I remember something from when I was ten years old. I have this super awesome buddy that took blame for something I did.” He chuckled then proceeded to finish the tale. “He got yelled at by his parents, and he was honestly the coolest guy ever.” Naruto lightly laughed in her hands before responding. “Yeah, that’s cool of him.” It became an added component to their ritual to talk about constellations then sharing an experience related to it. “Columba constellation means ‘the dove’ in Latin.” Shisui started, lighting tracing another pattern at the invisible canvas in the form of a night sky. “The three formally named stars under Columba are Phact, Elkurud, and Wazn. Its original name was Columba Noachi, which means ‘Noah’s dove’. It was named after the biblical dove that informed Noah that the Great Flood was receding. Noah’s dove is sent from the Ark to see if there is any dry land left after the Great Flood. The bird returns holding an olive branch in its beak, signaling that the flood is receding. In some interpretations, Columba represents the dove sent by the Argonauts between the Clashing Rocks to ensure the Argonauts’ safe passage. It symbolizes peace.” “You know,” Naruto started, “I already found my peace regarding the death of my parents.” Shisui’s jaw-dropped at the unexpected heavy subject about the blonde’s family. He was shocked that Naruto would reveal something so personal but at the same time, he was touched that he was privileged enough to know something private about the other’s life even though they were only acquainted for a month. “What happened to them, if you don’t mind me asking?” Shisui threaded carefully, getting a little closer to the woman when a wind whirled violently. “My father was a college professor, while my mother was an awesome housewife. One day, when I came home from school, I found them dead in our kitchen due to multiple stabbings.” Naruto shared, eyes closed tight to stop the tears from escaping. It’s still painful even though it has already been years since it happened. “A few years later, the police finally found the culprit who turned out to be my father’s former student.” Shisui remained silent, prompting the blonde to continue. “I cursed him to death, you know? My parents weren’t even past their prime, yet he already ended them.” She released a strained laugh before resuming the story. “His reason for killing them? It was because my father gave his lover a failing grade for one of their projects. Isn’t that shallow?” “Wow.” Shisui was dumbfounded but managed to say something. “I’m sorry to hear that, Naruto-san.” The only reply he got was a blank smile, and he decided that it wasn’t a good look on the blonde beauty. Shisui heaved a deep breath in preparation for sharing an experience concerning his feelings. “Do you remember my story about the coolest friend I have?” Naruto nodded in reply. “That awesome friend of mine killed himself.” He heard a sharp intake of breath beside him but ignored it. “I always thought that it was my fault that he wasn’t here anymore.” He confessed. “If I have been more observant of his mental state, how his father’s expectations of him were overbearing then I could have done something to prevent it, you know?” His voice cracked in the middle of the tale but never stopped on pouring his thoughts. “He was my cousin but he’s also my best friend. Someone who supported and helped me through tough times, and I wasn’t even there for him when he needed me.” Shisui finished as he directed his gaze to the dark sky, resolutely ignoring the tears that cascaded down his cheeks. Naruto was silent beside him, offering her quiet presence as comfort that Shisui found the courage to utter the words begging to be voiced verbally. “I found peace in his death because I know that he is happier wherever he is.” It was true. Shisui already forgave himself for not noticing sooner, and he knows that Itachi, his best friend and cousin, would be happier if he found peace in his own guilt. In the nights that they weren’t talking about the groups of stars in the azure space, they would talk about themselves. “How old are you, anyway?” Naruto asked as she took a seat at the bench near them. She was wearing a casual cream-colored shirt, beige high-waist pants, flat sole moccasins and a black blazer to protect her person from the cold air of the night. “I’m 27 years old.” Shisui answered, taking the vacant space beside the blonde. He was wearing a black oversized hoodie, a black jogger pants, paired with a white converse. “What about you?” He questioned back. “I’m 23 years old.” Naruto replied, tucking her cold hands inside the pocket of her blazers. “Still studying?” “Hmm, no. I’m a preschool teacher. What about you?” Naruto answered, passing the question back to the tall man about his occupation. Although judging from his rolex, it must be a high-paying one. “I have my own business.” “Heh, that was unexpected.” “Why?” “I thought you’ve a job connected to astronomy with all your knowledge about constellations.” Shisui huffed an amused chuckle, “My best friend was the one interested in anything heavenly bodies related that’s why I know things.” “That was a cool interest,” Naruto commented. “I just collect all flavors of ramen as a hobby.” “That was weirdly cute.” The raven-haired man remarked, oddly prideful from eliciting a blush from the educator for a reaction. The next time they met was in a family restaurant. Shisui was having dinner with his employees while Naruto was having a get together with her close friends. “Naruto-san!” Shisui called, waving his arms high for the blonde to see. Naruto stopped her awkward conversation with Sakura, a pink-haired acquaintance that decided to crash the get-together, and directed her attention to the handsome tall man calling her. Naruto’s face broke into a grin before she greeted the man back. “Shisui-san, it’s nice meeting you here.” Shisui returned her grin with his own. “Actually, I’m having dinner with my staff here. What about you?” “I’m grabbing a bite with my friends.” Sakura’s clearing of the throat made her want to smack the flirty adult who’s batting her eyelashes at the man. Naruto stopped herself from rolling her eyes because she really couldn’t deal with her anymore. She was just being kind enough not to throw the woman out after crashing their night, and it was only supposed to be with her close friends. Not with someone she could barely call an acquaintance. “Ah, these are my friends.” Naruto introduced. “Hyuuga Hinata,” she pointed to the fair-skinned woman with dark blue hair. “Nara Shikamaru,” she introduced a man with narrow eyes and black hair. “Haruno Sakura,” she said, presenting a woman with pink hair. The latter wasn’t really her friend but she couldn’t say something that would embarrass the woman, even if she wanted to. “It’s nice to meet you.” Shisui smiled, bowing a little as he ignored the obvious call for attention of the pink-haired woman. “Are you going there tonight?” “Ah, yeah. I go there every night.” “Cool,” Shisui replied. “We could go together.” He suggested, enjoying the look of surprise in the face of the blonde in front of him. This was the very first time they met outside of their usual rendezvous, and he was actually quite nervous that the woman would reject his offer. “Sure, Shisui-san.” Came Naruto’s shy response before taking a seat next to her black-haired friend. Shisui ignored the ugly pit of jealousy settling on his stomach at seeing her with a man that wasn’t him, just slightly bowing before excusing himself. It was illogical to harbor feelings for someone he only met recently, and it wasn’t even two months since. He took a seat next to his most trusted employee, taking a glance at the blonde a few tables away from them every now and then. His employees started teasing him after noticing his actions, and he just mustered up the best glare he could because they might blow his cover. “Shut up, or you won’t get a bonus.” Luckily, they took the hint and did themselves a favor by not talking. Naruto, on the other hand, was doing her best to restrain herself from choking the entitled twit in front of her. Haruno Sakura, a gink who’s romantic affections jump from one good looking man to another. She wouldn’t shut up how gorgeous the tall man was, how his eyelashes are so pretty, his voice were so sexy , and just overall lusting over the male, going as far as annoying her into giving the guy’s contact info (which she didn’t have). “Sakura, I don’t have his phone number.” Naruto repeated for the umpteenth time, thanking Shikamaru who poured her cup a small amount of sake. Sakura scoffed, throwing her short hair over the shoulders with vigor. “Don’t lie to me, Naruto-baka! You just didn’t want to share them!” It was the same thing over and over again that something within Naruto snapped. She slammed the small cup against the table so hard it rattled the furniture. “Even if I did have it, which I don’t, why would I give it to you? If you’re so confident about your seduction skills then why not get them directly from him?” She pressed, slurring over the words at the effect of alcohol. “You’re not even my friend, so why are you here? You decided to crash our dinner, proceeded to call me names, and now forcefully ordering me for information that clearly falls under invasion of privacy.” “What did you say to me, you bitch?!” Sakura yelled, gaining the attention of the customers inside of the establishment including the company of one Uchiha Shisui. “What rights do you have to say something disrespectful to your betters?! You’re just the same person that everybody hates!” “Then, what gives you the right to abuse me when I’ve been nothing but kind to you?!” Naruto spat back, standing up as well to face the pink-haired woman in full height. Her features extorted into a scowl, hands planted at her hips as a show of defiance. Shisui’s face welcomed a concerned look, slowly inching closer to the blonde woman’s location. “Ever since then, you seem to have a problem with me! Did I do something to you?!” “It’s because you stole Sasuke-kun from me!” Sakura retorted, face quickly reddening in anger, fist clenched tight it’s becoming white. “You were the reason that Sasuke-kun wouldn’t like me!” “Oh my god, Sakura!” Naruto groaned, washing her face exasperatedly with her hands. “I never liked Sasuke! Sasuke never liked me! The reason that he wasn’t interested in anyone was because he was already dating someone! Get that to your thick head, and leave me alone!” “Liar! You just want him for yourself!” “I’m not lying! Sasuke’s my best friend and someone I considered my brother! I would never see him in that light!” “They were right.” Sakura sniffed, hand ready for a slap. “You’re such a bitch.” Shisui found the perfect time to interrupt, gripping harshly on the violent woman’s arm who’s an inch away from injuring the blonde. “What do you think you’re doing?” He hissed, digging his trimmed nails harder into the skin. Sakura winced before huffing for an answer. “That bitch deserves to be taught a lesson! She’s always the bane of my existence and I just wish she would die in a ditch one of these days!” The onlookers gasped scandalously, staring at the pink-haired woman with contempt at her loose and foul mouth. Shisui’s glare hardened, shoving the woman away from the blonde before stepping forward. “First of all, Naruto isn’t a bitch. She’s the nicest and funniest person that I’m ever delighted to meet.” He complimented, ignoring the whoops of his employees as he continued. “Second of all, she wasn’t lying about Sasuke being in a relationship. I would know because I’m his cousin.” A gasp could be heard from behind but he proceeded anyway. “Lastly, even if Naruto has my number, I wouldn’t want someone of your kind to get a hold of it. Now that we’ve established that you’re the bitch in this situation, get the fuck out of our sight and never bother Naruto ever again.” Sakura’s eyes welled up with tears as she haphazardly gathered her things, exiting the restaurant with jeers following her. The patrons watching the scene with interest hollered at the businessman’s action of protecting the blonde from a hater, yelling a series of various commentary that made both Shisui and Naruto blush. “That was suave of you, lad!” “You should date already!” “You guys would make a nice couple!” “Get married!” “Your kids would be beautiful!” “Ah, young love!” Naruto released a tired sigh after calming herself, carefully tidying up her things as she placed her share of bills on the table. She directed an apologetic smile towards Hinata and Shikamaru who looked at her with worry. “I’m sorry, guys. I’m gonna head out first.” Hinata smiled softly at her, “It’s okay, Naruto-chan.” Shikamaru just muttered a simple, “You troublesome blonde, get some rest.” Naruto was really thankful for her friends who stayed with her until the end. At first, there were more than ten of them in the group but eventually drifted apart because of their lack of communication. She was the closest to Hinata, Shikamaru, and Sasuke but unfortunately the latter got so caught up at work that he couldn’t come. Maybe, that was the reason the pink-haired woman intruded on their dinner, hoping to get a glimpse of the stoic Uchiha. Shisui, noticing the telltale of the blonde leaving, excused himself early from his own company. He handed his credit card to the one closest to him, instructing to pay with it and to get anything they wanted to eat. His staff just smiled smugly with their eyes glinting with mirth before ushering him towards the teacher. No one said anything as they walked. Only the sounds of the busy street and the honking cars were heard. Ultimately, Naruto couldn’t hold back her curiosity anymore. “Sasuke’s your cousin?” Shisui replied with a short, “Yes.” “Your best friend who committed suicide was Itachi-niichan, wasn’t it?” She mumbled under her breath, so quiet that Shisui almost didn’t catch her question. They already passed the bustling road and entered the trail leading to their usual meet-up place. The cold night wind suddenly brushed them, making the woman shiver from the cold. Shisui shrugged off the coat he was wearing, gently placing them on Naruto’s shoulder before answering. “Yeah, it was Itachi.” “It must have been hard for you.” Naruto sympathizes, “I witnessed Sasuke crumbling in depression because of his brother, and I’m just glad he’s getting better. Fugaku-san blamed himself for Itachi-niisan’s death, you know, and Mikoto-obaasan was never the same after that.” Shisui could only nod at her statement. He knows how Sasuke fell into never-ending dark thoughts due to his brother’s death. How much he blamed their father for pushing Itachi to the edge that it had come to the point that he took his own life. How the Uchiha matriarch filed for divorce before taking her youngest child in her custody, and how they found out that Fugaku left the world the same way Itachi did. He knows because he vowed to support the family Itachi left. Paying for Sasuke’s tuition by working overtime or taking up a second job when he wasn’t still in the business industry. Taking the sick mother to a doctor’s appointment because she refused to burden him with her own weakness. It was hard for him because he was barely an adult that time, just in his early twenties but already supporting a family by himself. It was hard but he persevered through the end. Tearing up on Sasuke’s graduation, crying when he was given his cousin’s first paycheck, and witnessing how life began to overtake Mikoto’s face once more. It was hard for him but it was all worth it. Taking a seat at the bench they first saw, he released a breath he didn’t know he was holding. He was just glad that the woman didn’t say anything about his lack of response, instead sharing a story of her own. “When I was in my last year in high school, someone I love took their own life because of the burden his family placed on him.” From Shisui’s peripheral, he could see the blonde staring at the stars above. “He was this perfect jackass who thinks he’s above anyone, and I hated him for that. I didn’t even know why I said yes to him when he asked me on a date but I never regretted it one bit.” Shisui could hear a distinct sound of a glass breaking, aware that it was his own heart, already acknowledging his romantic inclination towards the sunshine-haired woman. Instead of facing her, his gaze fell on the illuminating lights of the city below. “I thought everything was good. He talked to me about his troubles, and sometimes gave him advice on what to do. I thought he was happy. He reconciled with his cousin, talked to his uncle, and had this crazy vision of us having a family in the future.” Naruto’s voice broke, indicating that she was crying. “I blamed myself for not noticing he was in pain. That he hated everything about him and he just wanted to end his misery. He was out of contact for a week when I decided to visit him but it was too late. He was already drowning in the pool of his own blood, staining the bathroom floor with the red liquid. After that, I distanced myself from the things that reminded me of him, so I moved back to my grandparent’s place to continue my education.” “I was so angry at myself for being weak. That–” “Do you know the story of Taurus?” Shisui interrupted, unrepentant that he halted the blonde from her own monologue. He could recognize the first sign of self-incrimination from a mile away. It was his own way of saying been there, done that , and he never wanted the blonde to go through with it even just for a day. “Taurus is a large constellation in the northern sky, and one of the 12 constellations of zodiacs. Its name means ‘bull’ in Latin, and was symbolized by the bull’s head. Taurus contains 17 formally named stars. Ain, Alcyone, Aldebaran, Asterope, Atlas, Celaeno, Chamukuy, Electra, Elnath, Hoggar, Maia, Merope, Pleione, Prima Hyadum, Secunda Hyadum, Taygeta, and Tianguan.” “It’s incredible how you memorized their name.” Shisui laughed heartily, sending shivers down Naruto’s spine that she dismissed as the result of the night air. “Thank you, I tried.” He said with a cheeky smile, earning a playful eye roll from the blonde before he continued. “In Greek mythology, Taurus is usually associated with Zeus, who adopted the shape of a bull in order to seduce and abduct Europa, the beautiful daughter of the Phoenician King Agenor. Zeus mingled with the king’s herd, and being the most handsome bull there, he got Europa’s attention. The princess admired the bull and when she sat on his back, he rose and headed for the sea. Zeus carried Europa all the way to the island of Crete, where he revealed his true identity and lavished the princess with presents. The two had three sons together, including Minos, who grew up to be the famous king of Crete, who built the palace at Knossos where bull games were held and who also sacrificed seven young boys and girls to the Minotaur each year. Zeus later commemorated the bull by placing it among the stars.” Shisui pointed at the dimmed stars, connecting the group with his fingers. “To many ancient civilizations, the bull represented love, war, and strength. Taurus is an Earth sign, meaning it is connected with all things grounded, material, and solid—which makes sense for a bull.” He sent the blonde a consoling smile before saying, “That’s why you shouldn’t tell yourself that you’re weak. You stayed by his side until the end, all imperfect and broken, and that was the first sign of being strong.” Shisui placed a gentle pat on her shoulder as he ended the conversation. “Shielding yourself from pain doesn’t make you weak. It just means you value yourself.” Offering commiseration as Naruto shed tears. That was when he realized just how broken they really were. How they found comfort in the presence of a stranger rather than someone they knew. Insisting to bottle everything inside before it explodes right in their faces. That’s why Shisui made another vow. To pick up the pieces of the weeping blonde beside him, the woman he had come to love inside the measly one and a half months of being friends. “Come on, Naruto-san. Let’s take you home.” “Naruto. Just call me Naruto.” Shisui couldn’t stop the grin from showing as he answered, “Then, just call me Shisui.” After that night, something in them changed. They felt lighter as if the weight of their issue was finally off their shoulders. Most of their meet-ups ended up with them talking about constellations, shy of their grief like their first encounter. Shisui finally had the courage to ask Naruto about her number, and they’ve been in contact ever since, outside of their usual rendezvous. Sometimes, they would meet up after work and grab dinner before heading to the hill, lazy conversations about how their day went while gazing at the beautiful stars occupying the dark canvas. Their topic of conversation ranges from something simple like their likes. “What’s your favorite color?” “Orange, is that even a question? What about you?” “I like blue, it’s cool to the eyes.” To something contentious, spurring a heated argument between them. “What do you mean?! Ramen is the food of the gods!” “Oh, please. You clearly haven’t been exposed to the superiority of this delight called dango. Now, that is the true food of the gods.” Or just anything under the sun, really. “If you could meet one person from history, or someone really ancient, who would it be and why?” Shisui considered the question with a hum and settled for the first thing that came into mind. “William Shakespeare.” Naruto snorted at his answer, “Why? So you could gush about his intellect in writing and wonderful imagination that gave life to most of his famous works?” Shisui looked at her with a raised brow, crossing his arms like a petulant child. “No? I wanted to know what was going on inside of his vast mind when he created Romeo and Juliet. What was he thinking when he wrote a story about a thirteen year old girl falling in love with a man called to be a young adult by most people? This wasn’t about the age gap, rather the disturbing case of pedophilia.” “That's a crazy serious insight for a simple question.” Naruto commented, poking the flexed bicep of the man still with arms crossed over his chest. “Most people rhapsodize about one of his famous works. Raving about their fairy-tale like story, and the unrealistic amount of fantasy it held. Committing suicide with the one you love because of both families’ disapproval causes people to dream an anecdote like that of their own, a display of an unbothered love. It’s sad and disturbing but most people don’t see it that way, fixated on the fact that it was romantic.” He answered, poking the blonde’s arm in retaliation. “I think that Romeo and Juliet is ahead of its time. Disregarding the concept of pedophilia for a second, conflict causes death. Pressure from families, harassment from people, one’s inner demons, discrimination, society’s expectation, and many more. Shakespeare’s book actually illustrated different kinds of problems from early times that are clearly seen until now, and the repercussions of it such as leading to a person’s demise.” Naruto supplied, slightly tilting her head to the side (which was so cute Shisui could hear his heart thumping violently on his ribcage). “Don’t you think so?” Shisui looked away as he felt his own cheeks grow warm. “Yeah.” He replied weakly, choking up a strained what about you, urging the blonde to vocalize her answer. “I wanted to meet the person that created ramen.” “Why? So you could ask for his secret recipe?” “Yeah, that’s exactly why. How did you know?” Her innocent response elicited an amused chuckle from him, wheezing hard when Naruto asked him the reason for why he’s laughing. The next time they met again was a week after their interesting conversation about Shakespeare and ramen. Shisui had been busy preparing for a project proposal for a new business partner while Naruto went back to her mother’s hometown to visit her grandparents. It wasn’t even planned. Shisui didn’t know that Naruto was back in Tokyo, and Naruto didn’t know that Shisui scored the deal for the partnership. So they were both surprised to find each other in the same plateau they’ve been frequenting for the past four months. “I didn’t know you were here.” Shisui started, handing a cold coffee he got from the vending machine. Naruto thanked the man before answering, “I have to finish my lesson plan so I came home earlier than expected.” A distinct clink could be heard as they opened the can. “What about you? How did it go with your partnership?” “It went well. I scored the deal.” Shisui replied with a content smile, taking a sip of the bitter beverage as he stared at the bright lights of the city. It took him that moment to realize how much he missed gazing at the bustling and lively streets of Tokyo from their position, even more so the presence of the blonde that was oblivious about his feelings towards her. Silence blanketed them once more, admiring the quiet and serene ambience they had created. It wasn’t much seeing as they lived in the most populous metropolis in the country but a night of peace away from commotion was very much appreciated. As much as they wanted to be around people, it was draining even for outgoing people like them. “Did you know about the constellation Vulpecula?” Shisui started, opening another discussion about the cluster of stars that Naruto came to love. A slight shake of her head indicating negative was his cue to continue. “Out of all constellations, this one is my favorite. Vulpecula is regarded as a fairly small and faint constellation in the Northern celestial sky. There are only five stars that make up the main Vulpecula Constellation, however only one of them is an officially named star called Anser. The Vulpecula constellation has not been named after a figure in mythology, however I like to add my own interpretation to it. Despite only having one of its stars officially named, it was still recognized and was listed as the 55th largest constellation. Fascinating, isn’t it?” Shisui asked, staring straight at ocean blue eyes. Naruto slowly nodded her head, “Yeah.” She trailed off, unable to steer her gaze away from dark orbs. “Do you want to know the other reason why I like Vulpecula so much?” Shisui raised, closing the distance between him and the flustered blonde. “Vulpecula is latin for ‘the little fox’, or ‘the fox’. It is a diminutive of the word ‘Vulpes’ meaning fox.” He took Naruto’s hand into his, directing an index finger to lightly trace the air without breaking eye contact. Naruto’s breath hitched, eyes blown wide and voice quiet as a whisper. “What are you trying to say, Shisui?” Never once those piercing dark eyes left hers, displaying sincerity and adoration within them. “I like you, Naruto.” He confessed. “I really like you despite only knowing you for four months. Will you go out with me?” . A loud ringing penetrated a still and dark apartment, light illuminated the small area of where a phone was located. Strong arms flexed in the dark, single finger tapping the screen in response to the call. “Hello?” A husky voice greeted, clear indication that the person was roused from sleep. “Sasuke,” the other line responded with a call of the phone owner’s name. Sasuke suddenly sat up, alarmed at the anxious voice that welcomed him. “I need your help.” “Naruto, where are you?” That was how Sasuke found himself inside of a crowdless cafe save for a few teenagers who clearly didn’t have a curfew, dressed in simple jogger pants and sweater, frowning at the fidgety blonde in front of him. Kami, help him, he needed patience. “What did you do?” Sasuke accused, taking a sip of caffeine to stay awake in the wee hours of the night. He ignored the offending sound that his best friend made as he fixed her with a denunciatory look. “I didn’t do anything!” She defended, prompting a raised eyebrow in response. She pouted before releasing a sound akin to a dying whale. Sasuke took pity and decided to indulge the blonde with whatever mess she ended up in. “Fine, what’s the problem?” Naruto looked ready to cry, and Sasuke held back the amusement he was feeling. When he received a call from the blonde that follows trouble, he readied himself if he ever found her decapitated, however it appears to not be the case. “Someone asked me out.” If Naruto didn’t pay for his drink, he would have splashed the coffee into her infuriating face. That still doesn't stop him from hissing at the blonde, forehead throbbing in annoyance. “You called me for this? Accept or reject the offer, loser. What’s got your panties in a twist?” “It was from Uchiha Shisui.” Sasuke thanked whatever god was watching them that his best friend answered when he wasn’t drowning himself in bliss of the coffee’s bitter taste. He wouldn’t be able to handle it if he ever humiliated himself by choking on his drink, and he would gladly put the blame on the blushing blonde in front of him. “My…cousin, Shisui?” He asked carefully, gaping when Naruto nodded, because no way they were the same person. As far as it concerns him, he never introduced them to each other. His cousin was busy with his own business and the flustered loser in front of him was occupied in handling little brats, so how? “Wha– how? How did that happen?” “It’s a long story.” Naruto dismissed, casually waving her hand before getting back at the problem. “What should I do, Sasuke?! I ran away from him!” Sasuke pinched the bridge of his nose, and the giggling teenagers at the table next to them were not helping his headache. His gaze fell upon the anxious form of his normally confident friend, deciding to be the very definition of a supportive asshole best friend. “First, text him, or whatever, that you need time to think.” He advised, watching with interest as Naruto hurriedly composed a message before tucking her phone away right after. “Okay, now. What do you think about Shisui? Could you see yourself going out with him, or do you just see him as a friend?” If Sasuke was a lesser man, he would have gagged when the red-faced woman became impossibly redder by each passing second. He rolled his eyes when the blonde was unable to form a coherent answer, babbling intensely between a series of uh, uhm, ah, and ramen. The latter was completely unrelated but he liked to think that her daily consumption of said food was the cause of it. “Naruto, look at me.” Sasuke called, gaining the attention of the Namikaze. “I want you to answer my questions, okay?” He slowly asked as if talking to a child. In Naruto’s distressed state, she either didn’t notice the mock in Sasuke’s voice or simply ignored it. Honestly, Sasuke wasn’t sure which it was. “What are you doing?” Naruto asked, confused as to why her best friend suddenly took out his phone and started typing on the screen. Sasuke looked at her like he couldn’t believe she was that stupid to ask an obvious question. “I’m looking up the question on ‘how do you know if you love someone romantically?’ on the internet.” As if he expected the blonde to know what he was doing. “Do you expect me to know things about this? Me, a socially stunted and awkward adult who would rather glare than talk? Dobe, please.” He scoffed and Naruto willed all of her self-restraint, which wasn’t much, so she wouldn’t end up throttling the man. In response, she gave him an infuriating sweet smile. “On the bright side, you realized that you weren’t the most pleasant person to talk with.” “Shut up, or I won’t help you.” Naruto’s face suddenly grew anxious, remembering her dilemma. It wasn’t helping that the group of horny teenage girls at the next table would whisper and point at them, further aggravating her uneasiness. She wished they just would stop even for a minute. Sasuke cleared his throat, giving her a look that would usually mean something between the line of relax or shut up , and Naruto was inclined to think it was the former. Although, she couldn’t really tell when it comes to her stoic best friend. “I don’t even know why we're doing this. You dated someone before. Wouldn’t you already know the answer to my cousin’s confession by now?” “Sasuke, this is different. Neji's been my friend for two years before we started dating, but I’ve only known your cousin for four months!” “What difference does that make? It’s just the duration of how long you’ve known someone.” “Just get on with the damn questions already.” Sasuke rolled his eyes before starting, “Do your thoughts return to him regularly?” Naruto started reminiscing, thinking if her thoughts were often occupied with the raven-haired male. If he already ate, if he’s on his way to the hill, if he was still working, if he– “Dobe, just answer the fucking question already,” He growled. “You don’t need to think too much, and can you please shut the fuck up!” Sasuke hissed, directing a glare that could cower even the bravest person, to the group of teens snapping a picture of the enraged man. The teenagers whimpered before looking away, and Sasuke looked at her like he wasn’t ready to rip someone’s head off just seconds ago. “Yes.” Sasuke exhaled, muttering under his breath that suspiciously sounded like finally before asking the next question. “Do you feel safe around him?” “Yes.” Naruto answered, because not once did she feel threatened or endangered whenever she was around Shisui. “Do you want to spend a lot of time with him?” “Yes.” She replied, because she came to appreciate the little things with Shisui like sharing facts about stars, ramen, history, ramen, dango, and ramen. There was a lot of ramen thrown but whatever. “Do you feel jealous when you see him with other girls?” “Yes.” She responded, pushing down the bitterness when she remembered someone flirting at the man. “Are you happy whenever you’re with him?” Just like Naruto’s other response, a yes was given as an answer, and that was when she realized she likes him, or heck she may have loved him already. Naruto is in love with Uchiha Shisui, and she couldn’t stop the euphoria of her feelings. As if a bulb magically appeared on top of her head, she already knew how to accept the man’s confession. “Thanks, Sasuke.” The man just smirked in return. .
Can you please meet me tonight?
Shisui couldn’t stop shuffling at his seat, waiting for the blonde to show up at the place. It has only been five hours since he received the text, and was eternally glad that Naruto decided to message him after his work hours. It didn’t help that he couldn’t sleep much the night before, even though Naruto requested to think about it, because it worried him so much. Would they stop talking if she rejected him? Will they continue talking only as a friend if the blonde decided to not reciprocate his feelings? Or will their friendship finally bumped up into something more? The sounds of an approaching feet shook him out of his stupor, coming face to face with the blonde, and he felt like all air left his lungs. Naruto was wearing a long burnt orange summer dress, a black push-lock shoulder bag, and a cream-colored high-heels rivet sandal. She looked absolutely stunning that Shisui’s mouth decided it had a mind of its own. “You’re so beautiful.” Naruto’s flushed face made her even more ethereal as she muttered a quiet thanks under her breath. They dissolved in a quiet milieu, neither speaking as they stood side by side. Shisui was comforted by Naruto’s steady breathing and the fact that she wasn’t ignoring him. At the end of the day, he would be satisfied to remain friends with the blonde even if she couldn’t ever see him romantically. “Do you know about Heart Nebula?” Naruto started, taking a side glance at the man who was ready to dive into an explanation about what he knew but stopped at the look on the woman’s face clearly telling him to indulge her on this one. Shisui fought a wide grin, already knowing the blonde’s answer. “What is it?” Naruto giggled before continuing, “Heart Nebula is said to be located at constellation Cassiopeia. The reason for this name is because its two swooping wings resemble the shape of a heart, and it glows red from within -- classifying it as an emission nebula -- from hydrogen ionized into plasma by nearby stars. The Heart Nebula forms a complex known as the Heart and Soul with its smaller neighbor Westerhout 5, also known as the Soul Nebula, which lies just 2.5 degrees to the southeast. Both nebulae shine bright in red light due to the emission of that specific color of light by the excited nearby hydrogen gas. The nebulae form a large star-forming complex in the Perseus Arm of the Milky Way. It is barely visible in small telescopes and best seen photographically, that’s why it is a popular target for astrophotographers.” She recited, mind racing at the amount of big words she had studied so hard for this confession. It wasn’t helping that Shisui was staring at her with love-filled eyes and she felt her insides trembling with anticipation. Naruto faced the older man fully, looking at him under her eyelashes. “Do you want to see Heart Nebula?” Shisui, confused by her question wondering how they could, only nodded his head patiently. Carefully lacing their hands together, Naruto tiptoed. Planting a soft kiss against Shisui’s mouth, causing the man to freeze under touch of her lips. She slightly pulled away when the Uchiha made no move, yelping when the unresponsive man suddenly pulled her by the waist, cupping her face with one hand before reciprocating the action. The kiss was a sweet, slow thing. Shisui was gentle, soft lips carefully dancing with hers, and the sudden difficulty in breathing made them break it. Naruto stared at the grinning man, giving him a smile before uttering the words she should have said the night before. “Yes, I’ll go out with you.” -END-