A/N: Heyyy! (; Okies, so I was recently introduced to this couple by MissFaerieKaiti, and I instantly liked 'em! I mean, who better for Naruto than who can cook his fave food? xDD But for me, I really started loving them in the episode, "The Old Monk's Prayer", when Ayame changed the course of Ichiraku's, which led to a heated argument between her and Naruto. I was like, "..Oh, yeah. They definitely click. STORYTIME!" XDDD This story takes place after that episode. x3 Despite the age difference (it ain't that much! xD), I think their personalities just go together really well. Their relationship will never get boring, that's for sure. xDD I hope I'm ok in characterization with Ayame; they've never really put much spotlight on her, so I'm uncertain how to really pinpoint her personality. In fact, The Old Monk's Prayer was pretty much the most I've really seen of Ayame's character - she's polite and well-mannered, but dedicated and passionate, and she even has a little feisty edge. Just what Naruto needs to keep him in line! xDD So without further ado, I bring chu one of the first Narume stories! ^_^ I hope y'all like it!

Kyra, do the disclaimer.. I just don't have the heart.. *tearsniffle*

Kyra: 9_9 Taylor doesn't own anything Naruto. Except her plushie. And her posters. And her dvd. And her trading card. And her trading card holder..

Hey now, hold up! I think they get the point! -.- So..yeah..xD;; Let's just start this thing!

Ayame had always known there would be competition. Heck, there were all those exotically beautiful ninja girls who stayed in shape from always being on missions. Then there was her, a plain, run-of-the-mill girl next door who worked in a restaurant. When you thought about it, that had a way of getting to your self-confidence. But she wasn't cut out for being a shinobi, always on the go and nearly killing yourself with exertion - no way was that her cup of tea. Ayame's heart lay in cooking - always had been, from the time she was a little girl helping her dad in the kitchen.

Why not have fun at what you do, though? At least, that was the way Ayame saw it. She loved working at Ichiraku's. Not just because they got a lot of business (even though that was a definite bonus), but she thoroughly enjoyed preparing the food just right and seeing that the customer was satisfied. There was a way of making a meal perfectly that just made you practically glow with triumph. It was a good feeling. Nobody but a true cook would know what she meant.

Sometimes that was even her only social network, seeing that she never got out much outside her job, chatting with whoever stopped by and on occasion hearing the best gossip. Not that Ayame was a gossiper necessarily - she just liked keeping up with the times.

And there was Naruto, too, of course - one of their regulars. From when he was an obnoxious, rambuctious little snot, he'd been in Ichiraku's for as long as Ayame could remember. She'd always thought him cute and annoying in that little-boy way, his loud gravelly voice and personality to match. But when Naruto had returned to Konoha after three years of training with Jiraiya, Ayame was blown away. Now.. he was cute cute. And he still harbored some of his old humor and quirks to where it was amusingly charming instead of childish and irritating. Ayame would admit (not to just anyone, however), that she'd missed Naruto.. a lot more than probably necessary. But then again, he was practically their number-one customer. What cook wouldn't miss that? He'd always provided entertaining banter (or complaints about stuff going on) and compliments on his pork miso ramen. Needless to say, Ayame was a little glad Naruto hadn't at least grown out of his ramen-loving attribute.

As he continued on his quest to get Sasuke back, Ayame had started feeling a little restless. She felt like she was missing out - ninjas got to go anywhere and everywhere. She, on the other hand, was constantly stuck here in the Leaf. So Teuchi agreed to send her to another village to get some professional training as a noodle maker.

That had been one of the most refreshing times of her life, to be honest. And in addition, Ayame had returned with a new resolve. One of the things she had learned in the village was that the likes and dislikes of customers were constantly changing, and if they as restaurant owners didn't keep up with the times, people would grow bored of their same ol' menu. And.. well, maybe she'd wanted to impress Naruto, just a little, in her grown knowledge of cuisine. Maybe he would appreciate the step she was taking into changing Ichiraku's from a ramen restaurant into a tsukemen one. Heck, maybe he would even prefer tsukemen over ramen! It was a risky step business-wise, but Ayame wholeheartedly believed it was for the better.

So needless to say, she'd been enraged when stubborn Naruto had refused to embrace the new and instead stuck to the same ol', same ol'. Didn't he see how boring it was to go along with the former and how exciting it was to try something new? Apparently not, because Naruto had Teuchi add pork slices and such added to his noodles, then poured the broth over it all, making it ramen in his book. Dipping noodles were supposed to be separate and eaten as such! But Naruto wouldn't listen. She was a little disappointed at the reaction she hadn't anticipated.

All in all... they said the way to a man's heart was his stomach. So why couldn't she get Naruto to notice her as something more than just the simple town cook? And why did it matter so much, anyway? When had she started caring for Naruto in that way? She shouldn't: she was a young woman, and he a teenager. It just didn't make sense!

Honestly.. those facts alone had bothered her way more than his rejection of her dipping noodles.

"Hey, where's the old man?"

Ayame didn't look up as Naruto entered. "He took the day off to look for an intern to work part time. Dad's shoulders get all stiff whenever he tries something new." Her voice was evenly neutral, but held a dangerous quality - a sarcastic message along the lines of, "Go on. I dare you to comment." Just as she figured, Naruto didn't take the hint.

"Well, you coulda just saved yourselves all those problems if you hadn't changed Ichiraku in the first place," Naruto mumbled as he slipped onto a stool. "I mean, c'mon, why mess with a classic? Like that saying goes, 'If it isn't broken, don't fix it.' People prefer the original over something totally wonky."

Ayame was at the end of her rope. "Dipping noodles. Are. Not. Wonky," she snapped, whirling around to face the blonde with narrowed eyes. "Did you come here to gripe or actually order something?"

"Fine. Dipping. Noodles," Naruto shot back, as if the words were poison on his tongue.

"Coming. Right. Up," Ayame growled, continuing the one-word-a-sentence game as she turned to boil the noodles and prepare the broth. She received a whole minute or awkward yet oddly peaceful silence before Naruto decided to open his big mouth again.

"..You know, there have been tons of changes in my life over the course of the years. More of 'em bad than good. And I'd always think, 'Well, at least there will always be one constant in my life, one thing I know will never change, and I can count on that to be Ichiraku ramen!'"

Ayame sighed. "Oh, gimme a break! Weren't you sick of the same ole thing? Weren't you ready for something new?"

"No!"

"Well, that's ignorant of you." Ayame in frustration blew a portion of her brown bangs that were drooping into her eyes. "Business is constantly changing, and that includes Ichiraku's." She set two bowls in front of Naruto - one with noodles with one with broth.

Naruto glared down at it. "Could I have some pork-"

Ayame wagged her finger at him, irritable frown in place. "Ohh no," she interrupted. "Dad may have fallen for that one, but you're not pulling it twice when I'm around! Eat it how you're supposed to or I'm taking it back!"

Naruto sighed as if he'd rather eat chopped liver. "Fine." Using his trademark pouty voice, he picked up his chopsticks, blue eyes squinty. "Just so you know, I'm only eating this because I'm seriously starving and can't wait anymore."

"Oh, boo-hoo, poor Naruto. There are worse things to complain about, y'know. At least you're even getting food! Not a lot of people have that privilege!" Ayame shot back, satisfied when her biting yet truthful comment hit its mark. Naruto fell silent. On a roll and not about to be stopped now, more words spilled out as Ayame furiously wiped the counter for emphasis. "I wouldn't expect a boy to understand. They never think of anything but their stomachs. Boys don't know what they want! They think they like some food the best, they think they know what they wanna do in life, they think they wanna chase after some stupid dream that'll get them killed, they think they're in love with a girl who doesn't even look at them..!" Ichiraku had been Naruto's vent spot the majority of the time, and the topic of Sakura was no exception. Countless times Teuchi and Ayame had heard of Naruto's unwavering affection for the girl, who harbored the same feelings, except that they were directed to their former squadmate, Sasuke Uchiha. Well, of course Naruto likes someone his own age. You should follow his lead and do the same, Ayame! she inwardly chided herself.

Ayame watched, biting her lip as the intent of her words were not lost on Naruto. He slowly looked up, gaze unwavering as he frowned sharply. "Boys aren't the only ones," he retorted in an, oddly enough, eerily calm voice. "Girls don't know what they want, either. They always have on a different outfit or a new boy hanging on their arm everytime you see them."

Ayame's fist curled around her dishrag. How dare he stereotype her! "Not all of them," she hissed.

Naruto assessed her, one side of his mouth quirking in truimphant satisfaction. As if ticking her off was fun. "Then don't dish out what you can't take," he concluded.

Ayame's lips pressed together in a thin, tight line as indignation rose to the surface. She hated being toyed with, people twisting her words. She'd merely been trying to drop a hint. Look at me and tell me what you want, Naruto! Who you want! The words lodged in Ayame's throat, and without comment she grabbed an assortment of spices, storming to the back room to store them and ignoring Naruto's snicker.

She found things to keep her busy in the storage room as she regained her composure and sorted through her thoughts. Dangit, but swallowing your pride was a bittersweet taste. Why did she like Naruto so much all of a sudden, want him to feel the same way? He was just a kid! It was all so confusing. She shoved the thoughts away, deciding she'd think about them later tonight in the secrecy of her bedroom.

Then, Ayame suddenly noticed, it had been way too quiet.

No slurping, no muttering to himself, nothing. Suspiciously Ayame wiped her hands on her apron and went to go check.

No Naruto greeted her. He'd taken advantage of her absence and dashed off without paying, the idiot!

Fury quickly sprang up, but then Ayame caught sight of money on the counter. Silently she picked up the wad and thumbed through it, counting inwardly to herself. The exact amount of pay needed for the price of the noodles. And, she noted in surprise, he'd even added a tip, despite their "charming" conversation. She chuckled to herself, shaking her head. Naruto.. you're a surprise a minute. You really have changed.. After all, there was a time not long ago when Naruto would have jumped at the opportunity and scrambled off without paying.

When Ayame went to take the bowls he'd left empty (not surprising), a realization struck her as she studied the bowls. ..Only one bowl left signs of containing broth. He always poured the broth into the noodle bowl... so that meant.. Naruto hadn't mixed the broth and the noodles together. He'd eaten it the way it was supposed to be! Even though Ayame had told him to or she'd take away the meal, he'd had the perfect opportunity while she was in the back. ..You really are a surprise a minute, Naruto-san.. Ayame mused, a smile playing on her lips.

Feeling truimphant, she couldn't squelch the smile that continued to grow, or wipe it off as the day drew on. There was something about that.. that gave her hope, for some strange reason. It was a new, unexpected revelation that excited her.

Well, one thing was for sure.

It was a start.

A/N: *legaspz* But wait! It's not the end! xDD Yuppers, I'm turning this into a story! ^_^ I'm really, really excited to see how this will turn out. x33 Anyway, I hope this was a good start! ^.^ And I hope I was ok with Naruto, character-wise. He's really kinda hard to pinpoint, too. x/ To be honest, I didn't like the flow of this chapter.. but oh well. More will be to come. xD

Anyway, but hopefully this wasn't too boring..^^;; It'll get more interesting as the story draws on, promise! xD I'm really intrigued to see how their relationship will unfold. Actually, it's really hard to find an even barrier for Narume - you know, in NaruHina, she has a crush on him, and in NaruSaku, he has a crush on her. I want Narume to be different from those, y'know? Does that make sense? I'm gonna try to make it into more of a mutual thing.. but of course, no relationship can be normal where Naruto's involved. xDD Lol, I'mma have fun with this.. x]

Anyway, reviews and feedback would be greatly appreciated! =D Thankies!