A/N: Thanks everyone for the wonderful reviews/alerts/faves! Whew, I thought ppl might not like this story.
OoOo
"Whoa! Hey, watch where you're waving that thing!" cried the naked blond.
Ignoring his plea, Sakura held the kitchen knife in his direction. The naked blond had one hand covering his privates while his other was held out in her direction.
"Who the hell are you and what are you doing in my apartment!"
However the blonde's wide cerulean eyes were too busy staring at the huge kitchen knife in her hand. With a nervous smile, he asked, "Um, can you please put the knife down and we'll talk?"
She scowled, "And let you rape me?" she scoffed, "Tell me now or I'll cut off your-your thing!"
At that the blond paled. "Okay, okay!" he took a hasty step back, "But I'll just let you know that I won't hurt you."
To be honest Sakura couldn't help but feel as if she knew the naked blond. Maybe it was the sparkling blue staring at her or just his presence, but whatever it was, she wasn't about to let her guard down. She sure as hell won't go down without a fight, that's for damn sure!
"Start talking!"
He flinched. "Um… for starters my name is Naruto."
"Okay, Naruto, now tell me what you're doing in my home and why the hell are you naked?"
Blushing slightly at being reminded he was naked, the blond lowered his head. "Well, that what happen when I transform back to my human form."
At this, Sakura arched a thin pink brow. "Say that again?"
He grinned sheepishly, "You know, didn't you realize I was the kit you were caring for?"
How utterly ridiculous! She thought angrily. "Okay, you crazy lunatic, I'm calling the police!"
"No, no, wait!" he waved his frantic hands at her.
Only at Sakura's gaping mouth and red face did he realize he had both hands holding out towards her. With a loud apology, he quickly slapped one hand at his privates and instantly winced at the harsh connection.
"As I was saying," he gritted through clenched teeth, "I can prove it to you."
Disbelief fluttered across her delicate feature, although she would be lying if she said she wasn't curious. After all, how did those white clouds appear around her and her furry friend disappearing? Staring at the man called Naruto; she couldn't take her eyes off those… were there whiskers on his cheeks? Though what really caught her eyes was the silver collar around his neck, it was the exact same one on the kit's neck.
She tensed when Naruto slapped his hands together, "Kyuubi!"
With a loud poof, he disappeared in a cloud of white smoke. Wide green eyes stared as an orange fur kit came trotting out with excited mewls. With another loud poof, the tall five foot six blond man emerged from the white smokes.
Shock couldn't describe the look on the pink haired face. Without warning, Sakura prick her finger with the knife and gave a cry of pain. Almost instantly, Naruto was at her side, taking her hand in his he brought her newly injured finger toward his mouth.
Unfortunately, Sakura was too frozen to move while the naked blond suck the blood from her wound. "Th-This isn't happening," she muttered numbly.
Releasing her finger with a loud pop, Naruto examined her with worry eyes, "I'm sorry."
Only when he brought her finger back into his mouth did she finally snapped and let out a surprise yelp. Jumping back to a safer distance, Sakura could only stare at him.
"Don't you see, Sakura?"
Unfortunately for him, Sakura was jabbing an accused finger at him. "You're not supposed to be real!" she screamed, "Things like you only exist in fairy tales and folklores!"
He scoffed. "Oh I'm real, alright," he grinned slyly, "C'mon now, I'm as real the sun in the sky and the-!"
"Don't get all philosophical on me!" she snapped angrily.
He grinned, flashing her pairs of sharp tooth fangs.
Sakura could only stare with wide shocked eyes.
"I am called a Kitsune, the last of my kind," Naruto took a hesitant step toward her, "Because of our powers we were being captured and forced into servitude by a Clan known as the Uchiha."
Licking her dry lips, Sakura swallowed the lump in her throat and forced the words out of her mouth, "The Uchiha?"
Naruto nodded grimly. "Yes. For generations my family had been forced to serve the Clan until all that remained of my blood was me."
Now knowing she harboured a fox demon in her living room, Sakura watched as the blonde's blue eyes shine suspiciously like tears. "So, this Clan, these Uchiha…you ran away from them?"
He nodded, "Though I was lucky, because I wasn't bonded to any of the Clan members."
Curious, she asked, "Bonded?"
"Yes, the Blood Bond…" he pointed towards her pinpricked finger, "The moment I tasted your blood, I am now bonded to you. You, Sakura, are my Master."
Her jaw literally drop, "Huh?"
He chuckled amusedly at her reaction. "I was Masterless for nearly three hundred years, but from the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew without a doubt, you're the one for me, Sakura."
Against her will Sakura felt her stomach bubble at the sound of her name, "Wa-Wait, I'm no one master and I-"
"Look at your hand."
Frowning oddly at his words, Sakura did as he suggested and let out a startled scream. There, on the back part of her hand, was a strange black inked tattoo in the shape of a spiral circle. "What the hell is this?"
"Calm down, it's just my family's crest on you!"
Sakura would have loved to concentrate on his words, but unfortunately he was jumping up and down and all her focus was now on a certain body part. And of course, the naked blond, must've noticed her hot blush, finally had the decency to cover his privates with both hands. Clearing her throat nervously, Sakura went to her bathroom and returned with a pink towel. Thankfully the naked blond didn't protest on the color and just wrapped it around his narrowed waist.
Narrowed muscular waist and hard abs, she noticed with a quick fan to the face.
"Okay, so-so are you saying…I'm stuck with you?"
Unbashfully, the fox demon's lips curved into a sly smile. "If you want, I can write you a hand guide to raising two shape-shifting demons."
Sakura's eyes widened in horror, "Two!"
"Yes, Gaara and I," he shrugged as if it weren't a big thing.
"And who is Gaara?"
He winced at her screeching tone, "The Tanuki, the raccoon demon sleeping inside your bedroom."
Oh Kami, there's a naked man sleeping in her bed!
Without another word, Sakura ran into her bedroom, already she was expecting to see a naked man sprawling on top of her freshly washed sheets. Upon entering, she halted at the sight of the slumbering pup on top of her pillow. She instantly expelled a sigh of relief.
"I can never thank you enough for taking care of my friend."
Sakura gave a start at the soft male voice behind her. Looking over her shoulder, her eyes widen at the gentle blue staring back at her.
"You took us in without being ask to, and for that, I want to say thank you."
Not knowing what else to say, Sakura could only nod in respond.
He chuckled. "Gaara is the last of his kind, but unlike me, he had a previous master."
She frowned, "Previous master?"
"Yeah, from what Gaara told me, the man was a horrible person. Gaara was raised from a pup by his master and was forced to do terrible things. It all involved blood on his hands." He added grimly.
She gasped, "Are you saying he was forced to kill people?"
He nodded, all light of laughter faded from the blonde's eyes. "Gaara couldn't take it anymore and…" he scratched the back of his head nervously before saying, "He killed him. And in the world of demons we are forbidden to harm our Masters."
She gulped, "What happen?"
"Gaara was deemed unstable and, from what I heard, was cursed," sighing heavily, Naruto walk into the room and sat down on the carpet floor. "His previous master's Clan cursed him with insomnia. To not sleep, ever, is a terrible thing."
Terrible indeed, Sakura agreed. "So you two had been on the run today for…three hundred years?"
"Three hundred for me, but for Gaara I think, close to two thousand years…"
"Two thousand years? Are you serious?" Sakura cried out in disbelief, "Are you telling me he hasn't slept in two thousand years?"
He nodded and waved his hand towards the pup, "Right now he's only meditating to heal his wounds."
"How did he get hurt?"
"We came close to being caught by the Uchiha Clan. Gaara got hurt protecting me."
She shook her aching head. "I don't get it, how is it you two are these powerful demons and yet you're stuck in the form of two harmless puppies?"
"It's the curse of not having Masters; we're defenseless without one," he informed her, "Without Masters, we're easily killed and disposed of."
"So it's your choice to choose a master?"
He nodded, "Only one demon per master."
Running a frustrated hand through her pink hair, Sakura kept her eyes on the pup, but directed her words to the Kitsune behind her. "You're saying this Uchiha Clan had been hunting you for three hundred years, correct?
Frowning at her question, Naruto nodded in respond, "Yes."
"Three hundred years and do you think they will give up once they find you have a…Master?" Just saying that word left a bitter taste in her mouth.
He stiffened. "I'm bonded to you and only you, Sakura. My whole life now revolves around you and your wellbeing. I am to protect you no matter what!"
She definitely didn't like the thought of having someone tied to her with an invisible string. "Okay," she narrowed her eyes at the pup, "Tell me why Gaara was able to kill his Master if rule said he couldn't?"
At this, Naruto could only shake his head. "I honestly don't know. Maybe his previous Master wasn't the one he was destined for."
She arched a brow at his words, "Destined?"
"Yeah, I mean, the moment I smelt your blood I couldn't stop myself from tasting it… it almost felt as if there was this strong pull and I had no choice but to follow. Gaara was forced to serve his previous master; I guess because of that the bond wasn't strong enough."
Taking her eyes off the pup, Sakura's attention went to the black spiral tattoo on her hand. She would be lying if she said she didn't feel this pull. Even right now she had the strong urge to touch this Naruto character. Clutching her tattooed fist, she tore her eyes off the mark and back to the amused blond.
"What?" she snapped, irritated that he could find the whole situation funny.
"You feel it too, don't you?"
She blushed at his word and quickly ducked her head, "I-l don't know what you're talking about."
"I feel it too," he touched a hand to his chest, "It's a part of the bond, the need to have contact is strong. If we were to stay apart for too long, I'll start to go into pain."
She paled, "Only you will be in pain?"
He nodded. "It's the responsibility of the demon to stay close to his or hers master, we aren't allowed to leave your side for too long or else. You might experience some mild discomfort but nothing serious."
His words were meant to reassure her, but the thought of him in pain because of her made her chest tightened in pain. "This is real then?"
His lips stretched into an apologetic smile. "It's real, Master Sakura."
She winced, "Don't call me Master, just Sakura will do."
"As you wish," he bowed his head.
"I'll go and try to find you some clothes, kay?"
Thrusting her hands into her pockets, Sakura took a step towards him when suddenly a loud, gurgling sound filled the room. It wasn't until she saw the red blush on Naruto's face did she realized it came from his stomach.
He let out a nervous laugh, "Sorry, I guess that can of tuna and bit of beef didn't fill me up."
Embarrassed at that fact she hadn't given her guest a full meal, Sakura brush past him and made her way into the kitchen. "Hope you don't mind leftovers," she called from the kitchen.
Back in the bedroom, Naruto's lips stretched further into a grateful smile. His blue eyes stayed on his mediating companion before kneeling down beside the bed.
"Hey, Gaara, what do you think of my new Master?"
The pup's eyes fluttered open to glare at him with yellow eyes. You're an idiot, Naruto.
Naruto laughed at his friend's growling voice inside his head, "I'm telling you, buddy, she's the one."
The pup rolled his eyes and hissed. She's human, and they're all the same greedy, blood thirsty creatures.
Unfortunately Naruto only laughed at his friend's grumpiness, "Yup, definitely blood thirsty for someone to bring in two stray animals and take care of them. Bind their wounds, feed them and bathe them," he casually reached over and rubbing the irritated pup's ear, "She's not like the others, I tasted her blood. Her heart is pure of corruption, isn't that what we've been looking for?"
Gaara merely growled and swipe at Naruto with his uninjured paw.
At his friend's attempt attack, the blond nearly double over and laugh, "Ooh, that's real scary coming from a little baby raccoon."
Gaara hissed. You're putting her in danger, Naruto.
Sobering, the Kitsune glanced over his shoulder and listen to the small noises from the kitchen. "I'll protect her. Give her a chance, Gaara, she's special," saying that, Naruto stood up and made his way toward the door, but before he left the pup had one last thing to say.
Nice pink towel you have there.
OoOo
Sakura shouldn't have been surprised; she really shouldn't have been surprised, but watching Naruto devour everything in sight had left her mouth hanging open. While Naruto slurped the last of the noodles off his plate, Sakura had gone into her closet to find any big clothes for her guest. Unfortunately the only thing she found was an old bathrobe she used during winter, which also happened to be pink. Luckily for her her guest never complained when she showed him the robe.
"So, after you're done eating I'll make your bed in the living room, kay?"
He nodded.
"Just let me grab some extra blankets and pillows."
While Sakura was setting up his sleeping place, Naruto had casually asked her if she had any plans for tomorrow. "I'm working at the restaurant tomorrow, so I'm going to need you to stay here-"
"Sakura," at his tone, her words halted in her throat, "I can't stay away from you for too long, remember?
Oh, right, the pain.
Rubbing her temples at the oncoming headache, she sighed, "Okay, we'll figure something out tomorrow then, yeah?"
He nodded without complaint.
While Naruto went back to the bedroom, Sakura went straight to the bathroom and took a long deserved hot bath. With everything that went on today, she was surprised she hadn't fainted from the sheer shock of it. Here she was, a twenty-two year old, stuck with her very own demon, oh but not just one, but two! While one was trotting around in her pink robe, the other one was stuck in his puppy form and meditating on her bed. This was reality, wasn't it? It wasn't like she was stuck in some horrible written movie, right? It wasn't like she was going crazy or being punish for something she'd done in an afterlife. So why was it Kami doing this to her!
"Relax, Sakura, get a grip," she smoothed herself before taking in a deep breath. "Maybe when you wake up tomorrow all of this will go away…"
Yeah, and I'm the Queen of England, she thought sarcastically.
She had to face it; she was stuck with two demons living under her roof.
Sakura wasn't surprise when she emerged from the bathroom to find Naruto leaning against the wall. She was just thankful she had already dressed in sleep ware over-sized t-shirt and shorts.
"Is there something else you needed, Naruto?"
Before Sakura could react she was pulled into a breath-taking embrace. She grunted when her face slammed against his hard chest. At this moment she should be experiencing high irritation and the need to remove this demon from her. Unfortunately, somehow his touch on her had the opposite effect. If anything, her body, against her will of course, leaned into the warm embrace. It almost felt as though she was hugging a long lost friend and the emotion bursting inside her nearly rendered the pink haired female into tears. This wasn't like her. Sakura always hated when someone, especially strangers, got into her personal space, hence why she had to get away from Ino and her constant need for attention.
"Thank you, Sakura, for everything."
Hearing this she had at least expected him to pull away, but no, if anything the arms wrapped around her body only tightened. Squeaking, Sakura pulled her head back to look him in the eyes and immediately regretted it. In all her life Sakura had never seen someone's eyes filled with such warmth and affection. It should've made her feel uncomfortable and awkward, but maybe it was this damn bond he had mentioned earlier because all she felt at the moment was…
"Good-night," he pressed a kiss on top of her head before pulling away.
Bewildered, Sakura could only watch as Naruto disappeared into the living room. Rubbing the spot where he had kissed her, the pink haired girl could only grumble a curse before walking into the bedroom.
Hearing the door clicked behind him, Naruto lips curved into a sly smile before lying down on the couch with the blanket draped over him. "I hope she's a morning person," he snickered amusedly.
With only the moon's light shining through her window, Sakura came to a halt at a pair of glowing yellow eyes regarding her from the bed. "Oh yeah, I forgot about you," she muttered.
The pup merely lowered his head on his paw and closed his eyes.
Well he's definitely different from Naruto, she confirmed.
Making her way toward the bed, she got to her side of the bed and slowly slipped under the thick blanket. Maybe she was moving too much because her little companion decided to let out an annoyed growl. Muttering an apology, she laid her head on her pillow and sighed.
Tomorrow was going to be a new day, she'll figure something what to do with her new companion, but until then maybe some sleep might take away this headache.
OoOo
Warmth surrounded her when Sakura awoke from her drowsy sleep. The sun's lights were beaming through her curtains and onto the bed. Already she could feel that today was going to be a long one. Groaning sleepily, Sakura made a move to leave the bed, but only to feel a pair of arms tightening around her. Dread filled her at the thought of Naruto sneaking into her bed late at night. Snapping her eyes open, she could only gasp when she realized it wasn't Naruto's sleeping face in front of her. Indeed, this mysterious man had blood red hair, with an odd red tattooed on the right side of his forehead that said 'Ai'. Translated, it meant 'love'. Traveling down further, Sakura's breath hitched when she noticed his eyes were open and was staring straight at her! His eye color, she couldn't help noticing, were the lightest green she had ever seen. Even those black rings around his eyes only seem to make the color more intense.
Now would have been the perfect time to scream, but only problem was she couldn't find her damn voice.
"Now, before you start screaming, human," a rough irritated voice broke her out of thought. "I thought I'll let you know I'm not a morning person and if you start screaming I will stuff your face with a pillow."
Sakura could only nod in response.
Satisfied she wasn't going to scream, Gaara removed his arms and left the bed. Sakura could only let out a startled yelp at his state of nakedness. Only thing she glimpsed was the paleness of his skin.
"Yeah, I should have warned you; Gaara is not a morning person," a male voice said from behind her.
Gasping, Sakura glanced over her shoulder to see Naruto lying comfortably on the other side of the bed with the covers drawn to his chin. The blond didn't even look at least bit guilty lying there with his hands behind his head.
"Na-Naruto, when-?"
He pouted. "It was too cold in the living room."
Naruto never saw her fist coming.
OoOo
A/N: Your reviews help keep my imagination alive =)
