Happy New Year everyone! Sorry for the wait, but I figure I can at least start out 2018 by finishing this story! Let me know whatcha think, bye!
Naruto covered his mouth, stifling a yawn. "This is the last step." He murmured, grinning as he stirred the yellow mixture on the stove, watching as it changed into a light, fluffy pile of scrambled eggs. He let them cook a few more seconds before turning off the burner, then turned off the timer, which had been about to go off.
A fishy aroma filled the air as he opened the oven door, grabbing an oven mitt and taking out the small tray which contained the remainder of the fish he'd bought at the market. Setting it on the stove to cool, he opened the cupboards, getting out two plates and glasses and setting them on the table.
Then, he set to work scooping an even amount of eggs onto each plate, repeating the process after with the fish. When he was finished, he got out the milk, filling each glass halfway, and stood back to admire his work.
Deciding the display was as good as an imperfect cook like him was going to get, the blond moved onto phase two of his plan, and headed to the bedroom where Nozomi, still in human form lay. He crept over to her and gently nudged her sleeping form. When repeated attempts failed to get a response, however, he decided to try a different approach and reached for her ears, stroking them from base to tip.
A small grin began to play on the girl's face, encouraging him and he sped up his ministrations, chuckling when this elicited a soft rumbling from her. Well, purring was a start, but he needed her to wake up, so he took a daring approach, leaning in and blowing softly in one of her ears. When it flattened in protest, he repeated the action with her other ear and leaned back, beaming as long lashes fluttered, and eyes the color of gold peered up at him.
"Naruto-kun?" The brunette cast a sleepy glance at the clock and gasped, looking back at the boy, annoyance seeping into her stare. "It's three o'clock! What are you doing up already?!"
Naruto opened his mouth to respond, but at that moment, the cat girl rolled over, back turned to him as she announced she was going back to sleep.
"Wait, you can't go back to sleep yet!" The protest left his lips as he grabbed her shoulder, rolling her onto her back and she glowered lightly up at him.
"Naruto-kun...I know you're up early today, but why do I have to get up, too?" She whined, trying to turn back over with little success.
"Just come with me...I have something to show you!" The whiskered boy pleaded, tugging her hand to help her up.
Deciding to humor him, Nozomi relented. Promising herself that she'd lay back down after she saw whatever her friend was going on about, the brunette climbed out of bed and motioned for Naruto to lead the way.
As they walked down the hall, he made sure to stay a few steps ahead, and just before they reached the family room, he threw a hand over her eyes, making her frown. "Naruto-kun, I can't see!" She protested, frowning as the blond chuckled.
"That's the point. It's a surprise, -ttebayo!"
Giving a sigh, Nozomi allowed him to lead her. After a few seconds they reached the kitchen, and her senses suddenly woke up, alerting her of the delicious smells in the air. Before she could ask what was going on, the hand obscuring her vision was removed, and she gasped at the sight before her: On the table sat two plates loaded with scrambled eggs and baked fish (one, she noticed had an extra slice of fish). Chopsticks were set by each plate, as well as a tall glass of milk.
Stunned, the brunette turned to Naruto, slightly tongue tied. "Naruto-I-you did this?"
The blond nodded proudly, puffing his chest a little. "That's right, are you surprised? I'd say you are, from the look on your face, hehe.." His demeanor changed as he glanced away, smiling bashfully. "I thought it would be nice to have breakfast together once while you're human. I hope you like it."
All thoughts of heading back to bed were swept from Nozomi's mind as she gazed warmly at the blond, touched by how far he'd gone to spend some extra time with her. "I'll bet it tastes just as good as it looks!" She complimented, watching as a light shade of pink colored his cheeks.
"I don't know about that. My cooking skills are really only basic, eheh..." Hearing her giggle, he shook his head quickly, motioning toward the meal. "We should eat before it gets cold."
Nodding, Nozomi reached for a chair, but Naruto beat her to it, pulling it out from under the table and motioning for her to sit. She did so and he pushed the chair in for her before making haste to get into his own seat. Picking up his chopsticks, he looked across the table and grinned at the surprise on her face. This must be the first time she'd had a gentleman take care of her, he thought smugly.
Glancing up and catching his eye, the brunette grinned shyly. "Itadakimasu."
Echoing his own thanks, Naruto dug into the food, as did she, and the room fell into a comfortable silence. Nozomi cast one last gaze at the blond, still overwhelmed with emotion over what he'd done for her. Could it be because it was Christmas Eve, and possibly their last full day together? Plopping a piece of fish into her mouth after some trial and error, she chewed thoughtfully, all the while hoping Naruto wouldn't realize just how inexperienced she was with her utensils.
…..
Naruto had noticed Nozomi's eyes drooping; if he was being honest, he was still pretty tired himself, so after breakfast he suggested they go back to bed. The brunette agreed, and to his pleasure, she cuddled into his chest without a second thought once they'd gotten comfortable under the covers.
Now, hours later he paced back and forth in the same room, muttering under his breath. Back in her small cat form, Nozomi watched in confusion, finally asking what was on his mind and he turned to her, pouting.
"Well, it's kinda silly but...I was hoping I wouldn't have to work today. I wanted to make the most of your last full day here, but my schedule says I go in tonight so..." He trailed off with a breathy sigh before plopping onto the mattress.
'He wanted to spend the day together? Well, that's easy enough to pull off.' Nozomi thought, her bells giving off a soft jingle.
Immediately, Naruto's phone began to ring, and he answered. "Hello? Oh, Teuchi-sama!" He cast a curious look at Nozomi, who was suspiciously avoiding eye contact, but before he could wonder if she was involved, he heard something that made his brows arch. "Wait, what? Seriously?"
The grin on his face faded after a second, and he shook his head. "But...don't you need help? It's Christmas Eve...Yeah, I know you've got other workers..." He sighed inwardly and shrugged. "Well, if that's what you want, I'll gladly take it. Thank you! Yeah, I'll see you later. Bye."
Hanging the phone up, Naruto's eyes slid over to the black cat who had laid down and was feigning sleep. "So...That was my boss. He told me to take a paid day off today as thanks for all my hard work lately. Do you know anything about that, Nozomi-chan?"
Seeing a slight twitch of the feline's whiskers, he smirked, leaning over and stroking her fur roughly to force a response from her. "It was you, wasn't it?"
A weak mew of protest came from the Christmas cat before she jumped up and began smoothing her fur down. Seeing his smug look, she gave him a teasing grin of her own before batting him in the face with her tail.
"Well, what was I supposed to do? You're over there all sad and mopey, and I still have Christmas magic left!" She paused to lick her paw, using it to smooth a patch of fur down with a shrug. "Besides, you're not the only one who wanted to spend the day together."
She'd muttered that last bit, but Naruto still caught it and a hundred watt smile spread across his face as he picked her up and crushed her against him in a warm hug. "Thanks, Nozomi-chan!"
After a few seconds, he released the cat, an excited grin appearing on his face. "Well, we've got the whole day now, so…"
Nozomi quirked a brow as the boy trailed off, an expectant look in his eyes. "So?" She echoed, urging him on, and his grin seemed to widen in response.
"Sooo, let's do something! Like…" He paused, putting a hand to his chin in thought for a moment. "I know! Why don't we go play in the snow?" Seeing the less than enthused expression on his furry companion's face, he furrowed his brows, lip puckering slightly in a pout. "C'mon, Nozomi-chan...please? Just for a little while?"
There was something about the pleading look in the blond's eyes that made it hard to argue, and so she found herself nodding. "Oh, alright. For a little while." She agreed reluctantly.
This caused her charge to cheer loudly, promising her she wouldn't regret it as he went back and forth, digging out everything he would need to stay warm outside. There was a moment when he paused, regretfully coming to the conclusion that he couldn't put a jacket or mittens on Nozomi. "Oh, I know! I can carry you in my jacket like Kiba used to do with Akamaru!" He decided with a grin as he changed quickly.
When he was ready, he scooped Nozomi off of the bed, placing her inside his jacket and zipping it up. The cat poked her head out as Naruto headed out the door, shuddering as cool air assaulted her sensitive ears, and tucked her head back inside the jacket.
'I think I'll just stay in here for now.' She decided, clinging to the fabric for warmth.
…..
Nozomi must have dozed off, because it seemed only moments had gone by when she felt a hand on her head, and she blinked the sleep from her eyes, sticking her head out of Naruto's jacket to look around. Her whiskers twitched rapidly as she felt the cold air, and she wrinkled her nose in discomfort. "It's cold out here, Naruto-kun…"
Chuckling, Naruto assured her that she'd forget about it once they started playing, urging her to come out and she did, trying not to grimace as her paw pads touched the ground. Noticing that the blond had walked toward a patch of snow, she hurried after him, shivering.
'I'll forget about this numbing cold? Yeah, right!' She snorted under her breath, and looked around. They were at a park; the landscape was dotted with small, weather beaten trees as far as her eyes could see, and just a few feet away a red bridge arched across a large, frozen pond. Maybe the wooden structure would be a little easier on her paws.
A glance at Naruto told her that he was busily gathering snow into a ball, so she took the opportunity to check the bridge out. She placed a paw gingerly onto the first plank of wood and shuddered. It wasn't nearly as cold as the frozen ground, but it wasn't warm, either.
'But I guess beggars can't be choosers.' She thought wryly as she ventured further onto the structure, jumping onto the railing to lie down. Once she'd made herself comfortable, she gazed down at the frozen body of water, idly wondering how long it would be before the cold got to Naruto as well.
Her thoughts were interrupted as she noticed a slight movement under the ice, and unable to quell her curiosity, the cat climbed onto a snow covered rock at the bank of the pond, staring at the pond intently. 'I know I saw something move down there.'
Several moments went by before she saw it again: a swish of a tail fin! Her eyes lit up as she saw the small, wriggling fish pass by, seemingly unfazed by the cold water as it disappeared under the bridge. Shortly after, another fish appeared, and another, each flitting about in their own random directions, and unable to contain her excitement, Nozomi lunged at them, completely forgetting about the icy surface.
Crack! Gold eyes shut tight as the cat fell backwards and rubbed her muzzle, wincing. That ice was hard! She got back up, only to face plant again as her paws slipped out from under her, knocking her flat on her belly.
Nozomi decided that the fish weren't worth the aggravation -all that she wanted now was to get off the pond! Unsheathing her claws, she began to get up, being careful not to make any sudden movements that might throw off her balance. Her claws scraped the frozen surface as she inched forward at an agonizingly slow pace that even a turtle would scoff at.
"There you are!" The booming voice made her jump and fall again, and her eyes narrowed into slits as she glanced up, clearly unamused as she spotted Naruto on the snow bank. "Naruto-kun, you scared me!"
"Sorry.." The blond rubbed the back of his neck, grinning sheepishly. "So, what are you doing on the ice?"
"Trying to get off!" Nozomi grunted as she struggled to her paws again. Her legs trembled in protest after having fallen so many times before.
Naruto's apologetic demeanor vanished as he watched, arms folded and brows raised. "Yeah, I can see that. So what were you doing out there to begin with?" A flicker of movement at the edge of the pond drew his gaze downward, and his lips curled into a smirk at what he saw. "Were you chasing the fish?" He asked in a low voice, trying hard to contain his amusement.
"What? No! I….I thought I'd try ice skating-oomph!" Nozomi's face collided with the slippery surface once more and she looked up slowly, grateful for the fur hiding her embarrassment as the blond burst into laughter. "Okay, I was trying to chase them! What about it?" She grumbled through gritted teeth, keeping her belly on the ice and attempting to use her forepaws to propel herself forward.
Pressing a blue, mitten-clad hand to his mouth, Naruto's voice shook with laughter as he spoke. "You keep trying to prove you're nothing like a regular cat, but here you are constantly behaving like one! It's just kinda funny if you ask me, -ttebayo!"
'Well, who asked you?' Nozomi grimaced as she continued her struggle, feeling a surge of relief as she realized that this method, though difficult, was actually getting her somewhere. If she'd only thought of this sooner, her face wouldn't be so sore right now. With a sigh, she lifted her gaze back toward her charge, pouting. "Hey, that's all true! It's just really hard to fight cat-like instincts once you're stuck inside a cat's body!" She retorted.
The snow covered bank was getting closer, to her relief, and she doubled her efforts. Finally, with a push from her hind legs, she propelled face first into the snow, and Naruto hurried over to the fallen feline.
"Thank goodness that's over." She sighed as she sat up and gazed up at the blond, who took one look at her and began to snicker. "What's so funny?" She demanded, tilting her head to the side in confusion.
Unable to answer without laughing, Naruto took out his phone and snapped a picture, then turned it for her to see. Nozomi took one look at the screen and froze. There was snow stuck to her face, giving the appearance of a fluffy, white beard that, when paired with her snow-covered eyebrows, made her look like Santa Claus. Rolling her eyes in amusement, the Christmas cat stood up and shook the snow out of her fur, trying to dry off.
"Hey!"
Surprised, Nozomi glanced up, a giggle escaping her as she realized that she'd gotten Naruto with the snow. "Well, I guess that's what you get for laughing at me," she teased as she turned to walk away. "Maybe now you'll stop making me the source of all your jo-"
Naruto made a face at this and scooped up a snowball, flinging it at her and hitting the base of her tail. This elicited a startled shriek from the cat as she jumped and turned around quickly, scowling at his innocent grin. "Hey! Wh-what was that?!" She demanded, shaking rapidly to rid her fur of the snow.
"That was a snowball," The blond replied with a smirk on his face, "and if I were you, I'd get running, 'cause there's a lot more where that came from."
"No way, what a cheap shot!" Nozomi protested, scowling in response. "Besides, what makes you think I know anything about snowball fights?!"
Naruto's eyes danced with amusement as he raised an eyebrow, giving her a look that plainly said "Oh, please". "If you can hold a cup, you can make a snowball." He grabbed another clump of snow, grinning deviously. "That is, if you have a chance to try."
This time, the Christmas cat was ready, and she leapt off to the side, dodging the icy ball he threw. "Alright, if that's how you want to play it, fine. Just don't cry when I put snow down your pants!"
"I'd like to see you try!" Came the whiskered boy's laugh, "You won't get that close without being nailed again, -ttebayo!"
Golden eyes lit up with mischief at his challenge, and Nozomi chuckled darkly, scooping snow into her paws, too excited at the thought of payback to care about the cold. "Don't underestimate a woman out for revenge. Even if that woman just so happens to be a cat, nya."
…..
Naruto came to regret his challenge. This may have been Nozomi's first snowball fight, but she was a quick learner, and coupled with her natural stealthiness, the feline soon caught him off guard with a well aimed snowball of her own. The blond yelped in shock at the chill on his backside and took off running, disappearing into the public restroom. Several moments later, he re-emerged from the doorway, and Nozomi took one look at his miffed expression and hunched over, her paws clutching her sides as she trembled with laughter.
"Well, not to rub it in, but I told you I'd get even, didn't I?" She snickered, watching a pink tinge creep into the boy's face.
"Okay, you win." He grumbled, folding his arms across his chest and glancing off to the side. "Can we change the subject now, please?"
In response, Nozomi shivered, hugging herself even tighter as a chilly breeze drifted through, ruffling her damp fur. "Man it's c-c-cold! How much longer do you want to stay here?"
Naruto winced at the cool air and buried his hands in his jacket pocket with a shudder. "We can go now. I need to change out of these pants, thanks to you." He replied, ignoring the cat's triumphant expression. A soft sigh left his lips as he gazed at the long road home. "If only I had a car...it sucks to have to walk in this cold!"
"Who said anything about walking home?"
He didn't notice the grin on his furry companion's face, so it took him by surprise when he heard the soft jingle of a bell, and he glanced at her wonderingly. "Nozomi-chan? What are you up to?"
His question was met with a chuckle before she urged him to come with her, so he did, following her to the park entrance.
"How about going home in this?" The feline suggested, and he followed her line of sight, eyes widening.
Parked at the curb stood a beautiful mahogany sleigh with a chocolate brown horse attached at its head. Naruto's jaw dropped as he took in the spectacle, only snapping out of his daze when he saw the black cat hop onto the seat. "If you don't hurry up, I'm going to leave you behind." She teased, and he did a double take, snapping back to reality and sliding in next to her.
The sled was roomy, and he imagined it could comfortably fit two people. Maybe he and Nozomi could do this again when it got dark, he thought, a goofy grin creeping onto his face at the thought of sitting in such close, perfect-for-cuddling proximity.
His eyes scanned the interior, trying to memorize as much as he could of the moment, stopping on a soft, red blanket with white lining. Leaning forward, he picked the cover up and spread it over himself, snickering when he heard Nozomi's muffled shout from underneath.
"Sorry. Just thought you might be cold." He lifted the blanket and grinned apologetically at her miffed expression, eliciting a sigh from the cat.
"It's okay. I just couldn't see." She paused, glancing toward the horse's reigns, then back at the boy. "So, um...have you ever drove one of these things before?"
In truth, Naruto had never ridden a horse, let alone driven a horse-drawn sleigh, but he was determined to learn. Besides, there was no way he could let a cat do it… How hard could it be, anyway?
Quite hard, it turned out. Just getting the horse to obey proved a challenge, and Naruto was ready to yank out his hair in frustration when the mammal looked at him with big, sleepy eyes before folding its legs under its body to lie down. At last, with the aid of a crispy carrot, and a bit of prodding from Nozomi's claws, the sleigh was moving, the bells around the horse's neck jingling loudly as it trotted down the street.
"Um...hey, Nozomi-chan?"
Said cat glanced up, surprised to see an uncharacteristically shy look on the boy's face and tilted her head slightly. "Yes? What is it?"
Naruto paused, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "Well...I was wondering. Do you mind if we eat dinner a little later tonight?" Seeing the questioning look on her face, he hurried to explain, "It's just that...I'd like to have dinner with you in human form...since…"
Since this might be your last night here.
He hadn't finished his sentence, but Nozomi knew what he was getting at. Her eyes softened, and she nodded understandingly, a small smile on her face. "Okay...that's fine with me, Naruto-kun."
A relieved smile spread across Naruto's face, and he gave a light tug on the horse's reins, steering them toward home.
…..
Back in the warmth of Naruto's apartment, Nozomi opted for a nap, figuring it wouldn't hurt since they weren't eating at their normal time tonight. Jumping onto the couch, she dug her claws into the worn cushion, circling a couple times before lying down, her tail wrapped around her comfortably. She was just beginning to drift off when the seat beside her sank in, and she cracked an eye open to see her Christmas client staring down at her.
Her tongue curled back in a big yawn as she fully opened her eyes, deciding that sleep could wait until she found out what the boy wanted.
Naruto, now realizing that he'd interrupted the feline's nap gave an apologetic grin and reached out, stroking her velvety head a few times in apology. "Hey, Nozomi-chan...if you're not busy right now, I was...uhh.." It was useless to keep beating around the bush, so he stopped talking and held out a tiny package. It was wrapped in pretty silver paper with a small, fluorescent green bow on the top. The tag read "To Nozomi, my one and only Christmas cat".
"Naruto-kun..I-what is this for?" Nozomi asked in a small voice, and a faint tint of red colored Naruto's face in response as he averted his gaze momentarily, scratching the back of his head.
"It's not much, but I wanted to give you something to remember me by, cause I know I'll never forget you." There was a pause before he realized what he implied, and his brows knit as he shook his head abruptly, frowning. "Not that you're gonna have to leave or anything, because I will definitely find the right wish!" His voice lowered an octave as he smiled sheepishly. "I just..saw this and it made me think of you."
"Oh...I see." A shy grin played at the feline's muzzle as she gazed back at the small present he'd placed before her. There was a short silence that was broken by the less-than-discrete clearing of the man's throat, and, realizing that he was waiting for her to open the gift, Nozomi picked the gift up in her paws, slicing the paper with her claws to reveal a small box. Brows raising in question, she looked up to see Naruto motioning for her to open it, only to sweat drop as he realized she'd need help.
"Um, right. Let me help," he murmured, lifting the lid off and setting it to the side.
Nozomi peered in the box and her breath caught in her throat at the small charm resembling a ramen bowl attached to a dainty, silver chain resting inside.
"You're the only cat I've ever met that liked ramen as much as me...or at all, really," Naruto began, watching her face. "Do you like it?"
The cat turned to him, a radiant smile on her face as she got up and climbed onto his lap, standing on her hind legs to nuzzle his face. "I love it." She said softly, feeling the tell tale sting of tears behind her eyes. 'No one's ever given me a present before.'
"I'm so glad." Relief replaced the slight apprehension she'd seen on his face as he beamed. "Here, let me help you put it on." Gently removing the charm from the box, he slipped the chain around her neck and slid the clasp into place. Then, he picked the cat up and carried her to the bathroom, placing her on the sink so she could look in the mirror.
A grin appeared on her face as she realized that it was just small enough that she could hide it under her collar. Unless one knew it was there, it wouldn't stand out at all, which was perfect for her job. She glanced up and caught Naruto's eye in the mirror, and a tender look passed through her eyes as she realized he'd been watching her. Turning around, she lunged into his arms, rubbing her cheek against his repeatedly. "Thank you so much, Naruto-kun! I promise you I'll always wear it...and no matter what happens tomorrow, I'll always remember you." She said softly, feeling her voice tremble with emotion.
Speechless at her heartfelt words, Naruto wrapped the slim cat into a firm hug, revelling in her silky fur. No matter what it took, he vowed to himself, she wasn't going anywhere.
…..
Before Nozomi knew it, night was upon them, and she took on her human form. Sitting on the couch, she gazed wistfully at the lights on the Christmas tree, idly playing with the charm around her neck. 'I really don't want to leave. This is the happiest Christmas season I've ever had.'
A hand on her shoulder jerked her from her thoughts, and she glanced up, brows furrowing as she saw Naruto standing in front of her, dangling a holly of mistletoe above her head. "Naruto-kun? What are you…?"
He wore a cheeky grin as he motioned to the branch. "Aww, c'mon, Nozo-chan. I'm sure even you know the rules of mistletoe, don't you?" Not waiting for her response, the blond leaned in close.
With a start Nozomi realized what he was up to and turned away abruptly, blushing faintly as his kiss landed on her jaw line. When he moved back, she looked up at him and winced, feeling guilty at the pout he wore as he regarded her with thinly veiled disappointment.
The brunette opened her mouth to apologize for her hasty reaction, to say that he'd startled her, but the words died on her lips as his mouth curved into a mischievous grin and he chuckled. "Okay, now it's your turn."
Feeling her cheeks heat up again as he pointed to his cheek, Nozomi bit her lip. 'Well...it's just a kiss on the cheek, right? Totally innocent.' Exhaling softly, the catgirl rose from her seat, standing to her full height, feeling her knees tremble as she leaned in. 'Just get it over with, it's not such a big deal!' She urged herself, resisting the urge to roll her eyes at her immature reaction.
At the last possible second the blond's head turned, and what should've been an innocent peck turned into a liplock. Nozomi's gasp was muffled by the kiss as Naruto's hands snaked around her waist, holding her gently. When he finally released his hold, she jerked back, covering her mouth in embarrassment, and sank back onto the couch in shock.
"N-N-Na-ru-to-!" She sputtered, and said boy had to fight back a snicker. She looked, in his opinion, adorably perplexed if not completely stunned. "Yes, Nozo-chan?" He answered in an overly sweet tone, eyes alight with amusement. Just what would she actually say after something like that?
'What on earth possessed you to do that?!' Nozomi screamed in her mind. She had been set to ask him that, but when he turned those innocent blue eyes on her, she was more than unnerved and instead looked down, her face lost in a curtain of brown locks.
Finally, the awkward silence was broken by a distant beeping and her head shot up. "That must be the food -I'll go check on it!" She all but shouted as she jumped up, scrambling into the kitchen.
Naruto watched her frantic departure, unable to contain the sly grin that had spread across his face. Okay, so maybe he'd rushed things a bit, but...c'mon! Tomorrow was Christmas -time was running out! He had to do something to get things moving!
Besides, Nozomi may have freaked out, but she hadn't exactly scolded him; just gaped and sputtered incoherently. She had to have liked it, even a little, he thought, recalling the smile that had ghosted over her lips just seconds before she'd jerked back. Not that she'd ever admit such a thing, he chuckled as he headed into the kitchen for their late dinner.
…..
Nozomi glanced around the room, feeling slightly unnerved. Was it really necessary to eat by candlelight? She didn't recall Naruto saying anything about the electric bill being a problem this month, but then again, she also didn't remember asking. Gathering her courage, the brunette opened her mouth to ask, but then Naruto looked up, catching her eye, and she grew tongue-tied.
"So, Nozomi-chan, have you ever played in the snow before?"
Despite the awkward atmosphere, the question amused the brunette, and there was a teasing twinkle in her eyes. "Didn't I just do that earlier today? Don't tell me you forgot already!"
"No, I know that!" A drop of sweat rolled down Naruto's head as he shook his head rapidly, pouting. "Have you ever tried it in human form? That's what I'm asking."
One dark brow lifted upward before Nozomi shook her head. "No...I don't usually go out after dark." She paused, watching his face curiously. "Why do you ask?"
"Well..." The boy's eyes darted to the side as a sudden bout of nervousness crashed over him like a wave in the ocean. "I was just thinking, maybe we could go out there again. I promise it'll be more fun in human form, -ttebayo!"
As the blond went on to list things that they could do in the snow, Nozomi's thoughts wandered. Playing in the snow together did sound like fun, but...Somehow, a red mini dress with white fur trimmed straps, elbow length gloves and knee high boots just didn't seem like they'd be warm enough against the winter's cold. This was why she preferred to stay indoors if possible. Yet, at the same time she hated to disappoint the blond, who's eyes danced with excitement as he suggested building a snowman.
The brunette inhaled deeply, letting the air out in a soft sigh. "So...that's what you want to do, then?" When Naruto nodded, she knew that she couldn't say no to that hopeful look, and she groaned inwardly. "Oh...alright. But you'll have to let me borrow some warm clothing."
…..
Bundled in an oversized orange sweatshirt with a dark blue scarf and slightly baggy, black sweatpants tucked into her boots, Nozomi was about as ready as she'd ever be. A little off balance, yes, but that was to be expected with all the extra layers of clothing.
Naruto took one look at her and decided that she was ready, and so they headed out. Thankfully, the sleigh that they'd ridden earlier was still there, so after awakening the horse, they climbed in and went on their way.
It wasn't long before they reached the same park they'd gone to earlier, and the horse slowed to a stop. Naruto was the first to get out, offering a hand to Nozomi, and helping her down as well. Once they made sure the sleigh was secure, they headed into the park.
Nozomi quickly discovered that her boots were not suitable for this weather, as she had only taken a few steps when her feet slipped out from under her and she fell backwards into a pile of fresh snow. Groaning, the brunette flopped onto her back in annoyance.
Hearing her startled cry, Naruto's head turned toward her, and an amused grin spread across his face as he made his way over to her. "Don't tell me you're already tired." He snickered, taking in her pose and shook his head, gripping her hand to help her up. "We can make snow angels later, okay? I want to build a snowman."
"Oh yeah, that's exactly what I was doing down there," Nozomi mumbled, her breath coming out in soft puffs as he led the way. Finally they reached their destination, which turned out to be the same bridge she had explored before, and Naruto turned to her, grinning.
"Let's make it here, that way anybody using the bridge will see it!"
Nozomi nodded, and he crouched down, gathering snow into his hands and molding it into a ball. It had reached a medium sized ball when he heard an excited nya, and he glanced up, eyes widening. "What the?!"
He fell backwards, scrambling on his hands and feet to get away, just as Nozomi pounced onto the snowball, crushing it under her weight. The brunette got up, brushing herself off and, seeing the heap of crushed snow, her eyes widened as she realized what she'd just done. "...Oops."
She glanced at Naruto, who was regarding her curiously, and a light shade of pink coated her cheeks. "Um...sorry. I-" She hesitated, biting her lip and pressing her ears back uncomfortably. "Even in human form, sometimes my cat instincts are too difficult to control...especially the ones that insist round things be attacked…" A weak laugh left her lips, and she looked down at her boots in embarrassment.
The crunch of snow drew her eyes upward a moment later, and she gasped softly, noticing Naruto standing directly in front of her. He reached out, tousling her ears affectionately, an amused grin etching itself into his features at her faint purr. "Do you even know how cute you are?"
Startled at his declaration, Nozomi bit her lip and shrunk away from his oddly soothing touch. In response, the blond chuckled, kneeling down, and grabbed her hand, pulling her down as well. At her confused look he flashed a toothy grin. "I was thinking, if you're the one making the snowballs maybe you won't attack them. I'll help you." Without waiting for an answer, he placed his larger hands over hers, guiding them, and within seconds, the ball of snow had doubled in size, now twice as big as the original one she'd broken.
A gust of wind blew by, making the two shudder, and as Naruto's hands gripped the back of hers instinctively, Nozomi was immensely grateful that she could blame the color in her cheeks on the cold weather. It was embarrassing, but in truth, she was having trouble focusing on the snowball, as her thoughts kept going back to how nice his hands felt on hers.
…..
Nozomi stood back and gazed at their snowman, grinning. For her first time doing such a thing, he had turned out pretty well. At her side, Naruto tilted his head, brows furrowing slightly.
"I think Frosty's missing something." He commented, approaching the snowman. He proceeded to circle around it, a skeptical look on his face, while Nozomi watched with a raised eyebrow.
"I don't see anything missing. He's got eyes, a nose, a mouth, buttons, a hat and a scarf…." She trailed off, shrugging. Deciding to let him figure it out, she leaned back against a tree to relax while she waited, only to scramble away as a dead branch fell from above, landing where she'd been sitting.
"Nozomi-chan!" Naruto suddenly exclaimed, turning to look at her excitedly. "You're a genius!"
"Nya?" Nozomi blinked, confused as the boy approached, crouching in front of the fallen branch. What was he getting at? As she watched, the blond snapped two smaller twigs off the branch and hurried over to Frosty. It wasn't until he stuck a twig on the left and right sides of the middle snowball that Nozomi realized what he'd been up to, and a giggle escaped her. "Ohhh...you gave him arms!" She exclaimed, getting up and standing beside him to admire their creation. She had to admit, Frosty did look a lot better with the addition of arms.
When Naruto said nothing, the brunette glanced over and sweat dropped, seeing his gaze had shifted to the pond. Judging by the amused look on his face, she knew he had to be remembering her moment on the ice earlier, and she pouted slightly, crossing her arms. "Well, if I knew how to skate it wouldn't have been such a problem, would it?"
In response, Naruto turned to her, chuckling. "I've never skated before either." He paused, glancing back out at the ice. "I'd like to try though, someday."
"Hmm. Well then…" Nozomi's eyes slipped shut for a moment, and soft jingles were heard around them. Just as they faded away like a whisper, two pairs of ice skates appeared in Naruto's arms, and he looked down in shock before turning wide eyes to the girl.
"Nozomi-chan? Was that...?"
"Yeah, it was me," The brunette confirmed, grinning, "I hope you enjoy this, because now the only magic I have left will be used to grant your wish tomorrow."
Smiling widely in thanks, Naruto went about changing into one pair of skates, marveling at how they fit perfectly. Did Nozomi know his shoe size or something? Deciding not to dwell on it, he tied the laces and got up, a little wobbly on the blades as he ventured out onto the pond.
Nozomi took one look at the remaining skates, and turned to the frozen surface. "So, we meet again." She mumbled disdainfully. She shot one last look at her skates before deciding to forgo the whole thing, instead moving onto the bridge to watch her friend's efforts.
She couldn't help giggling when the blond slipped and slid on the ice, falling at least half a dozen times. However, unlike her earlier dilemma, the boy had skates on, and his hands weren't covered in fur that would make getting up difficult; he was back on his feet with minimal trouble, and soon enough, he had gotten the hang of the blades on his feet enough to glide around in wide circles that made Nozomi secretly envious.
Suddenly, he stopped and looked up, a mischievous smirk lighting up his features as he spotted her on the bridge. "Y'know, if you take too much longer the ice will thaw out!" He teased, causing her to wrinkle her nose and stick out her tongue.
"That's okay. I'm perfectly happy watching you instead." She retorted.
Skating closer to the bridge, Naruto fixed the brunette with a pout. "Aww, but it's so fun, you have to try! Please, Nozo-chan?"
"No, thank you." Came the catgirl's reply, and his lips pressed into a thin line as she turned her back to him, arms folded stubbornly across her chest.
'Fine, if that's how she wants to play…'
Moving toward the snowbank, the blond kicked off his skates, grabbed the other pair, and made his way toward the girl. Hearing the creaking wood caught her attention, and he watched in amusement as wide, gold orbs flitted from him to the skates he held. She took a step back, looking like a cornered animal, which he found ironic given the situation as he closed the distance between them. Unfortunately, Nozomi was so caught up watching the blond, she forgot that the bridge was arched, and after a few more steps, she fell backward, hitting the wood with a hard thunk.
Naruto knelt beside her, and for a split second, she believed that he was going to help her up. When he didn't offer his hand, she realized what was really going on as he began to remove her boots. "H-hey! Don't you dare!" She warned, contorting her face into what she hoped was an intimidating scowl.
The blond just snickered and shook his head before slipping a skate onto her foot and tying the laces. Moments later, he had her standing on wobbly legs, glaring and threatening him as he put on his own skates and led her, unwillingly onto the pond.
As soon as she felt the snow give way to ice, the brunette whimpered softly and clung to him for dear life, ears flat against her head.. "P-please, Naruto-kun. Take me b-back. I don't want to do th-this!"
"Quit bein' such a fraidy cat!" Naruto chuckled as he took both her hands, forcing her to stand up straight. "Look, it's not that hard, okay? Just follow me and do what I do." As he spoke, he slowly moved backwards, leading the brunette in small circles.
In spite of her reservations, after a few minutes, Nozomi's legs stopped trembling, and she felt herself relax a little more into the motion. Gradually, her movements grew more graceful and less clumsy as she allowed the boy to lead her in semi large circles, trusting him not to take her any further than she was comfortable with.
That was the moment that he let go, and she gaped at his back as he sped away while she stumbled forward clumsily. All thoughts of enjoyment were gone as she wobbled, feeling her legs give out beneath her. "Ahh! I knew this would happen!" The brunette gasped as she fell backward, only instead of hitting solid ice, she collided with a warm chest.
Glancing up, she stared into the amused looking face of Naruto, who'd caught her just in time, and a blush crept into her cheeks. "Naruto-kun-you...I-Whoa!"
She yelped as he pulled her back onto her feet, and as he began to lead her again, this time keeping her in close proximity to himself. In spite of her annoyance with him for leaving to begin with, her heart was beating wildly, and as he spun her with a grace she'd never thought possible, she couldn't help wishing this moment could last forever.
…..
"Hey, you weren't that bad!"
Nozomi frowned at Naruto with an expression that said "yeah, right" as he unlocked the door, and she headed inside. After peeling off the scarf, coat, and mittens she'd borrowed from the blond, she headed to the bathroom, figuring it better to change out of his sweats in private. When she came back out, the boy had taken off his own snow clothing and was sitting on the couch.
"I'm glad that's over. I couldn't even take two steps without needing your help…" The brunette sank onto the seat beside him, too tired to react as his arm wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her close.
"That's okay, it was your first time. Besides…" Naruto grinned, a blush rising into his cheeks, "I didn't mind having you hold onto me."
The tender look in his eyes made a blush spread over Nozomi's face as well, and she looked away awkwardly, covering her mouth as she forced a yawn. "Well, regardless, that was quite an adventure. It's late now; don't you think it's time we were getting ready for bed?"
She made to stand up, but stopped as Naruto placed his palm over her hand, and she looked back to see him smiling sadly.
"I know it's late, but I was hoping we could stay up a little bit longer. Since...you know."
There was a heaviness in his words that she recognized, and her embarrassment faded as she nodded, relaxing back into the couch. The blond exhaled with relief, and scooted closer to her.
Gold eyes widened slightly as his arms snaked around her waist in a warm embrace, and she squirmed a bit, unnerved by his close proximity after all that had happened that night. "Naruto-kun, wait- I-!"
"Shh," Naruto spoke softly, his breath tickling her over sensitive ear as he leaned in close. He lowered his voice to a whisper, resting his chin on her head; he noticed her hair still faintly smelled of his shampoo. "Please. Just let me hold you for a little bit."
His gentle words silenced anything she might have said in protest, and Nozomi's eyes slid shut of their own accord as she rested in the boy's arm. It was so quiet, she could hear his heart beat, a calm, steady rhythm. It was the polar opposite of hers, which was thumping so hard, she was afraid he might even be able to hear it and determine how nervous she was. This situation was making it too hard not to act on, or at least show him how she really felt about him.
"You know," Naruto's voice cut through the silence, and she glanced over from the corner of her eye, "This year has been really difficult. To be honest, I hated almost every minute of it, too. But...things are different now." He paused, moving to rest his cheek against her shoulder. "Really, I owe this year my thanks, because if I hadn't been so unhappy, I'd never have met you, Nozo-chan." He smiled against her skin, gazing up at her with adoring blue eyes. "I really want you to stay with me, cause I really, really like you. I think, I might even be...in love with you."
Speechless, Nozomi could do nothing but stare as she processed his words. 'In love...With me? Even knowing what he does?!' Her heart fluttered in her chest and tears pooled in her eyes, making them look warm and cinnamon-y.
Noticing her uncharacteristic silence, Naruto lifted his head, a concerned look taking on his face. "Nozomi-chan? What's wrong?" He saw the glossiness in her eyes and frowned, looking away slowly. "...I see. It was too soon to say something like that, huh?" Forcing a laugh, the blond released her, scooting to the other end of the couch dejectedly.
"Huh?" Nozomi snapped out of her daze at the loss of his warmth, and she glanced up, surprised to see him so far away. 'Does he think I'm rejecting him or something?'
She made to move closer but stopped herself as another thought occurred. 'Well, am I? I know what's likely to happen tomorrow.' Her mouth curled into a frown as uncertainty washed over her. 'I like him so much...but is it okay to keep it a secret just because I'm scared? It's not fair to Naruto-kun, who also knows what could happen, but took a risk anyways.'
Her eyes shifted to the boy again, and she had to suppress a chuckle when he turned his head away quickly. Even in his heartache, he'd been sneaking peeks at her. 'He's always been watching out for me. Even when I didn't notice.' She realized, thinking back over the past week. Naruto had made it a point not to let her out of sight if he could help it. She'd initially thought he was just that lonely, now she wondered if there was more to it than that, and if so, how could she have not realized it sooner?
'Because you were in denial about your own feelings, remember?' Nozomi sighed softly at the truth of that thought and shrugged. While she'd been careful to keep things between them platonic, Naruto had grown bold the last couple days, and tried to take things further, which meant he was willing to risk his heart again, for her. He had even said he'd make the wish to set her free. There was no reason she couldn't at least try to have a little faith...and in the meantime, she might as well indulge him, potential heartbreak be darned.
Feeling a surge of boldness, the brunette crawled across the couch cushion to where Naruto sat. Feeling her movement, the whiskered boy turned, looking confused. Deciding that this was it, Nozomi leaned in and planted a kiss on his cheek. When she pulled back, he was staring at her blankly, and her ears lowered self consciously as she averted her gaze, wondering if she'd done the wrong thing. "Er..sorry. It's just...I think you got the wrong idea so I..."
She trailed off, blushing as she realized that his nose was nearly touching hers; the rest of her apology fled her mind as his lips claimed hers. After a few seconds, they parted, panting softly, and Naruto beamed at her.
"Silly kitty."
His arms wrapped around her in a tight grip that she didn't protest this time, and he pulled her into his lap, resting his chin on her head and inhaling deeply. "If only there was another way to keep you here."
Nozomi winced at the scent of salt in the air. He was...crying? She pulled back to look at the blond worriedly, only to find that he was falling asleep. Deciding that it was time to get him to bed, the brunette moved to the side, intending to get off his lap so she could wake him up. Instead he moved with her, and she yelped softly as she was pulled down onto her side with the blond in an awkward tangle of limbs.
Emitting a soft groan as her efforts to get up were fruitless, the catgirl decided to just stay put and hope he'd wake up on his own later. In the meantime, since she clearly wasn't going anywhere, she might as well get some rest. She was just closing her eyes when she felt Naruto's hot breath on her shoulder.
"...I wish you could stay with me..."
Gold eyes shot open in shock. 'That was...!' Glancing back, the brunette resisted the urge to cry out in frustration. Naruto may have made the right wish, but it was doubtful that it'd be treated as such since he'd made it in his sleep!
She frowned, closing her eyes once more and sighed heavily. "I wish I could stay too, Naruto-kun...I would do it in a heartbeat." Curling against the boy as best as she could, the brunette closed her eyes once again, finally drifting into a deep sleep filled with the soft chimes of jingle bells.
...
Naruto squinted, and an arm shot out to shield his face as sunlight streamed in through the window, signifying that it was morning. With a sigh, he uncovered his eyes and looked around, surprised to find that he wasn't in bed. What had happened last night? His face softened as he recalled the previous night's events after dinner. Building Frosty and ice skating, then relaxing on the couch after. 'We must've fallen asleep out here.'
Blue eyes widened, and the blond shot up, panic written on his face as he noticed that he was alone on the couch. "Nozomi? Nozomi!"
"What is it? I'm trying to sleep, you know."
Relieved to find that she hadn't completely disappeared, Naruto peered over the edge of the couch. "N-No-zo-mi?" He sputtered, rubbing his eyes in disbelief.
A clawed hand shot up, as if trying to cover his mouth while the brunette on the floor grumbled sleepily. "Naruto-kun, can't it wait till morning?" Not waiting for an answer, she rolled onto her side, away from him and, recovering from his shock, Naruto chuckled.
"But Nozomi-chan, it is morning." He got up and sat on his knees beside the catgirl, tracing the fur on her ears with his index finger. "I really think you're gonna want to hear this!"
Eyelids fluttered in response, and Nozomi rolled onto her stomach, gazing up at him with tired eyes. "Okay? So what's going on, then?"
"That's what I'm wondering." Naruto murmured, and seeing her eyes roll slightly, he hurried to continue, fearing she would fall back asleep on him. "So, Nozo-chan, did I...say anything last night after I fell asleep?"
Dark brows bunched together as the brunette frowned up at him. "Hey, don't answer my question with another question!"
A soft huff came from the blond, and he folded his arms across his chest. "Nozomi, please. This is important."
Seeing as he had used her name without an honorific, Nozomi realized he wasn't playing around and frowned, thinking hard. "Okay, fine. Last night? You didn't really do anything, aside from making a wish in your sleep. Why?"
Blue eyes widened, and the boy leaned in closer, an urgent look on his face. "I did?! What did I wish for?"
Trying to hide her annoyance at being answered with yet another question, the brunette sighed tiredly. "You wished I could stay with you. Now, tell me why this is such a big deal? Wishes made in your sleep don't count, you know!"
She was about to close her eyes again when she noticed the goofy grin on the blond's face, and she frowned. "Naruto-kun? Come on...what's going on?"
Naruto's grin only grew in response, and she lowered her head to the floor with her ears flat, feeling unnerved as he moved closer. "Why are you grinning at me like that?"
Stopping when their faces were merely inches apart, the boy grinned mischievously, lowering his voice. "Nozo-chan, that wish was granted."
Now all thoughts of sleep were banished from her mind, and Nozomi stared at him in shock. "Are you serious?!" For the first time since he'd awoken her, she sat up, and her lips parted in a gasp as she realized she was, in fact still in her human form. Jumping to her feet, she darted past a bewildered looking Naruto and down the hall, stopping to gap at her reflection in the bathroom. It was true, she somehow hadn't turned back into a cat!
...But how? Nozomi was positive that wishes made in one's sleep didn't count. A previous client of hers had made a random wish in his sleep, but it had gone unfulfilled until he voiced it the next morning. So why had it worked now? What could have been done differently this time?
"I wish I could stay too..."
With a start she remembered her own words, and her eyes grew wider, if possible. 'Did it work because I wished for the same thing, too? But...I thought that the charge had to make the wish himself! Nobody ever said anything about me making any wishes!' She placed a hand to her chest, thinking back to the previous night, and how full her heart had felt when Naruto admitted his feelings for her. Could it be...that even if the correct wish was made, it only worked if the Christmas cat was in agreement as well?
'If the requirements were feelings of love...then no wonder nobody's ever figured out the secret! This job is all about making the client happy, after all. Nobody ever said that the Christmas cat was supposed to think about her own desires as well!'
A slow smile began to spread across the brunette's face as reality sank in at last. She didn't have to leave after all. She could stay and begin a new life for herself. A little voice in her head nagged that she couldn't live a normal life with ears and a tail, but she ignored it. For now, she was content with being able to stay with Naruto.
'Oh my gosh...Naruto-kun!'
Remembering that she'd left the boy hanging, Nozomi hurried back to the main room and, spotting him standing by the tree, she lunged at him. Naruto gave a surprised shout as he lost his footing, and the two of them collapsed to the floor in a heap.
Nozomi grinned down at the blond sheepishly and climbed off him, offering a hand to help him up.
To her shock, he simply pulled her back down, rolling so he hovered over her. "Well, that was an interesting way to get my attention." His eyes were mischievous as he watched her, amused by the color that was rapidly taking over her face as she noted the compromising position they were in. "Was there something you wanted to tell me, or do you just enjoy tackling me to the floor?"
Feeling her face burn with embarrassment, Nozomi took a deep breath, trying to will the blush away as she looked up at him, smiling weakly. "Yes. Nobody ever told me, but it looks like I had to be in agreement for the wish to be granted, whether it was made in your sleep or not." She paused, noticing the confusion flicker across his face and sighed softly in amusement. "I think the wish worked because I made the same wish after you did." She stated simply.
Immediately, Naruto's face shifted from one of confusion to one of understanding, and his eyes began to tear up as he gave her a watery smile. "So then...that means you're here to stay now, right?"
Deciding that she'd had enough of this position, Nozomi grabbed his hands and jerked to the side, rolling them again. Now straddling his stomach, she gave him an innocent grin. "Yep, you're stuck with me." Sticking her tongue out playfully, she climbed off him, getting to her feet and he followed suit.
"This is the best Christmas ever!" Arms wound around her, pulling her close, and a kiss was pressed to her temple. "Thank you, Nozo-chan..thank you for granting my wish!"
A warm smile appeared on the brunette's face, and she reached out, stroking his jaw tenderly. "No, Naruto-kun. Thank you. I've been granting people's wishes for years, and now, thanks to you, I'm free to live any life I choose!" With a happy sigh, she wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning into him in a warm hug. "If there's ever anything I can do to repay you...well...just name it."
There was a pause, and Naruto pulled back to look at her, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Anything, huh? Well, I can think of a few things." His brows wiggled suggestively, and she blushed, giggling nervously and shoving his chest playfully.
"You're such a pervert, Naruto-kun!"
All signs of teasing vanished from the blond's face at this, and he arched his brow at her in confusion. "What? I was just gonna say you could go on a date with me and be my girlfriend!" He paused, a mischievous grin appearing on his face. "What were you thinking I meant? Eh, No-zo-mi?"
A look of horror appeared on the brunette's face at his innocent question, and she pulled away, but not before he saw the darkening blush on her face. "Well then, now that we've settled that, let's get some breakfast! Okay? Okay!"
Without waiting for an answer, she dashed into the kitchen, and Naruto chuckled, following her with an amused grin. He'd let it go for now, but he'd be sure to get it out of her later.
