Hosed Down and Determined Dust Bunnies
"I knew I sensed that mutant chakra!"
Standing in all his glory, with only the kitchen counter between them, Sasuke inwardly cringed when the big-breasted woman slammed the door shut again causing the wall to crack. The Hokage continued to point at him.
"First of all, does Sakura know?" She barked more than asked.
Sasuke shook his head, droplets of water sliding off his damp hair. Hokage didn't look like she was going to throw him out of the building for his fate to be decided by the council. He wouldn't be put off; she could be building up his doom inside her head.
"Alright, that's good. She'd combust if she found out, which cannot happen because I need her to woo Takashi's son so we can get that deal."
Sasuke changed the subject immediately, "Tsunade, why are you not arresting me?"
"You possess no threat to this village at the moment, your chakra is sealed because of that curse but I can see that you've retained your Mangekyou Sharingan. They'll disappear when you change form though. I could sense that rotten chakra of that woman over Sakura when she came to my office."
Briefly, Sasuke remembered how warm Sakura had been when she held him, and then he banished the thought before it could progress further. The chakra from the curse must have rubbed off on Sakura when he was close to her.
"Do you know who...cursed me?" Without waiting for an answer, Sasuke turned around and opened the washing machine for at least a bath towel to cover himself, he nearly tipped over by what he saw. An orange t-shirt, orange pants, black pants with orange threading.
"Ah, I see that Naruto's land lord cut off his electricity again." Tsunade said, leaning over the counter top.
Trying to gather his dignity, Sasuke grabbed a dish towel, hastily covered what he could, and glared at the blonde woman.
"Oh don't flatter yourself, Uchiha. I've seen more doohickey's in my lifetime that I'm generally not very curious anymore." Tsunade winked, "Now, about this small matter of you turning into a cat-"
"Who cursed me," Sasuke growled, his patience was wearing.
Tsunade's lips thinned, "I'm not appreciating that tone. It doesn't matter who cursed you and whatnot, what did she actually say to you?"
Reluctant to cooperate, Sasuke scowled and looked to the apartment door, Sakura could walk in at any minute. Then what would he do? He had two options or outcomes if she did happen to stroll back in. Number one; she'd faint and he'd make a break for it. Number two; she'd break down in tears at seeing him again and he'd leave without looking back. He could see no other alternative.
"She won't be back for a while, Uchiha. Until then I suggest that you tell me what exactly that woman said." Tsunade narrowed her eyes at him.
Heaving a quiet huff, Sasuke complied. "She said something about seeing my reflection."
Tsunade's nose crinkled and her face turned into a frown, "Can she not come up with anything more ironic," she said sarcastically.
"What does she mean?" Sasuke snapped.
"That you have to look at yourself and know..."
"Know what?"
"That scratching a poor innocent girl is frowned upon and you should be ashamed of yourself."
It took Sasuke a few seconds to realize that this woman would tell him nothing more of his situation. He leaned back against the kitchen counter and sighed, was this supposed to be some sort of riddle? Look at his reflection and...what? Make faces at himself?
"Right now, Sasuke, you are not recognized as an Uchiha. I'll give you a hint on what that woman is saying; you are a cat, nothing more nothing less. This is your lesson on how to get past that arrogant Uchiha bastardness by being-in this case-normal. Now that we've got that sorted, let's turn you back into a cat. I need to take you to someone else's home-"
"No."
Tsunade blinked, "Repeat that please."
"I'm not moving; that Yamanaka tried to drown me and put a bow on my head." Sasuke snarled.
Claiming that he was a girl and calling him all these stupid names, then drowning him in a bath. A cold bath!
"Uchiha, I will not have you staying with my student. It is out of the question, I'm not having you be a burden on her life when she's progressing even further right now."
"I'm. Not. Leaving. Here."
Tsunade appeared next to him and held the faucet at his face. He backed away and his brows rose a millimeter, what could she possibly do by soaking him? Tsunade turned the water to cold and glared at him through slitted eyes. "It will make this a lot more fun then."
Ice cold water splashed his face.
::XxX::
After chasing Hanabi and healing her hand, Sakura apologized. And apologized. And then again just to be sure she wouldn't have the Hyuga clan hunting her ass. She even bought the girl an ice cream, so she should be safe at the moment. It was nearing sun down, and the sky was beautiful. Filled with orange, red and some purple clouds. Sakura couldn't imagine a better place, the trees rustled and leaves were swaying, as if dancing with the wind. Hardly realizing where she was, Sakura stopped and spun around. Nearly tripping over a crack in the stone work and face planting the ground.
Her eyes snapped open. She was on the bridge. The bridge that held so many memories that she'd give anything to relive. Then give anything to forget.
'He's beyond help, he doesn't deserve it.'
Sakura's phone chose that time to ring.
'Moment totally over.' She sighed in her head.
Hurrying off the bridge and continuing home, Sakura pulled out her cell phone and flipped it open.
Unknown caller ID
She frowned but answered anyway.
"Sakura-san? Oh thank goodness you answered!" A shrill voice said on the other end, "It's Ruri from apartment 22."
Sakura thought for a minute before her memory clicked into place. Ruri-san, housed two doors down from her.
'Her kid stole my welcome mat!'
"Hi, Ruri. Uh, what's up?"
"Sakura, I think you're being burgled!"
Sakura stopped midstride. "What do you mean?"
A fumbling sound came from the other line, "I mean that there's noises coming from your apartment and as far as I know, Uzumaki-san is on a mission."
Sakura's steps quickened, "What kind of noises? I have this cat-"
"Wait, I'm outside your door right now. Listen to this..." There was another fumbling sound before Sakura heard a glass shatter. Then a yell and something had been flung at a wall.
'Oh...dear...lord.'
Sakura snapped her phone shut and ran headlong to her apartment. Was someone trying to steal her cat? What if Neji had come back for revenge? Sakura had to admit, she hoped the little furry beast was alright. She couldn't deny that she felt weakness when it cuddled into her; she hadn't had a cuddle in a long time...
"Get back here you little brat!" A yell erupted from her apartment. Sakura decided to forfeit the stairs and jumped onto the second floor outside her door. Ruri was still there, crouched low and she was peeking inside the hole that Sasuke-junior had made in her door, flinching when a big bang sounded. Sakura charged forward, Ruri scrambled away in fear.
Sakura threw the door open, not caring that some crumbles of plaster fell from her wall. The apartment went quiet, no more yelling. But Sakura was more concerned for the state of her home. It was completely wrecked! As in hurricane wrecked! Parts of her floorboards were missing, her couch had been attacked by some unknown, insane monster and somehow, a pond of water had been formed in her kitchen. Sakura was livid.
CREEEAK!
Sakura's head jerked at the creak of a floorboard in her room. Hardly hesitating the slightest, she sprang into action and headed for her bedroom.
"...It's not what it looks like."
Tsunade, her teacher and somewhat mother, was strangling Sasuke-junior.
"Now, Sakura. We both know that he can't stay here, you're too busy. On that thought, Takashi is visiting tomorrow with his son and-!"
Sakura lunged forward and swiped Sasuke-junior from Tsunade's grasp.
"First of all, that isn't even a mission!" Sakura screeched. "And second, don't touch my cat, ever again. He may be an annoying fur ball, born from the fires of hell, but he's myannoying fur ball, born from the fires of hell!"
She cradled the fur ball tightly to her chest but still kept her grip gentle. Ignoring her Sensei's gaze, Sakura continued, "I want everything the way it was before you attacked it."
"That brat had a part in this too!" Tsunade exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger at the cat in her arms.
"Oh really? And what did a cat ever do to tick you off?"
"He's Uchi-AH!" Tsunade jumped back when Sasuke-junior leapt out of Sakura's arms.
The Hokage...was scared of a cat. Who would've known?
"Tsunade, I meant what I said. I can't clean all this up by myself," Sakura waved her hands around referring to the mess, "I'm meeting Ino tomorrow."
"I'm sorry about this Sakura, that cat...just doesn't know when to behave." He voice dropped into a low, threatening tone that Sasuke-junior hissed at.
"I'll see to it that it's cleaned up when you're away, but I have no promises that he," Tsunade pointed dramatically to her cat, "will still be alive when you get back." Then she strode out, leaving Sakura to sigh and sink down onto her bed.
What was this cat doing to her life? Sakura was perfectly content with the usual visitor and emptying of her fridge (Naruto) but now this! The cat put a hole in her apartment door, which she still had to fix, ripped her curtains, attacked Neji and his little cousin and supposedly pissed of Tsunade and trashed her apartment.
'I called him my freaking furball!'
No doubt the little pest understood her, Sakura glared at the now bane of her life. Sitting about two feet from her, he stared after Tsunade. Then he half-turned his little head to side, one black eye gazing at her. Sakura didn't know if it was a curious look or a glare of I-could-have-handled-that-myself. She sank her head into her hands and let out a sigh.
Suddenly, feather soft fur rubbed against her ankle and she looked down at her leg. The cat stared straight ahead, clearly refusing to look at her as the heat of his body warmed her foot. Although casual as the action might be, Sakura let herself smile.
::XxX::
"And what is that thing doing here?" Ino demanded.
Sakura innocently shrugged, "Tsunade wants him dead." As if Sakura could save the poor cat from Hokage.
When Sasuke-junior was sleeping, Sakura risked all her chakra trying to pick him up without waking him. She knew this cat was not one for comfort, except when he forgets himself like last time. She had succeeded…barely. Now he was tucked in Sakura's bag, no raging ninja (Hyuga clan) or mad hatter (Tsunade) could get him. It wasn't that Sakura cared for the beast, she most certainly did not! But it was her first pet, and she'd never looked after anything before. Well there was that fish she had won at a festival, but it was long gone. Courtesy of Sai and his specific name for Naruto which results in destruction of everything in their vicinity. Ino and Sakura were sitting outside the local café, conveniently just down the road from Ichiraku's. The sun beat down on their heads as people strolled by, another normal day.
"I thought you hated him!" Ino chastised, "You said he put a hole through your door and not to mention Neji."
Sakura really couldn't argue with Ino, she would admit that she had called the cat more…colourful words at one point.
"Look, it's just going to be for a couple of days." Sakura reasoned, even trying to convince herself.
"But what if he gets frisky with another neighborhood cat?" Ino shrieked.
Sakura thought about it for a moment. "I'll get him neutered."
There was shuffling in her bag just then and a black head popped out, piercing eyes swinging around before landing on her. She clamped her mouth shut and stared down at Sasuke-junior, he stared back.
"It's only an idea!" She hissed at him.
"Uh, Sakura? He's a cat, who cares if he cares." Ino said, sipping her orange juice.
Sakura cringed as the cats' eyes flashed to Ino before narrowing.
'I guess he remembers Ino trying to give him a bath.'
"Hey, that thing is glaring at me. Sakura, make him stop it." Ino nervously said, shuffling back in her seat.
Sakura leaned down to the bag by her feet and curled an arm around Sasuke-junior's middle. She set him on her lap scratched his ear, even though he was still supposedly glaring at Ino, he started to quietly purr.
"We'll just see how long I can keep him, it depends on if I can afford it. He might have a disease and then I'll have to take him to a vet, food and I might not be in my apartment long when this week is over." Sakura explained.
"I think you'll last two days at the most with him. Anyway, I hear Naruto is back tomorrow?"
"Yeah, and Sai." Sakura turned the cat in her arms to face her, "And then you'll meet your new family." She told him.
He stared at her for a couple of seconds before struggling out of her grasp, his paws flying everywhere but thankfully his claws didn't appear. Sakura yelped when one of his stray paws his somewhere partly sensitive, Ino burst out laughing. Sasuke-junior had frozen and stopped wriggling, glaring at her as if it was her fault that he had hit her chest. Sakura's enthusiasm to keep the cat went down a notch. But then, surprisingly, he looked away as if embarrassed and curled his body into a ball, Sakura still holding him in front of her.
Okay, her enthusiasm to keep him went up two notches.
"…Kawaii," Sakura swooned in her mind.
She set the cat in her lap once again, its tail swishing against her leg and pressing him against her stomach. Hey, it was nice feeling its little heart beat against her stomach. A kind of weird sensation.
"Sorry to interrupt your little pet-lovey-dovey-moment there but I have to go; Shikamaru's parents want me to meet the rest of his family." Ino piped up, finishing her orange juice.
"Call me if you do something stupid," Sakura said absently, her mind still flashing images of a cute little kitty, "Go with their flow and don't create your own."
After Ino left, Sakura sat on her own and people-watched. There were skinny people, gravitationally challenged people, short, tall. But they all had one thing in common; that they were in mortal danger from the eerily silent Akatsuki. It was like the quiet before the storm, as people would say.
'Just have to wait and see.' Sakura thought.
::XxX::
Sasuke wasn't in a good mood. Sakura had taken them back to her apartment and had made dinner for herself and kindly picked up a can of tuna for him (annoying cat instincts). It was going fairly pleasant, he had found a spot on the sofa and Sakura was ironing her clothes, humming quietly to herself. That moment was ruined by Jounin bursting through the door with dusters and mops.
"Oh, did Tsunade send you?" Sakura had sweetly asked them.
"Yes, ma'am. We are to fix the damage and Hokage-sama offers her apologies." The presumed leader of the sparkle-parade replied.
Sasuke was promptly ushered from his spot, chased with a hoover and one of them was trying to capture him in a plastic bag. He evaded every attempt made and cursed Tsunade and her determination to get him out of Sakura's home. Meanwhile, said pink-haired medic was sipping green tea with the leader who did nothing but flirt with her. Could she not see that he was just flirting with her so he didn't have to any cleaning? Sasuke intended to make her realize one way or another.
Creeping under the coffee table, avoiding that damned plastic bag, he maneuvered over into the kitchen and stopped when he was face-to-face with the Jounin's foot.
Sakura giggled, "I'm sure you can handle them without any problem."
…Bloody hell, she was flirting back!
"Well, I may not have Byakugan or whatever, but I can hold my own-ACK!" The man shrieked and jumped from the chair.
Releasing his clawed grip on the Jounin's ankle, Sasuke growled low in his throat when the annoying idiot lunged for him. Already knowing the attack was coming, Sasuke jumped onto the kitchen table, accidentally scratching the surface.
"Wait, he didn't mean-" Sakura started but cut off when Sasuke hissed, his fur standing rigid straight.
'Hn, this is…a good attack stance.' Sasuke thought.
The Jounin raised his fist the same time Sasuke bent down low, preparing for his next move.
"Sasuke-kun!" A scream echoed throughout the kitchen.
All time seemed to freeze as Sasuke's head swung round, his eyes locking with Sakura's emerald orbs.
A bright light clouded his vision…
"Hey Sasuke-kun! Want to be my partner?"
"Sasuke-kun! Are you free tomorrow?"
"Sasuke, are you alright?"
"Uchiha, get away from him!"
…She'd stopped calling for him and he never realized.
"You've done enough for today; I'll inform Tsunade about this situation later." Sakura said sternly, pointing to the door as a signal for the group to get out.
Their heads hung low, the shinobi filed out of the apartment.
Once the door closed, a slender hand wrapped around Sasuke's middle and he was being lifted in the air. His first reaction was to elongate his claws (which were quite useful) and sink them into the arm of his assailant but stopped his gruesome thoughts when he was carried next to a very warm chest. Another arm curled around his back and he was cradled…next to…
He felt Sakura heave a sigh which caused her chest to rise and caress his cat body. If cats could blush, Sakura obviously didn't notice as she carried him to her bedroom.
"You're making my life a lot harder, Sasuke-kun." Sakura muttered more to herself.
Sasuke came to the conclusion that she didn't notice at all that she was calling him by that name. She also didn't notice his growing addiction to the warmth her body emitted.
He snapped out of his musing however when she dumped him on the pile of cushions piled up on the window ledge.
"You, stay here and don't touch my bed." She warned, her eyes flashing.
Then she unbelievably turned on her heel and closed her door, Sasuke's keen hearing picking up that she shoved some sort of small pole through the rectangular handles to stop it opening. There was a slight screech as she bent the metal to curl it around the two handled.
Sasuke cursed his stupidity. He'd been so engrossed in Sakura's hold that he was still in shock that she dropped him so suddenly. It was his cat instincts, it had to be. Why else would he want her warmth?
::XxX::
The sun was setting by the time Sakura was done with her cleaning. The Jounin's Tsunade sent didn't manage to finish their 'cleaning' and left a mess in their wake. They made a crap job of trying to fix her door and the havoc that Tsunade had created, thankfully no one dared to touch her un-made bed.
Deeming that her home was relatively tidy, Sakura was at peace.
"SAKURAAAAA! OPEN UP! This is you're captain speaking!"
Sakura threw open her door ready to push the blonde over the edge of the balcony but paused and stared pointedly to the silver box with a bow in her hands.
'A present!' Sakura squealed in her head.
"Not for you, Sakura." Ino floated past Sakura, still carrying the shiny box.
Sakura frowned, it was a present, in her apartment, who else is it meant for? Oh!
"You mean for Sasuke?" Sakura asked, closing her door.
"Yes, disappointed?"
"No." Sakura snapped.
Ino hid a smile, Sakura adored surprises. Always had and always will.
"Now, where is the little kitty-witty?"
"Uh, wait and I'll go get him." Sakura rushed.
Sprinting down her short corridor, she reached her bedroom and ripped her enlarged kunai from the door.
"Sakura, what was that noise? If you're torturing to that cat, I want to join!"
Sakura's eyes swung around the room. To tell the truth, she'd completely forgotten about her cat. What sort of pet owner was she supposed to be?
"Sasuke-kun?" Sakura whispered harshly. Careful not to alert Ino in case she'd barrel her way in and attack Sakura for letting the so called beast loose.
She was about to rummage through her wardrobe when there was a ruffle on her bed. Swinging her gaze towards the rumpled sheets, she held her breath.
'If he has scratched my bed-'
The black head of fur appeared from the sheets and stumbled a bit from sleep. Sakura gave her bed a once-over, making sure it was okay before turning to questioning eyes.
"You've got a visitor." Sakura gritted out, still peeved that the present wasn't for her.
Sasuke-junior willingly followed Sakura out and to where Ino was sitting on the couch.
"You haven't killed him yet? My Sakura, is he growing on you?" Ino taunted, already unwrapping the box.
Sakura ignored her and sat herself on the sofa across from Ino, the cat setting itself on the arm of the chair next to her shoulder. Ino lifted an eyebrow at that but looked away when Sakura glared. Or maybe it was the cat.
Finally opening the damned box, Ino pulled out what was inside. Sakura's heart swooned.
It was a collar. A little dark blue, adorable collar that had a single row of tiny diamonds decorating it.
"Since I was feeling generous and cheerful when I came home, I just passed this pet shop. Since I saw that you were obviously keeping him, I just bought it on a whim."
Sakura smiled whole-heartedly, taking the collar from Ino's out stretched hand and holding it up to Sasuke-junior. He stared at it, not seeming to hate the sight of it so that was a good thing. Careful not to miss the opportunity, she unbuckled the collar and placed it gently around his neck. Could cats snort, because that's exactly what it sounded like before Sasuke leaped from the sofa and padded back into the bedroom.
"He loves it." Sakura translated for Ino.
Ino smiled but then leaned forward with a glint in her eyes, "So, I heard you're going to woo Takashi's son tomorrow-"
"No I'm not!" Sakura shrieked, her cheeks burning.
"I heard he's quite a catch-"
"Get out, Ino!" Sakura hauled Ino to the door.
"But-" She slammed the door.
Sakura sighed; she really wanted this week to be over so she could busy herself with at least a mission to Suna. They make the most amazing Martini's. Sakura hurried to her room, stubbing her toe on the coffee table in her haste to get into her bed.
Turning out the lights, she snuggled into the soft mattress, loving the way it cuddled her body. She was about to nod off when there was a slight shuffle at her leg. Sakura strained her neck up and discovered Sasuke-junior trying to find a comfortably spot. Heaving yet another sigh, Sakura lightly lifted the cat and brought him up to settle beside her. His little eyes widened and he tried to move away, more embarrassed than uncomfortable.
"Stop moving, Sasuke-kun." Sakura mumbled, already falling into a sleeping state.
She felt him gradually creep closer to her but hardly touched her. Sakura was having none of it; she'd gave the cat the privilege to be in her bed. He should be over-run with joy. Forcing herself not to smirk, she nudged him so as his head was tucked under chin.
Barely five seconds later, Sakura let sleep consume her. Though not before her little furball snuggled closer and softly purred…
::XxX::