By Herm-Own-Ninny879
Disclaimer: (Sniff) I wish I had the copyrights to Naruto in my stocking…
Author's Note: Woo, happy almost new year! I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas. I feel happy; I posted two chapters in one day. I think that'll be the same for New Year's, but I'm not sure. What do you guys think?
--Sakura-sama (:
Chapter Twenty-Five: Mr. Fluffykins and the Elevator of Doom
"Sakura?" Ino said, walking out of the dorm room; her hair tied up in a towel. "Did we make it?"
Sakura turned around to her; expression blank; and she grinned and nodded. Ino's eyes widened; she screamed and jumped into the air, grabbed Sakura and hugged her, screaming and squealing.
"OH MY GOD, WE MADE IT, OH MY GOD! AAAH!" she laughed maniacally. "I'M TELLING NARUTO AND SASUKE!"
Sakura laughed; her heart leaping. She looked back at the list…and read that Konoha Public High was partaking in the contest. I wonder if Kiba is one of these bands…
"COME ON! MINATO-SAMA IS PICKING US UP TODAY!"
Ino grabbed Sakura's wrist and pulled her back to the dormitory.
An hour later, Sakura walked out of the dorm, fully dressed and fresh from the shower; her messenger bag slumped over her shoulder. She had added a few key chains from the hospital gift shop that Sasuke had bought for her (a pig, a penguin, and Winnie the Pooh), and a Bleach Soul Society patch she had bought at the nearby Hot Topic when they visited Naruto and Sasuke last.
Ino trailed behind her as they reached the door of the Girl's Building. "Hey, Sakura, there's the limo!"
Other kids passed by them, carrying luggage to get ready to leave for home for the holidays. Sakura's mother had to go over to Mizugakure to visit her parents, and she had brought Koichi with her, so she decided to stay over at the Uzumaki residence with Ino. She had already sent her bags in ahead of time, so when the limo came…
"Ready to go, girls?" Minato-sama laughed, rolling down the passenger window. The girls nodded excitedly, and dashed in, sliding down the long, comfortable seats.
"So how was Naruto this morning?" Sakura asked, taking a drink out of the mini-fridge and passing one to Ino. Minato laughed.
"He's doing fine," he started, "He's happier now. The doctor said he might be discharged earlier than I thought."
Sakura and Ino's grins widened as they sipped their bubble tea.
"Does he want to start skateboarding again?" Ino giggled. Minato rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, sadly he does," he began, smirking, "I got him a new board for Christmas, but he can't skate it until New Year's. He needs to rest."
"That's AWESOME!" Sakura exclaimed. "What kind of board?"
"I think the brand is Mystery or something like that," Minato smirked. "He knows more about skateboarding than I know about women."
The girls nearly spit out their drinks and burst into laughter.
The drive continued on, and they discussed school things and about the music programs at the school.
"Language Arts is as easy as pie," Sakura said, smiling contently, "Jiraiya-sensei is a really good writer—when he's not writing about…porn."
"He was my teacher when I went to school here," Minato mused. "Always the little pervert, Jiraiya-sensei was…"
"Yeah, but he treats me, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura like famous people sometimes," Ino giggled, "Last time I got free milk tea from him."
"That's so awesome," Minato said; his eyes wide. "I wish he gave me and Kushina free milk tea."
"Kushina?"
Minato smiled softly. "Naruto didn't tell you? She was his mother."
"Really?" Sakura said, feeling a bit uneasy, "Sorry about that…"
"No problem," Minato laughed, waving a hand casually. "Here's a picture."
He held out an old photograph, which Sakura took, and it showed a younger Minato with a beautiful young woman with flowing, long, red hair pinned up on one side by a hairpin. Her long black-and-white dress showed signs of a baby bump. Minato had his arm over her.
"Was this before Naruto was born?" Sakura smiled, tracing the edges of the photo. Minato nodded, looking down, a smile appearing on his face.
Ino sighed and smiled as well.
"Kushina-sama was really cool," Ino explained, taking the picture to look at. "Before I met Naruto, she used to be best friends with my mom."
"Really?" Sakura said, wondering.
"We're here at the hospital," Minato grinned, pointing out the window. The girls looked up from the photo and looked at each other, their faces excited.
Sasuke was asleep. The wind outside blew slowly, and snow trickled down the windowpane. He was snoring lightly, clutching onto the penguin and the pig from Minato and Sakura. He leaned over; muttering a song in his sleep, light, quiet music, which was quite unlike him to listen to. He muttered something like,
"No, mommy…those are my breadsticks…I like them buttered…"
Suddenly, the door opened, and Sakura, Ino, and Minato tip-toed inside, carrying a video camera meant to use for later that day. Sakura raised an eyebrow and shushed the other two, trying to catch what he was saying.
"Damn you, you stole my piggy…give it back," Sasuke moaned, turning on the bed. "My piggy's eating her waffles right now, thank you very much…"
"What the heck is he saying?" Ino tried to stifle her sniggers. Minato almost doubled over from laughing, and Sakura was choking from lack of sound.
"Mmm…muffins…those tasted good…can I have tomatoes on the side of that?"
"T…To...Tomatoes?" Sakura snickered, clutching her sides.
"And…and…tell Itachi that he has to stay out of my stuffed animal collection or I'll kick his ass…" Sasuke grumbled, putting his pillow over his head. "I need for Naruto to watch out for Boomdigity, Mimzy, Pooh, and Pinky for me, or I'll confiscate his ramen…"
"STUFFED ANIMAL COLLECTION?" Ino burst out, falling over on the floor.
Just then, Sasuke shot up awake, his pillow flying into the air. Minato-sama caught it and laughed heartily.
"NOT MR. FLUFFYKINS!" he screamed. Then he calmed down, and his worried face turned into horror when he saw Sakura and Ino, rolling on the floor laughing.
"UH…I CAN EXPLAIN!" Sasuke said, jumping off the bed, waving his hands in the air. Sakura and Ino couldn't stop laughing.
"M…M…MR. FLUFFYKINS…" Sakura choked, clutching the bedpost.
"I…I CAN EXPLAIN! STOP LAUGHING!" Sasuke exclaimed, pulling at his hair. "I HAVE…I HAVE NO STUFFED ANIMALS! I'M A…MAN!"
"A MAN, MY BUTT!" Ino squealed. The door opened, and Naruto stepped in, an eyebrow raised, staring at the girls.
"What the heck is going on here?" Naruto said, his face confused. Sasuke ran over to him and growled in his ear,
"Nothing, NOTHING, baka, get out of here before I strangle you!"
"SASUKE LOVES HIS MR. FLUFFYKINS…" Sakura laughed so hard, that she started coughing.
"M…Mr…Mr. Fluffykins?" Naruto sniggered. Sasuke looked in horror at Sakura, who just kept on belting out laughter.
"Crap," Minato whistled, trying to hide his grins. Sasuke peered at Naruto, who was still sniggering, and glared at him. Naruto ignored him and asked more questions…
"He…he…he has a stuffed animal collection…HAHAHAHAH…with…with…BWAHAHAH…Boomdigity, Mimzy, Pooh, and PINKY…"
Naruto's eyes widened and his face contorted into a grin. Then…
"AHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAH…" Naruto burst out laughing, and he clutched his sides. Sasuke's eyes narrowed at him, and when Naruto looked up, he saw an angry, ready-to-attack Sasuke, glaring, fists folded.
"Oh dear," Naruto piped, and then he got up and ran.
Sasuke chased after him down the closed ward.
"BAKA! GET BACK HERE!" Sasuke shouted. Sakura and Ino calmed down and peered out the door on their knees. They were heading towards the elevator, which was now closing.
"ARGH! HOLD THE ELEVATOR!" Naruto screamed, but then the door closed, and…
WHAM.
He keeled over as he hit the elevator door, and fell to the floor, woozy, an awkward grin on his face.
"Hee, heee…I like my cuppy-cake…"
"Teenagers," Minato sighed and slapped his forehead.
The Next Day
"Sasuke, got all of your stuff?" Itachi laughed, carrying one of his younger brother's bags. Sasuke rolled his eyes and smirked.
"Of course, niisan," he groaned, carrying all the presents he got from the nurses at the hospital, and his two stuffed animals tucked underneath his arm. Following behind was Minato, Naruto, and Sakura. Ino had to work quickly at her parents' store in Konoha City for the busy Christmas Eve.
"Need help, Sasuke?" Naruto mocked, laughing. Sasuke glared back at him, and Naruto backed away slowly, whistling. Sakura rolled her eyes and ran up to Sasuke, taking some of the presents out of his hands.
"Thanks, Pinky," Sasuke whispered, standing up straighter now. They arrived at the limo parked outside the hospital, and the nurses all ran to the windows, waving goodbye.
"Bye, Sasuke-sama! Naruto-sama!"
"Sasuke-sama, don't forget to write!"
Sasuke nodded to them and winked, and some of them actually fainted, exactly like the movies. "Happy Christmas!"
"OH MY, HE SAID HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ME!" a nurse laughed maniacally. She fell over and fainted, and another had to rush over to help her.
"SOMEONE GET A STRETCHER!" a doctor shouted. Sakura and Sasuke looked at each other and shrugged.
"Maybe it's your sex appeal," Sakura rolled her jade eyes, sniggering. Sasuke shot a pouty look at her.
"Oh, shut up, Pinky," he muttered, smiling at the same time. Sakura punched his shoulder gently as they entered the car. They sat together, and Naruto sat with his dad. Itachi scooted over next to Sakura, and the chauffer began some Christmas music.
"So, Sakura, how long have you been at the academy?" Itachi questioned. Sakura laughed nervously, and Sasuke groaned and leaned back, embarrassed.
"Since the beginning of this year. I came in on a scholarship," Sakura explained, smiling. Itachi looked impressed.
"I'm impressed," he smiled. "You must have been very good at your old school."
"Oh, thank you," Sakura blushed, giggling. Sasuke shot a 'Niisan-if-you-don't-shut-up-I'll-whack-your-face' look at his older brother.
Itachi merely smiled and continued.
"So, how did you meet my brother?"
End of Chapter Twenty-Five.
Yes, that was short.
But necessary.
: D Next time, Breakfast at Naruto's.
Enjoy the New Year, everyone! Leave a review please (pouty face—Just kidding.)!
--Sakura-sama (: