The Trouble With Pets
Chapter 5
Kakashi met them in the driveway of the cabin. "Aww, you finally did it. I'm so proud of you."
He didn't say it sarcastically or anything, and he hugged him warmly, but Sasuke still blushed anyway and rolled his eyes. "Only you would be proud of me for getting laid… pervert."
"You're not just anyone though, you're Sasuke. And he's your mate now, isn't he? It's not the same thing as just sex."
"Are you sure you're not just related to Jiraiya-sensei?"
"Ouch, Sasuke." Kakashi groused. "That old man is way worse than me…"
"Then go apologize to Iruka-sensei, take him someplace nice for dinner and seduce him."
"Apologize?"
"Yes. Because you were a monumental ass this morning and Iruka-sensei was pissed about it literally all day! And then at the fish fry he was flirting with Tatami of all people."
"I missed one of Iruka's fish frys?"
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Yes. Now will you please go be nice to him?"
"What?" Naruto was confused. "Why do you want him to take him away? Ruka is mine!"
"If they went on a date then Iruka would be happy. Because he loves my human, he's just afraid to say so."
"But I don't want him to go anywhere!"
Sasuke smiled patiently and nuzzled the fox. "You know you have a bond with me now, right? So Iruka-sensei has to share you with me. Does that make sense?"
Naruto sighed, frowning but slowly he nodded. "I guess so… But Ruka is my human! He's the only one I've ever had..."
"Nothing will ever take away his love for you. But humans are supposed to have bonds with other humans first. They're not our mates, they need each other. Humans don't have tails or fluffy ears or the hormones and instincts that we do. That's why I'm not attracted to them when they pet me. I chose you instead, right? Humans are supposed to be drawn to other humans."
"That's right." Kakashi said. "Iruka will always love you, just like he will always love Sasuke."
"But…"
"Naruto, it's our job to protect them but to do that we have to accept their leadership. And that means allowing them to have bonds with people besides us," Sasuke said. "Don't you want to see Iruka-sensei happy again, like he was yesterday? A date with Kakashi will only take a couple of hours- he was at the archery range longer than that this morning, you know."
"A-Are you sure? I don't want him to disappear…" Naruto said, tears welled up in his blue eyes. "L-Last night I had a dream about someone… I was really little but I was happy. I was always playing with a little girl- a very small human- but a monster came and I could smell her blood everywhere and then I was locked in that horrible cage… I never saw her again… I don't even know her name… I'm scared that that will happen again… W-What if he goes away forever too?"
"Don't be ridiculous. You're my mate and I won't let any monsters hurt you or our humans."
"Naruto, did you tell Iruka about this dream you had?" Kakashi asked worriedly.
"No," Naruto said sadly. "I have lots of scary dreams… usually about the machines that made me have babies but Iruka cried when I told him."
"That's because he loves you, Naruto. He will never leave you behind." Sasuke said gently. He wrapped his arms and even his tail around him as much as he could. "If you love him you have to trust him and let him form bonds with other humans too."
"I… okay… I just don't want him to forget about me…"
"He won't," Sasuke promised. "And you don't have to feel bad for having nightmares either. I have them too."
"But you're a fighter! Why do you have nightmares?"
"Lots of reasons," Sasuke sighed. "But... When I was six months old I was sold to my first handler. He was a very famous actor and stuntman for a big movie studio. He wanted to put me in a movie he was in. But one day he showed up on set drunk after he got yelled at the day before. They talked about firing him and he got angrier. I was scared- I'd never seen a drunk person before. I didn't go to him when he called me because he smelled funny and he couldn't stand up straight."
Sasuke hesitated. Naruto was looking at him with wide but sad eyes. "I-I should have run away… but I was too scared- and no one had never been mean to me before. I couldn't really move when he grabbed me by my tail and hit me. I found out later that he crushed most of the bones in it… All I knew at the time is that he hurt me, so I lunged and bit him- and he almost died. I didn't mean to bite him hard… And I didn't realize I bit his neck. But it happened in front of about fifty people and when he dropped me I crawled up into the rafters to hide. Iruka came and rescued me before they could find a gun, but whenever it storms, my tail hurts so when I close my eyes I feel like that day happens all over again."
"Well," Kakashi said, petting Sasuke's head. "You're safe now, and don't have to fight anymore. Not if you want to retire. You can do whatever you want to now. The committee and Kisame's record can go fuck themselves- or better yet, each other for all I care."
"So, Kisame won his match tonight?"
Kakashi sighed. "Yeah. He did. 216 victories as of about an hour ago. This is the second time Raiga has brought him out of retirement to keep you from breaking his record. I think he's aiming for 220 or maybe 225 wins before he retires his pet monster for good. He killed his opponent again too."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed sharply. "Raiga challenged us to an exhibition match again, didn't he?"
"Kisame weighs 265 pounds, Sasuke. You're not fighting him! His opponent tonight weighed just over 300 pounds and Kisame still crushed him. I listened to part of the match on the radio on my way back. It was horrible. Juugo was a polar bear hybrid and he didn't stand a chance."
"Juugo was pretty good but too young to fight someone like Kisame-"
"So are you!" Kakashi growled. "He's thirty- he's literally the first shark hybrid. His collar can't stop him, meaning he's the reason they outlawed Great White Shark DNA. I'm not losing you to a monster like that. He kills for fun."
Sasuke nuzzled him. "I never said I wanted to fight him. I just think Raiga's an asshole for making us look bad."
"You look fine- Raiga looks bad for issuing a challenge to someone less than half Kisame's size. I know you're not afraid of him, but I am. You almost died fighting one shark hybrid already."
"My collar did that. Suigetsu stood literally no chance against me- neither did any of the other baby sharks I've fought. He's still too inexperienced. I say we break that bastard's record if that's what they're so afraid of."
Kakashi groaned. "I knew you'd say that… You almost died..."
"I don't understand…" Naruto pawed at Sasuke's arm. "You almost died? You said you were fine..."
Sasuke shrugged. "I feel fine. My collar shocked me three times in the match but I fought until I knocked the bastard out anyway. Why haven't they arrested Raiga yet? He has the most to gain if I lose a match."
"A lot of illegal gambling dens and even small time bookies stand to make a lot of money too, if you lose. It takes time to look into things like this. Because, if they arrest the wrong person it could happen again the next time you fight. Tsunade says it's a miracle that they got your heart to restart. Because it was the shocks from your collar that weakened it enough to stop it."
"Wait- my heart stopped? You're saying I actually died?"
"For two minutes and twenty seven seconds and then you were unconscious for two days. Iruka, Tsunade and I haven't told anyone else. But you need to be careful. Fighting against your collar will kill you. That's why you're getting so much time off. To allow your heart to heal because it's essentially bruised- badly. You're still classified as a priority one hybrid- the first jolt would have killed a normal hybrid of your size. How you survived two more Tsunade is trying to figure out. Two should have killed you and all three were recorded at full power."
"Y-You died?" Naruto looked back and forth between them. "I don't understand… How can you still be here?"
"I don't really get it either- because I don't like watching TV, the news or movies… but Tsunade is literally the best doctor ever. She fixed my tail too."
"Who's Tsunade?" Naruto asked.
"You've met her," Iruka said standing in the cabin's front door. He came over to them. "Although it's been a while now, you'll remember when you see her again, Naru. So, you told him?"
"Did we really have a choice? Sasuke's ready to jump back into the ring now!" Kakashi sighed.
Sasuke snorted. "I have a mate now and I like being outside. I'm just saying I can't let that bastard Kisame keep his record forever."
Iruka and Kakashi sighed and hugged their two hybrids.
"Anyway, I'm glad you're back, Kaka-sensei. But why didn't you take me with you?"
"Tsunade wants you to rest. Press conferences always stress you out because of the cameras, and you don't like car rides."
"You usually take me along to them anyway."
"You need time to play and be a cat. I know how much you love spending time with Iruka. Plus, you really needed to get laid, as you so artfully put it."
"Well, I'd still rather we waited on that," Iruka sighed. "But, as you said, at least their cubs will be gorgeous."
"Speaking of that, shall we give our little lovebirds some time alone?" Kakashi asked. "I was wondering if you would join me for dinner tonight? I'm sorry for being a jerk this morning. There was just a lot on my mind..."
Iruka blushed. "I- what will the boys eat while we're gone?"
"Go," Sasuke said. "Naruto and I will be fine."
"But I am kinda h-" Naruto protested. Sasuke elbowed him. Naruto huffed. "I mean, yeah. Go. We'll be fine."
"Sasuke is very good at helping himself to leftovers. They will be just fine for one two hour date." Kakashi assured Iruka.
"A-A date?" Iruka blushed even more but he let Kakashi lead him to the car and closed the door for him. He looked nervous but excited as he waved at them as Kakashi drove back out of the driveway.
"See," Sasuke said as he led the way into the cabin. "I told you he'd be happy. He likes my human, they should be together all the time- like us."
"Aren't they a lot different though?" Naruto asked. "What if they don't get along?"
"We have to let them figure that out for themselves. I just wanted to give them the chance to try. Iruka hates being single, but he's really shy after his boyfriend cheated on him. And Kakashi isn't happy dating girls… They might as well try getting together since it's what they both want. Can't you tell by their scents when they are together?"
Naruto sighed. "I guess so. But since Iruka isn't here to cook, now what do we do? I'm starving!"
"Have you ever actually looked in this refrigerator? Iruka-sensei could feed an army out of this thing- or at least a half dozen hybrids for three days. And he'll probably take us into town tomorrow to go grocery shopping. So… Potato salad and tuna sandwiches for me. What do you want?"
"Popcorn and potato chips!" Naruto shouted happily.
"That's not dinner. Those are snacks, Dobe. You can have those later. There are some leftover hot dogs. Leftover fish. Lettuce salad. Fruit salad… Actually, I might have a bacon cheeseburger too, since I found the leftover hamburgers and bacon."
"What's a bacon cheeseburger?" Naruto asked.
"You have to try one. You take a hamburger patty, put it in the microwave with the bacon and get it hot. Then you put a piece of cheese on it in the microwave- just long enough to melt the cheese a little. Then you put it all on a bun with mayonnaise and ketchup on it. You can have the first one. Mine needs extra cheese."
Naruto bobbed up and down excitedly, watching the meat turn slowly around in the microwave.
He followed Sasuke's instructions and squealed happily taking his first bite. "This is great! Can we have another one?"
"After you eat some salad. There's potato or lettuce- or a fruit salad."
"Eww!" Naruto growled. "You can't make me eat that!"
Sasuke shot him a mischievous grin. "You want to get bigger and stronger, right? You need to eat more than just meat and pancakes for that. I'll give you a reward later…"
Naruto pricked his ears curiously and ended up eating the grapes and strawberries out of his fruit salad after all.
"Sasuke put you up to this, didn't he?" Iruka said softly as they headed toward the nearest town.
"I… Well, we are going to be seeing a lot more of each other now. I mean we can't keep them apart now, can we? That won't be healthy for Sasuke, Naruto or the babies."
"You would really let him keep them- I mean instead of having the nursery raise them?"
"If it means I could retire him? Of course, I would. Sasuke's the only family I have left… I don't know what I would do if I lost him again. I-I saw the lights go out on his collar monitor backstage… I can't just watch that happen again."
"You never told me that!"
"It's not a very good conversation starter… Hi, how've you been? Me? Oh, I'm great, I just let Sasuke die to collect win number 199." Kakashi sighed. "Anyway, it got me thinking that I don't want to have any other regrets- especially with you."
"W-With me?"
"Come on, you know how cute you are. Sasuke loves you, you love hybrids. You put up with me and you're the best cook ever… I'm just sorry it took me so long to say something. But you were having such a hard time getting over what's his name that I didn't want to push you too hard and end up pushing you away… We both know I can be a real jerk. But I do like you… and I think you like me too, right?"
"W-Well I…" Iruka hesitated.
"You don't have to decide anything now," Kakashi said. "Remember this place? We ate here once before, didn't we?"
Iruka looked up at the restaurant and smiled. It was the most famous steakhouse in the area. "Yeah, the day you took Sasuke home. I took you out to wish you good luck."
"Well, today it's my treat. I'm wishing us both luck! I mean, Sasuke can't keep winning forever. He's won 151 matches in a row… That's insane. Kisame's record for consecutive wins was 109- and no one else that's currently fighting even comes close to that many."
Iruka sighed. "I hate it when Sasuke fights too. I'll never be able to watch. But he always wins because he's fought in at least twice as many matches as anyone else his age. The council made sure of that while he was basically still just a baby. He still hasn't peaked physically- that's still a few years away and of course, he still trains as hard as he did when he was little. I know luck plays big a part in it too, but Sasuke is special and you've done a better job with him than I ever could have..."
"Are you kidding? Sasuke's more human than Neko because you were there for him long before I met him."
After they ate, Sasuke was careful to put all the food away in the refrigerator and the dishes in the sink. Naruto had wandered off somewhere and Sasuke found him on the screened porch in the backyard.
Sasuke wrapped his arms around him from behind and kissed his mate's neck. Naruto leaned back into him instinctively, relishing the feeling of being close to him. He smelled good, he wanted Sasuke to smell like this all the time! Neither of them had taken a bath yet, because they were both too hungry. Well, and Iruka wasn't there to shovel them off to the bathroom.
They only took a break from mating so that they could eat. And Naruto was glad that Sasuke seemed to want to continue.
It made him very happy that his mate seemed to find him attractive even with his squishy belly. He was afraid that no one would ever want him if they knew what he had been through. He tried not to think about it, but it was so obvious- especially compared to Sasuke's beautiful body.
His mate was incredibly well built and even with all of those old scars, Sasuke's pale skin was soft and silky as it moved with every shift of his powerful muscles.
Naruto had never seen such a beautiful hybrid before. Well, not that he'd seen a lot of hybrids- but not even the ones on TV or magazines were as pretty as Sasuke. And yet Sasuke was all his- he wanted to be Naruto's mate…
Sasuke was so strong and yet gentle. Naruto wasn't stupid, he knew the leopard could have reversed their positions any time he chose to… but he hadn't. He wanted Naruto inside him- that made him feel good because according to Iruka and Kakashi, Sasuke had never been with anyone else before either...
Being inside Sasuke felt like nothing he'd ever imagined. He was so hot and responsive and tight. Naruto growled just thinking about it. But would the cat let him do it again?
Naruto gasped, moaning a little as Sasuke nipped at his neck above his collar. The leopard ran his clawed hands down Naruto's body to his cock on the outside of his clothes.
"Come on," Sasuke purred. "I need a shower."
"Oh," Naruto's ears drooped sadly. "Well, what do you need me for then?"
"You're my mate, Dobe. I want you to fuck me in it."
Naruto grinned. "In the shower? But I like baths better, Teme!"
"I want to be clean but I'm still in heat, which means shower. Now."
Naruto huffed. "Fine… You're so bossy."
"I'm a cat. It's my job. And I can tell by your scent that it turns you on."
"It does not!"
"You're blushing, Naruto." Sasuke purred, nipping his ear gently. "Once my heat is over I'm going to make you mine all over again. When you think of mating the only thing you will think of is me and how much I love you."
"Y-You love me?" Naruto was shocked. Love was a word rarely said by or even about exotics- because they could be so cold. But it was unheard of among fighters. Fighting Hybrids were notoriously bad tempered and cruel. They were trained to kill each other so Iruka never let him watch them fight on TV-
So, why did Sasuke choose him?
"S-Sasuke," Naruto shivered as Sasuke made another lovemark on his neck. "W-Why did you pick me?"
"Because I spend too much time fighting already. I wanted a mate I can play and have fun with but that I have to be careful of. I'm glad you're not a fighter. I don't want you to be like me. I want you to stay who you are! You... remind me of who I used to be before… before my tail was broken."
"Really?" Naruto's eyes were wide and his ears were pricked all the way forward.
"Yes. I like who you are. A silly Dobe that trips and falls in the bathtub, gets pinched on the ear by crabs and likes to swim naked…"
"You should try it, it's really fun!" Naruto said mischievously.
Sasuke snorted, teasing him. "What, tripping in the bathtub? No thanks."
Naruto scowled at him. "I mean try swimming naked with me! I promise you won't be thinking of the fish or the crabs down there."
"Yuck," Sasuke shuddered and shook his head. "But I do swim in the pool at home occasionally. We could swim naked there."
Naruto shivered as Sasuke turned him around and kissed him. "Wait! You have a swimming pool? Really?"
"The house and grounds are enormous. But we're hardly ever home. Because I have to fight all the time. Usually we live in hotel rooms."
"Why? I don't get it... Is it Kakashi's fault? Does he make you do it?"
"Weren't you paying attention earlier?" Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Kakashi is trying to retire me. That means he doesn't want me to fight anymore- ever. The humans were terrified that a six month old leopard exotic almost killed a full grown human male who was in really good shape. To prove that I wasn't a danger to anyone else, I had to fight in the arenas in front of people. I am the committee's proof that even a monster like me can be controlled without cruelty."
"But you said that man hurt you! Why did everyone get mad at you?"
"I… I don't know. But hybrids are both human and animal. I mean you like to say you're a fox, right? Well, I'm a cat, but we aren't really legally considered either. Animal rights activists say that we're too much like humans to need their protection. And the human rights activists say we're too animal to be worth protecting. To most people, We are either scary zoo animals or pets- and no one wants a dangerous pet. Especially if it's still a baby."
"But…" Naruto didn't know what to say. Sasuke was hurting and he wanted to help but he didn't understand exactly what was wrong so how could he?
Sasuke sighed and shook his head. "I still need a shower. Are you coming or not?"
Naruto followed him eagerly, but in his mind he was still confused about what Sasuke had just told him. "What are... activators?"
"You mean activists? They're people who say they want to change things. But Kakashi says most of them talk a lot but don't actually do much. Nevermind. Let's get into the shower."
As the water got hot Sasuke smirked and sank to his knees in front of Naruto as he stripped him. The blond was watching him fascinated as Sasuke carefully exposed his cock, and licked at it experimentally.
Naruto leaned back against the wall and moaned as Sasuke licked the large vein on the underside and then swirled his tongue around the top but avoided the slit.
"Ah!" Naruto shivered as Sasuke continued lower, teasing the length of his shaft with kisses before nuzzling the fox's balls and then sucked on them gently. "Sasuke! W-What are you doing to me?"
The leopard chuckled low in his throat. "Giving you your reward, remember? Don't you like it?"
"Y-Yeah." Naruto purred, he was barely standing now and Sasuke smirked as he pulled the blond's hips toward him and nuzzled his length before slowly taking it into his mouth. He sucked and licked at him until Naruto almost collapsed, precome leaking from his slit. Sasuke savored the taste of it.
This was his mate. He tasted good and Sasuke couldn't wait to have that beautiful cock inside him again. Gently he pulled back and stood up to lead him into the shower.
Naruto moaned as he followed Sasuke into the hot water. He loved that and it made him want to be back inside his mate even more. He pushed Sasuke into the wall of the shower and nuzzled his neck from behind. "Why did you stop?"
"Because I want to feel you come inside me again, Dobe. Fuck me so we can get out of the water!"
"But I like the water!" Naruto protested. But he forgot all about that when Sasuke turned around and captured his lips in a passionate kiss. After the way he'd been teasing him, the fox couldn't take much more. He turned Sasuke around so that he was facing the wall again and entered him in one smooth motion. They both moaned.
Sasuke pushed back into Naruto's every thrust and mewled as Naruto reached around and started stroking his mate's cock in time with his movements.
"S-Sasuke! I'm gonna come!" Naruto gritted out.
Sasuke was proud that he had pleased him that much, but he didn't want the blond to come just yet. "Slow down. I'm not ready yet."
"But it hurts… I want to be inside you so bad..."
"Then kiss me,"
Naruto wrapped an arm around him, pulling Sasuke into a desperate kiss. They both moaned when it changed the angle of penetration and suddenly, Naruto's cock was pounding his prostate with every thrust.
Sasuke shuddered as he came, nearly falling to his knees. His inner muscles were clenching around Naruto made the fox groan loudly as he came inside him. They were both helpless for a few moments under the spray of the shower that had long since gone cold without either of them noticing.
When Sasuke could move again, he decided he was tired. All of his naps today had been interrupted and he dragged Naruto into the spare bedroom and snuggled into the covers with him.
"W-We need to get dressed! Iruka likes it when I wear clothes…"
Sasuke wrapped an arm around the fox and purred against his neck. "That's why we're in this bedroom, under the covers, Dobe. Because I'm just going to end up stripping you again when we wake up."
"You really like mating, huh?" Naruto giggled.
"That's why they call it being in heat, Dobe. Besides, we're bonding now so sleeping together is important."
"What does that mean? How do you know?"
"I just do… Maybe it's because I'm five and you're not yet. If I was a human I'd be twenty. But I can read some of your thoughts already. Bonded mates can do that. Tsunade says it's an illusion caused by our hormones and brain wave patterns becoming more in sync. But it's deeper than that- I don't just know how you feel, I know the words you're thinking before you say them. And the longer we're together the stronger it will get until we won't need to talk anymore."
"But I like talking! I only just started!"
Sasuke nuzzled him and licked his ear as he stretched out onto his side. "We can talk all you want. I'm just saying you won't need to tell me what you want or how you feel, I'll always just know."