Neko Sasuke

She sighed and tapped her foot when Sasuke was covered in a lot of dust and entangled with her bed sheets. "What am I going to do with you?" she asked, arms crossed. She still had her jounin uniform on, minus the vest, and her gloves were still present on her hands. Tapping an index finger on her chin, she grinned, causing the neko to tremble upon the look Sakura gave him. "Someone needs a bath."

When he heard the dreaded word, he zoomed pass Sakura, causing the seventeen year old to blink and ran after the fleeing neko. "Get back here Sasuke!" she demanded, her sweet tone long gone, replaced by an aggravated one. "You need a bath damn it!" she yelled, running around the living room and back up at the stairs where the half-cat Uchiha ran to. She stopped, panting for air when the neko hid under her bed, still cowering from her, not minding the tomato she had in her hand that she took from the kitchen while in their little game of tag.

"Sasuke, come on, you have to take a bath!" she tried to bribe the neko with a tomato, but he only remained under the bed, inching further away from her. She sighed and gave up, sitting on the floor crossed-legged and in deep thinking. "Mou, how can I get you to take a bath? You're lucky that I now live alone…" she trailed off, recalling how her mom died from the attack from Sound two years ago. She remembered how Sasuke returned to them after a fight against Orochimaru when he learned that the sannin wasn't exactly planning to help him with revenge at all once he took over the Uchiha's body. Tears fell down from her eyes as she cried silently at the memory. Neko Sasuke heard her sniffles and slowly came out, staring at his new master.

Chapter 2: Water

She felt a small hand placed over one of her own. With teary eyes, she glanced at Sasuke who blinked and stared at her with large onyx orbs, his ears twitching slightly while his tail swayed right to left in a slow manner. Sakura just continued to let her tears fall as she stared at the half-cat, her eyes softening upon recalling her crush. "You're probably wondering why I'm crying, huh?" she asked, a slight smile on her lips as her other hand wiped her tears away, only to be replaced by fresh ones.

"If you were in your original self, you'd probably tell me that I'm so pathetic…" she whispered. Neko Sasuke just blinked innocently, not knowing what to do when his master was crying. Relying on instincts, he leaned his nose closer to Sakura's cheek, the jounin completely unsuspecting. Her eyes widened when she felt someone lick her cheek lightly in an affectionate and comforting gesture. She turned her head abruptly to the neko who had a smile on his face, his ears on the side, making him look cuter than ever.

"Sasuke…" she whispered, the cat just tilting its head, the smile not leaving his lips. Sakura only shed more tears, the image of an ANBU Sasuke entering her mind. She found herself pulling neko Sasuke into an embrace, startling the boy a bit as she cried on his shoulder, one of her hands on his spiky hair while the other remained on his back, where the Uchiha fan was imprinted on his blue shirt. Even if he was in his eight year old body, his clothes were of his genin days when he graduated from the academy.

"Sakura…" She didn't know why he was doing this affectionate gesture, but her inner self told her to just enjoy the moment, because these things never last that long. "Thank you…" he whispered, and a second later, he was gone.

…gone.

Her arms around him tightened as she recalled the first and last hug Sasuke had ever given her. "He knew…" she thought. "Somehow, he knew that it may be the last time he'll be seeing me…" her tears continued flowing, confusing the neko who just remained still, letting his master hug him without any complaints. She pulled away, looking at him as he looked back with the same guiltless eyes.

The Konoha headband was around his head, courtesy of Tsunade, since she didn't want other people to think that he came from another village, not that they would question the neko's appearance but you can never be too sure. "Come on." She whispered, carrying him in her arms like a mother would to her child. Sasuke looked up at Sakura's smiling face, wondering what had cause the sudden mood change. "Thanks for the sweet gesture Sasuke." She said, giving the neko a light kiss on top of his head, earning a purr from him when he snuggled closer to the pink-haired kunoichi.

"Let's go buy you some…" she looked around her room, seeing her sheets scattered. With a sweat drop, she laughed a bit. "Items…" she murmured, and then did a hand seal, teleporting the two of them out of the Haruno household and out into the open street of Konoha. "So, what should we get you first..?" she asked herself, looking around the busy marketplace of the village, noting how the neko snuggled closer when he sensed the ogling eyes of the young women of Konoha.

"Eh? What's wrong?" she asked, looking down at her… pet. Sasuke just buried his face on the crook of her neck, giving a soft meow as she giggled. "Aw, you're so cute…" she commented, looking up when she heard the chattering of three other kunoichi that she's familiar with. "Hey Ino, Ten-Ten and Hinata!"

The three girls looked up and greeted Sakura, then turned their attention to the bundle in her arms. "Is that..?" Tan-Ten asked, raising a brow. Sakura laughed. "I guess the news is out." she walked closer to them, stopping a good four feet away from them when she felt Sasuke tremble a bit. "I guess he still has Sasuke instincts." Ino pointed, seeing how the neko shook. "He still has the fear of getting close to girls." She smirked at her best friend/rival. "Maybe he doesn't see you as a girl, eh Sakura?"

A vein popped at the side of her head. "At least he thinks I'm not a boar like you Ino!" the blonde blinked and glared at Team 7's cherry blossom. "Excuse me, I have a perfect figure, and Sai thinks I'm beautiful, unlike you," she gave a sly smile. "Ugly hag." If it weren't for Sasuke in her arms, she would've punched her best friend right now. "I-Ino, stop that…" Hinata whispered, tugging on the blonde's top as her gaze landed on the neko Sasuke. "You're making Sasuke angry…"

The three girls looked at Hinata, then at Sasuke who had the Uchiha glare plastered on his eyes, directly looking at Ino as if she was a threat to his master. "Oh please, Sasuke would never get mad at someone like me," she huffed, smiling flirtatiously at the neko. "Right Sasuke?" she asked, walking closer and reaching out to pat him on the head but he hissed and jumped from Sakura's arms, arching his back like a cat that was threatened. Ino took a few steps away, forcing a twitching smile at the neko. "S-Sakura, what's with him? What did you feed him?"

Sakura only giggled and knelt down beside her pet, scratching his ear as the neko calmed down and leaned his head to where Sakura's hand was, enjoying the sensation he was feeling, purring in delight. "He's an anti-Ino type of neko." She answered, wrapping her arms around the Uchiha and carrying him again like a baby. Ten-Ten laughed at Ino's facial expression, comparing it to a steaming hot wild boar who was red in the face. "Chill Ino, I can't argue with the neko on that." The weapon mistress said, attempting to pat Sasuke on the head, which surprisingly, he didn't hiss at, sensing no danger from Ten-Ten.

"I guess he's a pro-Ten-Ten." Hinata observed, her long hair swaying wit the wind. Sakura turned to Naruto's girlfriend and smiled. "Want to see if he's a pro-Hinata?" The female Hyuuga smiled and scratched one of Sasuke's ears. He seemed to enjoy it as much as Sakura's soothing touch, but he chose the latter than the former. "Well then, I guess he is a pro-Hinata." She grinned at the still flushed Ino. "We have to go now, I still need to find this little guy some toys to mess with instead of my bed sheets." She cuddled the neko, causing it to squirm. "I guess he's ticklish like the old Sasuke…" and she bid her friends goodbye.

"Well, you only listen to me…" she murmured, grinning. "It's a good thing Ino didn't hear me whisper to you to hiss at her." She continued to walk around the marketplace, trying hard to avoid some of the crowded places since most men there would subtly brush their fingers on her fully developed rear. Even if the neko in her arms was sensitive to the looks men would give her, she still figured that his ninja instincts aren't as accurate as the original Sasuke's.

"I don't know what to buy you…" she whispered, staring at the small balls in a box, then to a few baby toys that were soft, and some were even chew toys. "Eh, you're not a dog…" she sighed, her eyes catching a box of yarns displayed on one stall, ready to be bought one by one, if not the whole set. "I guess one of those will do…" she smiled at the neko who eyed one ball of yarn that was the color of red. His eyes told her that he was craving to play with it. Giggling, she took the yarn and paid for it, then went to the next stall.

Sakura looked at Sasuke who was holding onto the red yarn, a cute smile on his eight-year old face. She then stopped at one store, wherein it sold a lot of pet accessories. "You won't be needing a collar, nor a dish bowl, but you do need your own bed sheet so you can stop playing with mine." She said, giving a mocking glare at the neko who seemed to smile sheepishly and turned his attention back at the yarn in his hands. "Hmm..." she picked up one blanket that had patterns of orange kittens and was at the color of pale blue. Smiling, she got it and walked over to the counter, buying the cloth for the neko.

"Now all we need to do is buy some groceries, do you think you can walk from here on?" she asked, receiving a nod from the neko as she put him down on his two feet, one hand holding his while the other held onto the plastic bag which contained the blanket. "Alright, just let me know if you want anything in the market okay?" he gave a nod, agreeing to her like an obedient child. She smiled at him. "Good boy." And entered the store.

She was doing fine with the shopping, since Sasuke followed her around and didn't even called her attention if ever he wanted something. He just simply remained quiet and stuck to her like glue. "You want some tomatoes Sasuke?" she asked sweetly. He looked up at her with a small smile and a short nod, and she took some of the red fruit and placed them in her basket. "There we go, now to pay for them." She led him to the counter, paid the items and got the two bags in her hands. When she stepped out of the door though…

"Why, if it isn't the lovely blossom of the spring! Haruno Sakura!"

She twitched while Sasuke had his ears did the same action, blinking and looking up innocently at the man in green spandex and a jounin vest to go with it. "H-Hi Lee…" Sakura said, her lips having a forced smile. Lee grinned at her, his perfect rows of sharp, white teeth shining with the sun's rays. "So, what are you doing on this fine day?" he asked. "Oh, I just bought some stuffs." She answered politely. "Well, we'll be going now." She glanced down at Sasuke who now had his yarn on the ground while he was on all fours, crouching low to be in eye level with the red ball of string.

"No, Sasuke! You're going to get dirtier!" she cried out, dropping her bags and picking the half-cat up. Lee looked at the neko then back at Sakura, then to the groceries and then back at Sakura. A light bulb popped on the top of his head as he smiled once more. "Why don't I carry your bags for you and walk you home while you carry your… cat on the way back?" She looked up at Lee and smiled, a slight blush across her cheeks. "Not a bad idea Lee, thank you." He smiled, his face turning red from her beauty and the radiance she gave off. "My pleasure!" and he happily carried the bags, missing the annoyed look Sasuke gave him.

Sakura did notice it though, and she giggled inwardly at the thought of a jealous Sasuke. "Feh, like that'll happen!" she shook her head an picked the neko up, feeling him cuddle closer and having a satisfying smile on his face, the yarn still on his hands. "Once we get home, you're going to take a bath!" she concluded, walking side by side with Lee who had her groceries.

"So far, I've come to the conclusion that Sasuke does not like some girls still. He, up until now, is not friendly with everyone, he only listens to me, he's kind of jealous when someone else from the male species gets my attention… and… he hates water…"

"We're here Sakura!" Lee declared cheerfully, his smile still beaming at her. She gave a small one of her own and took her house key from her pocket, then unlocked the door and pushed it open, stopping on her porch and facing the male jounin who carried her bags. "Thanks again Lee." She said, a wider smile spreading on her lips, causing the neko in her arms to look away in annoyance, a very grumpy look on his face. "It was no trouble at all Sakura!" he said, flashing his good guy pose as he leaned a bit closer to her cheek. The female jounin just sighed inwardly and closed her eyes, letting his lips go nearer to her cheek, not knowing that a certain neko was not liking the scene.

"This guy is so going to get it…" the neko thought, glaring at Lee as he felt Sakura's arms on him loosened. With an Uchiha smirk forming on his lips, he pounced on Lee by surprise and started scratching the taijutsu master's face, the cries of the Gai-look-a-like ringing like music to his ears. "Sasuke, stop that!" Sakura scolded, pulling the cat away as the neko continued to glare at Lee, his arms hanging loosely over Sakura's arms that were secured around his body. "I'm so sorry Lee! Sasuke just tends to get envious when I give my attention to someone else!" she reasoned, bowing down apologetically at Lee who just backed away from the half-cat, nodding at Sakura, indicating that it was nothing. "Again, I'm so sorry…" and he left, leaving Sakura to glare at her cat who seemed to look so innocent with his ears bent sideways, eyes blinking and a cute clueless facial expression on his face.

"You are so…" she trailed off, not having enough guts to get mad at the way the neko Sasuke looked at her. She sighed and smiled a bit, hugging the neko closer to her and snuggling her cheek with his. "Aw, how can I get mad at you? You're too cute!" she squealed, causing the neko to smile brightly. "Come on, let's get these stuffs inside…" she put him down inside the house and carried her bags in as well.

She fixed everything and went up the stairs, along with Sasuke's newly bought blanket and yarn. He trudged up the steps, following her until she reached her room, where she lay the small blanket on her bed, folding it neatly. Next, she took a small mattress that she bought as well and set it near her bed, placing the blanket on top of it, along with a small pillow and the ball of red yarn.

Sasuke watched her in amusement while he sat on the floor, listening to her singing. "Damn, she has a good voice…" he thought. The people around him are not ware of it, but his eighteen year old self often surfaces in the neko's mind, he still has no control of his body, since it was still acting like a cat. Most of the time, he just doesn't think at all.

"There, all done!" she said, eyeing her work in fixing her bed and Sasuke's. "Okay, if you're planning to sleep on your new bed sheet, you'll have to take a bath! Otherwise, it's outside!" she threatened, causing the cat to slump a bit in fear. She then giggled and coaxed him to come with a tomato. Sasuke eyed the red fruit and slowly approached her. Once he was within the range of her trap, she grabbed him and walked inside the bathroom. Sasuke's instincts told him that this was not good, so he began to struggle from her vice-like grip, but it was no use.

When Sakura closed the door with a push of her foot, he knew there was no escaping, he knew that it was bath time for him. "Crap." And he felt the lukewarm water of the tub touch his bare skin. His spiked up hair slightly flat, but since his raven locks was, and still is, naturally spiky, it didn't fall behind his ears nor did it completely flattened. He let out a small, midget mew as Sakura removed her jounin gloves and knelt down on the marbled floor, getting a face towel and wiping the half-cat's face.

"You'll get used to this," she said. "Eventually…" Sasuke just pouted at her and splashed water at her face, ginning at her surprised expression. She laughed, and he was satisfied with that. "You are so silly!" Sakura's smile softened and she took a bottle of shampoo and a bar of soap and began to bathe the neko who finally calmed down at her touch, relaxing at the aroma the soap had to offer, and liking the touch and massage on his scalp that she gave. He purred in delight, and that brought another smile from the pink-haired kunoichi.

"There! Now you smell nicer than before!" she exclaimed, cuddling the neko in her arms on her bed. He was dressed up in a blue long sleeved button-up shirt, and blue pajama pants. "Well, let' get some shut eyes shall we?" she asked, earning a nod from him as she tucked him in like a child, humming a tune and covering his body with the new blanket she bought for him. "Good night Sasuke," she whispered when he closed his eyes and snuggled on his pillow. She gave a light feathery kiss on his forehead after removing the Konoha head gear that wrapped around his forehead. She continued to brush his bangs away and kept humming a lullaby to him until he was asleep. "Sweet dreams…" and she too, lay down in her own bed and fell asleep.

Sasuke listened to her even breathing and opened his eyes, sitting up and eyeing his owner. Blinking, he got out of bed and took his blanket with the use of his mouth, climbed on her bed and waited for a while, making sure that she was in a deep sleep. Afterwards, he placed the blanket down and leaned closer to her face, giving a light, affectionate lick before sneaking in between her arms and making himself comfortable beside her. He then closed his eyes and let sleep take him over, feeling how her arms tightened around him, her nose burying on his raven hair. "Sasuke-kun…" she thought, missing his presence once more.

"Sasuke didn't like water as much as his neko version hates it… but… he never did like being hugged… so why now..? Is there so much of a difference and similarity between them?" she slowly opened her eyes and looked at the sleeping figure beside her. "First was the demand of attention… now… affection…"

To be continued…

Next on Neko Sasuke: Chapter 3: Plush Toys and more

She blinked at the scene before her. There was Sasuke, his blanket covering half of his body as he remained seated on the carpeted floor. The red ball of yarn was a few feet away from him, and what caught her attention was the thing that was hanging from his mouth. "Sasuke, drop that now!"

A/N: The original chapter title for this was supposed to be "attention" or "affection" but I changed it to water to not spoil the chapter. I finished this as fast as I could because next week will be our periodical exams, which means no computer for me for one week! Anyway, thank you all so much for reviewing and encouraging me to update this! Also, I have a little sketch of the little preview above this. I'll try to post it in deviantArt soon and I'll let you know if I did! Care to take a guess as to what is hanging from neko Sasuke's mouth?