Chapter 6

Sasuke walked around the house. He couldn't say it was to his tastes, but it was a place to rest while he regained his strength. The brace had been taken off a week ago and his leg was now wrapped in an Ace bandage. With it he walked stiffly, but Kiba had exercise as he could without collapsing. Because of the cast, his leg near atrophied and he needed to build the muscles back up.

Sasuke had another reason. He wanted to regain his freedom. Naruto had talked about using him as a ploy to get into the dog fights. Sasuke wanted nothing to do with them anymore. He didn't care about the dogs or if there were drugs. It had nothing to do with him.

He looked around the living room. He still couldn't believe how it was decorated. It was like a woman had decorated it. Sasuke did hear that it used to be Naruto's mother's house, so he shouldn't be surprised that he kept some of her things, but the place looked virtually untouched. There were one or two items that he could see Naruto owning, like the newest action movie or a video game, but most of the items were kept.

Sasuke remembered Naruto ten years ago, sitting at his mother's grave and trying to keep from crying. Sasuke still couldn't figure out the reason why he gave the rose to Naruto. When he told his answer to Tsunade, he had been truthful. It was sad to lose a parent. When Sasuke heard of his own father's death, he was sad. Fugaku wouldn't have been winning any father of the year awards, but he was still Sasuke's father. He went to the funeral and watched from afar as Itachi and Mikoto lead the precession.

His leg twinged and he resisted the urge to whine. Kiba had stressed that Sasuke take it easy on his leg, but Sasuke ignored it. Despite his quick healing, the leg was slow to heal. Sasuke couldn't figure out why. He had broken bones before, and they always healed up within a day. Now it was taking months.

He turned back to the dog bed Naruto had placed on the living room floor. He couldn't climb stairs yet so he couldn't go to the "dog room". He was shocked to find out that Naruto had made a room for his dog. Kyuubi may be old and retired, but he still had the energy of a puppy. A perfect match for Naruto.

Sasuke laid down on the bed. It was surprisingly comfortable. Naruto had bought it at the pet store Kiba's father own with a family and friends discount. Naruto even padded it with a blanket. He was always thinking of things like that.

Speaking of Naruto, he should be waking up soon. Idly, Sasuke wonder if Naruto was going to make his spicy frittata. Sasuke was surprised to find that the blonde could cook. Looked like Naruto found something to else to stuff in his face other than ramen.

He heard a door opening and another door closing. Naruto was doing his morning ritual before making breakfast. The bathroom door opened and Naruto walked down the stairs yawning. He wore a bright orange shirt and black boxers. He scratched his head lazily as Kyuubi followed down the stairs behind him.

"Hey, boy," said Naruto, greeting Sasuke as he walked into the living room. "Did you have a good sleep?"

'I slept better than you,' thought Sasuke as Naruto knelt next to him. At least he did pet him. Sasuke barked at the last person who tried that. 'What kind of police officer sleeps until seven thirty when they have the morning shift?'

Sasuke had been awake when Naruto walked in at three in the morning. The man looked beat and barely made it up the stairs to his room before Sasuke heard the telltale snores. Since Naruto didn't have a canine partner yet, Kakashi had him on deskwork until Sasuke was medically cleared for work.

"How about a frittata today?" asked Naruto getting up. "Then we'll take our walk."

Sasuke groaned. For the past week, Naruto had been taking him to the the park to train while Kyuubi stayed home. The grandson of a neighbor, Konohamaru, walked Kyuubi every evening for some extra money since Kyuubi's retirement two months ago.

"You'll get that bandage off soon too," said Naruto. "Isn't that great?"

That was the only possitive thing about this arrangement in Sasuke's opinion. He only had another week to put up with the bubbling blonde.

Slowly getting to his feet, Kurogane followed Naruto into the kitchen. Naruto first gave Kyuubi a can of premade dog food, which the red retriever eagerly ate. Then he started making his and Sasuke's breakfast. Naruto learned notlong after meeting Kurogane that the dog wouldn't eat anything packaged or canned. So, Naruto began cooking Kurogane's food with his own. It was actually gratifying, making food for someone other than himself, even if it was his dog.

Naruto made the frittata for himself and Kurogane and ate. Despite being a dog, Kurogane ate with the patience of a human. Kurogane was a mystery, which was one reason why he adopted the dog. When he first visit after nearly running him over, instead of barking up a storm he seemed to study his surroundings and seemed to have an almost intelligence behind his brown eyes. Naruto wanted to learn why Kurogane was unlike any dog he had ever seen.

Naruto finished his breakfast and washed both his and Sasuke's plates. Sasuke refused to eat from a dog bowl. Naruto went to find his shoes. He always lost the second one and it would take him ten minutes to find it. Usually under the couch or the chair.

"Where is it?" said Naruto looking under the couch for the third time. This time with a flashlight.

Sasuke snorted. No wonder the blonde has a tracker dog. He needed one just to find his shoes. Gingerly getting to his feet, he walked to the bookcase and pawed behind it. How it had gotten behind there, he could only guess. He snorted against the smell of old sweat coming from it and barked toward Naruto. No way was he putting that in his mouth.

Naruto looked up and grinned.

"How did you know where it was," said Naruto walking over and picking it up.

'Because I could smell it,' thought Sasuke as he watched Naruto put his shoe on and pick up Sasuke's leash.

"Come on, boy," said Naruto.

Sasuke rolled his eyes before walking over to the blonde. He allowed Naruto to clip the leash on him and followed him out of the apartment. Kyuubi ignored their departure for the food.

Sasuke stayed beside Naruto as they walked. He didn't really need the leash, but he didn't want to be caught by the dog catchers. He wasn't going to let that happen again.

Coming into the park, Naruto took out his music player and put on earphones in his ears and Sasuke's heightened ears could make out "Supermassive Black Hole" by Muse playing through the tiny speakers. He didn't know Naruto liked that kind of music. It was certainly different than what he thought.

They jogged around the park for almost a half hour before they ran into someone they knew.

"Naruto, hi!"

Naruto turned to the voice and smiled.

"Hinata-chan! Hi" said Naruto turning to his friend. She was pushing a stroller with a small white dog jogging beside her. Naruto crouched beside the stroller. "Hello, Himawari-chan!"

The toddler babbled. Sasuke sat on the ground and waited for Naruto to finish talking to Hinata so they could continue their walk. He needed to strengthen his leg. The puppy was tugging on the leash attatched to the stroller, too energetic to stay still long enough for Hinata to talk. The stroller tugged forward with it as it barked at the joggers and dog walkers around them.

'Stupid dog,' thought Sasuke and snorted a laugh.

"How is Kurogane doing?" asked Hinata.

"He's doing okay, but he's got a stubborn streak. He keeps trying to walk up the stairs even though he knows he can yet," said Naruto. "Luckily, the wrap comes off soon."

"Yes," said Hinata with a nod.

Sasuke listened to all of this with half an ear. The rest of it was on the puppy as it tugged on the leash, nearly toppling the stroller. Last thing Sasuke wanted was a crying baby. The screeching would hurt his ears. Sasuke barked a warning and the puppy immediately stopped. Naruto and Hinata looked at him worried.

"Are you sure he's safe?" asked Hinata worried.

"He's hasn't attacked anyone yet," said Naruto. "Maybe he doesn't like energetic puppies."

'Give the dope a medal,' thought Sasuke.

"Kiba's worried that you were too impulsive in adopting him."

Naruto rubbed his head laughing.

"Maybe, but I have a feeling about this one."

"I hope you're right, Naruto-kun."

Sasuke tuned out the rest of it as he watched the toddler. She could have been no more than a year old and was reaching toward Sasuke determiningly. Sasuke just sat next to Naruto and stared out at the park. The toddler started to whimper and Sasuke fought a groan. Both humans didn't notice the baby's actions.

'I don't cuddle, kid,' said Sasuke.

Tears started to fall as the baby whimpered, reaching toward Sasuke. Sighing, Sasuke moved closer to the stroller and allowed the baby to fist his fur.

'Just don't get snot on me.'

Himawari giggled as she pulled on Sasuke's fur. She grabbed it with both hands tugged for Sasuke to move closer, but the canine stayed right where he was. The toddler lean forward and buried her face in Sasuke's fur.

'Dope, the brat's getting snot in my fur.'

"Will you look at that," said Naruto looking down at his dog.

Both turned to see Sasuke standing perfectly still as Himawari played with Sasuke's fur, and Sasuke not protesting. He gave Naruto a pointingly annoyed look.

'You are giving me a bath later,' he said.

"That dog doesn't let anyone touch him without growling, not even me," said Naruto.

"We had to sedate him just to get him in the brace," said Hinata in awe as she watched her daughter play with the black dog.

'I'm still getting you back for that,' said Sasuke.

"It's strange though," said Hinata leaning down to look more closely at Sasuke.

'Hey, back off, Hyuga!'

"What is?" asked Naruto.

"His eyes seem almost human."

"He does?" said Naruto leaning down to look at Sasuke's eyes.

'Dope!' Sasuke growled silently.

"I don't see it," said Naruto.

"Well, there difference is subtle, but I swear they look human to me," said Hinata.

"Weird," said Naruto.

They talked a couple minutes about Sasuke's next appointment before Naruto continued on his jog. As they jogged, Naruto looked down at Sasuke.

"Why did you let Himawari-chan touch you, Kurogane?' he asked. "You barely let me."

'Because you're not a baby that'll blast my eardrums with her screeching,' thought Sasuke.

"Well, let's get you a bath before work," said Naruto and they started jogging back to the house.

The bath consisted of Naruto pulling out tub and filling it with water. Sasuke jumped in and rolled around the water to get really wet and allowed Naruto to scrub shampoo on him. Bathing was the only time Sasuke allowed Naruto to touch him. When Naruto was finished and washed the suds off. Kyuubi jumped in as soon as Sasuke stepped out and shook the water off him.

"You're more snippy than Ino," said Naruto as Sasuke shook himself.

'Unlike you, I know how to get clean,' said Sasuke flicking his tail at Naruto and sending large drops of water at the blonde. Naruto laughed as the water hit his face.

"Hey!"

"Naruto!"

Both man and canine turned to they yell and saw Sai standing at the fence. He wore mostly black and had a backpack. Naruto laughed.

"Sai!" he said jumping up from the ground and ran over to greet his friend. "What are you doing here?"

"Making sure you're still on for Friday," said Sai leaning against the fence. Sasuke glared at him in annoyance.

'Who's this guy?' he asked. Sasuke knew some of Naruto's friends from high school since they were also on the soccer team, but he had never met this one before.

"Duh," said Naruto. "I wouldn't miss it."

Naruto had met Sai on his first day on the force, which also happened to have been his first crime scene. Sai was taking pictures for the evidence file and both struck up an instant friendship.

Sasuke watched the interaction between Naruto and the new guy. Sai leaned against the fence while Naruto stood in front of Sai, their faces inches from each other. He didn't like the familiarity both seemed to have with each other, and he especially didn't like the tight feeling in his chest.

"Is that the new dog you were talking about?" asked Sai nodding to Sasuke.

"Yep," said Naruto happily, turning to Sasuke. "That's Kurogane. Hey, boy, come say hi to Sai."

Sasuke scoffed. 'Not on your life.'

Sai laughed.

"Wow, he's got an attitude," said Sai.

"Yeah, reminds me of this guy I knew."

Sai laughed louder.

"That's sad when a dog reminds you of a guy you knew. Ex-boyfriend?"

Naruto shook his head and looked away with a sad look in his eyes.

"No, just someone."

Sai nods in understanding. He suddenly smiled with an idea.

"Hey, want me to take a picture with you two together?" he asked.

"Yeah!"

'No.'

Sai took a camera out of his bag as Naruto ran over to Sasuke and sat as close to the canine as he could without getting bitten.

'Dope, I'm mostly wet! I'm not having my picture taken after a bath!'

"Smile!" said Sai.

Sasuke turned just as the flash went off. Sai smiled at the picture.

"I think that's pretty good," said Sai showing it to Naruto.

"Hey, that's pretty good," said Naruto. "What are you doing taking pictures of crime scenes?"

"To catch bad guys same as you," said Sai. "I better go. I'll send you a copy."

"Yep!" said Naruto and waved Sai off.

Sighing, Naruto turned back to see Sasuke giving him a look.

"What?" he asked.

Sasuke scoffed and turned away.

Why did he have a sudden urge to rip the throat out of a man he had just met?both Naruto and that guy were too familiar with each other. There was no evidence of a boyfriend and Naruto never mention liking anyone. Sasuke knew because Naruto had a habit of talking to his "pets", although Sasuke thought that was a habit for any pet owner.

Before turning into a dog, Sasuke thought that owning a pet meant the person was lonely and wanted some sort of companionship in their lives. It was one of the reasons why he never owned one. Another was that Fugaku never could stand animals.

After living with Naruto, he noticed that although the blonde lived alone, he wasn't completely alone. He had friends that visited on a regular basis, and he went out at least once a week. He watched them interact saw the difference between Naruto's friends and his former gang. They genuinely care about each other. Suigetsu and Karin didn't even have that with him. Juugo might have, but the teenager had been so soft spoken that no one really knew what was on his mind.

It got him wondering, did he even really have friends or were they using him for their own gain?

Walking through the doggy door, he walked into the living room and curled up on his bed to rest his leg. Naruto would take him to the police station in a few hours and they would start training.

He couldn't wait to get the brace off.

TBC