Disclaimer- I don't own Naruto so don't sue me.
Author's Note- I saw some people say they had a hard time imagining what they looked like. So, I drew a pic of it for you! It's in my profile if you want to see it. Enjoy!
Chapter One
"Well, here we are," Sakura called as she unlocked her apartment door. Sasuke meowed and sniffed his shoulder. Sakura sweat dropped. "Err, welcome to casa de Sakura."
"Ooh!" Naruto's eyes expanded to the size of saucers as he hopped in, eagerly taking in all the sights. His heightened sense of smell took in the fragrant air. "Meow, it smells just like Sakura! Mmm, strawberries and jasmine…"
Sai quirked an eyebrow at the hospitable furniture. He had expected everything to be some shade of pink and covered in fluff. Surprisingly, it was homely, with mature color tones such as deep maroon and mahogany. "Wow, ugly might not know how to fix her face but at least she can make an apartment attractive."
A vein popped in Sakura's head. "You know what, Sai? You'd better stop saying stuff like that if you're going to live here from now on."
"Meow? Ugly can't handle the truth?" Sai teased, knowing full well the kunoichi was about to pop her lid any moment. Sasuke watched from the couch as his tail thumped lightly on the floor. This wasn't going to end well.
"Just. Make. Yourself. At. Home." Sakura muttered through grit teeth. She plastered on a fake smile and stomped over to her kitchen counter and grabbed a stack of old newspapers off of it. The artist nin watched in mild curiosity as she spread them out next in a corner, handling them so forcefully that a few tore and crumpled. "That," she began, "Is where you're sleeping tonight." Sai opened his mouth to retaliate but Sakura beat him to it by slapping her hand over it. "Don't. Say. A. Word."
Sai growled at her and stalked off to his pile of newspapers. He flinched when he saw that it had a few coffee and breakfast stains. Ew, now he was sleeping in moldy food too. "Meow," he groaned, "It's disgusting." Sai's ears fell as he curled into a tight little bundle, his tail wrapping cozily around his body.
"Mou," Naruto yawned, "Sakura-chan, where do I sleep?"
"Let's see here," the pink haired jounin walked over to her closet and started searching for something. Naruto lifted an ear in curiosity. "Hm… Aha! This'll do!" Sakura pulled out some old blankets and neatly stacked them in a pile near her coffee table.
"Meow!" he purred happily as the blonde dove right into the fabric mess. Sakura's face softened as he curled up the same way Sai did. "Thank you."
A tap on the shoulder knocked the Haruno girl from her thoughts. "Sakura, where do I sleep?" Sasuke questioned.
"Huh? Oh! Sasuke-kun!" A rich shade of crimson found its way up to her face. How could she forget Sasuke? "You can have the couch then." He nodded and took his place at the soft, alabaster sofa.
"Well, I'm going to run to the store real quick to get some groceries for us. What do you guys feel like having tonight?"
"Mew, Sushi." Sai said.
"Yeah, what he said." Naruto used his foot to scratch behind his ear.
"What?" Sakura looked bewildered, "You don't want ramen?" Even Sasuke had to lift an eyebrow.
"Whoa… that is weird. OH MY GOD! MAYBE I'M HAVING A STROKE! Agh, Sakura-chan, please, help me." Naruto feigned defeat and sank dramatically to the ground, right on top of Sai.
Sai hissed and growled profusely. "MEOW! What the hell was that? Oh. It's only the dickless wonder. In that case…" Sai landed a kick on Naruto.
"Ow, what was that for?"
"For trying to break every bone in my body by with your heavy one."
Naruto looked offended. "Did not!"
"Alright, alright," Sakura stepped between the hissing felines. "I'll just get you some seafood ramen then."
"Meow!" he grinned and pounced on Sakura, licking her face the same way he had been earlier.
"NARUTO! Stop, I just washed my face again!"
Aggravated, Sasuke stepped over and dragged the Uzumaki boy off the medic nin. Sakura felt her face with disgust and grabbed Sai, wiping the nasty saliva on him. He hissed at her and started twitching. Sakura merely snorted at him. "Don't be such a baby."
"I wouldn't be talking." He grumbled.
"And Sasuke? Sushi?"
"Aa."
"Alright, see you guys later then! Oh, and try not to break anything." Sakura walked over to Sasuke and whispered something in his ear. "Keep an eye on them for me, okay?"
Sasuke bristled slightly form the way her breath tickled his furry cat ear. "Aa."
She smiled warmly at him. "Thanks, Sasuke-kun." He watched as she sauntered towards the door, a tiny bit of pink creeping up his cheeks.
A certain pink haired kunoichi yawned as she arched her back against her bed, relishing the feel of her muscles stretching. She sighed contentedly and relaxed on the worn yet still comfy mattress. Viridian eyes struggled to focus on the clock next to her, which read 1:51am. Sakura felt parched and decided to grab something real quick from the kitchen.
Her feet padded lightly against the plush carpeting as she felt her way towards the kitchen. She didn't want to turn on the lights, lest she awaken the boys and send them into a hissing fit.
Slender fingers wrapped around something cold and metallic. "Aha! The fridge…" Sakura beamed at her success as she pulled out a bottle of water and took a swig from it. "Mm, that definitely hit the spot."
As she pulled herself up, she noticed another presence in the room. Viridian eyes narrowed as she expertly hid behind a corner, a hand snaking out to grab a kitchen knife. Whoever they were, they were sitting at her kitchen window, staring solemnly out at the silvery stars above.
"Who's there?" Sakura squinted at the figure, "Is that… you, Sai?" Her eyes began to adjust to the darkness.
Upon hearing his name, the artist nin glanced at the kunoichi. He didn't say anything and turned back to his window. Sakura sighed, relieved, and placed the kitchen knife back in its holder.
"Sai," she walked over to him, "What are you doing up so late?" Sakura gently placed a hand on his shoulder. She could tell he tensed because his tail bristled.
"I can't sleep." He pulled himself away from her.
The Haruno girl frowned and took a seat next to him. "And why not?"
"I…" obsidian eyes locked with emerald, and Sai suddenly found himself entranced by the mystifying irises. The pale moonlight made the crystal, green eyes seem more… enchanting. "I don't know."
"Aa." Sakura turned her head to look at the stars. "The skies are beautiful tonight, huh?"
"Meow," came the simple reply. His tail wagged gently against the windowsill.
Sakura rolled her eyes. She didn't speak cat. "But of course you would know what beautiful is, always calling me ugly and everything."
Sai smirked at her comment. "That's true." Sakura giggled and Sai smiled. Both of them sat there for a moment, just staring out at the cool night air. The Haruno girl sighed and pulled her robe tighter around her sculpted form, while Sai's ears flickered cutely.
A light breeze wafted through the window, rustling Sakura's cropped, pink tresses. A certain artist nin couldn't help but stare at the young woman, taking in her every detail. She had changed a lot during the last few years, becoming stronger and more revered in the village. Her features were now angled in a foxy way, not the usual round face she grew up with. Those emerald eyes were still warm and spirited, just like they had been when he met her 4 years ago.
"Ugly," Sai called her by her pet name, "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Do you hate me?"
Sakura was taken aback by his sudden comment. Confusion was written all over her face as well as shock. Since when did Sai show concern over anything? And feelings for that matter? Sakura placed a hand over his forehead to make sure he didn't have a fever. Mmm… nope, he was perfectly healthy. Well, that must mean that hell had frozen over.
"Sai? Are you feeling alright?"
"Answer my question."
The strawberry haired jounin sighed and looked down at her lap. "To be honest, I don't hate you. Sure you can be annoying most of the time, but you're still one of my closest friends."
His fake smile inched up by the slightest hair as he lowered his face closer to hers. "Thank you."
A tiny blush began to heat Sakura's cheeks from their closeness. She decided to switch topics. "Hey, what does it feel like? To have those ears?" She motioned toward his fuzzy, gray ones.
"Nothing really. Do you want to feel them?" Sakura raised an eyebrow at him. "Don't worry; they won't bite you, though I am concerned that your ugliness will shrivel them up."
Sakura scoffed but reached up anyways and stroked the fur covered things. They twitched a bit but soon relaxed under her soothing brushes. They felt so velvety and delicate, yet strong and capable at the same time. More and more Sakura became intrigued by the curious objects and experimented with them, moving them around and such.
Sai hissed when she pulled them. "Stop trying to maim me."
"Geez, sorry…" the medic nin began to massage them in apology.
Suddenly, an odd, blissful sensation coursed through his body as his eyes drooped slightly. "Meow…" he groaned.
"Sai?" Sakura blushed. He only moaned in response and snuggled closer to her, his mind fogged with an odd, heavenly feeling that radiated from her ministrations. Sakura squeaked and pulled away from him.
Happy feeling gone. Sai instantly snapped back to reality and looked away. "God, ugly, did you put drugs in my sushi or something?"
Sakura merely blushed and hoped down from the window. "I'd better get back to bed now. And you too, Sai. Goodnight."
As Sakura left, she did not see the shadowed figure scowling in the corner of the room. The minute she was back in her bedroom, the figure revealed himself from his hiding place and pounced on Sai. He gripped the artist nin by the collar. "What were you doing with her?"
Sai hissed and tried to claw at the person, "What would you care, Uchiha? Jealous are we?"
Sasuke dropped Sai and stepped back. "Like hell I'd ever fall in love with her."
"Then why'd you get all upset over me being alone with her?"
"You're not a member of Team Seven. Can't trust you. Never was and never will be."
"At least I didn't try and betray Konoha for power," he spat, baring his fangs.
Sasuke flexed his claws. "At least Sakura and Naruto trust me, a traitor, more than an ass like you."
Infuriated, Sai stood up and rushed towards Sasuke, his claws poised in front of him. The Uchiha used his swift reflexes to dodge the blow and land a kick under Sai's chin. Sai growled and bit his arm, the fangs sinking painfully in.
"CATFIGHT!" Naruto hollered as he entered the kitchen. His outburst startled the boys, leading them to temporarily cease their crossfire. "Oh no, don't mind me. I was just here to get some milk."
Embarrassed, both boys merely snorted at the blonde and went back to their "beds".
"What?" Naruto looked about in confusion. "What did I do now?"
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