Thanks all those who reviewed ;)
Just to answer some questions, in case some other people would like to know the same things:
1. The hints of SasuNaru will mostly be in flashback, yeah, but they will be very mild- almost bordering to friendship. Actually when I was first writing this, a very close friendship was what I had in mind but as I was finishing it, I came across a song (you'll find out at the end) and thought 'that would be so perfect for this story!'
Instantaneously I planned on doing a short one-shot sequel, only to emphasize that it IS SasuNaru rather than the friendship itself. But seeing at how short-attention-span I can get, it will still remained a plan until I get the strike of inspiration again on how to go about the sequel.
2. About the name –blushed- I was having a brain-dead when I was picking up a name, but Hikari seemed a pretty reasonable name to me :p
Standard disclaimer applied
It was a few weeks after the semester has started, which only means a few weeks after Sakura brought Hikari-chan back home.
The white feet cat has now grown bigger and less active. Sasuke was glad at the later, for the cat seemed less of an idiot than before. But that doesn't mean idiocy hasn't left the tabby.
He opened the fridge to take out the cold mineral water. It was a hot weather today, but it seemed like he's the only one who has finished class early for the day. Actually, it was more like the tutorial was cancelled.
Sasuke proceed to the living room and switched on the t.v. And then he heard it again.
It was becoming louder as it grows. Man, that kitten sure had some voice.
Sasuke ignored the mewing of the kitten which Sakura had put into the laundry room again before she went to her class in the morning.
'It wasn't as if the fur-ball not used to be locked in there. Sakura usually came home in the evening and now is only noon.' The raven reasoned to himself and blocked the sound.
Hours ticked and Sasuke decided he wanted to go out for dinner today.
'And the cat?'
…
'Who cares! Now what's good for dinner today?'
When the pale teen got back to his apartment he saw Sakura was hurrying packing some files into her bag. She heard him as he opened the front door and a "Tadaima" came from the black haired teen.
"Sasuke-kun!" There was a relief note in her voice. "Thank God you're back!" She smiled- a little too sweetly for him.
"What do you want, Sakura?" he asked, cutting straight to the point.
Sakura looked mildly shocked at first at his observation. Of course she wanted something- a favour to be more exact, but she didn't expect him to notice it. Oh well, it's too late now.
"There's an emergency meeting that I have to attend and I'm pretty sure I'll be out till very late. And Kiba's out on a date as well, so could you please please pleeeease do me a biiiiiiiiig favour, and this is the one and the last time I ask you of this kind of favour-" she asked with a big puppy eyes, and added silently, "-I hope."
Sasuke looked at her ridiculously.
"No one's there to take care of Hikari-chan! I've already fed him but he needs to be out here to play till his sleeping time…" she pleaded.
Sasuke showed no emotion nor moved by her plea, but she saw the irritated twitch on his forehead.
"Please, Sasuke-kun… There's no one else…!" She tried again and looked at her watch, she was already late.
Sasuke saw the worried gaze. He sighed. Things he would do for some close friends. He already feels hatred for the furball.
"Fine… But I'll lock him up at 11 if you're not back by then," he said with hints of annoyance and defeat.
Sakura's face lightened up. "Thank you, Sasuke-kun! I'll treat you for this, I promise!" And with that she's gone.
As soon as the strawberry blonde girl gone, the kitten came running from the laundry room and attacked a knitted ball- a toy Sakura bought for him, which he loved to play with. Hikari-chan bit and scratched and rolled around with the ball.
"Idiot," Sasuke sighed and walked to his room to take out his notes for tomorrow. There's no way he would take that cat into his room, so he would have to settle with studying in the living room while watching the cat.
Sasuke switched on the t.v. and lowered the voice down, just to create some noise while he's reading lightly.
15 minutes later, Hikari-chan had lost his interest on the ball and crept around the living room, trying to find something to play with. He climbed up the sofa, jumped next to Sasuke and had a sudden interest with Sasuke's shirt.
The teen looked at the what-he-called-an-idiotic-cat who's now biting his shirt ferociously. He hated the disturbance.
Sakura used to say something about that kitten loves moving things. And he was pretty sure there's a stick with feathers at the end of it that Sakura used to play with the cat. He stood up to search for it- which of course made the cat jumped in shock at his sudden movement.
Once he found the stick- which was in the laundry room, where the rest of Hikari-chan's toys were of course- Sasuke was back at the living room, looking for the cat now.
"Hikari…" he called the fur-ball a few times and patting the end on the carpeted floor, before the kitten came running and attacked the feathers at the end of the stick.
He moved the stick around, making the tabby ran in tow for the feathers. If Hikari caught them, he would bit and scratch them, which made Sasuke move the stick again and once again the cat ran for it.
That was mainly the routine that night (with occasional lost of interest of the cat with the stick and it went to find something more interesting to play with) until Sasuke decided that he needed some sleep that he picked the cat at the back of its neck and send the cat back into the laundry room.
Sasuke ignored the mewing and went to sleep in his room.
000
A couple of days later, when Sasuke came back from his lecture in the afternoon, he found a note left by Sakura saying that she has another emergency meeting. Sasuke sighed. This can't be happening!
As though sensing that there was someone in the house, Hikari started mewing and pawing on the door. Ignoring the unwanted noise, he strode into his room and changed and then went out of the house- to the library to find some quiet and peace.
'Where the hell is Kiba when you need him?!'
When he got back at 10 that night, the light was out- meaning that there was nobody at home. Hasn't Kiba or Sakura come back yet?
Then Sasuke heard the usual mewing and soft pounding on the door- Hikari…
The raven teen sighed. He was really not in the mood of entertaining the kitten now. But as it seemed, he was left with no choice. Boiling the water to make some tea, Sasuke then went back to opened the laundry door. In an instant, the tabby ran out and stopped at the corner, as if unsure whether he wants to move further or stay there. An amused eyebrow rose.
"Go on. You really wanted to come out of that room, didn't you?" Sasuke asked, still amused when the cat paced a few time as of waiting for Sasuke to move as well.
The Uchiha sighed. 'Idiot,' he muttered. When the teen moved to go to the kitchen, only then the cat ran away- to the living room.
After making a cup of tea, Sasuke sat comfortably on the sofa and switched the t.v on. Hikari jumped up the top of the back of the couch and moved towards Sasuke, sniffling and playing with the long hair at the back of Sasuke's head.
The teen moved his head forward and glared at the cat. Hikari ignored him and walked to another sofa, trying to entertain himself.
Really, he needs to talk to Sakura about taking care of her cat.
After a while, Hikari jumped onto the window sill. Sasuke watched the tabby at the corner of his eye. If one would interpret the look that Hikari has on its face, it could be said as longing and loneliness.
Sasuke first ignored the cat, and ignoring his inner self nagging him about how lonely the kitten looked. But after a while, Sasuke spoke, surprising himself and the cat, "If you really want to go outside, beg Haruno. I'm not your owner."
Hikari then jumped down and climbed up next to Sasuke and settled himself next to the raven. When he closed his eyes, Sasuke decided it's time for both him and the cat to go to sleep. He picked up the cat by the back of its neck and sent the cat back into the laundry room.
Sasuke ignored the soft clawing and mewing of the kitten.
Only after his head had comfortably placed on the fluffy pillow did he hear the opening of the heavy front door. He ignored it and closed his eyes, willing himself to fall deep into the slumber.
000
Sasuke breathed relief sighs both times when he got back from the classes and library to find Sakura engaging playfully with her kitten.
After he took his bath, he saw Sakura was still playing with Hikari. This time however, Kiba was in the living room as well, flipping the channels on the television with a board expression.
"Nothing good is on!" he mumbled irritatingly.
"You know Sakura, Hikari-chan looks like he's grown bigger. And lazier."
Sakura glared at the brown haired teen. "Don't complain, Inuzuka. As if you would have that amount of energy to catch up with Hikari," she rolled her eyes.
Kiba contemplated for a while on what Sakura has said. "For once you're right, you know that, Sakura-chan? I'm glad he's lazier than he used to be. Like Shikamaru said, it'll be troublesome."
"I think you should take the cat outside once a while. Take it to the park across the street," Sasuke suddenly interrupted the conversation.
Both friends looked mildly surprised Sasuke was willing to join them. Maybe something's about to change here after all…
"I'm going to sleep."
Or maybe not.
Oh, there was no surprise or change at all there. None at all as they watched the Uchiha retrieved to his sanctuary- his room.
Kiba shrugged. Sakura looked defeated.
"Maybe we could take Hikari-chan to the park this weekend. You're coming?" Sakura said a while later. By that time, the kitten has already curled itself next to Sakura on the couch.
"Huh? Oh, I can't. Have date with Hinata-chan," Kiba grinned stupidly.
"What?! Kiba! You've been spending like all the time with Hinata! Couldn't you make exception this weekend for Hikari?"
"Hey! I took the brunt of Uchiha's fire attack on your behalf when you took Hikari back okay? That ain't enough?"
Sakura almost whined, but she didn't. "Fine. Come Hikari-chan. We're not spending any more second with this selfish bastard who doesn't care a bit about you." Sarcasm was a powerful revenge, if you haven't notice yet.
"Take Ino with you! And besides, I fancy dogs more!" Kiba exploded a few minutes later when he realized that the insult was meant for him.
TBC
Teaser for the next part:
"Come on, sit here," Sasuke patted the cushion again. But the tabby looked at him, almost confused. Was it an invitation, or an order? This teen's attitude towards him kept on changing and the kitten couldn't decide whether Sasuke actually likes having him around or not.