Pinky-Paw Promise

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Sasuke was seven years old when he met his best friend.

It was on a very stifling summer day and he was taking a walk with Itachi around their small village. Some would call it backwater. Sasuke always wondered about that because he was pretty sure there were no bodies of water near Suna. Itachi told him that Suna was just a little late technology-wise. Sasuke…actually didn't care about any of that. He was very happy in Suna, with his Aunt and Uncle and Itachi. Even though his parents only visited them once a month because they were busy doing boring, adult stuffs, little Sasuke was still very, very happy.

Walking with Itachi made him happy, too. Like now. But sometimes, random people would stop them and then they would make his big brother talk to them about more boring adult stuffs and Sasuke would be left there staring at them as if they were aliens. Like now.

Stupid whats-his-face from that small grocery was talking to his big brother about last night's dinner and Sasuke really wanted to tell him to stop bugging his brother because from the look on Itachi's face, he actually didn't care.

Nor did Sasuke. And thinking that the stupid conversation was going to last longer than was necessary he did the one thing that all boys his age would have done. He walked away.

He wasn't happy now, all because of some stupid guy. He was planning on showing his big brother his latest ninja move, because ninjas do exist no matter how many times Itachi told him that they didn't and Sasuke was going to be one when he's all grown up. He didn't want to be a beesnest man like his father. It sounded very boring when his mother explained it to him. Itachi was going to be one when he grows up and Sasuke cried for his brother when Itachi told him that.

Because Itachi was going to die of boredom.

He didn't know how far he walked but he did know that he was getting nowhere near the park. He was unfamiliar with the houses around this part of the village. This also wasn't the way he always takes when he goes home from school. Maybe…maybe if he walked back he can still find Itachi!

With this idea in mind Sasuke tried to trek back the way he came from. Much to his growing horror, he didn't find his brother or anyone familiar for that matter. The houses were getting older and older, too, as if this was a part of Suna that wasn't inhabited by any. Except maybe ghosts. That stupid, stupid thought made Sasuke's eyes tear up because he was scared and he was lost and Itachi was nowhere!

He furiously rubbed his eyes, stopping in the middle of the deserted street because his knees were shaking badly. He wanted to go home. He wanted Itachi. Where was Itachi?

A sob escaped his quivering lips, a tear fell from his eyes and the dam broke. Sasuke cried and cried until his eyes were puffy and his voice became hoarse and he thought that if he didn't stop crying he was going to flood Suna with all his tears.

He started when a hand touched his small shoulder. He quickly turned around, thinking it was Itachi. He moaned in distress when he saw a very tall man he didn't know kneeling before him. He remembered Itachi's lecture about strangers and was getting ready to run when the man spoke.

"Are you okay, kid? Are you lost?", the man's voice was very gruff, like a dog or-or a wolf and he had red eyes! The man's eyes were totally cool.

"Your eyes are weird, old man.", Sasuke said, getting distracted with the man's appearance because, woah, red eyes.

The man blinked at the comment before brushing it off. He stood up, dusting his pants before patting Sasuke's head. The little boy blushed, just like when Itachi did the same thing to him. Then he remembered.

Itachi!

Sasuke tugged at the man's long sleeve. Now that he was looking, the man was wearing a really weird cloth. What was it called again? Kimono? Yukata? Sasuke scolded himself for getting distracted.

"Do you know where Itachi is, old man?"

The man's very red eyebrows (cool) rose and he grinned. He ruffled Sasuke's hair. Sasuke huffed at this. He wasn't a kid! He was already seven and in a few weeks he was turning eight! He crossed his arms over his chest and sent a pouty glare at the man. No matter how cool this man's eyes were and how…red his hair was, he still had no right to treat Sasuke like a baby. Even Itachi wasn't given that right!

"So you're lost?", the man asked again. For one second, Sasuke had the urge to answer the man with a very nasal 'duh' but thought better of it because this was a very serious thing. He was already getting hungry and if he can't find his way home or Itachi soon then…then he would need to find a job already to feed himself. He didn't want to get a job!

Getting slightly dizzy with this thought he desperately clutched the man's hand. "Take me home.", he commanded.

The man blinked again before shrugging. He led Sasuke by the hand and they took a bunch of turns that was impossible for him to remember. Sasuke wiped his snotty face on the sleeve of his blue shirt while keeping a firm hold on the man's hand with his left hand. It was a good thing Itachi didn't see him crying. He didn't want that. It was embarrassing because his big brother never cried. He was cool like that. Sasuke wanted to be just like him.

"Well, we're home.", the man suddenly declared, derailing Sasuke's further thoughts of Itachi-worship. He perked up at the word home but his hope plummeted down when he saw that they weren't in his home. They were in front of a very old looking shop with a very weird sign and maybe even weirder things inside.

"But this isn't home…", Sasuke whispered, then in a louder voice, "This isn't home!", he cried, shaking his head and shoulders frantically and stomping his foot to get his point across. He was bawling and being a brat but he didn't care anymore! He wanted to go home!

"Hey, hey kid. Shhh…", the man, knelt down and wiped Sasuke's tears, making shushing sounds all the while. Sasuke felt a tug on his hand and he was led inside the dingy shop. A bell sounded at their entrance and it made Sasuke look up. His cries turned into soft sobs and eventually died down as he took in his surroundings. The man let go of his hands and smiled at him, as if giving him permission to do whatever he wanted. Sasuke took a reluctant step before gaining more courage and by the fifth one he was feeling giddy.

Up that shelf and down that corner, left and right, everywhere he looked, there were lots and lots of toys!

Sasuke grabbed the first thing that was within reach. It was a blue wooden train. His mouth opened in a tiny O at the red wheels that reminded him so much of the man's eyes. He held the toy under his right arm before grabbing a companion for it-a brilliant red fire truck. He found the cleanest part of the wooden floor before settling his toys down and going back to find more. All the while, the long red haired, red eyed man watched him with amusement.

Sasuke found an awesome police car to go with the fire truck and the man was kind enough to assemble a track for his train. They also found houses for police stations and some cool looking dolls to be police men and fire men and soon enough, Sasuke's little city was built, cramped up in between shelves of toys, on the dirty floor.

Now that that was done, a thought suddenly occurred to him.

"How's Itachi gonna find me?"

The man, who still wasn't giving him any name, stopped on his dusting on the counter and looked at Sasuke with twinkling eyes.

"He'll find you here. Everyone finds everything they need here.", he answered.

Sasuke shrugged at that and didn't ask any questions. After all, adults know everything.

The shop was filled with Sasuke's childish voice as he played and the sound of whatever the man was doing. Occasionally someone would pass by the window, never sparing a glance at the peculiar place, as if it wasn't even there.

As if they couldn't see it.

Sasuke exclaimed triumphantly after having his police-which he named Itachi- save the pretty lady from the bad guy. He looked around him to find something else to play with. He stood up, quickly forgetting about the toys scattered on the floor as he explored the whole place in childish wonder. His curiosity led him to the back, away from the cool toys and into what looked like the storage for old toys.

There were cars missing a few wheels and worn looking bears. A doll had its hair in a very messy braid and its clothes were dirty. It was a very sad place. Sasuke wanted to cry when he saw a teddy missing its arm. On the wall was an empty looking shelf but when Sasuke looked up he saw that it wasn't empty. He walked closer to get a better look of the toys on top.

Nine, there were nine stuffed animals there, each a different kind and a different color. They didn't look very old but they weren't brand new either. There was a raccoon, a cat, a dog, some weird thing with wings and there was an octopus, too! But what caught Sasuke's eyes was the one at the end of the row.

It was an orange fox.

"There you are, kid. I've been looking for you.", Sasuke didn't jump when the man appeared out of nowhere. Instead, his eyes remained glued on that brightly colored toy.

"What's that?", he asked, pointing at the fox. The man followed his finger. He reached up and took the stuffed animal in his hand. Sasuke followed the movement carefully, as if the fox would disappear any moment.

"This," the man began, dusting off the head of the toy before looking down at Sasuke, "is a tailed beast.", he finished, handing the toy to Sasuke's eager hands. The boy held it with care, afraid to let go and break the toy. It felt so soft in his hand, and warm, yes, very warm, as if it had been under the sun all along and not in the darkest corner of the room.

"Tailed beast?", Sasuke asked, examining the many tails behind the toy. There were so many!

"Yes. It's the Kyuubi no Kitsune."

"Kyuubi? What's that?", Sasuke was still distracted with counting all the tails. There were nine and nine were too many. Sasuke looked up when the man chuckled.

"It's the Nine-tailed fox."

Sasuke mouthed the words. Nine-tailed Fox?

The man suddenly looked to the direction of the door before turning to Sasuke with a brilliant smile. "Do you want it?", he asked.

Sasuke gasped. He did, he did want it! He looked down at the fox- Kyuubi- in his hand. It was almost as tall as him and it was orange and it was still very warm. He looked back at the man and nodded.

"Yes, I want it."

The man bent his knees so he could look Sasuke in the eyes. "Take care of it, okay? Don't treat it like a toy. Treat it like a friend. Play with it, laugh with it, and never ever make it sad. If you make it…If you make him happy, then he will make you happy, too."

The sound of a bell signaled the entry of a costumer. Both looked up at sound of Itachi's voice, asking if somebody was there and if they saw a little kid.

Sasuke made a mad dash to his brother, crying at Itachi because he took too long to find him. The worried look on Itachi's face vanished at the sight of him. He looked up and thanked the man for keeping Sasuke safe and apologizing for anything Sasuke did. The man just waved a hand and smiled. The brothers left the shop soon after, all the while Sasuke held his new friend. Itachi didn't ask any questions.

It was already getting dark. Sasuke didn't realize how long he stayed with the man. As they walked home, Itachi's hand never left his and Sasuke's nose remained buried in the soft fox's head.

When they reached home, their Aunt and Uncle fired questions after questions and Itachi answered all of it calmly. Sasuke got scolded for wandering off on his own. Nobody questioned the presence of the orange fox in his arms.

Hello! To those who're familiar with me from DGM, I'm taking a break from writing/updating my DGM fics because I kind of hate Hoshino now. And DGM itself.

This story is inspired by Toy Story, sort of, and the very, very awesome Naruto fic, 'My Little Sunflower, though the only idea I 'borrowed' from that fic is Kyuubi the stuffed toy. Here, Naruto is the toy, obviously. As for the length, I'm pretty sure it will be long, which is a bad thing, I think, considering my track record on complete multi-chapter fictions, which is none (sorry!).

And yeah, I know stupid title. I'm currently brain-dead so please forgive me.

Soooo…..REVIEW?