(NOTE: none of these fics are related)

shades of grey
by: ohwhatsherface

2. McDog

Sakura knocked on the door to Sasuke's house almost so quietly he probably would not have heard it.

He probably didn't.

"WOOF! WOOF!"

But he probably heard that.

Sakura bit her lip and rubbed her baby on the head adoringly.

"Sh, Sake," Sakura muttered to him, a desperate look on her face as she squeezed the leather leash in her hands. "Sasuke won't say yes if he thinks you're really loud."

The Rottweiler barked in reply and Sakura cringed.

The door opened suddenly and Sasuke stepped out with an annoyed look on his face. He merely raised an eyebrow at her (and her dog) in question.

"Hi."

Sakura smiled lamely.

"This is Sake, my baby—er, I mean, my dog. Sake's my dog."

Sasuke made no response and Sakura couldn't help but fidget under his scrutiny.

Sensing his master's discomfort, Sake growled at Sasuke.

Sakura shrieked nervously at her dog's anger.

"Sake! No! We're being nice, remember?!" she whispered loudly to the dog.

With a forced smile on her face, Sakura looked back at Sasuke, who though still expressionless, Sakura knew was beginning to become rather impatient with the situation.

"Um…"

She sighed.

"The new owner of my building, he um, he doesn't allow pets and well…" Sakura held her hand out and rubbed Sake behind the ears. "Well Naruto's apartment is too small, same with Kakashi-sensei, and they're both really irresponsible and well um…"

Sakura cringed inwardly.

This is all coming out terribly!

"Can Sake live with you?"

She bit her lip after it finally came out, waiting for the inevitable.

"He won't be an issue, I swear!"

Sakura nodded her head rapidly.

"He's housetrained and all!" she continued. "I got him when I was fourteen. Thirteen. Thirteen and a half. Whatever, the point is that he has been living in a house for like, three years, well before we went to my apartment—but whatever, he has never had an accident inside. And he's actually really not loud. I know he was barking earlier, but that was because um, well because. He's really quiet, most of the time. Very quiet. It's like he's not even here. And don't worry about the bathing. I can do that for you. I'll come over every night to wash him if you want. Any problems? Yeah, you can just call me and I'll be here in a jiffy!"

Oh my god, did I just say jiffy…

She shifted awkwardly, trying to find some more reasons as to why Sasuke should help with the issue—

Only to find she had nothing left.

"I love him."

Sakura nodded her head with a sad smile.

"Sake? He's my baby. He's my best friend. He helped me through my worst moments and it kills me to know that I have to give him up."

She stared at Sasuke with desperation.

"So please, can he live with you?"

Sasuke glanced down at the dark-haired dog for a moment before stepping to the side or the doorway.

Sakura grinned when Sake suddenly lunged at Sasuke, shockingly knocking him over and licking his face. Her smile grew wider when after Sasuke got back up, he petted her dog.

No.

As Sake rushed into his new home with Sasuke, Sakura stepped inside as well.

He was their dog.

Damn straight her dog's name is Sake.