Dedicated to: My annoying little 'dobe' FoxyLeon. Love you girl!

Inspired by: The small stories we make together through texts.

Summary: And he desperately wanted to be a real boy. AU.

Disclaimer: IDNON.

Author: CiiCiinREX.

NekoMimi Ai!

.

.

.

v. Shopping

.

.

.

Sakura hummed happily as she moved a few of her belongings around, strewn blankets around her old couch and a few small pillows, as the neko eyed her warily from his spot on the fluffed furniture. She circled around him a few times as she worked, causing him to nervously shift deeper into the crease.

Yes, she saved him.

Yes, he chased after her.

But that didn't mean he trusted her right away.

"Are you hungry?" Sakura inquired, catching that concentrated glimmer in his eye. He glanced at her curiously.

"Hmmm," Her brows furrowed as she stroked her chin in thought. "I don't really have any cat food. I don't even have any fish—Shimata! I forgot… a litterbox!" Sakura laughed nervously. "Good thing I remembered or who knows what would have happened."

The neko-boy merely tilted his head, mewing.

"We need to go shopping," She announced, leaping onto her feet zealously—this was, after all, her first pet and she was excited as could be. Well… could you even call him a pet? She scratched the back of her head, staring at the small boy who looked back at her blankly.

Maybe she was still hallucinating?

She knelt on her knees to reach his height on the couch, and in response he strolled over to the end of the couch. "Come on," She encouraged him with a friendly smile, hands outstretched. "I won't hurt you."

The pinkette watched as he gave her a cautious glare, walked over to her slowly step by step, and sit down hesitantly. Gently, she gripped him under his small arms and tucked him into her dry sweater that she had just changed into, his head popping out of the head opening. She giggled, scratching him behind his ear, and he instantly relaxed in her hold and leaned towards her palm. "You're almost like Akamaru…" She sweatdropped when he quickly slunk in and hid himself into her swetaer at the sight of Tsunade as she exited out her door. "Well… just more anti-social…"

"You're keeping the cat here?" Tsunade questioned, almost reprimanding.

"No," Sakura shook her head and pointed to her sweater as it rustled, indicating where the kit hid. "He's with me. We're gonna go shop at the pet store a few blocks down."

Her god-mother sighed. "Alright, just be careful when you cross the street and all that jazz." Sakura giggled when the blonde woman sauntered away, muttering something under her breath that revolved around 'sake'.

.

"Choices, choices…" The dark-haired neko stared at his new owner curiously as she flickered her attention between three colored collars. The pinkette, feeling his eyes on her form, turned to him. "Hey, what would you want? Red, blue or black?"

The small creature raised one narrow eyebrow before eying the fish tank behind her. The Haruno girl sighed. "You're no help at all." She scanned the shelves again. "Maybe even purple…?"

The pet store they were currently in was called "Ashi de Ashi" ("Paw by Paw"), which Sakura guessed was for new pet owners since there were several pet-professionals walking around, asking if she needed help and about the kit, and how they used the phrase "step by step". The walls were a homey beige color as the tiles below were white, as were the shelves. She observed the happy owners and their various pets walk in the store grounds.

"Sakura-san?"

She made a noise of surprise at the husky tone that suddenly spoke behind her. She turned and her eyes widened at the familiar face. "Neji-san!"

The popular Hyuuga that she had seen parading her school grounds with mobs of fangirls following him like lost puppies, ironically, was standing in front of her, clad in a black shirt that adorned the store logo and khaki pants. His expression was blank, though, as if he had been expecting her.

"Is this your cat?" Neji asked, eying the dark kitten who stared back icily. "Yeah," She confirmed, a little surprised that someone as well-known as he would be working, at a pet shop nonetheless.

She watched in amusement and awe as the neko scoffed—a human-like sound—and stomped towards her, latching onto her pant leg with pleading, wide eyes.

Sakura instantly squealed. "Awww! You're so cute!" She grinned as lifted his up and rubbed his cheek with hers, and the kitten—Neji narrowed his pearl eyes; was it smirking at him?

"Have you given him a name yet?" At this Sakura paused and eventually opened her mouth to answer, but was cut off when the small boy licked her on the nose. She shrieked in surprise this time but snuggled into him nonetheless as the neko sent Neji another smug look.

The corner of the Hyuuga's lip twitched. "Do you have everything you were looking for?" He asked through clenched teeth.

Sakura didn't seem to notice as she grabbed the red collar—he was already wearing a blur shirt and his hair was black—and threw it in the shopping cart. She giggled as the chibi-like boy nuzzled her neck, vaguely wondering why he was so affectionate and why Neji seemed in a foul mood today.

.

Hmmm, this chapter's almost 1K words xD (Well, since I put this here... it kinda is -_-)

Why is Neji acting that way?

Review please!