Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Thank you all for the reviews last chapter! I love all of you to death! :hugs:

Also, if you're a Code Geass fan, you know the drill. In your review, give me an "All hail Lelouch!" XDDD He is one of the most amazing characters ever created o.o Honestly, folks, if you haven't watched Code Geass, I suggest you do. It's my most favorite anime of all time and Lelouch Lamperouge is my favorites CHARACTER of all time! Yosh!

Yeah... sorry... I just got so emo when he "died". But like a lot of Lulu fans, I believe he's still alive!

Sibel Claire approached the old warehouse that had police cars parked all around it, officers walking around holding clipboards and talking into their mouth pieces. The red and blue lights of their vehicles were flashing almost hypnotically, attracting local residents and a few news crews from further uptown. A woman was trying desperately to ask a few of the men what was going on, but they just told her to stand back and let them do their job.

"Sakura!" she snapped as she saw her pet staring into the crowd with Kiba at her side. Emerald eyes met hers and she could see the fear in them, assuming that her pet had some part in whatever was going on. "Why did you run off from me? And what is going on?"

The white tiger bowed her head and apologized, smiling nervously.

"I felt like something was wrong, forgive me," she apologized again. "But... Hatake-san's pets found where someone was killing and dumping Impures."

Sibel's eyes widened and she covered her mouth in shock and disgust.

"That's horrible! I can understand that Impures aren't really acceptable, but why would someone go to the lengths of disposing of them?"

Kiba snorted, his hands shoved deep in his pockets. He could see Naruto and Sasuke right beside one of the cop cars, their fingers laced together and the blond male's face full of sadness as he watched them inspect dead carcasses. Of course Naruto would be sad, his third kitten was among the dead in that pile, the female's body cut up and burnt.

"We found a gentleman who told us a description of the man that he saw here two nights ago," an officer sniffled from the cold evening and rubbed at the bridge of his nose with his gloved hand. He flipped through a small tablet and held the page up to his companion, his mustache bristling. "Description fits Orochimaru, eh? He's notorious for these kind of murders."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed at the name, his hand tightening around his mate's. Naruto only comforted, placing his lips soothingly against the raven's jaw, kissing there. He was angry, but he wasn't going to let himself get out of control again. All he wanted to do was go home with Sasuke and wish that none of this had ever happened.

"Sasuke? Can we... Can we go home? It's getting chilly and I'm tired..." Naruto pulled his lips away from the warm skin and smiled sweetly. He could feel Sakura's eyes on him, making him uncomfortable as he spoke with his one and only. The tiger was obviously angered by the thought of them being together, but he believed she wouldn't do anything to harm them.

"Sure," Sasuke sighed and they both pushed through the crowd, exiting the area through an alley. Kiba was right beside them in an instant, followed by Sai who had been perched on a rooftop across the street. Sakura remained with her owner, though she glanced at them one final time before they disappeared, the cold wind blowing her short hair around her neck.

"Try not to run off like that again, ok?" Kiba complained, punching Naruto in the shoulder with a grin on his handsome face. "I hate to admit it, but I couldn't keep up with you," he admitted in embarrassment.

"Just like Sasuke," Sai commented, expressionless. "He's becoming quite similar to him, aside from his anti-social personality," he smirked.

Sasuke smirked right back, the air light and playful. Despite what had happened earlier, the atmosphere was happy and carefree, just how Naruto liked it. He thought that none of the pets around him would get along with each other, but he'd been proved wrong. Though, that wasn't ncessarily a bad thing.

As everyone just joked and made fun of each other, Naruto only smiled.

He had Sasuke, he had his friends, he had his family, and he had Kyung-Soon. No matter what happened in the near future, nothing would take those things from him. With a big smile, he promised himself that he would protect those close to him and wouldn't let anything else happen to them, his blue eyes on the sky that was a canvas of various warm colors. The whisps of clouds were reflected in his irises as they all walked on, talking as everything was right in the world.

And god, Naruto hoped that everything was.

--

Kyung-Soon watched her papa enter the house with Sasuke by his side, the both of them looking exhausted and roughed up. She was perched on top of Kakashi's shoulders, wearing baby blue hand-me-down PJs from when Naruto was a kitten, her curly golden hair in low pigtails. She smiled happily when she saw the both of them kick off their shoes and walk into the living room.

"Papa! Susu-muuuuu!" she crooned and reached out both arms, her hands wide open so as to grab them from so far away. She waved them up and down and puffed her cheeks out when Naruto only grinned at her, stopping right out of arm's length. "Nyaaa, Papa! Papa!" she cried.

"I'm here, Kyung-Soon," he reached out and lifted her off of their owner's shoulder, happy that Kakashi had taken such a liking to the cub. Her thin frame made her extremely light, her short legs kicking lightly as she excitedly waited to be snuggled into his warmth. Once he was in reach of her grubby hands, she grabbed into his shoulders and pulled herself against him, pressing her cheek against his neck.

"Papa..." she whispered and closed her eyes, smiling to herself. She waited so long just to be with him when she fell asleep.

Sasuke watched them with a content look, not the least bit jealous. He held no hostility for the young female like he had with Seung. But it was more of a male dominance thing back then... He placed his hand on the girl's hand and she cooed, curling up more against her father's chest and snuggling into his heat.

"Poor thing, she was exhausted," Kakashi explained with a chuckle. "But she refused to sleep until the both of you returned. And it's so early too, she'll be up before dawn if she sleeps through the night."

"Fun," Sasuke smirked, turned to see that Lukki was passed out on the couch with a bag of potato chips on his stomach, crumbs all around his mouth. He snored rather loudly, then crinkled his nose and rolled his head to the side. It looked like he was out cold. "Where are Aniki and Kyuubi?"

Kakashi pointed toward to the library, stifling a yawn.

"They went in there to be alone since Kyung-Soon was too happy to leave them alone earlier. She found Kyuubi rather fascinating, what with him being a fox, and wouldn't stop playing with his tails."

"Ah," Sasuke nodded his head slightly and looked at the slumbering child in his mate's arms. "I think we're going to head to bed. We have to go see Jiraiya tomorrow, don't we?"

Kakashi chuckled again.

"Yes, Jiraiya arranged a 'spa' day at his school for us before our next Showcase. He's been out of town for a while and wanted to see how his star pupil has grown."

Naruto blushed a little. "M-Me? His star pupil?"

"He seemed to really like you," Kakashi said with a twinkle in his eye. "And won't he be surprised when he sees how much you've grown, let alone how you're now Sasuke's mate."

The blond laughed and rubbed his little girl's back.

"I guess so. But we're going to head to bed, so we'll see you in the morning, Aboji," he called his owner by his nickname, earning him a soft expression from the much older man. Kakashi placed a hand on his shoulder and patted it before heading into the kitchen for a cup of tea, mumbling a 'good night'.

Sasuke and Naruto went past the library on the way to their bedroom, the both of them sneaking a glance into the large room. They saw Itachi with Kyuubi on his lap in one of the red, plush chairs, their eyes focused on a rather thick book. The leopard's hand was on the fox's stomach, his thumb stroking over the clothed belly. Naruto's attention was drawn from the scene when Sasuke kissed his neck and headed to their room, his blue eyes lighting up almost immediately.

He couldn't wait to sleep with his beloved, his gorgeous cub at his side as well.

Once they were in their room, he laid Kyung-Soon on the bed and covered her up, pulling back so he could take off his long pants and shirt, shivering at the chilly room. He turned to see Sasuke take off his own clothes and he could feel a knot begin to form in his stomach, memories of the night they'd tried to make love flooding through his mind.

He wanted to share that special moment with Sasuke, but he was so afraid the same thing as before would happen all over again. The last thing he ever wanted to do was see that pained look in his lover's eyes again. Clutching his removed shirt in his hand, he looked down at the floor from beneath messy golden bangs. He wanted to make love with Sasuke, but he wasn't sure... if he could.

"Naruto?" the dark-haired pet asked, wondering why the male was being so quiet.

Lifting his head with a smile in place, Naruto discarded his shirt and leaned over to peck Sasuke on the lips, wishing he could do so much more, but afraid to try anything. He didn't want to die, he didn't want to be alone... He didn't want Sasuke to be alone. Crawling into bed beside his cub, he snuggled close to her and enveloped her in his warmth, his arm reaching out to turn off the lamp that was left on earlier.

Sasuke's eyes reflected like a lion's in the darkness, the light from the window bouncing off of them to make a turquoise sheen. He climbed into bed and got as close to Kyung-Soon as possible, his lips so close to Naruto's. He could feel the other's breath against his cheek and smiled, leaning forward only to feel those lips he craved meeting his half way.

The kiss was soft and loving, like the kind shared between a married couple who had been together for so long. Neither of them could imagine what life would be like without the other. It would be so dull, so bland. Like white rice, Naruto thought.

"I love you," Naruto whispered into the darkness, their breathing mingled with Kyung-Soon's the only sound in the room. He wanted to show the other his love, wanted to have that 'special moment' with him... but he didn't know if he could.

"I love you too," Sasuke murmured back, lacing their fingers together by Kyung-Soon's side.

They fell asleep, their hands joined and their faces so close, a smile on both of their faces. The only thing the both of then wanted was for their lives to be peaceful like this, for even just a little while.

--

"Welcome to Master Jiraiya's Training School for Pureblood Pets!" a pretty maid welcomed the Hatake family with her hand out toward the open door behind her, clearly very happy to meet such gorgeous and well-known pets. She was very suprised to see Kyuubi there, though, having always admired Lukki and his lovely fox, but never really thinking the two of them would ever become friends with Kakashi and his pets. It was very rare for two owners to come together.

"Pretty!" Kyung-Soon pointed around her at all of the paintings hanging on the long hallway they were walking down. They were of scenes out in the country or of the beautiful city of Venice, the water colors attracting Naruto's cub to them.

Jiraiya was in a large room where there were various cubs sitting on mats. They stared at him in awe, as if he were the most important person they'd ever seen, their eyes wide and full of devotion and excitement. A young boy raised his hand high in the air when the man asked a question, eager to share his opinion with his class.

Kyung-Soon was holding Sasuke's large hand, peaking into the room from around him, her ears perked up. She watched with much interest as the students all talked and shared things with each other, Jiraiya nodding to them every once and a while. She seemed to be staring at one boy in particular and that made Naruto pout. Was his little girl already interested in some stupid boy after being in his care for only a day?

Sasuke caught onto it as well and smirked at his mate. He remembered when he was a young cub and had his first crush. Unfortunately, it had been on a human girl and he'd known it wouldn't have worked out. Some people would say that pets could have the same rights as humans, but they were never allowed to be in relationships with them.

Releasing the small child's hand, he directed her toward the room.

"You can watch from the doorway if you want."

Kyung-Soon immediately scurried over to the door and peered in, entranced by all of the pets her age. Being stuck in the warehouse... she'd never imagined there were others just like her. She smiled a smile that matched her father's, but squeaked and blushed when Jiraiya took notice of her. The man blinked owlishly.

"Well, if you don't look just like Naruto," he laughed gruffly and excused himself from his class, asking the maid that had greeted them to watch over them for a while and give them a break. His eyes met Naruto's instantly and he held out his hand. "It's been a while, brat. How've you been holding up?"

But instead of grasping his old teacher's hand, Naruto flung himself at him and grinned.

"Ero-sennin!"

"You haven't changed at all," the man chuckled, patting him on the head. "Boy, you're all grown up now, aren't you? I heard from Kakashi a while ago that you and Sasuke...?"

Naruto pulled back and smiled as warmly as the summer sky, his eyes taking on a shine that Jiraiya had never seen there before. But there was also a slightly nostalgic and painful tinge to them, as if he'd lost something precious.

"We're mates now..."

"Are you happy?"

The blond smiled even brighter, the pain expanding, becoming more evident to the teacher. He furrowed his thick brows, wondering what could've happened to cause him to look that way. Then he remembered Kakashi having told him something about the loss of a cub... How could he have forgotten something like that?

"As happy as I can be," Naruto replied. Jiraiya could tell what he meant by those words.

He could be happier. He misses his cub. But... he has this little one here, doesn't he?

Kyung-Soon continued to watch the class go about their daily exercises, not paying any attention to her parents and the white-haired ape.

"That's good," he smirked and decided to pat Sasuke on the head, too, earning him a scowl. "How about you? Are you happy?"

"I would be a lot happier if you removed your hand."

"Now, that's no way to talk to him," Kakashi chided, directing Lukki and the others into another room. "You two can spend some time with Jiraiya while I take everyone else into the cafeteria. We're starving," he said in a tone that made both Naruto and Sasuke know he was lying.

Something was up, Sasuke could tell.

Jiraiya seemed to have read his mind and he chuckled.

"I didn't ask Naruto to come here to give you a 'spa' day or whatever Kakashi told you. There's something... really important I need to tell him. It's about his family back in Korea..."

Naruto felt his heart stop.

He didn't know whether he should feel happy or upset... But looking at the expression that his sensei was wearing, he couldn't help but feel his chest tighten.

Ever since he was brought home by Sasuke that day after the first Showcase he'd ever seen, he'd expected everything to be normal, like it had been with his family back home. He'd expected to be loved and cherished and having nothing go wrong, to be a pet that everyone wanted, to become as close to a Pureblood as possible, to live that life he and his family had always wanted... But... But...

Where was that life? Where was that happy ending?

Short, I know, but it was better than waiting a long time for an update, right? Oh snapz, Naruto's family! Le gasp!