Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Thank you all for staying and supporting my story! When I'd posted the first chapter of this fanfiction, I'd assumed it wouldn't do so well since I just wrote this on a whim. But now I look at where it is now and I'm glad I got the random urge to write this. All of you have helped me see one of the few talents I have and I'm grateful.
Thank you.
Naruto stood on the very top of Kakashi's house, the heels of his feet pressed together on the ledge that led over the attic window. His shirt had been discarded on the ground below only minutes ago as the heat caused him to sweat buckets. Since being told that he could do whatever energetic activities he wanted without the possibility of dying, he'd been running around as much as possible.
At the moment, he was taking a break from playing tag with his daughter, Sai, Sasuke, and Kiba to enjoy a rough breeze that was blowing his hair all around his face. He looked down to see Kyung-Soon and Sasuke running through the various paths that led through the flower beds, Sai leaning against the white fence with Kiba by his side. Looking over the fence, he saw Shino on his back porch with Hinata, his quiet chinchilla.
Turning when he smelled a familiar scent, he frowned at the sight of Sibel Claire and Sakura stepping out of a long, black limo. What were they doing here? Hadn't Kakashi told them that Sasuke couldn't mate with the pink-haired pet?
"Sasuke, Sakura's here," Naruto yelled down to his lover.
It was as if the good atmosphere had crashed down around Sasuke, because he felt annoyed suddenly. He'd thought that Kakashi had dealt with Sibel and her pet already. He did not want to deal with Sakura's tears when he told her he had no interest in mating with her.
"Who's Sakura?" Kyung Soon asked, panting a little from running around so much. She'd been having tons of fun and was upset that it had to stop. Watching Sasuke disappear into the house, she looked over at Sai and Kiba, noticing the amused looks on their faces.
"Don't worry about, he has it all under control. Come on, let's finish playing before I have to head home for dinner," Kiba grinned and trotted over to the little girl, lifting her up into the air. "You'll be it this time, little brat!"
Naruto smiled at them, but couldn't help worrying over what could possibly be happening inside. He hoped for the best, hoping that Sakura wouldn't get too angry and cause a scene. Though, from what he'd seen of her, she didn't seem like the type to throw a fit...
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"Hello, Sasuke," Sibel Claire greeted the pet that entered the kitchen through the sliding doors. She had on an expensive silk dress that was the color of stormy skies, her hair tied back in an almost painful-looking bun. She had her trademark fan with her, blowing air over her light make-up. Sakura was right beside her, in a pretty white dress that was simple and innocent.
She smiled at Sasuke and walked over to him, wrapping her arms around his neck in a small hug. He could feel her heart beating fast in excitement, as if today was the day they were supposed to mate. He felt guilt tug at his heart for a moment, but he hugged her back and sighed, realizing that his decision couldn't be kept to himself any longer.
"Where might Kakashi be?" Sibel asked, pulling lip stick from her purse and applying it to her thin lips. As if hearing her, Kakashi walked down the hallway in nothing but a pair of long sleeping pants and entered the kitchen with a loud yawn. Sibel couldn't help the blush that crossed her pale cheeks, her eyes glued to the faint happy trail underneath the man's belly button. "I-I'm assuming you didn't expect to see me this morning..." she cleared her throat.
Kakashi blinked and turned toward her, having not even realized she was there. He smiled sheepishly, a little embarrassed to show his scarred face to her. He didn't think that there would be company, so he hadn't taken the time to cover his left eye and lower face.
Both Sakura and her owner cringed at the scars covering his otherwise handsome face. What could have happened to him to cause such horrible scarring?
"Forgive me for not being in a better state of dress. I didn't think I would be getting any guests today..." Kakashi ran a hand through his messy hair and went into the kitchen to pour himself a cup of tea. "I'm going to go ahead and say you're here to speak with me about Sasuke and Sakura?"
"Y-Yes," Sibel looked away from Kakashi's face. "I don't mean to be rude, it's just..."
"Distracting?" the silver-haired man laughed. "I know. Don't worry about it. I don't expect you to act like you see something like this every day," he waved his hand over his ruined face. "It was a childhood accident."
So that's why he always covers most of his face, Sakura told herself.
"Ah... anyway," the woman sniffled, looking over to her pet. "I wanted to speak to you about a date... for the mating, I mean," she held back an embarrassed laugh. Surely, she couldn't take interest in a man she'd known for years just because he'd decided to not wear a shirt in her presence one time.
"About that..." the man chuckled. "The mating won't be happening. I'm sorry to inform you of such news, but Sasuke has taken a romantic liking to our little cub, Naruto."
Sasuke cringed. Did he really need to put it so bluntly? Looking over at Sakura, he saw a frown on her face. For some reason... she looked like she'd expected it to happen.
Sibel scowled.
"He's taken a liking to his own son?"
"We're not blood-related," Sasuke growled, anger rising. He despised the unapproving tone her voice. There was nothing wrong with their kind of relationship at all.
"Sasuke, calm down," Kakashi sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sibel, forgive me, but I think you should leave. I'm sorry about this, but I'm not heartless enough to have my pet mate with someone he has no interest for."
Sakura's eyes started to water and she bit her lower lip, her peach-colored cheeks tinting a faint red. She tried her hardest not to cry, but her heart was hurting too much. Tears slipping down her face, she glared at Sasuke with enough anger to make him look away and feel a twinge of horrible guilt.
"Don't cry, child," Sibel scowled at Kakashi and snapped her fan against her hip to shut it. She was beyond angry, she was livid. "If you can't even go through with a simple step of the pet-owning process, you have no business being an Owner at all. You treat your pets like they're humans. Well, they're not."
Sibel grabbed Sakura's wrist and yanked her out of the kitchen, her heels clacking angrily against the tiled flooring. Before they even reached the door, a sob tore itself from Sakura's throat. Kakashi felt bad for the tiger, but he wasn't going to force Sasuke to do something he didn't want to do. Even if he was some mutated form of an animal... he felt, thought, and acted just like a normal person.
Sasuke stepped back, then turned around to go back out into the yard so he could take his mind off of what happened. He enjoyed Sakura's company as a friend, but nothing else. He wouldn't have been able to like her romantically, even if he had tried. She was beautiful, smart, funny, yes... but she wasn't Naruto.
Kiba saw the feline exit the house and the grin dropped from his handsome face as soon as he saw the scowl Sasuke was wearing. Something bad had happened, he knew it.
"Hey, man... Are you alright?"
"Sasuke!" Naruto jumped down from the roof and hurried over to his lover, Kyung-Soon catching up to him and grabbing onto his hand. She gnawed on the inside of her cheek, not liking her Susu-mu's expression. "What happened?"
Sasuke sighed.
"Kakashi told Sakura and her owner that we're mates," he directed his words toward the blond. "Of course, Sakura got upset since she's liked me for a while... and Sibel wasn't too thrilled either. I'm sorry, Naruto, things will probably be very tense between you and Sakura at the Showcase in a few days now that that's happened..."
Naruto shook his head, smiling slightly. "No, it's okay... It would've eventually happened. I like Sakura, but our relationship's more important than her being my friend."
Trying to lighten up the mood a little, Naruto grinned and swayed his hips, making Sai and Kiba snort in amusemernt.
"Are you sure you wouldn't want a pretty kitty like her? She's a pure-blood Siberian Tiger and I'm just a lowly Impure," he smirked. "I'm not worthy of you, oh great Sasuke-sama."
Sasuke chuckled and put his hand on his mate's head, ruffling his hair.
"You've always known how to cheer me up," he smiled.
Behind the fence that separated the backyard from the driveway, Sakura stood there with her soft ear against the closed wooden gate. Tears continued to fall down her flushed cheeks, her eyes wide. She couldn't believe what she'd heard... She'd just wanted to go back to tell Sasuke she deserved a chance... and she'd overheard one of the biggest secrets that could be kept...
Naruto was an Impure...
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"Tomorrow's the Showcase," Naruto told Kyung-Soon, his large hand on her head. He remembered when he was around her size. That hadn't been too long ago...
Looking over at his lover, Naruto smiled. He was still so amazed that he was able to grow and now be as big as Sasuke; maybe even bigger.
"I want to enter, Papa," she puffed her cheeks out, playing with the long strand of curls that was hanging over her shoulder. "It's not fair that all those other little pets can enter, but I can't."
Sasuke chuckled.
"They're all a few months older than you and have gotten the proper training. Jiraiya's been busy, so we haven't been able to train you for a Showcase yet. He should be free next week if you're that eager."
"I am, I am!" Kyung-Soon bounced as she walked, drawing attention from pedestrians strolling by. There was no way that they wouldn't be drawn to such a pretty creature like her. She had as much allure as her parents.
Kakashi and Lukki mostly kept to themselves the entire walk to Tsunade's small hospital. They'd spent an evening together and they both had to admit that they liked each other, but they didn't really know if a relationship could work. In a little less than a week, Lukki would take his pets and return to Cote D'iviore. How could they have a working relationship with such a huge distance and such a huge time difference?
Leaning over toward Kakashi, Lukki smiled a bit.
"Let's just stay friends, alright? I know we're both thinking about the same things. A relationship wouldn't work, as much as it really hurts."
Kakashi raised a brow.
"You said you only grew fond of my lately. How could it hurt you?"
"I lied," Kyuubi's owner shrugged. "I couldn't tell you that I'd liked you since you let me move in because that would've made things a little... awkward," he laughed quietly. "But don't think much about it. These things happen all the time. We wouldn't work out as much as I want us to."
The scarecrow sighed and reached out to rub his friend's shoulder.
He liked him a lot, but Lukki was right. There was no way it would work.
It looked like they'd just have to stay friends.
And when they found themselves in opposite countries, they could think and dream of what never was, but what could've been.
Naruto peered over his shoulder at the two owners treading behind them, his eyes full of sudden sadness. It hurt even him, to see those two men who obviously really liked each other have to split up and never have a chance together. He knew life wasn't some magical fairytale where everything happened the way you wanted it to, but he wished that things could always work out when it came to the heart.
"They're grown men, they'll pull through," Sasuke tried to joke, knowing how upset his mate was getting.
"It's not only that... It hurts me to see them not really having a chance to be together, but what about Kyuubi and Itachi? You've seen them around the house the past few months... They're practically in love with each other and I know they'll both be torn in two when they have to be seperated..."
The leopard sighed.
"I'm sure they'll be fine--"
"Uwaaaaa! Papa, Susu-mu, look! The doggy's so big!" Kyung Soon broke off their conversation when she ran over to the huge white dog that had just left the doctor's with his owner. The woman who was leading him stopped and turned to smile at the approaching cub.
"Well, hello there," she bent down and Kyung-Soon was amazed when the woman's head didn't even reach her dog's. "This here is Azusa. He's an Argentine Dogo (1). I brought him to the doctor's because he has a Type 6 Hyperactive Thyroid that's making him grow faster than he should."
"He's huuuuuge! (2)" she reached out to pet him below his ear, eyes widening when he changed into a young boy with pure white hair and light blue eyes. He had pale skin and an intimidating look to him, but she found herself not too afraid of him.
"Kyung-Soon, come inside when you're done," Naruto smiled, waving back to her as they all entered the building through the automatic doors.
"Okay, Papa!" the little girl turned back to the pet before her and she smiled brightly. "I've never seen someone with white hair before except for old people," she commented.
The boy scrunched his nose up at her and remained silent.
His owner laughed.
"Don't mind him. Argentine Dogos are quiet dogs. He looks intimidating, but he's a very sweet pet. Come on, Azusa, say hello to the pretty girl."
Azusa looked away, but mumbled a soft "hello" in his young voice.
Kyung-Soon blushed. "H-Hello."
"But I'm sorry, we both have to go. He has to train for the Showcase tomorrow. It's his first time," she pet the girl on the head. "Get inside before your family starts to worry," she waved, then turned with the boy right at her heel.
There was something about him that just... made her want to see him again.
Ahhh, so much for her little crush on Sai.
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Inside one of the hospital's rooms, Kyuubi was relaxing in a bed, fast asleep. The birth had been too much for his body to handle, so he'd been dozing in and out of consciousness every now and then, remaining awake only long enough to smile to Itachi and his cubs that were brought in every once in a while from the nursery. Itachi was sitting next to his mate's bed, reading through and old, thick novel that he'd borrowed from Tsunade, when the Hatake family entered.
"Is he alright?" Lukki asked, looking over at his slumbering pet. "There wasn't any permanent damage, was there?"
Itachi looked up, shaking his head. He closed his book slowly and sat it on the counter beside him, which was already littered with the comic books he'd specifically gotten to let Kyuubi read. The red-head had taken a strong liking to the picture books when he'd been given one from the waiting room since it was the only reading material they'd had left.
"Are all of the kits okay?" Kakashi looked around the spacious room, trying to keep his mind off of his current sadness... He'd only known the man for a few months. It shouldn't be so devestating to think of him leaving. He'd move on. He was a grown man with many options.
He didn't believe in waiting for one single person.
"They're fine," Itachi answered, standing up. "All of them are running around in the nursery if you'd like to see them. I was just there an hour ago."
"I want to see them! I want to see them!" Kyung-Soon bounced up and down in excitement. "What are their names, Ita-mu? How many are girls?"
Naruto and Sasuke both chuckled at the girl's excitement, leading her back out of the room so they could go to the nursery, telling her a 'you'll find out' before they turned the corner and disappeared. Both Kakashi and Lukki stayed behind, wanting to see how their older pets were coming along.
"You could've come home, you know," Kakashi smiled underneath his mask. "To at least get an extra pair of clothes."
Itachi snorted.
"I wasn't going to chance him waking up and me not being here."
Lukki grinned, ignoring the painful twinge in his chest. "It sounds like you're in loooove."
"I am," the albino leopard stated as if the whole world already knew. He'd accepted it a while ago and knew that the entire Hatake household pretty much knew anyway. It was, in Sasuke's words, obvious. "I'm in love with him and I'm proud to be the father of his kits."
Both Kakashi and Lukki were somewhat hoping he'd be in denial about being in love.
So that he wouldn't hurt as much as them.
----------
There were six half-breeds running around the nursery when Naruto, Sasuke, and Kyung-Soon entered the nursery. All of the rooms in the facility were empty, so Shizune had let them run around freely since there would be no other children around. No one in the hospital wanted to chance anyone finding out they weren't Purebloods.
"They're all so cute!" Kyung-Soon smiled brightly as they all turned their heads in her direction, mewling and yipping as they bounced over to her. Two of them jumped as high as they could in an attempt to lick her small hands, but they couldn't reach. The other four just watched her, excited to have another guest. "There's four boys and two girls..." she looked at all of them.
"Aren't they precious?" Shizune asked, walking over to the entering pets with a sweet smile. "I've never seen a fox mix before... They're very beatuful and playful. They're leaving to go with their owner back home soon, ne? The country that Kyuubi-kun came from... what is it called?"
Naruto and Sasuke both thought about that for a moment.
"Cote... Cote dio-- No, that's not right..." Naruto laughed nervously. "Um, some country in Africa. It's small, that's all I know."
"Hmm," Shizune frowned. "Do they accept Impures there...? I don't want them to be in any danger..."
Naruto smiled. "No need to worry! Kyuubi said that in Africa, there aren't that many pets, so there isn't anyone who will be a threat."
"Ah, that's good to hear," the woman laughed. "I was a bit worried for a moment there. I'm sure if Lukki-san stayed in Japan, he would make a fortune off of them in Showcases. They're gorgeous animals."
Kyung-Soon lifted one of the girls into her arms. They all looked exactly the same, save for them all having different eyes. They were all red, but different hues of the color. Each of them were black with nine long, fluffy tails. Scratching behind the kit's ear, Kyung-Soon giggled.
"Do they have names?" she asked.
Shizune nodded.
"The one you're holding is Jahi. It means prominence in Swahili," she smiled. "Kyuubi wanted them to have traditional African names. The four boys are Nabhani, Dakarai, Masozi, and Lesedi, and the other girl is Akinyi."
"Such pretty names," Kyung-Soon commented, putting Jahi down so she could play with the other pets too.
Naruto and Sasuke smiled at her.
"It's a shame that Kyuubi-kun and his cubs will be leaving... I would have enjoyed seeing them in a Showcase... I also would have enjoyed seeing them with their father. Itachi-kun didn't seem too upset, but he was always good with masking his emotions... Do either of you know how he's dealing with this...?"
Sasuke sighed, looking at the young woman. "Aniki... he's strange. He used to be cold-hearted, but now he's opened up and is in love with someone for the first time... and I can honestly say that he's hurting. He's hiding it, but he's in pain."
"I feel bad for him..." Naruto said, turning to look at his daughter and the other kits running around and having fun.
He was sure that it hurt Itachi to know that his new family he'd made... would be gone in less than a week... The thought itself made his own heart hurt and he held back tears.
Maybe things will work out for the both of them... Maybe...
(1) - Argentine Dogos are amazing dogs. I want one when I get my own place. They're HUGE.
(2) - That's what she said. Hah.
Not much happened in this chapter, but you got insight into Kakashi and Lukki's minds, a dangerous new development with Sakura knowing Naruto's secret, and a meeting with Kyuubi and Itachi's adorable kits!
Kitty, Want Some Candy? will be coming to an end soon. Not that many more chapters and another one of my stories will come to an end.
Please review! Thank you!