Story Nine: Sakura's New Pet

"Orochimaru-sama, can I get a pet?"

Sasuke spat out his tomato juice onto Kabuto's face, much to the medic's chagrin. "You must be joking! A pet? You're asking for a pet?" Sasuke asked, staring at the child-woman as if she grew two heads.

"Yeah! Wouldn't that just be cute? And you and Kabuto-chan can help me raise it! Sounds like fun right? Just hopefully it'll be a pet that snakes won't like to eat. I don't want to wake up one morning to find it gone," Sakura said, taking a big drink of her orange juice, "Hey Kabuto-chan, you should take a shower. You smell like tomatoes, and it's kinda gross."

Kabuto just glared at her, "If you didn't randomly ask if you could have a pet, Sasuke-kun wouldn't have spat out his drink at me." Sakura shrugged her shoulders and continued to sip on her juice, much to the medic's obvious anger.

Orochimaru chuckled, "Very well. After breakfast and a shower, Sasuke-chan and Kabuto-chan will go out and get you a pet."

"You must be joking!"

"Really? All right!"

"Okay you two, I have a list of pets I would like! Make sure to come home with at least one of them, okay?"

"Yeah yeah...you're lucky Orochimaru-sama has taken a liking to you, Sakura."

"Just stay out of trouble until we get back. Annoying..."

"Don't forget about supplies like food and a cage and stuff! And toys!"

'We're doomed...'

Pet Idea #1 – A Cute and Fluffy White Rabbit!

Kabuto stared at the white creature in his arms, "What harm could this little guy do?" Suddenly he heard a cry of pain come from behind him, then saw a white rabbit scurry to the corner of its cage, leaving Sasuke cradling his bitten finger.

"We are NOT getting one of these devil things."

Pet Idea #1 – Absolutely, Positively Not

Pet Idea #2 – If A Rabbit Doesn't Work, Then Maybe A Ferret!

Sasuke glared at the ferret, who tilted its head curiously at the Uchiha's action. "Uh, Sasuke-kun, what are you doing? Having a staring contest with it?" Kabuto asked.

"Is this a weasel?"

"...It's a ferret."

"It looks like a weasel...I want to kill it."

"You're not going to kill it! Sasuke-kun, put the katana away!"

Pet Idea #2 – Um...Too Dangerous

Pet Idea #3 – Okay, No Ferret...Hamsters Are Nice!

"ACHOO!"

Pet Idea #3 – Kabuto-Chan Is Allergic

Pet Idea #4 – A Gerbil Then!

"ACHOO!"

Pet Idea #4 – Sasuke-Chan Is Allergic

Pet Idea #5 – Ugh, You Guys Are IMPOSSIBLE! Fine, Since Everything Else Has Failed, Then Get Me A...

"Yay! Aren't you all pretty goldfish! And Kabuto-chan and Sasuke-chan created such a beautiful aquarium for you guys! Now to come up with names for you all...let's see...hmm...I know...I'll call you Koi-chan, and you Dei-chan, and you..."

Kabuto and Sasuke sighed as they looked at each other, then sniffled and blew their noses into tissues.

Pet Idea #5 – Success!

And now, I shall take this time to make a few announcements, and hopefully readers of these stories (and just those who like my stories in general) will take notice:

-I've put Agreeably Argumentative on a hiatus for now due to a writer's block on it. No, I have NOT given up on the story; I just have a writer's block on where the story is going to get to the end where I have it pretty much planned out (and my notes that I had with my outlines for the story have sadly disappeared on me). So once I'm able to find the notes and write out the next chapter, it'll be back from its hiatus. Sorry AA fans!

-I'll be updating Joys and Hey Sound alternating in between chapters of a new project I want to start, which I'll be starting pretty soon. The new project: a Naruto version of Howl's Moving Castle (based on the movie, not the book; I haven't read the book enough to have it memorized). I don't think it's ever been done before, so I thought I would try it out for something fun to do. I'm working on the details right now, but it will be fun, I will say that! Right now though, the only characters I've figured out are Sakura as Sophie, Naruto as Calcifer, and Konohamaru as Markl. As for the rest...give me time.

-I've also started a fanart contest for LOACB/Joys on my dA, so check it out (my username is in my profile).