A/N: So...I finally get around to writing the "Naruto gets a puppy" one-shot and it comes out nothing like I wanted it to. Why can't I manage to write a story the same way it appears in my head? Oh well, it's actually kind of okay...hope you agree...


One-Shot #57
Apology

"I'm sorry." Sasuke said, scratching his head. "You want a what, Naruto?"

The blonde, who was kicking the invisible rocks on the hardwood floor, effectively putting black streaks on the light wood, ran a tanned hand over his tanned neck and smiled sheepishly. In the back of his mind, he knew that was the exact reaction he would get. And, although it was completely expected, he still didn't understand why it wasn't a good idea. It's not like he was asking his boyfriend for a baby, just a puppy, an innocent little puppy. Nothing major, not at all.

The blonde met his boyfriend's onyx eyes and sighed. "I said I want to buy a puppy."

"Why?" Sasuke asked as his mouth gaped.

"Because I want one. What is the big deal?" He was starting to get a little angry, letting his temper override his emotional control. Not that he had much emotional control with Sasuke; he never really had that knack. Instead he had a flaring temper and a knack for saying the wrong thing.

"The big deal, Naruto, is that we don't have room for a dog. In case you forgot, we live in a one-room apartment, not the Uchiha mansion!"

"I only want a small dog." The younger teen said, sending out his own glare, which wasn't nearly as intense as Sasuke's. It wasn't his fault, Sasuke just had years of practice on Naruto. "One like Pakkun, maybe. What are they? Pugs or something?"

"Yes, Naruto, they're pugs, but you're still not getting one!" Sasuke said, his voice showing exasperation. "End of discussion!"

Naruto drew down his eyes and bared his teeth. If there was one thing in his life he absolutely hated with a vengeance, it was being talked to like a child. Especially when being talked to like a child by a teenager only three months older than him. Without thinking, the blonde reared back his fist and lunged at the stoic teen. Sasuke, who was watching him become angry, dodged it with ease. He didn't, however, dodge the head-butt Naruto had aimed as Sasuke's temple. The two connected, successfully knocking both boys to the floor.

They sat there for quite a few minutes before either could move. Naruto, being a quick healer, moved first. He was still angry; the fight didn't last long enough for him to get anything out, and decided it was better for everyone present to find a place to cool off. He found the balcony to be the place and was leaning over the railing, staring at the street below.

Sasuke was sitting on the floor, on his knees, running the conversation over in his head. For the life of him, he could not figure out anything he said that would make Naruto that angry. Looking through the glass door leading to the balcony, he saw the telltale signs of frustration and exasperation setting into his blonde boyfriend. There had to be something, anything that would explain it and decided a walk would clear his head, and protect his jaw from a punch he very well could have deserved.

Naruto heard the door shut and, after a while, watched Sasuke's body stride down the street. He sighed heavily and sat down on the cold cement of the balcony's floor. Leaning against the steel railing, he dug his hands in his hair and groaned. He hated having real fights with Sasuke as they just left him feeling miserable and lonely. But this one he started. It wasn't like that damn Uchiha didn't know Naruto hated being talked down to. The blonde had dealt with it most of his life and had grown to despise the tone they took when talking like that. And he hated when Sasuke's smooth voice took that tone. It just made him feel…low.

What would make Naruto that angry? The question played over and over again in Sasuke's head as he walked. He watched the adults ushering their children everywhere, leading them in buildings, out of the center of the road, away from breakable merchandise, and the tone they used when talking made Sasuke's ears perk up.

Don't touch that. Stay beside me. Be kind and say 'thank you'. Normally things like this, family things, made Sasuke's heart fall, but this time it made his ears ring. The fight played over and over again in his head until something clicked. He'd been using that exact tone when talking to Naruto earlier. Everyone had commented once in a while about the way Sasuke constantly talked down to Naruto, and they all were wondering if Naruto actually put up with it. Apparently, as it had just donned on the Uchiha, he had been until very recently. Running his hands through his dark hair, he took a deep breath and spun on his heels. The pet store was in the opposite direction and, if he was going to make it before it closed, he needed to hurry. Hopefully there was a pug that, hopefully, looked exactly like Pakkun waiting for him.

It was well after dark before Sasuke returned. He walked up the stairs with a bundle in both arms, praying the blonde would be inside the apartment and awake enough to open the door. Or, at the very least, not still pissed off and would want to open the door. The kicked at it for a few moments before it opened. Naruto stood back, not really looking at Sasuke, and let the door open enough for the Uchiha to enter.

Setting the bags down on the floor, he took a few steps toward Naruto and handed him a bundle of something in a blanket. Naruto looked confused, but accepted it anyway. When he unraveled it, what met him was a pair of big black eyes and a scrunched up face. The small puppy wagged its tail happily and made its way to Naruto's face, licking enthusiastically.

Naruto looked at Sasuke, his eyes shining with unshed tears. "You…you bought me a puppy?" The small animal in his hands was still licking his face, chin, neck, and anything else it could reach.

"Yeah." Sasuke said, smiling slightly. "One like Pakkun, right? I know this one is colored lighter, but it's still the same breed." Naruto looked back down at his new puppy and smiled. "Hey…um…I'm sorry, Naruto."

The blonde didn't say anything at first, just sat the small dog on the floor and watched as it scrambled across the floor and began chewing on a leg of the television stand. Naruto took his gaze off the dog and looked at Sasuke's face, which did honestly look sorry. Taking a few steps toward Sasuke, he closed the gap and kissed him deeply.

When he pulled away, and saw a breathless Sasuke, he smirked. "I shouldn't have hit you, 'suke. I'm sorry about that."

"I was talking down to you again, wasn't I?" Sasuke's voice was small, like he hated to admit it. "I promise I'll make a conscious effort to not use that tone again."

Naruto smiled. "Thank you. For the apology and the puppy."

"What are you going to name him?" Sasuke asked, scanning the room for the small tan animal. He finally found him scratching at the door to their bedroom.

"Hm…dunno." Naruto said, looking deep in thought. "I want him to have a name worth saying, ya know? Like a human name."

They stood there for a few seconds, Naruto's arms still wrapped around Sasuke's neck and Sasuke's arms still around Naruto's waist, until Sasuke jumped and let out a girlish squeak. The stoic teen began jumping on one foot and rubbing the big toe on his other foot.

"The damn dog bit me!" Sasuke howled, jumping over to the couch and inspecting his toe.

Naruto picked the puppy up and half-heartedly scolded him. The whole time he was snickering, so not much of the scolding actually sank in. Instead, the puppy began licking his new master and cuddled into Naruto's neck. "Aw, I think he's sleepy."

"Who cares? He bit me!" Sasuke hissed, seeing the now bleeding bite mark on his innocent toe. "Irritating damn dog, now I need a band-aid."

"Aw, poor baby." Naruto cooed, patting Sasuke on the head with his free hand and cradling the dog on his shoulder with the other. "Let's go to bed."

The next morning, the yet unnamed puppy woke Sasuke up with a small yip and a lick of his nose. Groaning, he rolled out of bed and began digging through the bags for the bowls and food he'd bought the night before. Filling one with water and the other with puppy food, he watched the puppy sniff and play with a few kibbles before eventually gobbling them up. Feeling Naruto's presence, he looked up to see the blonde smiling at him from the kitchen's door frame.

"We, um, feeding him in the kitchen then?"

"Yeah, might as well." Sasuke sighed making his way over to Naruto and snuggling himself in. "Think of a name yet?"

Peering over Sasuke's shoulder, Naruto watched the puppy chase a fly around the room. The puppy would hunch down to the floor before leaping forward, in essence scaring the fly, only to repeat the cycle again and again. Finally, Naruto's brain hatched out the perfect name.

"Inago!" The blonde exclaimed so loudly it made Sasuke jump and cover his abused ear.

"Inago? Yeah, works for me." Sasuke smirked, turning around to see the spectacle the newly named puppy was putting on.

Kneeling down, Naruto smiled brightly and clapped his hands. "Come here, Inago! Come on!"

Sasuke sighed and leaned against the door frame as he watched his boyfriend roll around on the floor like an idiot. He had to admit that, even though he didn't want the dog, Inago was starting to grow on him. The damn little fur ball was kind of cute, wasn't it?


Inago means grasshopper in Japanese. Thought it was cute. Oh, and btw...everything I just said Inago does it exactly what my pug, Otis, does. Pugs love to lick you, bite toes (which we are trying to break him of), and sleep in the same bed with you. And they play with everything...and I mean everything. Otis quite literally chews on anything he can get in his mouth...which is a dangerous thing.

I just got this nice little mental picture of baby!Pakkun biting Kakashi's toes and licking his face. Let me just say "AWWWW!!!!!" lol!