AN: Ello again! Aaaaas per usual, there will be typos.. because theres no Beta and I canot seem to catch them ALL… my apologies for that :P Also… theres a new fic I started (though I prolly shouldn't have) but I did…. FMA… if you like Ed/Roy feel free to check it out…. I want to thank for all the awesome comments and hope that you all ENJOY!

He held the small letter in his hand, not bothering to open it and glaring at it, wishing spontaneous incineration was possible. He looked back to Kakashi, who had his chin rested on his hand and giving him a pleasant and yet utterly piercing look.

"It doesn't matter what you know…" Naruto finally managed to choke out… He couldn't believe this was happening right now. He had his plans all set out nicely, he was going to go through with those.

"Of course it does… since your Mother asked me specifically to guide you along, so to speak, should the time come to do so."

"are you implying that the cat episode was set up to that specific purpose?" Naruto growled. He knew it wouldn't be true, hell, he just wanted to wipe that happy smile off the silver haired man's face.

Kakashi raised his hands up and frantically waved them about. "now now now… that was a complete misunderstanding… unhappy as it was. I received the news when I was in India… you would have heard form me sooner or later anyway… this just happened to speed up our meeting."

Naruto snorted, barking out what was supposed to be an ironic laugh. "Had I known how I'd end up, you may be sure that I would have happily stayed as far away from you as possible. However…" he looked at Kakashi pointedly. "Recent events and information have utterly changed my mind. I do believe you may be of some use to me… if you of course wish to help me out."

"I would be delighted." Kakashi smiled in earnest. "On one small condition…" he added as an afterthought.

"that would be…?" Naruto knew the answer, but he was hoping that there might have been a miniscule chance that he was mistaken... he'd take that.

"To honour you Mother's wishes.. .promise me you'll talk to him? Kakashi sounded almost pleading. "I don't know him all that well, bastard as he was form what Kushina told me but… she wanted this. Otherwise she wouldn't have asked me to help her."

"Do you know what a blow the information was to me?" Naruto looked away form Kakashi now. He kept his eyes glued to the window, which looked out straight into the gardens and pond below. There was a school of ducks taking off into the air. He wished he was one of them.

"I found out a couple of minutes after Minato died… I found out that my entire life was a lie… whatever I believed I was was a lie…everything…" Naruto broke off, glancing at Kakashi quickly. The man had gotten up and walked around the desk, perching on its side, directly in front of Naruto, arms crossed.

"I hated them both then… I hated them for lying to me… for leaving me alone… for dying before I could tell them everything I wanted to for so long…" He couldn't continue… "But I loved them too… no matter who, or what I was… I loved Minato and I loved my Mother… although all I knew of her was from Minato's stories."

Kakashi had no way to make it better… he could see the now grown man sitting there, bleeding a bit form his wounds and shaking like a leaf just from talking.

"And so why now?" Naruto bit out. "Why should I care now? After all this time… he left my Mother for dead, and until recently, I didn't give a complete shit about his existence…"

"Maybe its time to start?" Kakashi added in, hopeful that Naruto would listen.

"I don't want to start!" Naruto hollered, startling the man a bit, but keeping him exactly where he sat. waiting to ride out the storm.

"I don't want to see the face that killed my Mother! That sent me away and cursed my life for ever! I don't want to look into the eyes of the man that never even cared to look at me once.. I …I don't… don't… I don't know what I want." He finished lamely, knowing this to be true… he didn't want to meet him, and yet he did. The feelings of loss were making him unstable, uneasy.. he liked his live to have variation, but he needed to know what he wanted as well… here he was at a loss… he didn't like it.

"One meeting with him Naruto…. One meeting and Ill help you on your journey to India, Ill even come with you, Ill show you around the locals, teach you all you need to know and do everything in my power to start your business off in the right direction. We'll be working partners, what do you say?" he needed the blonde man to agree… he owed that much to Kushina… to Minato.

"And then we leave?" Naruto whispered, looking at him earnestly, like a little scared boy who needed to be shown the way… "then we leave?"

"yes."

"Then I'll do it." Naruto got up, squaring his shoulders and looking at Kakashi with renewed determination.

"But first you heal… here, in this house… without any crazy excursions and feats… Itll give you time to bond with Inana."

Naruto looked at him then and laughed, a laugh that told Kakashi he thought he was crazy. "Ill pass on that thanks," he held his hand to his side. "Ive done as much bonding with that feline beast as Ill ever need to in my life."

He opened the door to the office and was met with a pair of blazing eyes. "Ah hell no." he growled, leaning towards the cat as she sat right dab in the middle of the door. So much that he couldn't pass with her in the way.

She bristled a bit, but sat her ground, bending her head a bit, weary.

Naruto pointed to his bandages… "you did this" he hissed at her. She bent her head further down and purred.

Naruto was taken aback, he hadn't expected that at all. This was the beast that had ripped him a new rib cavity?

He looked back at Kakashi, puzzled. "There's something wrong with your monster." He stated plainly, pointing at her. "I think she's sick."

"Kakashi walked up to him and peeked at his Tiger. "She's all good." He answered, puzzled at Naruto's previous statement.

"No… she looks like an overgrown housecat now… and acting like it… I know from experience that that's not the case." Naruto scoffed.

He looked back at the cat and crouched in front of her, facing off. Her tail twitched a bit, and she looked up at Kakashi questioningly… Naruto looked up at Kakashi as well, eyes wide in question. Kakashi just shrugged at her. "I don't know." She said to the cat.

"What? You can talk to her too?" he asked, looking back to the cat, who was now once again staring at him.

"Call it a mutual connection." The silver haired man said.

Naruto was not convinced. "you almost killed me…" he growled at her.

The cat bent low and reached out to paw at his thigh. Now that her claws were sheathed the paw looked like a teddy bears…big. And it didn't hurt.

"You've got to be shitting me." Naruto whispered to himself." As he watched the huge cat lay down to her side and begin to play with his pants.

"I think Im still out of it…" he mumbled, shaking his head.

"Awwwwwwhhhhh she likes you…" Kakashi cooed as he dropped to his knees to rub her belly. The same rumble of a purr began.

"You're insane man… do you know that?" Naruto was incredulous as he poked at her ear. It was fluffy and soft, and she bent her head back to gently nibble on his finger… "Is that thing… nibbling on me?"

"I guess you taste good." Kakashi joked. And Naruto threw him an angry glare.

"This is a loony house." Naruto got up and made to retreat to his room.

"You talked to her too though…"

Naruto laughed as he left Kakashi sitting on the floor with the cat now trying to climb onto his lap. A feat that was impossible in itself, although Kakashi was happy by being covered with just the half of her.

"I never said I wasn't loony old man." He smirked as he opened the door to his chamber and marched in, grin still in place.

He had plans, and although something distinctly, horribly unpleasant awaited him, he was sure that after the feat was done, he could happily sail away from the hated life he led here. Away form the torture of conversing and being around something he couldn't have and something he very much wanted… perhaps he'd find happiness elsewhere. Not like he could stay where he was now anyway, living as an outcast didn't suit him as well as he let everyone believe it did.

Sasuke wasn't in his room when he looked around, he had probably decided to go back to his estate… his. The thought didn't hurt as much as it used to, all of a sudden.

He walked around a bit, watching the fire merrily skip along the logs and he finally sta down in te high cushinoned chair that was provided. He wasn't hungry yet, and his pain abated by a lot.

A gentle scratching at his door had him wondering what in the hell it might be. He might not hate Inana as much as he would have liked, but by no means was he going to be in the same room alone with her.

He opened the door a bit, peeking outside to check for intruders. Something by his foot was trying to push its paw into the room. He looked down and recognized the thing as one of the orange fur balls that Sasuke was holding previously.

"This place is crawling with cats!" he exclaimed, and creaked the door a bit more to allow the thing entrance.

It sat at his foot, clawing at it in resentment and mewling piteously.

Naruto picked the ball up in one swift movement. He held it underneath its front paws, so that it was hanging just facing him. It stopped mewling, and was trying to get one of his fingers into its mouth.

Naruto just stared at the little devil. Wondering if he should call Kakashi, but not wanting to bother the man further at the moment.

He walked over to his bed briskly, and dropped the thing unceremoniously onto the sheets, which it didn't seem to mind much.

It walked around a bit, with Naruto standing over it, observing, and finally curled up into a small ball right in the middle and that was it, it was dead asleep.

Naruto huffed and got into bed as well, as much as he hated this, he knew that rest would see him up and healed faster than running around complaining would.

He pushed the ball to the side a bit, making room for himself, the tiger cub moved right beside his face and turning a couple of times, settled on his pillow with its head on Naruto's Neck. It purred gently, but the blonde didn't notice. He was fast asleep in seconds.

Neither did he notice the raven quietly entering his room and settling himself beside him again, smirking at the sight.

AN: YOSH! I did the scene like that because Naruto is usually mean… I want him seen as a bit cuddly too ^.^ and my dog slept like that on me when he was smaller… thought it was adorable