Ramen Doodles
By Andrew J. Talon
Disclaimer: I do not and probably never will own Naruto or any other copyrighted works mentioned in this story. I am not writing this for profit.
Author's Note: When I have writer's block, I often write a lot of random snippets of ideas, omakes, and continuations of other author's ideas that kind of petered out. As I'm afflicted with a bit of writer's block regarding Key Through the Heart (again), I've decided I'm not going to leave you guys in the lurch. Therefore, enjoy some writing I've been doing over at The Fanfiction Forum.
Sort of an addition to "The Muppet Summoning Contract", considering a few Muppet productions of "Winnie the Pooh" have been made. But really, it could work as it's own story. It's hard not to link Tigger to Naruto, after all.
For fans of "Key Through the Heart", I'd like you to know that the current story is now considered a rough draft. I'm working on the revised version as we speak. I hope to have the first chapter of it up by the end of August, so look out for it!
"They're both late," Sakura grumbled, leaning against the bridge that was Team 7's usual meeting place. Sasuke made no response save for a nod. If he did nothing and just ignored her, Sakura had a tendency to act increasingly weird until she got his attention. He really didn't need her to break out her Rubik's cube collection.
Again.
Further thoughts on how weird his most persistent fangirl could get were interrupted, by an unusual, repeating sound. He looked up and glanced at Sakura, who looked equally confused. Satisfied he was not hallucinating, he tried to find the source of the sound.
"What's that?" Sakura asked.
"Hn," Sasuke replied, in lieu of an 'I don't know.' He preferred to have some kind of answer before speaking. The sound did seem to be getting louder though, and closer. If he didn't know any better, it sounded like somebody was bouncing on a bed and-
"GAH!"
THUD!
"Mornin', bastard!" Naruto said cheerfully, crouched on top of Sasuke and staring down at him. Sasuke stared back, becoming increasingly agitated.
"You idiot! What the hell are you doing?!"
Sakura gaped in disbelief at what she was seeing, unable to reset her brain until visions of Naruto and Sasuke in positions her fangirl logic immediately put together passed. Just as she was done and about to tell Naruto off for daring to pounce on her Sasuke, she was interrupted.
"WOO HOO HOO HOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
"AHHH!"
THUD!
"Hallo, I'm Tigger! That's T-I-double-guh-ER! That spells 'Tigger' you know!" Announced a talking stuffed tiger atop Sakura's chest. She too was now vertical, laying on the bridge next to her teammates.
"How'd I do, Tigger-sensei?" Naruto asked with a grin. Tigger smiled cheerfully.
"Not bad for a beginner, but we've got a LOT more bouncin' to do!"
"Naruto, what the hell is that?!" Sasuke managed to demand. The creature blinked it's beady eyes and stared intently at him.
"Eh?! You don't know what I am? Do you?" Tigger asked Sakura, pressing his nose to hers. The pink haired girl shrugged helplessly. Naruto shook his head.
"Looks like we'll have to tell them, huh Tigger-sensei?"
"You're darn tooting we will! It's riddikerus for nobody ta know what a tigger is! Especially seein' how wonderful we are!" The stuffed tiger leaped off Sakura and began bouncing around on his tail. Naruto emulated the action, using a spring he'd attached to his belt. Together, the two started a song as Sasuke and Sakura both stared in utter disbelief.
"The wonderful thing about Tiggers
Is Tiggers are wonderful things!
Their tops are made out of rubbah,
Their bottoms are made out of springs!
They're bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy
Fun, fun, fun, fun, FUN!
But the most wonderful thing about Tiggers
Is I'm the only one!
I'M, the only one!"
"So... Cute," Sakura mumbled. Sasuke repressed a shudder-She had that look in her eyes. Tigger bounced to the railing of the bridge and smiled cheerfully.
"Well, that's enough singin'! We've got a lot more bouncin' ta do!"
"Right sensei!" Naruto said cheerfully.
"Sensei?" Sasuke asked.
"Yeah! Tigger-sensei's teaching me to bounce!" Naruto replied. Tigger scoffed with a grin.
"Bah! Not just bounce! But everything and anything a ninjah could ever need! After all, ninjaing is what Tiggers do dah best!"
Sasuke stared, considered. The living toy was probably a summon of some sort... And it had apparently allowed Naruto to sneak up and... Bounce him.
"I will also train with... Tigger-sensei," he managed. Sure, the thing looked ridiculous, but if it could allow Naruto to sneak up on him like that, surely it could teach him something useful.
"Oh! I-I'd like to train too!" Sakura immediately joined in. Tigger laughed and bounced merrily about, pleased to be the center of attention.
"Well then, what're we waitin' for? C'mon! I'll teach ya how to bounce like nobody's bounced before! Cept' me, o' course! WOO HOO HOO HOOOOOOOOO!!!"
Tigger took off, Team Seven following along. Naruto was simply enjoying himself, Sasuke was determinedly trying to copy the movements the stuffed animal made, and Sakura was happy to be learning something useful with her crush, and her Inner was happy to be doing something much more fun than D-ranked missions.
Kakashi showed up soon after, and looked around the empty bridge.
"Odd... Usually I'm the one who's late," he said.
"Left ya behind, did they?" Asked a low voice. Kakashi glanced down and saw a stuffed donkey walking over. The jounin blinked-He hadn't even heard the living toy before it had announced it's presence.
"Something I'm familiar with, not that anyone cares," the donkey continued. "Everybody's always in a rush somewhere... Nobody tells me where though. Try to go at my own pace, which nobody appreciates... Least of all me."
Kakashi blinked again. The donkey walked over and began to munch on a thistle bush nearby. He slowly shook his head.
"Did you see a group of genin around anywhere?"
"If by genin you mean three younger ninjas, I could tell you. But I doubt you'd like the answer. Nobody ever likes any of mine," the donkey went on.
"... You're quite the downer you know."
"So I've been told..."