Pretty Maelstrom

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Disney's Lilo & Stitch

-Chapter Start-

"So, Nani got Lilo, what they think is a dog." Sakura said, parroting what Naruto had just told her. "But, it's not a dog."

"That's about it," the blond answered, sitting in one of the kitchen chairs. "Whatever that thing is, it's sentient, and using Lilo for something."

"Is it dangerous?" the pinkette asked.

"Very," was the instant reply. "I don't know what its plan is, but it needs Lilo around for the moment."

"Meaning we have some time to find out what its intentions are."

"That's really the only bright spot about this whole situation."

Sakura sighed in exhaustion, "Until then, I hope that dog, or whatever it is, doesn't cause any trouble for those two."

*break*

"Did Stitch and me get you fired from your job?" Lilo asked her sister. Following behind with Stitch while the elder Pelekai led the way to the front door of their house.

"Nah. The manager was a vampire, and he wanted me to join his legion of the undead," Nani said, waving off the comment.

"I knew it," the younger girl declared.

Stitch simply followed behind the two. More concerned with the fact he hadn't been able to get any tasty food to fill his belly, and thoughts about what he was going to do to that whiskered man when they next met.

"Here we are, home," Lilo said, pushing open the front door for her new dog to enter.

The blue animal pushed into the house. Uncaring for anyone but himself, and his hunger. Which had not been satisfied for several hours.

Sadly, he couldn't eat the humans he was using as shields. Doing so would probably void the "don't let humans see any aliens" rule that was keeping Jumba restrained. And letting the mad scientist look like a hero for saving the humans from the dangerous genetic abomination, left a bad taste in Stitch's mouth.

Being unable to eat the humans, the blue furred creature had to eat the first thing that had once been alive. A feather filled pillow, that was pushed into his face, would be a starter. Until the taller human took it away from him.

The room that smelled the most like food, similarly proved to have little in the way of edible matter. The closest had been a fluorescent liquid inside a blending machine, which turned on as soon as he opened the lid. Spraying pink fluids everywhere.

When the larger female came and stopped the device from its continued assault, she also grabbed him. Lifting him into the air, where he could only flail around helplessly. Unable to get free without revealing his super strength.

"Lilo, we need to take him back to the dog shelter," Nani proclaimed. Struggling to hold up Stitch's oddly heavy body.

"But he was an orphan, and we adopted him," Lilo called back. Following her sister to the front door. "What about Ohana?"

"He hasn't been here that long," the elder sibling argued.

"Neither have I," the younger one yelled back. "Ohana means family. And family means..."

"No one gets left behind, or forgotten," Nani added her voice to the chant. Freezing with her hand on the front door's knob, but no longer able to open it.

While Stitch stopped struggling. Simply looking between the two, now quiet, sisters, while he hung from the eldest's arm.

"I hate it when you use Ohana against me," the beautiful woman growled. Relaxing her arm to let the blue pet drop to the floor. "He can stay one night."

"Dibs on him sleeping in my room," Lilo exclaimed happily. "Come on Stitch, we need to get ready for bed."

Nani watched as her only remaining family rushed up towards her room. Her new pet following close behind her. Leaving the older girl to once more collapse onto the couch in the living room. At least this time the red message light wasn't blinking on the phone.

Although, maybe she could call someone instead. Kalea had always said to call her if Nani needed anything. And with a new resident added to the house, she felt like she could use any advice she could get. Maybe she could also ask Naruto for some of his sage-like wisdom.

Did Naruto have a phone? The beautiful local honestly didn't know. He had never given her a number to call him at, and she hadn't seen a phone whenever she went to his house. Although she hadn't been looking for one.

Maybe he had one of those new cell-phones that you could keep in your pocket. It would make sense with how much money he seemed to have, Those phones looked really useful and convenient.

Although Nani had never used a mobile phone before. She had seen some of the wealthier tourists use them, but that was it.

With a sudden thump, the older sister looked up at the ceiling. Despite all the noise, Lilo wasn't screaming. If anything she was laughing. Which was a good thing, right?

With her mind full of worry and nothing else to do, Nani grabbed the phone, and called Kalea.

*break*

Nani's night had been long and stressful. From a late night kitchen run-in with the, she was now convinced, , worrying about what she would do for a job in the next few days. When she had finally passed out on her bed. Only a few hours passed before Lilo woke her up. With Stitch and a record player beside her.

Nani was convinced that she was still half asleep when her sister started playing an Elvis record, using the blue furred creature's claw as the needle, and it worked. With Stitch's mouth acting like the horn of a phonograph, singing the familiar song.

Only the rapid heavy knocking on the front door brought her to full awakeness.

"Heard you lost your job last night?" Cobra Bubbles intoned without a greeting. The social workers hulking frame once more filling the front doors frame.

"Yes…" Nani answered slowly. Before trying to correct herself. "No! I mean… I quit that job."

One of the large man's eyebrows rose up. While he seemed to loom even more over the local woman.

"What I mean is, I quit so I could spend more time looking after Lilo. Working at that restaurant didn't even give me enough time to watch over her, alongside my other work." Nani stilled, as she saw a tuft of blue fur out of the corner of her eye.

"You have a second job?" Cobra questioned slowly.

"I'm helping someone research Polynesian culture," she answered. Trying not to look away from the intimidating man's sunglasses hidden eyes, while also watching Stitch. Who had taken to glaring at the federal agent. "He pays well for the help, but I can't really call it a job."

A book smashed into the agent's face.

"I'm so sorry about that!" Nani yelled, grabbing the blue furred creature off the ground before it could do any more harm.

"What is that thing?" Cobra barked, pulling the sunglasses off his face.

"He's my puppy," Lilo said, wandering into the living room. "Isn't he cute."

Stitch took this moment to stick his tongue up one of his nostrils. Laughing the whole time.

"Adorable," the agent responded. Narrowing his eyes at the creature, before he turned back to the elder sister. "Miss Pelekai, so far you have been adrift in the harbor of my patience. I have given you every opportunity I can. But I cannot overlook you being jobless, and a tutoring gig won't cut it. Do I make myself clear?"

"Perfectly."

"And the next time I see this dog, I expect it to be a model citizen. Capisce?"

"Uh…" Lilo hummed, trying to understand the last word. "Yes?"

With one final reiteration of his instructions, Cobra Bubbles left the Pelekai house.

Alone, the sisters looked at each other. Both worried about the future.

*break*

The day… had not gone well. With Nani running to the library, and telling Naruto that she, once again, couldn't help him today. He, once again, was perfectly understanding, and wished her luck.

With a set of "Help Wanted" ads, the beautiful native ran to the first listing, Mrs. Hasagawa's fruit stand. Where Lilo was already waiting with Stitch. Ready to turn the blue creature into a model citizen, with inspiration from Elvis Presley.

Disaster followed.

Nani couldn't get a job, and Stitch seemed incapable of not bringing havoc everywhere he went. It was like he was born to cause chaos.

With the fruit stall now closed for restock and renovations and the local high-end hotel's new "No Blue Dogs" policy, the family went to their final option. Lahui Beach supposedly had a job opening. It was barely above volunteer work, but it would come with proof of employment.

Now the sisters found themselves sitting against the lifeguard tower that had been overturned when Stitch hit it with a broken ukulele. The small creature having grown uncomfortable and irritated with the attention he was receiving for his Elvis impersonation.

In all honesty, Nani was tired. Letting the "Help Wanted" flier drop from her grasp. The only thing that seemed to have gone right for her recently, was meeting Naruto and Sakura.

"Hey, Nani," Lilo called. "Why are we doing this?"

"Doing what?" The elder sister asked softly.

"Trying to make Stitch a model citizen," the young local said. "I don't think he needs to change."

The sisters looked towards the strange blue creature. Who was sitting on the sand across from them. Watching them, as they watched him. Not causing chaos, only sitting.

"And, why are you looking for a job," the little girl continued. "Don't you already have a job working for Naruto. Isn't that enough."

Nani was quiet. The past few weeks with Naruto had been some of the happiest moments she had experienced in over a year. And if nothing else mattered, working for him would be enough.

She would have to be careful with money, even if he paid well. But the small family could manage. Maybe Naruto could sign a paper, declaring her his employee. That might be enough for the federal agent.

But Naruto couldn't do that. Even if he wanted to.

It was the same answer she had come to, every other time she thought about it. The same reason he paid her in cash after every session, instead of paying her all at once at the end of the week. There was always a chance that Naruto might discover whatever he was looking for in all those myths and legends. And when he finds it, he might disappear and never return.

Nani chuckled internally at the idea of trying to explain to the social worker that her boss had vanished overnight. Especially when she still didn't know why he was doing so much research.

"It would be nice to do nothing but work with Naruto all day," the beautiful local admitted to her sister's question. "But the government doesn't want me to have too much fun, so I need to find a regular job."

"Well that sucks," Lilo summarized.

"What sucks?" A new, feminine, voice questioned next to the girls.

Kalea had arrived, wearing a too small bikini, and carrying a surfboard under each arm.

"Our day," the two sisters said together to their friend.

"Oof," the surfer girl answered back. "You two definitely look like it's been a bad day. And while I might not be a doctor, I know the perfect remedy for a sour face is a couple of boards and some choice waves. What do you say?"

"That sounds nice," the elder sister smiled. "We just need our swimsuits.

*break*

Nani, Lilo, and Stitch raced down the sidewalk, eager to get home and grab their swimsuits. With the elder sister considering if she should grab her own surfboard. They probably wouldn't need it for just three people.

"Naruto!" Lilo yelled, stopping to wave across the street.

"Aloha Lilo, Nani," the blond said as he joined the sisters.

"Your pronunciation is still bad," the youngest said. Causing the lone male to hang his head.

"You're getting better," Nani added sympathetically.

Naruto used his only visible hand to scratch the back of his head. "So, where are you two running off too?"

"We're going surfing," Lilo declared.

While the blond listened, he stopped scratching his head. As soon as he dropped his hand a blue blur darted towards him. Covering his hand.

"Bad Stitch, you don't know where his hand has been," the youngest chastised her pet. As the creature tried to swallow the man's arm.

"I'm so sorry," the elder local yelled. Grabbing hold of the blue hellion's legs.

"It's fine Nani. He's not actually biting me," Naruto calmly responded with a chuckle, as his friend pulled the creature off him. "He just wanted to lick my hand."

"With his whole mouth?" The beauty questioned.

"Maybe I had food crumbs on my fingers." The man shrugged. Shaking his hand to the side to get all the slobber off. "Before, you said you were both going surfing?

"Yes!" Lilo answered quickly. "Do you want to come?"

"I would love to," Naruto said, crouching down in front of the little girl. "But I don't have a swimsuit."

"You can buy one at the store by the beach," the girl pressed on. "Please come! It'll be so much more fun with more people."

"Maybe Naruto's busy Lilo," Nani suggested. Causing the smaller girl to pout.

"It's not that," the blond interjected, wanting to keep a smile on both girls' faces. "I want to come, but first I would need to tell the bos… Sakura. I can't just run off without telling her."

"Bring her too. She'll love surfing," Lilo decided in that way only a child could.

The two adults sighed. Realizing there was no winning against the young girl.

"You sure you want to come along?" Nani asked. A hint of hope in her own voice.

"If I'm not intruding," her friend answered with a smile. "Besides, I remember you saying that you would teach me how to surf sometime."

The beauty giggled, "Alright, you go get Sakura and meet us at Lahui Beach in ten minutes. We'll buy your swimsuit then."

The sisters continued on their way towards their home. Naruto waved after them, the fingers on his hand next to each other.

Stitch turned to look at the blond, while following the leaving pair. In one swift motion he spit out a bottle he had been hiding in his mouth. Leaving it where it landed in the grass. With a smirk, the creature continued to follow behind the unaware girls.

The blond chuckled darkly. "You, of course, know this means war Stitch." With his fingers stuck together the displaced shinobi walked over and picked up the saliva covered glue bottle.

Using his glued fingers with some difficulty, the blond threw away the empty bottle. Smirking as he watched his prank opponent leave. Although the blond's eyes did stray towards Nami's form for a few seconds.

Once the family turned a corner out of view, and with nothing else keeping him there, Naruto walked into an alleyway between some buildings. And let himself know of the beach trip, by disappearing in a puff of smoke.

-Chapter End-

This took way too long to finish. I won't bore you with the details of why this took so long to come out. It was a combination of all the different perspectives, and not wanting to repeat too much of the movie. The main point of this chapter was to follow the main plot from the movie, and get everyone where they needed to be. While setting up for the next chapter and beyond. Especially since we're getting closer to the end of this story.

A quick reminder that this story takes place in the early 2000s when cellphones were rare. Hence Nani talking about them. This will come back in a later chapter.

Nothing else to say for this chapter. Next time we go to the beach for some swimsuit clad fun. Before things take a turn.

Thank you for reading and take care.