Cat and Raccoon (a Naruto fanfic)

[kararayn]

Chapter 1 - A Girl and Her Cats

Itachi Uchiha, the resident prodigy, and older brother of the school heartthrob; shocked her one day, by wondering if anyone had adopted the male blue - cat. He asked, and she shook her head no. He started to go to her, every once in awhile, for her to tell him about the cat.

Happy, but surprised he was interested, she answered, and told him. Eventually, he shocked his fangirls by walking over to Kumi, who sat alone, and talking to her during lunch. Knowing the social rules, she blushed embarrassed; Only for him to speak, saying it was alright. He knew she wasn't a fangirl, and she didn't have to worry. People around or not, she should act the same.

Relaxing, they made plans for Itachi to adopt the cat, and she was to bring him over later. The older Uchiha would be free, and ready then. She smiled, and nodded; earning a quick smirk from him. They spent the rest of lunch, having her memorize the directions, and chatting a little. Surprisingly, he wasn't that hard to talk to, and put her somewhat at ease.

She smiled as she opened the door; greeted by a fast - moving orange fluff - ball. It jumped into her arms, purring loudly, and for a long time; nuzzling against her neck and shoulder. Laughing, she stroked along the cat's back, only making the purrs grow louder. "Good boy Tobi," she smiled, scratching under his chin, and behind his ear, before setting him down.

Walking into the kitchen, a muffled mew greeted her quietly. Reaching down, she scooped up the bright blue cat. "Hello Kisame," she smiled, scratching his cheeks, and along his back; earning soft, rumbling purrs.

"I think I found you an owner." Kisame's ears flattened, fearful. "No..no.." she kissed his forehead. "I'll be checking on you, and if I even see one sign, you're coming straight back." One ear flicked a bit, but he wasn't convinced just yet.

"You're always welcome in my home," she added, and scratched along his back, while he purred. Now satisfied.

Cooking some meat scraps, before adding gravy over their food, she fixed them both homemade meals, setting it on the table. They both hopped up, eating quickly. Sighing softly, she pet them both, making them grumble as they ate. She laughed, and pulled away to walk out onto her porch. Scooping the rest of the food, into the bowls on the porch, and clearing out the old water, to switch it for fresh, in more.

She debated for a bit, but opened the latch on the bottom half of her door, leaving the kitty - sized opening out, and moving the bowls inside as an after thought. She took down the wooden crates, and lined them with small blankets, around them, and smiled, when she'd finished. Only a knock on her door, pulled her away from the dishes, as her two shadows followed after her.

Swinging it open, she found a familiar face. "Mr. Hyuuga.." she bowed politely.

"Are you the owner of this cat?" he had the long - haired boy beside him, hold up a crate. Peering inside, she sighed.

"Hidan...oh not again.."

"So, he is yours?"

"I'll return him to Ms. Jas, if that's alright." she nodded once.

"I'll have a talk with her myself. She really ought to remember to cage him in, by now." As if, he was finished, he stormed down to the house, leaving the two teens to cringe sympathetically.

"Here." The boy opened the door, earning himself a scratch in the process. "Ow!"

"Sorry, Neji.." she pulled the near - white, silver tabby into her arms.

"How do you do that?" he asked, fetching himself a bandaid. She shrugged, and both mused over the familiarness of this routine.

"I don't know. Maybe I'm just used to it?"

"I've never even seen him scratch you."

"I don't know then."

"Hmm."

"Mmnm."

He shrugged then. "See ya in school then."

"See ya Neji."

He waved, and was gone.

Shaking her head, she sat the cat down. It zoomed over to the food, gobbling up half the bowl. She laughed, and shut the door once more, before scooping up the blue cat, once he'd finished to brush out his fur. "Alright everyone..." she started. "Wish Kisame luck. He's going to try to get a new home today." She set down the brush, and walked outside with the cat. Setting him down in the basket, she lifted the latch, and headed off on her bike. Waving at Neji when she pulled up beside him.

"Where are you headed off to?" he asked, jogging slightly.

"To the Uchiha's."

"Why?" he looked at her strangely.

She motioned her head to the cat in the basket. "Kisame's new home, I hope."

"Good luck," he stopped.

"Thanks, Neji!" she called over her shoulder.

Her confidence drained rather quickly once she'd pulled up to the compound. She parked her bike, and glanced around. The shingles were patchy, most of them looked like they needed replaced. One of the inner walls was caving in. Picking up the cat, she gulped, feeling nervous now. "What the heck are you doing here?" a voice asked, and she jumped at the sudden noise.

"Um..I was supposed to be meeting with your brother.." she mumbled slightly.

"Come on then." he waved his hand, and led her inside one of the houses. Relief came, at the tell - tales signs of this section being better kept. He motioned to a cushion, inside the door, and she removed her shoes, setting them down, before kneeling down. "What's with the cat?" he asked, sitting down himself.

"Kisame's why I'm here."

"Kisame?"

"The cat?" she tried.

"Oh, that's it name?"

"Yeah," she laughed.

"Why Kisame?"

"That was his name when I got him."

"His?"

"Male cat."

"Oh."

"Yeah.." she sweatdropped.

"Oh shit!" he jumped up then, and dashed into what she assumed was the kitchen. Apparently her guess wasn't far off, as he soon returned, to toss out the burnt remains of..well, something anyway.

"Sorry.."

"For what? I can't cook very well anyway." he shrugged.

"Want me to make something?"

"You cook?"

"Yep."

"Sure if you want."

She set down the cat, and he followed after. "What do you have?"

"Beef, lots of spices, some mystery dish from last thursday, and veggies. Oh and rice."

"Okay then.." she laughed, and rolled up her sleeves. She washed her hands, pulled out the goods, and a skillet. Heat up the stove, spice the meat. A little oil to speed up cooking, while waiting on rice in the cooker. Soy sauce in, a little ginger, and wait for it to cook. Mix it all together when done, and serve on rice or in seperate bowls.

"Done!" she set it down before him. He cracked apart his chopsticks, and tasted a small bite.

"It's good!" he began to eat.

"Yay." she smiled.

He smirked. "But you made too much.."

"Well, maybe your brother will eat the leftovers. Or you could have it for lunch sometime."

"You sound like a mom.."

"Sorry.."

"Nah, it's kinda nice. Wierd, but nice." he laughed.

"I bet Sakura would be really mad if she found out though." she laughed, and he choked slightly.

"Don't tell her.." he managed to say, once he'd swallowed again.

"Like anyone would believe I cooked for the Sasuke Uchiha?" she giggled.

"True." he smirked.

"Hey!"

"How come you never talk this much in school?"

She paled slightly. "Uh..I don't..know." she stumbled.

"You're lying." he frowned.

"Who would I even talk to?" her tone hardened slightly.

"Me?"

"To be fair, when have you tried either?" she asked quietly.

"I..didn't." he admitted, after thinking about it for awhile.

"I get people - shy at school.." she sighed.

"Why?"

"I really don't want to talk about that.."

"Why not?"

"It's a really bad memory. Ever had some?"

"Several." his tone was icy.

"I'm sorry.." she whispered.

"Stop saying sorry, when you didn't do anything to be sorry for," his tone warmed up.

"Okay."

"Wow, it's late." he glanced at the clock.

"Holy crap! Eleven o' clock?"

He chuckled.

"Obviously." a quiet voice spoke from the shadows.

"Itachi.." the younger uchiha soured.

"Sasuke.." the other gave a nod, before turning to ask. "Did you bring the cat?"

"Kisame?" a mew at her feet, revealed the blue cat. He bent down, to scratch behind it's ears, earning a happy, rumbling purr that filled the room. She laughed.

"Is that his name?" Itachi asked.

"Yes." she nodded. "Well...his full registered name is Kisame Hoshigaki."

"Registered?"

"He came with papers."

"Papers?"

"He's a purebred cat."

"What were you requesting for him then?"

"I just want him to have a good home."

"Surely that can't be all."

"He has a new collar. There's a leash, and, new food and water dished inside the carrier."

"Carrier?"

"For if you happen to need it." she walked out to her bike, and handed it to him.

"Oh."

"Well, take care of him please."

"We will." he nodded.

"Goodnight." she bowed, and got on her bike. A rumble of thunder sounded, just as she pulled up the brake. "Oh great..." she groaned.

"You better hurry.." Sasuke told her, eyeing the sky.

"Nah. I'll end up getting caught anyway."

"How far away are you?" he raised his brow.

"About twelve blocks, or so."

"Twelve?!"

She shrugged. "See ya in school." she called over her shoulder.

"Yeah, see ya.."

She hurriedly shut the door closed behind her, while scrambling to lose her layers of soaked clothing. She ran for the towels, and a basket, before drying herself off. Picking up her clothes, she tossed them in the washer. "Great,..bloody muddy mess I made.." she sighed, and scrubbed the floor. Then, into the tub to get warmed up. Dried her hair, and off to bed she went. Only the sound of several protesting mews, got her up out of the covers again.

A dozing orange fluffball on the end of her bed, revealed it was another, and she began to look around for the culprit of the mewls. Only when she went downstairs, did she open the door, to three very familiar, and very wet cats. She grabbed the towels, and rubbed them dry. Heated up the gravy food mix, and set it before all three, and blanketed two beds for them to share. The smaller bed, was claimed by a , now - content, white cat. The second, claimed by a blue, and dark orange pair.

"May I go to bed now, Leader - sama?" she asked the orange cat, last to fall asleep as usual. One mew, and a dip of head, she took that for a yes. Walking back to her bedroom, she crawled back under the covers, just before an equally extausted fluffball, curled up on her stomach, purring away. She fell asleep to the sound of it's rumbles echoing off the wall.