Okay, since this is my blog and I've got nothing better to entertain you guys with, I shall post up any of my NaruSaku works. Suffer!
Anyway, I just posted this on my Did I Tell You thread. Got any drabble ideas for me, go there (well,
Children
“Gum.”
“I would prefer ‘pretty’.”
“Gum.”
“You’re making ‘pink’ sound very desirable, Akiko.”
The child tugged insistently on Sakura’s hair as she tried to change the two year old’s nappy. “Gum!”
“Gee,” the jounin said wryly, “you are Ino’s kid after all. There – all done!” She picked up Akiko and sat her on the counter. Big blue eyes goggled at her. Sakura resisted the urge to squeal “Kawaii!” and suffocate the adorable thing.
“Mama,” Akiko said, frowning at her babysitter.
“Your mother is working with your daddy on a project, Akiko.” Sakura casually made a shadow clone to watch the child while she poked around the discarded toys in the kitchen’s playpen. For some reason, she didn’t think Akiko Nara should be allowed possession of a rattle; the kid was too enthusiastic. The fact that a jounin’s shadow clone was having difficulties holding back a two year old child from crawling onto the nearest chair was enough supporting evidence.
“Look what I’ve got?” Sakura asked a moment later. Her clone disappeared with a relieved sigh as Akiko was handed back to her rightful temporary guardian.
“Dolly!” Akiko shrieked, grappling for the fluffy thing in Sakura’s hand.
“Okay, okay,” the pink-haired woman laughed, releasing her hold on the desired item. “I swear, you got more out of Ino’s genes than you should have. Her spitting image, too.”
Ever the intelligent little girl, Akiko stopped hassling her toy at the mention of her mother’s name. She stared at Sakura so intently that the jounin raised an eyebrow. Then she pointed at Sakura’s face. “Not Mama.”
“No, I’m not your mama,” Sakura agreed. “I suppose the hair colour is a bit of a giveaway, huh?”
She realised shortly that she should not have mentioned the word ‘hair’. The deer doll was promptly abandoned as Akiko resumed her previous interest. Sakura sighed as she gently tugged her long hair away from a curious mouth.
Akiko pouted. “Gum,” she whined.
Ino, you sooo owe me one.
“I think your hair is pretty.”
Sakura turned just as Akiko – finally – abandoned chewing her hair in favour of greeting the newcomer. “’Rata!” she gurgled. “’Rata!”
“Hello, Arata,” Sakura smiled. “Finished showering?”
“I don’t think I cleaned myself properly,” he answered. His height made him the perfect target for some Akiko hair-tugging, but he ignored it. Apparently, brother and sister went through this quite often. “I couldn’t scrub my back because you weren’t there, Sakura.”
“I haven’t done that since you were four,” she chuckled. “I’m sure you’ll be hitting the age where you start thinking that girls give you cooties soon. You won’t like me so much after that.”
“Yeah I will,” he said stubbornly. “I’ll like you no matter what.”
Sakura relieved his hair of their spiky freedom as she picked up Akiko and deposited the child in the playpen. “That’s sweet, Arata, but don’t make promises you can’t keep. Can you watch over your sister for me while I wash the dishes? Thanks.”
He looked reluctant. “I want to help,” he began, but his sister obviously had other ideas. “Ow! Aki, cut it out! OW! Not the bangs, Aki! Not the bangs!”
Sakura smiled at the sight. Although he was six years her elder, Arata and Akiko made a cute sibling pair. In fact, since the both of them took on the appearances of their parents’ younger selves, it was almost like watching Ino tease Shikamaru all over again.
To think that Ino was the first to have kids…
“I’ll help.”
She looked down. “Hmm? Arata?” She chuckled. “Untangled yourself already? Do you need to wash your hair again?”
His cheeks flushed, but only for a moment. He was tall for a boy his age and didn’t even have to get onto his tiptoes to reach the sink. “I’ll help,” he said again, tugging the sponge out of her hand.
“It’s alright. I can get it done a lot faster than you.”
“Yeah,” he answered, grinning. “But I don’t want your hands to get all rough.”
Sakura laughed and relented, wiping her hands on a paper towel. “Who taught you that line?”
“No one. But really, your hands are so pretty everyone would want to keep them that way.”
She started giggling. “Haha… you’re good, Arata!”
He looked very proud of himself. “Sakura?”
“Mm?” A quick glance ensured that, through the suffering of her surrounding toys, Akiko was kept happy and entertained.
“Do you like me?”
She blinked, then laughed again. “Of course I like you.” She ruffled his hair affectionately. “You’re my best friend’s son. I’ve watched you all your life. I love you.”
Dishes were forgotten as Arata grinned widely. “That’s good, ‘cause I like you too.”
“You cute little thing.” Sakura leaned over a dropped a casual kiss on the top of his head, not noticing that the boy had turned a triumphant beetroot red. She looked over the counter at Akiko. “Hm, I’d better rescue Ino’s flowers – even if they are fake.” Just as she was going to walk away, a small hand grabbed hers and pulled her back. “Huh? Arata? What’s wrong?”
He hesitated, and put on a convincing smile. “Why don’t you marry me?”
She patted his head. “You’ve been saying that since you were five, Arata,” she said teasingly. “Don’t you get bored of it?”
“Yeah, but this time I’m serious!”
After a short pause, she bent down to his eye level. “How serious?”
He fumbled. “I-I really like you because you’re so nice and you’re really pretty… Aki likes you too!”
“Mm hmm. And do you like Akiko, Arata?”
He was surprised by the question, but the genes of Shikamaru’s brilliant mind had not yet awakened and Arata suspected nothing. “She keeps trying to eat my hair, and when I want to practice my target training in the yard Mom and Dad always makes me look after her. But when she’s not trying to be annoying she’s alright.”
Sakura nodded. “Then why don’t you ask Akiko to marry you?”
“She’s my sister!” he sputtered.
She raised an eyebrow. “And you think someone who is three times older than you is much better?”
“Yes!” He tugged on her hand. “Marry me!”
“Persistent little thing, aren’t you?” Sakura chuckled. She straightened, looking down at him. “Sorry, Arata, but I don’t think your parents would approve.”
“So?” he asked stubbornly. “I don’t care what they think.”
“Do you care about what the Hokage thinks? I doubt the leader of the village would be very happy either.”
For the first time, Arata’s certainty slipped. “What’s that got to do with anything?”
“Um… did I tell you I have a boyfriend?”
“Yeah. So?”
“My boyfriend is-” Sakura’s head snapped around as she heard voices at the front door. It sounded like Shikamaru was home, accompanied by… she turned back to Arata and gave him a small smile. “We’ll talk about this later. Look after your sister,” she called over her shoulder as she walked away.
He was in the lounge room. A bright smile split his face when he saw her leaning against the door frame. Shikamaru paused in his sentence and glanced over. He rolled his eyes as Naruto gave him a pleading look. “Fine, fine,” he grumbled. “You have my permission.”
Naruto whooped and a moment later, Sakura found herself off the ground, held up by his strong arms, her hands resting on his shoulders. He lowered her slightly and nuzzled her cheek. “Did you miss me?” he whispered, his eyes glittering.
“No.” But she was smiling.
He looked hurt. “No?” He set her carefully on her feet and gave her the puppy dog face. “And here I thought I’d come home with Shikamaru to pick you up…” He glanced at where his old friend was shaking his head. “You’re not having an affair with him while Ino’s still working with Ibiki, are you?”
“What?” she laughed, slapping his shoulder. “No!”
“Really?”
“Really.”
That was cue enough for him to start moistening his lips. “So…”
Sakura lowered her head to hide her blush. “Ask Shikamaru,” she mumbled.
Naruto grinned. “Oi, Shikamaru! Clearance for level two?”
To his credit, Shikamaru actually had to think about it. Being a father had changed him in more ways than extra mutterings of more duties. “Yeah, whatever,” he shrugged finally. “Not when Ino’s here, though. She’ll start complaining about how unromantic I am.”
But his friends weren’t listening. They were a bit busy figuring out what the other had for lunch.
Too bad it only lasted a few seconds.
Naruto jerked away and started hopping on the spot. “Ow!” he complained. Sakura blinked in surprise. She was quite certain that she hadn’t bit his lip, let alone his foot. Her confusion was dissipated when Naruto looked down and glared. “What was that for, gaki?”
“Stupid blondie!” Arata shouted.
“What?! What did you just call me?”
“I’ll be the next Hokage, just you watch! Then Sakura will be mine!”
Naruto blinked and glanced at his girlfriend. “Huh?” But he was quickly distracted by a kick to the shins. “Arghh! Shikamaru!”
“Tch. So troublesome…”
-
“Ohhhh… is that what happened?”
“Yes.” Sakura nudged the man beside her good-naturedly. “You have competition, Lord Hokage.”
“Pah! I won’t lose out to some kid! You’re mine, Sakura! Mine!” He grabbed for her before she could dodge away. A squeal escaped Sakura’s lips as she found herself in Naruto’s arms, the one hand holding up her legs fluttering away at her ticklish spot.
“Ah! Stop it!” she laughed. “That tickles!”
It went on for another minute, and by then the couple had already disturbed a whole block of disgruntled sleepers. “Sorry!” Naruto grinned as he passed each curious face that poked out of the houses they passed. “My wife was a little naughty!”
“I am not your wife, Uzumaki!”
He chuckled. Then he leaned down close to her face and murmured, “But you are mine, Sakura Haruno.”
She latched her arms around his neck. “Only if you can keep me,” she whispered in his ear.
His laughter rumbled in his chest. Sakura nestled contently in his arms. The evening was perfect.
“Hey… Naruto?”
“Hmm?”
“If – and I mean if…” Sakura blushed. “If we had a child, do you want it to be a boy or a girl?”
He kissed her forehead. “Tonight?” he asked mischievously.
“N-No! Just… just answer the question!”
“… Girl. Definitely a girl.”
Glory? Wow... GLORY... Ahem, I mean... I don't mind a little glory.... 
