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Something about it just made my heart skip a beat when I first laid eyes on him.

The little brown bear cub had just been sitting there on my porch, wailing in what sounded like a sad, fearful call for his mother. But neither the bear cub nor I heard any reply from my dead side of the village. He looked so alone there, shivering and crying in the clouded natural light dimly beaming down on the grey of the peeling houses surrounding him.

Finally deciding that he was put on my porch for a reason other than to bite me to pieces, I stepped out from my hiding spot in the thin alleyway between two houses across from mine. Immediately the cub raised his head to meet my gaze. I froze, afraid to move should he start galloping towards me. When he remained in his spot, I slowly walked to him, holding my hand out before me.

The cub tilted his head to one side as I approached, finally close enough for him to eat my hand off. But I kept still. I could hear my brain screaming at my body, "WHAT THE HECK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING YOUNG LADY THIS THING IS CAPABLE OF TOTALLY DEMOLISHING YOUR HAND YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO WRITE OR PAINT AGAIN AND THERE IS NO POINT IN GIVING UP YOUR HAND AS A SACRIFICE TO A WILD BEAR CUB-"

But my body was either not listening or had too many things being thrown at it. The bear cub reached out and sniffed my hand cautiously, before stepping down the three steps and walking towards my legs. I froze in terror and curiosity. He didn't have the look of a killer on his face.

Indeed, he didn't devour me, but instead rubbed around my legs in a loving manner. I reached down to pet his head, to find that the fur was still quite soft and not yet matted and thick as it would be after a few years of living in the wild.

Before I knew it, the cub was in my home guzzling milk out of the bowl I had laid down for him. I admired his fluffy fur enveloping his body, those dark eyes and snout, the tiny claws on each paw. A masterpiece of nature.

But how the heck did he get on my porch?!?

A knock startled me out of my thoughts and the cub from his drinking. I pet his head reassuringly before running to answer the door. Behind it stood the usual grim-faced Sasuke. His thin but muscular frame blocked the light from entering my narrow doorway, and his presence reminded me that I was still in my pajama bottoms. I blushed as I greeted him, hoping those deep grey/black eyes wouldn't notice. Maybe he wants another painting session, I thought. And then chills of nervousness ran up and down my spine. He can't see the bear cub!

"Good afternoon, Sasuke..." I managed out. "Did you need something?"

As he nodded his eyes traveled behind me into my house. "I wanted to let you know that the gift you received earlier was from me. I hope you like and accept it."

...I got a bear cub as a gift?

I let him walk past me inside and shut the door. It was nice of him to think of me, but how am I supposed to care for a wild animal?

As if hearing my thoughts, he turned to face me as he said, "The bear cub can be trained to be your 'familiar' if you will. He is loyal, trustworthy, and will eventually be a strong companion to help fight in battle with you. You can even direct your chakra through him so that he grows in strength. I was hoping we could care for it together until that time."

His face was unreadable as always, but I thought for a second I saw in his eyes a shimmer of hopeful happiness. The pale skin reflected all light that fell upon him, causing the room to glow. I turned to the bear behind him, still lapping at the milk. A large puddle had formed on the floor. I realized I was going to need help with him... So I nodded, smiling back at Sasuke. "Thank you for offering to help. It is much appreciated."

He nodded, looking out the window to the pebbly street. "Good. I have purchased the house down the street for travel purposes, so we don't have to go back and forth across the village to help with the bear. I'll be moving in this week."

Wow. He really must care about this bear if he's even moving house for it. I admired his compassion and consideration. "Thank you for helping me so much... What is his name?"

"That is for you to decide," he said, staring unblinkingly into my eyes.

I stared at the floor hard, hurrying to think of a name to prevent him from waiting any longer at my house. "Umm... Does Gyunyu sound alright? I think the name fits him accordingly, seeing his love of milk." I giggled at the cub licking the milk up off the floor.

Sasuke still stared at me unceasingly. Did I choose a bad name?

"It does fit him perfectly. Gyunyu it is."