Well, I'm finally back. I felt terrible about not writing a little kakiru piece for Christmas last year so vowed to put up something, no matter how rubbish, this year. I was so happy to see people STILL reading "Actions Speak Louder". Thank you all for your kind remarks - they are treasured. Merry Christmas everyone!
The Night Before Christmas
The ninja crossed the room yet again, a path almost worn on the wooden floor from the window to the sofa. It had been a week. A week since his boyfriend had left on a mission and there had been no word of him since. A week since he had started pacing the floor of his apartment until he became so tired he fell asleep on the sofa. A week since he had seen his bed and been useful for anything other than the most basic of tasks.
The pacing ninja finally stopped sat down heavily on the worn sofa, his head in his hands. After a while he drew a piece of paper from his pocket. A piece of paper that had been read and re-read so many times that the creases were worn almost transparent and the edges were tattered and frayed. Unfolding it yet again the ninja scanned the words for what must have been the hundredth time.
Love,
Have to go on a mission. Sucks I know. Won't take long. I should be back the week before Christmas. Take care while I'm gone. Love you!
Your koibito
And now it was Christmas Eve. The night before Christmas. And he was alone.
A knock at the door which the brooding figure on the couch ignored. There was no-one in the village he could bring himself to see right now.
Another knock more insistent this time. Sighing the ninja stood slowly and tramped to the door. The sooner he dealt with it the sooner he'd be left in peace. Opening the door revealed a shivering Naruto, a light dusting of snow covering his shoulders. He realized he hadn't even known it was snowing.
"Sensei," Naruto spoke first always impatient, "Any news?"
His teacher silently shook his head.
"I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything you know that."
"Want me to stay with you?"
"Thank you but no. I'll be fine." He couldn't bear the company right now.
Naruto nodded in understanding and without another word turned back into the night.
The ninja stood silently in the doorway watching the snow fall in a silent world. Silence. Is that all he would have in his life from now on?
"Love. Where are you?"
"Kakashi?"
The ninja in the doorway looked up. There in the street was the sight he had longed for for what had seemed like an eternity. A figure so well known he could have replicated him in any medium from memory alone. Strong, tanned, rich brown hair always in a pony-tail – the only person in the village he wanted to see this night.
"Iruka?"
Without another word the man in the street lunged for the doorway and flung himself into the arms of his waiting boyfriend throwing them both back into the apartment. Snow from Iruka's hair and shoulders fell from him as powder as he grabbed the neck of the silver-haired man in front of him to pull him into a deep kiss.
"How long have you been waiting here, Kakashi?" he asked finally, breathless and grinning.
Kakashi grinned back. "Forever."
Laughing, Iruka attacked his lips again.
"Merry Christmas Kakashi."