I don't know what it is about christmas, (I LOVE IT!) but I wanted to write a fic about it. Holidays bring out the best in all of us.
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Warmth flooded Haruno Sakura's home, drifting through the various rooms and wrapping around her comfortingly like a silken blanket. This gentle heat flowed freely from the open fire in the living room, and paired with the scent of freshly baked cinnamon cookies, the whole house felt deliciously inviting. The fire crackled every once in a while, spitting a blazing golden spark into the air, and Sakura lay reclined on the braided rug before the fire, watching it twist with half closed eyes. Her eyelids fluttered lightly, and she shifted and sighed, contentedly resigning to the wave of sleep overpowering her. She had just finished decorating her house for the upcoming christmas party, and needless to say, she'd gone all out. The immediate impression of a guest entering her home would surely be one of awe; for Sakura never did anything in a half-assed sort of way.
The front hall was adorned with classy gold and silver streamers that swept across the vaulted ceiling and wrapped around the sloping banisters, as well as hanging gracefully from every doorway. The gold and silver glinted in the pale sun that shone through huge windows, and emitted rays of rainbow sparkles in the air and on the walls; brightening the hall's appearance.
Next came the snowflakes. Strung up expertly from the ceiling, door frames and walls, the delicately crafted paper flakes hung suspended by clear thread, giving a true magical feeling to the air. She'd spent hours carefully cutting them, making each unique and perfect to a fault. This was an old trick of her mothers that she'd learned long ago. When Sakura was little, she remembered her mother cutting round pieces of paper to replicate the most delicate snowflake, and stringing them up with clear fishline, so it appeared to be floating. She remembered giggling and smiling in wonder, as her mother wrapped her up in a warm embrace. These snowflakes brought back wonderful memories. However, the adornments didn't stop there. Strings of popcorn snaked around every green branch in sight, and softly shimmering white christmas lights wound around the banister and stairway. Candles (white and silver in color) lay set upon a select few surfaces throughout the house; and finally, small bunches of mistletoe hung from each door frame, and holly wreathes and wraps covered every surface imaginable, completing the look.
Every room had been subject to this holiday-ization, with the additional festive blankets and quilts, and decorative snowmen, of course; and every room contained a tray of cookies, chocolate, or candy-canes; which Sakura assumed Chouji and Naruto would appreciate.
And of course, she didn't forget the tree.
A tall spruce towered in the family room, brushing the high ceiling with it's top needles. It was covered by glass baubles of every color imaginable, strung with tinsel and hung with assorted family ornaments. Sakura had spent some time perfecting the tree, and it looked very majestic, truth be told.
However, best of all was the overall feeling given off by the house. The colors in each room consisted of deep, warm, reds, soft browns and the occasional burnt orange or matching dark pink tones, accented by plush, creamy off-white pillows. Every spot accessible to the eye held colors of the warmest range, overwhelming the beholder with the relaxing sense of comfort. The teasing cinnamon smell added to it's simple charm, delighting the nose with each whiff; yet not overpowering it. The decorations evoked delightful feelings of contentment when looked at, for when can christmas decorations fail to impress?
In short, Sakura had turned the almost empty mansion into a cozy, winter-wonderland for the holidays.
Sakura slept late into the evening, curled tightly on the braided rug, and covered by a small blanket. It wasn't until the fading sun began to set, that she stirred and showed signs of waking. Blinking from the deep orange rays streaming from the windows, she rose to sit up and rub her face blearily, yawning the last of her exhaustion away. She stretched out her arms, reaching up to the ceiling and sighing in relief, happy to feel the ache fade from her muscles. She rose, and still draped in a blanket, pattered to the window-side and peered out, watching deep blue take the sun's place for the night.
Gently, tiny snowflakes drifted from the sky, whirling and playing about in the frigid breeze before landing on the frosted grass. Time passed, and the flakes grew bigger and bigger, until they reached the size of large coins. Sakura merely gazed at their beauty and breathed in deeply, loving the cinnamon scent of her home.
She loved Christmas, because it meant only the best of things. Her friends always visited her house for the yearly party, and because of the general holiday cheer, hardly any fights sprung up. Of course, there was the occasional drunken brawl, but nothing serious had happened yet. Something about the holiday season gave her such a wonderful, fulfilling feeling, no matter how things had gone in the previous months. The holidays are often portrayed as a time for universal cheer and goodwill, and they are often mocked for their overdone cheesiness; yet for Sakura, the happiness was genuine. She adored everything about the holidays, from the gentle snowfalls and raging blizzards, to friends, decorations and food. She smiled a huge smile, full of blushed cheeks and shining eyes. She really did love this time of year.
The holidays bring endless possibilities for each and every one of us, even if we are blind to them, she thought bemusedly.
Hyuga Neji, perhaps, being one of those possibilities. Sakura and Neji had grown increasingly closer to one another since Sasuke's departure, and Naruto's three year absence. Quite a few years had passed, and Sakura was now nineteen years old, and Neji was twenty.
They fit each other well as friends, and each felt comfortable in the perfect silence they often shared together. Sakura, of course, hadn't yet begun to see Neji as anything besides a close confidante, but unbeknownst to her, Neji was currently thinking very hard about said Kunoichi.
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Perhaps I should go see if she needs help decorating for the party; after all, her house is quite large, and I'm sure she wouldn't say no to an extra hand.
"Hrumph." Neji shifted on his wicker chair, setting his chin upon his hand. He glanced casually out the window, glaring at the steady snowfall. If he went to visit her, he'd have to trudge through the frigid temperatures and biting snowflakes. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy the snow, in fact, he loved it; but he still didn't revel in the fact he'd have to brave the winter weather for the few miles walk to see her. (He wasn't lazy either, it was just his silly excuse, a hesitation, because perhaps he was worried about where his thoughts were taking him concerning a certain pink haired girl.)
Of course he'd go visit her, and offer assistance. They were close friends, after all. Even if she didn't need his help, they could enjoy each other's company.
He pushed himself off of his chair, and pulled on a heavier coat he'd hung over the back of it. Grabbing the keys, he headed for the door and stepped out into the snow, still falling serenely as ever, and turned the key in the lock behind him. He began walking, his black boots crunching in the fresh snow, leaving compacted prints behind him. He had to admit, there was something very charming and mystic about walking in the snowfall alone. It had turned into to a rather thick snow, and everything in sight was glazed over by fresh powder. The air, occasionally split by a passing whip of wind, remained still and quiet, undisturbed by any other signs of life. The sky, covered by gray clouds, was turning dark as the sun set on the horizon.
It really was quite breathtaking.
He walked down a lane framed by icy trees, which held piles of snow balanced precariously on their trembling branches. Everything was white. For a while he enjoyed the serenity, before the cold began to assault his face and nose especially.
A few more minutes and I should be there, he thought, pulling his coat collar up as far as it could go. After a few more minutes of walking, he sighted her house. Well, it appears she has yet to decorate the outside, he half smiled, remembering last year's fantastical decorations. It had looked very much like the local holiday shop had exploded onto her front lawn; but in a good way. She had made it look beautiful, as only Sakura could.
He reached the front door, and knocked tentatively, shuffling his feet in the cold snow and looking about. The door opened, to reveal a warm cheeked Sakura, mug of cocoa in hand, and still wrapped in a peach-colored blanket.
"Neji! You're back!" Sakura said his name with only the slightest emphasis, trying to hide the slight shock she felt. Huh, who would have expected a visit from him in this weather? Neji wasn't known to make house calls in the freezing weather of December, whether to a close friend or mere acquaintance. Nevertheless, she smiled and motioned the shivering boy to step in, which he did.
Immediately he felt glad he came, as the cozy heat wrapped itself around him, nudging away the edgy cold of the snow. After handing her his coat, which she promptly hung up, he spoke.
"Hello Sakura, I hope I haven't disturbed you?"
She shook her head. "Of course not. I just started baking another batch of cookies. I'll have to start dinner at some point, but, as it is, I'm a little behind schedule because I fell asleep for a couple hours, I was so exhausted."
"Oh?" Neji looked at her curiously.
"Yea," she breathed, laughing a little. "I just finished decorating everything here." She motioned her arm around, pointing to all her hard labour.
Neji looked up at the house in awe. She's done a beautiful job. Well, so much for helping her decorate.
"It looks magnificent, Sakura. I actually came to see if you needed any help with this, but I see you've managed quite well on your own," he said in his rich voice, admiring the streamers.
"Well, you can help me make cookies, if you like. Either way, I'm sure you want some hot cocoa, right? You look half frozen." She walked into the kitchen, and Neji followed.
Scents of cinnamon and chocolate bombarded his nose, and he suddenly felt a mug of swirling hot cocoa shoved into his hands.
"Thank you." He sipped the drink, delighted by the dark, chocolatey flavor that cocoa often has.
"Should I put on music?" Sakura gestured to the radio.
Neji shook his head. "No, I prefer the quiet. There'll be enough music at the party, if I remember correctly from last year."
Why am I here again? To decorate? It's funny how things never go the way I plan them to. He watched Sakura deftly roll out sugar cookie dough to a thin sheet, before she pulled out a round cookie cutter and began stabbing the dough with it. He had to admit, she put spark into everything she did; and that was definitely something he admired about her. What he saw now was a strong and confident Kunoichi; one who had grown tremendously over the years, and one who still cared about those she loved. She'd become so much more confident of herself since Sasuke left, and become quite the powerful and proficient medical ninja. He vaguely wondered how much she thought about Sasuke anymore, and if he occupied her thoughts at all.
He continued observing her cookie work, and felt thankful that they could be comfortably together in silence. He then looked at her, dressed in a dark green shirt and black pants, her hair (still short) hanging loosely around her face. He let his thoughts wander a bit, and just watched her.
"How was your mission?" She looked up momentarily, glancing at his face.
"Everything played out well, no casualties, very few injuries."
"A success?"
"Yes. It was a simple assignment, though I am prohibited to tell you anything about it, unfortunately."
"And quite short as well, you were only gone-"
"A few days, yes."
She smiled, and marveled at his coolness. He was quite a talented Ninja, but to complete a mission in a few days- it must have been class C or something!
They chatted casually about friends, teachers, and life in their village, along with Ninja tactics of course; but for the most part, there reigned a calm, comfortable silence of two people simply enjoying the other's company.
He sat, and she worked until she completed her task and set the cookies to bake in the oven. She wiped her brow with her palm and sighed.
"Let's go into the family room, it's warmer there." She disappeared from view, and Neji slowly again got up and followed her, finally choosing a seat next to her on the plush brown couch she settled on. She had a book in hand and had pulled a blanket over herself, and seemed quite content. She looked over at him.
"You can pick a book out if you want, you know." She nodded to a mahogany bookcase in the corner, piled full of colorfully bound books of all sizes.
He shook his head.
"Fine then, I hope you don't mind if I read for a bit." With those words, she leaned back against the cushions with a contented sigh, and dove into her book.
The corners of his mouth twitched upwards in the slightest smile, before asking in a questioning, serious tone;
"Sakura, what do you think Christmas will bring us this year?" He turned to look her expression as it shifted in thought.
"Something, I hope. Something good. Christmas always seems to do that, don't you think?" She looked at his face as the firelight flickered upon his pure skin, framed by long dark hair.
"I suppose." He took a sip of cocoa.
"Honestly I don't know what will happen this year, but it feels kind of special." Smiling, she turned back to her book.
Hours passed between the two, silent and comfortable. The snow still fell in swirling flakes across Konoha, and the temperature had dipped even lower with the sun's absence.
After a bit, Neji turned and looked out the window.
"Sakura, I think perhaps I should be getting home, " he said, waiting for her to speak.
No response.
He turned around to see that she'd fallen fast asleep.
She really must be exhausted, he mused. He watched her for a moment, and then carefully reached out and slipped the book (so appropriately titled Chances,) from her hands and placed it on the cushion next to her. Oh so gently, he then picked up the corners of the blanket to tuck them around her shoulders.
I've stayed too long, and she hasn't even eaten yet. He frowned. Well, I'm not going to wake her up, she's clearly too tired to even stay awake at the moment, so I'll leave a note, I suppose. He noticed a few sheets of note paper perched on the corner of the half-wall dividing the kitchen and family room, so he took up a pen from the table and walked over to collect the paper. Hastily scribbling a note of thanks, he placed it in upon the table in front of the couch.
He glanced at her one more time before heading for the door and collecting his coat from the closet, then finally edged out into the freezing weather.
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About twenty minutes later, Sakura awoke with a start, and a rushed apology to Neji for drifting off like that. She scanned the room, even going so far as getting up to knock on the bathroom door to see if he was still in there; but he was not. Sighing, she strode back to her couch and finally noticed the small piece of paper neatly folded on the table. Reaching over, she carefully unfolded it and read the small, yet neat handwriting:
Sakura,
Thank you for everything, it's very good to see you, you know.
I'm sorry I stayed so long, and caused you to miss dinner, but I'm glad we had the chance to spend a little time together.
I hope you don't think it rude for me to take off without saying goodbye, but you looked too peaceful to disturb.
See you in a couple days at the party.
-Neji
Sakura smiled, suppressing a small giggle. He's so formal sometimes! Sakura placed the note back on the table, and got up to walk over to the window. Peering out, she again contented herself to watch the snow fall gently on the trees and surrounding land, while she leaned against the glass in thought.
It's nice to see him again. I know we met just a couple weeks ago for lunch, but still, it's always nice to see him, especially to know everything went well with his recent mission.
I'm glad he came today, but I wish he'd woken me up! I am a ninja, I can stand to lose a little sleep. She shifted a little, moving her feet around and pulling the blanket closer. So I didn't eat any dinner, no matter! I'll make up for it tenfold at the party, I always do..
Sakura smiled again, though very softly this time, and closed her eyes, drifting off into wonders and expectations of what this year's Christmas would bring.
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Walking home, Neji shoved his hands in his pockets, mulling over his day as he trudged back home in the bitter cold.
It was good to see her again, he thought, while looking down at his plodding feet.
Suddenly he smiled, recalling her optimistic answer to his question.
"Sakura, what do you think christmas will bring us this year?"
"Something, I hope. Something good. Christmas always seems to do that, don't you think?"
-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e--e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e--e-e-e-e-e-e-e
Next: The party
After that.. you'll see
Sorry, I love the holidays.
-ai