Merry Christmas and welcome to my first Christmas fanfiction in a long, long while. Not too much should be lost in translation, here, as I tried to disclude too much backstory. You know, to avoid confusion. If you're curious: Kaia and Naruto became friends before he left to train with Jiraiya. The idea was that there was a serial killer in Konoha though the story gets a little vague after that. I will rewrite it, someday. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this little ficlet. NarutoxOC 1635 words, a quick challenge to myself to work on fluff. Also to work on playing Itachi and Naruto and other such characters. Enjoy enjoy enjoy and Merry Christmas!
Kaia gasped as snowball made contact. Ice splattered across her face and she squinted her eye shut, freezing in place. Slowly she turned to find the source of her pain. With one cheek a dangerous rosy pink and a glare deep in her eyes, she caught sight of a familiar blonde bounding away from her. With a fury (for Hell hath no fury like a woman hit by a snowball), Kaia clenched her fists and went running after Naruto. Her boots crunched through the snow easily, though her pants got a bit wet around the tops of them. Growling, she pummeled through the snow and into the surrounding woods, following Naruto's footprints.
She didn't even bother to shout after him. She couldn't find the words to contain her frustration. How dare he? A snowball? Of all the childish things- they were seventeen, for crying out loud! The very nerve of some people.
So angry was she, Kaia didn't even notice the tree branch jutting out in front of her.
As if the indignity of being hit by a snowball wasn't enough! Now she could feel the bruise welling up on her forehead, and a little trickle of blood. Growling, she sat up from the impact and closed her eyes in anguish.
"This, is ridiculous." She growled, smacking her head with her palm.
"A little. Mostly you look ridiculous!"
Kaia's eyes snapped open at the blonde teen's joke.
"You-" she started, pointing her hand at him.
Naruto's face immediately became serious as he frowned. "Ouch, you got hit pretty hard, huh?"
"Uh, yeah, I got hit by a branch-"
"You ran into the branch, Kaia-"
"Words. Don't correct me- you are in deep trouble Naruto!" she was about to berate him more when he reached forward and touched the small cut on her forehead. "Ow-"
"Sorry," he smiled a little, licking his thumb and wiping the blood off her forehead. "I guess that's kinda my fault huh?"
"Kinda," she blushed and looked away. She looked back at him quickly when he suddenly grabbed her wrists and started tugging her up from her seat in the snow. She blinked at him as he continued holding her wrists, just grinning at her. She frowned at him, her brows furrowing. "What's so great that's got you all smiley? Still happy about hitting me with a snowball?"
Her fury renewed she was about to start yelling at him again when he shut her up with a little peck on the lips. He pouted at her.
"Come on- don't be so angry all the time. You'll get wrinkles." He teased, swinging her wrists in front of them.
"I'm not angry all the time. Just right now." She copied his pout, turning her face so he saw her pink cheek. He made a face and she turned back to him, looking a bit triumphant. "Good. Pity me."
Naruto rolled his eyes and dusted some of the ice and dirt particles off her cheek. "Naw, but I feel a little bad for hitting you with that snowball now,"
"Just a little? Lookit me, I'm all wet from falling in the snow!"
"But that was your fault," Naruto pointed out, making Kaia frown dangerously. "But I started it by hitting you with the snowball." Looking appeased, Kaia nodded and Naruto let out a sigh of relief. "Anyway, I wanted to get your attention."
Kaia rolled her eyes. "You couldn't have shouted?"
Naruto shook his head, "Not as creative. Come with me-" he turned and tugged her along after him, slipping his hand into hers.
Her cold fingers immediately warmed as they intertwined with his- how did he manage to keep his body heat up? He was only wearing his usual get up and winter ninja boots. She, on the other hand, was wearing a warm winter coat, jeans, winter boots, and a bomber hat, sending her bangs askew. She had pulled her hair into a braid hanging down her shoulder, and had even put on a bit of makeup in anticipation of meeting up with Naruto later. Little did she know he would be hitting her with a snowball, making her makeup job less than perfect.
"Wait, where are we going?" Kaia belatedly inquired, still being tugged along.
Naruto said nothing but turned and smiled at her before upping his speed and pulling her forward through the trees. Finally, he stopped as they entered a clearing. He turned to her and grinned, putting his hands on his hips and looking all too proud of himself. "Well, whaddya think?"
Kaia finally took her eyes off him (he looked so cute out of breath and grinning like a dummy) and looked around the clearing. It wasn't exactly clear anymore, since Naruto had gone all over it and built snow… creations. To her left was a small snow house, with a door and window and everything. Right outside of that was a snow table with snow stools and over in the corner she saw a little snow animal that looked strangely like Kakashi-sensei's Pakkun.
Naruto looked a little worried. "Er…"
"Oh my gosh!" Kaia's face broke out in a wide grin. "Oh my gosh! Did you do this? Oh my gosh," she brought her hands to her mouth. "No way!"
Looking a little relieved, Naruto smiled. "Yeah, I did it! Pretty cool, right?"
Kaia turned to him again, grabbing his hand. "This is more than cool! Look at it! Oh my gosh… can we go inside the house?"
"Yeah!" Naruto nodded and let her pull him after her into the small house.
They ducked into the doorway, still holding hands, and took a set across from each other on the snow stools he had built inside the house. Kaia was still grinning as she looked at him. Naruto- he'd really been there for her through thick and thin. She took his other hand as well, holding both, but still grinning at him.
"This is really, really cool, Naruto." Kaia said, biting her lip. "And I think it deserves a reward."
Naruto didn't have time to say anything as Kaia leaned in and kissed him full on the lips. Drawing back slowly, she looked up at him through her thick eyelashes. Naruto blushed and grinned, ducking his head. Kaia knocked her head against his teasingly.
"I'm not around so much anymore, 'cause I keep getting missions. I'm not complaining, 'cause it's pretty awesome… but I also don't get to spend a lot of time with you anymore." Naruto peeked up at her.
"I know," Kaia muttered. "I feel the same way. It's great that you get missions and you're coming closer to your dream, but I miss you too."
She was about to kiss him again when he abruptly reached his hand into his pocket. Kaia watched him nervously, unsure of what he was doing.
"I might not be here for Christmas so I just wanted to give you your gift while we were both around." Naruto took out a small cardboard box from his pocket.
Kaia eyed him, a small frown on his face. "Naruto, you didn't have to get me anything- I wasn't expecting-"
"I know, but that's what makes it fun! The surprise is half the gift, doncha think?" Naruto interrupted exuberantly with a grin. He popped the top off the box and produced a pair of shining hair pins. "I thought I should get these 'cause they might be harder to lose."
Kaia stared. Naruto started getting antsy as he sat on his snow stool, holding the gift out to her.
"Er, I mean, is it ok? Do you like them? If not, that's ok too, don't worry, I just thought they looked nice-"
"Naruto shut up." Kaia covered her face with her hands. "Naruto you're so …"
Naruto tilted his head, trying to peer around her hands.
"Sooo?" he repeated nervously.
"So damn sweet," Kaia finished and Naruto grinned after a moment of confusion. He laughed, trying to pull her hands away from her face. When he finally got her hands away, she bit her lip, trying to make the little tears in her eyes disappear. "Dammit Naruto!"
Naruto laughed again. "People don't normally swear when they get gifts, do they?"
"Maybe not," Kaia pouted. "Oh my gosh, Naruto, I love them. They're gorgeous. Did you pick them out yourself?"
Naruto looked indignant. "I sure did! I didn't have any help at all. I mean it, too! Well, I asked someone's opinion, but I picked 'em out myself."
Kaia laughed and took off her hat and undid her braid, letting her wavy hair fall across both shoulders, ending below her clavicle. "Here, lemme see one?"
He held out the box and she gently took a silver pin from the case. She saw, up close, that it had a tiny heart engraved on it. She blushed and quickly pushed it into her hair. "Tada?"
Laughing a little, Naruto took the other one out and put it on the other side of her head, then adjusted the one she had put in herself. "There. Tada." He teased.
Kaia pouted once more but didn't get very far since he leaned in once more to kiss her. She smiled as their lips touched and bit his lip, making him smile as well.
"Merry Christmas, Kaia." He knocked his forehead against hers, twining his fingers with hers.
Kaia rubbed her nose against his, an Eskimo kiss. "Merry Christmas, Stupid-Naruto."