A/N: An early Christmas Present to all the Kakashi lovers out there!

The snow had already begun to neatly frame the frigid edges of the dark stone by the time he had arrived. It wasn't unusual to see the silver haired man before the memorial grave, but today was special. Absent-mindedly Kakashi ran a gloved finger along an aged and almost impossible to read name. Years of harsh weather had nearly removed it from the long list of heroic figures to the left and right of it. It was tradition ingrained into his being since that day forever ago to refresh it on this one day. The warm flow of electric chakra pulsing through him and into a careful written path on the surface of the stone was refreshing. As he gently lifted his hand a spark was created from the lost of friction. It seemed an old friend even now was holding onto him. There was a clear smile that etched through the junin's mask from the thought. Just below his gaze laid a cleaner and sharper imprint of Uchiha Obito.

He'd lost count of the time-as usual-still standing before the cold and sadness of the past; while his hands lost all feeling. Slowly he massaged them against the insides of his pockets to circulate the blood through his fingertips, until there was a familiar renewed stinging of sharp needles. It hurt like hell but he knew it was necessary and a sure sign he should be leaving before frostbite set in. It could be a real bitch, especially when trying to read a book.

Sighing in resign Kakashi said a silent prayer and wished his friend a Merry Christmas before setting off to... The thought of returning to the one roomed apartment and sleeping isolated in his bed again only depressed the man more. You'd think one would get use to the same pattern of aloneness, but such was the life on a shinobi. Even after being apart of the elite anbu squadron he still had frustrating emotions that were the root of sleepless nights and deeply seeded regret.

But it was no use. Perhaps he would go out to the bar and have a couple of drinks with Gai and the others to drown his feelings and forget. But he'd still end up in his apartment when the night was over; maybe not alone but still, he'd be empty inside. As he walked through the deserted streets but for the occasional cuddled up couple and warm cup of chocolate, there really wasn't much life. It seemed the frost had driven all forms of existence indoors.

He gathered his cloak closer to himself and tucked his head further down to try and hide his silhouetted figure as it crossed the opening of a lightened doorway. Noise drifted out and spilled onto the white snow covering the ground; creating a spectacle of shimmers in the process. Laughter filtered through the air and caused a slight pause in his step to listen.

"Naruto you can't drink that much! You're already drunk as it is!" There was a wailing and crashing scuffle that followed.

"Aw c'mon ish Chrishmes! Got to have 'er fun some of tha times." And that, thought Kakashi, was a very drunk Naruto, who apparently couldn't hold his drink.

"Ya Sakura! Let him have his fun, lighten up!" The unmistakable voice of Gai rung loud and slurring its vowels into each other in protest. This must be the party he was missing out on. It appeared everyone was gathered inside from the more familiar chakra's that were moving around.

"I think he's had enough fun as it is. If he drinks anymore he could get alcohol poisoning." Ah, Sakura the responsible to the rescue.

"You're just being a sourer puss because Kakashi didn't come." Sang out Ino in a matter-of-fact manner.

"What? Where did you get that idea? This has nothing to do with Kakashi-sensei; I'm a medic remember? Somebody has to look out for you drunken idiots, and I am not going to give you anything for the hangover you have in the morning because of that." Ino whined in return and tried to suck up to regain favor but failed.

"You know what? I don't care anymore. You can go ahead and kill yourselves if you want. I'm leaving." Kakashi only blinked in surprise that that he was missed and realized he'd stayed stagnant longer than anticipated; as he heard Sakura rushing out to meet the night.

Shit, he thought. It would be better to avoid seeing anyone if he could help it. Kakashi hurried into the twisting path of the city away from the livid atmosphere of the bar. However it seemed his efforts were wasted when there was a crunch of snowy footsteps behind him.

"It would seem my presence did not go unnoticed after all. Isn't that right Sakura?"

Turning around he faced a cherry nosed and shivering girl-or woman-as he noted the small swell of breasts and taunt nipples outlined beneath her thin jacket. Concerned immediately for her health Kakashi stepped forward and draped his removed cloak around her tightly. It was much to cold to be out in her attire first of all, but the sudden flushed delight of flesh was a little breathtaking. He would have struggled to force his gaze away if not for the new barrier of cloth covering her. Content that she was at least a bit warmer he looked up into her eyes.

"Oh um, thanks Kakashi. I had a coat I swear but then I saw you outside and I guess I forgot it while I chased you…"

She was mumbling and seemed a little embarrassed about the fact of her condition and that he had just stripped, well sort of, for her. But it had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that he was still holding her.

Not at all.

"That sounds rather foolish, why would you be chasing me Sakura?" It didn't make sense to him.

"Yeah, sorry about that. Well, I know you never come to the Christmas Party and I was worried about you. It doesn't seem right to spend tonight alone, don't you think?"

Although her words were simple and innocent they had inflected a painful perverted rush of heat inside him. Before anything could come to mind though he suppressed the distasteful thoughts and coughed.

"Well, I'm not much to socialize, you know that. Besides I'm not alone; I have my books to keep me company." He said winking.

"You mean your porno? That hardly counts you hentai. What I mean is why don't you ever do anything with anyone on Christmas? It's like you distance yourself on purpose, and you shouldn't do that. Everyone misses you. It's just not the same when you're not there."

Sakura had bit her lower lip to suppress a shiver so that it wouldn't be so obvious she was freezing. Kakashi couldn't help but stare at them as she did so and warned himself to look away.

"I see…"

"Do you?"

"Of course, I wouldn't say so If I didn't." He smiled but she didn't seem convinced, great. He could tell it would take some work to try and get her to leave him be. But did he really want her too? What was so wrong with spending Christmas with a friend?

"Then you won't have any problem with me coming over to your place? I have something I want to give you."

"I don't know about that-"

"But you said!"

"I know what I said!"

He'd shouted but he wasn't angry, just annoyed that he'd set himself up for this one. What could happen? Besides he wouldn't mind having someone over once and awhile. It might actually be nice and a healthy change. Closing his eyes he felt a soft wetness on his nose and looked up to see the sky had continued it's white flakes to fall once again.

"We better get inside before we both catch our deaths."

He'd already turned towards his apartment when Sakura excited ran up to him and grabbed his hand. Kakashi stopped dead as his heart hammered from the contact.

"Wait! Does that mean you've changed your mind?"

Kakashi looked down at her with his one visible eye and unorthodoxly draped an arm around her shoulder pulling them close together. Sakura had stiffened slightly but didn't resist. Which was a good sign and provoked further movements on his part to wipe some snow from her forehead; catching a wisp of bangs in the process.

Looking down into her jumping emerald eyes he smiled widely. "Depends."

Quizzically she stared back into his playful grey orbs. "On what?"

Slightly shifting his feet and pinching her cheek teasingly he answered. "If you're my present."

A/N: This was originally meant to be a one shot, but I decided to chop up the long one chapter to a three part story. Unless I feel provoked to add more, so go ahead, provoke me :P