Author's Note:

Happy Holidays!

The snow is falling (okay only in some places, but it is here in Michigan) and that can only mean one thing--no, not caroling, not snow men, not tree decorating, but fan fiction! ; Kidding. I'm Tohru02 and I've written 10+ stories here on Fan Fiction. Two of them are co-written with Ayatsuri Sakkaku (Marley) entitled "Mistakes We Knew We Were Making" and "Oh, The Summertime." I also wrote the rant for "Welcome To Middle School" that was used to be based off of a story by Mars. Anyway, this is the Prologue to some extent. I hope that you enjoy it, and wait for the many pairings and friendship and stories and Christmas-themed stories to come.

Happy Holidays,

Tohru02 & Ayatsuri Sakkaku.


The room was filled with chatter and laughter—all belonging to adults. Champagne glasses wobbled in their hands and they all were fluttering around the room like Debutauntes, pausing at each inner-circle to engage in conversation involving work, politics, and of course, their children. All were dressed formally, tuxedo and cocktail dresses, heels clicking and polished men's shoes scuffing the cherry-red wood floors of the Yamanaka family's home.

Upstairs, the children of these high class citizens sat in their own small circle. Instead of looking like they had melted into their attire for the evening like the adults, the children sat uncomfortable in party dresses of various colors and sat stiffly in suits that had been handed down to them. The children were no older than 9 or 10 years old. The only noise was coming from the adults downstairs, instead these children were eying each other's party attire, and munching on treats from the children's table.

"You guys are boring," A young Shikamaru stated, rolling his eyes. He had a very large cranberry juice stain on the knee of his Khaki pants, one that would be best if it disappeared before his mother saw it. "This is so troublesome."

"That's mean, Shikamaru!" Tenten stated, standing up to defend the party, still looking fierce in her red taffeta party dress.

Silence overtook them again, Tenten took her seat, and Chouji left to refill his plate with cheese, apples, and cookies. Ino was filing her nails, her back pressed against her bed, yawning as she flipped her pixie-cut hair behind her ear. Sakura was eying Sasuke dreamily, who was sitting in the far corner, far away from Sakura and the rest of the group. If it had been his choice, he wouldn't have wanted to step anywhere near this party, but the Yamanaka's had insisted that every student and their family at the academy be invited.

Naruto came back, his plate filled higher than before as he slid back into his empty spot in the circle. This earned him a disgusted sigh from practically every girl in the circle, except for Hinata who sighed inwardly, a dreamy look cast onto her face. The circle was now silent again—and Tenten, Ino, Neji, Rock Lee, Chouji, Shikamaru, Sasuke, Sakura, Naruto, Kiba, Shino, and Hinata all sat awkwardly once again.

"I have an idea." A smile curled onto Ino's face as she stood up, directing her gaze at Sasuke. That love-struck gaze could make any guy cringe, but Sasuke only responded by mumbling something under his breath. "I'll be right back." Ino snuck out of the room, leaving her awkward-feeling party guests to sit by themselves, fending to not speak to each other but to prevent that heavy awkward silence again.

When Ino returned, an empty pop can rested in her hand. She slid back into her seat, crossing her legs over one another.

"What's that for?" Rock Lee questioned.

"Spin the bottle, duh," Ino responded, rolling her eyes. "And Kiba, can you please control that mangy mutt of yours?"

The whole group's gaze directed to Akamaru who was playfully pouncing at one of Ino's many stuffed animals that decorated the whole room—or more like suffocated the whole room.

"Akamaru is not a mangy mutt," Kiba barked back at her.

"Whatever," Ino said, flipping her hair. "Alright, let's play."

"Wait," Naruto speculated.

"Ugh, what now?" Ino asked, obviously not enjoying all of these interruptions.

"You said we're playing spin the bottle."

"That's what I said you loser."

"That's a can."

"UGH!" Ino cried, infuriated. "Sa-su-ke. Make them listen to me."

Sasuke grumbled, rolled his eyes, and made no move to become her knight in shining armor.

"Look!" Hinata looked out the window and pointed out the falling snow flakes. She didn't need to say anything else, than all of the children were running out of Ino's room down the stairs, even Sasuke trailed along behind, hands stuffed into the pockets of his stiff Khaki's.

Outside, the children had stumbled onto their own Winter Wonderland. Using the snow that had already blanketed the ground, they threw snowballs, built faceless snowmen, and soon grew an audience of their parents, all snapping pictures. To them, they had no idea why this moment needed to be documented. After all, they thought that even through all of the hate they had for each other, there would be more Christmas's like this.

So, in the night, all twelve children sprawled out on Ino's lawn, staring up at the falling snowflakes and letting the snow gently caress them, just taking in the happy aura that seemed to forget all of their hardships—past, present and future—so that they could enjoy themselves, Christmas.