A/N: Language warning for Sasuke's mouth. Just one word, but still. Be warned.

DAY TWO
Saturday, December 20
Current Oto Base

"So...what do you want for Christmas?"

"..." Sasuke stared blankly at the medic, a dull sort of confusion on his face. "You celebrate Christmas." It was supposed to be a question, but it came off more like a suspicious statement.

Kabuto shifted medical supplies around the metal tabletop, organizing them with meticulous care. He returned Sasuke's gaze over the top of his round glasses, which were slipping dangerously low. "Is that so odd? I believe most people do celebrate the holiday...now come on, what do you want?"

The dark-haired Uchiha's eyes narrowed in distrust, but he appeared to consider the question. For several minutes, nothing could be heard aside from the clinking and clanging of metal on metal from Kabuto's careful sorting.

"...a new kunai holster."

Kabuto glanced up, smiling evenly. "Ah, see now, that wasn't so hard, was it? A bit unimaginative, maybe, but all the same..." Setting aside a pile of scalpels, the silver-haired spy shoved his slipping glasses into place with the back of his hand.

Sasuke frowned at the insult. "It's not unimaginative, it's useful. Useless gifts are...useless."

"Oooh, what a brilliant deduction."

"Shut up, you know what I mean."

Kabuto grinned as he ambled across the room (which was either a lab or a medical ward...Sasuke figured that those were pretty much synonymous in Sound) and scribbled something in a spiral-bound notebook. "Well then, I'll see what I can do. Honestly though, was that such a shocking question? Don't you celebrate Christmas? Or are the Uchihas just above such mortal things as holidays?"

The dark-haired genin's frown was superseded by a tired glare. "...I just don't like Christmas. It's annoying and stupid. Waste of effort and money."

Kabuto cocked an eyebrow as he closed the notebook. "...is that so? My, doesn't someone sound bitter." Turning around with a smirk, the medic crossed his arms and leaned back, relying on the metal countertop for support.

"Look who's talking."

"Mm? What's this? Arguing again...? Tsk tsk...such children." Orochimaru's snaky presence entered the room, and the powerful shinobi grinned slyly.

"Of course not, Orochimaru-sama. I was merely asking Sasuke-kun what he wanted for Christmas - and while we're on the topic, is there anything you'd like, sir?"

The Sannin shook his head with a knowing grin. "I see you haven't stopped observing that quaint holiday..."

Kabuto shrugged. "Leftover habit from Konoha, I suppose."

"Mm. There's not really anything I need, exactly. I guess I could use a new pair of slippers..."

Sasuke stared blankly at the leader of Sound. Did he just say...slippers?

"Ah, sounds good. And in case anyone's asking, I could use a new notebook or two." Kabuto tapped the notebook on the metal countertop behind him to emphasize his point.

"Out already?"

"Well, you know, they go by pretty quickly..."

It was bizarre, watching two of Leaf's most dangerous enemies chatting amicably about Christmas gifts. And neither of them seemed to recognize the complete oddity of the scene.

Those two... It would never cease to amaze Sasuke, their audacity in behaving like normal human beings when they clearly were anything but.

Sasuke just shook his head and left.

That afternoon, the spiky-haired young missing-nin sat alone on the bed in his quarters, attempting to study the scrolls he'd been assigned to memorize by his odd-but-powerful sensei. However, he was finding it difficult to focus on the complicated jutsu discussed in the text. Setting the scroll he had been reading aside, Sasuke sighed in frustration and sat on the edge of his bed, facing the door with a sullen glare.

Why couldn't he focus?! For some reason, his thoughts kept wandering to Konoha and all of the memories he'd tried to leave behind there: that stupid face Naruto made when he was trying to act cool, and Sakura's annoying clinginess, and the time he'd almost been disqualified from the Chuunin Exam finals because of his Sensei's laziness... And other memories that he had never tried to forget, despite the pain they caused him: Mother's laugh, and way Father's eyes softened just a bit when he kissed his her, and Itachi...the old Itachi. The one who had told him stories about Santa Clause and reindeer and-- and he had trusted him whole-heartedly, back then, and like an idiot he'd believed every word of it.

Just like he'd believed that his brother actually loved him.

But, in the end, his brother was a liar...he had never meant any of it.

Sasuke blinked suddenly, frowning in realization. Oh. Now I get it. This is Kabuto's doing, isn't it? That bastard! The Uchiha let out a strangled growl and flopped backwards onto his bed. Of course the devious medic would have known that Sasuke had many painful memories associated with Christmas, so he'd brought it up, just to mess with his head. Kabuto was always doing things like this - toying with people's emotions and thoughts. Where did he get the arrogance to run around getting under a person's skin with his creepy mind games like that?

Feeling his hatred for Orochimaru's right-hand ninja rise a few more notches, Sasuke brushed dark bangs out of his eyes, a devilish smirk on his face. Two could play at that game.Y

ou wanna celebrate Christmas, lapdog? Just you wait...this'll be a Christmas you'll never forget.