KONOHA CHRISTMAS CAROLS
Carol #07: Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Genre: hurt/comfort, comedy
It was destiny, Rei just knew it – in the glitter of colorful lights stood the boy of her dreams, which a playful smile plastered on his face. Or, at least, she assumed that, since his face was hidden with the mask. But that didn't matter as the silver-haired gennin slowly walked towards her, invitingly extending his hand. No, what mattered was that he was here... and he was all hers.
The surroundings melted, leaving the two to themselves as their arms touched and, while a single lean, the lazy kunoichi found herself in the warm embrace of her crush. Gently, she grabbed the tip of his mask, pulling it down without haste to reveal his lips. They had all the time in the world.
Or so she thought...
"Rei, wake up already!" Hanamaru shook her violently, making the vision burst like a bubble, while the chubby boy gave her a concerned gaze: "Your face looked really weird for a moment there... what were you dreaming about?" he questioned, making her cheeks turn a bright shade of red.
"Umm... nothing" she replied, avoiding eye-contact. The chubby gennin scanned her suspiciously, but in the end decided to let it go as he readjusted his costume: "Fine... get ready then, our mission is about to begin" he reminded her. The lazy kunoichi let out a sigh at this as she put on her green, pointy hat with a bell on top, making the latter jingle at the movement.
Meanwhile Hanamaru placed his fake, white beard on his mouth. His usual, red attire was replaced by... well, red attire, although much more familiar, decorated with puffy, white collar and cuffs. Glancing at the girl, who was now dressed in spiky, red and green outfit with big, curly boots and bells all around, he gave a nod, signaling he was ready.
Not wanting to prolong the suspense, Rei nodded back and the duo walked out of the hut-stylized wardrobe, right into the center of Konoha's Mega Mall, where a long line of children already awaited their appearance. Gathering air in his lungs, the chubby gennin waved hello to the younglings as he let out a loud 'ho-ho-ho' before sitting on an antique chair, right beside a big sack, filled with candy.
The kunoichi walked over to the front of the line, grabbing a young boy's arm with an expression that would surely get her fired. Lazily, she brought the kid to the chubby gennin, gently placing him on 'Santa's lap', as Hanamaru let out a warm chuckle, smiling towards the boy: "So, what do you want for Christmas?"
"The brand new Hatake Kakashi action figure with removable mask!" the youth yelled cheerfully, making Rei sweat drop as she rolled her eyes: "Of course" she commented as the kid received a candy cane with a promise to get the gift. Once his mother walked him to the side, the lazy kunoichi guided a girl to the 'Santa' with a bored face. Certainly she was not winning "Happy Helper of the Year" award...
"Well, hello there, little girl" the chubby ninja did his best to entertain the child as he joyfully exclaimed. "What is your name and what would you wish for Christmas?"
"A Kyuubi plushie with red fur and combable tails!" she announced, tightly forming fists with excitement as she gaze her idol a big-eyed gaze. Hanamaru could do no less then to agree to her demand as he sent her away with three, chocolate goodies, making room for the third child in line, a boy no older the five.
As Rei placed him on her teammate's lap, he crossed his arm, giving out an angry glare, which did make the older boy nervous a tad as he spoke up his typical, learned line: "And what is your name, little fellow?"
"You're Santa, shouldn't you know that already?" he replied in an annoyed tone.
"Ummm" Hanamaru began, throwing his eyes around in search for some help, but there was none. Who would've thought that a SHINOBI would have to improvise? "Of course I know it!" he finally assured him, a big drop of sweat running down his face being a clear giveaway what the truth was. "I just... ummm... wanted to make sure you know it!" he added with an uncomfortable laugh as Rei leaned over to whisper in his ear:
"Nice safe" she said sarcastically, leaning back, while the chubby gennin paled a little, already sensing trouble as he went on: "So... what would you like for Christmas?"
"Who cares?" the boy responded, looking away. "It's not like I can get it! You don't care and I know Santa ain't real!" the last proclamation made all the children gathered gasp in horror, while Rei rolled up her sleeve, her eye twitching: "Why you little..."
"Why don't Santa and his cheerful elf take a short break?" Hanamaru purposed, quickly locating himself between her and the boy just before he pushed her back into their hut, closing the door tightly behind them: "What the hell do you think you're doing? We're supposed to be happy and kind! What ever happened to that calm and uncaring exterior that annoys us so much?"
"I'm sorry, but this is getting on my nerves!" the kunoichi shoot back, with the extend of emotion that was just unlike her. "I hate this assignment, it's boring and I'm tired!"
"Are you ever not tired?" the chubby ninja questioned, making the girl come to realization as her expression turned into a sleepy one... per usual. Taking this as a good sign, Hanamaru went on: "Look, it can't be helped; Kogane cannot assist me, coz she's got this family emergency... something about cooking, I don't know... and elves can't be played by guys apparently, so you're stuck with this. You don't even have to do anything besides bringing kids to me, what the heck is so difficult about that?"
"Fine" Rei shrugged slowly, starting to resemble her, normal self more and more. "I'm sorry... Christmas makes me a bit testy... being surrounded by ghosts and all quickly made me realize Santa Claus isn't real and that's a terrible thing for a child to know. Being here... makes me feel like I'm just laying to innocent brats..."
"I see" Hanamaru nodded thoughtfully, wrapping his arm around her. "No wonder you... well, show emotions. But this is just a one-day thing, I know you can handle that much" he announced, nearly forcing a nod as the duo walked out of the hut, getting back to work. To the kunoichi's relief, the rude kid was nowhere in sight.
The rest of the day went by relatively uneventfully; kids walked towards Santa, sat on his lap, told him about some outrageous gifts they desired and then hit the road with a handful of candy. Everyone wanted some action figure or a plushie, occasionally going for the newest ipod. The scheme got so repetitive, that even the most durable person would find it boring... so you can imagine how Rei coped with it...
"Ekhem" Hanamaru grunted, snapping her awake, although her immediate comment after made him regret that deed: "Quick Senkou-kun, put on your clothes!" the lazy kunoichi yelled frantically before realizing where she was.
Allowing her face to turn a bright, red color, she grabbed the nearest child by the arm and yanked it hard towards her teammate with a wide, uncomfortable smile. Luckily, a bell sounded a moment later, indicating a break, which Rei felt like taking... right away.
"Santa Claus will be back in few minutes" Hanamaru assured the younglings as his teammate dashed out of Christmas village. Putting enough distance between herself and the kiddies, she sighed in relief, resting her back against the market shelf.
Her face instantly dropped, catching a glimpse of pink-covered racks, sporting dolls of all kinds. Allowing her eye to twitch at the sight, she heard a familiar voice coming from behind. Taking a careful gaze around the corner, she spotted the rude kid from earlier as he jerked his mother's sleeve, pointing at a cheap, toy car: "Please, mom, just this once!"
"I'm sorry, Ichigo, we just don't have enough money... besides, we should had back home" the mother replied in a pitiful tone as she gave her son an apologizing look, like a puppy that just been scold. Despite this, the boy didn't stop asking, even as they left the aisle. Curious, Rei walked over to the shelf and glanced at the toy – a small, red, sporting car.
"This thing?" she thought to herself, rising an eyebrow as she saw nothing special in the toy. "It's only 3 ryou" she noted as her eyes traveled after the duo...
-Five minutes later-
"Come on, Hanamaru" Rei urged her teammates as she dragged him by the sleeve. "Our break is almost over and, if we won't hurry, we're gonna miss them!" she announced, reaching the exit from the mall. Turning to gaze at the chubby boy, she noted a confused look on his face, making her let out a sigh: "You're surprised I'm doing this, huh?"
"Not specifically' he replied with a smirk. "I'm more surprised to see you eager about something" he teased, making the kunoichi narrow her eyes. Those, however, quickly widen as she spotted their target heading their way. In a flash she spun Hanamaru around, making him come face to face with a certain child.
"You again?" the rude boy noted, visibly angered. "What the heck do you want now?"
"Well, you came to me... Ichigo" the gennin responded with a smile, making the kid open his mouth at the mention of his name. "And you caused quite a ruckus before I could promise you the gift you wanted, so I decided to take immediate action" he proclaimed, reaching to his pocket.
A moment later, a small, red, toy car appeared in Hanamaru's hand. The other boy, Ichigo, gazed at it with wide eyes as the chubby ninja handed him the toy, still smiling: "I apologize for not wrapping it, but time was short... as you see, Santa always knows" he announced with a wink. "Merry Christmas!"
The rude child remained silent for a few moments as he stared at the present and then glanced up with tears in his eyes as he spoke in a whisper: "Thank you... Santa" he announced cheerfully, turning to his mother as he joyfully lifted the toy to her eye level.
The woman smiled warmly as she led her son out, bowing quickly to the two gennin with a thankful expression. The duo exchanged smirks as the headed back to their working spot, quite pleased with their handiwork.
"I gotta say I never would've expect to see this side of you, Rei" the chubby boy stated teasingly, holding hands behind his back. The lazy kunoichi got back to her calm and bored exterior as he replied in the usual, slow and stoic voice: "You shouldn't get used to it... this is just the effect Christmas has on me... in three days I'll be my, normal self..."
"Even so, it was nice" Hanamaru announced as he settled in his chair. And, as the girl sent him a questioning gaze, he smirked as he answered: "Seeing that you can put your heart into something, that is" he proclaimed as the bell rang, signaling the end of their break: "Well then, boys and girls, Santa's back! Who's next?"
"Me, me!" the two heard a familiar voice as a large figure jumped right into the chubby gennin's lap, wrapping it's arms around his neck. "And I have a lot of requests this year" it announced, unwrapping a list that rolled down the floor, all the way to the corner of the mall.
Hanamaru's eye twitched as he held back his anger, whispering so that none of the children would notice his annoyance: "Kai, what the hell are you doing?"
