Title: New Year's Resolutions
Disclaimer: Naruto is property of Masashi Kishimoto.
Rating: T
Word Count: 512
A/N: Again, I apologize for the delay. I hope you had a great holiday, wherever you are and whatever you celebrate :) Please review!
Tending to avoid alcohol and the blatant embarrassment it generally fueled, Kakashi had arrived at the party with the full intention of remaining sober.
He now realized, however, that the fruit punch he had been forced to chug with Gai was not at all what it promised to be, and when he wrenched the jug away from his mouth after his taste buds registered the tang of sake, it was far too late.
Concluding that if he was going to get drunk one night of the year, this was the night to do it, Kakashi helped himself to all the alcohol he desired, and threw himself into the midst of the party.
It was long past midnight, and the New Year had been introduced in a flurry of glitter, dancing, and a tremendous amount of sake. Kakashi was seated among a large group of fellow shinobi, and he lounged back in his chair as the talk turned to New Year's resolutions.
"I'm gonna eat healthier!" Naruto proclaimed, his trademark obnoxious loudness amplified even further by the contents of his frothy mug.
Sakura reached out and ruffled his hair. "I don't think they make whole wheat ramen, baka."
"Naruto ish right!" Lee chimed in, slurring slightly. "A nutritious diet ish a 'portant component of a sound body, and with a sound body comesh a - "
"I'm proud of you kiddo," Genma interrupted. "Chicks love men who eat healthy. Right, Sakura?"
She snorted into her sake.
"What about you, Kakashi?" Naruto shouted, directing the conversation over to him.
He shrugged nonchalantly and attempted to sip his drink through his mask.
"Come on!" the blond whined.
"There has to be at least one thing you want to accomplish this year," Genma prompted.
Sakura nodded and added to the push. "Yeah, Kakashi. What do you want to do?"
"You."
The word slipped out of his mouth the same time it crossed his mind.
The alcohol had opened the floodgate that usually separated thought and speech, and now with one simple word, Kakashi had managed to silence the entire room.
A tiny squeak sounded from his right, and Kakashi turned, forcing his eyes to focus on the source of the noise. It was a rosy-cheeked Gai, whose jaw had dropped to the floor. Peering around at the rest of his comrades, he noticed similar expressions, and as his gaze landed on Sakura's shocked face, he realized something had to be done.
"Jooooooking!" he slurred brightly. "Honeshly, you should see the looksh on your faces..."
Scattered laughter emerged from among the occupants of the room, and the tension gradually diffused until everyone was at ease. Previous conversations resumed, and the party was once again in full swing.
"You really had me there for a second, Kakashi!" Genma elbowed his friend in the ribs. "And you really had Sakura too.."
She pink-haired kunoichi blushed. "I knew he was kidding," she scoffed.
But her eyes met Kakashi's.
And they told him everything he needed to know.
It was a shame, he thought to himself, that he wouldn't remember this in the morning.