Chapter Eleven, Secret Santa

The last few weeks of school had been less than thrilling. The one before Christmas ranking as the only one of any consequence. It was probably the abomination that was Secret Santa.

Kakuzu was tight-fisted with money on any rate. It was his love, the thing which never let him down and made him feel complete. So naturally, any holidays annoyed him. He hated Halloween, he hated Easter… it would be a bad idea to get him started on Valentines Day.

He tolerated Christmas, because he hated being called Scrooge. However, being forced to buy a present for a classmate (who he may not always be fond of) seemed a breech of his human rights. Or at least you'd be lead to think so by the way he behaved.

"It's stupid, Temari-san," he snapped, closing his locker as he lifted his piece of paper, "Itachi isn't going to appreciate some shoddy gift, so why is our teacher making it compulsory: to raise morale, my ass!"

Temari smirked, looking up at him, "Are you just saying this because nobody ever gets you anything?"

"Hey, no – that isn't it!"

She laughed, "Sure, it isn't. Anyway, I have to go to the mall, so bye!" She waved, turning to the doorway.

Kakuzu fumed, that wasn't right at all… sure he'd never received a Christmas present from an admirer like Hidan, or Itachi. Well, Tobi brought chocolate for everyone he knew, but that didn't count. Tobi was an idiot who liked spending too much of the Uchiha family's money on stupid things.

Still, Tobi was given presents from all angles, so his fool-harded kindness had payed off somewhere.

"Kakuzu, you ugly bastard, you're meant to be giving me a ride home – where the fuck is your bike?"

He sighed, rubbing his temples, "Hidan, what the hell have I told you about cursing all the time? It makes you sound like an idiot! Yeah, I said this morning, the roads are too icy for it!"

"Ah, what are you scared of, you pussy?" He retorted, "Fine, fuck you, I'm going to ride with someone who isn't scared of a little bike crash!"

Kakuzu rolled his eyes, and made his way after Hidan to see who this bike riding dare-devil was. Hidan never got anyone anything at Christmas; he said Jashinist's didn't celebrate it. But he happily received stuff, which was the sort of guy Hidan was, he liked to take and rarely give back. Kakuzu was the same; he wondered if that was why he'd been so attracted to him.

***

"Hello, Haku-san?" Lee knocked on the classroom door. He smiled as he saw the boy wrapping something up.

"Oh, Lee-kun, hello," Haku smiled and quickly pushed the present into his bag, "You're not out on the field today?"

"Nope, it's too cold to play tennis," he sounded disappointed, "I was just wondering what you were doing for Christmas."

Lee always had a busy Christmas. His parents, Guy-Sensei and himself, would spend Christmas Eve at the homeless shelter, and they had the entire family round for Christmas Day. More often than not, Lee would invite some friends over, usually someone with no parents to enjoy Christmas with. He was always kind like that.

"On Christmas Day, you mean?" Haku asked, thinking for a moment, "Well, a lot of kids at the foster home have people to be with… I'm sort of hoping Zabuza-san will invite me to spend Christmas with him," he laughed, smiling.

Lee laughed with him, "Well, if he doesn't, you're very welcome to spend it with me like last year. Just promise me you won't spend it alone."

"I promise," Haku grinned, picking up his bag.

Lee left the classroom, in deep conversation with Haku, when he spotted the shy figure of Gaara stood waiting for him.

"I'll see you later, Haku-san," he turned to Gaara and smiled, "Gaara-kun, it's been a while, how do you like school?"

The boy shrugged, "It's… a lot nicer than my old one."

He beamed at him, "I'm glad to hear that. I've seen you with Naruto-kun a lot. Is he taking care of you?"

"Yeah," Gaara nodded, "I've been to his house a lot."

"That's good," he looked around, "So, did you wait for me to finish in the club room?"

He nodded again, his eyes staring shyly at the ground.

"We live quite close, so we should walk home together more!" He offered him an arm, "Let's go, Gaara?"

***

"Niisan, Niisan, come downstairs!"

For centuries, the families of Nara, Yamanaka and Akimichi had been joined in friendship. Shikaku Nara, Inochi Yamanaka and Chouza Akimichi had been as close as brothers. They married at roughly the same times, and their children had been born around the same times. They bought three houses attached to each other, and built a doorway which combined them completely.

Deidara, the eldest son of Inochi had been born two years ahead. However, Shikamaru Nara was born on the 22nd of September with Ino Yamanaka following on the 23rd. Chouji Akimichi was born on 1st May the following year. The three of them had grown up together.

Deidara had been seen them playing in the sandbox as very small children, but as they got older, Ino began to detach from them. She got into dolls and hair; they still liked toys and video games. Suddenly, the age of seven, Ino was spending all of her time with her female friends, specifically the shy and quiet (at the time) Sakura.

Things only really changed when the kids were ten. Ino and Sakura fell out over a boy, Itachi's brother, Sasuke. Ino was alone again and found her comfort with Ino and Chouji. They were her best friends.

Ino's enthusiasm contrasted with Shikamaru's complete lack of, and Chouji's want to please both parties.

"What is it? What do you want, unn?" Deidara called from inside his room.

Ino opened the door, Shikamaru and Chouji peering in over her shoulders, "Dei-Dei," she said sweetly, "Can I borrow your straighteners?"

He blinked, "What for, unn?"

Shikamaru groaned, and Ino grinned, "Shika and I had a bet – I won, so I get to straighten his hair!"

Chuckling, Deidara passed them to Ino, before going back to the heap on the floor.

"What's that you're working on?" Chouji asked politely, pointing down at it, "A new art project?"

"No," Deidara grinned shyly, "a Christmas present for someone special, unn."

"Is a puppet?" Shikamaru asked, sitting down on the floor to get a better look, "It's totally different from anything else you've done, Deidara, it looks good."

"You think so?"

Ino laughed, holding her hand infront of her mouth, "Is that… a puppet of Akasuna Sasori?"

Deidara's cheeks darkened, but he nodded.

"Wow, he's small," Shikamaru joked, lifting the puppet.

"Hey," Deidara snatched it, totally embarrassed now, "It's a small version, unn! Sasori-danna is obviously human sized, you pack of idiots – now get it out, unn unn!"

***

"Hey, Sasuke, what are you doing for Christmas this year?" Suigetsu asked as they sat back in the coffee bar. He'd bought tea, he hated coffee, but Sasuke couldn't get enough of it. Juugo had been in a funny mood, and snapped at the waitress when she laughed at his stutter. He only ever stuttered around women, and Suigetsu always came to his rescue when the ginger boy's bad side came out when the women laughed.

"Oh," he sounded bored, playing with a lock of his hair, "The Uchiha Family always meets at the main house. The Head of the Family, Madara-sama is returning from America. My father shows off my brother, and I usually get ignored," he blinked, not realizing he'd gone off on a mini-rant, "Sorry, urm… what about you?"

"It's just gonna be me, Kisame-senpai and Zabuza… unless Zabuza gets the balls to ask Haku-chan this year," he joked, brushing his fringe out of his eyes, "Juugo, pass the sugar."

The tallest boy pushed the sugar towards him, his head bowed, his hands shaking from upset and confusion. Two girls, high schoolers were looking at him, and whispering to themselves.

Sasuke rolled his eyes, "Can we help you?" he asked them coldly.

"You, maybe," the bolder one of the two winked at him.

"Well, unless you're gonna sit on my cock, you can fuck off," Suigetsu snapped. His temper provoked partly because Juugo was so sensitive, and partly because Sasuke kept getting hit on by these stupid bimbo's.

The girls sneered and got up, walking away. Suigetsu rolled his eyes in irritation and went back to mixing the sugar in his tea.

"Why do you always have to be so rude?" Sasuke muttered, not bothering to look at him.

His cheeks flushed, and he looked at his feet.

"Ah, Sasuke-kun!"

The three of them looked up to see a man with long black hair walking towards them. Suigetsu frowned… he looked weird.

"Orochimaru-sensei," Sasuke stood up and bowed his head politely.

"Have you finished school for the holidays?" He reached out and touched Sasuke's chin, one hand resting on the table, his fingers touching Sasuke's.

So this was Orochimaru, the teacher from Konoha High School.

He wasn't sure he liked the look in his eyes, and he definitely didn't like the familiar way he touched Sasuke – it was fucking weird!

"No, not until tomorrow," he said cheerfully, "The same as the high school I think."

"That's correct, Sasuke-kun, you're so through," he stroked a hand along one of the Uchiha's pale cheeks.

"Ever hear of 'too close for comfort'?" Suigetsu put a hand on Sasuke's shoulder, yanking him out of the older man's touch.

Sasuke elbowed him sharply, "Suigetsu!"

Orochimaru smirked as he looked at the cold look on Suigetsu's face. "My, my, how very cold. Is he a friend of yours, Sasuke-kun?"

"Urm, yeah, this is Suigetsu Hozuki and Juugo," he pointed to Juugo, who looked terrified. Despite his strong appearance, Juugo was easily scared by bad people.

The older man smirked, "What an amusing group you are. Would you boys like a ride home, Juugo-kun?" He turned to the tall boy, who started repeatedly shaking his head. One of his massive hands clamped around Suigetsu's wrist.

"I think we'll walk," Suigetsu said firmly, "We live near here."

"Uchiha House isn't," Orochimaru cut in, looking to Sasuke, "Surely you'll be needing a drive home? I know how you hate to trouble your father?"

"He'll be fine actually!" Suigetsu snapped, he was pretty sure Juugo wasn't going to let him go with this guy. But he didn't want to leave Sasuke alone with him either.

"No, I need a ride," Sasuke said, "Suigetsu, stop speaking for me, especially when you have no idea what you're talking about." His tone was so cold it almost cut through him.

Orochimaru chuckled, "Shall we go then, Sasuke-kun?"

"Yes, please," he got up to leave.

"Sasuke," Juugo spoke up suddenly, knowing Suigetsu now felt he could not.

The Uchiha blinked in surprise, turning to look at him, "Urm, yes?"

"Be careful," he said firmly.

"Trust me," Orochimaru cut in, "He has nothing to fear."

***

Sasuke's home at Uchiha House was in the middle of a wood, just past the suburban part of town. It was situated in a clearing, a house with many rooms, although only three men lived there. It had a large pool in the conservatory. The house had a large side building which served as a garage, with a gym on the top floor of that.

Fugaku Uchiha's study was a room in the house nobody was really allowed to enter. The main courtyard was often used for Sasuke to train in during early hours. The house was more like a small estate than a family home. The woods were owned by the Uchiha family, and much of Itachi's childhood had been spent hiding from servants in the woods, whilst playing.

Nobody had ever been able to beat him at hide-and-seek, with the exception of his cousin, Shisui, and his uncle, Madara.

He was four years old the first time he beat his mother. Mikoto Uchiha had grown afraid, and nearly reported a lost child to the authorities. She called her husband from work, and just before he arrived, Itachi emerged from the woods.

She'd clung to him and cried, and he gave her the smile he gave to every adult he could outwit. His 'I know something you don't' smile.

***

"Urm, I'm not sure if this is the right number, but is this Uchiha Itachi?"

Itachi blinked and nodded, recognizing the voice "Is that Suigetsu-kun?"

"Yes, yes it is," he nodded, "Urm, I'm sorry for bothering you; it's probably nothing, just…"

"Is something bothering you?" he asked, wondering if maybe Kisame was in trouble.

"It's Sasuke…"

He was worried now, "What about Sasuke? Is he alright?"

"He's getting driven home now, by this weird guy. He knows him, it's not like it's a stranger," he cut in, sensing the other's worry, "This man… he's older, like forty or something, I just felt really uncomfortable when he was around… and I did try and persuade Sasuke not to go with me and all…"

Itachi was worried now, completely worried, "Did Sasuke know the man?"

"Yeah, he did. He's been talking to him for a while now, ever since Konoha Open Night. It's a teacher at your school."

He prayed to God it wouldn't be…

"I think his name is Orochimaru-Sensei."

Itachi saw head-lights outside, and dropped the phone, rushing to the front door. He recognized the car, and angrily made his way outside.

Orochimaru parked, and Sasuke opened the door, he looked confused to why Itachi was approaching them.

"Sasuke, get out of the car now!" Itachi yelled. He couldn't contain himself – that bastard had been talking to Sasuke, and offering him rides – and touching him! The thought of it made him want to throw up – Sasuke just a boy – he was thirteen for Gods sake!

"Niisan, calm down," Sasuke snapped, undoing his seat belt and getting out, "Hey, Itachi, what are you doing!"

The elder brother had reached Orochimaru's door, and wrenched it open, grabbing the teacher and hauling him out of the car, he slammed him against the car, "What the fuck do you think you're doing?!"

"Itachi-kun, there is no need for this!"

"Stop it, Itachi – what the hell is wrong with you?!" Sasuke yelled, going to try and yank his brother away, "Orochimaru-sensei, I'm sorry!"

"Stay away from him!" Itachi shook him violently, "If you so much as lay one of your filthy hands on him!" He was loosing his unnatural calmness, almost like there was an animal inside him, wanting to rip Orochimaru apart.

"ITACHI!" Sasuke yelled, grabbing his brother by the shoulders, he managed to rip him away, "STOP IT!"

Itachi blinked in complete surprise, staring at Sasuke's fury with confused wide black eyes, "S-Sasuke?"

"Who do you think you are?! Orochimaru-sensei gave me a ride home – he's your teacher! Father may give you whatever you want, b-but you can't go around attacking people!" Sasuke yelled at him harshly, shoving him, "You idiot!"

Orochimaru laid a hand on Sasuke's shoulder, "It's quite alright, Sasuke-kun, I'm sure your niisan just misunderstood," he looked up at Itachi, "Isn't that right, Itachi-kun?"

Itachi turned and looked away, he pointed to the exit, "Just get off my property, Orochimaru, and don't let me see you here again."

"Niisan!" Sasuke protested angrily.

"Now, now, it's fine, I'll go," Orochimaru got back into his car, as he passed Itachi, he whispered, "Were you jealous?" into his ear, before locking up and driving away.

***

"Pein-kun, when are you gonna dump your girl?"

He had a comfortable position, lying back on the hotel bed, watching the busty blonde dress. The red-head smirked, his arms behind his head. "I don't know, I have a pretty sweet deal with her."

"If you did," she turned and crawled so she was lying over him, she licked his ear, "We could be like this all the time."

"As tempting as that sounds," he raised his hand and squeezed her breast, causing her to release a gentle gasp, "my decision stands."

She pouted, and glanced around, "I have to go anyway. Have you seen my shirt?"

"No," he yawned behind his hand, knowing fully well it was behind the bed, right where she'd tossed it. It was a nice shirt, brand new, if he had it washed, he could give it to Konan, it would look better on her anyway.

"Oh well," the woman pulled her coat around her, "You think anyone would notice?"

Yes, and you want them too. "No, I don't think so," he said, smirking, getting up, he began to dress also, "Take care now."

***

The house had become busier and busier over the last few weeks. Temari's room was probably the most adapted. She had pictures stuck to the walls, her desk covered with her stuff, her books, and even purple bed-sheets.

Kankuro and Gaara were sharing the room which had once served as Sasori and Chiyo's studio. Kakuzu and Hidan had managed to cram two beds in there. Kankuro's side was the untidy side, and Gaara's was the supernaturally clean side.

The whole house seemed to have changed. Temari and Kankuro left their crap everywhere, and the television was actually being used.

His home had suddenly become a strange place.

There was someone knocking at the door. Instead of five minutes of ignoring it, he heard Temari call, "I'll get it!"

Jesus, this was fast service.

***

Deidara had plans for Christmas. He and Ino had agreed to make the dinner this year. Christmas was a lengthy event at their house. The doors between Yamanaka House and Akimichi house would open up, the same applying for the Nara side, and they'd have a three-way Christmas.

It was always a fun event.

But he'd noticed that on Christmas Sasori spent it with his grandmother, and neither of them made a big deal about it. This year they had Temari, Kankuro and Gaara with them.

So this was a double good deed. He was assuring Temari, Kankuro and Gaara had a fulfilling Christmas, and he was going to spend his last Christmas with Sasori home.

He barely had time to fix his hair (something he always had time for), before the front door opened.

***

"Sasori, it's for you!" Temari called up the stairs, "Deidara-san is here!"

He groaned… who else?

"I'm busy, Temari."

"No you're not," she called back.

He wasn't sure if he liked her insolence or not.

"Hi, Sasori-danna, unn," Deidara waved shyly as he walked through the door, brushing his fringe out of his face.

"Brat…" he nodded to him, looking up, "To what do I owe the honour?" the red-head said sarcastically.

Deidara sat down on the bed, "Your house has really changed unn…"

"Yeah, it does that," he sighed, "Deidara, the point?"

"Well, you know Christmas is coming unn?"

"It is?"

"Yes, Danna, it is, unn," he rubbed his forehead, "I was wondering… would you and your family like to come and spend it with mine, unn?"

Sasori blinked, looking up at Deidara with obvious confusion.

His cheeks went bright red, "Urm – it was just a suggestion – a little stupid really – I totally get it if you don't want too, Sasori-danna, unn!"

"Deidara, stop, breathe," he said firmly, clicking his fingers as though he expected instant results.

He calmed himself a little, and then looked up hopefully.

"I have little interest in Christmas. However, considering my cousin's young ages, they probably still value it… and Grandmother is a little old to support such a scandalous thing… So, if it wouldn't be too much trouble…" he was blushing a little, "I would like to spend Christmas with you."

Deidara's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree, and he leapt from his seat and jumped up in the air, letting out a cheer.

Sasori did not look impressed, "I've changed my mind."

"Danna, I'm so happy, unn!" He rushed to him and hugged him around the shoulders, nuzzling into his neck, "Just you wait, this is gonna be the best Christmas you've ever had, unn! Me and Ino are cooking, unn unn!"

"Stop saying 'unn'."

***

"You called my brother!"

Suigetsu's ribs ached, like his heart wanted to eject from his body ASAP.

"I know it was you – he made a total scene – why did you do that, you idiot?!"

"That guy creeps me out, okay?" His voice was shaking, but he didn't know why, "I didn't know what he was gonna do to you!"

He'd never heard Sasuke sound so mad.

"'Do to me'? What the hell are you talking about, you idiot! He's a man; he isn't going to do anything to me!"

"Did you see him, Sasuke? I don't think that would stop him!"

"You're disgusting!"

"I was just worried, okay? I didn't choose for your brother to flip his lid, did I?"

"Whatever," he snapped, "Save it, you're both pathetic!"

Suigetsu heard him slam the phone down… but for the strangest reason, he felt like crying…

***

"I hate Secret Santa," Pein sighed, "See, Kakuzu, this is your fault!"

"How is it my fault? Did you like it before or something?" he retorted angrily.

The red-head was driving his car, with Konan on his lap, Kakuzu in the passenger seat, Tobi, Sasori and Hidan in the back.

"He misses Zetsu, and it's the holiday season," Konan added, wrapping an arm around her boyfriend's waist, "Right?"

Pein glared at him, "You keep moaning about Secret Santa, well, every-year Zetsu would always get me something – something illegal – something he can't very well give me from prison! Why did you have to remind me?"

"That's a bit of a fucking leap," Hidan snapped at Pein, "Yeah; I miss the crazy guy too."

"I visited him," Pein said, "Last night, so it doesn't really matter. I just wanted a Christmas Bottle of Jack Daniels."