A/N: Oh wow, I'm SO sorry for my disappearing act. College has been... insane, to say the least. I can't lie- I'm no longer keeping up-to-date with Naruto. A lot of the things that happened before I lost track of where I was also really mess up the ideas I'd been building in my head for so long.

However... it's Christmas Eve. And even if I'm not into the fandom like I once was, I'm going to get in some Christmas cheer, celebrating one of my favorite three-way shippings of all time, no matter how last-minute, and plotless it happens to be.

Merry Christmas, to those of you who celebrate!

Harmony
Peppermint
12.24.2007

Sakura sighed, setting her cup of sake next to Ino's. The blonde looked at her friend, but she didn't look back.

"All right, I give in. You're not going to tell me." Plopping into the closest seat, she spinned to face the pink-haired kunoichi. "What's up, forehead-girl?"

It wasn't the heavy sigh that worried her- it was the lack of any insult, be it "Ino-pig" or maybe something a little more creative (too many years of the same mean nicknames did get rather boring, afterall). She would have expected Sakura to be falsely-offended, and shoot something back.

"Things." Sakura replied, picking up her drink again and finishing it off. "Just things."

"... Boy things, I take it."

"Pretty much." She sighed again and slid her cup over to Tsunade with a light shove. It never ceased to amaze anyone that, no matter how drunk she got, their Hokage could deal out liquor in perfectly measured amounts. It slid down the counter again, and she watched for a second as Tsunade poured herself another cup, and downed it with the expertise of a hardened alcoholic. "Pretty much..."

"What happened this time." It wasn't a question. It was a statement. Sakura rarely denied Ino information- there was no need to ask for it. She just needed to get across the point that she wanted to know.

Sakura, however, wasn't going to yield this time.

"Just... things, okay?"

"Hm. Buy them candy."

"... Eh?"

"Buy them candy. Naruto'll jump up and down like a three-year old, and you melted Sasuke's heart awhile back. No need to worry too much."

"I suppose."

"Don't you ever feel awkward?"

Sakura cocked her head to the side. Her cheeks were lightly flushed, a slight intoxication coloring them to match her hair.

"Why would I?"

"Well... the traditional couple is only a couple, you know." This was emphasized with two fingers held in Sakura's face. "If I found Shika having sex with another boy, I'd get out of that relationship!"

Sakura leaned forward, dizzily setting her head in her hands.

"That's the normal reaction, you know. And what's your reaction? Join in."

"... You just don't get it."

"Well then tell me."

"It's like peppermint." She smiled slightly, eyes looking dreamy- no doubt remembering some by-gone moment. Ino, however, looked confused.

"... Peppermint...?"

"You know how peppermint starts out a bit sharp and shocking? But then... it sweetens up. It gets soft and sugary. You get used to it, and you like it." The smile grew wider, and she closed her eyes happily.

"I suppose so..."
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They came home late to find her curled up in the bed, two boxes wrapped with red and pink ribbon lying at the edge of the mattress.

I'm sorry., it read.

Naruto, never one to look down a present, shoved Sasuke out of his way and ripped off the ribbon and wrappings.

"Sasuke!!" The attempted whisper camed out loud and excited, "She bought us candy!"

And Sasuke smiled as Naruto pulled out one of the peppermint candies, popping it in his mouth happily.
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A/N: I apologize for lack of updates. So far... this is my only update in 2007. I'll work harder next year, I promise.