HAMMERED FOR THE HOLIDAYS (part two of two -- Happy New Years)

A LOOK INTO THE PAST, A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE

Warning: Yaoi.Flashbacks. Fluffyness -- little, not much (in my opinion, anyway). Oh, and mention of Mpreg! Also... ramen flavored candy canes... don't ask. (If you really want an explanation, there's on in the ending author's note.)
Dedication: Ashley Prater. For your birthday! Yay!
Thank You: Everyone! Have a happy holiday everybody!

A/N: Hello! I'm writing this on the...er... 30th! Sorry, didn't know what day it was... which isn't very unusual, really. A little holiday special. Took a break from looking for publishers took time to write. Yay! (Sorry, I just had a REALLY BIG MUG of butterfinger hot chocolate. And I haven't had much to eat lately.

So, without further Adieu (that's spelled right, right?) here it is folks!

Sasuke watched him from across the room. The perfect candidate.

He knew he didn't have much time – the year of the moon was fading fast, and that was the only time for him to do it.

Sasuke doubted the boy even knew what he was – one of the last in a dying race, one of the few that could restore it.

Unfortunately for Sasuke, Naruto didn't know that, and wasn't entirely too keen on opening the closet and coming out just for that reason.

No matter though, his plan would work.

The cafeteria was noisy, full of loud, rambunctious teenagers, and it was heard to hear across the table. Naruto was sitting with Kiba, Shino, Shikamaru, Neji, Ino, Sakura, Lee, and a few others he'd forgotten. And everyone was trying to speak at once. That was really bad for his ears.

So he shut them up.

It was originally supposed to be a joke, but he couldn't really change the truth of it. He didn't feel like lying anyway, at least not to his friends. If anything, he could just blame Iruka and Kakashi as the influence – god knew they were loud enough.

So he stood. He had no attention – save for the boy at the back of the cafeteria, but that didn't really matter.

A bright smile lit Naruto's face, and he took in a large breath, slowly exhaled, and repeated. He still had no attention. Maybe it wouldn't shut them up after all. Maybe they wouldn't even notice he had said anything. Man, why did his intuition always have to be wrong?

"I'm gay."

That shut them up. And made him the center of attention – for the whole cafeteria. Now why'd he have to go do that?

Sasuke smiled. This would be easier than he had originally planned. Especially since Naruto was now headed to his table – the only one with any seats left. He threw down his tray, grumbling loudly and hitting himself against the head, sitting across the only one in school who hadn't looked at him dumbly. Of course, it had to be the freak, the outcaste, the pariah who didn't give him strange looks – well, except for the ones he was giving now, but that didn't count. He deserved those. Maybe.

"It's funny, you know?" Naruto rambled, speaking to Sasuke despite the fact that he didn't appear to be listening – of course, he was, you know. "They call themselves your friend – you call them your friends – but let slip one little secret turned into a tension breaker, a joke, and you get cast out without another word. Just a bunch of freakish stairs and rumors behind your back. Know what I mean?"

Sasuke glanced up at him, trying his hardest to down the horrible stuff called food – but he couldn't complain. It was better than his brother's cooking, but that wasn't saying much. Itachi was a horrible cook. It probably didn't help that he was screwing a shark-faced fish, but Sasuke couldn't really say anything – he wasn't screwing anyone.

Naruto had his head cocked to the side, waiting for an answer.

"Yeah, I know what you mean," Sasuke finally replied. He extended his hand across the table. "Sasuke."

Naruto took it, smiling like he never had. "Naruto. Nice to meet you."

"The pleasure is mine, I'm sure."

Naruto looked out the window, memories he had forgotten long ago suddenly resurfacing. It was strange, now that he thought about it – how the hell had he forgotten?

Well, given the fact that he had forgotten the several weeks he had been with Sasuke, he figured he knew whose fault it was – certainly not his.

Across the hall he could hear silence – strange, considering Kakashi and Iruka were home. But he supposed that didn't matter. The door next to his closed – Ame was going down stairs, probably to get something to drink.

She walked down the stairs, giddy about the coming of her father. It was strange though, that her mother was a guy, and her father was a guy, but hey – so were Kakashi and Iruka. And Neji and Shikamaru. And Kiba and Shino. It only made sense. Of course, hearing all of their tales of not-so-romantic romance was interesting. And a little bit disturbing. But she handled it well.

Except when they did it right in front of her, like Kakashi and Iruka were doing. That was a bit more… "Gross…"

Ame shielded her eyes, dry heaving as she turned away, clawing at her face. "Get it out! Get it out!" She really did not want that picture in her head – but, of course, it wouldn't leave. And she saw it clearly: Iruka hard pressed against the fridge, legs wrapped round Kakashi, moans, groans, kissing in places other than the mandible area, rocking motions, certain clothes missing, really white buttocks, red lines following nails across backs, curled toes – "Too much detail!"

She cautiously peeked between her fingers to see if it was okay to look – at least they were partly decent. Ame opened her mouth to speak, trying to find the right words. "I… I am never eating on that table again."

Kakashi gave her a sly look, Iruka hiding behind him, face brighter than cherries. He spoke up lightly, embarrassed beyond reason. "We weren't on the table."

Of course, Kakashi had to go and add his two cents. "Not this time, at least. But you should see the advantages it gives me over…"

Ame had her hands over her ears, singing as loud as she could, trying her hardest to ignore them. She even danced a little, but Kakashi continued, if only to embarrass his lover more.

But they all stopped when the door bell rang.

And Ame remembered – it was New Year's Eve!

Naruto heard it too, and he sped down stairs, reaching the door before anyone else could even think to step towards it. He opened it, coming face to face with Ame's father, his lover… His everything.

"Sasuke…"

Sasuke watched him carefully. Naruto was really turning him on, whether he knew it or not. And the candy cane didn't help much either. Oh no, it didn't. Luckily he had a grip of his emotions, else he suddenly overtake Naruto and take him right there.

Of course, that wouldn't be so bad after all. Save for all the people around – mainly class mates and teachers, but people nonetheless.

The only good thing about that fact was that everyone was leaving – the beginning of winter break.

As they walked through the office, out the glass doors, down the street, Naruto pulled the candy cane out of his mouth, putting it into Sasuke's face.

"Want some?"

Perhaps those weren't the right words to use, he second-guessed. But it didn't seem to have any effect on Sasuke – on the outside, at least.

"No. I don't like sweets."

The same ole excuse – he'd said that last time, too. If he didn't like sweets, why'd he eat ice cream every night? Why did he have a stash of candy under his bed? Maybe he should voice his thoughts… Nah, he thought better of that – if he told, Sasuke would know he stalked him, and that wasn't what he wanted right then. Maybe later?

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "I already know you stalk me, dobe."

Well, that was a nice deadpan. Hey! Wait a minute! Had he thought aloud? He thought he hadn't, but he couldn't tell – he was too far away in his head.

"Besides, I don't eat my ice cream everyday – you eat my ice cream everyday. And you eat the sweets beneath my bed, too. Why do you think I have them?"

"Damn, he's figured us out – we'll have to try extra-stealth ninja techniques if we wish to continue without being caught – what do you suggest, Sasuke?"

Sasuke could only stair. What had that been about?

"Yes, you're right, as always you evil genius," Naruto continued, his voice hushed as he looked around, continuing on his candy cane. "Hmmm… tactical, deadly, easy-to-put-together – I like it!"

Great, Naruto was talking to himself – out loud. Sasuke knew it would come one day, he just had no idea it would be so soon. Oh well, it'd be easier to take advantage of him in this insane state.

"Naruto… I think I would like to try that candy cane."

Naruto, still stuck in his insane two-voiced monologue, held the candy out to him. But the movement went unnoticed to Sasuke, who instead chose to take the taste from Naruto's mouth.

Sasuke, however, pulled away too quickly for Naruto's likes, and pulled him back. And when the kiss finished, Sasuke gave him a weird look – quirked brows and all. "You taste like ramen, but you're eating a candy cane?"

Naruto grinned, holding up said item and sucking on it again. "Ramen flavored candy cane!"

Sasuke couldn't help but slap himself in the forehead. Go figure.

His thoughts were interrupted, however, when Naruto began speaking again.

"You know, I live alone, if you wanna come…"

Sasuke raised his brow at that.

"Over! Come over! You didn't let me finish you horrid… evil… okay."

So much for the ramen candy cane – Naruto found himself something better to suck on. Sasuke's mouth.

Ame stared at him.

Iruka stared at him.

Kakashi stared at him.

But he stared at Naruto.

Who just happened to stare at him, too.

Sasuke cleared his throat, also clearing the silence – as well as whatever trance they'd been under.

"It's been a while," Kakashi stated, a frown on his face. "Troublemaker."

"Still wearing that mask, I see, old man," Sasuke retorted. "Lads still running from you, I gather?"

"Yeah," Ame spoke rolling her eyes. "But it's not because of his face. It's because if Iruka ever caught him cheating… well, he wouldn't even be allowed into the eunuch's convention."

"It's nice to see you again, Sasuke," said Iruka, smiling his wholesome smile.

"The same, sensei."

"Oh sure," Kakashi grumbled. "He yells at you, lectures you, gives you loads of work and you give him respect. Me? I give you sex education and I get insults. I feel so loved." He walked away.

Iruka, unsure if he should stay with his former student or not decided he should probably follow his lover. Ame, noting this, decided to threaten them. "Stay out of the kitchen! And don't go in my room either! Or else!"

Turning back to her father and her… father, she didn't really know what to do. So she started with introductions. "I'm Ame."

"Sasuke."

Naruto was still staring at him.

Ame noted the tension – sexual tension – and decided to clear the air.

"As much as I would love to stay and chat, I have to run. I … uh, promised a friend at school to tell him about my expedition today. Love ya guys!"

And she ran out the door.

"Expedition? Do I even want to know?"

Naruto smiled at him. "SWI."

"SWI?" Maybe he didn't want to know.

"Streaking Without-clothes In-school."

Sasuke nodded. "She's you're daughter."

Naruto agreed. "Yours too."

The tension was spreading, broken once again – this time by Sasuke.

"Can I come in?"

This was definitely not what he had thought would happen after unprotected sex – maybe AIDS or HIV or some other disease – but this? Never!

Naruto tried looking at his feet again, but couldn't see them because of his protruding stomach – this usually only happened when he'd had too much ramen. But he hadn't had any ramen that he could recall.

He blamed it entirely on Sasuke. It was all his fault.

Besides! According to Kakashi's sex-ed lessons, boys didn't get pregnant! There was definitely something wrong with this picture. Definitely.

Well, at least Iruka would be happy that he'd finally got something right on his first try, despite the fact that it wasn't exactly the best thing he could have gotten right. But it was a start, that was for sure.

Of course, Iruka wasn't happy that he'd somehow gotten himself knocked-up. Kakashi was, which got him a bad ass-whopping. Naruto thought he deserved it. So did Iruka. So he got another one, just for the hell of it.

Then Sasuke came over – that wasn't a happy reunion, that was certain. Quite the opposite, in fact. Made it look like Kakashi had it easy.

And there was a lot of cursing involved. A lot. And just as many tears: that day, two hearts broke. But one slipped back into the way he had been – dark, mysterious, scary and strong. Primal.

"You lied to me Sasuke! Look what you did! I hate you! I hate you!"

They were harsh words, but he listened. "Get out!" So he did. He left. He left forever. And Naruto had least expected it, a month after the birth, he didn't know who Sasuke was. Didn't know who Ame's mother was.

But Iruka and Kakashi remembered, and were in no hurry to push heartache on the boy again.

The silence extended – the only noise was that of Kakashi and Iruka upstairs. Which wasn't very silent at all. But that didn't matter, because Naruto and Sasuke didn't hear it. They were the only two who did exist at that time.

"I…I don't hate you. I never did." Naruto confessed. "And I never will."

"Then why'd you say it?"

Naruto frowned, sitting down on one end of the loveseat, Sasuke taking the other. Their thighs touched, and they both felt the electricity in the room at the friction they created. "I don't know why I said it. I was mad, I was confused, I felt… I felt betrayed. I didn't know how to handle what happened. I mean… Jeez! I'm not supposed to be able to have kids – from my own body, at least!"

Sasuke looked down at the carpet, discerning the weaves and dyes. "I needed to better my race – you were the best candidate. But something happened that wasn't supposed to."

"Would that be my pregnancy?" Naruto guessed with false excitement.

"That's what was supposed to happen, dobe," Sasuke deadpanned, glaring. But his gaze softened. "No, what wasn't supposed to happen was the emotion – I… I fell…"

"You obviously haven't been reading what some of these people have been writing – it's classic Stockholm syndrome buddy. Well, maybe not so classic, but… I kidnapped your heart, and you didn't want it back."

"But you gave it back anyway." His voice was bitter, cold – back to the primal instincts.

"If it makes you feel any better – you still have my heart. You always did."

"I know."

Naruto's blue eyes glared. "If you knew why'd you leave! You bastard!"

"Because of what you said. Cursing me isn't really going to make me stick around, dobe."

Naruto smacked him on the back of the head – which earned him a feral growl, but he didn't care. "Now who's the dobe? You know nothing about pregnant women – people – do you? They're supposed to curse their loved ones – especially if he's the reason why they're going through all that pain. I just did what was natural."

Sasuke snorted. Natural? It sure hurt him. But looking up into Naruto's face, he knew he'd never have been able to stay mad long. "Fine. Whatever. Just no more ramen candy canes, okay? They put a bad taste in my mouth."

Naruto leapt onto him, straddling his hips, arms around his neck, face to face.

"Just one question."

Naruto sighed. Of course he'd stop just when he was ready to go. Something he'd always do. "Yeah, what is it?"

Sasuke shook his head, rolling his eyes. "Why candy?"

Naruto grinned. He should have known better than to ask that question.

"Forget I asked."

Naruto kissed him, tongue into mouth, over teeth, battling for dominance. Sparks settling inside bellies as they fell off the love-sofa. Always something getting in the way. Always.

"So," Naruto began, looking up at Sasuke as he lay beneath him. "How many more you want?"

An evil grin spread over Sasuke's face. "A lot…" he whispered. "A lot more."

Naruto pulled Sasuke to his mouth. "Then let's get started!"

A/N: This one is dedicated to Ashley Prater –a few special Kakashi/Iruka moments for you in there.Despite the fact that I'm sure it's not as detailed as you'd like,I hoped you liked it!

As for the ramen flavored candy canes... I've had the candy cane idea for a few days, and as for the kiss, I was envisioning while I was eating a mug of ramen (it's a big mug). It's the most I've had to eat in one setting for a while now -- I've been glued to the computer -- and I thought about this story. And just as I was picking up my chopsticks (gotta love'em!) and I was tasting the ramen, the candy cane kiss scene came to my mind.

Mix that with ramen, and you have ramen flavored candy canes. Or at least I do. I wonder if they really have ramen flavored candy cane... I'd try one. Not sure how much I'd like it though...

Oh well, I'd try just about anything at least once.

Happy Holidays to all, and to all a happy new year! (Some cultures/religions have new year's on Samhain -- that's All Hallow's Eve. How many of you new that? ...well, I didn't.)

Now it's time to celebrate! (A word of advice -- if you're going to drink, watch out for glass doors. They hurt.)

Okay, so this is a little late -- I had this finished the same day I posted the first chapter -- and I planned to post it on New Year's. Unfortunately, I was a little late coming home, so procrastination set it. Just like it always does.

I hope this chapter answered everyone's questions, and I'm sorry if it didn't. I'm not even sure I completely understand it either -- it's COMPLETELY based on a dream I had, only there were people from my daily life instead of anime/manga characters.

By the way! I don't own Naruto and co.

Has anybody seen Serenity?