I started this story a year ago now and I have five chapters ready, but for some reason it never got to the uploads. Well now it's time to do it!
Hope you enjoy :)
The snow began to fall. It was the evening and if you were to pass Konoha street you'd catch sight of the most extravagant display of Christmas. Everyone on the block loved Christmas. Families would hang up decorations and battle for whose was better, but in a playful matter. In fact, it was now December 1st and the street was already filled with families and neighbours helping each other out with their usual traditions. First the lights, then the fake Santa Claus sculpture that stood near the chimney happily, and lastly, your own personal decorations.
That is precisely why Sakura loved the place. Everyone was friendly and helpful. Well save one grouch.
Sasuke Uchiha. He lived right across from her. Each year for the past 3 he's moved in, he has been nothing but a brute. No decorations. No partying or mingling with the others. Not even a friendly smile of acknowledgement. Nada. So, in turn, Sakura tried her hardest to get him to become more festive. For the past 3 years she's been pestering him non-stop every time the holidays rolled around. She'd occasionally knock on his door, or smile brightly when she saw him, or even buy him some fruitcake. All attempts were futile though. He would ignore her, shrug her off, and even call her well - annoying. So this year she decided to leave him alone for once.
"Maybe that might be his Christmas wish." Inner Sakura chuckled sadly.
Sakura was currently assembling all her Christmas supplies. Tangled Christmas lights, wreaths, her big Santa dragged behind her and a bunch of other pretty decorations. Sakura was in the middle of carrying everything outside when she saw him. Did she mention he was the most handsome thing you'd ever lay your eyes on? Right now he was getting out of his painfully plain house, with a hand through his spiky black hair as if frustrated with something. He shut it behind himself, not bothering to lock it because of the automatic locks on all the doors down the block. His dark eyes looked bored as he made his way over to his pretty expensive looking car. He was wearing a blue coat that was unzipped. Did the cold not bother him?
"Well he is cold hearted so it must not affect him or something," Inner Sakura chided.
As he walked, Sakura couldn't help it but greet him.
"Hey Mr. Uchiha!" Sakura flashed a big smile, her hands still holding the bundle of lights. Some of it started to fall.
Sasuke turned his head to look at her. She was wearing red earmuffs and a matching peacoat. She was only wearing slides that had mini Santa's on them. In her hands were tangled up lights. Oh how he hated those blinding lights. Instead of acknowledging her he just kept his eyes trained on the dark light bulbs. Sakura tilted her head a little in confusion, but quickly realized he was staring at her light bulbs. She tried her best to quickly untangle them from around herself, but it was a difficult feat. She felt quite embarrassed tugging and shifting under his watch. She fought down a blush that began to coat her cheeks.
Sasuke watched in slight amusement at her display. She was trying so hard to detangle herself as quickly as possible, but to no avail. Frustrated, she huffed and pouted. Sasuke smirked inwardly. What a weird girl. Just as he was about to leave, she yet again called out to him.
"Uh-uhm," Sakura stuttered out, "You think you could help me a little?"
Sasuke stood for half a second and answered, "Hn."
Sakura's eyes brightened, but then she watched as he got over to his car, started the engine and drove off, leaving her in the dust - or rather snow.
Sakura was guffawed.
That bastard! What a scrooge!
"S-Sakura-ch-chan!" A voice that belonged to none other than one of Sakura's besties - Hinata - yelled.
Sakura attempted to turn her head a little more to Hinata's way. Hinata was carefully running up to her as to not slip on the ice patches forming down the street. Hinata lived beside the Uchiha and her house sparkled with elegant Christmas colours - blue, gold, and white. Right now she had a light purple blanket wrapped around herself and her long hair was tied up into a ponytail by a white scrunchie. She had a light grey sweater and black sweats . Above her upper lip was some milk stain, but Sakura didn't notice.
She had caught up to her friend and began to try and pry off the offending objects.
"I saw you come outside while I was drinking some cocoa." Hinata explained as she undid some knots.
"How embarrassing," Sakura whined.
"Hehe, it's fine. Besides I'm sure Sasuke thought it was cute." Hinata giggled as Sakura glared at her.
"Don't be so loud," Sakura whispered harshly. Sakura might have a bit of crush on him. But she only admitted that he was handsome and Hinata and Ino pounced on that little detail for the longest time.
"Oh my gosh, Mr. Uchiha probably thinks I'm such an idiot!" Sakura groaned.
Hinata just shook her head. "He's not hanging up the lights again?"
Sakura sighed, "I should stop bothering him about it."
"Why? He's such a g-grump, he needs to be cheered up." Hinata frowned.
"That may be true," Sakura nodded, but inwardly smacked herself, "No! Wait, I promised myself I wouldn't annoy him this time around."
Hinata pursed her lips. "I guess some of Ino's pestering rubbed off of me huh?"
Sakura giggled and Hinata cloned the action.
"It is his business, but I'll be the one to talk to Ino about that. Heaven knows she might lock you two in a room or some-" Hinata trailed off.
Sakura raised her brow. "Earth to Hinata?"
Sakura followed Hinata's gaze to no one other than Sakura's loud mouthed neighbour - Naruto Uzumaki. Right now he had just gotten out of his house and jumped onto the snow. He laughed and Hinata swooned. He had on a bright orange jacket zipped up and matching track pants. He looked so childish playing around in the snow like that, but Hinata thought it was so cute.
"Oooh," Sakura nudged Hinata, finally free of the refines of the lights.
"H-he can't s-see me like-like this!" Hinata wrapped her blanket tighter around herself.
Hinata tried to hide her blush, but for her that we impossible. Sakura thought the two were helpless if none of them did something so naturally-
"Hey Naruto!" Sakura called out to her best dude friend. Immediately Naruto's head whipped in her direction. He grinned and Sakura made a gesture to come over. Hinata gave Sakura a sharp look.
"I should've let you be," Hinata said in a fake angry tone. Sakura just smirked.
Naruto was running up to the two and Hinata whirled to face the other direction.
"Hey Sakura-chan!" He grinned, and then looked to the woman beside her. He frowned for a couple seconds before recognizing her hair and lavender scent. "Hey Hinata!"
Hinata slowly turned towards him, her face downwards.
"N-Naruto-kun," She nodded to indicate she knows who he is.
Naruto tilted his head to the side, "Say Hinata, aren't ya cold? It's freezing out here,"
Hinata just shook her head madly. "N-no, I-I-I'm alright."
Naruto leaned forward and used his index finger to lift the underside of her chin. Hinata was forced to look upset him.
"Hinata! You're cheeks are all red!" He cupped Hinata's cheeks in the palm of his hands. Hinata blushed tenfold.
"And you have some stain on your lips!" Naruto noticed.
"M-my-my bad!" Hinata squeaked and quickly licked her lips to remove it, but to no avail. It was still there. Naruto just laughed and used his thumb to wipe it away thoughtfully.
"There ya go!" Naruto didn't realize that he might've just killed poor Hinata.
Hinata shut her eyes tight and nodded. "Th-thank you-u"
"Hinata, you sound cold still," Naruto pouted, hands still warming her red cheeks.
"I'm fine r-r-re-really," Hinata tried to get him to leave.
Sakura slowly took some steps away from them until she was a good distance for their privacy. Naruto didn't seem to notice.
"Oh c'mon Hinata! You can't fool me... do you need my jacket?" He offered.
Before Hinata could refuse, Naruto had already wrapped his jacket around her shoulders. His hands went back to her face and his warmth made Hinata all tingly inside. "See, you're warming up already, I can feel it!"
"Ri-right," Hinata hummed. She decided to bask in Naruto's warmth for as long as she could.
Naruto watched Hinata slowly close her eyes, her eyelashes fluttering down. He saw her pale cheeks dusted with pink. Her soft lips were slightly parted as she exhaled. Naruto took it all in. She had a messy ponytail on and some indoor wear that he normally wouldn't see. Naruto smiled.
"Hinata you're so pretty," he whispered unconsciously.
Hinata's eyes shot open, wide and her mouth parted. "O-oh?! U-uh-uhmm," She began to fidget with the hem of Naruto's jacket.
Embarrassed of what he accidentally had said, he pulled away his hands and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, "S-sorry..."
Hinata bit her lip as to not smile widely. "Thank you."
Naruto blinked twice before breaking into a grin. "Keep the sweater, I have tons like it at home!" And with that he sprinted off to the other direction.
Hinata stared at him as his body shrunk the further he ran. "Won't he be cold without this jacket?"
"That's the first thing you think after what just happened!?" Sakura bursted beside her. Hinata shrugged with a bashful look.
"I wouldn't want him to get sick."
Sakura stared at Hinata. "Oh my gosh, Naruto is so lucky to have a girl like you in love with him." She swung her arm around Hinata, "I hope you two get married and make me the godmother of your children." Hinata gasped at the thought of having a family with Naruto and Sakura laughed.
"You should go home now, thanks for helping me out, but I wouldn't want your hot milk to get cold." Sakura insisted.
Hinata agreed. "Thank you for calling Naruto-kun over."
"What are the most annoying of friends for?" They both laughed. Hinata waved to Sakura and went a couple ways down to her house.
Sakura began to get everything set up around her house.
Sakura rolled up her right sleeve. It had already been five hours. It hadn't even felt that long, but I guess time flies when having fun. Sakura took a step back to appreciate her art. She was more of a colourful Christmas girl. The trees were covered with different coloured lights- red, yellow, blue, green, etc. A thick wreath with a red bow was hanging off her red door. Tinsel was wrapped around her house - gold and silver along with fresh garland. Poisenttas were placed here and there. On the roof was their street's traditional Santa Claus statue and boy was that a hassle to get up. She would add a few more things tomorrow but she was satisfied for the day.
Sakura turned just in time to see Sasuke's sleek black car pull into his driveway. When he got out, he frowned when his eyes met Sakura's big decor.
"Mr. Uchiha!" Sakura waved and walked over towards him. Sasuke remained the same.
"You like it?" She knew it was dumb to ask that question to a man who obviously despised decorating his own house.
Sasuke thought that it was a dumb question too. But the look in her emerald eyes made him think twice. They twinkled with such happiness.
Sakura was about to resign from bothering him, remembering her earlier talk with Hinata, but then she heard, "Looks nice."
Sakura blinked once. Twice. Then thrice.
"Really?" She excitedly jumped. Sasuke twitched his left eye and shut his car door. Sakura watched him walk into his house.
That was the first compliment she'd ever gotten from him. It was...
Nice.
A/N: Okay, I promise the story will go somewhere, but I wanted a little calm intro. Btw I love Naruhina and it is a strong pairing in this story. This is inspired from Christmas with the Kranks. Might change a little because I'm still figuring out the plot, but I think it's alright. Please review! They make me so happy and inspired to write more! I love you all and thank you for reading! Until next time!