A light snowfall blanketed Konoha one chilly winter night. It was Christmas eve. All of the stores and shops closed early to spend time with their loved ones. The village was decorated festively with colorful lights hanging from every power pole and street light around the village. The Sixth Hokage, Kakashi Hatake, wanted this to be a special Christmas season. One of his former students, Sasuke Uchiha, had finally come home.
Sasuke had caused a lot of trouble in his youth. Since then, he was on an atonement mission. He was wanting to atone for anything and everything he had done since he first left the village. He was away from The Leaf for over a year with very little communication to the village, but frequent communication from the village. Sasuke frequently received requests from Kakashi or illegible village updates from Naruto.
Every once in a while, Sasuke would receive a letter from the one person whose letters didn't annoy him, Sakura. Her letters were thoughtful, full of love and made him smile reading them. Sakura always asked how he was doing, what he was up to, where he was. Then would tell him what she was up to and how the hospital was doing, how Naruto was doing and about his marriage to Hinata, sometimes she would spill some of the village gossip that she knew Sasuke wouldn't care about. At the end of every letter, she would tell him how much she missed him and anytime he was ready to come home, he had a place to come home to. She liked to write to him like they were dating or were very close.
Sasuke didn't always respond to her letters and when he did, the letters were usually short. He would tell Sakura that he was doing alright, where he was and what he was working on, he was happy that she was doing well and that he would see her soon. Because of their letters, when Sasuke came home, he felt that he was closer to her than he was ever before.
This was Sasuke's first Christmas being home. Sakura kept up her invitation to Sasuke to have him stay with her for as long as he wanted, if he wanted. Sasuke accepted her invitation to stay with her, with a condition. He wasn't going to leave.
That was back in Spring when he came home. Now it was Winter, Christmas Eve. Their relationship had blossomed. Sasuke and Sakura were very happy as they sat on the couch in the living room of their apartment watching some sappy Christmas movie. Sasuke wasn't in to the movie at all, but he enjoyed the time with Sakura. Every once in a while, the movie would make her laugh and Sasuke would get brought back to the movie for a couple of minutes. After that his mind would wander back to the feeling of Sakura's warm hand in his and how happy he felt. A feeling he hadn't felt in a long time. He was truly happy.
Sakura started getting tired and laid her head in his lap. Sasuke pulled a blanket off of the arm of the couch and covered Sakura with it. He looked down at his beautiful girlfriend and stroked her soft pink hair. Sakura looked up and smiled at Sasuke, who returned the smile. He was always handsome, but his features glowed with just the light of the television illuminating the living room. His gentle smile was more than enough to do that though. It was even more special because he only ever showed that smile to her. Sasuke had another reason to smile. This wasn't the first Christmas they had spent together. It reminded him of the first time that he celebrated Christmas after the massacre.
Team Seven had been a team for several months now. During a training, a week before Christmas as they were taking a break under a tree, Sakura spoke up.
"Kakashi Sensei, I heard the other Genin teams were going to take a break for a few days for Christmas. I don't think it would hurt to do the same. Maybe even have a small team celebration?" Sakura asked.
"Since the other teams are doing it, I don't see why we couldn't have a party as a team." Kakashi said knowing that Naruto never had a proper celebration and Sasuke hadn't celebrated since his last Christmas with his family.
"Great! We can do it at my place. My parents are fine with the idea." Sakura was excited.
"Thanks, Sakura, but we don't want to impose on your family. We can have the party on Christmas Eve at my apartment. What do you think, guys?" Kakashi asked eyeing the boys.
"Hn..." Sasuke said.
"A christmas party?" Naruto asked. "I've... never been to a Christmas party. Let's do it!" Naruto exclaimed.
"That settles it. We'll take the rest of the week off from training to celebrate Christmas." Kakashi said happy. "It won't be anything fancy. Presents aren't required. I'll make lunch so that Sakura can still spend time with her family." Naruto and Sakura were ecstatic to have a party. Sasuke was indifferent, he didn't care for Christmas anymore. If it would make Sakura happy, he would attend the party, he would never tell her it was for her though.
Christmas Eve arrived. Kakashi spent the morning preparing a feast for his team. He hoped it would be good enough. This was Naruto's first Christmas and Sasuke's first without his family. Sakura's intentions were good, but he worried this might bring up some feelings from Sasuke and he might storm off. Or that Naruto would get upset about never having spent a Christmas with his parents. Sakura was truly a good person, he was sure that she wanted them to have a happy experience.
Right at the strike of noon, Kakashi's team showed up and knocked on the door. Kakashi walked over to the door wearing his black long sleeve shirt, pants and a white apron and opened it.
"Merry Christmas!" Naruto yelled as they walked in.
"Welcome, everyone." Kakashi said inviting them in. "Lunch isn't quiet ready yet. Feel free to have a seat at the table."
"Naruto... you're still annoying... even on a holiday." Sasuke said annoyed as he took off his shoes.
"Not how I wanted to start the day..." Sakura thought.
"Come on guys, let's go sit at the table." Sakura said taking their hands and walking to sit at the table. Kakashi decided to have them sit at a low table on the floor on pillows. Sasuke sat down on one side and Sakura sat down next to him. Naruto sat across from Sakura.
Kakashi didn't have room for a big tree and a lot of decorations in his apartment, but he had a small table tree as decoration that sat in the middle of the table.
"Well, while we wait. I got everyone a gift." Sakura said digging into a small satchel bag she brought.
"I thought we weren't doing that." Naruto said.
"Yeah, but I still wanted to..." Sakura said. She first handed Naruto a medium sized square package wrapped in orange sparkly paper.
"Th... thanks Sakura." He said as he took the package. His face glowed at his first Christmas present. Then Naruto tore apart the wrapping paper like a child on Christmas morning. "What is it?" Naruto asked looking at the gift.
"It's a cleaning kit for your headband." Sakura explained.
"Wow! Cool! My headband is going to look so cool! Jealous, Sasuke?" Naruto asked.
"Why would he be? His present is right here." Sakura said handing Sasuke a smaller rectangle present wrapped in shiny blue paper. Sasuke stayed quiet as he took the gift from her hand. He looked at it for a moment. Memories of his mother handing him a present the same way flashed into his head. He shook the thoughts out of his head and gently opened the top of the package, trying not to ruin Sakura's perfect wrapping. When it was open he stuck his hand in and pulled out a book.
"The Way of The Shinobi." Sasuke read aloud. "I've been wanting to read this."
"I thought so. I picked up a copy at the library a few months ago and thought it would be something you would like." Sakura said.
"I haven't been able to find a copy." Sasuke said looking down at the book. "Thanks, Sakura."
"You're welcome, Sasuke." Sakura said with a gentle smile as Kakashi walked in.
"What's going on here?" He asked.
"I brought presents. Here's yours Kakashi sensei." Sakura said as she pulled out a package wrapped in green.
"That was very thoughtful, Sakura." Kakashi looked around at the presents. Naruto was studying the products in his kit and Sasuke opened the book and started reading. "Headband cleaning kit and "The Way of The Shinobi. Naruto, I'll show you how to use your kit later. I guess Sasuke doesn't need any help with the book."
The rest of the afternoon, Team Seven spent having a great time. They had a huge meal of different kinds of wonderful and delicious food. Kakashi taught Naruto how to clean his headband properly. Sasuke even let Sakura snuggle up to him on the couch while he read some of the book. Later in the afternoon Sasuke stood up.
"I have to go." He said.
"Alright, Sasuke... even with this afternoon, my offer still stands to spend Christmas with my family." Sakura said nervously. Sasuke nodded in an non-committing way and left.
"What's with him?" Naruto asked.
"This may be a little much for Sasuke to handle. It may have brought up hard feelings for him to handle about his family. The last time he celebrated was with his family before the massacre." Kakashi explained. "I'll go check on him in the morning."
"Right..." Sakura said worried.
The next morning, Sakura woke up early, excited to celebrate Christmas. She dressed in a warm dress and didn't put her headband in her hair. While getting ready, she thought about how Sasuke left the party yesterday. Sakura wondered if she should go talk to him. She thought about it before returning home too.
"Maybe I should let Kakashi Sensei handle Sasuke..." She thought. Sakura walked downstairs to look at the Christmas tree before the celebration with her family began. As she walked downstairs, the doorbell rang.
"Who could that be?" She asked as she walked to the door and answered it. Behind the door was one person she wasn't expecting. "Sasuke!" She said startled. "What are you doing here?"
"Can we talk outside?" Sasuke asked.
"Sure." Sakura said closing the door behind her.
"I..." Sasuke blushed and handed Sakura a small square package wrapped in shiny red paper. "I wanted to return the favor for the book." Sakura blushed and accepted the package. She slowly unwrapped the package. Inside of it was a small tan box. Sakura opened the box that revealed a beautiful pink Cherry Blossom hair pin.
"Sasuke... thank you so much. It's beautiful. I love it." Sakura blushed and pushed the hair pin into her bangs and pulled one side out of her face. "How does it look? I didn't do my hair today."
"Looks good. You should part your hair like this more often." Sasuke said. Sakura blushed at the unexpected compliment from Sasuke. Sasuke looked away from the blushing young woman before him.
When he looked away, he noticed something at the top of her doorway. Sasuke pointed up at it. Sakura was confused and looked towards what he was pointing at. Sakura blushed again. Sasuke was pointing at a mistletoe that Sakura was standing under.
He quickly leaned in and pressed his lips against Sakura's and kissing her gently. Sakura looked away when the kiss ended.
"Something wrong?" Sasuke asked.
"I... just didn't expect it and wasn't able to enjoy it... something I've waited so long for." Sakura said sadly.
"Tell you what, since its a holiday, I'll... kiss you again. So this time you expect it and get to enjoy it... that's what I wanted, after all." Sasuke gently placed his hands on her hips and looked deep in her emerald green eyes. He slowly started moving his face towards her again. Sakura blushed, closed her eyes and gently put her hands on his chest.
Before she knew it, she felt Sasuke's warm lips on hers again, pulling her into a kiss. Sasuke's arms moved from her hips to her back and pulled her closer to him as he deepened the kiss, Their mouths started moving together slowly and Sakura rested her arms around his neck. The kiss deeper and more passionate than Sasuke wanted and he slowly pulled away.
Sakura wasn't ready for the kiss to end. It was the best Christmas present Sasuke could have given her. She smiled as she watched Sasuke slowly move away.
"Thank you, Sasuke." She said softly.
"Just... don't tell Naruto. He would get jealous and might try to kiss you too." Sasuke said.
"Yeah. I'll just keep this between us." Sakura said.
"Merry Christmas, Sakura." Sasuke said starting to back away.
"Wait, you aren't staying?" She asked.
"No, you should spend the day with your family. I'll see you later, Sakura." Sasuke said giving her a soft smile.
"Merry Christmas, Sasuke." Sakura said as he turned away.
Sakura chuckled at the movie as she relaxed in Sasuke's lap. She turned over on her back to look up at Sasuke.
"Hey Sasuke." Sakura said. Sasuke looked back down at Sakura.
"Sakura?" He said softly.
"Do you know what us being together tonight reminds me of?" She asked.
"What's that?" He smiled.
"The first Christmas we spent together. The first time you kissed me." She smiled back at him and sat up. Sasuke put his arm around her waist and pulled her close. Sakura slowly moved into Sasuke and passionately kissed him.
Sasuke smiled. "She read my mind."