"The fu…."The small restaurant is decorated from top to bottom with poorly made Christmas decorations that I'm guessing were made by the grade-schoolers that run around widly around me. Itachi speaks eagerly with Iruka, something that I can't hear over the sheer noise that these children are making, and even Naruto has taken to run around with them, though he doesn't make a single noise. "Yo, which one is Naruto's?" Suigetsu points at the various portraits that were hung against the far wall, each more hideous than the one before. He had decided to tag along to this ridiculous get together when I had mentioned that we were going to be served dinner. Free food was another of his weakness, and the fact that Itachi had reserved the most expensive restaurant for this reunion was just the cherry on top. Even I came, even though it was more to be able to check on Naruto than to eat the renowned and exquisite cuisine that was served here. Food much too refined for the uncaring tastebuds of 21 8-year olds. "I really don't want to get a headache right now." I mutter. I really do hate noise. I feel a small hand grab unto mine, pulling at me slightly. "Come look at mine." Naruto signs cheerfully, his blue eyes standing out remarkably over the green sweater I had picked out for him to wear. "Do I have to?" I groan, but nonetheless letting him lead me to the far off end of the wall, Suigetsu following quickly behind us. "Mr. Iruka told us to draw our favorite Christmas memory." Naruto signs, his bright smile becoming wider. He then points at a remarkably well done picture, where four stick figures dressed in oversized clothing stood around a lop-sided, disfigured tree. "I only remember our Christmas together, but I know that it was the best one ever." My heart clenches as I look over the pointy haired figure that sat closest to the blond figure, and that was holding something blue that I can only imagine is the present that I had given him that day.
He still hadn't gotten used to being around us, and even avoided most of us during the day, and only when he slept did he use to allow me to touch him. That Christmas morning had been uneventful, something that wasn't at all rare in our household since my parent's passed away. Mother had always been the one to wake us up, always smiling, singing her usual good morning song and tickling me, even though the last time she had done that I had responded with a foul mood. But with her gone, we just woke up to the ring of our alarm clocks, and even though I had really wanted to remain in bed just a couple of hours more, I had gotten up and pulled Naruto along with me down to the tree that Tanaka had placed in the living room. He had remembered well how Mother used to decorate it, and I had seen him in early December coax Naruto into helping him, which had been a sight to see, as Naruto's curiosity and shyness had caused more than a few smiles. He seemed scared at first, which I could only guess was at my insistence for him to come to the living room. Itachi, who had been drinking coffee in the dining room, followed behind us after noticing Naruto's hesitant stare. "Sasuke, what are you doing?"
"It's Christmas Itachi."
"Yes I know that." He almost chuckles, and sits on the recliner next to the tree. Tanaka stood by the doorway, waiting for someone to ask him for breakfast and watching with outmost interest. I had felt my cheeks heat up, since I hadn't expected everyone to be present when I gave Naruto my gift, but controlled the rising blood accordingly. I reached under the tree and pulled out a small box with green and red wrapping paper. "Errm, Merry Christmas and such." I quickly pushed the gift into Naruto's hands, but he didn't know how to react. His gaze went from the gift, to me, to Itachi and then back to the gift. "Open it Naruto." Itachi finally said after successfully suppressing another laugh, and Naruto did so.
"It suits you," I said quickly after seeing the surprise on his small face, "It is an Uchiha family custom to wear it." The small blue pendant shone slightly against the early morning light pouring in from the window, swinging softly beneath the black leather lace. The usual stone we used in our family was red, but blue seemed to match Naruto better, though it had been quite a feat to find it. Once he finishes growing out I'll find him a silver necklace to match.
Naruto jumped into me, his small hands hugging my neck tightly. Maybe if Mother had been there, she would have known how to make it a better day, what with her singing, her special pancake Christmas breakfast, her smile and her overall love, but regardless, seeing Naruto's smile had been enough to make it unforgettable, at least for me.
"Are you really Naruto's brother?" the pink haired thing that I had tried to avoid all night somehow found its way to me, and now I'm just trying to find a way around and away from her. "You don't look like him at all," she continues despite my silence, "You are waaaaaaaaaaay too handsome." She sighs, takes a hand to her cheek and smiles softly, though it only gives me an unbearable urge to smack her across the head. Naruto is completely adorable and will probably grow out to be the most handsome thing anyone has ever seen. "I'm going to marry you when I get older, so wait for me!" Suigetsu almost chokes on his bottle of water. "Excuuuuse me, but Sasuke already has a bride." He finally manages to say after a fit of coughs. Sakura glares at him. "That's not true."
"Yes it is, and I will be damned if I ever let a little rat like you take him away."
"You can't be his bride 'cause your too ugly. You're an ugly girl!"
"Whhhaaaat!? Look who's talking, a make-shift kindergarten version of my little pony. Time to go back to the barn you little horse."
I slowly walk away from the argument that was getting out of hand. Though I do have to hand it to Suigetsu for getting into an argument over my future companion with an 8 year old child. Naruto, luckily, is playing on the other side of the room with Kiba, Shino, and the short haired girl that Naruto had told me was named Hinata. Now she would make a nice bride, and if she is still as shy and reserved when she grows up, I would have no problem handing Naruto off to her…..Nevermind, Naruto will never get married. He will live in the house with us till he gets old and dies.
"Don't listen to her, I will make a way prettier bride." Pale blue eyes are looking up at me, a wide smile on the small face. This blond girl is just as persistent as her pink haired friend. I sigh softly. I really just want to leave before someone else declares their future plans to me.
"Wake up, Naruto, please wake up
The sun is already up,
And all the birds are singing
And they are singing to you"
I can see Naruto's cerulean eyes peak at me from in between the sheets, and though I already feel ridiculous enough, I reach over and run my fingers down his sides, tickling him with all the force I had. He wails silently, his small hands trying to no avail to push me away. "Merry Christmas Naruto." I say to him after he has settled down. "Merry Christmas Sasuke." He signs back, his cheeks still red and flustered. "Come on, let's go eat breakfast, everyone's waiting, and you have to try the Uchiha's traditional Christmas pancake breakfast." Naruto smiles brightly and jumps off the bed instantly. "As long as everyone is there, I know it'll be the best day ever." He signs and runs towards the door. "Oh, and brother sings really good." He leaves after I throw a pillow at him. "Shut up!" I really do hope that Naruto doesn't tell Itachi about my voice, though knowing the little blond runt, he will be more than well informed.