Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

2: Love

'Kakashi-sensei! Why do we have to do such a boring mission?' the hyperactive, blonde boy complained as he carried some Christmas tree's lights.

'You're still genins,' Kakashi responded. 'And besides, if you didn't do it, who would?'

Pouting, Naruto increased his speed to get the work done faster. 'Where's Sasuke-teme and Sakura-chan, anyway?'

'They're going to fetch some Christmas trees,' Kakashi explained.

'How unfair!' Naruto sulked. 'They get to do the fun stuff! I get to do the slave work!'

'Oi! Hurry up, brat,' a man said as he walked past Naruto, a box of decorative angels in his arms.

'Yeah, yeah,' Naruto muttered. 'I wonder how they're doing, anyway?'

¨-.¨-.¨-.¨-.¨-.¨-.¨-¨.-¨

'Sasuke-kun,' she smiled. 'Don't you just love the winter? I mean, spring is the best, but winter… it's beautiful too, isn't it? But in another way.'

'Hn.' Sasuke picked up one of the firs and slung it across his shoulder. 'Let's get moving.'

'Yeah.' More gently, Sakura picked up another of the firs. 'Sasuke-kun, do you remember when we first met?'

Silence. 'Yes, I do.'

'And you said you didn't like the snow.'

'… Aa.'

'And then, we played in it until dark, and we had lots of fun… and you laughed so much.' A sorrowful look appeared in her eyes. 'That was long ago, wasn't it?'

'Aa.'

'You don't laugh… not like that… anymore.'

'Times have changed,' he sharply stated.

'It isn't time, though,' she answered. 'It isn't time which has changed it all.' It's the things that have changed.

He grunted in disapproval.

'But, you know, Sasuke-kun…'

She turned her gaze upwards at the white sky. '… no matter how long time passes or how much things change, I'll never stop loving you. You know that, right?'

He stopped in his tracks to face her, and when she noticed, she halted as well. 'Sasuke-kun?' She didn't recognize the emotions that were displayed in his eyes. Was it sadness, tenderness, happiness or anger? She couldn't make it out. It was such a thoroughly mixed blend that she couldn't see his true mood.

'I -,' he began, but was abruptly cut across as Kakashi and Naruto entered.

'Oi, Sasuke-teme, Sakura-chan!' Naruto exclaimed. 'You done yet?'

'No, not exactly,' Sakura grinned. 'But you don't need to help.'

'But I want to,' Naruto burst out and grabbed hold of two firs at once. 'C'mon, let's go!'

Shutting his mouth again, Sasuke followed his two teammates. Kakashi watched them in amusement when he suddenly felt something fall onto his nose. He looked up, just to see flakes of snow start falling.

Snow this early? he thought. It hasn't even become cold enough yet.

'Kakashi-sensei!' he then heard them calling. 'Are you coming?'

'Yes, I'm coming,' he responded before proceeding towards his students. Strange. It's almost like something special made the snow come early…