A/N: Hello dearest readers. First, I apologize for not uploading for such a long while. I was on holiday for one week and then I was busy with life. I hope this chap lifts your mood a little. I'll try to upload more regulary in the futur

Five exhausting and busy weeks later the two students, somehow, managed to finish the presents mostly. Sasuke made all the bonbons, lollipops and some chocolate while Naruto helped him where ever he could and wrapped the small things into colourful, cut paper. Beside the sweets Itachi send them lots of small toys, too, mini-stuffed animals and cars out of plastic. Now the two of them were putting the candy with the toys and fruits like apples and tangerines into small transparent bags and decorated them with coloured strings. All in all it worked quite well, even if the Uzumaki had some problems at the beginning. But meanwhile he worked with a lot of joy, a bright smile always over his happy face.

And for the first time the Uchiha did the work with enjoyment as well.

"... So I thank especially the parents' association for preparing the festivity along with the students' association. But more than anything I am pleased to thank all the visitors in the name of the school and it's students. We wish you all a sensual, joyful Christmas and happy holidays. Thank you." The people who listened the speech applauded, the adults talked about the school president with a smile on their faces. They hadn't seen such a polite, capable president for years and now they looked forward to any festival on school.

But no one of them knew how Sasuke felt, being on stage in front of so many parents with their children, they, who whised their sons were just like him. A sad smirk was over his lips. It was easy to talk about people, but any person he had seen knew how broken he really was, how false his mask was, how... lonely he was.

"One last photo, Mr. President!" he heard and looked up, sighed and posed in front on the lad.

"Got it, moron?" the raven asked, sounding annoyed.

"Yeah, bastard. Nice photos for the yearbook." the blond grinned and the other shook his head. The two went side by side through the schoolyard and entered the school-building, going upstairs. "I'll just leave the film here and then we can go." the bright-haired said and opened the door to the club-room.

"Very well. We have to load the bags into the car and drive to the city, tomorrow is the festivity on hospital." the Uchiha replied and rested on the wall next to him. He was exhausted, the last week was especially busy for him. He couldn't wait the next days to pass, after that he finally could relax a bit. He took a deep breath and lifted his head, looking at the younger. "When we arrived at Itachi's place, I'll drive you home, if you would like to."

Naruto froze with that words.

"... Home? What do you mean?" he asked, turning around and closing the door behind himself.

The dark-haired went next to him and explained, "Home, to your family."

"Family..." the Uzumaki whispered, his eyes turning dark. The Uchiha watched him, not even blinking. And then, just then, the most fake grin he had ever seen appeared over tan skin. "I'm an orphan. I don't have something I call family." The raven swallowed, turning his face away from that painful grin. Now he started to understand a lot of things.

"Wait, let me help you." a dark, male voice said and the carton which took Naruto's sight disappeared.

"Ha, thanks Kakashi." he smiled, carrying another heavy carton into Itachi's van. Sasuke's car was sportier, but it had barely space. With the two lads and the cartons it was completely filled.

"So, I think that's all, isn't it?" the older Uchiha asked and the younger one nodded.

"Yes. We are ready for tomorrow." the pale boy replied and sighed. "It was a long day. Let's go upstairs and take a break..."

"Yeah, I agree with teme. I'm hungry." the Uzumaki added.

"You're always hungry, baka. I wonder that you don't look like Choji yet."

"Fuck you, bastard."

"You're annoying, dobe."

The two adults looked after them, the grey-haired shaking his head. The raven just let out a low sigh, but smiled after the two students. He really hoped his brother could be distracted by the blond youth and he grabbed the cross on his neck, squeezing it.

That was going to be an interesting Christmas.

Arrived, the four people sat down in the kitchen, Sasuke standing on the working place, cutting some meat. Obviously, the younger Uchiha was the one who wore the pants when it came to cooking. Itachi entered the room and had a small pad and a hat with him when he sat down on the table.

"Ah, yes, did you ask our guest if he would like to join us, Otouto?" the vampire asked and the other shook his head. The Uchiha put on a weak smile and said, "I apologize for my Nii-san, Naruto-kun. Would you like to accompany us to the hospital?" The boy lifted an eyebrow, nodding unsure. "I'm sorry. I didn't even explain what we are doing at the hospital." Itachi added politely. He took a swallow of his glass and expounded, "We are giving the presents to the staff and the children. Kakashi-san is our Santa and we are deciding by lot who is a reindeer and who an elf."

Putting the fresh supper on the table, Sasuke added, "Aniki forgot to mention we are wearing embarrassing, ridiculous costumes as well." He sat down on the table as well, taking his own glass and drank it at once.

The Uzumaki put on a smile and grinned, "Well, I've nothing to do, so yeah, why not?" No one was waiting for him. No one was celebrating with him. No one...

"Very well. So let's cast lots..." the oldest said and wrote down three words on small sheets of paper, folded them and threw them into the hat. He held it in front of his brother and said, "Sasuke." Said boy took one of the lots and then the hat turned towards the blond. "Naruto-kun." The youth grabbed into the hat and starred at the white thing in his hand. And when the last person took the lot the three men unfolded them, reading what stood on them.

"Argh! Reindeer! Again!!" Sasuke hissed, screwing the little sheet. The Uzumaki rose an eyebrow, confused, and opened his own.

Reindeer..., he said to himself, thinking. So he was going to act an animal. A huge grin was over his face. The less he cared about himself, the more he was looking forward to see the bastard as a reindeer. He almost exploded into a laugh, even not knowing how they would actually look like, but he hold back the best he could.

He had definitely to take a photo. Definitely.

Hours later, the younger raven was just standing at the balcony, looking at the dark sky and the small, soft snowflakes falling down quietly.

He heard footsteps and soon a, "What about going out for a walk?" reached his ears.

"Why not?" he answered, went inside and put on his jacket.

The brothers walked through the empty streets, side by side. Sasuke put his hands into his pockets, Itachi was looking nowhere special. They just walked, feeling the other's presence.

"Takes back some memories, hu?" the younger said after a while, starring at the ground. Memories of better, peaceful days... When he felt still safe, when he was still innocent...

"Yes. You were always so excited when it snowed." Itachi giggled lowly. "It was hard holding you back." Silence grew between them and this time the older raven broke it. "Are you and Naruto-kun getting along better?" he asked and the vampire shrugged his shoulders.

"He's troublesome. But I have any choice, have I?" Sasuke answered, narrowing his eyes. But he wouldn't have to endure the blond for long, soon he would attack and take revenge. After that the human wouldn't matter anymore, then he could finally get his eternal sleep in hell. So soon... …

"You seem to like him." the older replied and the student froze.

"What the fuck are you talking about?!" the other hissed, angry.

The older vampire just turned his head, looking over his shoulder to the smaller man and breathed, "I can see it in your eyes. He makes you happy. I've missed that light in your eyes so much..." He walked back until he stood inches away from the younger. "... Sasuke, it's painful when you look so sad and taking revenge would change anything. Do you want to become like me? Like father? Liters of blood on your hands, of people you killed? Do you want to become like Orochimaru?"

Before he could react the Uchiha found himself pinned on a tree, the wood crunching behind his back. Furious, red eyes starred at him and he could feel the cold air blowing over his face.

"Don't ever compare me with that monster... I'll neverbe like him...! Never!!!" Sasuke growled, so angry his body was trembling. His grab on his brother's collar tight up and he hissed, "They'll all pay... They'll pay for that have done to me! Father and Oro...!!! They'll all pay!!!"

"It's fine. I'm here, Sasuke, it's fine..." the older whispered, wrapping his arms around the shaking body, consulting him. Itachi caressed the cold back of his younger brother, pressing the small head against his chest. The younger Uchiha let it go, even if he felt disgusted by the fact of being held by a vampire, being touched, being...

The younger breathed fizzy when he felt soft, cold lips on his temple. "You're the meaning of my life, Sasuke. Without you," he put his hands on the other's cheeks, lifting the head without breaking the embrace, "I'm nothing. You're my soul, my mind. Everything." He pressed the pale body harder on himself. "I need you. And I'll not watch you killing yourself." Itachi whispered, hiding most of his worry and sadness.

"And if that's the only way I can be free again?" the younger raven asked, closing his eyes. He could somehow understand his brother. Any vampire needed a meaning for his life, an eternal one. Other else the eternity drove you mad during the centuries. "Am I supposed to live in a cage... forever? Without hope for freedom? Just for you?" he wanted to know, afraid of the answer. He was so sick and tired of it, that hide-and-seek game he was playing for his whole life. That nightmares which hunted him almost every night.

The older ravenette sighed heavily, "You are a smart boy. You'll find another way to overcome what happened. Vigilantism is not the right path, Outoto. It will only cause more pain."

He refused mentioning the Uzumaki boy, knowing his brother would freak out. He knew the rules, as well as Itachi did himself. It wasn't allowed being in contact with human beings. A relationship between vampire and human was one of the most forbidden things, as well as transforming a human into a vampire.

But the older Uchiha was ready to do whatever it took to make his little brother happy – even if that meant breaking one rule after the other.

Naruto starred at the mask in his hands, a fluffy reindeer-head with brown fur and big horns. There were only two smaller loops for the eyes and a bigger one for the chin till the nose. He was already wearing a brown and white body with a tail and some bells around the neck. Just like the bastard had said – ridiculous and embarrassing. With a sigh he put on the mask and grabbed for his camera. He left the bedroom and took a photo of Itachi, who was flattening his green dress. He had taper ears and a green hat as well, almost looking like Link with dark hair.

"Have you seen Kakashi-san, Naruto-kun?" the raven asked walking towards him and taking the camera. With a smile he lifted it and took a photo as well, causing the youth to blush a bit under the cloth. He had refused looking into a mirror and he thanked he was in the neighbour-city where absolutly nobody knew him.

And after he saw Sasuke he was sure that the raven agreed with him.

"Oh fuck! Oh holy shit!!!" the blond cursed, holding his lower part while he laughed his soul out of his body. He felt for the camera, which the elf gave him with an amused smile, and then he took one photo after the other. Tears went down his cheeks and he had problems holding the camera right, surely only one or two of the pictures would be clear after all.

"Stop laughing like an idiot, you Usuratonkachi! You don't look any better!" the, well, reindeer hissed and the bright-haired just started guffawing. Sasuke was wearing the same as the blond, but the hat looked unbelievable funny on him. The long nose hid his chin and dark orbs were looking at ones through big, really big, chibi-eyes. "Argh...! I'll made a carpet out of you fucking Rudolf!!!"

"Stop you two. It's Christmas." a man with a long, white beard said and the Uzumaki blinked twice at the adult. Kakashi really looked like Santa! He even got a big brown bag and a red hat.

"Whatever." The green assistand of the man in red walked towards the door and added, "Now we shall go, the children sure can't wait for our visit."

And with that the four went out for their mission – turn the day into a joyful one for many young kids.