*I would like to apologize about the link to the video was incomplete, for some reason the YouTube section of the link didn't appear in what I tried to post, so I corrected it to the title so you can look it up rather than use a link…
Part 2 – Christmas Surprise
When school was finished, Karin managed to corner Sasuke once more before leaving, "So, have any plans for tomorrow afternoon," she asked.
"Just relaxing at home," Sasuke said as he walked by her.
"Sounds kind of dull," Karin said, "What if I stopped by?"
"Doesn't sound ideal," Sasuke said as he walked up to Itachi, and began walking home.
"Is that woman ever going to give up," Itachi asked as he looked back to see Karin's mischievous face watching Sasuke leave the school.
"You know her," Sasuke said, "I don't think she ever will."
"So I waited," Itachi said, "You want to tell me about the dream?"
"I think I'll wait until we get a little ways away," Sasuke said, "In case you-know-who decides to follow."
"Good idea," Itachi said.
As soon as they passed the tracks a few blocks from the house, Itachi and Sasuke took a covert look around, "See her," Sasuke asked.
"I don't think so," Itachi said, "She's probably going to show up bright and early tomorrow."
"Then I need to be ready to counter her," Sasuke said.
"Fake sickness or not there," Itachi asked as the train passed, and the gate rose.
"Right now, all the above for all I care," Sasuke said as they walked over the tracks.
"So, you going to tell me about that dream now," Itachi asked.
"It wasn't anything special," Sasuke said, "You remember grandma's house?"
"Yea," Itachi said.
"I dreamt about this time of year, a few years ago," Sasuke said.
"Your old friends," Itachi asked.
"Yep," Sasuke said, "Snowball fights, walking along the river."
"Uncle Teyaki's senbei," Itachi asked.
"Yeah, I haven't had one of those since we moved here," Sasuke said.
"We're living better because of it," Itachi said, "But I understand what you're staying. You want to see your friends again."
"I think I do," Sasuke said.
"Well, don't worry about it," Itachi said as he grabbed Sasuke's shoulder, "I'm sure they miss you as well."
The two of them arrived home, "Tadaima," the two of them said as they walked into the house, and removed their shoes.
"Welcome home," Mikoto said as she looked up from what she was doing to see her sons enter the room, "You two have a good day at school?"
"It was ok," Sasuke said as he walked up to his room, "If it's ok with you two, I'm gonna crash for a bit."
"Sure," Itachi said as he patted his brother on the back, "I think that'd be good."
"He ok," Sasuke heard Mikoto ask when he walked up the stairs.
"He's fine," Sasuke heard Itachi reply.
As he shut his door, he removed his school clothes, changed into a pair of sweatpants, laid back on his bed, and fell asleep.
His dream was very close to his dream early that morning, but this time it was a little different, he and Sakura were sitting on the front steps of his family's house back in Konoha, it was still winter time, but they weren't having a snowball fight.
He, Sakura, Naruto, and Sakura's best friend Hinata were sitting on the front porch enjoying their favorite, his grandmother's recipe for hot chocolate which back when they were kids could have had embalming fluid in it for all they cared.
Rich, chocolaty, and with a slight flavor of green tea, it was beyond perfect, especially with four mini marshmallows perfectly floating in the drink.
"You have to get the recipe for this one day," Sakura said as she sipped her drink.
"That way when we grow up we can drink this all the time," Naruto said.
"Grandma made me promise I wouldn't ask for the recipe until I'm at least tall enough to see over the kitchen counter," Sasuke said, "So that probably won't be for a while."
"You'll grow up fast," Hinata said as she sipped her own, "I believe it."
"Thanks," Sasuke said, looking over to see Hinata ad a whipped cream mustache which caused him to chuckle.
The dream would have continued if a knock from the door hadn't woken him up, "Sasuke," he heard Itachi speak from the other side of the door, "Dad will be home in a little while, and I don't want him to be angry with you. Get up, and come be social."
Sasuke stood up and put on a pair of jeans and the shirt he slept in before walking downstairs where his parents were waiting for him.
"Have a nice nap," Mikoto said as she looked up to see him.
"Very nice," Sasuke said, "What's going on?"
"Not much," Mikoto said, "Just thought you'd like to join us."
"Ok," Sasuke said as he took his seat next to his mother.
"Excited to be done with school for a few weeks," Mikoto asked.
"Yes," Sasuke said, "I wouldn't mind if it were a bit longer."
"Wouldn't we all," Mikoto said, "I think your father will agree with you when he gets home with dinner."
"Yea," Sasuke said.
After a few hours of watching TV, Sasuke could hear his father's car pull into the driveway, "He's home," Mikoto said as she walked over to the door to see her husband enter.
"Tadaima," Fugaku said as he walked in.
"Welcome home," Mikoto said, "Good day at work?"
"Very," Fugaku said as he passed the bucket of Christmas chicken to his wife, "Anything interesting happen today?"
"No," Mikoto said, "But it will get better later."
"I'd imagine so," Fugaku said as he walked over to his chair next to the couch, and sat back with an exaggerated groan, "Sasuke."
"Hey dad," Sasuke said as he leaned to one side of the couch, "Work turn out good for you?"
"Yep," Fugaku said, "And I got a call from the school. Your cooking teacher was very impressed by the cake you made in class this morning."
"Really," Sasuke asked.
"Yep," Fugaku said, "He told me if you keep it up, you could probably turn out to be a very good baker."
"Really," Mikoto said as she walked back into the room.
"His words," Fugaku said, "Maybe we should have had you bake the cake rather than buying one."
"Maybe next Christmas," Sasuke said.
"Maybe," Fugaku said before he heard his phone ringing, "It's mom," he answered and opened the speaker, "Hi mom."
"Hi Fugaku," Kamibu said over the phone, "It's been a few weeks since we talked, and I wanted to speak."
"Of course," Fugaku said, "How's the old village?"
"Very nice of course," Kamibu said, "The snow's so thick up here you could build a house out of it."
"Wish it was that thick down here," Itachi said as he walked over.
"Is that my little Itachi," Kamibu asked.
"Not so little anymore grandma," Itachi said, "You doing ok?"
"I'm fine," Kamibu said, "Tell me, how many dates have you gone on now?"
"Kamibu," Mikoto said in the strict-mom voice you'd expect to hear from a mother when she didn't want her child to answer.
"Relax, Mikoto," Kamibu said, "But speaking of my grandchildren, where's my Sasuke?"
"I'm right her grandma," Sasuke said.
"There he is," Kamibu said, "You two must be so big right now."
"We are," Sasuke said, "How's everyone up there?"
"They're fine," Kamibu said, "I'm about to have everyone over for Christmas dinner."
"We're about to have some ourselves," Fugaku said, "Just the usual."
"We're going to have the usual ourselves," Kamibu said, "By the way, Sasuke, your uncle, and the others have asked after you. Why don't you come out here for a few days?"
"That doesn't sound like a bad idea," Itachi said.
"We could make that into a Christmas present for you," Fugaku said.
"I don't know," Sasuke said, "I do have some homework to do."
"You can take it with you," Itachi said, "You know, you haven't been back to Konoha in a few years," he then sat next to Sasuke and whispered, "Plus, it'll get you away from Karin for a little while."
"You know what," Sasuke said, "I hear Konoha's nice this time of year."
"You did just hear it from the horse's mouth," Fugaku said.
"That's no way to talk about your mother," Mikoto said.
"I'm only joking," Fugaku said, "I'm sure it would be nice for you to experience the fresh air."
"Should I go pack a bag," Sasuke asked.
"How about we wait until tomorrow," Mikoto said, "I'm sure it'll be the same whether you leave tomorrow or tonight."
"Early in the morning then," Sasuke said, "I wouldn't mind seeing the sunrise over the valley on my way over."
"That's the spirit," Kamibu said, "Should I send someone to get you from the station?"
"I'll leave that up to you," Sasuke said.
They continued talking for a few hours until Kamibu heard a knock at her door, "There's the family," she said, "I'm gonna go answer. And Sasuke, I'll see you tomorrow. Love you guys."
"Love you too, grandma," Sasuke said.
"Love you, grandma," Itachi said.
"Bye, mom," Fugaku said.
"Bye, Kamibu," Mikoto said as Fugaku hung up, "Well, speaking of family, how about we go enjoy our family over dinner?"
"Let's eat," Fugaku said, "I'm starving."
As they walked over to the table, they saw that Mikoto had made a nice side of potato salad, and the cake was over on the kitchen counter so they could eat it later when they were finished with their dinner.
The chicken was very nice and tasty, the potato salad was cooked nicely, although Mikoto needed to add a little bit more salt, and the cake was very nice, Sasuke knew exactly where it came from, it was a small bakery called Insomnia Bakes. It was called that because they stayed open until one in the morning.
After they opened their gifts, Sasuke went upstairs to prepare for his trip to Konoha and started packing a bag.
"Don't you think you'll need a few extra jackets," Sasuke heard Itachi say from the doorway.
"Probably," Sasuke said as he threw one of his long-sleeve shirts into his jacket.
"I have to admit," Itachi said, "When we set out for school this morning, I never thought you'd be packing for a trip back to Konoha."
"Neither did I," Sasuke said, "All I was thinking was how I was going to avoid Karin, and what I was going to make when I was in cooking."
Itachi chuckled a bit, "It's been a little while hasn't it," he asked.
"Yea, it has," Sasuke said, "Ever since we moved here. Why don't you come with me?"
"I wish I could, at first," Itachi said, "But every last teacher of mine assigned me homework. Once I'm finished, I'll follow."
"Sounds good," Sasuke said, "What are you going to do when Karin shows up?"
"I'm going to tell her you went out of town for a few days," Itachi said.
"And when she asks where," Sasuke asked.
"Can't say," Itachi said, "You didn't tell me where you were going, and dad doesn't know either."
"What's dad got to do with this," Sasuke asked.
"Don't you know," Fugaku said as he walked up the stairs, "I can't have my youngest son walking to the train station in the snow."
"And what time will that be," Sasuke asked.
"I'll get up at five," Fugaku said.
"Five," Sasuke asked.
"You said you wanted to get there in time to see the sunrise over the valley," Fugaku asked.
"Yes," Sasuke said.
"The only train I could find that could get that would be the five thirty," Fugaku said, "Plus, I have a meeting with my Commissioner at 6:00, so I figured we'd leave together. It'd be the last time we see each other for a little while, and I want to spend some time with my son."
"Fair enough, dad," Sasuke said, "Is there anything that you want me to bring to grandma?"
"I'll let you know tomorrow," Fugaku said, "But one thing I want you to bring for yourself is a pair of snow boots," he pointed his thumb over his shoulder, "I just read up, Konoha is getting an unseasonable amount of snow for this year. Reports say about six inches have fallen in the last three days, and more is expected over the next week."
"I'll take that into account," Sasuke said, "Don't worry, I'll take care."
"Good," Fugaku said, "I think you'll enjoy yourself."
"I hope so," Sasuke said.
How's that one…
*I would like to say about the name of Fugaku's mother, I couldn't find a name on the Fugaku's Naruto-pedia page, so I used Name Generator to come up with a name.