"Merry Christmas!"

He looks up from his manga book at the announcement. Sakura beams back at him, holding up a small present. He sets the book aside to accept the neon orange monstrosity. Akamaru almost claws his leg to get a good look at the horrible wrapping paper.

"I thought we were going to pretend that doesn't exist," he says, poking at the green bow attached to the present.

"Well, Ino started humming jingle bells last week, and I think she's got something planned for today," Sakura tells him. "Might as well go ahead and celebrate."

His back hits the porch floor as he tries to figure out a way to come up with a Christmas present on the spot. Maybe if he gets Akamaru to play distraction he can steal one of his sister's unused jewelry. It's not like Sis would miss it.

"Don't worry about getting me anything," Sakura the mind reader says, "and open it already!"

He squints against the roof of the porch and wonders if he can take her words at face value. Everything he knows about women says "no." He sits up and begins unwrapping the present carefully. It takes him a moment to undo the bow without ruining it with his nails.

"Can you be more slow?" Sakura scowls.

Don't keep me in suspense here, Akamaru barks.

He rips the paper open in one movement. He opens the lid of the gift box and can do nothing but stare. One blink, two blink—nope, it's still there. He grabs the trinket and jumps off the porch to hold it up to the sunlight.

"Um, do you not," Sakura's voice gets tinier, "was it not good?"

"It's perfect," he says, tracing the shape reverently. "It's a necklace?"

It's not perfect; some of the wood is uneven, and there are paint splotches littering it. Still, all four colors are where they should be, and Sakura didn't forget to attach the tiny feathers that he likes.

"Yeah, I didn't know if you'd wanted to wear it or maybe hang it up, or," Sakura trails off awkwardly as he puts the leather cord around his neck.

I don't get it, Akamaru barks, mind filling me in?

"It's a medicine wheel," he tells the ninken in surprise. "I've talked about it a few times. You don't remember?"

I can't remember everything you know, Akamaru grumbles.

He rubs his fingers over the pendant again, trying to find the words he desperately wants to say. Oddly enough, memories of his old mother making hot chocolate suddenly hit him. She always had that ratty beaded medicine wheel hanging up on the wall. He blinks back the tears.

"It's just a relic from the old world," he says quietly. "A symbol of a dying people. I don't know what it meant. Everyone always said something differently about it."

He pushes the memories down. He already moved on from that life the moment he left the reservation. Still, this might be the best present he's ever gotten aside from Sakura herself.

"Thank you, Sakura." That's not what he wants to say. He tries again. "It means a lot."

His voice dies after that, and he's unable to convey his true feelings. He collapses onto the porch in frustration. Sakura takes a seat next to him without a word. He thinks she understands anyway.

...

Ino does, in fact, have something planned. He's never attended a Christmas party before, and he certainly didn't expect to go to one in a world filled with super powered ninja. He brings cookies.

"So how did she get you to wear that?" He asks Shino.

He has to fight back his grin as reindeer antlers flop around the Aburame's hood. He pokes a fuzzy tip and watches as the fake antlers spring back into place. He's given Scary Stare number three for his actions.

"I mistakenly inquired on the attire relating to this so-called 'holiday,' " Shino answers.

"Well, at least Ino didn't make you wear a red nose," he muses. "A mercy considering Akamaru is hiding around here somewhere with a fake beard and glasses."

Both of them reflexively look around for the ninken. He thinks he sees a white tail sticking out from under the pile of presents in the corner of the room. He confirms it after spotting the Santa hat sticking out among the boxes.

"Truly a mercy," Shino notes lowly.

Normally, he loves a good get-together, loves talking over good food. He's not a quiet person, but something about this party makes him keep to the wall. He watches silently as Sakura and Ino compete against each other in a singing contest as Naruto eggs Chouji into an eating challenge.

Shikamaru, Santa's laziest reindeer, has cornered Sasuke into a board game. The Nara doesn't even look fazed by the antlers attached to the shadow-user's head. Hinata is busy attempting to recreate Ino's paper snowflakes, purple Santa hat bouncing with each nod of determination.

"Wonder if she realizes Neji's sabotaging her whenever she looks away?" He mutters to Shino.

Sure enough, the moment Hinata glances towards Ino's decorations for reference, water drips onto part of the paper snowflake. Once Hinata attempts to unfold the paper, it'll rip in half.

"I am more concerned over the fact that your cousin is attempting to persuade Lee into consuming an alcoholic beverage," Shino states.

"Cousin Sode's weird about testing her equipment," he says with a nod. "Luckily Tenten will keep things under control."

Sakura begins singing a distorted Christmas carol, and Shino hums along. He mouths the words to the song, breaking into a grin once Sakura begins messing up the lyrics.

He touches the medicine wheel around his neck and realizes he's content.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Was attempting to have the new chapter up by Christmas, but it didn't work out. Hope you have a good one!