Author: Masqued
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Iruka invites Sasuke to partake in a tradition that himself, Naruto, and Kakashi were starting for Christmas time. ( Sasuke x Naruto ) ( Kakashi x Iruka )
Untimely Tradition
Prologue
Moonlight illuminated the sky, the large crescent shaped light sticking out brightly in the middle of a violet shaded blanket, equally bright white specks dotted around it. Pure, silk white beams shot through the clear night air, alighting the crisp, untouched, thick layer of snow that rested over the small Hidden Leaf Village of Konoha. Sickly looking naked trees wore the snow as though it were an eloquent gown. Konoha always looked this way around Christmas time, which was very calming for its occupants. Though there was a war brewing around their little town, they were always brought back to the reality that war and rumors of war were not the end of their lives, and therefore they would always enjoy the Christmas season to its fullest, however it was to be spent according to traditions.
Traditions. Traditions were a very large custom in Konoha. Rituals were performed every year by different families, or friends, as the emotional season passed through with the winds of winter. Companions sat around tables that were dressed with food, presents were exchanged, and people had decided to string lights and decorations around the town, as though it were universal for the love of the season to be shown. Any passing visitors that just happened on the town often enjoyed the wholesomeness of the town around this very season.
Some traditions weren't as seasonal or emotional as others. One said tradition was of a raven haired young fifteen year old boy that sat on the railing of a bridge that was uniquely centered in the town. Emotionless pitch eyes scanned the town as the pale boy let out a soft shiver, curling white smoking emitting from him as his teeth clattered behind his lips. Gloved fingers grasped at his coated arms in an attempt to gain warmth for his scrawny body, though to very little avail. Still, silently, in the cold moist air, the boy sat, staring at the footprints in the snow that stopped at the middle of the bridge where he'd decided to stop walking and sit on the railing during his walk home from night training. His gaze became unfocused as he stiffened his arm muscles in warning to the disturbance of the previous tranquility that had fallen. Someone's boots were clashing with the untouched snow beside his footprints.
"Good evening, Sasuke-kun," came a slightly cheery voice, bitten with a shiver, causing the greeting to be long-winded. Slowly, the dark haired boy let his gaze rise to the intruder of his silence. The cheery face of Umino Iruka and the naturally zoned out, bored expression of Hatake Kakashi met the Uchiha Sasuke's dim countenance. Raising an eyebrow as to why the two would be walking together at such a late hour crossed his mind, but neglecting the curiosity, he reasoned that it wasn't any of his business.
"Evening Iruka-sensei, Kakashi-sensei," was the slightly muffled reply, as Sasuke's pale pink lips were expertly hidden beneath a long, black and dark gray scarf that was twisted around his neck. His unfocused gaze quickly focused as he followed the two figures as they passed him, mentally examining their appearance. Kakashi's left hand sat in his pocket, while his right black gloved hand was tightly grasping Iruka's. In said brunette's arm sat a brown paper bag that rested at his hip.
"Merry Christmas, Sasuke." Iruka smiled to his previous student brightly, dropping Kakashi's hand for a moment to wave. The silver haired man gave Sasuke a relevant nod and then grasped his companion's hand again, both of their gazes focusing on the road before them as they journeyed to their destination.
"Yeah, same to you," came the heavy reply, followed by a deep sigh. Pale eyelids drooped boredly over onyx eyes as the dark orbs darted toward the sky, examining the nights hue of tranquility.
"Why are you out so late?" The footsteps that had continued passed him stopped as Iruka turned and faced his former student, a curious expression falling over his features. Kakashi had turned as well, but his attention was on the sky, or perhaps the birds, or at anything above Sasuke's height level.
"I just finished training," came the stoic response. Iruka nodded his head knowingly and Kakashi gave the boy a glance, raising an interested eyebrow.
"But it's Christmas Eve." Whatever Kakashi had meant the statement to entail hadn't been obvious, and both Sasuke and Iruka shot him a bewildered glance. Still, the silver haired man's eyes were at the sky as he continued to speak aloud; "You should at least be at home, relaxing. Training should be able to be put off." Sasuke scoffed at the remark and shut his eyes again, bringing his arms over his chest.
"Not if there's nothing else to do," was the cold and even bitter response.
"Well, why don't you come with us? We're on our way to Naruto's. It's a tradition." Iruka stated, his eyes closing in unison to his lips curling in a smile. A tradition, eh? Sasuke didn't care much for a tradition that had never really involved him. He continued to think about it, and Iruka and Kakashi had only gotten together a few months prior to the current day, and he figured it was Kakashi's first time as well. Still, he decided against it.
"No," was the simple reply. He didn't apologize nor did he add any gratitude, he simply declined to the offer and met Kakashi's gaze at the sky. The three stood in silence and Iruka mentally battled his thoughts into an idea.
"Tomorrow, Naruto, Kakashi, and I are going shopping for gifts with one another, an unique idea thanks to Kakashi," Iruka paused to give his koibito's hand a tight squeeze; "we would love it if you joined us."
Sasuke's eyes turned back to his former teacher, expression unreadable as he pondered a response. The thought did seem rather tempting, and it would give him something other then training all day and sitting at home by himself for the whole night. Besides, if even Naruto was having some kind of seasonal happenings, he should be allowed something to do. Though, the idea did seem a little out there, and abnormal for him to do, he knew that stores would be open during certain hours, and going shopping with people would give him something else besides food to use his fortune for.
"I'll think about it." He swung his legs over the railing and landed on the snow. Lifting up his arm leisurely, he waved a short goodbye to his teachers, then trotted down the bridge in the opposite direction, towards his home.
"You think he'll come?" Iruka asked, waving his arm at the retreating boy and then looking back to his koibito. Silence met the question and Kakashi simply reached his hand down to Iruka's and gave it a similar sqeeze to the one he'd received earlier before tugging the brunette toward Naruto's house.
--
A/N: That's the prologue. Depending on reviews, I may keep this story moving along fast or slow. I need the motivation and the incentive to do it, so if you want to see this story up sooner then later, drop me a line. I hope you enjoyed this so far!
--Edited Prologue-- Thanks to ChibiRisu-Chan, this story is close to flawless (though lacking because my ability to write isn't as good as others. =P) Thanks Chibi! You're input was very good, and I'm looking forward to more of your reviews for later chapters of this story.
Also, I promise I won't mislead readers into believing I've updated because of editing down to a chapter any further, I will not be as careless in my lack of spell-checking and grammar-checking in the next couple of chapters. Arigatou!
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Iruka invites Sasuke to partake in a tradition that himself, Naruto, and Kakashi were starting for Christmas time. ( Sasuke x Naruto ) ( Kakashi x Iruka )
Untimely Tradition
Prologue
Moonlight illuminated the sky, the large crescent shaped light sticking out brightly in the middle of a violet shaded blanket, equally bright white specks dotted around it. Pure, silk white beams shot through the clear night air, alighting the crisp, untouched, thick layer of snow that rested over the small Hidden Leaf Village of Konoha. Sickly looking naked trees wore the snow as though it were an eloquent gown. Konoha always looked this way around Christmas time, which was very calming for its occupants. Though there was a war brewing around their little town, they were always brought back to the reality that war and rumors of war were not the end of their lives, and therefore they would always enjoy the Christmas season to its fullest, however it was to be spent according to traditions.
Traditions. Traditions were a very large custom in Konoha. Rituals were performed every year by different families, or friends, as the emotional season passed through with the winds of winter. Companions sat around tables that were dressed with food, presents were exchanged, and people had decided to string lights and decorations around the town, as though it were universal for the love of the season to be shown. Any passing visitors that just happened on the town often enjoyed the wholesomeness of the town around this very season.
Some traditions weren't as seasonal or emotional as others. One said tradition was of a raven haired young fifteen year old boy that sat on the railing of a bridge that was uniquely centered in the town. Emotionless pitch eyes scanned the town as the pale boy let out a soft shiver, curling white smoking emitting from him as his teeth clattered behind his lips. Gloved fingers grasped at his coated arms in an attempt to gain warmth for his scrawny body, though to very little avail. Still, silently, in the cold moist air, the boy sat, staring at the footprints in the snow that stopped at the middle of the bridge where he'd decided to stop walking and sit on the railing during his walk home from night training. His gaze became unfocused as he stiffened his arm muscles in warning to the disturbance of the previous tranquility that had fallen. Someone's boots were clashing with the untouched snow beside his footprints.
"Good evening, Sasuke-kun," came a slightly cheery voice, bitten with a shiver, causing the greeting to be long-winded. Slowly, the dark haired boy let his gaze rise to the intruder of his silence. The cheery face of Umino Iruka and the naturally zoned out, bored expression of Hatake Kakashi met the Uchiha Sasuke's dim countenance. Raising an eyebrow as to why the two would be walking together at such a late hour crossed his mind, but neglecting the curiosity, he reasoned that it wasn't any of his business.
"Evening Iruka-sensei, Kakashi-sensei," was the slightly muffled reply, as Sasuke's pale pink lips were expertly hidden beneath a long, black and dark gray scarf that was twisted around his neck. His unfocused gaze quickly focused as he followed the two figures as they passed him, mentally examining their appearance. Kakashi's left hand sat in his pocket, while his right black gloved hand was tightly grasping Iruka's. In said brunette's arm sat a brown paper bag that rested at his hip.
"Merry Christmas, Sasuke." Iruka smiled to his previous student brightly, dropping Kakashi's hand for a moment to wave. The silver haired man gave Sasuke a relevant nod and then grasped his companion's hand again, both of their gazes focusing on the road before them as they journeyed to their destination.
"Yeah, same to you," came the heavy reply, followed by a deep sigh. Pale eyelids drooped boredly over onyx eyes as the dark orbs darted toward the sky, examining the nights hue of tranquility.
"Why are you out so late?" The footsteps that had continued passed him stopped as Iruka turned and faced his former student, a curious expression falling over his features. Kakashi had turned as well, but his attention was on the sky, or perhaps the birds, or at anything above Sasuke's height level.
"I just finished training," came the stoic response. Iruka nodded his head knowingly and Kakashi gave the boy a glance, raising an interested eyebrow.
"But it's Christmas Eve." Whatever Kakashi had meant the statement to entail hadn't been obvious, and both Sasuke and Iruka shot him a bewildered glance. Still, the silver haired man's eyes were at the sky as he continued to speak aloud; "You should at least be at home, relaxing. Training should be able to be put off." Sasuke scoffed at the remark and shut his eyes again, bringing his arms over his chest.
"Not if there's nothing else to do," was the cold and even bitter response.
"Well, why don't you come with us? We're on our way to Naruto's. It's a tradition." Iruka stated, his eyes closing in unison to his lips curling in a smile. A tradition, eh? Sasuke didn't care much for a tradition that had never really involved him. He continued to think about it, and Iruka and Kakashi had only gotten together a few months prior to the current day, and he figured it was Kakashi's first time as well. Still, he decided against it.
"No," was the simple reply. He didn't apologize nor did he add any gratitude, he simply declined to the offer and met Kakashi's gaze at the sky. The three stood in silence and Iruka mentally battled his thoughts into an idea.
"Tomorrow, Naruto, Kakashi, and I are going shopping for gifts with one another, an unique idea thanks to Kakashi," Iruka paused to give his koibito's hand a tight squeeze; "we would love it if you joined us."
Sasuke's eyes turned back to his former teacher, expression unreadable as he pondered a response. The thought did seem rather tempting, and it would give him something other then training all day and sitting at home by himself for the whole night. Besides, if even Naruto was having some kind of seasonal happenings, he should be allowed something to do. Though, the idea did seem a little out there, and abnormal for him to do, he knew that stores would be open during certain hours, and going shopping with people would give him something else besides food to use his fortune for.
"I'll think about it." He swung his legs over the railing and landed on the snow. Lifting up his arm leisurely, he waved a short goodbye to his teachers, then trotted down the bridge in the opposite direction, towards his home.
"You think he'll come?" Iruka asked, waving his arm at the retreating boy and then looking back to his koibito. Silence met the question and Kakashi simply reached his hand down to Iruka's and gave it a similar sqeeze to the one he'd received earlier before tugging the brunette toward Naruto's house.
--
A/N: That's the prologue. Depending on reviews, I may keep this story moving along fast or slow. I need the motivation and the incentive to do it, so if you want to see this story up sooner then later, drop me a line. I hope you enjoyed this so far!
--Edited Prologue-- Thanks to ChibiRisu-Chan, this story is close to flawless (though lacking because my ability to write isn't as good as others. =P) Thanks Chibi! You're input was very good, and I'm looking forward to more of your reviews for later chapters of this story.
Also, I promise I won't mislead readers into believing I've updated because of editing down to a chapter any further, I will not be as careless in my lack of spell-checking and grammar-checking in the next couple of chapters. Arigatou!