(Jasmine’s POV)
I yawned as I sat up stretching from my pleasant sleep. I had to ask Emi where she had heard that tune she sang to me last night. I finished stretching and hopped out of my bed to the brace. Emi says I can walk farther on it which is nice but, to go to class and back I still needed to be carried.
I felt like wearing something cheerful today; Christmas was closing in and I had the feeling that no one here knew what it was either…Ninjas have been missing out on a lot!
I pulled out a nice cream turtleneck with a green and red platted skirt I knitted when I was stuck in my room from the Halloween incident with a few golden bracelets and earrings. This holiday was not going to end up like before; it had hurt Emi in ways that I recently have seen, for I saw her life in my dreams…I made a small cut on her collar bone and took her blood when I was sitting with her during Zabuza’s visit and dreamt of her life.
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> I watched floating in the air again a different scene; one I’ve never seen before. A small woman is crying as a man left her with her belly swollen with child. She wept in her home and grew cold as the months continued with her pregnancy. She did not smile like a mother would when her baby was brought her, when her child said its first words and took its first steps. She was bitter and lifeless inside and the child suffered in the company of her as the years past.
I watched the child grow with no real love and no father. The mother found a man that she could ‘love’ for a time but, she was still dull inside, still missing the piece that made her whole…the piece that her first love took. The child was raised with satisfaction from the adoptive father; he continued to teach her everything he knew even when he left her mother. The child though was lost and lonesome for her mother’s love. She strove to find it as she grew but…never found it.
I saw the years continue to pass and the girl grew up striving to help others, make others happy and well… She did it to save them from what she felt I guess. To keep them from going through the pain…I smiled when she finally let go of her sadness when she sat with her mother on her deathbed. The mother was terminally ill and had less than a few days left to live. Her mother whispered the words that the daughter wanted so badly to her as she left this world peacefully. I laughed as the woman started to date then got married to a few healers; she was finally free. <
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Emi had a bumpy life and I remember hearing her thoughts of logic on my actions. The Hokage had informed her of my tragic life and she was even more motivated to help me. She saw that my life made hers look like shit and wanted to save me from falling deeper in sadness and misery; in a way saving her. I felt somewhat like chiding her for such thinking.
My suffering was a product of a punishment to my mother; for my mother breaking the rules that were meant never to be broken. I accepted it with understanding; I did not hate my mother or my father. We were apart a giant piece of fabric of living and nonliving things. I saw this tapestry when I first used my gift to see Inari’s father to tell Inari who I ‘thought’ his father was…that’s the day I broke my hip and leg the first time.
It’s like a giant blanket spreading forever out; millions of shades of colors collided and moved like water on it. I stood in awe watching it, at the edges it was dark shades of grey and black; marking for the deceased I soon figured out. At the center it was shades of pure white where those that weren’t born yet. When I touched it to ripple and was warm to the touch. I as I ran my hands along it, I say all the lives that there; their names, their faces…I found Inari’s father on the edge of a cool, blue grey at the far lower right of the tapestry. He was a sad man and died in a storm from drowning.
I learned to not look at it unless I needed to save someone that was allowed to be saved. I found that fate was very fickle with when and why I could use my gifts…mostly the one around my neck in the pouch father had given me back on the bridge…oddly enough no one could see it but, it was there. It made a sound when I dropped it, it got wet when I put water on it…I figured out it had a justu on it that made invisible to the naked eye; I figure it could be seen however with Byakugan I’m not sure yet.
I figured from what father said I couldn’t use it for personal gain, from the broken bones it couldn’t be used to for other’s personal need, but so far could be used to save something that was allowed to be saved…I figured that one out from saving Haku…not sure how I knew about his death would count on using my gift; I knew about ahead time.
I sighed and shook my head of such problems; it was so confusing what fate has given me. It had so many rules that I didn’t know and understand, so many things that I would have to know to full fill my duty…and having have to bear a child for it so that it can be pass it on…it was just too much to bear.
I went out it the hallway smelling breakfast being served: my sense of smell had become more acute from absorbing Kakashi’s blood, Tsunami was serving oatmeal, toast with jam, green mint tea, and smoked fish fresh from the marsh. I grimace at the fish; I still felt queasy at smell especially from the blood fusion but, I’ve gotten somewhat use to the smell. It wasn’t like the time at the ramen shop…That night made me chuckle as I entered the dining room. Naruto, Konohamaru, and Ebisu weren’t present; more than likely to be training or trying to ditch Ebisu. Sasuke and Sakura sat on the left, Kakashi and Emi were at the right and Tazuna was helping Tsunami bring the food to the table.
I sat next to Kakashi and listened to what he was talking about to Emi. He was discussing training methods he went through to become the ninja he was. I noticed that Sasuke was listening as well, ignoring Sakura’s babbling…. I think she was talking about what her father does as ninja… that’s new; I had thought her father was a civilian.
“Jasmine that’s a new skirt you’re wearing right?”
My head snapped over to Emi’s voice; she was using her spoon to point at my knitted platted skirt.
“Yeah I made while I was stuck in my room; I wanted something festive for the coming holiday.”
“There’s another holiday coming?” She looked at me unbelieving with an eyebrow raised; I could feel what her train of thoughts was…
I took a bit of oatmeal before giving her an answer; she was defiantly be more out to say no to celebrating Christmas unless I gave her the good mushy family view of it.
“Yeah there are two coming up; Christmas on December 25th and New Years eve on December 31th. They’re family gathering holidays.”
“Explain…”
I smiled at her zealously, “Christmas originally came from the celebration of Christian God son’s birth, but turned in a season of gathering with friends and family and celebrating love and the season of giving. You celebrate by getting a Christmas pine tree and putting it in your house to decorate and put presents under. Then on Christmas morning you open the presents bought by friends and family. You have a Christmas dinner and decorate your house with bright lights and decorations.”
“So you spend this holiday inside with family….no parties?” She leaned over to with a look that said ‘I see through the act; you want just to party’
I gave an exasperated sigh as I shifted my gaze from hers. “Well…no, some people have parties where you dance, talk, and give each other small tokens of appreciation. The food is the best part in my opinion.”
“What food do you serve at Christmas?” Thank you Tsunami; she was a lifesaver from Emi’s suspicious gaze.
“Mash potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, honey glazed ham, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and eggnog; my personal favorite drink. And the Christmas cookies, ginger bread men, and Christmas rice crispies are good too.”
“Sounds like a lot of cooking and decorating for such a small holiday.”
I gawked at Sasuke’s comment, “It’s not a small holiday! It’s an international holiday that millions to billions of people celebrate every year, some people don’t celebrate it because of their religion but, that’s a small piece of the world population we’re talking about.”
“Well, I’ve never heard of it.”
“That’s cause you’ve never been to where I’d lived.”
“Where did you live?”
“… A place, which celebrates Christmas as one of its biggest holidays ever.”
Sasuke just stared at me with disinterest and leaves. Emi sits back to digest the information; she looks at me with a fathom expression but smiles warmly.
“What the heck; let’s celebrate this holiday too, but no drinking or leaving without my say so got it girl!”
I nodded and scrambled to my feet; there was so much to plan like Halloween but this time it was the big one, Christmas!
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“Naruto the lights are supposed to go on the side of the house’s roof!”
I sighed again as the knuckle head but the lights this time on top of the roof; last time he put them on house its self.
“I’m sorry ne-san; it’s hard putting these things on…”
I shook my head sadly at him; it was a bunch of green and red lanterns with glass jars inside holding small candles…they weighed up not even twenty five pounds. I had Inari and Konohamaru go to town to let people know about the holiday; they took off with it heads on. I had to teach all my students traditional to non-traditional Christmas songs; give their mothers designs for Christmas clothes, decorations and how to put them up. At least I didn’t have to go to town to show everyone how to do …Halloween had fixed that easily; so I just had to draw up the plans and let the villagers do the rest.
I saw lots of my students wear Christmas green and red clothes with the days to follow; some had reindeer antlers with red noses, a lot with Santa hats. I think a lot of parents thought that the Santa idea was a great one when I told them about it at night class session; they all went along with the idea of there being a fat man coming into their homes giving their kids small tokens, toys, or candy.
Everyone was in the Christmas spirit at the house as well: I made Inari, Konohamaru, and the rest of the gang Christmas sweaters unique to them. I gave Inari a cream one with a puppy on it; I made bigger so he could wear it when he got older. I gave Konohamaru a green one with a elf on it, Naruto an orange one with a sled on it with presents, Sakura a pastel pink one with a snow man on it, Sasuke a navy blue one with a simple snowflake on it; I thought he would hate me so much if I put I love Santa on it. Kakashi got a grey one with a snowman holding a white present, Emi got a lavender one with a bunch of color matching presents on it, and Tsunami and Tazuna got ones one red and one yellow both with an angel on them.
I made myself one that was a baby blue one with a Christmas tree on it but, the tree was white with light shades of blues and purples ornaments, lights, and garland on it; I wore it with a white short skirt and white leggings and black Mary Ann shoes. Emi thought I looked so adorable with the outfit along with a blue headband with a single blue fabric rose on it; I think it looked silly with my pig tails.
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“Come on Emi let’s get to the Christmas party at the town; everyone else is already there!”
“I’m moving, I’m moving; stop pestering me girl your hair is just so stubborn.”
Emi was putting the final touches on my sapphire blue kimono with silver helming and a silver obi that had a dove stitched on to it with deep blue thread; on the bottom corner of it had a silver threaded dove on a tree branch holding an olive branch. She was wearing a simpler kimono that was a jade green with a deep bright red obi with red poinsettias on the side of the kimono. She was fussing with my long platinum blonde hair; trying to get it to hold large long curls that cradled my face and neck.
She finally just gave up on getting one side to stay with the curls and just pinned the half on my head with a silver comb, “There that will just have to do, come on we’re going to be late.” I snorted at her comment; that’s what I’ve been saying for the past twenty minutes! I climbed up on her back and we were off.
We made it to the enclosed town square only a few minutes late; everything was decorated in shades of green, red, white, silver, and gold. It was so beautiful…the stage was already playing Christmas carols, there were new games on the brim of the town square-all with the Christmas touch: whack a Santa, shoot reindeer targets, and more. Then farther in and in the surrounding buildings were traditional buffets filled with food that made my mouth water; at the center was the dance floor like before but, everyone was dancing dances like the waltz or foxtrot; It was so formal.
Emi didn’t let me wander to close to the dance floor though, she brought me with her as she searched for the gang; Tsunami, Kakashi, and Tazuna were in the building next to team 7, Konohamaru, and Inari enjoying the food and just chatting about random things; the boys jaws practically dropped when I came over to them.
“Wow…ne-san you look great!”
“Thank you, kit…” I blushed from Naruto's comment at my kimono; he was wearing a kimono as well but it was orange as usual with black flames at the bottom and a black obi. I saw Sasuke stare off at the crowd, ignoring me entirely. I felt a spike of annoyance that he wouldn’t even look at me; annoyance disappeared when Konohamaru whispered to me, “Don’t sweat it ne-san, Sasuke just jealous that Naruto stole his line and said something first.”
I chuckled, Sasuke stiffed from his sentence and stalked off, “Sheesh who stuck a pinecone up his ass?”
“He doesn’t really like these holidays…” Sakura trailed off; looking around unhappily…She was wearing a pink kimono with sakura blossoms on a tree branch printed all over it and a white obi to match. I shook my head at her mood; she really needed move on with her crush with Sasuke…it was really sad to watch. I need to remember to introduce her to Rock Lee that way she had at least a guy that would lavish her with love unlike icecube there.
What is his problem? He has avoided me since Halloween which I can understand. Doing what we did and me being the one that started it kind of makes me not wanting to around me, but he was going to do sometime in his life…I just happen to be the person he does it with first. I huffed at his exit and turned to Naruto.
“Naruto lets go dance, icecube’s mood is damping mine.”
“Um…sure…” I led Naruto to the floor and took his hands as he took my waist and we started to waltz. I felt my anger dissolve as we moved across the floor. With my head against his, I closed my eyes to the world and just listen to the swishing of the kimonos and the band play silent night.
Naruto grew uncomfortable at the closeness we had as we continued to dance; I didn’t react… I needed to unwind from the stress I’ve been having of late. “Um Jasmine…”
“Hm?”
“Can we stop…everyone is staring…”
I opened my eyes and saw indeed a lot of the villagers were watching us…some were smiling, others were laughing heartily…I felt myself heat up when Naruto led me away from the floor. Konohamaru was busy talking to Hani and Inari with another boy from my classes; I believe his name was Kyo. Sakura was alone so we went over to her.
“You two looked like you were having a good time…”
“Well, I was feeling pretty good on dancing till people started to stare at us. But hey, it’s a party let’s go play some games!”
“Um… actually I was wondering if I could…”
I caught his drift when he jerked his head slightly to Sakura; Naruto wanted to dance with her.
“Sakura, Naruto still wants to dance and well I frankly want to play some of the games over there. You fill my spot okay.”
I hurried off before she could say something against it. I giggled when I saw the two blushing as they danced the waltz; they looked so cute together…I should work with them getting together but…Hinata was a more favorite character than Sakura and I had no heart to crushing hers.
After playing several games and winning several small prizes I found the game I was best at any old carnival…. Hit stack of bottles with a baseball; here it was throw a leather brown ball. I won a giant stuffed white teddy bear from hitting the most bottles. It had black button eyes, soft velvet body with a giant silver blue bow with a small silver bell on it; other words it was very me and very cute.
“I see you got another Pookie…”
I blushed as I turned behind me and saw it was Kakashi who said that…
“It’s not another Pookie! I already got a Pookie….”
“Oh I thought… you still call Sasuke that?”
“NO!” I felt the blood flush through my face as he chuckled. He smiled and tussle my hair teasingly.
“I’m just playing with you Jazzy; where did everyone else go? You know Emi doesn’t want you to be alone here…”
“I know… I just wanted to play some games and Naruto and Sakura went to dance…”
“I see…well you seem to have your hands full; let me take your prizes home and you go back to the group and we’ll pretend I won the prizes for you that way Emi never knows.”
“Okay…” I gave Kakashi all the prizes except the gold bracelet I won; I wanted to give it to Hani as a Christmas present. I went back to the building where I last saw everyone and found Naruto and Konohamaru.
“Hey Konohamaru, did you see where Hani went? I want give her a gift.”
“She went to see how her grandma is doing; ever since Emi gave her gram that medicine; she gotten much better.”
“I see well if you see her, tell her to find me.”
“Okay…”
I walked over to a door way and lend up against drinking the eggnog I grabbed from a table. Naruto started to walk over to me when his eyes widen with surprise then mischief. I stopped leaning on the doorway and walked towards him, “What are you looking at Naruto…” I tried to look at he was looking at but he grabbed me and smiled hastily.
“I thought I saw a spider…”
My eyes instantly widen as I searched the surface of my clothing for the devil, “Spider where!?”
“But it’s gone now!”
I stared him suspiciously at him as he whispered to Konohamaru something; I felt uneasy when he started to smile impishly at me and ran off. “What was that about…?”
“Uh… I told him to go get Hani since you had a gift for her.”
“Cut the crap Naruto; he wouldn’t smile like that if he was doing that, now what did you tell him to do?” Naruto started to give another excuse when I saw Konohamaru race past me. “Konohamaru what on earth are…?”
*BAM*
I fell flat on my face as someone ran into me and fell on top of me. I growled and picked myself and turned to give who ran into a piece of my mind when I saw it was Sasuke.
“What the hell Sasuke? Why the hell did you run into me?!”
“Konohamaru took my key to the house and I was chasing him to get it back.”
“Oh, like I’m going to believe that.”
“I wasn’t asking you.”
I felt my face flush as I glared at him angrily; Naruto intervened with the worst timing and he was laughing with Konohamaru.
“You two have to kiss now!”
Sasuke and I looked at him like he was insane, “What?”
“Look!”
We both looked up where Naruto was pointing; at the doorway where we were standing under had a large stem of Mistletoe. I redden at the sight and felt my face light on fire; so that’s what they were plotting, I’m going to kill that baka!
“We don’t have to, only…”
“Don’t even try to ne-san wasn’t you that said you have to with any person no matter what gender have to kiss them or you’ll have bad luck and be cursed if you didn’t.”
~~~~~~~flash back~~~~~~~~~~
>” Ne-san, why are you trying to hang up that branch of leaves?” I was on a stool nailing up some mistletoe on the top of the doorway in Tsunami house; I turned to him and smiled.
“Because kit, this is mistletoe and it’s hung up all the time during Christmas. If two people are caught under it at the same time no matter what gender they are they must kiss each other on the lips or they’ll have bad luck for the entire year and be cursed till they do under the mistletoe.”
“That’s stupid!”
“Well I didn’t make the rules Naruto that’s just how it works. I went back to nailing the branch. <
~~~~~~end of flash back~~~~~~
I gawked at him; he had me cornered…I know I made up the cursed and bad luck apart so I could trick Kakashi and Tsunami and get them to kiss, if I confess that I lied…no that would be a too humiliating… Not as bad as kissing the guy you seduced… My thoughts were interrupted by two lips crashing up against mine; I forgot how much taller I am to everyone in this show…I’m as tall as Kakashi is and he’s like a decade older than me.
Sasuke had twirled me around and kissed me holding me up by the waist. I felt the world grow fuzzy as he pressed his lips against mine, and then slowly moved them, creating sparks across my spiraling vision. I felt myself wrap my arms around his next and deepen the kiss. I felt our pulses race as he licked my teeth for entry; I complied with opening my mouth and letting him explore. Domains raged through us as we battled for it.
The need for air won and he pulled me back to my feet panting. I stood there dazed holding his neck as the world came back into focus. I realized with horror that everyone was wooting at our kissing and Naruto was gapping at us like he just hit with a ton of bricks. I quickly put distance between Sasuke and I when Emi, Kakashi, and Sakura made their way through the crowd; this was not going to end well…
Thankfully people went back to partying by the time they got over to us and I got Konohamaru and Naruto to swear they’ll say nothing.
“What was all the noise about?”
“Oh just some random couple got stuck under the mistletoe and were going at it.”
“Really, people can’t keep a party clean….Come on; Tsunami’s family has already gone home and I’m frankly pooped out from the excitement.”
“Ok…let me go give Hani her gift though!”
Emi nodded to me as I rushed through the crowd to the girl’s home; it was a small quaint home with white walls and a brown roof. I hurried up to the door and knocked; Hani came and answered it at the third knock.
“Hi Jasmine-sensei!”
“Hello Hani, I wanted to give you this before the night was through,” I handed her the golden bracelet; “I thought this would be pretty on your wrist.” I smiled at her as her eyes lit up as she put the bracelet on.
“Jasmine-sensei, it’s so pretty!” I nodded at her and waved to her goodbye as I rushed back to Emi; she waved happily back smiling the biggest smile I’ve seen on her. I’m glad I made one little girl smile this season.
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Chapter notes: Ok this chapter does have a little PG-13 in it just so you know and this is the Christmas special two days after the holiday....I messed around yesterday and on the holiday I was working a different story. I'll be updating one more time this week by Friday for the New Years special for this story then I’m focusing on school so the story won't be updated for a while...just so you know and don't like start hating or such.
Any who this took me like the entire day = 5 hours? to create of the top of my head which is sad since this is the story that I usually spend all my free time on thinking on....pathetic yes I have no really life...meh, the word count is like ..4305 words so...this will be revised for it is my new year’s goal by the end of 2010 to have all my chapters 10,000 words each. On every story I publish hopefully...well let’s just start with this one eh? well I need to stop babbling and get on with the story so please review and I don't mind burns cause in my heart I know you either mean well or just don't like me which either I’m fine with so enjoy the chapter!
BTY: > blah < either mean dream or past related to future stuff…can’t figure out how to fix the stupid thing to do italics ….I’m really a baka at this so help…? OK I was looking back at my old chapters on chapter 17... I'M SO SORRY ABOUT IT! I FORGOT TO ADD NEARLY ALL THE CHAPTER! That's like got to be the worst thing I've done besides eating olives stuffed with blue cheese, don't try it; it tastes like vomit. Any way I'm very very very sorry that I made that stupid error and have made sure the entire chapter is now posted! Thank you for all your helpful and positive reviews Rowanrose, Dalaw, Ontuva, Bre2k8 now Sasaui Uchiha I think, Vixkill, Ayako Haru, Kikyaru360, Crimson Lily, Nbzk, and Dropdeadthendance. Rowanrose your recent reviews not only on this story but other that I wrote made my day and I thank you. Crimson Lily your reviews on my other stories also made my day thank you too. Dalaw I like how you tell me what you find disagreeable along with Nbzk, thank you both and the rest thanks for reading!