Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Given The Chance ❯ Look Who is Under the Mistletoe! ( Chapter 25 )

Chapter #25

Look Who is Under the Mistletoe!

 

 

Disclaimer:

Star: Seasons greetings everyone! Guess what? I finally wrote the damn Christmas chapter - like a week after Christmas - I have been talking about for freaking ever! (Sweat drops) Hehe don't look at me like that I could get a brain tumor or a nervous breakdown from all my writing! (Ahem) Anyway instead of me doing the disclaimer as usual (special occasion and all) I got Cassie-chan and Gaara-kun to come in!

Cassie: We get to do the disclaimer? Yeah this is so much fun!

Gaara: …why the hell am I here? I don't want any part of this.

Star: Aw come on Gaara we need a disclaimer here!!

Gaara: No.

Cassie: I know what will convince him! Gaara come here for a sec (whispers something in his ear)

Gaara: (Wide eyes) …Starchip13 doesn't own Naruto and co. (Silently takes Cassie's hand and walks rigidly off stage)

Star: (totally out of the loop) …I don't even wanna know … ENJOY THE CHAPPIE!

 

000000000000000000000000000000000000

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000

 

 

Cassandra slept soundly the rest of the day and all through the night.

 

Gaara never really left the entire time. When his siblings left to take their things to a hotel for the night he was only out of the house for a few seconds before giving an excuse - he didn't even remember what he said - and climbing back in through the window to where she was sleeping.

 

It was early the very morning after they arrived when she finally stirred and opened her eyes to see Gaara watching her from the end of the bed. She sat up and stretched her limbs for a minute before yawning again, “Gaara-kun? How long have I been sleeping?”

 

“Its morning,” he stated flatly.

 

“Aw,” Cassie groaned, “It's been that long? You should have woken me up Gaara.”

 

“Are you feeling any better?”

 

Swinging her feet over the side of the bed she got up and stretched her stiff body again, “Ya I feel loads better! I feel like I have so much energy, and …hey how long have you been watching me anyway?”

 

“A while.”

 

“Talkative this morning aren't you Gaara?” She smiled at him and looked at the clock, “Damn, you know what there are only a couple days left until Christmas and I have a ton of stuff to do? Alex always needs help with the cooking since she runs her own stand during the festival, the twins are always such a handful, and no doubt Fujita will be looking for someone to help out at the festival. Kami knows he used me as the model for the performance costumes last year…”

 

`So that was why she got so worked up over falling asleep,' it amused Gaara that she always took on more than everyone else.

 

“I have a meeting with the Hokage today,” Gaara stated finally as he turned toward the window to leave, “I'll stop by later.”

 

“How come no matter what village we are in you seem to have a problem with doors…?”

 

000000000000000000000000000000

 

Kankuro, Shikamaru, Naruto, and Lee sat at the ramen shop enjoying their lunch. Well, maybe that wouldn't be the way to put it. Lee and Naruto were having a ramen eating contest and they were both slurping down their sixth bowls. The sight was beginning to make Kankuro and Shikamaru loose their appetites.

 

“Hey Kankuro … is that your brother?” Shikamaru asked as he turned away from the sight of Naruto and Lee chow down on their eighth bowls.

 

Kankuro looked up as well and nearly spat out ramen noodles, “No way…”

 

The only thing more amusing than watching Gaara actually show affection toward someone was watching him slowly get frustrated trying to buy a present for that person.

 

Gaara was starting to wish he had thought about buying a present for Cassie earlier. He really was clueless since he had never bought a Christmas present before, well maybe one Christmas he did get his siblings something, but that was different because they were family. He never thought buying something for someone he liked would be so difficult…

 

`None of this stuff seems right for her,' his eyebrows furrowed as he slowly walked from shop to shop.

 

“Oi Gaara what are you doing?”

 

`Kami my luck is not that bad is it…?'

 

His brother, along with Lee, Shikamaru, and Naruto were by his side faster than he was able to find an escape. Each of them had their own stupid smile on their face that gave Gaara a sense of impending doom.

 

Kankuro nudged Gaara, “What you shopping for Gaara?”

 

“Nothing.”

 

Naruto's goofy smile widened, “Well if it's nothing then why do you look so annoyed.”

 

“Go away.”

 

Shikamaru didn't have the same dopy grin as the rest of them, he didn't have the ambition or energy for that, “Ah, shopping for someone is so troublesome, especially a girl…”

 

“Why are you guys still here?”

 

Lee struck his usual good guy pose, “Buying a gift for the person you love is a lot easier when you have a second opinion! We'll come along and help in the spirit of youth!”

 

“Why me…?” Gaara groaned under his breath.

 

“Hey, you may not always think so but I am your older brother, and I think this might be one of those rare occasions you might want to actually listen to my advice,” stated Kankuro authoritatively, “Do you even know where to start.”

 

Gaara didn't respond in hopes they would loose interest and leave. No such luck

 

Lee would always point out anything green. Naruto insisted ramen was the best gift. Shikamaru pointed out that most woman loved jewelry, and then there was Kankuro's idea…

 

“No.”

 

The five of them stood in front of a glass display case in which the curvy manikins were wearing different types of frilly lingerie. All the signs said things like `for your special someone' or `her Christmas wish', particularly over the skimpier outfits that covered almost nothing at all.

 

Both Lee and Naruto were blushing as their eyes were glued to the display case as Shikamaru looked at the prices while mumbled something about Temari. Kankuro was grinning with satisfaction while Gaara actually looked a little red himself from anger and embarrassment.

 

“Aw come on Gaara I know you're imagining her in one of these,” Kankuro teased, “Lots of skin exposed, those long legs, and her--”

 

“Leave. Right. Now.” Gaara seethed, and after prying their eyes away from the store they did so and left the very angry - and slightly embarrassed - Kazekage to finish shopping on his own.

 

Gaara turned in the other direction so if they looked back they wouldn't be able to see him whipping a bit of blood from his nose, `Stupid Kankuro and his stupid contagious perverted thoughts. Kami I can't believe I actually fell for that one!'

 

0000000000000000000000000000000000000

 

Cassie trudged around the room with both Kin and Gin clinging to her legs. It didn't bother her to much since she was strong enough to keep walking even if she had to drag them across the floor, and it actually kind of reminded her of her training with Gai-sensei. Those days were certainly … unforgettable.

 

“Alright the rice crispies are finished, now how many cookies do you need for your stand?”

 

Alex glanced over the table overflowing with hundreds of Christmas treats they already baked thoughtfully, “A few dozen should do the trick. The cookies are always the best sellers. People love Christmas sugar cookies.”

 

It was finally the twenty-forth, and the festival was starting in a few short hours so Cassandra and Alex had been up since the crack of dawn baking.

 

“What smells so nice girls?” Fujita asked as he walked in the house.

 

“The food stand stuff,” Alex replied, “and don't you even think about stealing anything to munch on because Kin and Gin are our taste testers.”

 

Fujita put his hands up in the air laughing, “I wouldn't think of it. Besides I'm here for another reason, well, two other reasons I guess you could say.”

 

A girl with her brown hair pulled up into two tight buns ran in from the hallway and wrapped her arms around Cassie, “I was glad when Lee said you finally gotten back to Konoha we've all missed you so much!”

 

“Tenten?” Cassandra staggered backwards in surprise for a moment before returning the hug, “Wow I didn't expect to see you until after the festival.”

 

“Thus reason number two why I am not here to admire your cooking skills,” Fujita announced happily, “Mom I'm sorry but I'm going to have to steal your co-cook for a few hours.”

 

Without warning Tenten through Cassie over her shoulder and Kin and Gin let go of her legs, “Come on Cassie-chan we need to get you changed!”

 

“Hey what gives?” Cassie struggled, but Tenten was a Jounin and much stronger than she was.

 

“Fujita-chan asked me to help out with the festival this year,” explained Tenten with a slightly maniacal grin, “With the entertainment portion.”

 

“Oh no, no freaking way you two,” Cassie shook her head rapidly.

 

“Just make sure she's still in one peace for the Christmas party tonight you two,” Alex didn't seem to be paying attention to Cassandra's protests, “I still need someone to help me get the food ready then too.”

 

Tenten walked up the stairs with Cassandra still over her back like a sack of potatoes, “Roger will do!”

 

00000000000000000000000000000

 

Everyone seemed to be doing something or another for the bustling Christmas festival. Gaara spotted Cassie's aunt Alex running her own busy little baked goods table. Choji was the Santa sitting up on the big chair with both Tenten and Hinata as his elves, and so on. In a little less than an hour Gaara was pretty sure he had seen every Konoha shinobi he came to know since the Chunin exams.

 

“Hey Gaara wait up,” the bored shinobi of Konoha called dully.

 

“What is it?”

 

Shikamaru shrugged, “Beats me, Temari told me to find you and take you to the stage. She didn't tell me why.”

 

The two walked down towards the end of the street where a large stage was set up for the performers of the festival. Fujita was already standing on stage with the microphone in his hand as the crowd began to gather.

 

“Crowds are so troublesome,” Shikamaru mumbled after having someone step on his foot.

 

“Alright everyone its time for the first act to begin,” Cassie's cousin announced enthusiastically, “I want you to give a warm welcome to our little angels!”

 

The curtains were pulled aside, and Gaara was so caught off guard he had to take a second look. It was not just the fact that out of the three people standing up on stage Cassie was the one in the middle, it was what she was wearing.

 

The white dress she was wearing was certainly flattering. It looked like a modified toga that gave her a sleeveless low plunging neckline and showed off an awful lot of leg. The fabric clung to her thin frame and the obi belt around her waist made the whole thing amplify her curves. A pair of feathery wings was tied to her back, and a silver headband held both her hair back and a silver halo above her head by a thin wire.

 

`…wow,' Gaara swallowed hard. He was one of the closest people to the stage so he had the best view.

 

Cassandra couldn't believe she got suckered into actually singing. She wasn't afraid of performing or anything - she had more confidence than that - it was just that she strongly disliked being the center of attention among a couple hundred people. Some people were attention seekers, Iwate Cassandra was not.

 

“We're singing Jingle Bell Rock first,” one of the two other girls on stage whispered in her ear. She a white ribbon in her pink hair and a dress similar to Cassandra's. They were only briefly introduced before getting on stage, her name was Haruno Sakura.

 

The second girl, a blonde named Yamanaka Ino gave Cassandra a slight nudge, “Hey you're the one that Gaara likes right? Well don't look twice, but I think he's enjoying his view.”

 

`Good lord Jesus Christ why the hell am I doing this?' Cassie hoped everyone would think her rosy cheeks were from the chilly air.

 

Her voice was as beautiful as ever. Along with Sakura and Ino they sang a lot of familiar Christmas songs - made a little more up-beat courtesy of Fujita. The crowd loved it, but no one more than Gaara who watched intently the entire time.

 

A small smile took the chance to appear when everyone was paying attention to the stage and not looking at him, `This is the best Christmas I've ever had.'

 

0000000000000000000000000000000000000

 

After the festival almost everyone went back to Alex's house for a bit of a Christmas party. Like most parties you see in bad teen movies it had a surprising turn out which included a lot of the Konoha shinobi that knew Gai. That included most of the elite Jounin teachers, and some of their students.

 

Cassie's eyebrow twitched slightly as she sipped her punch and listened to some guy she didn't even know babble on in his attempt to flirt, `Why exactly am I still in this dress?'

 

“And so he says…” the man continued to go on about something she didn't even care about until a familiar red headed Kazekage made his way through the crowded room.

 

“Where have you been Gaara-kun? I haven't seen you all night,” Cassie would have felt a little bit more relieved if the dress wasn't so damn revealing, but at least she would be getting out of a conversation she wasn't even part of in the first place.

 

“I had something I needed to take care of,” he stated calmly, “Come with me there is something I need to tell you.”

 

Cassie got up and left the conversation without a word, not that it mattered since the guy barely noticed and immediately started talking to someone else.

 

Following Gaara back through the crowd again the two stood in the doorway between the living room and kitchen so they were a little more out of the way.

 

Gaara was about to speak when Kin and Gin popped up out of nowhere with their camera ready, “Look who is under the mistletoe! Look who is under the mistletoe!”

 

`Who is under the what…?' It took Gaara a moment before he looked up at the funny looking little plant tacked to the doorway.

 

“Ha, way to go Gaara,” Naruto's voice could be heard above the crowd along with a few other loud individuals.

 

“What are they so excited about?” Gaara asked obliviously.

 

There was a slight red hue to Cassie's cheeks as she sensed more eyes on them, “Its mistletoe Gaara, when two people are caught standing under it together they gave to kiss.”

 

Great, Gaara wanted a little privacy from prying eyes and in a few short seconds he caught the attention of at least half the room. Then on top of that they were expected to kiss in front of everyone, including Cassandra's little camera happy cousins.

 

Looking up at Gaara her blush grew and she leaned up so their noses were almost touching, “Well Gaara-kun?”

 

On the inside he had a smirk and he was able to push the fact that they had quite the audience off to a corner of his mind. He leaned in and met her lips. He felt those familiar gentle arms wrap around his neck and for a few moments he actually forgot about the crowd. But of course that didn't make them disappear.

 

Kin and Gin were snapping pictures like crazy, Lee and Gai were giving thumbs up, Naruto was grinning like an idiot, and Gaara was pretty sure he heard someone whistle in the background.

 

Not making eye contact with anyone Gaara led Cassie outside before anyone was able to stop him.

 

He was finally able to get the privacy he had been seeking and he took the chance to fish a small package out of his pocket and held it out for Cassie, “Here I got you something. Merry Christmas.”

 

“Thank you very much that's very thoughtful,” Cassandra smiled gratefully as she tore the wrapping paper off the present.

 

Underneath was a pretty little jewelry box made of highly polished dark wood. Little green vines were carved and painted into the wood on the sides along with little white flowers - obviously daisies - made the design on the lid.

 

“Oh wow it's beautiful,” she murmured thoughtfully.

 

“Look inside,” instructed Gaara.

 

Cassie flipped open the top like she was told and her face lit up. She pulled out a small silver coin on a matching thin silver chain. On the one side of the coin was the kanji for `luck' and on the other side was the kanji symbol for `love'.

 

“Its supposed to be a good like charm,” Gaara explained. He held out his hand to offer to help her put it on and she accepted, holding her hair out of the way for him.

 

“It's so pretty, thank you so much,” once the necklace was one Cassie turned and wrapped her arms around him. “Shoot I have your present up in my room.”

 

Gaara quickly picked Cassie up - he had to watch where his hands were because of the dress - and leapt up to the roof where the window was. It was a lot easier than going back through the house since he could sense Naruto and Kankuro fighting for the best spot to spy on the two of them.

 

“Bur that is kind of chilly in a dress like this,” Cassie pulled her skirt back down so it would cover her properly again before dragging her backpack out from under the bed.

 

“It's officially midnight so it's Christmas day, and that means it's finally time to give this to you,” She pulled out a present wrapped in a dark red fabric and handed it out to Gaara with a grin, “Since you really didn't tell me what you wanted you were kind of hard to shop for, nothing seemed quite right, and if you think I was buying last minute it really took me a while to figure it out. But then I heard it in the marketplace and I couldn't resist!”

 

“Heard?” His curiosity peaked Gaara unwrapped the present. The whole thing was wrapped in a crimson sash with a silver dragon design on it. As it turned out inside the sash was a rather unusual picture frame. Around the frame was painted to look like a late sunset with the deep crimson reds near the very bottom and deep navy blue spotted with tiny silver stars at the top. In the top corner was a large crescent moon.

 

Seeing his confused look Cassie giggled and showed him a small key he had to turn on the bottom. When it was wound up all the way it began playing the Moonlight Sonata from the little music box at the base.

 

“You can listen to the Moonlight Sonata whenever you want now and it is something nice to have around is it not? You can put any picture you want in there so it makes a great keepsake!” Cassie couldn't help but grin wider, “The sash I wrapped it in is for you too. It was in the same shop and I thought it suited you.”

 

`She really is adorable,' Gaara looked at his gifts bemused then at Cassie who was beaming back at him, `She is the only one that will smile just a little bit brighter when I'm around.'

 

With the smallest of smiles he ran his fingers through her silky dark hair, “Thank you.”

 

“I'm just glad you liked it,” she responded by leaning into his touch.

 

Cassie was warm, she was always warm, everything from her smile to her touch. Gaara was grateful that those eyes of her only saw him, and he almost wondered what he had done to deserve someone like her…

 

Gaara leaned in and kissed her again, but deeper than before. They were finally alone so he was free to run his hands up and down her back, and run his fingers through her hair again. His tongue slipped in her mouth taking full advantage of the moment and enjoying the warmth he felt just by having her so close.

 

They parted for air and Cassie laid her head on his chest. Her body was finally starting to catch up with the fact that she got up at the crack of dawn cooking, sung at the Christmas Eve festival, and then spent most of the night at the party still going on downstairs. Cassie's eyelids felt heavy and she clung to Gaara letting the sound of his heartbeat sooth her.

 

He picked her up again and carried her to the bed so she could sleep but she continued to hold onto Gaara's shirt, “Will you stay with me while I sleep? Just for a little while?”

 

With a nod Gaara set his gourd on the floor and he climbed into the bed with Cassie half asleep in his arms. She fell asleep with her face buried in her chest with a small smile on her face.

 

“Thank you so much Gaara.”

 

 

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000