[LOG: in-progress and truly very epic]

[betterthanthen.livejournal.com]

When; Christmas Eve, December 24th, evening
Rating; PG-13, I hope
Characters; THE GODDAMN NARUTO CAST can't be bothered to list them all[Sakura, Rin, Obito, Shikamaru, Naruto, Neji, Tenten, Lee, Gai, Temari, Kakashi, Gaara did I forget anyone orzffffuck]
Summary; Ninjas go at it in style. A little bit of peace (?), the celebration of a 'family get-together', lots of food, and a startling lack of Christianism. Leave presents at the door
Log;

Sakura's apartment was several degrees warmer because of all the cooking that had been going on the whole day. The living room was cleaner, brighter and warmer, with a huge Christmas tree in the middle, already decorated. She had already laid her presents under it, as tradition demanded it, and was adding the finishing touches to the house. Shoving Naruto's socks under the couch, for example. Checking to see that no-one had started eating the food before the guests arrived.

Her mother would have been downright proud of her, if she could see her daughter right now. She was doing everything that the perfect wife, housewife or civillian woman. Her mother would not know, however, that she didn't do it because she felt that these activities were something women had to do, but because she was selfish, selfish, and wanted to be the one person to put a smile on everyone's faces tonight by organizing this dinner. This place allowed for maybe not much freedom, but whatever occasion arised, Sakura grasped it tightly.

All these people were like her family now. Of course she would find it her duty, her uttermost obligation, to aid in making them happy on this day. If the books had taught her anything, it was that Christmas was a day for celebrating happiness.

Content with the state of the apartment, she served herself a cup of tea, and took a seat on the couch. "Things'll be better."

Comments

RIGHT AFTER SHE PLOPS HER FAT ASS DOWN; Shikamaru on the living room couch with... Sakura. :')

[plsgtfo.livejournal.com]

He had always been a punctual person, though not usually by choice. Opening the door with a sigh, Shikamaru slowly made his way into the apartment, finally plopping down onto the couch not so far away from Sakura, both arms sprawled over the backrest.

His shift with the seals over, and even he could see that pretty soon, keeping up with the ridiculous seals shift schedule wouldn't be necessary. They weren't holding. It was a pain in the ass, but it wasn't far off from saying the seals would be permanent. Well, he wished it was that easy, but nothing ever was, was it? In all his complaining, Shikamaru had always been good at improvisation. So why stop now?

"Yeah, sure it will," he mumbled in response to her statement, his head leaning back.

Shikamaru's LAZY LAZY ASS on the living room couch with BEAUTIFUL Sakura. bitch

[betterthanthen.livejournal.com]

Sakura registered his presence ever since he'd stepped into the apartment, though it was unnecessary to ask where he'd been. The seals, of course. She was good with seals, good enough to realise they were not holding up very well. Maybe they would have, against a ninja, but Road Camelot was different, obviously. However, she would face the difficulty when it arrived--so maybe she liked planning ahead, and organizing everything very very well, but for tonight. They deserved a small break. From everything in general.

"You want some tea, pain in the ass?" she murmured, half-smiling at him.

Shikamaru's FINE FINE ASS on the living room couch with SAKURA TTLY CHECKING HIM OUT.

[plsgtfo.livejournal.com]

Waving a hand over his head, Shikamaru continued to look at the ceiling. This would have been really comfortable if the ceiling wasn't, you know, the ceiling and he could watch his clouds from here. But for now, he sloooowly leaned forward and paid no attention to his surroundings, closing his eyes and nodding a bit.

"Yeah," he replied. "You offering?"

And as usual, no apparent response to hospitality. Or even the fact that the apartment had been fixed up to host that one particular dinner party. But that was just how he was; even if he wasn't the most socially inept person was (he could think of one tiny Uchiha to take that title), he wasn't the most vocal type about his excitement (did he have any?) or even his appreciation.

Shikamaru's HORRIBLY FLAT ASS FROM ALL THAT SITTING AROUND ON IT and SAKURA'S BOUNCY, FIT ONE.

[betterthanthen.livejournal.com]

She offered him a small shrug, and stood up, walking to the kitchen again. He deserved as much...everyone deserved someone to be there for them when they were tired. If she had had someone to bring her tea after every long day of training, or at the hospital, she would have physically chained herself to them.

Returning with the cup for the boy, she set it in front of him, still smiling slightly. "Only 'cause it's Christmas."

Shikamaru's... ... ... ... WELL YOU'RE FAT, SAKURA.

[plsgtfo.livejournal.com]

"I should take advantage of this." But he didn't move an inch, not until Sakura moved back to her seat, before reaching out for the cup set in front of him. Blowing into the cup, Shikamaru raised a brow at the girl, noting her chipper attitude. And the fact that she hasn't verbally abused him yet.

"So when are you expecting everyone?"

THEY'RE BABY-MAKING HIPS YOU FUCKING IDIOT, AND THE FINEST FEMALE ASS IN KONOHA HHHHo

[betterthanthen.livejournal.com]

"Whenever they decide to arrive, I guess. Dinner won't start otherwise, so I hope that soon," she answered, her turn to hold her hands under her head and lean back.

WHATEVER LOLOL EXCUSES, EXCUSES, SHE'S STILL FATTER THAN INO. 8)

[plsgtfo.livejournal.com]

Idle conversation was just that. Idle conversation. And Shikamaru was never good at it. "They'd better arrive soon or I'll be really..." What's the proper word again? Shikamaru scrunched his nose and took a sip out of his tea. "... hungry."

THANK YOU GOD

[betterthanthen.livejournal.com]

"The food's done anyway." Idle conversation never marched well with them, anyway. Sometimes, he could be so idle it made her want to smack him out of it; this time, however, she decided to give him something to do.

"Okay, wait," she told him, then went to take a package from under the tree, and put it in his lap. "For you."

klfadfas LMFAO yeah ino is pretty skinny

[plsgtfo.livejournal.com]

"You do realize I didn't get anything for you," he replied, placing a hand on the present before putting it to the side. No, his mother had always taught him to be polite, even if his mannerisms didn't... always... reflect it, and opening presents in front of people were one of those lessons. "Probably never will."

Bluntness. It's his forte. Sakura probably already knew what he had said even before she went out and bought presents for him and everyone. They had known each other since they were young, after all. The closest thing to a childhood friend, right?

"But... thanks."

sakura has love-handles

[betterthanthen.livejournal.com]

"I know that," she waved him off dissmissively. "I didn't give you that expecting anything in return. Although, I'll probably benefit from it myself," she mused, and went back to her cup of tea.

"So...about yesterday..."

8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

[plsgtfo.livejournal.com]

"... we can pretend it never happened," he replied, slouching on the couch more than ever. Sakura was already scary enough with a lost temper. Older? Who knew she could be that scary? He doesn't want to know. He doesn't ever want to end up with a woman like her.

"Or we can acknowledge that it did. It doesn't particularly affect me in any way."

[betterthanthen.livejournal.com]

"Mm," she vaguely responded, then glanced at him with amusent. "You need to run faster," she told him, snorting into her cup.

Obito being late but not horribly late and whoever?

[keepinganeyeout.livejournal.com]

Obito paused outside the door of Rin's flat, licked the palm of his hand and tried to flatten his hair. The second he removed his hand, the spikes returned to their asymmetric angles. Ah well, maybe people would think that was part of his natural charm. He wasn't sure who was going to be there, but if they were all from his world, that would make it easier? Right? His memory didn't help by reminding him he never did well at family gatherings.

Straightening himself in a confident manner, he shoved the door wide open, said "Hel-" and tripped over the doorway to fall flat on his face.

He got up quickly. "-lo."

Gai NOT being late despite .. RPer being late 8|

[gohardwork.livejournal.com]

With a most jubilant and pleasant countenance, the eccentrically beautiful man had thankfully fought all urges to come in through the chimney or window, and instead make a more subtle and less dynamic entrance at the threshold of the front door.

Though he was almost certain that form-fitting jumpsuits had universal appeal and were invariably appropriate for every occasion possible, he assumed (perhaps incorrectly) that everyone would be wearing something fancy to this gathering. Attempting to emulate that incredibly sexy and lewd man, Cross, he'd come in a nice black suit and cravat. Which would look somewhat normal, hadn't he bought the ridiculous green and pink scarf to wrap around his neck, or the orange polka-dot tie, or the really tacky belt that didn't even fit with his outfit and served no purpose. He thought it would accentuate his hips.

Poking his head in to peek around, he felt triumphant at being one of the first to arrive. Hopefully, that had meant that he'd be able to sit beside Sakura and spend enough time with her in private to hopefully give her the extravagant gifts he had purchased for her.

Upon spotting the young woman (who would really look a lot better in the dress he'd bought her), he stood straight with a stern and determined visage, waiting for her to make eye contact with him so he could DEMAND she come to his attention.

So. You better not ignore him and play it all hip and cool, Sakura. Or he'll just get more and more obnoxious.

mm punctuality is rewarded with imaginary sex? C:

[betterthanthen.livejournal.com]

Maybe not many did bother, but Sakura at least tried (http://www.edressme.com/ch031208.html#) to step outside of her working clothes. (Not to mention it was extremely easy to rip in case she has to fight anyone--even though she hoped the occasion would not arrive this night--, and she had shorts underneath, form fitting enough to not be seen. Sure, it would be a ruin to the pretty dress--the only formal-wear dress she owned in the City--but a ninja's code said stop at nothing. It said nothing about 'fight naked if you must', hence the shorts.)

It felt good, it made her feel a bit prettier and more self-confident, which she wasn't very much outside the battleground, or the hospital ward. Put an injured man on a table and she'd have him up and about in thirty minutes (give or take), but never ask her what sort of underwear a girl her age must wear to appeal men. (Cotton whites were practical; they were ninja! Not geisha, for crying out loud!) Yet tonight, maybe even Ino would've been proud of her. If she wouldn't have been too busy joining in a friendly competition of out-nagging Shikamaru. Throwing a slight glare towards the boy--still on the couch, now talking to his friend the Shinigami?--she went around the living room table and headed to the hallway.

"Shoes are killing me," she muttered to herself, taking off the high heels and wondering what the hell she'd been thinking, buying them in the first place. Her toes pressed comfortably into the carpet, she wiggled them a bit, and looked up. And saw a pair of black pants. Well that was nice.

And a belt. What the hell.

The tie.

The scarf.

"What were you thinking?" she hissed/whined/moaned in agony. Even she, not a big expert at all in fashion, was aware that all that was a crime. Against it. And as a ninja, it is my duty to punish it by death.


Okay, it isn't.

But it should be.

:} TH-THANK YOU SOB

[gohardwork.livejournal.com]

The serious look on his face faltered at her question, replaced with a puzzled expression. Perhaps he had arrived too early, and she was not properly made up, yet?

It was only fair to let her know how beautiful she looked, regardless. That way, she could not be so embarrassed to be around him! If she knew that he thought she looked fine either way, and so did Lee and anyone with a brain, really ...

Speaking of Lee. Where was he? He decided he'd worry about that later. As long as Gaara had not seduced him completely out of his life ....

"Before you say anything further, know that I am utterly titillated and entranced by your beauty tonight! Such youthful attire, your aura is practically glowing!" He set his presents down by the door, before finishing his proclamation of adulation.

"You've certainly outdone yourself! Your eyes sparkle like two full moons! Two ... full. Green moons."

Slipping a hand through his hair, he slicked it back (only for it to ... fall back into bowl-cutty place as soon as he let go) and gave her a wink, posing by the door.

"How do I look?" He tugged on his stylish scarf, sparkling and pinging at her. "Don't fall in love with me yet, we've only recently met."

[betterthanthen.livejournal.com]

"I...think...I'll be safe from falling in love with you, yeah," she ventured to answer, then added in a dry voice, "And please keep the titillating to a minimum."

But no, no, she had to do something about his look, because, dear God, Maito Gai actually could look nice in a suit. If you took away all his pimpin'. "You look...extravagant. As usual. Please feel free to take your scarf off, it's warm in here and I don't want you to perspire too much that when you return home you'll catch a cold," she instructed.

"Food's in the living room, as is everyone else." And with that she headed to her bedroom. Hopefully she'd find a pair of shoes that wouldn't kill her. Or just take the heels off from these.

[gohardwork.livejournal.com]

He considered her offer, weighing out the health benefits of releasing pheromones while sweating, against the hygienic downfall of any perspiration overwhelming the manly cologne he had been wearing. Stroking his chin, he gave her a nod.

"You're correct in that!! Although I'm certain my indomitable immune system could fight off any cold, I would not want to sweat indoors at such a social event!"

He practically glowed at the compliment, though, as he unwrapped his scarf.

"What food is -- hey, hey! Miss Sakura, wait--" He dropped his scarf on the floor, grabbing for his presents, and began to follow her.

THE SHINIGAMI FRIEND UP THERE WAS A LIE!!!

[betterthanthen.livejournal.com]

"And you can lose the tie, too, it's not that formal," she casually threw over her shoulder. About the belt...she had no solution, unfortunately. And telling him to take his belt off was out of the question. Maybe she'd goad Shikamaru into doing that later.

She stopped at the entrace to her bedroom, and turned around to glare at him. "Why are you following me?"

EVERYTHING IS A LIE WITH YOU

[gohardwork.livejournal.com]

Throughout years of wielding his own body as a weapon in battle, he'd become accustomed to tensing up and being ready to react to the slightest of movement, indiscriminate of how close or estranged the individual making the movement was. Despite his lack of respect for personal space (it was such a useless social concept, after all), this automated and ingrained reaction kept him from taking one step further the moment she turned around.

So instead, he began to loosen his tie, trying his best to not suddenly look anxious. An odd sense of guilt was still on the back of his mind, faintly, when he laid eyes upon her. Luckily, Sakura had mostly shouted all of that out of him, and the girl had taken great strides in making everything less awkward.

"I uh, wanted some alone time with you!"

For the presents, of course.

THE SPOON IS

[betterthanthen.livejournal.com]

She looked at him wryly for a moment, eyes drifting down to the loose tie. She clucked her tongue to the roof of her mouth, and not paying attention to what he was saying, or not really that much, reached up to untie the offenssive thing and pull it off from around his neck. "Much better. You actually look..." She paused, looking for the appropiate word that wouldn't be insulting. "...normal." That one probably wasn't it.

Then she looked back up at him. "Anyway, I'll be out soon, I just want to change shoes, and you can't come into my bedroom ever, so no."

That said, she turned around and closed the door in his face. His tie still in her hand.

YOU WANT ME TO SPOON YOU WHAT I COULDNT HEAR

[gohardwork.livejournal.com]

"Normal?" He looked down at himself, not quite understanding the backhanded compliment.


Before he could even begin to ramble about how depressing it was that the suit did not come in green, Sakura had closed the door. His grip on his presents tightened briefly, before he dropped them to the floor, scratching at Sakura's door pathetically with his surprisingly pretty fingernails.

"What do you mean ever!?? If you're just changing shoes why cannot I be present, too!? I do not mind bad odor, sometimes I find it quite exhilarating when it is the result of hard work!! Pheromones and all!!"

That wasn't fair. There was absolutely no way he could have her open the gifts in public view -- it would take all of the SPECIALNESS away from the entire thing!!

NO. THE SPOON IS A LIE JEEZ

[betterthanthen.livejournal.com]

There were no appropiate shoes for this outfit. Sakura was really contemplating snapping the heels off of the ones she was wearing right then.

"Phero--what? WILL YOU SHUT UP? YOU CAN'T BE IN HERE BECAUSE IT'S MY ROOM! AND WHAT I SAY GOES! Why the hell would you want to come in, anyway?" she shouted at him from behind closed doors. And snap--one heel off. Snap--the second heel off.

She tried them on again. Much better.

[gohardwork.livejournal.com]

"I told you!! I wish for some privacy with you!" It's not like he wanted to give away why his gifts were so 'private' that the two should preferably be in a secluded area with candlelight upon him handing them over.

Crossing his arms, he put his best indignant scoff on, perhaps trying to emulate Neji.

"... Are your feet hurting?" He had mustered up his most composed and cool tone. He'd always admired women. High heels seemed so masochistic, so self-punishing, and required special strength and training to walk properly without damaging your back into old age. Perfect for him.

[betterthanthen.livejournal.com]

She pulled the door open brusquely. "No, they're not. Anymore, at least," she answered dryly, giving him a look. "State your purpose truthfully. 'Some privacy' only makes me more eager to kick you as far away from my bedroom as purpose."