12 An Unfortunate Christmas (2/2)

But it can't just end there, no, no.

Christmas carols played in the background as the young Hatake-Nara entered the household. Christmas decorations has been put up, and, to his surprise, the long-awaited Christmas tree finally stood tall and mighty in the courtyard. Orion knew it was troublesome to set up and the tree has been there for quite a while now, but in some form of miracle, someone had finally set it up on Christmas day. On. Christmas. Day.

Whoever that was, bless them.

Stepping out on the courtyard after getting dressed in his Christmas attire, which consisted a red scarf to go along his white, turtleneck long sleeve and black shorts, Orion was greeted with the falling snow and powder landing softly on the tree. It was a sight, he admit.

The moonlit night gave the falling snow a soft light as the household gathered around the tree.

Shikakuro placed down Orion on his lap as the household grew bigger. A few visitors from other clans came as well, mainly the Yamanaka's, Akamichi's, a few Uchiha's, Hyūga's and other famous clans. Even a clone of the Third Hokage came to the event, holding Naruto with him.

Orion, of course, didn't escape the death hugs coming from Ino, Chōji, and, surprisingly, Shika-kun.

”Merry Christmas~” The trio greeted him, with one particularly lazy about it.

”Merry… Christmas to you three too.” Orion awkwardly replied.

As they chatted away, mostly Ino ranting about her Christmas preparations and how her father almost forgot about the event happening in the Nara compound, particularly in the second master's household, an Uchiha broke away his hold from his brother and cousin, approaching the chatting bunch.

”Shiro-chan.” Orion froze at the familiar nickname he had been given by a duck-haired boy.

Shikamaru spat out the Christmas tea he's been drinking, choking at the same time; Ino froze and dropped her cookie; Chōji innocently stared at his friends who's acting really weird; Orion is trying so hard to not run away from the Uchiha.

”Ah…” The only silver-haired toddler in the group pretended to not remember the boy, ”Who are you again?”

The Uchiha blinked, mouthing out his name, ”Sa-su-ke. Remember that.”

From afar, the Uchiha's brother raised his brow, while the cousin laughed hard enough to fall on the floor, being stared at by several pairs of eyes.

”Right…” Orion started to inch away from the young Uchiha, only to slide further near the said boy thanks to the Yamanaka toddle who's wiggling her eyebrows at her. ”Wh-What?! No!” Orion tried to push her back instead but to no avail.

Whatever the Yamanaka was planning, it was up to no good for sure. ”Get that boi.” Ino whispered in his ear, ”Or I'll take him away.” She winked.

Orion couldn't overpower her as his stomach started to twist and turn because of panic and nervousness, ”OH MY KAMI LET GO—H-Hi Sasuke.” He directed a faltering smile towards the young Uchiha.

The Uchiha simply blinked at him. ”Shiro-chan's acting weird.”

”No shit.” Orion muttered under his breath as Ino ran off with Shikamaru and Chōji, silently observing from afar. 'I feel like I was just betrayed all of a sudden.'

Sasuke tilted his head, ”Hm?”

”Nothing.” Orion shook his head, not wanting to spread his cursed language over to the yet to be tainted Uchiha.

”Eh?” The innocent raven nodded, ”I'm glad I got to see you again. I thought I'd wait for years but here we are.” His grin grew wider.

Our beloved Orion held back a gag. His inner twenty-eight year old self do not approve of this. This is utterly disturbing for him… especially when he just got into a disaster and looks like he's about to dive head first into another disaster. Oh, wait—he was the one who got dragged into this in the first place.

The only thing in his mind right now while the young Uchiha told about stuff was… 'Fvck.'

He actually prefer to chase after the demon cat than having to stay in this holiday gathering which only happens once in a blue moon. Saying that I his mind now, he doesn't want to jinx his amazing luck.

Of course, like what was said earlier, the chaos just can't end with a burning trip from the hospital. Let this be summed up in a sentence: Orion jinxed himself.

Out of nowhere, a screech echoed in the courtyard, making all of the people in the area look over to where the ear-scratching sound came from. A well-known black cat ran from the roofs and latched onto the heads of its path before running through guests' legs.

The Nara's don't know how on earth the cat got through their forest—actually... it's a cat. It can do whatever it wants. It can go wherever it wants. Cats don't give a shit about a single thing. That's why author-san loves them.

The ribboned cat had caught attention of the anbu's in the area, creating a not-so-good chase show through the crowds. Jounins also joined in the chase, which caused more trouble since this raised the interest of everyone in the surrounding area.

People literally joined the sudden 'quest to catch Tora'.

Orion, known for his bad luck in this Christmas Special, got consumed, with Sasuke, by the crowd. Due to the fact that the Uchiha had grabbed his arm to ”protect” him, Orion wasn't able to use anything to help himself get out of the mess, drowning with Sasuke in the crowd.

When hope was losing fast, a quick tug and a cold breeze made the two freeze, only to realise that they've been scooped out by an Anbu and Kakashi out and away from the crowds (to the rooftops). Both of them were carried like bags of potatoes, or over the shoulders, by the two.

Kakashi coughed as he put down his nephew, trying to hold back his amusement as Crow placed down Sasuke next to Orion.

Of course, the younger Hatake-relative gave both of them a deadpanned look. If they were the only people in the current area at the moment, Orion would've thrown a flat rock on their faces—or anything that could be thrown. He's so close to being livid. They were enjoying every moment of his agony.

”Are you going to stare until the daylight shines?” Orion asked them in a single, low, serious tone.

Oh, how Kakashi was amused further.

Orion, without a single warning, grabbed a hold of the scarecrow's silver hair and started tugging, screaming about something along the lines, 'I'm so done!'

Crow, however, remained silent, watching from afar with Sasuke, not wanting to get into the fight between the silver haired Hatake's.

From down with the crowds, Itachi looked up at his brother on the roof, noticing that Sasuke's eyes had fixed onto a silver haired child bickering with a higher up. He heard his little brother rant about a young girl he had met a long while ago.

And Sasuke calls the girl Shiro-chan.

He sighed.

”Oi! 'Tachi!” His cousin, Shisui, called him, holding up the cat, ”Caught the damned demon—”

”Idiot.” Itachi called him out as the cat jumped from the older Uchiha's grasp, scratching his face as well.

The cat jumped into the tree, the Christmas tree, for kami knows how long; spreading a cold silence through the crowd who are waiting for something to happen as the leaves rustle here and there.

A nasty, loud snap broke the silence. The tree slowly dropped down, puling the Christmas lights and whatever strings tied up there are down with it.

Lookie 'ere.

Another fire.

Orion stared down at the burning courtyard, running his palm down his face. ”I'm done for the year.” He sighed, Kakashi nodded, ”I'm not looking forward to the New Year event.”

”I'm with you on this one.” The scarecrow, sat down, setting a water jutsu to help extinguish the fire downstairs, looking at the Anbu behind him.

Crow chuckled, nodding to himself, ”What an unfortunate Christmas indeed.”

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A/N (since it doesn't fit in author's thoughts lol):

Finally. A chapter published. A special one, actually, which won't be a part of the story. I'm sorry for making all of you wait...

I'm not dead, surprisingly lol and I'm going to apologise in advance because I'm going dead for a while again uwu

In March, I promise to publish chpaters (yes, chapters) since school's ending by then.

I'm just here, and this special chapter, to prepare y'all for the upcoming canon chapters. Keep low, peeps. I don't want to take y'all in an unfortunate journey *wink*