ONE AND ONLY

It was Christmas Eve.

Outside a cool wind blew and made the noses of the happy people blush slightly.
There was a sweet smell of cinnamon in the air and the streets of Konoha were festively decorated.
There was a gingerbread stand on almost every corner.
The people there laughed, took long walks or made themselves comfortable inside.

Sakura looked out of her window and watched the happy faces that passed her.
Couples holding hands and grandparents buying something for their grandchildren.
The rose-haired woman had a happy smile on her face.
Then she looked at the clock.

"It's already 7:00 pm? Where are Naruto and Sasuke?"
The rose-haired woman had invited them both on Christmas Eve, but so far neither of them had shown up.
"Sakura !! Naruto is here !!" her mother called from below.
The one called jumped from the windowsill full of joy and called back:
"I'm coming!"

The Haruno ran hastily down the stairs and greeted her best friend with a sweeping hug.
"Oi !! Don't be too hasty, Sakura-chan!" Laughing, they turned briefly in circles before the blonde put the rose-haired girl down.
"I thought you weren't coming any more!" Said Sakura and smiled over both ears.
"Oh you know ....." the Uzumaki began and scratched the back of his head, embarrassed.
Sakura looked at him questioningly.
"... mou ... well Hinata-chan asked me if I might like to spend Christmas Eve with her and there ... because I like her so much and-"
Naruto interrupted himself and stared at Haruno a bit confused because she had a very big smile on her face.

"Well what are you waiting for ?! Go to Hinata!" Laughing, she pushed the blonde in front of the door.
"B-But Sakura-chan ?! Aren't you mad?"
The addressed shook her head.
"You Baka! If Hinata-chan is already looking after you, I don't need to do that anymore. Now make that you come to her!"
Smiling gratefully, Naruto bowed and fished something out of his pocket.
"Here! And Merry Christmas, Sakura-chan!" With that, the Uzumaki pressed a small package into her hand and ran towards the Hyuuga estate.
With a grin, Haruno looked after the blonde.
He'd better spend Christmas Eve with whoever he loves.

Sakura closed the door behind her and let out a relaxed breath.
Sasuke wanted to come.
Well ... if that comes at all.
She then strolled into the kitchen, where her mother had already set the table and now put the 6 kg fried Turky on the table.
"Mom. If Sasuke should come, please don't talk to him about his family. You already know why." Sakura asked her mother, who nodded with a grin.

Sakura now looked at her hand where she was holding the present from Naruto and opened it.
It was a simple homemade chain with 3 small pendants on it.
Once a cherry blossom, a fox and a katana.There was still a note in the package, which she also read through.
_________________
Oi! Sakura-chan !! `o´

I wish you a merry christmas!! ^ _ ^
I thought I'd rather make my own than buy something expensive.
I find what I own comes from the heart and what is bought brings pain ... xP
I hope you like it, even though it's nothing great.

Merry Christmas, Sakura-chan!
PS: Watch out for Teme ...>;]
________________________

Sakura rolled her eyes.
Naruto was already a bird.
The bell then rang and Sakura hurried to the door.
She opened it and an indifferent Sasuke stood in the frame.
"Hey ..." he said and gave Haruno a present.
"Hey ..." she said back in amazement and let him inside.
Since Sasuke was often with the rose-haired girl, he also went into the living room aiming.
He probed the room.
The room was decorated for Christmas, the scent of pine cones was in the air and the beautifully decorated Christmas tree -with tons of presents underneath- was also in the corner.
“Isn't Dobe here?” Sasuke asked a little harshly and Sakura shook her head in response.
"He's going to be celebrating Christmas Eve at Hinata's."
"Did he also-"
Sakura cut him off.
"A self-made necklace for free? Yes, he did. Doesn't it look nice ?!" She held the necklace in front of his nose, beaming.
"Uhh ... yes." It might not be what he meant, but it doesn't matter.

Sakura put Sasuke's and Naruto's present in her pocket and took the Uchiha by the hand.
“Come on!” She pulled the clan heir into the kitchen behind her and put him on one of the wooden chairs.
"Mom! Sasuke is here." The rose-haired woman gave up and sat down next to the black-haired woman.
"I have seen it already." said Mrs. Haruno with a slight laugh and turned to the two of them.
In her hand she held two cups of steaming tea.
She then handed this to the two of them.
"Thanks."
"Thanks mom!"
Smiling, Sakura shuffled her tea.
Sasuke just stared at it and then put it on the table.
He didn't feel like celebrating at all.
Actually, he wouldn't have come here at all if he hadn't had something like a conscience in the back of his head.
"Sasuke? What's wrong? You look so depressed."
Pulled out of the trance, the Uchiha looked at Sakura.
"It's nothing. I was just thinking."
Sakura nodded understandably, but she didn't buy it from him.
That he was already thinking, but that is nothing, she did not believe him.

She doesn't even know what he could have.
You sent Mandara to Hell 3 months ago, so why was he worried ??
The front door was then slammed and the three of them looked terrified in the direction of the kitchen door.
"Brhh. It's cold outside. I think it's going to snow in Konoha for the first time in 20 years, don't you think-"
Mr. Haruno paused and looked at the 'new' face.
"Oh! You must be Sasuke. Nice to meet you!"Sasuke got up and shook Mr. Haruno's hand.
"I'm happy too, Haruno-san."
Then Sasuke sat down again and stared at his still empty plate
Sakura sighed inaudibly.

To improve the mood, Sakura said happily:
"Can Sasuke cut open the turkey? PLEASE!"
They stared at the Uchiha, slightly smiling and astonished.
"Of course! Why not! Then I don't need to grease myself completely." laughed Mr. Haruno and Sasuke gave Sakura an uncertain look.
"Come on ..." she urged him and nodded towards Turky.
The Uchiha stood up with a slight ripple eye and Sakura's father handed him a long knife.
Sasuke declined with a shake of his head and pulled out his katana - which he always carried with him - and cut the Turky into 6 parts with lightning-fast reflexes.
"Wow ..." Impressed, Mr. Haruno looked at the PERFECT cut chicken.
Sasuke put his katana back into its sheath and sat down again.
“Thank you, Sasuke.” Sakura leaned over slightly and gave the Uchiha a quick kiss on the cheek.
The Uchiha looked to the side, ashamed.
Sakura giggled.

Dinner went well.
A joke was made here and a joke there.
Every now and then Sasuke gave a small smile.
But only a small and short one.

"Mhm! Do you remember, Sasuke? How Naruto fell into the river and had a fish on his head when he surfaced again? That was too weird!"
Haruno laughed and her parents did the same.
Sasuke finally opened his mouth.
"Or when Kakashi slipped on a puddle and hit the lantern?"
Now Sakura really started to snort.
"The Volldepp !!"
Sasuke couldn't hold back a grin and laughed heartily.
Sakura was surprised at this.
° He looks so cute and much better when he laughs ... wow ... °
Sasuke stopped laughing and now looked at the rose-haired woman.
"Uh .. do I have something on my face?" asked the black-haired man and felt himself in the face.
"Wait ..." Sakura moved her face a little closer to his and raised her hand.

Sakura's parents looked at each other and smiled and shrugged their shoulders.
They already thought of their part.

After dinner they went into the living room and sat on the couch.
Sasuke preferred the sofa.
“Now to the presents, dear ones!” Mr. Haruno shouted and walked over to the tree.
He gave his wife 2 presents, which were probably from Sakura and her husband.
Mr. Haruno himself took two presents from Sakura and his wife.
There were now 3 presents under the tree.
Two gifts went to Sakura that she received from her parents.
She had the present from Sasuke in her pocket.
Now Sakura got up and hurried to the last present, which apparently looked a bit heavy.
"Here Sasuke! It's your present and I hope you like it!"
The black-haired man watched the 'present' somewhat skeptically.It had holes in it.
That can only mean one thing ...

"Miaow .... Miaow .."
Sasuke widened his eyes briefly and took the present.
He took off the cap of the gift and peeped out a ...

"Cat?"
It had black fur that shimmered bluish in the light and deep green eyes
"No! It's a hangover. I called him Daiske. But if you don't like the name, you can d-"
"No, no. I like it." Sasuke said astonished.
He had always wanted his parents to have a pet, but unfortunately he hadn't got it because of the murder of his clan.
"Thank you, Sakura."
"No problem! Everything to make you happy!" She smiled at him.
The Uchiha smiled slightly and lifted the cat out of the box.

Sakura's mother had grabbed her husband and crept into the kitchen with him.

The cat licked the black-haired man's face, which elicited a slight giggle from Sasuke.
"No, stop ... hehe."
Sakura grinned happily.
What made him happy made her happy too.

"Sakura?"
"Mhm?" She looked at the Uchiha questioningly.
Then something happened that shocked Sakura.
Sasuke laughed almost hysterically and when he turned his face to her, she saw tears of joy pouring down his cheeks of joy.

"Sasuke! What's wrong? Why-"
He put his arm over her shoulder and pressed her head gently against his with his right hand.
"I ... thank you." He gasped through tears and rested his forehead against hers.
"As I said, no problem. Everything about you-"
He now pressed his left index finger gently to her lips.