Christmas Challenge 08

Title: Christmas Challenge 4 of 12
Summary: hyper children, school holidays, sledding
Authors: Kiterie and Fuyu no Akegata
Disclaimer: We do not own Naruto or any of it's characters, if we got paid to do this we'd quit our jobs and do nothing but... and there'd be more smut. :P

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BAM! A hard-packed missile of white impacted with the back of Santa's head, exploding into a shower of frozen dust.

"Just spreading the holiday cheer," a tall, scarred man in a trench coat and bandanna smiled quite sadistically as he passed.

Within seconds, the air was thick with snowballs. Younger children lobbed lopsided objects haphazardly while their elders aimed aerodynamic projectiles with near deadly intent. Twenty minutes later, children and adults alike were scattered around the pond, laughing and catching their breath and putting the blades away.

After a breather, a few of the older kids brought out sleds. The trudged up a small slope and loaded as many of the younger ones as they could, then worked up speed, racing and seeing who could go the farthest distance.

Iruka and Kakashi watched with amusement as Etsuko-sensei, the teacher who'd been glaring at Iruka earlier, tried to fend off offers of assistance from Gai. The other teachers having already managed to escape into the gym to start cleaning up.

"Thank you for the offer, Maito-san. However, Iruka-sensei and 'Santa' will need your help far more than us," she said, tossing a look that clearly read 'You can deal with him' at Iruka. Then she slammed the door shut, leaving Gai pointedly outside.

The two less enthusiastic members of the team stood shivering, and staring disappointedly at the closed door. Their hopes to escape the cold and hyperactive children, lost thanks to their overly enthusiastic team leader. Iruka smiled softly, herding them back to the group of children and a large container of hot cocoa.

The chuunin sensei stood talking to his former students for a few minutes as they watched the kids playing. He politely ignored the way Neji stood comfortably beside his teammate at an obviously deliberate distance. The two weren't touching but if either shifted even slightly they would be. Iruka smiled at the subtle method and wondered which had come up with it or it was something they'd simply developed. On the one had, Neji was the analytical one. But, on the other, Tenten was not as oblivious as some of her female classmates and Iruka would not have put it past her. He didn't bother to wonder why they being restrained, it suited them both to be that way. Especially, given who their jounin sensei was.

They spent some time talking, mostly about the missions they'd been going on and techniques they were learning. It amazed him a bit that they held Gai in such high regard, given the frustration they obviously felt at his more flamboyant behaviors. And Iruka found himself caught up in their conversation, Kakashi leaning against the table beside them, occasionally interjecting comments. So, it took him by surprised when he felt somebody tug on his sleeve.

"Hello, Manami-chan. Why aren't you sledding with the others?" he asked, smiling brightly down at the little girl.

She shook her head and held her arms out, clearly wanting to be picked up. She was the youngest in his class and extraordinarily bright but also very reserved. And, it made him wonder if Kakashi had been at all like her as child. He laughed and picked her up, imagining a very small version of his boyfriend doing the same thing to Yondaime-sama. The idea of the very reserved man being so utterly cute seemed contrary and perfectly plausible at the same time. Laughing softly, he picked her up with one arm still holding his cocoa in the other hand. He offered her a sip of his cocoa and watched as she gulped the barely warm chocolate down.

Kakashi watched the small girl. She almost seemed too young to be part of Iruka's class, although he knew that was ridiculous, considering he had been younger than her when he graduated. Still, he knew what it was like to be 'the baby' of the class, and how it felt to be left behind by the others, even when it was unintentional. He had an idea for something that might help. It was about time she was the one her classmates envied, instead of the other way around.

Kakashi let out a piercing whistle and his summons gathered around. He cocked his head to the side and glanced at the child, giving an imploring look at the ninken. Eight heads turned around to look at the girl shyly smiling up at her Iruka-sensei, then eight sets of eyes looked at each other, each wondering when the boss had gone so soft. Still, it looked sort of important to him, and the little one was sort of cute. The pack nodded as one.

Kakashi nodded at Bull, and the big dog padded slowly to his side. "Iruka... call the children in. I have an idea."

Raising an eyebrow Iruka turned to look at his boyfriend, and then the dogs. Laughing softly he shook his head. Deep down Kakashi was just a big softie, even if he tried to hide the fact. Turning around again he bellowed for the kids to come over. Most practically ran over, wondering what new thing was planned for them. Several though took a few more runs at the hill before trudging over.

"Line up the sleds, smallest to largest, one behind the other." Kakashi waited until they'd finished and then set to work with a length of rope and some chakra wire, finally calling his pack over. He left a long piece of rope hanging free, and the dogs grasped it between their teeth.

He tapped Iruka on the shoulder, holding out his arms. "Manami-chan? I need someone to guide Bull for me, and you're just the right size not to be too much of a burden for him to carry. Would you help me, please?" The girl nodded shyly and to Iruka's surprise, climbed into Kakashi's grasp.

He set her carefully in place on the huge bulldog's back. "Hold like this, onto his collar, and squeeze here, with your legs. He'll slow down if you feel like you're going to fall, but he won't let you. Lead him around the academy grounds in a big circle, the other dogs will listen, too."

He turned to the rest of the children. "Load the sleds carefully and sit still so you make their job easier, okay, guys?"

Iruka watched the kids climb into place. Hinata climbed onto the sled behind her sister wit her cookie poking out of her pocket. Shino sent a few bugs hovering around them, lighting the dogs and sleds up decoratively before joining Neji and Tenten beside the cocoa. Gai and Lee stood beside the dogs talking rather loudly and animatedly about the wonders of winter. And at the very end of the train of sleds was Kiba on Akumaru's back, grinning like a fool.

Smiling, Iruka reminded himself to tease Kakashi about this later. All that said, it amazed him how good the man was with kids, particularly Manami-chan. He shook his head and stared after the kids as they slowly made a long loop around the grounds. He would definitely be teasing him about it.

Before the kids were halfway around the rest of the teachers were coming out, bits of tinsel in their hair and frosting marking their clothes. He pointed to the kids and they turned to watch just as Lee did a cartwheel and Gai flipped onto his hands and started 'dancing' upside down. Iruka was amused to see Etsuko smile and shake her head at the sight.

Finally, the kids swung up beside the teachers, giggling madly. They gave them each a cup of hot cocoa and shooed them off with "Happy Holidays" and "Enjoy the break." After the last one disappeared from sight a loud whoop went up as the teachers cheered. They loved their kids but they cherished school holidays.