Story 2
Prompt: "Sakura gets Kakashi to dance." – Requested by The White Leopard.
Rating: T

No expense had been spared for the wedding of Uzumaki Naruto and the woman who had finally gained his attention and love, Hyuuga Hinata – well, Sakura supposed that it was Uzumaki Hinata, now.

She, Ino and Tenten had practically thrown a celebration party when news broke of Naruto confessing his feelings to her, because damn it, it had taken long enough! Hinata had gone through so many things because of that boy and she had had to endure so many heartbreaks. The main one being his old crush on Sakura and after that, all his fan-girls who flocked to him after Pein's attack on the village. While he drowned himself in the attention of beautiful girls and women, Hinata had stood on the side-lines, watching and waiting for her moment.

Biting back her yell of victory for them both, Sakura grinned, practically bubbling with excitement. Love always made her giddy, especially a love that was so pure and breath-taking such as theirs.

During the entire ceremony it was like Naruto and Hinata only had eyes for one another and they only parted long enough to have a few pictures with the guests before returning to each other.

It was the kind of love that made you feel jealous, but at the same time, it didn't because it was just so beautiful that you didn't want to taint it in any way, or with any negativity. Shattering the picture that they made together was heartless and cruel.

Most of all, however, Sakura was incredibly happy for her friends. They truly did deserve each other and she hoped and prayed with all her heart that they would be happy together. If anyone deserved a happy ending, then it was them. It was the boy who had been alone for almost his entire life and it was the girl who had been shunned and looked down upon by her clan.

Music blared around them and green eyes glanced around, taking in the fairy lights wrapped in and around the trees, accompanied with lanterns. They were leading the way onto a round platform of sorts, big enough for them all to dance on. Surrounding the platform were tables filled with food and drinks and it was all so beautiful!

People were dancing and talking with one another and the atmosphere was bright and happy. The only thing that was missing was the presence of their third teammate, Sasuke, who was still on his path to redemption. Sakura couldn't help but wonder how it affected Naruto, whether or not he was sad about him not being a part of what was supposed to be the happiest day of his life.

It was quite frustrating, if she was being honest. There'd been plenty of time for him to come back, to spend just a few hours in Konoha to witness his friend and former teammate getting married. Naruto had personally gone out to Sasuke and invited him months in advance. If that wasn't a sign that he really wanted him there, then Sakura wasn't sure what was.

Pushing aside her annoyance and worry, she smiled brightly and raised her arms as said blond approached, the smile changing to a grin when she was lifted off her feet and spun around.

"Congratulations," Sakura told him warmly once she was set back down.

Naruto returned her grin. It looked as though he was ecstatic and she couldn't even blame him. "I did it, Sakura-chan!" He gave her that childish laugh, eyes squinting shut with his happiness. "I'm married."

She couldn't help but laugh along with him. Screw Sasuke, came a rare thought. This was Naruto and Hinata's big day and she wouldn't allow him to ruin it for them. Anyone who dared to try was going to be on the receiving end of one of her more infamous punches that destroyed anything within reach.

"Naruto!"

Blue eyes went over his shoulder and he waved, grin widening. "I'll be there in a second, Konohamaru!"

Lightly, her fist bumped his arm and he turned back to her, grin fading to a smile. "Go and enjoy yourself, idiot," she ordered.

But Naruto hesitated, indecision clear on his features. "Are you going to be okay?"

Maybe he had hoped that Sasuke would come, if not for the wedding itself and the joyous occasion, then at least for her? Honestly, Sakura wouldn't put it past him. "Women have to be strong in order to survive," she stated with a smirk. "Don't underestimate me, Naruto. I don't need him to be happy. Just being here, surrounded by all our friends and seeing so much peace and joy and love…"

It made all the pain they'd had to endure so worth it.

He agreed wholeheartedly, nodding once before whirling around and whooping loudly, meeting Konohamaru halfway in one of their strange shenanigans. Even though they were older now, they were still so childish together.

The feeling of a presence appearing by her side had Sakura glancing up and her smile returned at the sight of their former sensei and Rokudaime Hokage. Even though he was absolutely swamped with Hokage duties, he still made time to make sure he was there for Naruto's wedding – and that wasn't even taking in consideration the fact that Kakashi disliked social events.

"Makes you wonder what we're doing wrong," he drawled, watching the odd sight that was Naruto and Konohamaru.

Sakura giggled at that, choosing not to dwell on the thought too long. Everyone else was going off into their pairs, dancing to the lively music. If she focused on it too much, then she would have to face the loneliness of being the only member of Rookie Nine that didn't have a lover – not including Sasuke, obviously.

In all honesty, she didn't even know what was going on with her relationship with Sasuke. When he first left the village after returning, they'd been on not great terms, but good terms. She had been the one who stood by his side while he recovered, following Tsunade's teachings. However, Sasuke had left before his bionic arm was ready, choosing to adjust to life without his left arm instead of having a fake. It was noble, sure, but it worried her greatly. Adjusting to something so big while out the village…

No. She had made a promise to herself that Sasuke would not ruin the night.

"Would you like to dance, Kakashi-sensei?"

It was still odd calling him Rokudaime or Hokage and Kakashi had even told her and Naruto that it didn't feel right. So, unless they were in the presence of higher ups, he was just their plain old Kakashi-sensei.

"I'm really no good at it."

A pout formed and she turned her back on the couples, frowning up at him. "Please? For your favourite and most charming student?"

He laughed at that, eyes creasing with mirth and warmth. It seemed even Kakashi was being affected by the love that was so obviously in the air, because he was definitely more free in his emotions in that moment in time.

"You would have to buy me a drink first."

The pout intensified. "It's a free bar."

"Then why don't you go and-"

"Because you'll disappear before I even get there!"

Kakashi smiled. "You know me well."

Deciding to take a chance, Sakura lunged, grabbing his hands in a grip that threatened to crush them should he deny her. It certainly took him by surprise, as Kakashi could only stare in shock for a moment until he copied her earlier pout.

"That isn't fair, Sakura," he told her with fake sadness and hurt.

She grinned. "There was a man who once told me that that is the life of shinobi-"

He sighed, head dropping low. "I get it. I get it."

The grin widened and Sakura began pulling him towards the platform where the others were dancing. It was reluctantly that he followed, but there were no more arguments as they reached the dance floor.

Instead, he surprised her by tugging on the hands and yanking her forward, smiling cheerfully as the beat picked up. "Try to keep up, Sakura."

Wait, what-

There was no time to think or so much as breathe because all of a sudden, her world began to spin as she and Kakashi made their way around the dance floor, pulling each other closer and parting and twirling and grinning widely. They put the others to shame with their dance moves and Sakura held her breath as he reached out without warning and flipped her upside down over his arm until she was right way up again. In the background, she heard Naruto whooping once more, but she was too focused on the grin in Kakashi's eyes. It seemed that, despite his arguments, he was having fun.

Who would have thought that he could dance? And so wildly, too!

But it was definitely a pleasant surprise that pushed away the loneliness that would swallow her whole at the sight of everyone else in their happy relationships, and for that, she was grateful.

It was like Kakashi had always been her knight in shining armour, someone she could always depend on to save her day.

A/N - Probably not the kind of dancing anyone was picturing, but I truly think the slow dancing and gazing lovingly into one another's eyes has been waaaaay overdone. I admit I had a certain couple stuck in my head while writing this (please don't kill me, guys, but it was Jasper and Alice Cullen).