R.E.P.O.S.T. (7/31/08)

Disclaimer: I have no idea where these ideas come from. There must be a blender in my brain that makes this mysterious power-juice snipping a few plot strings from other storylines while adding a few cups of my own imagination. It seems to be selling quite well though.

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Criticism is loved!

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Chapter Three

Something Blue

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"Mr. Uchiha, you've received a phone call from a Mr. Naruto Uzumaki demanding that you call back as soon as possible. Also there is a letter from him on your desk," droned the secretary more preoccupied with her magazine than frowning boss.

"Naruto Uzumaki? You're positive?" questioned Sasuke.

"Yes," his secretary replied, flipping another page in her magazine. "Also, I've written down his message which is also on your desk."

Sasuke nodded, turning into his office. The city buildings greeted him from the high expanse windows as he approached his desk. There a sticky note with messy handwriting and a golden-rimmed envelope rested innocently on his desk. And yet Sasuke had a sudden urge to rip both into shreds lest the contents of either haunt him the rest of his days.

Yes, Sasuke Uchiha felt extremely paranoid.

But with good reason. Naruto Uzumaki was a ghost from his past, one he hadn't heard from in years.

Why the sudden pleasantries now?

Past experiences with the blonde fool always taught Sasuke to be extremely careful and wary of any 'thing' from Naruto. The staring contest went well over five minutes before Sasuke abandoned hopes on either items spontaneously combusting into ash. Sighing at the useless thought, he sat in his plush leather chair, fingering the envelope and sticky note.

This is ridiculous! Pull yourself together and just look at the damn note. What's the worse that can happen anyway?

Sasuke steeled his nerves, choosing to pick the lesser of the evils –the sticky note.

Hey Sasuke-bastard! Long time, eh? Well you won't guess what just happened! I've already sent you an invite, but it's not the official one yet, but whatever. So you better come. Call me so we can set up the details!

An involuntary smirk sketched itself onto Sasuke's face. Despite his secretary's boxed handwriting, he could detect the very essence of Naruto and his crude use of language. The boy hadn't changed at all. Thinking the doom was now gone, he opened the envelope to scan its contents.

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Congratulations! You've officially been invited to the wedding of

Naruto Uzumaki & Sakura Haruno

-

He didn't read any further than that. The writing was definitely Naruto's unreadable scrawl, but the words still hadn't registered in Sasuke's brain. For a moment Sasuke's eyes just wandered around the card, barely taking in the several food staining the otherwise immaculate paper. He just couldn't seem to apprehend what he had just read.

Still numb from that revelation, his eyes caught some slanted out-of-place words.

Sasuke-bastard! I'm getting married! And I want you to be my best man!

A weird doodle of a groom and bride danced under Naruto's words but Sasuke ignored that. He could feel his hand tremble as the invite crumpled under his whitening fist. In a fit of anger, Sasuke knocked his chair over and stormed out of the office.

His secretary jumped at the doors banging and stuttered composure, "M-Mr. U-Uchiha?! You have work–"

"Clear my schedule today! I'm taking sick leave today!" he growled out heading toward the elevators. His hands still clutched the invite and sticky note as he exited out the building. He crossly crumbled both into a ball, tossing it into a nearby trash car as he stalked towards the company parking lot.

Damn it Naruto!! What the hell were you thinking!? Do you remember nothing?!

He needed something to calm himself down.

Another wedding perhaps?

"Hinata? Hinata Hyuuga?"

Hinta's heart hammered in its cage, her ears tingling at the sound of her name coming from such an aching memory. She nodded not trusting her mouth with the right words.

Naruto scrunched his brow in confusion stating, "I've heard that name before. . . Hinata Hyuuga, do I know you from somewhere?" His fingers dug into his hair whether in frustration or pain, Hinata could not tell. But for a moment, hope blossomed in her chest.

Does he remember?

Hinata opened her mouth this time only to stammer out the air she had to concentrate breathing in. Her head was already beginning to feel lightheaded. Unsure how to answer Hinata took a fleeting glance at Sakura. The pink-haired woman's jaded eyes looked utterly confused by her fiancé's odd behavior and Hinata's rigid form. Already Hinata could see the visages of doubt within the bride-to-be and her original resolve renewed.

"Well Mr. Uzumaki my family happens to own quite a few successful businesses and if you must know, I've been eh featured in several wedding magazines for my services," she smiled to the blonde, all the while stomping on her own bloodied heart. Lying was something Hinata would never willingly use, but for the happiness of others and her own sanity it was something she had gotten quite good at.

She watched Naruto start from suspicious to surprise and finally at relief. It made her heart bleed once more.

He scratched his head sheepishly chuckling at himself, "Oh. So that's what it was then? Sorry if my question sounded weird but I could have sworn I'd met you before."

Hinata forced a light-hearted giggle when her heart felt anything but light. "No Mr. Uzumaki, I think I would've remembered you if we had met from before. As a couple I feel you both exalt this atmosphere of real love, the one that'll last. I hope we'll get to know each other better as I help make your dreams come true."

With a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, Hinata saw the couple blush and Sakura sigh in relief at the potential disaster avoided.

Everything would turn out perfect.

It was after all, Hinata's job to make a couple's dream come true, no matter the cost.

"Miss Tsunade, we need someone to cover the Hazamaki's wedding." Shizune blinked when no reply came. "Miss Tsunade? Miss Tsunade!?"

Bolting straight up from her pile of paperwork, Tsunade wiped the edge of her mouth on instinct. Still a bit drowsy, she turned to her frantic assistant with an annoyed look. "What is it now Shizune? I was just having the most wonderful dream about Dan…" A dreamy look overcame the woman, drool almost slipping from the corner of her mouth.

Shizune shifting grip on the clipboard she said, "We need another planner to cover the Hazamaki's wedding. It seems the original planner assigned to this client had to take emergency leave for a deathly ill family member."

Tsunade yawned, "Oh. Is that all? Well get Hyuuga on it. She's just wonderful with all these last minute things. Great head, that girl –so I'm going back to sleep…zzzz" and promptly fell face first into her make shift pillow of strewn folders.

Shizune stammered to get her boss's attention but the loud snoring filtered out any words. Shoulders slumped in defeat, Shizune mumbled off about old women and their sake while heading toward Hinata's office. Pressing her ear to the door, she could hear the talk of plans and checked her watch. Time was running out for the Hazamakis and no matter how Shizune didn't want to interrupt, no one else could finish the job like Hinata.

Quietly she knocked on the wooden door.

She patiently waited, listening to the shuffling and polite 'excuse me's from the other room. When the door finally peeked open out popped Hinata, looking a bit more than happy to see Shizune than usual.

"Shizune! Is there something you need?" asked Hinata a little too eagerly.

"Y-yes Hinata but are you sure it won't interfere with your current clients?" worried Shizune, attempting to peer over the woman's head to sneak a look.

Hinata gave the creaked door a quick glance and smiled shaking her head.

"All right then. Well we need someone to cover the wedding for the Hazamaki's since the planner assigned is off on emergency leave." She handed the folder into Hinata's opened hands who keenly began flipping through the material. "You'll just have to sit in on the wedding and make sure everything goes according to plan."

Hinata nodded half-listening, already absorbed in the wedding's plans.

"And that's all Hinata. Now, you're sure this won't hinder your other work?" Shizune scrunched up her brow throwing a glance back at the door. Hinata followed her gaze. "I heard the client you're currently working on is a major assignment."

"No, no Shizune." Hinata shook her head. "I'll be fine. Besides I think I covered the general basics for their wedding. It's in June so we still have a few more months," Hinata replied with a smile.

Shizune nodded and said farewell to head back to the sleeping Tsunade. The office needed tidying up while the old woman needed to sober up but Shizune still felt a bit worrisome at the relief in Hinata's eyes from the extra workload.

"Naruto has he called yet? About the wedding?" concerned Sakura.

Naruto shook his head saying, "I left a message with his secretary and already mailed out the invite but I haven't heard anything from him."

Sakura straightened up with a puzzled expression.

"Really? That's strange." She pondered. "He's usually so punctual about everything. I guess we'll have to contact him later then." She shrugged. Naruto nodded in agreement right as the door opened to let Hinata slip back in.

Still carrying the thick folder, she dumped it onto the coffee table with a loud thump, causing the guests to jump a bit. She guiltily smiled, "Sorry about that interruption but is it all right if we pick this subject up another time? An emergency has come up and I have to see to it right away, I'm afraid."

The couple shook their heads, standing up.

"It was nice meeting you though Ms. Hyuuga. Naruto and I can't wait to hear your plans for our wedding. Does lunch tomorrow sound like a good time for you?" asked Sakura.

Hinata smiled, "No it's perfect Ms. Haruno. I'll gladly see you both there. Just leave the directions with my secretary outside and here's my business card incase you have any questions."

She handed the thin business card and shook the pink-hair woman's hand. When Naruto's hand came up though, she hesitated a bit but took it nonetheless.

"Thanks Hinata!" said Naruto as he pumped her hand enthusiastically.

Allowing an embarrass blush, she nodded and waved the couple out her office. Once alone Hinata promptly fell into her chair and sighed exhaustedly. "This is harder than I thought," she mumbled to herself.

Sighing again, she picked up the thick folder Shizune had handed her and began flipping through it.

Maybe a different wedding would take her mind off this wedding?

Weddings, as always, made Hinata tear up. Having just arrived with the wedding in disarray, the professional in Hinata took over straightening the whole mess immediately. Now the reception party had begun and Hinata sighed happily. Weddings like these were her specialty and what made her job worth doing.

The happiness of others…

It seemed that Hinata lived for others, always someone else's happiness.

Never my own though…

Her thoughts mused on how a bride must actually feel after all this work and preparation. Dancing in the arms of the man of her dreams in such a gorgeous gown too!

And the lighting just makes the dress glow! Cute!

Her musing stopped when she felt someone sit next to her. She craned her neck sideways only to see the third person she wished never to meet again. "Mr. Sasuke Uchiha what, may I ask, is your business here?" frowned Hinata.

The man smirked at her cockily replying, "Oh just enjoying a wedding Miss Hyuuga. It's quite nice to see you too."

The frown deepened on Hinata's face turning into a semi-scowl. "I do not recall seeing your name on the guest list Mr. Uchiha." To prove her point even further, she brought out the guest list from her purse.

Pulling on a surprised expression Sasuke said, "The guest list? You must have missed it then. I have an invitation right here if you need to verify." Sasuke pulled out an invitation from his back pant's pocket flicking it to Hinata while taking another swig from his champagne glass.

Hinata's widened indignantly at the invite. "Mr. Uchiha, you're name isn't Kiyoshi Hazamaki!"

"I never did say the invitation was mine. Or that my name is Sasuke Uchiha." He grinned at her fuming expression as she turned around to shuffle through her bag once more, bringing out her current client's folder.

Hinata uncharacteristically grinned as she pulled out a thick folder from her purse. "I know for a fact that your name is Sasuke Uchiha –it says so on your profile for another upcoming wedding." Sasuke's eyes flashed to the page with a headshot of himself under big bold words titling the page:

BEST MAN

His demeanor completely changed. In a cold and chilling voice he spoke, "What is it that you exactly do Hyuuga?"

Hinata jumped at the change in his tone and stuttered to answer. "I-I plan w-weddings!"He arched in brow in question and now having calmed herself down she continued, "I'm a wedding planner Mr. Uchiha."

He nodded in agreement before asking another question."Tell me Miss Hyuuga, is the wedding –with my profile included- have a Naruto Uzumaki and Sakura Haruno as the bride and groom?" His eyes bored into her surprised white ones.

"How… How do you know that Mr. Uchiha? They told me that they hadn't received your reply yet." She looked unsure of herself but Sasuke didn't avoid Hinata's stare. His eyes bled with a deep scarlet that kicked Hinata's heart into overdrive. For a moment Hinata was caught in his gaze and almost didn't her his whispered words.

"Such pale lavender. Almost like flowers…"

The voices in background grew deafening but Hinata couldn't focus on the wedding right now. The man before her knew something and she wasn't about to leave until she found what. He abruptly stood, skidding the chair behind him and placing his glass on a nearby waiter's tray. With that he started walking in long strides, Hinata struggling behind him.

"W-wait! Who are you?" she shouted.

At the call of her voice, he seemed to slow down or maybe it was just Hinata's imagination. Whatever it was, Hinata managed to stumble and scurry in stride to his graceful steps. He chuckled, "Why you already know my name. There's no need for me to repeat it." He threw her an evil smirk that only churned her insides.

"I-I know that! But wh-why does it feel like I've meet you before?" she huffed.

Her question stalled him causing her to bump slightly into his shoulder. Hinata rubbed her nose, seeing the dark look on his face. Concerned she asked, "Mr. Uchiha? Are…Are you alright?"

He turned around then his hands resting lightly upon her shoulders. His face was twisted as if on the verge of saying something when he glanced at her eyes again. She vaguely heard him mumble something about flowers but couldn't quite understand. The crowd's grew louder once again, the last event of the wedding about to occur. At their noise, Sasuke looked up from under his bangs smiling slyly.

He turned from her and walked faster to the growing crowd.

Surprised at another mood swing, Hinata ran to catch up. She saw him stop right at the edge of the crowding women and at the words, "THE BOUQUET! IT'S COMING THIS WAY!!" he too jumped soaring into the air above the squealing and shoving women. His hand laid outstretched for the gathering of flowers.

Hinata's eyes could not get any wider at this display. She nearly fainted dead way, when Sasuke's long fingers wrapped around the flowers' stems and landed gracefully. The women amongst him gasped, groaned while a few others just moaned. He turned his eyes to her, a smoldering heat blazing crimson and held the bouquet out. With trembling hands did she receive his token.

Her heart pounded free.

But when he leaned towards her to place a gentle kiss on her gaping lips, the confounded organ stopped altogether. She stared in horror masked with a tomato blush when he pulled back smirking. "Tell Naruto that I agree to be his best man so I'll be seeing you around, Hinata."

The underlying tone in his voice worsened the maddening blush but the way he had said her name… Before she could sound coherent he tilted his head to the side and brushed his lips against her still gaping and trembling lips.

Reality ceased to exist.

Through the fogy euphoria, she barely made out the back of his form holding a hand as an acknowledgment of goodbye. That is, until his voice rang out above the crowd's chattering. "Oh and just so you know, I'm a wedding crasher so we'll be seeing a lot more of each other!"

Blush gone Hinata's face paled, her hands shaking to grip the bouquet.

Oh God. Why me??

Next chapter: And a silver six pence in your shoe