A Wonderful Life
By Fleur de Anemone
"Cerise, dear, the moment you say 'I do' you won't be a Hana anymore."
Cerise sqeezed her fathers hands, smiling. "I know."
They were mere yards away from the alter, where Naruto stood patiently, watching Cerise's last conversation as a single woman. Sakura, Ino, Hinata, Tenten, Temari (The sand siblings had come for the wedding), and Cerise's elder sister Myrtille watched eagerly from the right, where they were Cerise's bridesmaids, Myrtille the maid of honor. Myrtille's husband, Gosai, stood to the left as Naruto's groomsman. The best man was Gaara, who really didn't want to be there, but was anyway, because he owed Naruto a favor for being his friend. Or something.
"I just want you to know your family will always be here for you. As a child, Naruto was the town screwup, and I had my doubts, but he's changed since he was a child. I willingly give you up to him."
Cerise's father kissed her cheek and nodded to her. Cerise smiled again and let go of her father's hands, continuing to the alter. Her father took his seat in the second pew."Dearly beloved," Tsunade started, for Konohagakure had no priests or anything, and to Hokage had to make up for this loss. "We are gathered here today to in the spirit of joining two beings in the bond of matrimony. Do you-- Uzumaki Naruto-- take Hana Kuroichigo Cerise to be your lawful spouse-- Until death do you part?"
"I do."
"And do you-- Hana Kuroichigo Cerise-- take Uzumaki Naruto to be your lawful spouse-- Until death do you part?"
"I do."
"The rings, please."
Inari, from the village Hidden in the Waves, scampered up with two simple gokld bands on a pillow. Cerise took one and Naruto took the other.
"Cerise, Naruto, please turn to each other and join hands. The unbroken circle of the ring represents many things. It is a symbol of eternity because there is no beginning or end to it. It is a symbol of the pledges you are about to make to each other and the strength of your commitment. It is a link in the spiritual chain that binds you together. Naruto, please take Cerise's left hand in your hand and with your right place place the ring on her finger. Repeat after me."
"Actually," Naruto interrupted. "I memorized what I'm supposed to say. Cerise did, too. We found it on the internet last week."
Tsunade shrugged. "Whatever."
"With this ring, I give myself to you." Naruto began slowly. "I place my strength in the service of your happiness. You dreams I will share. Your burdens I will bear. From now until forever I will be incomplete without you."
"Cerise, take Naruto's left hand in your left hand, and with your right please place the ring on his finger."
Cerise was already crying. She smiled weakly and said in almost a whisper, "With this ring, I give myself to you. I place my strength in the service of your happiness. You dreams I will share. Your burdens I will bear. From now until forever I will be incomplete without you."
"You have entered the covenany of marriage, held sacred by almost all religions since the dawn of time." Tsunade proclaimed. "May your joy last forever and disappointments be few. By the power vested in me, and in the name of Konohagakure, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
Naruto lifted Cerise's veil and kissed her lightly. Naruto hadn't wanted a veil, but the dress Cerise bought came with it, so why not use it? Cerise's dress wasn't anything special. It was satin and white, with elaborate beaded patterns stitched in around the collar and the hem. The collar was dipped into a small "V." It was sleeveless, because Cerise would have probably burned any dress she had with puffy sleeves.
Unruly cheering and clapped exploded from the assembled people. Cerise and Naruto walked back down the aisle, man and wife.
Next chapter preview:
"That idiot Naruto, that idiot Cerise... Skipping out on a critical ANBU meeting! And because of what? NOTHING! They're probably running around naked somewhere for kicks. Those two are going to get demoted, no, kicked out of Konohagakure for this... We need their opinions... Dammit!" --The Godaime, Tsunade
