Chapter 7: The Big Day

The other villages tried to send people that Kankuro and Rasa knew to stand in their wedding. That was a task easier said than done. The Leaf had sent Shino, which he was greatful for, and Hinata. He didn't know her too well but when he had met her he enjoyed her company. The cloud had sent Omoui, whom Kankuro had worked with before, and his red headed team mate named Karaui whom Kankuro hadn't met before. The mist had sent friends of his father's, as had the earth. Kankuro had the seating arrangements made so that enemy village officials weren't near each other, made sure that the villages that didn't like eachother were well out of each others way and separated by the officials sent from smaller nations. Gifts were given to members of the wedding party as a formality. Gift baskets had also been set up for the out of town guests with things that may make their stay in the sand more endurable like a canteen, sunscreen and a fan. The appointment for hair and makeup had been made because the elders thought Kankuro still looked too sickly. The clothes were altered as needed. The flowers were being set up and delivered. Yet somehow, Kankuro was still unable to sleep.

He looks over at his clock. 4:23. There was no point in trying to sleep now. He sighs, stands up, and stretches. There was really no point in waiting around in bed when he could get things done. He throws on a pair of black sweats since it was still night, and therefore cold, and a black shirt that was long and heavy. After throwing on a cloak he sneaks into the guest room where the man Gaara and Temari were giving each other dirty looks over was sleeping, along with the rest of their joinin leader. He uses a chakra thread to "barrow" a couple of smokes and grabs a candle and goes to sit on the roof, not getting what they saw in the lazy man any way. He sits down on top of the dome shaped building and looks up at the stars, smiling a little as he lights the smoke with the candle. It wasn't often that he smoked except for when he was really nervous. And it wasn't nerves about getting married. It was all the politics involved in the wedding. Why couldn't they just get their marriage license and have a small wedding? Because the old bastards had to make a show out of it. That's why.

He takes another hit and sighs a little. "It appears that you were having difficulty sleeping." Says Shino, appearing on the roof next to him. "And that's 7 minuets off your life." He says, eying the smoke in his hand. "Yeah I know. I'm just worried. What if the Cloud tries to steal another villages Jutsu or that pervert from the Leaf pisses off the Mizukage or the earth tries to do something underhanded? What if the smaller nations get picked on by the bigger ones. The old folks just had to go and make a show about it though. I'm so worried about what could go wrong that I'm probably not going to be able to enjoy myself. Everything has to be about politics though."

"You are marrying The Kazekage Kankuro. Now that your about to be his husband your goanna need to learn to deal with them. That is because even though your well being doesn't depend on them, the well being of the people of your nation does. Rasa is a man with a lot of power both as a shinobi and with making laws. He doesn't control businesses, can't enforce every law, and can't run a country on his own though. There's probably someone in businesses on that council, someone in defense, someone in law enforcement, someone in the judicial system, all grappling for more power than the other." He says. "It's pretty much the same every where."

Kankuro nods and takes another hit. "Wanna check on how everything is going with the flowers?" He asks. There were so many that they were still setting them up. One thing the council hadn't done is spared an expense. That way the Sand maintained a mighty reputation. "Sure. What does the schedule for the day look like any way?" Asks Shino as they get up and jump to a smaller roof. "Well at 8 Chiyo wants me to meditate and de-stress with her so I don't loose my shit during the wedding." He starts and they jump to an even lower roof. "Then at 9:30 breakfast." He says, jumping to a third roof that was even lower. "They normally give me an hour to eat. So that's done at 10:30 and at 10:45 the clothes are being delivered for the whole wedding party. The rings come at 11:00 along with two live doves. It's a sand thing. At 11:30 hair and makeup starts. There's 6 people that need it including me so that will take a while. At 12:45 we break for lunch and their only giving me a half hour. At 1:15 we resume and that appointment goes until 3. I have 10 minuets to go open up for the caterers. Then have to wait around another 10 for the cake." He says and from the roof they were currently on, they jump to the ground and start walking toward the building. Kankuro was still working on a cigarette. "After that I have another 10 minuets to get back here and make sure the band knows the plan. At 3:45 the photographer and videographer arrive. Got to get set up with them, then there's 45 minuets to get dressed, get everything in line, pass out the flowers, and get in position because the ceremony starts at 4:30." He says. "You really do have a full day." He says as they get to the reception building and walk inside as soon as Kankuro extinguishes his smoke.

"Wow. It's looking great in here!" He says, looking around. He sees the weary looking decorators who had been at it all night and turns to Shino. "I'll be right back." He says and runs to one of the open stores that had food and drink and comes back with some sandwiches and tea for them. "Take a few minuets. This will be done on time. You guys look tired and you deserve this." He says.

For the next few hours they help out until it's time for him to meet with Chiyo. After smelling the smoke on him and getting a good scolding he sits down with her to meditate and to talk about what's been going on lately. They had these sessions weekly since he got out of the hospital but today he got an extra half hour with her and then they eat breakfast together. Today it was oatmeal with cream, sugar and fresh fruit. He managed to finish about 15 minutes early and helps her with the dishes. Then he heads home to sign for the clothes and hangs them at the perspective male and female dressing rooms and then goes to sign for the rings and the doves. He ties the rings to their ankles. Their very tame and just ride around on his shoulder as he sets up their cage. It would be their new home. When that's done he makes sure everyone needing their hair and makeup done is there and takes a short nap as he waits for his turn. When he was woken up by Temari it was time for lunch. Grilled curried chicken with flat bread and seasoned rice with potatoes, carrots, onion and parsnips. It had feta cheese melted into it. There was also an apricot and tea served on the side. He goes back to napping until it's his turn and they somehow make his hair look thicker and more shiny. His hair was starting to grow back but it was still really thin and dull. They also do something with his eyes with a white pencil that made them look less bloodshot and made them stand out with a black one. They made his skin look less pasty with some sort of cream. The girl doing his face called it BB cream. They put something on his face so he didn't sweat it off and something on his lips to make them look a healthy color. Other than the eyes there wasn't really anything bold, and that was normal at the wedding of the Kazekage's family because they wanted to show you were a member of the family that had the magnet style Keki Genkai. By the time they finish it was 3:02 and he only had 8 minuets to get there and unlock the venue for the caterers. After rushing there, face shielded with a cloak so nobody would see it before the big event, he unlocks the door so they can start setting up. When the cake gets that he signs for that and make sure they get it to the table without incident. After that he goes back, makes sure the band knows the order of the songs, how many people were in the procession so they would know how long to take and makes sure the stage would work. Once the camera people got there and they knew what he wanted for pictures and video he was all set to go get dressed.

Once he gets to his dressing room Temari was there waiting, ready to help him. She had on a knee length lavender tunic that reached her knees with white detailing around the sleeves, neck and bottom, and her hair was down for once. After helping him get the darn thing on and those blasted complicated shoes. That thing went between the toe? The straps went through ghat loop on hid heel? Whatever. He just let her do it. After that he grabs the dove and let's everyone get lined up. The villages started arguing about who got to go first in the procession and Kankuro gives the guy who started the argument a dirty look. "Lord Tsuchikage, I appreciate that you are proud of your village but please refrain from using my wedding to try and further its reputation. It causes me great distress." He says, faking a small smile.

After getting the argument taken care of he gets everyone in the order that him and Rasa had agreed on during the rehearsal dinner. Last Gaara and Temari, before that Hinata and Shino, prior to that Rasa's friends from the stone then his friends from the mist and first the representatives from the Cloud village. Rasa gets everything ready on the other end and the music starts. There were two aisles that met up in the middle and met into one. First the representatives from the cloud walk out and when their a third of the way out the mist steps out. It continues on like this, each pair meeting half way down the aisle until it's finally Kankuro and Rasa's turn.

The walk down the aisle seemed to take forever. But with each step they got closer and closer. Until finally they made it to the end and take their place in front of the officiant. It was time to say their vows. They look into each other's eyes and the ceremony begins. "Dearly beloved; we're gathered here today in the presence of these witnesses to join these two men in the state of marriage. If anyone has any reason why they should not be joined please speak now or forever hold your peace." He says. A few moments later when nobody steps forward he says, "Let's continue. I understand you wrote your own vows. Lord Kazekage we'll start with you." He says. Rasa grabs a small slip of paper from Gaara. "Kankuro since the very beginning you have always been my light. You've always made me smile and always made me laugh. Your humor can bring a smile to even the most stoic of faces. There's so much about you that I love. Your so smart, your laugh. I can't even list everything about you. Your my world. And I would like to thank you for marrying me today and making me the happiest man in the world. He squeezes his hands a little and the officiant turns to Kankuro. "You may begin Kankuro. "Rasa I would like to say that the happiest man in the world right now is me. You've always been there for me through the good and the bad. You've guided me into the man I am today. Every day I spend with you gives me another memory to make me smile. Your strength gives me strength your smile is contagious. I love you so much and thank you for taking me today as your husband." He says.

"It's now time to exchange rings." He says and Temari and Gaara step forward with the doves, handing them to the officiant. He takes the dove with the golden ring and hands it to Kankuro and the one with the silver ring to Kankuro. "Do you Rasa take Kankuro to be your your lawfully wedded husband to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, for richer or for poorer, for better or worse, as long as you both shall live?" He asks. Rasa squeezes his hand, then slides the ring onto his finger. "I do." He says. The officiant then. Turns to Kankuro. "Do you Rasa take Kankuro to be your your lawfully wedded husband to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, for richer or for poorer, for better or worse, as long as you both shall live?" "I do." He says and slides the ring onto Rasa's finger.

"I now pronounce you married. You may now kiss your spouse and release the doves!" Says the officiant and the lovers lean into each other, lips pressing against each other's softly, at the same time gripping the ribbon attached to the other's ring and undoing the bow, pulling it out of the metal band. When the ribbons are discarded the doves are free and fly upward as they wrap their arms around each other, deepening the kiss. They fly higher and higher as Rasa runs his hand through Kankuro's hair, pulling him flush against him. As their eyes flutter closed the doves fly into the bedroom window of their home, perching in their cage. As Kankuro opens his mouth a little Gaara and Temari grab and pull two ropes, releasing a slew of white flower petals over them like snow in the desert.

When they pull apart the crowd claps and the petals keep falling all around them as they walk down the center aisle hand and hand toward the reception.

Okay well that one was fun to write. There will be smut in the near future. Either in the next chapter or the one after. And of course there will be babies! Muahahahaha! Please read and review. I would really love to know what my readers think so far. Writing a new chapter without reviews is like a big shot in the dark. Flames will be given to Sasuke so his balls of fire can one day be bigger than Itachi's.