"Oh God, oh god, oh god, oh god."
"Shut-up Sakura, hold still, I'm trying to zip you up!"
Sakura and Ino were up in "their" room. Sakura was standing rigidly in front of Ino while she tried to zip up the cream white dress.
"This is officially the WORST day of my life." Ino mumbled as she finished up Sakura. 'I can't believe I'm going to be related to you. If only there was a way to sabotage the wedding…."
"Please don't try Ino. I've never seen my mom so happy. And if she sticks to the rules, she will no longer be dating." Sakura hissed. "Don't do anything."
"I don't give a crap if your mom is happy or not. I have a life too you know."
"If you call creaming over hot guys and spreading gossip a life." Sakura mumbled in reply. She sat down on her quilt bed and rested her head on her hands.
Ino's face twisted into something gruesome, and then she looked quickly over her own cream white dress and leaned into the mirror, a make-up brush in hand. "You know," She said in a hushed tone without looking at Sakura. "That Shimmy boy has some real taste."
"Shino." Sakura corrected. "Shino Haruno. You know, soon enough you're going to be related to him and I expect you to know his name."
"I knew it." Ino pouted. "Test me."
"Okay, name them from youngest to oldest."
"And list their age?"
"Yup." Sakura smiled and put her hands at her sides and swung her feet on the side of the bed. Her green eyes sparkling.
"Suzuki, 3. SHINO" She emphasized the name. "7…um….Kooki, 10, Nemi 12, Nataru 17 and Sai, 20." She said in self pride.
"You only got 2 names right and none of the ages and you mixed 2 up. One of those names I told you, so that doesn't count. How can you remember, only Sai?"
"Sakura, your brother is HOT."
"He's 20!" Sakura cried.
"I know!" Ino squealed. "Anyway, well, give me the correct answers."
Sakura heaved a heavy sigh, and began to fiddle with a small bunny stuffed animal in her lap. Without looking up, she mumbled, "Sasuke is 6, Shino is 9, Kiba is 12, Naruto is 13, Neji is 15 and of course, Sai is 20."
"Girl, you have too many siblings." Ino said, still fiddling with her make up.
"I KNOW." Sakura sighed. "And today is the wedding and we're all going to die."
"Shut up whiner!" Ino said, finally turning around. "I love weddings mind you." Her voice was sharp and irritated. "By the way, I was wondering if I could borrow one of you tops for the after-party tomorrow."
"No way!" Sakura yelled.
Ino pulled open Sakura's drawer and pulled out floral spaghetti strap and blue shrug. "These would go so well with a pair of shorts I have…"
"I was planning to wear that!" Sakura chirped. Her voice cracking a little.
"Puh-leez." Ino said. "You don't have enough figure to wear this baby!"
Sakura rolled her eyes sarcastically. Typical Ino. "I'm still wearing it at the party." She said. "It's my top."
Ino made a "Phhh." Sound and lay the top on the dresser.
"GIRLS??!! ARE YOU READY??!!" Came a call. It sounded like sigh.
"Are you Sakura?" Ino asked. "You look a little green."
"I-I'm fine." Sakura did not feel fine. She felt like the whole room was spinning. Like her soul was being sucked out by a scraggly too-small vacuum. Her heart felt like it was lurching and squeezing all the blood and life out of itself. Her world was caving in, as were her lungs.
"Sakura, don't freak on me." Ino said, bringing her almost sister back into the real world. "Let's go."
Sakura followed hesitantly. Tromping down the stairs after Ino's gracefulness.
At the bottom. Neji and Naruto were waiting. Both fidgeting with their tuxes. Neji's hair was brushed and pulled back in the usual low pony-tail. His face was clean and was free of sarcastic expressions.
"Sakura, you look amazing!" Naruto said.
"Perve." Sakura mumbled. Her eyes skipping over her younger brother and instead, to her older one. "Neji! Aren't we handsome!"
Neji blushed.
Sakura's cellphone rang. She flipped it open and her face immediately lit up.
"Hey!" She said. "Oh, oh yeah, sure. I would love it! Okay. See you there! Bye!"
Naruto cocked his head to the side. "Who was that?"
Sakura gave a smile. "Tenten, she's coming to the wedding, to give me some back up."
Neji's face paled, his shoulder line tensed. "Tenten …coming …wedding …..see …..me ….Tenten …..wedding …."
He stumbled back and made a run for the bathroom.
"Can you be any more pathetic?!" Ino called after him. "It's just Tenten!"
"He's crazy about her. But I don't think she really cares fro him….Atleast…well, she blushes when he talks to her, if that counts. I think she secretly likes him, but Tenten's not one to show emotions. "
"She's just a dork." Ino hissed. "If I had answered the phone, I would have said 'no'"
Sakura's faced darkened. "If Tenten doesn't come, I'll freak and embarrass you SO badly, kids will be laughing at you for weeks."
"Touche." Ino shrugged and followed the boys out to the cars.
Sai was waiting out by his SUV and Ino's blue jeep. "Who's driving with who?" She called to all the gathering boys.
"Mom and Dad left in two separate cars. Naruto, Kiba and Sasuke will ride with me. Shino, Neji and Sakura will ride with Ino. Got it?"
Everyone gave a simultaneous nod. Sakura gathered Shino and followed Ino to the jeep.
"Shino. You look so handsome!" Sakura chirped. She ruffled his fluffy brown hair. He had his sunglasses perched on his nose. He gave a half-hearted smile.
"What's wrong?" Sakura asked. Straightening her dress.
"I haven't been feeling good lately." Shino moaned. "Not in a sudden strong sick way, in that slow irritating way." He rubbed his eyes.
"It's okay." Sakura said in a hushed voice. "You'll get better."
Shino nodded in an unbelieving way.
"Where's Neji?" Ino asked from the front seat.
"Oh NEJI!" Sakura sighed as she hopped out. She raced through the garage, trying not to trip over her dress. She threw open the door.
"Neji!"
"Sakura…." Someone moaned.
She raced to the guest bathroom to see him leaning against the wall. His face was tired as if he'd thrown up.
"Neji? What are you doing?" Sakura's cherry-blossom hair fell over her face. "You can't be goofing off, we're going to a wedding."
"But, but, Tenten's going to be there." He moaned. "If she see's me, and when I kissed Kiba and…"
"Wait…you kissed who?"
"Long story." Neji rolled his head over to the side. "But she saw…and…Sakura, I just can't face her right now."
"I can keep her away from you…" Sakura offered.
Neji shook his head and stood warily. "I'm coming. Don't worry, I can handle it."
Sakura helped him out to the car.
"Oh god, what's wrong with you?" Ino asked.
"Tenten…" Neji muttered.
Ino rolled her eyes. "You all are a sorry sight."
It took 4 and a half hours for the wedding to begin. Kiba HAD in fact managed to get the banner up. There was a stage and a large amount of chairs.
Sakura spent it with her head in her hands. Awaiting the most dreadful moment. Two little words that could end a life.
"I do."
That was it. The very end of her life. This was the end. She lurched forward as Tenten patted her back apologetically.
"Tenten…" Sakura moaned in a whisper. "My life, is over."
"No it's not, Sakura." Tenten whispered in reply. "It's just beginning."
