Guy ran, breakneck and breathless, through the streets of Konohagakure. His orange legwarmers were making his tuxedo pants ride up but at least they perfectly matched his orange tie. There was only a short break scheduled for between the wedding photos and the start of the ceremony seating and Guy needed to get back to the festivities before he was missed.
The note had said to meet at the training grounds. Guy's feet pounded the street. The note had been signed, Yuki.
"Why did the photos have to take so long?!" Manly tears streamed from Guy's eyes as he imagined missing out on his chance because of tardiness. It would be just like my Eternal Rival to somehow engineer a way to make me, Might Guy, the timeliest shinobi in Konoha, LATE to meet Miss Yuki!"
"I'll make Kakashi twice as late on MY wedding day!" Guy shouted to no one. He tripled his pace in a burst of zeal and a cloud of dust streamed out in his wake.
…
Kakashi lay on a chaise lounge kindly built by Yamato as he pretended to read. He knew Hana would yell at him about rumpling his suit but he didn't care-any attention from her would be good compared to the last month of barely any attention at all. Kakashi sighed. He placed full blame on Lady Hokage. Just like a real meddling grandma, she'd managed to influence his marital affairs.
The meeting with Tsunade had been as good as one could hope for, though, considering the situation. Kakashi gave most of the credit to Hanare's charms, but he felt his plan had contributed too.
Phase 1 and 2 had been successful. Kakashi still felt mild shock that the public proposal gambit had worked, which offset his great discomfort with such things. Just in case Hana had been reluctant, he'd calculated that having all those people around would make it harder for her to turn him down. Luckily, his fears seemed to have been unfounded since she was so enthusiastic… but one could never be too careful with these things…
Phase 3 was to get Hana to the Leaf Village. That had been easier than expected. Phase 4 had been to get Tsunade to grant Hanare a trial visa. "Lady Hokage," Kakashi had used his most formal and polite manners and bow, "Allow me to introduce my fiancée, Hanare."
Tsunade had been tough but the plan had worked. "Cute, Hatake. That even rhymes. Want to tell me what the hell is going on?! What are you playing at, anyway?" Tsunade had glared over her desk. In the end though, it was hard to deny the prospect of matrimonial bliss to a comrade. Hanare had made a good impression thanks to a sincere interest in Tsunade's favorite brands of saké. Tsunade had agreed to all of Kakashi's requests, on one condition:
"You'd better be married in a month, Hatake! And this young lady will need to prove herself. Do you plan to get back into Hidden Village work, Hanare? Special Jonin in Konoha is a lot of work. You'd need to retake all the standard tests, plus prove equivalency in our espionage division…"
Kakashi sighed again at the memory. He hadn't wanted to be rushed into the actual wedding. It was like Tsunade thought he was bluffing and had called him. And it had also put a rush on his and Hana's discussion of her work situation. He was fine with her in a Konoha uniform, of course-but back in espionage? He'd pictured something more like teaching at the Academy…
"Kakashi they're ready for you," Asuma said, ambling over from the pavilion. He puffed a smoke ring at his silver-haired friend. "You did good, Kash."
"Thanks for fronting me the money."
"Don't mention it. You're paying me back with interest, anyway."
The wind rustled the trees. Some leaves dropped, fluttering on the breeze. They were the same color as Hanare's hair. Kakashi peeked up over the edge of Tactics to look at the sky. The clouds were perfect. Even with all the hassles, Kakashi was still happier than he'd ever been.
…
Guy panted to a stop in the training grounds. He was only tired for a second, though, before zipping into perfect posture and smoothing his bowl cut with a palm-lick and practiced swirl of his hand. "The Green Beast has arrived!" he said, flashing a pearly grin around the training yard. "I am at your disposal, sweet Yuki! Wherever you are," he said loudly.
"I was kinda hoping for the Pikachu jumpsuit," Officer Li said, emerging from behind a tree. She was wearing an ivory lace dress that had an uneven hem and showed her cute feet. A sun hat covered her hair, which was down in two pigtails instead of up in two buns.
"I will commission a Pikachu tuxedo IMMEDIATELY," Guy said, bowing six times.
"You're adorable," Officer Li laughed. "Now show me to the shindig, jumpsuit-sama."
…
Phase 5. Rushed, but… whatever. Kakashi's eye crinkled at the corner as he watched Hanare walk down the aisle.
…
"It had to be a country song, didn't it," Kakashi complained as he twirled Hanare and dipped her low during their First Dance.
"Keep it up and you'll be singing about how your wife left you and you hate your job and the only ones who love you are your dog. I mean dogs," Hanare giggled.
"Hmm. That sounds just like me," Kakashi mused. "Do you think I'd be good at that? Maybe I chose the wrong career."
"We'll be traveling street performers together!"
"No one wants to pay to see me dance," Kakashi laughed.
"You just need a skimpier outfit," Hanare winked. Kakashi's left eye widened. "Maybe some leather? Bonnie could teach you how to line dance like she does in her-"
"No," Kakashi said emphatically, wrapping his arms around Hanare and crushing her to him so she had to stop talking.
"Fffwine," Hanare sighed in disappointment.
"Mmm. This is nice," Kakashi said as they swayed together. "You were too far away earlier." The song was almost over. Hanare tightened her grip on his suit.
"Is Master Kenta satisfied with what he asked for?"
"Very." Kakashi kissed the top of her head.
"Good," Hanare nuzzled her face into his chest.
"But Rei, I might need you to dance with me again, to a different song, since I wasn't that fond of this one. And also, I might need you to be naked."
"Kakashi! Sssh, people will-"
"The customer is always right… right?" His half-lidded eye glinted down at her.
"FINE."
...
Tsunade sipped her spiked tea, contentedly reading the daily bulletin and perusing the file of Hatake wedding photos Shikamaru had brought over earlier. She stuffed a crème pan pastry in her mouth and grinned, amused at how the shinobi had all insisted at wearing their trademark items even at such a formal event. Kakashi, with his mask… Asuma, Guardian Shinobi bandana looped at his waist… Guy with his leg warmers! Tsunade laughed. She poured more saké into her teacup.
Hanare had chosen a very odd color pairing for the event… orange and purple. It was an autumn wedding though, and the orange did look nice with the leaves turning color. Tsunade had no idea why purple… Hanare did have an avant-garde sort of personal style, though, so maybe that had something to do with it.
The bride's dress was off-white and off-shoulder, with long sleeves and a huge bow in the back, tied from an orange-and-purple embroidered obi. Hanare had chosen to wear her hair down, with some traditional ornaments and a comb worked into the style. No veil. Kakashi stood comfortably next to her, one hand gently curved around his bride, the other in his pocket. The Lady Hokage could tell he was smiling under his mask.
She flipped to the next photo. It was a candid-Asuma in the middle of frantically ditching his cigarette, Guy giving a double thumbs-up, Kakashi scratching his head and Hanare glaring at him. Plus, the genin doing a bunch of random stuff including Sakura punching Naruto in the face. Tsunade took that photo from the stack with a chuckle and propped it up on her desk. That'll give me a much needed laugh in dark times. She reached for another cream pan. Look at all those kids. Just getting started...
Tsunade hmphed like a proud granny. "Looks like Hatake wasn't faking it after all. Nice to see him finally settled down."
...
[Phase 6?!...]
Kakashi's eye widened. He looked a little faint. Hanare rolled her eyes. They'd talked about it for months.
"Are you okay?" Hanare raised an eyebrow. All she wanted was a teriyaki and katsu XL bento and her husband couldn't go get her one if he was passed out.
"I guess I need to start working on a… Diaper Change Jutsu…" Kakashi scratched his head.
"How about you start working on names," Hanare said. "Or the spare room. Or the back deck. Or the roof. Or the…"
"Names sounds great," Kakashi said smoothly. "Guy's baby will have two names, he tells me, so ours should have at least three."
Hanare thought a moment. "Cloud."
"Sky," Kakashi said.
"Leaf..."
"...Hatake."
…
KONOHAGAKURE NEWS
World and Politics
-Naruto Defeats Dangerous Missing Nin
-A Sarutobi Legacy: Remembering the Third and Jonin Asuma
-The State of Sunagakure
Entertainment
-Icha Icha original series to air on Netflix
-Yukie Fujikaze Quits Icha Series Amidst Contract Disputes
-International Casting Call for Actress to Play Kaori in Icha Icha Adaptation
Local
-New Ichiraku Location Opens This Summer
-Debate on Maid Cafés in Konoha Rages On
-Lost Cat: Tora, Large Reward
Obituaries, April
None
Births
Kumo Sora Asuma Rifu Hatake
April 27
…
The End
(and the beginning)
Hope
You
Enjoyed
The
Story
Thanks… for… playing!...
Soundtrack
1 Welcome to Tokyo / World Order
2 I Took a Pill in Ibiza / Mike Posner
3 Uptown Funk / Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars
4 Call Me Maybe / Carly Rae Jepsen
5 Shot at the Night / The Killers
6 This Is What You Came For / Rihanna
7 The Night is Still Young / Nicki Minaj
8 Again / Janet Jackson
9 The Way I Are / Timbaland
10 Ballroom Blitz / The Sweet
11 That Don't Impress Me Much / Shania Twain
12 Riptide / Vance Joy
13 Simple Song / The Shins
14 If I Die Young / The Band Perry
15 Sugar / Maroon 5