Chapter 25: Support of Friends
Hyuga Main House, 1:13 pm
"Hinata…wow you're gorgeous!" Ino stood by her shorter friend arranging white irises in her hair. TenTen sat on a chair, twirling a kunai and frowning.
"I mean seriously! You're one hot babe! And take a look at those boobs!" Ino poked Hinata's bosom, grinning.
"Ino!" Hinata blushed tomato red, covering her chest. TenTen smiled.
"You do look really pretty, Hinata."
"Ah…thank you TenTen-san." Hinata observed herself in the mirror. She turned around in a small circle.
I wish…that I could be this pretty for Naruto! It seems like everything I've done…has only made things worse.
"Hinata…have you seen Neji?" TenTen asked. Hinata looked at her friend. TenTen donned a green landscape and blue bird's kimono. Her hair was in one bun and she looked concerned.
"Neji…won't be able to come."
"That's horrible! How could you miss your own cousin's wedding?" Ino frowned. She gave Hinata the once over.
"You know…how about we put some color into those flowers?" Ino smirked. TenTen smiled.
"What colors, Ino?" Hinata asked innocently.
"Orange."
--
Public Hyugan Garden, 2:00 pm
Hiashi walked along the white bridge leading to the reception area. The tall hill slanting into the flower filled valley below. The Yamanaka's had so graciously offered many flowers from their shop to celebrate Hinata's wedding. Hiashi frowned as he remembered the way the young Yamanaka girl had glared at him when the family had arrived.
Am I doing the right thing? Sometimes I wonder what Chihiro would do in this situation. No doubt she would have let Hinata and Naruto be together. Have been acting on selfishness…or out of concern for the clan? I just want…Hinata to somehow be happy, and take my lead.
The servants bustled about making last minute preparations before the guests arrived. Everything was in place, everything was ready, and everything was set. But why did he feel as if something were missing?
Hiashi stopped in the middle of the wooden post bridge. The small water reflected an image of him that rippling and waving. The flowers that surrounded the water bloomed beautifully and strong.
"It's strange…that my son is marrying your daughter…" Hiashi sighed again as he heard that timid voice.
I've never sighed so much in my life.
"She's pretty…like her mother." The woman stepped up to him on the bride, placing her hands on the white wooden framing.
Hiashi stared ahead, his eyes following a white carnation as it floated down the small stream.
"How is your health, Fujiko?"
"Its…been better. My heart is still repairing itself though. And how is yours?" Fujiko smiled softly.
"I'm afraid I have no heart left to fix, Fujiko."
"You shouldn't say things like that, Hiashi-san. Chihiro-sama would be upset." Fujiko's smiled waned as if she were pulled into some unpleasant memory. Then she focused her eyes on the man standing next to her.
"You don't seem happy. You always used to muse about the day when Hinata-chan would get married. Is it that…she isn't happy?" Hiashi looked away from, her staring straight ahead.
"She doesn't want to marry, Takuya. I already know that, Hiashi-san. Takuya himself told me everything." Fujiko lightly touched his shoulder.
"When Hinata us unhappy…usually I am overcome in guilt." Hiashi shook his head.
"At least she doesn't hate you." Fujiko giggled easily. Hiashi bowed his head and smirked.
"Yes…at least she doesn't hate me."
--
"Orange?" Hinata cocked her head to one side. Why in the world would Ino suggest orange flowers? Wouldn't they clash with her kimono and her hair?
"If you look at it from a weird perspective, then orange looks really good on you, Hinata." Tsunade stood in the doorway of them dressing room. She was clan in a green and grey kimono. Sake cup in hand she waltzed into the room. TenTen sighed loudly.
"I thought Shizune-san told you not to drink, Tsunade-sama." TenTen scolded. Tsunade winked.
"This is just an act." She set her cup down on the table and stared at Hinata.
"Never thought I'd see the day when you would get married first Hinata." Ino slapped her forehead.
"You are drunk! Aren't you!" Tsunade raised her brow.
"It's called tipsy, young woman." Tsunade continued to stare at Hinata causing the girl to shift nervously.
"Are you sure about this Hinata?"
"I have to do this Tsunade-sama! It's to protect what's most precious to me. It's Naruto-kun. I want to protect him no matter what."
--
"You haven't changed Fujiko…somehow always managing to make my day better." Hiashi expressed. Fujiko smiled.
"I'm not a person to hold grudges, Hiashi-san. You know that…I could never hold a grudge against you. It's not in my nature anyway." Fujiko released her small hand from Hiashi's shoulder.
"I could never truly hate you, Hiashi-san."
--
"Hinata-sama…are you ready?" Nanami knock on the door of the room.
"Oh just go in will you?" Sumi opened the door, and frowned.
"What are you doing? You should be at the Public Gardens by now! And you girls! You were supposed to help her get there on time, now come on!" Tsunade slipped beside Hinata. She could barely hear it…something so small yet it made her heart skip a beat.
"He won't give you up so easily." Hinata gasped at those whispered words. Tsunade waved and grinned.
I won't give him up…either.
"Hinata come on!" Ino grabbed her hand while TenTen grabbed her other one. They began running to the garden. The servants tried to catch up with them, but TenTen brushed them off.
"We won't give you up that easily either!"
--
"It's packed." Kisuke stood beside Takuya. He looked through the drapes to the large crowd in the garden.
"Of course. It's the wedding of the century!" Takuya laughed.
"There must be over a hundred people here." Kisuke said. Takuya began pacing back and forth. Nervous was an understatement.
Where is Hinata? She should have been here by now!
"There she is!" One of his groomsmen pointed to a trio running towards them. Hinata's flustered face seemed a lot happier than usual. Was she actually accepting him? Takuya grabbed her hand, pulling her towards the drapes.
"T-Takuya-kun!"
"Where were you? Are you ready?" Hinata glanced at the people out in the crowd…so many people. She looked back at her friends. TenTen and Ino nodded and gave her thumbs up. Takuya snorted at them, TenTen spewed curses, while Ino tried to calm her down.
"Takuya-sama and Hinata-sama. When the priest calls your name, we will pull back the drapes, and you will walk slowly to the altar." Takuya nodded. Hinata gulped.
"Behave yourself." Takuya said rather fiercely. Hinata looked away from him, to Ino and TenTen. She tried to smile, as she felt their concern, anger, and love.
She remembered their words as she walked onto the flower covered carpet, and as the crowd wowed at her beauty.
She could feel their support holding her up, as she passed her father, when Hanabi smiled. As Takuya smirked in victory.
Words were exchanged. Vows were said. A ring glinted in the sunlight.
Why does it seem that my chapters are getting shorter? Oh well...I'll try to make them longer if I can. Well well! This chapter surely was a heck of alot of work for me...trying to figure out wether to make the wedding go on or have Naruto-oh...sorry thats for the next chapter! Hahaha!