Really should update more!
"Green for the leaf, red for the sand? Or do you think it should be yellow or orange? Sakura? SAKURA?" Tsunade's voice broke Sakura out of the contemplative stare she had been maintaining out of the window and she blushed
"Sorry Tsunade…what did you say?"
Tsunade rolled her eyes and rubbed her forehead before looking at the array of paper before her "If I'd known your wedding would cause so much paperwork I'd have made you do a mission to the Ice."
That got Sakura's attention and the smaller woman made her way over to her mentor "anyone would think you'll miss me" She said with a teasing smile plucking out some coloured sheets and placing them together. Tsunade didn't answer so Sakura carried on speaking "Red is Gaara's favourite colour and red and green is an auspicious combination eh?" she finally plucked two cards together looking up at Tsunade with a smile. Her smile faded as she realised her adopted mother was crying. "Tsunade!" she exclaimed taking the woman's hand "Please don't cry…it's not that bad a colour combination…"
That got a laugh from the former Hokage and she shook her head "I'm just…I remember you and Naruto being so young and now…" she sniffed
"Now..." Sakura broke in "Now I'm just young at heart eh?"
Tsunade laughed again "Red and Green are good colours; we can get the embroidery on your wedding kimono done in those colours"
Sakura plucked her lips thoughtfully "What about a green under kimono with white over kimono and a red obi?"
"Why have red on you at all?" Hinata's soft voice came from the doorway and Sakura ushered her in "Green under kimono, white over kimono and a green obi, then Gaara can wear his red robes and the union of the two villages will be apparent without the possibility of someone thinking there's too little red or green in Sakura's outfit"
Tsunade clapped happily "that does sound much better – what do you think Sakura?"
"I think…" Sakura smiled "I think you two are way too excited about a wedding that is not going to happen for another five months"
"Speaking of which" Hinata pulled a scroll from her robes "I managed to copy a scroll of the marriage customs of the sand so you can be prepared" she lifted the scroll out of Sakura's reach "however, as we're leaving tomorrow, I figured you'd want to check on the building work at the compound?"
With a dramatic sigh Sakura hauled herself up and with a wave to Tsunade followed Hinata out of the building "That you for saving me from that" she whispered as soon as they were safely away from the Kage's guest house "Tsunade is way too excited"
Hinata smiled "Please. This was nothing compared to mine and Naruto's wedding!"
Sakura shuddered remembering Tsunade's excitement "I remember all too vividly!"
The compound was already looking better than when Sakura had first laid eyes on it. The gate front had been cleaned of all graffiti and her family seal glistened with fresh paint. The inside was swept clean and children ran about playing a game of catch. Most of the adults laboured on the rebuilding of the accommodation with some specialist builders amongst them. Sakura had managed to acquire some more builders to work on the reservoir and she smiled as a flash of chakra filled her vision: these builders were quite special.
She waved as she passed the accommodation block happy that some of the people could overcome their mistrust to wave back. Others shot her a quick look: they would take longer to come around at least there's no hate.
"Greetings master Ren" Sakura said to a man wearing a dust mask. It seemed a permanent feature of his and she had never seen him out of the mask, its form obscured all of his lower face aside from his twinkling orange eyes. He reminded Sakura of Kakashi very much, which was why she'd hired his team.
"Hello mistress! The work is progressing well" he pointed to what remained of the damaged reservoir "We have reached solid foundations and can begin to rebuild"
"That's great news" Sakura eyes the sturdy looking foundations "The last time those foundations saw light was when my ancestors laid them" she said with a smile "It's good that they are strong"
Ren's eyes smiled at her "Like the Haruno family yes?" he laughed at her embarrassment "It takes strength to be the wife of a Kazekage, especially this one"
"It takes some kind of strength to do anything" Sakura countered "I leave tomorrow; will everything be well in my absence?"
The man nodded looking towards the accommodation block "We are rebuilding the accommodation better…more personal space and comforts as you requested, why do we not restore the main house?" he pointed to the dilapidated ruin that had functioned as Sakura's office whilst she'd been on site "I did not ask before…too new" Ren explained his sudden curiosity.
"How can I rebuild a house I won't live in when people need a home?"
"You will not restore at all? Is fine house under the miscare"
Sakura turned to look at the house "Great people once lived and worked in that house. When the compound is once again earning money the proceeds will go towards the people who live here and some towards restoring the house…why is the house so important?"
Ren flushed looking at the ground "…ancestors…built" he muttered
Nodding with understanding Sakura patted his arm "Time will tell."
Rubbing his head Ren looked up at the sky "Work will progress well, all will be done before your wedding, all is paid up front, honestly. I appreciate that"
"Sakuuuuraaa!" Temari's voice rang out across the compound
"Look after this place for me Ren" Sakura said over her shoulder as she raced over to meet her friend.
"Hey Tem" Sakura hooked arms with her future sister in law "What can I do for you?"
Temari smiled "You know, I am so not used to the fact you'll be my sister in a few months"
"Seems like forever away"
"True, but at least I can look forward to finally getting my own place…"
"Your own place?" Sakura stopped suddenly causing Temari to stop "Why?"
The blond woman laughed "Please, do you seriously want your husband's sister to hear you loudly making babies in the middle of the night?" Sakura flushed bright red from her toes to her hair and Temari laughed again pulling her along with her "I think Kankuro already found somewhere else to live…you know it's hard on him"
Sakura winced at the reminder of Kankuro's growing coldness "I never wanted to hurt his feelings" she said quietly as Temari led her down an alleyway into some cool shade
"Do you think you'd get out of a beating if I thought you had?" Temari said seriously "I love my brothers and wouldn't like anyone to mess them around"
"Tem!"
"Ach, I know you didn't, he just wasn't honest with himself" Temari started up some stairs and when she reached a door deftly flicked the door open. "What do you think?"
The walls of the apartments were a very pale lilac with the one opposite the windows painted with dark purple bamboo leaves. The light wooden floor had a homely rag rug in the centre made from pale fabrics with some light sofas resting upon it.
"This living room is so you!" Sakura exclaimed twirling around in the middle and taking in the other features in the room "Photographs!"
"I stole your photo wall idea there" Temari laughed straightening a couple of frames on the almost bare wall. A couple of Sakura and herself, Gaara and Kankuro and some of her and Shikamaru. "The bedroom isn't finished yet, just a plain room with a bedroll" Temari flopped down onto one of the comfortable sofas
"You've been planning this for a while" Sakura said suspiciously sitting next to Temari
"Mayyybe" Temari said evasively
Sakura pinned her with a look "Why?"
"Because I wanted to be able to get away from it all and living with my brothers was sometimes like living at work" she stroked the arm of the sofa "this flat has always been my retreat, even when I was very young and now I can be old in it"
Sakura smiled "I look forward to visiting you here"
Temari gave her a sly grin "What? When not sexing up my brother?"
With a shriek Sakura hit her with a cushion.
"Sakura! Come on!"
Sakura pulled away from Gaara's lips and rolled her eyes at him in mutual irritation "I guess I should get going"
Gaara pulled her to him; planting another long kiss on her lips before releasing her "You know I can't kiss you in public now"
"Poor you" Sakura said with a pout "How you must SUFFER for my reputation" With a laugh Gaara stole her bag and held it above his head "Gaara! Give me that back!"
"Nope"
"Gaa-ra!" Sakura gave him a dangerous look "That bag has my wedding planning stuff in it – do not make me get your future mother-in-law up here"
"EEK" Gaara replied "Not the hag!" he handed her the purse and pulled her in for another kiss
"SAKURA! STOP SNOGGING MY BROTHER AND GET DOWN HERE!"
"Best go" Sakura said with a laugh, "Come on"
With a sigh Gaara escorted his fiancée down the stairs and out to the yard where their escort awaited. He narrowed his eyes at the ten anbu who were forming the protection for the journey home; Tsunade and Hinata were sat in the shade talking to Kankuro and Temari as they waited.
"There they are" Temari said breaking off the conversation and waving the two over "remember to behave you two on the way out"
"Yes mother" Gaara and Sakura said simultaneously and shared a smile
"Whatever" Temari rolled her eyes "let's go"
The procession to the gateway caused a lot of staring and whispering but Sakura only focused on the man in red walking beside her. The one, who, by tradition she could not touch in public protecting my chastity how dramatic
A simple touch of the fingertips was all that was allowed under the gazes of the crowd sent to see them off, some elders rumbled unhappily at this until Gaara shot them a dark look. "I'll see you soon Sakura-koi"
"And you…" Sakura said with a smile "For our wedding"
That made Gaara smile "Take care of her for me hag!" he called to Tsunade who rolled her eyes "Take care of yourself brat" she replied
He watched the group until the dust from their passing had faded into the horizon I'll next see her for our wedding he smiled at the thought
Your wedding Shukaku said with a feral grin I cannot wait
Why do I get the feeling there's an undertone to what you're saying demon? Why are you looking forward to the wedding…aside from the fact you love her too?
Gaara – I am so not going to be unhappy, free porn!
Gaara's eyes widened WHAT?