Hey everybody! Whew, I managed to update again this week:) And I updated early to boot! Well, thanks SO MUCH for all your smashing reviews- I just, gah, appreciate'm so much! Well, I'm hoping that we can make the 200 review mark with this chapter- if we do, then I will kick my own ass into getting out the next chapter within a week! What do you say? It would be most youthful!

Also, I posted a pic of upcoming characters for this fic in my deviant art page if you'd like a sneak peak! You can either look me up by my username "wingedmercury" or follow the link in my profile:)

Well, this next chapter is a shorty but a goody. Enjoy!

Chapter 25

Gold and Silver

It is the sea that whitens the roof.
The sea drifts through the winter air.

It is the sea that the north wind makes.
The sea is in the falling snow.

This gloom is the darkness of the sea.
Geographers and philosophers,

Regard. But for that salty cup,
But for the icicles on the eaves-

The sea is a form of ridicule.
The iceberg settings satirize

The demon that cannot be himself,
That tours to shift the shifting scene.

~The Blue Guitar, XXVII

As they sat at the corner cafe, Sakura munching her sandwich in thoughtful silence, she spotted Ino strutting down the street.

"Oi! Pig! Over here!" Sakura called.

"Billboard! Hinata-chan! Howdy." Ino turned into the courtyard and smiled, "What are you two up to today?"

"Ah, Sakura-chan is helping me shop for the wedding-"

Ino fisted the air, and breaking into Hinata's sentence yelled, "Yes! I got back from a mission in time to help you shop! Awesome!"

Sakura giggled, "I helped Hinata pick out the nicest dress. You're going to explode when you see it!"

Ino pouted, "Aw, I would have helped you pick it out too, but I had to be sent on the worlds most boring mission. Well, I'm back now. So, are you guys going to pick out some jewelry this afternoon?"

Hinata nodded yes to her friend's lucky guess as she quietly bit into her turkey club.

"Awesome! I've been wanting to look for a piece for myself. Even though my wedding is about 7 months off, it's never too early to start shopping."

Hinata winced, "You mean you've already started looking for stuff? Kami, my wedding is just two months away and I've barely gotten anything done!"

Ino eyed her askance, "You mean, you haven't planned everything down to the last detail yet?"

Hinata shook her head mournfully, "We've picked out a spot, but we haven't mailed out the invitations, done the seating arrangements, or even-"

Ino broke in again, "Yosh! Hinata-chan, looks like we have our work cut out for us!"

Sakura giggled in between bites as Ino obstreperously pledged to dedicate the rest of the month to helping Hinata plan out her wedding. "It will be my most important mission yet!" Ino swooned, "Imagine me, planning the wedding of the century, oh this is going to be fun!"

Hinata stuttered, "Ah, a-arigato, I-Ino-chan..."

Sakura blotted her mouth with a paper napkin and chimed, "Alright girls, let's do it!"

Three hours and five stores later, the trio found themselves empty handed. Ino wailed, "There's just nothing... I don't know, everything lacked a certain Je ne sais quoi..."

"Ino-chan, there were at least 5 necklaces that Hinata liked..."

"Yeah, but they weren't gorgeous enough!" Ino pouted.

"Ah, Naruto told me about a really nice store..." Hinata finally ventured.

"Nani? But we've already hit every jewelry store in town!" Sakura, exhausted, was not looking forward to more shopping.

"Um, it's actually an antiques store..." Hinata mumbled.

"Ooooooooh, good thinking Hinata-chan, let's go!" Ino, still full of energy, took her friends' hands and led the way towards the small shop on the outskirts of the district.

The wooden door creaked audibly as the three entered the shop.

"Hello!" An older woman, her white hair up in a simple bun, walked over to greet them with the assistance of a cane. "You girls are lucky, I was just about to close for the day. Can I help you with anything?"

"Hai, baachan, we're looking for a set of jewelry for these two brides-to-be!" Sakura asked politely.

"Granny? Oh, I'm not that old! Haha, well, come in dears, let me show you what we have." The old woman slowly made her way over to a glassy counter and set out several trays of jewelry. Ino's eyes got wide as she purred, "Oi, this stuff is amazing!" Squealing in delight, she inspected the wares.

"Now, my name is Akemi, and who might you three be?"

Sakura smiled, "I'm Haruno Sakura, the loud blonde is Yamanaka Ino, and the shy one is Hyuga Hinata. It's nice to meet you Akemi-san."

Akemi squinted at her, then reached into her pocket and pulled out a pair of spectacles. "Ah, Sakura-chan! I knew your mother, many moons ago. This was her favorite place to shop!"

Sakura grinned, "Really! That's amazing!"

Akemi continued, "And you deary, you must be the Hokage's bride to be. Well I'll be darned! And Ino, well, I've heard all about you..."

Ino raised an eyebrow, "You have? From who?"

Akemi laughed, "Oh, let's just say I'm known to have the best jewelry around. For example, that ring on your finger came from my shop!" Ino smiled, lifting up her hand for all to admire her stunning engagement ring- a large diamond set with dazzling blue sapphires, her birth stone. "Well, now I know we're in the right place!" Ino beamed.

"I'll be right back girls, now that I know who you all are, I'll bring out the really good stuff..." Akemi slowly made her way to the back as Ino squealed in delight. While they waited, Sakura eyed the trays before her- antique beaten gold necklaces studded with lapis, silver armbands shaped like snakes biting their tails, dangling earrings dripping with rubies- Sakura sighed. How can everything be so beautiful- Well, except for the snakes of course. I've never seen some of these designs before...they must have come from other countries, or are just really old...

Akemi came hobbling back, dragging a heavy cart behind her.

"Do you need any help?" Sakura called.

"Oh no, I'm just fine my dear. Now, here we are. I've got some very rare pieces to show you. For you, Hinata-chan, I've got some exquisite sets from Uzushiogakure no Sato. My favorite is the sterling silver necklace with pale purple amethyst and iridescent moonstones; it is in a set with matching bangles and earrings. I just love the etched swirls, don't you?" She handed the tray over to Hinata who gasped at their beauty.

"And for you, Ino-chan, oh dearest, you're going to love this!" Akemi smiled and set a tray down before her. "This is a type of traditional jewelry you don't see anymore- recognize the markings?" Ino exhaled, "Hai! It's the symbols for the Yamanaka, Akimichi, and Nara clans! Oooh, and look at this rose gold- what carat is it?"

"36 carat my dear." The shopkeeper replied oh-so-casually. "Notice the workmanship on the carvings- you don't see work like that anymore." Akemi sighed nostalgically as Ino gingerly held up the heavy gold necklace and tried it on.

Akemi turned to Sakura, "Now dearest, I have something for you too!"

"Me! Oh, but I-"

"Now I don't show these to just anybody...I've been saving them for all these years, hiding these lovely pieces like a fugitive. Oh, I'm such a hoarder! Here darling, take a peak."

Sakura gasped as Akemi opened the case-

"These- these all bear the Uchiha crest...why...do you have these?"

The older woman chuckled, "Because my full maiden name is Uchiha Akemi."

a/n please review, and I'll update soon! =^.^=