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Day Twenty Six: Getting Married

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Even in the darkness, she hit the bullseye.

She sat in the centre of her team's old training grounds, unable to sleep. Her brown eyes are drowsy, but everytime she closed them, they couldn't stay closed. Her hair stick out in multiple directions, falling out of her buns. She was weary, and anxious for the events to come tomorrow.

"Tenten?" the voice asked, from out of the shadows.

She turned her head, and looked at the man. "Oh. Hey Neji."

He grimaced at her pajama clad appearance. "What are you doing?"

She stood up and approached him. "I couldn't sleep, so I thought a little training might do me some good."

"At three in the morning?" He asked her, embracing her softly.

She grimaced slightly.

"I know your scared," he whispered, loses ing her hair out of her buns, "but there is nothing to be afraid of."

Tenten hugged him tightly. "I... I don't know Neji. I'm..."

"Having second thoughts?" he asked stoically, while in his heart, those three words left a crack.

She shook her head, looking up at him and kissing him. "Never. It's just... This is a big step. It's..."

"I can wait for you."

She was caught by surprise at his words of promise. "You... You would, wouldn't you?"

He nodded, capturing her lips into a sweet kiss. "Forever."

And she felt her decision was the right one. "Wanna spar?"

...

Temari was frantic as she oversaw the final preparations of the cuisine, final touches of the cake, and the designs of the dining area. In charge of the reception, she was freaking the freak out. She kept tweaking every little thing, moving them sideways, having her teammates and Hinata's teammates move around little things. Shino had to have his bugs go up into the chandeliers and tweak the silk decorations hanging there every ten minutes.

Sakura on the other hand was fussing over the church and its positions. The girl was assigned the task of getting the church and such fit just right. She was currently screaming into her cell phone about the performer for after the wedding arriving on time, and was looking over the places and seating arrangements in the pews for those attending the wedding. Naruto and Sai were running all over the place looking for whatever she asked for, and Sasuke had the job of carrying the multiple heavy books she hauled around everywhere she went.

And Ino was worrying about everything in general, aesthetic-wise. She was the head of decoration in both the reception and the church, whilst also fixing up the hall they were to have the champagne hour in. She kept having Shikamaru and Choji change up the decor slightly every two minutes. The arrangements of the ribbons and table clothes weren't quite perfect, the flowers looked good, but not perfect quite yet, and the colours were just... ARGH!

But the girl with the biggest job was Hinata. she was the executive planner, and maid of honour in their friend's marriage that afternoon. She had to worry about all three parts, all the decor, made sure everyone did the right job, and she even utilised her byukugan to get the job done right.

Finally, five hours before the wedding, the four kunoichi met up, saying that it was finally all perfect. They had Hinata's sensei Kurenai make sure nothing gets messed up, and Anko scare all those doing something to get them done right.

"Girls," Temari mumble woozily, "I have been through a lot of things as a kunoichi and the Kazekage's sister, but planning a wedding is by FAR the hardest thing I've ever had to do."

Sakura's hands moved around as she tiredly said, "This girl, she owes us. After she gets her ass back from her honeymoon, all five of us are going to those new hot springs to unwind for a couple weeks."

Hinata giggled. "If we can only tear her away from her husband at that point in time."

Ino exclaimed, "Oh we will. Even if we have to bring Hyuuga Neji in all his glory to the hot springs with us!"

"Amen!" Temari said, taking a sip of soda.

Suddenly, Lee appeared with Sasuke at the doorway. "Hinata-san."

The female looked at the boy with a glare that put him to shame. "What do you want?"

The two men looked at each other, then Sasuke said, "We're gonna get Neji ready, when are all you gonna dress up the bride?"

All five women screeched. "TENTEN!"

...

"Hime," whispered Sakura, gently waking the woman. They all knew that the previous night, she hasn't gotten much sleep.

"Mmm... Neji? Is that you?"

"No, it's me, Sakura. It's time to get ready, Heaven-hime. Time to get married."

"No, no Sakura..." the girl moaned unconsciously,"I can't marry you... I'm marrying Neji..."

Hinata giggled. "That's what she meant, Hime. Get up."

Tenten finally opened her eyes to see two blondes looking her intently in the face.

"Temari? Ino?" she sat up, then saw the pinkette and indigo haired women seated on the small couch in her room.

"What are you all doing in my room? Is there a miss...mission..." she trailed off, eyes softening, lips curling up into a smile. "So... It's really happening, huh? Me and Neji?"

They all nodded. She understood.

Temari stood first. "Time to go, Heaven-hime."

...

"So, Neji." Sasuke said, leaning on the dresser in his room. "This is it."

Lee was oddly calm. "You and Tenten, finally, after, what, ten years?"

Neji smiled. "Yeah, well," he sighed, "it's a big deal, I guess. I'm surprised Hiashi actually said yes. I guess it was all thanks to Hinata and Hanabi."

Sasuke cleared his throat. "Dude, they threatened to switch their names to 'Uchiha' for you to get married, I deserve some sort of-"

"Alright, Sasuke-kun, relax. He's getting married." Lee joked.

And as Lee looked at Neji, he found this light in his eye that he'd never seen in Neji before.

'This Neji,' Lee thought, 'is a new man.'

...

"All rise for the bride."

The beauty that was to be Hyuuga Tenten stepped elegantly down the red carpet, dress flowing, train held by the daughters of Ranmaru, a boy who could've very well been Tenten's brother. Walking her down was a sobered up Maito Gai, in a sleek black tuxedo with a green tie, to match that of the best man.

She was beautifull. She cast off this unearthly glow, and she looked like her name really was "Heaven-hime" like her friends nicknamed her to be.

Her dress was pure white, it matched the color of Neji's eyes perfectly, with that very mild tint of lavender. It was an elegant mermaid, tight and hugging her curves around the top, and flaring out around the base. It had a crumb-catcher neckline, very modest on her bust but still showing off just enough. The dress had designs winding up the bodice of her dress in the shapes of dragons, like her soshoryu. The flare at the bottom had a long train, symbolising her long journey as a kunoichi, and as Neji's lover.

The kunoichi had snuck a few weapons within several areas, saying that she could never be prepared. One of those areas was in her elegant hairdo, in the form of a senbon acting as a hair decoration. Her hair was in a single bun, tendrils of her chocolate silk hair falling gently around her face, framing it softly.

Time stilled as Neji faced his bride, and his breath catched. Tears sprung to his eyes as he thought about him marrying this beautiful, strong woman. Of him loving her with all his heart. Of her feeling the same.

When Gai looked his student in the eyes, he was almost crying when he said, "Tenten-chan, I am proud of you. You have grown to be a strong kunoichi, and a beautiful woman. I know Neji knows how lucky he really is, and, as your father figure, I hope for the best for you."

Maito Gai nodded at his other student, unable to form words any longer.

She hugged him tightly, almost crying herself. Then, she went to Neji.

She whispered to him, "Let's do it."

He offered his hand. "Let's."

"Dearly beloved..."