Drink from Hell
The rest of the wedding rites was executed smoothly with Shikamaru's guidance, doing his role as the master of the ceremony well.
They declared their promises to each other in front of their guests. With just difference in word choices and sentence construction, they basically both promised to support each other's endeavors, to remain faithful, take care of each other (or in Kakashi's words, remind Shirainee to think about herself too), and to console when one of them needs consoling. Their vows were not overly romantic but more realistic and practical.
The declaration of vows was followed by the exchange of nuptial cups where they both had to drink sake from three different size cups (Kakashi almost spilled the first cup because he was very eager).
After a few restrained laughter, over the groom's mishap, Keichi moved forward and handed seven golden coins to Kakashi while Keiji stood between the bride and groom holding a hand-painted ceramic circular box. The seven golden coins represent the seven gods of luck.
Kakashi dropped the coins onto Shirainee's waiting palms, then Shirainee's hands hovered over Kakashi and she dropped the coins back to his hands. She then enclosed Kakashi's hands and together, they dropped the coins into the decorated box that Keiji was holding; careful not to drop any of the coins. This coin ceremony signifies providing financial support and luck to each other.
Naruto went up to the pavilion after and carried the small but heavy metallic chest of sacrifice. Kakashi and Shirainee must each put an item in the chest after explaining the significance and the symbolism behind their sacrificed item. The chest will then be buried under the plum tree seedling that they had to plant before the wedding reception.
Everyone gasped when Kakashi reached behind his neck to take off his mask. They subconsciously moved forward, literally sitting on the edge of their seats, waiting to finally see what was behind his ever-present mask.
"I, Hatake Kakashi, sacrifice my mask, signifying that in front of Shirainee, I am just a man... Not a ninja, not a Hokage. I am her husband and for that, I won't conceal my true self in front of her. I present her with my honesty and vulnerability."
Naruto's eyes widened, and so did everyone's. And as if everyone was seeing Kakashi's act of taking off his mask in slow motion, every guest present could be seen inhaling slowly, barely containing their anticipation. Their reactions varied after Kakashi took off his mask and gently placed it in the chest. Some of them almost fell from their seats; some were like Naruto, who sighed in exasperation; while some reacted like Guy who laughed sarcastically. Sakura rolled her eyes because she had seen this trick before. Underneath her sensei's mask, is another mask.
Shirainee could not help but giggle because of Kakashi's antic. She then reached underneath her wide Kimono overcoat and took something from her obi. She then presented the blue Uzumaki crest brooch to the guests and announced:
"I, Uzumaki Shirainee, sacrifice my surname Uzumaki."
Gasps could be heard on the side of her family. Then sighs of relief followed when no Hotate crest brooch followed.
"I passed the responsibility of continuing the Uzumaki bloodline to Naruto. From this day forth, I am Hatake Kakashi's wife and for that, I want to take his last name. I present him with my new identity, Hatake Shirainee."
To some, it may be the natural thing for a wife to take his husband's last name. Considering the history and current prestige of the surname "Uzumaki" compare to Hatake, some of the guests thought that it would be Kakashi who would be changing his surname*. Also considering the fact that Kakashi is the one moving into the Hotate compound and into the Uzumaki household, some of them expected that legally, at least on paper, Kakashi had to adopt the surname Uzumaki.
Shirainee's parents did something unorthodox when they insisted on keeping their original surname even after marriage. Her mother was the head of the Hotate Clan after all and Shirainee's Uzumaki grandparents insisted on preserving their surname.
Before everyone could ponder more on what would be the effect of Shirainee's decision to the future of the Hotate Clan, Shikamaru asked Hiromi and Lady Tsunade to come forward for the handfasting ceremony. Hiromi moved forward and presented a woven cord made out of colorful threads that the couple chose themselves. Each color represents something they wish for their marriage: red for love and strength; blue for loyalty; yellow for happiness; gold for prosperity; brown for longevity; and gray for reliability and security.
The previous Hokage tied the end of the string into a knot around Kakashi's left ring finger, enclosed both their wrists into a loose infinite loop, before tying the other end around Shirainee's left ring finger.
"Now that you are united by the marital string of fate and wishes, I want to request Lord Yuuki and Lady Michiko to remove and transfer the marital string to the chest of sacrifice.
Granting Shikamaru's request, a couple from the Hotate Clan moved forward and carefully remove the string without untangling it, and finally gently rested it atop the other things in the chest. Shikamaru then soundly closed the chest.
"Your fates are now sealed and can never be undone. On this day, Lord Kakashi Hatake had sacrificed his vulnerability to his wife; Lady Shirainee Uzumaki had sacrificed his maiden name and will be known as Lady Shirainee Hatake from this day forth. Finally, they both sacrificed their singlehood and like the marital string of fate and wishes, their destinies are intertwined and cannot be disentangled."
Most of the guests' eyes were teary after witnessing the symbolic wedding rituals. Weddings in the Fire Country is not usually this elaborate. Some even just opted to just register their marriage without any ceremony. As they witnessed these rites foreign to them, their chests were overwhelmed with emotions after the Master of Ceremony explained the symbolism behind each rite.
Before Hiromi and Hiroki ushered the guests to the glass garden located beyond the moon arch gate, Shirainee and Kakashi approached the portrait of their late family members. They paid their respects by praying and bowing to each portrait.
Yondaime-sama, Uncle... I will try my best to stand beside Kakashi and protect the will of Fire of the villagers.
Mother, Father, Rin, Obito, I will try to fill the void you had left and to lessen Kakashi's loneliness.
Kakashi then carried the chest of sacrifice to the spot where they will plant a Plum blossoms seedling. Someone had already dug out a spot for their tree and chest. While they were busy adding their tree in the Plum Blossom lane, their family members ushered their guests to the wedding reception hall.
"Hokage-sama," Konohamaru enthusiastically called out after they finished planting. "Hold your position please."
Konohamaru looked at his friends and pointed the mature tree beside the newlyweds. "Udon, shake that branch a bit while I record the video. Moegi, make sure you photograph them beautifully. Make sure to optimize the natural light and the background. Shirainee no nee-chan, look at the Kakashi-sama warmly. Pretend you are very happy to marry him."
"Oi Konohamaru! What do you mean pretend? She is happy she married me."
After the short photoshoot by the Plum Blossom Lane Kakashi accompanied Shirainee in one of the changing rooms where she took off one of the robes she was wearing. Yuriko, Yumiko, and Hiromi assisted her. She turned her kimono outer robe inside out, showing the colorful side.
They went inside the reception hall where they welcomed by their guests cheering.
Shirainee and her cousin opened the banquet with a musical number. The Kei brothers and Hiro siblings played different percussion instruments; the Yu sisters played the shamisen (three-stringed musical instrument); while two of Shirainee's clones played flute and koto (instruments similar to guzheng and gayageum).
When the song reached its climax, Shirainee stood in the center and opened her folded fan. There was a brief silence. She fanned her palm and the petals enclosed in her fist dramatically scattered. The song continues with Shirainee dancing and singing...
If I wait for spring to explore the world, how would I know?
How would I know if I am strong enough, brave enough to face the harsh winter
Kakashi heard Shirainee's maternal relatives chorused sniffling and almost simultaneous wiping of tears... He was taken aback and confused by what was happening, and so were their other guests.
Shirainee flicked her fan gracefully and twirled elegantly with a sad smile on her face. She briefly paused her movement before she continued singing but this time, her teary relatives joined in on the song.
If I wait for spring to face the frigid and cruel wind, how would I know?
How would I know if I will sway or stand tall through it all... through it all...
Shirainee flicked her fan one last time, closed it, and bowed her head in sync with her cousins and clones playing the instruments. The crowd was silent. Some were moved to tears, others were in awe but confused with the bride's relatives' sadness.
"Shinatomo-sama composed this song."
"The main Hotate family was bigger then."
"This song used to sound more impressive with many members doing the accompaniment."
"Now it's only youngsters performing this song."
Kakashi deduced the explanation behind the emotional reception of the opening performance. This song must be the standard opening songs during weddings. Based on the verses of the song, the thoughts of Plum Blossoms are personified. As a symbol of hope and perseverance, Plum tree's flowers start to bloom despite the winter chill.
He could only imagine how melancholic this performance was compared to the once joyful rendition of the song that conveys strength and hope.
The wistful mood was broken by Lord Bee's enthusiastic clapping.
"Bravo! Bravo! That is a great musical number yo, yo, yo! Now let's break the sake barrel, sing a happy carol. Yaaaa-hooo! Ah ah yeah! Break it down..."
Lady Tsunade seconded him and exclaimed, "Yeah! Break that sake barrel lid down!**"
Everyone started lining up to the buffet table and the sake was served to everyone legal to drink.
Gaara eyed the sake served to the other kages and sighed. Ironic that he was old enough to kill enemies but not legal to drink.
Shikamaru resumed his responsibilities as the Master of Ceremony and called everyone's attention after some time. Everyone had eaten to their heart's content so the guests were in a jovial mood.
"I am sure, you are all looking forward to eating a slice of the wedding cake. Let us now request our bride and groom for the cake cutting.
The newlyweds cut the cake and transferred it to a saucer. They both fed each other, symbolizing their sweet love and affection.
"While our honored guests savor the cake, let us listen to our bride and groom's well-wishers as they offer toasts and deliver their speeches.
Dozens of toasts were made for the newlyweds. By the fifth well-wisher, Shirainee and Kakashi started faking sips from their sake cups. With the long queue of people wanting to offer them toasts, they would be too drunk to close the reception. What touched Kakashi the most was Naruto's speech.
"Aahh- ano... Kakashi-sensei has never had a girlfriend before. I guess he thought that falling in love is foolish. That was why my friends and I tried to stir away nee-chan from sensei."
Kakashi eyed Naruto intently then scanned the crowd for his friends. They all looked slightly uncomfortable at the mention of what they did in the past. That gave clarity to Naruto and his friends' treatment to him.
"As you all can see, we failed. Who can beat the Hokage anyway? We observed how Kakashi-sensei developed feelings for nee-chan. I cannot blame him since we Uzumakis are an irresistible lot." That line earned both jeers and cheers from the listeners.
"Sai figured out Kakashi-sensei, rokudaime, Hokage-sensei..." Naruto seemed to have drifted from the point he was trying to make. "Anyway, that man over there, his feelings for onee-chan was confirmed by Sai before that groom did."
An already drunk Tsunade shouted, "Kakashi-baaaakkkkaaa!" which made the crowd burst into laughter again.
"To Kakashi-sensei and Shirainee onee-chan: may your marriage be..." Naruto looked at Sai who was holding a huge paper that served as his prompter, "May your marriage be productive and strong."
"Alright! My rival will use his youthful energy and make a bunch of babies!" Guy ended his exclamation with his signature "nice guy pose".
Sensei's pose... doesn't that serve as a seal to a promise?
Lee's eyes glinted with determination. Though he cannot personally ensure that Kakashi will follow through the act of providing a bunch of babies, he can help by helping the Hokage with his tasks so he can have enough time and energy to fulfill his sensei's declaration.
After everyone had delivered their speeches and wishes for the couple, Kei brothers carried a short narrow table with two teapots, two kettles, a bowl, and a saucer with tea leaves placed at both ends. Shirainee and Kakashi stood and poured tea leaves and hot water in the pot simultaneously. They stood motionlessly for two minutes, just staring at each other with slight flirtation in their eyes. They then poured the tea in the cup at their side, moved towards the center of the table and exchanged cups.
Pouring the tea for each other denotes mutual respect and serving each other tea means harmony and contentment in their match. They faced their guests and bowed formally before downing their tea. They went back to their seats and waited for Guy and his students to finish their preparation for the closing number.
Guy opened his dojo months ago and earned a decent number of followers. Nowadays, it is not uncommon to see a ninja clad in a tight green bodysuit walking around the village.
"I offer this lively taiko performance to the bride and groom. To their youthful and vigorous married life!"
"Youthful and vigorous!" Everyone cheered in response to Guy.
Shirainee felt a drop of sweat slid down her back.
"The night is unusually hot, right?" Shirainee asked her husband.
"Hai."
He adjusted his kimono, seeking comfort. Shirainee fanned herself as well, loosening her kimono's collar to let in some cool air. Kakashi gulped as he got a glimpse of her delightful clavicle bone and what was below. He also could not help but notice Shirainee's fair and smooth exposed nape.
Their attention was called by Guy, who together with the young ninjas from his dojo, started a drum performance. And for some reason, all the drumming makes him feel worse. He turned to his wife who kept on adjusting her kimono. The view made him swallow and breathe hard.
What the hell is happening to us?
He heard Shirainee cursed. She was eyeing the teacups on the table that was moved on the side of the platform. She discretely cast a water clone and her clone took the teacups and sniffed the contents.
"Whoever's idea is this should die a painful death!"
"What's wrong?" he asked sounding worried.
"They put something in our tea!"
"What is it?"
His question made Shirainee blush.
With every beat of the drum, his heartbeat also intensified.
"What is happening to us?" He voiced out his nagging thought in a panicked voice.
"You served me tea with fertility potion and I served you ah-aphrodisiac."
"NANI?!" Kakashi tried to remain composed though most of the guests' attention was with Guy and his students anyway.
"It would only get worse. The side effects of the two are sort of the same. We will feel hotter and you, if you won't do anything to alleviate ah-ahm... whatever your feeling, may even suffer from dizziness or worse, hallucination."
Kakashi, after digesting what his dear winter well said, agreed with her prior statement.
They should die a painful death indeed.
A/N: * The groom can adopt his wife's surname and "May take place in marriages where the woman's family is of a higher socioeconomic rank than the man's family, where the woman has no brothers to be the heir to the family name, when the man has been disowned by his own family, or when the man's natural family comes from a notorious or shameful background and he thus prefers to hide his identity"(Wikipedia).
** Kagami-biraki is a ceremony performed at celebratory events in which the lid of the sake barrel is broken open by a wooden mallet and the sake is served to everyone present. Kagami refers to the lid of the sake barrel and biraki means "to open" so kagami-biraki literally means "opening the lid." Because of the lid's round shape, the kagami is a symbol of harmony. The kagami-biraki, therefore, represents an opening to harmony and good fortune.