A/N: Last chapter! I can't tell you guys how much this means to me. I have been trying and failing to write this story over five years, until I finally succeed.
Enjoy the long chapter!
Flowers In Your Hair
And I will love with urgency but not with haste
One month later...
"What do you think of this?" asked Ino, finishing the elegant knot at Sakura's nape.
They were currently at Sakura's apartment in front of Sakura's vanity mirror, trying out hairstyles for the wedding. The apartment in itself looked as if a tornado had run through it: there were boxes strewn about and every drawer seemed to have been emptied. Sakura was in the middle of moving because her and Kakashi's house had been finished recently. She had even begged Ino to push the wedding back a month, so they could finish moving into their home before the wedding. Ino had eventually agreed with a lot of fussing. In fact, the invitations had been sent out about a week ago now.
Kakashi was currently in the living room, dozing on the couch after Ino had shooed him away from the room.
Sakura envied him: while she would have to spend at least an a couple hours on the wedding day getting ready, all Kakashi had to do was don a suit and slick his hair back in a jiffy.
"I like it," Sakura said genially.
Ino rolled her eyes, exasperated. "That's what you said about the last five!"
"...because I liked the last five styles too."
"Ugh, you're hopeless." She studied Sakura again, probably thinking of the next hairstyle she would try. "This will probably be easier when we actually pick your dress next week."
Ino had made an appointment the following day with who she said was the most revered fashion designer in the whole village. Hinata, Tenten, and Shizune had graciously invited themselves along for the appointment once they had found out. Sakura didn't mind, though, she was actually going to rely on them to tell her what looked good on her and what didn't.
Ino suddenly clapped her hands in excitement, "Oh, I know—"
Kakashi appeared at the door, interrupting Ino. He had a particularly troubled look about him.
"Kakashi-sensei—"
"I know, I know, Ino. I'm sorry, but, ah, Sakura, well, your mother's here. She said she would like to speak with you."
Sakura froze, then abruptly thawed due to the anger coursing through her body, remembering how the last encounter with her mother had gone. She was half-tempted to ask Kakashi to flat-out ask her to leave because she didn't want to speak with her.
Ino looked at her nervously and Kakashi asked, "Do you want me to ask her to leave?"
Sakura bit her lip, thinking. She hadn't seen her mother in over five months…
Sakura shook her head, decided. "No, it's okay. I'll talk to her."
As she made her way out of her bedroom, Ino whispered fiercely, "I got your back, Forehead! If you need my help just say so, I'll be in here! Okay?"
Sakura nodded absently, following Kakashi and leaving the door to her bedroom cracked just a smidge. She turned back to see one of Ino's big blue eyes peering through the crack.
Sakura turned back to see her mother standing just inside the doorway. Surprisingly, Kitty, her stepsister, was there too. She waved happily at her. "Hey, sis!" Before sobering at their mother's expression.
Her mother, for that matter, did not look angry at all.
Sakura was wary, though, and angry herself still. Her mother's harsh words were still fresh in Sakura's mind, no matter that a few months had passed since. "What do you want?" Sakura asked, a bit unkindly. She crossed her arms defensively. "If you're just here to shout at me again, then please leave. I have too many things to do for you to ruin my day." Kakashi stayed right next to her, her unwavering pillar in case she needed him.
"I-no, Sakura," her mother said. Her eyes were red, as if she'd been crying. That couldn't be right, Sakura thought, what would she have to cry about besides her inadequacy as a mother—?
Ohh, holy, shit! She thought as her mother started crying.
Heavy remorse entered her mother's gaze as she looked at Sakura. "Sakura, my daughter, I'm so s-sorry. P-please, forgive me."
Astonished, Sakura could only stare at her mother with wide eyes, as she continued.
"I've been cruel and unreasonable and a horrible m-mother. I cannot imagine what I've put you through all these years. I-I should have supported you instead of pushing you away constantly because of my selfish desires for your life. Once I realized that you had gotten married, that you were going to get married here, I couldn't stand the fact of not being there, of, kami forbid, not being able to meet any children that you two might have. My grandchildren...and then I realized how happy you two are, and how I have no right to question that or interfere."
She paused, allowing Sakura some room for thinking. She was utterly and completely bewildered. "I-I don't know what to say."
"Please say you'll forgive me," her mother pleaded. "I would like to help with the wedding."
"...and father?"
"I'm divorcing your father, Sakura." Her mother sighed tiredly, wiping away a few tears. "I married him when I was very young and impressionable. You were around six actually, and he was dashing and worldly. And he promised to take over the running of the company which I never wanted to do and so...I fell. I honestly fell out of love with him a long time ago, but I've never been good at being alone, Sakura, so I was afraid to leave him. You gave me the courage though. After our last conversation—" if you could call it that, Sakura thought fleetingly, "—I was so sad after what you told me. I love you and I lamented the fact that I made you feel as if you thought I would ever want to forget I had such an amazing daughter." She then turned to Kakashi and, well, wasn't it just a big day for surprises, she bowed and said humbly, "Hatake-San, I would like to express my deepest apologies to you as well, for my unkind words last time we met. I assure you, I did not mean them in the slightest, I was only speaking in anger."
Kakashi cleared his throat awkwardly. "Ah, it's fine, Haruno-San. No need to apologize."
"No, no. I insist."
"Um, no worries, then. All is forgiven."
Her mother smiled serenely. Then turned worryingly to Sakura. "Sakura, honey?"
Sakura knew that she could throw in her mother's face all of the terrible things she had said or done to her, but the time for resentment was over. Her mother had come here and asked for a fresh start which had begun with an apology. Sakura knew that it would take time for their relationship to grow healthy again because she couldn't quite yet forget, but she was willing to build that trust again. Her mother looked at her with wide, expectant eyes. "I-yes, mom, okay."
Her mother smiled in relief. She, somewhat awkwardly, grabbed Sakura's hands and kissed her on the forehead, right on her seal. "Thank you, Sakura." She grabbed Kakashi's hand, while still holding on to Sakura's left. "Congratulations on your wedding. I am correct, right, that you are already married?"
Sakura nodded, throwing Kakashi a quick smile. "We got married in Shimoda just over a month ago."
"Oh, that's good! I'm sorry I wasn't there, it must have been lovely."
"Um, actually, nobody was there, it was just me and Kakashi. That's why Ino insisted that we have another wedding here with our friends and family." Ino, in fact, had wandered into the living room now that things seemed to be going amiably.
"Yes, I saw the invitation you sent you grandmother. It was beautiful. I didn't know you had an eye for wedding planning. What can I help with?"
Kitty clapped gleefully, finally making herself known after the drama subsided. "Yay! I want to help too!"
"Um, actually, Ino has been taking care of all the arrangements, so I don't really know…" she tailed off, looking to Ino for orders.
Ino, for that matter, was looking down her nose at her mother, somewhat standoffish. She was no doubt remembering how abhorrently her mother had treated her at times. "Well, there's not much for you to do," she said a bit coldly.
"I could buy the dress?" her mother offered.
"Tsunade-shishou is buying my dress."
"The flowers?"
"I'm providing the flowers from my family's shop. It's my wedding gift to Sakura," Ino stated, then took pity on her mother. "I'm sure we can find something for you to do."
Her mother nodded eagerly, then looking around, asked. "Sakura why are all of your things in boxes."
"We're in the middle of moving to our new house…I'll take you to see it if you'd like?"
"I would love to."
She offered her mother a drink which she accepted and while she was trying to make light, yet awkward, conversation with Kakashi, Sakura approached Kitty.
"Hey, Kitty, so are you okay? I mean, with everything that's happening with mom and dad?"
Kitty looked down at her drink and then said with more maturity that Sakura knew she was capable of, "Sakura, I think it's for the best, actually. Mom and dad have been fighting a lot recently and it's making a lot of people unhappy."
"So, why aren't you with dad right now?"
"'Cause he's really grumpy right now, and I don't want to leave mom. I think I'll stay with her." Like Sakura had with her father, Kitty and Kasumi had grown up with her mother as their primary maternal figure, especially Kitty, who had been but a baby when their parents had married. "Kasumi says she's gonna stay with dad, but I think she'll change her mind, especially once she realizes that dad's not gonna get a penny of mom's money." She giggled.
Ah, good old Kitty.
She was right, though, her mother had had her lawyer draw up a prenup before her and her father had married.
Later in the night, when Ino, her mother, and Kitty had left Kakshi asked Sakura as they were preparing to go to sleep. "Is your mother going to be okay?"
Confused because she was sure that he wasn't asking about her mental state, Sakura asked, "How do you mean?"
"Since she's divorcing you father, I mean. I'd she going to be okay financially?"
Sakura threw back her head and laughed. "Didn't I ever tell you?"
Kakashi shook his head bemusedly.
"All the money's my mom's. The company is owned on my mother's side of the family."
"Oh. So she's more than okay."
"Yup! She's positively loaded!"
…
Sasuke, Naruto, Sai, and Yamato had surprised her at her house one week before the wedding with a birthday cake for her 23rd birthday. It was the first day she and Kakashi were officially moved in, actually. She honestly hadn't been expecting anything besides the quick kiss Kakashi had given her in the morning before he had left, promising to cook something special for her later (she had been overjoyed when Kakashi's fondness for cooking had come to light). Her mother had also promised to take her out for dinner, and Ino had mentioned drinks, too.
She was honestly surprised those four had remembered her birthday.
Just as Sakura had been handing out slices of cake, Kakashi came home, sliding aside the shogi door to step inside the kitchen.
Sakura offered a piece of cake, which he gladly accepted.
They all sat down at the table, except Kakashi who had gone to go wash his hands. They made light chatter while munching on the sweet cake.
Kakashi returned, sat at the table and lowered his mask, preparing to enjoy his cake.
"Thanks, you guys," Sakura said appreciatively. "This is really good!" The topping was her favorite whipped icing.
'Yeah, no problem''s and 'you're welcome''s answered her back.
Sakura turned back to Kakashi, "Oh, Ino said that you have to pick up your tux from the shop tomorrow."
"Did she say what time?" Kakashi asked, popping another piece of cake into his mouth.
Sakura shook her head, "No, I think you can go whenever."
Sakura went back to her delicious cake then, and she was so completely engrossed eating it that she didn't realize something was amiss until she heard a fork clatter on a plate.
Sakura looked up to find Naruto, Sai, Yamato, and Sasuke blatantly staring at Kakashi with open-mouths. Sakura did a double-take in Sasuke's and Sai's case because she couldn't remember a time when she had seen such raw emotion on their faces.
"What's wrong?!" Sakura asked, alarmed. Was Kakashi on fire? Did one of Kakashi's limbs get chopped off and she hadn't noticed yet?
Sakura looked quickly at Kakashi and studied him…he looked completely fine.
It took her a minute.
"I-oh my—you're such a drama queen, Kakashi! I bet you planned this, didn't you?" She was so used to it by now, she hadn't even noticed!
Kakashi neither confirmed nor denied the fact. He grinned at her, a dashing grin that was toothy and showed off his slightly longer than normal canines. It was the smile that made her knees go weak and he knew it. Everyone else in the room didn't have to know that, though.
She heard Yamato lightly choking.
A large crumb of cake was threatening to fall out of Naruto's gaping mouth.
Sakura rolled her eyes and finished her last bite of cake. They were going to need a minute to absorb Kakahsi's epic face.
"I-y-you. Face!" Naruto spluttered incoherently.
Sakura lowered her fork and placed her hand on her cheek, gazing adoringly at Kakashi. "Isn't it everything you'd thought it'd be? And more?"
Sasuke recovered first. "It's not that great," he said grumpily—well, more grumpily in Sasuke's case. Sakura noticed that he was very pointedly not looking at Kakashi, instead staring hard at the table.
Oh, he was so jealous!
"Very aesthetically pleasing," Sai noted in a hushed voice, dark eyes wide. "Can I draw you?"
Kakashi was looking a bit uncomfortable now. Pink was starting to creep up the collar of his shirt. "Ah, I would prefer you did not."
"Why do you hide that under a mask?" Naruto said, still trying to get over the shellshock effect of Kakashi's face.
Sakura promptly reached over and slid Kakashi's mask back on. "That's enough for one day," she chimed in. She liked being the only one with special viewing privileges to Kakashi's face. She didn't need anyone else to join that group.
Kakashi shot her a small smile, telling her that he knew exactly what she was thinking.
…
One week later…
It was the wedding day.
And Kakashi was so fucking nervous.
When Ino had offered (demanded) to throw a wedding, Kakashi hadn't thought much of it. He had thought it no big deal, especially since Sakura's loud friend would take care of all of the details.
He really should have expected this, though. Kakashi wasn't one for crowds, especially crowds who were looking at him.
Gai, oblivious to his inner debacle, dusted off a nonexistent piece of dust off of his black jacket and gave him a once-over. He had forgone any type of eyewear over his sharingan and instead decided to just close his lid over the red eye.
A couple months ago, Gai had boisterously challenged Yamato to a contest of arms in order to ascertain who would be Kakashi's Best Man. Yamato had, very smartly and graciously, conceded to Gai, turning to Kakashi with a frightened look upon his face as he apologized.
Kakashi hadn't minded: their silly (non) duel had saved him the trouble of having to pick between the two, actually.
Now, he was in the groom's waiting dressing room in the lovely wooden villa Ino had chosen as their wedding venue, surrounded by Gai, Yamato, and Genma.
Yamato had seemed to be the only one to catch on to his mood. He shoved a dainty glass of champagne into his hand. Kakashi just clutched it tightly.
"Yes," Genma said, holding his own glass, "some liquid courage before your bachelor life comes to a bitter end."
"We're already married, Genma," Kakashi reminded in a clipped voice due to his nerves. "And I wanted to marry her because I like spending time with her."
"Yeah, yeah, sure, sure. Don't get snippy. It's your wedding day!" Then Genma said under his breath. "Although, why someone would want to marry you, especially sweet Sakura, is a mystery to me."
Kakashi had to sigh and agree with him on that one. Even though they had been married for two months already, he was still expecting Sakura to come to her senses, say "do you know what? I think I made a big mistake here, actually. You're quite insufferable, really" and take off sprinting.
"Nonsense!" Gai boomed. "On today's most youthful occasion, nothing but positivity will be allowed!"
Kakashi sighed again.
He was grateful for their presence, though. Even if it just served as a distraction.
Then he thought about how half of Konoha was sitting just outside, waiting to watch him for about two hours straight.
More than a year ago, when his and Sakura's relationship had come to light, he had been expecting not so positive remarks from his friends and colleagues, but all they really did was take a collective pause, say "ah" in an unsurprised tone and move on with their lives.
It had been quite refreshing, actually. And now all those friends and colleagues were outside...
He gazed at his champagne, chugged it quickly while no one was paying attention, and set it down with a decisive thud on the table. "I'm ready!" he proclaimed.
"Senpai, you have to wait for Ino to give the say-so."
Oh, yeah…
Just then, Ino burst in wearing a tight-fitting, golden dress that went down past her knees. "Okay, Kakashi-sensei! We're ready for you!" She practically did a jig in place, squirming about and excitedly clutching her hands before her. "Oh, just wait until you see Sakura! You're going to shit yourself!"
He rather hoped not. Would rather put a damper on things.
Feeling as if his legs had turned to wood, Kakashi followed her stiffly out. Gai, Yamato, and Genma followed.
Oh dear, all those faces…
Kakashi stared firmly ahead of him and kept walking, keeping his mind on the one task at hand: arrive at the altar. He never would have thought that he would be utilizing his shinobi training for something such as this.
He distantly noticed Yamato and Gai taking their seats while Gai followed him to the altar, making thumbs-up motions at everyone unfortunate enough to catch his eye.
Mission completed.
He was at the altar. He fixed his gaze on a nearby tree and kept it there. He could just feel all the stares on him.
A few grueling minutes later, his intense tree-staring was interrupted by Sakura's mother hurrying down the aisle. She caught this eye, and gave him a small smile and a thumbs-up while taking her seat at the front row.
He took another deep breath. Here we go.
Light, melodious music started while Ino, Tenten, Hinata and Sakura's younger sister, Kitty, filed out in matching golden dresses, each holding a bouquet of flowers.
Then Naruto, arm in arm with his...Sakura.
He really shouldn't have been worried at all about everyone staring at him for the rest of the day.
...
She had awoken to a sunny, temperate day at Ino's home that morning. She thought of the venue that Ino had picked, open to the sky with the blossoming cherry trees: the lovely wooden pillars that blended into benches that looked as if nature had crafted herself, and thought how very pleasant everything would look in the vibrant summer day.
Since she had awoken though, Ino had had her on a very strict schedule. After a quick breakfast at Ino's—only at Ino's because Ino had insisted that the bride and groom could not see each other before the wedding day—they had travelled to the venu so Ino could begin prepping Sakura.
And what a prepping it was! Ino had started with a tedious exfoliating regime, and while Sakura herself exfoliated regularly, she was laughably unaware of how thorough one could be with the process.
Then her hair was next. It was the most simplistic thing really, compared to everything else Ino did to her: all she had done was add some product to it and blow dried it to give her a wavy, silky, windswept look. Ino had decided a month ago that instead of a complicated hairdo, she would just do this and place a delicate, but lovely flower crown on Sakura.
Her makeup followed. Ino had stuck to a more natural look, emphasizing around her eyes with exquisite strokes of her brush to make her eyes, and the color, pop. Her lips she had covered with a more neutral reddish matte.
Then her dress...her dress wasn't half bad, if she did say so herself. She had loved it immediately when she had gone to go pick it out with her entourage almost a month ago. It cost a small fortune, but Tsunade had agreed to let her mother pay for half of it, once she realized how much the gesture would mean for her mother who was still trying very hard to fix her relationship with Sakura.
The bodice was a long-sleeved tight-fitting, almost corset-like, chiffon. The front had a square neckline and had small, delicately embroidered flowers running down in a curling pattern. The dress itself was not quite white if you started at it for too long, but a rich cream color. The train was moderate in length and was also embroidered with curling flowers. Her shoes were soft, silk slippers that matched her dress. She wasn't very fond of high-heels.
At around one in the afternoon, she was ready to go. She examined herself in the mirror and, well, not bad.
"Okay, she's ready!" Ino proclaimed proudly, walking out of the large bathroom/dressing room that she had gotten Sakura ready in after having come back in and adding a few finishing touches. She hadn't let anyone else in to see Sakura since she had started working on her.
Sakura followed her out, trying not to trip over her hem. Oh! She almost forgot! She grabbed the object sitting on the sink counter and hastily stuffed it down her dress before Ino could see.
She emerged into a room full of people waiting expectantly for her—Kitty had just finished flitting around, gently placing flower crowns on Naruto, Sai, and Sasuke for no apparent reason other than she wanted to.
Hinata, Tenten, her mother and Kitty sighed wistfully when they saw her with proclamations of how lovely she looked.
Tsunade grinned and gave an appreciative nod.
Naruto, who had been lazing in his black suit, jumped up like something had bitten him in the ass and gazed at her.
Sasuke and Sai were there as well. They both had slack-jawed looks about them, too.
Sakura shrugged self-consciously, as if to say "this is as good as it gets" and blushed from all of the attention. If she thought this was intimidating, she had another thing coming when she stepped outside of this room, she knew.
She wasn't very worried, though. Her and Kakashi had had their private and very personal wedding a few months ago—this was for her friends and family to enjoy now. If they had not had the wedding for just the two of them already, this affair might have been a bit more nerve-wracking because it would have included all of the intimacy of the first one.
Naruto stood and made his way over to her, clasping her hands. "Sakura-chan, you look beautiful!" he said sincerely. He then groused to himself, "Lucky old bastard!"
She was pushed aside by Sai who said, "There's nothing ugly about you today." He kissed her on the cheek before withdrawing. Nicest thing he had ever said to her.
Sasuke came next, he only smiled slightly at her and gave her another quick kiss like Sai had. Was he thinking of their conversation all those months ago when he had offered to share his life with her?
He looked one more at her with his dark eyes, thoughts unfathomable, then stepped back.
Her mother stepped up. "Okay, you two boys better get to your seats now! We're about to start! I'll follow in a minute." Sasuke and Sai followed her instruction and filed out.
Tsunade came up to her and placed a warm hand on her head and patted her gently
"Careful with my masterpiece, Hokage-sama!" Ino barked.
Tsunade just rolled her eyes and carefully withdrew her hand.
Her mother then turned to her. "Sakura, you look absolutely beautiful. Hatake-San is a very lucky man." She kissed her forehead affectionately. Sakura saw the start of happy tears in her eyes before she too left with Tsunade.
Tenten whooped and started to form the line. "Let's do this!"
Naruto offered his arm. "Ready?"
Sakura smiled confidently, taking his arm. "Yes."
Ino, leading Hinata, Tenten, and Kitty, filed out first. Sakura waited and counted to five like Ino had told her to, then followed, Naruto steadily guiding her.
They emerged onto a gently winding path that turned a corner to reveal a longer, straight path, littered with Sakura blossoms leading to the wooden altar decorated with ribbon on the pillars and across.
A collective sigh escaped the crowd as Sakura appeared, making her blush again.
She passed a sea of faces. There was Grandmama, sitting next to her mother. Shizune, Chouji, Shikamaru, Shino, Rock Lee, Mino, Gaara, Kurenai—everyone and their mother, basically.
And finally...her Kakashi. Sakura's heart fluttered. So handsome. He donned a sleek black suit, nicely enhancing his sweet musculature, black matching mask, and his hair slightly slicked back
They caught each other's eye and each gave each other a megawatt smile. Their joy was palpable in the gesture.
She saw Gai-sensei elbow Kakashi's side with a signature Gai grin.
When Sakura reached the altar, Naruto handed her over proudly and went to go sit down.
Everything from that point unfolded very smoothly.
The officiator did their bit.
Pakkun, the ring-bearer, brought the rings over while the rest of his pack panted and wagged their tails excitedly off to the side. Sakura slipped on Kakashi's and he slipped on hers.
And then, "You may kiss the bride!"
She swore every person in the clearing bent forward in their seat in anticipation as Kakashi raised his arm towards his face.
Tough, Sakura thought, gleefully.
She quickly reached up into her bodice and whipped out the decorative fan she had stuffed in there earlier. She snapped the silk fan open and covered her and Kakashi's lower face with it.
The crowd let out a surrounding, extremely disappointed "awwww!". Someone even shouted "oh, come on!" from somewhere in the back.
Sakura bet that a lot of these nosers had come just for this very reason. Well, she knew Kakashi wasn't comfortable showing his face, especially not to a crowd of at least a hundred. They would have to deal. She saw Naruto laughing from the front row. It sure felt good to be on the I've Seen Kakashi's Face Team. The lucky officiator would be the only other one to see his face.
Kakashi blinked at the fan—she hadn't informed him of her plan—and lovingly grinned at her, before, to Sakura's complete astonishment, lowering the fan of his own accord. He swiftly lowered his mask, too, with his other hand, cupped her face and kissed her.
The kiss was so toe-curling amazing, she didn't notice everyone in the audience going ape-shit.
…
The reception was a ways down from the villa by a creek.
It was a brouhaha of twinkling lights, boisterous laughing, fully laden tables with food and alcohol, and loud music.
Sakura and Kakashi sat at a long table with a line of well-wishers awaiting their turn.
Ino was currently occupying their time with Genma right next to her. It had come as a complete shock to Sakura whe Ino had told her that she would be bringing Genma as her plus one to the wedding. They apparently had been dating for a few months.
Ino blushed when she looked at Kakashi, who had put his mask back on once he had finished kissing Sakura. His face had lingering effects, Sakura knew all too well.
"Now I know why you wanted to keep him hidden, Sakura," Ino mused. "Wow,"
Sakura just shook her head in exasperation.
"Older men is where it's at, ladies!" Ino shouted over to Hinata and Tenten who were close by. "I recommend."
"Here, here," Genma toasted, holding up a glass of champagne.
Hinata pondered that with what seemed agreeable pensiveness and Tenten objectively eyed Yamato who was a few paces away.
"Kakashi, my man, I always thought that if you were ever to marry, you would be the last of us to do so, but with a mug like that, I'm surprised someone didn't snare you sooner!" Genma proffered. Sakura wasn't at all sure if he was joking or not.
They thankfully moved on and Sakura and Kakashi spent the next hour thanking a line of people who more or less reacted as Ino had—with blushing faces.
Then it was time for their first dance. Kakashi twirled her around the wooden platform that was the dance floor with surprising skill. There were still a lot of things she had yet to discover about him, she realized.
Naruto eventually intruded respectfully and Kakashi went to go dance with her mother as everyone else joined the dancefloor.
After a time, Sasuke took Naruto's place.
As they swayed to the slow music, Sakura asked, "Have you finally given up now that I'm married?"
Sasuke shrugged. "You don't have children yet."
Sakura covertly punched him in the stomach. She pretended as if nothing happened as he coughed and slouched slightly from the hit.
He didn't say anything to her for the rest of the dance.
…
Her mother found her later when the party had been fed enough liquor that everyone was dancing rancorously on the floor to the loud bopping music.
Konoha shinobi sure knew how to throw a party.
"Sakura, dear," her mother commended. She was a little red-faced herself. "You sure know how to pick them! Who knew Hatake-San was so handsome! Mama didn't raise a fool!"
"Mom, how much have you had to drink?" Sakura asked. "And Kakashi keeps telling you to call him by his first name, remember?"
"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm," her mother said, waving her hand dismissively while finishing another glass.
Sakura guided her over to a chair and told her to sit quietly for a bit. She sat obediently albeit swaying slightly.
As she hunted for her Grandmama, she passed by Ino who was swaying with Genma to the music. Sakura mouthed a quick but very sincere, "thank you", to her best friend. No matter all the huffing and complaining Sakura had done about this wedding, she was very happy now that Ino had nurtured it into fruition.
Ino smiled knowingly at her and returned to her dance.
She eventually found her Grandmama and sat with her for a bit, resting her weary head on her shoulder.
"You know, your grandfather was eighteen years my senior when I married him? And your mother's now ex-husband, thank goodness, is ten years older than her?"
Sakura nodded, cheek rubbing against her silky fabric of her Granfmama's kimono.
"Your blonde friend was right. Older men are very much where it's at! You seemed to have caught on, my smart girl. And what a looker! Felt something knocking around down in the old gallows at that face, if you know what I mean!"
Sakura really wished she hadn't.
She found Kakashi a little later, rosy-cheeked and giddly buzzed from the alcohol.
"You've created monsters," Sakura whispered conspiratorially at him.
Kakashi gazed down at her with a small smile before he lowered his mask and said, "They'll get over it." He kissed her softly again, holding her tight against him.
Kiba whooped and pumped his fist in the air. "Encore!"
…
One year later…
Sakura worried her lip with her teeth as she and Kakashi hurried down to the Hokage tower. Tsunade had asked to see them right away.
...But she hadn't had a chance to tell him yet seeing as she had just found out yesterday. Kakashi had been on a mission until this morning and the minute he'd walked in the door, a summons had been delivered asking for Sakura's and Kakashi's presence by Tsunade-shishou.
Sakura hadn't even had time to give Kakashi a proper greeting, let alone tell him the news.
They hurried up the steps leading to Tsunade's office and just as they reached the door, Sakura, who was in a slight state of panic, blurted out, "Kakashi, I need to tell you something—"
Kakashi looked at her quizzically, but before he could respond, the door in front of them was thrown open.
Naruto stood on the other side, "I thought I heard your voice, Sakura-chan!"
Tsunade, sitting at her desk waved them in impatiently. "Come in, come in! And close the door behind you." They did as she asked, while Tsunade stood and came around her desk. She leaned against it and studied Kakashi for a moment, arms crossed.
Sakura sighed, and Kakashi looked at her oddly again. She was just hoping that this would be something simple and fast so they could go home and talk.
"Kakashi," Tsunade started in a serious tone, "I would like to offer you the position as the next Hokage of Konohagakure."
Well, shit, Sakura thought.
Kakashi was quite understandably taken aback. "What about Naruto?"
"I'm not ready, sensei," Naruto said earnestly. "There's still so much I have and want to do before I go into a position like this. There's a lot I have still yet to learn too."
Sakura thought that what he just said showed a lot of maturity and was certainly a step in the right direction.
"We need someone with your type of knowledge and reputation to go into a position like this, Kakashi. You're the best man for the job at this moment...plus you're inheriting the village in a time of peace, so, you're welcome."
Sakura looked at Kakashi and saw all the thoughts racing through his head. He looked at Sakura, then asked, "I need to discuss this with Sakura, if I may?"
Tsunade nodded. "Of course, that's why I asked the both of you here today. You don't even have to answer me today. Go home and talk about it, if you wish."
Kakashi nodded absently and turned to Sakura. "What do you think?" Tsunade and Naruto fell into their own conversation to give Sakura and Kakashi a little privacy.
Sakura had no answer for him, only a fact that was throbbing to burst out of her.
Oh dear, she was going to have to tell him now, wasn't she?
Sakura cleared her throat, but no sound came out when she tried to talk. She tried again, "Kakashi, before you make a decision, I have to tell you something."
Kakashi nodded for her to continue.
Oh man.
She widened her eyes and pursed her lips at him in a show of how she was slightly overwhelmed.
Kakashi furrowed his brow at her.
Sakura sighed. Looked like this was not going to happen with words.
She grabbed Kakashi's hand and placed it firmly over her abdomen.
He looked at her, confusion palpable in his coal eyes.
Sakura widened her eyes at him again, as if to say "come on, think".
They had alway been good at nonverbal communication, her and Kakashi, but over the last two years they had perfected their communications through stares almost to perfection.
As such, it only took Kakashi a moment longer to understand that she was trying to tell him that she was six weeks pregnant.
His eyes widened quite dramatically, in Sakura's opinion. "Really?" he asked in a curiously reverently hushed voice.
Sakura nodded, apprehensive about his reaction, because this wasn't something that had been planned.
Then the loveliest grin transformed his features. "Really?" he asked again, wearing that bright, bright grin.
Sakura felt her expression transform to match his as he moved the hand that had been at her abdomen to cup her neck.
"Yes."
They had another quick, and silent communication in which they made a decision, before Kakashi turned back to Tsunade, interrupting the conversation between her and Naruto. "I formally accept the offer, Hokage-sama," he said, bowing slightly.
Tsunade narrowed her eyes suspiciously, looking in between him and Sakura. "That was awfully easy. I thought I was going to have to argue considerably with you until you agreed. What did you tell him, Sakura?"
Naruto looked at them both, as well, puzzled at Kakashi's easy acceptance.
Kakashi looked to Sakura and she shrugged at him, "We might as well tell them, Kakashi. They'll know sooner or later anyway." She faced Tsunade-shishou and Naruto again, smiling. "I'm pregnant."
Tsunade blinked, flabbergasted, then joyously grinned.
"No way!" Naruto exclaimed. He ran over to her, gave her a huge hug and a kiss in the head. "Congrats, you two!" He hugged Kakashi, too.
"Thanks," Sakura said, still feeling a bit overwhelmed. Kakashi kept staring at her as if she were the most extraordinary thing in the world.
He took the job for her sake. She knew that he had never wanted the responsibility that came with being Hokage, but now that she was carrying their child, the position was the best option for them. He wanted to be close to her for whatever she might need, which would not be possible if he kept his position of shinobi, sometimes going on month-long missions away from the , staying and accepting to be Hokage, while it would keep him constantly busy, would certainly be better because he could be on her constant beck-and-call.
She loved him even more for making that quick decision for her sake despite his hesitancy.
…
One month later…
Kakashi returned home in the evening to find Sakura crouched over the flowerbed by the front porch, crying.
Alarmed, Kakashi hurried over to her and crouched next to her. "Sakura, what is it?"
Sakura turned, tears running down her face, and showed him a broken flower bulb in her hands. "I broke it!" she wailed.
Oh no, Kakashi thought, it's starting.
"It's okay, Sakura, we'll plant another." He reached out to take the bulb from her.
"Don't touch me!" she snapped, snatching her hand away. "You don't understand," she said in a congested tone.
Kakashi repressed a sigh. He was sure the Anbu team that followed his every Hokage move were having a good laugh at his expense up in the trees where they were hiding.
"I'm sorry!" Sakura suddenly cried, flinging her arms around his neck, broken bulb ricocheting off a wooden pillar. "I'm sorry I yelled at you. I love you so much!"
Kakashi patted her gently on the back. "It's okay, Sakura . Why don't we go inside, hm? We still have some left over cake from yesterday."
Sakura sniffled and nodded against his cheek. "Okay."
He led her inside, thinking of how many more times this was going to happen.
Seven more months to go!
…
Two months later…
Kakashi lovingly kissed the now very prominent bump on Sakura's naked belly as she straddled him.
Sakura tilted her head back in the soft morning light that illuminated her pink hair in a halo around her head. She smiled in complete happiness, closing her eyes at the sensation.
That moment, one he will never forget, comes to him often in dreams.
…
Four months later…
"I'm a whale!" Sakura shouted out to the room. "I can't believe Ino and Genma decided to get married now! And make me maid of honor no less, I'll have to stand for hours!"
Kakashi, Naruto, Sai, and Sasuke looked at her, seated and waiting to depart the house, with wide frightened eyes. Yamato was lucky that he was one of his Anbu detail, so he didn't have to be in that room right then.
"Kakashi, my love," Sakura half sobbed, dropping her head back to bump against the wooden paneling. "I love you so much. But all I want to do right now is punch you in your stupid face!"
"Uh…" Kakashi floundered.
Naruto thankfully came to his aid, running over to Sakura (a great danger at that moment, in his opinion) and crouched in front of her. "You're beautiful, Sakura-chan! And so is this little bundle!" He made kissing noises and faces at Sakura's stomach and rubbed it.
Sakura sniffled sadly. "But I'm soft. And I waddle. Like a penguin."
"Penguins are cute," Kakashi offered, hesitatingly.
Sakura sniffled again. She contemplated that for a minute. "You're right," she agreed, happily. "They are cute."
Everyone let out a relieved sigh.
"Let's go!" Sakura commanded then, and stood.
Well...she tried to.
She sighed with heavy melancholy, and held out her arms to Naruto. He tried to hide his grin as he swiftly tugged her to her feet.
Naruto hooked his arm though hers while Sasuke moved to take the other. They guided Sakura down the steps and started walking down the path together.
They probably thought it best to keep her away from Kakashi for the meantime.
Sai clapped him on the shoulder in sympathy then followed the others.
For all her fits and fussing about the pregnancy, though, Kakashi later found Sakura at Ino and Genma's reception in a secluded corner, gently caressing her belly.
"We've waited so long to meet you," she crooned. "I can't wait to have you in my arms."
Kakashi smiled and went to sit next to her, placing a hand atop hers. She looked up and smiled back, bringing his hand to her lips so she could kiss it.
…
One month later…
"Um, guys?" Sakura said hesitantly. She was currently couched down with Naruto and Sasuke, pulling weeds away from Mr. Ukki and Hairy. Kakashi would have probably been mad at her for doing yard work in her condition, but he wasn't nine months pregnant with little else to do, now was he? "I think my water just broke."
Naruto and Sasuke turned sharply towards her. They had stuck close to her the past week for this very reason, which she appreciated beyond words.
"Yamato?" She called, oddly calm. She knew Kakashi had instructed him to keep close to her instead of himself this last month for this very reason. "Please, go tell Kakashi, my mom, and Ino."
"On it!" Yamato shouted from somewhere in the trees. She heard a rustling and then he was gone.
She had been feeling slight pains all day, but Tsunade had told her that that would be normal in her last trimester of pregnancy, so she hadn't thought much of it.
A sharp pain stabbed into her lower belly and Sakura shouted more in surprise than from pain. She knew that would change in a few hours though. "OH, YUP! THE BABY'S COMING!"
Naruto sprang up and started walking hecticly around, clutching his head. "Oh, man, it's happening! Everybody CALM DOWN!"
Sasuke tripped him. "You're the only one freaking out, idiot! Go grab the bag that she has ready in the house, hurry!"
Naruto dashed up off the floor and nodded.
Sasuke went over and helped Sakura to her feet.
Sakura abruptly doubled over and groaned, as Sasuke supported most of her weight. "Oh! I think this baby's coming fast!"
Thankfully, Naruto dashed out of the house then with her packed bag.
"I don't think I can walk, guys," Sakura panted.
Naruto and Sasuke nodded once to each other, each grabbed an arm and a leg on either side of Sakura and started power-walking with her.
Good thing I'm not wearing a dress, Sakura thought briefly.
…
Kakashi arrived at the hospital to find Sakura kneeling on the floor in agony. Her mother and Ino were next to her, rubbing her back gently.
He had passed a wide-eyed Naruto and Sasuke on his way in. He'd thank them later.
Relief encapsulated Sakura's face when she saw him.
It broke his heart to see her in so much pain.
"What can I do to help you?" he asked, kneeling next to her and taking over back rubbing duties from a grateful Ino who is five months pregnant herself.
"Just stay right next to me, please."
"Always."
...
Tsunade walked into the room, pulling her hair back into a single ponytail. "Let's do this!"
"Okay, Sakura," her mother whispered in her ear. "Deep breaths! This is going to hurt like hell!"
"I'm here, Sakura," Kakashi murmured calmly, even though she could tell he was anything but from seeing her in so much pain. He squeezed her hand lightly.
Sakura nodded resolutely. "Okay. I'm ready. Please let go of my hand, Kakashi. I don't want to break it."
…
"You're here," Sakura crooned to her beautiful baby girl, snuggled safely in her arms. She doesn't even realize that she was crying. "Finally."
Kakashi, currently sitting next to Sakura, kissed their daughter on the forehead.
His eyes weren't quite dry either.
…
Eight months later...
Kakashi walked into his house in the late afternoon, knowing that it would be a while before he would make the trek from the Hokage tower to his.
Official that day, Kakashi was retired as Hokage, Naruto finally having taken his place. Sakura, who had been only working at the hospital in order to take care of their daughter, would again start taking missions now that Kakashi was basically free for the foreseeable future.
He walked into a quiet house, the wind howling outside making hair-raising wailing moans through the swaying trees.
Just like that day when he had found his father…and this big house had been alone and empty—
"Kakashi, you're home!" Sakura said, happily opening the door to the genkan, their daughter, Yua bundled in her arms. She waved her little fists around once she saw Kakashi, trying to say "dada!". Sakura would forever lord over him that Yua's first word had been "mama".
Kakashi smiled and approached Sakura. He kissed Yua's fluffy mane of silver hair as she grabbed his vest with a surprisingly strong grip. He then kissed Sakura on her lips, a lingering, sweet kiss that dissolved into little pecks on her lips that left her smiling. Yua tugged on his vest, demanding to have attention again.
Kakashi released a contented breath while he looked at Sakura.
She loved so deeply and so entirely. He would have been very and absolutely foolish if he had not let her help him heal.
…
Sakura blew another round of raspberries on Yua's tummy, making her laugh uncontrollably again. Sakura grinned down at her daughter, her small body giddily floundering on the blanket that Sakura had placed on the floor. Yua opened her eyes, green eyes just like her mother's, and looked at Sakura with childish anticipation for another round.
She started cackling again before Sakura could even place her lips on her tiny belly.
Sakura couldn't hold in the mirth that made her laugh as well.
Kakashi came into the living room then and scooped Yua up off the floor, littering her face with small, short kisses. "Dinner's ready," he informed Sakura, holding out a hand to help her stand.
"Oh good, I'm starving!" she said, taking his offered hand. She ruffled his hair affectionately, as she passed him to head towards the kitchen.
And he followed.
Fin
A/N: It's done! BTW Yua means "binding love and affection" in Japanese!
Thanks to everyone for reading! It's you guys that kept me writing this. Even after years of not publishing a chapter, I still got notifications of new people following this story. Thanks to everyone for staying interested.
I've been steadily working on a Mulan AU, which I may post next...I have like 50 WIP's so keep an eye out.
As always, constructive and/or nice reviews are welcome!