Twelve

"Oh, Sakura!" Hinata gushed as the Haruno princess entered the room. She was seated on a stool in front of a dressing table full with an assortment of perfumes, hair clips and jewellery. Rather than being excited, the bride to be seemed nervous. Jittery, even.

"Hi, Hinata," Sakura greeted, and in turn nodded to the servants around her who were fussing with the silvery jewels in her hair. "Wow, you look stunning!"

The Hyuuga heir blushed, meekly muttering a thanks and turning back to inspect her reflection in the mirror. "Do you not think it too much? Maybe without the jewels…"

"No, no, lady, Princess Sakura is right, you do look stunning!" one of the servants chimed up reassuringly and the others quickly nodded in affirmation.

"O-okay. I meant no disrespect to your work... Thank you all." Hinata said, bowing her head in gratitude. It was a gesture of utmost respect from the royal. The servants looked rewarded as they took her thanks for a dismissal, one by one leaving the room so that Hinata and Sakura were left alone.

After they had left, Sakura examined the bride further. She could see just how anxious the princess really was when she turned toward her with big eyes. "I'm so glad you came to see me. I...I am so nervous. I don't know how I will perform in front of all those guests…"

"Don't say that! You'll be fine, just look to Naruto if you need any reassurance," Sakura said softly as she approached and squeezed Hinata's shoulder. She noted how Hinata had described her wedding as a performance, and wondered if it would always be like that for them. Everyone was always watching their every move, every emotion, as if waiting for them to slip up.

"I- I do not think I can look at him!" Hinata said, fanning herself slightly with her hands as if to get rid of her impending blush at the thought of her fiancé and soon to be husband. "I'm afraid he will make me even more of mess… Oh, what if I faint?"

Sakura's features hardened. "You won't. I know it," she said. Hinata looked up at her and saw the clear determination on the other princess's face. There was no room for objections in her words, like she was speaking it into existence. It was exactly the reassurance she needed.

"It is your day Hinata," Sakura continued, "not anyone else's, no matter what it seems like. This is for you and Naruto alone. Please try to remember that."

Hinata looked down at her hands, before turning back to look into the mirror. For her and Naruto. The thought of him still induced butterflies in her stomach. In less than a few hours, they were to be married. A new era was beginning.

Sakura watched as the Hyuuga princess's expression changed in front of her. She had put as much willpower in her words as she could, for Hinata could not falter, not now when they were all watching. That was the irony – she had told Hinata to view it as her day, but she knew deep down, Hinata had been right. It was a performance. Nothing would ever be for them alone.

The room was beginning to fill with guests, all gathered in their finery to witness a wedding between future monarchs. More than that, this was a union between two nations, Hyuuga and Uzumaki would become unanimously linked. Tonight, Naruto would take on the Hyuuga name, and so would the children he would bear.

Sakura watched as the final flowers were arranged and the wispy curtains adjusted against the marble pillars.

Briefly, she marvelled at how the air seemed to be charged as the historic moment that would be remembered for generations came closer. She took a deep breath, observing as the members of the Hyuuga court began to take their places to stand facing the front of the room in tangible anticipation. Though she tried not to, she thought of her own impending wedding too, and the stoic commander that would become consort to her kingdom.

This would be their reality. This was their reality.

Clutching at her skirts, she tried to shake off her thoughts. This was Naruto and Hinata's day, as she had said to the Hyuuga princess herself, she didn't need her thoughts to spiral elsewhere.

She wondered how Naruto was faring, if he was any better than Hinata at driving back the anxiety. She found herself remembering the years of their childhood together, and the unspoken belief between them that they would someday marry each other before he was betrothed to another. It was a melancholic thought, an homage to how innocent they both were to the inner workings of court.

As if she had summoned his presence, the sunny groom had arrived at the foot of the altar, a few dozen feet in front of her. He was dressed in a thick outfit of gold and white, his blue eyes stark against his imperial clothing. Stunning, he wore the colours of his home country proudly, for perhaps the last time.

After briefly conversing with the officials that swarmed the altar, he turned to look at the crowd, blue eyes searching for familiarity. He wore a sheepish grin as he found at her, but soon his face turned serious as he turned back away to say something to the officiant, and Sakura could see the nerves rolling off of him.

You can do this, she manifested to him, hoping her words would reach him somehow.

The room was beginning to fill as the last of the guests entered. She felt a presence beside her.

"I thought it would be best for us to stand together," Sasuke said.

Sakura gave him a small smile but could manage no more. It was hard knowing this would be the last time she would see Naruto for a while. Having lived together for much of their youth…he was a brother to her. Or perhaps even more. He was her best friend.

They stood silent as the last of the guests milled in. But as much as she tried, she could not ignore his tall form beside her. A knot formed in her stomach as she imagined their own marriage, and the charged air around her reached a crescendo.

Would the people be as supportive of them? Or would they whisper cruel words as she sealed her fate at the altar?

At least this will be a true royal wedding.

"You have to understand..." she murmured softly without turning, as if she were picking up from an earlier conversation, "surely you hear what they say..."

"I thought royalty weren't supposed to care about that." In the back of her mind, she noted he didn't deny it.

"I've told you...it is not the people who serve us. It's the other way around."

"You don't think I'm right for the country." It wasn't a question.

"I-it's not that... well, not entirely. Royalty have always married other royalty, or others of high status. I am already afraid–" she started, but cut herself off abruptly. Her heart beat furiously in her chest and she stared wide eyed at the floor. How could she have nearly admitted that? To him of all people? No one knew her deepest, darkest fear, that the people of Haruno would not accept her as their sovereign.

Weak.

She clenched her hand.

"It doesn't matter. Father has made his decision."

Sasuke stiffened at her words. So she still wasn't accepting to him. Last night he had falsely got the impression that she was starting to loosen her up to him. But he could see she was still warring with her mind. She didn't know why…

"Hn. Maybe we should not stand together, then."

Sakura watched wide eyed as he turned to leave. The first thing she thought was oh god, what will the people say? – but deep down she felt terrible about what she had said. Her words had been twisted in a manner she did not feel, at least not for him. It was her kingdom that she thought of – it was always her kingdom.

"That's not what I meant–" she started. She half didn't expect him to hear her, as she breathed the words so quietly. But Sasuke turned back to look at her nonetheless.

The look he gave her was not of contempt, but rather of disappointment and something else. She almost choked on her laughter – how did he have the right to be disappointed?

"I know, Sakura," he said simply.

She watched him go quietly, disappearing into the crowd from her like she once done to him many weeks ago. Her heart called out for him to stay, but on what grounds, after she had so blatantly told him he was not good enough? But his words had been filled with a mix of understanding and almost a form of empathy that left her confused more than anything.

Inwardly, she sighed, not wanting to dampen her mood on Naruto's wedding day. She faced the front again, just as the doors to the chamber opened and Hinata walked in, all glimmering pearls and white gossamer.

The evening humidity seeped into the ballroom as the Hyuuga and Haruno courts socialised under the crystalline chandeliers. The curtains leading to the balconies that lined the side of the room were open, letting in the blue hue of twilight. The bride and groom had long since departed, leaving the guests to mingle.

She had seen off Ino a couple hours before, the maiden disclosing her decision to return to the village she had visited on her trip away, but not before repeatedly asking Sakura if she would be all right without her.

"I know you have just lost Naruto…" she had said, demeaning herself as selfish because of her wish to leave again. It had taken convincing, but she had eventually acquiesced. Sakura did not dwell on the choice of words her friend used.

Now, Sakura inclined her head in leave from a group of nobles she had just been conversing with. There truly was no escape from imperial duties; even at the after party to a royal's wedding, she was still expected to maintain full decorum.

Left alone for a moment, she let herself sigh, content to watching the celebrations around her. The sky outside was getting darker, giving the room an amiable atmosphere. More than half of the guests had gradually retreated to their chambers as dusk approached, so the ballroom was less stifling as groups dispersed, leaving room to breathe.

"You look lovely."

Sakura whirled at the sound of his voice and almost choked on nothing but air. Was Sasuke complicating her?

She looked around for who could be the culprit of such mishaps, but was immediately distracted when she felt the rough pads of his fingers brush against her cheek.

"I didn't say earlier," he said breathily, tucking a loose strand of hair out of her face.

That was when she noticed...the tips of his ears and his cheekbones were pink. Sasuke was drunk. She could smell it on him by how close he was.

She recalled one of their first nights together, when he has refused to take a sip of alcohol – who had done this?

She looked around the room once more. Most of the guests had retired as it was getting late into the night. She caught a glimpse of black hair and lavender eyes in the corner of her vision - standing on his own, Neji was sipping from a goblet with a smug look on his face. She remembered distinctly how suspicious he had been acting earlier.

She looked back at her husband-to-be. Worry suddenly flooded her – had Sasuke ever even been drunk before?

"Sasuke, you–" she started, but that's when he swayed forward, and for a moment – barely a split second – she thought he was going to kiss her.

Her hands shot out to his chest to steady him immediately, eyes wide. She didn't want her first kiss to be in front of a ballroom full of strangers, let alone the Hyuugas! Wait, what was she thinking?

But the next second, she was saved from that dilemma as her husband-to-be buried his flushed face into the crook of her neck.

This was worse.

Sakura felt herself blush immensely, feeling his hot breath against her neck. She was hyper-aware that they were in public, and imagined how many people had witnessed this.

"Sas-uke" her voice was shaky, but through nothing but will - because he was heavy – she had him up in seconds, a heat in her face.

Fortunately, he didn't seem like he noticed a thing.

"Let's get you some water, okay?" she said kindly. As much as she wanted to run from this situation, she couldn't just leave him like this. As they made their way to the drinks table - in which Sakura steered him as far away from the alcohol as she could - she tried to spy a Haruno attendant who could take Sasuke back to his room.

"Here, drink this," she said firmly, handing him the glass. She watched as he did as she said, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he drank.

She gulped, moving her attention away and caught the eye of an attendant of her court. He nodded at her when she conveyed her message silently, leading Sasuke his way when he was finished with his water.

"Make sure he gets back to his room all right," she began, "no detours, okay?"

"Yes Haruno-sama," he replied, giving a short bow before he took Sasuke and started leading him out the ballroom. Sakura almost failed to notice the slight hint of amusement on his face.

Oh Sasuke. What have you done?

No. This was Neji's fault. Irritation quickly bloomed in her chest as she searched the room for the real culprit again. She suddenly felt protective of Sasuke's wishes to avoid drinking. How could he let him do that? Or rather, how did he manage to make him?

She went towards the area she had last saw him, planning to give Neji a piece of her mind. Before she could get a word in, Neji turned to her. "Ah, Sakura!" he said, merriment in his voice. "How are you this fine evening?"

She wanted to throttle him. "Neji," she said instead, a slight edge to her greeting.

"I take it you have convened with Sasuke?"

"What did you do?" she questioned firmly, eyes narrowed threateningly. She was honestly shocked at how he had even managed to get the usually stoic commander to drink. He had been so adamant not to touch a glass at their almost-engagement party, and earlier a small sip had clearly disgusted him.

"Just a few drops of wine, he will be fine," Neji dismissed with a wave of his hand, the smug look back on his face.

Sakura crossed her arms in front of her chest. He knew that was not what she meant.

"Hinata looked regal, did she not?" He said, attempting to change the subject. Sakura had no choice but to follow.

"She looked beautiful," she agreed, jaw tight.

"Both of them are fortunate," Neji said, ignoring the steam coming from her head. He looked across the ballroom, staring unseeingly at the crowd. Once again, she wondered if he was at all resentful of Hinata and the main side of his family who would inherit the throne. But his words didn't seem to be envious. Instead, there was a underlying softness, a genuine joy for his cousin. Sakura found she didn't know Neji at all.

"Yes," she said. Quietly, the two observed their courts before them. The thin crowd were still as lively as ever, basking in the afterglow of the royal wedding into the throes of night.

"Not spending the evening with dear Sasuke?" Neji said, mischievous glint returning.

She turned to him, eye twitching. No more of this bullshit. "What are you playing at?"

"Why would you think I'm playing at anything? Am I not allowed to share a few drinks with a friend?"

"A friend?" Sakura said incredulously, eyebrows shooting up. In a matter of one night, how did Neji manage to make friends with Sasuke? She supposed they both were similar in disposition, and the wine didn't help…

"An acquaintance," he amended, watching her reaction. His eyes were pale like Hinata's, but sometimes she found it hard to believe they were related at all.

"Sure," she allowed. Just what was he up to?

Just as her patience was wearing too thin, Neji's features instantly became solemn, voice low. "Whatever his motives are, I couldn't get it out of him. For your sake, I hope they are pure."

She froze. What had he just said?

Sakura was left astonished as Neji departed, leaving no room for her to question him, his words echoing in her ears.

A/N: I am honestly shocked at how much time has passed since I last updated…this past year has gone by so quickly, and my only excuse is that I've been really busy with uni and now my internship. Thank you all to those who have been following this story so far!