It was night when Hinata came to, roused by the brisk night air that had crept into her room as she slept. She sat up in surprise, tossing the light sheets from her legs violently to scramble out of her futon. This was definitely her room, its every corner was as familiar to her as her own reflection, but how had she made her way back? Hinata searched her memory, but try as she might the last thing she remembered was lying in the clearing with a fox at her side while the warm afternoon lulled her to sleep. Yet her cloak lay discarded on the futon, her boots nowhere to be seen.

Puzzled, she made her way back to the futon, kneeling beside it for a few seconds as she debated whether to go back to sleep. A whole day had passed her by with nothing to show for it. It was a new feeling, and she didn't care for it. Straining her ears, she listened for the sound of movement outside her room, voices or the bustle of people finishing their chores. The soft breeze rippling through the treetops outside was her only answer. She gathered her things and crept out of the room, careful to tip-toe past the creaky floorboards that would have given her away.

She had already ran away once today, why not take an hour or two to practice her meager skills in the courtyard? Training under the watchful eyes of her father and cousin was the bane of Hinata's existence; even when they were silent, which had become more common as they slowly gave up hope, she could see the naked criticism in their gazes. Like her escapes into the forest, these late night training sessions had become dear to her. What progress she had seen in her skills over the past year she owed entirely to her private practices.

The fierce sense of accomplishment that came of knowing that carried her through grueling bouts she nearly always lost.

Normally her footsteps would have dragged, body weary after she had spent the day working. Tonight she felt awake- horribly so. There was no dragging sense of fatigue in her limbs and her eyes weren't threatening to close if she didn't move fast enough. Likely that meant she would be all the more tired tomorrow after a night spent tossing and turning without rest.

She shivered when her bare feet touched the cool grass, dew only just soaking into the earth so that it clung to her skin. She skirted the rock garden, enjoying the coolness. The moonlight was bright enough to light her way through the courtyard, bathing the whole scene an eerie silver; she made her way over to the edge of the small pond in the Northeast corner, admiring the moon's reflection there. Hinata liked to practice here, surrounded by the exotic flowers her mother tended, with the stone bench tucked not too far away where she could rest when her muscles were almost too sore to carry her back to her room. Tonight she would go easy on herself; after her hectic flight this morning, her body was sure to protest if she overdid it. Much more and she might not be able to drag herself out of bed tomorrow.

For a few moments more she simply admired the scene, committing it to memory. The Aburame clan was not so far away, but she knew it would be nothing like this to begin with. She would cultivate her own garden, just as her mother had, filling it with the delicate blossoms of her childhood and the hardier, more common plants that would call to mind her forest. It would take many years to grow a tree like the behemoth that cast shade over the water in the heat of the afternoon. Her own children would be grown by then, perhaps married with a family of their own. She could sit out on a bench much like the one here and pen messages for them.

All morning she had spent trying to fight the melancholy that constantly overshadowed her own thoughts. Alone in the darkness it was easier to give into; her practice forgotten, Hinata trailed to the edge of the water, settling beside it and tucking her knees beneath her chin to rest on. Her toes curled at the edge, water only just lapping at them while she watched that reflection. Neji had taught her to skip stones here in happier days; he had always been better at it, once even skipping a stone the whole way across. It hadn't mattered; she had cheered his victories as much as her own.

They had grown apart in the years since as old family resentments gradually bubbled to the surface, poisoning their blood. She couldn't remember a time they had decided they weren't friends, only one day Neji had snapped that he was too preoccupied with clan affairs for children's games, and Hinata, timid creature then, had never found the right time to ask whether they were still friends. Now… there were too many years of silence between them. Neji was her teacher, not her friend.

They would speak before she left, her first small step toward becoming the woman she wanted to be rather than her father's pale shadow. At least she would have a few weeks to gather her courage and plan her words; a wedding was not easily organized, and she would need a proper escort. With the Hyuuga scattered throughout the surrounding area, it would take time before they could muster a proper entourage for their lady. Hinata intended to use that time wisely.

The trill of a flute carried to her on the breeze, sounds of merriment- laughter and the tinkle of bells, voices loud enough that she could almost make out individual words in the babbling. She stood quickly, glancing toward the main house in obvious confusion. There had been no gradual build up of sound, one moment her world had been silent and the next there was a celebration without the gates. The whole house ought to have awoken by now, she should be seeing them rushing out, armed though only half-dressed to confront the unexpected threat.

If such an obviously jolly gathering could be a 'threat.'

There were no lights in the main house though, no sound or any indication that anyone but she heard the revelers. Frowning, Hinata bent to run her fingers through the water, hissing a breath at its coldness.

Surely she was awake? Her dreams could be vivid, product of a lifetime spent dwelling most often in her own thoughts and company, but surely she couldn't hallucinate all this. Not the wind prickling goosebumps on her bare skin and the grass on her feet, the cool patch on her fingers where the water had yet to dry. Then again, she had been tortured in her dreams before too- felt the hot sting of a branding iron or the wicked nick of a blade and woken sound in her bed, frightened but otherwise unhurt.

Hinata picked her way across the grass, making as little sound as possible though she doubted anyone could hear her over the noise anyway. Between the gap in the gate she could see firelight- the flicker of torches and brightly colored lanterns casting grotesque shadows on the ground without. Hardly breathing, perfectly still, she watched as a figure stepped into the light, obscuring it so that it seemed almost to make a halo around it- him.

His face was cast in shadow so that even her sharp eyes could not make out anything but the cast of his features, yet the breadth of his shoulders beneath a dark, simply-patterned haori convinced her it was a man. He reached out to the gate, fingertips only touching its surface curiously, like he had never felt coarse wood before. The company behind him hushed, waiting with bated breath for what he meant to do next.

He pushed and the bar holding the gates creaked beneath the strain of holding until at last it gave with a final, wretched grumble. The gates swung open before him on soundless hinges, easily pushing aside the debris. Hinata stumbled back, leery of being battered by the wooden monstrosities even knowing this night had to be a product of her overtaxed mind. The gates of the compound were sturdy though small; it took three grown men to open them with such speed, and the bar that shuttered them was no slim branch to crack at the press of a bare palm.

Hinata relaxed, gathering the folds of her voluminous shirt about her for warmth, curious what her dreams had brought her. Not a nightmare, she hoped.

As soon as the gap was wide enough, the man stepped through, pushing open the gates behind him to allow his company to follow. The firelight caught in his hair, turning it to fine-spun gold, shadows playing across the planes and hollows of his face. Hinata's eyes were naturally drawn to it, taking in the sharp chin, broad cheekbones accentuated by a wide smile and the crinkle of his eyes. His eyes opened, smile turning into a true grin when he caught her surreptitious study. Even in her own dream Hinata couldn't help the slight blush on her cheeks; she was grateful for the darkness that mostly hid it from view.

She raised her eyes, skimming over his cheekbones, admiring the strange whiskers there that lent an already fox-like face a very mischievous quality. "Handsome" wasn't quite the word for him; his expression held too much character and life for the smooth, unblemished mask currently in fashion, but it was an interesting face, and his hair. Her fingers twitched with the desire to run through it, taming the wild strands. She couldn't bring herself to do it, not when she caught sight of his eyes, drinking her in like a dying man might his first sight of water in the desert. Hinata didn't quail from his gaze, couldn't because she could hardly move at all even to breathe.

Like a mouse caught in a snake's gaze, or a rabbit by a fox, she thought wryly. Those eyes looked familiar, the rich, dark blue calling to mind the eyes of her little fox; even his hair seemed to have the same sheen. She had conjured a man from her fantasy of freedom, her very own fox demon to spirit her away. Who could possibly condemn her for it? No one ever had to know. Embarrassed, excited, unaccountably nervous, Hinata decided to enjoy the illusion while it lasted. "Have you come here for me?" She asked, bold in a way she never would have been otherwise.

"Yes." The man's smile vanished, replaced with stern-faced determination. "I'm Uzumaki Naruto, and you are my rightful bride." He nodded sharply as though to give the words more weight, fists clenched at his sides as though bracing for a blow.

He had no great gift for the poetic. It wasn't the soaring, romantic declaration of fairy-tales and novels, but there was a simple confidence in his words that had set Hinata's heart to pounding double-time. He wasn't asking for her hand, wasn't begging her to come away with him, only claiming her. Only her.

The thrill of it left her breathless for a second. The next he was speaking again, and there was something sheepish about the twist of his smile and the way he ran a nervous hand through his hair. "But I, uh… I don't know your name."

!

!

Laughter, clear and high and honest; Naruto watched the woman's face, mesmerized by the sound. She spoke so softly even the crickets could have drowned her out, but her laughter was strong and loud; she covered her mouth with a slender hand, eyes fluttering closed and nose wrinkling in such a charming way he regretted he couldn't close the distance between them and kiss it. If he hadn't felt Sakura and Sasuke's twin disapproving glares boring holes in his shoulder blades he might have done it anyway.

He'd told them she wouldn't fear him, had assured them his lady would willingly follow. She knew him, after all, even if it was not in this form, and there was a part of her that had to sense the truth in his words. The thread would not bind them so tightly otherwise. Both had been skeptical, but whereas Sasuke didn't meddle in the affairs of mortals or fools, Sakura prided herself on doing just that. It had been she that insisted on a bridal procession, nagging and pleading with Sasuke by turns until he had relented enough to agree to accompanying them, if grudgingly.

"She's yours. Take her." He had said with a shrug that indicated he didn't give a damn whether Naruto's Fated wanted him or not. He hadn't said a word since they had journeyed past the mountain, responding to all Naruto's questions and comments with noncommittal hums.

Now he watched with impassive eyes, not even bothering to step away when Sakura subtly insinuated herself into his space.

"Hinata." That voice shocked Naruto back to the present, every bit as beautiful as he remembered. More so. She was hesitating he could see, tongue wetting her lips as though prepared to say more. She bit her lip, and he wanted nothing so much as to run a soothing thumb across it, pull until her lips opened enough for him to slip his tongue inside. Sakura would have his head, though, possibly even other, far more important parts of his anatomy if he laid hands on his bride before they had taken their oaths.

"I am just Hinata." She finished, shoulders squaring decisively. Either she had no family name to give him or she did not care to. Either way he didn't give a damn.

His bride, Hinata, stood before him in the same clothes she had worn that afternoon, but her hair tumbled lackadaisically around her shoulders, unkempt from sleep. One of her hands rose to tuck an unruly strand behind her ear, and he followed the movement with envious eyes. Slowly he reached out, offering his hand at the last minute rather than brushing it down the delicate curve of her face. Here in the moonlight especially she seemed an illusion, someone no creature of earth could ever hope to touch.

Naruto saw her hesitate, saw the moment her lips firmed as she decided she would take his hand. Her fingers were cold as ice, chilled by the night air and her own nervousness. He rested a second hand over the top of hers, keeping her warm, drawing her nearer. His thumb brushed over her wrist soothingly, feeling her racing pulse beneath his skin, quick and slight as a bird's; still, she came to him at his urging, tilting her head back to look him full in the face and offering that same timid, solemn smile he had so admired in the forest.

Sakura would just have to forgive him this once; he wouldn't have turned down that invitation for all the gold and precious gems in the world. He leaned down, ghosting a kiss across the corner of her lip, chuckling at the squeak of surprise. When he drew back she was blushing scarlet, visible even in the shadows, and her fingers were twitching- doubtless with the need to hide her mouth from him once more. He wouldn't permit it. Not again.

"Come with me, Hinata?" It was a question. He wouldn't force her, whatever Sasuke thought. She would never smile for him then, would never approach him so daringly or without a shade of fear in her eyes. Now though… he knew what the answer would be even before he saw the slight dip of her head.

Her lips were clamped tightly shut, eyes flicking away from his nervously, but she nodded. Nodded again as though convincing herself of the answer. "Yes… yes, I will." She swallowed, and her eyes met his once more, the moon captured there. "Please." She added, as though it were a polite request, as though he wouldn't have carved out his own heart and handed it to her if she had demanded it as proof of his sincerity.

"Are you serious?" Sakura murmured behind him, shifting on her feet impatiently. Naruto spared a moment to turn and smirk triumphantly at her- what did she know of Humans, after all? She only rolled her eyes, flashing Sasuke a commiserating look that he unbent enough to return.

Naruto turned back to his bride, who was stretching her neck as she tried to catch a glimpse of the intriguing pink-haired woman behind him and the silent man at her side. He caught her to him, gathering her up in his arms once more, pleased when she curled naturally against his warmth, making bold enough to rest her head against his chest though that blush returned to her cheeks.

Gods but he was looking forward to seeing what else could provoke that blush. She was a study in contradictions, his lady; by turns timid and bold, delicate yet strong, a creature divine in appearance but earthly by nature. And he would have lifetimes to uncover every facet of her- the prim lady who had stood before him tonight and thanked him for stealing her away, the fighter who challenged him in the forest before she had even known what he was, the dreamer that brazenly welcomed the demons come to spirit her away, and finally the needy wanton he intended to coax out of her that only he would ever know.

"I can-" Hinata started, but again swallowed her words, twining her fingers in his haori instead. I can walk, he suspected, and tightened his arms about her lest she try. All day he had thought about touching her, remembering the feel of her fingers carding through his fur and wishing he could have done the same. He had agonized over the way she had felt sleeping in his arms, how long it had taken him to finally lay her to rest in the futon that smelled of flowers and earth like her. Now that he was finally holding her again, he had no intention of surrendering the privilege so easily.

"Ready?"

"For-" A rush of air caught Hinata's words, stealing them from her mouth as Naruto practically flew through the gate once more. She heard a dismayed cry echo behind them, the gathered host giving a belated cheer as they pursued. It wasn't the traditional, staid procession she had expected, but Hinata found she far preferred her own illusion with all the joy and anticipation she had hoped for but never expected. Leave the palanquin and honor guard for the Hyuuga heiress; Hinata was enjoying the brawny arms clamped about her shoulders and legs, holding her close to a body hot as a furnace and firm enough that she wondered at the muscles the haori must conceal. Would… would they have a wedding night?

Hinata pressed her face farther into the cloth, suddenly warm despite the night's chill. Normally it was a mother's job to teach her daughter such things, but Hinata had a hard time imagining her stoic, ever correct mother having that discussion. Likely she thought she would send Hinata away to meet her husband completely unaware of what consummating the marriage entailed.

It wasn't entirely true. Hinata had pilfered some of the more risque volumes in the family library, the ones kept high enough that even her father needed a step to reach them. Poetic euphemisms had only whet her innocent appetite; the pictures that went along with them had seemed so funny then- the grossly exaggerated anatomy and dramatic expressions, the strange ways the subjects' bodies were painted, caught in writhing convulsions. As a child she had giggled and laughed… as a young woman, she had studied those images a little closer, uncertain if she liked the new way they made her body feel, eyes sliding by some of the more graphic images only to slyly peek back at them. She had returned to them time and again, ashamed, but also excited.

She felt the same feeling settling in her stomach now, almost painful in its intensity and only worsened by the close contact. Her heart was beating until she thought it might burst, and she was beginning to wonder if she would ever see a non-blushing face reflected back at her again, but there was no denying that beneath her thin veneer of shame there was that same strong undercurrent of excitement and want. Only now she finally understood what she wanted, and the thought that she might not have it ever again left her feeling hollow.

Would Shino- Hinata banished the thought. The morning would be time enough to worry, and likely weeks more after that. She would be sharing his bed soon enough, but if she wanted to give herself to a fox demon conjured from the depths of her fevered mind tonight, that was entirely her own affair. In her dream at least, this man loved her. He watched her every movement with adoring eyes, uncaring that she had given him only her own name. She was a woman to him first and foremost, and might never have the opportunity to be this woman again.

She raised the arms she had kept heretofore clasped about her chest, twining them around Naruto's neck. Where she had devised such a name, Hinata wasn't certain, but she liked the way to her so easily, liked the way her mouth shaped it as she turned it over and over on her mute tongue.

"Naruto?"

He glanced down, adjusting her for a better grip, carrying her like she weighed no more than a feather. There was muscle beneath her smooth skin; she was no slight girl, but then the muscles shifting under her shoulder-blades hadn't been honed by idleness either.

"Hm?" He leapt, hardly touching down on the branch of a tree before pushing off again. She enjoyed the feeling of flight, enjoyed the way he diverted all of his attention to her merely at the sound of his name, hers for the taking.

"Do you-" want me? Silly question, of course he did. This was her world to control, and all that mattered was that she wanted him to want her. If she were rejected even in her own fantasy- Hinata swallowed; it would be just her luck. "Do you think we could hurry?"

He growled, and she couldn't help but suck in a breath at the sharp stab of pleasure/pain the sound sent through her straight to her womb. Everything about him was primal and animalistic, exactly what had been missing from her proper, polite upbringing and exactly what her husband would never offer her. "Hang on."

One minute they were mid-leap, soaring beneath the forest's canopy. The next they stood in a room lit by torchlight, waxed oaken floorboards beneath her, vaulted ceilings inscribed with images of gods and demons above. Glancing about frantically she took in the scene; reed screens painted with waterfalls and mountains lined the grand hall Hinata found herself in, shouji dyed with ink of all shades, some depicting trees that spanned the entire hall. Before them a banquet was already laid: sake cups sat empty beside plates waiting to be filled with the food so temptingly piled high. She smelled fish and pork, chicken, spices her nose couldn't put a name to that made her mouth water with hunger.

Her stomach growled then and she winced at the sound, glancing guiltily up at the man that was still resisting her halfhearted struggles to get down.

The next moment-

"Naruto!" The pink-haired woman appeared, sea glass green eyes wide in her pale face. "You startled us." She finished, looking faintly embarrassed at her outburst. Hinata wondered at her presence, already feeling inadequate next to her.

Where Hinata had always struggled to keep muscle on her frail frame, this woman appeared tough in every sense of the word. She moved with the sort of wiry strength Hinata had always envied, but despite that there was a very feminine form beneath her intricate clothing. A bust that actually allowed her kimono to lay neatly over her chest, gleaming locks painstakingly coiffed and bound behind her so that they would not fall into her eyes. She held herself with confidence, and when Hinata could finally bring herself to look this perfect creature in the face, she saw only naked compassion and frank confusion reflected back at her.

Second place even in her mind's eye.

Naruto finally set her down when she sighed softly, determinedly smiling at the woman. His arm came around her shoulder, pulling her close in a curiously defensive maneuver. "You lot were taking too long. We're in a hurry." He grinned down at Hinata, inviting her to share in his amusement and her smile became genuine once more. His eyes were still on her, no matter what her treacherous thoughts conjured. There was no room for insecurity or any creeping sense of inferiority when he was looking at her like the sun rose and set in her eyes.

"Tch. You can't marry her like that. I won't allow it."

Shouts of gaiety reached Hinata's ears once more- apparently their erstwhile entourage had caught up; she heard their footsteps hurrying to the room, and in tumbled the most motley array of people she had ever seen: tall, short, fat and thin, every shape and size in between, hair dark or red, palest blond or brunette. There were too many to take in, and some of them very plainly not human. The dark one that had stood at the pink woman's side was pointedly adjusting actual wings, feathers ruffled and expression distinctly put out.

It lightened only slightly when he caught sight of his pink companion before flashing quickly between Naruto and Hinata.

"It's not your call, Sakura!" Sakura, of course. Pink for cherry blossoms.

"She only gets one wedding, Naruto, and you're not going to spoil it just because you want a wedding night. I swear-"

Naruto had stopped arguing, seeming to consider the words she had spat at him even as she continued her tirade.

"Um, it's fine-" Hinata began, crying out in surprise when Sakura grabbed her hand and began to drag her away, motioning to others to follow.

"It is not fine, don't let him take this from you. Unbelievable. First the bridal procession, then the bride-"

Hinata glanced back over her shoulder, smiling ruefully at her crestfallen fox. He raised a hand in mock farewell, other hands already plucking at him, leading him to the head of the banquet table.

!

!

!

!

Sakura. Ino. Tenten. Temari. Hinata's head spun with all the names, some of which she had already forgotten. They had stripped her clothes from her with no care for her modesty, but Hinata hadn't found it in her to do more than plunge quickly into the steaming bathwater already waiting for her. It was impossible to take offense when they were all so plainly dedicated to making this a true wedding of dreams. They bantered and teased each other over her head, arguing over which scent belonged in the bathwater.

"Wisteria is bad luck for a bride, stupid. Magnolia is better."

"Magnolia is a girl's scent."

"Does she look like a man to you?"

"No, she looks like a woman. Which is why we should use the wisteria."

"I like magnolias." Hinata cut in softly, hiding her twitching mouth under the water when the blonde one- Ino- made a rude face in Sakura's direction. She conjured a glass jar seemingly from air and poured its contents into the water.

"There, see? What did I tell you?"

"I don't know, I wasn't listening." Sakura stuck her tongue out, nevertheless dipping her hand into the water to swirl it about.

The scent of magnolia tickled Hinata's nose, soaking into her skin to ease muscles she hadn't even known were tense. She slid deeper into the water, humming with contentment.

"Let me fix your hair." Hinata glanced up, searching for a name to put to the face. She had only just heard it, and somehow it seemed rude even now that she didn't call them by name-

"Temari." A wink and a grin with a slight edge of wickedness to it.

"Thank you, Temari."

"Not like yours." Tenten cut in, "Don't cut it."

"Of course not!" Temari looked offended at the suggestion, running a tortoiseshell comb through Hinata's hair, fingers twining through the strands. "Soft as silk." She murmured, fanning it out over the edge of the tub as she began her work. "Up or down?"

"Up."

"She's a bride, not a wife. Down."

"Up." Hinata murmured, pleased when Temari immediately began plaiting the strands, calling out for hairpins and clasps to test against the color of her hair.

The women around her didn't seem to mind that she was quiet, didn't mind making the decisions that she didn't want to or bickering amongst themselves while she watched with a strange sort of fondness. She had wanted friends like these growing up, other girls that wouldn't run to make a report of her activities after a day spent playing. She had felt the absence of this sort of companionship keenly when she began to come of age, retreating farther into her lonely shell. Now she had more friends than she knew what to do with, at least for tonight, and she was relishing every moment of it.

Sakura perched beside her tub, searching out Hinata's eyes with her own. "This is all very sudden. Are you sure it's what you want? He's not human. Death won't sever these vows."

"I'm sure." Hinata nodded. She felt a pang that her wedding night would be nothing like this. No friends to calm her nerves or spend the final hours with her-

She couldn't be certain of that. Again Hinata reminded herself that tomorrow would keep. She sighed heavily, drawing in on herself-

"You're… very fortunate, aren't you?"

"Tenten!" It was impossible to tell who shouted loudest, all of them glaring at the brunette.

"Ah, sorry, sorry. It's just this can't be comfortable." She held up the reinforced material Hinata had worn beneath her shirt, stiff and unforgiving. "I could make something more malleable- call it a late wedding gift."

"How's this?"

Distracted from the commotion by a mirror held before her, Hinata glanced at the reflection. The woman she saw was not herself, or at least bore no resemblance to the girl she had been. What childlike softness that had stubbornly lingered was gone. With her hair pulled starkly back from her face, bound half-up in an intricate braid, pinned by a butterfly clasp with a pearl tail that fell down Hinata's back to twine with her loose hair she looked-

"Beautiful." She whispered, voice unexpectedly hoarse.

"I had a lot to work with." Temari ran a testing hand through her hair, straightening the beginning of an errant curl. "Hoi! Can we get a towel here?"

She was bundled into soft cloth almost before she knew what was happening, scrubbed and dried to within an inch of her life, an obi cinched about her waist before she had registered the formal kimono being draped over her shoulders. It was nothing like the bulky, cumbersome court wear she had always thought her wedding would require as a member of the main branch of the Hyuuga family. Everything about it was designed to suggest it would look far better once it was off, from the way it framed her curves to the obi that invited eager hands to unwrap her like a gift.

There was still a hint of innocent girlishness in it; light lavender flowers embroidered on her overcoat, the kimono itself loose enough that she could maneuver fairly easily. She nearly smiled, but Ino caught her bottom lip before it was more than a quirk of her mouth, quickly applying bright red paint of the sort Hinata never would have dared to wear on her own.

"That'll leave a mark he'll love." She smirked, pinching Hinata's cheeks with unexpected force. Hinata flinched away, hand raising to touch to the slightly abraded skin.

"I don't think she needs much of a blush, Ino, you're already embarrassing her enough." Sakura sniped.

Laughter, smiles. Hinata basked in them even as she carefully made her way from the room, trailed by her boisterous company.

!

!

!

Patience had never been one of his qualities, Naruto knew, but this once it had been worth it. The handful of guests that had remained to drink and cajole him once they were far enough in their cups fell silent the moment Hinata stepped into the hall.

Every strand of hair pinned painstakingly in place, kimono draped to suggest but never show the body beneath, rouge lining her lips as they curved into the confident smile she had only hinted at until now. Words weren't his strong suit either, he wasn't the scholarly type, but Naruto knew the one he would choose to describe her: perfect.

And the pleasure of peeling away that perfect facade was his privilege alone. Who needed a wedding anyway? It was the humans that insisted on such a flagrant display of their commitment, doubtless because in practice they were seldom so committed as they pretended. His kind had always honored the old ways, bound far more irrevocably than mere words and witnesses would ever achieve.

Sakura's words came back to him, and though he wanted nothing so much as to make off with Hinata before the celebration even began, Naruto acknowledged there was some truth in his old friend's words. It had been a minor miracle, calling together so many spirits, demons, and demigods, even servants to genuine deities. A celebration like this could not happen again for many, many years, he knew, and Hinata was already taking it in with wide, curious eyes. All too often he was alone here with Sakura always needed elsewhere and Sasuke keeping watch over his home, only recently his own again after so many years seeking the one that had stolen everything from his kind.

Even he appeared, if not quite happy then contented tonight. Naruto bristled slightly when he caught his gaze, assuming for a moment that covetous stare had been fixed on his own bride. But no, Sasuke's gaze was caught on the woman at her left, head dipped to whisper something in Hinata's ear that had her blushing again. Naruto swallowed the inkling of jealousy, but couldn't help fixing Sakura with a glare that said he had waited long enough for Hinata's company and would not be put off much longer.

When at last she settled beside him, turning her face up to meet his own and smiling sweetly, Naruto found it in himself to forgive the delay. His hand settled over hers, the red string appearing more vibrant than ever tonight, all the proof he needed that they were bound.

He bore the gentle ribbing from friends with good grace, giving as good as he got between all the entendres and innuendo. Occasionally Hinata would blush or turn away, hiding her eyes at some of the cruder jokes. Naruto would throw his arm about her then, grateful for the excuse to draw her close. She never protested, instead leaning into him with increasing brazenness until she finally refused to sit upright again, accepting that her rightful place was tucked securely under Naruto's arm, more often than not watching his lips as he spoke with their guests.

Naruto wondered at the thoughts behind her opaque eyes: what made her blush like that, or glance away for a moment- what thought had made her fumble her sake and choke on the sip?

He offered her his cup, the last chance she had to decline him. His breath caught in his throat, heart somewhere in the vicinity of his gut until at last she took that final sip, cheeks already flushed with the spirits and good humor.

"Can we retire?" She murmured, tongue unconsciously darting out to wet her impossibly red lips.

"Yes." Naruto took a leaf from her book, clearing his throat to finish with a singularly plaintive "Please." He was rewarded with the smile that came easier to her lips with every passing moment, and a blush that could have rivaled Sakura's favorite shade. Her eyes were slipping away from his once more, but his fingers caught her chin, tilting her gaze up to meet his. "Don't… don't hide from me."

He was tipsy at the least, and giddy at the thought of finally having her all to himself, but the words needed to be said for his own peace of mind, and her promise, if she gave it, witnessed.

Hinata seemed to sense the gravity of his words. Her eyes met his once more, though not without effort. As near as he was, touching her, she struggled to think of anything but the callouses on his fingertips where they brushed against the sensitive skin of her chin, or the clean scent of cotton linen, the latent strength in those hands that could have easily hurt her but cradled her like she was something precious instead. She had agonized over whether she wanted this flawless dream to end with a wedding night, had debated if it were its own sort of infidelity to indulge the impulse that drove her to seek out Naruto's touch at every opportunity.

In the end Hinata hadn't found any answer but that she wanted anything and everything she could have. She was a greedy, ungrateful creature, but after tonight she would wake and go about her duties as promised. She would never complain, never give any sign of hesitance or dissatisfaction. She would serve her clan irreproachably in all things and set Hinata aside in favor of lady Hyuuga. After tonight.

Softly, so softly even Naruto's preternatural hearing strained to catch it, she whispered her agreement. "I won't."

!

!

!

A.N. Yikes, this chapter really got away from me. I went back to add/tweak and ended up moving a lemon and adding a couple thousand words of wedding fluff. I'm sorry? Please, if you spot any mistakes let me know. Not only is it late here, but my beta reeeaaaally does not ship it so I'm flying solo.

Thank you everyone that took the time to read/review/fave. To those of you I haven't responded to yet- I thought you would prefer the next chapter first, :P but you'll be seeing those replies shortly. And to all the guests that took time to drop in and leave their support- thank you too! (I may or may not have saved every last review in an inbox folder to get me through the day). I certainly hope this chapter lived up to expectations, and if it didn't please let me know how I can improve.

Next up: Will they? Won't they? (I'm not kidding anyone, am I?)

*Quick note on traditions/language/mythology: I am simplifying and glossing over a lot here. I didn't want this to turn into a check list of proper clothing and etiquette, and in the interest of simplicity a lot of culture and concepts have been grouped under single banners/words/simply disappeared altogether. I'm toying around with how much to include, so that will probably change with later chapters and edits of this one.

If any of these subjects interest you, I honestly suggest turning first to Wikipedia. If you're looking for a book however, The Japan Book: A Comprehensive Pocket Guide by Kodansha International is a great place to start.*