Ronin opened the first album carefully. On the first page were three
pictures. On was of a boy he immediately recognized as his dad. The boy had
red drawings all over his face and was posed dramatically. Underneath it
was written the date and "Naruto, registration picture." Similarly labeled
was one of his father, who was looking quite sullen. Ronin marveled at how
they has changed from then to how he knew his parents. His Dad had
certainly changed a lot. He had gotten older and more mature looking and
certainly didn't have red paint over his face. Father on the other had had
changed little.
The last picture showed four people. Father, Dad, Kakashi-sensei and Aunt Sakura. He studied the picture intently, unaware of Taka peering over his shoulder. It was amazing how young they looked; they couldn't be more than twelve. "Team seven" titled the picture in neat handwriting that obviously belonged to Father. Ronin smiled to see them the three people he knew to be parents and their teacher.
Ronin flipped the page and looked at more pictures of the team until he got to ones of his father and dad holding hands, kissing or just leaning against each other. Ronin stared at the pictures, he had never seen pictures of them as teenagers other than the traditional picture of team seven. Labeled under each picture were sentences like "Sakura capturing us unaware," or "We beat up Kakashi after he took this."
After a few pages of this, there were new pictures, from weddings.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The day was warm, perfect for a wedding. It was late May and the sakura blossoms were falling from the trees leaving petals all over the grass. The party was assembled outside on the lawn and practically anybody who was anybody was present. The groom stood beside the alter waiting for the bride to make her way down the aisle.
"When is it gonna start?" a young man with blond hair complained to another young man with black hair.
"It has started. Where have you been dobe?" the dark haired man asked.
"Shut up Sasuke bastard," Naruto whispered back. The two looked at each other and smiled. Naruto lifted Sasuke's hand and kissed the back of it lightly, just barely brushing his lips against it.
They turned around quickly when they heard music. Sakura had just started down the aisle. Both Sasuke and Naruto were impressed with how beautiful their teammate looked in her traditional wedding kimono. She winked at them as she passed by. Naruto flashed her his usual thumbs up sign and Sasuke just smiled slightly.
Sakura finished her walk down the aisle to join Lee, her husband in exactly an hour. Naruto and Sasuke watched as the two were married, looking very much in love. Naruto scanned the crowd who had gathered to watch.
He first looked at Hinata who was sitting on his left. Hinata was originally chosen to be a bridesmaid as well; before it was found out she was pregnant. Currently she was seven month give or take a few weeks and was beginning to resemble a baby whale. This was due to the fact that she was carrying twins. Her husband, Neji, who was the best man and couldn't sit with her, had been quite shocked about the twins to say the least.
The marriage of Hinata and Neji had been a purely political one to begin with. Hinata was the rightful heir to the clan and Neji was the prodigy. Neji was sworn to protect Hinata, so it made sense that the two should wed and therefore also preserve the bloodline limit. At first neither had liked the idea of marrying, but had grown to love each other quite quickly.
Hinata was now a jounin and Neji was an ANBU. The two had trained daily together since their engagement had been decided two years ago. Hinata had was still quiet, choosing not to speak unless necessary, but had a certain confidence about her which hadn't existed in her before. Naruto believed her previous shyness and lack of confidence has simply been from the stress of teenage years.
Naruto looked to see everyone else and spotted Shikamaru who was sitting a few rows behind them holding a two month old baby in his lap and looking very apprehensive. The jounin was holding it as if it was a time bomb about to go off even though the child was sleeping peacefully even in the absence of his mother Ino who was one of Sakura's bridesmaids. The baby was a boy, completely messing up Shikamaru's life plan, though he didn't seem too upset unless left alone with the child who he felt nervous around.
Elsewhere sat other people he knew, Kiba, Shino, Tenten and others. Kakashi and Iruka had even shown up, on time no less, together. The two had been married in everything except the word for the past five years.
Naruto felt a warm, calloused hand slip into his. He turned to Sasuke and smiled. The two had been dating for six years, since Naruto had chased after Sasuke who had run away to kill his brother. Naruto had found Sasuke recovering from the battle after defeating his brother, leaving him alive, but unable to be a ninja anymore since Sasuke said it "Wasn't worth the effort to kill him." They had come back after confessing feeling for each other and had dated, not being public about their relationship until they were caught making out at the wedding reception at the ceremony Kakashi and Iruka arranged to celebrate their commitment to each other even though the law would never recognize it as marriage.
They'd been making out behind the bar, hoping anyone who came over would be too drunk to notice their presence. They were discovered when Iruka and Kakashi came over with the idea that they themselves could make out behind the bar. Kakashi and laughed, tossed them each a beer, clicked the beers which they were holding unsurely in their hands with his sake cup, took a drink and yelled "It's about damn time."
This had set off a chain reaction. Sakura was unsure whether to cry or to aw at how cute they were, Jiraiya started singing, "For they're jolly good fellows," Tsunade insisted on pictures of the new couple with Kakashi and Iruka and everyone else seemed to be in some degree of Sakura's dilemma.
The sound people cheering ecstatically brought Naruto's mind back to the present. Lee and Sakura had just kissed and were making their way down the aisle again.
Later that day, the wedding party was going on. It was winding down, only the bride, the groom, both sets of parent, Ino, Shikamaru, their child, Hinata, Neji, Naruto and Sasuke. One last slow song was playing causing all couples to go out onto the dance floor save Hinata and Neji who offered to watch Ino's baby.
Sasuke enjoyed the feeling of holding Naruto in his arms. It felt comforting. He knew he was safe and that he would do anything to keep Naruto safe. He played with Naruto's hair with his hand as the two of them swayed back and forth, unaware of the world around them.
When the song ended Sasuke drew back to arms length. He studied Naruto. He had grown since when they had first met. Naruto's face had matured and he had grown to only be two inches short than Sasuke himself. Sasuke always found it amusing that he no longer had to look down a significant distance to see Naruto's eyes.
"Naruto, I have to ask you something," Sasuke said. He dropped to his knees, looking at the ground. He rummaged through his pockets until he found what he was looking for and held it out, not wanting to look up. When the silence remained, Sasuke looked up slowly to see Naruto was doing the same thing. His head was also rising slowly to meet eyes and he too has holding out a box. They stared at each other, neither knowing what to do.
"Ah, how troublesome," Shikamaru said, walking away from everyone else who were watching the whole thing toward the two statue like ninjas. When he reached his frozen friends, he snatched the boxes, and placed them in opposite hands.
Both looked up at him. Naruto's looked frightened, like the little puppy he had bought Ino just before their son was born. Ino had yelled and said that she refused to have the kid if they didn't have a dog and he'd have to deal with her pregnant and bitchy for the rest of his life. Shikamaru was a reasonable person and knew what Ino was saying wasn't physically possible, but he had still gone out and bought that puppy whose eyes Naruto was now imitating. Shikamaru looked at Sasuke who looked confused and more than a little scared. Shikamaru sighed, how troublesome. He put his hand on Naruto's shoulder.
"Naruto, I think we can safely assume that Sasuke wants to marry you," Shikamaru assured him. Shikamaru turned to Sasuke. "Sasuke, congratulations, Naruto says yes." Shikamaru stepped back. Both stayed there frozen so Sakura decided to do something about this. She made her way over to the two and smacked them soundly upside their heads.
"Ok you two, you've stolen the spotlight from my wedding day, so if since you've done this just get up, kiss each other and be done with it!" she scolded them. They both helplessly looked at each other. "Honestly," Sakura muttered under her breath. She dragged them each to their feet and put Naruto's hands in Sasuke's. The still were still frozen only now standing. "Ai, Naruto, repeat after me, 'Yes Sasuke, I will marry you.'"
"Yes Sasuke I will marry you," he repeated. He threw a grateful smile at her.
"Really?" Sasuke asked.
"If you will marry me then I'll marry you," Naruto informed him.
"Aw, how sweet," Hinata gushed.
"Just kiss already!" Ino yelled. They proceeded to do just that.
A few months later the two were married. The ceremony was preformed by the honorable Fifth Hokage who was performing the ceremony as her last act as Hokage. According to law she wasn't allowed to marry gay couples, but since she was retiring, she figured that there was no way she could be fired for marrying Naruto and Sasuke.
"I pronounce you married," she told them, joining their hands together. The two kissed while the crowd cheered.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Taka sat back, looking away from the picture of her fathers' wedding. She wondered what that day had been like, resigned herself never to know. She looked at the smiling faces in the photo and felt herself smiling. If nothing else, her parents had loved each other very much. They had held hands under the table at dinner every night and often fell asleep together on the couch. They way they looked at each other, as if they couldn't stand to look away, it was an intensity that Taka wanted and feared.
There had once been a person in her life whom she could have loved like that, with so much devotion, but that person wasn't there anymore, so there was no use wishing. Taka wondered if she would ever find another person she would love that much.
Her gaze fell upon Ronin who was still staring at the picture of their parents' wedding day. Taka admitted something to herself, an act she had not done in a long time. If nothing else, the bastard really loved Kichiko and his children.
"Turn the page," she half commanded him. He looked at her, and nodded, slowly turning the page.
A/N not much to say. Again, if you don't like Yaoi then don't read. I know it's a bit out of character, but after spending so much time together and growing up, don't you think they would have changed?
Ages? Well doesn't really matter. I don't like telling such info here. Let's put it this way, when the gang starts setting down they're in their twenties about.
Taka and Ronin are somewhere in their mid twenties to early thirties. Haven't decided yet, and they're both straight. Children raised by gay parents are no more likely to be gay than any other kid. Oh, and they came into the world in the normal way as hinted in the beginning. No magic of any sort was involved in their birth nor was the power of the fox demon, there's a perfectly logical reason for both Taka and Ronin for being around.
I refuse to write "flash back" or "five years later" or "Sasuke's point of view" you just have to figure all that out for yourself. I trust your intelligence. I made it easier for you by breaking up the present and past sections.
Disclaimer: If it were mine than there wouldn't be filler episodes.
The last picture showed four people. Father, Dad, Kakashi-sensei and Aunt Sakura. He studied the picture intently, unaware of Taka peering over his shoulder. It was amazing how young they looked; they couldn't be more than twelve. "Team seven" titled the picture in neat handwriting that obviously belonged to Father. Ronin smiled to see them the three people he knew to be parents and their teacher.
Ronin flipped the page and looked at more pictures of the team until he got to ones of his father and dad holding hands, kissing or just leaning against each other. Ronin stared at the pictures, he had never seen pictures of them as teenagers other than the traditional picture of team seven. Labeled under each picture were sentences like "Sakura capturing us unaware," or "We beat up Kakashi after he took this."
After a few pages of this, there were new pictures, from weddings.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The day was warm, perfect for a wedding. It was late May and the sakura blossoms were falling from the trees leaving petals all over the grass. The party was assembled outside on the lawn and practically anybody who was anybody was present. The groom stood beside the alter waiting for the bride to make her way down the aisle.
"When is it gonna start?" a young man with blond hair complained to another young man with black hair.
"It has started. Where have you been dobe?" the dark haired man asked.
"Shut up Sasuke bastard," Naruto whispered back. The two looked at each other and smiled. Naruto lifted Sasuke's hand and kissed the back of it lightly, just barely brushing his lips against it.
They turned around quickly when they heard music. Sakura had just started down the aisle. Both Sasuke and Naruto were impressed with how beautiful their teammate looked in her traditional wedding kimono. She winked at them as she passed by. Naruto flashed her his usual thumbs up sign and Sasuke just smiled slightly.
Sakura finished her walk down the aisle to join Lee, her husband in exactly an hour. Naruto and Sasuke watched as the two were married, looking very much in love. Naruto scanned the crowd who had gathered to watch.
He first looked at Hinata who was sitting on his left. Hinata was originally chosen to be a bridesmaid as well; before it was found out she was pregnant. Currently she was seven month give or take a few weeks and was beginning to resemble a baby whale. This was due to the fact that she was carrying twins. Her husband, Neji, who was the best man and couldn't sit with her, had been quite shocked about the twins to say the least.
The marriage of Hinata and Neji had been a purely political one to begin with. Hinata was the rightful heir to the clan and Neji was the prodigy. Neji was sworn to protect Hinata, so it made sense that the two should wed and therefore also preserve the bloodline limit. At first neither had liked the idea of marrying, but had grown to love each other quite quickly.
Hinata was now a jounin and Neji was an ANBU. The two had trained daily together since their engagement had been decided two years ago. Hinata had was still quiet, choosing not to speak unless necessary, but had a certain confidence about her which hadn't existed in her before. Naruto believed her previous shyness and lack of confidence has simply been from the stress of teenage years.
Naruto looked to see everyone else and spotted Shikamaru who was sitting a few rows behind them holding a two month old baby in his lap and looking very apprehensive. The jounin was holding it as if it was a time bomb about to go off even though the child was sleeping peacefully even in the absence of his mother Ino who was one of Sakura's bridesmaids. The baby was a boy, completely messing up Shikamaru's life plan, though he didn't seem too upset unless left alone with the child who he felt nervous around.
Elsewhere sat other people he knew, Kiba, Shino, Tenten and others. Kakashi and Iruka had even shown up, on time no less, together. The two had been married in everything except the word for the past five years.
Naruto felt a warm, calloused hand slip into his. He turned to Sasuke and smiled. The two had been dating for six years, since Naruto had chased after Sasuke who had run away to kill his brother. Naruto had found Sasuke recovering from the battle after defeating his brother, leaving him alive, but unable to be a ninja anymore since Sasuke said it "Wasn't worth the effort to kill him." They had come back after confessing feeling for each other and had dated, not being public about their relationship until they were caught making out at the wedding reception at the ceremony Kakashi and Iruka arranged to celebrate their commitment to each other even though the law would never recognize it as marriage.
They'd been making out behind the bar, hoping anyone who came over would be too drunk to notice their presence. They were discovered when Iruka and Kakashi came over with the idea that they themselves could make out behind the bar. Kakashi and laughed, tossed them each a beer, clicked the beers which they were holding unsurely in their hands with his sake cup, took a drink and yelled "It's about damn time."
This had set off a chain reaction. Sakura was unsure whether to cry or to aw at how cute they were, Jiraiya started singing, "For they're jolly good fellows," Tsunade insisted on pictures of the new couple with Kakashi and Iruka and everyone else seemed to be in some degree of Sakura's dilemma.
The sound people cheering ecstatically brought Naruto's mind back to the present. Lee and Sakura had just kissed and were making their way down the aisle again.
Later that day, the wedding party was going on. It was winding down, only the bride, the groom, both sets of parent, Ino, Shikamaru, their child, Hinata, Neji, Naruto and Sasuke. One last slow song was playing causing all couples to go out onto the dance floor save Hinata and Neji who offered to watch Ino's baby.
Sasuke enjoyed the feeling of holding Naruto in his arms. It felt comforting. He knew he was safe and that he would do anything to keep Naruto safe. He played with Naruto's hair with his hand as the two of them swayed back and forth, unaware of the world around them.
When the song ended Sasuke drew back to arms length. He studied Naruto. He had grown since when they had first met. Naruto's face had matured and he had grown to only be two inches short than Sasuke himself. Sasuke always found it amusing that he no longer had to look down a significant distance to see Naruto's eyes.
"Naruto, I have to ask you something," Sasuke said. He dropped to his knees, looking at the ground. He rummaged through his pockets until he found what he was looking for and held it out, not wanting to look up. When the silence remained, Sasuke looked up slowly to see Naruto was doing the same thing. His head was also rising slowly to meet eyes and he too has holding out a box. They stared at each other, neither knowing what to do.
"Ah, how troublesome," Shikamaru said, walking away from everyone else who were watching the whole thing toward the two statue like ninjas. When he reached his frozen friends, he snatched the boxes, and placed them in opposite hands.
Both looked up at him. Naruto's looked frightened, like the little puppy he had bought Ino just before their son was born. Ino had yelled and said that she refused to have the kid if they didn't have a dog and he'd have to deal with her pregnant and bitchy for the rest of his life. Shikamaru was a reasonable person and knew what Ino was saying wasn't physically possible, but he had still gone out and bought that puppy whose eyes Naruto was now imitating. Shikamaru looked at Sasuke who looked confused and more than a little scared. Shikamaru sighed, how troublesome. He put his hand on Naruto's shoulder.
"Naruto, I think we can safely assume that Sasuke wants to marry you," Shikamaru assured him. Shikamaru turned to Sasuke. "Sasuke, congratulations, Naruto says yes." Shikamaru stepped back. Both stayed there frozen so Sakura decided to do something about this. She made her way over to the two and smacked them soundly upside their heads.
"Ok you two, you've stolen the spotlight from my wedding day, so if since you've done this just get up, kiss each other and be done with it!" she scolded them. They both helplessly looked at each other. "Honestly," Sakura muttered under her breath. She dragged them each to their feet and put Naruto's hands in Sasuke's. The still were still frozen only now standing. "Ai, Naruto, repeat after me, 'Yes Sasuke, I will marry you.'"
"Yes Sasuke I will marry you," he repeated. He threw a grateful smile at her.
"Really?" Sasuke asked.
"If you will marry me then I'll marry you," Naruto informed him.
"Aw, how sweet," Hinata gushed.
"Just kiss already!" Ino yelled. They proceeded to do just that.
A few months later the two were married. The ceremony was preformed by the honorable Fifth Hokage who was performing the ceremony as her last act as Hokage. According to law she wasn't allowed to marry gay couples, but since she was retiring, she figured that there was no way she could be fired for marrying Naruto and Sasuke.
"I pronounce you married," she told them, joining their hands together. The two kissed while the crowd cheered.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Taka sat back, looking away from the picture of her fathers' wedding. She wondered what that day had been like, resigned herself never to know. She looked at the smiling faces in the photo and felt herself smiling. If nothing else, her parents had loved each other very much. They had held hands under the table at dinner every night and often fell asleep together on the couch. They way they looked at each other, as if they couldn't stand to look away, it was an intensity that Taka wanted and feared.
There had once been a person in her life whom she could have loved like that, with so much devotion, but that person wasn't there anymore, so there was no use wishing. Taka wondered if she would ever find another person she would love that much.
Her gaze fell upon Ronin who was still staring at the picture of their parents' wedding day. Taka admitted something to herself, an act she had not done in a long time. If nothing else, the bastard really loved Kichiko and his children.
"Turn the page," she half commanded him. He looked at her, and nodded, slowly turning the page.
A/N not much to say. Again, if you don't like Yaoi then don't read. I know it's a bit out of character, but after spending so much time together and growing up, don't you think they would have changed?
Ages? Well doesn't really matter. I don't like telling such info here. Let's put it this way, when the gang starts setting down they're in their twenties about.
Taka and Ronin are somewhere in their mid twenties to early thirties. Haven't decided yet, and they're both straight. Children raised by gay parents are no more likely to be gay than any other kid. Oh, and they came into the world in the normal way as hinted in the beginning. No magic of any sort was involved in their birth nor was the power of the fox demon, there's a perfectly logical reason for both Taka and Ronin for being around.
I refuse to write "flash back" or "five years later" or "Sasuke's point of view" you just have to figure all that out for yourself. I trust your intelligence. I made it easier for you by breaking up the present and past sections.
Disclaimer: If it were mine than there wouldn't be filler episodes.