Disclaimer- I don't own Naruto. Just Takara and Miyu. And Keiji.
Author's Note- Ah, so sorry for the prolonged update. See, I have other stories and I needed to update them first before I did this one. So yeah.
Chapter Five
The breaths came out ragged and uneven, his lungs burning with a threat to explode. His legs pounded faster against the rough ground, chakra being pumped into them at full throttle. Sweat rained down the matted, turquoise hair like he had just emerged form a thunderstorm. Keiji fought to keep himself awake but found the task increasingly difficult since his body was screaming for rest. His mind was numb from lack of sleep, and it felt like he was treading on flaming knives- burning hot metal that cut into his feet.
But he couldn't stop. If he wanted to save Sakura and Ino, that is. Itachi's words echoed in his mind.
"Tell them not to send anyone after us. These girls belong to us now."
No! No they didn't! They were faithful kunoichi of Konoha, and they were going to bring them back. That was a promise.
Keiji squinted at the sun, setting rapidly over the horizon. It painted a fiery scene. Reds, purples, oranges, and golds all clashed in a gigantic medley of colors. Over on the eastern side of the sky, the deep midnight tones of dusk slowly began to creep over. So far Keiji had been running for a whole day- straight. No food, no water, no rest, which would explain his somewhat deranged state. Normally it would have taken about three days to return to Konoha, but with his unceasing sprint Keiji had managed to cut that time in half.
Steadily, the said city rose over the horizon. Positioned at the gates were two burly looking guards, who pointed their weapons at him. "Identification?"
"Dammit!" Keiji growled, "It's me, Keiji Nakagawa! Let me in, I've got news for the Hokage!"
As he tried to push through them, they held their blades up and pointed them at his face, "I'm sorry but we cannot permit you to enter."
The turquoise haired male cursed openly and hurriedly whipped out a worn looking scroll. He flashed its contents at them, along with a photo. The guards nodded, "We apologize for the inconvenience, Keiji-san. But you know, it's the rules. And what happened to you? You look like crap."
"I don't have time for this!" he yelled and sprinted off towards Hokage Tower.
"What's gotten into him?"
"I don't know," they shrugged.
Keiji literally dragged himself to the tower and collapsed at a nearby bench, his shirt drenched with sweat. He glanced at the clock tower and noticed that it was about seven o' clock… yet the streets seemed so empty. Huh… that's weird. Usually the village was bustling with nightlife, but today it seemed that everyone was… gone.
"Oh well," he panted, "I'll think about it later. For now I need to get to Tsunade-sama."
Little did he know of a certain double wedding that was going on at the same time.
Sasuke and Shikamaru sighed as they heard their friends and family chatter and assemble in the wooden pews, a flurry of dresses and formal suits ruffling. A small bead of sweat rolled down the Uchiha's face. It was finally the day of the wedding. The day he had been dreading so very much. Shikamaru looked forlorn as he stood next to him. They had hoped Ino and Sakura would return from their mission in time to attend the wedding… Sasuke and Shikamaru sighed and adjusted their tuxedoes.
Suddenly, everything fell silent and the organ music began to echo throughout the spacious chapel. Sasuke and Shikamaru felt their throats tighten. This was it…
Two flower girls tossed rose petals out of their baskets, decorating the plush, white carpet that had been laid out for the procession. Two ring bearers followed behind the girls, each holding silken, silver pillows bearing the rings. They were magnificent things, those rings. Hand-crafted, each detail was filed down to perfection, with diamonds imported from only the best mines. Then came the best men and maids of honor. Naruto and Chouji were the best men, while the maids of honor were just some slutty friends of Takara and Miyu.
And then came the brides.
Sasuke and Shikamaru kept their gazes focused ahead of them, a heavy lump settling in their stomachs.
The Uchiha heir felt a presence appear next to him. It was Takara. She wore an expensive, designer dress that exposed much of her cleavage and flowed elegantly behind her. The bodice clung to her like a second skin, revealing a small lump that began to form in her stomach. To be honest, she looked absolutely stunning… but she still wasn't the woman of his dreams.
Shikamaru felt the same way. Miyu looked adorable with her puffy skirts and flowered designs, but she wasn't the woman he was hoping for. Sasuke had an excuse to not want Takara… but what about Shikamaru?
All his life he considered Ino one of his closest friends. He never actually thought about her in sense of a spouse, but more as his loud, excitable blonde friend. She was always by his side, standing with him through thick and thing- and he took that for granted. When he met Miyu, he was instantly smitten by her innocent exterior and philosophical thoughts. In a way you could have said it was love at first sight. Shikamaru thought he had finally found a suitable wife and everything would be normal.
He was wrong.
The minute he saw Ino's stricken face in the Hokage's office, he had finally realized his mistake. He didn't want Miyu- he wanted Ino. He felt the guilt and nostalgia wash over him like a wave. And that old saying rang through his head "They say you never truly appreciate something until it's gone…" Shikamaru was experiencing that right now. When he saw Ino, his feelings for Miyu were questioned. But gradually, the more he stayed in Konoha, the more he realized his mistake. And by now it was too late.
The minister smiled at the crowd of people and sent a soft gaze at the soon-to-be newlyweds. He then opened his bible and began reciting the opening speech of the ceremony.
"We are gathered here today to take part in the most time-honored celebration of the human family, uniting a woman and a man in marriage," the minister smiled, "Sasuke Uchiha and Takara Kido, and Nara Shikamaru and Miyu Ishiguru have come to witness before us, telling of their love for each other. We remember theirs is a love whose source is the affection of those who loved them into being."
The two grooms flinched. For some reason something didn't feel right… like something was coming. They ignore the thought and listened to the minister continue his speech.
"We remind them that they are performing an act of complete faith, each in the other; that the heart of their marriage will be the relationship they create. In a world where faith often falls short of expectation, it is a tribute to these two who now join hands and hearts in perfect faith."
"TSUNADE-SAMA?" Keiji hollered, "WHERE ARE YOU?" His head whipped around eagerly but found no sighs of life at the office. "Hello? Anybody?" He threw open the doors to Hokage tower and opened every single door he could find.
"Nobody's here," a woman said as she poked around the corner, "They've all gone to the wedding."
"Wedding?" Keiji's brows furrowed.
The woman's jaw dropped, "You don't know? Oh my god- Where have you been? It's the double wedding with Sasuke Uchiha and Nara Shikamaru! All of Konoha is invited!"
"Really. All of Konoha."
"Well, not exactly. Sasuke and Shikamaru invited only their closest friends to the ceremony. Everyone else is waiting at the reception."
"What are you doing here then?"
"I'm the last to leave," she snorted, "I'm just turning off all the lights and then heading home to get ready and leave for the wedding."
"Okay, whatever, do what you want," he breathed, "Is the Hokage at the wedding?"
"Well of course she is," the secretary replied smartly, "Everyone is. Well, everyone except you. What's up with the outfit? Looks like you just came out of a river."
"Look, forget that. Can you tell me which church they're having the wedding at?"
"It's the main chapel near Konoha square. The big one," she quirked an eyebrow at him, "Why? What happened?"
"Something terrible," Keiji grumbled before leaping out a nearby window. The secretary gasped and ran over to see if he was alright. She saw him put whatever chakra he had left in his feet to ensure a safe landing and watched him sprint towards Sasuke's and Shikamaru's weddings.
"Sasuke Uchiha," the minister turned towards him, "will you receive Takara Kido as your wife? Do you pledge to her your love, faith and tenderness, cherishing her with a husband's loyalty and devotion?"
But Sasuke didn't hear him. He was lost in his own world, deep in thought. Takara coughed and nudged him. "…I do."
"Takara Kido, will you receive Sasuke Uchiha as your husband? Do you pledge to him your love, faith and tenderness, cherishing him with a wife's loyalty and devotion?"
"I do," Takara's voice held an arrogant air about it. The minister nodded and repeated the same process with the other couple.
"Nara Shikamaru, will you receive Miyu Ishiguru as your wife? Do you pledge to her your love, faith and tenderness, cherishing her with a husband's loyalty and devotion?"
He seemed to pause for a moment. For some reason there was a naggy little voice in the back of his head that said he shouldn't do it. "…I do."
"Miyu Ishiguru, will you receive Nara Shikamaru as your husband? Do you pledge to him your love, faith and tenderness, cherishing him with a wife's loyalty and devotion?"
"I do." Miyu seemed a bit too cheerful.
Keiji's head was on fire, feet flying through the streets of their own accord. He saw that great chapel the secretary spoke of enter his line of sight, but that wasn't the only thing there. There was a gigantic mass of people crowded around the church, eagerly awaiting their turn to congratulate the newlyweds on their ways out. There were several guards posted outside the building to guard it from any unwanted visitors.
He gulped and doubted the guards would let him in. Nonetheless, he had to get in. Every minute that was wasted was another minute lost from rescuing Sakura and Ino. If they hurried they might be able to catch up to the Akatsuki members before they reached base. Keiji pushed through the crowd, earning tons of protests and kicks on his way in.
"Sorry buddy," a guard said, "you can't go in there."
"But I've got a message for the Hokage!"
"Sorry, but you've got to wait until after the ceremony."
"This is a matter of life and death here!"
The guards scoffed at him as if he were some mad man. Well, Keiji supposed he did look like some deranged psychopath… Bags under his eyes, sweat dripping down him like rain, panting heavily, and screaming about life and death nonsense.
"Listen, two kunoichi have been taken by the Akatsuki, and I need to tell the Hokage before they get killed!"
"Psh," they snorted, "Right. Get out of here, you."
Keiji growled and secretly reached for a weapon. He had no other choice. "This might get a little messy."
"Sasuke Uchiha and Takara Kido, Nara Shikamaru and Miyu Ishiguru, receive each other from your fathers and mothers, who give you into each other's keeping, by saying now, each to the other, words which will tell of your love."
With half a heart, Sasuke began. "I, Sasuke Uchiha, take you, Takara Kido to be no other than yourself, in all the ways life may find us, tending you in sickness and rejoicing with you in health, as long as we both shall live to love."
Takara narrowed her eyes at Sasuke's defeated tone. He'd better not be thinking about that pink-haired bitch again. She huffed and replied to him, "I, Takara Kido, take you, Sasuke Uchiha to be no other than yourself, in all the ways life may find us, tending you in sickness and rejoicing with you in health, as long as we both shall live to love."
The process repeated with the other couple, but like Sasuke, Shikamaru's voice seemed to be laced with a depressive tone.
"I, Nara Shikamaru, take you, Miyu Ishiguru to be no other than yourself, in all the ways life may find us, tending you in sickness and rejoicing with you in health, as long as we both shall live to love."
"I, Miyu Ishiguru, take you, Nara Shikamaru to be no other than yourself, in all the ways life may find us, tending you in sickness and rejoicing with you in health, as long as we both shall live to love."
"Will you all now give and receive a ring?" The priest nodded.
"We will." The ring bearers stepped up and they exchanged them. Takara and Miyu smirked, while Sasuke and Shikamaru held a regretful look. The priest smiled.
And then came those famous words.
"If anyone has any reason why these four should not be wed, speak now or forever hold your silence."
"THEY'VE BEEN TAKEN!" a male suddenly burst through the door of the chapel and stumbled inside. There were numerous cuts and bruises throughout his body, and he looked as if he'd been through hell and back. "HELP! TSUNADE-SAMA, WHERE ARE YOU? THEY'VE BEEN TAKEN!"
"What the hell?" Naruto stood up, followed by Hinata and the rest of the rookie nine.
Instantly, every head in the room snapped to the direction of the newcomer. A few women in the back screamed and backed away. Security guards came to take the crazed Keiji out of the church, but he yanked out several kunai and fought them off. "TSUNADE-SAMA, PLEASE! LISTEN TO ME!"
"Terribly sorry," the guards grunted, "We will remove this nuisance immediately." Though in his semi-psychotic state of mind, Keiji managed to fend them off and yell something incoherent towards the Hokage.
"What?" Tsunade faced the boy, "Keiji? Is that you? What are you doing- you look like a mess!"
"YOU'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING QUICK!" Keiji hollered. He already went through so much trouble trying to deliver this message that he wanted everyone to hear it clearly.
Tsunade attempted to shush him, "Can this wait? We're in the middle of a wedding."
Keiji waved her off and wormed away. He quickly stood up, determined not to let any more interferences ruin his message. Couldn't these people see that the lives of two valuable kunoichi hung delicately in the balance?
"Keiji, please, I'll deal with you-"
"TSUNADE, DAMMIT, LISTEN TO ME!" the guards were now closing in. Keiji could only yell snippets of his message. "SAKURA AND INO!" Keiji narrowly dodged a punch, "TAKEN!" he used a kunai to block a senbon, "AKATSUKI!"
At the mere mention of the words, Sasuke and Shikamaru's eyes widened. In a heartbeat, Sasuke had run from the altar and yanked Keiji up from the collar. "What? What happened?" Shikamaru joined them. "Sakura and Ino? Akatsuki?"
Keiji coughed and breathed heavily, feeling the exhaustion finally catching up to him. The jounin fought to keep his eyes open. "T-The Akatsuki attacked us… Itachi Uchiha and his partner… kidnapped Sakura and Ino… Please… save them before they get killed…" He didn't get to say any more and was drowned in sleep.
Sasuke dropped Keiji and froze. Shikamaru's face turned a deathly pale, the skin so stark that it rivaled the brides' dresses. Both men stood glued to the spot, a foreign emotion painted on their color-drained faces. Their shoulders shook and their eyes narrowed in anger.
Sasuke felt his breathing hitch and his eyes flash a deadly crimson. "Itachi." Everyone in the chapel watched as a deadly aura seemed to resonate from the infuriated Uchiha. It was just like the time when he learned that Itachi had come back in search of the Kyuubi… except this time it was far more intense.
"ITACHI!" Sasuke hollered, eyes turning Sharingan. He ripped off his bowtie and stormed towards the exit.
"Sasuke-kun!" Takara yelled, "Where are you going? What if that guy was telling a lie?"
"Shut up!" he snapped. Takara was taken aback, "Postpone the damn wedding. I'm going to get Sakura back!"
Shikamaru sank to the floor. He wasn't breathing. He couldn't- it felt as if someone had placed a tourniquet over his chest. Slowly, he removed his wedding ring and stared at it, his face contorting in a mixture of pain and anger. "DAMN IT ALL!" he yelled as he threw the offending object to the floor and stormed after Sasuke. "INO!"
The rest of the wedding procession stared with their mouths agape. Nobody in front was really able to hear what Keiji said, except for the Hokage.
Tsunade felt her heart skip a few beats as she clenched her fists. Her apprentice… her second daughter… taken by the Akatsuki. And by Itachi Uchiha- the missing nin from Konoha! The Hokage grit her teeth and chased after the boys, "All eligible anbu to the Hokage's office," she barked, "Now!"
Every one of the rookie nine, along with a few others, complied and hurriedly rushed to the said building.
Takara and Miyu watched in mute horror as their wedding walked out on them- literally! Takara's face twisted in such rage that her grip on the richly decorated bouquet squeezed the flowers into nothing more than withered sticks. Miyu felt the tears well up in her olive eyes and she stomped her foot childishly. No! No, no, no! This wasn't supposed to happen!
Soon the entire procession had left, even the priest. The crowd in front of the chapel had shifted towards Hokage Tower, where all the commotion was going on. The chapel was abandoned in such a hurry that some people knocked over the decorations, ruining everything and leaving behind two very flustered brides.
Takara and Miyu shrieked and threw their bouquets on the floor. They were so close too! Only a few more minutes and they would have been married! Takara ripped off her tiara and stomped on it with her stiletto clad feet.
"Sh," Miyu consoled her, "You shouldn't act that way. It's not good for the baby."
"Do I care?" Takara spat, "This isn't even that wretched man's baby!"
"What?" Miyu said.
The redhead scoffed, "You really are pathetic, you know that?"
Being the whore she was, Takara was already pregnant a few weeks in advance of Sasuke's arrival. With all the men she flirted with, you honestly didn't expect her to stay miraculously unfertilized until Sasuke's arrival, did you? The Uchiha's face was known everywhere, and the minute she saw it Takara knew she had to find some way to make the man hers, but she realized that he was already smitten with some other wench back home. That was Sakura.
So began Takara's plan. She did place something in his drink, but it wasn't an aphrodisiac. It was actually a mixture of one and a few sleeping herbs. And when he woke up, Takara announced that she was pregnant. At first Sasuke was horrified and in denial, but when Takara took him to the midwife, the midwife confirmed that she was indeed pregnant. And so that was Takara's plan. She convinced Sasuke that the baby she carried was his, therefore he was forced to marry her, giving her access to his fortune and fame.
Who was the baby's real father? Pbfft, hell if she knew, but one thing was for certain: it wasn't Sasuke's.
"Come on," Takara snarled and yanked Miyu along. Truth was that Takara didn't like Miyu. She was just a naïve, gullible little thing that could be easily tricked into doing things, namely Takara's dirty work.
"What's going on here? Why did everyone leave?" Miyu asked, "And what do you mean by not Sasuke's baby?"
"Don't question me," Takara snapped, "And our men left to chase after those whores again."
Miyu's eyes widened, "You mean Sakura and Ino?"
"Yeah, whatever," the redhead was too infuriated to act nice. Sakura and Ino, Sakura and Ino, it was all about Sakura and Ino! Takara fumed. She was going to make sure those bitches would stay out of the way once and for all.
"Don't touch me."
"I can touch you if I want, you belong to us now."
"Pervert!"
Ino huffed and turned away from Kisame. Every time she looked at his pale, blue countenance she felt shivers run down her spine… and not the good kind either. The "Ew! Gross!" kind. At least Sakura was a little better off. She had woken up a few hours ago and Itachi had set her down, but in the process he had bound her hands with a "chakra leash" that he controlled.
The Yamanaka girl glanced sadly at her friend. Throughout the entire journey, her usual, dazzling chartreuse irises were distant and dull. Ino wanted to ask what was wrong but didn't because of Kisame's and Itachi's presences.
Sakura sighed heavily. Today was the day of the wedding. The day the only man she ever loved married another woman. 'At least they'll live happily ever after…' Sakura thought. 'Unlike me…'
"Move faster," Itachi commanded.
Sakura stuck her tongue out at him, "At least I'm moving."
He quirked an eyebrow at her. Just a second ago she seemed so forlorn, and now she was acting defiant. Let's see what other fluctuating moods she had…
"Go faster."
"No."
He sent an electric volt through the chakra leash. Sakura yelped and glared at him. So what if she was defying probably one of the most dangerous Akatsuki members? It wasn't like he could make her life any worse. Okay, yeah, maybe he could, but that wasn't the point.
"Don't do that again." she said.
He sent another one. She yelped and jumped. Kisame and Ino watched with mild humor.
"Stop!"
Kisame decided he wanted to have a little fun too. He gave Ino another jab with his Samehada between the shoulder blades just for the heck of it.
The blonde squeaked, "Ow! What's that thing made of? Shark skin?"
"Yes."
"Oh."
Itachi smirked. Playing with them was fun. Sakura decided not to say anything. Ino and Sakura kept stealing unsure glances at each other, an unspoken question hanging in the air.
Finally, after a long, drawn out silence, Sakura decided to ask the question. "Exactly what will we be doing with us at the Akatsuki?"
Itachi and Kisame shared a glance and smirked. "You two can sing and dance, right?"
The girls nodded.
"Then you're our new entertainers."
Whew, long chapter. You'd better appreciate it! Haha just kidding. No but seriously leave a review. I would have updated sooner, but my other stories were crying out for attention. Poor babies. Hehe. I feel like Kakashi giving a lame excuse as to why he's late.
Anyway, thanks for reading! No flames please. But do reviews. (Emphasizes the "do".)