Shanan and Kakashi had been engaged for three years and the big day was finally here.
They would've been married sooner, but missions always seemed to get in the way and they wanted as many people that they cared about there as they could have.
Shanan wanted a dress that complimented her ring, so she picked something elegant.
Kakashi kept it pretty simple. His clothes were similar to when he had proposed, but now with a jacket and no mask today either.
Everyone was excited to finally really see him without his mask on, even though he assured them it would probably never happen again.
Shanan didn't have anyone to walk with her down the aisle. Everyone she could think of was gone. Her father. Kakashi's father. Even Minato Sensei. She knew she could, but she felt kinda sad walking by herself.
Fortunately, Guy had asked her if it would be ok. And then when Asuma found out that Guy was walking with her, he asked if it'd be ok for two people to walk with her and she was very grateful for the both of them.
They didn't have a wedding party or any of that. They really did want to keep it simple. However, it felt like the entire village wanted to help. So many offers to bring chairs and make decorations and provide food for afterwards. Plenty of people said they'd be happy to double as guests and security, just in case. Everyone seemed like they were as excited for them to be married as they were.
And everyone that helped them to set up had done an amazing job. Shanan and Kakashi had told Kushina Sensei that they just wanted her there as their guest. But she ended up taking over anyway and instructing people on where to put everything.
She checked on Shanan when she was getting ready and helped with her hair and then she checked on Kakashi and made sure his bowtie was straight. She really made sure everything was perfect.
And Kakashi had drawn pictures of their parents and his late Sensei and teammates so that it would feel like they were there among everyone else.
He had never really drawn any pictures of their parents before then. And he mostly worked on them while Shanan was asleep. She suspected it was because it had been harder than he thought to draw so much life into them without becoming really emotional about it. But he got them done and they were all perfect. They all looked really proud thanks to him.
The first half of the day looked as though it might rain, which had Shanan worried, she had always hated being rained on, least of all on her wedding day, but the clouds seemed to clear just in time
Shanan had been waiting for this day for so long it felt like. And now she was so nervous. She was going to forget her vows. She was going to throw up. Her vows would be stupid. Kakashi had probably changed his mind actually.
"Are you ready?" Guy asked her. "It looks like Kakashi just got up there," he said as he looked out again. "Oh wait, Kushina Sensei is straightening his bowtie now... What? He has a different mask on!" He held his finger up as he watched Kakashi and Kushina. "Ok, now are you ready?"
Shanan was tearing up already and started trying to fan her face with her hand.
"I'm overdressed, aren't I?" she asked.
Guy looked at her exasperated.
"For your wedding? You look perfect. Kakashi's jaw's gonna drop as soon as he sees you," Asuma said as he walked in. "Calm down. You're just jittery, you always used to get like this on missions."
"I guess I did." Shanan laughed nervously, but immediately felt a bit better.
"All you're doing is marrying the man of your dreams," he teased.
"He's probably super calm right now and I'm being a baby."
"Yeah, right! He's been messing with that bowtie all day!" Guy told her.
Just then, the music started.
Shanan fanned her face again quickly as Guy and Asuma went to stand on either side of her and interlocked arms with her.
"Are you ready now?" Guy asked her again.
Shanan looked straight ahead, smiled and nodded.
As soon as they walked out of the tent, everyone stood up and then, as soon as she saw Kakashi, it was as if they'd all just disappeared. He removed his mask immediately and beamed at her. He was perfect. How did he love her? How did they get here? And why was he so far away right now?
As soon as Shanan and the guys walked out of the tent, Kakashi felt like his heart had jumped out of his chest. He suddenly didn't know if he'd ever speak again, or if he ever even had in the past. All of this felt like a dream, the best kind of dream. She was really going to marry him and she looked so beautiful.
As she made her way down the aisle, her legs started feeling weaker and weaker. She was thankful she had two people holding her up. Was she even walking anymore? Or were they carrying her now?
Kakashi suddenly couldn't remember if he was supposed to do anything once she got to him. All he wanted to do was stare at her. And hold her. And kiss her. But he had to profess his love and devotion to her first, he remembered that much at least.
Finally he was close, just a few more steps. But then the guys stopped walking. Shanan looked to her left a bit confused. Asuma leaned in to kiss her cheek and gave Kakashi a slight bow before going to sit in his seat. And then Guy did the same thing. Kiss on the cheek and then a slight bow to Kakashi. And then she remembered that that was standard.
Kakashi held his hand out for her to take and when she did, he pulled her closer and took hold of her other hand too as he stared deep into her eyes. They had always been so easy for him to get lost in and today was no different.
They finally reached the part where they could say their vows and Kakashi got to go first.
"Shanan, my love. I've never told you this, because I was saving it for today, but you're my first memory." He smiled as tears started rushing to his eyes. "We were really small, maybe two or three, and I had fallen down and scraped my hand and you ran over to me. But then, you also fell." He laughed a little as the tears started falling. "So then I got up and ran to you. You were crying, but you wiped your face and still kissed my scrape and told me it was all better. And I just remember thinking... that it was better. I thought you were magic from that moment on. And that's all I ever remember thinking. All I've ever wanted was you and you alone. All I wanna do for the rest of my life is continue to live for you, because you're still magic. You still make it better. I couldn't imagine my life without you." His voice finally started breaking. "I love you so much and I'm so happy you love me too," he finished as Shanan smiled and reached up to wipe his tears, even though she was a mess herself. "See? Still better," he said as he laughed and wiped her tears away too. "Deep breaths," he whispered to her.
Shanan took a few deep breaths and collected herself enough to say her own vows.
"Kakashi." She could barely say his name without her voice breaking. "I loved you before I even knew that I did. You're the only person in this world that I've ever cared about what they think of me. If for any reason I thought you were upset with me, or didn't like me, I was completely devastated and didn't know why," she laughed a little through her tears. "Even when it was all in my head. And the thought of losing you was unfathomable. All I have ever wanted to do is shield you and protect you from even a little bit of pain. I just wanna take care of you and share everything and every moment with you forever, because words could never express my love and adoration for you," she said as Kakashi continued beaming at her.
He pulled her in close and wiped her tears with both hands still staring into her eyes and only let go because they had to exchange rings.
They both said their "I do's" shakily and exchanged wedding bands. Never taking their eyes off one another. And then finally.
"You may now kiss the bride."
Kakashi pulled Shanan close as she put her arms around his neck and they both sunk into a deep kiss full of all of the love and devotion they had ever felt towards one another. As if they'd both waited their entire lives for this one.
They were finally Kakashi Shanan Hatake.