Now fully dressed, Sakura and Garaa walked out of his room. Garaa wore the traditional Kazekage outfit and Sakura wore something picked out especially for her, a tight fitting black dress that was a v-cut you tie around your neck and ended with a flare just above her knees.
Garaa looked at her once more and whispered, "I love you.", before they walked hand-in-hand into the banquet room. Noise bombarded them as they took a seat at a table near the stage. Sitting with them were Kiba and Hinita, Naruto and Tenten, Neji and Hana, Ino and Kankurou, and Temari and Shikamaru.
"Ohhh, Sakura! Are you going out with Garaa now?" Naruto yelled
"She blushed but before she could say anything Garaa interrupted, "Yes, we are going out.", and he pulled Sakura close to him protectively. She giggled and turned to plant a kiss on his cheek.
Naruto, stunned, turned away from them, and began talking with TenTen about something to do with wondering when they could eat. After a couple of minutes of socializing, Kakashi came over, dragging Iruka along with him.
"Hey guy's." He said
"Hello Kakashi-sensei, Iruka-sensei." Sakura and Naruto said in unison
"So, why'd you bring me over here again?" Iruka asked impatiently
"I didn't want to come alone." Kakashi said with an innocent look in his uncovered eye.
"Well then, I'm going back to our table."
Before Iruka could get anywhere, Kakashi wrapped his arms around the chunnin's waist and said, "Fine, then I'll come with you."
"Uhhg, not here Kakashi." Iruka groaned trying to break away but ended up only in furthering his embarrassment when people turned and looked at the arguing couple. Iruka finally had to walk back with his boyfriend clinging to his waist.
The rest of the table stared but decided not to interfere and started talking amongst each other once again. Garaa waited until they were deep in conversation when he pulled Sakura with him to the curtains behind the stage.
"What's going on?" She asked with a hint of nervousness in her voice
"You'll see." He said as he quickly kissed her and pulled her on stage.
At once, all the commotion stopped and all eyes were on them. Advancing towards the middle of the stage with Sakura following him he cleared his throat and began his speech.
"Thank you all for coming. Especially the Hokage, Tsunade-sama, and before dinner, I have a couple of things to say. First, I apologize for the trouble the Hidden Sand Village has caused you and I would like you to know that as long as I'm around it won't happen again." Cheers erupted but they were silenced when Garaa continued. "Now the second thing I would like to announce with all of you as my witness, that is practically all the ninja in Kahona." He got down on one knee in front of Sakura, "I, Garaa, ask, Sakura, to join me marriage, one year from now when she turns eighteen."
As he said this, he pulled out a ring from his pocket. It was a pink diamond shaped like a Sakura blossom. Everyone seemed to hold there breath waiting for her response. She leapt at him and sobbed, "Yes, yes, yes. I will marry you."
He lifted her up and kissed away the tears on her cheeks, gaining ohhs and awws from there audience. Soon Sakura joined there lips together and Garaa carried her back to there seats, never breaking contact. Garaa raised his hand, signaling for the waiters and waitresses to serve the food. Sakura pulled away only to look at the food in front of her and then looked back at Garaa.
"I love you too much for you to imagine and I had to let everyone know." Garaa said while brushing his hand through her pink hair
"Thank you then, because I would have done the same thing." She kissed him once more and then started to eat
