Three Hundred and Thirty Two.
Hinata is pleased with Burifu's curls. Her hair has grown out a bit now, and it is no less curly. Burifu, Hanabi and Kimiko are all dressed in their blue fairy costumes. Sekitei and Moegi are still putting on their costumes. They are just waiting on Namiko. Minato went to get Namiko about half an hour ago. Hinata is winding the flower crowns into the girls' hair while she waits for her sixth fairy. Kushina is helping the girls dress. They are at Naruto's house, because it is much closer to the wedding venue. The flower crowns Hinata has for her fairies are made of blue anemone flowers, the same as the flowers being used throughout the rest of the wedding. Hinata roped in Shikamaru, Choji, Ino, Shino and Kiba to help her set up. Ino chose the flowers, and Kazama helped Hinata make the matching fairy costumes. Hinata often has to get extra help when she does a wedding nowadays.
Kushina watches Hinata put on Burifu's flower crown, and does Hanabi's crown while Hinata does Kimiko's.
Burifu twirls, making her skirt fly up. "It feels different this time," she says. "Less itchy."
"That's because you don't have a layer of dry dirt underneath," says Hinata. "And don't you dare get all muddy while you are wearing that costume, or I'll cut your pay."
Burifu's eyes widen. "I won't get dirty until after, I promise."
"Good," says Hinata.
Sekitei, now out of her brace, and standing on her feet, does a twirl too. Then she falls over laughing. "It's so fluffy!" she says. "I like being a fairy!"
"Alright, it's your turn for your crown," says Kushina, motioning Sekitei over.
Sekitei jumps up and runs to Kushina. Sekitei runs practically everywhere now that her brace is off. Her foot is completely straight, and the little girl is tickled pink about it. She tells everyone who will listen how wonderful it is not having a twisted foot.
Ten days previously…
Madara and his brats are at the hospital so Sekitei can have her brace removed. Sekitei thinks it's just a checkup. The twins, Sekitei and Tachi all think the brace is there to stay. It's already a wonderful thing to them that Sekitei can walk with the aid of the brace, so it can't get any better. Madara knows better. Ajisai doesn't care much. As far as she is concerned, the only thing that matters is whether Uncle Madara (who she thinks is her dad) is nearby. Her short-term baby memory has already caused her to forget her mother.
Tsunade unstraps the brace and takes it off Sekitei's foot. The twins watch in fascination. Madara watches with more interest than he would ever deign to admit. Ajisai sucks her thumb contentedly. Tsunade moves Sekitei's foot around to make sure it is working properly, then tells Sekitei to move her foot herself. Sekitei does so, wondering why she needs to move it around when it stays so stiff in the brace.
"Alright, brat," says Tsunade. "Up you get. Let's see how well you can walk without the brace."
"Without the brace?" says Sekitei, her eyes widening in wonder. "You mean I can walk without any help at all?"
"Well that was the whole point of the operation," says Tsunade, helping the little girl off the examination bed. The kid is staring at Tsunade like she is some kind of hero, and it's making Tsunade uncomfortable.
Sekitei closes her eyes tight and puts her feet down on the floor. First her good foot, then her bad foot. The floor is cool on her bare feet. She opens one eye, then the other and peers down at her feet. One normal foot, that was always straight and one foot with a scar on it. But in that moment that scar is the most beautiful thing in the world, because it means Sekitei can stand. It's her surgery scar - the surgery that made her foot straight. She knew it was straight, but it never occurred to her that she would be able to walk normally.
The twins stare at Sekitei and Tachibana's mouth hangs open in a little 'o'. He can't see what's going on, but he doesn't need to see to know what's happening.
Sekitei takes a tentative step with her scarred foot. It feels perfectly sound so she takes a few more and runs to Uncle Madara. "Look!" she says, beaming. "I can walk properly!"
Uncle Madara smiles and pats her head. He is happy for the kid, although he wonders how best to express that.
Sekitei is happy with a head-pat and runs back to Tsunade. The little girl flings her arms around Tsunade and says, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
"You're welcome, brat," says Tsunade, touched. "But wait a week or two before you try any crazy stunts, alright?"
"Okay!" says Sekitei, grinning.
"Keep an eye on her, Madara!" says Tsunade, sternly.
Madara resolves to make sure the kid doesn't do anything too boisterous for a while. It should be easy enough to keep her occupied. Sekitei has taken to helping Madara cook, and she is turning out to be quite good at it.
The present…
Naruto knocks on the door and calls out, "Are you girls all decent, 'tebayo?"
"Yes, 'tebane," says Kushina.
Naruto comes in with Sparky and Mrs. Sparky. The two phoenixes are all decked out with perfectly groomed feathers and big bows around their necks. Sparky has a blue bow and Mrs. Sparky has a white bow. (Mrs. Sparky is still called that because she will not respond to anything else. They tried.)
Hinata grins. "Are you guys finished with the unicorns too?" Team Seven is decking out the unicorns in their finery. Hinata was surprised when it was Sasuke who volunteered her team for that role. Naruto and Madoka weren't surprised, so Hinata didn't comment.
"No," says Naruto sheepishly. "Sasuke keeps hitting me with her crutch, so I came inside."
Hinata frowns. Sasuke is down to only one crutch now, and she only takes it when she leaves her house. Or when Naruto is around. Sasuke seems to think that the entire purpose of that crutch is to hit Naruto with. Hinata is going to have to have words with Sasuke about this. But later, after the wedding. Maybe tomorrow. Yes, tomorrow.
There is a flash and Minato appears with Namiko and Mei.
Namiko tuckle-hugs Naruto to the floor.
"Sorry we're late," says Minato, grinning. "I invited Mei to stay the night, and she had to pack some spare clothes and tell her minions she'll be gone a while."
"So it runs in the family," mutters Hinata, remembering that Naruto is always bringing people home spontaneously.
"Mummy's getting chubby," giggles Namiko.
Mei blushes. "It's not entirely my fault…"
"But you keep eating weird food!" says Namiko.
"Oh my gosh, you're pregnant," says Kushina.
Mei blushes and pats her stomach. "Yeah, I've got a baby in my belly..."
Namiko screams.
Iruka appears few seconds later. "What's going on in here?" he asks, worried.
"There's a baby trapped inside Mummy!" cries Namiko. "It's making her fat!"
Sekitei laughs at Namiko. "That's not how babies work, you dumb ass!"
"Mummy, Sekitei's being mean!"
Hinata laughs, as does everyone else except Iruka.
Iruka kneels down beside Namiko and says, "Calm down, Namiko. It's not trapped, it's just living there for now. It'll move out in a few months."
Namiko stares at Iruka in confusion. "Huh?"
"It's a freeloader," Mei says, grinning and then hugs Iruka from behind.
Iruka blushes very red.
Hinata sees what time it is and says, "Alright, all you guys get out. I need to get Namiko dressed. Mei, go with them. You need to talk with Iruka. And I mean talk. Naruto, you supervise them. I don't want any funny business."
Naruto, Mei, Iruka and Minato leave. The Sparkys go with them, one on each of Naruto's shoulders.
Hinata and Kushina get Namiko dressed and decked out in her flower crown.
When all six little fairies are ready, Hinata and Kushina collect Naruto and Minato and head outside to collect the unicorns, Sasuke and Madoka. The unicorns are all decked out in white and blue bunting and flowers.
Iruka, Mei, Kazama and Arashi stay behind to talk.
When Hinata and her posse arrive at the venue, Team Asuma is just putting up the last of the decorations while Team Gai (and Gai himself) are setting up the last of the tables for the reception. Hinata takes her fairies and unicorns to where the actual ceremony is to be held. The grooms is already there, and the guests are starting to arrive. Hinata gets the unicorns and the Sparkys into place and takes the fairies to find the bride so they can escort her up the aisle. When the ceremony is over, Hinata helps the bride onto Moonbeam, while Konohamaru, the ring bearer, helps the groom onto Sparkles.
And then the fairies lead the unicorns down the aisle (well, the unicorns are actually leading the fairies).
Hinata can't stop smiling. She did this wedding for free because it is Asuma and Kurenai sensei's wedding.