Chapter 6
To say that Naruto is nervous is a major understatement. He is petrified. This wedding is insane. He is fifteen, and marrying a stranger he met a few weeks ago; a stranger who is the angel of his dreams, yet has a nasty repute in reality.
Minato has tried his absolute best to talk his son out of this stupidity. And Naruto wants to listen. As god is his witness, he wants to cancel this wedding and push Sasuke out of his life as quickly as he came in. But there is an invisible thread, a psychotic pull, which refuses to let Naruto listen to any reason.
Hinata knows that she is still a stranger to Naruto. She has no right to tell him what to do with his life, or whom to marry. But she cannot help but sigh disappointedly every time the latest Uchiha wedding is even mentioned. The previous years of Sasuke's life have not escaped her notice. She knows of his degeneracy. The youngest Uchiha is an extremely flawed, and frankly pathetic individual. Naruto deserves better.
Kushina blames herself. She pushed her darling baby boy towards marriage. Pressured him into something he is clearly not ready for. Marriage is difficult enough for two sane people. But her sweet, innocent Naruto, with the resident sociopath? She can only see this relationship ending in tragedy.
A wedding this sudden is odd. Usually, the couple-to-be has known each other for months. The groom courts and woos his bride for a certain period of time before he proposes. But Konoha is used to the suddenness of Uchiha weddings. Young Uchiha males either quickly take exceptionally beautiful mates, or disappear altogether. There is speculation as to where these unmarried boys go. No missing person's reports are ever filed. But there is a generally observed trend that if an Uchiha isn't married by his seventeenth birthday, he will never be seen again.
Sasuke's reputation is terrible, but his handsome looks and bad boy attitude has made him extremely popular with the opposite sex. Girls everywhere envy Naruto, even hate him for taking their heartthrob away.
Parents of young boys and girls breathe a sigh of relief. Their children are safe from Sasuke Uchiha. The psychopath has finally decided to take a wife. Mothers everywhere regard the Uzumaki-Namikaze household with pity. They can't imagine their child marrying Sasuke.
The Uchiha household is excited. As excited as a clan filled with the world's most stoic people can ever get. Sasuke is a powerful male. His survival is important for the clan's future success. Now that he has found his mate, he can join the family business and help it flourish; just like his brother.
Sasuke abandoned his life a few months ago. The boy, who was once a permanent fixture at every party and barroom in Konoha, vanished. Nobody bothered to inquire. Every non-Uchiha Konoha citizen merely assumed that Sasuke had left town forever, like all those Uchiha boys who leave and never come back. But now the boy seems to have made a return.
It's all very, very strange by normal standards. However, extremely typical, even boring, by Uchiha standards.
"What do you think of this one, Naruto? You will look so beautiful in this." Kushina stands next to a heavily embroidered wedding dress which most likely weighs more than he does.
Naruto looks at the overpriced gown distastefully. "I don't think I will be able to walk in this."
"But you will look so pretty!" Kushina squeals girlishly and holds the dress against Naruto's frame. "Sasuke will love this."
"I doubt that, un." Deidara says. "Sasuke is a big fan of simplicity."
Kushina frowns at the blond's interference but puts the dress back in its place. "It's my son's wedding. He only ever gets to have one. I want him to look glamorous."
Naruto, his mother, Hinata and Deidara have been roaming the Konoha wedding district for hours, looking for that perfect dress. Usually, a custom dress would have been made for the bride, but Sasuke and Naruto's wedding is a quick one in every sense of the word. They have no choice but to buy a ready-made ensemble.
Dozens of people wanted to come with Naruto on this trip, but the blond refused to let anyone unnecessary come along. Only a small hunting party is allowed. Sasuke's mother had even demanded to join the shopping trip along with a large group of brides from the Uchiha family, but the thought of spending any time with his future mother-in-law scared Naruto so much that the blond locked himself in his room, refusing to go anywhere.
Eventually, Deidara begged and pleaded enough to get the blond back outside. "Someone from the Uchiha family has to be with you, un." Deidara told Naruto in a kind tone. "Even if it is just one person."
Naruto had eagerly grabbed Deidara's arm, forgetting his shyness around the older blond, just for one second. Mikoto and the rest of the brides had glared and grumbled, but eventually backed off.
Everyone was begging Naruto to accompany him on the wedding dress hunt. With Hinata, it was the other way around. Naruto had personally asked her to join him, possibly to prove to her that he isn't cursed anymore.
"I am honored, Naruto." Hinata had smiled shyly and agreed.
They have been walking for hours, examining every shop carefully and critically, looking for a dress good enough for Naruto's wedding day. So far, no luck.
Hinata agrees with Deidara, "Naruto does not need anything overly fancy. People should be paying attention to his beauty, not his dress."
Naruto turns red. He has a tendency to blush whenever people call him beautiful. He has been blushing a lot recently.
He always knew the Uchiha family existed, but had no idea how powerful and influential they are. Now that Naruto is Sasuke's fiancé, every passing person on the street looks at him carefully. Strangers stop and congratulate him, complimenting him on his looks. He has been getting gifts from people he has never even heard of. His hairstyle is being copied by celebrities. He can't remember the last time he was asked to pay for his food. Apparently Sasuke has forbidden anyone in Konoha from asking Naruto for money. His future mate pays for everything he buys.
Even his wedding dress is being paid for by the Uchiha family. Naruto doesn't know whether he should be offended or flattered at Sasuke's ridiculous spending.
Deidara regards Naruto's blush quizzically. "Is everything okay, un?"
Naruto nods and mumbles quietly. He feels extremely intimidated by Deidara's presence and finds himself unable to respond to even the most basic of questions.
Deidara does not understand Naruto's inability to speak around him and tries to coax the boy to communicate with him. "Why don't you tell us what kind of dress you want, un?"
Naruto looks around the bridal boutique (something he has been avoiding doing all morning) and finds himself overwhelmed.
There are about a thousand different kinds of dresses available. There are different labels, fabrics, brands, from different countries. There is even a large section of veils; some simple, others laced with diamonds and pearls. A small, fearful sigh escapes Naruto's lips. "I don't even care. Please pick something so we can leave."
"Naruto!" Kushina scolds. "Don't sound so standoffish. We are just trying to help."
Hinata notices Naruto's trembling hands, "Are you okay, Naruto?"
"I am fine." Naruto murmurs. "I just want to go home."
"You don't like looking for a wedding dress?" Hinata is surprised. "It's one of the best parts of getting married."
"No. I don't even want a wedding dress. Why can't I just marry Sasuke in my regular clothes?"
Hinata imagines Naruto on his wedding day, standing next to Sasuke in the same orange overalls he is wearing now and winces. "I don't think that's a good idea."
"They can dress me whatever way they want. I don't care."
"But you are the bride! Your opinion matters the most!"
Before Naruto can argue back, Kushina rushes over to them. "There you are! Look what Deidara found." She holds in her hand a simple silk robe, with delicate embroidery made with silver thread. "Isn't it beautiful?"
Naruto promised himself that he wouldn't act like a normal bride. That he absolutely would not get excited over something as stupid as a wedding dress. But the soft piece of silk his mother is holding is so enticing. It's hard not to reach out and snatch the thing away from her.
"Well Naruto, what do you think, un?" Deidara understands fashion very well (he is after all, an artist) and knows this outfit will look absolutely stunning on Naruto. But the final decision is still the bride's.
"I will go try it on." Naruto takes the dress and Hinata follows him to help him put it on. Kushina smiles brightly.
Deidara has left the mansion to help with what has been labeled as "the wedding dress dilemma." Itachi is not pleased. His wife's absence is uncomfortable.
There once was a time, when Itachi didn't understand the importance of taking a mate. He was actually young and foolish enough to believe that he could spend the rest of his life alone. Present day's Itachi wants to go back in time and smack his younger self upside the head. Deidara hasn't even been gone for an hour and already negative (read: paranoid) thoughts are starting to formulate in his head. Deidara's absence makes Itachi want to do something irrational and crazy… like setting the mansion on fire.
Itachi has been married for five years. He has been working for four. Every day he leaves his mate to work for at least nine hours straight. Every day he thinks he will get used to being away from Deidara. Every day, he is proven wrong. Every day, he comes home in a terrible state.
Deidara has only been gone for an hour. One hour, seventeen minutes, thirty-seven seconds. Itachi's mind helpfully supplies. Today is a Saturday and Itachi always has to fight his father for weekends off. But Sasuke's wedding is in a day, and the bride needs proper clothing. And it's tradition for the bride to be accompanied with someone from the groom's family. Deidara has to go because Naruto seems to be frightened of everyone else. Itachi doesn't blame the boy. He himself has trouble getting along with the brides of his family (Deidara excluded of course).
The knife which always sits in the far left corner of the kitchen looks awfully appealing. Itachi wants to slit his wrists with it. Which is ridiculous because Deidara will be back in a few hours. It's not like his wife has left him forever.
Itachi's eyes widen at the thought; the very idea makes him shiver in fear. Deidara would never leave him. The blond is extremely loyal to his mate. But everything is possible. Back in the day, the sharingan wasn't supposed to exist outside the Uchiha family. And yet in present day Kakashi, a clear outsider, walks around with his own sharingan.
The times have changed, and will continue to change. One day Deidara will come to his senses. He will recognize Itachi for the psychotic emptiness he is and leave him for a more stable mate… like that bastard Sasori.
The demon trapped inside him shrieks unpleasantly at the mere thought of the redhead. Itachi loathes Sasori from the very core of his being, and his demon agrees completely. The man is a threat to Itachi. Even after five years of marriage, the parasite continues to proposition Deidara; trying his best to take Itachi's most precious possession away. One of Itachi's greatest goals in life is to torture Sasori to death.
Thinking about the pervert who want to take his wife away makes Itachi feel restless and murderous. He tries to distract himself and thinks of soothing things. His brother's beautiful face comes to mind instantly.
Sasuke is still asleep upstairs. Itachi sniffs the air and inhales a breathful of his brother's healing scent. Sasuke used to smell like dirty ice on the sidewalk which reeks of filth and makes Itachi's nose ache with disgust. Now that his brother is healing, he smells like fresh snow from the heavens, clean and pure. Untouched and untainted. Like when Sasuke was a small child.
Deidara will probably not return for hours. Picking a wedding dress is lengthy business. Itachi remembers how long it took Deidara and Mikoto to pick one for his wedding.
Glaring hatefully at the empty room, Itachi gets up and heads upstairs, towards his brother's room. Lately, he has been having trouble staying away from his brother, just like back in the day, when Sasuke was an infant. Mikoto would leave her newborn with Itachi for hours, and the he would delight in playing with baby Sasuke.
Eventually, the siblings drifted apart. Itachi got busy with his work, and Sasuke went into a horrific downward spiral, which shocked Konoha to its very core. The only meetings the brothers would have would be outside prisons, after bailing the younger out of jail. Spending any time with his brother was extremely difficult for Itachi, he couldn't bear to see his brother in such a pitiful condition. Helping the boy was out of the question. Without his mate present, any time spend on rehabilitation would be wasted. So Itachi busied himself with searching for the mysterious mate, and protecting his brother from afar.
Now Sasuke's body is back to its former glory, and Itachi craves physical affection like he once used to.
Itachi can be extremely quiet when he wants to be, so even Sasuke's heightened senses do not register his movements. Carefully sneaking into Sasuke's pitch black bedroom, Itachi's sharp eyes focus on the peacefully slumbering lump under the covers.
Sasuke may be in deep sleep, but his demon is wide awake. Restless but quiet. It knows that Naruto will soon be here and is allowing Sasuke to rest in peace for once, instead of plaguing him with nightmares.
Anyone else trying to sneak up on Sasuke when asleep would have a cut jugular by now, but Itachi is allowed. The demon likes Itachi who smells familiar and safe.
Climbing into bed with Sasuke brings Itachi back to childhood days, when the baby would refuse to sleep until big brother was beside him.
Wrapping a firm arm around Sasuke's waist, Itachi rests his head on a pillow and falls into a much needed nap.
"Thank goodness." Hinata breathes a sigh of relief. "We found a dress."
Deidara is haggling with the salespeople. The gown was recently created by a pretentious French designer and was featured in a famous fashion show which ran in Milan for four days. It costs more than most people's houses. Deidara is trying to get the price reduced by at least thirty percent. The dress may be beautiful, but it is overpriced. The argument continues for at least half an hour. Eventually, the women working the front desk gives in to the blond and agrees to his price.
Kushina looks impressed and when Deidara is done paying, gives him a bright smile. "You saved us a lot of money. Excellent work."
Deidara takes the wrapped dress from the now visibly miffed saleslady and hands it to Kushina, who clutches it carefully, like a newborn child. "I wasn't born into the Uchiha family. Growing up poor teaches you how to bargain, un."
"I still think it costs too much." Naruto mumbles from his place next to Hinata. "For a dress I'm only going to wear for one day."
"Naruto…" Kushina starts to scold, but Deidara stops her.
"He is right," Turning to Naruto, the taller blond smiles softly. "The dress is expensive, but you are certainly worth it, un."
Naruto turns red and turns away from Deidara. Hinata presses a cool hand to his forehead. "Are you okay?"
"I am fine." Naruto pouts.
"Naruto, you have been walking all day." Kushina coos . "You must be so tired. Let's get you some milkshake."
They end up in a quaint, hidden restaurant. The women ask for tea and Deidara orders plain black coffee with lots of sugar for himself.
"Wow," Kushina stares at Deidara's beverage. "I didn't know uke enjoyed such strong coffee."
"Coffee should be black as hell, strong as death and sweet as love." Deidara smirks at the surprised looks. "My husband drinks black too. I caught his habit, un."
"Minato and I pick up each other's habits all the time. After all these years, I feel like we are twins."
"My parents couldn't be more different. It's like they are from two separate planets."
Naruto quietly sips from his milkshake not daring to say a single word in front of Deidara. It's suddenly very clear that this godly creature is Sasuke's brother-in-law and Naruto is supposed to compete with his divine glory for the rest of his life. He is so sexy. I think I hate him.
"Is everything okay?" Deidara catches Naruto's gaze. "You are awfully quiet, un."
Naruto just mumbles something too quiet for anyone to understand.
Kushina frowns at Naruto's uncharacteristic shyness and quickly diverts Deidara's attention to herself. Hinata is surprised at Naruto's quietness. Maybe Naruto doesn't like Deidara… She thinks to herself, but that doesn't make any sense. The older blond seems extremely pleasant and civil. Naruto doesn't seem to be responding to Deidara at all. His dislike doesn't make sense.
Deidara and Kushina start arguing over Naruto's wedding veil. They don't notice when Hinata grabs Naruto's hand and drags him outside.
"If you are trying to rescue me from shopping, it's too late." Naruto says dryly. "We found a dress."
"You seemed uncomfortable. I thought you could use a break."
"That obvious, huh?"
"You don't like Deidara." Hinata says, "You can't even bring yourself to talk to him or make eye contact. He is a big part of Sasuke's life. Things will get very difficult for you if you don't fix this now."
"Wow," Naruto says, surprised. "I have never heard you speak this much before."
Hinata blushes and clears her throat. "I can be talkative, when I need to be."
"I don't have anything against Deidara," Naruto shrugs, "He's just very intimidating."
"You need to communicate with him. You are going to be family."
"I want to keep a respectful distance. The greater the space between us, the less chance of conflict."
That sounds an awful lot like the main family and the branch family. Hinata thinks, troubled. "It's an effective strategy, Naruto, but not a very healthy one."
"I don't want compete with him. Let him have his own life, and let me have mine."
"Life will be so much easier if you become friends." Hinata tries again. "Living in the same house, like strangers will only hurt both of you." My family is a mess.
"He is used to being in charge of everything around the house. My presence will threaten him, and make him lash out."
"Deidara seems nice," Hinata mumbles, "He wouldn't do that."
"Doesn't matter. The elder bride is in charge. The younger should just back off."
Before Hinata can argue, Kushina steps outside with Deidara and scolds Naruto for disappearing.
"You forgot this, un." Deidara hands Naruto his milkshake.
Naruto quickly takes the drink and tries to hide behind his mother. Hinata sighs, depressed.
Kushina coos at her son and his friend. "Poor babies. They are both so tired, we should take them home."
Deidara eyes Naruto and Hinata with suspicion. "Are you two okay?"
"Tired." They both mumble.
Kushina scoffs, "Children these days, no endurance whatsoever."
Deidara doesn't think tiredness is really the issue here, but lets the matter drop. Itachi and Sasuke are all alone at home. It's not a good idea to leave two Uchiha males unsupervised for long.
The bar is as seedy as they come. Ino would feel nervous coming here alone, if Shikamaru and Chouji weren't with her.
The atmosphere is smoky and dreary. This is one of Sasuke's most favourite hangouts, back when Naruto didn't exist and heroine was all there ever was.
A couple of thugs eye Ino's curvaceous figure lustily, but Shikamaru's gaze is sharp and Chouji's size is intimidating. Ino is able to walk across the room without incidences of molestation, her friends act as perfect bodyguards, flanking her on both sides.
Ino has no trouble finding who she is looking for. That bright pink mane easily stands out in the darkness of the bar. "Sakura?"
If said pinkette has heard Ino, she shows no sign of it. The bar's patrons stare at the newcomers. Well, those who are conscious anyway. The rest are passed out in their own filth, completely unaware of the world around them.
"This is no way to deal with rejection, Sakura." Ino's voice sounds every bit as tired as she looks. This place is sucking the life out of her.
The glass of whisky Sakura is nursing looks ominous. "Go away, Ino."
"Let us take you home. This is no place for a girl to be alone." Ino bites out.
Something about Ino's comment makes Sakura throw her head back and laugh lightheartedly. The deceptive sound of it makes Shikamaru shiver. The criminals who fill this bar do not scare him, but Sakura's pain does. He cannot even bring himself to imagine how tortuous unrequited love must be.
Ino, to her credit, doesn't even flinch. "That's enough crazy from you, billboard brow. We are leaving." That said, she grabs Sakura's arm and pulls her toward the door; Chouji follows them quickly. Shikamaru pulls out his wallet and places a thick wad of cash on the counter, hoping to cover at least half of Sakura's sure to be enormous tab.
Chouji sighs with relief as soon as he steps outside. His sensitive nose thanks him. The freezing night air seems almost sweet when compared to the hell they just found Sakura in.
Sakura is barely conscious; her weight is dead on Ino's shoulder. "Chouji," Ino whispers hoarsely, "Take her from me."
Chouji nods and carefully pulls Sakura to himself. Ino staggers to a dark corner. Both boys wince when they hear the vile sound of retching.
Shikamaru wants to check up on her but is afraid that stepping closer to Ino will only trigger his own nausea. This area is disgusting. The feeling of death and loneliness is making Shikamaru sick.
"Let's get out of here." Ino wipes her mouth with a napkin she has pulled out of her purse. "This place is gross. You okay Shikamaru?" Her friend has a sickly green color to his visage. "Don't pass out on us, Nara. We cannot carry two unconscious bodies out of here."
"I will be fine." He feels exhausted. It will take days of sleep to wash out memories of this area. Shikamaru vows to never come back here.
Sasuke's wedding is tonight. Ino has received an invitation, but won't go. Someone needs to stay with Sakura and help her through this difficult night.
Chouji has always respected Ino, but tonight, he is close to worshipping her. He knows how excited she was about this wedding. The news broke a couple of days ago, and it's all everybody has been talking about ever since. "I am sorry you won't get to go to the wedding, Ino. You are a really good friend."
"You are not going?" Shikamaru's tired tone has a hint of incredulity to it. "After all the shopping and hair appointments?"
Ino gives Sakura's unaware form a forlorn look. "Someone has to take care of her."
"I will stay with her if you want." Shikamaru would rather babysit than attend a wedding any day. He wants to avoid the bright lights of the Uchiha mansion. A lot of paparazzi will be present, along with several stuck-up business families. It all sounds like a complete drag.
"Really? And what will you do if she wakes up in the middle of the night, crying for Sasuke?" The look on Shikamaru's face is priceless. "How will you comfort her?"
Shikamaru imagines a hung-over, sobbing Sakura and shudders. "I want to go to the wedding."
"That's what I thought. Forehead girl is too much to handle on the best of days." When Ino looks at Sakura, her eyes soften considerably. "This is the worst night of her life."
"You are right." Shikamaru agrees. "I can't believe I even offered."
"You just wanted to get out of the wedding." Ino shrugs, all the while carefully balancing Sakura in her arms. "But you have to go. And tell me all about it tomorrow."
"I hate weddings." Shikamaru mumbles and starts leading the way. "They are pointless."
"Yes," Ino sighs, "the ultimate expression of love is pointless. If it were up to you, everyone would die alone."
Ino's sarcasm is lost on Shikamaru. "Absolutely," His memory effortlessly provides directions through the intricate maze that is Konoha's slums. "It's better than having to rearrange your life so some woman can fit in."
Ino shakes her head, and inwardly thanks Chouji for shouldering most of Sakura's body. The girl is in no way heavy, but still unconscious and nothing but dead weight. "Do us a favour, and keep your moronic opinions to yourself."
Shikamaru gives Chouji a meaningful look, but his best friend shrugs, "I don't know Shikamaru, it might be nice to have someone who cooks and cleans for you."
"You are talking about a maid, dummy." Ino sneers. "A wife is more than that."
Chouji nods in agreement. "She also provides sexual satisfaction."
Ino chokes on her own spit. "Don't ever say the word sexual ever again. It sounds wrong coming out of your mouth."
Chouji bristles. "What's that supposed to mean? I can say any word I want. You know, Shikamaru is right. I can't imagine being married to someone like you."
"He said that all about all women, you goof." Ino glares daggers at Chouji. "Not just me."
Shikamaru zones out as his friends bicker back and forth, ironically sounding like an old married couple. But he doesn't dare tell them that. He would like to make it to Sasuke's wedding alive.