Temari helped her into her wedding robes after kicking out her brother. She made her give a spin, which brought a big grin to her face. "Perfect!" She clapped.
"We should go find if Gaara is ready," Hinata added, lifting the skirt of her wedding robe to step.
"I don't think that is necessary." He noted from the doorway.
She turned to her embarrassment. Gaara was just in the door frame and had likely watched her twirl for Temari.
"What do you think!" Temari asked cheerfully, forcing Hinata to spin again.
"Fitting for a wedding." Hinata blushed while Temari scowled. That was the best compliment they were going to get.
"Who did that to your hair?" Hinata noted his hair had been combed back like they had agreed not to do, but it held no gel, so it would be easy to fix. She stepped toward him with her hands out, and he leaned his head down to allow her to rough it back into its usual place.
"Your cousin noted it was inappropriate, and Kankuro did this. I was aware you disliked the gel in it, so I refused more than combing." He explained as she finished. He stood back up, and she smiled.
"I rather you look like yourself. I'm marrying into your culture, not the other way around." She smiled up at him.
"I am marrying you as well." He noted with some confusion.
"Onee-chan?" Hanabi asked from behind her husband to be. He moved to reveal his soon to be sister in law.
"Yes?" Hinata asked.
"Kankuro...nii-san," She added slowly. "Says they're ready to start."
"Oh good," Temari noted, passing the couple.
Gaara offered his hand to his bride, and she took it gladly.
Gaara noted the mixed feelings in the room. He didn't understand them all, but he felt her father's disapproval in the formation they had taken on the platform. He noted Masturi standing next to Hinata's younger sister. She gripped the Konoha girl's hand and smiled constantly. Had he ever seen her hair up?
In between he and his wife-to-be were a higher pedestal they were to sit on. Hinata settled on her knees on it with Temari's help to drape her skirt out of the way. He joined her, needing much less help with his simpler robes. The long Kage robes made these nothing.
Baki stood behind the pedestal, ready to hold the ceremony. It had insulted the elders that he had chosen his sensei, but Baki would be leading the council before long anyway, so they could not stop the decision without public insult.
Hinata smiled at him, and any concerns about the preparations were forgotten. It wasn't important now, anyway. It could be dealt with later.
Baki started speaking, Gaara largely ignored him. He hadn't been to many weddings, but he knew the idea. Unlike Hinata had explained, there was no repeating or vowing at this wedding. Just actions.
They joined hands as Baki spoke as they were supposed to, and she thumbed over the back of his hands, leaving soft warmth. She was calm, her breathing was soft, and her pulse was even. He had been worried that the presence of her family would stress her. Her eyes were calm and gentle as usual, much to his contentment.
Baki added a few lines to the short ceremony, short explanations to those not of the culture, and few additives from the other culture. One such line was added as the wedding talismans were held out by his sister and her cousin. They had to explain the concept of the old carved necklaces placed during the ceremony to the Hyuga male while they prepared. It was an odd ritual that he never quite thought made sense, something to do with the binding of souls. Nothing they believed in anymore.
Baki continued his speech on the note of the home as he prompted Gaara to move.
Gaara leaned forward to lightly pressed a kiss on Hinata's forehead. She closed her eyes until he had sat back on his heels once more. When they fluttered back open, they held a similar fog to the night before, and her cheeks grew color under the makeup. He was so focused on it. He almost flinched as her cousin draped the talisman over his neck.
Baki mentioned something about family, and she leaned forward. He lowered his head slightly so she wouldn't have to come to his full height. Her painted lips pressed to his forehead, and he reveled in the soft feeling.
She sat back, and Temari placed the talisman, tucking it under her hair.
Baki finished the short speech that ended with. "Kazekage-sama, you may kiss your bride."
Hinata leaned up to meet him, and the room cheered. She pulled away just as quick, too quickly. He blinked at her smiling red face. They were now married.
The stressful part was over. Hinata clutched tightly to her husband's arm as people came up to congratulate them. Most villagers were eager to see their new member. People swirled around them disorientingly, but Gaara seemed fine. He was looking down at her with an odd look. She recognized his' figuring something out' face.
Neji was hiding red-rimmed eyes. Hanabi hugged him and leaned his face into her shoulder to hide his emotional weakness. Temari tapped her back, signaling what was next. They excused themselves to the middle of the room as the music started.
She was suddenly glad she was not trying to spin around the room with him. The childhood fears of being judged by her elders swam back at the idea of the footsteps and timing. Gaara simply guided her to him and secured her there. Safe and warm.
"We are married." He noted to her. He stared at her with a look of confusion.
"Yes." She smiled, trying not to be too amused with the notion he found that off.
"It doesn't feel different." He commented.
"It does for me." She told him honestly.
"What kind of difference have you noticed?" He asked.
She smiled, looking at his shoulder as she talked, not to be distracted by his searching eyes. "It might not be so noticeable for you, but for me, it's like your coming-of-age birthday. You don't feel any older, but you might think 'I am recognized differently now' after a while. It's like weight or, in this case, one lifted for me. After today we just go back to what we have been doing. Well, leaving out the wedding planning and marriage treaty, but now I'm your wife, not just 'the failed Hyuga heiress.' I like this much better." She glanced back up to a much more intense look of thought and couldn't help but start to laugh.
He stared as she giggled. "I don't understand."
"I think you might not feel anything like that. This isn't a big change for you. The biggest for you has probably been and gone." She noted. He still didn't seem to understand. "Our engagement."
He stared at her as he thought, and a moment later nodded. "Possibly."
"You went from not thinking about marriage to suddenly being engaged to a stranger. I had been preparing for that you hadn't." She mumbled, the hands-on her sides tightened comfortably.
"Now you are legally free of those who pawned you off." She nodded in agreement.
"And the best part is I get to stay with you." She noted, laying her head on his shoulder. She felt him stiffen. She wondered if it was what she said or her action.
He loosened and curled his hand to her back. She now noticed they had been joined by the wedding party, and then by those who wished to dance. Temari playfully argued with Shikamaru, who looked both annoyed and embarrassed by whatever they were talking about.
Her short sister was trying to hide her laughter. She had taken Kankuro as a dance partner who was not only much taller, but his hands were too high and stiff. He was trying to be a gentleman and not make a fool of himself. He had mentioned having fun with her culture's traditional dancing but didn't have a partner. Hanabi, of course, was making it way more complicated than it needed to be, as well as leading. He might have met his match. Her father bored a hole into him. She was sure he could feel it along with Matsuri's amusement and made comments someone Hinata didn't recognize. Baki was with a woman she assumed was his wife. Tenten had dragged her cousin to the floor. He danced properly and led much better than she could teach. She caught sight of Sakura and Naruto. Naruto didn't know how to dance, much to Sakura's annoyance. She was currently scolding him for something, likely stepping on her as he stared at her feet.
Kiba had noted that he wouldn't be dancing, but it looked like he had been dragged to the floor by Ino, who showed him where his hands went. He looked like he was touching a dead fish. Shino tucked his face farther into his high collar in an attempt to hide his stony amusement.
Villagers were littered through the hall, dancing with their partners or watching. She closed her eyes constantly.
"The piece in the middle of your headset is missing." She blinked, looking up at him.
She lifted a hand from his chest to her forehead where the piece had been, and her face turned red. "She took it already?"
"It would seem so." He noted, looking amused, with a flat face like only he could.
"She couldn't just that tradition go?" She whimpered.
"Kankuro complained all morning that we didn't have 'stag night.'" He scrunched his nose in disgust.
"I didn't think that it would be something you were interested in." She smiled.
"No." He confirmed. "I find the idea uncomfortable."
She nodded. "They have something like that for the bride too. Luckily I didn't tell Temari-chan about it."
He gave her a strange look as she giggled.
Neji took her next dance, Hanabi took Gaara. She gave her sister a warning look. She couldn't treat him like Kankuro. Hanabi properly took a dancing stance that was respectable and gave Hinata an 'I know better' look.
Neji had something on his mind but waited halfway through the calm dance to bring it up.
"Did I just give you away?" He asked with an unsure look.
"It's not the same tradition, but it is the same idea. I wouldn't want anyone else to give me away." She answered with a smile. She hadn't told her father that part.
She watched his eyes rimmed red again, and his face curled, trying to hide the sudden emotion. She tried to contain the smile as her eyes were too filled with tears.
Gaara tilted his head at the question. "Honeymoons are not traditions in Suna." He explained to his sister-in-law. "And I would not be able to be away from my duties long."
"Aw." Hanabi pouted, looking much like her elder sister for a moment. "I was wondering why onee-chan didn't mention it."
He felt much less comfortable with his wife's little sister, though she had no issue being near him. Had Hinata's views been taught to the younger female? They kept at arm's length dancing, having a conversation while sidestepping. She prodded him with meaningless questions.
"Did she give you your present yet?" She wondered.
"No, I believe that will be tomorrow. Hinata mentioned she regretted not being able to wrap it." He mumbled.
She snorted. "Yeah, that would be difficult." She laughed. "She put a lot of work into it. You better like it or fake that you like it."
"I do not lie to her." He noted with confusion.
Hanabi looked at him like he had said something stupid. "Did you at least tell her she looks beautiful today?"
"I told her she was dressed appropriately." He answered, honestly.
"I can't tell if you're a prick or clueless." She frowned bluntly.
"Likely both." He added.
She began to laugh again.