..Epilogue..

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"Damnit! Why do you always do this?"

"It's not my fault! You saw the look in that cat's eyes--."

"Kakashi I am not one of your students! I am your wife and that excuse is not going to cut it!" She ran down the long empty corridors of dirt roads and alleys leading to where they needed to go.

"Oi... Rin... You could be nicer to me." His words were soft and pleading at once.

"Maybe," she muttered in reply. "And only if Naruto forgives you." As this was said she jumped up and onto a building; growing tired of taking the long route. Their speed picked up and their movements hastened.

"If we don't slow down you're going to mess up your tomesode(1)..."

She glanced down at her formal kimono. So far no damage had come to the pale blue garment and she intended to keep it that way. She looked over at Kakashi as they both jumped over another ledge in unison. He wore something similar to her own. It was edged in pale blue and colored the rest in black. Hers was the reverse of his colors.

"Doesn't matter. We're nearly there."

As they neared the end of the village and touched down on a grassy field she was careful not to ruin her attire. They moved on a bit further until they crested over the hill and could see the backs of the guest chairs.

"Finally," she breathed and made her way towards them. She ignored the chuckles and gasps sent her way. It wasn't her fault her husband was notoriously late for everything. It couldn't be helped... but she wouldn't think on that sad moment now. Today was a happy day. Today was a day for celebration and glee. Today one of her student's parents would be joined as one.

The breeze was heavenly and the scent of dancing cherry blossoms only added to the effect. White banners that bore a red and white fan whipped in the wind as if dancing. At the end of the red and blue carpet rolled down the center of the seats split to to either side were two people and one man before them.

The woman's jūnihitoe(2) was lovely and elaborate with many layers. The silk was a soft pink hue with red cranes dancing in the pattern. In the center of the back of the gown was the same fan as on the flags.

Next to her was a man garbed in dark heavy blue. His elaborate kimono too sported the images of red cranes and the same symbol of the clan on the back. They were both so lovely. Were she a weaker woman and not late she might have cried at the slight. Especially with the way the woman's hair was done up. It made her look every bit the image of a princess or noble family bride. The man was just as perfect standing by her side and holding her hand. Nothing had changed about him.

Behind them were cherry blossoms wound about an archway behind the 'minister'. Behind that was nothing but blue skies.

She quickened her pace and moved to stand in her place with the maids of honor. She watched her husband hand a small box to Itachi with a grunt before taking his place as well.

The man before them both arched a brow but said nothing more for a moment. Today he'd donned his Kage robes. The ones the Third had worn during his entire career as Hokage. The broad hat did not shade his eyes on this bright day. He smiled at the two people before him; his friends.

This day had been a long way coming. And he was not going to waste his time speaking formal vows to these two great people. It just wasn't his style.

He addressed the crowd before him in chairs. "Dearly beloved... we are gathered here today to honor the union of two of my dearest friends. Haruno Sakura and Uchiha Sasuke." He paused for a long while and tossed aside the cards he had in his hands behind him, as he had every intention of doing it the beginning.

He smiled at the few laughs heard around him.

"I need no lines on paper to speak on the greatness of these two people and why they should be joined as one. I need no paper to tell you how they fell for one another." He reached for their hands and held them separated in his own; one in each. "I recall that first day when I joined their team as a Genin, as a boy wanting to be acknowledged." He cracked a smile. "Sasuke wanted nothing to do with the beautiful Sakura and Sakura... despite how much I infatuated over her then.. wanted nothing to do with me."

He smiled as she blushed up at him. Probably in anger and amusement both.

"Time passed and we completed many missions together. Our friendship grew and Sakura's love never wavered. Not once." His eyes drifted into sadness as he spoke again. "When they left the village that night it crushed me. I love them. Today, I understand why Sakura made such a sacrifice for him... and I believe were it not for her strength, my best friend, the ass that he is, would not be the man he has become. And," he continued, "they would not have given me the great gift of my first child." His eyes lingered down to the little girl next to Sakura in a blue tomesode.

"Today we celebrate not only their return to the village and heroes... but," he addressed the audience, "as man and wife." He looked back at his friends. "Do you, Haruno Sakura, take this man Uchiha Sasuke to love, to hold and protect, through better or worse... through good times and bad... to be your lawfully wedded husband and partner so long as you both shall live?"

"I do." She replied.

He nodded and turned to Sasuke. "Do you, Uchiha Sasuke, take this woman Haruno Sakura to love, to hold and protect, through better or worse... through good times and bad... to be your lawfully wedded wife as long as you both shall live?"

"I do," his voice was a deep timber.

Naruto smiled. "Then, it is by the power invested in me, the sixth Hokage, Namikaze Naruto and your best friend... " He chuckled, "that I pronounce you husband and wife." He joined their hands together. "You may now kiss the bride."

And he did. Sasuke leaned down and pulled her softly into his arms, pressing his pale lips into her own pinkened ones. As this happened a roar of applause erupted from the audience. Cherry blossoms were thrown into the air and people stood in elation.

When he pulled back from her and stared into her cool bright emerald depths she was smiling at him. He smiled in return. It was the happiest moment of his life.

"I love you, Sasuke."

"I love you too." He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to his brother. He didn't quite understand as the man took one his hands and placed a small box into his palm. He looked at it and then back up at Itachi with an arched bow.

"It was mom's. She should have it now."

Still confused he opened the small box and inhaled sharply. It was mom's necklace... the one his father had given to her on their wedding day. It was something she rarely wore because of how much she feared losing it on a regular basis.

The piece was three rows of dark blue sapphires and white diamonds. In the center where all three rows connected as the Uchiha clan symbol and a red fire bird over that in flight made of rubies.

He'd searched the compound for it days after the massacre but never found it. He'd had it the whole time? Sasuke looked back up at his brother.

"There are just some things you can't let go of no matter how cold you try to become, Sasuke... Mom was one of those things." His eyes softened despite his schooled features. "It wasn't just something father bought for her. In our branch of the family it was passed down since the beginning of the Uchiha." He smiled softly. "There is a legend in our family which states many years ago a distant relative with little or no money to his name fell in love with an empress. This was long ago before the time of Madara. When our clan was speculated to have branched off from the Hyuuga."

Sakura looked down at the lovely piece and back up at Itachi. "In love?"

He nodded. "But his empress did not love him. She refused him because she thought him a bother and a good for nothing guttersnipe."

"How horrible," she replied.

"Indeed," he smiled. "Truth was, she loved him just as dearly as he loved her. She was just stubborn and trying to be logical. She knew her father would never consent to the union because the man would not be able to provide for her properly. Well," he continued, and glanced about as more and more people seemed to be edging close by an listening, "the man would not be deterred. So, he went directly to the source. Her father and the high ruler. He pleaded honorably to be allowed to court the nobleman's daughter. At first he refused him. But then... for whatever reason still unknown to even me, the father consented to the marriage. One on condition."

"What was it, Uncle?" Kei beamed up at him.

He cracked a smile and gently pat her on the head. "He told the man if he wished to marry his daughter he would have to bring back evidence to prove how earnest he was. He told him to go to see the great bird Houou and bring back proof of his bravery from the noble creature."

"Wow..." Kei grinned. "Did he do it?"

Itachi nodded. "He did. He went before the great fire bird herself and bore his soul to the creature. Seeing his good heart and pure intentions, the bird gifted him with two things."

"What were they?" Naruto suddenly spoke up, all the while enraptured by the story.

"The first gift was to be a sign to the emperor. It was the necklace Sasuke now holds in his hands. The fan was signified the fiery spirit of the man and the bird the undeniable evidence that the Houou approved of him."

"And the second?" Sasuke murmured.

He smirked. "The Sharingan of course." When several hundred eyes just blinked at him he quickly amended, "Of course... it is just a legend. At any rate the man returned and married the empress. Being that she was an only child and heir to the throne he inherited her father's title after his death. And thus the Uchiha clan began."

Kei giggled. "It's a nice story, Uncle."

As Sasuke placed the necklace about her neck, Sakura had to agree. "It is... a very nice story." She turned as Sasuke finished and knelt in front of her daughter. "Ready for the reception, Kei?"

She nodded. "Yes, Sakura-mama." She took her hand and both women smiled as they moved with the people back towards the village for the party afterward.

Kei glanced up at Itachi and smiled softly when he wasn't looking at her. Her Uncle was a strong man like her parents. Like all of them. And his story had been very touching. She'd seen something in his eyes as he spoke the tale. Had anyone else noticed? Or was it just her? She hid a smile then. She still had to find her great stoic of an uncle someone to call his own for all eternity. He was the only one in her large family wasn't with someone. She idly wondered if he ever had been...

When they made it to the party, toasts were held, people laughed and then the first dance came. She watched as her father and mother danced beneath the dimply lit candles in the center of the large room from her place along the edge of the dance floor.

"You look happy," a voice came.

She looked over at Sunako, a smile on her features instantly. "I am. My parents are married and everyone knows who I am. I couldn't be more thrilled." She angled a glance at him. "I heard your staying in Leaf for good now. Grow tired of Uncle Gaara?"

He shrugged. "No, my team has family here. Friends. I thought it best to make our home here." With you.

She nodded. "That's good. Who will your new sensei team leader be?"

"Not a clue. But it doesn't matter."

She nodded again and looked back at her parents. "I'm happy this is all over. I'm happy no one else has to die for a long time." She felt a hand in hers and looked down as the boy interlaced his fingers with her own. She looked up into his eyes.

"Me too." He said softly. "Kei," his voice was softer still, kind, "would you dance with me?" Other people had gotten on the floor and were all turning or shuffling in movement.

"You can dance?" She smiled, surprised and happy all at once.

"Of course," and then he really did grin at her as he led her out to the floor.

It might not last long, thought Kei, but for now it was enough to just be happy...

..The End..

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Or is it...?

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AN: I hope you enjoyed this story as much as I did writing it. , The two () in the story with numbers are reference to the name of the item written before it. See below!

1) A tomesode is a formal kimono normally seen worn by woman in weddings.

2) A jūnihitoe is a even more fomal kimono with layers upon layers of silk draped over the woman. Quite a few were worn by noble ladies in Japanese court many years ago. Today they were extremely expensive and normally seen in museums. The Japanese nobles do wear them on occasion, such as during weddings.

Thank you all for your reviews and reading my story. I will be witting a sequel soon. Shortly a summary will be posted as an extra chapter. I don't think I'll do a preview again. Well, if I do it won't be as large.

--Blade