Summary: A wedding with a few unexpected foreigner guests.
...ooO Unions Ooo...
A tall spiky haired blonde dressed in formal green garments accented with red and white stood at the end of an aisle just under the shade of a massive tree. He waited at the altar for his bride. With him were an older man with long spikey white hair and a smaller more fragile form clad in indigo robes. Potential political and social repercussions led to the Yondaime searching out and inviting a priest from Kusa to perform the ceremony. His marriage would be legal but he was determined to show all of Konoha it was also blessed by the Kamis.
"You certainly have some bright ideas gaki." His old teacher commented easily. "Having the Ceremony out in public where no one can be slighted over seating priority was a stroke of genius!" Jiraiya smirked. "Of course, the big clans sent several members to claim good spots ahead of time. But if they did that some fat civilian cannot hold you responsible since he could have easily have done just the same thing."
Minato smiled at the compliment. He had chosen to have the ceremony in the Shodaimes Gardens because it was the easiest way to by-pass the delay of renting and decorating a banquet hall and hiring caters for the reception meal by having his wedding day blended with a fair-feast, inviting the villagers to run booths and feed guests who were given food tokens in the invitations. The others would have to pay a basic nominal price.
He smirked when he remembered just how the Council had reacted to his little announcement and ultimatums.
…ooO Begin Flashback …
"You can't be serious Yondaime-sama!"
"You want to marry that penniless nobody?"
"She brings nothing to Konoha! You should marry a daughter of one of the Clans to solidify your alliances-."
"Don't be an idiot! Yondaime-sama should marry an heiress from Kumo or Suna to stabilize the treaties!"
"Yondaime-sama will not be doing any of those!" Minato bit out in hard tones. Satisfied he had their attention he continued. "I married Uzumaki Kushina for the benefit of Konoha; so Konoha gained the jutsus and bloodlines of Uzi no Kunis survivors. Now I choose to marry Hiragushi Kagome!"
"But she is not from any clan or shinobi village. She brings no alliance or trade treaty that could strengthen Konoha!"
Minato laughed. And then he glared. "Do not talk nonsense. She brings power, knowledge and allies." He held up one finger. "She is a miko who can counter and neutralize kekkai genkai. Our children might have the same potential." Another finger went up. "You can refuse to believe it but Kagome knows what has long been forgotten, techniques and philosophies... She has told me she will not share that knowledge with those unworthy so it will be up to Konohas younger generation to prove themselves to her. In fact Uchiha Itachi earned enough respect so that she introduced him to someone who can help him develop and utilize the Sharingen kekkai genkai to the fullest extent." A third and last finger. "She has allies. Powerful allies who dislike humans but are willing to Gift those they find worthy. This is not something that can be bought or forced."
One elderly woman sighed. "Yondaime-sama, we do not deny the benefits of Hiragushi Kagome wedding into the ranks of Konoha, but we doubt the wisdom of You marrying her."
Minato stepped back from the table and removed his hitae, then studied the play of light reflected from it. Then he looked up, his expression serene.
"Kagome asked me if I was willing to leave Konoha for her. I told her yes. The peace she gives me is something no amount of prestige or clout can match." His eyes were even, his tone almost placid. "If you continue to protest I will assume you doubt my judgment. If that is the case then you cannot trust my decisions concerning the village. For the good of Konoha I will resign. To make things less complicated for the next Hokage we will leave. Sesshoumaru-sama has estates, factors and agents that need to be managed. I am certain he will have a place for us in his household. After all he did trust Kagome to raise his ward."
Panic spread through the crowd. Some faces were pleased but most on the whole were terrified. Konoha could not afford to lose the Kiroi Senkou, the shinobi who had almost single-handedly won the Iwa-Konoha war for Konoha. The old woman who had spoken was the first to back down.
"That is unnecessary Yondaime-sama. Marriage is a clan matter. If you feel it will benefit your clan and Konoha then so be it."
Minato smiled politely. "I'm glad you feel that way."
... End Flashback Ooo…
Minato smirked as he savoured the memory of their roundabout actions. But no matter, he was going to marry the woman he wanted. He had the reluctant consent of his village and the blessings of her folk. He looked to one section of the seats where a buffer had formed around a particular group of guests... Youkais. A beautiful white-haired male in heavy white silk. A shorter red-head in green and brown. A pretty brunette in an elaborate kimono flirting with the nearby males using a fan as a focus. A grinning male in black leather who looked like an Uchiha.
He watched the civilians and shinobis stare at the youkai. Some like Aoshi were glaring right back. Others like Sesshoumaru pretended not to be aware of the curious and the fearful. Those like Kagura and Miyagami revelled in the attention.
Minato couldn't help smiling as Kagura laughed, the sound like bell chimes drawing masculine interest, the lovesick infatuated expressions on several of the younger jounins as they unconsciously moved closer to the kaze-youkai. Minato only hoped she did not break too many hearts before leaving.
The Inuzukas were following the lead of their wary and very respectful nin dogs who kept a careful distance from the youkai and their noses down. They knew they were in the presence of dangerous predators.
His eyes fell on Miyagami who moved closer to the Uchiha party. He was talking to Itachi, Fugates oldest boy. For a moment Minato thought of using his kekkai genkai to eavesdrop but was distracted by the sight of his bride walking down the aisle towards him on the Sandaimes arm.
..oo..
Itachi stared at Kagome-sama. She looked happy with Yondaime-sama. She had rarely smiled before, but now she smiled with her whole face, with joy in her eyes.
"Do you remember what we talked about when we first met Itachi-kun?"
Itachi stared into the young looking face of his ancestor. Miyagami-sama looked like his fathers younger brother.
"Hai. About the source of true strength. Fighting for loved ones." Old eyes stared at the blushing bride and laughing groom who were receiving congratulations from the more prominent foreign guests.
"Are you still going to follow my advice Itachi-kun?" Miyagami asked in carefully neutral tones.
Itachi looked up at his mentor and nodded solemnly. "Hai. I want to marry Kagome-samas daughter." He smiled then, a more open warmer expression. "If she is like her mother she can make anyone happy."
Miyagami nodded. "Then listen to me Itachi-kun. You want to make your claim on her as early as possible. You must make sure she is receptive to your suit."
Itachi wrinkled her nose. "What do you mean? Court her and stuff? I thought you do that when you are older."
"No. You must start at a younger age. The girl will most likely receive a youkai Gift from one of her mothers allies. It will make her more inclined to have a youkais instincts. She will choose her suitors from a young age and show preference to those who she senses will be good mates. Strong, protective, affectionate." Miyagami spoke in serious level tones. "You must be open with her, show her what you can give her, and accept what she wishes to give you. She will test you but you must not loose control or close off from her."
Itachi nodded slowly. "When do I have to start?"
"As early as possible. Try to spend at least a few hours a week with her so she recognizes your aura. When she grows older treat her like an equal, not a weak child to be left behind. She might not fully understand what is happening but when she is old enough she will."
...ooOoo...
TBC…
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