Author note: okay so I'm having extreme difficulties…if my writing is crappy forgive me…I finally just decided to wing it.
The morning was full of light and haze. A soft breeze blew through the Konoha. As if the world had no dangerous things, and as if everything was in a blissful piece….everything sat in the morning light. The large tree in the center of the Konoha was famous to the children of the academy. Back then everyone, well mostly everyone…would play on the tree and pretend to be ANBU's and elite ninja. But those days where so long ago.
Hinata watched as Sakura gazed at the tree. Her eyes pale and distant as her cheeks blushed with a soft shade of pink. Her lips parted and her hair being swept by the blissful wind that caught its way into the academy courtyard. Hinata knew who she was thinking about again. The past few days Sakura had done nothing but avoid crowded places and people she knew. She constantly trained to earn higher ranks as she put it and read often. To Hinata it seemed Sasuke hadn't even noticed and she was hopeful he would, so then he could help.
But everyone knew Sasuke would care less about the situation and would tell Sakura to figure it out for herself. Sometimes Hinata wished Neji where back so Sakura would always be happy. As she did now, but quickly after she scolded herself. Sakura was in love with Sasuke and always had been. No matter how much she had loved Neji her soul had still yearned for Sasuke.
She had remembered the time Sakura had told her that everything was okay that no matter who she ended up with she would still love the other. Sakura sighed and pushed her hair back behind her ear. Hinata quickly moved swiftly behind a tree as Sakura went back to staring. It was obvious who she was thinking about. Hinata had heard from Ino that Sakura was avoiding everyone because she didn't want to be pestered about her current state of mind. She was dreaming about Neji again. The nightmares that until recently had disappeared where slowly coming back.
Hinata had wanted to blame it on her wedding but Sakura had made sure Hinata thought nothing of the sort. It all seemed like just a sad dream but to Sakura who knew him best it was like a never ending nightmare she somehow couldn't face. Before it was strength issues…she was weaker then everyone, now it was issues in love and life. Sakura quickly turned snapping Hinata from her train of thought. Hinata quickly jumped to the clearing before Sakura snapped out of her world to find her spying.
"Oh…Hinata-san….what are you doing here?"
"um well I….Ino said she would take care of things at the reception and wedding hall in the Hyuuga house while I went out to do some last minute shopping and find you. I did the shopping but….i'm sorry….I was…um…well….spying on you just now."
"Hm….oh it's alright i'm done sulking now…besides it's your wedding day…come on…I bet Tsunade and Ino have the place in an uproar by now." Sakura smiled flakily.
"Um alright…oh Sakura your kimono is at the Hyuuga manner being set out for you…I hope you don't mind I choose your outfit for you."
"No I get it….Hyuuga tradition right? Truth be told i'm more worried by the fact you father and sister are actually going to show up!"
"Yes I know….strange isn't it…they where all angry at first when I told them I was getting married to Naruto…they thought it an outrage but now…..they…they….well they don't mind as much…they say im not the first to marry outside the family and I wont be the last…"
"Hm is that so…I wonder what they thought if Neji was going to marry me…."
Sakura pondered aloud and Hinata stopped.
"They bashed him about it too, always saying he was the heir to the Hyuuga clan and he couldn't afford to marry an outsider none the less one who doesn't even fight….oh my gosh im sorry Sakura…I didn't mean…I mean….I…"
"hey its alright Hinata-Chan…im strong so don't worry about it…truth be told…my parents didn't like the fact of me marrying him either….I guess….now that he is gone…its just so…awkward…and to think it only happened a year ago…"
"Yes…"
"So Hinata how does Ino look in a kimono pregnant!"
The awkward silence that had paced frequently in the conversation quickly melted away as the rest of the plans where made.
The blissful morning had done nothing but irritate Uchiha Sasuke who had done nothing but be shoved around by Naruto to get his part done. Sasuke had not been to a wedding in over 8 years so he could hardly say what happened in one. Naruto had only told him to walk down the isle helping people take their seats then the priest will tell him what to do after that. Sasuke was irritated and hated the lack of information.
He knew because of his lack of knowledge in such events he was subject to everyone's orders not knowing which ones to follow and which ones not to. An example of these factors was he was forced to go buy a tux only to figure out he was one of the grooms men so he had to wear a black and grey hakama & yukata set with an over lapping haori. He hated the traditional wear but he had no choice. When he arrived the Hyuuga manner the Master had done nothing but order him to help with the women duties and cook the food. After all that Naruto had to shove in the way and tell him all he had to do was greet guests and began to lead him away.
Sasuke decided it would be smart to follow the kitsune ninja's orders and follow only to fall into a dozen traps he had set up just for Sasuke as some "last bachelor tricks". Sasuke could only grimace over his sad fortune of the day. He had finally pulled aside Rock Lee who told him to just stand at the door and tell people to sit on certain cushions. The day had not been marry at all and Sasuke found a new passionately hated occasion to add to the list.
The day had passed quickly as the sun set over the "perfect" day over the Konoha. It was a tradition for the Hyuuga family to marry their daughters at sunset. Everyone sat restlessly in the room. The leader of the Hyuuga clan sat next to his younger daughter in the front of the room across from Naruto giving off sighs and glares towards the blonde who only sat their and took it like a whimpering dog. Sasuke scoffed and looked down the aisle from his spot two cushions away from Naruto.
Sasuke had declined the offer to be best man because he didn't know anything about weddings. Rock Lee had quickly taken the position afterwards and Sasuke didn't care. Naruto was just lucky he got Sasuke to even be in the household. It was well known the Uchiha and the Hyuuga where huge rivals and even though Sasuke was the only one left the entire family gave him glares.
He had the urge just to spring up and crush them all in the face. He knew that wouldn't solve anything. It wasn't "just" because he was an Uchiha but because he had also betrayed the entire of Konoha and somehow managed to get back into the hokage's favor. Tsunade who was required to attend most the weddings found this one to be extremely joyfull or she wouldn't be sitting in the front whispering happily to her partner. All the ninja had also been required to wear their headbands so Sasuke had felt a little more irritated because he wasn't exactly a ninja anymore. Naruto had pulled a few strings though so he was aloud to where his old headband around his head. Sasuke didn't feel the least bit better because the leaf symbol was slashed through which only made his betrayal a hell of a lot more obvious.
It seemed hours passed as everyone whispered and leaned on their cushions. Finally Sasuke caught a glimpse of an elderly man walk into the room. She was hunched over clasping his hands behind him and waddling over to the head. The head bowed and went to the window and checked the sun. It was just barely touching the edge of the Konoha Hokage cliff. At the moment he nodded again and stood preparing simple things then standing. Suddenly a small drum began to play as the doors slid open. Everyone turned.
Sakura heard the drum and motioned towards Temari who blinked and got from her seat. To everyone it was still a mystery how Temari became such good friends with the entire village but everyone seemed to be okay with three sand ninjas entering our village frequently. Tsunade stood up and in her formal Hokage robes stood next to the head.
(AN: okay so im like half making this up…half taking it from what I know about Japanese weddings. )
Naruto gulped and also took his stand. Temari got to her feet and with her fan tied to her back she slinked out the room with a candle. The other two girls fooled their ninja headbands sitting on their heads. Sakura had tied her medical ANBU mask to her obi. It was only a replacement her real one was getting refurbished. They placed their candles softly at the foot and took their seats in the crowd. Hinata then walked out in the traditionally Japanese bridal attire. She bowed towards Naruto who could only stare and blush.
After a tug from Hinata's father he quickly turned and bowed at the Hokage. Sasuke watched the ceremony with lacking interest. It lasted a long time and Naruto surprisingly only messed up three times. The audience seemed to be interested enough but a few lacked the perseverance to stay awake. After many traditional ceremony offerings and blessing rituals they finally turned towards each other. Sasuke peeked one eye open as he watched Naruto gulp before slipping a tiny gold band onto her finger. Hinata did the same then Hinata blushed bright red.
Minutes passed as the audience stared in silence and Hinata and Naruto did nothing but sit there and blush at the other. Finally Ino pushed Hinata towards Naruto and the blushing bride let her lips fall onto the more then surprised groom. After a few seconds both closed their eyes and the crowd went into a cheer. Sasuke took this time to leave.
As he was heading out the audience swerving around him he looked back to find Sakura gazing distantly at the ground. He walked over to her to find tears in her eyes. Naruto glared pushed Sasuke out of the door into yet another trap and Sasuke glared but did nothing. He had someone else on his mind.
It only took seven minutes for everyone to get to the reception place. It was a simply park that had lanterns and tables set everywhere. There was also a lake nearby and a hundred tall trees with a dancing floor. Sasuke leaned against a tree as Naruto and his new Wife stood at the head table talking about random things. Naruto could hardly resist the temptation to have his arm around Hinata all the time. Hinata only blushed and stared at her wedding ring.
Naruto had decided that Sasuke had changed enough times tonight so he would lay off the practical jokes. Everyone was scattered about the area. It seemed like the party would only consist of a few scattered talking groups. There was one group sitting around Ino and Shikamaru who only sat there smiling and bragging about their soon to be child. Another crowd formed around Naruto and Hinata and another was formed of strictly traditional Hyuuga who were a bunch of hypocrites. Sasuke sat in a corner by himself glancing over the scenery. He then spotted Temari and Sakura at a table and watched Sakura.
"Man as if you can't tell eh is watching us…." Temari grinned
"…"
"Yo Sakura…wake up….reception time…."
"…"
"YO SAKURA I TOLD YOU THERE IS A MEGA AWSOME PARTY!"
"Oh Temari its you…im sorry…"
"Gees your hopeless."
"Hm I guess I am…say why isn't anyone sitting down…it "is" time for the reception isn't it."
"The food is almost done…we will be served as soon as everyone takes a seat and the bride and groom make their announcements. Sad though I heard Hinata's old man won't be staying for the reception so there will be no father daughter dance."
"Oh I heard it wasn't in her families' tradition to have one at all anyway."
"Oh really?"
"Yup…oh well….it looks like everyone is sitting down now."
"I bet this will the first night Naruto doesn't eat ramen."
"Me too…"
The girls giggled at the joke as Ten Ten and Rock Lee made their way over to join the group. Sasuke glared and Naruto smuggled himself towards him. Sasuke only raised a brow and looked at him with angry eyes.
"Aren't you supposed to be with your posy?" Sasuke growled
"Hey man you know how these things are…besides I wanted to ask how you like weddings."
"I don't"
"You don't what?"
"I don't like weddings."
"Man someone is a party pooper!" Naruto grinned.
"Hm right…so tell me….how long does this reception work out anyway."
"Oh it can last tile late in the morning but Hinata and I will leave in four hours tops."
"I see….so I have four more hours of this then I get to go home."
"Yup but enjoy yourself okay? Your table is over there across from Sakura's and Ino's."
"yeh whatever."
Sasuke quickly walked away to avoid attention and sat at his table. The others assigned to it where Rock Lee and Kiba. Everyone else had either not shown up or sat somewhere else. The night passed quickly and it wasn't long after the Hyuuga's had left that the ninja mayhem had kicked in.
Shikamaru glared in the fact the appetizer had been only Ramen. He sighed. He hated ramen now. It was just so…rameny…anything that had to do with ramen he could care less about. Ino smirked at shikamaru who complained aloud. Naruto stood up at the remark and glared.
"WHO SAID THAT? DONTT YOU DARE DIS THIS RAMEN AT MY WEDDING."
"How troublesome."
"TAKE THIS PONY TAIL BOY!"
Naruto swiftly threw a bowl of ramen at Shikamaru who threw it back. A ramen fight quickly began and Hinata was dragged to another part of the reception area. The night was chaotic and everything that could go wrong went wrong. And if that wasn't enough Sasuke always found him at the spot where the trouble was. He soon walked over to the alcohol booth to find Tsunade placing ten in front of each person. The contestants of the match where Sakura, Temari, Tsunade, and surprisingly Naruto who was dared by Neji to participate. Everyone knew Tsunade and the girls could hold liquor very well and Naruto hated alcohol all together.
The matched started out fine and Sasuke enjoyed watching Naruto suffer the wrath of rum.
Sakura was actually handling it very well and Temari and Tsunade kept competing. Sasuke watched Sakura completely.
He was hit with a pang. She looked sadly determined to win the match…as if she wanted to be the one with the most poison in her system.
It didn't take long for Naruto to pass out. Hinata had him revived in no time and all he did was look like a dazed dummy. Their four hour curfew was over thirty minutes and Hinata had to help Naruto leave the scene.
Hinata helped Naruto into the street and into a household. She sighed worriedly as Naruto continued to show signs of being overly drunk. Hinata giggled at him and helped him up the stairs. He simply flopped around like a fish depending on Hinata for survival. Hinata could only smile. She then went to change leavening Naruto on the couch downstairs in his condo. Hinata then walked back down to find him still there and she had been gone forty minutes. He was fast asleep and she couldn't help but blush at his peaceful slumber. She then lifted his head and sat down laying his head softly on her lap.
This reminded her of the first time she had done this. She had been so nervous but now she could do it with ease. She giggled as Naruto let out a snort. Her and Naruto where shy lovers…so not much was said. It had all to do with body language. Naruto's eyes flickered open to stare at Hinata's pale skin as she stared ahead lost in thought. He grinned and gazed at her before reaching a hand and touching it to her soft cheek. Hinata blushed and looked down.
"Hey wife!" He grinned
"Oh you're awake! Im sorry"
"You didn't do anything."
"Eh…oh"
"Did you like our wedding?" Naruto slurred.
"Did I? It was perfect…."
"Hm that's good…takes a load off me let me tell ya!" He groaned…
"How did you like it Naruto?"
"Eh….it was fun"
Hinata giggled.
"It's nice though….I have a…."
Naruto turned over sleepily as Hinata blinked.
"A family..."
The words shocked Hinata and she thought she could barely resist the temptation to jump in delight. He had called her family… and that meant the world to her. She sighed and brushed his hair out of his face and leaned down pecking him on the cheek.
His cheeks were red from the alcohol and extreme partying tonight. Hinata couldn't help but giggles once again at Naruto's funny looking attire. Oh well…she had many more time to see him in something else. Though she knew she always favored the hat he wore to bed the most…
"SLAM!"
Sakura grinned evilly her inner personality almost bursting out on its own. Tsunade glared and then took two more shots. Ten ten gave a frightened look between the teacher and student and Temari could only watch in horror as there was no way she was going to win. Sakura swigged four and Tsunade went for a bottle full. Sakura gaze a wave of her hand and scrunched up her kimono sleeve high up on her arm. She then took another bottle and got half of it swigged before stopping. Tsunade raised a competitive brow. Sakura let the bottle fall from her hand and everyone gasped as the fun game had just become a stunningly difficult mystery.
Sakura's eyes rolled back in her head and she passed out. Everyone who was in the back cheered for the Hokage's win. She immediately silenced them as Sakura opened her eyes and looked at Tsunade. But to Sakura only one face appeared. She blinked as her eyes welled up and then she caressed Tsunade's cheek. Everyone went from worried to shock. Gasps rang out as Sasuke made his way to the crowd to find out what was going on.
Pushing furiously to the front of the crowd he saw Sakura lying on the ground. He scoffed and began to walk off knowing it was her problem but then he heard a moan from her that didn't say what he wanted it to. He cut back and looked at Sakura as Tsunade who had previously been shocked by the loving gesture turn back to a very worried look as Sakura whispered one name the crowd had not uttered in over a year.
A name that brought painful memories to Sakura and the rest of the ninja around. Anger to Sasuke's faced and surprise to half the crowd. Whispers went around the silent crowd as Tsunade stood up to watch Sakura slowly fall back into unconsciousness. One name that had done nothing but ruin the previous fun…one name that destroyed a young girl and guys happiness. Sakura smiled so happily it almost disgusted Sasuke to watch her….
"Neji-kun…."
Author Note: okay so that took forever to type and it was going to last longer but I decided to take advice from one of my reviewers. Neji comes back into the picture. I still feel like I can't pin point any of the characters attitudes just right but next chapter I will try harder. Like I said my school started so im having trouble typing lately.
Im also working on cosplay…heheh…oh boy oh boy…anyway im trying really hard…
Preview: Sakura continues her life avoiding everyone. Sasuke angered trys to figure out why she still won't give up on a dead guy. Naruto and Hinata leave the village for a well planned trip and not without the Akatsuki trying to take a stab at him. Sasuke is sent to retrieve the lost Naruto and leaves Sakura with a confusing feeling in her heart. She decided to follow Sasuke to save Naruto so she can get her mind of things….but painful memories don't just flood away when you want them too….