Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Naruto

Chapter Two

A snow white dove soared across a blue sky and then landed on a window sill. "A white dove, do you know what this means?" Tsunade, the fifth Hokage of Konoha asked Shizune while she untied the parchment tied to its leg. The dove cooed softly and then took off once more.

"Someone is getting married!" Shizune exclaimed, then she frowned.

"What's the matter?"

"I'm already thirty-something and not yet married, I don't even have a boyfriend! I don't want to end up fifty-something without a husband or children..."

Tsunade cleared her throat noisily. "Oh, uh, haha, sorry Tsunade-sama, I forgot, didn't mean to offend you," Shizune said, backing into a corner because Tsunade was scary when she was angry. "I think we may have a serious problem here, it's the Akatsuki," Tsunade said seriously, reading the parchment. "What? They're getting married, I always knew that something fishy was going on there apart from Kisame...damn, why are all men turning gay?" Shizune continued to rant.

"No, Shizune, no. Their leader is marrying his girlfriend...it's a heterosexual marriage and Konoha shinobi are invited. They've requested a few of our kunoichi to be bridesmaids."

"Are you saying that...this is a trap?" Shizune asked.

"Well what else could it be? I do admire their new tactics though...a wedding, please, it's probably just a ruse to try and capture Naruto."

"So... nobody from Konoha will be attending the wedding then?"

"I think we should go, it will be the perfect opportunity to target and put an end to Akatsuki," Tsunade grinned, "And besides, if there is a real wedding, don't you want to be the one who catches the bouquet?"

!

Itachi Uchiha walked calmly through the halls of the Akatsuki hideout on his way to Pein's office. He had something of utmost importance to discuss with his leader. He was about to knock on the door when it swung open abruptly and the person almost fell over Itachi. He first suspected the hyperactive Tobi, but when he grabbed the person's shoulders to stop both of them from falling over, he saw that it was Konan. "Oh my! I'm sorry, Itachi," Konan said with a giddy look in her amber eyes. "It's fine Konan-sama," Itachi murmured. He sighed, recently there was only talk about the upcoming wedding amongst the Akatsuki; Hidan, Deidara, Tobi, Kisame and Sasori were actively plotting Pein's bachelor party, Kakuzu was constantly complaining about the expenses and Zetsu had been sent to another country to get some rare flowers that Konan wanted. Konan and Pein were the worst of the lot, they were usually calm and collected but now they were acting like a pair of lovestruck teenagers. Itachi had noticed this when he accidently overheard Pein singing in the shower and the fact that the couple were less serious and smiled a lot. All talk about Jinchuuriki and world domination were in the backseat. Itachi didn't see the point of marriage when being a ninja, there's just no room for love and emotions when you're in a world revolving around war, fighting and death. "Have you seen Deidara?" Konan asked quite breathlessly, "I want to take him dress shopping with me!" Itachi surveyed Konan, her amber eyes were sparkling and she was glowing just like a bride to be.

"He's straightening his hair in the bathroom."

"Thank you!" Konan said, and she literally skipped off.

Itachi entered Pein's darkened office to see Pein lounging back in his chair with his arms folded behind his head. He grinned widely when he saw Itachi. "Itachi! Just the man I wanted to see!" He motioned for Itachi to have a seat and Itachi sat down wearily. "Sooo...how would you like to be my best man?"

Itachi stared at Pein for a few seconds, "Me? Well...I would be honoured, but first, there is something I have to discuss with you."

"Let's hear it."

Itachi cleared his throat and began.

!

Konan and Deidara entered Madame Suki's house of bridal fashion. They were greeted by a toothy assistant with curly blonde hair. "Good day! Welcome to Madame Suki's house of bridal fashion where we have everything from your dream wedding dress to bridesmaids dresses," she said, leading them to the lounge area. Konan and Deidara sat beside each other and the assistant took a seat opposite them.

"So, who's the bride?" she asked with a warm smile.

Deidara clenched his fists, "I'm a guy, you idi - !" Konan squeezed his arm and he stopped. The assistant looked embarrassed, "My bad, are you the groom then? If so, you shouldn't be here, it's bad luck to see the bride in her dress before the wedding."

"No, un," Deidara said, blushing slightly.

"He's one of my best friends," Konan said, beaming.

"Ah! I've always wanted a gay best friend," the assistant squealed.

Deidara was seething, "I am not gay!" He would have liked nothing more than to blow this woman up. Konan sensed danger and quickly changed the subject, "Can you please show us some dresses?"

"Right away!" the assistant said, thoroughly embarrassed. Konan followed her to the area with the dresses while Deidara made himself comfortable in the lounging area. "Are you looking at white or ivory?" the assistant asked. "White," Konan said, clapping her hands together. The assistant looked at her from head to toenail. "Hmm, I've got three dresses in mind for you – and then you can ask your friends opinion."

Konan was beside herself with excitement as she tried on the first dress, it was an off the shoulder, plain straight cut dress, it was simple yet elegant. She eyed herself in the mirror of the dressing room and frowned. "Don't like?" enquired the assistant.

"It's pretty, but I want it to be more..." Konan giggled, "Fairytale –like."

The assistant snapped her fingers together and ran off, while Konan undressed, she came back with a huge dress which had what looked like feathers on it. Konan tried it on reluctantly and made a face when she looked into the mirror, "I look like a chicken!"

"Why don't you go show your friend?"

"No! He'd say the same thing."

"Ok ok, I'll get the other one then."

Konan twirled around in the chicken dress and made clucking noises and then laughed until she snorted. "What's going on here, un?"

"Dei?"

"Yeah, got bored waiting there, can I see?"

"Uh, no, not this one! The next one," Konan said frantically, pulling the dress off.

"That is one huge dress, un."

"What? You can see through the curtain?" Konan gasped.

Deidara grinned, "Nope, well just a silhouette, un."

"Go away!"

"Haha, fine, fine." But Deidara didn't move because he was suddenly transfixed by Konan's silhouette once the dress came off, he could somewhat see her body shape and curves even though it was just shadowy. Only when he saw the assistant returning with a dress in her arms, did he move away quickly to the lounging area.

!

"WHAT?" roared Pein, now gripping the edge of the desk. Itachi backed away, maybe this had been a bad idea as Pein was very serious about the wedding. "Please Leader-sama – don't," Itachi said, trading his emotionless mask for a pleading expression.

"The invitations have already been sent!" Pein said, rubbing his temples.

"I know but – if you could just say it was a mistake and uninvite -"

"What are you saying Itachi? How rude, we can't 'uninvite' people, how do you think that makes me look," Pein said angrily while drumming his fingers on the desktop. Itachi thought for a moment, maybe he could torture Pein, seventy-two hours with his mangekyou sharingan would make the fool change his mind, but no, Pein was their leader, Itachi couldn't pull stunts like that, no matter how dire the situation was. "Come on, you just have to tell Sasuke that he can't come, just one person."

"My final answer is...no. It's highly rude to uninvite a guest and I want this wedding to be perfect. Besides, he may not even come," Pein said.

Itachi looked at Pein in disbelief, "Of course he will come, he is trying to assassinate me you know and I don't think that your wedding would be the ideal time and place for that to happen."

"Nonsense Itachi, who would assassinate you at a wedding? Don't be ridiculous, now get out of my office and go prepare your speech, you're my best man!"

Oh my lord, love is making him go soft in the head, he is trying to be polite and see the good in people. I have a feeling Akatsuki is going to the dogs... Itachi thought while walking out of Pein's office, and he distinctly heard Pein humming the tune of 'here comes the bride'.

!

"Ah, this seems pretty," Konan said, taking the dress. She put it on; it was strapless and was form fitting at the top so that just the right amount of cleavage was visible, it was fitted around her tummy and beaded with tiny crystals that made it shimmer. The skirt flowed outwards like a ballgown and the top layer was made with some sort of light shimmery fabric. "I love it! Let me show Deidara," Konan said stepping out of the dressing room and going to the lounge area where Deidara was idly flipping through a magazine. The assistant followed after Konan, smiling broadly at how the dress complimented Konan.

"Well?" Konan asked, stepping in front of Deidara. He looked up and stared. He stared for a while until he lowered his gaze, cheeks reddening slightly. Konan frowned, "It's too much right?" Deidara's head snapped up, "No! You – I – uh – un!" he stuttered, trying to convey to Konan exactly what he saw, and what he saw was breathtaking. She didn't even have her makeup done, or her hair done but that dress looked like it was specially made for her, "It's – you look, um, perfect, un. Leader-sama will love it!" Deidara said to her.

"Do you really think so?" Konan asked uncertainly, "Be honest, Dei."

"I am, you look..." and he braced himself to say it, "Gorgeous Konan-sama."

Konan flushed pink and she and the assistant began jumping up and down like excited schoolgirls. Pein, you lucky bastard, Deidara thought.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter, if you did then please review. Tell me what you think, what I should improve and your thoughts on who you think was Konan's lover…