-Several nonths after the end of last chapter-

Naruto sighed for the umpteenth time silently as the assembled guests waited for Konan to walk down the aisle. Ever since the night Kushina and his bluenette friend followed him to the lounge he had a constant feeling like he was being watched everywhere he went. At work, at home, doing mindless errands about town... He couldn't for the life of him shake the feeling of being watched. Of course he was proved right when he found his non-existent excuse of a godfather had made the mistake of laughing a little too loudly in a seedy bar while with a working girl. Which lead to this situation, standing beside his cousin as best man. Oh there was nuclear levels of fall out, broken glasses and threats tossed out for the stalking brought on by his cousin giving the white haired creep cash to follow Naruto. "If Konan doesn't kill you while you're holding her hand in labour I suggest watching your back cousin" Naruto said with a forced smile while grinding his teeth.

Nagato wasn't fazed by the threat in the least. With Narutos volatile and reclusive 180 such things were common place. "You wouldn't leave your godchild or godchildren without their father would you cousin?" Nagato asked knowing it would shut up the blonde.

Narutos eyes hardened into chips of ice at the question. "I adamantly refuse. Its bad enough I had to agree to this against my will so Konan didn't do something stupid after you paid the creepy failure of a godfather of mine to tail me and I took my frustrations out on you" he growled while still maintaing the fake smile. Once the music began to play all eyes turned to the church aisle letting him drop the fake smile. "I couldn't protect Hinata so why trust me to protect any children you and Konan have if Kami forbid something happens to you both. Better off naming someone else instead of me. Ill probably fuck it up protecting them like I fucked up not being able to protect the woman I loved."

Konan nervously walked the down the aisle smiling at the small assembled group of friends and family. She heard comments about how beautiful her dress was, she vaguely recalled the woman in the bridal shop saying it was a mermaid style dress, and blushed slightly with a small smile on her lips. Her eyes looked to the alter and her smile momentarily faultered noticing the hushed brief exchange between Nagato Naruto. The blonde didn't look any too happy about whatever her soon to be wed husband said and Nagato looked ready to knock the blonde clear into the next century. Reaching the altar she coughed focusing their attention back on her.

Nagato gave Naruto a hard glare that said their discussion was far from over before his eyes turned back to Konan, his eyes softening as they filled with love. As the priest went on about the ceremony he glanced to the crowd once as the priest as he asked if anyone had a reason they shouldn't wed and rolled his eyes at no response. Of course there was no one that had one, it was their friends and family so no one objected to their happiness together.

The priest went on to lead the couple through the vows and motioned for the best man to pass the groom the rings which Naruto did without so much as a twitch of a facial muscle under the older mans scrutinizing gaze. Once the rings were exchanged and vows repeated he told Nagato that he could kiss his bride. When the newly married couple did the priest noticest the most minute tick in the blonde mans eyebrow and a nano second of sadness in the mans eyes before it was gone like it never existed. When the room was empty of the wedding party and their guests the older man turned the blonde still rooted in his spot. "Something the matter my son?" the man asked with a soft look on his face and a kind grandfatherly tone.

"Nothing at all Father. Seeing ghosts of things that could have been" Naruto said with a sigh and palmed his face.

"I gave everyone ample time to obj-"

"Not things that could have been with Konan, shes like a sister to me" Naruto said shaking his head.

"Then who my son? Surely the young lady you are thinking of"

"Rests in an early grave, her life cut short." Narutos tone turned incredibly sharp and acidic causing the man to recoil. "Forgive me Father, I must go before my absense is missed and the bride sends her bloodhound husband of my cousin to retrieve me" he said apologetically before bowing his head. Without a word after he left the chapel not caring for the pitying look the older man was giving him.

Outside Konan couldn't find Naruto in the small crowd making her frown. Before she could say a word to Nagato Naruto stepped out of the church doorway and leaned against the buildings stone face as the wedding party was ushered into the large party tent near the church. "Naruto you comin in to join the party?" she asked calling up the steps.

The blonde debated saying no but that would just cause a migraine since his mother would force him to join it anyway. 'Maybe I can stall out five minutes for the downpour to start with a cigarette to let myself get sick and weasel out for a 'legitimate' reason' he pondered. "Give me a few minutes for a smoke and I will" he said drawing a cigarette and lighter from his suit jacket.

Konan scowled a little already guessing with a glance to sky what he was planning but couldn't prove it. "Don't take too long, you got a speech to deliver and you ARE NOT getting out of it" she said with a huff and her hands on her hips.

'We'll see about that' Naruto thought with a mental snort as he clenched the filter between his teeth shielded the ligher cigarette with one hand while the other adjusted the flame so the cigarette lit. He scowled quickly though as not even thirty seconds after his first drag the heavens opened up and released a flood of rain. 'You self-righteous holy bastard! That was my last cigarette!' he screamed mentally becoming a soaked to the bone rat in seconds. "Fuck you right back ya self righteous prick" Naruto scowled tossing the useless soaked through cigarette to the side before crossing to the tent to get his 'speech' out of the way quick as possible. "You want a speech? Heres the long and short of it all. Live long and prosper don't let your kids around kids around Jiraiya unsupervised. Now Im out of here before I get sick."

The guests and wedding party looked at the soaked best man as he walked out like he grew a third head, the bouquet that Konan just threw sailing wide and landing on a plate with candles on it setting the flowers ablaze. The irony that both Konan and Nagato would realize later on was that the plate with the flame engulfed flowers was seated right next to the plate with Narutos placeholder card between his mother and cousin Karin.